MAGNIFY THE LORD!

"Oh magnify the LORD with me and let us exalt His name together." (Psalm 34:3)

How does one magnify the LORD? 

It helps NOT to magnify one's problems. 

Think less grumpiness and more gratitude. Think trust!

We can pour out our complaints before Him as David did in Psalm 142:2 knowing that we can leave the outcomes, good and bad, at His feet for HIs glory and our good. 

Thank you LORD for dealing bountifully with us. (v.7) 

Turn to God's Word daily to magnify the Lord!

WISDOM WALKS

Paths of Wisdom.

As 2025 is in its last month, I've been reflecting on biblical wisdom.

WISDOM. My One Word for 2025!

Those who trust in themselves are fools, 

but those who walk in wisdom are kept safe. (Proverbs 28:26) 

A great verse to say farewell to 2025 and to begin the new year with trust in the only One worthy of trust!

TRUE TRUST!

Sometimes few words can say the most! 

Last year, the few words we were given for our first NC License plate were different from our request.

The couple in front of us asked for and received the last one.

When we renewed our tags, this year.....Voilà! Requested tags were available!

IN GOD WE TRUST.*

Those words say it all for hubby and me.

As he was changing our tags we noticed additional words---also with relevance!

`To Be Rather Than to Seem'

No facades needed in the life of a believer! Be who God created you to be... rather than seem to be someone you are not!

* IN God We Trust....national motto of the United States officially adopted by Congress on July 39, 1956

GIFTS THAT KEEP ON GIVING!

Fellowship, in an of itself, is a gift that keeps on giving!

Friend WH, who understands better that I, all my age-related maladies has a way of of giving that helps me embrace God's truths and my need for all of them.

Reminders wrapped in an acrostic!

A great focus to remind me to not lose sight of Who God truly is in my life (Psalm 46:10) even when I struggle to set myself aside and choose to surrender to Him! (James 4:7)

Remembering His promises is key! (2 Corinthians 1:20) Yes and Amen.

The outcome allows me to experience peace. His peace. (John 14:27)

A gift of joy in His presence! (Acts 2:28)

True peace regardless of circumstances. 

What a gift!

MEDITATION MADE SIMPLE

Hear/ Read God's Word in the morning!

In the morning, bring me word of your unfailing love, for I have put my trust in you. Show me the way I should go for to you I entrust my life. (Psalm 43:8)

Ponder!

GOD'S PLAN----KEEP ON KEEPING ON

Keep On Keeping On. Four words I first heard spoken by Kay Arthur, in Chattanooga at a Precept Bible Study weekend many, many years ago. All of this came to mind as I was reading this morning's entry in seeing beautiful again. A reminder that God's ways are often not "my" ways. (Isaiah 55:8-9)

It's hard

 to continue marching

 when we don't see God move

 the way we thought He would. (p.42)

Keep trusting. Keep taking step after step after obedient step obedient step. (p.43) Keeping on in God's plan is obedience!

Or........as Kay Arthur said 46 years ago at Reach Out Ranch, as hubby and I sat on the back row with the Ennises, "Keep on Keeping On."

CHOOSE: ACTION

CHOOSE: Action Verbs might have been a better title choice.

Trust is a noun. Trust is also an action verb when one chooses to "trust" God.

Trust God whether you "feel" like it or not. It's an action of the will.

Like choosing to be faithful, choosing to trust, especially in the hard places of suffering is an internal action. It's a first step. A step that starts in the mind.

When one is hard-pressed on every side, but not crushed; perplexed but not despairing, not feeling abandoned in the midst of persecution, or  struck down, but still upright and functioning, those folks have chosen to take action and choose to trust. (2 Corinthians 4:8-9)

That first step can lead to courage in action. A heart strengthening. Hope. (Psalm 31:24) As The Message states, "Expect God to get there soon."

Courage, strength, hope---all results of one action verb----trust. 

Choose to trust Him, knowing "soon" is the adverb of His timing.

FRET NOT, DOTS!

Today's Streams in the Desert entry was "spot on" for me!

Dear restless heart, be still; don't fret and worry so;
God has a thousand ways His love and help to show;
Just trust, and trust, and trust, until His will you know.
Dear restless heart, be still, for peace is God's own smile,
His love can every wrong and sorrow reconcile;
Just love, and love, and love, and calmly wait awhile. 

(Edith Willis Linn)

More adverbs for my waiting.  Calmly added to patiently. Maybe I should start an adverbial "Fret Not While Waiting List" for dear ole Dots!

Battlefield "tea-ology" : a Re-Brew

Be strong and very courageous. Be careful to obey all the law
(Joshua 1:7, NIV)

Marching orders were  given to Joshua. (3x in v. 6-9)

Be courageous.

Be careful.

But God.....doesn't leave Joshua and his people there alone. He reiterates time and time again----"I will be with you; I will never leave your nor forsake you. (Joshua 1:5, 9)

Recent sermon by son, Buddy, on the leader, Joshua, pointed out that God's most repeated command in scripture is, "Do not fear, or don't be afraid or to be courageous, the inverse of fear." Obviously the Lord realized how much fear would factor in to the lives of all humanity. Knowing how vulnerable mankind, even His own people, would be to fear,  His "don't fear-type" commands number 366, more than any other command in the Bible. That's one for each day of the year, even if there's a Leap Year. Thus, promises of His Presence and the reassurances that He would never forsake His own, seem to go hand in hand with those commands. Promises that do more than assuage their fear, are available for all who trust the Lord.

"To fear is to be human---but God says, trust me." (B. Liles, 3/2/14)

Courageous faith with careful obedience. That requires a constant cuppa trust.

Twis-TEA---Curvy paths

Trust in the Lord with all your heart and lean not on your own understanding;
In all your ways acknowledge Him, and He will make your paths straight. (Proverbs 3:5-6, NIV)

Twis-TEA---Turvy paths----life is full of them as today's Jesus Calling entry reminded me. But God....is there.....if we "dare to walk on the high road with Him. The low road is circuitous: twisting and turning in agonizing knots." Trust is the direct route to the Lord; the straight path to heaven. 

Before you go out to face your day, choose to sit with a cuppa and your trusty (trus-TEA) Friend. Then, watch as this trustworthy One will straighten those twis-TEA-Curvy paths....even if you're walking them in mid-matched shoes.

NOT a staged picture.
Just the result of a twisty-turvy, distracted mind going to appt with Dr. H.
& not even noticing, until sitting in the office. Hey, at least both are black!

Sufficient unto the day….

10/29/13 Study Notes & Marginalia

Worry = unnecessary anxiety----Worry happens when we lose sight of our loving Father’s care. Worry is lack of trust in God’s care. (Cathy Crowe)

Anxiety=afraid of what might happen. (Wayne Smith)

Who of you by worrying can add a single hour to his life? (Matthew 6:27)

Therefore do not worry about tomorrow, for tomorrow will worry about itself. Each day has enough trouble of its own. (Matthew 6:34)

Worry doesn’t empty tomorrow of its sorrow; worry empties today of its strength. (C. Crowe)

So don't waste your moments or your hours. Trust God!

Sufficient unto the day----our troubles and worries.   

But God….is the all Sufficient One.