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)