A SHEPHERD OF ABUNDANCE!

"My cup runneth over...."(Psalm 23:5c, KJV)

My cup over-floweth with blessings as I rest in Your love and trust in your grace. From hard times of suffering that you bring me to cause my trust in You to flourish to the other times when pain and sufferings diminish. You my Shepherd use both!

That's ABUNDANCE!

When one's own cup runneth over with blessings from his/her Shepherd, it's time to serve others! Pass it on!

Provision. Time. A relational variety.

• heart to heart talks
• listening and lingering
• lots of laughter 
• sharing secrets

Abundance at its best--decreed by the Shepherd!

abunDANCE STEPS!

Lively steps........are they needed to dance?

Are lively steps possible if an aging one falters at every positional change?

abunDANCE steps are enjoyed moment by moment, bit by bit, even as one watches the joy in another's face! The face of one who is actually physically moving to the music of life, the Lord has given them.

Maybe it's time to clean the "dance shoes" out of the closet and give to someone who still has the "Tap" moves. 

Learn to "go forth in the dance of the merrymakers," metaphorically and physically.....even from a sitting position as you celebrate their joy.

"Tap your toes" in delight for them. May that please the Lord.

abun-DANCE!

abun-DANCE is the "dance" of celebrating life right now! It's dancing to the music of life. Yesterday it was "dancing" with hubby in the booth at Peter's Pancakes in Cherokee NC because that's what we do, wherever we are, when "Ain't to Proud to Beg" by the Temptations plays. And to think I almost said "No" to going because I felt too frumpy to leave the house.

It's special to have traditions that become special memories as you age....especially when extended family understands as well. As Candy Paul says, "It's saying "No" to fear and "YES" to LIFE!

Scripture reminds us, God has not given us the spirit of fear but of power, love and a sound mind. (2 Timothy 1:7) Even when our mind seems to be a bit wishy-washy at times, God can provide the ability to discern His will for each day & every moment. Music for our soul....enough to have our toes tapping in step with Him.

That's abunDANCE!

HOPE NEEDED ONCE MORE---TO BEGIN 2024!

Abounding hope, is known in "Dotsyese" as abunDANCE of hope. May I "dance" through 2024 with all joy and peace in every step as I believe!"

A dance allowing me to follow the lead of my partner, the One who is my Living Hope. A dance keeping my eyes on Him and not looking down on my own circumstance of fear.

Though they stumble, they will never fall, for the Lord holds them by the hand.(Psalm 37:24, NLT) Help me, LORD!

HERE'S THE SCOOP!

Here's the scoop! Truths of scripture necessary to live a life of abundance.

Simple. Pure. Unique.  Created with loving, clean hands. 

Fresh daily. Served with love.

A 1 scoop            

                           I am God and there is no other. (Isaiah 46:9)

A 2 scooper       

                           I, the Lord do not change. (Malachi 3:6)  

                            I am God and there is no other. (Isaiah 46:9-20)  

A 3 scooper         

                           Love the LORD your God with all your heart, 

with all your soul and with all your strength. (Deuteronomy 6:5)

                           I, the Lord do not change. (Malachi 3:6)  

                            I am God and there is no other. (Isaiah 46:9-20)  

A 4 scooper                 

                           Love your neighbor as yourself. (Leviticus 19:18)

                           Love the LORD your God with all your heart, 

with all your soul and with all your strength. (Deuteronomy 6:5)

                           I, the Lord do not change. (Malachi 3:6)  

                            I am God and there is no other. (Isaiah 46:9-20)  

A 5 scooper          Jesus is the Way, the Truth and the Life. (John 14:6)          

                           Love your neighbor as yourself. (Leviticus 19:18)

                           Love the LORD your God with all your heart, 

with all your soul and with all your strength. (Deuteronomy 6:5)

                           I, the Lord do not change. (Malachi 3:6)  

                            I am God and there is no other. (Isaiah 46:9-20)  

How many scoops for you today?

DANCE! DANCE!! DANCE!!!

Sometimes you just gotta dance!

Even if you're packing 100,000 food parcels? Yep!

Even if you're inside a church gym? Yep.

Is dance ever used in Scripture? Yep!

The young women will dance and be glad, young men and old as well. 

I will turn their mourning into gladness; 

I will give them comfort and joy instead of gladness. (Jeremiah 31:13)

Get moving. Gird yourself with gladness and DANCE! (Psalm 30:11) *

*This morning I heard Friday is "Happy Dance Day" on K-Love! Believers share God's goodness in their lives.  I say "FRI-YAY" to that.

FILL ME UP!

It's always smart to start our day with Joy in our heart. 

As we go through our day we  might run low on joy; Anxiety can set in.

We might need a little PEACE added. 

Brim's, a Bartlett TN (Memphis area) snack food company, reminds us that "life is so delicious" when we fill it with PEACE. Sounds like an abunDANCE to me!

You will keep Him in perfect peace, Whose mind is stayed on You, because He trusts in You. (Isaiah 26:3, capitalization emphasis by Brim's)

What a yummy mid-day reminder for me!

RX FOR DESPAIR & STRUGGLES

RX---I could post a pic of LOTS of drug and other pain relieving accoutrements but....that would put the focus on me. I don't want my pain, physical and emotional, to be my ID/significance or leverage. 

Instead Psalm 118:5 reminds me, Out of my distress, I called on the Lord: the Lord answered me and set me free. Simply put but truly a 12+ hour struggle for me. But God...was faithful even when I was not.

Jesus Calling Daybrightener 7/5

As Sarah Young puts it, "I can never be in control of my life's circumstances" but I can trust in His control. Seek to know God better. Christ is central. Stop clinging to the old ways. Continue to be on the look out for God's hand and be thankful.

Regardless of which RX verse gives you the most comfort and relief, take it daily with a cuppa Gra-TEA-tude to the One who gives life in abundance! (John 10:10)

joy......Joy......JOY!

Struggling lately. Depressed spirit. Enveloped by a pall of sadness and grief.

Lethargy looms.

Knowing joy is a choice.......guilt ensued.

Joy is a by-product of an attitude of gratitude.

I had taken off my dance shoes. 

The Bible is a book of joy! (Deuteronomy 16:15)

Exercise needed. More time in His Word. (Psalm 94:19) D.

Acceptance. Keep on keeping on. (Philippians 4:4) A.

Fulness of Joy RX. (Psalm 16:11, I Thessalonians 5:16-18) 

Don't lose hope. (Romans 12:12) N.

Consolations from friends. (Psalm 94:19) Thanks, Dixie! C.

I need to find my D.A.N.C.E. shoes. E. 

Exercise joy.....Joy.....until it gets to JOY!----

                            my basic "barre exercise" for abunDANCE. 

Dancing DANCING AGAIN

To all my prayer warriors & encouragers, I want you to know that I appreciate your prayers, love, wit, puns, Encouragement and concern! I am dancing again but this time it is at Baptist East Hospital ICU room 215! Once again the Lord has turned my mourning into dancing! I am just doing it while I am all wired up—figuratively & literally.

Next test will be at 4:30 PM central standard time.

🥰 & hugs to all! I hope you dance! It’s the life of abunDANCE. I know that for sure!

Trust in the Lord with all your heart and lean not on your own understanding. In all your ways  acknowledge Him and He will direct your path. (Proverbs 3:5-6)

   And......if your name is Dotsy, you can dance all seasons of the year!

Dance Step "A"

Book: When Wallflowers Dance: Becoming a Woman of Righteous Confidence

Author: Angela Thomas

A springboard for "Dancing with the Lord" discussions. 

There is….a time to dance….Ecclesiastes 3:1,4 (NKJV)

It is always time to dance with the Lord---when dance means living a life of fullness/abundance w/ Him. It’s that dance/life that gets us through the "mourning’s"(griefs) of life---loss, disappointment, regret, fears, etc. 
Dance steps include the acceptance of the truth from John 10:10b where Jesus (our Shepherd) said, “I came that they may have and enjoy life, and have it in abundance” (to the full, till it overflows)(AMP) (abunDANCE, mine) The fullness or abundance of the Christian life is exhibited, according to Westcott, in three elements—safety, liberty, & support.
Jesus gives--thief takes!

In comparison, the first part of the verse reminds us, "..the thief comes in order to steal and kill and destroy." 
Identify the thief or thieves in your life. Ask self, “What have I allowed him to steal, destroy or kill in my life? John 10:10 is a new verse to hang our dance shoes on---shoes of acceptance and attentiveness for a life of abunDANCE.

ACCEPTANCE --For this reason we also constantly thank God that when you received the word of God which you heard from us, you accepted it not as the word of men, but for what it really is, the word of God, which also performs its work in you who believe. (1 Thess. 2:13) ACCEPTANCE--of one's life situations and acceptance of what God’s Word shows you about those  circumstance. ATTENTIVENESS---Along with life situations, there are often verses that do just that---GET MY ATTENTION Ps 91:4 He shall cover thee with his feathers, and under his wings shalt thou trust: his truth shall be thy shield and buckler.
A recent NP ranger's forest fire story illustrated that verse for me---a bird found dead, feathers scorched & burned from flames of the fire....but when ranger turned her over with a stick, 3 little chicks waddled out. Secure. Safe from the fire by the covers of protection from the feathers of one who was trustworthy. 
ATTENTIVENESS to God's Word is always NEEDED because truth is NOT revealed to idle spectators! (C Huffman, 6/13/15)

Dance Lesson --A

D ecide (Joshua 24:14) Delve (Psalm 119:169) & Discover  (Psalm 119:130) 

A cceptance and Attentiveness

N ....

C ....

E ....

Acceptance of life's situations & attentiveness to God’s Word require a choice......just like a dancer chooses the "correct" shoes for each dance. 

Dances may change and shoe choices may vary but our Lord is steadfast, unchanging and His truth endures to all generations.
 If you’re wearing the wrong shoe, you’re asking for trouble. All of us need a shoe that FITS her own dance/ situation for Dance Step "A."

Dance Step "D"

Book: When Wallflowers Dance: Becoming a Woman of Righteous Confidence

Author: Angela Thomas

A springboard for "Dancing with the Lord" discussions. 

There is….a time to dance….Ecclesiastes 3:1,4 (NKJV)
When the stresses of life have you not knowing which way to turn....turn to the Lord and ask Him to lead you through this "new to you" life dance.

Lesson #1 w/ insights from the foreword and the afterword

Dance Lesson --D

D ecide (Joshua 24:14) Delve (Psalm 119:169) & Discover  (Psalm 119:130) 

A .....

N ....

C ....

E ....

• Step #1---Decide you want a life of abunDANCE. Turn to the Lord as your dance partner.
• Step #2---Delve---dig to discover the truth that is available about your struggle or hard place. Determine that the Lord has you there for a reason or season, as Robert Morgan teaches in his diminutive book, Red Sea Rules. Rule #2 states, " Be more concerned for God's glory than for your relief."
• Step #3---Discover what God' Word says about your hard place----fear, (Isaiah 41:13) disease/poor health, (Psalm 73:26) disappointment, hurts, or rejection (Psalm 55:12-13) Consider word searching for abide, trust, sustain, belief, hope, refuge, protection, salvation, .

Remember godly living, aka "life of abundDANCE,"  is possible even during_________________(fill in your own difficult time or struggle) as your "dance" will be unique.

Allow the Lord to turn your mourning into gladness in the midst of your struggle----that you might "dance" with HIm. (Psalm 30:11)

In My Face 1/13/2009, 5:02 PM

Past entries are always front and center in my journal style devotional book, "My Utmost for His Highest." Some make me smile---like births, a grand's milestone or first word.
Other entries.... not so much.

Today's jotting sounds ominous and would seem one of the "harder" entries to recall.
Dr. Schneider called at 5:02 pm tonight with cancer diagnosis. (asking if I were sitting down, as I recall) ---rare microcystic adnexal carcinoma---will need to come out--deep  and major reconstruction will be required...."
Yet.....

....the 1/13/09 entry reminded me of a grim diagnosis with an iffy prognosis that became a year of incredible blessings and the life of abunDANCE that followed. 

Meditating to Hear from God

11/12/12 I so-o-o agree with a recent post of Cole Huffman about what makes a great Bible teacher. In describing a great teacher, Cole says, “When I think of John Hannah (DTS prof) in particular, I’m drawn to want more of God — the best thing that can be said of any teacher. Listening to him pray before each class was a clinic in how to step into Heaven.”

This weekend I heard great Bible teaching from Anne Graham Lotz---she even went to preaching! Her daddy, Billy Graham, describes her as the BEST teacher in the family. Her goal for the weekend was for each participant to discover an intensely personal relationship with the God who is wholeheartedly pursuing more of you.

Friday night’s session, “My Heart’s Cry for MORE of HIS Voice in My Ear,” was taken from John 10:1-10

1 “Very truly I tell you Pharisees, anyone who does not enter the sheep pen by the gate, but climbs in by some other way, is a thief and a robber. 2 The one who enters by the gate is the shepherd of the sheep. 3 The gatekeeper opens the gate for him, and the sheep listen to his voice. He calls his own sheep by name and leads them out. 4 When he has brought out all his own, he goes on ahead of them, and his sheep follow him because they know his voice. 5 But they will never follow a stranger; in fact, they will run away from him because they do not recognize a stranger’s voice.” 6 Jesus used this figure of speech,but the Pharisees did not understand what he was telling them7 Therefore Jesus said again, “Very truly I tell you, I am the gate for the sheep. 8 All who have come before me are thieves and robbers, but the sheep have not listened to them. 9 I am the gate; whoever enters through me will be saved.They will come in and go out, and find pasture. 10 The thief comes only to steal and kill and destroy; I have come that they may have life, and have it to the full.

As you meditate on this ask yourself: 

• Who are the sheep? 
• Who are the thieves and robbers? 
• Who is the Shepherd? 
• What is the sheep pen? 
• Who is the gatekeeper/watchman? 
• What is the door? 
• What is a full life and who gives it?

We, as His sheep, want to “hear” from God. How will we know when the voice is authentic? What do we do once we hear?

My Jottings that stood out: 

• An authentic voice is Biblical, personal and powerful. 
• When I hear His voice, I need to heed His voice. 
• LISTEN for God’s voice with your eyes on the page of your Bible. 
• It is from Him that I have life in abunDANCE! 
• A life of abunDANCE is both life-saving & life changing because it comes from my Good Shepherd.

By Cole's definition, Anne Graham Lotz (for me) is a great teacher because I’m drawn to want more of God when I sit under hear instructions from God's Word.

How lovely on the mountains are the feet of him who brings good news, Who announces peace And brings good news of happiness, Who announces salvation, And says to Zion, "Your God reigns!"

PUDDLING On…..

8/17/12 Yesterday was a "puddling" kind of day….and it ended up running in to this day. "Puddling", for me, as faithful readers know, is my euphemism for crying--- especially the blubbering kind. It can start with a knot in my throat, a welling up of tears, escaping tears that trickle down as does my drippy nose (neither of which I can feel) and eventually the blubbering comes. It’s not a pretty sight.

Puddling #1 occurred 8/13 when I heard disheartening results of CT Scan of dear, dear, friend and sister in the faith.

Puddling #2 occurred when I heard her always chipper voice explain that she knew it was bad when Dr. Mullins asked her if she had made plans for her hubby, who is both blind and paralyzed---since a 2004 accident. Since the diagnosis of stage 4 adenocarcinoma last summer, I know the prayer of her heart has been to live to take care of him.

Puddling #3 As I drove to pick her up to take her to her chemo, yesterday, K-LOVE blared out the last verse of Matt Redman’s “10,000 Reasons” as I started my car. 

And on that day when my strength is failing
The end draws near and my time has come
Still my soul will sing Your praise unending
Ten thousand years and then forevermore

Puddle #4 occurred when I left there remembering the last time I had been there with another dear friend whose hubby was closer to death than any of us knew.

My emotions were set up to “puddle” and the numbers increased though I kept repressing (somewhat) ‘til I could “blubber” in private.

But God…….gave me these Claudia induced “glory bumps” as I recalled these two days.

Everytime I’m with her, she blesses me by her “dance” with Jesus. It's like she's already soaring above the clouds. abunDANCE!

Her Discovery of God in this situation is so intimate, that she said, "It’s as if I can feel His breath.” She’s Accepted her mortality without morbidity. She’s grateful for the time the Lord has given her to “pack her bags” and train everyone to help care for her Terry. She Notices God’s hand at every turn and thanks Him.She Celebrates time with family. I even watched her “train” her 8 year old granddaughter, whom she homeschools, to administer the “prick” and the measuring of her hubby’s blood sugar. More than all of that, she never misses a chance to Extend her story as an encouragement to others so that they might know the One who is the source of her strength. Tuesday night, with all the pounds left in her little frame, she spoke BIG encouragement to a group of women in the “Way Out” ministry, an incredible ministry that exists to help women leave the sex for sale industry and discover the fullness of life in Christ. She contends her pain is nothing compared to their incomprehensible pain of rejection and abuse. That, my readers, is Encouragement---the capstone of her most recent struggle.

Today, following transfusions at Baptist East, we headed to Jones clinic for a necessary shot. Entering the large room, I saw the plastic bags holding the slowly dripping meds that were hanging from the IV poles; I saw  blinking monitors, the baskets---available with blankets, and the stacks of charts/files at the big nurses desk. She, on the other hand, saw people. She smiled and greeted folks she knew and then stood, stock still.

“What pretty music,” she said.

I hadn’t even heard it----though it was certainly a step above any kind of “canned” music typical of doctors’ offices.

Heading over to the couch to await her nurse, we saw the source. A dark haired woman in a pink and red stripe sweater with gold “Gigi-type” sling sandals, was gently strumming a beautiful, small Aziliz harp. A gift that soothed.

CP closed her eyes and listened. I “puddled” quietly.

She doesn’t “puddle” I do. She smiles through it all.

ABUNDANCE.......

4/20/11………abunDANCE is an art. Of course it is---all dance is an art form. One year ago today I was speaking on “Living a life of abunDANCE in the midst of________” and asking the audience to fill in their own blank. I encouraged them to look for abunDANCE in the midst of their own personal struggles.

Somehow it seems that we are more prone to do that in the midst of the “biggie” struggles. But what about when life’s music becomes mundane and routine? (Not that mine ever truly does.) How then do you continue your “dance?”

For my Wednesday folks I prayed that today they would begin to see the abunDANCE of simple pleasures that God has strewn on their life path. You might do the same.

• Ellen---a sunny morning to stroll with her big, boisterous pup
  
• Diane---realization that mesothelioma might take away a loved one but can never take away the great memories
  
• Dixie---sunset on a lake
• Doris---a covered porch, a big swing and a good book
• Drenda---wooden knitting needles and a ball of yarn
  
• Joyce Ann---celebrating every ounce that Katie and Jason’s twins gain
  
• Winslow---a Doll’s Market Benedictine sandwich or a “mug of merlot”
  
• Lunch Bunch---laughter over “loser” teammates eating chocolate

Much has changed in a year. I’m back in the “struggles” again----just new/different ones. In fact, my life has changed drastically in the last 5 weeks---from 3 healthy family members (including me) to not so healthy. Life at our house is not as we knew it.

But God……….still wants me to move/dance through life with Him celebrating the abunDANCE of pleasures he provides.

You will make known to me the path of life; In Your presence is fullness of joy; In Your right hand there are pleasures forever. (Psalm 16:11)

Living a life of abunDANCE in the midst of…..

5/26/10……..was the “talk” that I gave April 20,2010 ---sharing the blessing of my cancer journey. It was a talk to encourage others to learn to D. A. N. C. E. in the midst of whatever struggle they find themselves. 

In a way it was also a big thank you to all who so ministered to me along the way. Had it not been for you and others in the land of the living, I would have despaired. (Psalm 27)
Several folks have asked how to “listen” to my talk. It is now on-line. I have not listened to it but several people last week told me that they could access it.

If you click on the link below, it will take you to the podcasts. When you get to that site, Women’s Ministry Podcast should be visible with the title, date my name etc. You can click the right arrow to begin listening or download to your computer to listen later. There is a mission report in the first part so you can skip to the “talk” by moving the cursor along the “playing line” to about 14:00 for the intro. Let me know if these directions work, or not.

http://www.firstevan.com/podcast/

I hope you “dance.”

Heartwarming Dance

4/29/10 Dance! Dance! Dance! It seems to jump out at me from everywhere lately. God continues to give me “dance” tidbits and trivia from all over the place. How heartwarming is that!
In February, “Day of Dance” celebrated this art form because it’s good for the heart. Today, International Dance Day is celebrated and has been every April 29 since 1982. For me it was a great analogy between the physical and the spiritual art form of dance. Dance is good for my physical heart and dancing with Him as my partner is good for my spiritual heart. "Attentiveness to Him and responsiveness to others" (C. Huffman) are heart healthy signs.
Celebrate “life” with me through the art form of dance. Allow your teacher to be the One who came that you might have life in abunDANCE!

I came that they may have life, and have it abundantly. (John 10:10)

To really celebrate, each believer needs to extend the joy of that abunDANCE to others---thus making his own heart bigger and spiritually healthier while warming the heart of another.

So, as those who have been chosen of God, holy and beloved, put on a heart of compassion, kindness, humility, gentleness and patience; ( Colossians 3:12)

Live the life you teach. Dance the dance you’ve chosen.

No better way to stretch/enlarge your heart than to allow God’s teaching to touch the soul of another---a heartwarming dance.

♫♫♪ Dance Notes ♫♫♪

4/21/10 …..because you asked.

Living a life of abunDANCE in the midst of________!

You can fill in your own blank---whether it’s serious illness, death of a loved one, divorce, loss of a job, depression, etc.

I have found that this is the way to the “dance” for me.

Discovering the need to know Him better---often learned best in the struggle

Accepting pain and suffering as a gift from His grace & remembering that joy and suffering are not mutually exclusive

Noticing God’s hand in everything and being thankful.

Celebrating moment by moment the joy of being ALIVE and turned toward Him.

Extending compassion and encouragement to others as you share your story

Sarah Young, author of Jesus Calling

5/14/09 Prayer Request as I'm headin’ to Kentucky to see Daddy and my brother and his family. I will be off line ‘til Sunday. I do have a prayer request for all the prayer warriors out there, especially all those who are reading the Jesus Calling devotional book---and I know that’s a lot of you. 

Sarah Young, who authored “our” book, is in Nashville this summer. 

She is obviously on a furlough from the  mission field. I don’t know if she is there because of family or just because it’s the best place for her as she is seeking help for some serious medical concerns. The e-mail I received from a friend did not list particulars but I am sure that Sarah would covet our prayers. 

That little book has had such a positive impact on my cancer journey. God has greatly used her words (given by Him) to bless me right where I am each day. 

She has walked the walk prayerfully and it shows in her writing. Themes of thankfulness and trust are prevalent throughout the entries. She has inspired me in my dance---one of abunDANCE because of depenDANCE on Him. (dependence my creative spelling emphasis ) Even today she reminded me that I can relax in His Presence and trust in His strength. How about you? Do you need that reminder today? Maybe Sarah does as well. Let’s pray to that end for her.