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Sunday, June 23, 2024

JUNE One Word Focus - 4 PACE

For the month of June, these will be the 4 One Words for us to "Focus" on:

June 2nd

June 9th

June 16th

June 23

Interesting combination!

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[image credit] besides Ralph Waldo Emerson


This week I was going to just flip-flop the order, 

starting with the most recent

One WORD

PACE

but if you've already been keeping the PACE 

with the previous first 3 One Words

there's no need to scroll this week.

You can just click on the One Word above, 

which should be linked to that post

meanwhile keeping only the

PACE

right here, right now

with much

GRACE

 from His aMazing Grace

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So

this Week, we'll just


FOCUS

on

PACE

[leaving the other One Words behind]

looking at this week's devotional verse from

1 John 2:5-6 ESV

"... whoever keeps His word, in Him truly the love of God is perfected. By this we may know that we are in Him: [6] whoever says He abides in Him ought to walk in the same way in which He walked. 1 John 2: 5-6 ESV

or as a new translation shares this:

"But for those who walk in His message, Creator’s love has found its true meaning and purpose. The ones who say they are in harmony with the Great Spirit must walk in the footsteps of Creator Sets Free(Jesus). This is how we know we are living in harmony with Him."

from First Nations: First Letter from He Shows Goodwill 2

recently introduced to me fromπŸ’ša very special friendπŸ˜‰

so I just had to share!

I think First Nations would like the Emerson quote on nature

as we "live in harmony with Him"

<><><>

The other Scriptures for this week's devotion include:

1 Peter 2:21 ESV; Proverbs 4:25 ESV;
Hebrews 12:1 NLT; 2 Thessalonians 3:16 NIV

There are not as many verses as previous weeks containing the One Word: PACE this week. One of my sources listed 21 verses. Bible Hub's Topical search has almost that many definitions for PACE (and an error on their first occurrence listed which should read "peace" not "pace")

The author shares the One Word: PACE a few times as we "run the race" and keep the PACE like Jesus "as He walked the earth, He allowed His PACE to ebb & flow" {I like that and the next statement too} - so besides that one, I've only chosen one other to share as we catch His PACE - some good advice from Cleere Cherry Reaves:
 
"Let's slow our PACE so that we can walk in peace and prioritize what actually matters."

The FOCUS TIP includes this by suggesting 

we remember the One Word: PACE

"and ask God to help us to walk in peace"

instead of running full speed at a faster PACE, let's slow it down

as Scripture tells us to "run the race" - and as the Olympics is kicking off

reminding us to "stay in our lane" and not get "our focus off the One 

we are running toward."

In life's marathon, we need to be sure we hand off our baton to our team,

keeping the flame of Jesus' Good News passed on to the world

and from generation to generation.

"Jesus, determine my PACE and guide my feet. Amen"

Yes, Lord Jesus

with You as my focal point - my eyes fixed on You,

I know You will set my PACE correctly to run the race

still before me so that it will complement,

not compete with Your purposes

and I will live at peace

with that PACE

πŸ™


just like runners set their 

PACE

for each race

teach me to set a PACE with my spiritual practices

to create a deeper walk with You, God!

I want to set my PACE to finish strong

in Jesus' mighty Name



I'm not sure of the drift of this week's devotional yet

but perhaps God will lead me back here

to pick up the

PACE

To the People of the Tribes of Wrestles with Creator 12:1 (FNVNT)

"We are surrounded by a great cloud of truth tellers who have shown us what it means to trust the Great Spirit . So let us lay to the side everything that weighs us down and the broken ways that so easily wrap around our legs to trip us . And let us run as if we are in a long-distance race, setting a steady PACE and heading toward the goal."


Thank you First Nations

for sharing Hebrews 12:1 so beautifully

and with such wise words.


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LOOKING AHEAD

Next Sunday, June 30th

can be another break for us with

FOCUS

unless you choose to be

"taking inventory"

on each of these 4 One Words

found on pages 95 & 96

in the book

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See you on July 7th (6 pm)

unless you're still celebrating the

4th of July!
πŸ’™πŸ’—πŸ’™

(and then you can catch the blog post any time that week)




Monday, June 17, 2024

SILENCE

 

[image credit]

If you don't know about this


starting today, June 17th

of Courtney's 

newest book release 


please go visit her at 


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Since our focus this week is

SILENCE 

I couldn't pass up sharing this image
when I saw it in Courtney's blog post today.

<><><>

YouVersion has a sample 5 day plan of


too

but the real book is always better

{I gifted mine to my daughter when she was interested}

Otherwise, this might have been a book review
but for now it's sharing a great book 
for this summer for all
who are facing struggles and
would like to be "Still Standing" just like

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then
we can be
Still Stamding
stronger
with
God
even in the
SILENCE

<>

πŸ™πŸΌ

with hope


as shared in Courtney's blog post website

Sunday, June 16, 2024

JUNE One Word Focus - 3 SILENCE

For the month of June, these will be the 4 One Words for us to "Focus" on:

June 2nd

June 9th

June 16th

June 23

Interesting combination!

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LITTLE did I realize that when I shared all 4 One Words for June that I would need to just use this one post to FOCUS for all of June with just a few tweaks here and there. Due to summer & circumstances out of my control, this is going to be a monthly post, just changes to update the next One Word in BOLD & Underlined. I decided this back in the blog post of June 9th.

If you read that week's blog post (linked above) and the one on HONESTY then you can just scroll ahead to each next section (indicated by another FOCUS image) until you arrive on this week's One Word.

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For the first week, June 2nd, the One Word is was:

LITTLE


The scripture verse from

Luke 16:10

“One who is faithful in a very little is also faithful in much, and one who is dishonest
in a very 
little is also dishonest in much.” 

As you can see, the author has chosen a verse this time with the

One Word: LITTLE
(actually used twice in that verse)

The other scripture verses in the book this week:

Matthew 13:32 (ESV); Matthew 25:21 (ESV);
John 6:9 (ESV); Colossians 3:17 (ESV)

And the 3 quotes that I shared from the devotional with the One Word: LITTLE

"... We undermine the "big" that our God can do with our LITTLE step, so we clamor and reach for more before going forward." ...

"... The LITTLE is never actually LITTLE when it's in the Potter's hands." ...

"... May we give our LITTLE & our best so that He can make it big & do the rest."

"Jesus the LITTLE I give, much You can do."

<><>

the 2nd One Word on June 9th:


HONESTY
[linked to Bible Hub for definition & topical study]

The main scripture verse in the devotional (not using the One Word)

Dear children, let us not love with words or speech but with actions and in truth.1 John 3:18 NIV

However there are scripture verses with the One Word

HONESTY/ or honest

in the Old Testament (50)

[quite a few in Proverbs; I have not listed them all]

Genesis 30:31 MSG; Genesis 30:33 AMP; Judges 9: 16 & 9:19 NASB; 1 King 9:4 CEB; 2 Kings 12:15 NIV;
...Psalms (7); Proverbs (15); Isaiah (12); Jeremiah (2)..

and in the New Testament (16)

Matthew 23:23 NLT; Mark 12:14 Voice; Luke 2:33 MSG
Luke 3:13 TLB; Luke 8:15 Voice; Romans 3:7 TLB; Romans 15:8 AMPC; Romans 15:15 Voice; Romans 16:19 MSG; 

Here are a couple scripture verses with HONESTY that stood out to me:

"And so while there has never been any question about your HONESTY in these matters—I couldn’t be more proud of you!—I want you also to be smart, making sure every “good” thing is the real thing. Don’t be gullible in regard to smooth-talking evil. Stay alert like this, and before you know it the God of peace will come down on Satan with both feet, stomping him into the dirt. Enjoy the best of Jesus!" Romans 16:19 MSG

 "May integrity and HONESTY protect me, for I put my hope in you." Psalm 25:21 NLT (also in GNT, GW, NCV with HONESTY)

Now without having read the devotional before I share this, I am highlighting 
(out of context) some quotes where the author used the One Word:

HONESTY

"... HONESTY is sometimes the last things we want to practice and therefore we must. HONESTY turns our heart back to Jesus."

"... HONESTY is the process of continually putting our trust in God and knowing that His grace is enough."

"So, let's be HONEST - with ourselves, others, God, and the world around us. HONESTY will give space for lasting, true relationships & put us back in our rightful place at the feet of Jesus, where we belong."

The other scripture verses in the devotion this week:

1 John 1:6 NIV; Proverbs 12:22 NIV; 
2 Corinthians 8:21 ESV; Proverbs 10:9 NIV

<><>

[image credit]

for the 3rd week of June, the One Word is:

SILENCE

{The easiest way to do this post is just to let it remain in SILENCE and...}

 hopefully God will speak through this 

SILENCE

but  then we would miss out on our

FOCUS on SILENCE
with CCR, the author; & her devotional

This week's scripture verse:

‘Call to me and I will answer you and tell you great and unsearchable things you do not know.’ Jeremiah 33:3 NIV


I believe that I have heard it said that 
Jeremiah 33:3 is God's 911 number

This week's One Word: SILENCE
has plenty of Bible verses that include the One Word and 
the definition can be found at Bible Hub/ Topical Search of
SILENCE 
(80 occurrences listed with Bible Hub)

[216 verses containing SILENCE in another great source]

Yet Cleere Cherry Reaves chose to use God's 911 verse to write on
SILENCE.
[which makes me think how prophetic Jeremiah was before the 400 years
of God's silence between the Old & the New Testament.]
 
I can't imagine living that long without anyone hearing from God, because when I think God's silent in His relationship with me, I generally think it's me; either I'm not listening well; or sadly, at times, I wonder what I did or why. But I don't think God works that way. I often call out to God: morning, noon, and all through the night (lol), I'm very needy and have many others & concerns in this world that I constantly find myself reaching out, calling to Him & waiting for His answer - and searching & seeking His great unsearchable things I need to know. If you know me personally, you would know that I am not one (in my past) that enjoyed the SILENCE but now, more and more, I find myself hoping for SILENCE from this world's noise so I can hear more closely what God might be speaking to me, and others; if we would only focus & listen better. So let's see what the author has to say this week on SILENCE! (Remember, I have not yet read the devotional & only do a quick search for the One Word: SILENCE.) 

Here is my top choice, because there seems to be a few this week, but this one speaks directly to my spirit & heart (with a huge & loud "amen"):

"Sitting in SILENCE will be uncomfortable sometimes, but wisdom says we should get comfortable with being uncomfortable. Nothing is richer than a life of peace. May we take time to sit in SILENCE so we can hear the One who is capable of giving it."

The other scripture verses for the devotional this week are:

Philippians 4:9 NIV; Proverbs 3:6 MSG;
Romans 10:17 NIV; John 10:27-28 ESV

The verses I have chosen so far with the One Word: SILENCE in the verse

"You hear us pray in words and SILENCE; all humanity comes into Your presence." Psalm 65:2 Voice

"Don’t be bluffed into SILENCE by the threats of bullies. There’s nothing they can do to your soul, your core being. Save your fear for God, who holds your entire life—body and soul—in His hands." Matthew 10:28 MSG

"Then I heard a great voice in heaven. A Voice: Now the salvation and the power and the kingdom of our God and the authority of His Anointed One have come. For the accuser of our brothers and sisters, who relentlessly accuses them day and night before our God, has been cast down and silenced." Revelation 12:10 Voice 

Now to honor God once a day (as the Focus Tip suggests) and
"sit in SILENCE, turn off the technology, and listen."

BE STILL
and 
KNOW

HIM as GOD



Enjoy your moments of
SILENCE
with our King Jesus
the only One 
who is worthy!


Sunday, June 9, 2024

JUNE One Word Focus Words - 2 HONESTY

For the month of June, these will be the 4 One Words for us to "Focus" on:


HONESTY

SILENCE

PACE

Interesting combination!

<>

LITTLE did I realize that when I shared all 4 One Words for June that I would need to just use this one post to FOCUS for all of June with just a few tweaks here and there. Due to summer & circumstances out of my control, this is going to be a monthly post, just changes to update the next One Word in BOLD & Underlined. If you read last week's blog post (linked above) then you can just scroll ahead to the next section (indicated by another FOCUS image) 

<>

For the first week, the One Word is was:

LITTLE


The scripture verse from

Luke 16:10

“One who is faithful in a very little is also faithful in much, and one who is dishonest
in a very 
little is also dishonest in much.” 

As you can see, the author has chosen a verse this time with the

One Word: LITTLE
(actually used twice in that verse)

The other scripture verses in the book this week:

Matthew 13:32 (ESV); Matthew 25:21 (ESV);
John 6:9 (ESV); Colossians 3:17 (ESV)

And the 3 quotes that I shared from the devotional with the One Word: LITTLE

"... We undermine the "big" that our God can do with our LITTLE step, so we clamor and reach for more before going forward." ...

"... The LITTLE is never actually LITTLE when it's in the Potter's hands." ...

"... May we give our LITTLE & our best so that He can make it big & do the rest."

"Jesus the LITTLE I give, much You can do."

<><>

the 2nd One Word in June:


HONESTY
[linked to Bible Hub for definition & topical study]

The main scripture verse in the devotional (not using the One Word)

Dear children, let us not love with words or speech but with actions and in truth.1 John 3:18 NIV

However there are scripture verses with the One Word

HONESTY/ or honest

in the Old Testament (50)

[quite a few in Proverbs; I have not listed them all]

Genesis 30:31 MSG; Genesis 30:33 AMP; Judges 9: 16 & 9:19 NASB; 1 King 9:4 CEB; 2 Kings 12:15 NIV;
...Psalms (7); Proverbs (15); Isaiah (12); Jeremiah (2)..

and in the New Testament (16)

Matthew 23:23 NLT; Mark 12:14 Voice; Luke 2:33 MSG
Luke 3:13 TLB; Luke 8:15 Voice; Romans 3:7 TLB; Romans 15:8 AMPC; Romans 15:15 Voice; Romans 16:19 MSG; 

Here are a couple scripture verses with HONESTY that stood out to me:

"And so while there has never been any question about your HONESTY in these matters—I couldn’t be more proud of you!—I want you also to be smart, making sure every “good” thing is the real thing. Don’t be gullible in regard to smooth-talking evil. Stay alert like this, and before you know it the God of peace will come down on Satan with both feet, stomping him into the dirt. Enjoy the best of Jesus!" Romans 16:19 MSG

 "May integrity and HONESTY protect me, for I put my hope in you." Psalm 25:21 NLT (also in GNT, GW, NCV with HONESTY)

Now without having read the devotional before I share this, I am highlighting (out of context) 
some quotes where the author used 

HONESTY

{well, truthfully, I believe that she uses HONESTY in all she writes}

I mean that she used the One Word: HONESTY

"... HONESTY is sometimes the last things we want to practice and therefore we must. HONESTY turns our heart back to Jesus."

"... HONESTY is the process of continually putting our trust in God and knowing that His grace is enough."

"So, let's be HONEST - with ourselves, others, God, and the world around us. HONESTY will give space for lasting, true relationships & put us back in our rightful place at the feet of Jesus, where we belong."

In a small way, I must HONESTLY let you know that I deal constantly with people not telling the truth and wonder if they are being truthful with their selves and in part, this is why I had to condense this blog post into just one for the month of June & perhaps in the future. I sense that someone is not HONESTLY being straight with me about much & I realize the damage it will do to our relationship (if I'm right) & I'll dislike finding out that I am being duped (played) or even being given half-truths. Yet, sad to say, sometimes individuals do this as a cover & quite HONESTLY perhaps they unconsciously do not realize this, because it's become a pattern/habit in their life or they find a need to continue this way to not disappoint & just deal & cope with their situation the best that they can. We, unintentionally, put others or keep others in this position; because they think that being honest (truthful) will upset or alienate, cause pain, rejection, anger, further hardship, hurt, & consequences they'd rather avoid, without knowing that the truth will set them free so they keep trying to keep the lie going until ... the truth is made known. This quite likely is not the drift of this week's devotional so I apologize for adding my 2 cents from my own life experience (but trust me, I have much more; as I wait for God to reveal more truth to me). He has in my past so I am very reluctant and perhaps why I am hesitant and very untrusting of others. I, too, went through times in my personal life when I failed to be honest, but God forgave me, showed mercy & extended much grace - as I should also now.

The other scripture verses in the devotion this week:

1 John 1:6 NIV; Proverbs 12:22 NIV; 
2 Corinthians 8:21 ESV; Proverbs 10:9 NIV

That's why INTEGRITY is so important to me!
{especially in our government leaders, & I'm using that word loosely}

It's takes character & integrity to be a leader. And also honesty.

"Jesus, I choose HONESTY, even when it's hard"

<><>

Next week, I will move this one forward, 
eliminate & add the next 
One Word: SILENCE.


  

Sunday, June 2, 2024

One Word Focus: 1 LITTLE

For the month of June, these will be the 4 One Words for us to "Focus" on:

LITTLE

HONESTY

SILENCE

PACE

Interesting combination!


<>

So for this first week, the One Word is:

LITTLE


The scripture verse is from

Luke 16:10

“One who is faithful in a very little is also faithful in much, and one who is dishonest
in a very 
little is also dishonest in much.” 

As you can see, the author has chosen a verse this time with the

One Word: LITTLE
(actually used twice in that verse)

The other scripture verses in the book this week:

Matthew 13:32 (ESV); Matthew 25:21 (ESV);
John 6:9 (ESV); Colossians 3:17 (ESV)

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For being a LITTLE One Word, it sure has many verses and occurrences

with 9 definitions (most with small in it, some with short)

so a little less than half of the Biblical occurrences

are with the meaning "small"

And the nearly 1,000 verses with "little" in the verse begin at

Genesis and cover all the way to Revelation

so there are many to choose from.

Without reading the devotional, as of yet, I am choosing this verse:

"

Philippians 4:10-14 The Message (MSG)


I’m glad in God, far happier than you would ever guess—happy that you’re again showing such strong concern for me. Not that you ever quit praying and thinking about me. You just had no chance to show it. Actually, I don’t have a sense of needing anything personally. I’ve learned by now to be quite content whatever my circumstances. I’m just as happy with little as with much, with much as with little. I’ve found the recipe for being happy whether full or hungry, hands full or hands empty. Whatever I have, wherever I am, I can make it through anything in the One who makes me who I am. I don’t mean that your help didn’t mean a lot to me—it did. It was a beautiful thing that you came alongside me in my troubles.

"

Doing a quick search of this devotion (not including the scripture),

I find about 6 (or 7) uses of "LITTLE" in the book,

but 2 of those are in the FOCUS TIP & it's a good tip.

I will randomly share 3 of these - not necessarily my favorite part but just because

LITTLE

is

in them

"... We undermine the "big" that our God can do with our LITTLE step, so we clamor and reach for more before going forward." ...

Now, remember, I'm not reading the context around these yet as I select.

However, I do understand that all God needs is our small step indicating our willingness,

to help us and encourage our "LITTLE" faith in stepping out & believing 

yet often we hold back, waiting for more just to confirm; and

 He's waiting to just see us step out in faith & act on the "LITTLE" 

"... The LITTLE is never actually LITTLE when it's in the Potter's hands." ...

this one is actually quite good and I'm sure that there are MANY sermons 

on this concept

"... May we give our LITTLE & our best so that He can make it big & do the rest."

Now that's really good advice,

especially if we are afraid or feeling inadequate or uncertain

or just a LITTLE intimidated of trying anything new.

Each of us are unique vessels 

in the Master's hands

designed

to do

our

LITTLE

for His purpose & His glory

each step counts

&

each of us are necessary in

His Kingdom

as we surrender to His will

LITTLE becomes MUCH

{all the way through this, since I started, that one phrase was in my head}

first it was: 

 LITTLE requires MUCH & then I decided that it really should be: 

LITTLE becomes MUCH

[so I went back & inserted that image in the beginning]

which is exactly where He led me & will lead you as you step out

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So let's follow this week's 

FOCUS TIP

in faith

&

watch

the Master Potter

"melt us, mold us, fill us, use us"

Spirit of the Living God

fall afresh on me