Friday, September 24, 2010

"FAN THE FLAME" FRIDAY - Ponder

Welcome to "Fan the Flame" Friday.

This is a weekly post that will be "short and sweet" (kinda like me...)

Just a word and a phrase, a sentence or a question...just a little something to "fan the flame" of your creativity!

Today's word: ponder

What does the word "ponder" mean to you?
What things do you "ponder" in your heart?

"But Mary was keeping within herself all these things, weighing and pondering them in her heart." (Luke 2:19, The Amplified Bible)


Let me know what you think!!


“This is why I remind you to fan into flames the spiritual gift God gave you…For God has not given us a spirit of fear and timidity, but of power, love, and self-discipline.” (2 Timothy 1:6-7)



BLOG = "Blessedly Leaning On God!"

8 comments:

  1. In the past, I've said, like Mary I ponder this in my heart. So that really got my attention. Ponder to me means to think on or to toss something around and around in your head. There are so many things I've heard that ponder, how can this be Lord.

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  2. Hi Sharon,

    What does the word "ponder" mean to you? Ponder is thinking of something in a way that I gain an understanding of it.

    What things do you "ponder" in your heart? My family, friends, work, career, health and things which I place a value on. Most importantly, I ponder my relationship with God. I ponder God's love and grace, His truth and faithfulness, His mercy and kindness, and I ponder His forgiveness and salvation.

    Blessings and peace.

    MTJ

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  3. I'm waiting for a friend to show up for lunch.
    So..... I'm going to ponder that one for a while.

    Yep. You saw that one coming, didn't ya?

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  4. ponder - mediate upon it, think about it, consider it

    ponder in my heart; keep it close in my heart with my feelings

    very good word to consider today :)

    betty

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  5. Blessings Sharon... I love your BLOG!

    I was drawn by your reflection at MTJ. Many times I have read your words and this was the first time I followed them to you! I'm so glad I did! I've liked much of what I've seen written just in comments!

    I love this idea also to "Fan the Flame" but as regards the word....hmmmmmmmmmm... I'll have to
    PONDER

    I'm suppose to be praying or reading Papa Prayer
    not out and about visiting. And I told myself I'd have to go peek at your other BLOG too!

    Peace,
    Peggy

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  6. Wanda - I think you summed it up well - "How can this be, Lord?" To think on things of the Lord, to toss them around in our head, to try to comprehend an awesome God - that is to "ponder."

    MTJ - I liked your definition of ponder! To think of something in a way that I gain UNDERSTANDING. Very profound. In this sense, to ponder means to use our minds AND our hearts. Like you, I also ponder things that are valuable to me, I ponder my relationship to God. I ponder His love...unfathomable!

    Debbie, Debbie, Debbie - What am I going to do with you? Yup, I did see that one coming. The only thing I've been pondering all day is this: Did you have dessert?

    Betty - I really liked this word that you used - consider. To me it meant to weigh something in my mind, to look at it from all angles. And I really like this phrase you used: "...keep it close in my heart with my feelings." Not just intellect, not just superficial thinking...but emotions. To think with feeling. That thought in itself makes me "ponder"!

    Peggy - Welcome!! What a pleasure to meet you! What thoughtful words - Thank you so much, I REALLY appreciate it! I have also enjoyed your comments at MTJ. And it makes me happy to have you come over and visit my "porch" (that's how I look at this blog - a place where many of us can come and sit and just chat for awhile!) I love how you said you'd have to ponder the word "ponder!" It IS kinda like that, isn't it?! :)

    When I a child, I used to "ponder" the concept of eternity. I just couldn't grasp the idea of forever (I still can't!!). I think that's what the word "ponder" means to me. To contemplate the unknowable and unfathomable things of God. And though we can't understand them fully, we are enlightened and humbled and awed by our "ponderings."

    Two awesome verses:
    Psalm 111:2 "How amazing are the deeds of the LORD! All who delight in him should ponder them."
    Psalm 143:5 "I ponder all your great works and think about what you have done."

    GOD BLESS, everyone!

    Looking forward to talking again soon!!

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  7. Just popping back in to fan the flame on Saturday. I guess it would be more Saturday stoking...

    I always enjoy reading the responses from the Friday post. Those who comment here have such good thoughts. I nod my head a lot.

    I looked up the word for ponder in that verse, and "symballo" primarily carries the meaning of bringing together. I like that.

    I think it illustrates it so clearly that we bring or gather together all the details of what we've seen and heard and experienced and collect them into one thought. I thought it was interesting, too, that the root for it is also used for the word for pouring.

    Hmm... pouring over it.

    I just love that Bible with all my heart. Seriously... this word girl loves the words God inspired men to use.

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  8. Debbie - Thanks for coming back. I like reading the Friday responses, too. It's interesting how people look at things so differently. That's why I thought this idea might be fun - and it's turned out to be quite enjoyable! "Symballo" - very interesting slant on the word "ponder." Leave it to a teacher to teach me something new! Love how you then sorta "defined" it in your own terms - really good. Pouring over it - yes, that's a great word picture.
    OH YES - I love God's Word. It's alive, and exciting - I never tire of "pondering" its message!!

    GOD BLESS!

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"So [I] have been greatly encouraged in the midst of [my] troubles and suffering, dear brothers and sisters, because you have remained strong in your faith. It gives [me] new life to know that you are standing firm in the Lord. How [I] thank God for you!" (1 Thessalonians 3:7-9)

Thanks for your comments - it is such a joy to be sharing my journey with friends like YOU!

(NOTE: Anonymous comments will be removed. Thank you for understanding.)