SCATTERED!

May I set my mind---center my scattered mind.

It's the first thought I had this morning looking out the window as I headed to my prayer chair. All week, I have watched the pile of scatterings increase both in the yard and in my distracted mine.

"Why the impact of scattered petals?" one might ask. These heritage snowball bushes were from the family home of my most influential spiritual mentor, Mama Davenport, Margaret Louise Hooper of Hampton Station, Ky.

The force that drives and scatters my mind in many directions is NOT the force Mama Davenport taught me. She taught me to trust the "force" of Christ in my heart. She knew that as I matured there would still be times when I would be "prone to wander" & need to "bind my wandering heart to Thee" as my old favorite hymn said. ("Come Thou Fount")

Today I chose to follow through...........

Prone to wander, Lord I feel it

Prone to leave the God I love

Here's my heart, oh take and seal it

Seal it for Thy courts above.

....set my heart, aong with my mind & my voice, on things above. AMEN!

Center & settle me again today O Lord,----in honor of my grandmother and to the glory of your son, so that our sweet Jesus, the only true force, may once again spring forth!

FRIDAY FODDER!

God's grace is always present!

I have "seen" it recently. 

Even in the doldrums this past week, the Lord has provided "pick-me-ups."

A perk of pansies and a kind thank-you......

......Plus, "Ss of God's Grace" reminders from Pastor Scotty Smith.

• Saving Grace--united me with Christ.
• Sustaining Grace--supplies my needs.
• Sufficient Grace--for my sluggish slump.
• Sane-ing Grace--to renew my mind and keep it sane again & again.
• Sweetening Grace--in abundance.

From His fulness we have all received grace upon grace. (John 1:16) 

THANKFUL THURSDAY!

THANKFUL THURSDAY !

Let the morning bring me word 

of your unfailing love, 

for I have put my trust in you. 

Show me the way I should go 

for to you I entrust my life. (Psalm 143:8)

Enough said!

FLOURISHING NOT FLOUNDERING!

God's Word says the righteous flourish like a palm tree....and continue to bear fruit in old age. (Psalm 92:12-14) 

Flourishing has not been front and center in my vocabulary recently. So convicting when the Psalm speaks of the righteous as full of sap and green and I have little.

 

I am anything but full of sap and green......Apathetic. Blah.Fatigued. HoHum. Lethargic. Useless.

 

Think ENNU!! 

I need to "snap-out-of-it."

My" response has been to "try" and get moving.

But God, in His word says," He gives power to the faint and strength to the weary!" (Isaiah 48:29)

And so.....I wait trying not to feel guilty.  

At least I'm in my prayer chair."

Lord, allow my heart to be still and trust you more this Wednesday!

FLOUNDERING FORTITUDE!

STRENGTH diminishing! Why? What's the Source.....other than age or too much "me"?

Is it discouragement? Disappointment? Depression? Disease? Irritable-heart 

syndrome? 

Acceptance is the key.

This morning, the mirror on my chest clearly reminded me. "In my Face!"

Then, Scotty Smith's words for today re-emphasized the truth God already had  for me.

“Fear not, for I am with you; be not dismayed, for I am your God; I will strengthen you, I will help you, I will uphold you with my righteous right hand.” Isaiah 41:10

Two “I Am’s” + Three “I Will’s” = Deep Peace

GOSPEL LENS!

Physically, I seem to be getting weaker. Thus, service to others seems more difficult at times. Even my practice of prayer has too easily become self-centered, i.e. "Help, I need strength." 

Pastor Emeritus, Scotty Smith, reminds us to daily  "Pray the Scriptures."

Nothing has been of greater importance to my growth in grace than learning to pray the Scriptures while wearing the lens of the gospel. 

As Martin Luther said, we need the gospel every day because we forget the gospel every day.

Is heartfelt-engagement possible with a tired body? Even my eyes aren't what they once word after new glasses. I need clarity along with strength.

I need to begin each day with an open Bible read through gospel-lens. (James 5:16c)

BREAD AND WATER DIET

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

In Scripture, Christ is described in bread and water terms. With Him we will never be malnourished. "Bread of Life" & "Living Water." Not to discipline but to encourage. Truth which believers can depend on ....a spiritual gift from above, received in our innermost being. A spiritual nourishment of daily bread and living water which which one must seek daily.

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)

GOD'S HANDIWORK!

SOLAR ECLIPSE APRIL 8, 2024.

All across America,.....

 ......from young to old, from beginning to end.......

....enjoyed God's handiwork!

SANCTURY BY THE SEA!

For the beauty of the earth, for the glories of the skies for the love which from our birth over and around us lies. 

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

SATURDAY SUNSHINE!

What a way to start the day!

Quiet time with the Lord, sun in the blue, blue sky, breeze in the air......

....and time with JLK!

VERBS OF VERACITY = VICTORY!

Verbs of veracity can give victory    

Veracity---a 17th C word that is derived from truth or true..... as the quality of being true.

Many adjectives and nouns are synonymous with truth but are there verbs that are somewhat synonymous with veracity? Scripture in Psalm 119 speaks of soul-clinging, life-giving words.Words of truth that "strengthen." "Choose" the way of faithfulness that leads to truth. "Cling" to God's testimonies. "Speak" of them. "Allow" God to "incline" your heart toward Him; "Enlarge" your heart and let it "lead" you to run the way of His commandments."Dread not."

"Long" for God's precepts in His righteousness.

Trusting the Veracity of God's Word results in a life lived in Christ, for Christ and with Christ.....aka Victory in Jesus!

 Verbs of Veracity = Victory in Jesus 

MONDAY MOUTHFUL!

Much munching on Scotty Smith's devotional this morning.

A pastor who can go from French to slang in capturing our earthly mission in and for Christ.

Powerful words that justify our existence.

Glory for sure!

EASTER SUNDAY!

A sabbath that becomes serene as we meditate on the hope of the resurrection of Jesus Christ.

PRAISES for the Hope Of Easter which is renewed each day in the life of a believer!

SATURDAY SMILE OR SNEER!

Not a Saturday smile. Rather a Saturday sneer that makes me smile. 

A perfect pose for a five-year-old who knows there's a human inside that bunny costume. Folded arms show he's not impressed!

His look said it all for me!

Happy Easter, JLK. May you soon understand the true meaning of Easter and allow that TRUTH to put a smile on your face! (John 11:25)

ABOUNDING ADORATION!

ADORE HIM! Revere. Cherish. Esteem. Exalt. Glorify. Honor.

Thanks to Lynn T, our Colorful Day assistant, for sharing these aspects of the many Names of God....all of which honor His hallowed name,

Such an appropriate week to share, a prayer which overflows with His many names, especially with those who attended the "Names of God" workshop at Colorful Day. Adoration Galore in '24.

BOLSTERING FAITH!

Life is full of challenges. Ups and DOWNS. Highs and LOWS, 

Life is full of difficulties. 

Struggles strengthen.

Some brought on by ourselves....others by loved ones.

All can be used to bolster one's faith.

Our reactions to these difficulties can also bolster the faith of others.

Respond today in His strength. Allow Him to bolster faith in your life for others to see. They might need a faith boost as well.

LEANING!

When my mind goes 1,000 directions at once, I know to lean into the Lord.

I have options.....Plan A., Plan B., Plan C., etc. Just in case.

God has only 1 plan. His! 

He knows the plan He has uniquely for each of us. 

His plans give a future and a hope!(Jeremiah 29:11)

This meditation Monday, "Lean in,  listen to the LORD of Hope." 

Follow His plan for your life today!

ANCHOR OF HOPE!

Stand firm!

Having trouble in this area?

When we flee to Him for refuge, "we find strong encouragement to hold fast to the hope set before us. (Hebrews 6:18)

Allow God's truth to become your anchor of HOPE!

Hope: "a sure and steadfast anchor for the soul, a hope that enters into the inner place behind the curtain,"(Hebrews 6:19)

Jesus, our hope, anchor and high priest has entered there on our behalf! (Hebrews 6:20)

Our anchor of hope and security on this Palm Sunday.

WEEKEND WORDS OF WISDOM

Scotty Smith has such a way with words---even in a vocabulary of whining which sadly I understand well.

Remove whining Lord, Restore and reignite our JOY in you so we can stop whining and share truth with others even during difficult times this Palm Sunday weekend!.

CELEBRATE..........EASTER IS A-COMIN'

Easter will be here in a little over a week. It's celebrated by Jesus followers on March 31, this year.

For Christians, Easter is more a time of remembrance than bunnies, colored eggs and jelly beans. Easter is also a time of hope.

Blessed be the God and Father of our Lord Jesus Christ! According to his great mercy, he has caused us to be born again to a living hope through the resurrection of Jesus Christ from the dead, (1 Peter 1:3)

"What kind of hope is that?" one might ask.

Hope is not wishful thinking. For believers in Jesus as Savior of our world hope is a confident expectation! It's hope for a future backed by the promises of Father God's Word and work for us.

Jesus, our living hope, resurrected from the dead,  

is cause for true celebration this Easter Season!

PI DAY!

Yesterday was Pi Day.

My mathematical chums always remind me of the 3.14...........string of numbers dealing with the relation of the circumference to its diameter.

For me, it's a reason to buy a pie on "on sale" to celebrate. 

But, this year I decided to look up 3:14 verses in Scripture. Here are a few of my faves.

In Exodus 3:14, God shares His name, I AM. 

John 3:14 reminds us that as Moses lifted up the serpent in the wilderness, the Son of Man must be lifted up.

James 3:14 warns against a bitter, envious and lying heart.

For self: I press on toward the goal to win the prize for which God has called me heavenward in Christ Jesus. (Philippians 3:14)

For self & others: Our people must learn to devote themselves to doing what is good, in order to provide for urgent needs and not live unproductive lives.

(Titus 3:14)

SCUPPERED!

Wordsmith Wednesday has me with lingo "from across the pond."

SCUPPERED!

In an on-line dictionary they offer the "English" definition.....as if the language of Britain isn't English. 

Those of us who speak "Southern" can relate.

I know that you can do all things; no purpose of yours can be thwarted. (Job:42:2)

I just scuppered my plans---I lost my typed entry and could not recover. So discouraging! 

Don't know what's next yet.

DST!

Saturday as I reset clocks in anticipation for The "Spring Forward" for DST on my calendar, I accidentally turned on the bedside table alarm!

ARG!--It went off, not only on a "sleep in a bit later day" but an hour earlier.

But God in His love and mercy sets a time for everything and everyone. And today, I needed more sleep.....or so I thought.

Actually, I needed more zeal to do His will. (Romans 12:11) 

More of Thee less of me......regardless of the time of day.

REST IN PEACE!

One month ago today, on the morning of February 10, 2024, Henry Thomas Blackaby (born April 15, 1935) came to the end of his life on earth and began experiencing God face-to-face. He was predeceased by his wife Marilynn and survived by by five sons, all of whom are pastors and one daughter who was a missionary to Germany.

Blackaby's landmark devotional book, Experiencing God, has been the devotional book that I and several friends have been using this year and his words have encouraged each of us. In it he encourages his readers to remember God's promises are YES & Amen and to walk their talk! 

May one's actions back up words.

Another quote that inspires us all is  "Look to see where God is at work and join Him.” 

 & thanks for words of peace you have shared for Christians everywhere who desire to live a God'centered life!

Rest in Peace, Henry Blackaby & thanks for gody words lived out by you and your family>