Weekend Worship at Scott, Arkansas

This is a little community church in Scott, Arkansas. The building was designed by a prominent Little Rock architect more than 100 years ago and is listed on the National Registry of Historic Places. You can read about their mission, beliefs and history here.

Ps 119:33-40

Teach me, O LORD, to follow your decrees;
then I will keep them to the end.

Give me understanding, and I will keep your law
and obey it with all my heart.

Direct me in the path of your commands,
for there I find delight.

Turn my heart toward your statutes
and not toward selfish gain.

Turn my eyes away from worthless things;
preserve my life according to your word.

Fulfill your promise to your servant,
so that you may be feared.
Take away the disgrace I dread,
for your laws are good.
How I long for your precepts!
Preserve my life in your righteousness.

Dianne

Prayer Journal

Ihave never shared this prayer journal with anyone--not even my husband. To me, prayer journals are private, especially a prayer journal written during a fast.

However, I have learned (through Bill Bright's writings) that being too private about sharing can also be a form of pride. So, it is with much fear and trembling and gratefulness to God for his mercy that I share this journal.

(The bold print in above paragraph will link you to the best writings on prayer and fasting that I have ever read.)

The journal is long. I wrote it over a period of about 42 days. I share it hopefully as an encouragement to you in your Christian walk. I realize there are many people who fast forty days at least once a year. I have only fasted forty days one time in my life and a couple of three-day fasts.

So read a little or a lot--all at one time or come back and pick up where you left off when you have a chance--it was a journey I will never regret or forget.

Don't know that I will try a fast any time soon but rereading it made me hungry to know feelings with strongness and clarity once again--the feelings of simplicity, fewer choices, total peace.

I felt better than I've ever felt in my life during this fast. I did consult my doctor who was a Christian and believed in fasting. I also did not have any health issues at the time except for high blood pressure.

If you are considering a long fast, I would hope that you would seek the counsel of a wise doctor and also the counsel of God.













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As you can see and read on the next page, words were starting to become meaningless--I couldn't put into words what I was experiencing although I tried.






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Love,
Dianne
2010-the Year of Longing

Posted in community with:

23rd for the 23rd

My mom got on a plane once in her lifetime and flew to Israel.

While she was gone, I agreed to take care of my grandfather, her father-in-law whom she was caring for at the time. He was in his nineties. While he was in my care, I wanted to be able to just sit and talk to him, spend lots of quality time but also feel as if I had really accomplished something tangible.

It was during those precious days of talking, sharing, reliving, that I stitched Psalm 23. I didn't know it meant anything to anyone but me so you can imagine my delight when at Christmas this year my 40 year old son asked if I would leave it to him.

Every month on the 23rd I read this Psalm so won't you join me today--take a moment and see if you can find anything in the Psalm you've never noticed before, or ask God to reveal something new to you through this classic?

A few years back my Bible study teacher gave us this assignment: Read the 23rd Psalm five times a day for set period (I think it was five days). I'll admit I was disappointed upon first hearing this assignment since I had read it so many times in my lifetime, and in my innocent haughtiness (if there is such a thing) didn't think there was anything else left for me to learn through it. I could not believe the incredible dividends it paid when I followed through.



The Lord is my shepherd. I shall not want. He maketh me to lie down in green pastures. He leadeth me beside still waters. He restoreth my soul.



He leadeth me in the paths of righteousness for His name's sake. Yea, though I walk through the valley of the shadow of death, I will fear no evil for thou art with me: thy rod and thy staff, they comfort me.




Thou preparest a table before me in the presence of mine enemies: thou anointest my head with oil; my cup runneth over.



Surely goodness and mercy shall follow me all the days of my life and I will dwell in the house of the Lord forever. Amen



I long to know You more through scripture.

See sweet Maria's vintage cross-stitched linens here.