BIG WATER BOUND

All 17 if us +3 are "BIG WATER" BOUND!

No place I'd rather be in "steamy" July than with family!

Will share if and when I can.................

YIELD TO GOD AND PARK YOUR MIND THERE TODAY!

MINDSETS,  a July 8 blog entry  keeps coming to my mind.  Lisa TerKeurst's, (Chapter 2, p.17) in seeing beautiful again, had me at the title,  "The Best Place to Park Your Mind Today. 

Scripture, Philippians 4:8 was an added bonus! Finally, brethren whatsoever things are true, whatsoever things are honest, whatsoever things are just, whatsoever things are pure, whatsoever things are lovely--if there be any virtue, if there be any praise, think on these things. (my memory) 

Remember this verse Quad Squad/Pi Phi friends!

Thinking is a mindset and thoughts based on scripture are the best place to "park your mind."

Yield to Him and His word for you!

Yielding is a choice. Think about this as your thoughts "drive" you to ponder life's realities---frustrations, disappointments or a pity party. Zip ass those "messy" thoughts and let the Lord steer you to Him and park there. 

It's a mindset parking lot set up for His children.

As TerKeurst says, "When we set our minds in the things of God, we will have direct access to the peace of God. A parking lot of peace in our own minds " (p. 21) ----what a great place to be. 

Reserve me a spot!

CHOICES

Choose, Dotsy! It's your choice!

My "just in case" plans..........God's Plan A.

Pull up by my bootstraps mentality........God's strength.

Walk in my own way.............Walk worthy of the gospel message.

What does it look like when I make poor choices and depend on self rather than God? The visual answer is below.

I either run out of steam temporarily.....or I burn out completely.

Brother Buddy reminded me that I was embracing a little too much of "Mildred's" busyness/do it all for everyone persona. I tried to explain that I was being "other-oriented." He reminded me as I choose to be  God oriented, He will help me say no when necessary. 

The Lord will direct me to be "others-oriented" on His guided path. (Proverbs 3:5-6, a Bro Buddy fave) 

Where He guides, He provides---with time and strength. I think I just heard an "AMEN" from my brother!

MINDSETS

I have decide to spare you my quotidian details involved in my circular thinking that led to this blog. 

Mindsets are earthly focused or focused above. (Colossians 3:1-2)

I think most earthly mindsets fall into one of two categories. Whether it's in your relationships, careers, finances, recreation or entertainment.

Self or others. Which is it for you?

Are you self-absorbed in your thinking?  Actions can follow your thinking.

Are you Other-Oriented? 

Others know, even if you don't.

You might pray as Ronnie Stevens wrote.....

Lift us up out of the pit of perpetual self-regard. 

Cause us to be other-oriented.

 (Path to the Cross, entry July 10)

PROCESS PROCEEDS PROMISE

"The Process before the Promise" is the first chapter in my new devotional book of 50 devotions, seeing beautiful again, by Lisa TerKeurst. As a weird reader/wordsmith, the fact that the chapter title was alphabetically correct as well as contextual spiritually, was a great hook. BTW, I chose the verb, proceed  in this entry title because it can indicate moving ahead---ie. to continue and it keeps the title alliterative and in ABC order. Though, I admit, precede would definitely work & probably more definitively, except for my alphabetic idiosyncrasy.  

What follows are my journal jottings. I have decided I cannot do one chapter per day, rather I  meditate on just one chapter, with its scripture correlations per week.

• Sufferings seem  present for a long time; long-suffering is not always long enough to match the suffering from the struggle. 
• TerKeuherst's "Hurting but still  hoping--" (p.14) touches my idiosyncratic tendency of alphabetical order. For me: Hoping in spite of the hurting. Hoping is what helps us get through the hurt. (Though I clearly understand the author's context.) 
• Great reflection on Psalm 40.
•  Psalm 40:1-10--David is praising the Lord---a perfect basis for hope being able to flourish.....regardless. He is waiting patiently---it's part of the process. 
• Hope is a continuous action part to the process. Sometimes repeated over and over.
• David continues to focus on God's goodness, even in the struggles/low places, reinforcing his belief in God's goodness to continue. 
• Psalm 40:11-17--David continues crying out to the LORD, recounting his need as well as his trust. David remembers the Lord is his help and deliverer. 

Application---aka "Do it, Dots" 

The Lord put David upon a rock. God kept His promise that He is with those who trust in Him. As He did for David, He will do for me "On Christ the solid rock I stand." He is my Hope. Live it out so that others may see the hope within especially during the hardest times.

Waiting is a part of the process. 

W orshipping

A s

I

T rust           (my acronym)

How we wait shows our testimony lived out..... of the One in whom we place our hope because of HIs promises. He works all things together (Process -->  Promise) for our good and His glory, regardless of the circumstantial or relational outcome in our lives.

TRUE FREEDOM!

ONE NATION UNDER GOD is what the Hobby Lobby ad declared in today's newspaper. BLESSED IS THE NATION WHOSE GOD IS THE LORD. (Psalm 33:12)

How grateful I am to live in a community where God's Word can appear in the newspaper---whether as a paid ad or as part of the publication that is free of  charge & explains true freedom in Christ with "A Verse For Today," Galatians 5:1.

C-E-L-E-B-R-A-T-I-O-N

What a great way to end a month----with longtime friends celebrating goals and accomplishments of one's Alma Mater and the one who made much of it happen.

Ribbon Cutting & Grand Opening of the R. Brad Martin Student Wellness Center on a sunny day at the University of Memphis.....began with GO TIGERS....

Brad's resume and accolades could fill reams but he is one who gives back, especially to his city and university. He even served an entire year (2013-2014) as interim president at the University of Memphis. 

Martin closed his remarks with "GO TIGERS",  the ribbon cutting with "pops of confetti" ensued, the building was open for tours. Many faculty, former and current, along with friends and family of Martin reconnected.....

....Coach Larry Liles, a former instructor/friend of Penny Hardaway, and Penny, himself, celebrated Penny's decision to remain as head basketball coach at the University of Memphis. 

Lots of cause for celebration. GO TIGERS!

DO YOU PRAY?

Do you pray?

The answer to the question is yes. A resounding YES!

But.......this morning on the familiar corner turn toward home, I almost rear-ended this car 

because I was so-o-o angry at self with my response to someone dear over an amount of hamburger meat, I was distracted, not praying. 

Pitiful, right! Yes & anger certainly had a grip on my less than cheerful heart. Conviction was so real it gripped me.... until God allowed this car in front of me! What a message on a license plate! 

DOUPRAY

I wrapped up the prayer with true confession and asking forgiveness.

In every thing give thanks for this is the will of God in Christ Jesus concerning you. (1 Thessalonians 5:18)

Then the traffic light changed and the light in my heart began to slowly change as well.

KEYS TO PROFITABLE BIBLE STUDY

Meditating on John 14:10, recently, I was drawn to a sentence in The Path to the Cross (6/1 entry) Careful attention to prepositions is one key to profitable Bible study!

Hmmmm....preposition---a part of speech we all know but what took on new meaning for me was the relational aspect of prepositions, beyond the relative physical positions......beyond the allotment and filling of shared space. (Ronnie Stevens)

Speaking of the Spirit of Truth in John 14:17, God's word reminds us (believers) ...you know Him because He abides with you and will be in you." Since our salvation, the Holy Spirit of God, has been omnipresent with us. What joy that brings!

Looking forward to John 15, a favorite chapter of mine, where the verb, abide, has always stood out. This time I'll be on the look out for key prepositions to deepen my understanding in a new way!

1, 2, 3!

1, 2, 3!

Guess who turned 3 this week? Of course, if you ask him, he still says 2.

The shirt says it all....."His Buh" wore the same shirt, created by Mommy, 11 years ago at his 3rd birthday "robot" party!'

the gift wrap signifies a birthday event.......

blowing out #3 candle affirms it......

.......the smile while in his birthday suit says it all----but he says, NO! 2!

HAPPY BIRTHDAY, STINK-O-POTAMUS!