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Tuesday, August 6, 2024

CALM - starting again

As I was "taking inventory" mid-year, I noticed that I have not shared many blog posts about my 2024 One Word ...


...so it may look like my FOCUS is on every other One Word instead of CALM. Yet with each FOCUS One Word, I still SEEK CALM (after all I have a beautiful night time book, actually a few now, but the main one or nightly one is * "Jesus, CALM my Heart" for this entire year) more than anything. And, I particularly noticed this during that mid-year (July) inventory because I was, as I often am, in the midst of chaos, or anything but a CALM place, except when I enter His Word or His Presence, especially in peaceful worship - the moments I step out of the reality surrounding my life and so many dear ones; until I enter time of prayer, mostly intercession time, and it's then I decided I need more PRAISE time and moments of ADORATION; sometimes just moments outside bring me this, if I am able to leave behind those "troubles" - until like this past week, one of God's creations outdoors (an aggressive one) stings me not once but a few times from a ground nest I mowed over tall grass there, later I find out that once again I was a victim of some yellow jackets. Very painful stings. CALM was the furthest thing from my life at that time, both in doors and outdoors, but within and inside of me, God reminds me of the CALM He can bring to me. 

I turn to my *yearly book and some of the others to find CALM, to "Trade my Cares for Calm", at least with much hope that I can - and I lay down, opening to Chapter 4 in another book, seeking His CALM, with "Keep Calm and Make a Plan" (well, I was too far from that at this point in time) and my, oh, my - this is the half-way mark of 2024) maybe I should try another book; "Less Fret, More Faith" - now that's more like it. But then I remember one of my very favorite somewhat older books, that I frequent often - but clearly not often enough but Julie Gillies only shares 100 "Prayers to Calm ..." (I won't even finish the words of her title because I just don't want to accept that my heart is a------, that word that I fight keeping out of my vocabulary, if and whenever possible). But it's a heartbreaking reality, for me and more than 40 million adults in the United States. I try my best to deny that I wrestle with this, but something truly must be keeping me awake on & off through the nights. Julie's book opens with this startling fact or stat in the Invitation of her book as she calmly bids us "to pause, to breathe, and let our hearts rest in God's CALMING Presence."  My denial just isn't helpful, even if I just try to re-word and use the words that restate this as "I'm just very concerned". 

So I have decided to restart Julie's book, with the first devotional of "Unshaken" and the scripture base for this devotion is Psalm 16:8 (which has come up quite a few times in 2024).
Julie uses the NLT version but I choose to share 2 other versions (neither one uses the word CALM, nor Unshaken) yet I sense God's CALM just reading and re-reading these words:

Because I set you, YAHWEH, always close to me, my confidence will never be weakened, for I experience your wraparound presence every moment. Psalm 16:8 TPT

He is ever present with me; at all times He goes before me. I will not live in fear or abandon my calling because He stands at my right hand. 
Psalm 16:8 Voice

I guess I took "taking inventory" too seriously because now I am back with my regular procedure of starting with a definition of the One Word or the WORD, 
(which I don't think I ever did for my 2024 One Word yet)
so it's way overdue:

CALM

according to Webster's Revised Unabridged Dictionary

that Bible Hub uses

"1. (n.) Freedom from motion, agitation, or disturbance; a cessation or absence of that which causes motion or disturbance, as of winds or waves; tranquility; stillness; quiet; serenity.

2. (n.) To make calm; to render still or quiet, as elements; as, to calm the winds.

3. (n.) To deliver from agitation or excitement; to still or soothe, as the mind or passions.

4. (super.) Not stormy; without motion, as of winds or waves; still; quiet; serene; undisturbed.

5. (super.) Undisturbed by passion or emotion; not agitated or excited; tranquil; quiet in act or speech. "

then my next step is to do a Search for my One Word: CALM

{of course, Bible Hub shares verses; but my other dependable source gives various versions}

Verses that contain CALM
(229)
 but that includes variations of CALM, like calmed, calms, calmly, etc.

[I'm not able to link to their site, or app because it just takes you to search of any word only]

180 of the 229 verses are found in the Old Testament (OT)

and

only 49 of the 229 verses are from the New Testament (NT)

I will work my way backwards with sharing these verses starting with:

Revelation 1:4 AMP

John, to the seven churches that are in [the province of] Asia: 
Grace [be granted] to you and peace 
[inner CALM and spiritual well-being], 
from Him Who is [existing forever] 
and Who was [continually existing in the past] 
and Who is to come, 
and from the seven Spirits that are before His throne ...

After having completed a PAUSE (YV) plan on PEACE, 
I find it soothing to see that the Amplified "amplifies"
PEACE
as "inner CALM" and "spiritual well-being"

{which really explains much for me, about my personal lack}

It's no wonder that God spoke the One Word

CALM

for me for 2024

associated

with inner and spiritual well-being

without even looking at my outward fears and insecurities

<><><>

Since I have done One blog post now for the entire month of August, that publishes at 6 pm Sunday evenings for the entire week, I have reserved that time space for FOCUS. I was thinking that I might consider doing another blog post (if inspired) on the One Word FOCUS later in the week, however I may choose to use this time or Sat. possibly to FOCUS on my 2024 One Word CALM. But I don't want a post on Sat. followed by another on Sun. so don't be surprised if the rest of this year, I begin to share more on CALM and only one on FOCUS (unless I do a midweek blog post on our FOCUS One Word and just a reminder on Sun. of what the One Word is for that Week - linked to the monthly one. As you can tell, I'm shaking up my regular routine a bit of publishing blog posts on Sunday, when my original thought on one monthly post was for lack of time because "life" is limiting my time more but hopefully that will end sooner than later and seriously, I need this blogging time more as a therapeutic place for me; sometimes more than a place for you, the reader. However, I hope that somewhere in my blog posts that the Jesus, I know and love, shines into your own life with some encouragement or inspiration or you find some part that connects to you in your own life. With my shift to CALM (in addition to the 4 FOCUS One Words), I'm hoping that whatever your situation that some of the CALM in my chaos will help you find more CALM. 

In one of the blog posts this year (or possibly 2 blog posts) I shared the acronym that Max Lucado has coined for C.A.L.M. and I'll share it again as a reminder from Philippians 4:4-8

CELEBRATE
(Celebrate God's Goodness, v.4)

ASK
(Ask God for help, v.6)

LEAVE
(Leave your concerns, v.6)

{I think I've gotten to this place often, but you know ... what happens}

Meditate
(Meditate on good things, v.8 NCV)


"Dear Lord, You spoke to storms. (Many of the verses of the gospels & Psalms  that contain CALM are about Jesus & the "storm" with His disciples) Would you speak to ours? You calmed the hearts of the apostles. Would you CALM the chaos within us? You told them to fear not. Say the same to us. We are worry, battered and belittled by the gales of life. Oh, Prince of Peace, bequeath to us a spirit of CALM. ... " Max Lucado ... As I continue to SEEK and search for CALM, "will you turn a new leaf in my life" ...through the pages in my CALM books. "Quench" any sign of "anxiety" in me. "Stir courage. Let us know less fret and more faith. In Your name, I pray. Amen [Less Fret, More Faith - an 11 week action plan to overcome anxiety] 

Help me Lord

CALM MY HEART

to fret less and find more faith

in me to deal with life

each day.

I will Celebrate You & Your Goodness,

I will Ask You for help as I start my day and end each night

(or when I'm awakened)

I will really learn to Leave my concerns with You

and Your more than capable hands

as I continue to

Meditate on good things

(and look for a good thing in each day)

to give You thanks & more Praise

for in Your Presence

I soak in the

PEACE

and

cling to You

and Your soothing inner

CALM

as I 

SEEK

MORE of YOU

in me

a spiritual well-being

that

I need, Jesus!

Thank You!



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Bless you for your visit and encouraging words! I thank you and I am humbly blessed by YOU and the time you spend with me... Peace, "Mazmagi" Peggy