PAUSES ... Week 3 One Words

[I just moved this week's One Words (not the entire blog post from yesterday as I mentioned I might if you read that one). If not, no problem.]

Pentecost Sunday is coming May 19, 2024.

These are the "Pauses for Pentecost"

for this week;

Third Week of Eastertide  Day 15: Put On - Colossians 3:9-10 Day 16: Hovering - Genesis 1:2 Day 17: Crafts - Exodus 35:30-33 Day 18: Where - Psalm 139:7 Day 19: Abba - Romans 8:15 Day 20: Intercedes - Romans 8:26 Day 21: Fellowship - 2 Corinthians 13:14

<>
and the
FOCUS
One Word for this Week:
FORGIVENESS 
(but more on that in tomorrow's blog post)
<><><>
So for today
we'll just 
PUT ON
and pause to reflect on this
One Word
in
God's Word
"... let's PUT ON the new self ..."
but in order to do that we must 
take off the old self
or we end up 
with
layers
layer upon layer
that will have to be 'peeled' off
at some point & surrendered to be able
to PUT ON new
and be renewed as we learn to 
know our Creator & become more like Him!

{these are my thoughts before reading today's devotional, I'm sure that Trevor Hudson has much more, on a deeper level. In fact, I glanced through it and saw an intriguing question: 
"Will I be dressed suitably or not?"
He was writing about what clothes we put on daily, but let's apply this to our spiritual  clothing (as he does following this)
"...Take a look at the clothes hanging in God's closet.."
and how those virtues are reflected in the gospel life of Jesus
Compassion, humility, kindness, gentleness, patience ...
so let's PUT ONall of Jesus
FORGIVENESS
and
LOVE
"which binds them all together"
🙏

ALL the PAUSES for Pentecost ... and the One Word that Got Me 4/13/24

A little late into the scheme of 50 days until Pentecost (not as of today - today, it's more like 14) from the Resurrection of Jesus Christ to His Ascension into Heaven to 10 days later to Pentecost, but I've decided that each Sunday I will only post the "Pauses for Pentecost" One Words for that week; and any other One Word(s) will be on other days in the week (probably Mon. for the FOCUS Word for the Week). Just to let you know. 😉 {actually me, to keep up}. I'm posting actually a day early (not Sunday and I think you'll understand why by the end). Then I might scratch these lines and repost this Sunday evening my regular time (6 pm). So next Sunday I'll start sharing Pauses for Pentecost on Sundays 6pm, because I'm leaving this here.

In fact, just in case you never followed the 50 days to Pentecost from Resurrection Sunday and did not (or were unable or not interested) to follow my recommendation to get your own copy of "Pauses for Pentecost..."; I will go one step further and list all 50 days of the One Words, but not the Scriptures until that week. The first 2 weeks are in my previous post here.

Pentecost Sunday will be May 19, 2024.

Third Week of Eastertide Day 15: Put On Day 16: Hovering Day 17: Craft Day 18: Where Day 19: Abba Day 20: Intercedes Day 21: Fellowship

Fourth Week of Eastertide Day 22: Counselor Day 23: Remind Day 24: Testify Day 25: Truth Day 26: Anointed Day 27: Love Day 28: Body

Fifth Week of Eastertide Day 29: Desert Day 30: Transformed Day 31: Devout Day 32: Dwell Day 33: Guide Day 34: Responsibility Day 35: Encouragement

Sixth Week of Eastertide Day 36: Power Day 37: Water Day 38: Drunk Day 39: Listen Day 40: Withdrew (Ascension) Day 41: All Day 42: Kneel

Seventh Week of Eastertide Day 43: Face Day 44: Room Day 45: Wind Day 46: Fire Day 47: Tongues Day 48: Saw Day 49: Ask Day 50: Pentecost (Pentecost Sunday)

{Sure hope that this works out on the regular calendar}

But it did not work out well for me this past week, that we just finished. Let me explain as best as I can about that One Word that got me. 

Having the One Word "Alive" last Thurs. followed by "RAISED" on last Friday were good One Words to reflect on, until I opened to the One Word for Sat. (which by coincidence was not good for me) because it was "DEATH". Only our Lord could get me through facing that One Word on this day. But you know, He knew. He certainly didn't plan it, yet He knew that April 13th was one day that I'd prefer not to look at "death" because it was my older brother's 75th birthday, the first birthday since his death last August (2023). Those of you who have lost a loved one might understand this "first" ... but I'll assume that most of you reading this that have lost "loved ones" knew that they had been walking with Jesus & surrendered their heart & life to Jesus, knowing their need of a personal Savior, etc. Yet, that's not how it is for my older brother. Of course, it's unknown and we can hope. But as far as I know he and Jesus were not close. He had no memorial service. I think he was just cremated and I have no knowledge of any more about him. He did not live in our home state, he had moved away to another state since I went to MX. He was in closer contact with my sister through these years, but even she does not know but believes the best - and that's that. Fortunately I had spoken with him quite a few times in 2023, unlike other years. Perhaps the scripture verses that annoyed him last year on his birthday card might have spoken to his heart when I couldn't. Hopefully, my prayers for him mattered. I will not know this side of Heaven and God knew that. 

Many people, probably have lost loved ones without knowing their spiritual history or condition at time of death. Many people might be reading this "Pauses for Pentecost" this year, or in previous years, I'm sure. So it's not a coincidence for others that April 13th, the One Word was "DEATH" like it was for me. It just happened, but for me, it's what I call a God-incidence. That God had a reason for me to reflect on "DEATH" on that day, his birthday, rather than the day he actually died in August. Death is final. Yes, it's said that some have died and come back to life and have "stories" to tell from stepping beyond and returning. I'm not here to debate those miracles or stories. The given verse for that day was no help. But God knew and in another reading, totally apart from this, I opened to read 1 Corinthians 15:54-57 and I kept reading in various versions. I even shared 3 pre-made verse images from Bible (dot) com - YouVersion. So God was preparing my heart the eve before with His Word.  Healing and comfort for those who know Jesus as Lord.

verse 55 

then

verse 57

But I'm left still to wonder yet not question ... and with hope believe that God is infinite and beyond all we can think, hope or imagine. I certainly don't want to box Him into my limited thinking. I think we all want to hold on to hope and God's mercy, beyond all we can possibly understand. As one grieves, or is numb to grief but laments the loss, it's difficult to grasp against what we have been taught or believe or even read, over and over - that's when hope and faith collide; and God's love shines a glimmer of even more love for anyone who's lost, that my love for a sibling, a spouse, a friend, a parent, a grandchild, any person who has not responded to the infinite, aMazing love of a Father, Son & Holy Spirit ... hoping to break the power of sin and death for each one, because it was won by Jesus; freely given so that none would perish. 

It's a daunting peril to think of anyone perishing. Yet God gives each human being a chance to choose and He already sacrificed His only begotten Son to make that possible. So what are we doing to reach that one soul that either has not chosen, or has not been given a chance because they live in a place we still have not reached, or because ... why? Why do they not choose to receive the free gift of salvation? I may never understand. However, I do know the heart of the Father, who loves so deeply! And He knows my heart & hears my 🙏

GOD ONLY KNOWS

I cannot find what I was reading when I came across my reading of the 15th chapter of 1 Corinthians, because I was unaware of the importance yet my spirit knew that I needed God's Word to help me face the depths of the One Word for Saturday, April 13th and the finality of death. I wasn't searching last night for any Word of Comfort in these verses, not knowing what turning a page in a book would land me on for this day. All I do know is that God can use One Word - just One Word from His Word to breathe life and hope into a broken or hurting soul. Even before we know it, God knows, and He's there, and He's ready. 

Are you? Are you ready to allow God to use you to speak life into that one soul? It might be someone else's loved one. It might end up being their last chance. You might be that soul's hope for eternity, or for their loved one to know that they will see their loved one(s) again because of you. May God lead you and guide you to that someone, just like God led me here to prepare for this next week of Pentecost Pauses so that I might write about what's on my heart and in my mind as I recall a loved ones' death with the hope that there was one person who reached him before his death. I only share this with God, and now I've opened it up in a public blog post, hoping that God will save one more soul - somewhere.

Wishing with all of my heart that it was my someone. Praying God will give ...
CALM 
in the Storm
Serenity
that He grants
Peace & Comfort
for the souls
<>
May the departed
Rest in Peace
May God's perpetual Light
shine upon them with 
His mercy, forgiveness & grace
<><><>
Looking for a new 
One Word
for tomorrow!

{sorry for 2 in 1 day}

CHOOSE "CALM" No Matter ...

Sometimes it's not a Choice
(*it's "mind over matter")
but for me in
2024

[image credit]

it's suppose to be my 
One Word

{*oh, no - I used another idiomatic expression, but I will refrain from going off on that tangent}

By now, it might look as if my 2024 One Word is FOCUS, or maybe some other One Word that you have seen often in my blog posts since 2024 began and not so much the One Word CALM. But behind the scenes, I still am seeking CALM, as my One Word. God has really placed CALM as my center FOCUS, and yet as I FOCUS on all the other One Words for each week, or the ones for "Pauses"; I decide to CHOOSE "CALM"; if only it was that easy. That is the same premise that I started with here today and also the other day, however, I am sure that for quite some time I have been choosing "CALM" yet have failed to find it (like other things, too). I know (in my mind & especially my heart) that choosing "CALM" over chaos would be most people's choice, as well as "serenity over stress" and "peace over perfection". I especially like "grace over grit"! But "faith over fear" is really good for many of us too. 

[Sad to say, I did not know Mary Davis when I used her image quote; but when I looked her up, I was a bit hesitant about using her quote. There's good, and not so good in what I discovered, so I'm not endorsing her, but that doesn't mean her thoughts (the quote) are not good & true. If you have a part in Special Olympics, then the good outshines some of the rest. Right?]

My purpose of this post is not the quote, nor the idiomatic expression of "mind over matter", but to begin to share some of my journey into CALM as my One Word. So let's start.

As always, I have to start out with the definition of CALM:

Webster's Revised Unabridged Dictionary: 1. (n.) Freedom from motion, agitation, or disturbance; a cessation or absence of that which causes motion or disturbance, as of winds or waves; tranquility; stillness; quiet; serenity. 2. (n.) To make calm; to render still or quiet, as elements; as, to calm the winds. 3. (n.) To deliver from agitation or excitement; to still or soothe, as the mind or passions. 4. (super.) Not stormy; without motion, as of winds or waves; still; quiet; serene; undisturbed. 5. (super.) Undisturbed by passion or emotion; not agitated or excited; tranquil; quiet in act or speech.

I also enjoy beginning by looking at the Greek and Hebrew words for CALM, but I'll wait until I have a verse with it & check out Strong's then so my next part of my search is looking at the words in the Thesaurus (a synonym dictionary, list of similar words). The list includes: 18 occurrences of CALM in the Bible; Quiet (167 occurrences); waves; lull; still; tranquil; placid; serene; peaceful; hushed; harmonious; untroubled; mild; soothing; ... there's many more given.

Of course, there are many 'worldly' ways to become a calm person, so I looked specifically for Christian ways, which you need to do these days but still be cautious. I also have my own collection of Christian books: one in particular gifted to me from a wonderful sister in Christ 💚 last year: "Jesus, CALM My Heart" to last me all 365 (Nights) {although many seem to be for another person, I find them helpful to direct me toward God before going to sleep} and after doing other YV plans; I got some others too, but last year, I began with Wendy Blight's "Rest for Your Soul". Another one I began this year with was "Sleep Psalms"(also a sample of 14 days in YV). My most recent acquisition is "Give it to God and Go to Bed" after completing the 5 day sample by Laura Harris Smith on You Version (YV), and along with her videos that go with her book (and this has many other products available on amazon from pillows to signs to canvas wall art and even a bedside cross). All of those showed up before I could get to the book. Clearly too many of us have much "to give to God" so we can go to sleep. I also have books by Max Lucado like "Calm Moments..."; "Less Fret ..."; "Anxious ... Calm in a Chaotic"; etc. Another favorite is by Julie K. Gillies, "Prayers to Calm Your Anxious Heart" (sample at YV of 5 days of Heart-Calming Prayer)!💙💙💙 I highly recommend all of these books!

So even though, it might seem that I'm FOCUSed on many other One Words, I am still pursuing my One Word of CALM for 2024. In the background, I really am "surrounding myself (or at least trying to) with more positive influence" which for me means "quiet time with God" morning & night and often times throughout my day & night, seeking to center myself in the CALM that God intends us to have in our lives. A Bible boost can do so much, so filling myself up with uplifting verses from Scriptures, and having them around you in your living environment (such as the products above in wall decor or even simple bookmarks can help). But my most helpful so far, has been to listen to Christian or instrumental music, whenever and wherever I can. 

I will save my Scripture verses for other blog posts except for the 7 following verses to "CALM an anxious heart" starting out with my life verse since the 90s and in my order of 'go-to':

"For God has not given us a spirit of fear, but of power and of love and of a sound mind." 2 Timothy 1:7 (NKJV)

"Come to Me, all who are weary and burdened, and I will give you rest." Matthew 11:28 (VOICE)

" So don’t be afraid. I am here, with you;         don’t be dismayed, for I am your God.     I will strengthen you, help you.         I am here with My right hand to make right and to hold you up. " Isaiah 41:10 (VOICE)

"Do not be anxious or worried about anything, but in everything [every circumstance and situation] by prayer and petition with thanksgiving, continue to make your [specific] requests known to God. And the peace of God [that peace which reassures the heart, that peace] which transcends all understanding, [that peace which] stands guard over your hearts and your minds in Christ Jesus [is yours] " Philippians 4:6-7 (AMP)

"I leave the gift of peace with you—my peace. Not the kind of fragile peace given by the world, but my perfect peace. Don’t yield to fear or be troubled in your hearts—instead, be courageous! " John 14:27 (TPT)

"The Lord is my light and my salvation—     so why should I be afraid? The Lord is my fortress, protecting me from danger,     so why should I tremble? " Psalm 27:1 (NLT)

"Trust in the Lord with all your heart     and lean not on your own understanding; in all your ways submit to Him,     and He will make your paths straight." Proverbs 3:5-6 (NIV)

These are mainstay Bible verses to CALM our hearts, but they are notOne Word verses with the One Word: CALM like this:
Psalm 131:2"Instead I have kept my soul CALM and quiet ..."(God's Word Translation)
More will be in future blog posts on CALM. 
But meanwhile,
I want to end with at least one good devotion to go read:
"Learning to CALM and Quiet Your Soul"
by Sarah J. Hauser
Proverbs 31 Ministries

[image credit]

[I went to P31 looking for one by Lysa T. because I had just read one, but this is what I chose]
I was hoping her new book might be & actually I wish that the title was:
CALM Mind, Peaceful Heart
but
it's actually
"Clear Mind, Peaceful Heart"
(perhaps having a clear mind will cause us to be calm, remain calm & live calm)
Today, I CHOOSE 
CALM
Jesus' CALM, no matter what ...
<>
As I look at the date I chose to publish this before the CHOOSE week is over, I find that it is my older brother's birthday. He would be 75, if he didn't depart from here last August 2023. I still CHOOSE CALM as I remember him today.

[Blog post 3,400]

Focus: CHOOSE ...

"The CHOICE is yours!"

[image credit]



The devotional in "FOCUS" begins with this thought in the very first paragraph and I found that this expression stayed with me. Yet I must add that the entire devotional (5-6 paragraphs)is spot-on and exceptional in its content, thought provoking and searching with the ending questions. The concluding paragraph is the best truth that every person needs ending with "May we commit to CHOOSING more of Him" (Jesus) ! Amen, Hallelujah! I especially appreciate the "Focus Tip" on CHOOSING His ways over ours - I'm sure most of us need to do this more, from our decisions to our actions, we should remind ourselves that we have a choice and then CHOOSE Jesus - every time. 

But now, I have to go back to that expression "the choice is yours" - which I found out is/was a song, movie and a book (maybe more than one) but I found the one above in that image in the beginning (I didn't purchase it; & I don't think it's Christian, but it could be, I'm not familiar with it or the author). I went on a search of this well-known expression "the choice is yours" and found the previous. But I do like the book's description, and have decided to share it here:

"We all make decisions, big and small, every single day. But how often do we do so while operating on autopilot, telling ourselves we “have to” or “should,” or that we “don’t have a choice?” Why do we limit ourselves and relinquish our power to something or someone else? What’s possible when we remember that the choice is ours? In this inspiring and user-friendly book, The Choice Is Yours: A Simple Approach to Live and Lead with More Joy, Ease, and Purpose, expert executive and life coach Stef Ziev helps us identify what drives our choices and understand their impact through a new lens. With humor and grace, she shows us how to embrace personal responsibility, empower ourselves to take ownership of our thoughts and actions, and transform the negative beliefs that weigh us down into energizing choices that lift us up. Using real client examples, as well as her own, Ziev illustrates how being more conscious about our choices creates profound, meaningful, and powerful change inside and out. Ziev offers a straightforward and proven approach to help us recognize our triggers, release our blocks, and make decisions that are aligned with the truth of who we are and what we really want. She reminds us that whatever challenges we face, we all have the authority to choose our responses and curate the direction and quality of our lives and leadership. Ziev provides practical tools and reflection exercises that support us to bring more intention to the choices we make, so that we have more power over the results we create. Isn’t it time to take a stand and choose to live and lead with more joy, ease, and purpose? The choice is yours."

In the book description, you will see the entire title better than you can read it on the image. The additional part "... to live and lead with More Joy, Ease, and Purpose" is very appealing to me and coincides in my month long journey into JOY (that I mentioned last blog post). My search also turned up many series of churches doing "The Choice is Yours" in their sermons. It was in that search that I discovered another book with that title, that is Christian.{I'm considering this one 😉 used copy, because it's from 2011 and much has happened in our world since 2011} Yet I noticed that the "twelve choices" presented "that can strengthen or weaken our walk with God" (depending) do not change or grow old because these "daily decisions will bring joy and purpose to your life" still and that's how the "choice is ours" because walking with God is a daily decision as we CHOOSE - because it is a choice. Choosing to live the Christian life well does not just happen by accident and end up where we hope to be. Clearly the most important CHOICE is to CHOOSE Jesus & receive the gift of salvation in Jesus Christ, with a clear understanding that we need a Savior and to be redeemed from the sin in our lives that only Jesus can do. 

Here are this book's & author's 12 choices, which are clearly expanded on in each chapter of her excellent book and I'm sure it is backed up with scriptures and applicable examples: 

choose to be real choose to live by faith choose to listen to God choose to talk to God choose to let go choose to press on choose to be joyful choose to be strong choose to succeed choose to serve choose to speak wisely choose to be filled with the Spirit

Good advice and great choices captured in this book "The Choice is Yours"
<>
Now back to my initial reason to search and research "the choice is yours" and share the Scriptures for this week's One Word: CHOOSE ... I did link (connect) in my last blog post to the Bible Hub for the Topical definition with a full page of information and verses that include the One Word: CHOOSE; whereas the book "Focus..." usually chooses verses that do not include the One Word, and I shared them also in that blog post near the end. However, the first verse given in the book DOES include CHOOSE and is often the one that is familiar or considered to be a well-known verse (at least the last part): 

" This day I call the heavens and the earth as witnesses against you that I have set before you life and death, blessings and curses. Now CHOOSE life, so that you and your children may live " Deuteronomy 30:19 NIV

Often we don't CHOOSE to read the full context and the book chooses to share the NLT version of Deuteronomy 30:19. This verse is Moses speaking. You can read more here in The Voice (or the full chapter here). I'm sure that Pro-life uses this verse starting with "Now Choose life" and hopefully we do, but it's a choice.

The meaning of "the choice is yours" according to a linked in person is "you are solely accountable (responsible) for every action you make and every emotion you have" which means "it's up to you", "it's entirely your decision". Really? Dr. Anita Phillips shares a video from a conference in 2023 (almost an hour long) on "The Choice is Yours". The message of these words sounds like it's an empowering one but truthfully I have to agree with an article that added "for some". When I read "the choice is yours", I often think that it may be or it may not be a choice, depending on your circumstances, or the situation. I guess that I'm a 'half-empty' kind of person rather than a 'half-full'. In some cases, as this one article I read states "it's an empty message" ..." for those whose only choices are compliance or punishment." I would rather that it's a choice of empowering the person rather than overpowering them; and to make more choices available whenever possible helps to assure that "the choice is yours". The Free Dictionary did not help me with this idiom, but it did show so many other expressions there are with "choices". The phrase "the choice is yours" seems to indicate that there is the freedom to CHOOSE to make the decision between two or more options. I hate to be the one to state this but sometimes people do not (or may not) have the freedom to CHOOSE. Which brings me to my point that God gives every human being the free will to CHOOSE. And free will is a huge topic of discussion for another time and place!

I don't have "Bible Study Tools" Plus but if you do, they have "The Choice is Yours" that starts out with "Life is filled with choices and decisions." and shares key scriptures like the one from Deuteronomy 30:19. Looking through all the Scriptures given for CHOOSE and the various sermons or series I discovered, I'd have to say that the CHOICES are endless (but that's not entirely true) there just are many; and so I CHOOSE to look at a few, but center in on a few from well-known people to me: 1) Max Lucado, 2) Rick Warren and one that was not known to me in a series called 3) "Recalibrate" (but that one will take quite alot of time, unless I just look at Week 6, which contains "The Choice is Yours" on Day 4, from Romans 6:15-19, which I did but it doesn't give content, just discussion questions, so I need to be more familiar with it and I'm not) easier to just read and FOCUS on the devotion on CHOOSE by Cleere Cherry Reaves. 

It was better to just CHOOSE this rather than venture off on my "search" on the expression yet maybe the books might help me understand why the mere mention of this stirred something deep inside of me about our choices and the right to CHOOSE. I do realize that this is not the intent of this particular devotion nor of this expression, however, I feel led by the Holy Spirit (at times) to just go with where He leads me and this is where I ended up. The "choice", in my opinion, is not always our choice, nor do we always have control over the choices; yet our choices, or who we choose, or what we choose; does always have its consequences. Free and fair are the key words; and things are not always fair, and usually many are not free - the cost is immense in many choices we make or may make. At times, we make the wrong choice; at times we are stuck with the choice forced on us by others - in this case, I'd have to say we were not free to CHOOSE. I've seen far too many suffer because they were not free to CHOOSE or their choice led to many more poor choices, impeding what or who they CHOOSE after that and for the future or in the way that they CHOOSE later. God is fair, but human beings fail often in this and now governing authorities & countries do, too. We should not presume that we can CHOOSE for all others; if that was the case, God, in His Omnipotence, would not have given we humans a free will to CHOOSE. 

I will pray about this and hope you do also. Meanwhile, on a lighter side - read either Pastor Max or Rick. And just be thankful that you can CHOOSE and that you CHOSE JESUS! 

[image credit Pastor Rick's]

Which book, or choice mentioned above might you CHOOSE, or any other options?

😉

{in the time after pulling this together & setting up publishing, I went to read comment 

on that last CHOOSING blog post & replied, but it kinda made me reconsider posting this

because I had a fresh perspective. That's the benefit of sharing what you read

 and getting other people's input. It was highly valuable & refreshing! 

It also had me rereading the actual devotional & focusing on something new:

... "In our culture, we tend to negate our own authority  in an attempt to earn it before walking in it ..."

It's at this point the comment picks up.
But the most important part I seem to have overlooked:

"... Because He lives in us, we have authority ..."

[the comment fits here; and I CHOOSE this part to end my thoughts]

"... We are able to experience a setback and still believe in victory." ...

And "a setback is a setup ...
for God to work
... for a comeback"
And God's Resurrection power in us!
so let's "release what is not ours to carry & give it to Him instead!"
Powerful and eye-opening message - thanks 💚

"God, when we see wrong, help us toCHOOSEright.When injustice demands silence,let me speak,When violence seeks apathy,let me act.When busyness produces chaos,let me find peace.{knowing God calms chaos}For You guide us and You give us strengthto boldly stand, speak, and act."🙏(prayer words are from the other book I have:"40 Days, 40 Prayers, 40 Words..."B.REYESCHOW 

MORE "PAUSES" and ONE WORD CHOICES

50 days from Resurrection Sunday (Easter) is PENTECOST!

"Pentecost is a holy day when Christians commemorate the outpouring of the Holy Spirit on the early followers of Jesus Christ. Originating from a Greek word meaning "50th day," Pentecost occurred 50 days after Christ's resurrection. Before the events of Pentecost, Jesus had followers, but there was no movement that could really be called the church. Pentecost is considered the birthday of the church. In Pauses for Pentecost, Trevor Hudson leads readers to focus on one word and scripture verse each day. He invites us to pause for just a few minutes to read the brief daily reflection and do a simple practice. The beauty of this book is its simplicity, and the thoughtful meditations guide us to a deeper understanding of the meaning of Pentecost."

I've continued to "Pause" (as I did during Lent) with a book by Trevor Hudson again
🔥"Pauses for Pentecost"🔥
Fortunately, it's only been a week, but that means I've missed sharing 7 days with you
and that means 7 One Words & Scriptures, which are (were) the following:

Day 1 STONE Matthew 28:1-2 (NIV) Day 2 ANGEL Matthew 28:3-6 Day 3 AHEAD Matthew 28:7 Day 4 *JOY*   Matthew 28:8    Day 5 CRYING   John 20:15 Day 6 BURNING Luke 24:32 Day 7 TABLE      Luke 24:30

* I am also doing a You Version plan that focuses on just JOY for the month of April:
Pause: A Month of Joy in 5 Minutes a Day
It's not at all like the books by Trevor Hudson or associated with the same type of "pauses".
There are 4 plans of 30 days by Lance Lang, Hope is Alive Ministries.  I am enjoying this plan & the author's style of using: 
Proclaim, Prompt, Prod, Praise, Pray each day in the devotions.
After Resurrection SONday,this is a great way to continue the JOYFUL celebration with even more JOY because
"When we are full of JOY, life becomes worth living."
(and personally, I need to pause & focus more on JOY in my life because of Jesus!)
I need the fullness of JOY - Resurrection JOY & POWER!
{I didn't mean to digress, yet when Day 4 was JOY, it made me think of this plan.}
<><><>
So let's go back & continue with "Pauses for Pentecost" for this 2nd Week:

Day 8 BREATHED John 20:22 (NIV) Day 9 DOUBT        John 20:27 Day 10 MORNING John 21:4 Day 11 LEAD         John 21:18 Day 12 ALIVE        Ephesians 2:4-5 Day 13 RAISED     Colossians 3:1 Day 14 DEATH      Colossians 3:5

These are wonderful reflections given for each day of the 50 days along with a Daily Practice.
I probably will not continue sharing all 50 days with the One Words & Scriptures 
but I encourage you to get a copy(Kindle was very inexpensive)
and allow this season between Jesus' Resurrection & Ascension to Pentecost Dayto be a time for us as followers of Jesus Christ (Christians, in the real sense)to enter more fully into God's good news daily together as we meditate on the filling of
the Holy Spirit, in the early church & now, letting the risen Christ 
bring us alive & full of the Spirit & His Resurrection power!
When I read and followed "Pauses for Lent", I was looking forward to continuing with
"Pauses for Pentecost"
to continue my journey intentionally to be refreshed by His Spirit
with the wondrous glory of God
alive in me (us)!
Seeking, thirsting and ready continually
through Christ Jesus for Jesus' return filled with the Living Spirit!
I'm so thankful I discovered these books & this author!
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And I am continuing with my weekly
ONE WORD
also

This week is
CHOOSE
John 3:30 BSB
 again, the One Word "CHOOSE" is not in the verse, it's found in the devotion & in the
FOCUS TIP

"... focus on CHOOSING His way over yours. When a decision needs to be made, remind yourself that you have a choice and then CHOOSE Him - every time. ... His way is always going to win." Cleere Cherry Reaves

The main reflection question for me:
"...are you CHOOSING what is comfortable over what is Christlike?..." 
WOW
(ouch)
😳
Excellent points & questions throughout this devotion by Cleere Cherry Reaves again
for this week as we allow this One Word to transform our lives.
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I certainly see a spiritual connection for me between 
"CHOOSE"
and
the Holy Spirit's filling during
"Pauses for Pentecost"
"HE MUST INCREASE; I MUST DECREASE"

*Deuteronomy 30:19-20(NLT); Job 23:11(NIV); Psalm 16:11(NIV); Matthew 7:13(NIV) 
* has the One Word "Choose"; there are many choices if you click on "CHOOSE"

"Jesus, more of You, less of me."
🙏
Good Word(s) to Focus on for this week!

[image credit: Mary Davis quote]