"In His TIME"

{yes, it's almost this TIME of the year}

Some of you may be aware that I really do not have the TIME to be doing much; especially writing a "blog post", especially today - however God always has the TIME; God has always given me His TIME; and I've come to know so well, that God makes all things "beautiful in His TIME". When I saw this was the next focus One Word in The Blue Book (even after being "excused for a break" last week to take care of life's pressing issues that you cannot put on hold) and I saw TIME, I knew God was speaking to me about "a TIME for everything" (Ecclesiastes 3 (day 1) - All but specifically verse 11) But most people have heard of the many verses that show opposite TIMES, such as "a TIME to live, and a TIME to die" ... which is very current in this past year of my life, not for the end of my own life (though it might be) but for a dear one for the second TIME in crisis of death drawing ever so near, and for the second time of caregiving for me. Transitioning from Hospital care, to home care, to Hospice care to Palliative Care and now back to Hospice Care. 

Focusing on TIME this week is important because it quickly is getting away from me, one year at a TIME, one day at a TIME, one morning at a TIME and then it's already night TIME and I've had no TIME for my regular routine or myself (reminded by many that I need to take care of myself - and I do, or at least I try). The best reassurance I have this week is "in God's TIME" and Hands; and God's TIME (timing) is Perfect. We might not see it as perfect at the TIME, but later in retrospect, we often (probably always) find the Truth of the why, when, how, etc. of the TIME. Years ago, actually decades, I was in a recovery "marriage" group and the theme song

was this following one: 

"IN HIS TIME"

"In His time" or "in God's time" means that events unfold according to God's perfect, omniscient plan and timing, rather than human desires for immediacy. It implies an acceptance of divine wisdom, TRUST in God's sovereignty, and a willingness to wait with patience and faithfulness for his appointed moment for things to happen for the ultimate good of His creation."

What I do know for sure is this week is a gift of God's TIME! Every minute, every second, every breath! I needed to mark this TIME with this blog post and reading this week all the readings and all of God's Word to highlight God's TIME and note it's perfect, it's priceless and preparation for each of us (to be ready, in whatever we must do) and never ever take any TIME for granted. In God's TIME reminds me that He is revealing to me in 2025 to TRUST; which means that there are divinely appointed moments; because God sees the bigger picture, He knows what's best and it's perfect timing & works for His Glory and our ultimate good; To live "in His time" requires trusting in God's wisdom, goodness, and faithfulness, even when things are delayed or do not align with our expectations, thus TRUST & Faith are built; preparation and refinement - our character is refined, our dependence on God is deepened, and our faith in God is strengthened, as we align our lives & expectations to HIS; and then surrendering - "letting go of control" - that need for immediate results while we should be waiting & growing, we must recognize that ultimately God's in control so let that anxiety & worry go because God has a purpose in HIS timing. 

God's timing and mine (ours) come from a different perspective ... so "When God's Timing Takes too Long" (read this by Joyce Meyer) or if you're seeking to TRUST this year, like me then try "Trusting God's Timing" or "God's TIME and Our TIME" (a rich reflection in distinguishing "chronos" and "Kairos" helps in Jackie Trottman's blog post). If looking for a great teaching video (18 minutes) from last year "TRUST God's Timing". I'm sure that you're like me and your TIME is limited so choose wisely or tuck away for another TIME but TRUST me, you and I are living for "such a TIME as this" so let's make the best of our TIME and God's gift of TIME each day. {I hope that I won't regret acknowledging our Perfect God's TIME and how very important it is to me - especially this last week of August:

On August 25th, 2018 - this loved one began a short journey that ended the end of the week with being sent home on Hospice just "to die" and in 3 months, he was given a new lease of 7 more years to let Jesus become REAL as God's Son to him, and his Savior (but still not yet), {but that's not up to me} and now once again, we face this week, much weaker. That same week, our daddy of my 6 pups died ... and in another state, Bella (our current dog was born); one of our grand daughters was born on August 24th (2002) from our daughter, and another one much earlier on August 27th (in 1998) from our son; my youngest brother was born August 28th, 1960 and then died way too soon in 1990; and on August 30th, a beautiful humble mother was born in Tlamacazapa (town), Guerrero (state) in Mexico, who gave birth to 7 children, who became like a family to me while I lived in Mexico; and one of them became this dearly loved one's caregiver, a little more than 2 decades ago while he also earned his degree in teaching, and still helps care for this loved one (he's like a son to us, too) ALL of these people became intertwined as part of my life (our lives) "In God's TIME" and for His purpose and timing because He makes all things beautiful in His TIME. 

Further TIME capsule:

When I went on a high school trip (in the 70s, my senior summer) to Mexico, I took an extra excursion southwest from Mexico through the silver town of Taxco by bus to Acapulco but as we past through the mountain winding road, I saw so many beautiful people living in poverty, carton homes yet filled with happiness and I promised God with tears in my eyes that I would return one day, to serve Him while serving them. I ended up for some of my TIME between 1996-2016 in a village across from Taxco, on the mountainside in Tlama (just not serving, but becoming connected with a very special family - with one of their sons, and now his youngest brother is the one who helps me take care of this very dear person.  I wouldn't be able to do this caregiving if not for him. You see, God had a plan & purpose in mind a long TIME ago & in HIS TIME it is coming to be completed by His design. Thank You Father God! 

So much TIME encompassed in His TIME

Let's make the best of this 

TIME

{linked to Bible Hub topical}

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🙏

Please Pray God's will & TIME be acceptable ...

"Serenity Prayer"

I don't know what this TIME holds for me, but I am learning to TRUST!

Thank you for the support & strength!

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 cannot 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 ofprayer, reflection & seeking guidance
Cultivation (similar to tending to a garden) our spirit needs thenurturing of positive qualities & developing virtues as weactively engage in spiritual disciplines & practices
and our
Responsibility to keep tending to the SOIL of our SOULS ensuringit 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 muchnegativity and cruelty - and I daily see many "weeds" crowding out life and fruit of the Spirit in our SOULS}
🙏
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 SOULbecause my SOUL was thirstyand the SOIL was drying up!

[Timeless Hebrew Tunes: Empty Vessel - Psalm 51]
"BE STILL MY SOUL (in You I Rest)" Kari Jobe
💚 "Be Still" Kari Jobe 💚
{I meant to post this on Weds.}

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
💚💚
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]
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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 💙
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,💚that 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}

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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
💚💙💜

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 DANCEB.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 Shapeare the 4 main elements ofDANCE.
And the values of DANCE are:physical, creative, imaginative, emotional, intellectualdevelopment[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! 💙

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! 😉

October 2012 [this one has different Scripture readings than  on some]  the dance, day 1  Jeremiah 31:1-14 Psalm 149:1-5 the dance, day 2  Luke 7:24-35       same the dance, day 3  Luke 7:24-35       Psalm 19:1-6 the dance, day 4 Matthew 22:1-14  same the dance, day 5 Isaiah 55:9-12      same the dance, day 6 2 Samuel 6:1-23   same the dance, day 7 Psalm 150            Jeremiah 31:1-14 April of 2015  [this one does not have the same Scripture readings in the same order as ] Interesting addition - *Journal question(s) the dance, day 1 Jeremiah 31:1-14Ps 149:1-5 the dance, day 2 Psalm 149:1-5    Luke 7:24-35 the dance, day 3-2 Samuel 6:1-15 Psalm 19:1-6 the dance, day 4 Psalm 150          Matthew 22:1-14 the dance, day 5 Isaiah 55:12-13  Isaiah 55:9-12 the dance, day 6 Psalm 23           2 Samuel 6:1-23 the dance, day 7 Luke 7:31-35     Jeremiah 31:1-14

We'll just go with the !
As long as we
TRUST and BELIEVE
God whispers lovingly,

PSALM 149

"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}
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Praying this as I listen for all of us!
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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

• the song, day 1

• the song, day 2

• the song, day 3

• the song, day 4

• the song, day 5

• the song, day 6

February of 2015

the song, sunday

the song, monday

the song, tuesday

the song, wednesday

the song, thursday

the song, friday

the song, saturday

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
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"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