GOD'S WAY......STEEP PATHS INCLUDED!

And your ears shall hear a word behind you, saying, “This is the way, walk ye in it,” when you turn to the right or when you turn to the left. (Isaiah 30:21)

Paths have descents as well as ascents. May faith never falter when the path becomes rocky and steep and our strength falters. 

Note Steep Path Signage. 

Don't miss warning signs in your own life.

Choose to walk, or even "dance" hand in hand, every step of the way with God along the path he has has planned for you.His plan is key--unique for you. Depend on that.

 

A path to love Him more and serve others well. (Titus 3:14)

May your (and my) ears continue to hear and follow, even if the trail is steep!

THANKFUL THURSDAY!

When you wake up tired and already need a nap before the "Today" show even starts, you imagine you, like Alexander, are about to have a Terrible, Horrible, No Good, Very Bad Day. Could it get worse? Yes.

Keys are misplaced. The Pain Clinic lost your appointment in their computer.  Inside clinic ck-in, new signage @ the scales...."leave shoes on when you weigh." ARGH! I gained 4 pounds. Purse was lost. Items rang up wrong at the grocery.....Dare I continue!?

But God..... in His love and mercy gave me a quick "check in my spirit" as nothing else had been quick. 

Thankful Thursday. How could I forget. 

Itsy bitsy early blooms of the diminutive, Narcissus Tête-à-Tête were a BIG boost as I returned home. Don't let close-up photo fool you; blooms are  tiny.

Sun was peaking through as clouds passed on by. Things were looking up---at least, I was. I live in an area that has distinct seasons......usually with signs that let folks know which season is just around the corner! 

Precocious---a perfect name for the daffodils that are first to bloom in my yard.

Such a spirit lifter, I had to bring a few inside for a continuous reminder of God's creativity on this Thankful Thursday.

PEACE! PEACE !! PEACE!!!

So many terms for peace; nouns, verbs, (new to me) phrases; and exclamations.

Just check out Paul David Tripp's terms and phrases in my scribblings!

But.........peace can be  so transitory. Just ask your Ukrainian friends. 

True peace in Scripture passes all understanding. (Philippians 4:7) Christ's peace is the sum total of God's blessings to those in his covenant community. In Christ. (Psalm 29:11) Peace with God through Christ Jesus

Peace is a person, and his name is Jesus. (New Morning Mercies, 2/16)

HEART OF PRAYER!

3 Ps of Prayer

Praise. Pardon. Petition.

Isn't prayer at the heart of of a Christian's life?

The high and lofty one who lives in eternity, the Holy One, says this: 'I live in the high and holy place with those whose spirits are contrite and humble. I restore the crushed spirit of the humble and revive the courage of those with repentant hearts. (Isaiah 57:15, NLT, emphasis mine) 

Intimate, personal communication with God through prayer deepens and strengthens one's relationship with Him. You can pray out loud or in your thoughts, where ever you are alone or in fellowship with a trusted group of fellow believers.

God hears the prayers of those who put their trust in Him.

In essence, the heart of prayer is to communicate with God! 

MUSINGS ON MEDITATION MONDAY!

"To read without reflecting is like eating without digesting." (Edmund Burke)
According to Psalm 1:1-2, the man who meditates on God's Word is blessed.

Donald Whitney in Spiritual Disciplines for the Christian Life writes, "The tree of your spiritual life thrives best with meditation...(p. 49) 

This has certainly proved true for me as, "Thy words were found and I ate them and they became for me the joy and delight of my life...." (Jeremiah 15:16a)

PONDER YOUR DAILY CHOICES!

Choose this day whom you shall serve...(Joshua 24:15)
It's always your choice. 

Self-Centeredness or Christ-centeredness?

https://app.rightnowmedia.org/en/content/details/98580?session=98580

Are you willing to "trade" your Me, Me, Me, life for His?

Every part of your life, time, money_ _ _ _?

Ponder. Choose. Repeat.

BEHOLD! BEHOLD!! BEHOLD!!!

#1 Behold, God is my helper; the Lord is the upholder of my life. (Psalm 54:42)

#2 Behold, how good and how pleasant it is for brethren to dwell together in unity! (Psalm 133:5)

#3 Therefore, if anyone is in Christ, he is a new creation; old things have passed away; behold, all things have become new. (2 Corinthians 5:17, NKJV)

Three glorious truths to see, watch for, be alert to BEHOLD!

walk....Walk.....WALK!!

So-o-o many different words for walk.

walk, all lower case..... amble. dawdle. mosey. perambulate.saunter. stroll. wander.

Think meandering.

Walk with a capital W.....Glide. Hike. Pace. Patrol. Sashay. Stride.Tiptoe. Tread.

Think Variety.

WALK WITH ALL CAPS.....CLOMP. MARCH. PLOD. SLOG. STOMP. TRUDGE.

THINK EMOTIONAL PURPOSE!!

To me, some "walk" words connote "darkness." Prowl. Stalk. Swagger. Strut.

How are Christians to walk, Walk or WALK in their lives?

In Scripture walking = living out one's beliefs.

By the Spirit---Galatians 5:16

Humbly with God---Micah 6:8

In Christ---Colossians 2:8

In the light---1 John 1:7

In truth---Psalm 86:11

Uprightly---Isaiah 57:2

Worthy---Ephesians 4:1

How will you walk today? Will each step you take represent your faith in Jesus?

SLOW AND STEADY: IT'S NOT A RACE!

SLOW GO.........

Slow and steady! It started at Christmas via a kind and generous horticulturist neighbor. 

A gift that keeps on giving....creation from the Creator.

Maturity can take a while.

Enjoy the experience.

VALENTINE'S DAY. WORTH THE WAIT!

BEHOLD #2

To behold is to "look at."

Open the Scriptures to truly see God. 

Scripture allows us to read his story and behold his glory! 

God is real.

A sign in the middle of a desolate prairie can be a great reminder!

 

O Zion, that bringest good tidings, get thee up into the high mountain: O Jerusalem, that bringest good tidings, lift up thy voice with strength: lift it up, be not afraid: say unto the cities of Judah, Behold your God.(Isaiah 40:9, GNV)

SING-SING A SONG!

SING! From "10,000 Reasons" to old fashion hymns---okay if off-key.

How marvelous! how wonderful! And my song shall ever be:

How marvelous! how wonderful Is my Savior's love for me! (Cokesbury Hymnal #172, 1923)

photo by Anne Brewer

SING FROM YOUR HEART----even a new song!! (Isaiah 42:100

BEHOLD!

BEHOLD! "My One Word" this year.

Behold is used 1,298 times in the KJV of the Bible.  Greek word for behold is "eido" literally meaning, "to be sure."

What have I learned so far this year about "behold" in Scripture? 

Get ready......"to be sure"....God's about to show up!

A PICTURE OF 14 WORTHY WORDS!

WORDS COUNT!

Every word of scripture counts!

For I will satisfy the weary soul, 

and every languishing soul I will replenish.

(Jeremiah 31:25)

These 14 words of scripture "count" for every languishing soul for whom I have prayed in the last 4 weeks.

Those words of Jeremiah say it all!

GROUNDHOG DAY! AGAIN AND AGAIN!

Groundhog Day! 

Do we need a rodent to tell us we have 6 more weeks of winter? We have Al Roker & 24/7 Weather Channel reporting. Our Massachusetts family wishes they had only 6 more weeks of winter.

GROUNDHOG DAY............

• Aren't they all, especially for senior Americans!
• Haven't they been shadowy for the last 3 years? 
• Anyone who watches news could make this prognostication.
• Shadows loom at every turn.

Believers just need to remember that behind every dark shadow, there is the SON!

PRAISES!

We, believers, are under the shadow of the Almighty God. (Psalm 91:1)