T.G.I.F.

2/22/13 "T.G.I.F." blinked at me this morning as I drove to MS for physical therapy. It seemed  an odd acronym for Trinty Baptist Church's LED sign. Even though today is Friday that seemed really "out of character" for a church's electronic message board, especially from that denomination.

So glad I returned to Memphis via the same route. Mystery solved. There was more to the sign than the first few "blinks." 
Thank God I'm Forgiven!

That makes sense. How thankful all believers can be for forgiveness, not just on Fridays, but everyday!

If we confess our sins, he is faithful and just and will forgive us our sins and purify us from all unrighteousness. (1 John 1:9)

Seeing Clearly

2/21/13 A recent optometrist visit had me relating my maladies of dry eye and difficulty driving at night. Tests showed cataracts but not enough growth to warrant surgery---yet. A different prescription was given for my bifocals and so some improvement has been noted. The cloudiness still makes me insecure when driving long distances at night, especially in unfamiliar territory. I want to see clearly---without the fog.

In my BSF small group, one of the gals, often talks of how she just needs to see what God's plan is for her. Kathy, like the rest of us, knows that scripture is truly the lens to seeing the Lord. But sometimes she would like God to make His way BIG & BOLD so that she clearly sees it.  

I understand her frustration. Similar to the wait for cataract surgery, to correct physical eyesight, maybe one also has to wait for a later time for the Lord to correct our spiritual cloudiness in certain areas so that we can clearly see. 

Maybe we won't clearly see until eternity. With Him we will see fully.

Yet, in the waiting room of life, one can continue to gain spiritual "insight" from:

• God's voice through His word,
•  Nudges from the Holy Spirit, 
• God winks in circumstances, or 
• Counsel from godly folks who understand. 

Trusting Him as we wait and loving and serving others will help us keep our focus.

For now we see in a mirror, dimly, but then we will see face to face. Now I know only in part; then I will know fully, even as I have been fully known. (I Corinthians 13:12)

PLAN A

2/20/13 Readers of my  blog realize that in my life I often move not only to Plan B or Plan C or D...but even further "down" the Dotsy Plan Spectrum. Downward---that's often the spiral.

Why? I've begun to ask myself that. Usually I try new plans because I am the "queen of pain avoidance." Ease and comfort are too often my pursuit.  Along with frugality and convenience, my action plans are too often ruled, to a fault, by these four nouns. Nouns for living life "My Way."

Recently, I was brought up short by a comment from friend Debbie Frazier as she related her prayer during a "hard place" in her life. She asked the Lord for relief.....a Plan B----because Plan A wasn't going so well. She sensed that the Lord was telling her that there was no Plan B.
Plan A. That was it. Plan A was His plan for her life, even in this very difficult situation. 

God's sovereignty at work. We can either rest in it or wrestle with it in resistance as Crickett says.

Resist God's plan. I think not. 

Even if Plan A seems hard, we can trust Him to use the "discipline learned there" to be for our good and  in His timing to bear the peaceful fruit of righteousness." (Hebrews 12:11) 

As Psalm 119:71 states, "It was good that I was afflicted that I might learn from that statues."

Plan A---it's really  the only plan there is.


**For all my friends & blog readers who are in a VERY difficult Plan A right now, I continue to stand in the gap for you in prayer. In no way does this blog entry diminish the pain and hurt that is a part of your life right now. Praying extra measures of God's grace and mercy as you "endure" each moment & asking Him to be your true comfort, as only He can be.

Mobile viewing....

2/19/23 ....for those who were not reading yesterday's blog on a mobile device, increasing the sign on the back of the truck for viewing/reading was impossible. It was the verse I had written out, but....I cropped & increased the actual sign size to show you the verse on the Brim's truck. Hooray for Brim's for sharing scripture on the road. It certainly helped this one who was in need.

GOD'S WORD FOUND

2/18/13 Brief bedside prayers. Scurrying to get out the door. Physical therapy earlier than usual. In Mississippi----though worth the drive. Arrived "just in the nick."

"But God," I thought. "This is "Meditation Monday" and my head is muddled--- full of stress induced chaos."

But God....provided.
As I drove home, God's word was "front and center" as I pulled up behind a Brim's delivery truck. 

Seek the Lord while he may be found;
call on him while he is near. (Isaiah 55:16)

Seek---while He may be found---Today is a good day for seeking.

Call on Him---He's always near.

God's word found.....on the back of a truck!

SABBATH SNAPSHOTS: VALENTINE'S WEEK

2/17/13 From food to the arts it's been a glorious week of color!

Shrimp cocktail and "fine china"--a V'day must at 1152.

Hubby's colorful gift!

Brown Baguette Bakery in Southhaven, MS---a real find (by the Malco  Theatre)

"75 Rotations" A Project:Motion salute to Maxine Strawder's 75th birthday as her dancing has spanned generations How blessed I  was to have been there with  dear friend Dawn, who is Maxine's daughter.

More theatrics at Sunday night church as lots of slapstick had us all participating in the
story from the book of Esther and learning about
פּוּרִים-(Purim) the holiday soon to be celebrated by our Jewish friends. We even tasted 

hamentaschen, the traditional triangular shaped fruit filled cookie!

TIMELY GIFT

2/14/13 FaceTime with Lucy---a perfect way to begin Valentine's Day. As she "read aloud" to me one of her favorite books, I knew I had 2 perfect examples of my upcoming "Children 's Literature" presentation. Choose books that are meaningful or enjoyable to both the parent and the child. That supports my premise that there is no such thing as a good book written just for children. If it's well written, it will appeal to everyone. 

The second point is the importance of rhythmic language in those beginning picture books. Lucy is a little over 15 months old, but she had the language of "llama, llama, red pajama" down pat. A few llama and mama words were recognizable but the semblance of all the other words were there AND in rhythm. Her intonations even changed when she turned to the page that followed RUN, RUN, RUN!

The perfect timely gift---don't you think!! It warms this old librarian's heart.

Refreshing Recalculation (3x)

2/13/12 This morning I prayed that the Lord would “refresh” me for teaching the Ecclesiastes “GPS” message again tonight.  Wouldn’t it be nice to have a bodily “refresh” button right at our fingertips---just like the one on our computers. But God….was my refresh button today. Opening the morning paper I saw the Zits cartoon equating a “recalculating” voice as coming from his mother.

Then, when I opened my email, I belatedly opened yesterday’s God Tube on-line devotional. “Recalculating Relationships.” The very first example was about GPS: Recalculating.

Next, as I began my Bible Study Fellowship lesson, I saw on page 4 of the notes, I found a “God: Our Guide” list of verses. 

Perfect for citations for my God’s Perspective Shown list of God’s leading and guiding. Leading and guiding. To me those 2 biblical words are God speak for “recalculating,” reminding us to turn back to Him.

Don’t you just love it when things come in threes. That’s the real “HEADS UP, Dots” for me---when God so clearly shows me His answers---not once, not twice, but three times!

Navigating Life: GPS: Mine or Thine

2/12/13 GPS....God's Perspective Shown! Click here for message or under the picture.
Though it will say Limitations of Justice---I changed the title. Just click the play arrow.

Navigating Life Week 4

Posting my message on  Ecclesiastes 3:16-4:16 from this morning for my Ukrainian girls (and others who would like to hear it---I did misquote the "Fear God" verse. It is found in Ecclesiastes 12:13. Pray for God to speak to you and then open your Bible to the passage and follow along because I'm sure it can be hard to follow my voice without the aid of my slides---though I tried to remember to mention the verses I was reading.
God Bless. Бог благословить

DRAWING NEAR

2/11/13 Drawing near to God. 

That’s what Meditation Mondays are all about! It’s the pre-requisite of gaining understanding from passages of scripture. Drawing near prompts praise. That praise is carried into our time of meditation with Him and our hearts seem to open to the truths that he has for us. That prompts prayer. That draws us even nearer. It’s a great cycle. In the midst of all of that, is access to God through our hope in Christ, who ever lives to intercede for us. A perfect cycle! Complete.

Draw near to God and He will draw near to you. Cleanse (James 4:8)

Guard your steps as you go to the house of God and draw near to listen... (Ecclesiastes 5:1)

(for the Law made nothing perfect), and on the other hand there is a bringing in of a better hope, through which we draw near to God. (Hebrews 7:19)

Therefore He is able also to save forever those who draw near to God through Him, since He always lives to make intercession for them. (Hebrews 7:25)

Yesterdays’ Allen Bible Church message series title, “Let us Draw Near” was so-o-o “spot on” ---a great intro to direct one's meditation on Hebrews, chapter 7, a difficult passage. 

Drawing near---approaching God’s throne of grace in our time of need. A need for understanding His Word and applying it to our lives.