WARBLING WEDNESDAY!

Following yesterday's focus on listen and silent as important in one's spiritual life, I started my day humming a tune found in my very old Cokesbury Hymnal. 

Think early 20th Century.......copyright 1923---cost 30¢.

I'm assuming it was originally Gena and Pap's, my Adams connection, who went to the Methodist Church in KY as did my parents. I can't read music but I remember those tunes.

The one i've been humming throughout my day is "Open My Eyes, That I May See." Why? "Open my ears that I may hear." (v.2) Think actively listen in order to hear and heed truth. 

The chorus' 1st line for all 3 verses mentions 

Silently, now I wait for Thee, Ready my God, Thy will to see; 

v.1     Open my eyes, illumine me,  Spirit Divine!

v.2     Open my ears, illumine me,   Spirit Divine!

v.3     Open my heart, illumine me,  Spirit Divine!

If you want to hum along, Click Below on hymn title!

Open My Eyes, That I May See

HOPE AS A "KNOW SO"

Last month's The Best Times Faith and Hope section by Truth Seekers Fellowship Stacy Tyson focused of My One Word for 2024.....HOPE! Of course, I had to take notes. 'Cause, that's what I do!

One more Monday's Meditation on his scriptural truth notes.

HOPE---defined from a Biblical position. (my paraphrases with additions)

• Hope is a confident expectation things will turn out well turn out well because our Father God who promises is faithful. Hope is built on HIs past works. 
• Hope is NOT just wishful thinking. 
• Hope is built of Father God's trustworthy word and His past works..  
• My hope is built on nothing less than Jesus' blood and righteousness; Cokesbury hymnal, p, 24)
• There is an old saying, A person can live 40 days with out food, 3 days without water, about 3 minutes without air, but not 3 seconds without hope."
• Hope is essential to life.

Everything that was written in former times was written for our instruction, so that through endurance and and through encouragement of the Scriptures we way have hope. (Romans 15:4, emphasis mine)

So.....Know the "know so" of True Hope!

SING-SING A SONG!

SING! From "10,000 Reasons" to old fashion hymns---okay if off-key.

How marvelous! how wonderful! And my song shall ever be:

How marvelous! how wonderful Is my Savior's love for me! (Cokesbury Hymnal #172, 1923)

photo by Anne Brewer

SING FROM YOUR HEART----even a new song!! (Isaiah 42:100

2021 RESET NEEDED

These days, we all need a "shot in the arm." Literally! We stand and wait for our turn for the COVID vaccine. But as we wait, let's ponder resetting our HOPE!

Type A folks can have trouble letting go of control. I know, I am a 'just in case" person trying to cover all plans in case Plan A doesn't pan out. It is not a healthy place to be. It's stressful---the one aspect of my life my stroke neurologist is trying to "temper"---don't give up on me Dr. Bhole.

On my 2008 Mexico Mission trip, my teammates dubbed me "girl scout" because I had packed lots of "just in case" meds, toys, snacks, etc. which I shared.

But....2020 blew "my" plans out the window. God only has a Plan A. 

Having meditated on Lamentations 3 for several days, I began to focus on verse 24.

"The Lord is my portion says my soul therefore I will hope in Him." (ESV)

His "Plan A" doesn't mean hope changes my circumstances, it reminds me who is control and in the midst of pain, suffering and uncertainty, He is with me.

Allen Bible Church's sermon closed 12/27/2020 with Dan Martin, reading the "My Hope is Built" hymn lyrics.

"My hope is built on nothing less than Jesus blood and righteousness......on Christ the solid Rock I stand," are the familiar parts of the hymn. 

Earlier that day I had the hymn whirring thru my mind and in my old Cokesbury Hymnal, (publication date unknown but cost was 30¢ for a single copy) it was on p. 24. 

I dare not trust the sweet-est frame, But wholly lean on Jesus name.....In every high and stormy gale, my anchor holds with-in the veil......When all a-round me then gives way, He then is all my hope and stay! (emphasis mine)

Thanks to Edward Mote for those phrases  that jumped into my psyche and soul to help reset my hope for 2021. I'm still humming it as I seek to reset my focus each day.

Thankful Thursday

1/29/09

---one year I had to do all 365 days focusing on thankfulness---it became my gratitude journal---I never missed a day but some days I had to scratch/choose to see events as thanksgiving---it became lots easier, the more I practiced---that was a life lesson for me. "In every thing, give thanks."

Yesterday's entry seemed to be full of run-on sentences of mental meanderings. My stream of consciousness tangle/jumble was hard to untangle even for my hubby and he's lived with this confused brain for almost 40 years.

Even during early hour prayers this morning, I found my thoughts would wander. But…..the answer was in Jesus Calling----Keep your focus on Me. When your mind wanders, "Bring every thought captive," (2 Corin. 10:5) In My light anxious thoughts shrink…….. confused ideas are untangled.

I began with focusing on the Lord through song---thinking, " I just need a hymnal." Well, searching on the bottom shelf of the lawyers cabinet that had been my grandmother's, I found a Cokesbury Hymnal, copyright 1923. It cost 30¢. So, the Lord and I had a songfest and my heart began to overflow with gratitude.

When I sang, It is Well With my Soul with tears starting to flow, I knew that even in this challenge, my soul is well, He Keeps Me Singing as I Go---was the hymn reminder that kept me singing/thanking Him all day:

1. …while waiting for the doc phone call that never came.

2. …while celebrating with friends at Houston High*

3. …while talking to myriads of people who care

4. …while hugging a dear friend. IC, whom I had to track down

5. …while calmly responding to my father-in-law's fears about his surgery tomorrow---though my heart ached for him

*UTrust came to school to film the school nurse and the HHS Café ladies, based on a story I had written about them. I was the author, but they were the inspiration---it was their story, I just told it so others would know how each of them make a difference in the lives of so many of us---and they do it because they care. The nurse has already showered me with flowers and hugs and I left the cafeteria today laden with my favorite soup and BUTTER COOKIES!!!! That shoud be #6---b/c I'm thankful for such a big stash.

Things change with a call and before I could even post these earlier comments, I had another BIG reason to say Thank you, Lord! I had an entire chapel to myself, to kneel before the Lord I love and beg for extra measures of mercy and grace for a family I love as my own.