WARBLING WEDNESDAY!

🎶 🎶 Singing along with my ear worm at Deep Creek. 🎶 🎶 

Joy comes in the morning. (Psalm 30:5) 

This very morning with a little toe tapping as well!

This is my story, This is my song,

Praising my Savior all the day long;

Filled with His goodness, lost in His love.

What JOY!

Think......Echoes of mercy, whispers of love...@ EVERY TURN!

MINDSET MATTERS! #2

"Set my Mind, Lord."

Repetition is important in teaching! So is prayer.

Renewal of one's mind can transform one's mindset! (Romans 12:12)

Did the Preacher learn, if a mindset of wisdom doesn't give God glory it is vanity? 

Wisdom without faith is also vanity of vanities---a striving after the wind. What lies within your mind and heart counts and is visible to others in your actions.

Mindset does matter. But it's not a one-time end all. 

When all has been heard, the end of the matter is, "Fear God and keep His commandments for this is the whole duty of man". (Ecclesiastes 12:13)

A GIFT THAT KEEPS ON GIVING!

Hope in Print. Eyecatching and heart touching! 

Rejoice in hope. (Romans 12:12)

In you Lord do I hope.(Psalm 38:15 + Psalm 71:5)

Hope continually (Psalm 71:14) and praise You more and more. (Psalm 100:4)

Hope for all we cannot see as we wait patiently for it. (Romans 8:25)

Hope of the righteous will be gladness. (Proverbs 10:28)

Be of good courage. He will strengthen the heart of all who hope in the Lord. (Psalm 34:21) 

Always be ready to give to others the answer of the HOPE that is in you.(1 Peter 3:15)

Threads of Hope a gift of praise from Anne B., a true prayer Warrior.  

May these hope verses be passed on prayerfully to the McCormacks!

TUESDAY TRIADS!

Few pastors are as succinct as Scotty Smith! He says the most with the fewest words!

Think crisp with clarity!

A BIG thanks to Doris, one of his faithful followers, and Quad Squad member for sharing a recent Scotty NT Gospel Triad with me.

1. Who are believers? "Called, loved and kept" (Jude 1:1)
2. What are believers given? "Grace, mercy, and peace" (2 John 1:3)
3. What will last in a believers life? "Faith, hope, and love" (1 Corinthians 13:13)

How do I know this triad was for me? 

I needed it after a week's worth of being "off the grid" to focus on & care for Hubby after his serious reverse shoulder replacement surgery. 

He needs it as well. Think "right-hander" living with only left hand usage and pain.

For us, tonight's Allen Bible Church selection from the  ABC 2026 Reading Plan is 1 Corinthians 13 (A favorite Scripture of his)

Romans 12:12, a fave Bible verse for me from dear friend Dixie, is on my side of the bed to see as I get up to aid Hubby during the middle of the night! Controls to access his recliner are on the right side and unable to be reached by his left hand. One more affliction he faces. Grateful so many friends are faithful in prayer for us as Hubby heals. 

 

These triads are God's truth for all believers.

Today I see them as "God winks" for me, a needy believer who is so-so grateful!

PRUNING FOR 2026

OUCH! A BIG OUCH!

OUCH FOR A PURPOSE!

Clearing clutter! In our much smaller house we're beginning to look like hoarders. In our minds, we can't hold it all.  

Prune to eliminate superfluous. Think unneeded.

How does one distinguish in the worthy? 

Decluttering means giving not having.

God's Word is worthy! All of God's word is purposeful!

Allow His Word  continue to touch your heart. 

Think purposeful pruning to allow the fruitful to dominate.

........verses of hope

.......so that you may abound in hope;

.......call unto God for answers;

.......first, seek God and His righteousness;

..........Bless the LORD with every part of your being;

Prune fear, control and self centeredness that deters fruitfulness!

Nurture and Embrace Jesus the King of Kings; necessary to allow more fruitfulness!

A BAZILLION HUES!

A bazillion hues. Well said by my artist friend Anne B. when discussing the hues of color varieties found in creation. God's color spectrum throughout creation seems to be unending.....at least in our vocabulary.

Red can be in the form of burgandy, coral, crimson, mahogany, maroon,  orange red, ruby, scarlet, vermilion......you get the idea.

Compare to our neighborhood trees & red skies entry!

Maybe that's how she uses color so effectively in both her photography and her "threads."

Last year she began cross-stitching my "One Word, Hope" as a 'bye-bye" gift! Amazing that she got out her "instruments" from the past, things like hoops, needles, fabrics, threads, patterns and knots I have never heard of....and created for me the perfect farewell gift, catching my eye on this Thankful Thursday!!

A gift filled with hope!. 

Not only was "HOPE" my 2024 Word of the year, it carried through to 2025 with medical maladies incurred as 2024 ended. 

Hope much needed and freely given by a dear friend who certainly knows how to keep on giving "hope" in a bazillion ways.....all wrapped up in hues of love! 

HOPE SPEAKS

Hope speaks in many languages.....but Morse Code was a first for me!

A gold necklace with hope in Morse code.

A gift of HOPE from Susan and Aubry......a reminder to be worn to help me "Rejoice in Hope." (Romans 12:12a)

H

O

P

E

.... ---  .--.  .

"May the God of hope fill you with all joy and peace in believing, 

so that by the power of the Holy Spirit you may abound in hope." (Romans 15:13)

Lord use this beautiful "gift of hope" as a "A lead-in to gospel conversations." 

FORECAST FOR COASTER OF EMOTIONS!

This past week my emotions have run the gamut....medical tests that involve a degree of risk in facing the unknowns. Wait Time of many unknowns yet to be revealed. Machine broken. 

Fears and heart flutterings. Longer than usual time for results to be procured. Favored results not received. 

Insurance hold ups to obtain further testing. 

Feelings fluctuate. But God in His love and mercy has been present.....

.....the "Feels Like Forecast" has the ups and downs of a Memphis thermometer in August. But God is there! The heat index is keeping us on our toes and God is there. Sometimes we anticipate the worst. Fear feels hot. But God is there. One of the worst days had me numb, as if not only unable to face consequences but unable to feel anything or even make decisions of where God's way will take me. Numbness is nuts for a Christian!

But God's Presence and the prayers of his people are the best Hope RX! 

Emotions now encouraged even though circumstances have not changed---I have, with His help & reminder from a dear friend to "choose joy."

Regardless of the forecast, "Weeping may tarry for the night, but

joy comes with the morning. (Psalm 30:5, ESV)

HOPETIMIST!

How does one become a hope-timist? Is that even a word?

It is now, at least in my vocabulary.

H eals

O ur

P ainful

E xperiences

Where is this hope found? In God's Word---that's the obvious answer. But....sometimes we struggle even when we know the "right" answer.

For God alone my soul waits in silence,
for my hope is from Him. (Psalm 62:5)

I wait for the LORD, my whole being, and in his word I put my hope.

(Psalm 130:5)

Hmmmmm---Another word jumped out as I was searching for hope.

WAIT! 

I don't always wait well! But God in His love and mercy showed me what to do while I wait. Help others find hope.

H elps

O ther

P eople

E veyday

May I be a true hope-timist and help others as I wait.

JOYFUL!

Some aspects (nouns)  of life become even more fulfilling with the addition of the suffix ful. 

My "cottage" garden, though imperfect, gives me joy.

When a yellow swallowtail joins the remaining blooms and covers the weeds, I am joyful!

Full of joy! 

In my garden. "In His Presence is fullness of joy!" (Psalm 16:11, emphasis mine)

joy......Joy......JOY!

Struggling lately. Depressed spirit. Enveloped by a pall of sadness and grief.

Lethargy looms.

Knowing joy is a choice.......guilt ensued.

Joy is a by-product of an attitude of gratitude.

I had taken off my dance shoes. 

The Bible is a book of joy! (Deuteronomy 16:15)

Exercise needed. More time in His Word. (Psalm 94:19) D.

Acceptance. Keep on keeping on. (Philippians 4:4) A.

Fulness of Joy RX. (Psalm 16:11, I Thessalonians 5:16-18) 

Don't lose hope. (Romans 12:12) N.

Consolations from friends. (Psalm 94:19) Thanks, Dixie! C.

I need to find my D.A.N.C.E. shoes. E. 

Exercise joy.....Joy.....until it gets to JOY!----

                            my basic "barre exercise" for abunDANCE. 

REFOCUS NEEDED

My heart hurts! Not necessarily for me, but especially for others. 

The last two weeks have been filled with tragedy for many in my "friendship circle" and in the household of faith. Physical pain. Emotional pain. Fear. Grief.

Sudden death of a grandson of a Pi  Phi sister, unexpected death of 39 year old girl racquetball champ from hubby's team, deaths of 2 mothers of Bible study chums & a high school chum, death of a younger brother of former Houston High teacher, painful treatments for multiple myeloma of a dear friend with a stem cell transplant looming, lung cancer of friends brother, neighbor's daughter facing surgery, and a less than perfect diagnosis for my MAC cancer mentor, Michèle.

What is one to do? Continue to pray comfort and strength for those with such great loss and Romans 12:12 for those in midst of struggles that they will remain joyful in hope, patient in affliction and fervent in prayer. Prayer might not sound like much "doing" but it's the best thing to "do" during those dark times---offer prayer..

Refocus & Recall... Michèle's Words

"Uncertain of the future, but sure of the One who holds it"

Preceding Phrases take Precedence

Word order is important,  especially in Scripture. 

In my recent Fervent blog entry, I typed from memory Romans 12:12. I know that verse. I use it often in prayer for others. So........why did I transpose the phrases???

Was I so emotionally caught up in the affliction of my friend that my emotions superseded understanding! Feelings can so easily do that to me----often robbing me of my joy.

Yesterday morning I "saw" it.

"Joyful in hope" precedes patient in affliction. Hope MUST have it's rightful place in order for true patience to be available. In the Pauline epistles, the apostle Paul often writes "Grace and Peace to you from God our Father (Galatians 1:3, Ephesians 1:2, Philippians 1:2, Colossians 1:2) Grace precedes peace.
Grace always comes first! It has........to because without God's grace there is no true peace.

Preceding Phrases take Precedence----priority in importance or order.

Order for a reason---clarity from the Lord about what comes first!

FERVENT

Fervency in one's prayer life is marked by great intensity, along with the ardor of a loving heart.
For me, nothing "ups" the fervency of prayer petitions like the needs of a loved one, especially when they are unable to pray for themselves. That's when Roman 12:12 returns to my prayer radar.

I pray that the suffering saint, undergoing a lengthy surgery, has the strength to be patient in the midst of intense pain with rehab to follow----a time of great affliction. Prayers that she and all of their family can count on the "hope within" to bring them joy.
I, and other prayer warriors, then can step up to the plate and fervently petition the God of the universe for mercy and the continuance of that goodness as He works out His plan on the loved one's behalf.

Be patient in affliction, joyful in hope, fervent in prayer. (Romans 12:12)

Fervent prayer! What a responsibility. What a privilege!

Soothing.....

10/8/13 Sometimes soothing scriptures & a cuppa can make the night times easier. When one has lived

Psalms 16: 5-8, Psalm 37:23-24, Isaiah 41:10, Romans 12:12 then they just need to once again turn their thoughts back to God and His Word.

But letting the Spirit control your mind leads to life and peace. (Romans 8:6)

Savoring God's Word. Sipping a calming tea. Soothing.

SUFFERING....interrupting my plans

12/11/12 Suffering that's physical, but temporary---so what's the BIG deal, Dotsy? Too tired and weak to get out of bed. Too miserable to sleep.  Fever. Chills. Head ache. Sore throat. Cough. Yet, I know that in the scheme of things, my malady is minor.  But… right now it feels like MINOR in all caps! It’s interrupting my plans. Plans to be with friends in celebration and plans to be with other friends in the midst of their suffering. “Worthy plans,”are they not?

I have just had a fun, refreshing Austin, TX, trip with chums---it's our 23rd annual, and that was followed by a glorious visit to Doris' farm, not a sweeter place on earth for soul restoration. So, truly I should have NO complaints. Get over yourself, Dots!

One of my blog readers has chronic, severe headaches and she continues to find God's grace in every aspect of her 3-year search for answers.  This year I even had the privilege of transporting a “spiritual giant” to chemo and I NEVER hear her complain though I'm sure chemo was not originally her plan.

Another dear friend just emailed encouraging words because she, too, is now going to have the privilege of being there for a neighbor/friend as she starts her chemo journey. She’s where I want to be once again. Tonight I learned that sweet J.H.’s lymph node results were not what we had all hoped for. We had prayed “God’s best” for her. So….this must be part of His plan. But….my plan is to be there for her. His plan is that I will wait until I am healthy. I just need to trust His plan.

In fellow cancer sojourner, Michèle Phoenix’s, song, “You Are” (about her MAC cancer journey) she wrote,

"That this journey I follow with its joy and its sorrow,

is a gift I embrace 'cause it flows from Your grace.

I will trust in Your goodness in my season of weakness 

'cause it is what it is---but I know that You are who You are!"

 I have learned these last few years that it is in the classroom of suffering, (whether spiritual or physical---with ranges from minor to terminal), that the Lord teaches us life lessons. Lessons that build trust. Trust in Him, not self.

We're not doubting that God will do the best for us, we're wondering how painful the best will turn out to be. -CS Lewis

So, my plan tonight, in my semi-drug-induced state, is to head to bed with Romans 12:12 in my heart and on my lips and to pray for the aforementioned folks in the midst of their “hard place,” that they might be “joyful in hope, patient in affliction and fervent in prayer.” Maybe I need to add myself to that plan!

PATIENT in affliction

7/21/12 Am I patient in affliction? Great question for each of us to ask ourselves on a soul searching Saturday.

For some Memphis business folks, the greatest “constant” affliction is their weekday commute in the “crazy” Memphis traffic. For parents at St. Jude, it’s enduring the day- in, day-out rounds of  chemo and radiation, as they “fight” for their child’s life. In these situations, both the “patient” and the parent/caregiver need patience in such an affliction. Others find affliction in the chair that confines them---the paralysis that holds them.

Not all afflictions are physically painful---though it often feels that way. Emotional afflictions of disappointment in a child’s rebellion, deep regret, fear,  rejection by a loved one, are all equally painful. Heartache.

For  Christians, Romans 12: 12 bookends the term, “patient in affliction”, with two other phrases. Fervent in prayer, the bookend that closes the verse, provides the earthly answer---prayers for ones own suffering supported by prayers of others for them. Intercessory prayer is powerful.

 “Joyful in hope is the first bookend and it is key! Hope for a better tomorrow. For some that’s possible this side of eternity.  For those whose “earthly affliction” is diagnosed as chronic or terminal, their daily hope is reliance on the rest, strength  and grace from the God of all comfort. This daily hope coupled with their eternal hope provides the patience needed in the affliction

Many have that patience in abundance.  Ohers do not.  Do you?

Meet Ian

2/7/11 This delightful (even when he is on heavy pain meds) young 15 year old from Texas, will undergo surgery here in Memphis tomorrow morning at LeBonheur Children’s Hospital. The surgical team will remove some tumors from his brain. Ian has TS (tuberous sclerosis), a very rare disease that causes non-malignant tumors to grow in the brain and on other organs such as the kidneys, heart eyes, lungs and skin. A side effect of the TS is epilepsy and Ian has a very rare form of this seizure disorder. He had his first seizure five years ago. However, the more serious disease of TS was not diagnosed until approximately 2 ½ yrs later.

He had his first surgery this past Tuesday (2/1) and is doing remarkably well---with much of the swelling subsiding. He can now open his left eye again. Even in the midst of all of that, he had a way of capturing my heart. He let me know right away that he was going to be rooting for the Packers in the Super Bowl---guess who became my team of choice!! His southern Louisiana roots were clearly showing when, in somewhat of a slurred voice, he declared Memphis wings to be rather on the “wimpy” side. Naturally I had to introduce him to some serious “hot” wings from D’Bo’s---even promising to bring him some of D’bo’s “suicide” variety once he’d fully recouped. I wouldn’t want to send that new head of his into a tail spin trying to “digest” those things----though he assures me he will be up to the challenge.

The way that I was introduced to Ian was such a God thing---something I don’t take lightly. So, I will be praying for him as he begins his “BIGGIE” operation in the morning around 7:30 a.m. Prayers for---wisdom and skill for the doctors, exact location of the 2 large and possibly the third tumor that need to be removed, diminished pain following the surgery and extra measures of mercy and grace for Ian and his mom and dad, Jody and Wally, his brother Wes, his grandma (affectionately called fam-maw by him as a youngster) and his aunt Dawn plus a host of others whom I have yet to meet.

May all the Wrights "be joyful in hope, patient in affliction, faithful in prayer." (Romans 12:12)

Now you’ve met Ian---allow God to move in your heart on his behalf.

HHH

10/21/10 H.H.H. are the initials of a precious 8 yr. old girl from Allen Bible church. 3 weeks ago she was fine 'til she had a bad stomach ache.
Synopsis:
Tweets begin. TESTS. Waiting. MRI. Very rare cancer. Waiting. Bilirubin up. Meds given. Waiting. Meds don''t work. Fewer tweets, more prayers. Prayers for younger brother, Jacob. Surgery for stent to drain fluids. Waiting. Lung collapses. Waiting. Lung improves. Family at hospital day & night. Waiting. Consult with liver transplant team. Waiting. Another MRI needed. MRI postponed. Waiting. MRI completed. Results due in hours. The longest waiting begins.

Recent tweets with prayer requests:

• Healing of her Liver & for Hannah's emotions & spirit to remain positive, calm, upbeat & to know she is loved!
• Bilirubin to come down so they can treat the cancer!
• MRI & Xrays to show improvements not regression!
  
• A liver transplant after determining that the cancer has not spread is the only earthly possibility for Hannah's survival!
  
• Thursday is HUGE in our daughter's life for sure, but AGAIN, our hope is in the Lord & to Glorify God even if they come back & say NO!
  
• Give us Hope Lord! Purify our Hearts Jesus to be more like you!
  
• We believe that you are the Christ & our Savior & your ways are perfect!
  
• Everyone who reads this Tweet, we need your prayers more than ever for our sweet little Hannah!

Please join me throughout the day in praying God's best for Hannah Hasslen.

The effectual fervent prayer of a righteous man availeth much. (James 5:16)
May the we pray for the Hasslens to "be joyful in hope, patient in affliction and fervent in prayer." (Romans 12:12)

To God be the Glory!