JOYNOTE!

JOY is the BEST Medicine! Hmmm....it's  not on sale at Walgreen's!

Sadly, I have not been singing notes of Joy lately! 

But God, had me start afresh in the Deep Creek parking lot with a message, seemingly just for me.....on a a license plate, no less.

It didn't have a melody, just a note! 

Think JOYNOTE! 

If a spiritual boost is needed, it comes from heart joy! 

Joy found in God's word.... (chara in Greek, simchah in Hebrew) 

• Boosts the psyche.
• Helps relaxation.
• Creates unity with other believers.
• Increases tolerance to pain/struggles allowed by God. 
• Did I hear a giggles aka "note" of laughter ⁉︎

God often fills us with joy through His presence----through His people.

His people rose to the occasion on my behalf. (texts, a memory from 2009, a devotional book in the mail, a neighbor's smile, a special cane to "lift" both my body and my Spirit, Pastor Buddy's reminder...."Keep praying it will keep you staying".....(implying importance of staying right where God has placed you) and shared prayers from prayer warriors, without a specific request from me.   

A cheerful heart is good medicine. (Proverbs 17:22a) Dispensed from the hearts of others NOT from RX though both Karen and Cassie dispense joy through kindness at the corner of 50-US 19.

Joy is more than a moment! Joy is a sustaining anchor seen on a license plate across from my handicap parking place! And.....not for the first time!

.....shout to God with cries of joy. (Psalm 47:1b)

Keep your eyes open for any JOYNOTE God might send you!

GOD IS NEAR!

God is near!

How does one know God is near?.......

.........For the Bible tells Him so!

In the 60's water tag game, "Marco Polo" if Daddy is "it" he wants his children to "find" him! God is similar in our lives. He wants to be found by those who seek Him. He is always near whether they can see him or not.

Allen Bible Church, 3/8/2026. (Click link for service.)

Verse summation God is not far from any one of us.

 that they should seek God, and perhaps feel their way toward him and find him.Yet he is actually not far from each one of us, (Acts 17:27)

Hallelujah---that preacher, the Marco Polo Dad, cometh to us today!

? > SOLOMON

What is > Solomon?

Yes.....greater than!

Think who?

With  a wise wrap up!

WORDS OF WISDOM!!

EULOGY: A GOOD WORD!

GOOD WORDS!

WISE WORDS!!

Live your life in such a way that when you die other people cry and you rejoice! 

ALLEN Bible Church 6/21/2026

LISTEN MORE!

 LISTEN MORE......

.......but discriminate when necessary!

Often many reels that come through on one's phone can be a waste of time. Instagram can lead one down rabbit trails. 

Look to God's Word to verify

Identify truth through Scripture

Summarize revelations

Take away fewest so as not to overwhelm

Embrace relevant parts

Nurture others with pertinent truths 

Some on-line pastor's spout self-serving messages.

Not this one. Consider words by each pastor to know his source. 

Listen closely and decide.

Pay attention to TRUTH! Truly Listen to Truth!

MINDSET MATTERS! #2

"Set my Mind, Lord."

Repetition is important in teaching! So is prayer.

Renewal of one's mind can transform one's mindset! (Romans 12:12)

Did the Preacher learn, if a mindset of wisdom doesn't give God glory it is vanity? 

Wisdom without faith is also vanity of vanities---a striving after the wind. What lies within your mind and heart counts and is visible to others in your actions.

Mindset does matter. But it's not a one-time end all. 

When all has been heard, the end of the matter is, "Fear God and keep His commandments for this is the whole duty of man". (Ecclesiastes 12:13)

MINDSET MATTERS!!

Does one's mindset matter?

Be present where you are----not worrying about achieving the next thing on your to-do check list. Such things are fleeting! Transitory.  Unsatisfying. Meaningless.

Hebel (הֶבֶל) is a Hebrew word used 38x in Ecclesiastes translated as vanity, ie. "chasing after the wind" in life. (Ecclesiastes 1:14)

Think striving after a vapor or mist. 

Live in the pleasant tense.

A wise man (Solomon) asks God for wisdom. (1 Kings 3:12)

Mindset does matter. 

Set your minds on things that are eternal!

PEACE = SECOND SUNDAY OF ADVENT!

Great place to be during ADVENT is with God's people!

"Repent for the kingdom of heaven is at hand" are shared words of John the Baptist from Matthew3:2. (Pastor Dave)

Whether it's an older couple or a young family, it's a blessing seeing families come together to share in the lighting of the advent wreath.

The second purple candle is for PEACE.

Peace = wholeness and flourishing. (Pastor Buddy, ABC) 

Such peace is needed in both the church and throughout the world. 

BUT GOD.....AGAIN YOU SAY!

I know......... I already have "But God" ringing in your ears but I want all to know the pattern of the Christian life for all of us!

We are the tellers of His story!

AGOG! A Grid of Grace makes it possible. His Grid compels us

RING A BELL PHRASES

BUT GOD blog entries, probably most of any---approx 150, always ring a bell when I hear that phrase! His love and mercy reminders spring forth!

Family and friends often share phrases and acrostics to "ring my bell" metaphorically to trigger my memory. Those ring loudly---think Terry @ Bryson City FBC LOUD!

Don't settle for safety; Jesus offers security. Amanda McElrath

God's Grace 

Keeps Pace 

with what we face. Brother Buddy

Gaze at God! Glance at all else. Carolyn W.

Let's let Acts go through us. 

Togetherness (fellowship) fulfills a longing for belonging. Son Buddy

W atch

A nd

I ncrease 

T rust        Bernie

Use Roundup on your bitterness rather than fertilizer. Scottie Smith

What I make much of is much to me. Andrew Beach

Be kind to one another. Nō-ah who was "fō-ah" 2008 (Eph. 4:32) 

MUST BE

MUST BEs of LIFE.

Lester Holt or Nora MacDonald said it on the Nightly News. Jane Pauley, all dressed up, reported it on CBS Sunday Morning. So, it "must be" true! 

NOT! 

So NOT!! NOT So!!! Whatever phrase you use.

Where then does one find things in life that must be true in his/her own life?

Here's my list gained from recent Luke 14:25-35 sermon at Allen Bible Church.

1. My relationship with Jesus must be unrivaled as I prioritize my affections.
2. I count the cost of being His. Others must be able to see my unquestionable decision.
3. I must be undistracted in my orientation and direction as I grow in my faith.

I gain truth from the Bible. Truths, often emphasized by godly pastors. Priorities of truth that "must be" evident in Christ followers worldwide.

Think disciple---a learner who embodies what he learns from the truth in God's Word. (Buddy Liles quote)

Discipleship. Must be the "WAY" to go for me, How about You?

BEWARE OF "WEARY"-SHIP" OVER WORSHIP!

"Weary-ship" over worship. May it never be. Yet, too often one can slip into the busyness of service. The way of Jesus is the way of rest and refreshment in Him.

Live out your worship by practicing righteousness and showing mercy to the oppressed rather than for your own self promotion. (Daniel 4:27) 

May we not let the weariness of busyness take the heart out of worship!

SOUND OF TRADITIONS!

The tradition started in September 1975 as I stopped to get donuts at a shop on Union Avenue. Instead, I bought a glass pumpkin-shaped jar filled with donut holes for our son, Buddy at Methodist Hospital. He had been badly burned---2nd & 3rd degree burns over 18% of his body from a cracked pyrex coffee pot as he collided with a waitress at Buntyn's Restaurant on Southern Ave. It was her first day on the job. Our regular waitresses, Louise and Mary saw it happen and they probably cried more than we did. No ambulance was available so we drove him to the hospital with our gas gauge on E. We made it. That was our first miracle. We were so naive we asked the ER doc if he would have to spend the night. 

After the first week in the hospital we were all ready for a treat. The donuts were the first of many goodies that traveled to the hospital in that pumpkin jar. Once Buddy could leave his isolation to go for cleansing in a PT room, His "tub" was across from Larry Csonka's who winced when he saw Buddy. Csonka was playing for the Memphis Southmen in the WFL & was a big encouragement to our son, commending him for being so brave!

After a couple of weeks we were able to go home. Needless to say, our pumpkin jar rode in the seat beside him. Buddy continued out-patient treatment with LOTS of Silvadene creme (silver sulfadiazine) for healing of burn scars for several more weeks.

But.....our pumpkin jar stayed out until Thanksgiving and has been put out at the same time every year since the accident.....  Sept. '75 started with one child & one pumpkin. Eventually the one pumpkin served our 3 kids +  3 in-laws and 9 grandchildren.

It's been a fun way to keep up with folks who remember the inaugural pumpkin year, especially those with an affinity for candy corn. Even those whose paths we crossed later (Abe) have a way of appearing and leaving with a handful. We usually hear them before we see them. The clanking of the glass lid being removed is our first clue. From the Huff kids and David and Josh F. to Amy G.----who now would not let a single candy corn cross her lips..... to our youngest grandson.

It might not be healthy but its a "sound" of tradition that always makes me smile.

It reminds me of God's goodness at a time when every tender mercy was a treasure. (Psalm 145:9)

THE PERFECT GIFT

Addendum---after posting this entry, 2 different folks said (directly to me)----don't let your tinsel get in a tangle! Then ,I "uncovered" this gift from a friend.........."I get it! I get it!"

Some people are "naturals" at gift giving---thoughtful, creative, pragmatic, & within budget all rolled into one. Many folks I know do this. However....
I  would not be one of those. It's not that I don't try. I even try to keep notes on who likes what so I don't give milk chocolate treats to the dark chocolate diehards, or "forget to delete nuts" in non-nut folks' recipes---actually, I usually err on the side of extra nuts so I just eat it all extras myself!

I have really struggled this season, trying for perfection in all my shopping. Though son Buddy's recent sermon, reminded me that joy is re-findable, even in holiday chaos, when folks tend to lose their way. A reminder to slow down and "savor the season" (and the Savior) and not "over shop it." So....I pulled out some gifts I've received to try to replicate similar ideas of thoughtfulness for others---these "small" gifts were "perfect" for someone like me.

 "My" favorite Christmas carol highlighted on a super-sharp pencil (and it has a great eraser!!)

Fresh gathered eggs from Full Circle Ranch for me to share with family. Grandson could not believe there were pink ones, white ones, along with light and dark brown ones. But, all tasted delish!
Just ask, Owen.

So many but don't want to list for fear of leaving someone out!! But what I see in each is that relationships are real between the giver and the receiver----I'm just blessed to be on the receiving end!

I do keep trying so hard to make all (12) stockings personalized and yet fair---don't want to hurt someone's feelings. Then, I read an Ann Voscamp quote. "Stop holding onto a standard of perfection instead of being held by the arms of grace." I had already written an AV observation, that began to ring true as I wandered distractedly here, there and yon (in my own house, no less. Voskamp said anxiety can give you God Alzheimer's." I might forget where I've hidden hubby's gift or M's tea but I don't want to forget God or move Him to the back room. So, I stopped, refocused and 5 folks walked in unexpectedly. Yahoo!

Of course, the only true perfect gift arrived centuries ago in a manger in Bethlehem. A gift from our heavenly Father who keeps on giving....
Every good and perfect gift is from above, coming down from the Father of Lights... (James 1:17)

There's a Psalm for that....

4/8/13 Relating recently to friend Wynellen that I was once again "camped-out" in the Psalms, I actually felt guilty about that admission. It's been a year and a half now and I'm still there. I've even intentionally included praying and meditating in selected psalms on birthdays of friends and family.

So, why should I feel guilty? Possibly because I can "do guilt" very well. I think I was afraid that I was in a milk-toast study. I so loved the psalms that I didn't desire to move on, at least not during my quiet times of prayer and reflection. During study times, I am in Genesis and Ecclesiastes. (Listen to me---trying to defend my "guilty" choice of Psalms, as if any book of Scripture isn't a worthy choice, in and of itself!!!)

Summer 2010, son's Allen Bible Church did a series on "Engaging God and One Another thru the Psalms." 

So....I reread some of those blog notes to remind myself that Psalms are profitable for any season." "Psalms that can help me personally keep engaging God right where I am." (Buddy, 6/13/10)

RIGHT NOW I need a psalm of intercession---there's a psalm for that.....

But let all who take refuge in you be glad;
let them ever sing for joy.
Spread your protection over them,
that those who love your name may rejoice in you.Surely, Lord, you bless the righteous;
you surround them with your favor as with a shield. (Psalm 5:11-12)

That Psalm is Psalm 5----for such a time as this.......in this person's season---a Psalm just for that.