Hodgepodge for May 28

 

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's your favorite room in your house and why? 

I think that would have to be our  living room.  Some years ago we covered the old wallpaper and ceiling tiles  with beautiful wide pine boards (sawed by my husband) and have never looked back.  Yes, the room is wrapped in pine.  We love it and would like to do more rooms the same way.  We also have a family photo wall in this room that always brings a smile.  Below are several shots of our living room that show the pine boards.

In fall, with my fall flower lights on the picture window garland.

Christmas time, with a rag garland and silhouette ornaments of my Nevada grands

With Christmas decor and the tree

2. What's something that will instantly annoy you? 

 Silliness in children and pettiness in adults.  However, 1 Corinthians 13:5 reminds me that "love is not easily provoked".

3. May 28th is National Hamburger Day...will you celebrate? How do you like yours? If you're not cooking at home is there a favorite place you like to go for a burger? Did you ever work in a fast food  restaurant? 

We probably will be celebrating as we are eating a lot of hamburgers these days.   Usually without a bun.  I might add lettuce, tomato and mayo to it.  Occasionally cheese or some dill pickle slices.  We don't have one specific place to  go for a burger.  Some local diners, some casual seasonal eateries like this one: The Little Red Schoolhouse, which recently opened for the summer.  The restaurant part is essentially a tree house:

I have never worked in a fast food restaurant.

4. What are three scents you like? 

Lilac, orange, and lily of the valley. 

5. What do you miss most about being a kid? 

Having less responsibility.

Above are some of the farm fields I roamed in my childhood.

6. Insert your own random thought here. 

We had a lovely day with friends on Monday -- met for breakfast downtown, then went to our camp for the remainder of the day and enjoyed a late lunch, joined by our family from next door.  Just a nice relaxing time at the cottage, and a perfect day for it too.  (Photo is from several years ago.)

And that's the Hodgepodge for this week!

Sunday Scripture

 Yes, it's time for another Sunday Scripture!  As I explained several weeks ago, I'm making some changes to  my Sunday 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 May 5, 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) Ministry -- serving at TWNE, planning and preparing for teaching Sunday School; Blogging, mentoring, discipling, encouraging.

2) Family -- praying for them all, especially some of the older grandchildren.  Attending a granddaughter's orchestra concert on Sunday.  A phone call with my NV daughter.

3) Health -- reading up on psoriasis, trying to limit sugar and grains; making sure to exercise daily; 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, I guess.  Concerns for grandchildren's health and safety.  Concerns for my hubby's health..

Joys: It's always a joy to serve the Lord in any and every way.  It'll be a joy to attend Julia's concert on Sunday and to celebrate Mother's Day with dinner out with local family..

Worries: See fears.

Desires: My main desire for this week is that God will be glorified in it.  I also desire to fit in a little more crafting time and to find time for homemaking tasks on Saturday.

Stressors: My hubby's health needs and how best to address them.  We're looking at dietary changes now and, though I understand. completely his wish to jump into those immediately, it threw a bit of a curveball into my meal planning for our time away from home this week.

🌿 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 my fears, worries, and stressors.  You know each one and, because You are all-wise and all-powerful, I can trust You to work them all out.

* Lord, I feel ... a little bit overwhelmed and challenged by so much information and also by so much time away from home.  But the latter is just how it is this time of year in our lives.  Status quo.

* Lord, help me with ... everything on this list.  I can't do any of it in my own strength.  Help me to leave my worries and concerns in Your capable hands, trusting You to work each one out for our eventual good and for your glory.

* Lord, forgive me for ...  times when I worry and fear, especially concerning our grandchildren.  I know that Your Word commands me not to worry, and so often in Scripture we see your instruction to "Fear not".

Make a note of four or five people you are praying for.  I listed three grandsons facing various challenges and two friends who are grieving.

🌿 The next section in this helpful guide is SCRIPTURE MEDITATION.  I chose to first meditate on this week's Scripture, Matthew 7:12, 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= "Therefore, all things whatever ye would that men should do to you, do ye even so to them; for this is the law and the prophets." (Matthew 7:12)

O= This teaching is part of the Sermon on the Mount, recorded in Matthew chapters 5-7.  This verse is considered "The Golden Rule" and is repeated in Luke 6:31 -- 

"And as ye would that men should do to you, do ye also to them."

This verse starts with the word "Therefore" -- and, as always, we must ask ourselves what it is "there for".  In this case, the answer could be one of many reasons in the preceding teaching by Jesus.

It might refer to verses 7-11 which teach that God gives good gifts to His children; therefore believers should live by the golden rule out of their gratitude.  

It might refer to verses 1-6 -- that is, rather than judging others, we should treat them as we would want to be treated.

More likely, it may refer to the Sermon on the Mount in its entirety.  Expositor's Bible Commentary points out that there is a second reference to the law and the prophets in Matthew 5:17, almost like a bookend to this verse.

"Think not that I am come to destroy the law, or the prophets: I am not come to destroy, but to fulfill."

This commentary notes that we could almost read Matthew 7:12 this way:

"Therefore, in light of all that I have taught about the the true direction in which the Old Testament points, obey the Golden Rule, for this sums up the Law and the Prophets."

J. Vernon McGee feels that "therefore" is "the most important word in the Golden Rule.  It relates the Golden Rule to that which precedes it.  That is, it postulates on prayer.   It all comes together in one package.  Don't lift out the Golden Rule and say that you live by it.  Understand what the Lord is talking about.  Only as we 'ask, seek, and knock' are we able to live in the light of the Golden Rule."

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

He cares about how His people treat one another,  He has a specific way in which He wants us to do this.  He doesn't leave it up to us to guess, or to figure it out on our own.  He spells it out.. 

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

I'm a person in need of God's instruction on how to live life.  Treating others as I would want to be treated does not come naturally to me.  I would never have thought of this principle on my own.

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

Simply put, I should treat others as I would have them to treat me.

J.C. Ryle wrote, "The Golden Rule is like a 'pocketknife' always ready to be used, even when there is no time to ask for advice.  Treat them like you would like to be treated, Jesus says!  Jesus thus provides a rule we can use in thousands of specific cases to determine what righteousness looks like."

The online commentary Precept Austin advises: "Begin to apply in the power of the Spirit the 'Golden Rule test'.  As yourself whether the action you think is beneficial to others is actually one you would want to receive yourself.  Such actions might just change your interactions for the better and for God's glory!"

P= Lord, I'm so thankful for the clear instruction and teaching in Your Word that helps us to see so clearly how You would have us to live!.  There is no ambiguity in Your Word.  This rule for life in Matthew 7:12 is so clear, so simple -- and yet sometimes it is a challenge for us to follow it.  Our own humanity and selfishness gets in the way. I pray that You will help me to begin applying the "Golden Rule test" to my daily interactions this week.  I praise You for all that 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) Teaching a ladies' Sunday School class again, and having a full classroom for our first week!

2) Strength for cleaning at my volunteer job.

3) The blessing of being part of my grandchildren's lives and getting to help celebrate their birthdays.

4) The privilege of prayer an the blessing of seeing prayers answered.

5) The joys of fellowship with other believers.  God is so good to provide this for us!

🌿 SPIRITUAL GROWTH is the next prompt, and this week there's an emphasis on REST. We were to make a plan to intentionally rest this week.

It's after the fact as I write this, but we had an overnight at our little camp and a leisurely morning there.  We also took naps (unapologetically) one or two days.

🌿 Lastly is a GOSPEL-CENTERED AFFIRMATION: 

Following the example of Jesus, I will do for others what I want others to do for me.

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

A honey of a 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  May 20th is World Bee Day...what's something that's kept you 'busy as a bee' lately? 

Volunteering at TWNE as the campsite is readied for hundreds of teen and junior campers.

2. Do you like honey? What's something you make or enjoy that calls for honey? 

I like honey okay but it's not really a favorite of mine.  Probably my favorite thing to use honey in is a cough syrup made with elderberries and raw honey.

3. "Gracious words are like a honeycomb, sweetness to the soul and health to the body." Proverbs 16:24

What's a proverb you love, or one that speaks to you or has helped you in some way? 

The Bible is full of Proverbs, a whole book in fact, if that helps with your answer. The word proverb is defined as 'a short pithy saying in general use, stating a general truth or piece of advice'. 

Proverbs is a favorite book of the Bible.  Like many people, I've often read a chapter a day in Proverbs each month, which works out so well because there are 31 chapters of Proverbs.  Many verses are favorites, but I will choose Proverbs 4:23:

"Keep thy heart with all diligence; for out of it are the issues of life."  

4. Tell us about a 'sweet' moment in your life recently that filled you with joy, gratitude, or peace. 

Probably Mother's Day, sitting in my daughter's living room and unwrapping some sweet and thoughtful gifts.  Joy and gratitude for sure.  And there was a moment where we were eating lunch on our deck, a rare occurrence since we've had lots of rain lately and we've been working away from home a LOT.  I settled back in my chair and breathed a deep sigh of peace and contentment.  Below, some views from our deck.

5. When you were a child, what did you want to 'be' when you grew up? How close did you come to that? 

When I was very little,  I wanted to be a ballerina.  Never got within any distance of that, not even one dance lesson.  In probably 6th grade or so, I wanted to be a writer.  Now I did achieve that one, with a number of kids' devotional books, a novel for teens, and a few published articles.  One thing I never wanted to be -- a teacher -- I did end up doing.  A few of my  devotional books for kids are pictured below.

6. Insert your own random thought here. 

Oh, let's see.  I'm doing a lot of thinking about fermented foods which are healthy for us in general and are recommended for my husband's skin issues.    Planning to start kombucha on Thursday!  I've made it in the past and have several scobys I can use to get started again.  I want to try fermented vegetables and maybe kefir too.

And there's this week's Hodgepodge!

Sunday Scripture

 Time for another Sunday Scripture!  As I explained several weeks ago, I've made some changes in  my Sunday posts ... stepping away from the study of Psalms for awhile.  This is something God has placed on my heart to do, and I truly 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 April 28, 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'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 to friends -- an afternoon helping our friend Terry with necessary home updates for her health and mobility issues.  Sending sympathy cards to grieving friends.  Hopefully talk with both J. and R. by phone.

2) Ministry at my volunteer job cooking for a small work crew -- lunches, dinners, and coffee breaks.  Possibly doing some cleaning as well.

3) Ministry to other women as I write blog posts and do Sunday School prep, as well as teaching my ladies' Sunday School class.

🌿 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: More of a concern, I guess, that we are doing the best thing for my hubby's health issues.  I could fear, based on his description of his pain level, that this treatment isn't helping.  But I do think it is, and he's only been on this regimen a week.

Joys: It's a joy to serve others and always a joy to have a little part in the work God is doing at TWNE.

Worries: The condition my hubby is dealing with is not life threatening, but I could worry that the treatment will make things worse.  I could, but I do seek not to worry, as  I'm commanded not to and it accomplishes nothing.

Desires: To encourage and bless others, whether by a card, a phone call, cooking, cleaning, fellowship, or teaching.  To help even in a tiny way to advance God's causes and bring glory to Him.

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 ... so good and kind to allow us to serve You and Your people.  You are in full control of  this week and already know the opportunities and challenges it will hold.  You know all about the stressors and will help me in handling each one.  I know that You are able to expand my time and also to give me increased energy.

* Lord, I feel ... inadequate in my own strength for this week, but after a night at our camp I also feel rested and ready to get into the day and week.  I feel cautiously optimistic about my hubby's skin issues.

* Lord, help me with ... wise use of my time to accomplish all that You would have me to do today and in this week.

* Lord, forgive me for ... the times when I fail to trust You and fall into the sin of worry, and for times when I handle my stress and concerns in wrong ways like emotional eating.

Make a note of four or five people you are praying for.  I listed  a dear friend who has just lost his wife; another dear friend whose mother recently passed away; and an old friend dealing 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 85:2, 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= "Thou hast forgiven the iniquity of Thy people; Thou hast covered all their sin.  Selah." (Psalm 85:2)

O= The biblical heading for this psalm is "To the Chief Musician, A Psalm for the sons of Korah." 

C.I. Scofield titles Psalm 85 "A prayer for the returned exiles".  ESV titles the psalm "Revive us again."

Concerning God forgiving the iniquity of His people, Charles Spurgeon wrote, "Often and often had He done this, pausing to pardon even when His sword was bared to punish.  Who is a pardoning God like Thee, O Jehovah?  Who is slow to anger, so ready to forgive?"

Concerning God covering the sin of His people, Spurgeon added, "Thou hast covered all their sin.  All of it, every spot, and wrinkle, the veil of love has covered all.  Sin has been divinely put out of sight.  Hiding it ... covering it with the sea of the atonement, blotting it out, making it cease to be.  The Lord has put it so completely out of sight that even His omniscient eye sees it no more.

Cross-reference for "forgiven" and "covered" -- "Blessed is the man whose transgression is forgiven, whose sin is covered."  (Psalm 32:1)

A= "God's people should live with a vibrancy that comes from the joy of their salvation.  Does your life still sparkle as it did when you came to know the Lord?  Pray that He will revive the church.  And pray that your testimony will bless others and glorify the Lord." -- Warren Wiersbe

"Every believer in Jesus enjoys the blessing of pardoned sin, and should regard this priceless boon as the pledge of all other needful mercies." -- Spurgeon

"The author of Psalm 85 praised [the] providence of God.  He knew how the Lord had provided for Israel in the past.  Now he called on God to deliver His repentant people from the present evil (v.4-7) and he confidently anticipated the answer to that prayer (v.8-13).

"Let's not doubt God's all-sufficient enablement.  He will carry us through life's darkest hours." -- Vernon Grounds in Our Daily Bread

To help with my application for this verse, I did the assignments suggested in Fix Your Focus for Luke 6:36.

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

God is a forgiving God who has taken the initiative to provide a way for the iniquity of human beings to be forgiven.  He is able to cover all of the sin of His people -- and in fact to remove it from them as far as the east is from the west.

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

I'm a person who needs to have my iniquity forgiven.  I'm incapable of dealing with my own sin; I must have God's forgiveness.

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

As Wiersbe says, I should live with a vibrancy that comes from the joy of my salvation.  I should live with the joy, confidence and trust of one whose sins are forgiven.  He will not fail to give that which is good, and to set me in the way of His steps.

P= Lord, how I praise and thank You for forgiveness of sins!  I could never deal with my own sin and would be without hope.  But because of the salvation You provided through the death of Your Son, I've been set free from my sin!

"I pray that You will help me to live in a way that reflects the joy of my salvation to those whose lives I touch.  Help my testimony to bless others and bring glory 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) Getting to stay at our camp on the Monday night.  So, so thankful for God's provision.

2) Wisdom for finding a place where we could meet up with our young friend R. and her little ones.  God led us to a park in her town -- one she was already familiar with.

3) Safety in travel.

4) Strength for serving at TWNE.

5) The blessing of celebrating two grandchildren's birthdays on Sunday evening.  These young people are such a delight to us!

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

   I can spend additional time praying for -- and maybe reaching out to -- a friend who is devastated and immobilized by grief.  I can serve here at TWNE by cooking, cleaning, and lightening the load of the regular staff.

🌿 Lastly is a GOSPEL-CENTERED AFFIRMATION: 

In Christ, I am forgiven.

We can take this comforting thought into the coming week and be so thankful for it!

Late for the Hodgepodge

Somehow, it's 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! My personal Hodgepodge post is going to be late; maybe a Thursday or even a Friday Hodgepodge.  Here we go ...

 1. What's something you're curious about right now? 

The link between psoriasis and diet.  I can honestly say this is something I've never thought about, but it's on my mind a lot these days as we try to learn more.  We may be limiting ice cream this summer.

2. If you could plan the perfect girl's weekend getaway, where would you go and what would be on the agenda? Do you have anything like this on your calendar in the next few months? 

It would likely be an autumn women's retreat at The Wilds of New England.  It would involve good food, fellowship, music, and lots of coffee.  Probably some ice cream too.  I have something like this on my calendar for September.

3. What's the most unique item in your refrigerator right now? 

An unopened package of chocolate cheese fudge sent to us by friends from Wisconsin.

(This is not the fudge; just a chocolate photo from Pixabay.)

4. In this season of your life, what do you find most challenging? 

How much more time everything seems to take.

5. Do you collect anything? If so why that? 

As Joyce mentioned in her post, sometimes if you have some themed items, people assume you collect that thing,   It is that way with me and strawberry themed items.  I have so many because people have made that assumption.  I do collect certain patterns of dishes, in particular Colonial Homestead by Royal.  The reason behind it is that these were the dishes my grandmother chose to put in her summer cottage on Ellsworth Pond.   I have told how I started collecting these in this post: A few of my green and white dishes.

6. Insert your own random thought here.

It's a busy season right now and I seemingly have no time for random thoughts.  I'm sure to think of one after I publish this.

And that's the Hodgepodge for this week!

Sunday Scripture

 

As I explained several weeks ago, I'm making some changes to  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'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.

This week's lesson was actually done by me the week of April 21, 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.  For this week, my top three priorities are:

1) Homemaking.  I have a lot I'd like to catch up on.

2) Family -- two local birthdays to prepare for, and a phone call with my younger daughter.

3) Ministry -- cleaning at TWNE, plus preparing for a ladies' Sunday School class beginning this week,   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, though I do have concerns about grandchildren traveling solo to other states.  I know God will take care of each one..

Joys: Looking so forward to teaching a ladies' class again!  Also to celebrating two grandkids' birthdays, which will be special.

Worries: I really do try not to worry.  We do live in somewhat of a scary situation now with all of these intruders in our country,  Again, God is in control and nothing touches our lives without His knowledge and purpose -- but the concerns are real.

Desires: To get my homemaking into a better routine.  To reach out to others -- to those who don't yet know the Lord and need our witness as well as to fellow believers who need encouragement and mentoring.

Stressors: Sometimes just feeling a little bit pushed.  I've read too that any unfinished task becomes a stressor..  I can absolutely see that.

🌿 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 that I need to accomplish this week.  You are more than able to help me accomplish what is truly needful.  You are omniscient, omnipotent and omnipresent and able to care perfectly for every person and every concern in my life.

* Lord, I feel ... overwhelmed by all that there is to do and the many needs in the lives of my friends. I feel grateful and thankful that You would choose to use me in the lives of people, but I often do feel overwhelmed and overextended.

* Lord, help me with ... everything that's on my plate this week.  Help me to use my time wisely to accomplish all that you'd have me to.  Help me with my worries, fears and concerns about the kind of world we are living in.

* Lord, forgive me for ... the sin of worry.  Forgive me too for those times when I don't use my time wisely, and help me to do better.

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.

🌿 The next section in this helpful guide is SCRIPTURE MEDITATION.  I chose to first meditate on this week's Scripture, Philippians 4:8, 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.]

I had spent some time meditating on this verse back in 2011, so I will be including some of that study here.

S= "Finally, brethren, whatever things are true, whatever things are honest, whatever things are just, whatever things are pure, whatever things are lovely, whatever things are of good report; if there be any virtue, and if there be any praise, think on these things. (Philippians 4:8)

O=  One great way to make observations about a verse is to ask questions.  

Who wrote it? Paul

Speaking to whom? The believers in the church at Philippi

What are the major ideas? The verse enumerates the sorts of things God wants believers to be thinking on.

When was this written? 60 A.D.

Why was this written? To encourage the Philippian believers, a group of people especially dear to Paul's heart

This verse, along with verse 9, is part of a section, titled by C.I. Scofield "The presence of the God of peace."

Verse 9: "Those things which ye have both learned, and received, and heard, and seen in me, do, and the God of peace shall be with you."

Paul concludes with "finally, brethren", and tells his listeners, 

Whatever things are :

TRUE

HONEST

JUST

PURE

LOVELY

OF GOOD REPORT

VIRTUOUS

PRAISEWORTHY

to think on these things.

The word translated “think” in Philippians 4:8 is the Greek LOGIZOMAI. In this verse, according to Vine’s Expository Dictionary of New Testament Words, this verb means “make these things the subjects of your careful consideration”, or “carefully reflect on them.”

J. Dwight Pentecost explains, “The word translated ‘think’ really means to meditate’ -- to dwell on, to give continuous attention to, to mull over, to be occupied with, to continually focus attention upon.”

The things that the Philippian believers had learned and received from Paul, the things they had seen in him,  they were to do, and as a result the God of peace would be with them.

Cross-reference for "true" --  "Wherefore, putting away lying, let every man speak truth with his neighbor; for we are members one of another. "  (Ephesians 4:25) 

Cross-reference for "honest" -- "Providing for honest things, not only in the sight of the Lord but also in the sight of men." (2 Corinthians 8:21) 

Cross-reference for "just" -- "That which is altogether just shalt thou follow, that thou mayest live and inherit the land which the LORD thy God giveth thee."  (Deuteronomy 16:20) 

Cross-reference for "pure" -- "But the wisdom that is from above is first pure, then peaceable, gentle, and easy to be entreated, full of mercy and good fruits, without partiality and without hypocrisy." (James 3:17)  

For "lovely" we are referred to the verses describing love in 1 Corinthians 13:4-7.

"Virtue" means "excellence".  

Cross-reference for "God of peace" (v.9) points to "the God of peace, who brought again from the dead our Lord Jesus, that great Shepherd of the sheep, though the blood of the everlasting covenant." (Hebrews 13:20)

A= To help with my application of these verses, I used the following prompts: 

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

Verse 8 tells me that He is a God who cares about our thoughts and wants me to care about excellent and praisew0rthy things.  If I read on to verse 9, it tells me that He is the God of peace.

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

I am a person in need of right thinking, which does not come naturally to me or to anyone.

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

It should definitely affect the way I think, as I seek to think on things that are true, honest, just, pure, lovely, of good report, and praiseworthy.  Just the command to think on what is true  covers a lot of ground.  Speculation, jumping to conclusions, "what if"and "if only" thoughts are not true, for example.  There is a great deal in this verse about how God would have us to think.

In addition, I considered these questions:

* What should I do? How does this truth apply to my life? I need to obey this command and think on these worthy things.

* In view of this truth, what changes need to be made in my life? I must actively think on what is true about God and His Word-- and not on things that are displeasing to Him, including "what if" and "if only" thoughts.

* What practical steps can I take to apply this truth to my life?

• Pray and ask God to help me think only on things that are pleasing to Him.

• Spend time studying the character of God as revealed in His Word.

• Memorize verses which emphasize important truths about God.

• Turn to God's Word (and to Him in prayer) when tempted to think about things that do not please Him.

P= "Lord,  how thankful I am for the clear instruction to be found in Your Word!  I'm thankful that You tell us so specifically the kinds of things you would have us to think about.  As one who has struggled with untrue thoughts of many kinds, I know that this instruction is so important.  I pray that You will help me to follow these guidelines and to seek to think biblically each and every day.  I thank 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 us 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) Health and strength to serve at TWNE and to clean the church

2) The opportunity to stay at our little camp overnight.  We continue to be so thankful for this little place that God provided -- a place we didn't even know we needed!

3) The opportunity for a lengthy, uninterrupted phone conversation with my young friend Jennifer.  The way that worked out was something only God could have orchestrated.

4) Safety in traveling many miles

5) The blessing of remembering our former pastor's wife who recently passed away.  I was so privileged to be informally mentored by her just in doing life and ministry together.  What a godly example she set for me, and how much I learned from her!

🌿 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 had a lovely time of fellowship with church family on Easter, time with R. and her little ones at the park on Wednesday, and  fleeting times of sweet fellowship with TWNE staff.  On Saturday we'll attend a dinner fundraiser for our local pregnancy center.  Also two grandchildren will celebrate their birthdays on Sunday -- and we'll be there!

🌿 Lastly is a GOSPEL-CENTERED AFFIRMATION: 

 *I choose to think on what the Lord calls true and praiseworthy.*

Let's  take this challenge into the coming week!

May have time for a Hodgepodge

 

Wednesday again!  Time for the Wednesday Hodgepodge at From This Side of the Pond. Joyce writes the questions, bloggers provide the answers! Here we go ...

 1. Let's compare this May to last May. What's changed? What remains very much the same? 

Nearly everything is pretty much the same.  We're in our busy season of volunteering at The Wilds of New England.  May is always crunch time as the summer camp staff begins arriving and the buildings and grounds must be prepared.

I do think we've had much more rain than last May, and my hubby and I are navigating an issue with his health that is complicating things a bit right now.

2. What's something you may do this month? 

We may spend more time at our little cottage in the woods.  Relaxation seems to be a key to helping my hubby heal -- and we can relax there.

3. Mother's Day is approaching (in the US of A)...in what way(s) are you like your mother? 

I enjoy cooking and baking.  I like print newspapers (only The Epoch Times these days) and keeping up with current events.  I'm not as organized with housework as I'd like to be.  I adore Christmas and enjoy vintage things.

My mother as a young woman in the 1940s

4. Did you have a favorite book as a child? What was it and why was it a favorite. 

My top favorite was probably Little Women.  I don't know exactly why, but it was a riveting story that I enjoyed reading again and again even though I shed tears every time.  I also loved Little Men,  Jo's Boys, Eight Cousins, Rose in Bloom, and Jack and Jill, all by Louisa May Alcott.  And there were many other more contemporary favorites.  I was a real bookworm.

5. Are you more of a tortoise or a hare? Explain. 

More of a tortoise, especially these days.  I try to take things slow and steady, to pace myself and even stop for breaks if necessary.

Lovely rabbit image from The Graphics Fairy

6. Insert your own random thought here. 

We're attempting some big changes to our diet this month.  Lots to think about!

And there's the Hodgepodge for today...