"The Spirit of the Sovereign LORD is on me, because the LORD has anointed me to preach good news to the poor. He has sent me to bind up the brokenhearted, to proclaim freedom for the captives and release from darkness for the prisoners, to proclaim the year of the LORD's favor and the day of vengeance of our God, to comfort all who mourn, and provide for those who grieve in Zion — to bestow on them a crown of beauty instead of ashes, the oil of gladness instead of mourning, and a garment of praise instead of a spirit of despair."~from ISAIAH 61 Bible verse for this Blog

APOLOGY to READERS who followed a SEARCH to HERE & didn't find it

On July 18, 2017, I drafted almost 3000 blog posts that I had published since 2008 when I began blogging, rather than edit each one. So if you clicked here from somewhere else and ended up with the post unavailable or error, I am sorry but this is why. It'd be too much work for me to go back and fix them. There's an explanation on 7/19/17 as I'm still learning.

Thursday, August 14, 2025

SOIL of your SOUL

I was hesitant in my DIRECTION with moving ahead in the

Blue Book

{as I indicated on my last blog post towards the end of it}


However, we continued with our One Word focus with the 4 word phrase:

SOIL of your SOUL

this metaphor is used to describe the

"spiritual health and potential growth within a person"

SOIL often is used spiritually to represent

the human heart or SOUL, and the human condition

JESUS

gives us an illustration of 4 different types of soils in His 

"Parable of The Sower"

in Mark 4

[which we spent 3 days this week reading]

So, this is the week in review ... kinda

... SOILS: the path where birds eat up the seed; rocky ground where there isn't much soil for the seeds to put down roots; thorny patches where the cares of the world choke out the seeds; and the good soil that brings forth a harvest ...

In the Parable of the Sower, the "good soil" signifies a receptive heart, 
while the other "SOILS" represent different levels of spiritual readiness.


For most of us, we have understood these different levels and the impact of 
external influences: like birds or thorns, rocks & weeds that hinder our growth

Perhaps
"Seed, Soil and Spirituality"
will help you more than I can
not being a "gardener"
I have very little knowledge of earthly gardens or planting.

I'm sure many of you are much more qualified to write a blog post about

SOIL or SOULS

and that I'm "preaching to the choir" and not the

SOULS

of any who need my tending or words but the

SOULS

 that know much more than I about cultivating

BUT 

GOD, the Master Gardener 

 wants us to Invite Him to Cultivate our SOULS

at least that's what

I've seen and experienced throughout my life

God preparing the SOIL of my heart

then God enriching the *SOIL of my *SOUL
[*Bible Hub links]

"I pray that out of his glorious riches he may strengthen you with power through his Spirit in your inner being, so that Christ may dwell in your hearts through faith. And I pray that you, being rooted and established in love, may have power, together with all the Lord’s holy people, to grasp how wide and long and high and deep is the love of Christ, and to know this love that surpasses knowledge—that you may be filled to the measure of all the fullness of God." Ephesians 3:16-20

And the connection this has with one of my 2025 One Words: ABIDE

"... Like a vine connected to roots, Jesus is our direct connection to God. He clarifies that because He is in the Father, good things will grow as we abide in Him. He explained in John 14:11, “I am in the Father and the Father is in me,” and then in John 15:4, “Abide in Me, and I in you. As the branch cannot bear fruit by itself, unless it abides in the vine, neither can you, unless you abide in Me.” "

Nurturing our SOULS and tending to other's SOULS calls for:

Preparation (tilling & fertilizing) with daily practices of
prayer, reflection & seeking guidance

Cultivation (similar to tending to a garden) our spirit needs the
nurturing of positive qualities & developing virtues as we
actively engage in spiritual disciplines & practices

and our

Responsibility to keep tending to the SOIL of our SOULS ensuring
it remains fertile and capable of growth,
mindful of our thoughts & actions,
actively choosing to cultivate positive habits & qualities

{excuse me for being judgmental, but looking at the condition of our nation, our world; 
WE have not been tending very well to the garden of many SOULS; in my opinion,
many seeds have fallen in "thorny patches", "rocky paths" and apparently
"the birds" have been gathering much of the good seed & robbing the 
SOIL of growing a good harvest, because there is far too much
negativity and cruelty - and I daily see many "weeds" 
crowding out life and fruit of the Spirit in our 
SOULS}

πŸ™

Each day of the week

Father,
     Allow the soil of my soul to be a place that is fertile and receptive to all that You desire to plant in my heart.  Tend it carefully and nurture all that has sprung up in me that is of You; {and please weed out what should not be there} that I may be a garden of Your delight. Through Jesus. Amen"(JLB)

{my insert between the brackets, 
but it's taken care of in this next one}

... "Grow Your good grace in me, O God.  Make me receptive to the ways that You water and tend this garden of my heart.  Prune me where I need pruning, nurture me where I need nurturing, weed me where I need weeding, and care for me tenderly where I need Your tender care.  I love You, O Gardner of my soul.  In the tenderness of Jesus.  Amen. (JLB) 2014


Weekly Scripture Readings (p.274)

Monday Mark 4:1-20;
Tuesday Mark 4:26-29;
Wednesday Mark 4:30-32;
Thursday Matthew 13:24-30;
Friday John 12:20-28;
Saturday Isaiah 5:1-7;
Sunday 1 Corinthians 3:1-9

I am so glad I continued in this DIRECTION 
with SOIL of my SOUL
because my SOUL was thirsty
and the SOIL was drying up!


[Timeless Hebrew Tunes: Empty Vessel - Psalm 51]

"BE STILL MY SOUL (in You I Rest)" Kari Jobe

πŸ’š "Be Still" Kari Jobe πŸ’š

{I meant to post this on Weds.}

Saturday, August 9, 2025

DANCE with Me ...

{OK, not with "me" with HIM 1st, or him 2nd}

My God and Father, Lord of the dance, allow me to see this day and this moment for what it really is—an invitation to dance the dance of life and faith with the One who made me.  May I dance this day with joy and passion, knowing that there will never be another one just like it.  In the name of Jesus I Pray.  Amen.(JLB)


 Lord God, draw me out on the dance floor of life this day and fill my ears and heart with the beautiful music of Your great affection.  Give me such an awareness of your presence that my feet just can’t be still.  Dance with me as I dance with you.  Amen. (JLB)

This DANCE is dedicated as

a Tribute to 2 earthly souls & their Happy Anniversary

ANYHOW

πŸ’šπŸ’š

after, of course, first to

their LORD, and Savior, Jesus Christ

and ours

[I asked earlier in the week, if they had a SONG or DANCE but I was informed that they didn't]

<>

I only wish that any one of these DANCERS were "yours truly"

because this is how I envision 

my DANCE
[another video choice but wrong season]

though I'm a far cry from this;

in my πŸ’™

and

my mind and spirit

it's exactly how I

DANCE

(lol)

<><><>

DANCE WITH ME(2001)
[not his but it is Paul Wilbur]
Paul Wilbur

 {I was sure I had seen a Live video of Paul Wilbur with Dancer or Flags but could not find}

So, may I present

... Harvest Dancers - Bahamas Harvest Church


[I think this couple might prefer being in the Bahamas for their anniversary 
instead of watching a Live video but 
Happy Anniversary again!]

<><><>

Oh,πŸ’šthat first image is your SUNSET DANCE!

Blessings and enjoy this weekend & years to come!

<><><>

JESUS

DANCE with ME

{I liked these words too & the SON}



<>

Not sure about


FOCUS

for upcoming week

{the next one has 5 words}

and on JB blog, he continues next with

DIRECTION (2015) or DEVOTION (2012)

["devotion" was back at #7]

AND

["direction" is ahead almost at the end #54]

although I could use both more devotion and direction

perhaps

we might take a break (lol) that we never did

OR

just continue with #35 (sigh) * SOIL or SOUL (has possibilities)
[*each One Word above linked to day 1 on 
JB's blog in 2 different years: 2012 & 2014]

Let me know if you have a preference

πŸ’šπŸ’™πŸ’œ



Sunday, August 3, 2025

TRUST and DANCE

[image credit: Anne Peterson]

I recently saw this image by Anne Peterson

so I had to share for my 2025

One Word

and then

you might be thinking

TRUST and DANCE?

{yes, they're very related & the partnership & process of TRUST & Skating, too}

but the above image & message may or may not be

I'll let you decide.

[Trust in the Lord: Strive to Be]

"Trust is the foundation of any strong relationship, and in The Dance of Trust, you’ll learn how to strengthen it step by step. This workshop focuses on creating safety, openness, and reliability in your partnership, helping you build a connection rooted in mutual confidence."

Dancing for TRUST


I originally found out about this because I came across

 this image & wanted to use it

[image credit]

Verses
about 
Dancing before the Lord

"TRUST is a crucial element in DANCE partnerships {skating or any, for it to work} as it enables smooth and connected movement. It's a reciprocal process where the leaders must TRUST their partner to follow and the follower must TRUST the leader's guidance." ...

I hope you can see the same spiritual correlation that I see in the above.

"... Building TRUST in DANCE requires practice, communication and a shared understanding of roles and responsibilities."

I discovered an acronym for the 5 Principles of DANCE
B.A.S.T.E.
Body, Action, Space, Time, Energy
"Do You Wanna DANCE"
Kennedy Center

{I do know that Time or Timing is essential but for my case, 
I would use TRUST for the "T"}

It is also said that Space, Time, Force, and Shape
are the 4 main elements of
DANCE.

And the values of DANCE are:
physical, creative, imaginative, emotional, intellectual
development
[source: Human Kinetics]

"In essence, TRUST in DANCE creates a framework where physical and emotional boundaries are respected, communication flows freely (both verbally and non-verbally), and dancers feel empowered to explore, create, and perform 
with confidence and authenticity."


Whether you agreed with me or you decided to as you read my "proof" that "Yes, TRUST and DANCE" relate, connect and are deeply intertwined and hold spiritual significance as well as lifetime lessons as you work on the process. DANCE became a beautiful & wonderful expression of my love & TRUST in the 90s and though my body has aged, the rest of me still senses much through DANCE and as you can see throughout this blog, a high interest & value to me, even if I can't leap or spin or move quite the same - there is always the aMazing GRACE from God! πŸ’™

Through this week in our focus on "the DANCE", I'm sure we will see through Scripture and Readings that God is very much in tune with the movement & involvement of DANCE and building TRUST. {Perhaps "Stance on Dance" may further your interest or any of the links in this blog post to be convinced the important connection between God, TRUST & DANCE! πŸ˜‰


October 2012 [this one has different Scripture readings than πŸ“˜ on some] 

April of 2015  [this one does not have the same Scripture readings in the same order as πŸ“˜]

Interesting addition - *Journal question(s)

We'll just go with the πŸ“˜πŸ˜‰!

As long as we

TRUST and BELIEVE

God whispers lovingly,


PSALM 149






Friday, August 1, 2025

"THE SONG ...

... of 

MY HEART"


[or one with the lyrics & a gorgeous scene]

but it wasn't this one

[image credit: Bible Hub]

I almost went another week without sharing from 

"The


yet how can you not share

when the focus is on

THE SONG

So many wonderful SONGS and verses have been shared!

[Timeless Hebrew] 
This one said "RUTH SONG"

But to go with one of my 2025 One Words, I like this SONG

Originally I had:

* "SONG

of

RESTORATION & PEACE"

{*since this was no longer available, switching to another one}

<>

Praying this as I listen for all of us!

<>

One of the Readings for Reflection


"When he awoke, the song was there.  Its melody beckoned and begged him to sing it.  It hung upon the wind and settled in the meadows where he walked.  He knew its lovely words and could have sung it all, but feared to sing a song whose harmony was far too perfect for human ear to understand.  And still at midnight it stirred him to awareness, and with its haunting melody it drew him with a curious mystery to stand before an open window.  In rhapsody it played among the stars.  It rippled through Andromeda and deepened Vega’s hues.  It swirled in heavy strains from galaxy to galaxy and gave him back his very fingerprint.  “Sing the Song!” the heavens seemed to cry.  “We never could have been without the melody that you alone can sing.” (The Singer by Calvin Miller)"


"... Everything in all of creation, O Lord, is a unique song of yours. And when we sing our song—that song that is buried deeply within each of us—we are indeed being who we were made to be. We are in harmony (shalom) with the voice of our Maker. Help us to sing our song (Your song) clearly and fully this day. In the name of Jesus. Amen. (JLBranch)


October 2012


Hope this week God put a special SONG in your heart 

to get you ready for THE DANCE next week

Keep singing & dancing

in the Lord

<>

"Just sing, sing a SONG"

... sing out loud, sing out strong ...

Sing of good things not bad

... make it simple

make it last your whole life long 

{not Christian, but it kept coming to me all week long}

And they sang a new SONG ... Revelation 14:3


Saturday, July 19, 2025

"...Between SILENCE & Words" ...



"... Somewhere we know that without a lonely place our lives are in danger. Somewhere we know that without silence words lose their meaning, that without listening speaking no longer heals, without distance closeness cannot cure. Somewhere we know that without a lonely place our actions quickly become empty gestures. The careful balance between silence & words, withdrawal & involvement, distance & closeness, solitude & community forms the basis of the Christian life & should therefore be the subjects of our most personal attention. Let us therefore look somewhat closer, first at our life in action, and at our life in solitude."(Out of Solitude by Henri J. M. Nouwen)  


This is not my favorite from the


Readings of Reflection

on

SILENCE

{at least, not yet}

However, it is giving me much to think 
about as I read these words from
"Out of the Solitude ..." by Henri Nouwen

To be honestly truthful, (double whammy) I don't even know or have read or read many of these profound thinkers/ authors/btheologians/ philosophers since maybe in my college classes. So I am uncertain to the reason that I find myself so drawn to these words today. This week on SILENCE has had quite a few readings for reflection from Henri Nouwen {so in my spare time, like I really have any ...} I began to look further into (Father) Henri J. M. Nouwen, a Dutch Catholic priest, professor, writer and theologian, known for his interests to be rooted in a few things but it's the social justice & community that caught my attention. Perhaps this is the reason for my further interest and these words taking on such an impact, because this was an earlier reading this week. {I'm looking forward to the last one chosen on Isaiah because I think that will be my favoritestrikethrough because it wasn't} & so far, I haven't found it in the Blue Book. 

The words in BOLD are in the image and the underlined part about our actions becoming empty gestures clearly did stand out {and I'm the one that chose to make bold & underline} however it's the part that comes after that about the "careful balance" (all highly significant, not just "SILENCE and words" ... ) yet the part that follows is THE PART, which says "... forms the basis of the Christian life ... and our personal attention" which seems to be the key part for me, while looking closer at my own life in action {or lack therein} and "our life in solitude." At this juncture, my mind - pushed by my heart pauses and becomes a deeper reflection & introspection or self-examination of my life {there's alot of years to cover this all, it's not a flash moment} so I quickly divert and become side-tracked by 3 words: solitude, solitary, and I end up with SOLIDARITY - {once again this has to do with my own interest in word studies & roots (etymological)} so the first 2 embrace "aloneness, being alone" while the last is more of a union - a feeling of "WE-ness" but yet solitude and solidarity can be interconnected through: self-reflection & empathy; recharging for connection; shared human experience, which can pave the way for a stronger sense of shared humanity and collective action. Thus, we arrive at social justice and community. Frankly, it is this that draws me and my deep concern over the division in our country and the world. {don't worry, I'm not going to get into this or on my "soapbox" this post}πŸ˜‰ This probably is not your niche, or fits with your Christian walk (life), but for me, especially in the days & time WE are facing, SOLIDARITY and social justice are exactly what Jesus Christ calls us to live and be for each other ... commUNITY begins in UNITY and WE were called to be the United States of America  (by the way, Mexico & other countries also have united states that make up their country). 

Also, I think that it's important that I make note that the full title of H. Nouwen (link is to an interview) is "Out of Solitude: Three Meditations on the Christian Life" - drawing on 3 moments in the life of Jesus. 

<><><>

While searching, as I too often do, I came upon two very different sites - the first one goes along in some ways with the above "Shoulder to Shoulder: The Importance of Solidarity" in a interesting website "Plant with Purpose" and their prayer request praise & prayer need page.

<><><>

The other search site has very many choices - serious or just for fun.

I will only share a few (cuz you know I could get carried away):

Top 25 


SILENCE is Golden

[and so many more]

but just this one more for this week

HENRI NOUWEN

<><><>

Because day 7 of SILENCE for the


is too long for YV for

Isaiah 30:15-18 Voice

"Listen! The Lord, the Eternal, the Holy One of Israel says, Eternal One: In returning and rest, you will be saved. In quietness and trust you will find strength. But you refused. [16] You couldn't sit still; instead, you said, "No! We will ride out of here on horseback. Fast horses will give us an edge in battle." But those who pursue you will be faster still. [17] When one person threatens, a thousand will panic and flee. When five terrorize you, all will run pell-mell, Until you are as conspicuous as a single flag standing high on a hill. [18] Meanwhile, the Eternal One yearns to give you grace and boundless compassion; that's why He waits. For the Eternal is a God of justice. Those inclined toward Him, waiting for His help, will find happiness."


"...For most of our lives it seems—and particularly our spiritual lives—we live with a constant sense of pressure to have to make things happen.   It is a way of thinking and believing that is very subtle, and even seems noble and right at first glance, but one that is incredibly deceptive.  For, at its heart, this mode of operation says: "Everything is up to me.”  Which is really nothing more than what Parker Palmer calls “functional atheism.”  Functional atheism is the belief that ultimate responsibility for everything rests with us.  This way of thinking carries with it an enormous amount of pressure, insecurity, and anxiety.
     Isaiah is trying to open our ears to a new voice, one that says, “I cannot make anything of true value happen; that is all up to God.  He is the One in charge of salvation and growth and transformation, not me.  He is the One that causes the heart to change; that causes the seed to grow.”  Therefore, a shift must take place deep within us; a shift from trusting in ourselves to trusting in our God.  A shift from the pressure of doing to the freedom of being. 
     That appears to be what is going on in Isaiah 30.  Israel is under attack, their world filled with fear and chaos.  But instead of turning to God—the One who knows them best and loves them most, the One who longs to save them—they panic, take matters into their own hands, and run off in another direction altogether; trying to insure and/or secure their own salvation.  In fact, they turn to Egypt and beg Pharaoh (of all people) to come to their rescue.  Because when their backs are against the wall their true beliefs come out.  Instead of turning to God they turn to their own schemes, plans, and devices. 
     So God intervenes.  He comes to them and reminds them of what life with Him is really all about.  “Your salvation will be found in returning and rest.  Don't try to take matters into your own hands, don't carry out plans that are not mine (Isaiah 30:1).  Turn back to me: once, twice, and always again.  For when you turn (and return) to me you will find rest.  I am the Sovereign Lord, the only one that can truly save you, the only one worthy of your TRUST.  Come to me.  Find rest in me.  Trust quietly in me.  For I am in control.”
     So, indeed, a shift is required—in them and in us.  A shift from trying to make things happen, to turning (and returning) constantly to God and trusting Him to work and to act.  A shift that helps us to understand that the most significant elements of living life with God are not in doing this and doing that, but in returning and restquietness and trust.  Those are the materials we are to build our spiritual lives out of.  So, as the old saying goes, “Don't just do something, stand there.” from Jim Branch website, Room to Flourish

I guess this is more on TRUSTπŸ˜‰πŸ˜ for me

🎢
I sought the Lord and He heard and He answered 
I sought the Lord and He heard and He answered
I sought the Lord and He heard and He answered
That’s why I trust Him 
That’s why I trust Him
🎢

God knows that I don't do well being SILENT 
or in SILENCE or REST or QUIET 

In "Telling the Truth" by
Fred Buechner
(Reading of Reflection)
he confirms this:
"... We are none of us very good at 
SILENCE.
It says too much."

<>

Praying

you are able to enjoy

some SILENCE on

Sunday!

πŸ™

see ya' Monday YV (I think)
<>

I sure shared alot this week of SILENCE - guess SILENCE was too much for me.

Reflection can do that to a person.

<>

No worries for this week (lol)

I got nothing to say on

INTIMACY 1

#32 Intimacy 2 - 3 - 4 - 5 - 6 - 7
(October 2012 JB blog)
p.244-252



To my faithful visitors;
all of you who spend your valuable time here with me
I do appreciate you so much!

Thank you for taking your time to visit!

Love, Sweet blessings & Hugs!

DIOS TE BENDIGA
GOD BLESS YOU

always

Peggy