LOL!

LOL---and it's not laugh out loud! 

It's my version of Language of Lament! (Think Lots of Lament)

My thrust of trust!  Too often, it's difficult to live without complaint. 

I beat myself up when I fail. If this idiom were true physically, I'd be black and blue daily. No one can criticize me or punish me more excessively than my own "self-critical" intense feeling of guilt. 

But God reminded me, through a Mark Vroegop article that part of the book of Psalms deals with the Language Of Lament. That's my LOL!

Vroegop states, A Psalm of lament "is pain that leads to trust." 

Self-criticism is never mentioned.

(No Bibliography info available on my torn out sheets)

Today for me, prayers prompted from Psalm 71 

also  focused on Vroegop's four elements of lament from Psalm 77, Psalm 22, and Psalm 13.

• Turn:---Talk to God while in Pain (Psalm 77:1-2) (I Think filled with fatigue as Psalm 71 subtitle, ESV p. 586) states, "Forsake me not when my strength is spent.")
• Complain:--Something I try not to do but Vroegop recommends as a part of Biblical lament---as one lays out the nature and depth of his.her sorrows.(Psalm 22:9-11)
• Embrace: biblical promises. (Psalm 22:9-11)
• Trust: Believe in God's trust worthiness (Psalm 13:5-6)

Mark Vroegop sees these elements as a legitimate framework for lament, a track of grief which allows a believer's prayers to move his/her journey from heartbreak to hope. 

Show more

Beat yourself up - Idioms by The Free Dictionary

Dictionary, Encyclopedia and Thesaurus - The Free Dictionary

https://idioms.thefreedictionary.com › beat+yourself+up

beat oneself up. Fig. to be overly critical of one's behavior or actions; to punish oneself with guilt and remorse over past actions. (Not a physical beating.Read more

Missing: self ‎| Show results with: self

BOOK DAY!

National Book Day is today! 4/23/2026! 

A great day for readers to explore their library.

Today book marks were given out!

Some libraries had tables set up for children to create their own bookmarks.

However, Scripture warns, "Of making many books there is no end"! 

In other words, be selective in your choices. These days I choose short story collections while hubby chooses many with 1,000 pages. A first grader I know chooses easy books to mostly chapter books.

Some prefer reading alone.

Others enjoy being read to whether by a sister or a friend!

Many folks join Book Clubs. One year, my friend Jerrie H. belonged to 4 different books clubs and none were on-line ones.

National Book Day gives all readers a day to celebrate---enjoy it!

EARTH DAY!

"Earth Day" the American way began April 22, 1970! No way I knew that because I was expecting 1st child and that was only thing on my mind.

Truly, even now, Earth Day belongs to Him! 

In the beginning God created .......and the earth. (Genesis 1:1)

The earth is full of the steadfast love of the LORD. (Psalm 33:5) 

Let all the earth revere the LORD, For He spoke and it came to be. (Psalm 33:8-9)

Every Earth Day belongs to Him. It's His!

Enough said!

BE STILL UNTIL YOUR EYES ARE OPENED!

Across the sanctuary screen, words of scripture and song lyrics are written for all to view. Recently these letters were shown......

.....clearly showing a list of letters. Any wordsmith would immediately decipher, based on what his life at the moment brought to mind. What's the first thing you see? 

My pondering---saw the untruth written first.  

If only spaces between the letters were added, those spaces could reinforce albeit, a misconception of words. Pastor Hawes did just that.

The true lesson here is remembering God's truth. GOD IS NO WHERE, even with spaces added, is untrue. God not being seen doesn't mean he is No Where.He is seen in the lives of believers. He is vivid through them. But God...... allows spaces in one's own life to see God.

He allowed Jesus to be seen even when Jesus wasn't visible On the Road to Emmaus, Jesus went with two disciples, who did not"see" Him until He took the bread, blessed and broke it...."and their eyes were opened,"......Jesus had been with them but until His actions opened their eyes, both were unaware. 

Appropriately the service closed with all singing Hymn 502.* From their hearts, "Open My Eyes that I May See" came out loud and clear as we opened our mouths, ears, and our hearts! (Refrain)

We all knew..............

When circumstances have us seeing God as absent, space with Him (in time alone) needs to be added. Spacing is key in our time with the Triune God. 

Seeking Him, He can open our eyes, so with Him we can "live and move and have our being"....(Acts 17:28a)

*

SOUNDS OF MOTOWN!

DATE NIGHT WITH GRANDSON!

Nothing quite like it!

Hopefully More later......computer on the fritz! Or maybe it's me⁉️

It was me!

What a great experience to share!

When they started the music with 🎶 "Can't Help Myself" 🎶 by The Four Tops my toes were tapping and I was singing along......(Sugar Pie, Honey Bunch) Anyone in the audience over 60 was doing the same thing! When listening to Sly and the Family Stone's "Dance to the Music" an an old fogey or two went down to dance.

I just tapped my toes louder from the aisle seat on the back row.

After the break when revue ended with The Temptations, My Girl (#1 selling Motown record of all times along with my FAVE, Ain't Too Proud to Beg, I was so glad I stayed to the very end!

My grandson couldn't believe I knew all the words----he probably was surprised I could remember! 

FLORAL FRIDAY!

Horticulturists of great repute in one's neck of the woods and beyond is known to me as my kind neighbor Susan. Chatting today as she was  using mulch loaded with molasses (never heard of that) from Cherokee reservation,  Bill and Ann, gardeners from street behind us, made their frequent drive-by to see what was happening in this renowned garden on WRD.

 

I, on the other hand, use my SEEK app to find my way around a garden. When Susan shared her Apricot Peonies, I was fascinated by these which had 3 different colors on the same plant. 

My pix don't do justice but I want to remember her enthusiasm as she shared info with me.

Bachelor buttons, planted in the fall (key time) now blooming in blue and white, with Eastern red columbines all behind her apricot peonies.

Note small green bud @ bottom of pic

...and a larger green bud opening to red

From small green to green openings to reddish sprouts....... 

........to full red blossoms and blooms, "whitened fluffy as a petticoat," as she described them!

Scripture uses flowers to show God's provision and the beauty of His creation.

Song of Solomon refers to a time when winter is past and verse 2:12 rang out as I stood at her garden's edge:

"The flowers appear on the earth, the time of singing has come, and the voice of the turtle dove is heard in our land." (literally on our street)

I hummed, "Joyful, Joyful, We Adore Him" even as I typed this as the second line was in my heart and eventually on my lips!

🎶 "Hearts unfold like flowers before thee, 

opening to the sun above."🎵

A GIFT THAT KEEPS ON GIVING!

Hope in Print. Eyecatching and heart touching! 

Rejoice in hope. (Romans 12:12)

In you Lord do I hope.(Psalm 38:15 + Psalm 71:5)

Hope continually (Psalm 71:14) and praise You more and more. (Psalm 100:4)

Hope for all we cannot see as we wait patiently for it. (Romans 8:25)

Hope of the righteous will be gladness. (Proverbs 10:28)

Be of good courage. He will strengthen the heart of all who hope in the Lord. (Psalm 34:21) 

Always be ready to give to others the answer of the HOPE that is in you.(1 Peter 3:15)

Threads of Hope a gift of praise from Anne B., a true prayer Warrior.  

May these hope verses be passed on prayerfully to the McCormacks!

WONDERS ON WALK-A-BOUT WEDNESDAY!

I forgot my phone for pix----
Blessed to have dear friend and professional photographer, Anne B. with me, so there's hope. 

On the trail, a lone observer commented, "There's someone with a "real" camera." There was indeed! Hubby got her pic at Tom Branch Falls,

Dwarf Crested Iris Along the Trail

Buttterflies--Blue spotted purple + Giant Swallowtail

Praises-----walking sticks in hand kept us vertical!

TUESDAY TRUTH....

Tuesday truth through a kitchen window.....

In the beginning, God created the heavens and the earth. (Genesis 1:1)

Last week our family witnessed the dry land Earth in new places  and the gathered waters he called Seas. (Genesis 1:10)

This morning as I sat by the kitchen window, I could gaze on the vegetation and plants yielding seed.....within as stone's throw. 

A place of grace!

God allowed me to "Be Still"----nothing open but my eyes to see what He had for me! "Less of me and MORE of Thee!"

AMEN!!!

GOD'S GLORY!

The glory of our God is our good......

especially  when together with family both earthly and spiritually! 

Monday prayers begin each week with my "M" family and friends.

For God's glory and their good!

Whatever we do, apart or together, may we do all to the glory of God! 

(1 Corinthians 10:31)