TO BE PICKLED OR NOT PICKLED, THAT IS THE CHOICE

PERSEVERE

PERSISTENCE

ONE BY ONE I WILL LEAD YOU

Each of the above phrases have occupied my mind at different times while playing pickleball. The phrase helped me to focus and play strong in pickleball but a message came through that pertained to real life circumtances. 

I am down 4-9 in a match and hear, "I can lead you take it one point at a time." I pictured the Israelites watching the red sea part and then they carefully the Israelites were led through to the other side.

My life and incidents seem hard and almost impossible. I hear this word on the court and take it home. It is a message for life, "I WILL LEAD YOU." When I focused just on those words and played I came back to win in the match. STAY FOCUSED ON HIS WORDS. Isn't that just like life?

When I kept doing that and lost but it was so close, it was not a defeat it was a growing and stretching point. NOTHING WAS LOST.

It was freedom!

I began saying to my partner another occasion, "Wow, you are being so persistent." It gave them courage and hope and we won. It was ENCOURAGING, a focus!

The same with perseverance. I would hear, "Persevere!" Any time I got focused on my opponents or even upset a line judgement call against me (that I thought was wrong) my focus would shift and I would begin to loose points. Saying, Persevere brought me to the win or a very close game. I either lost because I would let there actions take my eyes off the word or I would hear, it is producing!

Producing

Something is always in motion with God and it is producing and ultimately bringing glory to God. 

It is always about us! Me and God. God produces and it is a personal relationship to help me to lean on Him and not others for everyday living.

Life is not about what I will accomplish but what I will let Him work through me. Then there is true 

SATISFACTION

Accomplishing and being free in Christ is peace. TRUE PEACE! 

Deep down in our heart we can learn and know this with God. 

Everything is about Him.

Being reunited with Him is the hope. Everything else is false hope, a false notion that is where true happiness lies.

It does not lie in myself and what I do. It's what I grow with Him. Learning more about him. Knowing Him deeper, takes me away from expectations of others and a world view.

The deeper we know Him the more we can let Him work and not let the circumstances take over.

Prayer:

Lord thank you for helping lately with so much of your wisdom, strength and power. I truly see you helping me and guiding me that it brings me such inner joy. I worship you alone! Amen.

In case you don't know being pickled means you loose the game without get any points!

0-10 eeek!

MARY

 “Mary!” Jesus said. She turned toward him. John 20:16

Jesus knows everything! 

"Elaine!"

I read the above verse and then sensed Jesus calling me by name. I just know he is with me. He is caring for me. He is with me, in me.

Since I read this passage, Jesus has captivated my heart and mind. At moments when things are difficult I just reflect, be quiet and hear his gorgeous whisper.

"Elaine!"

Yes Jesus! 

Thank you Jesus!

I love that you watch over me!

Praying you hear it also!

I CUT THEM OFF

 I feel like I am falling apart!

Be real!

Have you allowed that thought in your mind and let it roll around?

I only have a moment to address this so here is what I did when I thought this.

I asked myself, "Where is this coming from?" Answer, my aches and pains. Where will you go with this thought? Keep rolling it around in your head? Will it last forever? How do I make it stop?

Prayer- Lord help me!

The Lords answer-I got a verse on my email.

"This is the day the Lord has made, let us rejoice and be glad in it." Psalm 118:24

Wisdom speaks

I go to Psalm 118 and read the whole thing. I love God's words! So much beauty. When the writings repeat words I get all excited. 

In this Psalm "In the name of the Lord", The Lord's right hand! You can look those up and see why it is repeated, but my fav today, "I cut them off!"

Repeated 2x in this Psalm it says they surrounded me! Well let's just see who can surround me and will the Lord allow that. NO Way! I cut them off!

With the mighty right hand in the name of the Lord, "I cut those thoughts off!" 

Let's do it today! What thoughts keep coming back to you? 

I pray with you now, 

In the name of Jesus and His right hand guiding, I cut those thoughts that are surrounding me off! In Jesus name!

I pray that you Rejoice and be glad in our SAvior today! Amen

WHEN THEN MENTALITY

 Bombarded with choices, decisions?...always!

Good, better, best does not always work to help figure things out.

As I read through Proverbs one this struck me to stop, look, listen, live!

The word WHEN repeats starting in verse 27-

calamity, disaster, distress, trouble overwhelms you!

Then:

 they will call, look for the Lord v. 28 

When we let things go on and on trying to FIX THINGS. I repeat fix things.  Our brain spiral with ideas of how to fix things. You feel exhausted and dead when circumstances just don't change or get better. You go at it again. I didn't try this or this. I'll do this and the result again is you feel dead and lonely inside!. Verse. 12 says, "The complacency of fools will destroy them." WE ARE CAUSING THIS FEELING OF BEING dead inside.

Do you know that feeling? 

It's a warning a sign where we must stop, look, listen, PRAY! Confess we are in control!

v. 33 but whoever listens to me will live in safety and be at ease, without fear of harm.

Let us pray today:

 WHEN...........(fill in the blank, name your calamity) let my  THEN be the story you write. No my way Lord but your way!  Lord help me to wait on you and listen so you can fix...............today.

In Jesus mighty name. Amen. 

We know the WHEN  will strike (don't hold your breath in fear waiting for it to creep up on you)

focus on the the THEN that Jesus wants to bring to situations. 

Play the song Trust and obey (I looked up the song and listened) how beautiful! 

Conclude:

v. 20- Wisdom calls, raises her voice, cries out, she makes her speech. 22. How long will you simple ones lover your simple ways?

God-If you listen I will "Pour out my heart to you and make my thoughts known to you!"