PEACE NEEDED

Peace is always needed for a healthy life but it seems to be needed even more as Christmas approaches. And so I pray---peace for others!

(Picture hanging in Chatios Memorial Chapel, The Cove 2013)

Today I prayed Numbers 6:26 for a squad of others!

the LORD lift up his countenance upon you and give you peace. (ESV)

For more meditating on that one verse, consider the AMP version.

The LORD lift up His countenance (face) 

upon you (with divine approval, 

And give you peace (a tranquil heart and life)

Peace, offered from God's Word,  feels good no matter which version you consider.

PONDER!

Obsession seems to be a part of my framework---at least the themes of my blog. 

Choose. Dance. Please God. Tea. Alliterative phrases and palindromic words. Alphabetical order.

On Wednesdays, I am often all about words. This past week started out with "ponder" as seen in a text from a friend.

What do I ponder? Why? Who knows? Reasons vary.

How do I ponder? Awareness  of the word. Sometimes it pops out in a scripture or on a sign.

"Ponder resources"---Old school Merriam Webster used---you know the hard copy that has resided bedside since college days--- my first was a high school graduation gift from my Aunt Dot Seay. Pretty obvious I am her namesake! 

Parts of speech are usually first in my pursuit. Inflections, ponders, pondering pondered, i.e. verb tenses. are same as inflections-- Verb, intransitive. 

Library book found......I saw it on the title of a book, as if used as an adjective. Then I started the book and Ponder was a noun. The Ponders were a family in Eudora Welty's novella, The Ponder Heart (I'm only beginning to read this because, of course, the title intrigued me.) Already I have seen ponders used as an adjective as it describes the generous heart of Daniel Ponder.

Defintions--appraise, think about, weigh in the mind.

On-line dictionary used when ease of "pasting " is needed.

Word search followed. Synonyms to expand my understanding, i.e. are there degrees of pondering?

Synonyms pasted Synonyms for ponder

chew over, 

cogitate, 

consider, 

contemplate, 

debate, 

deliberate, 

entertain, 

eye, 

kick around, 

meditate, 

mull (over), 

perpend, 

pore (over), 

question, 

revolve, 

ruminate, 

study, 

think (about or over), 

turn, 

weigh, 

wrestle (with)

Scripture search ensued....6 found in NIV  concordance--explorations of different versions later. 

One verse stood out.  Psalm 107:43 (NIV w/ ESV additions)

Whoever is wise, let him heed (attend to ) these things, and (let them consider) ponder the loving deeds n( steadfast love of the LORD. (Yahweh)

More musing and reflecting---which sent me down a rabbit hole of soul stillness--the connection between my soul pondering and God's steadfast love. (Steadfast is My One Word for 2021) But that's pondering for another time!

CHOOSE: REFLECTION

Reflection can be defined return of light---as production of an image by, or as if by, a mirror.

OKLAHOMA MEMORIAL DECEMBER 2010

My thoughts on reflection today are more of the "thoughtful" one. To ponder, cogitate, meditate, ruminate, think on (Philippians 4:8)---a musing of sorts in God's word.
As 2 Timothy 2:7 states, Reflect on what I am saying, for the Lord will give you insight into all this. (NIV) Other Bible versions offer different "reflect" translations---take your pick. Think about. (NCV) Think of (Darby) Think over. (ESV) Consider.(NASB & KJV) Keep in mind. (CEV) Mark well. (Weymouth)  Understand. (DRA)

As water reflects the face, so one’s life reflects the heart.   (Proverbs 27:19)

May I choose to reflect the light---His light within me. May it shine brightly on my face today.(2 Corinthians 4:6)

Version Preferences

When studying God's Word, I have a variety of Bibles handy. (KJV) King James Version used for recall of childhood memory verses. (NASB) New American Standard Bible used most for individual study. (NIV) New International Version for BSF---Bible Study Fellowship lessons. (ESV) English Standard Version to follow along at church. For easy reading, I sometimes choose (CEV) Contemporary English Version, (NCV) New Century Version or the (NLT) New Living Translation, especially for facilitating understanding in difficult passages or long chapters. 

The same truth or primary meaning, just differing in certain wording or connotations---sometimes invokes ideas or feelings specific to situations, which I might be experiencing at the time ---is helpful to me.

A different "legitimate" version can offer a new or fresh perspective especially when I am preparing to teach a passage or topical lesson.

Studying for an upcoming "rest" lesson, words like refuge and retreat seem to jump off the pages from the (MSG) Message. When accompanied by "renewal," an aspect of that rest, all the better.

A Veritable Feast

9/20/10 The passage for "Meditation Monday" is Isaiah 55:1-3. Choose the version that fits your taste.

. (New International Version) Invitation to the Thirsty

1 "Come, all you who are thirsty,

come to the waters;

and you who have no money,

come, buy and eat!

Come, buy wine and milk

without money and without cost.

2 Why spend money on what is not bread, 


and your labor on what does not satisfy? 


Listen, listen to me, and eat what is good, 


and your soul will delight in the richest of fare.

3 Give ear and come to me; 
hear me, that your soul may live. I will make an everlasting covenant with you, 
my faithful love promised to David

(The Message) Buy Without Money

1-5 "Hey there! All who are thirsty,

come to the water!

Are you penniless?

Come anyway—buy and eat!

Come, buy your drinks, buy wine and milk.

Buy without money—everything's free!

Why do you spend your money on junk food,

your hard-earned cash on cotton candy?

Listen to me, listen well: Eat only the best,

fill yourself with only the finest.

Pay attention, come close now,

listen carefully to my life-giving, life-nourishing words.

I'm making a lasting covenant commitment with you,

the same that I made with David: sure, solid, enduring love.

I set him up as a witness to the nations,

made him a prince and leader of the nations,

And now I'm doing it to you:

You'll summon nations you've never heard of,

and nations who've never heard of you

will come running to you

Because of me, your God,

because The Holy of Israel has honored you."

(English Standard Version) The Compassion of the LORD

1"Come, everyone who thirsts,

come to the waters;

and he who has no money,

come, buy and eat!

Come, buy wine and milk

without money and without price.

2Why do you spend your money for that which is not bread,

and your labor for that which does not satisfy?

Listen diligently to me, and eat what is good,

and delight yourselves in rich food.

3Incline your ear, and come to me;

hear, that your soul may live;

and I will make with you an everlasting covenant,

my steadfast, sure love for David.

(King James Version) My Grandmother’s Choice

1Ho, every one that thirsteth, come ye to the waters, and he that hath no money; come ye, buy, and eat; yea, come, buy wine and milk without money and without price.

2Wherefore do ye spend money for that which is not bread? and your labour for that which satisfieth not? hearken diligently unto me, and eat ye that which is good, and let your soul delight itself in fatness.

3Incline your ear, and come unto me: hear, and your soul shall live; and I will make an everlasting covenant with you, even the sure mercies of David.

Let me know which version feeds your soul the best.

Words---Lexiteria

2/20/09 Lexiteria Liles Style
Posted late today because both phone and internet have been down---maybe that was God’s hand---setting me apart for meditation.

Brother Buddy is a lexicologist, son Buddy is a wordsmith and lately I (who have similar genes) struggle with finding just the right words ---especially in this “cobweb” brain of mine. Now, I am concerned about words (notice I didn’t put worried or fretting---I know they are no-nos)----words that might come out of my mouth while I’m drug induced for these surgeries. Sitting with my father-in-law at the hospital, after he’s had to have procedures that require more morphine, and hearing the “babble” that comes from his mouth makes me uncomfortable. I certainly have my share of character flaws, but to date, foul language has never been one of them. People who know me well and even the students at school, make fun of my strong language-----
lawzie-beezie, dear gussie, what in the sam hill, tootberries, I suhwanee,
oy vey & a few other Yiddish expressions are about as profane as I get----but what if I lose my manners while under the influence of all those surgery drugs and babble all the “bleep” words I’ve ever heard in my entire life? Remember, my prayer request has been, “Lord don’t let my actions/behavior during this MAC season overshadow (in any way) Your goodness.” How much goodness will people see if my mouth is filled with #@**/!

Okay, let’s talk about meaningful words. Words are important to me, especially from scripture. One of my all time favorite verses is Jeremiah 15:16. Thy words were found and I ate them, and Thy words became for me a joy and the delight of my heart.

Lately I’ve been devouring them---and you now know that’s scriptural. Some have asked what kind of Bible I have? I’m assuming they mean version although there are a variety of study Bibles. For Bible study, I use the New American Standard Version (NASB) for memorizing, much has been done with the King James Version (KJV) ---you know all those Thees & Thous & haths---and for nightly reading Larry uses either a New International Version or more recently the English Standard Version (ESV) which he recently bought at DTS in Dallas to read aloud verses folks have sent to me that day. Those translations flow well when reading.

Compare the versions of Psalm 37:3 Trust in the LORD, and do good; Dwell in the land and cultivate faithfulness. (NASB)
Trust in the LORD, and do good; so shalt thou dwell in the land, and verily thou shalt be fed. (KJV)

Same verse, different version, often gives me a little more insight ---however I’m no Hebrew expert so I ask the Bible Study Fellowship questions: what does it say ?; what does it mean?; and what does this mean to me? This particular verse means to me that I can take a verse of scripture and meditate on it, feed on it, throughout the day---to me, it’s as if when I am trusting in Him, I am “feeding on faithfulness” His faithfulness and His truths as I apply them to my life.
If I want to go for additional commentary I use
http://www.soniclight.com/constable/notes.htm
Dr. Constable is a DTS professor who is a reliable source.

Wow if I have any readers after this didactic entry, I’ll know you are stout of heart----or maybe you too want to truly feed on God’s Word.