LOST VOICE!

This morning I awakened with NO voice?

Sometimes in a group I might sense I have "no voice" in certain discussions. 

This new voice omission is not social; it's physical.

Today, long-time friends had "lunch and love" at Beth's. I couldn't even squeak out much that was discernible, so I laughed and  "listened."

 

LISTENING! Understanding dawned! 

Listening was the answer, literally.

Be still....listen to God and others had been a heart prayer of mine recently.

Quietude.

Faith strengthening increases as one seeks to listen the Lord in order to know him better. (Romans 10:17) Evidence of the strengthening in that relationship is seen as one chooses to listen! To God first and then to others.....looking not only to his/her own interest, but also to the interests of others. (Philippians 2:4)

A "lost voice" was the perfect answer to my prayer! A blessing for me!

CARING!

If people could use one word to describe you, what do you think it would be? Given that challenge to describe friend, Crickett, one word kept coming to mind. Caring. 

Think synonymously....Kind. Concerned. Thoughtful. Trustworthy.

My One Word to encompass Crickett Keeth.... "Caring"-- with all the above listed facets.

Crickett has always understood the value of fellowship, knowing how difficult it is to do life alone. She shows this as she blesses lives of many. 

She cares for others in various ways with her time, resources and strengths: 

• devoted to others in love as she honors them above her self. (Romans 12:10) 
• serves others humbly in love (Galatians 5:13c) 
• carries another's burdens, (Galatians 6:2a) 
• trustworthy to keep requested secrecy .... as she looks to the interest of others (Philippians 2:4) 
• In fact, Crickett is known world-wide as a caring encourager who builds up women and spurs them on in a teaching ministry. (1 Thessalonians 5:11)

GOD is not unjust; He will not forget your (Crickett's) work and the love you have shown Him as you have helped His people and continue to help them. (Hebrew 6:10) 

Now, that's caring at its best! Think all caps...........

THINK CARING CRICKETT! 

Then.....THANK CRICKETT for listening to the Lord and coming to First Evan 17 1/2 years ago.

VALUE!

Others value true listening---not just waiting so they can jump in with their opinion or story.

Put on your listening ears, as your kindergarten teacher probably taught you. 

Pay Attention! 

Listen with grace-laced ears and heart. Value others more than self!

Therefore if you have any encouragement from being united with Christ, if any comfort from his love, if any common sharing in the Spirit, if any tenderness and compassion, 2 then make my joy complete by being like-minded, having the same love, being one in spirit and of one mind. 3 Do nothing out of selfish ambition or vain conceit. Rather, in humility value others above yourselves, (emphasis mine) 4 not looking to your own interests but each of you to the interests of the others.

True VALUE---put others first. 

How do I know? "The Bible told me so."

LISTEN!

Listen---"my one word" for 2020. Hmmmm!

I must need a refresher course. Yesterday I saw two H2H friends at Snapdragon Floral and I became a chatterbox. I did apologize, after the fact. Both graciously accepted.

That very morning, "get into the habit of hearkening" was my journal notation. How quickly I forgot.

 Contextually it was intentionally and continually hearkening to the Lord about everything. I think it was a reminder----after listening to God, "listen" to others. Listening is a way of honoring/respecting/putting others first. (Philippians 2:3b-4) May I hearken to others today!

ACCEPTANCE--a sereni-TEA sweetener

My Gratitude Journal's "word of the month" is "acceptance."

Key to waiting is acceptance. Acceptance of the present over the perfect.
What one "has" might be different from what one "wants." A statement that one needs to give credence to in order to move away from self-absorption and go forward.

There are NO perfect relationships, NO perfect physical health for the aging, NO perfect night's sleep every single night, NO emotional health without hormones, etc.---at least not ALWAYS.

Life can be full of head "noises" and random aches, and troubles galore. Expect that fact.
Perfection in life is an unrealistic expectation.

But God....know that God can be in the midst of all these struggles and provide the peace that calms one's heart as one's life questions, without answers, whir by and circumstances remain the same.
Answers one so desperately wants. Accepting that answers might not be ours to have at this time. Refocusing. Getting eyes off of self and on to the Lord and others.

Shakespeare said it well, " God's goodness hath been great to thee---Let never day or night unhallowed pass but still remember what the Lord hath done."

So...as I steep my cuppa acceptance each morning this month, I'm going to reach for the sweetness that can accompany it----sereni-TEA---not an artificial sweetener to gloss over or deny. A true sweetness with truth from His word. (Psalm 119:103)
Tasting and seeing His goodness as I approach each day knowing that inner peace is possible even if the outward conditions do NOT change.

Let each of you look not only to his own interests......mental, emotional and physical health....look to the interests of others. (Philippians 2:4)

A WALK CONTINUED……….

9/4/10 ……………………….for 33 years. In 1977, Daddy was told that he was border-line diabetic and that he needed to watch his diet and to exercise. He did just that. No questions asked. He followed doctor’s orders.
Daddy is DISCIPLINE in all caps. He has also persevered and that says a lot. Most of us are good for the short haul. It’s the long haul that gets us. Scripture supports Daddy’s lifestyle----admonishing us not to grow weary in doing what is good for others. Yet, it’s our own health that enables us to do that very thing. In Romans 12: 5 God’s word restates that tribulation brings about perseverance and perseverance, proven character.

This past year has seen a real change in Daddy’s 88 year-old body so he no longer walks at the mall. He no longer walks as far or as briskly---but he still walks. He has even fallen once on his neighborhood walk so he’s being more careful with his “wheeled” walker. He still laces up his Nikes and puts on his Kentucky hat. (His blood runs blue.) He even stops to chat with the neighbors, though he tells me when he leaves he can’t remember who they are. He’s having to learn to enjoy the moments for what they are.

Meditating on Psalm 71 had me somewhat prepared for my time with Daddy this weekend. I am his next generation and yet it was already my turn to give back to him---to remind him that he will not be cast off in old age or be forsaken when his strength fails. God never forsakes and sometimes he uses others to be his hands and feet. I am unimaginably grateful for brothers who share the privilege of helping Daddy age well. It’s still hard to say good-by and I have knots in my stomach when I leave him. Yet, I know that even from afar, I can help him continue his spiritual walk as we share our Upper Room* devotions. It’s the Methodist way---the walk he knows. I want to continue that walk with him.

*Let each of you look not to your own interests but to the interest of others. (Philippians 2:4, Upper Room 2/4/10)