TUESDAY TRUTH....

Tuesday truth through a kitchen window.....

In the beginning, God created the heavens and the earth. (Genesis 1:1)

Last week our family witnessed the dry land Earth in new places  and the gathered waters he called Seas. (Genesis 1:10)

This morning as I sat by the kitchen window, I could gaze on the vegetation and plants yielding seed.....within as stone's throw. 

A place of grace!

God allowed me to "Be Still"----nothing open but my eyes to see what He had for me! "Less of me and MORE of Thee!"

AMEN!!!

NATIONAL NAP DAY!

Today is National Nap Day and I'm too tired to take a nap!

How can that be!? 

For years I was the consummate napper!

These last couple of years weary prevails and sleep eludes?

Even with the Psalm 127:2 reminder, "Lord gives to His beloved, even in her sleep," I'll have to settle for being still with my eyes open.

Hopefully, His peace will come.

Thanks to a reader who shared other nappers. One has celebrated it in many states! First as a baby on a beach towel in Florida 

sand......

.....and today as a worn out West Elementary first grader creekside in his hammock at "his" Deep Creek beach.

Sweet naps on the National holiday!

 

LINGERING AT LAKE JUNALUSKA!

My daughter's well-planned day just for the two of us. 

A time of lingering by the lake where I went to a Methodist Camp in 1963.

"Be still and know that I am God..." (Psalm 46:10)

So many memories teenage memories. Ann Ryder Randolph from Princeton, Ky. Donald Davis, who worked in the bookstore at the camp and later became a nationally known storyteller. He's still telling stories and comes to Memphis every other year. MS Carolyn Meacham, later to marry hubby's dear friend Hal, & I were in the group picture under the cross but I never met her until years later after we were both married and discovered our shared adventure.

A time of quiet beauty: Giving glory to God and grace for me physically and spiritually....

Lingering in the labyrinth & Meditating in the Memorial Chapel. 

Praying in the chapel when 3 young men came in and went to the front and began quietly playing their guitars.

Recording my prayers for family, Wednesdays folks &, special needs to be prayed for by others in the in LJ prayer ministry.

An AMEN Time to a "Wonderful Wednesday."

MUCH TO DO--LITTLE TIME!

Sooooooooo much to do! Sooooooooo little time!!

Sooooooooo grateful for praying friends who lead me back to God's Word!! Today, Wynellen shared from Psalm 18.

Psalm 18:28-29--words I'm clinging to this moment! Verse by verse. Box by box. Room by room. Decision by decision. 

MY mouth speaks but no one can hear. Off to doctor to check on this most recent malady---laryngitis. Might be God's reminder to be still and listen before stepping out today, especially if scaling walls is on your agenda!

BUT GOD.................

BUT GOD--a phrase that stays,--- in my mind that is!*

A prepositional phrase that speaks to my heart time and time again. "45 times" in the Bible according to Desiring God. 

At yesterday's UM Commencement I was enthralled by the mortarboard designs! Such variations! Guess which one caught my attention!

 

"But God Moments" follow a time of despair or crisis, signifying a pivotal change brought about by divine intervention. They reveal God's ultimate authority and transformative power in seemingly hopeless situations. "BUT GOD" moments signify God's mercy, deliverance and strength in adversity. (Dr. Chris Caster, Christ Church)

My flesh and my heart may fail, but God is the strength of my heart and my portion forever. (Psalm 73:26)

I'm "being still" but you, dear reader, may shout, "AMEN!"

*It was also a fave phrase of church friend, Martha R.

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!

BE STILL!

Can God use fatigue to "make" you be still in order to know that He is God!

Will let you know after my next nap!

WORDLE

Even Wordle has my Number. 

(Notice I waited a day to publish it so as not to spoil the surprise.)

When one has not had a "calm brain" in an entire week, God has to really step in to get your attention.

He can even use a  game. I had been "keeping on-keeping on" as well as I could........but my mind kept moving with my circumstances. Yes, I started my day praying for my "daily" people, keeping up somewhat with zoom prayer groups, taking hubby to ER & helped him with virtual doc visit, attending Bible study, taking food to a suffering friend, etc. Busyness is a way I cope....it's always been that way for me. At this time in life it seems worse. I know because I can't keep up. I even have a "come apart" when I put my compression socks on the wrong feet. I mix up my meds or forget  to take them. My hand shakes as I type or lift spoon to mouth with my granola. I can feel shakes even when I don't see them.  As brother Buddy said, "Feet moving. Going nowhere."

What's a gal to do? Take time for the "pause that refreshes"---More time alone with Him!

To pause is difficult. It requires being still---even in my mind!

COMING and GOING

Some days I feel as if I "meet myself coming and going!" (an idiom from my Hoptown hometown days)

On a recent road trip to visit family, a food replenishment stop, gave a positive meaning to that saying, 

Location: THE BURGER JOINT, New Boston, Texas

As we were coming in we were greeted with God's Word! What an auspicious beginning for one who was having trouble holding her head up because of pain. (Philippians 4:6-7)

As we had our rr break and waited for our food another "timely" message helped endure the wait. (Colossians 3:15)

More relevant scripture was visible upon our exit---a great "going out" reminder. (Exodus 14:14

Did I mention that whether we were just coming in for refreshment or going out to return to our car, every employee was smiling and helpful!!

As we drove off, my mind was flooded with scripture that would sustain me the rest of this somewhat arduous trip. 

The LORD will keep your going out and your coming in from this time forth and forevermore. (Psalm 121:8, emphasis mine)

CHOOSE: THY FOUNT OF EVERY BLESSING

Fountains can offer quiet tranquil places---places which evoke tranquility even in the midst of hubbub. Water can do that or me----reminding me to relax and be still, that God might speak.

Ask the One who is the source of the Living Water, to teach you that His words might come alive in your life, in spite of all the distractions and chaos. As the psalmist says in Psalm 42:2, "My soul thirsts for God. for the living God." (NIV)

In the Message version of Psalm 42:2, I read words that spoke to my thirsty heart. 

I want to drink God, deep draughts of God. I'm thirsty for God alive. I wonder, 'Will I ever make it--arrive and drink in God's presence?' When can I go and meet with God.

How blessed one is to have God's Word at her fingertips.

"The word of God is alive and active." As Stephen reminded the Sanhedrin, Moses received living words to passion." (Acts 7:38) We need to remember these words as well. 

Words that can be a fount of blessing when we share with others.

CHOOSE: STILLNESS

This snapshot says it all.

My plan for today's quiet time. To sit before the Lord and allow Him to guide my thoughts.

In stillness. With an open Bible and an open heart. 

Speak (LORD) for your servant is listening. (1 Samuel 3:10)

If I can't be still and listen with my heart, how else will I know Him?