"CHOOSE-DAY" TUESDAY!

A text from sweet friend JA had me thinking of all the best things to choose for this Tuesday.

Admittedly, I had to choose to quit complaining first so all the joy could spring forth!

Choose love, joy, peace, kindness, goodness and gratitude❣️

In a nutshell....

CHOOSE JESUS!*

*A reminder I see daily in my prayer room!

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!

CHOOSEDAY!

ChooseDay! I love the play on words for Tuesday!*

It has me thinking about Biblical choices to be considered. 

Think---love, joy, peace, patience, kindness. As the picture hanging in my prayer room reminds me, "Choose this day whom you shall serve.....

... as for me and my house, will serve the Lord."(Joshua 24:14)

On this ChooseDay, let us choose what is right. (Job 34:4)

*Thanks to friend Renee for the ChooseDay text this morning!

CHOOSE JOY!

JOY is a choice!

Joy of heart changes perspective.

Feeling battered by life's circumstances; joy can brighten your spirit.

Joy no matter what!

A joyful heart is good medicine, (Proverbs 17:22)----the best RX!

Choose joy as a way of looking at life.

Former neighbor, Art, corrected me when I labeled my fence as rotting.

He dubbed it weathered. He saw the beauty in it and took a photo, a needed reminder which I keep in my prayer room.

Gladness of heart, regardless = JOY!

SO LONG 2024!

...even in times of troubles / struggles ! 

TASTY JOY!

Tasty Joy! 

That's what Day 3 in 12 'days til Christmas brought me via "my" Molly! 

Yes....I know it's Day 6 but I'm way behind & still trying to catch up.

Regardless, it was great way to begin my day......Bible open on my lap and Ghirardelli in my unbandaged left hand.......a "CHOCOLATE DAY" ---so I can eat it!

YUMMY JOY! 

IT'S A GREAT DAY!

I know it's a Great Day!

"My" Molly's day #2 Great Day fridge pad showed me. It even included a silver metallic Sharpie.Why? Because she is watchful & knew I needed one!

More to come--as I post pic of Day 1 with it's well-researched gift needed to add joy to my life along with day 3 gift which I am looking forward to seeing myself!

OOPS--tough times kept me "off kilter" a bit so day 3 pic is on Day 6 or 7! Are you confused????????????????? Welcome to my world.

It's a great day because God is not confused!

JOY! JOY!! JOY!!!

A joyful face says it all!

A big thanks to Pace McKee for sharing Ron Man's quote from the recent council retreat.

IF YOU HAVE JOY IN YOUR HEART, NOTIFY YOUR FACE!

JOURNEY OF LIFE!

FRIDAY. MAY 10, 2024---momentous day for our oldest grand & soon to come, a kindergarten “participation” diploma for our youngest grandson!

Whether shaking hands and whooping or smiling in delight, may both choose joy in the next steps of their journey as both continue in academics!

HEARTBREAK TO HOPE!

Legitimate reasons for lament can bring darkness into one's life....even in the midst of the joy of the Christmas season.

Dark clouds require deep mercy, as Mark Vroegop says.This morning as I jot notes for my "dear to my heart," cousin Joy's funeral, I am asking for that mercy. Lament is pain that can lead to trust. May my time in His word lead me to that today.

Lament tunes the heart so it can sing about trust. (Vroegop, p. 82)

I am still struggling. "How long O Lord?" (Psalm 13:1) 

Help me to discover the grace of "lament" during this dark time.

May this lament fuel my faith.

May I place my broken heart in God's hands today and lean into the hope only He can give.

As I remember Brenda Joyce Davenport Tanley at her funeral, may my words offer hope. Others my call her Joyce but ever since childhood, she's been "my Joy."

Transform me, O Lord that others might see Christ in me, the hope of glory! For in your presence is fullness of joy and pleasures  forever more. (Psalm 16:11)

JOY!

A great day for a walk in the neighborhood! Walk & nice Weather to calm

my anxiety. Anxiety over checking-in for tomorrow's flight.

But God.....had me turn the corner. Looking up, I saw JOY!

Literally. Bright, colorful JOY!

I will be filled with joy because of you. I will sing praises to your name, O Most High. (Psalm 9:2. NLT)
 

FULLNESS!

What are you full of? Oops, sorry I had to end ? with a preposition.

How often have you heard, "you're full of bull" or other choice disparaging words?

Fill in the blank, I am full of __________________!

Would others fill in your blank the same way?

In what ways do you show others your fullness? 

Some companies can outwardly show their fullness* through their products.

Aldi has it stamped in their egg cartons. 

This is the day which the Lord has made; Let us rejoice and be glad in it. (Psalm 118:24)

JOY!

A great morning reminder as I reach for my eggs to fill my day with JOY!

*For all grammarians.....fulness and fullness are semantically related to plentitude. You can use fulness instead of noun fullness. Others see fulness as misspelling.

HA!.....ha....haaah

Hope you are able to make a "right' turn onto this road until I return from Mississippi to finish writing this entry. I know.....it's so me! I keep forgetting to make the "right" turn myself!

For dear friends, Aubrey and Gayle, its' just a right turn and a left turn to the right turn onto Laughter! (Though in MS the word rhymes with slaughter---but not for me!) 

Laughter is contagious. Unlike many COVID19 strains and Omicron BA.5 variants and subvariants that are floating around these days, laughter is worth "catching."

I wish joy and laughter were as easy as a drive down a road. Folks dealing with chronic pain would have this address in their GPS. More often than not....they wear "guilt" over their inability to choose joy as they live with said pain, day in and day out. Pain is no laughing matter!

Old wives tales say it takes more muscles (53) to frown than to smile (12) David H. Song, Chicago plastic surgeon, gives the numbers smile (12)  frown (11). Regardless of the core numbers it takes more effort to frown.

Most folks in ongoing physical pain are not worried about numbers of wrinkles at this chronic stage. Sufferers are grateful for every laugh line that appears!

Relief is at the top of the list. Plus, for Christians, acceptance is key.

Choose joy. We're trying.

Learn life lessons. Okay will try today & ask my prayer warriors to pray. (Psalm 30:2)

Trust God. We're still trusting. (Psalm 62:8)

Share what you are learning as a way to encourage others. (2 Corinthians 1:3-4)

Today for my suffering friends I prayed that "joy came with your morning"....despite the pain. (Psalm 30:5) and your "mourning was turned to dancing as our Lord clothed you with gladness for your day." (Psalm 30: