CHOOSE: PEACE WITH YOUR PAST

Don't come to your present moments encumbered with "if only" regrets from your past!

Sip a cuppa amnes-TEA with your past. Sweeten it with acceptance. 

Otherwise you might squander the "present" and never find lasting peace.

"Only in acceptance lies peace." Elisabeth Elliott, (my NIV marginalia)
I choose Christ in Me---the One who gives me peace in the present but also enables me to come to terms with my past, so that His peace might reign there as well.

CHOOSE: CHURCH FELLOWSHIP

On a recent morning "cousin" walk on Cedarwood in Nashville, I came across a bird church. 

For some reason that woodland anomaly of sorts, spoke volumes.

A quiet place. A gathering spot for the flock. A place for feeding.  A place under the cross as if they to are atune to the one who feeds the birds of the air. (Matthew 6:25)

A bird church---not unlike my own church or the church at the end of Cedarwood.

A place for God’s flock, although we’re more like stubborn sheep at times, to gather. That Monday, the Cedarwood congregation came to view the eclipse together and even invited us to join.

God’s church. A place to go and be fed. Often times it’s a place of quiet prayer. Other times, especially Wednesday nights and “fellowship Sundays,” it’s a place of “chowing down” for physical sustenance.

On Sundays, church is a place for spiritual sustenance as we come together to “feast” on God’s word and be nourished by it, just as the early church did.

Continually devoting themselves to the apostles’ teaching  (their words came straight from God Himself) and to fellowship to the breaking of bread and to prayer. (Acts 2:42)

For me, church is the wise choice. It nourishes me spiritually and relationally with both God and man. I know “some” folks don’t feel that way. God’s word in Hebrews 10:24-25, says, “….not forsaking our own assembling together, as is the habit of some, but encouraging one another.”

I don’t want to be one of the “some” because I not only want to encourage others but I am so  blessed by the encouragement I receive as well.

I am grateful for the little bird church in the woods which reminded me to choose church!

CHOOSE: TO PRAY

Weary from travel, though all was fun, we decided to go ahead and drive home. It's just that we left about 4 hours later than we originally intended, even knowing rain was a possibility to the north of us. Factor in dismissal time at Fort Campbell and stress becomes an added factor. I wasn't even driving but when the possible rain turned into thunderstorms which deserved a numerical rating, if their was such, for ferociousness of such a storm, I noticed my shoulders were up around my ears and my hands were gripping the "chicken bar." 

Cell service was sketchy on the rural back roads but one came through from my prayer warrior, JoLynn, ending with her addition of the praying hands, emoticon.

What an encouragement to me. I had been "shooting up" panic prayers as well but her note had me calming immediately.

I felt like I received another "God Wink" when we passed this truck as we drove out of the bad weather and got closer to HOME!!!

From the back of an 18 wheeler, I was given a BIG God Wink.

Seek the Lord while He may be found; call on Him while He is near. (Isaiah 55:6)

What a reminder that the Lord was "near" in the midst of the storm, honoring my "yes" answer to  the truck's question, "Did you pray today?" 

How grateful I am that I could say "yes" because I did choose to pray!

CHOOSE: HOMETOWN FUN, FROLICKING AND FOOD

Fun, frolicking and food in one's hometown---encompasses familiar places as well as brand new spots. 

Place of longest totality for viewing the solar eclipse was none other than Hopkinsville, KY, aka Hoptown by the residents.

A peek at the old home place---2211 So. Virginia. I puddled.

Virginia Street cousins

Ferrell's---a must stop for anyone for a good ole greasy burger.

A stop at Riverside Cemetery---more puddling, to pay respects to "The Adams Family!" You can see Mother and Daddy's graves between the columns. Pappy & Christine Young, our across the street neighbor for 50+ years, plots are still just across from the family.

Then it was on to Kelly, just north of Hopkinsville, location of the "little green men" landing place on August 21, 1955. Ah-h-h how the legend has grown.

Leaving town via 9th street we got a sackful of delicious Whistle Stop Donuts and waved good-by to the Eclipseville.

So grateful for the time to share with family and to "drive" down memory lane. How easy to give thanks when one's heart is overflowing with praise and gratitude. (1 Thessalonians 5:18)

CHOOSE: LOOKING UP

Today all across our nation--from west (Oregon to east (South Carolina) people will be looking up!

My official American Paper Optics ISO 12312-2 filter glasses were ready for viewing

The most exciting part was during the complete eclipse when all around us nature came alive as if it were twilight time. (Hubby's pix is better than mine but this one was at hand.)

Birds gave off roosting sounds. Crickets and cicadas blared. Maybe they were locusts because they were so loud.

Then, the streetlight came on and a deep quiet preceded the roar of excitement that echoed up and down the streets throughout the neighborhood as folks shared their excitement of having viewed their first total solar eclipse---whoops and claps, horns honking, embracing and dancing in the street! (Ecclesiastes 3:4-5) What fun to be a part, especially with family celebrating together!

Reliabili-TEA of God's Word

God's Word---the only "real" truth one has these days! At this point in time it's hard to differentiate true news from fake news or just celebrity opinions. (John 17:17)

Grandaddy's Open Bible 11/6/1981--property of Robert Thomas Liles

There is nothing better to rely on these days than an "open" Open Bible.

His Word is the cuppa truth I'm relying on---filled with the reliabili-TEA of His Truth!

CHOOSE: THANKFUL THURSDAY

How easy it is to "choose" to be thankful when one is recipient of "reading gifts" from others. Gifts which show they know me well.

Yet, God's word reminds us to give thanks in everything---even sadness.

Sipping my cuppa gra-TEA-tude this morning has me choosing to do just that---remembering those who have passed in to eternity the past 2 weeks and to be grateful for the time I had with each of them, even though it still hurts.

CHOOSE: STRESS RELIEF

Ah-h-h-h, wouldn't it be nice just to open a bar of stress relief soap and be able to use it to "scrub" out all the anxious thoughts in your head? It can be a real war in there. Lye soap type cleaning needed----though eucalyptus spearmint sounds more soothing for this much needed palliative care.

I know, in my head, that those thoughts need to be brought captive. (2 Corinthians 10:15)

I try---I really do. 

I know that God's word says, be anxious for nothing....(Philippians 4:6)

I continually focus on filling my mind with gratitude.

Maybe that's my problem. Focus. An "incorrect focus.
Don't focus on "doing." Focus on "being"---His, no less.

Just maybe, the problem is a "heart one," for out of the heart flows the issues of the heart. (Proverbs 4:23)

CHOOSE: THE LORD OF THE DANCE AS YOUR PARTNER

CHOOSE: THE LORD OF THE DANCE AS YOUR PARTNER

Thanks to my friend, JH who sent me this picture. 

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.

Some verse of scripture "sing out " to me of dance positions with the Lord of the dance.

Nevertheless I am continually with You; You have taken hold of my right hand. (Psalm 73:23)

Even when I stumble in my life dance with Him, His words from Psalm 37:24 comfort me. 
If they stumble, they will not fall, because the Lord holds their hand. (NCV)

For I am the LORD your God who takes hold of your right hand and says to you, Do not fear; I will help you. (Psalm 41:13)

Who wouldn't want to dance through life with the One who holds you close and calms your fears.

That's why I choose the "Lord of the Dance" to lead me.

CHOOSE: RSVP

I don't remember what all the fancy french words are for that acronym---I just understand what it means. In southern speak, it means just let us know whether or not you are coming.

This morning as I was checking an invite, my eyes were open to "see" more than that. To see what my widow ladies seem to invite me to do weekly, more so when homebound.

Reach Someone Very Personally. 

They are that someone and they want more than my baked goodies, phone call or card.
They want my time. They want me. In the flesh.

Isn't that what we all want from friends? Especially when we are lonely.

Today, may I do that as God leads. It is more than ministry, it's a privilege. (James 1:27)