JOURNEYS

Words to count on during life's hardest journeys. His words!

God Never leaves us.

Be strong and courageous. Do not be afraid; do not be discouraged, for the LORD your God will be with you wherever you go. (Joshua 1:9)

...for he has said, “I will never leave you nor forsake you.” So we can confidently say, “The Lord is my helper; I will not fear;  (Hebrews 13:5-6) 

God Goes before us.

The LORD your God who goes before you will Himself fight on your behalf, (Deuteronomy 1:30)

The LORD himself goes before you and will be with you; he will never leave you nor forsake you. (Deuteronomy 31:6)

God is our rear guard.

Do not be afraid; do not be discouraged, (Deuteronomy 31:8)

....for the LORD will go before you, the God of Israel will be your rear guard. (Isaiah 52:12)

Then your light will break forth like the dawn, and your healing will quickly appear; then your righteousness will go before you, and the glory of the LORD will be your rear guard. (Isaiah 58:8)

....and the household of faith wears BooBoo's T-shirt and prayerfully walks alongside her. (Galatians 6:10)

Lucy reads Llama Llama Red Pajama Feb. 2013

Rhythmic Language Demonstrated
Practice for upcoming teacher training to emphasized importance of reading aloud.

R-E-F-R-E-S-H-I-N-G!

God winks or C(Christ) O(Ordainded incidences are so encouraging. Two at once pack a powerful punch.

Two Monday gifts---what a way to start a week! God affirmed me through these gifts, from 2 different members of the household of faith. A card and a book with "refreshing" references. Affirmation that my lesson on rest and refreshment is on target!

He who refreshes others will himself be refreshed. (Proverbs 11:25, NIV) Generous people shall be rich, by watering others they water themselves, (Proverbs 11:25, TLB)

Regardless of how you say it, I was refreshed. 

May I, in turn, go forth with R-E-F-R-E-S-H-I-N-G words for those whom I prepare to serve.

"ON HOLD"

FRUSTRATION!!

Please hold!!......Please continue to hold!!!
The phone feels glued to my ear. My shoulder aches from holding it up.
Next option---speaker phone. The "hold" continues! Phone is carried from room to room!

"Your call is very important to us." Yeah---right!!

The worst offenders are Comcast, Insurance and Government Agencies!

3 hrs on this one---just had pic taken at 2 hr point. Multiple calls occurred because so many came in while on hold. With 3 hours "holding", one can expect that.

How grateful I am that the Lord NEVER puts me on hold!
I can "call unto Him and He will answer me."  (anytime night or day)
(2 Samuel 2:24)  (Psalm 17:6) (Psalm 50:15) (Psalm 120:1) (Isaiah 58:9) (Jeremiah 33:3)

Version Preferences

When studying God's Word, I have a variety of Bibles handy. (KJV) King James Version used for recall of childhood memory verses. (NASB) New American Standard Bible used most for individual study. (NIV) New International Version for BSF---Bible Study Fellowship lessons. (ESV) English Standard Version to follow along at church. For easy reading, I sometimes choose (CEV) Contemporary English Version, (NCV) New Century Version or the (NLT) New Living Translation, especially for facilitating understanding in difficult passages or long chapters. 

The same truth or primary meaning, just differing in certain wording or connotations---sometimes invokes ideas or feelings specific to situations, which I might be experiencing at the time ---is helpful to me.

A different "legitimate" version can offer a new or fresh perspective especially when I am preparing to teach a passage or topical lesson.

Studying for an upcoming "rest" lesson, words like refuge and retreat seem to jump off the pages from the (MSG) Message. When accompanied by "renewal," an aspect of that rest, all the better.

Going.....Going........

Going.....Going........Gone---well, not quite.....but in my heart I have decided...."your servant hears Lord." (1 Samuel 3:9) 

Friend Peggy sang the hymn, "Lord, Here Am I," as requested by Mother, per her own funeral plans. 

When I went through her "notes" I could not find her music requests but I knew there was one song that she had really set her heart on, though she did not grow up knowing it. As I was explaining this to Peggy, I began to visualize where Mother and I had that discussion. 

"We were sitting on the end of the bed in the guest bedroom and she played it....on her cassette player." I ran back to the bedroom and the player was still on top of her small desk----with the tape still in it. 

Voilà! Mother would have her hymn. Though many of her friends questioned the selection over more traditional ones, we could honestly say the choice was hers.

This morning, as I was re-typing a lesson to "take" to a foreign place, I remembered that hymn.

"Master, Thou callest, I gladly obey;

Only direct me, and I'll find Thy way.

Teach me the mission appointed for me,

What is my labor and where it shall be.

Master, Thou callest, And this I reply,

"Ready and willing, Lord, here am I."

"Here am I. Send me." (Isaiah 6:8)  

Going.....going.....about to be gone!

Old Rugged Cross

The "Old Rugged Cross"...doesn't seem so far away today. Maybe, because of time spent in His Presence.

"Rugged Cross"---made by N. Bozard, a Kentucky artisan sold in Hopkinsville, my hometown, and given by a good friend---a cherished gift to cling to as I study God's word.

Understanding Equations

 Maybe a better blog title would be misunderstanding equations especially those with variables on both sides. Therefore I simplified.
However, there are some equations of excellence----those number sentences which make sense to Christians. The helpful ones in times of struggle. I came across these in my 10/16/13 journal entry. (H2H source unknown).

In all the variables of life, believers must factor in God's Presence. 

Focusing on His Presence  turns misunderstandings into equations of excellence.

Prayer Warriors---near and far

Morning call, filled with prayers, from way across the pond---think France, coupled with yesterday's email, with Dr. Jeremiah's quote, from Eads, TN---think a stone's throw away, reminded me of how BIG my God is! 
"God's woman in the center of God's will is immortal until God is finished with her!"
God's purposeful peace accomplished.

Different countries. Different type residences. Different denominations. Same God.
Prayer warriors both.

Reflections of ......

Reflections of Psalm 148 from St. Augustine.

"If you love what He has made, love still more Him who has made it all. If the creation is beautiful, God who is reflected in it is infinitely more beautiful." (Drinking From the Hidden Fountain, 270)

Read Psalm 148 yourself. Then take a "praise" walk outside and reflect on what you have read.