CHOOSE: EXTRAORDINARY

Chocolate is probably not the ordinary breakfast food chosen by the average person.

But.....somedays need a little boost and dark chocolate is healthy. 

Plus, today's morsel had one of those "just for fun" messages. 

Treat Tuesday like Friday. The fine print adds.....choose less ordinary.

What does that mean exactly? Are Tuesdays considered ordinary days? I've pondered this throughout the day. So I decided to choose extraordinary (corrected by me) and when autocorrect separated the one word to two, (extra ordinary,) the meaning was totally lost. I didn't want more of the ordinary! No extra same-o, same-o!

I wanted the compound word, extraordinary (But.....with auto correct, I had to make that happen myself! Think retyping more than once. 

Extraordinary---remarkable, amazing, incredible, exceptional. 

And whatever you do, in word or deed, do it all in the name of the Lord jesus, giving thanks to the Father through Him. (Colossians 3:17)

Why can't a Tuesday, as well as a Friday, be that kind of day? A special day unto the Lord? (Romans 14:6)

Partake each day with thankfulness...(1 Corinthians 10:31) and then await, with expectation, all the extraordinary things the Lord will do.

CHOOSE: TO SMILE

Proverbs 15:13 is all about smiles. 

A merry heart maketh a cheerful countenance....(KJV)

Smiling Siblings from Hungary

A glad heart makes a cheerful face...(NASB)

A happy heart makes the face cheerful...(NIV)

Smiling Siblings from Ukraine

A glad heart makes a happy heart...(NLT)

No matter how you say it---one's facial expressions speak volumes about one's  heart condition.

Smiles are the international language. Children from any country make most folks smile!

These international beauties made my heart smile---what an easy choice!

CHOOSE: RELATIONSHIP

It might be February but I'm still mulling truths from Tim Keller's Hidden Christmas---in particular the name Immanuel. Immanuel is the person of the incarnation.

He is God. He is human. He is with us. He is God with us! (p.53)

Christ chose twelve that they might be "with Him." (Mark 3:14)

What does "with Him" mean contextually as Matthew and the other gospels describe this relationship as well? Being in their Rabbi's presence. Sitting at His feet. Close enough to Him to be "sitting in His dust." (John Ortberg)

Being with Him is all about relationship. 

Being in Jesus' presence, for us, is also about that intimate relationship with Him---conversing with Him, (prayerful conversation is two-way and involves both listening and speaking) learning from Him and having His comfort moment by moment.

The purpose of the Incarnation was to have that relationsship with Him.

To be able to choose relationship, one must know a relational God and desire to be with Him!

CHOOSE: PRAYER

Prayer is always a perfect choice! Even when we feel as if we can't pray---"We do not know what we ought to pray for, but the Spirit himself intercedes for us through wordless groans." (Romans 8:26)

Anytime Prayers. (Psalm 55:17)
Arrow Prayers. Those quick ones shot straight to the Lord. (Psalm 4:1, HELP!)

Breath prayers. (Exhale....Jesus)
Evening prayers. ( of confession, Ezra 9:5)
Familiar prayers. (Matthew 6:9-13, Lord's Prayer)

Singing prayers. (Many Psalms are songs.)

Intercessory prayer. (Isaiah 62: 6-7, my Saturday prayer since 11/1995). 

Long prayers. Short Prayers.

Mindful prayers. (1 Corinthians 14:15)
Morning prayers. (Psalm 5:3)

Prayer from Psalms (Psalm 17, a prayer of David)

Prayers from Scripture. (Ephesians 1:15-17 & Colossians 1:9-14)

Prayers of Petition. (James 1:5)

1 Thessalonians 5:17

Choosing to "pray from the heart" is always a good idea. Writing down those prayers isn't a bad idea either.

I urge, then, first of all, that petitions, prayers, intercession and thanksgiving be made for all people— 2 for kings and all those in authority, that we may live peaceful and quiet lives in all godliness and holiness.(1 Timothy 2:1-2)

Choose prayer with me or for me----I would certainly appreciate them.

CHOOSE: PITHY

Tweets are pithy. 'Cept I don't tweet. 
I get all atwitter just thinking about it. 
Blogging can be pithy, tho often mine are not----at least I can "choose pithy" as I blog today.

Pithy is often so much harder than wordiness! All wordsmith's recognize that writing hazard. Saying the most with the fewest words is more appropriate for today's hurried lifestyles.

Scripture itself supports the use of fewer, yet meaningful, words. In Job 16:3, the question is asked, "Is there no limit to windy words?" 
That's what superfluous words are like---hot air. 

More words can lead to confusion. Ecclesiastics 6:11 states, "For there are many words which increase futility."

Possibly if I choose to blog pithy entires, blog readers will be joyful!

"The teakettle is "tweeting you." (Family Circus,)

Was this one pithy enough? It took me about as long to type this as it did for my cuppa to steep.

CHOOSE: SEEING

This entry could have easily have been entitled, Choosing Joy Again!

Interestingly enough, finding joy was Jesus Always entry for 2/17----the day I began choosing "my one word." No wonder my first thought was that "joy" would be my word. Sarah Young's latest devotional book, Jesus Always is all about embracing joy!

Young reminds readers that "joy can be found in the most unexpected places." 

One just needs to search for the "good" in life---to "see" joy. As she puts it, "Living joyously is a choice...and gladness must be chosen many times daily." (2/17)

Choose is my word because I want to keep on choosing "right living" as Proverbs shows.

Choosing is about seeing God's hand in our lives and trusting the outcome regardless of our trials and most difficult times.

Seeing His goodness requires focus. Focus requires "fixing one's eyes on Jesus." (Hebrews 12:2) Seeing Him. Regardless.

It's a choice!

CHOOSE: MY ONE WORD

"CHOOSE: MY ONE WORD." This entry title says it all for me. Literally.

My One Word, as Franklin Graham calls it, "is a refreshing approach to NewYear's Resolutions..."
Kyle Idleman calls it, a lens that can change every area of your life....more than a to-do list....more than a New Year's resolution.

It was a book that I had never even heard of until last Friday---a gift from visiting friend, Angie.
A book I have since devoured although the recommended approach is a slow one.
The premise is choosing one-word for your year's focus. Just one. The choosing occurs after prayerful consideration over a period of time. Friend and blog reader, Margie H, leaned over and said, "I bet your word is going to be joy." Actually that came to my mind as well.
After all, I blogged on January 1, "In 2017 may I choose joy!"

But God....obviously had a different word in  mind. It all started as I looked back at that very first entry. The fact that I even had continued blogging in 2017, is still somewhat of a mystery to me.
Being as OCD as I am, I began reading in order all the titles of "dotsydetails" entries since January 1. There was one word consistent in all 37 entries and it wasn't joy. The word was choose.
So many of my responses in life, even in my thought life, are of my own choosing. Though I'm not sure where all this word choice will take me as I begin to focus but the Lord has already provided a good foundation. Two verses will begin my "choose" project. The first is from Joshua 24:15, "Choose this day whom you will serve...."
The second verse is "Seek ye first the kingdom of God...."(Matthew 6:33) Though "choose" is not stated in the verse, to me, it is "understood." One must choose to seek. Seeking Him is a choice. God showed me that choosing to seek is a volitional concept of an intended action. In other words, by an act of my will, I make daily choices----whether of not I choose to seek Him first or to serve Him, the choice is always up to me. The ball of "choice" is in my court! I hope to share throughout the year what God teaches me as I focus on my single word choice!

Choose is "my one word." That word says it all for me for 2017.

CHOOSE: JOY'S RECIPE

Intentionality is the buzzword in today's culture. Be intentional about your life choices!

It's certainly true for me. If I don't "intentionally" choose items on a long weekly agenda, they get lost in the shuffle. 

Even as I have decided to choose joy as my "focus" this year, I need a daily reminder. Sometimes an hourly reminder. How does one schedule joy? Can't joy always be a spontaneous overflow? I don't have answers to my own questions....

......But God....has graciously shown me new "intentional "sources of  "joy" in notes from an old (NIV) Bible. Notes to remind me how joy can overflow from my "healthy thinking." Healthy thinking that is a result of renewing my mind in His word. This time "my" marginalia helped as well.

It's the same Bible I used Wednesday for blog entry from Psalm 19 and to pray for friends, and the Bible I used again yesterday, in Psalm 17, as I prayed for a dear friend. This morning, I "intentionally" chose my same ragged NIV Bible blog entry with verses from Psalm 16.

More notes found.....

.....Marginalia 9/20/2009 ---between cancer surgeries, notes from Jonathan Morrow's (I haven't a clue who J. Morrow is.) "5 Ingredient Recipe for Joy."

"Joy"

1. Devotion. (Psalm 16: 2a)
2. Gratitude. (Psalm 16: 2b)
3. Surround self with others who trust God. (Psalm 16: 3)
4. Our inheritance. (Psalm 16: 6)
5. God's Guidance. (Psalm 16: 7-9)

Notes also included 2 ingredients NOT found in a JOY recipe.

One could label those as "Joy Killers."

1. Critical Spirit. (An inward critical spirit often overflows with complaint, is my thought.)
2. Unhealthy Thinking. (Joy flows from thinking, so don't interrupt the "joy flow!")

DO NOT Choose to add those ingredients into your life........

..........choose pure JOY instead!

CHOOSE: SOUL FOOD

Have you ever had a "hankering" to once again taste a favorite food from times gone-by?

I have had such a hankering for "butter rolls." Peggy's and Madea's Restaurants have good ones BUT I have heard that Ellen's Soul Food has the best. I will let you know as I am trekking there today with friends.

I also "hanker" for soul food from old familiar passages in Scripture----wanting to "taste" them in a new way. Such has been the case this week as I've revisited Psalm 16, a fave of mine. 

I have been drawn back day after day and each time God gives me new insight. A new perspective on His tried and true words of old. Discovering something new, that wasn't new at all---just new in the way the words were now speaking to my heart. 

Tasting anew. Chewing on. Devouring in a new translation. 

Savoring. Verse by verse. Again and again.

8 I will always look to you, as you stand beside me and protect me from fear. 9 With all my heart, I will celebrate, and I can safely rest.
(Psalm 16:8-9 CEV)

Spiritual soul food delighting my taste buds for truth from God's Word before I go for physical soul food from Ellen's.

CHOOSE: REFLECTING ON GOD'S WORD

I just love it when I am praying scripture for others and God show's me hidden jewels.

Such was the case with this week's prayers for Uganda folks from Psalm 19 as I chose to "refresh" my recollections as I began reflecting on God's word. 

For me, refreshing during my times of meditation can come when reading God's word from a translation other than the translation I had been using at that moment. Thus ESV was starting point but NIV held the new treasures. 

NIV Marginalia. 

There in my ragged NIV (think much loved and much used) were NOTES!

Perfect notes for wordsmiths!

God reveals Himself through nature (v.1-6) and scripture. In verses 7-9 there are:

6 synonyms, 6 adjectives & 6 results for scripture revelation.

Synonyms: 

Law. Statutes. Precepts. Commands. Fear of the Lord. Ordinances.

Adjectives:

perfect. trustworthy. right. radiant. pure. sure.

Results:

reviving the soul,making wise the simple,giving joy to the heart,giving light to the eye,  enduring forever, 

altogether righteous (as theses decrees come together in making decisions for human situations.

The law of the Lord is perfect,

     reviving (refreshing, NIV 2011) the soul.

The statutes of the Lord are trustworthy,

    making wise the simple.

The precepts of the Lord are right,

    giving joy to the heart.

The commands of the Lord are radiant,

    giving light to the eyes.

The fear of the Lord is pure,

    enduring forever.

The ordinances (decrees NIV, 2011) of the Lord are sure, (firm, NIV, 2011)

 and altogether righteous.

10) God's words....They are more precious than gold,  than much pure gold; they are sweeter than honey, than honey from the honeycomb......in keeping them is great reward! (Psalm 19:10-11, NIV, 1996---emphasis is the blogger's)

God's word in and of itself is "refreshing" in any translation. (NIV, 2011)

Knowing God for me comes when reflecting on His word. It's my best daily choice.

Marginalia---The more we (I) know God, the more (my) life should reflect Him. (Tim Lundy)

CHOOSE: LOVE

Choose love and find joy!
Greeks had 6 words for love---3 of which were used in NT scripture.
Phileo love (deep friendship) John 12:25, Storge (like a family love) Romans 12:10, a combo of phileo & storge, and agape (unconditional, represented by God's love) John 3:16.
Hebrew definition for love in OT is 'ahabah (similar to GK Eros, romantic love) as depicted in Song of Solomon and Proverbs 5:18.

Today is a day to celebrate love. I celebrated with tea as I read cards & emails, and opened candy from loved ones.
I celebrate "morningtime" with tea. I love tea.
But God.....has shown me that "love" in scripture is not about inanimate objects.
In scripture, love is always the only kind of real love----relational.
So....I guess that excludes my cuppa. But.....I REALLY, REALLY, REALLY like my morning cuppa.
Happy Valentine's Day to all!!

CHOOSE: GOD'S GUIDANCE & GOD'S TIMING

BUMMER! That's what I thought when I saw that the MidSouth Food Bank Collection box had been removed from "my" Kroger. Of course, I can pay for meals at the grocery check-out but I had been purchasing food to "give" and the sacks were in my trunk.

But God....had me see national news on TV about communities having "blessing boxes" to share food in neighborhoods. So....I started "scouting" Memphis area for some. A recent article in Commercial Appeal highlighted one in Binghampton area that was restocked on weekends. So....I decided to try and locate it and take food in middle of week when they might be running low.

BUMMER! Last week as I was headed to dinner with two of my widow ladies along, seated comfortably in the back seat, we tried to locate said box. It was "dusk." We could not find it and I could sense uneasiness from the back seat!

But God....had hubby with me at Board of Education on S. Hollywood last Wednesday. After the meeting, and armed with his GPS, the "hunt" began again.  Voilà! We found it at intersection of Merton St. and Harvard. If I had realized it was in front of Caritas Village, I would have found it much sooner as I've been there several times. 

The door of the "Little Free Pantry" at 2509 Harvard Ave. (38112) was swinging open.
It was almost empty so my assumptions were right. 

Hm-m-m-m God must have had someone in need in mind for that day!

It's always the right time to help feed the hungry, whenever God guides you to them. (Matthew 25:35)

CHOOSE: TO REFLECT

Sorry for the inconsistency in today's entry title. Mostly, I've been using nouns and gerunds (verb forms which function as a noun) but today, only the infinitive phrase would do. That's what I want to continue choosing. Not reflection in general but "to reflect" Him in my life. To reflect in word and deed, the One who gave me life.

This simple reflection through my window pane onto the bottom kitchen cabinet brought up all this grammatical searching. Because of that, I changed the entry title from reflection  (noun)  to the  infinitive verb phrase to help me remember that this needs to be action, continuous action, in day to day choices of any believer.

And to put on the new self, created after the likeness of God in true righteousness and holiness. (Ephesians 4:24)

Whatever happens, to conduct yourselves in a manner worthy of the gospel of Christ (Philippians 1:27)

And to put on the new self, which is being renewed in knowledge after the image of God

(Colossians 3:10)

Believers everywhere, you, too, can choose "to reflect Christ. 

CHOOSE: TEA WITH THEE

"Shall we have some tea and talk about it?"

Doesn't that sound as if it's from the mouth of Miss Marple or some other sleuth in an English cozy mystery? You know, the ones known for crimes "served" without sex and violence, which are so hard to find nowadays.

Tea is the British version of our  "chicken soup." 

For me, a black assam is my chosen morning cuppa and often it's served from a teapot kept warm by another type of cozy----those padded covers placed over the teapot to keep the tea hot. 

My morning cuppa is enjoyed with my Bible and journal open as I sip. Even a few devotional books are usually at hand. Some mornings are 2 cuppa mornings,  when I need extra tea and extra time to speak with the Lord about what's on my heart. It's also a time to search His word for answers and guidance, especially for others so dear to my heart. (Psalm 5:3)

It is a cozy time----there's no mystery to that. 

Tea with Thee aka a quiet time----a time to sit with the Lord and talk and pray about whatever is on my heart. 

It's the best choice of the morning.

CHOOSE EXCITEMENT!

Wordsmith grammarians would probably think my "messing" with punctuation is a travesty. 

But....I learned a lesson a few years back......from a 5 yr. old. 

Ever the teacher, after reading aloud to grandson & pre-kindergartener, Owen, I asked him a question.

Notice I did NOT stop and ask a question while reading aloud! Such an interruption can ruin the integrity of the story, especially for a pre-schooler.

AFTER reading, I pointed to some different punctuations in the story and offered meanings----for a period, that means stop. I pointed to an ! and asked him what it was.

He replied, That one's easy----it's an excitement. (Out of the mouth of babes.)

 "Your exactly right I said." Adults call it an exclamation point but I like the name which you coined much better. To this day, I think "excitement" everytime I see an exclamation point!

Recently, I noticed while emailing a verse to 3 friends, who were ministering in Uganda, that I used an exclamation point where none was noted.

Let the heavens be glad, and let the earth rejoice: and let men say among the nations, The Lord reigneth. 1 CHRONICLES 16:31, KJV)

I automatically put ! at the end of "The Lord reigneth!" because I think that is exciting news. Later I discovered KJV translators, rarely, if ever, use exclamation points. So, what's the answer? Try the NIV or ESV versions.

And.....when reading the Bible or striving to live a God-shaped life..... 

...."Punctuate your life with excitements," as my grandson says!!!

CHOOSE WONDER

Have you ever been so awed by Him? The wonder of His grace? (Psalm 86:10, Isaiah 25:1)

This morning was such a time for me. A time of affirming.

As I was praying through Psalm 88 (NASB) for a Christian friend who has experienced much darkness and seemingly little resolution, I was struggling for just the right words. 

This is such a sad psalm, seemingly without resolution, much like my friend. A soul full of trouble. If it's not one thing, it's two or more. An anguish of great depth---all exact causes unknown to me. 

But God....in His love and mercy showed me, in my NIV version, a notation made by verses 13-14.

The notation 2/17/07 indicated I had prayed this very verse for myself, at a time when there seemed to be no answer from the Lord. 

Today is 2/7/17. All those 7s in the same month, for the same verse. It was a BIG affirmation. I could continue to pray with hope because I had been where my friend is---in the pit. But God....was there in the midst working even when I "felt" rejection, as if He had hidden His face from me.

Now I could approach His throne of grace with confidence for my friend---as a friend who had been on the "same side of suffering" and had found God had been in the midst of it all along. I understand where she is---though the struggle may be different, the ramifications of being in a dark place are the same. 

May she now see His wonders in the darkness and His hand in the land of forgetfulness. (Psalm 88:12)

There's the wonder of sunset at evening,
The wonder as sunrise I see,
But the wonder of wonders that thrills my soul
is the wonder that God loves me. ("Wonder of it All," Adventist hymn #75) 

Choosing wonder and awe of the Lord for myself and my friend knowing God's love is there in a place of darkness when one cannot "see" it at the moment!
What a wonder!

CHOOSE GREATER JOY

All joy comes from the One who first chose us.

As He chooses to bring others from my family into the fold, that exponentially increases my joy.

Such was the case with Andrew. 

Andrew who week before last kept asking his mommy at bedtime, "How can I believe?" For several nights she would share gospel truth and ask questions to check Andrew's understanding. 

But....he said, "I DO BELIEVE!" 

Nothing more was needed as he prayerfully opened his heart to the Lord.

Sunday, January 29, 2017 Andrew Lawrence Liles had his first communion. A new believer sharing the bread and the cup with other believers at Allen Bible Church.

I have no greater joy than to hear that my children are walking in the truth. (3 John 1:4)

CHOOSE JOY AGAIN

CHOOSE JOY AGAIN!
Consider it ALL joy! (James 1:2)

Now isn't that a difficult choice. But a choice it is.

We decide/choose whether to see all events---the good, the bad and the ugly, as part of God's working to bring us unto Himself. Receive with thankfulness "each day the good Lord has given" as Daddy always said. Obstacles and heartaches and heart wrenching tragedies make this seem more difficult.

But God....is the anchor that holds. (Hebrews 6:19)

"The anchor holds. Though the ship is battered, the anchor holds. Though the sails are torn, I have fallen on my knees, As I faced the raging seas. The anchor holds, In spite of the storm." (Ray Bolz)

Often when we can't hold on, He's there doing the holding. (Psalm 139:10; Psalm 63:8)

I know because He brought me up "out of the pit." (Psalm 40:2)

 

READY! MINDSET! GO!
My mind was set on Him and once again, I was ready to "go."
Ready to choose JOY once more!

CHOOSE SCRIPT NOT SILICON

Text. Script. Trusted Hard Copy.

Whatever one wants to call the old tried and true way to research, my recommendation is to hold on to that, especially when doing Bible Study.

Certainly the computer can aid in that study but DO NOT COUNT ON SIRI!
Siri is NOT always the answer. Siri is silicon. (Even she knows that!)

Siri's first response to my "word study"request was, I do NOT eschew theological disquisitions.    

How's that for a mouthful---or screen full---just wish I had gotten a selfie of me sitting with my mouth agape and Siri's response in full view.
I did get a screen shot of the next one, though not nearly as complex!

My policy should be that as well---don't count on Siri to answer life's REAL questions.
So...back to basics---my "good ole Strong's concordance." Works ever time I choose to take the time and not be lazy. 

Strong's Concordance certainly helped me to get to the heart of the matter! (Psalm 43:3, Psalm 119:105, Hebrews 4:12)

CHOOSE HYPERBOLE

Wordsmiths and politicians are known for hyperbole. So are bloggers who want to get a point across to readers!

In 1816 Thomas Jefferson sent the message, "I cannot live without books," to John Adams.
Was that fact or hyperbole? For readers it probably reads as fact but in truth it's a greatly exaggerated quote used to express Jefferson's love for books.

I, as most librarians, have a propensity for the written word as well. 

Librarians lean toward literature. Fact or hyperbole? Probably fact. But these days many are information techies so maybe it's hyperbole for us "old schoolers!"

Readers have chosen genres---mystery, science fiction, biographies, etc. 

I have a predisposition for "quirky" books. The Unlikely Pilgrimage of Harold Fry. Keeper of the Bees. Once Upon a Town: The Miracle of the North Platte Canteen.

Many of my quirky choses are books with love and appreciation of books as an underlying theme.

Balzac and the Little Chinese Seamstress. Mr. Penumbra's 24-hour Bookstore. The Book Thief. 84 Charing Cross Road.

Last month I added a new one to the list.

A warm cuppa and The Reader on the 6.27. 

I had died and gone to heaven! 

Ooops, I hope I chose hyperbole...because I want to finish that book.