Sunday Scripture

 

 Time for another Sunday Scripture!  As I explained several weeks ago, I've made some changes in  my Sunday posts,  using the Daily Grace Co. book Fix Your Focus, which is really not a Bible study as such, but more of a guide to help you fix your focus on God, His Word, prayer, gratitude, and spiritual growth, every week for 52 weeks.  I encourage you to follow along with us as we journal, look at Scripture, pray, and face the challenges of our weeks with our focus on Him.  I truly hope that others are finding this as helpful as I am.

This week's lesson was actually done by me the week of September 15,  but I am working ahead of you readers.  So here goes!

🌿 WEEK-AT-A-GLANCE CHECKLIST is further on in each week's section. But since I am working on Fix Your Focus all week long, I find it works best for me to do this checklist first. This checklist offers us four points:  

* To make a plan for reading our Bibles and praying.

* To add any upcoming events to our calendars.

* To add any upcoming events to our calendars.

* To jot down a to-do list of tasks that must be completed this week.

* To make a note of our top three priorities for this week.

This last point is one that I need to pay special attention to every week.  I've been finding it so helpful.  (The other three points are things that I'm consistently doing.) 

For this week, my top three priorities are:

1) Friends and fellowship -- We have some great times of fellowship planned with friends several days this week.

2) Refreshment --  a ladies' retreat this weekend, and lovely time in God's creation planned for Tuesday.

3) Ministry --  Blogging,  Sunday School lesson prep, house and animal sitting, tea and discipleship time on Wednesday.

[If you are following along with our study, this is the place to make a Week-at-a-Glance checklist and/or priority list for yourself!]

🌿 The first actual prompt for each week is JOURNAL.  We are encouraged to take a few minutes to journal about our fears, joys, worries, desires and stressors concerning the week ahead.  [If you are following along with us, take a moment in a journal or notebook to do just that.]. Here's what I wrote on Monday, breaking it down into the suggested categories:

Fears: No real fears going into this week, although we did have a frightening national event last week that could have ramifications going into this one.  

Joys: Lots of joys to look forward to this week!  Time with friends in different settings nearly every day this week, plus a ladies' retreat for the weekend.

Worries: I try not to worry, knowing that anxiety can accomplish nothing, but to leave each concern in God's loving, capable hands.  That said, I do have some concerns about an unsettling situation.

Desires: Always, that God would be glorified in the events of this week.  That a situation I've prayed about for months and even years might be satisfactorily resolved.  To accomplish some things at home despite so much time out of the house.  To be a blessing to my teatime friends on Wednesday.  To learn and grow through my time at the retreat.

Stressors: Social media.  Loud, vociferous, opposing viewpoints.  Limitations of time and energy.  

🌿 The next prompt is PRAYER. It was suggested that we use several prayer prompts to have a conversation with God about the week ahead.  [You can do the same.  Use the very same prompts for your own prayer.]

* Lord, You are ... so good to provide us with dear Christian friends.  You are so kind to give us time together in Your creation.  You are in full control of every aspect of this week.

* Lord, I feel ... very thankful for Christian friendship, fellowship, and opportunities to minister.  I feel very blessed with so many opportunities this week to spend time in Your creation and with friends, time for a retreat also.  I feel tired from the past 10 days of staying at our cottage and not getting much done at home.  

* Lord, help me with ... wise use of my time during the hours I am able to be at home.  Help me to stay warm enough at the retreat.  Help me to learn all that I can there, and to apply it to my life.

* Lord, forgive me for ... times when I don't use time wisely or take proper care of myself.

Make a note of four or five people you are praying for.  I listed a young friend;  a family experiencing serious turmoil; and a friend trying to manage severe pain.

🌿 The next section in this helpful guide is SCRIPTURE MEDITATION.  I chose to first meditate on this week's Scripture, Isaiah 64:8, using the SOAP method, and then answered several suggested questions.   [You can use your own preferred method to meditate on this verse, and answer the questions below for yourself.]

S= "But now, O LORD, Thou art our Father; we are the clay, and Thou our potter; and we are all the work of Thine hand."  (Isaiah 64:8)

O=  Cross-references for "father" -- "Doubtless Thou art our Father, though Abraham be ignorant of us, and Israel acknowledge us not; Thou, O LORD, art our Father, our redeemer; Thy name is from everlasting."  (Isaiah 63:16)

 "Thus saith the LORD, Israel is My son, even my first-born."  (Exodus 4:22)

Cross-references for "potter" -- "Surely, your turning of things upside down shall be esteemed as the potter's clay; for shall the work say of him who made it, He made me not?  or shall the thing formed say of him who formed it, He had no understanding?."  (Isaiah 29:16)

"Woe unto him that striveth with his maker!  Let the potsherd strive with the potsherds of the earth.  Shall the clay say to him that fashioneth it, What makest thou?.  (Isaiah 45:4)

'O house of Israel, cannot I do with you as this potter?  saith the LORD.  Behold, as the clay is in the potter's hand, so are ye in mine hand, O house of Israel."  (Jeremiah 18:6)

"Nay but, O man, who art thou that repliest against God?  Shall the thing formed say to him that formed it, Why hast thou made me thus?  Hath not the potter power over the clay, of the same lump to make one vessel unto honor, and another unto dishonor? "  (Romans 9:20-21)

A= To help with my application of this verse, I answered the three questions from Fix your Focus:

* Reflect on what this verse tells you about who God is.

He is the LORD, the self-existent One.  He is the Potter who has created each of us.  He is our Heavenly Father.

* Think about what this verse tells you about who you are.

I'm a child of God; I'm His creation; I'm the clay in the hands of the Master Potter.

* Throughout the week, consider how this verse should affect the way you live.

 Because God is my Father, and because He is working in my life, I should yield to His will for my life every day.  I should be living out His purposes on a daily basis..

 One retired pastor wrote, "The picture of a potter and His clay has several principles with it, but the main one is that of the Potter having the ability to make from the clay whatever He wants.  Are you willing to let God do whatever He wants in your life? God isn’t just any old potter.  He’s the Master Potter.  Would you entrust your paintbrush and canvas to Leonardo Da Vinci if he walked into your art studio?  Let God take your life and do what He wants.  He only makes masterpieces."

Warren Wiersbe says in Be Comforted, his study of Isaiah, "God is a forgiving Father and a patient Potter.  He can cleanse us and make us anew if we will let Him have His way."

P= "Lord,  I praise You for the astounding truth that You, the self-existent One, are also my Father since my adoption into Your family.  I praise You that as the Master Potter, You have a plan and purpose in mind for my life.   

    "I pray that You will help me to yield to Your plan for my life, every day of life.  Help me to remain aware of Your purposes for my life, and to live out Your purposes for me every day.  I praise You for how You will work, in Jesus' name, Amen."

🌿 GRATITUDE is the next prompt.  We were to reflect on the way God has shown His faithfulness to you over the past week and list five things we are thankful for.  [If you are following along with us, be sure to make your own list of five things!]. Here is my list:

1) A wonderful staycation day with our friend Leslie, out in God's creation at Cannon Mountain and Echo Lake.

2) A lovely time with Jennifer and Deanna over tea and refreshments, on Wednesday.

3) A phone call from Rebekah.  Also chatting with Joanna and Jenn by phone.

4) Strength and wisdom in caring for the ducks, chickens, and cat.

5) A wonderful time celebrating Jennifer's birthday at their home..

🌿 SPIRITUAL GROWTH is the next prompt, and this week there's an emphasis on SERVING. We were to think about our available resources and to  consider how we could serve those in need  this week.  [And again, if you are following along, please think about this for yourself.]

I used time and energy to be available and enable my husband's caring for someone's ducks, chickens, and cat.  I used time, energy, and ingredients to prepare a teatime ministry for friends on Wednesday

🌿 Lastly is a GOSPEL-CENTERED AFFIRMATION: 

I am clay in the hand of God; He shapes my life with fatherly care..

We can take this encouraging thought into the coming week as we submit to God's shaping of our lives.

And there's the Sunday Scripture for this week!

A few goals for October

 

 

October!  Such a glorious month!  Here are a few goals for this month:

* Post in this blog as often as possible
* Post in my Christmas blog as often as possible
* Continue planning for family birthday gifts and crafting any handmade ones
* Continue reading through the One-Year Chronological Bible
*  Continue with the book Fix Your Focus for my Sunday Scripture series
* Continue studying and preparing for my ladies' Sunday School class
* Finish up the wonderful Daily Grace Co. study of Habakkuk, Even If (this is intended to be a 3-week study; it has taken me months since I only work on it on Saturdays -- and not every Saturday at that)
* Continue stocking my Etsy shop and continue selling vintage items
* Write at least 4 encouraging notes to friends and family
* Keep up with Flylady's zones of the week
* Help and encourage my local daughter as I'm able
* Plan meals with a greater emphasis on healthy eating
* Attend our monthly Ladies of Grace meeting
* Spend quality time at our little camp; plan some staycation time
* Get to bed by 8:30 each night we are at home
* Drink enough water each day
* Resume the habit of getting outdoors for the morning light
* Walk and/or exercise at least 4 times each week
* Help with our church's outreach at the local outdoor market
* Attend a one-day senior retreat at The Wilds of New England
* Enjoy a couples' retreat at the same location -- we are turning this into a getaway
* Spend time at my volunteer job
* Find time for a 7-day home reset
* Take a dinner lake cruise with friends
* Help with a missions emphasis weekend at our church
* Attend a one day Bible conference on a Saturday
* Host friends for tea and discipleship every Wednesday

HEALTHY HABITS FOR OCTOBER:  Drink more water/get more sleep/exercise daily/intermittent fasting/limit carbs/get morning light

As usual, all of this should be more than enough to keep me out of trouble this month!

So long, September Hodgepodge

 

So it's Wednesday again, and time for the weekly Hodgepodge with Joyce and the gang at From This Side of the Pond.  Joyce asks the questions, bloggers supply the answers.  Here we go!

1. What's your favorite fall scent? Would we find this in or around your home right now? 

Probably my very favorite scent in fall is that of crunchy autumn leaves that have fallen to the ground already.  We have lots of those around our yard right now.  I also like apple-cinnamon scents indoors, and do have some of that in a wax warmer.  

2. October is Country Music Month...are you a fan of country music? Do you have a favorite country artist? Ever been to Nashville? In terms of lifestyle are you more country mouse or city mouse? 

I enjoy country music, especially the older stuff, and if I had a favorite artist it would be one from days gone by, like Eddy Arnold, Hank Williams, or George Jones.

Never been to Nashville. In terms of lifestyle, definitely more country mouse and completely happy with that.

3. How about 'country cooking'? (loosely defined as rich flavors, familiar foods, large portions, often fried, and often associated with the southern region of the US of A)? 

chicken and dumplings-fried chicken-shrimp and grits-biscuits and gravy-mac and cheese-fried green tomatoes-cornbread-collard or turnip greens-deviled eggs-'barbecue'-gumbo-banana pudding 

Which of the foods listed is your favorite? Any on the list you haven't tried or would say a firm no thank you to if offered? 

I love country cooking.  My own style of cooking is on the "country cooking" side but with more of a New England flavor.  Of the foods listed, for a favorite it would be a tossup between mac and cheese and biscuits and gravy.  There isn't anything on that list I'd say a firm no thank you to.

 

4. What's something that always has a positive impact on your mood? 

An autumn day that's warm, sunny, and not humid. 

5. As we say so long to September share a noun, a verb, and an adjective that tells us something about how that month looked for you. 

Noun: Friendships
Verb: Travel (in-state)
Adjective: Busy

6. Insert your own random thought here. 

We had the opportunity to attend our state's biggest agricultural fair last Friday.  Such a treat!  We hadn't been for a few years and we so enjoyed the horse pulling and all of the gorgeous mums and pumpkins, not to mention a scrumptious cider doughnut sundae!  (Yes, that is a fresh, warm apple cider doughnut, topped with French vanilla ice cream, whipped cream, and caramel sauce.)

And there's the Hodgepodge for this week!

Sunday Scripture

 Time for another Sunday Scripture!  As previously mentioned, I'm using the Daily Grace Co. book Fix Your Focus, which is really not a Bible study as such, but more of a guide to help you fix your focus on God, His Word, prayer, gratitude, and spiritual growth, every week for 52 weeks.  I encourage you to follow along with us as we journal, look at Scripture, pray, and face the challenges of our weeks with our focus on Him.  I truly hope that others are finding this as helpful as I am.

This week's lesson was actually done by me the week of September 8,  but I am working ahead of you readers.  So here goes!

🌿 WEEK-AT-A-GLANCE CHECKLIST is further on in each week's section. But since I am working on Fix Your Focus all week long, I find it works best for me to do this checklist first. This checklist offers us four points:  

* To make a plan for reading our Bibles and praying.

* To add any upcoming events to our calendars.

* To jot down a to-do list of tasks that must be completed this week.

* To make a note of our top three priorities for this week.

This last point is one that I need to pay special attention to every week.  I've been finding it so helpful.  (The other three points are things that I'm consistently doing.) 

For this week, my top three priorities are:

1) Fellowship -- a staycation day with our friend Leslie; tea with Jennifer and family; bring a birthday meal to Jennifer on Saturday.

2) Homemaking -- change to fall decor; declutter flat surfaces.

3) Ministry -- SS lesson prep and teaching, blogging, talk with Rebekah; house and animal sit for family.

[If you are following along with our study, this is the place to make a Week-at-a-Glance checklist and/or priority list for yourself!]

🌿 The first actual prompt for each week is JOURNAL.  We are encouraged to take a few minutes to our fears, joys, worries, desires and stressors concerning the week ahead.  [If you are following along with us, take a moment in a journal or notebook to do just that.]. Here's what I wrote on Monday, breaking it down into the suggested categories:

Fears: No real fears going into this week, other than that the cat we are looking after could choose to disappear.  He has been known to do so!   

Joys: It will be a joy to take a staycation with Leslie, to have Jenn and others here for teatime, to plan times with friends for next week.  It will be a joy to bring a celebratory meal to Jennifer's home.

Worries: No real worries.  A few concerns about losing a duck, chicken, or cat, but hopefully that won't happen.  

Desires: As always, that God will be glorified and that others would be blessed in the events of this week.  

Stressors: Limitations of time, energy, and aging.

🌿 The next prompt is PRAYER. It was suggested that we use several prayer prompts to have a conversation with God about the week ahead.  [You can do the same.  Use the very same prompts for your own prayer.]

* Lord, You are ... in complete control of this week and all that it will hold.  You are so good to give us times of fellowship with good Christian friends.

* Lord, I feel ... a little bit overwhelmed by the scary turn things seem to be taking in our country in the last couple of weeks.  I feel extremely thankful that You are in control.  I also find myself feeling somewhat discombobulated this week as we stay at our camp each night to watch over our daughter and son-in-law's place and animals.  We spend most of each day at home, but I'm feeling the challenge of keeping up with all the things.

* Lord, help me with ... all the various tasks on my plate this week.  Cooking, cleaning, extending hospitality, studying, Etsy listings, and blog posts.  The unusual schedule living between three houses this week.  

* Lord, forgive me for ... times when I fear or feel overwhelmed.  Times when I am selfish.

Make a note of four or five people you are praying for.  I listed  a young mom and her kids in a heartrending situation, a friend coping with severe pain, and an older lady who needs encouragement.

🌿 The next section in this helpful guide is SCRIPTURE MEDITATION.  I chose to first meditate on this week's Scripture, Psalm 23:6, using the SOAP method, and then answered several suggested questions.   [You can use your own preferred method to meditate on this verse, and answer the questions below for yourself.]

S= "Surely goodness and mercy shall follow me all the days of my life; and I will dwell in the house of the LORD  forever."  (Psalm 23:6)

O= This is the sixth and final verse in the beloved 23rd Psalm.  After going on at some length about the various ways our Good Shepherd cares for His sheep, David tells us the end of the story.  We will be pursued to the very end of our earthly lives by God's goodness and mercy.  We will then dwell in the house of the LORD forever.

The site NETBible explains, "The use of רָדַף (radaf, “pursue, chase”) with טוֹב וָחֶסֶד (tov vakhesed, “goodness and faithfulness”) as subject is ironic. This is the only place in the entire OT where either of these nouns appears as the subject of this verb רָדַף(radaf, “pursue”). This verb is often used to describe the hostile actions of enemies. One might expect the psalmist’s enemies (see v. 5) to chase him, but ironically God’s “goodness and faithfulness” (which are personified and stand by metonymy for God himself) pursue him instead. The word “pursue” is used outside of its normal context in an ironic manner and creates a unique, but pleasant word picture of God’s favor (or a kind God) “chasing down” the one whom he loves."

"Mercy" can be read as "steadfast love".

Cross-reference for "dwell in the house of the LORD" "One thing have I desired of the LORD, that will I seek after: that I may dwell in the house of the LORD all the days of my life, to behold the beauty of the LORD, and to inquire in His temple."  (Psalm 27:4)

Cross-reference for "forever" -- "[The king] asked life of Thee, and Thou gavest it him, even length of days forever and ever."  (Psalm 21:4)

There are two time references in this verse: "all the days of my life" and "forever".  The "days of my life" would apply mainly to our short time on earth, while "forever' speaks of now and throughout eternity. 

A= To help with my application of this verse, I answered the three questions from Fix your Focus:

* Reflect on what this verse tells you about who God is.

He is the One is whose house I will dwell forever.  He is the God whose goodness and mercy will follow me all the days of my life.

* Think about what this verse tells you about who you are.

I am blessed to have "God's two sheepdogs" (as Rand Hummel says), Goodness and Mercy, following me throughout life.  I am blessed to have a home in heaven awaiting me at the end of this life.

* Throughout the week, consider how this verse should affect the way you live.

 I should live in constant awareness of God's goodness and mercy pursuing me throughout every day of my life.  I should live each day as a citizen of heaven, my true and forever home.

" "Surely goodness and mercy shall follow me all the days of my life." This is a fact as indisputable as it is encouraging, and therefore a heavenly verily, or "surely" is set as a seal upon it. This sentence may be read, "only goodness and mercy," for there shall be unmingled mercy in our history. These twin guardian angels will always be with me at my back and my beck. Just as when great princes go abroad they must not go unattended, so it is with the believer. Goodness and mercy follow him always—"all the days of his life"—the black days as well as the bright days, the days of fasting as well as the days of feasting, the dreary days of winter as well as the bright days of summer. Goodness supplies our needs, and mercy blots out our sins. "" -- Charles Spurgeon 

P= "Lord, how very thankful I am that You are my Shepherd, guiding me through the sometimes difficult, often confusing trails of life.  I praise You that Your two "sheepdogs" -- Your goodness and Your mercy -- will follow me all the days of my life.  In Your goodness You provide our needs, and in Your mercy You blot out our sins.

    "I pray that You will help me every day to live as a citizen of heaven, my true home.   Help me to walk in constant awareness of Your goodness and mercy pursuing me through each day of life.   I thank and praise You for all You will do and all that You are doing,  in Jesus' name, Amen."

🌿 GRATITUDE is the next prompt.  We were to reflect on the way God has shown His faithfulness to you over the past week and list five things we are thankful for.  [If you are following along with us, be sure to make your own list of five things!]. Here is my list:

1) A wonderful day on Labor Day with friends and family.

2) Time to write some encouraging notes to friends.

3) Getting a text back from one of those friends who was greatly encouraged.

4) A delightful corn roast after church on Sunday.

5) A beautiful drive as our route to get the corn took us by a gorgeous lake.

🌿 SPIRITUAL GROWTH is the next prompt, and this week there's an emphasis on FELLOWSHIP.  We were to plan a time to fellowship with friends this week.  [And again, if you are following along, please think about this for yourself.]

We planned several times of fellowship for this week.  

🌿 Lastly is a GOSPEL-CENTERED AFFIRMATION: 

God's steadfast love pursues me all the days of my life.

We can take this comforting, encouraging thought into the coming week as we face its challenges and difficulties.

And there's the Sunday Scripture for this week!

Falling for the Hodgepodge

It's Wednesday again -- and time for the Wednesday Hodgepodge at From This Side of the Pond, where Joyce writes the questions and bloggers provide the answers!  This week's topic is irresistible to me, so here we go ...  And, by the way, all of these fall photos are from previous years.

1 . Fall officially rolls into the Northern Hemisphere on Monday (9/22)...what's your favorite thing about fall? 

Oh, that is a super hard question.  The cool crisp air, the colorful leaves, the brilliant blue skies, the way it energizes me.  All things apple and pumpkin.  I really can't choose a favorite thing about fall.

Deering, NH

Barnet, VT

2. What's one thing on your real or proverbial autumn bucket list? 

One thing we have been wanting to do for a few years is to take this dinner cruise on a beautiful lake,  We have that scheduled for mid-October!

New Hampshire

Boscawen, NH

3. Apples, pumpkins, sweet potatoes, butternut squash and cranberries are some of the top fall foods. Which one is your favorite and how do you like it prepared? Any on the list you don't eat? Which one have you had most recently? 

I love them all and there are no foods on that list that I don't eat. My most recent thing from this list was a Macoun apple.  My favorite of these fall foods?  That would be hard to say.  See some of my favorite apple ideas here: apples.  Some of my favorite pumpkin ideas are here: pumpkins.  Squash ideas are here: squash.  And cranberries here: cranberries.

Deering, NH

Deering, NH

4. 'Fall is proof that change is beautiful' is a popular sentiment. Would you agree or no? Elaborate. 

Not sure about that one.  In this case the change is going from life to death and decay.  And honestly I don't think change is always beautiful.  Sometimes it's not even necessary or beneficial.  Other times it is all of those things.  Change simply for the sake of change is seldom the best idea.

Pittsburg, NH

Deering, NH

5. Is there a spot near you where people go to see the leaves change color? Will you try to leaf peep somewhere this fall? Lonely Planet lists the following ten places as the best for leaf peeping...of those listed which would you most like to visit? 

Stowe, Vermont~Shenandoah National Park, Virginia~Columbia River Gorge, Oregon~Zion National Park, Utah~Tennessee/North Carolina border~West Virgina~Northwestern Wyoming~Wisconsin Northwoods~Northern Nevada~Ozark Highlands Scenic Byway, Arkansas

 Our entire state is a tourist destination to see the leaves change color, so just driving anywhere (like to the grocery store) is a leaf-peeping opportunity. I will say that the color is not as nice this year.  We've been in a prolonged drought and many of the leaves are falling without having turned color.  (All of the photos in this post are from previous years.)

Stowe, Vermont is a place I have visited in spring, but fall would be lovely there!

Hillsborough, NH

Francestown, NH

6. Insert your own random thought here. 

Last week was A Week.  Mostly a delightful week, but A Week nonetheless.  We met with friends for dessert on Monday evening, other friends for breakfast and a day in Franconia Notch State Park on Tuesday, other friends for tea on Wednesday afternoon, yet more friends for breakfast in the White Mountains on Thursday.  Friday and Saturday I was at a ladies' retreat.  I'm still recovering!

Pittsburg, NH

And that's the Hodgepodge for this week!

Sunday Scripture

 Time for another Sunday Scripture!  As I explained several weeks ago, I've made some changes in  my Sunday posts,  using the Daily Grace Co. book Fix Your Focus, which is really not a Bible study as such, but more of a guide to help you fix your focus on God, His Word, prayer, gratitude, and spiritual growth, every week for 52 weeks.  I encourage you to follow along with us as we journal, look at Scripture, pray, and face the challenges of our weeks with our focus on Him.  I truly hope that others are finding this as helpful as I am.

This week's lesson was actually done by me the week of September 1,  but I am working ahead of you readers.  So here goes!

🌿 WEEK-AT-A-GLANCE CHECKLIST is further on in each week's section. But since I am working on Fix Your Focus all week long, I find it works best for me to do this checklist first. This checklist offers us four points:  

* To make a plan for reading our Bibles and praying.

* To add any upcoming events to our calendars.

* To add any upcoming events to our calendars.

* To jot down a to-do list of tasks that must be completed this week.

* To make a note of our top three priorities for this week.

This last point is one that I need to pay special attention to every week.  I've been finding it so helpful.  (The other three points are things that I'm consistently doing.) 

For this week, my top three priorities are:

1) Fellowship -- A day filled with fellowship, friends, and family on Monday, Labor Day.  We plan to meet friends for brunch, then they will come to our camp for a good visit and later an early supper with our loved ones next door.

2) Prayer --  spending quality, dedicated time in prayer for some deep concerns and serious situations this week.

3) Ministry --  Work on Sunday School and blog posts; serve at my volunteer job two or three days.

[If you are following along with our study, this is the place to make a Week-at-a-Glance checklist and/or priority list for yourself!]

🌿 The first actual prompt for each week is JOURNAL.  We are encouraged to take a few minutes to journal about our fears, joys, worries, desires and stressors concerning the week ahead.  [If you are following along with us, take a moment in a journal or notebook to do just that.]. Here's what I wrote on Monday, breaking it down into the suggested categories:

Fears: there could be fears going into this week regarding unstable, unpredictable situations and individuals.  I'm so thankful that our God is in control and that He can be trusted no matter what.  He is unchanging and always trustworthy.  Countless times in Scripture He tells His people not to fear!.  

Joys: Volunteering at TWNE is always a joy.  A relaxing day with friends and family on Monday will be pure joy.

Worries: There are some worrisome situations this week (see "Fears" above), but Jesus says I cannot change any situation by worrying about it.  So I make every effort to leave worrisome situations with Him.  He is all-powerful, all wise, and in control of each one.

Desires: Always, that God would be glorified in the events of the week.  To encourage others through fellowship and service.  To use each moment of life to the fullest for God's glory.

Stressors: Always the limitations of aging, time, and energy.  

🌿 The next prompt is PRAYER. It was suggested that we use several prayer prompts to have a conversation with God about the week ahead.  [You can do the same.  Use the very same prompts for your own prayer.]

* Lord, You are ... in absolute control of every detail of this week.  You are omniscient and know exactly what it will hold.  You are able to protect your people in dangerous, unpredictable situations.  You are sovereign and are able to exceedingly abundantly above all that we can ask or even think.

* Lord, I feel ... somewhat overwhelmed with all that I have to do.  A bit discouraged by time and energy limitations.  Thankful for the privilege of prayer.  

* Lord, help me with ... my feelings of discouragement and overwhelm.  I pray for my grandchildren daily, that those who struggle with anxiety, depression, or overwhelm would come to find their mental and emotional stability in You, so obviously I need to pray these things for myself as well.  Help me to use my time, energies, skills, and spiritual gifts wisely as I serve You each day.

* Lord, forgive me for ... times when I fall into worry or fear.  Times when I fail to ask You for help but instead act (or try to act) in my own strength.  For times when I'm not wise in my use of time.

Make a note of four or five people you are praying for.  I listed a friend who just had surgery; a family experiencing serious turmoil; and a friend trying to manage severe pain.

🌿 The next section in this helpful guide is SCRIPTURE MEDITATION.  I chose to first meditate on this week's Scripture, 2 Corinthians 10:4-5, using the SOAP method, and then answered several suggested questions.   [You can use your own preferred method to meditate on this verse, and answer the questions below for yourself.]

S= "For the weapons of our warfare are not carnal, but mighty through God to the pulling down of strongholds.  Casting down imaginations, and every thought that exalteth itself against the knowledge of God, and bringing into captivity every thought to the obedience of Christ."  (2 Corinthians 10:4-5)

O= Plummer's translation - "For the weapons of our campaign are not those of feeble human flesh. No, they are full of power, in God’s service and with His blessing, for the demolition of the strongholds which defy His Gospel."

The online commentary Precept Austin explains that the weapons (hopion) of our warfare are not (ou-absolutely not) of the flesh (sarx), but divinely (theos) powerful (dunatos) for the destruction (kaitheresis) of fortresses (ochuroma- for which some translations use'arguments' or 'false arguments') - Weapons obviously refers to spiritual weapons, supernatural weapons supplied by the Spirit (the Word and prayer ).

Cross-references for "weapons" -- "Then said David to the Philistine, Thou comest to me with a sword, and with a spear, and with a shield, but I come to thee in the name of the LORD of hosts, the God of the armies of Israel, whom thou hast defied."  (1 Samuel 17:45)

 "The night is far spent, the day is at hand; let us, therefore, cast off the works of darkness, and let us put on the armor of light"  (Romans 13:12)

"By the word of truth, by the power of God, by the armor of righteousness on the right hand and on the left."  (2 Corinthians 6:7)

"But let us, who are of the day, be sober, putting on the breastplate of faith and love, and, for an helmet, the hope of salvation."  (1 Thessalonians 5:8)

Another cross-reference is definitely the armor of God as described in Ephesians 6:11-17.

Cross-reference for "warfare" -- "Fight the good fight of faith, lay hold on eternal life, unto which thou art also called and hast professed a good foundation before many witnesses."  (1 Timothy 6:12)

"Carnal"=fleshly.

"Imaginations" = reasonings.

Cross-references for "to the obedience" -- 'A new commandment I give unto you, that ye love one another;  as I have loved you, that ye also love one another."  (John 13:34)

"And now I beseech thee ... not as I wrote a new commandment unto thee, but that which we had from the beginning, that we love one another."  (2 John 5)

Cross-reference for "obedience of Christ" --"Therefore, whosoever heareth these sayings of mine, and doeth them, I will liken him unto a wise man, who built his house upon a rock.  And the rain descended, and the floods came, and beat upon that house, and it fell not, for it was founded upon a rock."  (Matthew 7:24-25)

A= To help with my application of this verse, I answered the three questions from Fix your Focus:

* Reflect on what this verse tells you about who God is.

He is mighty and gives us mighty weapons to use in the pulling down of strongholds.  He does not want our thoughts and imaginations to exalt themselves against the knowledge of Him.

* Think about what this verse tells you about who you are.

I'm a Christian in a spirtual battle. I'm a person with strongholds in my life.  My natural tendency is to let my thoughts go rogue, not bringing them into captivity to the obedience of Christ.

* Throughout the week, consider how this verse should affect the way you live.

 I should remember that although I am in a spiritual battle, I need not surrender.  The weapons of my warfare are not carnal or of the flesh.  They are mighty through God, able to pull down strongholds.  With these spiritual weapons, I am able to cast down anything in my life that exalts itself against the knowledge of God.  I should bring every one of my thoughts into captivity to the obedience of Christ.

 Precept Austin points out that the word for warfare (strateia) does not refer to a single skirmish, a minor battle in war, but to a major military campaign; in fact, a life-long campaign for Paul and for every believer. The only way to destroy enemy fortresses is by reliance on supernatural weaponry. Fleshly weapons are powerless against these formidable fortresses. Paul goes on in the next verse to define specifically what these fortresses are -- they are speculations, and in so doing he identifies the primary battlefield for this spiritual war: our mind.

"The Word of God and prayer are the only effective weapons in this battle against Satan ." -- Warren Wiersbe

"The spiritual panoply of weapons ordained by God may not appear impressive outwardly to a humanistically oriented society, but it is only these that can pull down the strong holds of Satan in this world, casting down the humanistic "reasonings" (literal meaning of "imaginations") of the leaders of this world's educational and political systems. Otherwise, the enemy will "spoil" us--that is, defeat us and despoil us of the carnal weapons we have tried to use." -- Henry Morris

"Strongholds are the fortresses Satan builds in our lives when we give him a foothold, a piece of ground on which to build. How does Satan gain a foothold in our hearts and minds? We give him ground when we sin and refuse to forsake our sin or when we believe his lies. Satan is a master builder. He doesn't need much ground on which to erect his strongholds. And once they are in place, they give the enemy a ""headquarters"" from which to carry on his activities." -- Jim Logan, Reclaiming Surrendered Ground

P= "Lord,  I praise You that You are mighty and that You give us mighty weapons to use in pulling down strongholds in our lives.  I praise You that although I am in a spiritual battle, I need not surrender.   .

    "I pray that You will help me to bring every thought into captivity to the obedience of Christ, that each of my thoughts will be pleasing to Him.  Help me to use the weapons of prayer and Your Word to pull down the strongholds in my life.  I praise You for how You will work, in Jesus' name, Amen."

🌿 GRATITUDE is the next prompt.  We were to reflect on the way God has shown His faithfulness to you over the past week and list five things we are thankful for.  [If you are following along with us, be sure to make your own list of five things!]. Here is my list:

1) God blessed me with available time to pray for a very serious situation and the people involved.

2) Answered prayer in that situation, in such a way that unmistakably showed God's sovereignty over it.

3) Strength to accomplish a lot of work at my volunteer job on Tuesday and Thursday.

4) God's wisdom in prompting us to decide not to stay overnight at our volunteer workplace.  It worked out much better to come and go each day.

5) My husband's wise guidance that I not go to my volunteer job on the Wednesday.  I didn't realize how much I needed that day at home, and it also opened up extra time for me to pray.

🌿 SPIRITUAL GROWTH is the next prompt, and this week there's an emphasis on FASTING. We were to consider what we could fast from  this week.  [And again, if you are following along, please think about this for yourself.]

We do intermittent fasting, and so I do use the extra hours saved by not eating to spend additional time in God's Word and in prayer.

🌿 Lastly is a GOSPEL-CENTERED AFFIRMATION: 

With God's help, I can choose to think Christlike thoughts.

We can take this encouraging thought into the coming week as we fight our spiritual battles.

And there's the Sunday Scripture for this week!