Good old summertime Hodgepodge

Wednesday again ... and so it's time for the Wednesday Hodgepodge at From This Side of the Pond. Joyce writes the questions, bloggers provide the answers!  Here we go ...

1. Summer officially begins this week (in the northern hemisphere)...what was your favorite thing to do in the summer when you were a kid? 

My brother and I were often allowed to take a picnic lunch to share with neighbor kids, and we had a favorite picnic spot we called Picnic Hill.  To get there one had to pass by a sweet little brook and climb a hill crowned with a big pine tree.  I wrote about it in an early blog post: Picnic Hill.

 
What do you like most about summer now? 

Being retired and just able to take off for a drive, a picnic, the lake, the mountains, or time at our cottage.

View from a covered bridge in a mountain town

View from our sleeping nook at the cottage

A nearby favorite lake

 2.  Something you'll celebrate this summer? 

We'll accompany older friends on their annual anniversary trip to Boothbay Harbor.  

A lobster bake will be part of the fun

Relaxing by the sea on a previous trip

Hydrangeas by the ocean are something special

 

3. Summer tastes like? 

Strawberry shortcake, corn on the cob, homemade ice cream.

Smells like? 

Fresh-cut grass, new-mown hay, and sun-warmed pine needles.

Sounds like? 

The slam of a wood-framed screen door on a summer cottage.

4. June 18th is National Splurge Day...what's the last thing you splurged on? 

A beautiful lighted canvas featuring a lake and cabin theme.  I distinctly remember my hubby saying, "This is a splurge for us."

What might you splurge on today? 

 Probably nothing other than giving myself some extra blogging time.

5. Share a favorite summer quote, saying, song lyric, or meme. 

I had to look up some summer quotes before settling on this one:

 "Rest is not idleness, and to lie sometimes on the grass under trees on a summer's day, listening to the murmur of the water, or watching the clouds float across the sky, is by no means a waste of time." ­–John Lubbock, The Use of Life

6. Insert your own random thought here. 

Last summer we took this photo on the gorgeous Blue Ridge Parkway:

 

And that's the Hodgepodge for this week!

Sunday Scripture

 Yes, it's time for another Sunday Scripture!  I'm currently 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 May 26, 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. But 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.  [Maybe you would like to use this same checklist if you are following along with us.]

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 think it would be so helpful.  (The other three points are things that I'm consistently doing.) 

For this week, my top three priorities are:

1) Time with friends and family on Memorial Day 

2) Gifts for friends and family -- finish Abigail's blanket; send check to Dawn; order Jim's gift card

3) Time at home -- homemaking, Etsy shop, getting some extra rest.

🌿 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..  Continued concerns for my hubby's skin condition, though there's been some slight improvement.

Joys: Looking forward to fellowship with friends, time at our cottage, just the joy of time at home, too.

Worries: A worrisome situation or two that I'm seeking to leave with the Lord..

Desires: My main desire for this week is that God will be glorified in its events.  I also desire to finish a handmade baby gift and to find time for listing items in my Etsy shop.

Stressors: My hubby's health needs and how best to address them.  Also the many flakes of skin that must be vacuumed up daily.  Extended family dynamics are also stressful.

🌿 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 ... fully aware of all of my concerns and stressors going into this week. You are in control of and sovereign over each one.  You are the great Physician who is more than able to heal this skin condition.  You are wisdom and will give me wisdom for each situation I face.

* Lord, I feel ... still tired from the busyness of recent weeks and as if I'm not quite caught up from all of that.  I feel as if I'm still moving quite slowly and still need to pace myself.  I do feel optimistic about the week ahead, though.

* Lord, help me with ... everything that's on my plate this week.  Help me with my attitudes and with eating right and exercising to maintain my energy levels.  Help me too with getting enough sleep.

* Lord, forgive me for ...  wrong attitudes and laziness, and for failing to trust You at times.

Make a note of four or five people you are praying for.  I listed a wayward grandson, a family with sickness in the house, a young couple seeking God's direction, and an older friend who has just returned home from rehab.

🌿 The next section in this helpful guide is SCRIPTURE MEDITATION.  I chose to first meditate on this week's Scripture, Psalm 34:19, 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= "Many are the afflictions of the righteous; but the LORD delivereth him out of them all." (Psalms 34:19)

O= The biblical heading for this psalm is "A Psalm of David, when he changed his behavior before Abimelech, who drove him away, and he departed." Concerning this, Charles Spurgeon wrote: 

"Although the gratitude of the psalmist prompted him thankfully to record the goodness of the Lord in vouchsafing an undeserved deliverance, yet he weaves none of the incidents of the escape into the narrative, but dwells only on the grand fact of his being heard in the hour of peril".

That is interesting, I think!

 C.I. Scofield titles Psalm 34 "The LORD delivers His own".

We could simply reword the verse this way: Righteous people will have many afflictions, but the LORD will deliver them out of each one.

Back in verse 17 of Psalm 34 David says, "The righteous cry, and the LORD heareth; and delivereth them out of all their troubles."

Cross-reference for "many are the afflictions ..." -- "Persecutions, afflictions, which came unto me at Antioch, at Iconium, at Lystra, what persecutions I endured, but out of them all the Lord delivered me.  Yea, and all that will live godly in Christ Jesus shall suffer persecution,"  (2 Timothy 3:11-12)

Cross-references for "but the LORD delivereth" -- "This poor man cried, and the LORD heard him, and delivered him out of all his troubles."  (Psalm 34:6

"And when Peter was come to himself, he said, now I know of a surety that the Lord hath sent His angel, and hath delivered me out of the hand of Herod, and from all the expectation of the people of the Jews."  (Acts 12:11)

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

He is all-knowing and knows every affliction that His people are dealing with.  He is all-powerful and is able to deliver His people out of each trial.  He hears the prayer of the righteous when they call to Him, and He will deliver them. 

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

As one of God's people ("the righteous") I can know that I will have many afflictions throughout life.  Being a Christian does not guarantee a trouble-free life.  Trials are a fact of life and will come to all of us.

* Throughout the week, consider how these verses should affect the way you live.

I should never be surprised by trials.  Most believers are either experiencing a trial, just coming out of a trial, or just about to enter a trial.  I should remember that God has a purpose in each trial and, when His purposes have been served, He will deliver me out of each trial in His perfect timing.  I should concentrate on navigating each trial God's way, seeking to grow through it and asking for His purposes to be accomplished in it.

Warren Wiersbe says, "The psalmist does not say, 'I thought the Lord kept us out of afflictions. I thought that if I read my Bible every day and prayed and tried to obey His will, I would never have any afflictions.' Instead, he says that we will face many afflictions.

"Often, afflictions are God's tools for helping us grow. We don't really grow until we've been through the furnace, through the storm or through the battle. God is not raising hothouse plants that shrivel when the hot wind blows on them. No, He wants to raise mature sons and daughters, and that's why we have afflictions. 

"He doesn't keep us out of them. He delivers us from them. Sometimes He changes the circumstances. Sometimes He changes us. The real secret of deliverance is not the circumstance around you but the faith within you. Expect affliction, but trust God for deliverance."

P= Lord, I'm so thankful for the truths of Your Word!.  The Psalms have long been precious to me for many reasons, and this verse from Psalm 34 is an encouragement.  I know that afflictions and trials are a part of life and that You have a good purpose in each trial and affliction that You allow.  I'm thankful that You will deliver us from our afflictions and that we can trust in that promise.  I praise You for how You are working in my life, 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) Strength to serve at TWNE during a very busy time.

2) Wisdom in pacing myself both at my volunteer job and at home.  Without God's wisdom, I wouldn't think to do this..

3) A couple mornings of not setting an alarm.

4) Flexibility to make some dietary changes for my hubby's health.

5) Good quality time in God's Word each day.

🌿 SPIRITUAL GROWTH is the next prompt, and this week there's an emphasis on SERVING.  We were to think about resources available to us and to consider how we could serve those in need this week.

Here's what we did: A phone call with Jennifer; time at the park with my young friend R. and her kiddos; a financial donation to a gift card for a recent widow.

🌿 Lastly is a GOSPEL-CENTERED AFFIRMATION: 

I will face adversity, but the Lord will rescue me.

What a great challenge for all of us in the coming week!

Spicing up the Hodgepodge

Wednesday again ... and so it's time for the Wednesday Hodgepodge at From This Side of the Pond.  Joyce writes the questions, bloggers provide the answers!  Here we go ...

 1. June 10th is National Herbs and Spices Day. Besides salt and pepper what herb or spice container do you reach for most often? Is there a spice you truly dislike? What's a recent dish you made that called for more than salt and pepper?  

Most used spice?  Probably it's a toss-up between Italian seasoning and chili powder.  I use smoked paprika quite often, too.

Spice I truly dislike?  I don't love rosemary or thyme, and I don't love anise, but I don't truly dislike them.

Recent dish calling for more than salt & pepper -- these Juicy Baked Pork Chops, which call for smoked paprika, garlic powder, onion powder, Italian seasoning and chili powder in addition to salt & pepper.

I could not resist taking a screenshot of this beautiful image from Jennifer at @slowsimpleseasonal.

  So perfect for this Hodgepodge's theme!

2.  It's been said 'variety is the spice of life'...in what way is this true for you? Elaborate. 

This is true for me in a few ways.  For quite awhile now I have approached my devotional life with a good bit of variety.  I wrote about it here: Variety -- the spice of my devotional life.  This creative approach keeps my quiet time from ever becoming dull or routine.  

I have more recently tried approaching my crafting in the same way.  You can read about that here.  I haven't really got off the ground with that as yet.

3. What's something in your life that adds 'spice' (excitement, intensity) even if also comes with challenge or unpredictability? 

Hmmm ... having grandchildren?

4. If you could instantly master one skill or hobby, what would it be and why? 

Sewing.  Just because I'd like to do more of it, and I'm getting to the age where I mostly sew smaller things with straight seams.  

5. We're halfway through the year...what's one book, movie, or activity you've loved this year that you'd recommend to others? 

 I am very much enjoying Even If, the Daily Grace Co's Bible Study on Habakkuk.  A slim volume, it is intended to be a 3-week study.  It has taken me months since I work on it only one day a week.  What I find so impressive (along with the timeliness of the subject matter) is the additional material included in this book -- a word study on the Hebrew word for "everlasting"; a fascinating comparison between Habakkuk and the Psalms; a section on the imagery of God's power in Habakkuk chapter 3; a diagram of the book's flow of content; a section on the 5 woes in Habakkuk chapter 2; and an explanation of the Gospel.

6. Insert your own random thought here. 

Looking forward to some time spent at our little cottage.  I hope to work on a few hand sewing and crochet projects.  Some scrapbook journaling, too!

That's the Hodgepodge for this week, friends!

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 May 19, 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. 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) Ministry at my volunteer job-- cleaning, organizing, helping to prepare for staff training week.  Also ministry to other women as I write blog posts and do Sunday School prep, as well as teaching my ladies' Sunday School class.

2) Time at home and at our cottage -- cleaning, reorganizing, rearranging some furniture at the cottage

3) Health --  for the second half of the week, prioritizing rest, exercise, sleep, healthy eating.

[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.  Maybe a concern for a "plain pine box" that my hubby agreed to build for a friend and that he may not complete it in time.

Joys: It's always a joy to serve at TWNE and at church, and by blogging.  I look forward to the joy of spending time at our cottage and just relaxing for a couple of weeks.

Worries: Not really worries, just concerns for my husband's health.  Trying to be sure we're doing what's best for him.

Desires: For God to ge glorified in the events of this week.  To be the maximum amount of help in the first half of the week at TWNE.  For both of us the take a break and get some rest in the second half of the week.

Stressors: Time constraints, things left undone at home, limitations of aging, and my hubby's skin condition.

🌿 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 ... the great Physician, and I praise You that we are seeing some small signs of healing.  You are in control of all that this week will hold, and You are sovereign over its events.

* Lord, I feel ... tired and unready for this week, as if I didn't get enough rest over the weekend.  I feel a little bit overwhelmed by all that there is to do both here at TWNE and at home.  I feel sad over some events in the lives of extended family.

* Lord, help me with ... all the cleaning that I have to do this week.  I can only do this in Your strength and with the energy that You provide.

* Lord, forgive me for ... the times when I complain or sigh about being tired.  Forgive me for worry or fear regarding my husband's skin condition.  I want to be supportive and encouraging to him.

Make a note of four or five people you are praying for.  I listed a dear friend who has just lost his wife; a young couple seeking God's direction; a middle-aged couple facing many life changes; and an older friend who needs God's comfort and encouragement.

🌿 The next section in this helpful guide is SCRIPTURE MEDITATION.  I chose to first meditate on this week's Scripture, Matthew 9:37-38, 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= "Then saith He unto His disciples, The harvest truly is plenteous, but the laborers are few.  Pray ye, therefore, the Lord of the harvest, that He will send forth laborers into the harvest.  (Matthew 9:37-38)

O= The first word we see is "Then".  The question that should logically spring to our minds is "When?"  To answer this question we must look back to the preceding verses.  If we look back to verse 35 we see that Jesus had gone about all the cities and villages, teaching in synagogues, preaching the gospel, and healing sickness and disease among the people.  Verse 36 begins with "But", indicating a change of direction.  It says "But when He saw the multitudes, He was moved with compassion for them, because they were weary and scattered, like sheep having no shepherd."

So, upon seeing the great need of the multitudes and being moved with compassion toward them, Jesus spoke to His disciples and called their attention to the plenteous harvest field and the scarcity of laborers.  Then He asked them to pray.  Because the harvest was plenteous and the laborers were few, He asked them to pray that the Lord of the harvest would send forth more laborers.

Spurgeon wrote, "His heavy heart sought solace among 'his disciples', and he spake to them. He mourned the scantiness of workers. Pretenders were many, but real “labourers” in the harvest were few. The sheaves were spoiling. The crowds were ready to be taught, even as ripe wheat is ready for the sickle; but there were few to instruct them, and where could more teaching men be found?"

The ESV says "pray earnestly to the Lord of the harvest".  "Pray" here is the Greek deomai, meaning to ask for something with the sense of beseeching or pleading.  

Cross-reference for "pray the Lord of harvest" -- "Finally, brethren, pray for us, that the word of the Lord may have free course, and be glorified, even as it is with you."  (2 Thessalonians 3:1)

Cross-references for "send forth laborers" (v.38) -- "Go ye, therefore, and teach all nations, baptizing them in the name of the Father, and of the Son, and of the Holy Spirit, Teaching them to observe all things whatsoever I have commanded you; and lo, I am with you always, even unto the end of the age.  Amen."  (Matthew 28:19-20)

"And He gave some, apostles; and some, prophets; and some, evangelists, and some, pastors and teachers; For the perfecting of the saints, for the work of the ministry for the edifying of the body of Christ."  (Ephesians 4:11-12)

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

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

He is a God who speaks to and directs His servants.  He is the Lord of the harvest.

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

I'm a servant and disciple of Christ -- and, to a small extent, a laborer in His harvest field.

* Throughout the week, consider how these verses should affect the way you live.

I should be praying that the Lord of the harvest will send forth laborers into His harvest fields.  I should be willing, as He directs, to labor in the "corners of His vineyard" where He places me.

"The harvest is plentiful (polus = large, great), but the workers are few - This was true then and is sadly true today. How many sit in church on Sunday and live the other 6 days almost completely unconcerned and/or indifferent to the the eternal destiny of those souls they encounter?" -- Adrian Rogers

Haddon W. Robinson wrote in Our Daily Bread, "The harvest has never been greater. But Jesus noted, “The laborers are few.” Why? How come there aren’t enough workers to gather in the crop? There are certainly enough professing Christians to make a dent in the harvest, but we don’t seem to want to go. Is it a fear that we may fail? Are we afraid that people will reject us and our message?

Don’t let fear stop you. Go out into the “fields” of your neighborhood, your worksite, your school. You can’t control the response—but you can preach the message." 

P= "Lord, I praise You for how you speak to and direct Your people.  I thank You for the amazing privilege of being Your child and a servant of yours.  I pray that You will send forth laborers into Your harvest field.  Thank You for the opportunities You give me to be a testimony to others and to impact their lives.  I pray that You will help me to share Your Word and Gospel message with those in my life who need to hear.  I praise You for all You will do, 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 couple of days at home last week.

2) Strength for serving at TWNE and the wisdom to pace myself in my tasks.

3) God's provision to help me prepare a backup message for Saturday's brunch when it looked as if our speaker might have to cancel.

4) The ladies' brunch that our hospitality team put together for last Saturday.  Such a delightful, encouraging time!

5) A short but sweet phone conversation with my young friend Jennifer.

🌿 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've had some great times of fellowship around the staff table in the dining hall at TWNE this week.  Good fellowship with church family at prayer meeting and certainly planning for more at church on Sunday.  We're also planning a get-together with friends for the upcoming Memorial Day holiday.

🌿 Lastly is a GOSPEL-CENTERED AFFIRMATION: 

I will engage in spreading the Gospel message.

We can take this challenging thought into the coming week and watch for opportunities to share the Gospel with others!

There's the Sunday Scripture for this week!

Hodgepodge for June 4

 

 Wednesday again ... and so it's time for the Wednesday Hodgepodge at From This Side of the Pond.  Joyce writes the questions, bloggers provide the answers!  Here we go ...

1. What do birthdays look like in your house? How are they celebrated? Any special traditions? What about birthdays growing up? 

Well, at this point we are empty nesters and we really don't celebrate birthdays.   For birthdays, anniversaries, Valentine's Day and even Christmas, we save the money we would have spent on gifts and cards and use it for getaways throughout the year instead.

I have made birthday banners for many of my grandchildren and those go up at birthday time at their homes.  Years ago I cross-stitched some of those "You Are Special Today" place mats on red Aida, and  those show up under the birthday person's plate.

I really had to hunt to find this photo that shows one of the "You Are Special" cross-stitched place mats.  The birthday boy in this picture is now 21, so this is an old picture for sure!
 

Growing up, we were allowed to choose the food for our birthday suppers.  I always picked hot dogs, hamburgers, potato salad, corn fritters, and iced tea for my January birthday.  And for many years, my dad would visit our local hometown bakery and pick up a box of eclairs for my birthday.

Some of the Happy Birthday banners.  I made name banners to attach to them.

2. Someone is sending you a dozen roses...what color are you hoping for? Are you someone who gets accused of seeing the world through rose colored glasses? Is your accuser correct? Elaborate. 

I will go with peach colored or yellow roses. 

I have sometimes been accused of seeing the world through rose colored glasses, but actually I am looking at the world through the lens of faith.

3. June 4th is National Cheese Day...will you celebrate? What's something (besides a burger) you make in the summer months that calls for cheese? 

I probably will enjoy some cheese sometime that day.  Friends sent us some wonderful Wisconsin cheddar that we are enjoying. 

Something I make in summer that calls for cheese: a Greek pasta salad that includes feta.

Sweet little cookbook from my collection

4. 'Tis the season...any weddings on your June calendar? What's the first word that comes to mind when I say marriage? 

No weddings on our June calendar that I know of.  I think we would know by now, right?  First word that comes to mind when you say marriage?  Love.   As in, Love and marriage go together like a horse and carriage.

Vintage anniversary card from my Etsy shop

5. What are you most looking forward to this June? 

We are planning a staycation.   We'd been planning a road trip but had to postpone it, so staycation it is, and we're looking forward to the time!

6. Insert your own random thought here.

We had a fun day yesterday -- breakfast out with dear old friends at this iconic spot. 

 Later that evening, other friends contacted us about having breakfast at the very same spot a few weeks from now.  That's a treat to look forward to!  I don't think we have ever been there twice in one month.

There's the Hodgepodge for this week!

Some goals for June

 A new month, and time to set some goals!  Here are my goals for June.  As always, many of them are ongoing.

* 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 
* 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 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
* Attend a birthday party for our friends' children 
* Help and encourage my local daughter as I'm able
* Help prepare for two special events at our church
* Plan meals with a greater emphasis on healthy eating
* Possibly have some of our younger friends over for a meal and fellowship
* Attend a memorial service for a dear old friend
* Continue to help a widowed friend with the challenges of life in general
* Continue meeting with my young friend R. for discipleship
* 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
* Spend time with family visiting from out of state
* Continue with the habit of getting outdoors for the morning light
* Walk and/or exercise at least 4 times each week

HEALTHY HABITS FOR JUNE:  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!

Sunday Scripture

For Sunday Scripture posts currently, I'm using the Daily Grace Co. book Fix Your Focus. This 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 May 12, 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 week-at-a-glance checklist first.  [Maybe you would like to use this same checklist if you are following along with us.]

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'm finding it so helpful!

 For this week, my top three priorities are:

1) Saturday's ladies and girls brunch at church -- preparing food, bringing items to decorate with.

2) Family -- sympathy cards to extended family; talking with my NV daughter; figuring out my son-in-law's birthday gift.

3) Service -- cleaning and other prep work at TWNE, plus preparing for a ladies' Sunday School class and blogging too.

🌿 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,.  Maybe a concern for my hubby's skin condition to improve..

Joys: It's always a joy to serve at TWNE and at church.  I find joy in teaching Sunday School and in blogging.  It's a true joy to spend time at our cottage.  And I'm looking forward to a joyous time at our ladies' brunch..  .

Worries: No real worries.  Just a concern that we are pursuing the best course in some matters.

Desires: That God will be glorified in the events of this week.  That believers will be edified and encouraged through Sunday School, one-on-one meetups, the brunch, and this blog.

Stressors: Tasks that won't stay done.  Irksome situations to deal with and work around.  Time constraints..

🌿 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 control of this week and all that it will hold.  You know all things and know each of my worries, joys, fears, desires, and stressors.  Not only do You know them all, but You are all powerful and all-wise and can work everything out for my eventual good and for Your glory.

* Lord, I feel ... tired.  A bit achy, like I've been doing too much.

* Lord, help me with ... the things on my plate this week.  Help me to be the best possible help to my husband during this trial with psoriasis.  Help me to use my time wisely.

* Lord, forgive me for ... times when I act in my own strength.  Times when I allow circumstances (or even people) to annoy me.

Make a note of four or five people you are praying for.  I listed a young couple who need God's direction, our former pastor grieving the loss of his wife, a friend grieving the loss of her mother, and a grandson not walking with God.

🌿 The next section in this helpful guide is SCRIPTURE MEDITATION.  I chose to first meditate on this week's Scripture, Psalm 145:18, 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.]

I had spent some time meditating on this verse in 2023, so I will be including some of that study here.

S= "The LORD is near to all those who call upon Him, to all who call upon Him in truth." (Psalm 145:18)

O=  My Bible titles Psalm 145 thusly: "David's psalm of praise."  Scofield has given it the title "Praise to the gracious God."  All 21 verses of this psalm are filled with praise to God for all that He is and all that He has done and is doing. 

"It is David's, David's very own, David's favorite ... It is altogether praise, and praise pitched in a high key.  David had blessed God many a time in other psalms, but this he regarded as peculiar, his crown jewel of praise."

Spurgeon wrote concerning the Bible's title of Psalm 145 as "David's psalm of praise": 

Here in verse 18 David declares:

* The LORD is near to all who call upon Him in truth.

A cross- reference for "near" in verse 18 --  

"For what nation is there so great, that hath God as near unto them, as the LORD our God is, in all things that we call upon Him for?"  (Deuteronomy 4:7)

"Not only near by His omnipresence, but to sympathize and favor.  He does not leave praying men, and men who confess His name, to battle with the world alone... 'All' who place themselves beneath the shield of His glorious name by calling themselves by it, and by calling upon it in supplication, shall find Him to be a very present help in trouble." -- Charles Spurgeon

"The nearness or remoteness of a friend is very material and considerable in our troubles, distresses, wants, dangers, etc.  I have such a friend, and he would help me, but he lives so far off ... But it is not thus with you, O Christians!  who have a God so nigh unto you, who have the signal presence of God in the midst of you.  Yea, who have a God always standing by you."  --Thomas Brooks

A cross-reference for "truth" -- 

"God is a spirit; and they that worship Him must worship Him in spirit and in truth."  (John 4:24) 

 "To call upon God in truth is, first, to repose an implicit confidence in the faithfulness of His promise, and to look for unlimited answers to prayer from the riches of His grace in Christ Jesus.  But it is also to feel our own urgent need of the things for which we supplicate, and to realize an earnest and unfeigned concern to obtain them." -- Thomas Dale, 1853

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

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

He is near to all who call upon Him in truth.  His name LORD is used here -- Jehovah, the self-existent One who always has been and always will be.

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

I am a person who is in need of help, who calls upon God and finds Him near because of my relationship with Jesus.

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

I can call upon God at any time.  I can and should sense His nearness to me at all times.  I should keep short accounts with Him so I can call upon Him "in truth" at any time.

 Spurgeon wrote,  "To pray in truth, we must have a true heart, and the truth in our heart; and then we must be humble, for pride is a falsehood; and be earnest, or else prayer is a lie.  A God of truth cannot be nigh to the spirit of hypocrisy; this He knows and hates; neither can He be far removed from a sincere spirit, since it is His work, and He forsakes not the work of His own hands." 

 It is incredibly comforting and strengthening to know that God is always near to me.  I think one of the best ways to practice His presence and nearness is simply to speak with Him often: "Thank You, Lord!" when we see Him act or give wisdom; arrow prayers when we need help or guidance; words of praise and awe when we observe His glorious creation.

P= "Lord,  I am so thankful that You make it possible for us to know You and have a personal relationship with You!  I am thankful for  Your nearness to Your children and that I may speak to You at any time.  I pray that You will help me to be able to share with others how they also may have this relationship with You.  I pray also that You will help me to encourage other believers to cultivate the closeness to You that You want for all of us to have. Help my very life to be a hymn of praise to You.  I pray 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) Strength for busy days at TWNE.

2) A fun Lakes Region Symphony Orchestra concert that our granddaughter and friends played in.  

3) Meaningful study times in God's Word.

4) Supper out with family on Mother's Day

5) Getting together with my young friend R. last Monday.

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

   I chose to fast from sugar Monday through Friday.  I ordinarily do intermittent fasting anyway, and use the time gained by not eating breakfast in additional Bible study and prayer.

🌿 Lastly is a GOSPEL-CENTERED AFFIRMATION: 

The Lord is near; when I call, He hears.

We can take this encouraging thought into the coming week and communicate with God often!