BREAD AND WATER DIET

In the past, a prisoner's diet often included a "bread and water diet" as  a physical disciplinary measure.

In Scripture, Christ is described in bread and water terms. "Bread of Life" & "Living Water." Not to discipline but to encourage. Truth believers can depend on ....a spiritual gift from above, received in our innermost being.

A spiritual diet of sorts to be passed along i.e. shared with others! 

Think of an artesian well spilling over.

Today may we allow the flow of the Spirit deep in our hearts, to bubble up & gush forth to others to comfort and encourage them. 

*in web view of this entry, click on living water label to see other entries.

SOVEREIGNTY OF GOD!

GOD'S SOVEREIGNTY *is His authority and control. His control means that everything happens according to His plan and purposes. 

Our triune God's sovereign control is the loving and gracious oversight of the king of creation and redemption. Many see it as a pathway to peace, especially in the midst of grief and life-threatening struggles.

I appreciate Soup Campbell's succinct sharing with a local pastor recovering in ICU as the sole survivor of an airplane crash on a trip which he had planned.

"He is or He ain't!" (Soup Campbell)

The pastor, overcome with sadness and guilt, weeps!

Soup repeats. "He is or He ain't!"

It's not the end of the story but the "pathway to peace" began!

*https://www.crossway.org/articles/series/key-bible-verses/

FELLOWSHIP-LACED FRIENDSHIP!

Fellowship + friendship = perfect duo!

The longer it goes, the better it gets.....especially when you can still make each other laugh during the hard times.

On our most recent visit, I shared some verses I recently prayed for someone dear. She got her Bible and asked me to read them to her. It became a "reminder moment" of the ease of getting to the Psalms by opening the Bible to the middle.

Voilà! She did it.

She then found Psalm 71.

Next, she took my picture as I read her Bible....

saying she wanted to remember me reading to her. 

What a moment! 

A grace-laced moment I'll never forget! 

CHOICES!

The Christian life is all about choices.

Daily one faces choosing how to face the day.

I once read that many folks try to dull  the pain of all the "what if " and "if only" worries of life in unhealthy ways.

Retail therapy is about as helpful as a sugar rush.

AT our house, hubby grabs his COSTCO card and I grab a handful of jelly beans.

What we both need to grab is our faith.

Choose this day whom you will serve;...as for me and my house, we will serve the Lord. (Joshua 24;15)

A faith that loves God and serves others for his glory.

That's why this gift has hung above an outside door since the seventies.....

a daily reminder to make the right choice!

HOPE /LOVE/FAITH

TRIAD OF VIRTUES IN ST. AUGUSTINE'S WORDS

Love gives us hope that one day we will see face to face the One who is love.

FAITH, HOPE, & LOVE ARE INTERTWINED!

It's His love we rely on. It's the core of our faith! (1 Corinthians 13:13)

Paul instructed his followers to be defined by love (John 13:34-35). 

“You shall love the Lord your God with all your heart and with all your soul and with all your strength and with all your mind, and your neighbor as yourself.”

God is love. In Him we put our faith and receive hope.

MONDAY = PRAYERS FOR REVIVAL

Revival begins in the prayer room.

Prayer is a transformative divine privilege of the saints!  (Pace McKee)

Revival is truly when God's people return to God and humble themselves and pray allowing others to see Jesus in daily life.....yours. (2 Chronicles 7:14) May the Lord continue to revive saints again and again! (Psalm 71:20)

This week may others see Christ in you, the hope of glory. (Colossians 1:27) ... in the family of Christ at First Evan and throughout the world!

SATURDAY SAMPLER!

Smoky taste. Sweet taste. Literary taste. Artsy taste. Spiritual taste. 

More soon---tonight I have a hankering / taste for my own bed. Nite. Nite!

REFLECTIONS!

REFLECTIONS............

Poolside ponderings.....

• As a face is reflected in water, so the heart reflects the real person. (Proverbs 27:19)
• There is no I in team!
• God has my heart and I have His.
• Gratitude turns what we have into enough. We lose the need to want more or different. (Taylor Park)
• Prayer is a reflection of our dependence on God. (Rad Andrews)

FROM.......

WONDER OF EACH HOUR!

For the wonder of each hour, of the day and of the night, Hill and vale and tree and flowers, and moon and stars of light,

Refrain: Christ our Lord, to you we raise this, our hymn of grateful praise.

Remember the wonder of the words of Scripture....."The earth is the Lord's and the fulness there of, the world and those who dwell therein." (Psalm 24:1)

RED FLAG DAYS!

All of us seem to have Red Flag Days in our lives!....often without warning!

At least, at some beaches warnings are given so prep is a possibility.

This morning ours were strong currents and rip tides. The wind warnings were listed on weather bulletins. Those were experienced immediately as one walked into a recalcitrant wind tunnel. Turbulence in the weather category! Think stormy hat dislodging, uncontrolable blast.

Sometimes life comes at us fast and furious and totally out of our control

How grateful believers are to know the One who is in control---our sovereign God.

God who can still the storms.(Mark 4:39)

 Even when the tumultuous times continue, approaching a 2 red flag day, one can lean into Him and His guidance as He supports the faithful in their struggles as they seek the things above with Him. (Colossians 3:2)