Sunday Scripture

 

As I explained a couple of weeks ago, I'm shifting gears on my Sunday Scripture posts ... stepping away from the study of Psalms for awhile.  This is something God has placed on my heart to do, and I anticipate it being helpful to many of you, as well as to me.

I am 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.

This week's lesson was actually done by me the week of March 24, but I am staying ahead of you readers.  So here goes!

🌿 The first prompt 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:

"I'm really tired today.  Last week, Monday through Sunday, was one of the most intense weeks of ministry I can remember.  Yesterday after church there were many things I had hoped to tackle, but I ended up taking a nap instead. 

"It looks like a somewhat busy week ahead, but less so than last week.  Today, though, I feel exhausted.  I think it has to do with working very hard at my volunteer job last week, then hurrying home to clean the church on Saturday and then a super busy Sunday.

The plan had been for us to return to the Inn for Tuesday and Wednesday, possibly into Thursday.  Mr. T would be building and painting, I would be cleaning.  I feel so terrible today that I know I won't be going on Tuesday.  I am sad about this, but it can't be helped."

🌿 The second 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 ...  aware of how I feel and what needs to be done this week.  You not only know all about it, but you're in full control of every circumstance.  You are able to work in and through these difficulties.

* Lord, I feel ... disappointed that I likely won't be able to go along and work tomorrow.  I feel, actually, physically miserable.

* Lord, help me with ... these physical issues.  I know You are able to bring healing to them.  Help me also to see Your sovereign hand over my circumstances.

* Lord, forgive me for ...times when my attitudes are not pleasing to you.  And for times when my faith is small and I don't take Your sovereignty into account.  

* Here we were also to make a note of 4 to 5 people we are praying for.  I listed two young couples, a housing need for one of them,  a grieving mom, and a friend who just had surgery.

🌿 The next section in this helpful guide is SCRIPTURE MEDITATION.  I chose to first meditate on this week's Scripture, 1 Peter 5:6-7, 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= "Humble yourselves, therefore, under the mighty hand of God, that He may exalt you in due time, 

'Casting all your care upon Him, for He careth for you."  (1 Peter 5:6-7)

O= Verses 1-9 of 1 Peter 5 are titled by C.I. Scofield, "Christian Service in the Light of the Coming of the Lord."

 I am interested in that "therefore". (Whenever we see this word, it's a good idea to stop and ask ourselves what it is "there for".  After awhile, this question springs to mind almost automatically.)   In this case, it must allude back to verse 5, just before it: 

"In like manner ye younger submit yourselves unto the elder.  Yea, every one of you be subject one to another, and be clothed with humility; for God resisteth the proud, and giveth grace to the humble."  (1 Peter 5:5)

So in light of the fact that God resists the proud and gives grace to the humble, we are to humble ourselves under His mighty hand!

If we look at that word "resisteth" we learn that it is the Greek ANTITASSO -- a military term meaning] "to range in battle against" which pictures an army arrayed against enemy forces. This word is in the present tense which signifies that this is God's continual attitude toward the proud.

One writer said, "This fact alone should be enough to cause us to run for cover from the sin of pride!"

Cross-references for "humble yourselves" (v.6) -- "For thus saith the high and lofty One who inhabiteth eternity, whose. name is Holy: I dwell in the high and holy place, with him also who is of a contrite and humble spirit, to revive the spirit of the humble, and to revive the heart of the contrite ones." (Isaiah 57:15)

Spurgeon wrote, "he that humbles himself under the hand of God shall not fail to be enriched, uplifted, sustained, and comforted by the ever-gracious One. It is a habit of Jehovah to cast down the proud and lift up the lowly."

"But He giveth more grace.  Wherefore He said, God resisteth the proud, but giveth grace unto the humble."  (James 4:6)

"Humble yourselves in the sight of the Lord, and He shall lift you up."  (James 4:10)

In the phrase "that He may exalt you in due time" Peter is giving us the end result of humbling oneself before God: that He may exalt, or lift up the humble one in His time.     Someone has written that God "will cause us to rise spiritually and we will placed on a higher spiritual plane when we humble ourselves before Him".    

In the Amplified Bible, verse 7 reads: "Casting the whole of your care [all your anxieties, all your worries, all your concerns, once and for all] on Him, for He cares for you affectionately and cares about you watchfully."

Cross-references for "casting all your care upon Him" (v.7) -- "Commit thy way unto the LORD, trust also in Him, and He shall bring it to pass."  (Psalm 37:5)

"Cast thy burden upon the LORD, and He shall sustain thee; He shall never suffer the righteous to be moved."  (Psalm 55:22)

"Therefore I say unto you, Be not anxious for your life, what ye shall eat, or what ye shall drink; nor yet for your body, what ye shall put on.  Is not the life more than food, and the body than raiment?"  (Matthew 6:25)

"But I am poor and needy, yet the LORD thinketh upon me.  Thou art my help and my deliverer; make no tarrying, O my God."  (Psalm 40:17)

The Amplified Bible reads, "Casting the whole of your care [all your anxieties, all your worries, all your concerns, once and for all] on Him, for He cares for you affectionately and cares about you watchfully. "

"He careth for you."  This is why we can cast all of our burdens and anxieties upon the Lord -- because He cares for us!  "Cares" is the Greek verb MELO which means to be interested in, to show watchful care and affection or to show concern for.   It is in the present tense which indicates that God cares for us continually.

A= To help with my application for this verse, I did the assignments suggested in Fix Your Focus for 1 Peter 5:6-7.

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

His hand is mighty.  He wants me to humble myself under His mighty hand.  He will exalt humble believers in His timing. He cares for me.

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

I am in need of humility..  I will be exalted by God in His time.  I am cared for by God.

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

I am to live life in humble submission to God and toward His Word.  Because God cares for me, I am to cast all of my care on Him.

F.B. Meyer wrote, "Let us trust Him. Tongue cannot tell the completeness, the delicacy, the tender thoughtfulness of the care that will gather and shelter us,"

P= "Lord, I am so thankful that You care for me  so tenderly and that I can unhesitatingly cast every bit of my care and anxiety on You.  I pray that You will help me to live each moment of life in humble submission to You.  I thank You for providing the health and strength to serveYou this week.  In Jesus' name, Amen."

🌿 The next prompt is for GRATITUDE.  We were encouraged to reflect on the ways God has shown His faithfulness to us over the last week, and then to list 5 things we are thankful for.  So, you who are reading along, do the same!

Here is my list:

* God allowing me some time at home this week.

* God arranging time for me to rest.  

* God's healing hand for a physical issue.

* Phone chats with my two spiritual daughters and one of my actual daughters.

* Strength to accomplish the tasks on my plate this week at my volunteer job.

🌿 SPIRITUAL GROWTH is the next thing to consider.  As I mentioned earlier, there are four different aspects of this that we will be rotating through.  The one for this week is FELLOWSHIP.

For this prompt, we were encouraged to plan a time of fellowship with friends this week.  Back at the beginning when each spiritual growth aspect was discussed, we were reminded that fellowship could look like meeting up for coffee, a dinner shared in your home, or a phone call with a friend.  [If you are one of my Sunday Scripture readers, please consider this challenge for yourself!]. Here is my plan:

My fellowship this week was mostly by phone.  But I have made plans for a time of fellowship with a friend this Tuesday and another set of friends the following Tuesday.

🌿 WEEK-AT-A-GLANCE CHECKLIST is next.  It 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.

My top three priorities for this week: 

• Ministry to church family (cleaning church, discipleship)

• Ministry at TWNE (cleaning; work on general store labeling/pricing; working ahead on meals for April)

• Ministry to blog readers

Since I am working on Fix Your Focus all week long, I find it works best for me to do this week-at-a-glance checklist first.

Lastly is 🌿 a GOSPEL-CENTERED AFFIRMATION to take with us through the week.  This week it was: "I humbly yield my plans to God's will."  Short and easy to remember -- but not so easy to do!

And there is our fourth Sunday Scripture using Fix Your Focus.  I hope all of my readers are finding this an encouragement!

Some goals for April

 

How did it get to be April already?  Chatting with my Nevada daughter yesterday as a multitude of red-winged blackbirds vocalized in her neighborhood, we marveled that the year 2025 is already 1/4 over.  Yet we lived each day!  And now it's time to set from goals for the new month:

* Keep up with Flylady's homemaking zones of the week
* Get together with my friend Jennifer and her children
* Continue meeting with my young friend R. for discipleship
* Possibly have some of our younger friends over for a meal and fellowship
* 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 -- to start in a few weeks
* Continue through 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)
* Continue the 40-day devotional The 40-Day Feast, which I will finish this month
* Continue stocking my Etsy shop and continue selling vintage items
* Write at least 4 encouraging notes to friends and family
* Get together with dear friends for lunch and a bit of shopping next week
* Help and encourage my local daughter as I'm able
* Fine-tune menus and continue with food preparation for a ministry opportunity next week
* Enjoy an Easter breakfast and services with our church family
* Celebrate 3 birthdays with our local loved ones
* Plan, prepare and enjoy an Easter dinner with family
* Attend a fundraising banquet for our local pregnancy center
* Plan meals with a greater emphasis on healthy eating
* Get back to memorizing the book of James
* Continue to help a widowed friend with the challenges of life in general
* Get to bed by 8:30 each night we are at home
* Drink enough water each day
* Continue with the habit of getting outdoors for the morning light
* Walk and/or exercise at least 4 times each week

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

And that is more than enough to keep me out of trouble this month!

Happy April Hodgepodge!

 

Taking a few moments to join in with Joyce and the gang for the Wednesday Hodgepodge at From This Side of the Pond. Joyce writes the questions, bloggers provide the answers! Here we go ...

1. No foolin'! April is here. What's one fun thing on your April calendar? 

Getting together with friends next week for lunch and a visit to a curiosity shop.  We also had a fun visit today (April 1) with our friend Jennifer and her four little ones.

2. It's often said, 'A fool and his money are soon parted'...what's the last thing you wasted money on? 

I can't even think.  Maybe a prescription cream that didn't help my hubby's psoriasis? 

3.  April 2nd is National DIY day. Are you a do-it yourself kind of person or maybe you're married to one? If so, what's the last thing you DIY-ed. If you're not a DIY-er what's the most recent job you had to hire someone to complete? 

I am married to a DIY-er but I also like to DIY some things myself (spice mixes, cleaning products, etc.) to save money and up the quality.  I can't remember the last thing he DIYed, but probably my most recent one was  a zesty Italian salad dressing mix.   I usually make 6 or 8 times this recipe and store it in a little jar.  About 1 Tablespoon of the mix equals 1 packet of zesty Italian dressing mix.

 ZESTY ITALIAN DRESSING MIX
1/2 teaspoon sugar
1/2 teaspoon dry mustard
1/2 teaspoon salt
1/4 teaspoon each: pepper, oregano, onion powder, garlic powder, sweet red pepper flakes
Pinch of paprika
Mix all together. Whirl in blender if a finer texture is desired. This recipe equals one envelope zesty Italian salad dressing mix. It may be doubled, tripled, or whatever quantity you need to make.

 The tea rack below was built quite a few years ago, but it has to be one  of Mr. T's best DIYs ever.  It always gets a ton of compliments from people and a wish to have one of these in their own kitchen.

4. Do you eat lamb? If so do you have a favorite dish that calls for lamb? 

I do not care for lamb, never have.   My mother had a way of preparing it with tomato paste and herbs so that I could tolerate it, but I have never really liked it.

5. Do you fit a stereotype in some way? Explain. 

I don't really think so.  There are some ways in which I might fit a particular stereotype, but other ways in which I shatter that same stereotype. 

6. Insert your own random thought here. 

Getting ready for another week of cooking for my volunteer job.  I have the menus all organized but there is still a lot to do!  I like to prepare a lot of things ahead at least partially so there is less to do on site for each meal.  I just turned a maple apple muffin recipe into a coffeecake and my hubby tried it out.  Stay tuned as I will share the recipe, hopefully soon!

Sunday Scripture

As I explained a couple of weeks ago, I'm shifting gears on my Sunday Scripture posts ... stepping away from the study of Psalms for awhile.  This is something God has placed on my heart to do, and I hope others are finding it as helpful as I am.

I am 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.

This week's lesson was actually done by me the week of March 17, but I will be working ahead of you readers.  So here goes!

🌿 WEEK-AT-A-GLANCE CHECKLIST is further on in each week's section. Since I am working on Fix Your Focus all week long, I find it works best for me to do this week-at-a-glance 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 attention to every week.  I think it would be so helpful.  For this week, my top three priorities are:

* Ministry (cooking and cleaning for me, carpentry and painting for my hubby) at our volunteer jobs

* Ministry to church family (cooking, church cleaning, encouragement)

* Ministry to blog readers

🌿 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:

"Let's talk about stressors!  Headed out Tuesday afternoon for another stint of cooking and serving at my volunteer job.  It's always a bit of a puzzle trying to fit all the food ingredients into the existing fridge/freezer/shelf space, but this time space is at even more of a premium than usual.  A bit of a headache trying to figure out where we'll store everything.  That makes much more stress,   I'm trying to package things much more compactly to take up less space, strategizing ways to thaw foods without using, the fridge, etc. etc.  Packing is a stressor as well,  hoping we remember everything we'll need personally and for our work.

"Joys ... of course, serving people is absolutely a joy.  But more and more I see the need for recharging time.

"Worries ... see stressors.  I try not to worry, however, as I know it's unproductive and exhibits a lack of trust.

"Fears ... see stressors.

Desires ... to serve God and His people well.  To improve my health and stamina to be able to serve better.  To nurture my own spiritual life and creativity, to fill myself so I can pour out/overflow to others."

* And I must just add here on Wednesday morning that we remembered almost everything, and that an extra fridge was made available only a short walk away, so that concern was alleviated also.*

🌿 The second 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 ... able to resolve every one of my concerns about the day ahead, and the entire week.  You are able to provide all that is needed, from equipment to energy.  You are sovereign over all of the events of this week.

* Lord, I feel ... completely inadequate in my own strength to carry out any of this week's responsibilities.  I also admit to feeling a tiny bit frustrated that I have a lot to do at home which isn't getting done.  But it's okay!

* Lord, help me with ... using my time wisely throughout this busy week.  Help me to know exactly what resources or assistance will be the most helpful for my young friends.  Help me with planning meals for future ministry.

* Lord, forgive me for ... times when I stress over potential problems and snags before taking them to you in prayer.

Here we were to list 4 or 5 people we are specifically praying for.  I listed two young couples (each with a new baby), a seriously ill friend and her husband, and friends whose young adult son has just died.

🌿 The next section in this helpful guide is SCRIPTURE MEDITATION.  I chose to first meditate on this week's Scripture, Romans 12:12, 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= "Rejoicing in hope; patient in tribulation; continuing diligently in prayer."  (Romans 12:12)

O= Romans chapter 12 begins a section that continues through chapter 15:13 -- a section that C.I. Scofield has titled "Christian Life and Service for the Glory of God."  Romans 12:12 is included in a section within this, titled "The Christian and those within God's family."

So this verse is part of a section teaching believers how to live and serve for the glory of God along with others in the family of God.  According to Romans 12:12 we are to be:

* Rejoicing in hope

* Patient in tribulation

* Continuing diligently in prayer.

Warren Wiersbe notes in Be Right, his Bible study of Romans, "Serving Christ usually means Satanic opposition and days of discouragement.  Paul admonished his readers to maintain their spiritual zeal because they were serving the Lord and not men.  When life becomes difficult, the Christian cannot permit his zeal to grow cold."

The Phillips translation of this verse reads: "Base your happiness on your hope in Christ.  When trials come endure them patiently,  steadfastly maintain the habit of prayer."

Wuest paraphrases it, "rejoicing in the sphere of hope" -- in the atmosphere of hope is the idea.

"Rejoicing is the Greek CHAIRO, and means "to be in a state of happiness and inner sense of well being (often independent of what is happening) when the Source is the Spirit."

"Rejoicing is present tense which pictures us as living life with a habitual attitude of inner joy and outer rejoicing-- something not possible naturally but only possible supernaturally as we are enabled by the Spirit."

Cross-references for "rejoicing in hope" include the following: "By whom also we have access by faith into this grace wherein we stand, and rejoice in hope of the glory of God."  (Romans 5:2)

"Now may the God of hope fill you with all joy and peace in believing, that you may abound in hope, by the power of the Holy Spirit."  (Romans 15:13)

Cross-reference for "patient in tribulation" -- "For ye have need of patience that, after ye have done the will of God, ye might receive the promise."  Hebrews 10:36)

Someone has written, "Paul exhorts us as new creatures in Christ who are possessors of a new 'power supply' to continue steadfast in the time of trouble. The realization that life is to some extent an obstacle course keeps a person from being surprised when things do not go as planned. Afflictions are to be borne patiently in His power."

Cross-reference for "continuing diligently in prayer" -- "These all continued with one accord in prayer and supplication, with the women, and with Mary, the mother of Jesus, and with His brethren." (Acts 1:14)

"Whenever your hope seems to fail you and your joy begins to sink,” said Spurgeon, “the shortest method is to take to your knees. By remembering the promise in prayer, hope will be sustained and then joy is sure to spring from it.”

Rob Morgan writes, "An open Bible and a bowed head create a powerful atmosphere in which God’s will is brought to bear upon the distresses of life."

A= To help with my application for this verse, I did the assignments suggested in Fix Your Focus for Romans 12:12.

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

It does not make specific statements about God.  However, I can infer the following: 

*. Because He is the God of hope, I can rejoice in Him.  My hope in Him is a surety-- an anchor of my soul.

* Because He is the God of patience, and His Word tells me He wants.me to grow in patience, I can be patient in affliction knowing this is one way he helps me grow in this quality.

* Because He hears and answers prayer, I can continue diligently in prayer.

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

Although as a human I will experience difficulties in life in this fallen world, I can rejoice in hope because of who God is.  I'm a person in need of patience, and I can learn patience through these difficulties as well.  I'm God's child and because of that relationship I have the privilege to communicate with Him in prayer.  He wants me to be diligent and consistent in doing that.

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

It's pretty self-explanatory: I should be rejoicing every day because of the hope I have in Christ.  I should maintain a patient attitude even in afflictions, being mindful that God wants me to grow in patience through difficulties.  I should be diligent and persevering in my prayer life.

P= "Lord,  I am so thankful for the instruction found in Your Word!  I praise You for all that it reveals about who You are, about my role as Your child, and about how You would have me to live each day of my life.  I pray that You will help me today and every day to rejoice in hope, to be patient in affliction,  and to be diligent in my prayer life.  I thank you for all You will do, in Jesus' name, Amen."

🌿 The next prompt is for GRATITUDE.  We were encouraged to reflect on the ways God has shown His faithfulness to us over the last week, and then to list 5 things we are thankful for.  [So, you who are reading along, do the same!]

Here is my list: 

* Energy for ministry.

* Wisdom for planning ministry meals and even shifting gears and menus on the fly as needed,

* The blessing of encouraging younger women.

* The restorative quality of sleep.

* Being able to use practical skills like cooking and cleaning (and carpentry for my hubby) to serve in support roles in Christian ministry.

🌿 SPIRITUAL GROWTH is the next thing to consider.  As I mentioned earlier, there are four different aspects of this that we will be rotating through.  The one for this week is FAST.

For this prompt, we were asked to consider fasting from something this week in order to focus on our need for God.What could we fast from?  What would be the duration and frequency of our fast?  We were to make a plan for how we would replace our fasted item with the pursuit od God and His Word.  [And if you are one of my Sunday Scripture readers, please consider this challenge for yourself!]. Here are my thoughts :

I was so slow this week (or so busy, take your choice!) that ut was Sunday evening before I finished journaling for the week.  I din't fast as much as I would have wished.  We do intermittent fasting, so  I did fast from around 6:30 or 7 at night until at least 10 in the morning -- so about 15 to 16 hours,  I did use some of those hours to study additionally in God's Word.

Lastly is 🌿 a GOSPEL-CENTERED AFFIRMATION to take with us through the week.  This week it was: "I can patiently and prayerfully endure hardship because my hope is in Jesus."  

And there is our third Sunday Scripture using Fix Your Focus.  I know it's quite different from what we have been doing, but I trust the Lord is using it to encourage you.  Please let me know!

Sunday Scripture

 As I explained a couple of weeks ago, I'm shifting gears on my Sunday Scripture posts ... stepping away from the study of Psalms for awhile.  This is something God has placed on my heart to do, and I anticipate it being helpful to many of you, as well as to me.

I am 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.

This week's lesson was actually done by me the week of March 10, but I will be working ahead of you readers.  So here goes!

🌿 The first prompt 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:

"It does look like another busy week.  We're here at home for today but will head back to TWNE for the rest of the week.  Today will have a lot packed into it.  Meeting with my young friend R. this morning, a joy and privilege.  I just pray that God will equip and use me to meet her needs.  I'm so thankful that He knows exactly what those needs are and I can trust Him to equip me to meet them.  None of this is anything I can do in my own strength or wisdom.

"Today will also include grocery shopping, food prep and more planning.  We need to write some reports for our church's upcoming annual business meeting.  We'll also be packing food and personal items for the upcoming week.

"In the next few days Ill be cooking lunches for a work crew of 3 to 5 people and a supper for about a dozen people on Thursday night.

"The weekend will involve church responsibilities and also prepping food to share after a recital.  I'll also prep a meal for a friend with a new baby.  All service, all good.  I know that the Lord will provide wisdom and strength as we seek to do all to His glory."

I find that this journaling component is very helpful for me in dealing with the week ahead.  It's a way to spill it all out and then sort it.

🌿 The second 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 ...  fully in control of this busy week and of the slight vertigo I am feeling right now.  YOU are all-powerful and can stabilize my unstable body.  You are all-wise and able to provide the wisdom I lack in my humanness.

Lord, I feel ... completely inadequate for the week ahead of me. Yet paradoxically I also feel joyful and energized because it's a blessing to serve.

Lord, help me with ... keeping a good balance between work and rest.  I also need help with self-control as there will be yummy goodies around this week, and with motivation to stick with my exercise program.

Lord, forgive me for ... any attitudes that are not glorifying to You, and for times when I speak before thinking.  I thank You that forgiveness is available from You, in Jesus' name, Amen.

* Here we were also to make a note of 4 to 5 people we are praying for.  I listed two young couples, a housing need for one of them, a new mother, a bereaved acquaintance, and some old friends with serious health issues.

🌿 The next section in this helpful guide is SCRIPTURE MEDITATION.  I chose to first meditate on this week's Scripture, Psalm 34:8,, 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= "Oh, taste and see that the LORD is good; blessed is the man who trusteth in Him."  (Psalm 34:8)

O= Here David is exhorting his readers (and us!) to taste and see that the LORD is good.  He also instructs them that the person who trusts in the LORD, this good God, will be blessed.

Cross-references for "taste" -- "If so be ye have tasted that the LORD is gracious."  (1 Peter 2:3)

Hebrews 6:5 speaks of those "who have tasted of the good word of God."

Cross-reference for "the LORD is good" -- "For the LORD is good; His mercy is everlasting, and His truth endureth to all generations."  (Psalm 100:5)

Cross-reference for "blessed" -- "Blessed are all they who put their trust in Him."  (Psalm 2:12b)

"Trusteth in Him" is rendered in the ESV "takes refuge in Him."  One of the Hebrew words for trust signifies "to take refuge."

A= To help with my application for this verse, I did the assignments suggested in Fix Your Focus for Psalm 34:8

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

He is good!  He blesses those who trust in Him and take refuge in Him.

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

I am a person who has tasted and seen God's goodness in my life.  As a person who is learning to trust God completely, and has often taken refuge in Him, I have been (and continue to be) blessed indeed.

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

I am tasting God's goodness every single day.  I need to be faithful and also intentional to share His goodness with others.  I also need to trust Him fully every day.  It seems this verse has a special emphasis on trusting Him as a refuge amid the storms and stresses of life.

P= "Lord, I am so thankful for who you are!  Your goodness is only one of the many unfathomable facets of Your character.  I have tasted and seen Your goodness (as well as Your kindness, mercy, love, and longsuffering) in drawing me to You for salvation.  I see Your goodness throughout every day of my life,  and I am so thankful for that!  I pray that You will help me to trust You fully through every difficulty of life and to be faithful and intentional in sharing Your goodness with others who need to experience it.  I praise You for all You will do, in Jesus' name, Amen."

🌿 The next prompt is for GRATITUDE.  We were encouraged to reflect on the ways God has shown His faithfulness to us over the last week, and then to list 5 things we are thankful for.  So, you who are reading along, do the same!

Here is my list:

* A subtle but beautiful sunrise -- lavender, periwinkle, peach, and gold with the occasional streak of coral.  Such a wonderful reminder of God's mercies every morning and His endless creativity.

* A day at home on Monday.   In God's providence one day was enough time to prep for ministry meals this week and catch up on laundry.

* The opportunity to connect with two younger friends this week.

* Our Ladies of Grace meeting last Saturday and the opportunity to return home for that.  It was a much-needed recharge.

* In God's strength, the time and confidence to work at my exercise program daily even there are some exercises I can't yet do for various reasons (a need for more equipment being one).  In my own strength and faulty thinking, I would simply give up on it. 

🌿 SPIRITUAL GROWTH is the next thing to consider.  As I mentioned earlier, there are four different aspects of this that we will be rotating through.  The one for this week is REST.

For this prompt, we were asked to think about what observing a Sabbath rest looks like to us and to make a plan to intentionally rest this week.  [And if you are one of my Sunday Scripture readers, please consider this challenge for yourself!]. Here is my plan:

Begin each morning with a time of quiet communion with God -- usually at least an hour.  I also can often find a few quiet moments in the evening to relax with needlework.  We are also planning an overnight stay at our camp on Sunday evening, which will hopefully be a quiet and restful end to a busy week.

🌿 WEEK-AT-A-GLANCE CHECKLIST is next.  It 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.

Since I am working on Fix Your Focus all week long, I find it works best for me to do this week-at-a-glance checklist first.

Lastly is 🌿 a GOSPEL-CENTERED AFFIRMATION to take with us through the week.  This week it was: "When I trust in God, I experience joy."  Short and easy to remember!

And there is our second Sunday Scripture using Fix Your Focus.  I know it's quite different from what we have been doing, but I trust the Lord will use it to encourage us!

A green new Hodgepodge

 

It's been awhile (since January!) so I'm taking a moment to join in with Joyce and the gang for the Wednesday Hodgepodge at From This Side of the Pond. Joyce writes the questions, bloggers provide the answers! Here we go ... 

1. I write the Hodgepodge questions so they'll post on Sunday, which sometimes throws me off in terms of what day it is. St. Patrick's Day will be celebrated on Monday, March 17th. Did you mark the day in some way? Wear green? Make a special meal? Watch or participate in a parade? 

I have often marked the day in some way, wearing green, making Irish soda bread or corned beef & cabbage.  Not this year however.  Just too busy for even thinking about it.

That said, this Glazed Corned Beef dinner is a wonderful slow-cooker recipe I've made in the past.

2. Do you think luck plays a part in your life? Explain. 

No, I don't think luck plays any part in my life.  As a believer in Christ and a child of God, I believe that He orchestrates everything that happens for my eventual good and for His glory.  A wonderful post by Abby at Little Birdie Blessings explains it well: No Luck Here.  Fun graphic below is by Abby also.

3. Of the 15 green foods listed, which one is your favorite and how do you like it prepared? Any on the list that are a hard no for you? In general do you like fruits and veggies? As a kid did you eat them willingly or did you hide peas in your napkin hoping your momma wouldn't see? 

Asparagus, avocado, broccoli, celery, cucumber, grape, green bean, kale, kiwi, lettuce, lime, 

pear, peas, pistachios, spinach

Avocados would be my very favorite from this list, though I like every one of these green foods.  A simple homemade guacamole would be my favorite way to prepare avocados.  In general I like fruits and vegetables, and generally ate them willingly as a kid.  Things I didn't like back then were eggs and liver.  (And I love eggs now but still detest liver.)

4. What's something that makes you 'turn green'? (with envy or with illness... whichever way you want to run with it)

Roller coasters.  I think you can guess which way of turning green goes along with that.

5. Did you spend a lot of time outdoors as a child? Doing what? Do you spend a lot of time outdoors now? Doing what? 

I did spend lots of time outdoors as a child.  Sledding and making snow forts in winter, riding my bike and just wandering the farm fields in other seasons.

Now I enjoy time outside, mostly walking or hiking and I also enjoy having my quiet time outdoors in the milder seasons.

6. Insert your own random thought here. 

I was looking back at some older posts and was reminded of a kids' devotional book I once wrote with an Irish theme.  One of the topics I wrote about was Irish blessings.  I thought it might be fun to share one of those (and my kid-friendly thoughts about it) today.  Here 'tis:

May you always have

Walls for the winds,

A roof for the rain,

Tea beside the fire.

Laughter to cheer you,

Those you love near you,

And all that your heart might desire!

These are good things to wish for your friends. "Walls for the winds" and "a roof for the rain" mean that you hope your friends will always have shelter from the weather.  

"Tea beside the fire" reminds us of a warm, cozy home.  Tea warms us up on the inside and a fire warms us up on the outside!

"Laughter to cheer you" is a good thing to have.  The Bible tells us in Proverbs 17:22 that "a merry heart doeth good like a medicine."

Of course, "those you love near you" is a wish to always have friends and family nearby.  We like to have our loved ones near.

The last wish is "for all that your heart might desire."  Our Bible verse today tells us that if we delight ourselves in the Lord, He will give us the desires of our hearts.  Delighting in God means that He is more important to us than anything else in our lives.  If we delight in God, we will love to spend time with Him, reading His Word, and talking to Him in prayer.  If we truly delight in God, the things we desire, or really want, will be things that please Him.  When we delight in God, He will give us the desires of our hearts.

*  Thank God for the promises in His Word, the Bible.  Ask God to help you delight in Him more each day.  *

And there you have it!  Hope you've enjoyed this glimpse into my devotional book In Green Pastures.  This particular Irish blessing strikes me as one that I would wish for all of my friends.

• And that's the Hodgepodge for this week!  Glad I got to join in.

Sunday Scripture

 

 As I explained a couple of weeks ago, I'm shifting gears on my Sunday Scripture posts ... stepping away from the study of Psalms for awhile.  This is something God has placed on my heart to do, and I anticipate it being helpful to many of you, as well as to me.

I am 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. If you can, by all means get your own copy of this beautiful, helpful book,  But even if you can't do that,  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.

This week's lesson was actually done by me the week of March 3, but I will be working ahead of you readers.  So here goes!

🌿 The first prompt 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:

"The week ahead looks busy and a bit complicated.  There's a lot to juggle and to balance.  Yet by God's grace and with His help, I know it can be done.  

"From Thursday-Sunday we'll be holding down the fort at our volunteer jobs while others are away.  [On Saturday morning, we plan to return home for a few hours for meetings.]

"Next week and the week after may hold more cooking and serving responsibilities for other volunteers, which means, if that holds true, I will need to spend time this week doing food prep and planning, and there are only three days in which to do that.

"I also have two younger friends to connect with this week -- ministry that I love, but timing is always tricky with busy young moms.

"We also need to clean the church before leaving town on Thursday, and do another church errand en route.  

"And hopefully we'll get back in time for a grandson's birthday supper on Sunday evening.  WOW!"

🌿 The second 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 ...  a great and awesome God.  You have the wisdom I do not have for this week, and You see the big picture that I cannot see.  You are able to strengthen me for the week ahead and enable me to see every responsibility clearly and wisely.

Lord, I feel ... so inadequate for the week ahead of me. There is no way I can do any of this in my own very limited strength and wisdom.

Lord, help me with ... ordering my days this week.  I have a plan, but I pray that You will help me to hold it loosely and to always be sensitive to your plan.  I pray that You will give me strength for every responsibility this week and that You will structure my days as You see fit.

Lord, forgive me for ... every time I try to act in my own strength or wisdom.  Forgive me for times when I add things to my own plate or when I exhibit any hint of pride.  You know each struggle that I'm dealing with, and I thank You for how You will work, in Jesus' name, Amen.

* Here we were also to make a note of 4 to 5 people we are praying for.  I listed two young couples, a bereaved acquaintance, and an old friend with serious health issues.

🌿 The next section in this helpful guide is SCRIPTURE MEDITATION.  I chose to first meditate on this week's Scripture, Psalm 143:10, 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= "Teach me to do Thy will, for Thou art my God.  Thy Spirit is good; lead me into the land of uprightness."  (Psalm 143:10)

O= David here is asking God to teach him to do His will,  He can ask this because God is his God.  There is a a personal relationship with the God of the universe.

David acknowledges that God's Holy Spirit is good.  The ESV says "gracious" instead of "good".  David asks that God's good, gracious Spirit will lead him into "the land of uprightness."  I was not sure whether the "land of uprightness" referred to heaven, or simply to an upright Christian life lived to the glory of God.  It may be both!  This phrase in the ESV reads "level ground".

Cross-reference for "teach me" -- "Blessed art Thou, O LORD; teach me Thy statutes."  (Psalm 119:12)

Cross-references for "Spirit" -- "And the Spirit of the LORD shall rest upon him, the Sprit of wisdom and understanding, the Spirit of counsel and might, the Spirit of knowledge and the fear of the LORD."  (Isaiah 11:2)

"Thou gavest them also Thy good Spirit to instruct them, and withheldest not Thy manna from their mouth, and gavest them water for their thirst.'  (Nehemiah 9:20)

Cross-reference for "lead me" -- "He restoreth my soul.  He leadeth me in the paths of righteousness for His name's sake."  (Psalm 23:3)

Cross-reference for "land of uprightness" -- "Teach me Thy way, O LORD, and lead me in a plain path, because of mine enemies."  (Psalm 27:11)

A= Spurgeon said, "How childlike -- 'Teach me!'  How practical -- "Teach me to do!'  How undivided in obedience -- 'to do Thy will!'  To do all of it, let it be what it may.  This is the best form of instruction, for its source is God, its object is holiness, its spirit is that of hearty loyalty."

"For Thou art my God'. Who else can teach me as Thou canst?  Who else will care to do it but my God?  Thou hast given me Thyself, Thou wilt surely give me Thy teaching."

Concerning "land of uprightness", Matthew Henry wrote,  "into the communion of saints, the pleasant land of the upright; or into a settled course of holy living which will lead to heaven, that land of uprightness where holiness will be in perfection."

As part of my application for this verse, I did the assignments suggested in Fix Your Focus for each week's verse.

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

He is my God -- a personal God.  He is able to teach me to do His will.  He is my Shepherd and Leader who will lead me on a level, plain path even through difficulties, along what our pastor of many year called "our pilgrimage from here to glory."  God is good and His Holy Spirit will lead and guide us.

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

I am God's child.  I am in need of teaching.  I must learn to do His will.  I cannot trust my own thinking to lead and teach me,  but must rely on His good and gracious Spirit to do this

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

I should be teachable and humble, sensitive to the Spirit's leading.

P= "Lord, I thank and praise You that You made a way for me to have a relationship with You!  I am thankful that Your indwelling Spirit will teach me and give me direction.  I pray that You will help me to be teachable and sensitive to Your leading, and that You will make my path clear and plain as I look to You.  I thank and praise You for Your guidance and care, in Jesus' name, Amen."

🌿 The next prompt is for GRATITUDE.  We were encouraged to reflect on the ways God has shown His faithfulness to us over the last week, and then to list 5 things we are thankful for.  So, you who are reading along, do the same!

Here is my list:

1) Wisdom God has given and is giving for planning during this busy month of serving,

2) God orchestrating the events of the week so that I could have phone conversations with two young friends.

3) How God has helped me to stay consistent with my exercise program even while away from home.

4) His provision of sleep even when I have a lot on my mind.

5) The privilege of serving Him and the physical strength, health, and energy to do so.

🌿 SPIRITUAL GROWTH is the next thing to consider.  As I mentioned earlier, there are four different aspects of this that we will be rotating through.  The one for this week is SERVE.

For this prompt, we were asked to think about who we know that might be in need, and to consider how we could serve them with resources available to us -- things like time, finances, prayer, etc.  Jot down your own thoughts about this.  Here are mine:

* I used time and resources to prepare four casseroles to freeze for future ministry.

* We are using our time this weekend at our volunteer jobs so regular staff can be away.

* I was able to encourage both of my spiritual daughters by phone.

* I can use the resource of prayer to pray for many friends with needs this week.

🌿 WEEK-AT-A-GLANCE CHECKLIST is next.  It 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.

Since I am working on Fix Your Focus all week long, I find it works best for me to do this week-at-a-glance checklist first.

Lastly is 🌿 a GOSPEL-CENTERED AFFIRMATION to take with us through the week.  This week it was: "The Lord is my God.  He teaches and leads me by His Spirit."

So there is our first Sunday Scripture using Fix Your Focus.  I know it's quite different from what we have been doing, but I trust the Lord will use it to encourage us!