GATHERING ...

the pieces

[image credit]
{yes, I downloaded the ebook}

"O Lord our God, help us to be faithful to GATHER what You have provided for our hearts and souls this day—that we may feed on You and live.  In the name of Jesus, the bread of life. Amen."

GATHERING

the One Word for this week's focus
I suppose that many of usfeel like throughout our life journeyswe have just been
GATHERING
the pieces
as the author of this newly published book writes in her memoir
After being
BROKEN
(our One Word last week)
this only makes sense that we would set aside the time to
GATHER
those pieces
I happen to think that there are many of us
who find ourselves this year, or maybe for awhile
in the place of 
GATHERING
or
in need of a place or space to
GATHER
our thoughts, our feelings, our pieces ...
or perhaps "ourselves" as
we deal with the circumstances of our lives
or the world in which we live, and so much seems
to be falling apart at the seams.
I know the best place for me to
GATHER
is at the feet of Jesus
listening to music
leaning in to
hear His whispers
but first
there needs to be a time of
GATHERING
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I was a bit curious at the end of last week's BROKEN
what might be the One Word that follows;
but now that I'm here
starting this Monday
with
GATHERING
I find myself in need of a brief "PAUSE"
momentarily
{just because I haven't & not quite ready still but know that I should ... }
[as I read this shared by Lennie Campbell]

[image credit: Lennie Campbell]

So as I continue to hear what God's speaking,

I won't lose sight of this either. 

I really do need to learn how to 

"give grief a voice" 

or lament.

I will 

"take a few minutes"

knowing that the time will come when 

I'll take much more than this

"... to allow my mind and heart 

to be still before God"

this is how Jim Branch, author of The Blue Book, starts us out 

each day on his website

day 1 (2015) Monday (not Sunday for us)

 through day 7 (next Sunday)

(and all the days in between linked below)

GATHERING

[Bible Hub Topical link]

us together

to read from Scriptures (the bible, God's Word) according to

p.329

and the Readings of Reflection(s) (in 2015)

which sometimes are also the

Closing Prayer as a Reading for Reflection

Psalm 147 Monday - John 6:1-14, p. 331-333 for Reflection Tuesday - Exodus 16 Wednesday - Zephaniah 3:14-20 Thursday - Jeremiah 31:1-14 Friday - Deuteronomy 30:1-10;The Living Reminder by Henri Nouwen Saturday - Isaiah 40:6-11 Sunday - Ezekiel 34:11-16

{Note: there are times when the blog/JB website & The Blue Book differ}
For example; Tuesday's Scripture reading is Luke 9:57-62and the Reading for Reflection is"Abide" by Macrina Wiederkehr, not "A Tree Full of Angels"as it is in the book, p. 333and the next day is Psalm 147and it continues with new & differentReadings for Reflection thatare not in The Blue Book"The Book of Hours" by Rainer M Rilkeis later but with Isaiah 35:10 and then Isaiah 61:1-11 is on another day with "Beginning Contemplative Prayer"by Kathryn Hermes (not in The Blue Book)
SOIf you have The Blue Book, go with that - 
otherwise follow the days at 
"room to flourish"
[for the next day, just click on Newer Post at the bottom of his blog post]
I may look for another sequence of 7 days on his website for
GATHER
in another year
[I found one in *January of 2013]
No matter, we will still
GATHER
read and reflect
* Day 1 (Monday) shares John 6:1-14 with 
GATHERINGby Jim Branchp. 330
Day 2 (Tues) Exodus 16 with Jim Branch
Day 3  Weds. (linked above to Zephaniah 3:14-20) with"A Tree Full of Angels" by Macrina Wiederkehr
Day 4 (Thurs) Jeremiah 31 with "The Book of Hours"
Day 5 (Fri.) we have that one above but this onehas another short Reflection "Breaking Bread" by M. Pennington 
Day 6 (Sat.) Isaiah 40:6-11 with"The Book of Hours" Rilke
Day 7 (Sun.) Ezekiel 34:11-16"Breaking Bread" by M. Pennington this one is the one in the book, p.335

Clearly we can see that I should have gone with 2013 first and not 2015
Live and learn
AGAIN
Hopefully before I post or plan for another
GATHERING
on my blog or at YouVersion
I will check out more of the years 
and find out which one is closer to our

 readings
and not make more 
MESSES
{ready for the repost with the corrections we need, I hope}
<><><>

I really like that Lennie Campbell is creating a page called
Memory Lantern
{we all have plenty of those, even if they're growing foggy a bit}
Today
I release some special memories of my dad
celebrating his birthday
today in heaven
1909-1998
Happy Birthday Dad!
💓

BROKEN ...

💚Broken💚

[for the full day from Opening to Closing]

Isaiah 61

is above my tabs, under my blog title

🙏🙏

💙

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This past week's One Word focus

BROKEN(2012)(2014)

BROKEN Vessels (Amazing Grace) Hillsong Worshipinspired by 💚
Bible Hub
Poetry Soup
<><><>
I'd like to write more (sometime) on "Broken" so for now 
this is enough
to save this place for me to come back & share

"SPACE, His Grace and the freedom ..."

Remember these words from a song?
"... where do I begin to tell the story..."
for such a TIME as this
however
I still am not able.

O Lord, the house of my soul is too small for You 

to enter: 

make it more spacious by Your coming.

 ~St. Augustine

So, as I looked at the One Word for this week in the

SPACE
I was thinking "no way" can I connect with this One Word 
until I read the following "Reading for Reflection":

"In biblical Hebrew, the letters yodh and shin combine to form a root that connotes “space and the freedom and security which is gained by the removal of constriction.”  From this YS root come words like yesha and yeshuah, referring to salvation.  When you think about it, it makes sense that space would be intimately associated with salvation. Space is freedom: freedom from confinement, from preoccupation, from oppression, from drivenness, and from all the other interior and exterior forces that bind and restrict our spirits.  We need space in the first place simply to recognize how compelled and bound we are.  Then we need space to allow the compulsions to ease and the bonds to loosen.  In the Hebrew sense, our passion needs elbowroom.  To the extent that space is permitted by grace and our own willingness, we discover expanding emptiness in which consecration can happen, room for love to make its home in us. (The Awakened Heart by Gerald G. May) "Day 1 (August 10, 2014) Ps18:  16-19 "Spaciousness is always a beginning, a possibility, a potential, a capacity for birth.  Space exists not in order to be filled but to create.  In space, to the extent we can bear the truth of the way things are, we find the ever-beginning presence of Love.  Take the time, then; make the space.  Seek it wherever you can find it, do it however you can.  The manner does not matter, and the experience you have there is of secondary importance. Seek the Truth, not what is comfortable. Seek the Real, not the easy. (The Awakened Heart by Gerald G. May) Day 2 (Friday in book: John 8:31-38) [Day 3 (Romans 5:1-2), Day 4 (Tues.in bk: Deut. 8:1-20), Day 5,(Thurs. in bk; Deut 11:8-32) Day 6 , Day 7 (Sun.in bk, Ps. 37:1-11) for this week at blog online, which may or may not follow The Blue Book order as noted, confusion😕

Maybe if you're familiar with my situation or me, you may understand,after reading this without further explanation.
Without sharing too many of the details, I will share the basics that after this past year of caregiving again,  from Covid to bacterial pneumonia, to hospital home care, followed by Hospice and then Hospice again, then referred to Palliative Care and then more happened quickly(preceded by the Covid season and the prior caregiving season)for this same loved one with vascular dementia placed on Hospice back then, and now his rapid decline was at the end of this August and 1st week of September; which ended abruptly yet somewhat peacefully this past Saturday at
3:16
{significant}
So yesterday, Sunday, I broke with my Sunday routine of church online (pre-Covid) to actually being present with church family in our junior high school doing a series on the Holy Spirit (so appropriate) as often is the case for me so I actually experienced *this there (taken from the above reading) and on my way home:
suchFREEDOM 

"... *Space is freedom: freedom from confinement, from preoccupation, from oppression, from driven- ness, and from all the other interior and exterior forces that bind and restrict our spirits."

So this post today was just to give a brief testimony to these wordsbut of course these last two weeks have been filled withMOMENTS
and also that is/was the name of our new Hospice teamMOMENTS
just a God-incidence
so once again
HE IS HEREHE IS WITH ME
in my thoughts, in my grief, in my memories,and in the healing restoration of my soul
in this
SPACE
wherever I go, I sense His Spirit
<>
Being open to how the Spirit leads through this One Wordthat on the surface, I might have thought it was irrelevant but finding it's much more than
"I could ever imagine"
This is how aMazing our God is!!!
We throw open our doors to God and discover at the same moment that He has already thrown open His door to us. We find ourselves standing where we always hoped we might stand—out in the wide open spaces of God's grace and glory, standing tall and shouting our praise. (Romans 5:2 - The Message)

Bible Hub: SPACE, SPACIOUS
[what's given for "SPACE" at Bible Hub is what I thought of at 1st]that is why the reason I shared these 
"Readings from Reflection" by G. May
because other Readings like on p. 306-7 by M J Thompson about "make more SPACE for God in our lives" changes the context & meaning ofSPACEand its use

My suggested advice:
JUST FIND YOUR
SPACEwith Godmore & moreas we move forwardfor the rest of 2025
<>
in the midst of so muchI realize the importance of staying with this

because we never know what 

God

might be saying through each One Word

to our personal life application

<>

BTW

the first linked song

is not intended truthfully 

as a real LOVE STORY between us

yet it does intertwine a complicated almost 

50 years (& 55 of knowing each other)

with how God's Story of LOVE

makes or changes ALL for our good 

as best He can, in spite of us,

while we press on in our life journeys 

with our own right & wrong choices or decisions 

... BUT GOD ...

He keeps working on each of us and

He will turn it around for His Glory somehow

if we remain close to Him & His Word as we

"SEEK FIRST THE KINGDOM of GOD..."

just because the Almighty God

gives us freewill to choose

yet He still chooses us

and made a way

through His Son

Jesus Christ

then

gives us the freedom

-SPACE-

and plenty of TIME to make

all things beautiful

in the seasons

of our lives

to come

to

Him

for

eternity

and in-between

there are many encounters

and opportunities made available;

wonderful experiences & people

to interact with & share

the message of the

Gospel, the Good News.

We each can speak

LIFE

into someone else's life for eternity

like the Holy Spirit does 

ever so gently & a constant prompt

(not by force or law)

yet through actions & words of

LOVE that BLESS

in those

SPACES

in-between

"The Dash"

by Linda Ellis

"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]
<>
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
💚💙💜