F-O-C-U-S

FOCUS on........God's Word everyday!

Acrostics can help me do just that. FOCUS!

HEART OF WORSHIP!

A heart of worship must be filled daily!

Moment by Moment.

A heart of gratitude.

Grabbing my cuppa grace-TEA-tude, sweetened with grace, I'm working on a heart acrostic for the week.

Honoring

Exalting 

Adoring

Revering

Thanking

Focusing on the radiance of my redeemer, rock, refuge and restorer before I even begin repenting and requesting my need for refreshing from Him. (Acts 3:19-20

I'm going back to the "heart of worship." Won't you join me!

MINDFUL

Mindful. A full mind. 

What should the contents of one's mind be? 

Not regrets. Not fears. Not financial worries. Not distress.

So.....I've been meditating on filling my mind---
(happy thoughts, pure thoughts, worthy thoughts, Phil. 4:8)
Acrostic reminder (Draft form)---

M - ini moment celebrations as I
I - ntentionally & thankfully
N - otice God's hand and
D - elight in Him & discover more of His truth--
F - inally... fully forgiving myself and others so that I
U - nderstand my
L - Lord's lasting love!

Then, I found this----

Others must need a handle on their thought life as well!

Musing Scripture Interrogatively

10/29/12 Sometimes I gain insight as I muse scripture interrogatively. That might sound like a mouthful, but it usually means that I follow the BSF (Bible Study Fellowship) line of questioning as I ponder a passage of scripture. In 2004, at “The Cove” (Billy Graham Leadership Training Center) Anne Graham Lotz taught me to ask these questions when meditating on scripture.

• What does it say? (Facts listed is the way I see this first step.)
• What does it mean? (A comprehensive, in context, going deeper approach.)
• What does it mean to me? (Sort of a how can I apply it to my life approach. A James 1:22-25 reminder to be a “doer” of the word.)

The hearts of the people 
cry out to the Lord.
You walls of Daughter Zion, let your tears flow like a river day and night; give yourself no relief, your eyes no rest. Arise, cry out in the night,
as the watches of the night begin; 
pour out your heart like water in the presence of the Lord. 
Lift up your hands to him 
for the lives of your children, who faint from hunger 
at every street corner. (Lamentations 2:18-19)

This passage was a hard one for me. From previous verses, I know that beautiful Jerusalem had seen great destruction. Destruction in every area of their lives---physical, mental and spiritual. The prophet Jeremiah was crying out to them. I can only imagine his frustration and drained emotions as he wept for †he Jews. But God had brought this destruction upon them because of their unfaithfulness as a nation.

I sensed pain as I read this and wondered about the starvation and hunger at every street corner. From the context it seems as if it was mainly physical hunger. But could there have been a spiritual starvation present as well?

Though difficult for me to understand, I knew immediately that I could apply this passage to my life by calling out to God. Prayer for my own town and my own nation, where many are starving both physically and spiritually, was my answer. But more than that, I can pick up that envelope off my kitchen table, the one for the Union Mission at 383 Poplar, and send in a donation toward meals for the homeless.

I was encouraged to read in verse 20, that Jeremiah called out to God once again. So there’s another example to follow---perseverance in prayer.

Continue to ask God questions about this “hard” passage throughout the week. He’ll show you the answers He has---answers just for you.

Revival

6/14/10 I know it’s summertime when I am able to go to the Monday morning prayer for revival time at 9:30 am. What a privilege. The idea for this prayer time originated with Jeanne Greenlee many years ago and though she died just as it was taking off, others have kept her vision going.

This faithful, albeit small group, models prayer in a way that so-o-o fits my Monday meditation mode. Most enter the prayer room with their own Bible in hand. The scripture citation for the morning’s meditation is displayed on the table and blank cards are available for writing personal prayer requests.

The first 20 minutes are dedicated to meditating on the same scripture though versions of our Bible’s often differ. This time is followed by 20 minutes of corporate prayer that usually focuses on praise, thanksgiving and confession, followed by praying for revival in our own hearts. We pray for our local church our neighboring churches, and move to our community, state and nation. The final 20 minutes is prayer for each other and is based on, but not limited to, our personal requests.

It is so exciting to share through prayer how the scripture passage has touched our heart. It nearly always speaks to each of us differently, depending on our circumstances or where we are in our spiritual walk. Believe me, there’s always an applicable life lesson just for me. Others say the same thing.

This morning’s selection was Ephesians 6:10-20.

Read it and chew on it awhile. Maybe your heart will be revived. You might be prompted to pray as well---a personal prayer revival.