IDIOSYNCRATIC BEHAVIOR!

Idiosyncratic Behavior.

Think quirky! AKA peculiar personality trait.

Mine doesn't seem quirky to me. It's a part of the gal I have always been.

I prefer my pencils extra sharp. My electric pencil sharpener is front and center on my desk. Back in the day, when I traveled, I would pack a round plastic pencil sharpener to catch the cedar shavings.

Some friends tease me about my pencil proclivity. It's somewhat of a natural tendency for me. 

How grateful I am that God loves me as I am, idiosyncrasies and all. 

May I continue to use all my writing with pencils, pens or typing be used to glorify Him. 

Idiosyncratic Behavior. Stay Sharp for His glory!

 

* A big thanks to MJ who sent me a pic of her old crank style sharpener in the basement.

WACKEY---

WacKey---the perfect descriptor for my mind....

or "lack their of."

Webster would say, "slightly odd or peculiar" but those adjectives  are not zany or outlandishly quirky enough for for me!

WacKey!  All encompassing/inclusive for me in thought and action!

The" key" to understanding the total me. (Note all the dots on the KEY)

Enough said!

*Exodus 20:17---A big THANKS to Buddy, Josh and Molly for living this out for me. Maybe y'all can share this "new to us" house as a vacation destination someday!

WORD PLAY!

Wordsmiths love word play. Word Play defined as the witty exploitation of the meanings and ambiguitites of words. A figurative (not literal) form of language---think poetic license in your writing.

WORD PLAY---wonderful to wonderfully. OK? Yes, but take away the ly --- 

0nly one L unless you want word play emphasis. Wonder-full!

 

In the arts, a "wonderful" creations fills our hearts with wonder, awe and appreciation:

Consider the intricacies of light and color that dance on a canvas by Monet. Wonder-full!

Think about Verdi's opera, Aida, often staged with live horses on set..

Wonder-full!

Contemplate your favorite light-as-a-feather French pastry...cream-filled and coated with just enough dark chocolate.

Wonder-full! (Woman of God Wonderfully Made, p.4)

But God's creations are more wonderful and awe inspiring than anything created by mankind. We, created by Him, are "fearfully and wonderfully made." (Psalm 139:14)

(Isaiah 43:1) But now says the LORD, he who created you....Fear not, for I have redeemed you: I have called you by name, you are mine." (Woman, p.5)

Creator God is WONDER-FULL!

WORD PLAY at its best.

WIRED!

How are you wired? Are you wired for God's purpose specifically "Younique" to you? How will you know?

God's Word reminds us that we are fearfully and wonderfully made.....that He knows the plans He has for us and He will guide our steps. That's how He designed us for the purpose He has called  us to as His children. 

Call unto Him and he will answer and show you the great & mighty ways He has wired you!

TUESDAY'S TO DOn't LIST

Consider the consequences of the negative "TO-Don'ts" on your list if they become your "DOs."

Switch your thinking. Realize that ultimately you control very few of the circumstances/happenings which life throws your way and you have no control over the responses of others. 

Re-consider those negatives......1) excessive planning, 2) fretting & complaining 3) comparing         4) excessive talking, self-promoting.

.......with a positive focus accepting that the "best-laid plans of mice and men often go awry." (R. Burns, to A Mouse")

To end on a more positive note...here are some "DOs" to counteract those DOnt's."

1. Allow the Lord to direct your steps. (Proverbs 3:6) 
2. Give thanks in everything. (1 Thessalonians 5:18) 
3. Accept self as God created you. (Psalm 139:14) 
4. Be quick to listen, listen, listen. (James 1:19)
5. In humility consider others more important than yourself. (Philippians 2:3)

DO remember that you are not in control! The most positive result is remembering Who is ultimately in control of all of life.

CHOOSE: TO ENCOURAGE OTHERS TO SEE BEAUTY IN THEMSELVES

Why is it so hard for women to believe they are beautiful? Is it because they are measuring only their outer beauty and using the world's notions as their measuring stick. Maybe women compare their inside with everyone else's outsides. Or others' perfect family portraying FaceBooks posts.

The caption led me to buy the noosa yoghurt---but the yummy, creamy key lime taste will have me buying it again.

God"s word says we are "fearfully and wonderfully made."
God said it. (Psalm 139:14)
That makes it true. Why don't we believe it? 

Repeat after me is what I said to my recent class.
"I will praise you for I am fearfully and wonderfully made."

God's word is good to have in our arsenal for fighting inferiority.
Isn't our disbelief an affront to our Creator?

2 Samuel 16:7 says, "The Lord doesn't see things the way you see them. People judge by outward appearance, but the Lord looks at the heart."
 Let's unite as women to help each other, as God's creation, to see beauty in ourselves and others. 

CHOOSE: SHARING GOD'S TRUTH

One is never to old to share truth from God's Word. I know because I have watched Miss Jean do it for the last 2 years and she is 20 years older than I. But.....what an inspiration she is to so many of us!

How special it is to share truth with young people through God's word, skits, sign language, crafts, games, music, art, science and puppets........

.....and even trading cards!

• God made you. (Psalm 139:14)
• God is for you. (Romans 8:31)
• God is always with you. (Joshua 1:9)
• God will always love you. (Psalm 89:2)
• God made you for a reason. (Jeremiah 29:11)

Choosing to share God's truth was important, meaningful and altogether FUN.

FIT BIT---Making a statement

This is just a "bit" of an entry concerning keeping fit---both physically and spiritually as one ages.

One way of making a statement while exercising is in your choice of gear---a bicycle helmet to cover your gray hair is a good start in the physical arena. It can protect one's other "gray matter" and double the fitness aspect when one's transportation mode to the gym is a bike.

Spiritually, a T-shirt can make a big statement as this fitness gent wore "scripture" and had several folks commenting and asking biblical related questions.

 I am....

• More than a conquerer (Romans 8:37) 
• clothed with strength and dignity (Proverbs 31:25) and... 
• God is for me (Romans 8:31) therefore... 
• I live without fear (Isaiah 41:10) 
• I am a child of God (1John 3:1) 
• He designed me (Psalm 119:73) for...
• I am fearfully and wonderfully made. (Psalm 139:14)

Whatever it takes to do one's "bit" to keep self and others "fit" both physically and spiritually is worth emulating. (Do I hear an A-men!)

Captivi-TEA

A cuppa captivi-TEA is needed if I'm to serve a little positivi-TEA to others. I have to live it before I can serve it.

Yea, yea, I know----tea blogs were for last year ----but cut me a little slack because "tea thinking" is a part of who I am. And a cuppa captivi-Tea is about one's thought life.

If I'm concerned about thinking positive thoughts about Memphis town, surely I can work on eliminating negative aspects about my self.

Replacement thinking. Sounds like something one would hear from a therapist's couch. Replacing my thoughts with His thoughts is from the "good book" not a psychology book. My thoughts are not His thoughts (Isaiah 55:8) so I need to "bring every thought captive" (2 Corinthians 10:5) out of obedience to the Lord.

This week, partly in response to my husband's request to "quit being so hard on my wife," I have tried "replacement thinking."

• ADD Reality---Always Distracted Dotsy---(similar to my often "Ditsy" typo-label) Replacement Response---God knows me by my "real" name---(Exodus 33:17)

"Dotsy(s)" on the cuppa mark it as really mine! CF knew that!

--Reality (what I think)---It's so-o-o hard being me.

**Replacement Response--I am fearfully and wonderfully made. (Psalm 139:14)

--Ineptness Reality---What I think when unable to conquer my PowerPoint for upcoming Exodus lesson.
**Replacement Response--God's power is made perfect in "my" weakness. Go God! (2 Corinthians 12:9)

--Most common self-inflicted diatribes---I haven't a clue and I can't remember squat.
**Replacement Response--To the man who pleases Him, God gives wisdom, (Ecclesiastes 2:26)

WHOOPS---how pitiful are those diatribes for one whose desire is to please Him---God gives wisdom to those who please Him. 

My "personal pursuit" for 2015 is to please GOD. I'd better bring that reminder front and center---a cuppa Captivi-TEA of thoughts and actions to please Him.

"ingenui-TEA" : a re-brew

I praise you, for I am fearfully and wonderfully made. Wonderful are your works; my soul knows it very well. (Psalm 139:14, ESV) 

Sometimes the truth of that verse is hard to believe. Why? Comparison. One of the most destructive things a person can do is to compare himself to others. Each one of us is uniquely made by God, so "to compare" is not reality-based or fair to self.

How easy it is for me to see my creative weaknesses. Inventive, clever, innovative are certainly not descriptors of staid ole me.

In order to fill myself with ingenui-TEA, I would need to sip lots of cuppas. But God....has reminded me that one strength of my personality is ability to appreciate gifts in others, knowing God certainly varies His gifts among His children for His purposes. 

The Lord has filled my life with ingenious folks from family to friends.....and even unknowns. Hubby and children continue to rank as high on my creative folks list and a December 15, 2010 blog entry introduced one such friend and her ingenuous gift. 

Last night at Pyro's Pizza, I appreciated the ingenuousness of an unknown. It was a WOW---so glad someone thought of that. A toe pull! It keeps germy hands at bay when leaving a public bathroom. 

How refreshing to sip a cuppa appreciative, "ingenui-TEA."

Measuring Up

8/3/13 Measuring up. Isn't that what we all try to do? Too often, we continually try to "measure up" to a parental expectation, a culture/society benchmark, or self-induced standard. It's as if "measuring up" will bring esteem and love from others.

For some, it's a life long pursuit that is never quite attained. Adolescent girls want to be shorter or cuter, boys (in our family) tend to want to be stronger and more athletic. Everyone seems to want to be smarter or more successful by the world's measuring stick.

As I watched John Parker (5) stand on his tip-toes by the NASCAR measuring stick, all those thoughts came to mind. 

From his tip-toed positioned feet, he said, "See. I'm big (tall) enough!" 

I know that I am "fearfully and wonderfully made" (Psalm 139:14) and with God "there is therefore now no condemnation" for believers, and that He "loves me with an everlasting love." (Jeremiah 31:3 & Romans 5:8) Yet, how easy it is to see myself trough the world's eyes instead.....causing me to stand on my tip-toes as once again I "try" to measure up.

I need to trust God's measuring stick. Thankfully, because of Christ, I'll always measure up.