Showing posts with label Doris. Show all posts
Showing posts with label Doris. Show all posts

Monday, March 17, 2025

BLESSINGS!

Blessings from friends quoting others. a great way to start the day.
I have cast myself into the hands of Almighty God who reigns everywhere!
(St. Patrick of Ireland)

Blessings of celebration from the mountain folks who not only find joy ...
but celebrate with dance---clogging with some Irish type steps.

Blessings.....May the Lord bless you and keep you!

Thursday, March 6, 2025

PRAYERFUL WISDOM!

Words of Wisdom. 
A big thanks to friend, Doris, who shared these. 
Show me your ways, LORD, teach me your paths. (Psalm 25:4)
Use prayer to....."Get wisdom, get understanding; do not forget my words or turn away from them." (Proverbs 4:5)
May we be directed to the right path as our "discerning heart acquires knowledge, for the ears of the wise seek it out." (Proverbs 18:15, paraphrase mine)

Friday, May 17, 2024

"C" WORDS!

As Scotty Smith, founding and Pastor Emeritus of Christ Community Church in Franklin, Tn shared "C" Words today, my mind went into overdrive. 
Jesus, when there's more hours left in our day than kindness in our hearts, help us. Breathe your calm, care and compassion into us, and through us.
Great "C" Words for me to focus on this Friday. Calm, care, and compassion certainly trump comparison, complaint and criticism any day.

May joyful
"C" Words enter your day as you choose to "cast all our cares on Christ---the ultimate "C" in a believer's life!


*Thx Doris for sharing!

Monday, April 1, 2024

MONDAY MOUTHFUL!

Much munching on Scotty Smith's devotional this morning.
A pastor who can go from French to slang in capturing our earthly mission in and for Christ.
Powerful words that justify our existence.
Glory for sure!

Friday, March 1, 2024

PRACTICING THY PRESENCE TO PRACTICE THE PAUSE!

A "pause" that refreshes my soul and pleases the Lord.
His pace becomes my pace.
Put
All
Under
Savior's
Ebullience

If actions don't please God, keep pausing until they delight Him! 
Practice Thy Presence to Practice the Pause.....or Practice the Pause to Practice Thy Presence!

Monday, February 12, 2024

ABIDE!

ABIDE! Love that word!
In fact, I love all of John 15.
It was a significant chapter for me in beginning to seek God's Word for truth.
As always, Scottie Smith gives me new insight!

Keep stunning and saturating us with your truth O Lord as we  seek Thee. 
You're easy to find when your addresses is our heart!

May I continue to think on these things. (Philippians 4:8)

You ask me How I know He lives, He lives within my  heart!

Wednesday, January 3, 2024

LANGUAGE OF HOPE!

Worries have you sleepless?

Fear have you tossing and turning?

What's does one do when she hopes for a good night's sleep, "safe and secure from all alarms"?


The LORD is my Shepherd.....He leads me beside still waters...He restores my soul....He is with me.......He comforts me.......I will dwell with Him forever. 

Tuesday, October 31, 2023

HAPPY THOUGHTS!

Comparative thinking can have both positive and negative effects.
A friend sent me an amazing comparative. 


Comparing a Christian and a pumpkin. A perfect positive for this October 31!

Wednesday, August 16, 2023

GRACE-FORGED FRIENDSHIP DAY!

In our culture there are days for everything, even food! 
January 12-Hot Tea Day. January 26-Peanut Brittle Day.
April 5-Caramel Day. 
June 10-Iced Tea Day. July 1-Pecan Pie Day.
October 28-Chocolate Day. 
Yesterday was National Lemon Meringue Pie Day.
You get the idea---or at least an idea of those I celebrate "in the flesh."

What about more significant days for believers???
Scotty asked, "When is "Grace-Forged Friendships Day?" 
EVERYDAY! 

It makes everyday "gospel-icious." (Cole Huffman) especially as we desire to age gracefully. 
"A gospel-posse." (Scotty)  Dynamic Duo. Terrific Trio. A Quad Squad.
Christians on the same side of the struggle. (Ellen)

Believers who have been there, i.e. experienced that, can offer deep understanding, like-minded prayers and comfort so one does not lose heart. (2 Corinthians 4:16) 
A Fellowship of Believers' Day......
.....grace-forged with hope-filled prayers.(Romans 15:13)

Wednesday, August 9, 2023

PITHY WITH A "WORDSMITH" PUNCH

I don't even know who Scotty is....only that he's a wordsmith friend of my friend, Doris.
Anyone who can use poetry, metaphor and simile along with astonish, flourish and nourish in two sentences to expound Psalm 63:2, is a WORDSMITH in all caps.
So glad to meet you Scotty. Thanks Doris for the introduction of your "pithy with a punch" friend. 
May we all flourish as God's Word nourishes us today!

Wednesday, August 2, 2023

COLLECTIVE NOUNS!

Friend, ljj, has introduced me to many collective nouns.She has peaked my interest for animal groups.
One of my favorites is this "sparkle" one. A "sparkle" of fireflies!
Don't we all want to "sparkle."

Another fun fact I learned from a 1985's park ranger's talk about Synchronous Fireflies, indigenous to the Great Smoky Mountains National Park, is they are monogamous. Of course we're talking days or weeks, not years. 

But, I digress from collective nouns---so typical for an "always distracted one."

Congregation of alligators--but don't think I want to go to their church.
A shiver of sharks seems about right as I get the shivers thinking of encountering them.
Squad of squid.
Flamboyance of flamingos.

Collective nouns have become a real find---so I decided to create one of my own!

"Giggle of girls." Female "girls" in their 70s who travel together, when they remember to "show up" and often have to cross their legs when the laughter of sharing old memories begins. This "tea towel" alway brings laughter to my grands when they see it hanging by the oven. Even they know how true that can be for me!

CSB and CEB versions of Psalm 139:3, state that the Lord observes (CSB) and studies (CEB) my travels. In other words wherever we are, whether traveling or resting, He is aware of the paths we are taking. He indeed is aware. Thoroughly familiar with all our ways.

The LORD God made us all, each with a unique purpose. (Psalm 139:13) May we live it out collectively with others in the faith. 


Tuesday, July 11, 2023

D.A.N.C.E.

D.A.N.C.E.
Having a struggle....choose to "D.A.N.C.E.
  • D iscover what God's word says about your situation
  • A ccept the circumstances as for your good
  • N otice God's hand in the midst
  • C elebrate your moments
  • E xtend lessons learned to others to encourage them
THX Doris for sharing this reminder to dance----It is a choice!

Tuesday, April 4, 2023

BECKONING!

Beckoning! Appealing in a way as to be inviting!
I think of a "pull toward" spiritual activities; yet, could also be a pull toward things of the world. Distractions.
Distractions...unique to each individual. Golf tourneys might not be mine but a good book or crossword puzzle could easily beckon me. 

"Set your affections on things above not on things on earth." (Colossians 3:2)
Some places seem to beckon. Do you have a place that calls you? 
Seek first the the kingdom of God....(Matthew 6:33)

A place to beckon you before God's throne of grace!

Go their first and all the rest will fall into God's place.....unique for you!

Friday, October 14, 2011

Let's Dance!

10/14/11 This entry is about dancers in my life---two who have helped me to dance. Dancing for me is a life fully lived. A life I live with the Lord. It's an abunDANCE, as it's full of God's purpose for me while on this earth. It gives me eyes to see His hand in my life through good and bad times. Dancing is passionate. It's embracing those whom God sends across my path---every single one, even the irregular ones who annoy, hurt, and try to rob me of my joy. Learning to live the life God has planned for me and living without fear requires dancing in His arms. Surrendering to Him. Following His lead. It requires spiritual maturity and in my case encouragement from others. Especially those who already know the steps.

Meet Doris and Marge. Two such dancers. They have chosen to live the "dance" God has chosen for them. I have learned much by watching. Though their lives are intentional in choice they make it look easy---like an overflow of love from above. They laugh. They garden. They cook. They read. They selflessly see to the needs of others. They seem tireless. In Him, they live and move and have their being. (Acts 17:28) There's a deep assurance of God's presence in their lives that touches all who cross their paths.

What connects me to them? Certainly we are connected spiritually. Our paths crossed through introductions years ago from other dear friends. A friendship that has grown through the years. We are all family oriented, wives of the husbands of our "youth." (Proverbs 5:18) We share interests: travel, good food, and good literature. Strangely, we all love "Keeper of the Bees" a somewhat obscure classic from the 20s. I know both and yet they still have never met. Maybe I need to make introductions.

What connects them to others? Their lives----every facet of it. They seem to feel and trust the rhythm of God's music for their own lives. They have His ear. They hear His love song.
During their own fearful times, their courage is infectious. Cheer, strength, and peace seem to flow, as one "whose mind is stayed on Thee." (Isaiah 26:3) They know from whom their hope and trust rests and their thoughts are fixed on Him.

"Given to hospitality," has these two dancers opening their homes and hearts to others. "Hospitable to all strangers, but especially to those who were of the household of faith," is the way Romans 12:13 states it. Financially, they have given and given and given, even during times when there might have been little for family, much less others----they gave anyway. Nowadays they both have acquired homes just to share with others. As God blessess, they bless whether out of their lack, or out of their abundance.

The countenance of Doris and Marge is glowing. Smiling. Always smiling. Roman 12:12 describes these dancers as "never flagging in zeal, aglow with the Spirit, serving the Lord." They live above their circumstances because they are always looking up! Pretty much each and every Sunday you will find them pew side at a local UMC, where "Lord of the Dance" is on page 261 of the Methodist hymnal.

How blessed I am to know them. May you, reader, be blessed as well by using their lives as a model. A model to follow as you become a "dancer," not a critic, for those in your life.

Consistently Doris and Marge respond to His grace. They dance. Their lives say to others, "Join us. Let's dance!" Won't you dance too?