Goodbye July Hodgepodge

 

Nearly the end of July, and time for the Wednesday Hodgepodge at From This Side of the Pond, where Joyce writes the questions and bloggers provide the answers!  Here we go ...

1. On July 29th 1957 The Tonite Show premiered with Jack Parr as it's host. This marked the beginning of the modern day talk show. Do you watch any daytime or late night talk shows today? Do you have any thoughts on the hubbub surrounding the cancellation of The Late Show with Stephen Colbert, or are you more in the camp of 'who is Stephen Colbert? 

Haven't had a TV in years so I watch no talk shows at all and am probably the better for it.  My thoughts on the hubbub are pretty simple: Networks tend to cancel shows that aren't profitable for them.

2. What's the best part of your day? 

 

Mornings!  Coffee, Bible reading, prayer, and often a walk.

 

3. What's something your generation does that you actually dislike? 

 Hmmm ...

 4. When you cook do you clean as you go, or clean it all up once you're finished cooking? What's the last thing you cooked/baked in your own kitchen? 

I usually clean as I go.  Last thing I cooked in my kitchen -- pork chops, yesterday.  I've been using this recipe: Juicy Baked Pork Chops and it has become a favorite.

5. Sum up your July in ten words or less. 

Ministry, hospitality, loss, travel, creating -- and yes, sweating.  (Not part of my word count, but it's been hot here in NH.)

Bee balm is blooming at our little cottage in July.

We also rode the Cannon Mountain tramway in July.

6. Insert your own random thought here.

There's not the best light for cross-stitching at our little camp, so I've been doing more small crochet projects when we're there, and rediscovering the fun of making these hot mats:

This is an older photo.  I haven't made this many this time around, but only a couple so far.

And there's the Hodgepodge for this week!

Sunday Scripture

 

 For Sunday Scripture posts currently, I'm using the Daily Grace Co. book Fix Your Focus. This is really not a Bible study as such, but more of a guide to help you fix your focus on God, His Word, prayer, gratitude, and spiritual growth, every week for 52 weeks.  I encourage you to follow along with us as we journal, look at Scripture, pray, and face the challenges of our weeks with our focus on Him.

This week's lesson was actually done by me the week of July 7, but I am working ahead of you readers.  (I can hardly believe that in my own working on this book, I am 19 weeks into it.  Seems unbelievable.). So here goes!

🌿 WEEK-AT-A-GLANCE CHECKLIST is further on in each week's section. But since I am working on Fix Your Focus all week long, I find it works best for me to do this week-at-a-glance checklist first.  [Maybe you would like to use this same checklist if you are following along with us.]

This checklist offers us four points:  

* To make a plan for reading our Bibles and praying.

* To add any upcoming events to our calendars.

* To jot down a to-do list of tasks that must be completed this week.

* To make a note of our top three priorities for this week.

This last point is one that I need to pay special attention to every week.  I've been finding it so helpful.  (The other three points are things that I'm consistently doing.) 

For this week, my top three priorities are:

1) Ministry-- VBS Monday through Friday., blogging, delivering Terry's casket, Sunday School lesson prep, preparing our cottage for friends to stay there.

2) Homemaking -- trying to catch up on homemaking tasks and decluttering both at home and camp

3) Etsy --  prepare some new listings, add to sale, ship any orders.

[If you are following along with our study, this is the place to make a Week-at-a-Glance checklist and/or priority list for yourself!]

🌿 The first actual prompt for each week is JOURNAL.  We are encouraged to take a few minutes to journal about our fears, joys, worries, desires and stressors concerning the week ahead.  [If you are following along with us, take a moment in a journal or notebook to do just that.]. Here's what I wrote on Monday, breaking it down into the suggested categories:

Fears: No real fears going into this week.  

Joys: Getting to catch up with a few things at home; getting to see my younger friend Jennifer each day at VBS; getting ideas for Christmas in July at my Christmas blog.

Worries: A few concerns regarding lending our cottage to friends for a few days -- mostly a concern that we won't have it ready in time.

Desires: That God will be glorified in the events of this week. To be a good testimony to Terry's kids.  To get a few new items listed in my Etsy shop.  To see children's lives changed at VBS.

Stressors: Unknowns that impact many situations.  The extreme heat.  The limitations of age.  Time and energy constraints.

🌿 The next prompt is PRAYER. It was suggested that we use several prayer prompts to have a conversation with God about the week ahead.  [You can do the same.  Use the very same prompts for your own prayer.]

* Lord, You are ... in full control of this week and all that it will hold.  You are able to handle each stressor and bend it to Your purposes.  You are in control of the weather and can cause the heat to abate ... and You are able to give wisdom to deal with it if the temperatures remain high.  You are aware of each of my concerns and you are able to resolve each one.

* Lord, I feel ... hot, sticky, not very well rested and not ready for this busy day.  Not complaining ... but it's a truthful account of how I feel.  But I also feel grateful for another day of life, for the open windows and birds singing, for this little cottage in the woods that You have blessed us with.

* Lord, help me with ... my attitudes this week.  I do have limited patience with unruly [for lack of a better descriptor] children.  Help me with staying cooler and with getting enough rest.  Help me with cleaning at our cottage and preparing it for guests.  Help me to catch up with email correspondence.

* Lord, forgive me for ... times when I'm impatient or speak hastily. . Times when I might be resentful about circumstances and fail to acknowledgeYour sovereign hand in them. For any times when I might tend to act in my own very limited strength rather than relying on Your mighty power.

Make a note of four or five people you are praying for.   l listed friends who have just lost their mom; a young couple seeking God's direction; friends driving from Missouri to New Hampshire

🌿 The next section in this helpful guide is SCRIPTURE MEDITATION.  I chose to first meditate on this week's Scripture, 2 Peter 1:3, using the SOAP method, and then answered several suggested questions.   [You can use your own preferred method to meditate on this verse, and answer the questions below for yourself.]

S= "According as His divine power hath given unto us all things that pertain unto life and godliness, though the knowledge of Him that hat called us to glory and virtue."  (2 Peter 1:3)

O= These words were written by Peter, "a servant and apostle of Jesus Christ" (v.1).  He was writing "to them that have obtained like precious faith with us" (v.1)..

In verse 2 Peter prays that grace and peace will be multiplied to these believers.  How will this happen?

"Through the knowledge of God, and of Jesus, our Lord."  (verse 2)

This can happen as a result of God's divine power having given to believers all things that pertain to life and godliness.  He provides these things though the knowledge of Himself who has called us through His own glory and virtue (verse 3).

Cross-reference for "divine power" -- "Who are kept by the power of God unto salvation, ready to be revealed in the last time."  (1 Peter 1:5)

Cross-references for "life and godliness" -- "For the life was manifested, and we have seen it, and bear witness, and show unto you that eternal life, which was with the Father, and was manifested unto us ." (1 John 1:2)

"Because narrow is the gate, and hard is the way, which leadeth unto life, and few there be that find it."  (Matthew 7:14)

Cross-references for "who called us" -- "That ye would walk worthy of God, who hath called you into His kingdom and glory."  (1 Thessalonians 2:12)

"Unto which He called you by our gospel, to the obtaining of the glory of our Lord Jesus Christ." (2 Thessalonians 2:14)

"Who hath saved us, and hath called us with an holy calling, not according to our works, but according to His own purpose and grace, which was given us in Christ Jesus before the world began."  (2 Timothy 1:9)

"But the God of all grace, who hath called us unto His eternal glory by Christ Jesus, after ye have suffered while, make you perfect, establish, strengthen, settle you."  (1 Peter 5:10)

A= To help with my application of this verse, I answered the three questions from Fix your Focus:

* Reflect on what this verse tells you about who God is.

He is divine.  He is all-powerful.  He is generous to give us all things that will equip us for godly living.  He is a God whom we can know.  He has called us to glory and virtue.

* Think about what this verse tells you about who you are.

As God's child, I have been given all things that pertain to life and godliness.  I've been given access to these things through the knowledge of God who has called me. That means it is possible for me to truly know Him, and it's important that I make the effort to do just that.  I have been called by God to glory and to excellence.

* Throughout the week, consider how these verses should affect the way you live.

I should live as one who has been called by God to glory and excellence.  I should live a thankful life in gratitude to Him who has given me all things pertaining to life and godliness.  I should spend good quality time getting to know God.

God has given us all things -- everything -- that pertain to life and godliness.  We have everything that is necessary for our spiritual growth.  Our heavenly Father gives us everything we need to live the Christian life and become godly people who glorify Him.

God's divine power is His omnipotence working in us and for us.  the means by which this power produces this life and godliness is through the full knowledge of God and Jesus Christ.

One writer noted, "Peter says that God’s power gives us what we need to experience real life in a way that pleases Him. God wants to affect every area of our lives—work, marriage and family, relationships, church, and community. How can you make God’s power operational in your experience? Peter says that it comes 'through the knowledge of Him who called us.' In other words, we must grow closer to Christ." 

P= "Lord, I thank and praise You for this powerful verse.  I thank You that You have given me all I need to live every area of  my life in a way that pleases and glorifies You, and that it's Your mighty power that provides all I need to live a godly life.  I praise You that it is possible to know You, the omnipotent God of the universe.   Help me every day to spend good quality time getting to know You better and better.  I thank You for how You will work in my life , in Jesus' name,  Amen."

🌿 GRATITUDE is the next prompt.  We were to reflect on the way God has shown His faithfulness to you over the past week and list five things we are thankful for.  [If you are following along with us, be sure to make your own list of five things!]. Here is my list:

1) The opportunity to have a brief visit with our friend Terry before she passed away in hospice.

2) Wisdom and clarity of thought in planning VBS snacks.

3) Good opportunities to reach out to people at the farmer's market.  The time flew by!

4) A blessed, refreshing time with friends and family on Independence Day.

5) Going out for a scrumptious lunch on the Tuesday and getting lots of errands taken care of

🌿 SPIRITUAL GROWTH is the next prompt, and this week there's an emphasis on FASTNG. We were to consider what we could fast from this week and to make a plan for replacing our fasted item with the pursuit of God and His Word.  [And again, if you are following along, please think about this for yourself.]

 My answer: We do intermittent fasting daily, and I do use that time to pursue God and His Word.  This week we are spending several nights at our cottage.  That serves as a fast from internet and social media, and I also try to spend extra time in Bible study whenever we stay there.

🌿 Lastly is a GOSPEL-CENTERED AFFIRMATION: 

In Christ, I have everything I need to live a godly life today and experience eternal life forever more.

We can take this encouraging thought into the coming week and know that we have everything we need to live a godly life no matter our circumstances.

And there's the Sunday Scripture for this week!.

Just beachy Hodgepodge

 

July is three-quarters over!  How is that even possible?  But it's time for the Wednesday Hodgepodge at From This Side of the Pond, where Joyce writes the questions and bloggers provide the answers!  Here we go ...

1. When does time pass slowly for you? When does time past quickly for you? 

I find that it often seems God expands my time when I have a lot to do.  Seems surprising, but it's happened often enough that I recognize it by now.  Time passes quickly for me when I'm doing something absorbing like needlework or writing.

2. Do you have a favorite beach? What's your favorite 'beach' activity? Tell us what we'd find in your beach bag.

I do have a favorite lake beach.   It's a state park on Newfound Lake in our state and I've been going there since I was a child. 

 

 

My favorite ocean beach is probably the one at Cabot Provincial Park on Prince Edward Island.  Popham Beach State Park and Reid State Park in Maine are also nice.  We enjoy several beaches in York, Maine, but only in the off season.  They are just too crowded in summer.

Reid State Park

 

Reid State Park

My favorite beach activity would depend on the beach.  In PEI or at Popham Beach, looking for sand dollars or sea glass.  At one of the York beaches, just walking.  At the lake, either reading, needlework, or picnicking.

In my beach bag -- a book and a needlework project.  Occasionally some type of snack.

Not sure on this one.  Maybe Long Sands in York.

3. Your favorite book or movie with a beach setting? 

It has to be both book and movie series -- Anne of Green Cables, with its lovely Prince Edward Island setting. 

4. What's a food you love, but find it's a pain to eat? Is it worth it? 

The lobster/clambake in progress

Lobster.   I might only eat it every few years and usually at the Cabbage Island clambake.  Thankfully we usually go with friends who are helpful in tutoring us in the method of eating.  We tend to forget from year to year.  It's delicious though and worth it for that day.

5.  Do you like roller coasters? What's the best (or worst) roller coaster you've been on? 

No, I don't.  Back in the day I went on a couple of the large, rickety old wooden type.  Can't handle any roller coasters now and just have no interest.

6. Insert your own random thought here. 

Have you visited Christmas in July over at my Christmas blog?  When July began I had literally no idea what I would post about.  Bit by bit the calendar has begun to fill in!

And that is the Hodgepodge for this week, friends!

Sunday Scripture

 

Time for another Sunday Scripture!  As I explained several weeks ago, I've made some changes in  my Sunday posts,  using the Daily Grace Co. book Fix Your Focus, which is really not a Bible study as such, but more of a guide to help you fix your focus on God, His Word, prayer, gratitude, and spiritual growth, every week for 52 weeks.  I encourage you to follow along with us as we journal, look at Scripture, pray, and face the challenges of our weeks with our focus on Him.  I truly hope that others are finding this as helpful as I am.

This week's lesson was actually done by me the week of June 30, but I am working ahead of you readers.  So here goes!

🌿 WEEK-AT-A-GLANCE CHECKLIST is further on in each week's section. But since I am working on Fix Your Focus all week long, I find it works best for me to do this checklist first. This checklist offers us four points:  

* To make a plan for reading our Bibles and praying.

* To add any upcoming events to our calendars.

* To jot down a to-do list of tasks that must be completed this week.

* To make a note of our top three priorities for this week.

This last point is one that I need to pay special attention to every week.  I've been finding it so helpful.  (The other three points are things that I'm consistently doing.) 

For this week, my top three priorities are:

1) Rest-- a staycation, "set no alarms" day on Tuesday, relaxing time with friends planned for July 4

2) Homemaking -- trying to catch up with homemaking tasks at home and camp

3) Ministry --  planning for VBS snacks; visiting a friend in hospice care; posting in both blogs; phone calls with younger women; future Sunday School lesson prep; farmer's market outreach.

[If you are following along with our study, this is the place to make a Week-at-a-Glance checklist and/or priority list for yourself!]

🌿 The first actual prompt for each week is JOURNAL.  We are encouraged to take a few minutes to journal about our fears, joys, worries, desires and stressors concerning the week ahead.  [If you are following along with us, take a moment in a journal or notebook to do just that.]. Here's what I wrote on Monday, breaking it down into the suggested categories:

Fears: No real fears going into this week.  

Joys: It's always a joy to spend time with friends and to talk with my "daughters of the heart" in addition to my biological daughters.  Sunday School preparation and blogging are also joys..

Worries: No real worries, just concern for my husband's health, plus concerns about the planning of VBS snacks.

Desires: As always,  that God will be glorified in the events of the week.  That I would be a useful servant for Him and not in any way an unprofitable servant.  That I could get some good solid homemaking tasks accomplished.  To be able to blog most days for Christmas in July.

Stressors: Time and energy constraints, limitations of aging, dietary restrictions that complicate meal planning.

🌿 The next prompt is PRAYER. It was suggested that we use several prayer prompts to have a conversation with God about the week ahead.  [You can do the same.  Use the very same prompts for your own prayer.]

* Lord, You are ... in full control of this week and all that it will hold.  You are able to give wisdom for every task and decision I face.  You hold time and you are able to expand my time and energize me for its wise use.

* Lord, I feel ...tired and a little bit overwhelmed this morning.

* Lord, help me with ... the events of this week.  Visiting our very ill friend will be challenging, but we will look to You to lead and guide us in that visit.  The limitations of aging are frustrating, but You know all about these and will help us with necessary tasks.  Help me with my attitudes as well..

* Lord, forgive me for ... times when I worry too much about what other people think of me.  Times when I fail to trust You as I should.  For wasting time rather than using it wisely and productively.

Make a note of four or five people you are praying for.  I listed a dear friend in hospice care; her two children; a young couple seeking God's direction.

🌿 The next section in this helpful guide is SCRIPTURE MEDITATION.  I chose to first meditate on this week's Scripture, Isaiah 55:11, using the SOAP method, and then answered several suggested questions.   [You can use your own preferred method to meditate on this verse, and answer the questions below for yourself.]

S= "So shall My word be that goeth forth out of my mouth: it shall not return unto Me void, but it shall accomplish that which I please, and it shall prosper in the thing whereto I sent it."  (Isaiah 55:11)

O= Verse 11 seems to look back to verse 10, where the Lord says that: "As the rain and snow come down from heaven, and do not return to heaven, but instead water the earth and make it bring forth and bud and produce grain.  So shall His Word be."

God's Word will not return to Him empty.  It will do whatever he sends it to do.  It will accomplish His purposes.

ESV says: "So shall My word be that goes out from My mouth; it shall not return to me empty, but it shall accomplish that which I purpose, and shall succeed in the thing for which I sent it."

Cross-reference for "goeth forth" -- "I have sworn by Myself, the word is gone out of my mouth in righteousness, and shall not return, that unto Me every knee shall bow, every tongue shall swear."  (Isaiah 45:23)

Cross-reference for "it shall accomplish" -- "The grass withereth, the flower fadeth, but the word of our God shall stand forever."  (Isaiah 40:8)

Cross-reference for "prosper in the thing whereto I sent it" -- "Remember the former things of old; for I am God, and there is none else; I am God, and there is none like Me, Declaring the end from the beginning, and from ancient times the things that are not yet done, saying, My counsel shall stand, and I will do all My pleasure; Calling a ravenous bird from the east, the man that executeth my counsel from a far country; yea, I have spoken it, I will also bring it to pass, I have purposed it, I will also do it."  (Isaiah 46:9-11)

A= To help with my application of this verse, I answered the three questions from Fix your Focus:

* Reflect on what this verse tells you about who God is.

He is the One true God whose Word is so powerful that it will accomplish what He pleases and will succeed in what He sends it to do .

* Think about what this verse tells you about who you are.

As a child of God, I can absolutely trust His all-powerful, completely effective Word to accomplish His good purposes in my life, in the lives of others, and in our world.

* Throughout the week, consider how this verse should affect the way you live.

 I should live expecting God's Word to work powerfully in my life and in the lives of others.  I should pray for God's Word to take root in the lives of believers and to soften hearts of those who do not yet know Him.

Dr. H.A. Ironside wrote: "How Isaiah's own soul must have been stirred as he gave forth this proclamation! And what an encouragement it should be for every servant of CHRIST to remember that GOD has declared that His word will accomplish that for which He has sent it."

One author noted: "Isaiah used rain’s renewal to illustrate God’s refreshing Word: Scripture carries spiritual vitality. That’s why it doesn’t return void. Wherever it encounters an open heart, it brings refreshment, nourishment, and new life."

Another devotional writer commented, "Some years ago, I received a letter from a man whom I had never met telling me that a note I had sent to a nearby friend had found its way to him, and it had encouraged him in a time of weariness and dark despair. The friend to whom I had sent the note sent it to a friend, who, in turn, sent it to a friend, and so on, until it was sent to the man who wrote to me.

It may be that a simple word offered in love, guided by the wisdom of God, and borne aloft on the wings of the Spirit will have eternal consequences in someone’s life.

Should we not then fill ourselves with God’s Word and pass it on to others with the prayer that God will use it for His intended purposes?"

P= "Lord, how I praise You for Your Word, the Bible.   It is living and powerful!  It is life giving and sustaining.  You tell us that faith comes by hearing, and hearing by the Word of God.  I am so thankful to have Your Word in my own language, when so many do not.  I'm blessed to own multiple copies of the Bible and to have it always at my fingertips. I praise You for the blessing it is to read, study, meditate on, and memorize Your Word, and I pray that You will help me to do so faithfully.  I'm thankful that Your Word will never return to You empty, but will always accomplish Your intended purposes.  What a promise to cling to as we speak Your Word into the lives of others!  I praise and thank You for all of this, in the name of Jesus, the Word made flesh.  Amen."

🌿 GRATITUDE is the next prompt.  We were to reflect on the way God has shown His faithfulness to you over the past week and list five things we are thankful for.  [If you are following along with us, be sure to make your own list of five things!]. Here is my list:

1) A wonderful day trip with friends on the Monday.

2) Things going smoothly with the family event on the Thursday evening.

3) Answers to prayer for our nation as God works in and through our leaders.

4) Slight improvements in the psoriasis.

5) A good time at our Ladies of Grace meeting on Saturday.

🌿 SPIRITUAL GROWTH is the next prompt, and this week there's an emphasis on REST. We were to make a to intentionally rest this week.  [And again, if you are following along, please think about this for yourself.]

 Our day with friends on the Monday was pure rest and relaxation, playing tourist.  We also planned an overnight at our cottage where we did not set an alarm!

🌿 Lastly is a GOSPEL-CENTERED AFFIRMATION: 

God's Word never fails to accomplish His will.

We can take this encouraging thought into the coming week as we seek to share God's Word with others and to apply it to our own hearts and lives.

And there's the Sunday Scripture for this week!

A midsummer day's Hodgepodge

 

 July is half over!  How is that even possible?  But it's time for the Wednesday Hodgepodge at From This Side of the Pond. Joyce writes the questions, bloggers provide the answers!  Here we go ...

1. What's a characteristic you admire in others? Elaborate. 

Self-confidence.  I know that God-confidence is better, of course, but still I wish I was more confident in certain areas of life.  Driving, for one.  However!  Many people are afraid of public speaking, and I'm not.  So there's that.

2. Do you have a favorite mug? Let's see it. Why is this one your favorite? 

I have several favorites.  But the one below is probably my very favorite.  I don't have a photo of it, but snagged a screenshot of one just like it that sold on Etsy for $24.    I bought mine years ago on clearance at Kohls.com for 1.99 -- in fact, bought two of them and wish I had bought ten.  They are so beautiful and have held up so well over the years despite lots of use.  Not even a chip on either one of them!

 And then I need to mention also this vintage Fire King Kimberly mug.  I found that in the cellar of my parents' house along with other dishes, but none like this.  It did come in other colors -- burnt orange and green, I know -- but this blue is my favorite.  This is a smaller mug.  Holds maybe half the coffee of the Snow Valley mug.  But some mornings it is just right!

3. July 15th is/was National Give Something Away Day...will you (or did you, depending on what day you answer these questions) give something away? If so what? Do you regularly give away or do you tend to  'accumulate'? 

I've recently started filling another box to donate to our local thrift store.  We plan to take it in on the 17th after we fill it up.

4. You're planning a trip. Do you prefer exploring big cities or smaller, more off the grid towns? World Atlas lists these 12 'off the grid' towns to see in 2025. How many on the list have you seen? Of those listed which one would you most like to visit? Tell us why? 

Boothbay Harbor Maine, Middlebury Vermont, New Hope Pennsylvania, Rehoboth Beach Delaware, Brevard North Carolina, Saugatuck Michigan, Medora North Dakota, Ouray Colorado, Lamoille Nevada, Neah Bay Washington, Hood River Oregon, or Cambria California

*You can read more about each destination by clicking the link above. 

I much prefer smaller, off the grid towns.  Not sure I would classify Boothbay Harbor as one of those (at least not in the height of tourist season) but I have been there several times and, in fact plan to be there again the end of July.  I've also been to Lamoille, Nevada, and Brevard, North Carolina.  Interestingly, my daughter and her husband are planning to spend time in Cambria, California this week. 

All photos below are from Boothbay Harbor and Cabbage Island.

5. Have you ever...ridden a motorcycle? been to a Disney park? met a celebrity? won a contest? Tell us something about whatever you answered yes to on this list. 

My only "yes" on this list would be winning a contest.  That would be for a crocheted sweater I entered in a needlework contest at the state fair, back when we had one in our town.  I've also won a number of giveaways and have had recipes published in books or magazines due to entering contests.  I  wasn't able to find a picture of the sweater or ribbon, but am showing this prize winner instead.

In the past, our grandkids in Nevada have been big on entering things in the county fair (photography and other artwork, flowers, vegetables and fruits, baked items, needlework, etc.)  At that fair, many of the awards are in cash. Above you see Emily a few years back with a fistful of prize money.

6. Insert your own random thought here. 

Hmmm ... do I have any random thoughts today?  Well, this may not be exactly random, but I was thinking this morning how thankful I am that I picked up the Daily Grace Co. book Fix Your Focus.  I started it because a younger friend was interested in doing it together, and I am SO thankful that I did.  It has truly helped me use my time much more effectively and to bring God into all of my concerns.

Well, that's the Hodgepodge for this week!  Happy Wednesday!

Sunday Scripture

 For Sunday Scripture posts currently, I'm using the Daily Grace Co. book Fix Your Focus. This is really not a Bible study as such, but more of a guide to help you fix your focus on God, His Word, prayer, gratitude, and spiritual growth, every week for 52 weeks.  I encourage you to follow along with us as we journal, look at Scripture, pray, and face the challenges of our weeks with our focus on Him.

This week's lesson was actually done by me the week of June 23, but I am working ahead of you readers.  (I can hardly believe that in my own working on this book, I am 17 weeks into it.  Seems unbelievable.). So here goes!

🌿 WEEK-AT-A-GLANCE CHECKLIST is further on in each week's section. But since I am working on Fix Your Focus all week long, I find it works best for me to do this week-at-a-glance checklist first.  [Maybe you would like to use this same checklist if you are following along with us.]

This checklist offers us four points:  

* To make a plan for reading our Bibles and praying.

* To add any upcoming events to our calendars.

* To jot down a to-do list of tasks that must be completed this week.

* To make a note of our top three priorities for this week.

This last point is one that I need to pay special attention to every week.  I've been finding it so helpful.  (The other three points are things that I'm consistently doing.) 

For this week, my top three priorities are:

1) Friends & family-- time with friends on Monday, an extended-family commitment on Thursday evening, possibly a belated Father's Day celebration on Sunday.

2) Home and Etsy -- trying to catch up on homemaking tasks and Etsy listings

3) Ministry --  phone call with Rebekah, Sunday School lesson prep, blogging.

[If you are following along with our study, this is the place to make a Week-at-a-Glance checklist and/or priority list for yourself!]

🌿 The first actual prompt for each week is JOURNAL.  We are encouraged to take a few minutes to journal about our fears, joys, worries, desires and stressors concerning the week ahead.  [If you are following along with us, take a moment in a journal or notebook to do just that.]. Here's what I wrote on Monday, breaking it down into the suggested categories:

Fears: No real fears going into this week, although the national and world news could certainly be fear-inducing were I so inclined.  

Joys: It will be pure joy to spend time with friends on Monday, taking a little staycation day trip together.  Blogging is a joy for me, as will be our LOG meeting on Saturday.

Worries: No real worries, just concerns for my husband's health.  He's feeling that the lesions on his scalp may be returning, and of course that's a concern for me.

Desires: Certainly that God will be glorified in the events of this week. That the family event on Thursday would go well.  That I can be an encouragement to other women of all ages.

Stressors: The news!  My hubby's concerns over his health and trying to help him navigate the best solutions. Extended family dynamics.

🌿 The next prompt is PRAYER. It was suggested that we use several prayer prompts to have a conversation with God about the week ahead.  [You can do the same.  Use the very same prompts for your own prayer.]

* Lord, You are ... sovereign over all of the events of this week.  You are omniscient and aware of all that it will hold. You are all-powerful and able to change any situation even on a world level.  You are the Great Physician and able to heal any and all physical issues.

* Lord, I feel ... honestly, a bit discouraged that some of the scalp lesions seem to be returning.  I feel at a bit of a loss as to how best to tweak this regimen to help its effectiveness.  I feel tired and crampy myself this morning, so not at my best.

* Lord, help me with ... all the things on my heart and mind today -- a terminally ill friend, my hubby's skin, Saturday's LOG that I need to prepare baked goods for  ... "just everything", as one of my daughters used to say.

* Lord, forgive me for ... times when I try to carry too much myself instead of handing it all over to You.  For times when I doubt or worry.

Make a note of four or five people you are praying for.  I listed a dear friend in hospice care; her adult children as they oversee her care; a young couple seeking God's direction; our former pastor as he grieves the loss of his wife of many years.

🌿 The next section in this helpful guide is SCRIPTURE MEDITATION.  I chose to first meditate on this week's Scripture, Ephesians 6:12, using the SOAP method, and then answered several suggested questions.   [You can use your own preferred method to meditate on this verse, and answer the questions below for yourself.]

S= "For we wrestle not against flesh and blood, but against principalities, against powers, against the rulers of the darkness of this world, against spiritual wickedness in high places."  (Ephesians 6:12)

O= We notice that this verse begins with the preposition "for".  The context indicates that this is a term of explanation,  so we must ask ourselves what it is that is being explained.  In this case, it is the concept that Christians are in a spiritual war.

The Christian warrior's foes are listed in this verse:

* Principalities

* Powers

* The rulers of the darkness of this world

* Spiritual wickedness in high places.

Verse 11 advises the Christian warrior to put on the whole armor of God, so they will be able to be stand against the wiles of the devil.

Verses 14-17 describe every piece of the armor, and verse 18 describes the resource of prayer.

Cross-reference for "powers" -- "In times past, ye walked according to this world, according to the prince of the power of the air, the spirit that now worketth in the children of disobedience."  (Ephesians 2:2)

Cross-reference for "rulers of darkness" -- Ephesians 1:21 tells us that the risen Christ is "far above all principality, and power, and might, and dominion, and every name that is named, not only in this age, but also in that which is to come."

Cross-references for "darkness of this world" -- "When I was daily with you in the temple, ye stretched forth no hands against Me; but this is your hour, and the power of darkness."  (Luke 22:53)

"Who hath delivered us from the power of darkness, and hath translated us into the kingdom of His dear Son." (Colossians 1:13)

"High places" literally means "the heavenlies."

Cross-reference for "high places" -- "Blessed be the God and Father of our Lord Jesus Christ, who hath blessed us with all spiritual blessings in heavenly places in Christ."

The use of the present tense implies, says Dr. Walter Martin,  that "this struggle or hand to hand combat is not a one time occurrence but is a daily, ongoing, continual warfare, whether we like it or not. The lie of Satan is that we have a battle here and there, and so we don't need the armor at all times. That is a lie and to act on it leaves the Christian soldier vulnerable."

Ruth Paxson notes the repeated use of the word "against."  She says: "The word "against" stands out five times upon the page. We have an out-and-out adversary who is actively and aggressively warring against us, assisted by powerful and wicked allies."

A= To help with my application of this verse, I answered the three questions from Fix your Focus:

* Reflect on what this verse tells you about who God is.

He is the opposite of the rulers listed in this verse.  He is in opposition to all of these.  He is light rather than darkness, and would have His warriors to fight against the powers of darkness.

* Think about what this verse tells you about who you are.

As a Christian, I'm in a spiritual battle, fighting against these powers of darkness.  I'm not necessarily fighting flesh-and-blood enemies that can be seen.

* Throughout the week, consider how these verses should affect the way you live.

I must recognize that I'm in a spiritual battle against an enemy who wants to destroy me and all believers -- or to at least render us ineffective.  In order to successfully battle this enemy, I must have my spiritual armor firmly in place and I must be in constant communication with my Commander through prayer.

One author noted that Paul does not call the believer to enter into spiritual warfare. "He simply announces it as a fact and explains that it is not mere men you face but the wiles of the scheming devil. In military strategy one must never underestimate the strength of the enemy. Paul is certainly not guilty of such fatal misjudgment but gives a realistic report of its potential."

Herbert Vander Lugt wrote in Our Daily Bread, "The Bible clearly acknowledges the presence of invisible but very real spiritual beings, or powers. In Ephesians 6:11-12, Paul declared that our primary warfare is against an army of rebellious angels headed by Satan. The bad news is that they are more intelligent and powerful than we are. The good news is that Jesus defeated them by His death on the cross: “Having disarmed principalities and powers, He made a public spectacle of them, triumphing over them” (Col. 2:15).

"There are many things beyond our control, but we need not fear. We who have placed our trust in Jesus are on the winning side."

P= "Lord, I thank and praise You for the clear teaching of Your Word.   I am so thankful that we can clearly understand the importance of the battle we are in, that it truly is a battle between good and evil.  Help me to always remember that Satan wants to destroy me -- or, at the very least, to make me ineffective.  Help me to be wise and consistent in employing my spiritual armor, and to stay in good contact with You, my mighty Commander who has already defeated Satan. I praise You for all that You will do, in Jesus' name,  Amen."

🌿 GRATITUDE is the next prompt.  We were to reflect on the way God has shown His faithfulness to you over the past week and list five things we are thankful for.  [If you are following along with us, be sure to make your own list of five things!]. Here is my list:

1) Getting to have a really nice breakfast out with friends we don't ordinarily get to see often.

2) The blessing of seeing these same friends twice within one week.

3) The joy of being able to be used by God in the lives of other women, young and old.

4) Being able to get out for a walk a couple of times in the past week.  It feels good to get back to that.

5) Getting to spend time with Rebekah; the blessing that Mr. T and her toddler son have such a special relationship.

🌿 SPIRITUAL GROWTH is the next prompt, and this week there's an emphasis on SERVING. We were to think about our available resources -- time, finances, prayer, etc. We were to consider how we could serve those in need this week.  [And again, if you are following along, please think about this for yourself.]

 My answer: I can seek to support and encourage my husband and be a practical help to him as he deals with his skin condition.  I can be there as an encouraging presence as he speaks about his family at a local historical society.  I can bake a coffeecake to serve ladies at our monthly LOG meeting.  I can prepare a Sunday School lesson and blog posts to encourage other ladies.

🌿 Lastly is a GOSPEL-CENTERED AFFIRMATION: 

There is a spiritual battle happening in my life for which God equips me to fight.

We can take this challenging yet heartening thought into the coming week as we face the spiritual battles ahead!

And there's the Sunday Scripture for this week!