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 June 2, 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) Homemaking -- there's a lot I need to catch up with.

2) Etsy shop -- must put in some serious work on listings.

3) Ministry -- blogging, phone calls, Sunday School lesson prep.

🌿 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,.  

Joys: It's always a joy to fellowship with friends, and we have a fair amount of that planned for the week.  It's a joy also to stay at our camp, and we'll be doing that at least once..  .

Worries: No real worries.  Just concerns for my hubby's health.

Desires: To begin to schedule some blog posts for Christmas in July.  To list some items in my Etsy shop.  To finish a few projects.  To have some staycation time.  To glorify God in all that is done.

Stressors: Time constraints, the limitations of aging, the foibles of people...

🌿 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 full control of this week.  You know all that it will hold, and You will be faithful and trustworthy to help me through it.  You are so good to bless us with Christian friendship and fellowship.

* Lord, I feel ... inadequate for this week.  In a strange way, I also feel energized for completing some projects and for starting new ones.

* Lord, help me with ... my hubby's dietary restrictions, planning meals, bringing a few projects to completion.  Help me to finish my Sunday School lesson prep and to live each day in a way that glorifies You.

* Lord, forgive me for ... times when I complain or become stressed.  Times when I fail to trust You.

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,  friends traveling this weekend, and a friend's MRI results.

🌿 The next section in this helpful guide is SCRIPTURE MEDITATION.  I chose to first meditate on this week's Scripture, Matthew 5:4, using the SOAP method, incorporating my answers to several questions.

S= "Blessed are they that mourn; for they shall be comforted." (Matthew 5:4)

O=  This is from the Sermon on the Mount, from the section titled "The Beatitudes".  Matthew 5:1-2 introduces the sermon and the Beatitudes by setting the scene:

"Seeing the crowds, He went up on the mountain, and when He sat down, His disciples came to Him.  And He opened His mouth and taught them, saying ..."

Our verse today is the second of the Beatitudes.  The first is "Blessed are the poor in spirit, for theirs is the kingdom of heaven".  (Matthew 5:3)

Rand Hummel says, "Remember, the "Beatitudes' are a series of seven connected steps -- one leading to the other.  Once you are overwhelmed with your spiritual poverty and understand the gravity of your own depravity, you will mourn.  You will weep over your sin.  When godly sorrow grips a heart, tears often flow."

Cross- references for "those who mourn"  --  

"[The LORD hath anointed Me] to proclaim the acceptable year of the LORD, and the day of vengeance of our God; to comfort all that mourn; To appoint unto those who mourn in Zion, to give unto them beauty for ashes, the oil of joy for mourning, the garment of praise for the spirit of heaviness, that they might be called trees of righteousness, the planting of the LORD, that He might be glorified."  (Isaiah 61:2-3)

"Verily, verily, I say unto you, Ye shall weep and lament, but the world shall rejoice; an d ye shall be sorrowful, but your sorrow shall be turned into joy.." (John 16:20)

"And our hope of you is steadfast, knowing that, as you are partakers of the sufferings, so shall ye be also of the consolation,"  (2 Corinthians 1:7)

"For godly sorrow worketh repentance to salvation not to be repented of, but the sorrow of the world worketh death."  (2 Corinthians 7:10)  

 "And God shall wipe away all tears from their eyes; and there shall be no more death, neither sorrow, nor crying, neither shall there be any more pain; for the former things are passed away." -- (Revelation 21:4)

"Be afflicted, and mourn, and weep: let your laughter be turned to mourning, and your joy to heaviness.  Humble yourself in the sight of the Lord, and He shall lift you up,"  (James 4:9-10)

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.

"Having announced that 'the kingdom of heaven is at hand' (Ephesians 4:17), the King now, in the Sermon on the Mount, declares to His disciples the principles of that kingdom."  (C.I. Scofield)

He is the King of heaven.  He is a Master Teacher who seized teachable moments and opportunities to instruct His followers.  He is holy and unable to look upon sin, so he wants His people to mourn over and forsake their sin.  He is the Comforter who will comfort us and give us the oil of joy for mourning.  

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

I am a disciple in need of Jesus' teaching and instruction.  I am a sinner who should mourn over my sin, but I am blessed and comforted that God has made a way for me to be right with Him.

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

 Scofield notes that  "The beatific character and attitude described by our Lord in verses 3-12 are unattainable by self-effort, but are wrought in the Christian by the work of the indwelling Holy Spirit." 

Rand Hummel says, "This list is intricately tied together in a logical progression.  Those who see their spiritual poverty will mourn because of it; they will relinquish control of their lives over to God; begin hungering and thirsting for God's righteousness, obtain mercy and purity; be used by God to reconcile men to Him and to each other; and be rejected and persecuted by those who recognize them as the children of almighty God."

He adds: "I grieve that my own sin sent my Lord to the cross.  The guilt and disappointment over my own selfishness is overwhelming.  Now our Lord reminds us that for those who mourn over their sinfulness, forgiveness is not only available, but offered freely by the very One we sinned against.   This is comforting!"

Kent Hughes writes that God's comfort "comes in the form of his divine companionship. He is our ally. He personally binds up our sorrows and consoles us. How comprehensive our comfort is! It is immediate. It comes to us alone. It comes personally in the Person of the Holy Spirit. And it is based on the forgiveness of our sins. That is why we are called "blessed."

F.B. Meyer notes that we should not limit the blessing of Matthew 5:4 only to mourning over sin.  He writes: "So comprehensive and far-reaching is this beatitude, that attempts have been made to limit its scope and diminish its range of blessing. Surely those only can be meant who sorrow with a godly sorrow that needs no repentance! It is remarkable how persistently men have interposed such reservations on the munificence and largeness of God's gifts. They assure one another that God cannot mean all He says, and that it will be a profound mistake to trust too absolutely in His assurances. But, in spite of it all, notice the calm strength of these words, " Blessed are they that mourn: for they shall be comforted." Surely it means that every sorrow carries in itself a clue to blessedness, and that there is no sorrow for which there are not healing and help in the Gospel of Christ. In this soil grow all the herbs which are suitable for the healing of broken hearts. For all mourning He has the oil of joy; for every heavy-laden spirit a garment of praise."

P= "Lord,  I thank and praise You for Your Word and for all that it teaches us.  I praise You for the truth of this verse -- that even though my guilt and sinfulness may grieve me and move me to tears, forgiveness is available!  Not only that, but God will give comfort and healing for every sorrow that we may face in life.  Help me to share these comforting truths with others and to live each day in a way that pleases You and shows forth your praise.   I thank You for all that you have done and are doing 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) The joy of spending time with dear Christian friends on Memorial Day.

2) The blessing that our little cottage is to us personally.  

3) The added blessing of being able to use our cottage for hospitality.

4) Clear and organized thinking for preparing signup sheets for hospitality team at church for back-to-back events

5) The delight of having close friends who love and appreciate our grandchildren almost as much as we do!.

🌿 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. [And again, if you are following along, please think about this for yourself.]

  We had breakfast plans with friends on Monday, so we made a plan for the rest of that day to also be a vacation day.  We drove beautiful scenic back roads in Vermont and New Hampshire.  So restful.  For Thursday, we  planned an afternoon/evening/overnight (with no alarm set) at our little cottage.

🌿 Lastly is a GOSPEL-CENTERED AFFIRMATION: 

In my mourning, I find joy in God's comfort.

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

A smidge of spring and summer decor

 

Just sharing a smidge of decor for late spring and early summer.  Just a smidge, because that's literally all I have done.  

I only have a few minutes to blog today so I will just mostly put up photos and captions.

A display atop a bookcase in a corner of my living room.  A couple of spring and summery mugs, one with faux boxwood sprigs, a sweet sign and a resin bird, and a small crewel embroidery done by me in the 1970s.  I still love it!

Two shelves on my hutch showcasing jadeite old and new, some strawberry themed mugs and a jam jar.  Upper shelf has new "jadeite" from Pioneer Woman; lower shelf has vintage Fire King jadeite.  Teapot and salt and pepper are vintage McCoy pottery in the Strawberry Country line.  I was blessed to acquire all of these, plus a matching crock, for free over the years.

 
Bottom shelf of my hutch featuring an ironstone soup tureen, a vintage cup and jadeite mug, a candle holder, Colonial Homestead salt shaker, plus a sweet reminder "family brings you home sweet home".

And the hutch in its entirety!
 

Happy summer, everyone!

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!