ALLITERATION....ANAGRAMS.....VOWEL AWARENESS!

Grammarians are often caught up in hand-wringing now-a-days as correct  spelling has gone out the window. Siri is in charge of spelling. Linguists are a rare breed and often looked down upon. (Oops did I just end that thought with a preposition. 

Though not a true linguist, I do have a fascination with words. As I age, I've struggled with some linguistic specifics. To aid this, I work on brevity of word phrases with linguistic clues:

  

ALLITERATIVE AWARENESS---

Continued confession leads to constant cleansing!

AMEN!

ANAGRAMS---same letters in different positions to make new words

The direction in life one takes, even in spelling/reading, can remind him or her....of similar truths or complete opposites. Positional purpose.

LIVE in Christ to avoid EVIL!

                     

The letters may be the same but the meanings are opposite when the order is different.

Keep Praying! Why?

Satan keeps preying!

Oh, the difference a vowel makes....esp. in one's spiritual life!

Pair these thoughts with Scripture and today "Think on these things" (Philippians 4:8) as you walkabout!*

*Hubby tries to get me outside each day. Daughter Molly joined us after my grammar discussion with her.......alliteratively confessing I needed to

Pitch the pouting and pick up the praises! 

They took me on a "Walk-a-bout Wednesday" which made Picking up Praise an easy switch!  

A flowing creek. Ice. Snow. Dried leaves and Moss. 
A true masterpiece of Creator God.

TWEAKING TO TEACH & RECALL!

Yesterday's request was "share your favorite Bible verse. Today I recalled the chapter of Scripture that changed the aim of my life. AIM = Abide In Me!

(John 15)

Abiding makes us RICH in Him. Remain in Christ's Holiness!

All of the truth's of Scripture found in John 15 led me right into John 16's teaching which focuses on the face of trials which require perseverance. Imagine that !?

If one wants to be truly R I C H.....Read above acronym again and again!

 

ALLITERATIVE MEDITATION!

OOPS--didn't finish my alliterative meditation in a timely manner to post this entry. Pretend it's still Monday. Nothing new to me---I'm often mixed up on what day it is!

Ad agencies use alliterations to sell products. PayPal. Best Buy. Bed Bath and Beyond.

English prof once told me that alliteration is a "fake literary form" and should not be included in any true work of literature.

Oh well---alliteration resonates with me when I try to recall many Biblical truths. Alliteration helps A.D.D.

Self-serving or Savior-serving? That's today's alliterative question after rereading yesterday's journal jottings. 

It's had me thinking all day. All are called to serve. (Galatians 5:13) Not all serve in the same way or place. But service is a by-product of loving others. Then, why do I, who love others, seem to be serving less and less, but feeling wearier & wearer? 

Some well-meaning folks are telling me I just need a "me" day. Frankly, my dear ones, I don't think so. I think I need a "Thee Day.

"More of Thee and less of me." 

Not alliterative but comparative as the appropriate answer.

"Lean on Lord Jesus"  is the alliterative answer!

ACRONYMS ABOUND

So many acronyms. So little time.

I'll start with alliteration instead.

Reflect and Rejoice.

Reflect on the old familiar ones. Rejoice that you can remember those.

Check out these, new to me, ones...

Hope more to come from me...

....and new ones from you. I'd love to hear yours. Acronyms Abound for sure!

WONDERFUL WORDS!

What a germane topic for "Wordsmith Wednesday"---Wonderful Words!

There's nothing quite like waking up to just the words one needs to hear!

So grateful to friend, Doris, who shares insights from a wordsmith friend of hers. Scottie. His sporadic  devotionals always seem spot on! This one builds with comparatives and turns us to Jesus, our portion, our peace, and our passion. 

We women know---if we compare, we despair. 

What a peaceful way to begin our day. So-o-o-o calming. 

Who doesn't need "calming" words these days! 

Before I could even finish this blog entry, a text from my dear Ukrainian friends shared that they are hearing bombing in their city today for the first time. They who have been feeding and sheltering hundreds of people daily since this horrific war began, as well as risking their own lives to transport the most vulnerable out of the war torn east to the borders, are now under attack. 

Help them, Lord. Be their strength, portion, peace and the lifter up of their heads

May all who read this lift prayers of comfort and safety on their behalf.

CHOOSE: FOUR FOR THE FOURTH FRIDAY

This entry could have been "Choose: Humor" but I love alliteration.
So-o-o....thanks for humoring me.

I hope to add to your "humor" by adding 4 "funny" marginalia quotes. 

Maybe just funny for me as one with a sharpening pencils fetish, modus operandi of panic, who is an all around human mess, and needs to allow God to "turn (my) mess into a message."

1. Jesus needs to photo bomb all those "selfies." (Cole Huffman)
2. Family Motto at our house is "Wake up and Panic!"  (Carolyn W.)
3. REMEMBER: If there's not blood, smoke or fire, it's NOT a crisis. (Carolyn W.)
4. Life without God is like an unsharpened pencil, it has no point! (unknown)

Choosing to laugh today as I focus not on my faults but focus more on how God can use them.

Pithy Grabbers

Succinct phrases that "grab" your attention have been dubbed by me as pithy grabbers----of which, I am a fan! No one knows that better than ljj who finally made a "pithy grabbers" file for our library.

When entertaining, Mother 's pithy grabber was, "a doily covers a multitude of sins" (think foibles/faux pas/mess) 

"My" Molly & I are always saying a doily covers a multitude of something__________.

Recently  she added "a vest is the doily of outerware as it covers a multitude of sin__________(think overeating) 

Religiously I assume that the Catholic doily-like head-coverings worn by women and the skullcap/yarmulke worn by Jewish men are an example of penitence as a way of "covering a multitude of sins" so that they can honor God.

Church Signs 

especially in the "South" 

often display thoughts that are....

pithy with a punch----

packing a lot of weight 

to remind others of "doing right!"

Sweet friend, Margie Hornor, is always adding to my "pithy" repertoire. She introduced me to arrow prayers.  Just those  two words indicate the forceful trajectory of said prayers----launched from earth and heading upward to God. 

Panic Prayers are similar (pithy plus alliterative, of which I am also a fan). Think URGENCY in all CAPS when there's no time for words. "HELP!" comes to mind

Recently Margie introduced me to "stinking thinking." Doesn't that just "reek" of negativity. 

The good news is, she gave a remedy for the stinking diagnosis---a grateful heart!

Dorm friend, Susan Featherston Coates, who knew me well suggested a pithy grabber for my tombstone---"just down for a quick nap." NOT only do fewer letters appeal to this "frugal fanny," but it lets the world know of my sleep patterns.

Nowadays, I'm rethinking that choice.

How's this for a tea aficionado?

"She ran out of tea." More a epithet than an epitaph....but it's a perfect final "pithy grabber" for me!

Quotidian Quest

Alliteration strikes again. Of course, it's Wordsmith Wednesday.

Quotidian. A great word that keeps popping up lately in my reading.

Mr. Webster defines quotidian (kwōˈtidēən/) as an adjective---- occurring every day. Many think of it as the ordinary----the everyday---possibly occurring so routinely that we don't give it much thought. 
Mundane is probably a synonym of quotidian though I haven't confirmed. 

A quotidian schedule. A ritual. A routine.

A quotidian cuppa is certainly a part of my morning ritual.

As far as routines go, I learned those from a master---Daddy. You could set your clock by him. The sense of routine and order bode him well, especially as he aged. Routine offered security. Habits long practiced kept him focused. 

• ....LORD; in the morning my prayer comes before you. (Psalm 88:13)
• My soul waits for the Lord More than the watchmen for the morning; (Psalm 130:6)
• In the morning, LORD, you hear my voice; in the morning I lay my requests before you and wait expectantly. (Psalm 5:3)

Quiet time with an open Bible, more that a morning ritual-------scripture is more of a love letter from God to our quotidian lives which give hopes to our little corner of the world.
A Quotidian Quest of Quality.

Wednesday Wordsmiths

Wednesday Wordsmiths.
My daily prayer list is compartmentalized in a way that would not make a bit of sense to others----but that doesn't matter as it is "my list" and tends to help my recall.
God has been gracious to help me remember what day it is and thus folks for whom I intercede on each day of the week.......as recall these days seems more difficult.

Part of my Wednesday "default" list is filled with wordsmith friends and family.

Wednesday Wordsmith Bernie has recently shared her Biblical Truths --Alliterated. Now that's right up my alley. 

Acronyms. Acrostics. Alliteration. 

Any literary device that helps me recall truth is appreciated.

Bernie's "P" list was thought provoking today. A great reminder that as I continue to "wait" I need to remember that the best location for waiting patiently is in His Presence. Patiently, an adverb, that needs to characterize my "waiting" journey. (Psalm 40:1)

My "pig" pottery cup led me to BE's "P" list where patience was listed.

OK, Wednesday Wordsmith Bernie, now I need some M(s). 

M(s) to keep me mindful or maybe help on my mindful acrostic, as I'm struggling to keep my wandering mind filled with positive, peaceful ponderings. (especially in the wee hours) 

Literary Devices for Old Brains

3/20/09
Acronyms and acrostics---Don’t you just love them?? I do---they’re right up there with alliteration as a way of helping me remember.
MIRACLE AND BLESSINGS:

Mohs procedure sufficient to remove MAC.
Invasiveness less than 1st thought, next surgery in April not Sept.
Radiation not needed---saved my teeth.
Adnexal carcinoma gone.
C for Christ is bigger than c for cancer.
Lord is the “lifter up of my head.
EKG showed no heart attack.

And…………………………………..

Baylor, Beth and Breath of God.
Lord & Larry---neither have left me for a minute.
Ensure---Yum-m-m-m, that’s one way to get some chocolate!
Siblings, Buddy, Josh and Molly, together to serve and sacrifice
Syringe, my new fork.
Incalculable—too many blessings to try and list all.
Nurses—Martha (recently diagnosed w/cervical cancer) & Bonnie.
Gas, yep it’s a normal aftermath, so it means surgery is over!
Sleep, sweet sleep---the Lord gives to me even in my sleep.