Falling for the Hodgepodge

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

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

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

Deering, NH

Barnet, VT

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

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

New Hampshire

Boscawen, NH

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

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

Deering, NH

Deering, NH

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

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

Pittsburg, NH

Deering, NH

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

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

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

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

Hillsborough, NH

Francestown, NH

6. Insert your own random thought here. 

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

Pittsburg, NH

And that's the Hodgepodge for this week!

Sunday Scripture

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

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

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

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

* To add any upcoming events to our calendars.

* To add any upcoming events to our calendars.

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

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

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

For this week, my top three priorities are:

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

"Carnal"=fleshly.

"Imaginations" = reasonings.

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

🌿 Lastly is a GOSPEL-CENTERED AFFIRMATION: 

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

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

And there's the Sunday Scripture for this week!

Sunday Scripture

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

This week's lesson was actually done by me the week of August 25,  but I am working ahead of you readers.  So here goes!

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

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

* To add any upcoming events to our calendars.

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

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

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

For this week, my top three priorities are:

1) Health -- walking, exercise, healthy eating, water/salt, early light, staycation day, research dental issues.

2) Homemaking -- a 7-day home reset, zone missions, decluttering.

3) Ministry -- SS lesson prep and teaching, blogging, make a meal for a new mom, note to friends, host ladies meeting at our cottage, share devotional, cleaning the church.

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

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

Fears: No real fears going into this week.  

Joys: It's a joy to consider a simple but effective home reset, but as the week wore on it became evident I won't accomplish that this week or next.  Our Ladies of Grace meetings are always a joy, and it's been awhile since we've had one.  A staycation day at a museum will be a joy.

Worries: No real worries.  I try not to worry because Jesus says believers are not to worry.  

Desires: To glorify God in the events of this week.  I sincerely desire to do this 7-day reset of our home, as I think it would be so effective and a blessing.

Stressors: Time and energy constraints are the big ones.  If I find time for a walk, for example, there is something else important that ends up being left undone.  The home reset I so desired to do barely got started.  My hubby's diet for his skin condition has been a bit stressful also.  He's always hungry and I'm working hard to make sure he gets enough protein.

🌿 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 every detail of this week.  You are aware of how stressed I am getting regarding time.  My times are in Your hand.  You are more than able to provide the time and energy for things that are truly important.

* Lord, I feel ... discouraged.  I try so hard to use my time wisely and make every moment count, but I feel I am constantly behind.

* Lord, help me with ... these feelings of discouragement.  Help me with meal planning to accommodate the diet.  Help me with figuring out a series of seven days that will work for a home reset.  

* Lord, forgive me for ... times when I get stressed about all I have to do and how far behind I seem to be.  Forgive me for the times when I allow people and circumstances to irritate me.  Forgive me for times when I am unwise in my use of time.

Make a note of four or five people you are praying for.  I listed  a young mom and her kids in a heartrending situation, and also a couple dealing with several difficult  life transitions.

🌿 The next section in this helpful guide is SCRIPTURE MEDITATION.  I chose to first meditate on this week's Scripture, Hebrews 13:8, using the SOAP method, and then answered several suggested questions.   [You can use your own preferred method to meditate on this verse, and answer the questions below for yourself.]

S= "Jesus Christ, the same yesterday, and today, and forever."  (Hebrews 13:8)

O= Scofield titles Hebrews 13:1-9 "The changeless Christ."

Cross-references for "the same" "They shall perish, but Thou remainest; and they all shall become old as doth a garment, And as a vesture shall Thou fold them up, and they shall be changed; but Thou art the same and Thy years shall not fail."  (Hebrews 1:11-12)

 "Jesus said unto them, Verily, verily, I say unto you, Before Abraham was, I am."  (John 8:58)

In Revelation 1:4 John describes Jesus as "Him who is, and who was, and who is to come." 

And in Revelation 1:8 Jesus says of Himself, "I am Alpha and Omega, the beginning and the ending, saith the Lord, who is, and who was, and who is to come, the Almighty."

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

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

He is Jesus Christ.  He is changeless.  He is always the same:

* yesterday

* today

* forever.

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

I am blessed to be a person who has a personal relationship with this almighty, unchangeable God..

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

 It's an incredible blessing to know that Jesus is always the same.  He is consistent and can always be depended upon.  I can know that His Word will always be true and that He will always keep His promises.

One writer has broken it down this way:

 Yesterday - The day of the apostles

Today - The day of the writing of the letter to the Hebrews

Forever - Throughout eternity (this includes yesterday and today!).

" Christ the Immutable One is our sure anchor amid waves of suffering, affliction and uncertainty." -- Author Unknown 

"Jesus Christ is the same now as He was in times gone by. He is the same today as He was from old eternity. Before all worlds, He planned our salvation; He entered into covenant with His Father to undertake it. His delights were with the sons of men in prospect, and now today He is as steadfast to that covenant as ever. He will not lose those who were then given to Him, nor will He fail or be discouraged until every stipulation of that covenant shall be fulfilled. Whatever was in the heart of Christ before the stars began to shine, that same infinite love is there today." -- Charles Spurgeon 

Vernon C. Grounds noted in Our Daily Bread, "Change is the one certainty in our world. Henry Lyte’s melancholy line in his hymn “Abide With Me” is true: “Change and decay in all around I see.” But the hymn immediately adds, “O Thou who changest not, abide with me!”

"By faith in Jesus Christ we can have a relationship with the unchanging God, who says of Himself in Malachi 3:6, 'I am the Lord, I do not change.' We can depend on God to be the same forever, as the psalmist says (Psalm 102:27). Hebrews 13:8 adds this reassuring testimony: 'Jesus Christ is the same yesterday, today, and forever.' He is our firm foundation, who can give us confidence and security in this changing world."

P= "Lord, how very thankful I am that You are the same yesterday, and today, and forever.  I am incredibly blessed to have a personal relationship with You, the almighty, unchangeable God of the universe.  I praise You that every one of Your words is true from the beginning and that Your promises will always be kept.

    "I pray that You will help me every day to rest in Your unchanging truths and character.  You can always be trusted!  I thank and praise You for this  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 and energy for a very busy weekend.

2) The tremendous blessing of a baptism on Sunday in a beautiful lake.

3) The way God orchestrated every detail of that baptism to give the couple being baptized the desire of their heart at a location deeply meaningful to them.

4) Being able to chat with my young friend Rebekah, now living in another state, by phone.

5) A lovely staycation day at a quiet mountain lake.

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

We're trying to incorporate rest every week by making Monday a staycation day and also by spending Sunday afternoons at our camp whenever possible.

🌿 Lastly is a GOSPEL-CENTERED AFFIRMATION: 

There is nothing and no one as reliable as Jesus; He never changes.

We can take this comforting, encouraging thought into the coming week as we seek to live every day to God's glory.

And there's the Sunday Scripture for this week!

Finding energy for the Hodgepodge

 

It's Wednesday again -- and time for the Wednesday Hodgepodge at From This Side of the Pond, where Joyce writes the questions and bloggers provide the answers!  I'm summoning up the energy to join is again this week, so here we go ...

1. What gives you energy? What takes it away? 

Cool, brisk weather gives me energy.  Hot, humid weather absolutely saps my energy.

2. How often do you shop for clothes? What accessory do you always wear? 

I shop for clothes as seldom as possible.  When I need something specific, when a clothing item wears out and must be replaced, when I lose weight ...  Whenever possible I shop at a thrift store or by catalog.  An accessory I almost always wear: earrings.  (Occasionally I forget.)

 Above and below, some of the handmade earrings in my collection.

3. What's something free that you feel grateful for? 

Fresh air!  I am also grateful for being blessed to live in what still, in spite of all its problems, feels like the freest country on earth.  When one thinks that in some countries people are being jailed for their thoughts or even praying inside their own head, it makes one appreciate the freedoms that we still have here.

4. Breakfast, lunch, dinner...which meal of the day do you enjoy most? What's your go-to comfort food? 

We intermittent fast so don't eat breakfast in the morning, but foods like bacon, eggs, pancakes, etc. are still favorites of mine any time of day, and breakfast is our favorite meal to eat out.  I guess probably breakfast foods would be my most-favored comfort food, but another might be macaroni and cheese.  I find baked potatoes very comforting also.  And chocolate pudding.

5. This week the world remembers the tragic events of 9/11. Do you mark the day in any way? 

I don't really mark the day, but I do remember it, and sometime during the day I will think about where I was and the people I was with when we got the news.  And that we all sat down and spent time in prayer for the situation.

 How do historical events shape your perspective on your personal challenges?

Now that is a thought-provoking question.  I think they help me to look at the big picture, especially when I consider that people have died to secure the freedoms that I have.  They remind me too that with God's help, people have overcome much greater difficulties than the things that may be a personal challenge for me.

6. Insert your own random thought here. 

It was so chilly this morning here!  31º which is quite unusual for early September.   We have been in a severe drought here too, which makes us wonder how the fall foliage will be affected.

Photo is from a previous year.

There's the Hodgepodge for this week!

Sunday Scripture

 

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

This week's lesson was actually done by me the week of August 18,  but I am working ahead of you readers.  So here goes!

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

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

* To add any upcoming events to our calendars.

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

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

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

) Ministry -- at TWNE, blogging, Sunday School lesson prep, food for Sunday's fellowship meal; clean the church.

2) Health -- exercise, walking, crafting, rest and relaxation, research health issues.

3) Community --  Bristol Old-Home Day, Dinner on the Bridge event Saturday evening.

[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.  

Joys: Blogging is a joy.  I find joy in my Etsy shop when I can find the time.  Our staycation days have been joyous.  It will be a joy to serve at TWNE on Friday and a joy to see friends baptized on Sunday.

Worries: Not really worries.  Concerns, certainly, about the psoriasis, though many areas do seem to be healing.

Desires: To glorify God this week.  To make contact with Rebekah.  To be a blessing to fellow believers.  To be a light at some community events.  To craft each day.  To work on writing projects.

Stressors: Meeting new people is always a bit stressful for me.  A time frame to get the Inn reset will be stressful.  Finding time to prepare food for Sunday, with a busy Friday/Saturday in the offing.  And then just time, energy and aging limitations are ongoing stressors.

🌿 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 every aspect of this week.  You are aware of its time constraints and the limits of my energy.  You are aware of my character flaws and are able to help me overcome them.  You are able to give me the strength and the energy I need to do tiring tasks.  You are able to guide me in using time wisely.

* Lord, I feel ... behind already, and it's only Wednesday!  I feel a little overwhelmed looking at Friday, Saturday, and Sunday, as those are going to be busy days.

* Lord, help me with ... wise use of time.  Help me with decluttering and downsizing.  Help me with meal planning as it's a challenge cooking for this diet.  Help me with the busy upcoming weekend.  Help me with my cleaning tasks on Friday, to be efficient in getting everything done.

* Lord, forgive me for ... times when I fail to trust You.  Anytime I try to accomplish things in my own strength.  Attitudes not pleasing to You.  The many times when I speak before thinking.

Make a note of four or five people you are praying for.  I listed friends dealing with family difficulties, a couple adjusting to several large life changes, an older widow friend who needs wisdom and encouragement.

🌿 The next section in this helpful guide is SCRIPTURE MEDITATION.  I chose to first meditate on this week's Scripture, Micah 7:18, 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.]

S= "Who is a God like Thee, who pardoneth iniquity, and passeth by the transgression of the remnant of His heritage?  He retaineth not his anger forever, because He delighteth in mercy."  (Micah 7:18)

O = ESV reads: "Who is a God like You, pardoning iniquity and passing over transgression for the remnant of His inheritance?  He does not retain His anger forever, because He delights in steadfast love."

Scofield titles verses 7-20 of Micah 7 "Submission to the LORD; ascription of praise."

Cross-reference for "who is a God like unto Thee" -- "Who is like unto Thee, O LORD, among the gods?  Who is like Thee, glorious in holiness, fearful in praises, doing wonders?"  (Exodus 15:11)

One writer commented, "The answer to this rhetorical question is, of course, 'No one!'  Micah then proceeds to glory in the boundless mercy and undeserved grace of God.  A holy God pardoning unholy people.!"

Of this phrase ("who is a God like unto Thee") Scofield points out, "Here is a play on the prophet's name, which means 'Who is like the LORD?'."

Cross-references for "pardoning iniquity" -- "I, even I, am He, who blotteth out Thy transgressions for Mine own sake, and will not remember thy sins."  (Isaiah 43:25)

"And [Moses] said, If now I have found grace in Thy sight, O LORD, let my LORD, I pray Thee, go among us; for it is a stiff-necked people; and pardon our iniquity and our sin, and take us for Thine inheritance."  (Exodus 34:9)

Cross-reference for "remnant of his heritage -- "Except the LORD of hosts had left unto us a very small remnant, we should have been like Sodom, and we should have been like Gomorrah."  (Isaiah 1:9)

Cross-reference for "He does not retain His anger" -- "He will not always chide; neither will He keep His anger forever."  (Psalm 103:9)

Concerning the phrase "because He delighteth in mercy", one writer suggests,  "Develop the discipline of pausing to ponder terms of explanation like because. Why doesn't God hold fast His anger forever ('Retain' in English ~ to keep in mind or memory!)? His unchanging love trumps His righteous anger! These words should prompt us to grateful worship of such an undeserved (gracious) truth!

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

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

He is a God who pardons iniquity and passes over transgression of the remnant of His heritage.  He is a God who does not retain His anger forever, a God who delights in mercy.

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

I am a recipient, a beneficiary of the boundless mercy and grace of God, though I am completely undeserving.

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

 I should live a life of thankful obedience to the One who has shown me such grace and mercy.  I should praise Him daily that He is a God who pardons iniquity, passes over transgressions, and delights in mercy.

As we think of Israel as God's inheritance, heritage, or possession, we're reminded that today believers are also God's possession.  Paul declared in Titus 2:14 that Jesus "gave Himself for us, that He might redeem us from every lawless deed and purify for Himself a people for His own possession, zealous for good deeds"  Am I living daily like I belong to Him? Can others see that I am His possession by my words and deeds?

Warren Wiersbe says, "The better we know the character of God, the more we can trust Him for the future. The better we know the promises and covenants of God, the more peace we will have in our hearts when things fall apart. When Micah wrote this confession of his faith, the future seemed hopeless; yet he had hope because he knew God and fully trusted Him. No matter how dark the day, the light of God’s promises is still shining. No matter how confusing and frightening our circumstances, the character of God remains the same. You have every reason to trust Him!”.

P= "Lord,I am so thankful that You are a God who pardons iniquity and delights in mercy.  What a blessing it is to be Your child and a beneficiary of Your love and grace!

"I pray that You will help me to live a life of thankful obedience to You each day.  Help me to live daily as one who belongs to You.  Help others to see by my words and deeds that I am Your possession.  I thank You for how You will work , in Jesus' name, Amen."

🌿 GRATITUDE is the next prompt.  We were to reflect on the way God has shown His faithfulness to 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) Wonderful fellowship with our friends over Sunday lunch at our camp,

2)  Strength for an unexpected day of cleaning and laundry at my volunteer job.

3) A delightful cookout with my hubby's flag wave friends on the Saturday.  Opportunities to get to know more people.

4) Strength and energy to clean the church on Saturday.

5) Time in God's creation at the Flume Gorge on Monday.

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

I can serve the church family with a clean and orderly building and some good food for the fellowship dinner -- using resources of time, energy and groceries.  I can serve by cleaning at my volunteer job with time, energy, and homemade cleaning supplies.

🌿 Lastly is a GOSPEL-CENTERED AFFIRMATION: 

No other love compares to God's faithful love.

We can take this affirmation as a great encouragement as we go into the coming week!

And that's this week's Sunday Scripture...