Israel's Hope is my Hope.

This caught my Spirit this morning:
Sammy Rhodes, a campus minister (Reformed University Fellowship, Presbyterian Church/America) in South Carolina, TWEETED: 
Culture:  “Be yourself”
Jesus:  “Find yourself in Me”

After reading this, I then started reading my devotion from the Old Testament prophet, Jeremiah when he cried out to God, concerned God wasnt there with Israel. 

Jeremiah's calling out to God was desperate yet he continually restated faith, knowing in his heart God WAS there even IN the struggle. 

       Jer.14.8-9
        "You who are the hope of Israel, its Savior in times of distress...You are among us, Lord , and we bear your name...!" (Bells & whistles... like the tweet said, "find yourself in me")

Dig further, my spirit prodded.

Sometimes do you have trouble being still?  Yeah, me, too!

So I asked God to put me IN His Word.
Duh, this literally is possible.  Putting my cries IN Jeremiah's outcry:

        "You are my Hope,  my Savior in my distress. ..you are with me, and I bear Your Name."

Then I questioned, "How do I bear God's name?"

Humanly speaking, bearing my family's name,  I receive respect and love, through the actions &/or past actions of my mother, father, grandmother, grandfather.  Their earthly legacy is such a blessing to me in so many ways.  In an even greater way than my worldly family, God is MY eternal Namesake...my Creator, teacher, provider.  (He knew me before I was born, and he counted every hair.)

His leading--making a straighter path for us, preveniently walking ahead of us and our circumstances shows His eternal love for His most-precious creation. 

As He quietly goes before us, could He be mis-perceived as abandoning us in some moments?

Pondering those words over and over, God's providence comes in many forms...obvious and during worldly struggles that may not be so clear.

My heart belief is "He wants 'the Best' for us, His believers, and is eager for our learning how to take on His character and actions. 

Seeking Him like Jeremiah and listening for His  voice, conveyed through His Holy Spirit in the quiet puts the world on hold while we spend time with Him.  (Which is why He sent Christ to reach us and have a personal relationship with Him.)

Yes, spending time in God's Living Word and listening for His voice is an active decision. 

He hasn't abandoned; let's listen,  watch, and wait.  The recognition will come in His time and He will share His love in very creative answers.

Where did Jesus, our Hope, meet you today?

FRUITION OF A LONG-AGO DREAM

I'm joining many others in praying for Elaine over at Peace for the Journey on the day her new book is released!!

PEACE FOR THE JOURNEY in the pleasure of His Company: a collection of fifty-two meditations which will deepen your walk with our Lord. He's a constant, leading us to Eternity. Check out Elaine's site for an opportunity to win a signed book, watch the BEAUTIFUL trailer video on YouTube

WinePress
Amazon
Barnes & Noble
CBD {shipping dates are longer here}

PRAYERS AND BEST WISHES FOR THE SUCCESS OF THIS DEVOTION, ELAINE!

Jer. 33:3

"Call to me and I will answer you

and tell you great and unsearchable things you do not know."

Blessings,

THRONE TRIP TUESDAY...

How are you greeting Christ today? Susan's post always helps me center into His wants for my day...His love of my life...His love of me...and you.

"But the Advocate, the Holy Spirit, whom the Father will send in my name, will teach you all things and will remind you of everything I have said to you." John 14:26

His promises; pondering them
His continually 'caring for me', His disciple
"Communion-ing" with Him, in me
His Spirit thriving in my heart
His Spirit interacting with my life
Choosing obedience; fighting off my will
Obeying having been pressed in by the law? no
Gracing me, through His sacrifice
Interceding on my behalf, every day, every hour, every minute, every second
Spiritual tokens twinkling in my pocket...Christ's love & constant presence
Following in gratitude
He's taking pleasure in loving me at His feet
He's resting in loving me, each day as I'm opening my heart door where He's knocking
His home; IN me
Privileged, inherited, eternally grateful
Confining during guidance
Sharing His guidance, so permeating
Faith working by His love
Holy Spirit's new-creating grace; forgiving my unworthy humanness
Being His...opening heart-doors for His entering
Eventual, eternal... Christ-likeness

Amen & Amen

Jer. 33:3

"Call to me and I will answer you

and tell you great and unsearchable things you do not know."Blessings,

THANKFUL THURSDAY (heavy-duty or wispy blessings)

SO THANKFUL ... Our 3-yo great niece, Katie, had some minor surgery today for two infected breast-bone wires from her last heart surgery...all went well and no wound vacuum was

needed...just some antibiotics and follow-up checks. Yeah!

Having prayed this little angel through some heavy-duty surgeries and recuperating seasons, I'm re-awakened to the blessings sent our way...

Blessings might not even be seen at all...dismissed as a coincidence of fate, if there were such a thing.

Knowing God hears the prayers of His faithful, I love acknowledging God's hand in our heavy-duty and in our wisps of blessings.

In addition to our Katie-girl's minor surgery, Charlotte also captures her understanding of a blessing...she was awakened to a blessing she didn't envision...on her February 3 post...a thankful one, indeed, for her results...for her doctor.

Her sweet words started me pondering on doctors & illnesses & unexpecteds ...situational and personal.

WHAT UNEXPECTED, WISPY BLESSING HAS GOD GIVEN YOU TODAY?

HAVE YOU EVER BEEN BLESSED TO PRAY WITH ONE OF YOUR DOCTORS?

Jer. 33:3 "Call to me and I will answer you and tell you great and unsearchable things you do not know."

I borrowed the 'cloudy' Bible tag above from Charlotte...thanks!

Blessings,

SOMETIMES, I JUST WONDER WHY?...then I laff!!

 

At the beginning of PrayerShare, these two were very busy...and certainly not paying any attention to my video camera. I'm having difficulty uploading the video, but the one shot also captures a teen's wonderful ability to ENJOY THE MOMENT and NOT HAVE A CARE IN THE WORLD WHILE THEY ENJOY EACH OTHER...
there's a lot to learn from teens, you know?!!

Jer. 33:3

"Call to me and I will answer you

and tell you great and unsearchable things you do not know."
Blessings,

TAKE ME BACK TUESDAY...4EVER, Thomas ; )

You can participate and/or check out other Take Me Back Tuesday posts at A Giveaway Addicted Mommy.



Sunday evening was one of those "monumental moments" for our youth, and for us "old people"...the counselors.

We were blessed to attend our yearly senior banquet which honors our graduating seniors--this year's theme was a "cruise" down memory lane...hats, streamers, noise makers, confetti, mouse ears, stand-up cutout props, balloons, and food, food, food.

The longer I sat...watching the juniors host the event, taking in all the festivities, it was the pictures that took me back:

...remembering the little ones I had diapered

...clapping hands as we sang "Here is the church, here is the steeple..."

...picking up Easter eggs in the tall, green grass at campground

...gathering tons of cans for our local co-operative ministry

...carrying 5-gallon thermos coolers filled with lemonade

...working on the clients' homes (painting, raking, repairing) each summer

...standing on the pews in the arbor as we sang praise songs

...hugging one another as tears of conviction were wept at the altar

...smiling for the cameras during fun, lessons, service projects, anytime!

These soon-to-be adults have been wrestling with life's realities for the last two years...since one of their classmates, Thomas, was killed in an inter-state highway accident.

As we sat viewing slides, letters from their parents were being read, and the graduating seniors were whispering their reactions to one another. That's when I got this shot...I LOVE the silhouette effect, and I love the kids more.

Each memory declaring itself a treasured piece of their past--we saw Thomas in many of the slides and our hearts were tugged with the preciousness of those memories...he was back with us--never to be forgotten.

He had lived, loved and laughed with us for 17 years, seventeen "oh-so-short" years.

The kids reminisced and savored each picture while celebrating this crossroad into newness--the unknown waiting for them the other side of graduation.

We loved you Thomas...We will FOREVER love you, Thomas!
We love you Seniors...we will FOREVER love you, seniors!

Dear Lord,

Bless them daily,

remind them of all the lessons they've been taught

throughout the many years of Sunday School,

worship and UMYF.

Protect their hearts from becoming hardened or lukewarm,

we so want them to continue being in Your presence daily and

have a PASSION for YOU.

May we continue to hold them in our prayers.

Amen

PHRIDAY PHOTO-PHINISH PHIESTA...& PRAYER REQUEST

Thanks to Carrie for hosting ...

EXTENDING A PRAYER REQUEST...

...SPRING BREAK'S UP-COMING RETREAT

...150 HIGH SCHOOLERS

...ENERGY, ENDURE, ENJOY

...EXCITEMENT IN EVERY MOMENT

...EARS HEARING NEEDS OF PRECIOUS GROWING SPIRITS

...EYES RESEMBLING EAGLES, SAFETY

...EMBRACING ARMS, COMPASSIONATELY AND LOVINGLY

ALL FOR HIS GLORY! !

(COLLAGE FROM '08 )

WHAT MEMORIES DO YOU HAVE FROM A YOUTH RETREAT?

Psalm 69:33-35
The LORD hears the needy and does not despise his captive people. Let heaven and earth praise him, the seas and all that move in them!

Right in Your Eyes

It was a busy weekend...I'm tired!
Lord, committing this time to be in Your Word, You will rejuvenate me, please.
Even you, Lord, grew tired... John 4:5-6 "So he came to a town in Samaria called Sychar...Jacob's well was there; and Jesus, tired as he was from the journey, sat down by the well. It was about the sixth hour. "

• This would have been around midnight.
• He had WALKED from Judea, which is southern most Israel, to Sychar, which is in central Israel, so this would have taken him about 2 days!
• I traveled in a vehicle at 70 miles an hour during six 100-mile trips--I didn't walk.

While study the word "tired" You told me in Isaiah 40: 30-31 "Even youths grow tired and weary, and young men stumble and fall; but those who hope in the LORD will renew their strength. " Things it brought to mind:

• My bones are getting older, and I get comfort in knowing "even" youths grow tired and weary--it's not just us "old" people.
• Speaking of stumbling, I fell in the driveway last Thursday night and RATTLED every bone in my body, feeling like I had run my hands across a grater and jamming my right knee up into my hip. I'm sure it would have made a pretty picture as I went sprawling down onto the concrete driveway!...thank goodness it was at 10pm and dark outside. But I did feel like a first grader running into the house having my hubby "look at it" 'cause I was scared to...I just knew I had split my knee open and taken off the palms of my hands. But, God was good to me and I was just "stove up" for a couple of days (while I drove).

As my last learning point today from "tired", You showed me 2Thess 3:13 "And as for you, brothers, never tire of doing what is right."

• I could have stayed home this past weekend and not "chauffeured" my Mom around East Alabama and West Georgia...but it wouldn't have been the right thing. Helping her in this small way gave me BIG blessings...seeing the looks on her face as she hugged and talked with her brothers and sisters-in-law...hearing them laugh about old times while we drove in the car through the country roads and on many highways...making pictures with nieces, nephews, new grand kids...things we couldn't have done if we hadn't made the trip.


• How many times has my Mother done things for me when she would have rather been doing something different? They are too numerous to list because my Mother has always been a giving, sacrificial Mother that I am blessed to have, and I'm thankful for every moment I get to spend with her, pray with her, sing with her, love our family with her.


• Yes, Lord, You have rejuvenated me by seeing what is right in Your eyes!!

One Month...and Counting

If you KNEW you had only “One Month to Live”…what would you do?

We're currently studying this question. There have been varied answers, with the majority being centered around worldly priorities…“me” or..."wants" or…things or places in the world to see, or activities to be done.

No mention of Eternity has come up at all. Once life has ceased, are you concerned about Eternity? Is today's society concerned about Eternity? The worldly things seem so trivial when bumped up against Eternity. Don’t you think?
Eternity should be known as the continuation rather than the end!

Teaching more about Jesus Christ and His Biblical promises of Heaven is very important. Reminding today’s young people, and our adult Sunday School classes, Christ is already sitting at God’s right hand and is preparing a place for those who believe on Him! That’s exciting!

Jesus was a real man, yet God, our Savior, walked, performed miracles, was raised from the dead and ascended into Heaven. He was not a “cartoon” or “just a “Bible story” to make us feel better. He will one day acknowledge believers to God when they get to Heaven...if they acknowledge Him to men on earth! That’s exciting, too!

Do we believe Jesus’ own Words?

<Mark 16:19
“After the Lord Jesus had spoken to them,
he was taken up into heaven and he sat at the right hand of God.”

Matthew 10:32
"Whoever acknowledges me before men,
I will also acknowledge him before my Father in heaven.

The “world” certainly re-iterates the importance of “living just for NOW”...who wants to talk about death? When it’s over, it’s over…or so they seem to believe.

I, for one, want to focus on Christ’s words and His Promises. He was very precise in His warnings. He told us not to love the world or things in the world, and He confirms our living with Him in Heaven…after death. We will go to be with Him in the place He is preparing for us.

1 John 2:15

Don't love the world's ways. Don't love the world's goods.

Love of the world squeezes out love for the Father.

Practically everything that goes on in the world—wanting your own way,

wanting everything for yourself, wanting to appear important—has nothing to do with the Father. It just isolates you from him. The world and all its wanting, wanting, wanting is on the way out—but whoever does what God wants is set for eternity.

John 14:2
In my Father's house are many rooms; if it were not so, I would have told you. I am going there to prepare a place for you.

How can we, as believers, not have a passion for those we love, or even those we don’t know, to understand the promises of Heaven? If they don’t believe on Jesus Christ as their Savior, there is no hope for a good eternity; in fact, it is just the opposite.

John 11:25-26
Jesus said to her, "I am the resurrection and the life. He who believes in me will live, even though he dies; and whoever lives and believes in me will never die.”

Luke 12: 4-5
Jesus said, "I tell you, my friends, do not be afraid of those who kill the body and after that can do no more.But I will show you whom you should fear:
Fear him who, after the killing of the body, has power to throw you into hell.
Yes, I tell you, fear him.”

Lord, We have work to do sharing Your Truth. Help give us a passion to spread the Word to this world before it’s too late and they are lost, unable to enjoy Eternity with You in Your Glory. Amen


How are you helping people understand Jesus’ eternal love for His creation?

LIFE’S COBWEBBY SCRAPS?

ARE YOU WRITING DOWN SCRAPS OF YOUR LIFE TO SHARE WITH YOUR KIDS? THIS WEEK I TOOK UP A CHALLENGE TO PONDER--REMEMBER...WRITE DOWN SNIPPETS OF MY LIFE. I'VE NOT BEEN A PERSON TO JOURNAL IN THE PAST. NOW, I’M BECOMING A “BELIEVER”.

“THIS IS MY STORY” (BY LISA WHELCHEL) HAS SET A NEW FIRE IN ME AND BY WEEK SIX, MY “LEGACY OF FAITH” SCRAPBOOK WILL BE SOMEWHAT COMPLETED FOR MY DAUGHTER--DESCRIBING MEMORIES OF OUR FAMILY AND VARIOUS RECOLLECTIONS OF WHERE AND HOW JESUS HAS WALKED WITH ME, US, AND FRIENDS OF THE FAMILY.

MY ONLY “CON”...WHO HAD THE IDEA ORIGINALLY TO NAME THEM “SCRAP” BOOKS”?
SCRAP IS THE WRONG WORD BECAUSE MY ENTRIES WON’T BE “DISCARDED, WORTHLESS, JUNKY PARTS”. THEY’LL BE THE “GOLDEN, PRECIOUS MEMORIES” OF MY FAMILY, FRIENDS AND “JESUS-INCIDENCES”…TO ME, MASTERPIECE MEMORIES OF HIS CREATIVE LOVE AT WORK IN AND THROUGH MY GRANDMOTHER, MOTHER, FRIENDS, SISTERS IN CHRIST AND MY CHILD, WRITTEN DOWN AND SALVAGED FROM MY “COBWEBBY” BRAIN THAT MAY GROW EVEN “COBWEBBIER” AS THE YEARS PASS.

HOW WILL YOU LEAVE YOUR CHILD “JESUS INCIDENCES” OF YOUR LIFE?
"Write it down now—"cobbwebbiness", starts before you know it!

Mark 5:19

Jesus said,"Go home to your family and

tell them how much the Lord has done for you, and how he has had mercy on you."

Yungins! Are You Listening?

Jesus was on a “healing-relationships” mission from Heaven for His Creation’s sake, and He often sought time with God in prayer while he was present on Earth. He sought to teach us THE TRUTH, HEAL the sick, FEED the hungry, and often time would run out and he would be drained and tired from all those who "pulled at Him".

It saddens me--on Friday,April 18, we lost a “mentor of selfless servant hood”. Selfishly sad because I will not get to enjoy hugging and talking with one of Jesus' saints any more in this lifetime--Dorothy Pepper opened her eyes one last time, looked to Heaven and was ushered into Eternity. At 99 years young, her eyes still danced like a young woman and her tight-lipped kisses were sought treats by us “yungins” when she was able to sit in the middle section on the second pew in the church, wrapped in her soft sweater. Her lipstick on your lips was a trophy, for sure…you see, when she was sharing her heart with you, she would peck you on the lips! WOW! 1909-2008, I watched how she made her “dash” count; she richly loved and taught her family (and all those around her) about Jesus’ love…in everything she did. He welcomed her with loving arms and she was able to give Him a peck!

Throughout my Mom’s life she has “bent over backwards” to please friends and family around her--cooking, cleaning, sewing, hugging, caring. She is my mentor for “heartfelt” service to those she loves and to those she doesn’t even know, “giving herself and her time away”. How grateful I am to have her legacy of prayer, singing, and teaching. She loves Jesus with her whole heart and made it her job to show that to me, my sister and my Daddy. Her tears still often come as she shares what He has done in her life! That “selflessness” way of life appears to be harder to find these days, and I strive to leave this same thing for my daughter, so His love will be passed on throughout generations. (I'm nowhere as good at it as she is because I often let me get in the way.)

Lord, help me remember: “You will fight for me; I need only to be still” (Exodus 14:13). You are my refuge and strength, an ever-present help in trouble (Psalm 46:1). You will lead me when I am blind by ways I have not known, along unfamiliar paths You will guide me; You will turn the darkness into light before me and make the rough places smooth. These are the things You will do; You will not forsake me (Isaiah 42:16).

As my Mommy and Mrs. Pepper taught me,

1. READ His Word
2. Pray constantly … confess often
3. Obediently walk
4. Listen…He’ll make His voice loud and clear!
5. Dwell on His Promises

Jeremiah 33:3

“Call to me and I will answer you; and tell you great and unsearchable things!”

\0/ ELEVATION EXPRESSED \0/

ELEVATION EXPRESSED

Succeeded Brent, New
Learned names, Teens’ hearts opened
Building trust, devoted

Prayershare, Explosion
Togetherness in God’s Word, fellowship
Many homes hosted, always stood on chairs

December Third, his B’day
Calls galore, brownies, Peeps, Krystal, Starbuck's
Shared his day

Prepared weekly lessons, staff meetings
Bounced ideas, Nooma videos inspired
Mentor, guide, Pastor D

Collins Hill, Central, Mill Creek
Peachtree Ridge, GAC, Providence, Brookwood, too!
Lunch visits, high fives, big hugs

New worship service, then came Equate
Loving ALL teens, Christ’s compassion
Built Christ’s vision

January, betrothed here
"R", heart’s desire, soul mate
Whose name inspires smiles.

Gobbler, Super Bowl
Family Life Center, waiting tables, inflatable bouncing
Served plates, welcomed visitors

Laguna, Spiritual refuge
Love sheets, praised with “Less”
Bus caravan, unshackled souls slumbered

LAP, service
Lawrenceville neighbors saw God’s hands
TB, June 20, now experiencing Glory

Campground Tuesdays--Joy Class ruled
Thursdays-- skits, non-stop laughter
Fridays, tear-stained altars

AndEr, MerBen
AdCour, ErBlon, KathPet, helpmates
Honoring Jesus

In our hearts, forever!
To Mt. Bethel (NOT), our one-and-only, AlWhit
Still teaching, “It’s still about Christ and His teens”!

Written 3/22/08 (SuKirk)

Tweaked 4/20/08 "Welcome Back!"