GROUNDHOG DAY 2021

Groundhog Day!

• Aren't they all!
• Haven't they been for the last 10 1/2 months? 
• Anyone who watches news could make this prognostication.
• Shadows loom at every turn.

Believers just need to remember that behind every dark shadow, there is the SON!

We are under the shadow of the Almighty God. (Psalm 91:1)

TWENTY FIVE WORDS OR LESS (AGAIN)

Can she do it? If she counts words without characters she can.

Prayer = lens to life. More than right now ME prayers. 

With. For. In you. Submission to Him.

Thy will be done. Right here. Right now!

RELEVANT PREPOSITIONS

Today is inauguration day. The 46th in our country. Joseph R. Biden, Jr. will lead our government of the people, by the people and for the people---a democracy rife with powerful prepositions.

Prepositions are words of function. 

Prepositions often precede a noun or pronoun and require us to consider the relationship of the two words.

.....no longer I who live, but Christ lives in me, ....I live by faith...in the son of God (Galatians 2:20) 

Christ.....

• in you
• with you
• for you

All relevant prepositions in a believer's life to help us live for God, under His grace which is always with us. (Galatians 2:19) All relevant prepositions for our country as well. One nation under God.

FYI for Wednesday Wordsmiths---today was a palindrome day 1.20.21

GRACELACED!

Gracelaced!

Gracelaced??? Is that a real word? Auto correct doesn't think so! Does it need a hyphen?

Gracelaced---can we "order it up?"

One doesn't have to "order" grace, it just comes like grits with any Southern breakfast order! (Cole Huffman, 1/4/21)

Hopefully, Gracelaced will be an all encompassing word for dotsydetails as I blog sporadically this year.

Gracious words are like a honeycomb, sweet to the soul and healing to the bones. (Proverbs 16:24)

Pithy but pure.

As I said oxymoronically 16 years ago, when I did 366 entries,  "Less is more in 2004!"

Pare down. In 2021, use only...........

• Good words. 
• Healing words. 
• Healthy words. 
• Kind words. 
• Pleasant words. 
• Strengthening words. 
• Sweet words. 

Hmm---
I think all  of the above are Gracious words. Words with purpose!

 Gracelaced! To God be the glory.

"WORRYING NOT" WEDNESDAY!

" Worrying Not" Wednesday! At least it's somewhat alliterative. 

But....why is same word, just as a different part of speech, repeating itself from last week's entry?

A better question is....what are the INGs in your life? (Preaching to the choir here.)

Are you choosING worry or are you celebratING your moments?

Gerund test for all worrywarts.....ING  or  ING (alphabetical order, of course)

• AcceptING? ControlING?
• PrayING? ComplainING? 
• ReadING & meditatING TalkING & vexING?
• RestING & RefreshING? RushING ahead in own strength?
• ServING others? servING self?
• WaitING on God? WorryING?  

(Test = 23 words without counting ampersands.)

Choose this day--(Joshua 24:15)

"NOT"worryING---I'm just sayING!

25 WORDS OR LESS

Can I do it?

Verbose by nature. Here goes............

Be anxious for nothing.....pray about everything; put requests before God; ask with thankful heart; keep mind on Christ for God's peace to come. (Philippians 4:6-7, 24 word paraphrase mine.)

Pithy picture only uses 4 words! "A truly wise person uses few words." (Proverbs 17:27)

OK Wordsmith's---comparatively, fewer should probably be used....but I've always heard "25 words or less" in gaming. OOPS my verbosity took over again!

commUNITY

Community is a word that has been bantered around a lot in 2020. 

For believers, the fellowship of believers takes community up a notch. A commUNITY of devotion. (Acts 2:42) Fellowship enjoyed by "walking in the light" together. (1 John 1:7)

Abundant love shared because He first loved us. (1 John 4:19) Such love within commUNITY pleases God and blesses those of us together on the same side of our struggles. (Hebrews 13:16) 

May our commUNITY continue to thrive in 2021!

*A big thanks to all in "my" commUNITY who prayed for my older brother today. He had a heart attack and his quick arrival at the hospital was life-saving. He had 2 stents put in and will probably be in the hospital for a week, because surgeon said he is "not quite out of the woods, yet,"

FIRST DAY OF FIRSTS

FIRSTS for the FIRST

First picture I took in 2021 because hubby saw reflection as sun rays came through.

Hubby who read aloud our first devotional from New Morning Mercies had me look up Psalm 115. The first verse had "My One Word" 2021 choice! STEADFAST. I see that as my 1st affirmation from God.

 Not to us,  O Lord, but to your name give glory, for the sake of your steadfast love and faithfulness! (Psalm 115:1, emphasis mine) 

First text w/ picture I received. Thx MA family! She's saying "cheese" as picture was taken.

First laughter to grace my ears. All because someone said, "cut the cheese."

Thanks to all who made my "first day of  firsts" so special in 2021.

MERCY ME!

HAPPY NEW YEAR!

2021 IS HERE!

We made it! Thank you, Lord. Lots to ponder today as I nosh on my black-eyed peas and fresh turnip greens. (Hubby will only eat spinach, thus the can.)

Lord, You are still on the throne ......& your mercies are indeed new every morning! (Lamentations 3:22-23)

As Paul David Tripp, the author of NEW MORNING MERCIES, desires for his readers, "may people see the gospel as a window through which they are to look at everything in life. (Introduction)

Mercy Me! I  "see" that as a window of grace and mercy. 

2021 RESET NEEDED

These days, we all need a "shot in the arm." Literally! We stand and wait for our turn for the COVID vaccine. But as we wait, let's ponder resetting our HOPE!

Type A folks can have trouble letting go of control. I know, I am a 'just in case" person trying to cover all plans in case Plan A doesn't pan out. It is not a healthy place to be. It's stressful---the one aspect of my life my stroke neurologist is trying to "temper"---don't give up on me Dr. Bhole.

On my 2008 Mexico Mission trip, my teammates dubbed me "girl scout" because I had packed lots of "just in case" meds, toys, snacks, etc. which I shared.

But....2020 blew "my" plans out the window. God only has a Plan A. 

Having meditated on Lamentations 3 for several days, I began to focus on verse 24.

"The Lord is my portion says my soul therefore I will hope in Him." (ESV)

His "Plan A" doesn't mean hope changes my circumstances, it reminds me who is control and in the midst of pain, suffering and uncertainty, He is with me.

Allen Bible Church's sermon closed 12/27/2020 with Dan Martin, reading the "My Hope is Built" hymn lyrics.

"My hope is built on nothing less than Jesus blood and righteousness......on Christ the solid Rock I stand," are the familiar parts of the hymn. 

Earlier that day I had the hymn whirring thru my mind and in my old Cokesbury Hymnal, (publication date unknown but cost was 30¢ for a single copy) it was on p. 24. 

I dare not trust the sweet-est frame, But wholly lean on Jesus name.....In every high and stormy gale, my anchor holds with-in the veil......When all a-round me then gives way, He then is all my hope and stay! (emphasis mine)

Thanks to Edward Mote for those phrases  that jumped into my psyche and soul to help reset my hope for 2021. I'm still humming it as I seek to reset my focus each day.