CENTERPIECE!

What's the centerpiece of your life?

More than what's sitting on your kitchen table? Think heart hub!

Focal point of your thought life?

What's front and center in your activities?

Center of your attention in all of life?

Spiritual heart hub?

The way one answers these questions shows  he/she is as a "child of God!"

ESCAPE ROOM OF THE MIND: LOCKED IN

Escape Rooms are prevalent in our area. I've been to two different ones. Each time I could not wait to get out. 

Escape Rooms tend to have a cloud of "C" words. Competition! Claustrophobia! Two nouns not favored by me.

Much in the Escape Room is recognizable---books, puzzles, desk, chair, even color of fabrics or area rugs. But not the clue needed to unlock the door.

My mind has been similar to those experiences lately. Much familiar resides there but NAMES seemed to be locked up tight! 

Recently driving by a street off Poplar, I knew it led to a another street, whose name I knew, a 2-story house I would recognize, the occupations of the UM professors I once knew who lived there & their son's face came to mind. But......nary a name of any of the three.

Why are names so difficult to recall these days? Is it on an "age-related disease" list? 

Forgetfulness? Dementia?

Even hubby had an episode recently---unable to recall daughter's name or any of his grandkids. His diagnosis was Transient Global Amnesia and is a temporary ailment.

The good news is that the One who created us knows not only our name, but says "Fear not....(and) summons us by name saying, you are mine." (Isaiah 43:1) He calls His own sheep by name and leads them out." (John 10:3) He also calls the stars by name. (Psalm 148:3)

Our Lord has access to all things and and shares with us according to His will and good purpose. We (I) need to trust Him as my memory is sometimes locked in! 

selectivi-TEA

....and the sheep listen to his voice...(John 10:3, NIV)

As I prepare to teach from 2 Timothy, I'm trying to come up with an intro which will grab the attention of my audience. Nowadays in our techy culture just getting anyone’s attention can be virtually (pun intended) impossible.  
Just as Paul was trying to get Timothy’s attention---or as a preacher teacher tries to get attention of his audience---iPhone vibrates---even if it is on mute and that little "tink" that indicates a text seems LOUD.
  
So many distractions it’s hard to tune in to God’s word. Hubby has lots of trouble hearing me--but has no trouble hearing that little “tinging” when he’s getting a text message on his cell phone ---now, at least he has it turned off between 10 and 7.

Do I tune out the Lord? Do I "listen" for Him only when it is convenient for me---not interrupting my schedules or distrubing my sleep?

One comes to know Him by tuning in at all times---by listening to Him through His word. Listening that penetrates the heart!

 “I am the good shepherd; I know my own sheep, and they know me," John 10:14

As John 10:27 states, we, who are His sheep, listen as to obey.
If we're choosing (selecting) NOT to listen, is that disobedience, in and of itself?

Is selectivity a euphemism for disobedience?

May I pour my self a cuppa selectivi-TEA today. A cuppa sweetened with obedience to His Word and accompanied by prayer, as Mother Teresa prayed.

Prayer is not asking. Prayer is putting oneself in the hands of God, at His disposition, and listening to His voice in the depth of our hearts. ~ Mother Teresa

Meditation from the Heart of a "wannabe" Shepherd

I am grateful for the feeding, love and care which I receive from the one who is the Good Shepherd and who call His own sheep by name. (John 10:3)
May I in some small way begin to unfold the reality of a shepherd's life so that I might model it and touch others with the caring service that this truth teaches.

Care for the flock that God has entrusted to you. Watch over it willingly, not grudgingly--not for what you will get out of it, but because you are eager to serve God. (I Peter 5:2, NLV)