HOLD STILL & REMAIN in CHRIST

During last week's FOCUS on PACE, I mentioned that we would be "Taking Inventory" this week, with the 4th of July being Thursday (thinking this past weekend, not next weekend would be the holiday weekend - so it's probably the entire week)😉 but so many times I wanted to come back and share more about PACE, from my own PACE experience and various readings that crossed my path, but I wasn't able to do that then. And the previous week with SILENCE, it was the same, however I was able to sneak in one blog post (because of an image that fit the theme of SILENCE from a great Summer Book Club) yet I remained in SILENCE when I was inundated with so much (and also at the same time, much of our state and others in this area were being inundated with flood warnings, watches and serious problems of rising waters) which gave me much to contemplate; so LITTLE and HONESTY (One Words) all came to mind with more to write, but I didn't and I don't think I will today either, even as "taking inventory" of those FOCUS One Words ... my heart is drawn in another direction. 

Last week was week 2 (Part 2) of the "Still Standing..." book club with Courtney Joseph Fallick and it was a jam-packed week of emotions (at least that's what I'm calling it) but this week - Week 3 looks like it will be even more impactful! [Courtney shares on her blog "Women Living Well"(WLW) and her WLW Facebook (FB) page daily and also "Good Morning Girls"(I think, since I don't have FB)] Plus see this page on 10 VERSES on her website (blog)

Let me go back and share some of Part 2 first "Overcoming the Darkness", which is definitely a need in this world in which we live, yet this was more on a personal level. In fact, the rest of the title of her book "Still Standing..." is "How to Live in God's Light While Wrestling with the Dark". WOW! I think for much of my life, I have tried and pursued to "live in God's Light" while surrounded what I perceived as darkness, and not nearly to the extent that is prevalent today (and in my personal life). I'm sure that there were (are) many times that I felt like I was "wrestling" alone with my darkness, even while being very active in the church and church life & volunteer activities (yet I did learn to PACE myself eventually-probably not soon enough for the two children (and at times dogs) that I towed along with me to many of these church events. Often though, I did go alone for just me & God times! I truly have always greatly needed more God time and to surround myself with God's people (community). 

I'll give you a glimmer into last week's readings just through the titles and that the opening Bible verse for the week was Psalm 139:1-18 NIV, but each of these sections ended with "Ten Verses for When You are ..." (in her book but also available in an excellent download provided by Courtney (the author) at Women Living Well in "100 Scripture Declarations"

6. "I'm So Scared" 7. "I'm So Angry" 8. "I'm So Embarrassed" 9. "I'm So Worried" 10. "I'm So Sad"

{I can't say which one I needed most, because I needed them all and the 10 verses,
which I still need to pray and read and list in my prayers}
Here's an example from the "Ten Verses for When You Feed Sad" from me:
(I had quite a few moments of overwhelming sadness)
Courtney writes: "God sees your tears and sleepless nights. He is for you."
The Scripture verse is: Psalm 56:8-9
My Prayer:O Lord, "You have kept count of my tossings; put my tears in Your bottle." ...Thank You. Thank You for always being with me, and caring, even before I know how much I need You sometimes.I give thanks that "when I call" You turn back my enemies."This I know, that God is for me."I'm grateful to know that You are not against me.At times, in my sadness (or other feelings) I feel like You are,yet quickly I return to Your Word that assures meYou are for me. I am confident as I sing and declare this:
{In fact, I now sing this song (and there are others) "God is Not Against Me"}Elevation Worship or Brandon Lake
Week 3July 1-5
Part 3in "Standing Still ..."with Courtney Joseph Fallick
"Standing in the Light"
I'm so looking forward to this (reading 11 -15) but mostly in my life!
These are this week's readings:

11. "Finding Peace When... " 12."Finding Strength When..." 13. "Finding Contentment..." 14. "Finding Your Way Forward When You Feel Stuck" 15. "Finding Joy When..."

I just finished a YouVersion (YV) plan on PEACE for the month of June: Pause: A Month of Peace in Five Minutes a Day so today's reading on "Finding Peace..." is a good refresher and application, especially because Courtney once again adds "Ten Verses for Finding Peace ...". For the YV plan, the focus verse each & every day of the 30: Philippians 4:7. The verses from Courtney's book are: Psalm 34:18; Isaiah 26:3; Ephesians 6:10; Deuteronomy 31:8; 1 Peter 5:7; Matthew 11:28-30; Romans 15:13; Romans 5:3-4; John 16:33; Psalm 46:1 {certainly many of my favorites!}

The best things I can recommend, for today, are: 1) follow Courtney's blog (or Facebook or both); 2) get a copy of her book, and the free workbook & scripture declaration download and 3) participate with her Facebook or your own group & do the Reflection Questions (for yourself & if possible by sharing at least one with someone else). 

I know that I need #11, #12 & #15 for sure but as I read I always find something in each chapter and thankful & glad I am doing this book this summer. Thank you Courtney for your invaluable words! and emphasis on God's Words in "Standing Still". I hope that when I finish, that I too will be "Standing Still..." better than I have before and that I remain in Christ always.

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I might be back as I read this week!

(and "take inventory" starting with my PACE)

JUNE One Word Focus - 4 PACE

For the month of June, these will be the 4 One Words for us to "Focus" on:

LITTLE

June 2nd

HONESTY

June 9th

SILENCE

June 16th

PACE

June 23

Interesting combination!

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[image credit] besides Ralph Waldo Emerson

This week I was going to just flip-flop the order, 

starting with the most recent

One WORD

PACE

but if you've already been keeping the PACE 

with the previous first 3 One Words

there's no need to scroll this week.

You can just click on the One Word above, 

which should be linked to that post

meanwhile keeping only the

PACE

right here, right now

with much

GRACE

 from His aMazing Grace

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So

this Week, we'll just

FOCUS

on

PACE

[leaving the other One Words behind]

looking at this week's devotional verse from

1 John 2:5-6 ESV

"... whoever keeps His word, in Him truly the love of God is perfected. By this we may know that we are in Him: [6] whoever says He abides in Him ought to walk in the same way in which He walked. 1 John 2: 5-6 ESV

or as a new translation shares this:

"But for those who walk in His message, Creator’s love has found its true meaning and purpose. The ones who say they are in harmony with the Great Spirit must walk in the footsteps of Creator Sets Free(Jesus). This is how we know we are living in harmony with Him."

from First Nations: First Letter from He Shows Goodwill 2
recently introduced to me from💚a very special friend😉
so I just had to share!
I think First Nations would like the Emerson quote on nature
as we "live in harmony with Him"
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The other Scriptures for this week's devotion include:
1 Peter 2:21 ESV; Proverbs 4:25 ESV;Hebrews 12:1 NLT; 2 Thessalonians 3:16 NIV
There are not as many verses as previous weeks containing the One Word: PACE this week. One of my sources listed 21 verses. Bible Hub's Topical search has almost that many definitions for PACE (and an error on their first occurrence listed which should read "peace" not "pace")

The author shares the One Word: PACE a few times as we "run the race" and keep the PACE like Jesus "as He walked the earth, He allowed His PACE to ebb & flow" {I like that and the next statement too} - so besides that one, I've only chosen one other to share as we catch His PACE - some good advice from Cleere Cherry Reaves:
 

"Let's slow our PACE so that we can walk in peace and prioritize what actually matters."

The FOCUS TIP includes this by suggesting 
we remember the One Word: PACE
"and ask God to help us to walk in peace"
instead of running full speed at a faster PACE, let's slow it down
as Scripture tells us to "run the race" - and as the Olympics is kicking off
reminding us to "stay in our lane" and not get "our focus off the One 
we are running toward."
In life's marathon, we need to be sure we hand off our baton to our team,
keeping the flame of Jesus' Good News passed on to the world
and from generation to generation.

"Jesus, determine my PACE and guide my feet. Amen"

Yes, Lord Jesus
with You as my focal point - my eyes fixed on You,
I know You will set my PACE correctly to run the race
still before me so that it will complement,
not compete with Your purposes
and I will live at peace
with that PACE
🙏

just like runners set their 
PACE
for each race
teach me to set a PACE with my spiritual practices
to create a deeper walk with You, God!
I want to set my PACE to finish strong
in Jesus' mighty Name

I'm not sure of the drift of this week's devotional yet
but perhaps God will lead me back here
to pick up the
PACE

To the People of the Tribes of Wrestles with Creator 12:1 (FNVNT)

"We are surrounded by a great cloud of truth tellers who have shown us what it means to trust the Great Spirit . So let us lay to the side everything that weighs us down and the broken ways that so easily wrap around our legs to trip us . And let us run as if we are in a long-distance race, setting a steady PACE and heading toward the goal."

Thank you First Nations

for sharing Hebrews 12:1 so beautifully

and with such wise words.

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LOOKING AHEAD
Next Sunday, June 30th
can be another break for us with
FOCUS
unless you choose to be
"taking inventory"
on each of these 4 One Words
found on pages 95 & 96
in the book
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See you on July 7th (6 pm)
unless you're still celebrating the
4th of July!💙💗💙
(and then you can catch the blog post any time that week)