CHOOSE: HAPPY

This sign is a BIG reminder of the "choice!" Thanks to Nancy E. for sending it to me from somewhere in Nashville.

Sometimes "happy" is a choice but receiving this encouraging picture let's me know someone out there is reading my blog. Intuit way, "happy" found me.

Just after typing this I headed upstairs to put away linens and "happy" found me once more---in the form of encouragement.

My T-Cup travelin' buddies gave me this "happy" bear as I was preparing to leave for Texas (2009) for an unknown # of of cancer surgeries. It even had "my cancer" verse, Psalm 30:11,  embroidered on it. 

To this day overtime I squeeze his little foot and he sings, "Come on Get Happy,"  I smile---and puddle at the same time, as I recall their send-off filled with love, prayers, encouragement and hope!!! God so answered prayers of healing and blessing during that season of suffering. During my surgeries, they took turns coming to Texas to be my "came-giver/nurses! 
Click here to hear the tune---"Come on Get Happy"

Hello world here's a song that we're singing Come on get happy. A whole lotta lovin' is what we'll be bringing We'll make you happy. 

Travelin' along there's a song that we're singin' Come on get happy. A whole lotta lovin' is what we'll be bringin' We'll make you happy We'll make you happy .

We had a dream we'd go travelin' together And spread a little lovin', then we keep moving on Something always happens whenever we're together We get a happy feeling when we're singing a song. 

Maybe I should choose to encourage others so that "happy" can find them.

CHOOSE: GRATITUDE

There is nothing like prayer---when it comes from the lips and heart of others on one's behalf.
"I have prayed for you." (Luke 22:32) "I pray that God.....will fill you with joy...."(Romans 15:13)

How can I pray for you?
Do you have any specific prayer requests for this week?
I praised the Lord today for our friendship.
I'm rejoicing with you on God's answer to the prayers we've been praying over these last few years.

"I prayed for you today." (One of my warriors, 6/13/17)
 Those words are music to my ears----making it easy to choose gratitude.

Dichot-TEA-my of Prayer

But when you pray, go into your room and shut the door and pray to your Father who is in secret. And your Father who sees in secret will reward you. (Matthew 6:6, ESV)

Prayerfully mulling this..............Quite a conundrum for me at this point.

Continued mulling into the night.

How does one (a pray-er) reconcile this with other scripture?

Therefore encourage one another and build one another up, just as you are doing. (1 Thessalonians 5:11, ESV) *

Isn't telling someone you have prayed for them a form of encouragement? But...doesn't sharing with others reveal the secrecy of the prayer?

Doesn't the apostle Paul, himself, write the people of Colosse that he gives thanks for them and will always pray for them?

...will not cease to pray for you, (Colossians 1:9)

Isn't intercessory prayer Paul's first exhortation to Timothy, as a leader of the church in Ephesus?

I exhort therefore, that, first of all, supplications, prayers, intercessions, [and] giving of thanks, be made for all men; (1 Timothy 2:1)

The epistle scriptures seem inconsistent with Jesus' instructions in Matthew's verse, on the how to's of prayer.....but maybe it's not an "either /or" determination. Maybe they aren't mutually exclusive or contradictory. 

A true dichotomy? Maybe not opposites....just different??

Still mulling over my questioning cuppa dichot-TEA-my.

* 8/2 received email from Wynellen that answered one aspect of my questioning.

For me, encouragement comes when I know others have prayed for me. Pasted below is just the beginning of the email that listed prayers lifted not only for me but for each of my children and their families as well. I'm encouraged!!

Just finished praying for you.  I always catch up on your blog bf I pray so I can know what might be on your heart. Not sure about the emotions and tears Sunday, but thanked God for being El Roi- the God Who sees you and knows our cries. And then for the heritage you are leaving your children and grandchildren.......