CHOOSE: TO DANCE TO MY LIFE'S SONG

How does one know her life's song?

For me, I had to look for God's hand and listen to His soft whispers---those are the visual lyrics & melody of His unique song for my life. 

God has written each one's story, one's own life's song. (Jeremiah 29:11)

Wubbels, Lance, Dance While You Can.2006

One just needs to "tune" her heart to hear.

Lean in a little closer and choose to allow Him to lead you to "dance" with Him to the music He has chosen for your life's song.

CHOOSE: PERTINENT PITHY GRABBERS

Have you ever heard a phrase that so "names you" that it can remain with you all day! It's like one of those ear worms, but without the music. It just gets stuck in one's brain.

"Stress strangles." Yep, it does. I already have trouble swallowing. I think it's an Adams trait but it makes the word "STRANGLE" reverberate in all caps!
A catch in my throat that resonates in my mind!

I sipped a cuppa per-tea-nent this morning because I knew "stress strangles" was a pithy grabber  that was pertinent in my life and I needed to heed it! (Philippians 4:6)

CHOOSE: NOURISHMENT

Better a dry crust with peace and quiet than a house full of feasting, with strife. (Proverbs 17:1)

At 1152, our kids experienced more than just dry crust. Think burnt toast!

My prayer is that they were nourished enough around our kitchen table, whether reading aloud books together or praying for names drawn from the yellow smiley mug, that those memories will sustain them with godly peaceful thoughts and encourage them today during the "burnt toast days" of their own lives.

CHOOSE: MY OWN LANGUAGE

Music, as termed by many is the universal language. For me, "dance" is a language of its own!
It's my language! Analogous for my own life's journey language. My dance with the "Lord of the Dance." 
My beautiful Ukrainian friends use "language of dance" in their worship movement. Sweet Lynn H. uses "language of dance" in her art.
I use it in my faith based writing as I reflect on the One who leads me as I put my (the follower) right hand in His. Looking up. Focusing on Him---not my feet. (circumstances)
Can your visualize the "closed" position of dance?  The leader puts His right hand on the follower's back and uses it to guide her so that she does not stumble and fall head-long. (That is so biblical-- Psalm 37:24)

Whatever is one's chosen language, may it clearly express praise in His name. (2 Chronicles 5:13)

Dance, then, wherever you may be,
I am the Lord of the Dance, said He,
And I'll lead you all wherever you may be,
And I'll lead you all in the Dance, said He.

Just click here-- Choose the language of children and dance in your heart! --and listen.

CHOOSE: TO BE MUCH OBLIGED

Much obliged---was an old-fashioned expression Daddy often used. It was his way of saying "thank you." "Thank you very much!" Actually "much obliged" seemed to be the vernacular of small town rural folks in western Kentucky. My grandmother, Gena Adams, used it too, but she then would view the obliged part, as something she had to do. 

Though obliged does indicate an obligation I'm not sure Daddy saw the obligation as something he had to do, just something he wanted to do. "Desired to do"would have been more a part of his mettle,  as he was always so appreciative of the kindness and generosity of others. Though in fact, most people didn't expect a pay back or a return for the favor. It was just the Hoptown way.

Our friends, the Walkers, heard that our  grandson Owen was in his school's chess club. They gave us an exquisite chess set to  pass on to Owen as a way to encourage his pursuit of that hobby. 

I was definitely "much obliged" and I want Owen to be grateful as well. He never sees them to say thank you so I want to encourage him to write a thank you note. Courtesy is a character trait, I want to instill in him. It's important to learn at an early age to "sip" from a cuppa great-TEA-tude especially when one has been served a large cuppa generous-TEA. (1 Thessalonians 5:18)

Not because "one has to" but because "one wants to."

Whether one chooses to say, "much obliged," thank you very much or just thanks, gratitude is always the right choice!

CHOOSE: TO ACKNOWLEDGE BANDWIDTH

This entry would have been perfect for Wordsmith Wednesday as even "wannabe" wordsmiths love to discover new word meanings. Even though it's Thursday, for me, today's word is BANDWIDTH.

So, I got out my hard copy of American Heritage Dictionary, college edition.  Maybe some wordsmiths are familiar with the first listing of a definition on the list but not so much with a #2 rank or a more esoteric definition. Or as I discovered......the "sense" of the word use determines the most meaningful order in the entry list. From a lot of mumble/ jumble, on "Order of Definitions," I learned definitions are listed in what the editors assume will be the most useful order for the general reader.  (hint---general readers know more about transmitting signals of bandwidth than the mental and energy bandwidth capacity in one's own life.)

A morning email from my son's church used the word bandwidth and I was intrigued as my only experience with it had been with electronics---think, radio signals or internet.

My limited  knowledge of bandwidth did not sync contextually with the letter's use. So...I looked it up!

I have continued to ponder it in my own situation as well as share it with prayer partners.

What became obvious throughout my FULLY-scheduled day was that I had just about reached my own bandwidth.  My mental and physical capacity had reached a personal limit.

But God....was gracious as I acknowledged my own limitations and sought His strength. I was alert for luncheon  #2 and hubby had covered my housekeeping necessities so that I could finish a GG Project and the last of my Bible Study lesson for tonight.

Yet, I think this has been the third heads up in 2 days.
My first one came yesterday from friend Shelia Groshart during a lunch conversation, a 5am letter this morning was #2 & then a prayer from Betsy Martin, stressing the importance of slowing and seeking times of solitude with the Lord---just to know Him better capped off the 3.
My rule is....3x and then I'd really better start to "listen."
"Be still and KNOW that I am GOD!" (Psalms 46:10)

I need to listen up and choose to know that I don't have the bandwidth to "do it all"----because God doesn't require that of me, or anyone.

CHOOSE: ISLAND TIME

Last week's phone conversation with dear friend Ashley Bryan ended with an invitation to come, via the mail boat, to "his" island next year for his 95th birthday.  His island is Isleford, ME, a small hamlet, on Little Cranberry Isle off the coast of Northeast Harbor, Acadia National Park)

His invitation was delivered with the "Lord willing" caveat."

Having known Ashley for 28 years, I have seen first hand how he treasures his moments. He never seems in a hurry. He always has time to talk with a friend. He says its because he lives on island time---which always has enough minutes in each day for what's really important---relationships. 

But....in his "spare time" he writes and illustrates books. Freedom over Me, his most recently published work, (2016) won Newbery honor for Children's Literature, presented in June at ALA in Chicago. He also won the Coretta Scott King honor for both auth and illustrator of the same book. Quite a year!!

Dec. 2017, Ashley's work will be included in Our Story Begins and next spring his illustrations of Nikki Giovanni's, I am Loved, will be published. Plus, another one is in the works for 2019 publication---"Lord willing."

Ashley's studio clock reflects his comfort with island time---he gets up when he awakens, eats when he's hungry, paints outside when it's sunny, gathers sea glass for stained glass windows, creates puppets from the day's island "finds" and always has time for friends! (And everyone is his friend,)

Come now, you who say, 'Today of tomorrow we will go into such and such a town and spend a year there and trade and make a profit'---yet you do not know what tomorrow will bring. What is your life? For you are a mist that appears for a little time and then vanishes. Instead you ought to say, 'if the Lord wills, we will live and do this or that.' (James 4:13-15)

Ashley believes that his time on earth is in the Lord's hands---not in a morbid or fearful way, but in a God honoring way! 

Ashley Bryan chooses "island time" everyday----Lord willing!

CHOOSE: TO CAMP OUT

Hubby can't wait to "camp out" by the creek. He's been  pulling out the needed equipment for weeks and it's still over a week before we leave for Deep Creek Campground.

I, on the other hand, would be perfectly content to just "camp out" in the Psalms.  It takes a lot less equipment---just my Bible and a quiet place. I can use God's word as my "flashlight." (Psalm 119:105)

But God reminded me that two of my grands will be there, Owen as well as Lucy, whom I rarely see. 

So, camping out, "hubby style" it is.
But....I'm taking my Bible and will seek a quiet place for my "mental tent" right beside the flowing creek. (1 Corinthians 10:31)

CHOOSE: MINISTRY OF THE INTERIOR

"Ministry of the interior" is Oswald Chambers analogy (in a nutshell) for prayer. (My Utmost for His Highest, 6/20) A most important ministry.
Prayer is what I've needed these last few weeks. A need to intercede for many others (Job 42:10) as well as to pray for myself. Praying for myself seems far harder to do. Certainly I do it less often.

But lately, as a "phrase from the funnies" jolted me, I realized that "no matter where I go, I carry so much in the confines of my head."

That's why, for me, it's so important to have those thoughts be prayerful ones---for both self and others. Remembering to prayerfully take thoughts captive (2 Corinthians 10:5) helps to dispel the worries and fear which so easily consume my "interior."

CHOOSE: TO EXPLORE

A more complete title would be, "Choose to explore 901" as we will have a 10 year old with us Saturday & we're going to search for new, to us, places to explore.

Will let readers know what we find---or maybe someone could offer us ideas. One place, under consideration, is Railgarten. My water buddy, Lynn S. said they have great ping pong tables inside and out---so weather would not be a factor.

RAILGARTEN IT IS---CHEESE CURDS AND ICE CREAM INCLUDED!

So grateful we chose to explore in mid-town!