Consider consider...!
This week, here in south Louisiana, we had an incredible freeze! Baton Rouge and the surrounding areas were shut down! Our state is not well equipped to handle such a rare phenomena. Louisiana is a wet land state...and when water is frozen, ice abounds; leaving roads and our many, many bridges dangerous! One such night the temperature was in the single digit! Much of the northern area got nice snow to play in, but not in the city of BR. Only sleet and ice. The white capped roof tops were beautiful and long slender icicles delicately graced the eaves. The early morning brought a sky of grey clouds and wintery fog that danced boldly, yet elegantly, through the barren trees. I watched in amazement as this silent picture rolled into view. The beauty I experienced was not from the view of my window. No, because like a crazy woman, I bundled up and with coffee in hand, and sat on my porch. Silence! Nothing moved except the steam coming from atop my coffee mug and my breath as I exhaled! There is nothing quite like the sounds of silence as snow and ice lie gently on the ground and in the trees. Birds and squirrels both still asleep or frozen to death. Not a sound! The interstate behind my house was closed. No sounds of cars and it was too early for people to roll out of their nice warm and comfy bed. Not me! Too much to explore, too much to think about, too much to experience while others slumber in the early hours. That's the only time I truly love to be alone; in the wee hours, and preferably outside. Just me and God! During my second cup of coffee, cold nose and frozen toes, I decided to take a little walk around my yard. My steps were loud as I strolled upon the stiff and crunchy ground. As I passed the first bird house, I took a little peek inside, surely no bird was here in this cold stone shape of a bird house. I was wrong, a little bird was nestled inside...shivering. My heart sank. I wanted to rescue him and take him inside but that was not the wise thing to do! Don't worry about him I told myself. God takes care of him... Consider the birds of the air...
As I explored my yard in the silence of the morning, I began to consider many things...it was then I realized that God was trying to get my attention. Consider! Consider! consider! consider! spoke as an echo ringing through my mind.
 Consider . . .keeping the faith and enjoying the journey! Consider . . . Luke 12:24 24 “Consider the ravens, for they neither sow nor reap; they have no storeroom nor barn, and yet God feeds them; how much more valuable you are than the birds!" Consider . . . 27 “Consider the lilies, how they grow: they neither toil nor spin;" Consider . . . 34 “For where your treasure is, there your heart will be also." All week I have had this little word in the front of my mind. Consider… It’s a simple little word. It’s part of our everyday life and we often don’t consider it! What if we thought about this word throughout the day? How would the course of our actions, with regard to this simple word, change our lives? This word eventually forces us into action. The action taken may create positive changes or lead us into a journey we wish we had never taken. I have considered this word this week. I have considered Luke 22: 22-34, Matthew 6: 19-21, 25,34, Hebrews 10:24 and 3:1. I have considered a word study on this simple little word that acts as an arrow pointing to yet a bigger target of spiritual truth. Below is a chart of it's Greek word and the many meanings; however, only 4 scripture verses actually indicate "to consider." I have considered these 4 verses and am discovering deeper insight. It's the largest piece of the chart!  Consider…the definition from the dictionary.
2657. κατανοέω katanoeō; from 2596 and 3539; to take note of, perceive:—consider(4), contemplated(1), detected(1), look(1), look more closely(1), looked(1), looks(1), notice(2), observe(1), observing(1).[1] [1] Robert L. Thomas, New American Standard Hebrew-Aramaic and Greek Dictionaries : Updated Edition (Anaheim: Foundation Publications, Inc., 1998). When we consider consider, it calls for a PAUSE. It causes us to THINK/PONDER. It causes us to ASK questions. It causes EXAMINATION. It causes us to ANTICIPATE an outcome. It causes a call to ACTION and brings us to a point of DECISION. We realize that something specific is being dealt with in the mind and/or heart. A simple little word bearing all of these responses. Yet, it is not to cause worry! Jesus calls us to consider and yet be anxious for nothing. (Phil 4:6) Considering should bring us into the throne room, seeking counsel of God. He gives wisdom liberally to all men. (James 1:5) We should also seek Godly counsel from others. Proverbs (15:22) There is safety in the counsel of many... and Proverbs 11:14 (click to see more info on this scripture). These next few weeks, I intend to explore and dive deeper into these 4 passages of scripture as I contemplate and pray about what God is showing me in this little word. So, my next blog might just be a continuation of this thought process. This week, let me encourage you to consider everything you think, do, see, say, feel, read, and experience! Open your eyes and ears to hear God speak as you ponder. When the week is through, then you will be able to say (like NPR), All Things Considered ...and God gave wisdom! Considering the Wonders of God, Sherry  If you would like to receive the "Monday Musings" RESTORE blog each week via email, please sign up and enter your email address in the upper right hand corner.
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