HAPPY DANCE DAY!

Today is Happy Dance Day! Who knew?! K-LOVE!

What a blessing to hear others share of God's goodness in their lives.

They know how to "happy dance" with gratitude from their hearts without even moving their feet.

But.....for me I can at least tap my toes knowing the One who has "turned my mourning into dancing, girded me with joy" and gladness and sees my dancing as worshipful gratitude.

MercyMe has a "Happy Dance" praise song! My "Happy Dance" contemporary worship praise song is Sydney Carter's "Lord of the Dance" with the melody of Simple Gifts.

A Happy Dance as K-Love dubs it!

WORLD POETRY DAY

World Poetry Day is always celebrated on March 21.

Yesterday I celebrated it with friends in the creative writing group at McWherter Senior Center in the Sea Isle area as they shared their own haikus, free verse and one with a rhyming scheme, "Vanishing" which  aging folks could easily understand.

What a treat!

I have been camping out this week in Psalms, one of the poetic books of Scripture, as I've been praying for grandson, Nathan, on a mission trip to Panama. (Psalm 9:10-11)

Psalms is one of five poetic books in the Bible along with Job, Proverbs, Ecclesiastes and Song of Solomon. These books are sometimes referred to as mankind reaching out toward God. Maybe that's why I turn to them so often, especially Psalms.

World Poetry Day 3/21, a way for me to celebrate both poetry readings and God's Word. A great two-fer!

FLABBY FAITH!

I don't want to be flabby in any way---certainly not in my faith. 

I desire to be an overcomer in today's world. More than a conquerer.

How does one leave "flabby faith" (Sowing a Seed Episode 28, Jim Fleming) in the rear view and press on to become a conqueror? 

According to Fleming, we need to continually practice Luke 21:36:

• be alert at all times; 
• keep praying for strength; 
• stand firm before the Son of Man. 

Rise up in His strength to escape what's to come.

Flabby Faith is too weak to win the battle on one's own.

SPRINGTIME IS HERE!

LENTEN ROSES. Bowing their heads at 4:24 CST to welcome spring!

Maybe we should all bow our heads in worship for the Creator. 

He changes time and seasons. (Daniel 2:21, ESV)

There is a time for everything, and a season for every activity under heavens: (Ecclesiastes 3:1, NIV)

Springtime is one of my favorite.

GRACIOUS ME!

Gracious Me!

Goodness Gracious!! 

Gracious Sakes...or gracious sakes alive!

All phrases I heard while growing up in western Kentucky. 

Such phrases were indicative of surprise. "Where has the day gone."

These days I find myself saying those same phrases I heard, especially from my grandmother, Mama Davenport. Often I add "Oh my" to the list. It's surprise with a bit of negativity laced with disappointment. Think, guilt.

Oh my, I can't keep up with ANYTHING. OK, that's an exaggeration but.....iPhone, Laptop, books, white out, things I use often and need to keep up with around the house.

Oh my, notes, are all over the house except the one I need.

Oh my, these days it takes me longer to do less.

Oh my, guilt hangs in my closet far too easy for me to reach & put on. (I know this because a sweet friend in the faith admonished me, in love of this very act,) 

How grateful I am that God's word says, 

"There is therefore now no condemnation for those who are in Christ Jesus." (Romans 8:1)

Gracious me.....how grateful I am for that reminder! I'm pouring my cuppa guilt-TEA down the drain.

IMPORTANT EXERCISE

Exercise is important! 

Exercise can be difficult to incorporate into one's daily schedule.

Exercise with another can be an encouragement.

Exercising with another, aka fellowship, is essential for growth, from physical to spiritual! 

Fellowship, sharing time in God's word laced with prayer and physically coming alongside others in their struggles of life is an important earthly exercise with an eternal result. (Acts 2:42, 44)

PRAY! PRAY!! PRAY!!!

Definitely a "pray day."

Need joy? Need confidence? Need love? Need discernment? Need sincerity?

Add these attributes to your prayer life!

Pray! Pray! Pray!....to the Glory and Praise of God!

FROM MANY TO ONE

Many hands....from toddlers to nonagenarians. (ages 90-99)

....to One work of art, created by tiny fingers to wrinkled, dare I say gnarled ones, pasting scraps of colored paper, some with Scripture verses on a drawing sent from a Japanese artist. 

All the nations you have made shall come and worship before you, O Lord, and shall glorify your name. (Psalm 86:9)

From many First Evan participants of a collaborative art project to reach one nation with the gospel message.

BAPTISM!

BAPTISM!

What a day! What a thrill!

Martin, came to his mama and told her he had Jesus in his heart. 

In his own way, he asked her if he could be baptized. He had witnessed his sister's baptism. 

Also, through his Sunday School at Bellevue Baptist and BSF classes he had learned what that meant.

It was his way of telling others that he had invited Jesus Christ into his heart. A public testimony of his faith.

My prayer for Martin today, "May the God of hope fill you with all joy and peace as you trust in him, so that you may overflow with hope by the power of the Holy Spirit." (Romans 15:13)

BAPTISM!

What a day! What a thrill!

QUAD SQUAD

Praying friends come in many combinations and from different seasons in life. 

I'm blessed to have family, along with friends from elementary school, widows, neighbors, Sunday School, H2H, church, mission and transition "zoom" prayer teams, Prayerful Wonderwomen for Ukraine and college & Pi Phi chums. 

I need lots of prayer warriors.

Praises for a recent retreat with my "Quad Squad" college chums at Full Circle Ranch---

.....&  my own bedroom sanctuary with all the accoutrements for my morning cuppa before..... 

....a morning walk to the sounds of goats, chickens, cows and birds in flight! Later a bull strolling behind his keeper, Sam and a ride on the "whoopie"* acting like teenagers!

Did  I mention surrounded by 600 acres. with the original log cabin (circa, old) a "She" shed which became a garden room, great for devotional times......

a home with 6 fireplaces, 4 "sitting" porches, one with a bed swing and lots of rocking chairs, a wood burning fireplace and lots of comfort....

....calmed by a serene view of horses.

From almost an entire day in PJs to lunch at Marcy Jo's and a 3 hour Bible Study led by Dr. Mark Houston.

Thank you Doris, Winslow and Joyce Ann for this much needed respite for your ailing friend. God's Quad Squad....always there for each other!(Acts 2:42)

*whoopie --ATV often called a quad bike; how about that!