EMBRACE WAITING!

Finishing up Mark Vroegop's, Waiting Isn'a a Waste, I think I need to repeat my read.....think---go to "time-out" and practice what my note- taking has advised.  

 

A fave Vroegop reminder is FOCUS on who The Lord..Is"....(Appendix 1)

"The LORD our God is one LORD." (Deuteronomy 6:4)

FOCUS on HIM with all your heart, soul, mind and strength! (Mark 12:30)

FAITHFUL FRIENDS!

Friday's Focus......

FAITHFUL FRIENDS!

AKA Friends in the Faith

Appreciate the counsel of a friend in the faith! I have had them both physically & emotionally pick me up when I have fallen. I have heard their voice through a text or phone call so loneliness doesn't smother me. Their counsel encourages one to continue to fight for faith.

Reciprocate in a like manner. When friends in the faith are struggling, come alongside to help them journey from hurt to hope! Maybe share a Psalm of Lament.....those psalmists'prayers in pain that help lead to deeper trust.

Friends in the Faith---a 'Kinship of Kindness" filled with grace-laced truth.

• A true friend offers sincere, sometimes painful advice for your own good, rather than empty flattery. 

FRIDAY FOCUS: LESSONS FROM A GRANDSON!

What can bless a grandmother's heart?

A return text to answer me, even when I later noticed his phone had been on silent mode.

The picture said it all.

His Friday focus began with the Lord! 

His way of starting a "Serene Sabbath" weekend!

A Faith Focus is the best way to start everyday!

A great lesson from the young to remind the "old" (with emphasis)--- each day starts with the Lord! (Psalm 118:24)

FRIDAY FOCUS!

Our relationship of trust with God is a result of focusing on Him in all situations.....

.......again and again! It's a biblical call. 

Focus on God not man......worship and serve Him with an undivided heart. Therein lies the problem/hurdle. From wisdom studies, "My One Word" for 2025, I have "learned" (still working" on this) wisdom is not in just knowing but in doing. Action is key! 

Wisdom is truth from God's Word. "You will know truth, and the truth will set you free," (John 8:32)

Recently, I read the distance from the brain to the heart was 20 inches but can't remember exact source. Google was my next step of validation.... varying distances 12", 14", 18" & 20" still emphasized to me that truth in the head (brain) is physically a short measure but spiritually/emotionally quite a stretch to turn into action! 

Continuous action needed to elicit change.!

Philippians 4:8 says it well. 

Finally, brethren whatsoever things are true, whatsoever things are honest, whatsoever things are just, whatsoever things are pure, whatsoever things are lovely, whatsoever things are of good report, if there be any virtue and if there be any praise, think on these things. 

Think on these things...... FOCUS again and again in order to transform "brain" knowledge into heart action, using God's grace as the glue to hold it there!

FRIDAY FOCUS!

This week my prayer focus has been for many who are battling medical maladies, especially cancer, individually or alongside their spouse and unexpected difficulties.

May the Lord continue to be their counsel and refuge as I shared with several of them. 

Psalm 16:8 emphasizes one's intentional focus on God as a source of His Presence granting protection.

To focus on a particular verse I use Bible Gateway with the verse citation.

 

https://www.biblegateway.com/passage/?search=Psalm%2016%3A8&version=ESV

At that point, I have access to read the full chapter for context or select the verse in all English translation. For me, that adds depth to my focus.

Over 50 versions are listed. If I don't understand the abbreviation, I can click on it and the source is shown.

Today's jottings showed me positional differences as well as outcomes which have become today's "Friday Focus"! 

I am the one doing the setting---continually (AMP & NASB), 

always keeping eyes on the LORD (NIV)--sounds like focus.

The word for LORD in all caps, Jehovah (ASV, YLT), ADONAI (CJB, TLV) & Yahweh (NOG)

Why keep the LORD set before me at my right hand? 

So I am not shaken. (ESV, NASB +) I am not moved. (18 versions) I will not slide. (GNV) I will not be defeated. (ERV) I will not be upset. I will not stumble or fall.  (TLB) I will not be hurt. (ICB)

I will be protected from fear. (CEV) I will stand firm. (ISV) I will always be secure. (NIRV)

FOCUS! FOCUS!! FOCUS!!!

BLESSINGS WITH BOUNDARIES!!

The sun comes up----

It's a new day dawning"

Sun Star Ornithogalum

As "10,000 Reasons" reminds me......

"It's time to sing your song again."

What song? The song one can sing regardless of circumstances. 

Fix eyes on Jesus. Think about where your steps will lead you. (Proverbs 4:25-26) Remember God's  design is for His glory and our good, not necessarily our ease. 

Worship His Holy Name.....then sing like never before!

FRIDAY FIVE!

My five words for focusing on this FRIDAY are so needed!

WITH GOD EVERYTHING IS POSSIBLE!

AMEN!

NEARNESS OF GOD!

Five words or less! 

"I will be with you." (Joshua 1:9)

As "Coming to Light Bible Study" calls it---"5 minute Friday."

NEAR.......closeness in proximity.  Accessible in a heart to heart intimate way regardless of virtual distance.

Jordan River Rules book study folks have learned much of nearness of God this month. Even when some are absent, they have been near in Spirit. Kathie G. even shares an Isaiah verse reminder for us.

Give Cheer! God is near!

Don't veer. Stay near!

"C" WORDS!

As Scotty Smith, founding and Pastor Emeritus of Christ Community Church in Franklin, Tn shared "C" Words today, my mind went into overdrive. 

Jesus, when there's more hours left in our day than kindness in our hearts, help us. Breathe your calm, care and compassion into us, and through us.

Great "C" Words for me to focus on this Friday. Calm, care, and compassion certainly trump comparison, complaint and criticism any day.

May joyful "C" Words enter your day as you choose to "cast all our cares on Christ---the ultimate "C" in a believer's life!

*Thx Doris for sharing!

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! 

SPRING IS COMING!

Officially, the spring season will begin March 19. But.....signs are already popping up in gardens and field's everywhere! White dogwoods filling fields in Hernando, MS. Budding heritage snowball bushes in yards of many friends. An unfamiliar magnolia bush. A saucer magnolia, according to my horticulturist neighbor. It looked like a tree with two different color blooms to me.

How could I have missed this visual springtime treat at GAC for so many years!?

May the Lord give me eyes to see. May I lift my head and open my eyes to see the beauty He has created without losing focus of the the Creator, by whom all things were created through Him and for Him. (Colossians !;16)

PRACTICING THY PRESENCE TO PRACTICE THE PAUSE!

A "pause" that refreshes my soul and pleases the Lord.

His pace becomes my pace.

Put

All

Under

Savior's

Ebullience

If actions don't please God, keep pausing until they delight Him! 

Practice Thy Presence to Practice the Pause.....or Practice the Pause to Practice Thy Presence!

REASON FOR THE SEASON!

Drive into Bryson City on Friday, December 1, and the signs, manger scenes, lights and decorations shine with a glorious Friday Focus!

Praises for a community whose focus is on the One who is the reason for the season! (Luke 2:7)

FRIDAY FOCUS

FRIDAY FOCUS...........

• “You will seek me and find me when you seek me with all your heart.”(Jeremiah 29:13) 
• "Give ear and come to me; hear me, that your soul may live." (Isaiah 55:3) 
• "God is our refuge and strength:" (Psalm 46:1)
• The joy of the Lord is your strength: (Nehemiah 8:10)

FRIDAY FOCUS....NEEDS TO BE A DAILY FOCUS FOR ME!!

May I be steadfast in this focus the rest of the month! (Psalm 36:1

FRIDAY FOCUS: HELP NEEDED!

*Today I am once again "Distracted Ditsy" as Siri calls me.

Sometimes acronyms or acrostics help. Not today.

Rhyming is the order of this day. 

• Stay in the Day! Psalm 118:24
• Robust Trust. Proverbs 3 5-6

Trust in the Lord with all your heart.

Help cometh from the Lord....

............when we stay in the day with robust trust

................................. in Him alone!

* So distracted with checking things off my list, that I neglected to post this entry! So sad. So-o-o me!

FLIP-FLOP MENTALITY

Sister-in-law Charlotte is a flip flop fiend! Her closets back me up on this! I probably would be as well, if I had "pretty toes" like she has!

My only flipflop leanings are in my "distractible mind." It is difficult for me to focus and it seems to be getting worse with each new year. 

How does one undo forgetfulness as they age? Recall failure flusters without allowing forgetfulness to push out peace?

Minds are steadfast, keeping peace of thoughts when they trust in YAH the LORD......Isaiah 26:3

Romans 12:2 reminds us (me) to be transformed by the renewing of our minds.

Colossians 3:2 says, "Set your mind on things above, not on earthly things."

As Paul says in Philippians 2:1-5, be mindful and live with an awareness of the present. On a straight path. (Proverbs 3:5-6)

Steadfast. Transformed. Renewed. Mindset. Mindful.

Have the mind of Christ.

 

Put the "Flip-Flop" mind back in the closet where it belongs!

SEE THE CROSS!

Do you see it---the cross that is?

 

Keep your FOCUS on the cross! (Hebrews 12:2)

MATURITY!

Mature? Immature?

Physical---look to check growth attributes.

Emotional---look and listen.

Spiritual---compare words with actions.

Didn't think I was too immature until I got to the end of Tyson's list.

Reminder still needed to please God, not man. (1 Thessalonians 2:4)

He sees beyond our actions into the motives of our hearts.

We "see" it in our own lives if despair/depression keeps knocking at the door of our mind.

If we compare, we despair. It's up to us to transfer our minds to embrace God's good, pleasing and perfect, will/purpose for our lives.

Paul David Tripp sums it up well. "There is nothing for which we can take credit. All praise, honor, worship, and service go to God and God alone. He sought us. He birthed us. He sustains us. He matures us." (New Morning Mercies, September 24)

That's what maturity looks like......from the inside out! 

FRIDAY FUNNY NEEDED!

Life is full of ups and downs. Certainly I have been on an emotional roller coaster these last few weeks as I have mourned the death of two dear friends and been saddened by new diagnosis of others. Sad news can pull the rug out from under me even tho I know God is good.

Ecclesiastes 3 reminds us of all those contrasting ups and downs we go through----there is a season, and a time for every matter under heaven. (Ecclesiastes 1:1)---even times of laughter. Ecclesiastes !:4

A bit of "Ferrell Funny" that is "spot on" reality---

This funny has tears streaming from laughter which I greatly needed. 

RETRO-FOCUS!

Retrofocus has only been a photography "lens" term that I never quite understood.This past week I have used it as a lens through which I revisited my past times with Sarah Young. 

Looking back has soothed my soul. A much needed balm. 

A signature. A picture. Texts. E-mails. A cuppa together.

Notes in my Jesus Calling journal & other journals as well.

No WOE with her, no matter how many opportunities for woe in her life, her focus was rarely there. Maybe a simple prayer request that I saw as a "biggie." Then a turn  to Words of Encouragement for me. 

She also gave me encouraging words to share with others during tough times, when I had no words.

At the crux of my MAC cancer journey in 2009, an 8:37 pm email offered comfort so I could sleep.

Helping me to hang my guilt away in a locked area of my mind.(Isaiah 61:10)

Modeling God's grace to replace remorse.

Teaching me time with Him is the best R & R! (1 Chronicles 16:11)

Helping me focus. Refocus. And Refocus. (Repeat as often as it takes.)

Today I wished she were here with me, an SOS of sorts. 

I already know that she would remind me of the BEST SOS---when in distress, Seek Our Savior!  

I'll refocus with that sweet reminder from Sarah.