PREPOSITIONAL PROOF!

Prepositions have purpose in writing!

First grammar info I remember learning about a preposition is never end a sentence with one! Not to worry that rule is now obsolete but I imagine that change would have Miss Rosa Nourse roll over in horror.

Remember those very small words which can show direction, or location. Functional words as Merriam-Webster says most often combining with a noun to make a phrase for modification or prediction.

All of these observations became so clear as I read and re-read yesterday's New Morning Mercies March 27 entry.

I have been crucified with Christ and I no longer live, but Christ lives in me. The life I now live in the body, I live by faith in the Son of God, who loved me and gave himself for me. (Galatians 2:20)

Check out the prepositions in the above verse…….each can be important in your understanding of the truth. 

Crucified with Christ---He took our names to the cross on our behalf, a redemptive historical fact.

Christ lives in me---present redemptive reality

I live by faith in the Son who died for me---life shaping result

Proof positive in the life of a Christian.

MONDAY MUSINGS!

Somethings "RING" TRUE.....whether in a Sunday sermon or are echoed in a Monday text from friend, Doris!

It's as if the Spirit of the Lord is saying, "Can you hear me now?"

Loud and clear musings for this last Monday in March.

CARING!

If people could use one word to describe you, what do you think it would be? Given that challenge to describe friend, Crickett, one word kept coming to mind. Caring. 

Think synonymously....Kind. Concerned. Thoughtful. Trustworthy.

My One Word to encompass Crickett Keeth.... "Caring"-- with all the above listed facets.

Crickett has always understood the value of fellowship, knowing how difficult it is to do life alone. She shows this as she blesses lives of many. 

She cares for others in various ways with her time, resources and strengths: 

• devoted to others in love as she honors them above her self. (Romans 12:10) 
• serves others humbly in love (Galatians 5:13c) 
• carries another's burdens, (Galatians 6:2a) 
• trustworthy to keep requested secrecy .... as she looks to the interest of others (Philippians 2:4) 
• In fact, Crickett is known world-wide as a caring encourager who builds up women and spurs them on in a teaching ministry. (1 Thessalonians 5:11)

GOD is not unjust; He will not forget your (Crickett's) work and the love you have shown Him as you have helped His people and continue to help them. (Hebrew 6:10) 

Now, that's caring at its best! Think all caps...........

THINK CARING CRICKETT! 

Then.....THANK CRICKETT for listening to the Lord and coming to First Evan 17 1/2 years ago.

HAPPY DANCE DAY!

Today is Happy Dance Day! Who knew?! K-LOVE!

What a blessing to hear others share of God's goodness in their lives.

They know how to "happy dance" with gratitude from their hearts without even moving their feet.

But.....for me I can at least tap my toes knowing the One who has "turned my mourning into dancing, girded me with joy" and gladness and sees my dancing as worshipful gratitude.

MercyMe has a "Happy Dance" praise song! My "Happy Dance" contemporary worship praise song is Sydney Carter's "Lord of the Dance" with the melody of Simple Gifts.

A Happy Dance as K-Love dubs it!

WORLD POETRY DAY

World Poetry Day is always celebrated on March 21.

Yesterday I celebrated it with friends in the creative writing group at McWherter Senior Center in the Sea Isle area as they shared their own haikus, free verse and one with a rhyming scheme, "Vanishing" which  aging folks could easily understand.

What a treat!

I have been camping out this week in Psalms, one of the poetic books of Scripture, as I've been praying for grandson, Nathan, on a mission trip to Panama. (Psalm 9:10-11)

Psalms is one of five poetic books in the Bible along with Job, Proverbs, Ecclesiastes and Song of Solomon. These books are sometimes referred to as mankind reaching out toward God. Maybe that's why I turn to them so often, especially Psalms.

World Poetry Day 3/21, a way for me to celebrate both poetry readings and God's Word. A great two-fer!

FLABBY FAITH!

I don't want to be flabby in any way---certainly not in my faith. 

I desire to be an overcomer in today's world. More than a conquerer.

How does one leave "flabby faith" (Sowing a Seed Episode 28, Jim Fleming) in the rear view and press on to become a conqueror? 

According to Fleming, we need to continually practice Luke 21:36:

• be alert at all times; 
• keep praying for strength; 
• stand firm before the Son of Man. 

Rise up in His strength to escape what's to come.

Flabby Faith is too weak to win the battle on one's own.

SPRINGTIME IS HERE!

LENTEN ROSES. Bowing their heads at 4:24 CST to welcome spring!

Maybe we should all bow our heads in worship for the Creator. 

He changes time and seasons. (Daniel 2:21, ESV)

There is a time for everything, and a season for every activity under heavens: (Ecclesiastes 3:1, NIV)

Springtime is one of my favorite.

GRACIOUS ME!

Gracious Me!

Goodness Gracious!! 

Gracious Sakes...or gracious sakes alive!

All phrases I heard while growing up in western Kentucky. 

Such phrases were indicative of surprise. "Where has the day gone."

These days I find myself saying those same phrases I heard, especially from my grandmother, Mama Davenport. Often I add "Oh my" to the list. It's surprise with a bit of negativity laced with disappointment. Think, guilt.

Oh my, I can't keep up with ANYTHING. OK, that's an exaggeration but.....iPhone, Laptop, books, white out, things I use often and need to keep up with around the house.

Oh my, notes, are all over the house except the one I need.

Oh my, these days it takes me longer to do less.

Oh my, guilt hangs in my closet far too easy for me to reach & put on. (I know this because a sweet friend in the faith admonished me, in love of this very act,) 

How grateful I am that God's word says, 

"There is therefore now no condemnation for those who are in Christ Jesus." (Romans 8:1)

Gracious me.....how grateful I am for that reminder! I'm pouring my cuppa guilt-TEA down the drain.

IMPORTANT EXERCISE

Exercise is important! 

Exercise can be difficult to incorporate into one's daily schedule.

Exercise with another can be an encouragement.

Exercising with another, aka fellowship, is essential for growth, from physical to spiritual! 

Fellowship, sharing time in God's word laced with prayer and physically coming alongside others in their struggles of life is an important earthly exercise with an eternal result. (Acts 2:42, 44)

PRAY! PRAY!! PRAY!!!

Definitely a "pray day."

Need joy? Need confidence? Need love? Need discernment? Need sincerity?

Add these attributes to your prayer life!

Pray! Pray! Pray!....to the Glory and Praise of God!

FROM MANY TO ONE

Many hands....from toddlers to nonagenarians. (ages 90-99)

....to One work of art, created by tiny fingers to wrinkled, dare I say gnarled ones, pasting scraps of colored paper, some with Scripture verses on a drawing sent from a Japanese artist. 

All the nations you have made shall come and worship before you, O Lord, and shall glorify your name. (Psalm 86:9)

From many First Evan participants of a collaborative art project to reach one nation with the gospel message.

BAPTISM!

BAPTISM!

What a day! What a thrill!

Martin, came to his mama and told her he had Jesus in his heart. 

In his own way, he asked her if he could be baptized. He had witnessed his sister's baptism. 

Also, through his Sunday School at Bellevue Baptist and BSF classes he had learned what that meant.

It was his way of telling others that he had invited Jesus Christ into his heart. A public testimony of his faith.

My prayer for Martin today, "May the God of hope fill you with all joy and peace as you trust in him, so that you may overflow with hope by the power of the Holy Spirit." (Romans 15:13)

BAPTISM!

What a day! What a thrill!

QUAD SQUAD

Praying friends come in many combinations and from different seasons in life. 

I'm blessed to have family, along with friends from elementary school, widows, neighbors, Sunday School, H2H, church, mission and transition "zoom" prayer teams, Prayerful Wonderwomen for Ukraine and college & Pi Phi chums. 

I need lots of prayer warriors.

Praises for a recent retreat with my "Quad Squad" college chums at Full Circle Ranch---

.....&  my own bedroom sanctuary with all the accoutrements for my morning cuppa before..... 

....a morning walk to the sounds of goats, chickens, cows and birds in flight! Later a bull strolling behind his keeper, Sam and a ride on the "whoopie"* acting like teenagers!

Did  I mention surrounded by 600 acres. with the original log cabin (circa, old) a "She" shed which became a garden room, great for devotional times......

a home with 6 fireplaces, 4 "sitting" porches, one with a bed swing and lots of rocking chairs, a wood burning fireplace and lots of comfort....

....calmed by a serene view of horses.

From almost an entire day in PJs to lunch at Marcy Jo's and a 3 hour Bible Study led by Dr. Mark Houston.

Thank you Doris, Winslow and Joyce Ann for this much needed respite for your ailing friend. God's Quad Squad....always there for each other!(Acts 2:42)

*whoopie --ATV often called a quad bike; how about that!

REFRESHMENT!

A generous person will prosper; whoever refreshes others will be refreshed. (Proverbs 11:25) I want to be such a  friend! Don't you?

Anne B. certainly qualifies in my life.

Yesterday she was praying for me as I traveled home! I know she was.

This morning I started my day with a "treat" from her.

A chocolate pillow cookie, though it probably has a more exquisite culinary name, and my cuppa Assam. Anne calls it browniest cookie.

A perfect lift for my travel weary bones! 

True refreshment from as friend as I open God's Word for more refreshment!

ON THE ROAD AGAIN!!

On the road again in the driver's seat of hubby's 4 Runner (GULP!) 

First time I had driven on the interstate in 2 1/2 years. Yet, so excited to join up with my ever praying Quad Squad.

But God....gave a BIG blessing of surprise en route! Who else could orchestrate a roadside meeting of a mom from TN with her New York son!

What a great God I serve whether at home or on the road!

WISE WORDS!

Perfect prepositions make all the difference! 

There is nothing I can do without you. 

                    This is my dependence.

There is nothing I cannot do through you. 

                    This is my confidence.

There is nothing I will not do for you. 

                    This is my obedience.

(Frank Fortunato, 2/26/2023)

WORDS OF WIDSDOM! Enough said!

PRAYER WARRIOR PROFILE!

What does a prayer warrior look like?

Visually how would you recognize them?

Check pic below.

Is a pic the best way to see a true prayer warrior?

Actually, their lifestyle is the best way to ID such a warrior.

That's where the inner man shines through to light the way for others.

Invisibility and visibility go together.

Praying together. Sharing notes/texts/emails for the recipients of their prayers can also be a way to encourage and reveal a warrior's heart for intercession. A very visible identity. 

Suiting up with the whole armor of God. Praying for one another.

That's what prayer warriors do again and again.

PRAYING SCRIPTURE!

Need focus in your prayer life?!!

This distractable, ditsy gal does.

Different days of the week, my focus is on friends w/ similar attributes or their names begin with certain letters. Years ago a Bible Study group began praying for each other on different days of the week so all of us were "covered" daily. I know it sounds weird but it works for me. Other times names pop up as the Holy Spirit brings them to mind regardless of day or time. Often, I don't even know why until "after the fact." 

God knows I need help and He has provided it through His very Word.

Praying scripture helps keep me focused.