REST IN PEACE!

One month ago today, on the morning of February 10, 2024, Henry Thomas Blackaby (born April 15, 1935) came to the end of his life on earth and began experiencing God face-to-face. He was predeceased by his wife Marilynn and survived by by five sons, all of whom are pastors and one daughter who was a missionary to Germany.

Blackaby's landmark devotional book, Experiencing God, has been the devotional book that I and several friends have been using this year and his words have encouraged each of us. In it he encourages his readers to remember God's promises are YES & Amen and to walk their talk! 

May one's actions back up words.

Another quote that inspires us all is  "Look to see where God is at work and join Him.” 

 & thanks for words of peace you have shared for Christians everywhere who desire to live a God'centered life!

Rest in Peace, Henry Blackaby & thanks for gody words lived out by you and your family>

SPRING IS COMING!

Officially, the spring season will begin March 19. But.....signs are already popping up in gardens and field's everywhere! White dogwoods filling fields in Hernando, MS. Budding heritage snowball bushes in yards of many friends. An unfamiliar magnolia bush. A saucer magnolia, according to my horticulturist neighbor. It looked like a tree with two different color blooms to me.

How could I have missed this visual springtime treat at GAC for so many years!?

May the Lord give me eyes to see. May I lift my head and open my eyes to see the beauty He has created without losing focus of the the Creator, by whom all things were created through Him and for Him. (Colossians !;16)

CONFIDENT HOPE!

I love my wearable gift from a faithful prayer warrior who knows "HOPE" is "My One Word" for 2024.

HOPE is much more than wishful thinking. HOPE comes from a confident expectation in the words of  the God we worship. When God speaks of HOPE, whether as a noun or a verb, He stands by His word!

According to Henry Blackaby, "We can have confident HOPE in everything God has provided." (Experiencing God, p. 193)

HOPE for today! Bright HOPE for tomorrow.

Put on HOPE today! 

Wear it with a confident smile on your face and in your heart! 

THINK ON THESE THINGS!

A step beyond thinking..........to glean understanding!

Consider. Contemplate. Muse. Ponder. Reflect. Ruminate.

Ah-h-h, MEDITATE! Keep your mind full of God's Word!

Yesterday's March 4 Experiencing God devotional had me in a meditative mode...

• Words you speak can be a good gauge of what's in your heart.
• Mind needs exercise just as your physical body does.
• To keep thoughts pure, contemplate noble truths that stretch your  mind.
• Expose mind to truths of God's Word.
• Choose to concentrate on the truths of God.

....A convicting mode

"The things you allow your mind to dwell on will be revealed in the way you live."(p.64)

HIDING PLACE

Hide me O Lord. May I and others (Nancy E., Sandra F., Terry T, Katya B., Reardons) find refuge under your wings as we are covered with your pinions. (Psalm 91:4)

As we start our day with You, cuppa in hand and Bible open on lap, may we call to You in this time of trouble.

Thou art a believer's refuge, strength, comfort, fortress, protector, shield, buckler and dwelling place. Today may all in need hide and abide in the shadow of the Almighty, our Most High God! (Psalm 32:7)

PRACTICING THY PRESENCE TO PRACTICE THE PAUSE!

A "pause" that refreshes my soul and pleases the Lord.

His pace becomes my pace.

Put

All

Under

Savior's

Ebullience

If actions don't please God, keep pausing until they delight Him! 

Practice Thy Presence to Practice the Pause.....or Practice the Pause to Practice Thy Presence!

THANKFUL THURSDAY = FAMILY

Unexpected, but well deserved, in my opinion---accolades for my hubby.

Tuesday 2/27/24 @ 3pm a zoom call from former racquetball team members, Andy & Kim Roberts & Toni Bevelock Delos Santos began the surprise announcement! A BIG,BIG THANKS TO DICK COCKRELL who nominated Larry!

https://twitter.com/theTSHF/status/1762916578025181503?ref_src=twsrc%5Etfw%7Ctwcamp%5Eembeddedtimeline%7Ctwterm%5Escreen-name%3AtheTSHF%7Ctwcon%5Es1

Yesterday, 2/28/24, the Memphis local news began announcing it.... we never saw it until our phones started "blowing up" with messages and calls. His sister Susan and Sandra M. from Somerville were the first of many on my phone! LOTS more  on his. So grateful for family and the many friends reaching out with congratulations laced with "well-deserved" comments!

Love & thanks to all......most who have been friends for 50+ years!!

*Info sent to us---putting it here so we won't lose it. 

Honors/Awards  (List incomplete at this time)

§  College of Education Hall of Fame Award - University of Memphis College of Education - 2012

§  Hall of Fame for Coaching U of M Racquetball Team - Memphis Ameteur Sports - 2009

§  Inducted into National Hall of Fame - United States Racquetball Association - 2009

§  Faces In The Crowd - Sports Illustrated - 1987

§  Head Coach - United States Racquetball Team U.S.O.C. - 1987-90

§  Coached - US Team to Gold Medal n Hamburg world Championship and a Gold Medal in the Pan American Games - 1988

§  World Championship - In The 40+ Singles Competition Hamburg, Germany - 1988

§  Doubles Champion - United States National 30+ and 40+ Racquetball - 1981-91

§  Silver "M" Award - University of Memphis letterman's Club - 1989

§  Developmental Coach of the Year - United States Olympic Committee Racquetball - 1996

§  Collegiate Coach of the Year - United States Racquetball Association - 2000

§  National Men's Champions - National Collegiate Racquetball - 2001

§  NYSP Compliance Award - NCAA/NYSP - 2002-03 & 2005

§ The United States Racquetball Association Hall of Fame - United States Racquetball - 2002

§  National Men's Champions - National Collegiate Racquetball - 2003

 Creative Activities

§  European Goodwill Tour promoting Racquetball - 1987 - Paris, Brussels, Netherlands, Hamburg, and Zurich - IOC

§  United Kingdom Racquetball Team Training, Belfast, Northern Ireland -1992- Dr. Liam McCarthy, President of the Racquetball Association of Northern ireland

WORDSMITH WEDNESDAY!

INTERROBANG!

Did that punctuation term get your attention!?

Thanks to fellow librarian ljj, for introducing me on "Teaching Tuesday"  to this fused question mark and exclamation point. Think simultaneous question, somewhat rhetorical, & exclamation. Interrogative with a bang................

Fusing the emoji !? makes perfect since to me.....my mind often fuses words on its own.

Interrobang is a noun for this non-standard punctuation mark, indicating a question expressed in an exclamatory manner! Mother had a way of using them often when she was aghast at my behavior.

What on earth do you think you are doing, playing with my make-up .........

 

According to my research, the mark has only been in use since 1961.

God's word reminds us to let our words be few. (Ecclesiastes 5:2) He that restrains lips is wise. (Proverbs 10:19b)

Perhaps the interrobang allows us to say much with fewer words.

What do  you think......

BE STILL!

Can God use fatigue to "make" you be still in order to know that He is God!

Will let you know after my next nap!

H.A.S. #4

Soon