CHOOSE JOY AGAIN

CHOOSE JOY AGAIN!
Consider it ALL joy! (James 1:2)

Now isn't that a difficult choice. But a choice it is.

We decide/choose whether to see all events---the good, the bad and the ugly, as part of God's working to bring us unto Himself. Receive with thankfulness "each day the good Lord has given" as Daddy always said. Obstacles and heartaches and heart wrenching tragedies make this seem more difficult.

But God....is the anchor that holds. (Hebrews 6:19)

"The anchor holds. Though the ship is battered, the anchor holds. Though the sails are torn, I have fallen on my knees, As I faced the raging seas. The anchor holds, In spite of the storm." (Ray Bolz)

Often when we can't hold on, He's there doing the holding. (Psalm 139:10; Psalm 63:8)

I know because He brought me up "out of the pit." (Psalm 40:2)

 

READY! MINDSET! GO!
My mind was set on Him and once again, I was ready to "go."
Ready to choose JOY once more!

Emergency Meditation

6/24/13 Cling to God's Hand. Hold His hand that you might not stumble or fall headlong. But God is the One who holds your hand. (Psalm 34:23-24)

Therefore when phone calls interrupt one's "peace" he/she can remember the One who is actually doing the holding......

My soul, wait in silence for God only, For my hope is from Him.
He only is my rock and my salvation, My stronghold; I shall not be shaken. (Psalm 62:5-6)

.....even sitting in the emergency room waiting on tests for "my" Molly.

WILLING??

6/13/12 “Willing”---that’s all I thought the Lord was asking of me. Are you willing to go? The going was to the Ukraine. The team was established but through some God-ordained circumstances, I had gone to the 2^nd team meeting over a month ago. While I was there, I sensed that God had me there to be “willing” to be a possible sub (a very weak sub) for Shirley W., the teacher for the women at the camp in central Ukraine because Shirley had some health issues. In fact, she was facing a series of tests the following week.

Shirley recovered and returned to her normal, enthusiastic, organized, Bible student, lesson preparer self. Willingness over. Lesson learned---so I thought. But God…..

Yesterday, a phone call alerted me to the fact that Jackie Z., one of the 5 ladies on the team was flying to D.C. to be a caregiver for her mother who had been put under hospice care. Was I still willing? Different scenario but same question of obedience. Prayed, asked hubby to pray.

This morning hubby said he was not comfortable with me going/flying that far alone. It seemed that most flights to that area were already overbooked because of the Euro 2012 Soccer Championship. So…door closed, I assumed.

But God.....Phone call revealed that a seat was indeed available. More prayer. Discussions ensued. God’s hand began showing mightily. (That’s a whole “nother” blog.)

Around 4:30 today, seat was booked. Willing became action---“uttermost parts of the earth” became Cherkassy, Ukraine. (Acts 1:8)

Disapointment, in a nutshell

8/11/11 Proverbs 13:12 speaks to unfulfilled expectations. “Hope deferred makes the heart sick,” rang true yesterday until I chose to see “change” as from God’s hand and asked Him to continue to direct our steps.
Nutshell synopsis:

• Difficulty enjoying the scenery-- Atlas needed to navigate as Mapquest didn’t have a clue, road signage was all but non-existent yet made the pursuit kind of fun.

• Nippersink Lodge on Lookout Mountain (long on my bucket list of places to visit) somewhat resembled a quaint but eerie lodge from a bygone era----think, “The Shining”---only a swinging saloon style door to “rustic” bedroom and NO AC

• 

• No lodging available in either of the only 2 options in quaint/artsy/adorable Mentone, AL & not a single picture
  

• Having to scratch next day’s brunch at the Wildflower Café

• No birds on the short birdwalk at DeSoto State Park in Fort Payne
  

• Dusk coming with no “safe” place to stay

The end result was acceptance----“flying by the seat of our pants “as hubby continued to drive “Miss Dotsy” toward Gadsden, AL, where Josh, from a CE classroom in New York secured us a hotel with a great, think “very reasonable price” hotel right on the road to our next day’s original destination. We became joyfully expectant to see where disappointment would lead.

Divinit---TEA

10/27/10 If you want to taste and see that the Lord is good, (Psalm 34:7) this is the "tea" for you. Just look around you.

Though it's been almost 2 years since I began my cancer journey with MAC, it was exactly 1 year ago today that I embarked on what was to be my final surgery. Technically I had 5 surgeries prior to this, not counting biopsies, but it was not Dr. Ha's desire for this to be the last one. He felt that I needed 2 more to complete the reconstruction of my face so that he and I would both be more pleased with the symmetry.

Some of those events still stand out but the ones that stand out the most are the “but God….events” (Ephesians 2:4) those where God in His goodness and mercy clearly showed me His hand in my life. That’s why I continue to record each day the “Seeing God’s Hand” events on my blog.

As my life after the BIG cancer events returned more to a normal routine, I didn’t want to over look the divine. I wanted my world to still be filled with Him, the divine One……….to continue to see divinity everywhere, even in the daily events. Events so filled with God as to spur me to thanksgiving and worship. Events as simple as sitting in newly painted red Adirondacks, sipping a cup of tea* and watching the leaves fall on my patio.

*Basic chai, a strongly brewed black tea diluted with milk & traditionally consumed hot and sweet, is the perfect tea for such a divine event. Thus, Divini---TEA!

Teaching Tuesday

1/27/09

The lessons today must be just for me b/c ljj was not available for my "practice teaching"---but oh how many times she has listened---nor were any of my 24 Hr. Fitness water buds—I would practice my lessons on them in the sauna and get feedback before I would teach my Bible study lessons. One was my dance expert, so maybe she can help me in this latest "Dance."

Word for the day is hand. I am an obedient student---someone tells me to look for God's hand, even in the little things, I start looking. In years past He sometimes has had to knock me over the head with the obvious---obvious to everyone else that is. Of course, I hate to start doing body parts b/c I'm sure there will be verses on lips or nostrils---not ready to go there in public. It was bad enough at church Sunday night to have 2 doctors picking my nose---out in the vestibule of the church, no less.

But I trust in you, O Lord; I say you are my God. My times are in your hands…..(Psa. 31:14-15)

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. (Isaiah 41:13)

Early this morning—per a request last night "to meet face to face and w/ Larry b/c we were in a different ballpark now"---Larry & I met w/ Dr. C who drew this incredible labyrinth of sorts, showing the twisty-turny path of my journey with MAC from 1^st visit to different docs to input from docs world-wide to the latest change. He drew all of this out on a paper cloth that covered the round table where we sat. He said this is so "strange" and it could be seen as a bit of a tangle of intersections but………….I took the pen from him and drew in my pitiful artistic manner---a hand around all those appointments and doctors names and told him, "That's what God's hand looks like!" I've felt better ever since. BTW I have the cloth---you knew I would, didn't you!

Near the end of the day a phone conversation with my dear friend Ashley Bryan, who today won the 2009 Laura Ingalls Wilder award, lifted my spirits. When I told him how much I have been inspired by his depiction of God's hand in his book, Let it Shine: Three Favorite Spirituals, he, in his humble way, told me how concerned he was for me and how much I inspired him.