TRUTH TRUMPS!

Festivals reign in the summer months in America. Music. Wine. Cherry blossom. Mystic. Beale Street.

Our word is filled with cultural ideology and belief. People certainly think differently---often wanting to state ideas and opinions as truth.  

This year a festival of IDEAS is being held in Aspen, CO this very week.

I am not opposed to ideas, beliefs or opinions. 

I certainly have plenty. But.......one needs to be careful that opinions don't blur the truth.

And you shall know the truth and the truth will set you free. (John 8:32)

Sanctify them by thy truth; thy word is truth. (John 17:17)

The Lord is near to those who call upon him; to all who call upon him in truth. (Psalm 145:18)

Truth Trumps!

THANKFUL THURSDAY!

WOW! What an auspicious beginning to may day!!

So concerned (not worried, that sounds like SIN).....but this morning I questioned if I had chosen to lead devotionals at 2 assisted living places without undeniable leading from the Lord.

But God..."showed up" as I was adding honey to my toast.

Certainly I have use this honey often, maybe with sleepy 1/2 closed eyes because I had never seen the verse underneath the WILDFLOWER label.

God graciously opened my eyes today, right when it was needed, as an answer to my heart's prayer. I had eyes to see! Scripture! 

My teaching was on meditative prayer---that I might allow them to understand the importance of using God's Word to make prayer sweet to the soul and healthy for the body in accordance with God's will and purpose for our lives as we wait expectantly for His answer.

I think I got my answer! I am thankful as I was the one blessed beyond measure this Thursday! 

R AND R

R & R!

R & R!

R&R!

Ever need a little R & R?

The letters are the same but what they represent can be so-o-o different.

What comes to your mind? 

Most folks think of rest for the first R......followed by recreation, relaxation or recuperation. 

• Doctor RX--Rest and Recoup
• Late night study--Ritalin and Redbull
• Psychology--Reflect and Re-evaluate
• Authors--Revise and Resubmit
• Carpenter Corey--Remove and Replace

Rest, as in stoppage, came to my mind

R and R!

Truly my soul finds rest in God; my salvation comes from him. Psalm 62:1

R and R!Jeremiah 31:25

“For I will satisfy the weary soul, and every languishing soul I will replenish.”

1 Corinthians 16:18 For they refreshed my spirit as well as yours. Give recognition to such men.

2 Timothy 1:16 May the Lord grant mercy to the household of Onesiphorus, for he often refreshed me and was not ashamed of my chains.

Exodus 31:17
“‘It is a sign forever between me and the people of Israel that in six days the Lord made heaven and earth, and on the seventh day he rested and was refreshed.’”
.

Ever need a little spiritual R & R?

R + R = Rescue and Redemption

Rest in that truth!

JESUS IS LORD!

Jesus is Lord...........truly

Jesus is Lord..........boldly

JESUS IS LORD!!........truly, boldly & in ALL CAPS!

Any way you put it or any where you place it, it is true.

JESUS IS LORD, AND SAVIOR! (ROMANS 10:9)

CHOOSE THIS DAY....FOOD FOR THOUGHT FRIDAY!

How great it would be if all decisions made today would be as easy as choosing my morning cuppa!

All my tea options are good ones to me. I don't even have to choose caffeine free if it's only 7am. 

Other choices throughout the day are more difficult because of the ramifications. Such choices can be important or complex, nothing like deciding on loose leaf or tea bag for my morning cuppa.

How would my choice affect someone else. Physically?  Emotionally? Monetarily? Spiritually? (Romans 12:10)

• To encourage. (Ephesians 4:29) 
• To build up. (Romans 15:2) 
• To motivate to love and good works. (Hebrews 10:24)
• An encouraging word cheers a person up. (Proverbs 12:25)

Each day our choices count! 

That's real food for thought this Friday and everyday.

ROAD TO NOWHERE?....ROAD TO SOMEWHERE?

Have you ever wondered where a road would take you?

An unending highway of sorts. A road to nowhere.

Is there such? 

According to a road sign in Bryson City, North Carolina there is!*

What about biblically?

There is a road that the wise travel and a road that the unwise travel. There is a road that SEEMS right (Proverbs 14:12) and there is a road that IS right (Proverbs 12:28).

As we stand at crossroads seeking directions for life, often bystanders are luring us to turn toward popularity and self-pleasure. That is a road to nowhere. A life apart from God.

Reconsider. 

Whether you turn to the right or to the left, your ears will hear a voice behind you saying, "This us the way; walk in it." (Isaiah 30:21)

Choose the way of the Lord -- the narrow path. Jesus is there and He is the way that leads to Heaven.

Is there a right path to choose? 

Yes! A road to somewhere! Eternal life with the Triune God.

*I saw it as I was having a "walkabout Wednesday" down Everett Street in North Carolina last week.(6/14/23)

I BELIEVE!!!!!!

"Lord, I believe; help thou mine unbelief."

The desperate man cried out in Mark 9:24.....knowing that Jesus said, all things are possible to him that believeth.(Mark 9:23)

This morning's reading from Henry Blackaby's, Experiencing God p.171 had me with the first sentence. 

You can say prayers in your mind but doubt in your heart.

Is it possible to be a "person of prayer" and yet not have faith?

May it never be in my life!

As I align my will with His in prayer, I can wait expectantly to see how God will answer.

Today I am meeting with other prayer warriors at FEC to pray for revival. But....am I preparing for its coming? A reflective life of absolute trust?

I need to look for His hand at every turn. A God wink. A God sighting.

May I not miss His response to my requests..........or I'll miss the joy of praying faith!!

FRIDAY FOCUS!

Friday Focus, again!?

MORE OF THEE. LESS OF ME!

Pithy with a punch. A heart issue.

Easy to know in my head....harder to overflow from my heart & live out.

I must be a slow learner as refocusing is a daily, even hourly occurrence.

For I do not understand my own actions. For I do not do what I want but i do the very thing I hate. (Romans 7:15)

Be gone, self-centeredness! Self-pity stinks!

Today's New Morning Mercies (6/16) entry zeroes in on obstacles of our faith focus.

Self-focus sins that can permeate our actions:

• Nasty retort
• "Me-first pride"
• flash of lust at the mall
• addictions to little pleasures
• impatience with a loved one

.....to name a few. I could lengthen the list as I wait for doctor to return my call....as if I'm his only patient.

O Lord may I refocus....and allow you to rescue me from me!

WATCH OUT WORLD!

HAPPY BIRTHDAY, JACK! JUNE 14, 2023

No longer "baby Jack" though diapers are sometimes necessary.

I pray from Proverbs 14 for him, asking the Lord to shield the "buts" of that chapter from Jack's life. May he grow to know,

Whoever fears the LORD has a a secure fortress, 

and for their children it will be a refuge. (Proverbs 14:26)

Jack is 5!

Watch out world....this little guy wanted a chocolate birthday cake with monster trucks and venomous snakes!

Jack is ready to make his mark!

              He's already made a big one in my heart!

VIEW FROM A PORCH SWING

Today is Wednesday. Wordsmith Wednesday.

Words fail me. Words escape me.

Others' words are necessary.

 

In quietness and trust is my strength. (Isaiah 30:15)

Cool breeze. Tinkling of chimes,

Seeking that calm posture of prayer while sitting on a porch swing. 

A time of quiet repose. Letting go of fears.

Words from an old hymn come to mind.

For the beauty of the earth, For the beauty of the skies,

For the love which from our birth Over and around us lies,

Lord of all to Thee we (I) raise 

This our (my) hymn of grateful praise.

Enough said...thought and hummed, 

Just stillness from a porch swing.

PATIENT PONDERING!

It's Monday! Meditating Monday for me. At least it was yesterday when I neglected to select "publish."

Henri Nouwen, author of Spiritual Formation, dubs it "ruminating, masticating, and digesting."

However one defines meditation, it's a spiritual action that takes the word of God from the mind to the heart. An inward journey.

Your Words were found, and I ate them and 

your words became to me a joy

 and the delight of my heart....(Jeremiah 15:16a)

Patiently ponder Jeremiah's 21 words. Take them to heart and let them change you!

RIVER CHURCH!

Attending River Church.....it doesn't matter what you wear; the saints are glad you're there!

Nantahala flowing, then rain starts splattering.

No problem---the congregation just moved to a nearby covered porch. 

Ever been to a church service where a kayak is hanging on the ceiling?!

Not to mention the neon sign behind the preacher advertising beer. 

Laid back? YES. God--honoring? For sure.

After singing down by the river and sharing "God Sightings" and/or prayer requests, there was prayer followed by spontaneous "Happy Birthday" for our 2 grandboys.

Sermon example from John 1:35-42 talked of "sitting close" in the dust of the Rabbi's feet.* Pastor Wayner reminded all those transformed by Jesus....It's time to "grow and go" after sitting at Jesus' feet long enough to be covered by His dust. Then, as his disciples we might transform the world helping others find HOPE in pain and disappointment and LOVE from brokenness. . 

Rain slackened and we went down to the river to reflect and pray. I prayed over Owen.

Holding hands and singing the first verse of "Amazing Grace," we were dismissed with "Go in peace."

*I once taught Evelyn Gibson's group, on "Sitting in His Dust." It felt like a God Wink to me this morning....or a River Church sighting as they would dub it!

FOCUS OR FALL!

Last Friday, I fell.

This Friday I'm focused on not falling. 

Everyone keeps reminding me; be aware of where you are going, hold on to the bannister, watch out so you won't bang your heel on the bedpost, watch where you are walking! You're not focusing!

Does "trying to focus" count?

Obviously not....I just stumbled.

My focus must be throwing me off-kilter. Hmmm.....

Refocus is needed.

If we walk with Him closely today, we will be in the center of His will tomorrow. (Henry Blackaby)

Hmmm....

Maybe tomorrow will be a better day!

As I focus on the Lord, I know He will be there to pick me up "for He upholds me with HIs hand," (Psalm 37:24) regardless of what day it is!

"FIL' ER UP!"

Fill 'er up, please! 

Ever used that phrase when having a cuppa with friends?

Have you ever been distracted and literally filled to overflowing?

compliments of Doris 

An overflow can happen in your spiritual life and not always for the best reason. First, one must empty self of distractions, expectations, obstacles of worry and opinions, to fully fill up with God's wisdom strength and mercy for the moment.   

Paul David Tripp (New Morning Mercies, 6/07/23) diagnosis is dubbed, "eternity amnesia." A malady that causes one to focus on self-centered wants......which our broken world cannot deliver. The world's inability to deliver disappoints every time.

But God, in his love and mercy, refills us day after day once we've emptied ourselves. (Valley of Vision, Fullness in Christ)

Take your morning empty cuppa, and ask God to "fill 'er up.....so His blessings will runneth over! (Psalm 23)

PRACTICING SABBATH

How does one practice keeping the Sabbath when she can't even go to church? 

I'll let you know as I discover.

Shabbot---in the Hebrew means cessation...as in rest Think stop. 

Stop doing long enough to rest in your relationship with the Lord.

Stop striving. Stop fearing. Stop regretting.

Too often I need the reminder to press the "PAUSE" button in my life to be refreshed in what God's purpose for me is this day.

HAPPY DANCE FRIDAY!

K-LOVE celebrates "Happy Dance Friday".....that's my kind of day!

Celebrating I'm a "Child of God" & dancing is going on my calendar for everyday.

As the song says, "On my my best day, I'm a child of God."

But what about your worst day?---you might ask.

The answer is, "On my worse day, I'm a child of God." (Nahum 1:7)

I'm so blessed!

"It doesn't matter about the rest if I've  got you Lord, I'm so blessed." 

Today and "every day is a good day." 

God, our help, is the reason why..... I'm going to dance on Happy Dance Friday!!

JUNE IS HERE!

I don't always remember what day it is but I'm always excited to turn my calendar page to a new month! Flipping the page means I get to see a beautiful picture taken by dear friend and incredible photographer, Anne Brewer!

This photo is not only spot-on for June but the verse is perfect!

Of course it is!

May the God of hope fill you with all joy and peace.....(Hebrews 15:13)

God's timing! June is here with hope renewed.