S. T. R. E. N. G. T. H.

S.

T.

R.

E.

N.

G.

H.

T.

In order to follow my newest medical protocol of keeping physically active and intellectually challenged, I will be working on an acrostic for S.T.R.E.N.G.T.H. A spiritually inclined acrostic. 

STRENGTH being our Women's Ministry word for next year is spot-on...as is the verse, Psalm 59:16.

 I shall sing of Your strength; I will sing of your steadfast love in the morning. For you have been to me a fortress and a refuge in the day of my distress. 

If anyone has some strength verses or strength acrostics to share I would appreciate the info.

*Crickett, our Women's Ministry director, used S.T.R.E.N.G.T.H. to show the attributes of God.
S tronghold
T trustworthy
R efuge
E verlasting
N ourishment
G ood
T triumphant
H elp

"Out, Out"...Inadequacy BLOT

Mental BLOTS are dark and they can stain one's psyche----the center of his thoughts & feelings.

I have a blot of inadequacy that tends to blotch my confidence when it comes to "publicly" teaching spiritual things that seem "too hard for me."

I know "nothing is too hard for God"(Jeremiah 32:27) so why don't I refocus and "look up" as soon as the blot appears! Before it completely smudges my thinking!

I need to "move" those scriptures, which I know to be truth, from my head to my heart.

For nothing will be impossible with God. ~ Luke 1:37

I can do all things through him who strengthens me. ~ Philippians 4:13

My grace is sufficient for you, for My power is perfected in weakness. Therefore I will boast all the more gladly in my weaknesses, so that the power of Christ may rest on me....2 Corinthians 12:9-10

How can one feel inadequate when her adequacy is in Him. Grateful for the quote from, 100 Things God Loves About You, a recent birthday gift from Buddy & Charlotte, because #6 in the book reminded me to, 'throw your hands up to Him and say, "I can't do this by myself!' Because when you reach up, He loves to reach down, lift you up, and carry you close to His heart. (Isaiah 40:11)

That  "reach up" pithy grabber coupled with 1 Timothy 1:12 erased my inadequacy blot and replaced it with a clear sense of thankfulness knowing the the Lord Jesus Christ is the One who gives me strength "because He judged me faithful appointing me to His service."
As His appointee, He will make me adequate, equipped for every good work of His. (2 Timothy 3:17)

Indefatigable……

4/13/10 Indefatigable….was Houston’s (HNN) word of the day yesterday. The definition was given and it was used appropriately in a sentence but I didn’t hear all of that because I happened to know that word. My mind had already started down a Dotsy trail. (Sort of like a bunny trail, hopping here and there and often deviating from the main path.)

Perhaps in days gone by, I might have seen myself as indefatigable. Tireless. Showing sustained enthusiastic action with unflagging vitality. Not only has age changed that perception, but reality has trumped even age. I tried not yielding to fatigue both as a wife, young mom, old mom, working mom, housekeeper, friend, grandmom, Bible study leader, etc. but I couldn’t keep all those plates--- self-imposed unrealistic, perfectionistic, all things to all people, responsibilities ---spinning. In fact a lot of my world came crashing down around me----shards of plates went everywhere and pierced my very being. But God….through the psalms taught me of His strength and reminded me in Isaiah to seek it in quietness and trust.

I love the The Message version of the Bible which sums up Colossians 1:10-12. "As you learn more and more how God works, you will learn how to do your work. We pray that you'll have the strength to stick it out over the long haul—not the grim strength of gritting your teeth but the glory-strength God gives. It is strength that endures the unendurable (those hard places that seem so impossible) and spills over into joy, thanking the Father who makes us strong enough to take part in everything bright and beautiful that he has for us."

If you want to text me, try (n d -f t -g -b l) that keeps it short and momentarily sustainable b/c that’s about as long as I can last in my own strength. His power meets me at the juxtaposition of my weakness and that strength of His which leads to His bright & beautiful will for my life.