BE STILL.....

How does one come to "know" the LORD? 

To truly know the Lord.....not just know about Him?

Seek Him we often say! Others say steer clear of chaos.

Yet, even in outward chaos one can find inward calm if he/she is seeking the LORD in stillness of heart.

Be Still and Know......How else does one truly come to know the LORD⁉️

ANAGRAM THAT SAYS IT ALL!!

HOW  DOES ONE HEAR FROM THE LORD?

Obviously......learn to listen!

What must one do to listen to the Lord?

Get out your Scrabble Board to find the answer!

Look for the 6 word anagram for listen!!

Do you see it?

Being silent before the Lord is key for one to listen so as to truly hear.

Be still. Silent and still enables one to know that He is LORD! (Psalm 46:10)

SOVEREIGNTY!

SOVEREIGNTY, even for this Kentucky miss, is not a race horse!

For me, sovereignty is the royal rank of God in my life. He is my all in all!

I rest in His truth.

Today's devotional reminded me to "Relax in God's Sovereignty."

It was an AH-HA moment! He is with me. He goes before me. (Psalm 46:10)

During this season of medical maladies, remembering His words of truth are one's  best medicine. Soothing ointments. Balm of Truth!

LINGERING AT LAKE JUNALUSKA!

My daughter's well-planned day just for the two of us. 

A time of lingering by the lake where I went to a Methodist Camp in 1963.

"Be still and know that I am God..." (Psalm 46:10)

So many memories teenage memories. Ann Ryder Randolph from Princeton, Ky. Donald Davis, who worked in the bookstore at the camp and later became a nationally known storyteller. He's still telling stories and comes to Memphis every other year. MS Carolyn Meacham, later to marry hubby's dear friend Hal, & I were in the group picture under the cross but I never met her until years later after we were both married and discovered our shared adventure.

A time of quiet beauty: Giving glory to God and grace for me physically and spiritually....

Lingering in the labyrinth & Meditating in the Memorial Chapel. 

Praying in the chapel when 3 young men came in and went to the front and began quietly playing their guitars.

Recording my prayers for family, Wednesdays folks &, special needs to be prayed for by others in the in LJ prayer ministry.

An AMEN Time to a "Wonderful Wednesday."

NC THANKFUL THURSDAY IN THE SMOKY MOUNTAINS

NC = NORTH CAROLINA!

Today it also means No Complaint!

Heart of Gratitude needed as problems mount.*

Walk and build Muscle Mass. But it's a long way up! Go anyway. Hubby by your side.

Be Still and Listen! (Psalm 46:10)

When flustered with  newest "curve".......remember the beauty of Juney Whank Falls & ....

...Be Thankful. 

*Newest email to hubby said I cancelled my phone & it had my correct #--

No clue why or how to deal with it! If you don't hear from me, you'll know why....just wish I did!!

GIFT FROM THE HEART!

Little things can grab the heart in a big way!

"Jesus quiets our hearts with His love." (Zephaniah 3:17)

When a 6 year-old holds something behind his back and tells you to close your eyes, one knows something is about to happen. For me, yesterday, I was given the "Okay" to "open." There in his hand was a beautiful gift....followed by a big hug!

Gift from the heart! A dandelion, with a short stem, presented with a big smile and a request to put it in a vase. My heart was touched! 

An itty bitty slightly squashed dandelion gift that was sweet to my soul. God made it and a 6 year-old gave it. 

Praise be to God for this "heart gift."

MUCH TO DO--LITTLE TIME!

Sooooooooo much to do! Sooooooooo little time!!

Sooooooooo grateful for praying friends who lead me back to God's Word!! Today, Wynellen shared from Psalm 18.

Psalm 18:28-29--words I'm clinging to this moment! Verse by verse. Box by box. Room by room. Decision by decision. 

MY mouth speaks but no one can hear. Off to doctor to check on this most recent malady---laryngitis. Might be God's reminder to be still and listen before stepping out today, especially if scaling walls is on your agenda!

PRACTICING THY PRESENCE TO PRACTICE THE PAUSE!

A "pause" that refreshes my soul and pleases the Lord.

His pace becomes my pace.

Put

All

Under

Savior's

Ebullience

If actions don't please God, keep pausing until they delight Him! 

Practice Thy Presence to Practice the Pause.....or Practice the Pause to Practice Thy Presence!

BE STILL!

Can God use fatigue to "make" you be still in order to know that He is God!

Will let you know after my next nap!

LEAN IN!

When life's pace is getting on your last nerve, lean in to the "everlasting arms." At least let that tune fill your mind. 

If that doesn't work maybe the Lord will send you to a friends home to be reminded, by a pillow no less, as you lean back into the comfort of a pillow with  Psalm 46:10 on your mind.

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!

PRACTICING SABBATH

How does one practice keeping the Sabbath when she can't even go to church? 

I'll let you know as I discover.

Shabbot---in the Hebrew means cessation...as in rest Think stop. 

Stop doing long enough to rest in your relationship with the Lord.

Stop striving. Stop fearing. Stop regretting.

Too often I need the reminder to press the "PAUSE" button in my life to be refreshed in what God's purpose for me is this day.

FRIDAY FOCUS!

Simplicity of song heard this Friday morning was an "open invitation," of sorts to turn my eyes upon Jesus..... to FOCUS FULLY on HIM!

Just click and listen. .....for only a minute and a half to begin your focus.

Be still.....(Psalm 46:10

Fix your eyes upon Jesus........through song, meditation and prayer.

Look to Him.......in quietness and trust.(Isaiah 30:15)

Gaze on God. Glance at all else.

REFOCUS

Consider....opening His Word. (Hebrew 12:3)

Examine..focus on the fact that God is present & speaks to us as we read His Word. (Psalm 119:105)

Inspect...words you hear/read on line...Beware of false prophets

Seek...Him first. (Matthew 6:33)

Thank God in everything! (1 Thessalonians 5:18)

Focus on Him......not self!  A great Friday Focus!!

SILENT RETREAT!

Silent Retreat.

Enough said.

Actually N0THING said aloud....for approximately 2 1/2 hours.

Not sure specifically because I never looked at my watch!

Those who really know me will find that hard to belief.

In quietness and trust is my strength. (Isaiah 3:15)

MONDAY MUSINGS!

Somethings "RING" TRUE.....whether in a Sunday sermon or are echoed in a Monday text from friend, Doris!

It's as if the Spirit of the Lord is saying, "Can you hear me now?"

Loud and clear musings for this last Monday in March.

ALL IS CALM!

Calm!

These days is "calm" used much any more in our multi tasking society?

Do we know how to be still?

Be still before the Lord?? (Psalm 46:10)

In today's terms, is this God's way of encouraging us in our time of worry, busyness and anxious thoughts? "Relax. I got this." (Psalm 94:19)

His consolations certainly can bring "bright" to our lives and delight to our souls.!

FRI-YAY

FRI-YAY---a trending word....or wordplay horribly overused these days. 

All our days should be "joy-filled" yay days! But....that's not always the way it is.

If not yay words, there are words to help the seniors keep focused, especially when days have a way of running together---unfocused. 

Yesterday's Thankful Thursday, for me, was one filled with pain. Lots of pain. Physical and emotional. I would have been dismayed had I not seen the goodness of the Lord in the land of the living. (Psalm 27:13) My attitude of gratitude was challenged to the nth degree. But God....in His love and mercy, once again used friends in the faith, who knew nothing of my forlornness, to intervene.

First, high school chum, Doola's "long" text, in response to my "long" text with thx for her "winter 💖" card. Doola can lift my spirit with her art and words in an Illinois' second! *

Next a card from "northern" friend, Pat sent some smiles my way.

Then came a call from my 93  yr. old vibrant friend, Janice. Chats with her are always a treat! Her wisdom keeps me grounded.

Today began as  "Frantic Friday until I was intentionally still! (Psalm 46:10).

Then it became Fri-Yay as I took a "hike" with 3 yr. old Jack, dug in the dirt with sticks, and I sang "Jesus Loves Jack" to him.

BTW, the poinsettia, a gift from "Master Gardener" neighbor Lynda, has graced my mornings at my kitchen window since December! 

WORDLE

Even Wordle has my Number. 

(Notice I waited a day to publish it so as not to spoil the surprise.)

When one has not had a "calm brain" in an entire week, God has to really step in to get your attention.

He can even use a  game. I had been "keeping on-keeping on" as well as I could........but my mind kept moving with my circumstances. Yes, I started my day praying for my "daily" people, keeping up somewhat with zoom prayer groups, taking hubby to ER & helped him with virtual doc visit, attending Bible study, taking food to a suffering friend, etc. Busyness is a way I cope....it's always been that way for me. At this time in life it seems worse. I know because I can't keep up. I even have a "come apart" when I put my compression socks on the wrong feet. I mix up my meds or forget  to take them. My hand shakes as I type or lift spoon to mouth with my granola. I can feel shakes even when I don't see them.  As brother Buddy said, "Feet moving. Going nowhere."

What's a gal to do? Take time for the "pause that refreshes"---More time alone with Him!

To pause is difficult. It requires being still---even in my mind!

GOD'S PROCLAMATION

Fearful. Anxious. Apprehensive. Concerned. Suspect. 

Wondering how to help neighbors?

A "pandemic proclamation" gives rise to all those emotions. 

BUT GOD..... PROCLAMATIONS allow His people to find safety and courage as they trust in Him. 

God's proclamation---Be still and know that I am God. (Psalm 46:10a)

The Lord's Presence indwelling His own people, should inspire trust and confidence. In quietness and trust is your strength. (Isaiah 30:15)

God's Read Psalm 46 when your world seems to be falling apart.

Continue to be diligent to obey all CDC declarations. Help and encourage others along those guidelines. 

Proclaim God's goodness to offer peace during this time of "Utter Confusion". (Armerding, p.86)

FOOD FOR THOUGHT FRIDAY

My first "morsel" of thought this morning came in the form of a memory.

Making "Snow Cream" with the kids. Scooping off just the pristine tops of the flakes...

and stirring them in our "melty" ice cream, because I rarely had cream or whole milk on hand.

SNOW DAYS! For both kids and teachers those 2 words are music to their ears.

Why? 

Maybe it's God's way of slowing us all down. 

Snow from Heaven. (Isaiah 55:10)

A way of hemming us in with his "silent" beauty....

away from busyness. (Ecclesiastes 3:11a & Psalm 46:10)

A time for family.

A time to look out the kitchen window.

A shelter of sorts.

A time to focus on Him and His hand in all of creation!(Genesis 8:22)

Yummy "food for thought Friday" as I sprinkle just a tad of snow on top of my Amaretto Cherry Cordial ice cream.