EYE-CATCHING TRUTH!

Words have a way of catching my attention in the most convicting way!

My Word A Day calendar was a gift from daughter Molly. It was probably a way of helping me keep up with what day. Of course, she knows my lifelong fascination with words.  

Desultorily, certainly describes my actions these past few years. It's a course of wandering around and not remembering where or why!

Think metaphorically jumping from one activity or thought to another!

Random.

As frustrating as it is, it's life for me these days. 

Whether it's age-related or brain plaque related.

But God reminded me from 1 Thessalonians 5:18, "In everything give thanks."

"His" Word....is the word that counts!

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!

INSPIRATIONAL READ!

Inspirational read!

Ever read a book that kept complaining at bay!?

Hope by the time I have finished the entire book, I will have set aside discontent, grumbling, murmuring and all complaining. 

No "kvetching" as Longreen Jewish neighbors, Brenda and Michelle would say. That present participle of persistent complaining doesn't need to be present in my life!

Inspirational read! The story of a 67 year old great-grandmother who was the  who was the first female to hike the entire Appalachian Trail alone. She who could sleep, without a sleeping bag on the ground tucked into leaves (I would prefer a good mattress and ironed pillowcases) and awake to shake a field mouse out of her hair and eat breakfast picked from surrounding berry bushes. Hers was a story of triumph from pain and hope from suffering and that was life before she began her walk. 

Her walks were more than a "walkabout Wednesday' as she ended up "putting one foot in front of the other--five million times (Grandma Gatewood's Walk, p.253) usually with a smile on her face.

Do all things without grumbling or disputing, (ESV)

Do all things without complaining and disputing, (NKJV, emphasis mine)

Emma Gatewood did and her actions ended up saving the Appalachian Trail. (AT)

MY GOOD SHEPHERD!

As I have finished David's 23rd Psalm, I've realized this salient poem of soul soothing has brought me much comfort! I've also seen how similar I am to to a cast sheep in this season of my life. A cast sheep has trouble getting up after falling on its backside and needs his shepherd to help him get up & on its feet again. A cast sheep must trust his shepherd. (Keller, p.54)

Thomas Constable calls the 23rd Psalm "a psalm of trust and confidence in God's goodness in the present and in the future."

Restoration is often needed in our own lives! How grateful I am to have my Good Shepherd. 

I have learned what we have in our own lives is NOT the most valuable but WHO we have in our lives is what counts!

How I love my Good Shepherd!

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!

PRAYER PREP!

Prayer prep is always important---not only with preparation but with the incluslon of prepositions! Though there are 150 connector words known as prepositions. Short words. Longer words. Multiple words or a short phrase. These words when grouped with a noun or pronoun can show direction.  

Pray is today's verb. "It" is the pronoun.

On. Over. Through. Propositions connecting pray and it. 

On ---can express location of in contact with

Over---at a higher level or layer

Through---a process from start to finish

"It" can be the Bible. God's Word. On a word from a verse. 

"It" can be the same word or verse. Pray over again and again using different versions each time to add to deeper understanding.

"It" can be through an entirety of a book of the Bible, a chapter, or verses from start to finish to gain context of true meaning

GO for "it!"......using any prepositions necessary to aid your prayer life!

WHEREWITHAL!

WHEREWITHAL!

Where is my wherewithal?

WHEREWITHAL! I know where my "with all" is..............it's in the One whose name is Jesus. He has all I need for power to live life full of resources to please Him and serve others.

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!

EARS TO HEAR!

Prayer is a reflection of one's dependence on God. (Rad Andrews)

Ask self, am I prepared to listen as I kneel or bow my head before his throne of grace or am I prompt to petition? When sharing with friends, am I the one doing all the "sharing?" Be "quick to listen" and "slow to speak"  as it says in James 1:19. Listening ears are ears that truly hear from God and others.

T.H.O.T. notes (cropped) from a recent (5/19/24) Pace Mckee Harvest sermon took listening to a whole new level.Do you think the Lord is trying to get my attention?

Expositional listening leads to action NOW….not tomorrow!

 

Listen carefully-- Luke 8:16-21

1)          Pews are for taking in but truth is for giving out! Listen evangelistically. Empty the pews for the glory of God & good of the church

2)          In pew…..Listen for introspection (secrets of your heart will come into light, you can’t hide from God) and repentance V.17 God’s character will not bend.

3)          Caution (“Heed”) and diligence in listening.. Don’t be ever hearing & not understanding. Listening carefully cannot leave you unchanged. Do you just want your ears tickled! Take heed. v.18 Take care how you listen! Listening is NOT passivity but activity. A heedful hearer. Listen as a church. Be in the pews gathered…..not virtual It’s not an individual activity---church, baptized believers listening to sermons together in pews keep us accountable. Plural (us)---preaching for y’all! Kids too. Consider how to spur one another to good deeds. Pray before, after and during your hearing.

4)          Obedience is a part of expositional listening ---relationship with Him. V.21 Hear it and do it. Apply it! 

Pace would probably ask, "Do I hear an Amen?"

Do you hear an AMEN in your heart? You might if you have ears to hear!

W WORDS FOR WEDNESDAY!

My latest knee malady is preventing me from a sorely needed "worship walk."

"But God" in His love and mercy reminded me, through the word rambling of a 5 year-old's alternative,

 "Hush your trout." I got it. Do you? 

He was trying to tell his dog to be still and be quiet. 

For me, the phrase "holy-hush" came to mind. 

Taking that phrase and putting it into practice---quiet & alone in my prayer chair with Bible open and "W" words leading me to truth.

FLOURISHING NOT FLOUNDERING!

God's Word says the righteous flourish like a palm tree....and continue to bear fruit in old age. (Psalm 92:12-14) 

Flourishing has not been front and center in my vocabulary recently. So convicting when the Psalm speaks of the righteous as full of sap and green and I have little.

 

I am anything but full of sap and green......Apathetic. Blah.Fatigued. HoHum. Lethargic. Useless.

 

Think ENNU!! 

I need to "snap-out-of-it."

My" response has been to "try" and get moving.

But God, in His word says," He gives power to the faint and strength to the weary!" (Isaiah 48:29)

And so.....I wait trying not to feel guilty.  

At least I'm in my prayer chair."

Lord, allow my heart to be still and trust you more this Wednesday!

VERBS OF VERACITY = VICTORY!

Verbs of veracity can give victory    

Veracity---a 17th C word that is derived from truth or true..... as the quality of being true.

Many adjectives and nouns are synonymous with truth but are there verbs that are somewhat synonymous with veracity? Scripture in Psalm 119 speaks of soul-clinging, life-giving words.Words of truth that "strengthen." "Choose" the way of faithfulness that leads to truth. "Cling" to God's testimonies. "Speak" of them. "Allow" God to "incline" your heart toward Him; "Enlarge" your heart and let it "lead" you to run the way of His commandments."Dread not."

"Long" for God's precepts in His righteousness.

Trusting the Veracity of God's Word results in a life lived in Christ, for Christ and with Christ.....aka Victory in Jesus!

 Verbs of Veracity = Victory in Jesus 

SCUPPERED!

Wordsmith Wednesday has me with lingo "from across the pond."

SCUPPERED!

In an on-line dictionary they offer the "English" definition.....as if the language of Britain isn't English. 

Those of us who speak "Southern" can relate.

I know that you can do all things; no purpose of yours can be thwarted. (Job:42:2)

I just scuppered my plans---I lost my typed entry and could not recover. So discouraging! 

Don't know what's next yet.

CONFIDENT HOPE!

I love my wearable gift from a faithful prayer warrior who knows "HOPE" is "My One Word" for 2024.

HOPE is much more than wishful thinking. HOPE comes from a confident expectation in the words of  the God we worship. When God speaks of HOPE, whether as a noun or a verb, He stands by His word!

According to Henry Blackaby, "We can have confident HOPE in everything God has provided." (Experiencing God, p. 193)

HOPE for today! Bright HOPE for tomorrow.

Put on HOPE today! 

Wear it with a confident smile on your face and in your heart! 

WORDSMITH WEDNESDAY!

INTERROBANG!

Did that punctuation term get your attention!?

Thanks to fellow librarian ljj, for introducing me on "Teaching Tuesday"  to this fused question mark and exclamation point. Think simultaneous question, somewhat rhetorical, & exclamation. Interrogative with a bang................

Fusing the emoji !? makes perfect since to me.....my mind often fuses words on its own.

Interrobang is a noun for this non-standard punctuation mark, indicating a question expressed in an exclamatory manner! Mother had a way of using them often when she was aghast at my behavior.

What on earth do you think you are doing, playing with my make-up .........

 

According to my research, the mark has only been in use since 1961.

God's word reminds us to let our words be few. (Ecclesiastes 5:2) He that restrains lips is wise. (Proverbs 10:19b)

Perhaps the interrobang allows us to say much with fewer words.

What do  you think......

HOPETIMIST!

How does one become a hope-timist? Is that even a word?

It is now, at least in my vocabulary.

H eals

O ur

P ainful

E xperiences

Where is this hope found? In God's Word---that's the obvious answer. But....sometimes we struggle even when we know the "right" answer.

For God alone my soul waits in silence,
for my hope is from Him. (Psalm 62:5)

I wait for the LORD, my whole being, and in his word I put my hope.

(Psalm 130:5)

Hmmmmm---Another word jumped out as I was searching for hope.

WAIT! 

I don't always wait well! But God in His love and mercy showed me what to do while I wait. Help others find hope.

H elps

O ther

P eople

E veyday

May I be a true hope-timist and help others as I wait.

LANGUAGE OF HOPE!

Worries have you sleepless?

Fear have you tossing and turning?

What's does one do when she hopes for a good night's sleep, "safe and secure from all alarms"?

The LORD is my Shepherd.....He leads me beside still waters...He restores my soul....He is with me.......He comforts me.......I will dwell with Him forever. 

PLAY ON WORDS!

Play on words is a literary technique usually used to give men choice of meaning...in a humorous way.

Lately, for me. it's been a way of reducing words to an acronym to help me remember. 

AGOG---I am keen to remember God's love and mercy! The gift of His Son on my behalf. There is no greater gift.

A

Gift

Of

Grace

Word Play. "Play on words" techniques offer many new possibilities.

A recent word play was shared in Sunday School.

For those whose disposition is a bit grumpy.....

...Drop the D and add an H to give one an entirely new outlook!

Dis-position -D + H = His-position! 

Don't "dis" me about that word play; I think it speaks volumes!

In everything you do, put God first. (Proverbs 3:6a, TLB)

What position does God hold in your life?

MESS OF RELATIONSHIPS

I am still meditating on Tripp's 11/14 entry of "Messy Moments" of sin,

In relationships, the DNA of sin is selfishness. 

Sin

Is

Selfishness    Self-absorbed    Self-focused    Self-reliant    Self-righteous    

Sinful "Me-isms" of life require forgiveness, grace and mercy.

God offers lots of Mercy for Messy Sin.

ACRONYMS ABOUND!

Acronyms abound----on jars of jam, no less.

T.O.E. Jam made me laugh!!

Eventually, I realized the acronyms let a customer know contents of the jams.

I liked my THOTS better.

T rust                  T hrow                               T urn

O nly                   O ut                                  O n

E lohim                E expectations (of others)      E encouragement

Stick your toe in the positive "waters of words" to encourage others!