JOYNOTE!

JOY is the BEST Medicine! Hmmm....it's  not on sale at Walgreen's!

Sadly, I have not been singing notes of Joy lately! 

But God, had me start afresh in the Deep Creek parking lot with a message, seemingly just for me.....on a a license plate, no less.

It didn't have a melody, just a note! 

Think JOYNOTE! 

If a spiritual boost is needed, it comes from heart joy! 

Joy found in God's word.... (chara in Greek, simchah in Hebrew) 

• Boosts the psyche.
• Helps relaxation.
• Creates unity with other believers.
• Increases tolerance to pain/struggles allowed by God. 
• Did I hear a giggles aka "note" of laughter ⁉︎

God often fills us with joy through His presence----through His people.

His people rose to the occasion on my behalf. (texts, a memory from 2009, a devotional book in the mail, a neighbor's smile, a special cane to "lift" both my body and my Spirit, Pastor Buddy's reminder...."Keep praying it will keep you staying".....(implying importance of staying right where God has placed you) and shared prayers from prayer warriors, without a specific request from me.   

A cheerful heart is good medicine. (Proverbs 17:22a) Dispensed from the hearts of others NOT from RX though both Karen and Cassie dispense joy through kindness at the corner of 50-US 19.

Joy is more than a moment! Joy is a sustaining anchor seen on a license plate across from my handicap parking place! And.....not for the first time!

.....shout to God with cries of joy. (Psalm 47:1b)

Keep your eyes open for any JOYNOTE God might send you!

BUT GOD!!!

Once again, I sense that I have been sent to time-out.

But God in His love and mercy has been there with me!

He has given prayer warriors who stand with me! Some lead me with encouragement. Others stand behind me ready to catch me If I fall.

"But God" is in control of every aspect of life's disappointments!

But God, the greatest short phrase uttered in history!*

God's mercy flows from His own loving heart......

....not from anything I have done to deserve it

Hallelujah!

*uttered by Paul in Ephesians

DAILY WORDS OF GREETING!

WORDS I SEE EVERYTIME I OPEN MY COMPUTER SO.....WHY DO I STILL WONDER THE WAY I SHOULD GO?

Let the morning bring me word of you unfailing love, for I have put my trust in you.  Show me the way I should go for to you I entrust my life.  (Psalm 143:8)

This morning, as Henry Blackaby in Experiencing God reminded me (along w/ other prayer warriors of mine), ...."If you always choose the easy way asking for the peaceful valleys, you will never see God's power displayed to enable you to take a mountain," (Experiencing God, 8/3) I am seeing His "severe mercy" again these days & I'm asking "my" God to let His good Spirit lead me on level ground. (Psalm 143:10)

5 Words or less---"Let's take "our" mountain today!"

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!

SNOWBALLS EVERYWHERE

Snowballs everywhere! Bushes, that is! It's 70º after all. 

My snowball (viburnums) bushes have a rich heritage and a circuitous journey.

They originally were propagated between family home places in Kentucky & Tennessee and back again---same Hooper/Davenport family generations just at different locations.

From this one plant have come snowball bushes at homes of extended family or friends in Alabama, Kentucky, Mississippi, Tennessee (4 towns) and Texas. A gift that keeps on giving.

Now I'll need to bring home some bluebonnets from Texas and see how they will bloom in Memphis....

......as part of a new floral family heritage tale. 

"Winter is past: ...........the flowers appear on the earth. (Song of Solomon 2: 11-12)

4/26 Morning text shared picture of this Batesville MS "heritage" snowball bush. How appropriate is the cross-shape as she is one of my ever faithful prayer warriors!

4/27 Morning text from Ellen in Walnut Grove/ St. Mary's area blessed me with another beautiful thriving "heritage" snowball bush photo.

4/27 PM text from "Alabama Ashlee" (before I even posted am one) thrilled my heart!

Both Mother and Mama Davenport are smiling down from heaven seeing their Hooper/Davenport/Adams/ Liles snowball bushes are continuing to spread joy!

4/28 Oh my, I received another snowball pic.... a Germantown "heritage" snowball that is showing signs of a cross formation! S & T must be using spiritual fertilizer.

4/29 This Texas snowball bush even comes with it's own Rhodesian Ridgeback guard dog, Zeke. The owner is our older son, who is the great, great, great grandson of the original planter.

Addendum--2 years later in Apri 2024, after dying way back in 2023, this heritage snowball bush resurrected itself on Pleasant Run in Allen, TX. WooHoo!

Is this a "Battle of the Bushes"? 

In no way....this is a celebrations of Pa Hooper my great, great, grandfather on Mother's side born in the late 1800s in Hampton Station, KY. His daughter, my "Mama Davenport" was my spiritual mentor!

Monday Meditation

Mondays are for meditation at my house. All who know me know that.....so why am I muddling in my maladies today? Distraction reigns. Disillusionment is trying to creep in. I need to return to meditation afresh.

Jack, a budding paleontologist, calls this one Tri-Larrytops!

God is not a God of chaos, confusion and disorder.....but of peace! (1 Corinthians 14:33)

Oh how I love your law! It is my meditation all the day!  (Psalm 119:27)

Therefore.........I'm heading to church for a time of meditation with some prayer warriors.

May we all be revived by the Lord of peace.

SERENE SABBATH

Grace and Peace. Blessings from God’s hand. 

From Thessalonica, Philippi and Corinth of old to those in present - day Memphis, it’s available. 

So grateful to be a benefactor during this latest struggle 

“My” Molly’s pre-surgery (8/31/2020) pillow says it all for believers whose anxious thoughts multiply that within them.......

give it to God and go to sleep

.....allowing God’s Grace and Peace to envelop them

PRIVILEGE OF PRAYER!

Do you consider prayer a privilege? Or are you a sceptic? Do you take advantage of going before the "throne of grace" with your petitions? Or are you the cynic who criticizes those who do?

What a privilege it was to meet together today to pray with others who are burdened for out nation and approached the One who is the Answer with our requests. Prayer warriors standing together in one accord.

Today's National Day of Prayer theme was unity. Christians stood together as one, regardless of ethnicity or race, to call out to a holy God for peace in our land, security for Americans serving our nation and extra measures of God's mercy on our the United States of America.

Uni-TEA a great cuppa to serve today to believers in for our great nation which was founded on biblical principals. I consider it a privilege. A unifying one at that.

CHOOSE: TO PRAY

Weary from travel, though all was fun, we decided to go ahead and drive home. It's just that we left about 4 hours later than we originally intended, even knowing rain was a possibility to the north of us. Factor in dismissal time at Fort Campbell and stress becomes an added factor. I wasn't even driving but when the possible rain turned into thunderstorms which deserved a numerical rating, if their was such, for ferociousness of such a storm, I noticed my shoulders were up around my ears and my hands were gripping the "chicken bar." 

Cell service was sketchy on the rural back roads but one came through from my prayer warrior, JoLynn, ending with her addition of the praying hands, emoticon.

What an encouragement to me. I had been "shooting up" panic prayers as well but her note had me calming immediately.

I felt like I received another "God Wink" when we passed this truck as we drove out of the bad weather and got closer to HOME!!!

From the back of an 18 wheeler, I was given a BIG God Wink.

Seek the Lord while He may be found; call on Him while He is near. (Isaiah 55:6)

What a reminder that the Lord was "near" in the midst of the storm, honoring my "yes" answer to  the truck's question, "Did you pray today?" 

How grateful I am that I could say "yes" because I did choose to pray!

CHOOSE: UNWINDING

So grateful to have found my "just laugh cup" picture this morning since yesterday that very special cup shattered.  I'm still finding stray pieces. I'm not laughing yet but I am thankful to have this image reminder of a favorite mug with an oft needed message from my dear Saturday prayer warrior, Wynellen. She knows my temperament and I can trust her to pray for my needs. This week I need to "chill" a bit. Hubby says just "unlax" so that all my self-imposed strain and tension will ebb away! Easier said that done for me.

To relax and unwind.

For sure choosing to unwind after a non-stop vacation with adult kids and 7 grands has been a must. As Jim Newman reminded me, "Keeping up with folks (16 for us) at Disney is like herding squirrels."

I think I'm better at herding than I am at unwinding and resting. 

O, that I had the wings of a dove. I would fly away and be at rest. (Psalms 55:6)

Many grandma friends seem to have the same propensity---to keep on feeling responsible for all their herd. Sweet friend, Angie, who gave me the My One Word book chose "Ease" as her one word. 

Her verse is Matthew 11:28, "Come unto me....and I will give you rest."

As we are "wired" similarly, I certainly understand her choices.

Also, we both understand the need for divine intervention.  It takes His power in order for some of us to slowdown.

For the tightly wound up, it's hard to choose unwinding but it's a must, especially as we age!

Prayer Warriors---near and far

Morning call, filled with prayers, from way across the pond---think France, coupled with yesterday's email, with Dr. Jeremiah's quote, from Eads, TN---think a stone's throw away, reminded me of how BIG my God is! 
"God's woman in the center of God's will is immortal until God is finished with her!"
God's purposeful peace accomplished.

Different countries. Different type residences. Different denominations. Same God.
Prayer warriors both.

Surprise!

Surprise Scenario

Church pastor, who happens to be my son, is injured playing “adult” league soccer. (That part wasn’t surprising at all.)

Possible bone bruise. Pain continues. Conscientious, somewhat perfectionist, ortho doc orders MRI. 

MRI completed. Tear in ACL “clearly” shown. Surgery recommended. Surgery to repair ACL scheduled for July 24, tho time changes occurred up until the day before the procedure.

Warriors praying before, during and after the surgery ---double digit in number.

God’s best. Diminished pain. Quick & complete recovery.

Surgery Day--Required scope ensued as part of ACL pre-surgery protocol when harvesting tissue from a cadaver.

Unexpected twist occurred---no tear in ACL was found.

Doc cleaned out, sewed up, bandaged up and sent home with crutches. Doc said, "ACL tear shadow seemed apparent MRI but.....scope showed NO tear.

Unexpected twists. Shock. Astonishment. How about just a good old-fashioned prayer answering miracle?

So why do we act surprised when things turn out better than expected?

Just like saints praying for the release of imprisoned Peter in the book of Acts---we’re often astonished at the outcome!

The whole “church” is praying for Peter’s release. The angel of the Lord (12:7) comes and releases his chains. Peter realizes the Lord sent the angel and he went to Mary’s home .(John Mark’s mother) Peter had an encounter at the gate with a girl who saw him but the thinking of the pray-ers was, “That can’t be Peter – he’s in jail. It must be an angel.”

“We’re here praying for his freedom, so he can’t be free” seemed the mentality.

“But Peter kept on knocking, and when they opened the door and saw him, they were astonished.” (Acts 12:16)

Is it because our prayers sometimes seem to go unanswered, that we find ourselves expecting God to do little or nothing when we pray?

Too often, we’re even hesitant to see answered prayers for what they are----God’s best surprise!

Connectivi-TEA : a cuppa prayer

Pray without ceasing. (1 Thessalonians 5:17, KJV)

Prayer connects us to God. 

Continual prayer is bookended by an attitude of constant joy (v.16) and a heart of thanksgiving regardless of circumstances. (v.18)

Prayer connects us to each other.

The apostle Paul modeled praying for others and reciprocal prayer. Pray also for me,” Paul states in Ephesians 6:19. "Pray for us..." Colossians 4:3. 

In 2 Thessalonians 1:11-12 he writes, “We constantly pray for you, that our God may count you worthy of his calling, and that by his power he may fulfill every good purpose of yours and every act prompted by your faith."

Connectivity is the beauty of prayer. Prayer knows no exclusions; it's an equal-opportunity method, available to all in the household of faith. Every believer, rich or poor, young or old, famous or unknown, can move the hand of God to bring about His purposes for time and eternity. As we connect to God and to one another, through prayer, we can make an eternal difference.

Prayer is how connection gets nurtured and developed.

Prayerful connection---it doesn't even require an APP. It doesn't require kneeling. Prayer can be done standing. Prayer can be done with eyes open or closed. One's modus operandi of praying can vary. 
Prayer is simply heartfelt conversation with God.

Breath prayers, arrow prayers, group prayers, individual prayers. All prayers of faith soar heavenward connecting us to God and to our fellow prayer warriors.

Sip a cuppa connectivi-TEA as you "pray without ceasing!"

*The cup pictured is a connector to my praying friend Margie Hornor, who taught me the power of breath prayers. Exhaling in God's Presence.

WEDNESDAY WARRIOR

2/23/11 Today is “Weeping Wednesday” for me---a day of confession----a lot like AA step 4, I think, where you make a thorough /searching and fearless moral inventory of yourself. Today I confessed a real lack in fervent prayers for others and the need to pray scripture on their behalf. So, for my Wednesdays sisters and Wednesday wordsmiths, today I inserted their names as I prayed Psalm 25: 4-5.

Is there anyone you need to pray fervently for today? Just open your Bible to the middle----Psalms is still right there. Or you could just choose one of these versions to pray for your Wednesday folks or whomever the Lord brings to mind.

4Shew me thy ways, O LORD; teach me thy paths. 5Lead me in thy truth, and teach me: for thou art the God of my salvation; on thee do I wait all the day. (KJV)

4 Show me your ways, LORD, teach me your paths. 
5 Guide me in your truth and teach me, for you are God my Savior, 
and my hope is in you all day long. (NIV)

4 Show me the right path, O Lord; point out the road for me to follow.
 5 Lead me by your truth and teach me,
for you are the God who saves me.
 All day long I put my hope in you. (NLT)

4Make me know Your ways, O LORD;Teach me Your paths. 5Lead me in Your truth and teach me, For You are the God of my salvation;
For You I wait all the day. (NASB)

Anyway you say it or pray it, these verses are perfect for Wednesday Warriors.