TUESDAY TRUTH!

FEC Senior Pastor Pace Mckee begins each service with prayer and the first part of Isaiah 40:8.....

The grass withers, the flowers fade, 

......allowing the congregation to finish the verse.

But the word of our God stands forever. (NASB)

Amen!

God's Word--a balm of truth this Tuesday and everyday!

13 LETTER WORDS!

AI showed me the most commonly used 13 letter words in English. 

Who cares?.....you probably ask. 

I, being fixated as I am on words, counted the list to find that 1/4 of said words included ended in s. Plurals no less. In my opinion that's a cop-out. Superfluous and needless.

The 13 letter word I'm obsessing on this morning was on my Word-A-Day calendar. Unputdownable.

Engrossing or riveting, usually in reference to a book

My focus then began with Bible in hand opened to the book of Ezra. Ezra means help, helper and strength. (Hebrew 'azar--aid protect, support) Azaryahu = Yahweh Helps. I need help to put down things not needed, aka fear, worry & self-protection. Self anything.

Bible in one hand and chocolate in the other.

Which one should be unputdownable?

May the LORD stir up my spirit to put down chocolate things of the world but not my Bible.

God's Word is unputdownable!

ISAIAH 40:8 !

A picture that includes the verse that says it all.

May I always remember this OT truth!

PRUNING FOR 2026

OUCH! A BIG OUCH!

OUCH FOR A PURPOSE!

Clearing clutter! In our much smaller house we're beginning to look like hoarders. In our minds, we can't hold it all.  

Prune to eliminate superfluous. Think unneeded.

How does one distinguish in the worthy? 

Decluttering means giving not having.

God's Word is worthy! All of God's word is purposeful!

Allow His Word  continue to touch your heart. 

Think purposeful pruning to allow the fruitful to dominate.

........verses of hope

.......so that you may abound in hope;

.......call unto God for answers;

.......first, seek God and His righteousness;

..........Bless the LORD with every part of your being;

Prune fear, control and self centeredness that deters fruitfulness!

Nurture and Embrace Jesus the King of Kings; necessary to allow more fruitfulness!

WOW=WORDS OF WISDOM!

WOW! Words Of Wisdom.

Wisdom. "My One Word" for 2025!

True wisdom is found in God's Word! 

(Romans 12:11 (NRSVA)

Versions might vary but can help broaden understanding;

Do not lag in zeal, In diligence, not slothful (ASV), Don't hesitate to be enthusiastic (CEB), Never give up (CEV) do not be lazy (ICB), Never flag in zeal (RSV) do not lagging in zeal; (TLV) not slow in business (WYC)

be ardent in spirit, fervent in spirit (ASV), be on fire in the Spirit (CEB), Eagerly follow the Holy Spirit (CEV), but work hard, (ICB) be aglow with the Spirit (RSV) be fervent in spirit, (TLV) fervent in spirit (WYC)

serve the Lord. serving the Lord; (ASV), as you serve the Lord! (CEB) serve the Lord with all your heart. (ICB) serve the Lord. (RSV) Keep serving the Lord. (TLV) serving to the Lord, (WYC)

In the final portion of the verse, regardless of the versions (American Standard Version, Common English Bible, International Children's Bible, New Revised Standard Version Anglican, Revised Standard Version, Tree of Life Version a Messianic Jewish translation, Wycliffe Bible) and varying  punctuation, Lord is always included and written with a capital L!

Written Wisdom. The Lord is the One to always serve!

Pastor Pace begins His sermons repeating Isaiah 40:8.....

"The grass withers,

........the flower fades"....

and the congregation in the pews (or on-line) finishes with....

"but the word of our God stands forever."

More than an opinion from a pundit but God's holy word to start my day with this morning as I look out my breakfast bar window at those examples of creation.

God has my attention; I hope He has yours.

'He who has an ear, let him hear, what the Spirit says to the church. To the one who conquers I will give some of the hidden manna and I will give him a white stone, with a new name written on the stone the one no one knows except the one who received it.' (Revelation 2:17)

Do I hear an AMEN!?

C-C-C

Three Cs for Christians today as millions around the world seek counsel from God's Word.

May words from Scripture convict, comfort and help conform our mind's to His words.

CLEARING OUT!

What to keep? What to pitch?

Clearing out! Paring down!

Whatever one wants to call it-----it's hard to do!

But God.....in His love and mercy is there. (Ephesians 2:4) In His Word! 

May I never "pare down" my time in His Word,

May the Lord continue to hold my steps to the path He has for me even when I can't see what it is! (Psalm 17:5)

REVIVE & REVERE!

VANIITY OF VANITIES! Anything done without God's Guidance is vanity! (Ecclesiastes 1:1)

TURN AWAY MY EYES FROM LOOKING AT VANITY

REVIVE ME IN YOUR WAYS

ESTABLISH YOUR WORD

TO YOUR SERVANT

AS THAT WHICH PRODUCES 

reverance for YOU. (PSALM 119:37-38)

3 Rs....revive, Revere, REPEAT!

GOD'S WORD FRONT AND CENTER!

Today I was asked to "be prepared" to share my favorite Bible verse along with other members of our "Prayer for Revival" group. For me, that's a tough assignment! I esteem, treasure, hold close to my heart and love every word of Scripture.

But God soon had Jeremiah 15:16 begin to flood my mind, .....

Your words were found, and I ate them, and your words became to me a joy and the delight of my heart, for I am called by your name, O LORD, God of hosts. (ESV)

.......I decided to meditate on it in many scripture versions.

Marginalia results: What a feast!!!

"THY" words found, I ate them, I devoured them, they became a delight; happiness of my heart, gave me joy; jubilation, rejoicing in my heart; with gladness in my heart.

I listened tp every word: swallowed them whole, & they sustained me.

I am called by your name;Yahweh Adonai-Tzva’ot, you had me bear your name., Yahweh Elohim Tsebaoth, O God, God-of-the-Angel-Lord, God of Heavenly Armies!, Lord God All-Powerful, Lord God ·All-Powerful [Almighty; of Heaven’s Armies; Commander  of hosts, O Yahweh God of hosts, O Jehovah, God of Hosts.

Lord God who rules over all. I belong to you. (NRV)

"W" = WISE WORTHY WORDS!

My emotions are a mess! From hyper-sensitivity, jumble & a library, in my grief to total numbness, I'm an emotional assemblage that defies reason. 

W (s) flood my mental library. Whines need to turn to Worship. Wrap Weeping in Hope. More worship than worry needed! Worry is waste. Wise words come from His Word!

This morning I awakened remembering my disconcerting medical news.

May medical diagnosis not fuel fears. I know the Great physician and my times are in His hands. 

Whether he takes me sooner rather than later, I need His transendent "peace to guard my heart and mind." (Philippians 4:6-7)

Wise & Worthy Words! Amen!!

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!

FITNESS ESSENTIALS!

Fitness usually brings to mind the physical aspect. 

Requirements.....Discipline. Diet. Action.

Spiritual Fitness is much the same---requiring a daily (discipline) diet of feeding on God's word and putting into action what one has learned. (Jeremiah 15:16)

Spiritual Fitness....an essential to pass on to the next generation!

GOD'S WORD!

Be on the lookout!

Keep your eyes open. 

God's Word can show up where you might least expect it. 

A T-shirt in St. Francis surgery waiting room.

Forgive as the Lord forgave you. (Colossians 3:13)

 A garden near ljj.

"The grass withers and the flowers fade 

but the word of our God stands forever."

(Isaiah 40:8)

God's Word stands out.........inside and outside! 

Find it and meditate on it as a way to start your week.

SATURDAY SHORT!

The grass withers, the flower fades, but the Word of our God stands forever.

(isaiah 40:8)

The Scripture cannot be broken. (John 10:35)

Nothing can annul God's eternal truth. (Knowing God, p.79)

Ponder this truth the rest of the weekend.

FRIDAY FOCUS: A REFOCUS !!!

Anyone having trouble with focus?

Is it a physical condition? Mind? Spiritual? All the above?!

Whatever the reason, I'm sill dealing with it! 

Living without focus is like living in a gray world! Think cataract surgery needed.

I know where to go....God's Word. Embarrassingly enough, while I'm there I can easily begin planning supper or lack there of said plan. ARGGG!

Focus? Surely focus + focus + focus = REFOCUS

 

Growing weary outwardly this past week with my "distracted" mind malady, I asked Him to renew me inwardly day by day....with a spiritual refocus. 

A focus of hope-filled trust (Romans 15:13) and firmness of stance. (1 Corinthians 15:58) 

It was not a "one and done" attempt.

However, this acceptance of the need to refocus calmed my heart and filled me with hope.

PITHY WITH A "WORDSMITH" PUNCH

I don't even know who Scotty is....only that he's a wordsmith friend of my friend, Doris.

Anyone who can use poetry, metaphor and simile along with astonish, flourish and nourish in two sentences to expound Psalm 63:2, is a WORDSMITH in all caps.

So glad to meet you Scotty. Thanks Doris for the introduction of your "pithy with a punch" friend. 

May we all flourish as God's Word nourishes us today!

FAITH FOCUS!!

People who overcome life's struggles by continuing to trust the Lord, regardless of circumstances, have a prevailing faith.

A faith that focuses not on things of earth but on things of heaven as a habitual focus. A God-centered focus. 

Set your mind on things above not on earthly things. (Colossians 3:2) 

A faith that sees it through to the end.

A faith that stays true to Jesus.

A faith that stays focused on God's word in mind, body and spirit!

WORD to SWORD

Word to sword....what makes the difference? Just one letter.

Not an orthographic neighbor which substitutes one letter but the addition of a letter known as affix.....a letter placed at the beginning (pre-fix) or ending (suffix) of a root word to modify the meaning.

Many wordsmith's are crossword, worldle or other word game gurus as words, anything linguistic,  are "their thing." 

Often an additional one letter can change the meaning entirely. 

Think, cab to scab

On the other hand, one letter emphasizing the word by giving it a name.

God's "word" becomes "sword" of the spirit. (Ephesians 6:17)

This past week as I was continuing my meditation on the Lord's Prayer from Matthew 6, I saw the word evil in a new light---or more like darkness.

Evil has a name. Add a d. Evil's name is devil. 

Be watchful. The devil is an adversary. The devil prowls. The devil seeks to devour. Resist him. He is not good.(1 Peter 5:8-9)

Who is GOOD? Drop an O to know.

GOD is good. He will restore, confirm, strengthen and establish you through His Word. (1 Peter 5:10)

Against the evil wiles of the devil,....

use God's Word as your Sword of defense! 

SERMON ON A SIGN!

Sermon on a Sign.......more than just words in passing!

Heart Grabbing! Pithy with a punch!

A sermon message in a few choice words.....backed up by Scripture & found by Aubrey and Gayle on a road in MS.

Rather train yourself for righteousness (1 Timothy 4:7b)

Resist the devil. (James 4:7)

....what does the Lord require of you but to do justice, and to love kindness and to walk humbly with your God? (Micah 6:8)

Thanks Goodman Oaks Church of Christ for boldly sharing God's truth on your church sign!