Since I finally got around to officially declaring the 2019 One Word as
EMBRACE
{and its other forms of past and present participles (or gerund)}
Embraced/Embracing
I decided June 1st would be a good time to begin
Lysa TerKeurst's book*
{that I mentioned back here}
and a
100 day journey
*EMBRACED*
I began with the YouVersion (sample) 5 day plan, but only for the first three days, then the last two on the appropriate day of her book. I am so blessed to have received the beautiful, hard bound version on Fri. and so glad that I ordered it because it's such a keepsake and as I mentioned so lovely from cover to cover - really a wonderful gift for yourself or someone special {plus I was able to get it under my set limit of $10 and did not have to pay shipping, which is sometimes more than the bargain}.
Lysa has divided her book into 4 parts
"Part 1: Embracing the Pursuit of Him and His Direction"
|
devotions 1-26
"Part 2: Embracing the Fullness Found Only in Him"
|
devotions 27-48
"Part 3: Embracing Him in the Midst of Hurt & Heartache"
|
devotions 49-75
"Part 4: Embracing His Call to be Transformed"
|
devotions 76-100
Tempted to begin in Part 3
So, here I am, on June 1st, my mother's birthday, out at her gravesite, cleaning off the headstones of all my family and leaving lilacs from home with one teacup red rose, in remembrance of the dozen that my dad use to bring my mom regularly from her death in 1986 until his in 1998 and while I am able, I hope to at least bring one red rose. I'm accompanied by 1 of my 3 furry friends, who makes herself at home, lying on the grass, where I will be laid as I trim the grass around and clean off the stone. I take out this beautiful turquoise book and begin:
| ... "Giving My First Moments to God"... |
not just reading again the devotion that I had already read
early this morning
but allowing myself to actually feel God's
EMBRACE
meeting me right there, right then
with
Psalm 86:11 and 13
then
Psalm 84:1
{need to take out my cellphone to read this verse}
however
Lysa starts each devotion with a Scripture, the first,
and in her devotion, she beautifully pens what
two Scriptures remind her of and then
beautifully composes a prayer
with all of these verses
{plus an ending prayer}
[you can read these in their entirety in the sample at YouVersion]
I single out this one line from the prayer:
| ... "Help me to EMBRACE what comes my way as an opportunity ... rather than a personal inconvenience" ... |
I have a momentary pause remembering an 'embrace' sadly interrupted - one my father attempted to give my mother with her final breath. It's been a lasting impression in my mind because of her struggle for air which was the reason for the rejection interruption (in my personal opinion) and until my youngest brother's more peaceful death, I swore I never wanted to be at anyone's death bed because of the fear of having that as the last remembrance of that person. Lament/grief - one lesson yet to be learned, my attitude has changed a little about this but clearly has not been erased. It's remarkable what your mind retains. As my furry friend, Lucky, snaps me back to the current reality ... I gaze up into a beautiful blue sky, as the tear that had welled up in the corner of my eyes disappears and I watch a plane prepare for its landing. Knowing that I, too, will have to prepare for my final landing and I'm so thankful for words like Lysa's that encourage me/you ...
"to know God is Holding You Close"
(the rest of her title)
Yes, dear Lord,
"teach me Your way ...
that I may rely on Your faithfulness;
give me an undivided heart,
that I may fear Your name."
Psalm 86:11
as Lysa writes, through His Word, this time alone,
prepares me for what lies ahead, what I need throughout every day as
God equips me to handle and strengthens me quietly yet boldly
with His loving and aMazing Grace
I depend on this
I rely on His
EMBRACE
I need to 'embrace' the past
that prepares me for my future
Yes, Lord
I need to EMBRACE Your Pursuit and Your Direction
I'm ready to face the rest of today
I'm armed with Your truth
I'm surrounded by Your love
I'm filled with so much gratitude for
lessons learned and those I've yet to learn
I can't wait to read the next one:
The Pineapple Principle
{I happen to love pineapple. In fact, I even bought a mango-pineapple slush drink
on my way home today}
