BUCKET BECKONINGS.....

11/20 12 .....the RED one, that is. 

Michèle Phoenix, my fellow MAC cancer sister, never "bypasses" a RED bucket. She always puts something in! I learned that last year when I met up with her in the "windy city." There are lots of RED buckets in Chicago. As a single gal starting up a new stateside ministry, after years on foreign soil, I'm sure her pockets aren't the deepest. Possibly not giving out of her abundance but out of her need. What an example!

You shall open wide your hand to your brother, to the needy and to the poor, in your land. (Deuteronomy 15:11)

This year I plan to follow suit. Won't you join me?

Let's allow the Salvation Army RED Bucket to beckon us all.

True Meditation

11/19/12 Returning from the mission trip to India, Hickman E. said that MANY in India worship in spirit but NOT in truth. There are many gods, hundreds, if not thousands, of personal gods in the faiths of Hinduism, Jainism, Buddhism, Islam, etc. The sacred cow came to my mind.

Christianity calls one to worship One True God and to worship in "Spirit and in Truth."

For God is Spirit, so those who worship him must worship in spirit and in truth."(John 4:24)

So how does one find truth. John 14: 6 gives that answer. Jesus answered, "I am the way and the truth and the life. No one comes to the Father except through me."  Meditate on that "truth."

SABBATH SNAPSHOTS: Sanctuary Revisited

11/18/12 In Genesis 12:8, Abraham built an altar after pitching his tent between Bethel and Ai. Bethel is a symbol for communing with God and Ai is the symbol of the world. That's right where we all live today---between quiet times with God and the clamors of the world. That's why we need a Bethel-type "sanctuary." A place to meet with God.

Inside St. George's sanctuary--seeking to capture His created "light." 

Even our soul can become a sanctuary where we fellowship with the Lord, the God and Father of our universe. Sometimes it just takes pulling away to a quiet place---an outside sanctuary to nurture our soul, an inside sanctuary.

Outside sanctuary--seeking "light" from His Word thru prayer and meditation.

"a spot of tea"

11/17/12 humiliTEA---I still need a few more little sips. 

As I was closing my NIV Bible this morning, I noticed on the frontispiece a "defining" note. Son Buddy's definition for humility, which he called the "key to life."

Humility is a "right" estimation of our life/ self toward God and others. Eyes to see eternal perspective is key to humility. Self turned toward God and others so affirmed what I sensed the Lord started teaching me as I prepared the James chapter 4 lesson. He continues to "show" me that true humility doesn't conclude with a life turned toward God.....but God would have my love and esteem for Him to continue to turn toward others. 

It's a reiteration of my "roots and fruits" musings. A heart "rooted" in humility of love and esteem for the Lord bears the fruit of love and service to others.

"Still sipping on that truth, today."

ANAGRAM ANALOGY

11/16/12 Game icons on my iPad are few---and only 1 of the 6 is mine, and I don't even play it very often. My friend, Ann Martin, introduced me to Whirly Word---an APP for a puzzle game that starts with 6 letters for the player to make as many words from those letters as you can. Accepted words appear as they are entered. Nothing high tech. I don't even keep the sound on. One can play it alone---or with a friend looking over your shoulder, not one out in cyberspace. When you're stuck, you can press whirl and the letters change positions. Sometimes with that simple change of perspective, clarity comes.

 In this game, the first word I saw was "Shug."  In an Urban Dictionary, shug is short for sugar. My Daddy's nickname for me was Sugar so that's exactly why my "grands" call me "Shug." Whirly Word wouldn't accept it.

A recent revelation came from a "new" similar game. The letters were
e t  s  l  n i. 
There were five 6-letter words listed as possibilities on that grid. "Listen" came easily. Enlist. Inlets. I needed to whirl.
A "whirl" could give me a new perspective.

I moved those letters around. SILENT jumped out at me. Silent---the adjective that describes a person on one side of a conversation. If I indeed listen attentively, with the purpose of hearing, during my prayer conversations with the Lord, I need to be silent.

Anne Graham Lotz said it well when describing how we "hear" God's voice. "We "silently" listen with our eyes open on the page of our Bible." (my paraphrase)

VISIBLE CONVICTIONS

11/14/12 CONVICTIONS! Do you have any? Are they visible to others?

Sweet friend, Kathi Wright, came by a set of convictions the "hard way." Having lost nephew, Kyle Kiihnl, as a result of a somnolent student driver. (Both students at Houston High & a great tragedy for both families.)

Kathi has been standing firm on her conviction to save lives by creating an awareness of the consequences of driving while drowsy. Fund raising thru the “Eye Opener 5k” has raised funds for a memorial scholarship in Kyle’s name for an “exceptional” wrestling student at the school. They also provide literature with statistics to increase awareness of the tragic results of driver fatigue. Kathi is boldly "standing up" for her heartfelt conviction.

While traveling I-40 recently, I saw evidence of Kathi’s conviction. A blinking message. A reminder that if folks don’t drive while drowsy, then falling asleep at the wheel won’t result in a death.

Growing up I always heard that “if you don’t stand for something, you’ll fall for anything. With that memory, the flashing sign on I-40 and a weekend message on “My Heart’s Cry for MORE Courage in My Convictions” coupled with yesterdays jury duty time, I began to ask myself about my spiritual convictions.  
Am I standing up and standing out in the world with my spiritual convictions? Or….do I have a case of “spiritual anemia” and I’m just blending in with the world around me?

Jesus is God. He is NOT God jr…. but fully man, fully God and He gave His life for my (your) sin. May my blog never slur the integrity of that truth.

Ask yourself, “How visible are my spiritual convictions? Are they so evident they appear to be flashing as on an interstate message board?”

Meditating to Hear from God

11/12/12 I so-o-o agree with a recent post of Cole Huffman about what makes a great Bible teacher. In describing a great teacher, Cole says, “When I think of John Hannah (DTS prof) in particular, I’m drawn to want more of God — the best thing that can be said of any teacher. Listening to him pray before each class was a clinic in how to step into Heaven.”

This weekend I heard great Bible teaching from Anne Graham Lotz---she even went to preaching! Her daddy, Billy Graham, describes her as the BEST teacher in the family. Her goal for the weekend was for each participant to discover an intensely personal relationship with the God who is wholeheartedly pursuing more of you.

Friday night’s session, “My Heart’s Cry for MORE of HIS Voice in My Ear,” was taken from John 10:1-10

1 “Very truly I tell you Pharisees, anyone who does not enter the sheep pen by the gate, but climbs in by some other way, is a thief and a robber. 2 The one who enters by the gate is the shepherd of the sheep. 3 The gatekeeper opens the gate for him, and the sheep listen to his voice. He calls his own sheep by name and leads them out. 4 When he has brought out all his own, he goes on ahead of them, and his sheep follow him because they know his voice. 5 But they will never follow a stranger; in fact, they will run away from him because they do not recognize a stranger’s voice.” 6 Jesus used this figure of speech,but the Pharisees did not understand what he was telling them7 Therefore Jesus said again, “Very truly I tell you, I am the gate for the sheep. 8 All who have come before me are thieves and robbers, but the sheep have not listened to them. 9 I am the gate; whoever enters through me will be saved.They will come in and go out, and find pasture. 10 The thief comes only to steal and kill and destroy; I have come that they may have life, and have it to the full.

As you meditate on this ask yourself: 

• Who are the sheep? 
• Who are the thieves and robbers? 
• Who is the Shepherd? 
• What is the sheep pen? 
• Who is the gatekeeper/watchman? 
• What is the door? 
• What is a full life and who gives it?

We, as His sheep, want to “hear” from God. How will we know when the voice is authentic? What do we do once we hear?

My Jottings that stood out: 

• An authentic voice is Biblical, personal and powerful. 
• When I hear His voice, I need to heed His voice. 
• LISTEN for God’s voice with your eyes on the page of your Bible. 
• It is from Him that I have life in abunDANCE! 
• A life of abunDANCE is both life-saving & life changing because it comes from my Good Shepherd.

By Cole's definition, Anne Graham Lotz (for me) is a great teacher because I’m drawn to want more of God when I sit under hear instructions from God's Word.

How lovely on the mountains are the feet of him who brings good news, Who announces peace And brings good news of happiness, Who announces salvation, And says to Zion, "Your God reigns!"

SABBATH SNAPSHOTS: A MOUNTAINTOP EXPERIENCE

11/11/12 These pics will probably speak for themselves of the beauty of His creation and the importance of worshipping together with those in "the household of faith."

Lake Junaluska, NC---Carolyn Ferrell will recognize---from ? (1963, CMF)

Memorial Chapel at UMC Conference and Retreat Center at Lake Junaluska

Pilgrim Inn at Billy Graham Training Center at "The Cove" in Ashville, NC

The Chatlos Memorial Chapel at The Cove---a mountain sanctuary nestled under a canopy of colorful autumn trees with antique pews from the Royal London Society for the Blind, and chandeliers of handcrafted wrought iron

Drawn to kneel in prayer as I "lifted mine eyes unto the hills, from whence cometh my help."

PROCLAIMING FROM THE MOUNTAINTOPS...

11/9/12 So much to share---so little time and virtually no service---and that seems to be a "good" thing.
Anne Graham Lotz is so-o-o inspiring. Can't wait to share.
To prepare, read Luke 24:27-35 and ask the Lord to speak to your heart. Use the "formula" we've used for meditation.

• What does the passage say? (just the facts)
• What does it mean? 
• What does it mean to me?
• What am I going to do with what I have learned? (Record and date the part to hold self accountable)

It's all part of the process of learning to hear the authentic voice of God?

Do you hear me, Dotsy?

"In pursuit...."

11/8/12  Walking out the door to join dear friend and prayer buddy, JoLynn (& later w/ Wynellen ) as we begin our long awaited trip to "The Cove." (Billy Graham Training Institue in Asheville, North Carolina) We are attending an Anne Graham Lotz seminar to "discover an intensely personal relationship with the God who is wholeheartedly pursuing more of you."

Isn't that comforting---when we're in pursuit of more of Him, we realize He is whole (not 1/2) heartedly pursuing us. 

Will be in pursuit of "hot spots" while there in order to share all that God shows me----or not, it will depend on His leading. I might just spend lots of time with Him "lifting up mine eyes unto the hills." All who know me know I am a mountain girl and I love those mountains of North Carolina!

Would appreciate "in pursuit " prayers from all my readers.