CHOOSE RANSACKING

I default to ransacking pretty often....but it's not often a joyful choice. It's usually necessary to "find" lost or misplaced items and requires much "hunting" which leaves a ransacked type trail.

This morning I ransacked my pantry in pursuit of some Werther's Caramel Chews.

No where to be found----I had to settle for the "original" hard candies for my sweet tooth.

Persistance paid as ransacking continued after blogging.
Note two twisty caramel chews between book and Werther's bag.

But God....through John Piper's meditation book on Savoring the Supremacy of God in All Your Life, (#55) I saw that ransacking the Bible for truth does indeed bring joy. Plus, it was such a follow-up for yesterdays "Meditating Monday" blog entry. Piper's points sound like meditation to me. (my THOTS below.)

1. Pray and Read. Read the Word. What a privilege. What an obligation. What a potential for seeing God. (p. 166)
2. Pray and Study. Must pray or we'll not see in the Word, the one thing esp. THE Book, needful---'the glory of God in the Face of Christ.' (2 Corinthians 4:4, 6) On knees and in books, a great combo. (p.167)
3. Pray and Ransack. Ransacking is the way to seek God in the Bible. Think Dotsy and her caramel search. (p.167)
4. Pray and think. (2 Timothy 2:7) Consider what I say for the Lord will give you understanding in everything. (KJV) Reflect on... (NIV) Think about...( NLT) Think over (ESV) Mark well...(WNT) Combine the eye-opening work of the Spirit with the mind-informing work of the Word. (Psalm 119:18) (p, 168)

I should choose ransacking to satisfy my sweet soul rather than  my sweet tooth.

CHOOSE JOY IN MEDITATING

It's "meditating" Monday and there's joy because of a cleared agenda.

No agenda gives space without hurry.

A time not just to" taste and see"  the goodness of the Lord but to savor it. (Psalm 34:8)

A time to interweave prayers from the heart with the scripture that prompted them.

It's not an "either-or" but a both-and" of meditation and prayer. 

When you read this, you can perceive my insight into the mystery of Christ, (Ephesians 3:4, Paul to the church in Ephesus) 

R + P = M 

Reading and Praying = Meditation.

When you read scripture as you pray it brings revelation and that brings great joy. 

CHOOSE LAUGHTER

Sometimes we just have to laugh at ourselves.

More often than NOT, it seems, my dearest friends and family have a "feast of laughter" (Ecclesiastes 10:19) at my expense. They even give me endearing gifts to remind me.

So.....I choose to laugh at those as well!

CHOOSE SINGING

Choose singing---even if it's a "joyful" noise, as in my case. (Psalm 100:1)

Gift from Ashley Bryan--- Used with his Permission

For me, singing and praying sometimes go hand in hand and I end up wanting to "shout" for joy!

Shout to the Lord all the Earth, let us singPower and majesty, praise to the King (Zschech)

Christianity is one long shout of joy. (John Stott) 

Hmm-m-m-m.....choosing singing could be a precursor for choosing shouting!

CHOOSE SYNONYMS

Wordsmiths use words well. I couldn't get a good or bad word in edge-wise yesterday---at least not for the timely posting of this entry. The day just flew by.

Weeks are flying by---Wordsmith Wednesday has come and gone.....without words for this entry.

Wordsmiths and "wannabe wordsmiths" have an affinity for language and its uses. For me, that entails blogging.

Before "google," wordsmith's used a thesaurus---often using too many words instead of saying the most with the fewest words, which to me is the sign of a true wordsmith.

2017 word choice, "joy"  spoke to me of word choice possibilities because I wanted to regain  my liveliness. To get "my kicks" again wherever God had placed me. So, today I googled joy.
** (Ck below to peruse both synonyms and antonyms.)

Which will you choose to be? A synonym? An antonym?

**

So many choices. Choose to be a "joy" synonym every time!!

CHOOSE KINDNESS

Each Saturday as I pray for "grands," mine and others, I pray for them to choose to practice kindness in their lives. (Ephesians 4:32) As I finished my "prayer chair" time, I received a text with this picture from "my" NY family. Lucy made a sign that said, "We can be kind." As she matures, may this be written on the tablet of her heart as well. (Proverbs 3:3)

What an affirmation. May we all choose to be kind to others.

CHOOSE MVPs

Most of us have "many valuable people" in our lives. But.....do we tell them? Do we thank God for them? Do we encourage them?

TX son received an MVP award of sorts at the Allen Sport's Association banquet last Friday night. He was recognized as "Coach of the Year" at this non-profit's youth sport's association's 40th year celebration.

As "the" mom, I knew it was very deserving. Other spoken and written accolades confirmed this as well.

His boys, all 5 of them,  know first hand what a sports coach and life coach he has been---(Proverbs 22:6) How fitting a verse, as I have prayed it for him for 40+ years.

This worthy recipient, coached 61 teams in 4 different sports in 10 years!!!

Just ask those boys of his as he has coached them all! Most Valuable Papa indeed!

CHOOSE generosity

During the recent snowy/cold/rainy days, I decided to offer Maurice, our mailman a cup of hot chocolate. It's easy to offer him bottled water or cokes, his favorite----but to offer something cooked in our home is going out on a limb. Folks are understandably very leery these days of accepting home-made goods.

Relational fostering precedes such acceptance.

Easy also to choose bestowing generosity on Maurice, whom I like and then blogging the results, whatever they are! He's such a friendly, nice guy; whether he accepts it or not, will not change that.

However, notice in the entry title, "generosity" is written in lowercase letters as well as throughout the entry. That's because sharing this "generous" act was similar to "touting" which is rampant on all forms of social media.

True GENEROSITY is preceded by humility, is God-directed and is usually done anonymously.
I know that.
My cup of hot chocolate is a step in building a relationship of one who is a part of my life only because of my address. Ones's generosity to another is to benefit the receiver.
For me, that requires knowing a bit more about my mailman than his truck number or mail route times for my street.

RESULTS: I'm glad I offered Maurice a warm cup of chocolate.
He did not accept it, saying his stomach couldn't tolerate chocolate.
However, his refusal was gracious with a smile that warmed my heart.
Then, he added, "you know those cokes are still my favorite."

He's right I do know that cokes are his favorites. For that reason, I will keep them on my grocery list.

And if I'm not going to be home, I can just leave his "treat" in the mailbox.

He'll know who put it there.

CHOOSE JOY of SIMPLICITY

Real Simple! A Magazine---found in Dr. Nutcracker's offfice, no less.
Who are they kidding!

Just finding time to sit down and read this "deceitfully" titled periodical is a joke.

Not only that, the article I was seeking, "Sleep Better" was no where to be found.
Not in the Table of Contents. Not in subscripts. Not with a "thumb through"

That, like the title, is false advertising in my book."
Nothing in my life seems REAL SIMPLE.  I tend to make the simple difficult!

Real simple/Simple assembly required----weren't those deceiving phrases on the package directions of every late Christmas Eve project we (mainly hubby) tried to construct for Santa's delivery!
The KISS acronym has been around, (Keep it Simple Stupid) for years, yet complexity seems to be the word of the day in my life.

Simplify is the "mantra" of the social domain of our western world, but who can do it "easily" ?

These days everyone seems to espouse the philosophy of simplicity whether it's one's decorator, photographer or "Nutcracker" MD.

Word to self----

Theologically only one "simple" thing is needed---"...the simplicity and purity of devotion to Christ. (2 Corinthians 11:3) Such simplicity and purity will take care of everything else.
Don't be overwhelmed by complex ideas from every realm of our culture----just simply trust Him.

Complexity overwhelms--kills ideas. Simplicity gives birth to ideas---His ideas/truths which give birth to JOY! The simple joy of knowing Him!

CHOOSE ANTONYMS

When reading Philippians 2:14, Do all things without grumbling or disputing, Pastor Cole introduced the term, captious as a synonym for the word grumbling, when used as an adjective. A grumbling person. A "Crankshaft" of sorts. 

Captious. Fault finding. Petty. Hard to please.

I don't want to be a captious Christian. Captious folks can't get close to God.
I don't want that descriptor to be applied to me.

So....I looked up antonyms for it. Instead I was overwhelmed with synonyms---28 to be exact!

Cantankerous, carping, hypercritical, nagging, testy......to name a few!

I had to search hard for some antonyms, which in this case were "positives." I don't want it to be that way in my life. I don't want folks to have to really search to find some positive descriptors based on my attitude and word choices.

Today I choose antonyms of captious....but I can only find 6. 

Commendatory, complimentary, encouraging, flattering, laudatory and praising.

Of the 6, commendatory, complimentary, flattering and laudatory seemed more "works" based to me.

That narrowed my "choices" to encouraging and praising. I focus my praising on the Lord.

Therefore, I choose encouraging even though I know that means changing some "words" for the ones whom I love most. More loving and encouraging words than training and disciplining words.

May i continually choose to display antonyms of captious in my life!

CHOOSE GRACE

For Christians, "under grace" is the best life choice. The place to be.

Pastor Cole continues to remind us that God desires progress NOT perfection in our Christian Walk. So.....why don't we seek grace not perfection as Emily Ley's 2016 title, coupled with God's word, implores us. (Ephesians 2:8)

Young women, juggling careers and motherhood, would especially appreciate the encouragement in this book to embrace simplicity and celebrate joy.

• Here's the thing about doing it all: even if you can do it all, no one can do it all WELL. (p.13 )
• I will hold myself to a standard of GRACE not perfection. (p.16) 
• Sometimes the problem isn'a our organizational skills; it's our abundance of things. (p.45)
• You don't need a Pinterest-perfect home; you need a home that works for you and makes you feel ALIVE. ( 55)
• We're more likely to lose our patience with our loved ones when we carry the weight of stress on our shoulders. (p.135)
• Grace and Gratitude go hand in hand. (p. 151)

Even this "old granny" found some "grace gems" worthy of choosing.

CHOOSE JOY in READING

Choose joy in reading by selecting books that touch the heart.

There's no such thing as a good book written just for children!

If a book is well written it can appeal to all ages.

That's my philosophy and I'm sticking by it.

I often choose to read books that touch the heart----not sappy books, but endearing ones. Some, such as All the Light We Cannot See, with 544 pages are on Best Sellers Shelf. Others are found in the "kiddie lit" section. That's where this week I found, Tucky Jo and Little Heart, unpaged. (Unpaged is library-speak for picture books. No page numbers.) Both are set during World War II---one in France against the Nazi's and the other in the Philippines with the Japanese occupation. Both touched my heart.

Maybe the Philippines setting book reminded me of the rare times when Daddy, a Kentuckian, would answer my questions about the months he was on the isle of Leyte in WWII, where he was wounded by a Japanese sniper/soldier. A wound that saved his life. He was "hospitalized" there, think MASH, and thus removed from the war. The next day his entire unit, of which he was the Sergeant in charge, was killed when they resumed their reconnaissance with a "sub" platoon leader. He wore that guilt for the rest of his life, I think.

Today's choice not only touched my heart, it blessed my heart with memories of Daddy and gratitude for all the US vets who served In the Pacific in WWII.

CHOOSE JOY--MOMENT BY MOMENT

Following Dr. Nutcracker's RX, I eased into my day at kitchen table with hubby by my side

What a show we had as yesterday hubby cut a hole in Miss Ann's pumpkin so that "critters" could eat the seeds. He loves birds, so I assume his desire was more bird visitors. Squirrel wreak havoc with his bird feeders, as do the raccoons. But, TODAY, Guess who's coming to dinner!

"King of the Pumpkin"

Enjoying the "moment by moment" views as both the doc and God's word recommend.

Teach us to consider our mortality so that we might live wisely. (Psalm 90:12, CEV)

Choose Good News

"Choose Good News"---Obviously that choice negates turning on the TV for nightly news.

Actually the title would read better if it said "Choose Spreading the Good News." 

I was spreading caramel on cupcakes to take to an ailing friend when I saw the Acts 4:12 citation under the ingredients. Of course, I looked it up.

Salvation is to be found through Him alone; in all the world there is no one else whom God has given who can save us. (GNT, Good News Translation)

Hooray, for the Batesville, Mississippi Caramel Factory for spreading the message of salvation, the good news of the gospel, while others are spreading caramel. 

CHOOSE: IDIOMATIC LANGUAGE

Started entry title as "Choose: Obedience"---but that sounded "spiritually prideful," which in and of itself sounds oxymoronic.

"Choose Diligence" lost out as the title as well, because though I've long been known for diligence---that sounds negative in this sense. So...

....I chose "idiomatic language" not only because it's Wordsmith Wednesday but because I'm a "hard nut to crack" and today I'm going to the "nutcracker" doc. Think metaphorical insanity.

With my brain a metaphor for a nut and because I don't know what's going on in there half the time, I decided to be diligent and obey my internist and keep my appointment with Dr. A, who is a recognized "nutcracker!" He doesn't have a clue as to how hard it is to gain entry into my circular thinking noggin. 

I'm sipping a strong cuppa nutcracker tea this morning in preparation.

Maybe I should take some nutcracker tea to serve him as well as I'm a hard, tough nut to crack and he's gonna need extra help to be up to the "Dotsy" challenge!

CHOOSE GOD'S GUIDANCE

Completing grandson Noah's book for his 13th Birthday (1/3/17) had me in Proverbs 3, as that is the Proverb, I have prayed for him since birth. Often, I pray scripture from different versions in order to deepen my understanding of what God is saying as I pray God's best for him.

Proverb 3: 6 (HCSB, Holman Christian Standard Bible) says, "Think about Him in all your ways and He will guide you on the right paths." That's exactly what I want for all my grands but especially for Noah when I am in Proverbs 3.

God has planned all our days and it would behoove us to align our will with His by seeking each day the very detailed, pre-planned guidance for all our day (Psalm 139:16) which He has available for us in His word, and in answer to our "aligned" prayers.

It's so important to choose God's guidance daily as we select our life's paths. 

That's my "Noah Prayer" today! Choose God's Guidance, Noah!

Choose introspection

Too much introspection, for many, can be more harmful than good. The lower case letters are that reminder for me.
So...I certainly didn't plan a two "cuppa" quiet time.
But God.....had me in a mental, physical and emotional"introspecting" state throughout the day.
But....in fact, it was a spiritual introspection with the other listed factors thrown in for clarity.

It all started this morning when reading my 2009 journal entry for January ninth. that date was the first time I had ever heard the word, biopsy, as it related to me. I had also written that Dr. Schneider said, "It doesn't look like cancer but that's where we start in order to rule it out." Boy, was he wrong! But God wasn't.

Even that day I had read in my devotional, My Utmost for His Highest, on "Intercessory Introspection" and from Psalm 139 that God knows when I sit and rise, what words I will say before I say them---for He is the one who created me. "All the days ordained for me were written in your book before one of them came to be.

Throughout the day I did dwell on so-o-o-o many positives that were a result of my cancer and my roller coaster year of surgery upon surgery to rebuild my face. So many blessings---mainly because I knew that the Lord had answered the prayer I had prayed in 2009, "Lord, if it doesn't matter for eternity, I'd rather "it" not be cancer." How much easier it was to recall that prayer and know that the "CANCER" answer was His answer. God's best for me. It would count for eternity.

As today was winding down, God affirmed my introspection as I picked up a "new" gift. (which is a blog entry in and of itself) My gift, the devotional book, Savor LIVING ABUNDANTLY WHERE YOU ARE AS YOU ARE 's 1/9 entry spoke right to my heart.

"Blessings & Curses" and scripture citation, centered at the top of the page, was contextually about Joseph comforting his brothers who had left him for dead but overall it's a perspective of seeing how God can show good in one's life when situations seem so adverse.
You (cancer diagnosis, in my thinking) "intended to harm me, but God intended it for good." (Genesis 50:10)

The author expounded on the intent of wanting to savor life saying,  "When what you see in front of you is so far outside of what you dreamed, but you have the belief........to call it beautiful instead of calling it wrong, that's celebration."

In hindsight or introspection of said event, I can see my rare MAC cancer as one of the BIGGEST BLESSINGS of my life. An event worth celebrating.

CHOOSE GRATITUDE!

On December 30, I received this shocking email---

Hello Dotsy,

            Aggie went to be with Jesus last Thursday (12/29/16) after a brief but very difficult struggle with an until now undetected blood disorder. I know you were a real encouragement to her, so I need to pass this information on to you.

            A celebration of her life will be held Saturday January 7th.

Sincerely, Greg Tharp

Some times are easier than other times in which to choose gratitude. 
Today is the memorial service for, Agnes "Aggie" Tharp, one lady very dear to my heart, though I have never met her face to face. Yet I am so-o-o grateful to have "known" Aggie, albeit via cyberspace. 
So I choose gratitude for the Lord's allowing our paths to cross.
I sent him an email I had received from Aggie 5 years ago hoping it might offer him comfort:
The night I learned that (friend) had gone on to eternity, I couldn't go to sleep.  I began thinking of the people we knew in common up in heaven, and then Ken meeting Bible characters, and THEN meeting JESUS!!!  I got such a spirit of celebration and joy that I couldn't be sad about Ken's death.  And in a way that experience changed my attitude toward death.  For the child of God it is not sad!  True, for those left behind, the separation hurts.  What a joy to know that it is temporary! Love & prayers, Aggie

Gratitude tinged with sadness---for me and all who knew and loved her, I'm sure!

Aggie has been a "Dotsy Details" blog reader since November 2009 as far as my "Comments" show.

S. D. Gordon wrote: The greatest thing anyone can do for God and man is pray. It is not the only thing, but it is the chief thing. The great people of earth are the people who pray. I do not mean those who talk about prayer; nor those who say they believe in prayer; nor yet those who can explain about prayer; but I mean those people who take time to pray. Thank you, Dotsy, for reminding us of the privilege and importance of prayer! Love and prayers, from Agnes in France

Encouraging me from the very start as Agnes, sometime in 2012 Agnes became "Aggie."

Regardless of her signature, blog comments and email messages were always ENCOURAGING! I knew they were sent with love and prayers. Aggie was one of "my" best  prayer warriors, without me even requesting prayers from her. She didn't just say she prayed, she sent the very scriptures to back it up. What a privilege to be on the receiving end of her prayers---which she prayed "all over me."

As I took time in the Word this morning, Psalm 92 (one of today's Scripture readings in the liturgical calendar) is obviously for you, and I am praying it all over you now, and for the upcoming trip. YES, TRUST is the word.  Psalm 37:5, Commit - trust - and God will do the rest.  

Aggie and I both shared an affinity for the Psalms and often "camped out there so I particularly loved this email from her. 

God spoke Psalm 34:8 to my heart, "The angel of the Lord camps around those who fear Him..."  Wow, I thought, he doesn't just fly or flutter over, he CAMPS.

1/12/10 Interesting how the Father seems to be saying the same things to his children, even though separated geographically by great distances..... GOD REIGNS! Not, He said that He would, nor, some day He will, but here, now; in this present situation, in whatever storm I may be going through, GOD REIGNS! When Jesus was sleeping in the boat, He was in perfect control, even though the disciples were beside themselves with fear! Peace, be still. We can be still, and know that God is God and that He reigns!

Often she would end a message with, "Are you okay, Dotsy?"

How intuitive she was! What a faithful prayer warrior! 

I saw Aggie's life well-lived through her words. 

"Don't answer questions that people aren't asking you, but live in such a way that people will ask you questions (about your faith in, walk with, God)." (though I can't remember who said it---Aggie) Through our correspondence, I imagine many saw Jesus in her life and were asking her about her faith!

Yesterday I ended my email reply to her husband Greg assuring him that I was using Aggie's pictures in my visual prayer journal....

" to continue to pray for Stephanie and Etienne and their children, each Saturday---it is my "bouquet of thanks" to place at her service."

Prayerfully, (& gratefully) Dotsy

choose quietness

Choose quietness---I do. 

"A place of quiet rest. A place of comfort sweet. A place of full release." (Near to the Heart of God)

How much easier to choose quietness when the Lord sends enough snow to "white out" a busy agenda. 

"Snow" angel to beckon me----"Nearer my God to Thee."

"Schedules. Commitments. So much to do, so little time" is how LaGard Smith puts it in Meeting God in Quiet Places.

I choose to linger, to tarry and to move into God's Presence. Usually that results in prayer---a sort of "tarry one for another" moment. (1 Corinthians 11:33)

I'm not sure where this tarrying will lead, I just know that today..........

I choose quietness near to the heart of God.

CHOOSE FORGIVENESS

Why is it often easier to forgive others than to forgive ones self?

I'm not sure there is a succinct scripture that answers the question, but I am going to keep looking.

Many have heard me negatively say, "It's so hard being me!" 

Even "Hubby" constantly tells me to "Quit being so hard on my wife!" 

Self-recrimination reigns these days. It's really hard when my lack of ability gets in the way of ALL I feel responsible for, especially when it affects others. 

Consummate travel planner is no more a descriptor for me. Upcoming Disney trip boggles my mind. So, I've chosen not to think about it in a timely way. I dropped the ball! I feel crummy. I also feel outside of my comfort zone and incapable. Fast pass scheduling is beyond me much less having the app that will show "how to be where when" for the ultimate Disney experience. 

Only showing NEAT part---If you saw all the scribbles of heights of kids, preferences, codes that lead nowhere & passwords that no longer work etc. you'd see my pitiful planning skills. ARGH!

So-o-o grateful that I have a daughter and daughter-in-law with sharp minds and willing spirits, to take up the slack, know the contacts and cover all the bases. 

Now, I have to let it go and choose to forgive myself remembering that God does not want perfection but progress. Maybe I need to start moving toward forgiving myself.

 

First step of forgiveness is to repent. So, do I repent of thinking negatively about myself or just repent of thinking negatively? Philippians 4:8 does not list "negativity" of any sort as one of the "things" to consider when thinking is occurring. Therefore regardless of my scattered thinking, I need to think on on virtuous things. Negativity is not virtuous! 

I am ready to move on so that times of "refreshing may come from the Lord."

So....I choose to accept His forgiveness of my negative thinking.

Choose Sadness

What!! CHOOSE SADNESS!
Sadness is the polar opposite of joy. I know that.

Maybe, I should have written, "Choose to Feel."

As one who usually chooses to suppress, repress or stuff feelings, I decided to give myself permission to feel sadness.

If Memphis readers read today's, 1/4/2017, Commercial Appeal's front page, above the fold headline, they might understand the source of my sadness----we're not talking life or death sadness. Yet, for me it is truly a lament. Hubby heard me wailing!!
Though to many, (50, I think) it will be a loss of even greater proportions as it affects their income as well as their own passions for books.

Some feelings are legitimate for me even if they don't make sense to others. What crushes my spirit might not phase another. But God....is near, regardless. (Psalm 34:18)
So today, I choose to feel sadness.

CHOOSE PRAYER

Teaching Tuesday has me in a quandary. 

I love to teach. I love God's Word. I love to teach God's Word even though the prep is getting more and more difficult.

So.....why am I struggling to accept a teaching time in February? Why the "check in my spirit?"

Is it the topic? 

Is it the time? 

Is it lack of confidence? 

Is my focus self-centered?
Is it God saying no or wait? 

I choose to devote myself to prayer----to continue to pray!

But we will give ourselves continually to prayer, and to the ministry of the word (Acts 6:4)

Choose to Muse

It's "Meditating Monday" so today I "choose to muse "on "joy."  Psalm 119:111 describes joy as residing in one's heart.
What prompts joy in one's heart?

While "musing" through different translations of the same verse, I listed all the translations for statutes.

God's Word----laws----testimonies----decrees----written instructions----prized possession

The psalmist sees the statutes (God's written law (truth and directions from His word) as the source of His joy. I had to ask myself, "What's the source of my joy?"

A fave verse that came to mind was Jeremiah 15:16. 

Hm-m-m eating could be the musing that results in joy and delight in my own heart!

I need to "choose to muse" beyond Mondays, for a continual feast of joy!

CHOOSE JOY

The last few weeks of Christmas hoopla, a group email had several of us bantering back and forth about the undue stress of the holiday. But God......through the wisdom of a friend reminded us of "joy."

So.....in many different ways, even after a tirade over inefficiencies of store clerks, and empty shelves at Kroger, our mantra became, "Today, I choose joy." 

Joy is a choice. 

Each and every day we choose how we respond/react to life in all of its aspects.

In 2017, may I choose joy!