For the month of OCTOBER , these will be the 4 One Words for us to "Focus" on:
FREEDOM
this week of October 6
RENEW
the week of October 13
TRUST
the week of October 20
ANCHORED
the week of October 27
SCROLL ALL THE WAY DOWN TO
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I will be doing only one post for the month (similar to September)
only I will just add the next
ONE WORD
of the week and do it briefly here
with Scripture(s) for the One Word Focus
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1st Week
FREEDOM
the week of October 6
| But whoever looks intently into the perfect law that gives FREEDOM, and continues in it—not forgetting what they have heard, but doing it—they will be blessed in what they do. James 1:25 NIV |
| "... FREEDOM equals wide open spaces & no boundaries ...& make any decision we want, yes?"CCR"... how we misdefine FREEDOM" |
| Galatians 5:13 NIV; 1 Corinthians 6:12; John 8 :31-32 NIV; 2 Corinthians 3:17 NIV "Jesus, in obeying You, I find FREEDOM." |
* RENEW *
the week of October 13
| Set your minds on things that are above, not on things that are on earth. Colossians 3:2 ESV |
| 1 Corinthians 2:16 ESV; Romans 12:2 ESV; 1 Peter 1:13 ESV; Philippians 4:8 ESV "Jesus, RENEW my mind and restore my thoughts." 🙏🏼 "... as we focus on the word RENEW... try to capture our negative thoughts and recalibrate our mind into thoughts of love and gratefulness." [CCR's 🙏🏼 & Focus Tip] |
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[image credit: YV]
TRUST
the week of October 20
| Let the morning bring me word of your unfailing love, for I have put my TRUST in you. Show me the way I should go, for to You I entrust my life. Psalm 143:8 NIV |
| Proverbs 3:5-6 NIV; Psalm 56:3 NIV; Psalm 121:3 NIV; Jeremiah 17:7-8 NIV "Jesus, lead the way. I TRUST You." |
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[image credit: TC3 a YV Bible plan]
I just love the image, so I had to use it.
ANCHORED
the week of October 27
| This hope is a strong and trustworthy anchor for our souls. It leads us through the curtain into God's inner sanctuary. Hebrews 6:19 NLT |
Looking forward to this One Word being
| Romans 5:5 NIV; Psalm 62:5-6 ESV; Psalm 5:11 NIV; 2 Corinthians 4:8-9 NLT |
Such a good example of FREEDOM and boundaries! It was the whole of the devotion that I found uniquely freeing & fulfilling with a fresh perspective on FREEDOM and special on how this sweet example IS like how it is with us & Jesus & the "adventure" ultimately before us! and yet how we do "misinterpret His provision as withholding possibility" yet that He's really protecting our future. My favorite part comes in this understanding: "He knows that the Only Way we can experience TRUE FREEDOM is when we obey His instruction" ... "because we can trust His boundary lines ..." all the way through to the end (this beautiful conclusion) that "preserves our life for the ultimate adventure!" How very loving to know that because of Jesus, we are FREE & our precious Heavenly Father designed this to be so & we have the wonderful privilege to know the Truth that "sets us FREE" & the cost paid for our FREEDOM. A treasure to behold & cherish forever - our ultimate FREEDOM in Kingdom living & loving! Thank You Jesus!
ReplyDeleteI totally agree and share your opinions on this chapter! The analogy in the book was one that resonated with me because of the dog. Just like the so-called freedom of no restraints and boundaries, I also recall the panic when my dog was lost and the relief when she was found. The times I’ve wandered away, my heavenly Father doesn’t “panic” but I know He’s sad that I ran and He watches for my return.
ReplyDeleteMy favorite quote is yours:
“He knows that the only way we can experience true freedom is when we obey His instruction”
Thank you for sharing your precious words & tail (tale) of lost dog ... I know the feeling of panic, for sure - but what you add about our Heavenly Father is so true & we're both in agreement & so very thankful! We often are in sync - that's why we're not just BFF or Heavenly Hopeful Friends Forever but SISTERS of the heart!!! There is no one like you! (not a sister, not a childhood or adult friend has been so really wonderful & encouraging and you are ever so giving ... thanks so much for always thinking & remembering me! You & Jesus have so much in common too! That's why it's so easy to love you! Best kind of God love that there is - the forever kind without conditions! That's what His FREEDOM gives us & brings us! Blessing upon you as you experience the best each day like you give to me & others that have the privilege to know you. Thank you Karen!
DeleteI feel the same way about you, sis! Thank you, Peggy!
Deleteand you show & have shown this over & over to me❣️🎁🫶🏼🤗
DeleteRENEW - to make NEW again. As I read from CCR's devo, the opening statistics of thoughts & seconds were aMazing to me & never would I think of breaking this down like she did. Then I thought I found what strikes me
ReplyDeleteas the quote being this part of "- we choose what aligns with a mind that pleases God." {at least I hope so} And I read on to include the next sentence of "With the mind of Christ, we do not grow weary (sigh) when the unexpected occurs because we trust what He is doing." {ouch} but as usual it's the last paragraph of 2 sentences that God spoke the loudest & most personally (however the last sentence that preceded this concluding paragraph caught my attention "And no matter our circumstances ... (oh my, yes) ... He is in control." {the part in between ... is what I need to "remain in a posture of peace". Since my thoughts do wander, I knew that last paragraph was for me. Let's face it, Peggy, you needed every word in this one to RENEW your mind & have the mind of Christ. Surely if I did, I would realign my focus by remembering His Word (& pierce my wandering thoughts) as I RENEW my mind & see the power of Christ alive & at work; there would be less wandering & worrying & negativity & just maybe my "mind set on Jesus will change the whole world" or most certainly my corner of this world & if we each would do this, it will impact the whole world. What a truly wonderful thought!
and a hope that we can change & actually "capture any negative thought & recalibrate ... into gratefulness & love." What a better place this world would be & might actually look like the Kingdom of God. Powerful devo & One Word: RENEW and restore. "...any significant & lasting change is always possible because of a RENEWED mind."
and what follows is a life RENEWAL & a Christ-like transformation. Thank You Lord, RENEW & RESTORE & create in me a clean heart (& mind) in Jesus Christ, I pray.
"When we find our hearts growing weary, let’s retrace where we placed our hope. As we learn to continually RENEW our minds and put our lives back in His hands, our souls will cultivate a place of rest." from another devotional by CCR "Be Still" (YV day 14)10-22
Delete“When we stop treating our thoughts as though they are our customers and we are waiting on them, we can begin to nurture good thoughts and tell other ones to hit the road-no conversation necessary.” I liked that! (plus all the parts you mentioned from the book). This quote is something that is nice in theory but unfortunately real life doesn’t always cooperate. Philippians 4:8 has been a favorite and something I try to live by (with God’s grace}. The problem is with the negative people in our life sometimes get louder than our good intentions. I’m looking forward to pondering RENEW this week.
ReplyDeleteHow true your own words are!!! Your choice is a really good one too! Like I thought I said somewhere in my jibberish, the entire devo had so much to hold on to & reread because like your choice, hidden gems just seem to strike you as you think on each thought. I am sure you do much better than I at living out Philippians 4:8 but it is most certainly the one that should guide our thoughts & wisely do. Your wise words that followed this speak almost as loudly as those negative influencers. We'll ponder together & share our verses on RENEW with hopes that it helps us be restored & renewed in our thoughts & more. Thank you for pointing out the "hit the road" quote & sharing. Always good! 😊 💚🤗
DeleteFor some reason, the images I chose for RENEW would not allow me to upload. I had one of the EAGLE for my favorite verse of Isaiah 40:31. Oh and I was blessed again on my birthday with an eagle 🦅 fly over me - such a delight when God sends a special sign to us, it gave me much hope!
ReplyDeleteI LOVE when the Lord does that! It’s like a mini- renewal 😉
DeleteTRUST Webster's Revised Unabridged Dictionary
ReplyDelete1. (n.) Assured resting of the mind on the integrity, veracity, justice, friendship, or other sound principle, of another person; confidence; reliance; reliance.
[there were 19 definitions listed at Bible Hub]
This is a good One Word for me following RENEW and FREEDOM because that first part of this definition is definitely needed by me when it comes to TRUST and as I read through this 1st definition of 19 to be the best & all of the words are important in completing what I need in order to TRUST "assured resting of my mind" stood out right away & confidence & reliance.
I lightly chuckled as I read CCR's 11 yr. old camping experience as it caused me to recall my own at Camp Ojikita, which I visit frequently since I've returned home in 2016 from MX because it's just north of where we live now & yet unlike CCR I don't recall my 1 camping experience as a TRUST issue but we canoed & got soaked also back then pitching our tents & carrying our supplies getting wet in the rain. This similarity caused me to lose the focus on TRUST & although I have significant issues with TRUST, mine isn't related to my camping adventure but I did appreciate when CCR wrote this "I wonder if maybe our holdup about our next adventure in our current life is due to a lack of TRUST in the One we follow." That statement did hit home. I'm thankful that the One I follow has never failed & because of His faithfulness & keeping His Word, not only can my mind rest & TRUST in Him completely but when people fail or I can't TRUST humans, I am confident & often run to Him for the reassurance that I need or because of the hurt of mistrust & repeated experiences throughout my life that have left me unable to TRUST. But I can't leave this with speaking of how I can't TRUST others but I too have failed another & their TRUST in me. So I know & see & understand this TRUST issue from both sides; being a victim but also causing someone to not be able to TRUST me & the consequences; yet in me, there has been a change (a turnaround) when honesty (truth) & integrity & other important characteristics have become very important in me & to me to be trustworthy & especially so God sees me as one that He can TRUST since I totally rely on my TRUST in Him & its importance. My TRUST issue is very real to me & causes panic (& PTSD) in me & perhaps my problem that others see as worry in me & I call concern. But there's really no excuse & I need God to work this out in me & bring healing so I can do better & be more effective in His Kingdom. Many may say I can't TRUST God who I don't see if I can't TRUST humans who I do see, but somehow my TRUST with God is solid & based on knowing Him closely & deeply & see His faithfulness no matter what in my life & in His Word packed with others' TRUST in Him & how He comes through time & time again.
I can't say that the quote I shared from the devo is the best (so I probably will be back with one after I read & look for what stands out to me) but this One Word & all the verses I find & now Lysa's new book on TRUST will hopefully continue to keep TRUST & God as a place I need to RENEW my thoughts & life healing journey. God is so good!
I enjoyed reading about your camping adventure! My very first camping trip was shortly after I was married and it’s not a pleasant memory so I’ll spare you the details.
DeleteWe share the same ideas about trust and the Lord is our rock solid foundation on that matter. That’s why the quote shared didn’t really resonate with me. I’ve had too many instances during my lifetime to know beyond a shadow of a doubt that as long as I trust God, things will work out according to His perfect plan. I just get impatient! Discouragement rears its ugly head too at times but deep in my heart I believe. My mind needs renewal so my trust doesn’t waver. He’s still working on me....constantly!
Oh sis there's so much more! Wet boxes of our food, fell out the bottom of the boxes right into a cow pie and my group hurriedly pitched our tent, right on a spider's nest because I, for one, woke up with bites all over me and upon our return from that adventure I was in sick bay (I think that's what it was called) and missed some really fun times. I think this is where I became attached to Eeyore (perhaps I was his character in a puppet or play) but the camping experience highlight for me & the reason I wanted to go there (even not being a Bluebird or Camp Fire girl (but my sister was) was for the horseback riding! I'm not much of a camper at all. You will have to give me a write-up some day of yours (at least it wasn't your honey moon)!
DeleteI so appreciate your wise words on our Lord & TRUST! You're so honestly vulnerable. Did you take "the One" in that quote to be our Lord? I was thinking because it's capitol "O" that it was referring to the One & Only. I'm thinking "our holdup" in our next adventure currently in our life might have to do with TRUST in people, but not TRUST in the One we follow, but the humans that don't seem to really be following Him or the ones that have caused us to mistrust. Sometimes we do follow the wrong one (the enemies in our lives, or people that are poor choices until the True One points out that this one will lead us down the wrong path to follow, which destroys or robs us from being able to TRUST. {I hope that you can follow what I'm trying to say} I do agree with your firm convictions that you always are sure to share. HE stills working on me - too! and I pray my mind is being renewed and changed by His Word (& my sister/friend who gently reminds and prods me in the right direction to follow "iron sharpens iron") Thanks as always!!! Thank You Rock of our foundation! Lead us where we need to follow You daily.
Rain will definitely dampen a first time camping experience....another thing we share! I’ll email the details later.
DeleteI did assume the “One” to be my Lord,too, so trust in Him wasn’t an issue. But people....well, I agree on the trust issues there. Wholehearted trust in “dust” is tricky
oh that's a good one! (your last statement).
DeleteIt's good to know that I wasn't way off about that "One" - yep, no problem or TRUST issues there!
Always love it when we're on the same page or share memories.
In the book, I liked :”He knows what invigorates our soul and what calms our hearts(does He ever!!) ; however, He will challenge us. He will instruct us to leap when we want to run, but we can rest assured that wherever He leads, it is for our best.”
ReplyDelete🎶Touching Jesus is all that matters,
Then your life will never be the same;
There is only one way to touch Him,
Just believe when you call on His name.🎶
Oh yes sis!!! That's perfect ... good thing you shared and pointed that out for my CALM One Word, or else that would probably have been my choice on my re-read selection! And my creative, musical sister - that's a new song for me, yet the words have a melodious beauty! Thank you for its message & yours!
DeleteI'm not so sure about the sentence after your "perfect choice" that is now highlighted in my book (because it is the best) however that next sentence I need to share - most often it's that concluding paragraph & sentence that stand out but this is between yours and the concluding sentence: "The space between our comfort and our calling is what develops TRUST in our Creator." Again, like the previous one I shared above ... I'm not too sure I understand what CCR is saying. I fortunately think I've said YES to most adventures (maybe not every one yet) that He offers and I agree that in those places, there is "a stop on the road to abundant life" but I've found that fulfilling our calling (or attempting to do that) brings us closer & are samples of abundant life, just by the experience(s) of our calling & comfort or no comfort (probably dealing with the TRUST of stepping out & doing what we're called to do, as our comfort (cuz sometimes we do step out of our comfort zone) yet I think that CCR is saying that when we take the leap inspite of our insecurities or inadequacies (lack of comfort) we just need to TRUST Him (and I do, especially in any calling) and our TRUST increases and develops in Him but not in the space between the comfort level and the calling, rather in the adventure itself and the experience is where our TRUST level develops; however if we do not have success in that calling, we cannot fault TRUST, or our calling, nor the lack of TRUST in not achieving our calling; the TRUST comes in the building of our intimate relationship with Him over the years (for me) not in the space between comfort & calling; yet our TRUST in Him does bring us comfort in our calling. I guess I am kinda having a difficult time with this devotional. Perhaps I'm missing the entire point on TRUST. I will declare that I TRUST God fully with whatever He has coming my way and let me tell you, this 2024 with the One Word CALM is/was a definite Word that I need day after day and would never have thought or guessed the direction this year has taken and how very necessary His whisper to CALM my heart and teach me & my soul to find strength in Him and not just TRUST but RELY on God, as my Rock, Fortress and Source for every thought and action, as HE keeps me together & pressing on "touching Jesus" and letting Jesus touch me when I call on His Name ... He's there, He leads and I can TRUST Him, but still not so many people. And it seems to be getting worse instead of better.
ReplyDeleteSorry if my thoughts don't make sense. I think I get what she's saying but again I guess I don't agree.
DeleteYet I love the words of Psalm 143:8 and this is my new hope & prayer each morn, may I never forget.
This devo wasn’t my favorite either, and I think you did a much better job at explaining TRUST. Psalm 143:8 is the perfect scripture for this!
DeleteThanks sis - always such an encourager, but I wouldn't go that far. For me, CCR's way of addressing TRUST was just not as effective as she's been on others & I still fail to make the connections or catch her points. And for those of us who struggle with TRUST (usually not with the One) but with humans who have contributed to our mistrust or lack of TRUST; I just don't see it correlating with an adventure nor our calling in the way she's written this, or I'm really missing her correlation (or my experience just does not). Thanks for not letting me think it's just me.
Delete"... When we are ANCHORED in Him, He transforms our perspective, ushers peace in the storm, and provides eternal security." ...
ReplyDeleteWith ANCHORED as the One Word, I was expecting much more. This ending quote is perhaps where this devo should have started. Although the parts on "drifting" are true and we do allow ourselves to "drift pretty easily"; the key to this was the better truth that "The good news is that our true ANCHOR - the Grace of Jesus - never lost its way or its willingness to help us come back." and the part that follows. Yet still I was looking for more about being "ANCHORED" however with Jesus, as our ANCHOR and His aMazing Grace that's steadfast & readily available; we are better able to set our sails, knowing that we can return to the security of His Truth & the certainty of His Word, His Promises, which will ANCHOR us once again or assure us that with Jesus, all things (or more things) are possible, so we should remain ANCHORED to/with/in Jesus & the assurance that we have in Him - because "the Anchor Holds" and we can TRUST Jesus through those storms & battered from rough winds & sail confidently beyond the rough times into a CALM & peaceful place once again as we cling to our Rock & know that this person & Savior Jesus, is our Firm Foundation, and on Him, we can rely in everything we face & look toward a heavenly horizon! To God be the glory!
I have journeyed
DeleteThrough the long, dark night
Out on the open sea
By faith alone
Sight unknown
And yet His eyes were watching me
The anchor holds
Though the ship is battered
The anchor holds
Though the sails are torn
I have fallen on my knees
As I faced the raging seas
The anchor holds
In spite of the storm
I've had visions
I've had dreams
I've even held them in my hand
But I never knew
They would slip right through
Like they were only grains of sand
The anchor holds
Though the ship is battered
The anchor holds
Though the sails are torn
I have fallen on my knees
As I faced the raging seas
The anchor holds
In spite of the storm
I have been young
But I am older now
And there has been beauty
That these eyes have seen
But it was in the night
Through the storms of my life
Oh, that's where God proved
His love to me
The anchor holds
Though the ship is battered
The anchor holds
Though the sails are torn
I have fallen on my knees
As I faced the raging seas
The anchor holds
In spite of the storm
I have fallen on my knees
As I faced the raging seas
The anchor holds
In spite of the storm
by Ray Boltz (1994) [the above lyrics]
“The Anchor Holds” was written by American Christian singer and songwriter, Lawrence Chewning. Inspired by Hebrews 6:19, which states, “We have this hope as an anchor for the soul, firm and secure,” Chewning penned the lyrics and composed the music sometime in the early 1990s.
https://lawrencechewning.com/blogs/about-lawrence-continued/posts/5887968/the-story-behind-the-anchor-holds
Oh, I love that song and it’s the first one that comes to mind whenever I read/hear the word ANCHOR! Once again your explanation and thoughts on the ONE WORD are clearer and more FOCUSed than CCR. I have not read ahead in the book but I hope the final portions are more profound and inspiring as earlier chapters were written.
DeleteI loved the opening paragraph in the book and especially this : “What we tie ourselves to reveals what we believe can sustain us.” Might I declare instead is we KNOW can sustain us! I was glad to read the final paragraph, too, as there wasn’t a usual crescendo between the first and last paragraphs. So I say “AMEN” especially to your last summarized statement in the comment. They are my thoughts exactly!
ReplyDelete