STRENGTH in ADVENT - 4 LOVE

"LOVING GOD 

is the most important thing we do!"

However, since God is ever-present, but not physically present in human form (any longer) on this earth {we did not do too well when He was} ... and even though we are to Love God first with our whole being (our heart, our soul, our mind) - the first & greatest commandment (Matthew 22:37-38) (Mark 12:30) Jesus added a second (in Mark 12:31) "to love our neighbor as ourselves", a tangible way that we show God our love for Him is in how we love our neighbor (& self) expressed in our affinity for kindness, patience, gentleness etc. in relations with others (our neighbors & toward ourselves). 

Because God is love, we should love each other, showing that love to others {as we would like it shown to us} also demonstrates that God lives in us, acknowledging that love that Jesus Christ came and was willing to be obedient to death to express His love. Now that kind of LOVE takes alot of STRENGTH. When another person is difficult to love, whatever our personal reason or difference is ... we all know it takes STRENGTH to continue to love or love them despite the personal conflict or difference. {I think you get my point} Easy to love God or at least say that we do, because it cannot be proven, except it is proven (shown) in how we obey & love one another {not just tolerate or avoid trying}- which takes "LOVING GOD with all our STRENGTH". Letting God live through us and His kind of LOVE - AGAPE {not the other kinds of love: philea (empathy bond), storge (friend bond), eros (romantic love)} - Agape love is unconditional "God" love (1 Corinthians 13 kind of love). Reading this passage over many years has recently caused me to ponder & question, have I ever really LOVED like this - doing so would require Godly STRENGTH {not my own}. A LOVE that shows God's transformation of me, a change in not only my perspective & attitude but in my daily actions.{ouch} LOVE is not a present under a Christmas tree, measured by how great it is or just what we wanted; it's His Presence in us, shown and expressed by our LOVE unconditionally given just as Jesus gave to us so we give to others through Jesus Christ in us, and also by LOVING God with all our STRENGTH.

So what does it really mean to do something with all your STRENGTH? According to Robert J. Morgan, in his book "The Strength You Need" after giving a "major sporting competition" example of athletes  with all their strength, breaking records, their own & others, he states:

"To do something with all our strength implies intensity, sustained effort, and ongoing concentration." Robert J. Morgan, The Strength You Need

 

"THAT'S THE WAY We're to LOVE GOD ..."

which leads this circle right back to my beginning words

so if Jesus appeared as He did to Peter & asked you,

"Do you love Me?"

(3 times)

How might you respond?

He might look at you, how you're living, look around at your habits 

or environment or priorities 

or how you treat others

"Do you really love Me?"

(John 21:15-17)

[by the way, each time Jesus asked Peter, He told him "...then feed My sheep" - if I've got this right, so, in essence, that's what He is telling each of us this so once again how we do this is by showing love for others in tangible ways] I remember this vividly from our church's drama depiction for Easter/Resurrection "The Life Giver" in Jimmy & Carol Owens "The Witness" Musical in the Song "I Love You Lord"

God has given us His Holy Spirit to help us love and obey Him. If we LOVE GOD with all our STRENGTH, it more than likely will look like, we are on a mission to make God happy, please Him, show Him that we LOVE Him as He loved us, that we truly intend to do His will (not our own) with all our might - all our ability (that He has given us, within us) to the best of our individual capability, because HE is so worthy of ALL our undivided love! We must demonstrate our love for God by putting God first before everything and everyone else in life. And like us, He wants to be told often, "I love You!" so let Him know & say to Him daily how much you love Him! (Psalm 18:1). God wants us to acknowledge Him & His Name. By LOVING His Word, we are STRENGTHENED & nourished with the many promises He's given us & see that God blesses those who LOVE Him when we love God with all our STRENGTH. 

This Christmas, we can simply LOVE God with all our heart ... and all our STRENGTH & return to that fresh "first LOVE" that we encountered when we met God through Jesus Christ & see how that babe in a manger came to show His LOVE completely, dependent on His Father, for every thing, every day until His last & teach us how to LOVE God & Love one another and the privilege we have to be so LOVED! Now that brings STRENGTH ... to our weary souls - to our weighted hearts - to our overwhelmed, worrisome minds! God is LOVE & "God so LOVED the world (or individualize this by putting your name or someone's name) that He gave His only begotten Son (Jesus Christ) that whosoever (insert that name)  BELIEVES in Him (God, the Father, Son & Holy Spirit as One) and trust in Him (AMP) as Savior [so that that person: YOU, ME or inserted name] will not perish {cease to exist  * my own amplified} but have everlasting life." So much LOVE - undeserved - but by His aMazing Grace! "

We LOVE because He first LOVED us!

(1 John 4:19)

We can never LOVE God too much

but we can

LOVE 

Him better

in our daily walk with Him

in our adoration and devotion to Him

in our obedience, in our daily conversations

with Him (and others)

by hating evil and helping other people

"to know, love & serve Him"

which in turn

will give us

STRENGTH

so that we can go from

"strength to strength"

(Psalm 84:7 & 89:17)

hopefully

EXTRA STRENGTH

In conclusion, there are many verses on LOVE and many on STRENGTH, but when I did a search for LOVE & STRENGTH the main one was this verse in Mark 12:30 & I would add 31 ... so as I LIGHT the CANDLE of LOVE on this 4th Week of Advent

 I will only link to the List of Bible Verses found:

 

49 Bible Verses about Love and Strength 44 Verses about Strength & Love

Wishing you all God's aMazingLOVE & STRENGTHfor a wonderfulChrist-filled CHRISTmaswithHOPE, JOY & PEACE!~Peggy~
<><><>
 If you are one of the many weary souls seekingEXTRA STRENGTHstill like meI recommendRobert J. Morgan's book"The Strength You Need"(and the other two I reviewed here in October)so that you are filled by God's Word with theseSTRENGTHstrategies

Lifelong Strength: your strength will equal your days (Deuteronomy 33:25) Lasting Strength: they go from strength to strength (Psalm 84:5-7) Imparted Strength: the eyes of The Lord range throughout the earth to strengthen those whose hearts are fully committed to Him (2 Chronicles 16:9) Joyful Strength: the joy of The Lord is your strength (Nehemiah 8:10) Timely Strength: God is our refuge and strength (Psalm 46:1) Tranquil Strength: in quietness and trust is your strength (Isaiah 30:15) Renewed Strength: those who hope in the Lord will renew their strength (Isaiah 40:31) Recurring Strength: the Lord will strengthen your frame. You will be like a well-watered garden (Isaiah 58:11) Durable Strength: the Sovereign Lord is my strength; He makes my feet like the feet of a deer, He enables me to tread on the heights (Habakkuk 3:19) Unwavering Strength: Abraham did not waver through unbelief regarding the promise of God, but was strengthened in his faith and gave glory to God (Romans 4:20) Innermost Strength: I pray that out of His glorious riches He may strengthen you with power through His Spirit in your inner being (Ephesians 3:16) Riveting Strength: I can do all this through Him who gives me strength (Philippians 4:13)

{*I guess that} LOVE encompasses all these STRENGTHSfor God's LOVE isLasting, Lifelong, Imparted, Joyful, Timely,Tranquil, Renewed, Recurring, DurableUnwavering, Innermost, Riveting
* I write "I guess", because I did not find Mark 12:30 verse in these 12,yet it is one of the 12 chapters of the 12 strategies in his bookand this is one of the book's 12 images on Morgan's website

Thank you Robert & Katrina Morgan!Joel Osteen & Joyce Meyerfor your books thatimpacted & influencedmy One Word journey onSTRENGTH&Brian Simmons & Gretchen Rodriguezfor your book on Isaiah "The Vision" The Passion Translation,Inspirational! I chose this for my 365 day devotional since my One Word Verse for 2021 is/was found in Isaiah 40but your entire book continued to give meSTRENGTHto soar with eagle's wingsthrough 2021and encouraged me dailyin our Lord Jesus & the STRENGTH I have in Him!



May I ask at this time that you would join me in prayer for the many who need God's STRENGTH in this season; whether from the battle with Covid or other health issues; loss of loved ones or loss of home from the horrendous effects of climate change & other factors; and for my own Strength & also a dearly loved one (very close to me, who is very private) who's just exhausted & awaiting medical results; and I'm sure there are others also exhausted after these trying years that we've been through and the ones ahead of us, that the LORD would strengthen us & direct our steps, keep us close to Him & bring healing in so many areas throughout this nation & this world! In Jesus' name ... there is power in His Name! Thank you! God bless! 

STRENGTH in ADVENT - 3 JOY

According to some Advent plans, I am changing the order of the themes but because of this recent week and weeks leading up to this past week (maybe even this past year or so, for many of us), I really need(ed) some JOY! I also probably need STRENGTH (& maybe some comfort to!) For me, JOY seems to go better with comfort, yet there is no denying the truth of Nehemiah 8:10 that "the JOY of the Lord is my (your) STRENGTH!" Yes! I seemed to be so lacking that I even began a You Version Bible Reading plan "Joy and Strength..." I had it saved but decided now was the time, and I could not delay doing this any longer. I needed the Lord's STRENGTH and a bit of JOY certainly would help. I had done another one earlier in the year of Joy & Strength by Candace Cameron Bure but this one was more specific. Of course, Bible (dot) com has others available on this theme like the thirty day one by Oswald Chambers, who states the following

"Joy means the perfect fulfillment of that for which I was created and regenerated, not the successful doing of a thing. The joy our Lord had lay in doing what the Father sent Him to do. We all have to find our niche in life and spiritually we find it when we receive our ministry from the Lord."... Joy-Strength in the Lord

God’s strength is joyful strength

"Joy and strength go together like flame and heat. When we’re joyful we’re strong, but when we lose our joy we lose strength. I try to keep an enthusiastic spirit because, like an old book once said, “Enthusiasm makes the difference.” Robert J. Morgan

In Nehemiah 8:10, "the Bible describes divine JOY as a sort of internal generator activated by the Holy Spirit to produce all the energy and STRENGTH we need for a happy and holy life. The JOY of the Lord gives us vim, vigor, vitality, and endurance. When God pumps His endless supply of JOY into our systems, we find zest and zeal for whatever life brings." writes Robert J. Morgan, "There is an essential and undeniable relationship between JOY and STRENGTH." Nehemiah prayed fervently for God's STRENGTH. "God imparts His STRENGTH through JOY."

There are Bible verse on STRENGTH & then verses on JOY, but together like this one from Nehemiah is not easily found, as were my previous verses shared and you'll notice even in the list I've compiled. These following verses are from the Amplified Version.

 

Psalm 81:1 Sing aloud to God our strength; Shout for joy to the God of Jacob (Israel). 1 Chronicles 16:27 Splendor and majesty are [found] in His presence;   Strength and joy are [found] in His place (sanctuary). Ezekiel 24:25 ‘As for you, son of man, on the day when I take their strength and their stronghold from them, their joy and their glory, the desire of their eyes and their heart’s [chief] delight (the temple), and I also take their sons and their daughters, ... Romans 5:3 And not only this, but [with joy] let us exult in our sufferings and rejoice in our hardships, knowing that hardship (distress, pressure, trouble) produces patient endurance; Romans 12:12 constantly rejoicing in hope [because of our confidence in Christ], steadfast and patient in distress, devoted to prayer [continually seeking wisdom, guidance, and strength], Romans 15:13 May the God of hope fill you with all joy and peace in believing [through the experience of your faith] that by the power of the Holy Spirit you will abound in hope and overflow with confidence in His promises. Philippians 2:13 For it is [not your strength, but it is] God who is effectively at work in you, both to will and to work [that is, strengthening, energizing, and creating in you the longing and the ability to fulfill your purpose] for His good pleasure. Psalm21:1 O LORD the king will delight in Your strength, And in Your salvation how greatly will he rejoice! Psalm 28:7 The LORD is my strength and my [impenetrable] shield; My heart trusts [with unwavering confidence] in Him, and I am helped; Therefore my heart greatly rejoices, And with my song I shall thank Him and praise Him. Psalms 59:16 But as for me, I will sing of Your mighty strength and power; Yes, I will sing joyfully of Your lovingkindness in the morning; For You have been my stronghold And a refuge in the day of my distress. 1 Samuel 2:1 Hannah prayed and said, “My heart rejoices and triumphs in the Lord; My horn (strength) is lifted up in the Lord, My mouth has opened wide [to speak boldly] against my enemies, Because I rejoice in Your salvation. Colossians 1:11  [we pray that you may be] strengthened and invigorated with all power, according to His glorious might, to attain every kind of endurance and patience with joy;

Suggested Reading:Isaiah 35:1-6

So far in Advent, according to Robert J. Morgan's book, "The Strength You Need", we have seen: 

God’s Strength is Renewed Strength 

God’s Strength is Tranquil Strength

God’s Strength is Durable Strength

- and the one for this week: JOYFUL STRENGTH 

I saved this prayer from my emails of "Your Daily Prayer" (iBelieve/Crosswalk)

Father,

Praise You for these lessons on strength and joy, and for Paul’s faithful life witness left behind for us to learn from. Father, You command us to be joyful always, but You do not expect us to be able to figure out how to attain or retain that joy ourselves.

You gave Your Son Jesus to light the way a joy-filled life. Through His earthly footsteps, we study the example He left for us to follow. Thank You for Scripture. As 2 Timothy 3:16 states, “All Scripture is God-breathed and is useful for teaching, rebuking, correcting and training in righteousness.”

All of creation reminds us of You. The beauty of nature and marvel of the changing seasons. The uniqueness in all of us and the diversity in the daily horizon. Surround us with reminders of You often, through nature, the people you place in our lives, and the Bible. May the Holy Spirit help us to understand Your Word, and will for our lives. Bless our hearts with sustaining joy, and the strength to hold onto it no matter what.

In Jesus’ Name, Amen. (Meg Bucher)

The tradition for the 3rd Sunday in Advent includes lighting a third sometimes pink candle that is a symbol of joy. This third Sunday of Advent we read, pray, and reflect on the joy that God’s plan gives us (foretold by the prophets and fulfilled by the life and death of Christ), and we meditate on the promise of Christ’s coming glory-filled return. Traditionally, the 3rd Sunday's called Gaudete Sunday. Gaudete is the Latin word for rejoice, and this Sunday is the time for us to rejoice because Jesus came and died so that we may live forever with Him! 

On this 3rd Sunday we light the Candle of JOY

at least I am hoping for more JOY in this season for you & me

(and some very special people, who are dealing with loss of a loved one)

HOPE & JOY

for our future as believers when we are reunited

COMFORT & JOY

Philemon 1:7 (AMP)

For I have had great joy and comfort and encouragement from your love, because the hearts of the saints (God’s people) have been refreshed through you

STRENGTH in JOY!

in

Christ Jesus

STRENGTH in ADVENT - 2 PEACE

The images above from Robert J. Morgan are two more of the 12 strategies of STRENGTH
andalthough they do not speak directly on PEACE, I have chosen themplus the unrelated verse image below fromPsalm 4:8

as we light the 2nd candle of Advent PEACE(some of you may be doing a different theme this week){I am staying with the sequence of the one I linked the 1st week}
STRENGTH in PEACE
PEACE in STRENGTH
I believe in these days we need both strongly more & more each day

"Verses about Peace and Strength"  1. Judges 5:31 “So may all your enemies perish, LORD! But may all who love you be like the sun when it rises in its strength.” Then the land had peace forty years. NIV 2. 2 Chronicles 16:9 The LORD is constantly watching everyone, and He gives strength to those who faithfully obey Him. But you have done a foolish thing, and your kingdom will never be at peace again. 3. Daniel 10:19 He said, “O man, highly regarded greatly beloved, do not be afraid. Peace be to you; take courage and be strong.” Now when he had spoken to me, I was strengthened and said, “Let my lord speak, for You have strengthened me.” AMP 4. Psalms 29:11 The LORD gives strength to His people; the LORD blesses His people with peace. NIV 5. Psalms 26:7 The LORD is my strength and shield. I trust him with all my heart. He helps me, and my heart is filled with joy. I burst out in songs of thanksgiving. 6.  Isaiah 27:5 “Or let him (Israel) cling to My strength and rely on My protection [My stronghold], Let him make peace with Me, Let him make peace with Me.” 7.  Isaiah 40:29 He gives strength to the weary and increases the power of the weak. NIV 8. Isaiah 41:10 Don’t be afraid, for I am with you. Don’t be discouraged, for I am your God. I will strengthen you and help you. I will hold you up with my victorious right hand. 9. Isaiah 52:7 How beautiful on the mountains are the feet of the messenger who brings good news, the good news of peace and salvation, the news that the God of Israel reigns! NLT 10. Isaiah 54:10 “For the mountains may be removed and the hills may shake, But My lovingkindness will not be removed from you, Nor will My covenant of peace be shaken,” Says the LORD who has compassion on you. 11. John 14:27 Peace I leave with you; my peace I give you. I do not give to you as the world gives. Do not let your hearts be troubled and do not be afraid. 12. John 16:33 These things I have spoken to you, that in Me you may have peace. In the world you will have tribulation; but be of good cheer, I have overcome the world.” NKJV 13. Romans 5:1-2 Therefore, since we have been made right in God’s sight by faith, we have peace with God because of what Jesus Christ our Lord has done for us. Because of our faith, Christ has brought us into this place of undeserved privilege where we now stand, and we confidently and joyfully look forward to sharing God’s glory.

Lord, would You bring Your strength and peace to Your people! Would Your presence be felt by all who seek You in a powerful way in this Advent season. Turn the hearts of mankind towards You. We pray that the lost turn to You and find an unshakable peace that nothing else in this world can offer. Amen.

Here are 47 VERSES about Peace & Strength (some are above)

AND THE ABOVE IMAGES ALSO
Isaiah 30:15
Habakkuk 3:19
Psalm 4:8


I chose Habakkuk 3:19 because I know first hand that seeing the deer outside my home brings me much PEACE as I watch the STRENGTH that their feet have and their use. In Robert J. Morgan's book, he calls the STRENGTH in this verse: DURABLE STRENGTH. Strength that is durable is the kind that keeps us going, it is what Jesus gives us and that He has shown us time and time again in His life until His last breath as well as what He makes available to us every day to get beyond what we face until the next day or situation. Jesus' STRENGTH helps us endure and last from moment to moment, crisis to crisis, strength to strength, even when we're fortunate to be blessed with good days, He sees us to the next.

When there is stress or distress, it is hard to find the STRENGTH or the PEACE (which is definitely needed in times like this) so that is why we must turn to our Lord & seek His, because often we are too weak at these times, overwhelmed & unable to gather what we need on our own, to carry on or navigate our way through the situation causing this. When we are weak, He is strong (2 Corinthians 12:10). I have seen this throughout my life but very much aware of this as I age and seemingly become weaker, I sense His STRENGTH daily.

As I watch in quietness the deer outside, I've learned how to quietly approach them at times, so as not to disturb them or frighten them away, noting that their trust is a STRENGTH that I treasure as I come close. It's very similar to when I come near or sense the Lord's Presence close to me in time of need. Isaiah 30:15 is noted to be TRANQUIL STRENGTH as a strategy that we, as believers need. The more I trust the Lord, the more at PEACE I am and feel, knowing that His STRENGTH has never failed me. I know that when I'm at PEACE it's TRANQUIL , I can be calm as I am quiet & free from disturbance as with the deer, & that His STRENGTH is DURABLE so that with His STRENGTH I am able to withstand. I may crumble for a moment but am reassured that He will pick me up - that I can trust the Lord to restore the PEACE and see me through because He has and He will again. Meanwhile I need to find His STRENGTH to trust confidently and be at PEACE. When I walk in PEACE, I sense His STRENGTH ... when I walk confidently in STRENGTH, I sense His PEACE. Inseparable.

Here's a great link to Robert J. Morgan's 12 Bible Verses to Help You Find Strength as given in his book "The Strength You Need".   

This 2nd Week of Advent, we light the Candle of PEACE!

PEACE

be with you

May the PEACE of Jesus 

be yours now & always!

As I ended this week, I came across an older but perfect Peace blog post by Julie K.Gillies with a beautiful prayer to walk in peace this Christmas

STRENGTH in ADVENT - 1 HOPE and Faith

ADVENT 2021 begins today on Sunday, November 28th and ends on December 24th, 2021.    

"As the holiday season approaches, we often hear the language spoken of “preparing the way.” Traditionally, Advent is a time of reflection and affirmation, with each week represented by a theme.

Advent has been seen as an exploration of faith, an inner search of the mind and heart." ..."Our Deepest Gifts"

"... The four Sundays preceding Christmas, which is when Christians celebrate the birth of Jesus Christ, are recognized for four virtues. The candles on the Advent wreath symbolize: hope, love, joy and peace. The candles are lit in that order, beginning today." Natalie Joseph

I hope to share each Sunday of the 4 weeks (and perhaps more in between) some of the STRENGTH I've found in 2021. I've been wanting to somehow put together all that I have been seeking on my Word for 2021 on STRENGTH. This will be (in part) some of what God has shown me on STRENGTH and the many resources I have accumulated on STRENGTH in addition to my focus in God's Word on Strength & Renewal because of the verses in Isaiah (Isaiah 40:29-31) that began my journey daily with "The Vision" by Brian Simmons & Gretchen Rodriguez, through the book of Isaiah, reading The Passion Translation (TPT) & comparing to other versions. God gave me this specific verse for 2021 and later directed me toward the specific one Word: STRENGTH.

"... Those who entwine their hearts with Yahweh will experience Divine STRENGTH. They will rise upon soaring wings and fly like eagles, run their race without growing weary, and walk through life without giving up. Isaiah 40:29-31 TPT

It could have been any other word in that verse: renew or hope or rise up or many others in that verse, yet I landed on STRENGTH. It delighted me that two well known authors decided this fall to write books on STRENGTH, which confirmed (a little late) but summarize well much of the journey I personally walked through in Scripture & this is also why it was such a blessing to review these books by Joyce Meyer & Joel Osteen. Of course, it would have been better or easier for me this past year to have had and be reading these daily since 2021 began. Yet God knew this ahead & guided me with STRENGTH & being STRONG ... to show me "You are Stronger than You Think" that I am and indeed that I need His "Strength for Each Day" (and so do you). The reason I have decided to share on STRENGTH for the 4 weeks of Advent. There are many more STRENGTH verses than I could possibly share, so that is why I have limited them to this time. I'm not sure if it will work with the themes, but I will at least try & start with that each week.
So today, we light the Candle of HOPE (which as you can read in Isaiah 40:29-31) is closely related with Strength. 

I read the following after taking an inventory of 24 character "strengths" that make up what's best about our personality (not particularly biblical) but still useful & we all need to develop our character & strengths, right? And even turn any weakness into Strength! Of course, Character Strengths is not what I had in mind. for 2021. So ...
WHAT IS HOPE? "The character strength of hope has to do with positive expectations about the future. It involves optimistic thinking and focusing on good things to come. Hope is more than a feel-good emotion. It is an action-oriented strength involving agency, the motivation and confidence that goals can be reached, and also that many effective pathways can be devised in order to get to that desired future. Optimism is closely linked with having a particular explanatory style (how we explain the causes of bad events). People using an optimistic explanatory style interpret events as external, unstable and specific. Those using a pessimistic explanatory style interpret events as internal, stable and global."

What I actually had in mind throughout 2021 was STRENGTH in God's Word & perhaps how or why God would give me this One Word for 2021 and all that God desires for me to learn or reveal about STRENGTH for me - not just about physical Strength (like my aging & exercise), with emotional & mental strength too - but mostly my much needed Spiritual Strength for the times in which we live. There are many more verses on STRENGTH then I could share  ... according to one source I read: there are at least 232 occurrences, but that varies based on which version of the Bible you are using for the search.

This week, I have chosen these (because I'm sure I will not be sharing all 232):

10 BIBLE VERSES ABOUT HOPE & STRENGTH

1. Yet, the strength of those who wait with hope in the Lord will be renewed. They will soar on wings like eagles. They will run and won’t become weary. They will walk and won’t grow tired. Isaiah 40:31 GW *my main verse for 2021
2. I always keep the Lord in front of me. When He is by my side, I cannot be moved. That is why my heart is glad and my soul rejoices. My body rests securely because you do not abandon my soul to the grave or allow your holy one to decay. Psalm 16:8-10 GW
3. I know the plans that I have for you, declares the Lord. They are plans for peace and not disaster, plans to give you a future filled with hope. Jeremiah 29:11 GW
4. The Lord your God is with you. He is a hero who saves you. He happily rejoices over you, renews you with his love, and celebrates over you with shouts of joy. Zephaniah 3:17 GW
5. May the God of your hope so fill you with all joy and peace in believing [through the experience of your faith] that by the power of the Holy Spirit you may abound and be overflowing (bubbling over) with hope. Romans 15:13 AMPC
6. For this is the hope of our salvation. But hope means that we must trust and wait for what is still unseen. For why would we need to hope for something we already have? So because our hope is set on what is yet to be seen, we patiently keep on waiting for its fulfillment. And in a similar way, the Holy Spirit takes hold of us in our human frailty to empower us in our weakness. For example, at times we don’t even know how to pray, or know the best things to ask for. But the Holy Spirit rises up within us to super-intercede on our behalf, pleading to God with emotional sighs too deep for words. Romans 8:24-26 TPT
7. But since we belong to the day, let us be sober, putting on faith and love as a breastplate, and the hope of salvation as a helmet. 1 Thessalonians 5:8 NIV
8. Be strong, courageous, and firm; fear not nor be in terror before them, for it is the Lord your God Who goes with you; He will not fail you or forsake you. Deuteronomy 31:6 AMPC
9. God will wipe away every tear from their eyes; and death shall be no more, neither shall there be anguish (sorrow and mourning) nor grief nor pain any more, for the old conditions and the former order of things have passed away. Revelation 21:4 AMPC
10. We view our slight, short-lived troubles in the light of eternity. We see our difficulties as the substance that produces for us an eternal, weighty glory far beyond all comparison, because we don’t focus our attention on what is seen but on what is unseen. For what is seen is temporary, but the unseen realm is eternal. 2 Corinthians 4:17-18 TPT

According to the Strong's Lexicon for STRENGTH in Isaiah 40:31 (my particular STRENGTH verse) this is what I found:

their strength;
כֹ֔חַ (ḵō·aḥ) Strong's Hebrew #3581 
Noun - masculine singular
Strong's Hebrew 3581: 1) strength, power, might 1a) human strength 1b) strength (of angels) 1c) power (of God) 1d) strength (of animals) 1e) strength, produce, wealth (of soil) 2) a small reptile, probably a kind of lizard, which is unclean 2a) perhaps an extinct animal, exact meaning is unknown

{I definitely have no idea how that last part on the reptile part applies but  I'm open to any thoughts}

Recently, I came across an excellent book for me (again like the ones published in October, seemingly a little too late for 2021 - but God is never late, His timing is perfect) ... by Robert J. Morgan (and his wife, Katrina) "The Strength You Need" (from 2016) which shares 12 verses on STRENGTH that he calls 'Strategies' for Extra Strength.

My 2021 Verse just happens to be Strategy 6: "Catch Updrafts like an Eagle". I have collected various eagle items (statues, pictures, etc.)& I've been observing eagles more this year & hoping to catch a better understanding of this updraft & learn from them how to soar with a bit more Strength of the Lord. Currently, I am waiting for a copy of this book to arrive so I can share or learn more about Robert J. Morgan's concept of these strategies and how I can tap into more of God's extra STRENGTH, with STRENGTH strategies from Scripture. Renewed Strength is one of the 12 kinds of STRENGTHS available to every believer according to Robert J. Morgan "for those who hope in the Lord will renew their strength" Isaiah 40:31 so I am filling myself with HOPE in the Lord! 

Hopefully I will be able to share more of Morgan's chosen 12 verses (strategies) and the rest of the kinds of STRENGTH found through scripture. Learning all I can with hope of acquiring all the STRENGTH God has for me in 2021 for the future. Clearly after the last few years (or decades), I need to restore & renew my STRENGTH & God knew this when He impressed this for my 2021 One Word.

This is a really good way for me to prepare my heart for Jesus this Christmas during Advent by leaning into and going from STRENGTH to STRENGTH. Looking forward to finding STRENGTH this Advent with Hope, Peace, Love & JOY hoping that you will join me and perhaps share how HOPE gives you STRENGTH (in the comments) or which of the scripture verses renew your HOPE giving you the STRENGTH this season. 

EMBRACING SILENCE

I guess I should have shared this before the day that it starts

which is today - sorry, I'm late

October 1st

 

through

October 5th

{but it's been done before and hopefully will again, 

however, you could do this anytime and continue...}

5 Minutes with Jesus

This challenge is with Sheila Walsh's devotional bundle through FaithGateway

YouVersion also has 5 day reading plans:

5 MINUTES WITH JESUS: MAKING TODAY MATTER 5 MINUTES WITH JESUS: PEACE FOR TODAY 5 MINUTES WITH JESUS: A FRESH INFUSION OF JOY 5 MINUTES WITH JESUS: QUIET TIME FOR YOUR SOUL

...when you sign-up, you receive free downloads, one of which includes:

"Quiet Time Strategies and Prayer"

and

midway through this pdf

I read this:

"... Embracing Silence ... "First we need to get comfortable with the silence! For just a few minutes each day, unplug. Turn off anything that makes background noise. You might be surprised how threatening it feels at first! If it helps ease your mind, set a timer and remind yourself that it is very unlikely that anything will occur in that five minutes that cannot wait. Then take a few deep breaths, and sit quietly with God. Read a psalm. Say a prayer. Sing a hymn or song of praise. Read a devotional like one of those in the 5 Minutes with Jesus series. How you spend your time with God is up to you!" ...

the rest of this is just as valuable

HOWEVER

I pause with those first words

EMBRACING SILENCE

even when I try

my mind

does

NOT

my mind needs to be rewired

to learn to stop 

any whirring

of

thoughts

and

noises

{both exterior and interior}

to be void and quiet to listen

to hear the small

whispers

of

God

and

BE STILL

it's quite the struggle for me

and

a real learning process

I spend much time trying to be in silence

and unlike others; it's not the phone or tv or social media

that disrupts my silence

I won't even try to explain the details of all this personal deal

but the first devotion by Sheila Walsh

in another free download of

5 days of Quiet Time devotions

to get started

with perfect words

"Noise Pollution"

which of course, is about those other sounds

You might think that being a person

with newly discovered hearing loss

and 

learning to get accustom to my

hearing aides

mainly

to train my brain

I am keenly aware of sounds

Many times I take them out

with the hope of not hearing sounds

but it doesn't work

Upon first learning of my hearing loss,

I thought I would treasure all noises

and be grateful that I can still hear

even without using them

but it's a matter of

retraining your brain as to what sounds

are important to hear and those that you don't need

{like hearing myself chew or my dog's nails on the floor}

So

I am trying to

EMBRACE

SILENCE

and

plan to get away from home alone

later this week until a special day next week

{actually for this day to make it special for me}

going up north

with the

cold

not as enjoyable

but

I was hoping to capture the

fall colors and nature

with

God

so

I'll be taking my bundle of

Quiet Time

with me

Since I am in the habit of spending my waking moments

with

Jesus

in the quiet of the morning

and

ending with His Word & Him

in the evening

this is not the part that is the challenge for me

{I do know however that this challenge is for me (and you) if you let it}

Hope you can find some

Quiet and Rest

in the days ahead

also

Peace be with you

in

Jesus Christ