present... emotions...

Joy...
Hope...
Discouragement...
Frustration...
Disappointment...
Conviction...
Love...
Concern...
Doubt...
Sorrow...
Impatience...

Emotions... of the moment... just today's... make it difficult... to receive... what's presented... in the present... as a present...

Continuing the challenge... to receive from Him... each moment... as a gift... because He is good...

Not only that, but we rejoice in our sufferings, knowing that suffering produces endurance, and endurance produces character, and character produces hope, and hope does not put us to shame, because God's love has been poured into our hearts through the Holy Spirit who has been given to us.

Romans 5:3-5 ESV

(my emphasis)

the present challenge

Receiving... everything... presented... as a present... a gift...

The importance of thought-life... has been recurrent... what we think... how we perceive... events... people... circumstances... in our minds... effects our faith... peace... heart...

A current read... a gift... focuses totally on thought-life...

Jesus gave us His peace (see John 14:27), but He said we must not allow ourselves to be fearful, intimidated and unsettled. In other words, peace is present in us, but it must be chosen over what our fleshly mind thinks. We can choose to be peaceful by choosing to think on thing that promote peace rather than things that open a door for worry and anxiety.

---Joyce Meyer, Battlefield of the Mind 

A devotional... read this morning... encouraging right perceptions... of Him...

You are My beloved. Although you experience many difficulties in your life, I shield you all day long. You cannot imagine what your life would be like if I were not protecting you continually. The adversity I do allow you to experience is ultimately for your good and My Glory. You can rest secure by trusting that My protective Presence is with you always, no matter what trials you may be enduring.

---Jesus Lives, by Sarah Young

Knowing Him... as the Great I AM... the purely present God... the One Sovereign over all... nothing happens except what He allows...

Is it not from the mouth of the Most High that both calamities and good things come?

Lamentations 3:38

And He is good... only good...

For the Lord is good and his love endures forever;

his faithfulness continues through all generations.

Psalm 100:5

So the challenge... to train the mind... receive everything presented... by Him... as a present....

feeling freedom...

Entering the sanctuary... an unexpected sense of freedom... washed over me...

Something was different... as I stood alone... lights off... morning sun shining through stained glass...

An odd time for our church... a week... in between pastors... no human authority over this congregation... for a moment... only Him...

The Lord... unobstructed... unfiltered... unchallenged...

His Spirit... free... from leaders... filled with fear... of man... of failure... of falling...

How often does He struggle to be seen... and heard... for who He is... because of men He's placed in positions of authority...? men He's growing... testing... to become who He calls them to be...? free...

You, my brothers, were called to be free.

Galatians 5:13

But today... I sensed relief... freedom... from performance... agendas... programs...

In this moment... it felt like what it will be... when He alone... reigns... and... we are all free... to be... and believe...

"The kingdom of the world has become the kingdom of our Lord and of his Christ, and he will reign for ever and ever."

Revelation 11:15

when worship... breaks down...

For although they knew God,

they neither glorified him as God 

nor gave thanks to him,

but their thinking became futile 

and their foolish hearts were darkened.

Romans 1:21

Neglecting to glorify God... or even to thank Him... wrecks our reasoning... and darkens our hearts...

It's a foolish thing... to postpone praise of the Creator... or to selfishly forget to give thanks...

Take a moment... now... praise His name... thank Him... for this is His will for you... in Christ Jesus...

[Suggestions...

Open your Bible to a Psalm... pray it...

Find your favorite praise song on YouTube... sing to the Lord...

Journal... a list of thanks... giving it to to Him... 

Or perhaps you need to go low... bow down on the floor before Him... prayerfully praise Him for every attribute of His you can name...

If you have a suggestion... feel free to share it as a comment...]

worship... the foundation...

Worship... is the foundation... of a proper relationship with God...

Shout for joy to the Lord, all the earth.

Worship the Lord with gladness;

come before him with joyful songs.

Know that the Lord is God.

It is he who made us, and we are his;

we are his people, the sheep of his pasture.

Enter his gates with thanksgiving

and his courts with praise;

give thanks to him and praise his name.

For the Lord is good and his love endures forever;

his faithfulness continues through all generations.

Psalm 100

(my emphasis)

Without a heart for worship... our relationship with Him... will be askew... perverted... broken...

He created us with the need to worship... but we too often fill the need with anything but Him... a host of little gods... beckon our hearts... but only One... is worthy of praise... reverence... honor... exaltation...

For great is the Lord and most worthy of praise;

he is to be feared above all gods.

Psalm 96:4

Because our whole life... translates to worship... we need to be wary... of what it is... we do worship...

What... or... who... do you worship...?

Who... or... what... do you fear...?

Who... or... what... has captured your heart...? your time...? your energy...?

What... or... who... determines... how... you... live...?

Perhaps... you should check your foundation... is it cracked...?

worship... a way of life... (for man and beast... alike...)

Worship... it came up a couple of times today...

The study with sisters... defined... a heart of worship... mind... will... emotion... fully engaged... with God... continually... allowing Him to fill the broken places in our hearts... the places only He can fill... with Living Water...

The Greek... translated worship... proskuneo... a compound word... meaning... move toward... and... kiss, like a dog licking his master's hand...

A dog's relationship with his master... is dependent... humble... tail-wagging... leaping upon... adoration...

We have dogs... one cowers before me when skulking from the flower bed... where he does not belong... the other... she prances right up with dirt on her nose... oblivious to the error of her ways... digging in forbidden zones...

The one who recognizes his faults... seeks to be near... any of my family... running to the garage... when our cars arrive... tail wagging... bounding...

The one oblivious to error... always wags... her whole body...

But their lives... are highly focused on their family... their masters... the ones who feed... water... pet...

The other picture of worship... came from my treadmill read this morning... not mentioned specifically as worship... but gave a description of what we should begin to understand as the worship He calls us to... the chapter focusing on... leading from a Christ-centered heart...

Christ-Centered Leaders Focus on Growing Hearts, Not on Growing Attendance...

They are obsessed, instead, with challenging their congregation members to move closer to Christ. To live a sold-out life. To surrender it all. Nothing else is as important as that.

---Greg L. Hawkins & Cally Parkinson, Move 

Worship... it does not happen on Sunday morning... (or Saturday night or Wednesday evening)... in a sanctuary... or auditorium... worship is a way of life... a way of the heart... mind... will... emotion... engaged... daily... (just like my family's dogs...) focused on... moving toward... Jesus... constantly... with a heart engaged... whether we recognize our sin or not...

The Master... our Lord... Jesus... He loves us... longs for us to move toward Him... surrender our lives to Him... be consumed with Him... in fellowship with Him... just as His love for us... compelled Him to die... for... us...

 And so, dear brothers and sisters, I plead with you to give your bodies to God because of all he has done for you. Let them be a living and holy sacrifice --- the kind he will find acceptable. This is truly the way to worship him.

Romans 12:1 NLT

grateful... that He finishes...

Four hours into one of those projects... I thought could be finished in... an hour... I am grateful... that He finishes... what He starts... and it's NOT... dependent on me...

I am sure of this, that He who started

a good work in you

will carry it on to completion

until the day of Christ Jesus.

Philippians 1:6 HCSB

(my emphasis)

lessons... from a daylily...

A daylily... its bloom... glorious... for just one day...

Why does He create such glory to last just one day...?

He is eternal... outside time... He is all about the present moment... no matter how short... how insignificant... to Him... it's all glory...!

Perhaps we should treat the daily... as God does... with attention to detail... making glory... out of every moment... nothing mundane...

In Him... all has eternal... glorious... significance... and... purpose...

"Consider how the lilies grow. They do not labor or spin. Yet I tell you, not even Solomon in all his splendor was dressed like one of these. If that is how God clothes the grass of the field, which is here today, and tomorrow is thrown into the fire, how much more will he clothe you, O you of little faith! ..." ---Jesus

Luke 12:27-28

If all this... is poured into one flower... lasting only 24 hours... how much more... will He care for His people...? the crown of creation...?

How much more... should we stand firmly in His grace... His love... poured out through our Lord Jesus Christ... making the most of every moment...?

Father God... may I glorify You... today...

moment... by... moment...

faithful... when I'm not...

Today... God got me to the right place... at the right time... only I didn't know it... till I got there...

An early morning weekly routine... was all I had to do this morning... but I neglected to check the calendar... so I planned an impromptu late morning shopping trip... and lunch... with my daughter... no thought to an appointment made over a month ago...

On the way home... I stopped for gas... drove from the pump... and suddenly remembered the appointment...

With a gasp... I looked at my watch... 10 minutes to get there... but I was already within 100 yards of where I needed to be...

Looking back... over the many random decisions made to get to that point... if only one... had been different... I would not have been where I was... and probably would not have made the appointment... (or even remembered it...) causing inconvenience for the one I was to meet...

I don't know if this is great theology... but it feels like a picture of...

...for it is God who works in you to will 

and to act according to his good purpose.

Philippians 2:13

Sometimes... He's working in us... through our will... for His purpose... even if it is to not disappoint another... because of our faithlessness...

If we are faithless, He remains faithful...

2 Timothy 2:13 NASB

Thank You Father... for Your guidance... direction... even though I was completely unaware... Thank You for Your faithfulness...

an unexpected Word... for me...

What do you do... when the Word you've sought to give another... is actually for you?

Humble yourself before the Lord...

The morning began... like most any these days... offering grace to the loved one in a pit... with breakfast... and a devotional...

But me... I was low on grace... frustration with the... I'm getting up... that doesn't mean anything... the waiting on him... while eggs get cold... and toast... soggy...

What stirred in my heart... anger...

No sympathy... no forgiveness... no compassion...

Words formed in my mind... Don't you know how disrespectful your behavior is...? It is so rude... for you to make us wait on you...? I could see myself delivering the tirade... bringing low... the one... who will not lower himself...

But my spirit... the Spirit... made me consider... Is this anger about me...? my selfishness...? my desires...? Be careful what you say...

In my doubt... I sat silently... trying to pray... But am I letting him off the hook...? The struggle would not die... no peace...

I chose to err on the side of grace... holding my tongue... suppressing words...

Even a fool is thought wise if he keeps silent,

and discerning if he holds his tongue.

Proverbs 17:28

The loved one... appeared... wandered in... at the end of prayer...

Breakfast continued... awkward silence... me afraid to speak...

The devotional book chosen... but not the specific devotion... words had come to mind... redemption... encouragement...

I opened the book... at random... trusting Him to choose what the son needed to hear... but then looked in the topical index to see if redemption... encouragement... were there... neither were... so the one opened up... must be the one... Right Living...

I urge you to use words with restraint. Misusing words is one of the easiest ways to sin --- and one of the deadliest. In fact, the tongue is a fire that corrupts the whole person, sets the whole course of his life on fire, and is itself set on fire by hell. You would be wise to follow the example of David, who wrote: Set a guard, O Lord, over my mouth; keep watch over the door of my lips. Controlling your tongue is so difficult that you cannot do it without massive help.

Jesus Lives by Sarah Young (partial excerpt)

Needless to say... after reading aloud the first sentence... the words almost stuck... the realization... This Word is for ME...! struck deep...

Confirmation... of a wise choice... even though it was a battle... came quickly... a blessing... a word... most unexpected...

The desire to bring life... rather than death... to grow life in others... not build up my self... was achieved in some small way... by His grace...

A humbling moment... when trying to minster... witness... to another... Father God... ministers to you...

Thank You Lord... for the massive help... this morning... controlling my tongue... guarding my mouth... Thank You for the confirmation... of Your presence in each moment... of Your help even when it doesn't feel like You're near... Thank You Lord... for grace... lots... and... lots... of... grace...

From the fullness of his grace

we have all received one blessing after another.

John 1:16

hardened hope...

The current study with sisters... has revealed a hardened hope...

The challenge to... Create a top 10 waiting list of things you've almost stopped hoping for... causes tears to spring forth... and my heart to ache...

One thing comes to mind... top of the list... a wait at least 17 years in the making... breaks my heart anew each time it's brought to my attention...

A faint hope remains... so long I've waited... my heart feels hard to the possibility... hurts too much to consider fervent prayer any longer...

I tell myself... I've laid it before Him... all I can do is wait... its up to Him whether He does... or doesn't...

A hope that feels more like doubt...

A place I need to soften with His Word... His truth...

And hope does not disappoint us, 

because God has poured out his love into our hearts 

by the Holy Spirit, whom he has given us.

Romans 5:5

(emphasis mine)

Do you have a hope... a long wait... that feels like a disappointment in the making...?

Join me in renewing hope... stirring it up to full expectation... remembering... His hope does not disappoint... because He has poured His love... into our hearts...

Father God... bless me with hope renewed...

believing that You will not disappoint...

believing in... Your love... poured out... for me...

seeking... wide... open... spaces...

A desire... for... wide... open... spaces... increases...

To be clutter free... bears the highest appeal for me...

It struck me on vacation... at the beach... boating through a canal... lined with bay houses... my spouse and I sharing which ones appealed... it was then I noticed... for the most part... the ones with the least clutter... simple... not necessarily in style... but in stuff... drew my attention... and my heart...

Part of the rearranging... currently underway... at my house... in my home... is the call to simplify...

God's Word... identifies... wide... open... spaces... with... freedom...

And I'll stride freely through wide open spaces

as I look for your truth and your wisdom...

Psalm 119:42 Msg

...and I shall walk in a wide place,

for I have sought your precepts.

Psalm 119:42 ESV

I will walk about in freedom,

for I have sought out your precepts.

Psalm 119:42 

Three translations of the same verse... the literal Hebrew... meaning... broad... wide... spacious...

The more I grow in Christ... the more room I want to grow... less stuff... hindering... consuming... time... energy... I could otherwise divert to Him... and His kingdom...

To be less... have less... means... freedom...

I have taught you the way of wisdom;

I have led you in the paths of uprightness.

When you walk, your step will not be hampered,

and if you run, you will not stumble.

Proverbs 4:11-12 ESV

practice casting...

Cast all your anxiety on him

because he cares for you.

1 Peter 5:7

cast... to cause to move or send forth by throwing... to throw off or away... to get rid of: discard...

Life provides plenty of opportunities... to practice... casting...
difficult relationships...
illness...
children...
unknowns...
finances...
the nightly news...

There is no shortage of anxiety-stimulating circumstances...

I've practiced casting quite a bit lately...

Each time anxiety tries to rise... I cast... throw... send forth... the unwanted... emotion... on Him...

Practice fishing for peace... casting... all your anxiety... on Him...

Do not be anxious about anything,

but in everything, by prayer and petition,

with thanksgiving, present your requests to God.

And the peace of God, which transcends

all understanding, will guard your hearts and

minds in Christ Jesus.

Philippians 4:6-7

missed opportunity

Not until after... did I recognize the missed opportunity... to bring life into the life of another...

Over the past several weeks... this vision of the Lord's army has been persistently present in my thoughts...

I was suddenly on a mountain where I could see the entire army. As I watched, I noticed that the plain was dry and dusty before the army, but immediately after the first twelve divisions passed, the earth was dark green, with trees giving shade and bearing fruit and pure streams flowing through the land. The army was restoring the earth. I thought of how different this was from what would happen when one of the world's armies would pass through a land. They would plunder and forage until the land was utterly stripped wherever they had marched.

I watched as the second divisions passed over the same ground. They left bridges and many buildings, but the ground was not left in as good of shape as before they had passed. The grass was not as green, the streams were somewhat muddied, and much of the fruit had been taken. 

---Rick Joyner, The Call 

My desire... to be part of the first division... bringing life... rejecting the temptation to build... which ultimately is about self...

But I've been unsure... what it looks like to be one that promotes life... growth... practically...

Then today... I received a glimpse of what gives life... through a missed opportunity... a lesson given... by not recognizing the moment... for what it was...

A brief conversation with a man... 5 weeks post-open-heart surgery... shared openly about his pain...

Now this is an acquaintance... seen once every few months... at a particular venue...

I offered sympathy... and encouragement...

He walked on to talk to others...

Again he passed by... See ya' later's... given...

The thought came... Offer to pray for him...

I hesitated just long enough... caught off guard by the thought... to get to that awkward point where he was just too far to call back...

My flesh determined the opportunity to be missed... my spirit went to confession mode... seeking forgiveness... experiencing remorse...

Then the Spirit made it clear...

This is how you bring life...

Suddenly I understood... one aspect of generating life... is to be prepared... attentive... to the call to intercede... or at least offer to intercede... for those who cross your path... any time... any where...

And I missed it... never realizing... that this is one way... the Lord's army fights... the dry... dead... places in the world... and brings life...

The weapons we fight with are not the weapons of the world. On the contrary, they have divine power to demolish strongholds.

2 Corinthians 10:4

The lesson learned... Believers bring life into the world... when we are open... sensitive... to the call of the Spirit... to lay hands on... and pray... for those in pain...

It's not just a nice thing to do... it is a weapon in the arsenal of the Lord's army...

Father God... thank You for this lesson... prepare me and enable me to be obedient... without hesitation... to offer to pray for others at Your call... Help me to remember... this is what it means... to bring life... healing... renewal... to a spiritually arid... world...

rearranging...

Rearranging...
spaces...
schedules...
brings about challenges...
and clutter...

Feeling the mess of half-way...

Nehemiah led the people in rebuilding the wall of Jerusalem... they worked heartily till it reached half its height... then the enemy threatened... and their strength gave out... all they saw was rubble...

At this moment... strength is needed... to press on...
keeping a new timetable... to better suit relationships...
clearing clutter... and reorganizing...
creating ways... to renew... the old...

A rearranging of thoughts required... turning to Him... with praise... to energize... and encourage...

God is awesome in his sanctuary.

The God of Israel gives power and strength to his people.

Praise be to God!

Psalm 68:35 NLT

face to face...

The phrase... face to face... echoes... after meditating on 1Corinthians 13...

Now we see but a poor reflection as in a mirror;

then we shall see face to face.

Now I know in part; then I shall know fully,

even as I am fully known.

1Corinthians 13:12

Past teachings... and commentaries... remind that mirrors from the biblical era were highly polished metal that gave a fuzzy... dark... reflection... unlike glass mirrors today...

But my reflection on the whole of the chapter... made me see... that even glass mirrors... that offer a perfect representation of the flesh... do not reveal what is most essential... the heart... the mind... will... emotion... the motive... behind every action...

All the information we gather from a mirror... or by viewing the outer actions of any individual... are but a poor reflection... of the truth... the reality...

If I speak in the tongues of men and of angels, but have not love, I am only a resounding gong or a clanging cymbal. If I have the gift of prophecy and can fathom all mysteries and all knowledge, and if I have a faith that can move mountains, but have not love, I am nothing. If I give all I possess to the poor and surrender my body to the flames, but have not love, I gain nothing.

1Corinthians 13:1-3

The context of the whole chapter focuses on the motive... of our actions... and use of gifts...

We cannot see the motives of others... and often deceive self regarding our own actions...

Only God the Father... knows the hearts of men... and women... young... or old...

We see but a poor reflection... even if the image comes to us in HD...

But one day... when Perfection comes... we will see face to face... the kind of interaction that is experiential... and revealing...

Our trust of the Father... in the waiting... should be increased by this truth...

He alone knows the hearts of all... the motive... and purpose... behind every action... 

He alone is trustworthy... to make judgment... and His direction is always based on a crystal clear understanding....

Now I know in part;

then I shall know fully,

even as I am fully known.

Father God... help me to remember... that my vision is blurred... but Yours is perfect... 

benefits of worship

Happy are those who hear the joyful call to worship,

for they will walk in the light of your presence, Lord.

They rejoice all day long in your wonderful reputation.

They exult in your righteousness.

You are their glorious strength.

It pleases you to make us strong.

Psalm 89:15-17 NLT

worship... according to Tyndale Bible Dictionary...

Expression of reverence and adoration of God.

Worship... adoration... reverence... 

A heart... soul... spirit... that sings... praise to Him... in the midst of joy... or pain...

Worship... it has its benefits...

...Those who... worship... 

...walk in the light of His presence...

...they rejoice...

He is their glorious strength...

Hear the call to worship...

learn to worship...

practice worship...

it is good...

right...

and has excellent benefits...

joys and challenges

Joys... and... challenges...

We all have them...

Often they come unexpectedly... without warning...

Each effect our hearts...
one lightens and lifts...
the other burdens and weighs...

Today... I've experienced both...
unexpected...
unanticipated...
one right on the heels of another...

In all... my heart sang...

The soundtrack for joy... Holy is the Lord...

In the pain... Bless the Lord, O my soul...

Praise His name in all... remembering... trusting... His love... that endures forever... that echoes.... through all He allows...

Praise the Lord, for the Lord is good;

sing praise to his name, for that is pleasant.

Psalm 135:3

[Related fare...

reasons to wait... joy-fully... on the Lord...

waiting... with thanks...]

the key...

The key to doing for Him...
is to look to Him...

Let us fix our eyes on Jesus

the author and perfecter of our faith...

Hebrews 12:2

(emphasis added)

fix... to make firm, stable, or stationary

...fix our eyes on... translated from the Greek... aphorao... to turn the eyes away from other things and fix them on something...

Fixing eyes on Jesus... means seeing only Him... being mind-full... of Him... His Word... when doing what He has put on our heart...

The more we look at... to... self... (feelings... strengths... weaknesses...) the more prone we are to question... doubt... fear... fail to be obedient... in serving...

Reminded... recently... experienced... recently... the ease with which serving... in obedience... comes... when I refuse... to think about me... and look to Him...

We demolish arguments and every pretension that sets itself up against the knowledge of God, and we take captive every thought and make it obedient to Christ.

2 Corinthians 10:5

anticipation...

The time away… comes to a close…

What comes to mind… commitments… plans… made before… things that seemed far away… but now are near…

Commitments that stir up anxiety… and wonder… 

Why… did I say… I would…?

Fear… tries to creep in… to plans made by faith… here is where I need to replace fear with JOY… no longer dread… but remember and cling to… the call that I heard to commit… to remember… that I am not in these things alone… that even if I misheard the call… He will not leave me or forsake me… and He has power to correct my faith-filled missteps...

And we know that God causes all things to work together for good to those who love God, to those who are called according to His purpose.

Romans 8:28 NASB

The desire to stay away… needs to be transformed into anticipation… to serve… in love… with joy… to join with Him… not look at me… to WAIT… on Him…

Serve the Lord with gladness;

Come before Him with joyful singing.

Know that the Lord Himself is God;

It is He who has made us, and not we ourselves;

We are His people and the sheep of His pasture.

Psalm 100:2-3 NASB

Father God… transform fear… to joy… dread… to excitement… to serve… be useful… to You… and Your kingdom…

glory... all around...

Praise be to his glorious name forever;

may the whole earth be filled with his glory.

Amen and Amen.

Psalm 72:18

routine vs obedience

When obedience turns to routine… it’s hard to rest…

As I listened… and asked… for what to post yesterday… the word… Rest… that came in the afternoon… felt… uncomfortable…

The rhythm of writing… the discipline of taking time to post… was difficult to rest from…

Pride… raised up… I haven’t missed a day in over a year… how can I stop now…?

Fear of man… joined in… What will those who read think… when I don’t post…? That I failed…?

Compromise… made its case… I’ll just make the drive to the wi-fi source and post… “a day of rest…”

The one word… it continued… Rest… echoing between each temptation…

Finally… I rested… in the rest…

Obedience… it is not about me… or others…

it’s not about feelings… or sacrifice…

it’s about doing…

what He says…             

Even when it's… Rest...

King Saul… he learned the hard way… through the prophet Samuel…

“Does the Lord delight in burnt offerings and sacrifices

as much as in obeying the voice of the Lord?

To obey is better than sacrifice,

and to heed is better than the fat of rams.

For rebellion is like the sin of divination,

and arrogance like the evil of idolatry.

Because you have rejected the word of the Lord,

he has rejected you as king.”

1Samuel 15:22-23

Obedience… is trusting Him…  not your own heart… or your own understanding… but Him alone…

Jesus Himself… says…

“Why do you call me, ‘Lord, Lord,’ and do not do what I say?...”

Luke 6:46

Obedience… is about listening… with a heart of love… to the Lord… and doing what He says…

This is love for God: to obey his commands.

And his commands are not burdensome.

1John 5:3

Obedience… is not trusting routine… but Him… even when… it’s uncomfortable…

power to love

The verse that caught my attention...

For the kingdom of God is not a matter of talk but of power.

1 Corinthians 4:20

Led me to ask...

Lord... am I only full of talk...? 

Do I have any power from your kingdom...?

This was three days ago... today an answer came... after meditating on love...

Love is patient, love is kind. It does not envy, it does not boast, it is not proud. It is not rude, it is not self-seeking, it is not easily angered, it keeps no record of wrongs. Love does not delight in evil but rejoices with the truth. It always protects, always trusts, always hopes, always perseveres.

1 Corinthians 13:4-7

In Him... I have power to love through action...

We love because he first loved us.

1 John 4:19

How have you displayed the power of His Kingdom today?

needed reminders...

Wrestling anew... with self-pity... regarding a diagnosis... one that changed my style of living... more than thirty-one months ago (but who's counting)... a state that will not change, but may grow worse, unless I remain self-disciplined...

A time of vacation... when ways become relaxed for those around me... but I cannot indulge... raises... stirs up... the pity...

Another's words... reminders of truth... provide a mooring... for a stirred up spirit...

The word "mindful," in the question, "What is man, that thou art mindful of him?" implies that man is a fixture in God's mind and comes to His remembrance continually.

He loves you not because you are worthy, but because He is God and you are a fixture in His mind. You are spiritually depraved, intellectually blind and morally corrupt. But God says, "Yet will I not forget thee" (Isa. 49:15). I believe that, and I base my life on that truth.

When we remember that everything God does is going to be done in a perfectly wise manner, so there is no mistake possible, a wonderful peace of heart comes, along with growth and spiritual strength.

To know God is to trust Him completely. In order to seek God we must look beyond circumstances and in holy fascination gaze upon the one who loves us.

--- A.W. Tozer, A Disruptive Faith 

To know that I am a fixture in God's mind... stuck there by His love... is a truth that anchors me... and by faith... enables me to trust and endure... what He has allowed...

My role... is to fix my mind on Him... just as He is on me... be... mind-full... of Him... and His truth...

Lord... I trust that You know what's best for me... I choose to trust Your love for me... whatever comes... whatever is... I trust Your purpose... and plan... for me... 

Will not the Judge of all the earth do right?

Genesis 18:25