CHOOSE: TO CONJUGATE HOPE

Wordsmiths (and preachers) tend to expound grammar tenses in conjugation, moving systematically from the simple to the more complex. Think, "present progressive/continuous" or "future perfect continuous" or even including the indicative or subjunctive mood. Not to mention pluperfect! It's way too early in the day for that!

Simple is "hard" enough for me.

This morning have been musing in "first person" ---I hoped (past tense) I hope, (present tense) and I will hope. 

When prayers seem unanswered, I don't want to give up hope. I need the continuous action of prayer to keep me hoping. Unanswered prayer is painful.

H.O.P.E. Hold On, Pain Ends.

In the dark places, I need to remember the One who is the anchor for my soul.

He is the One who gives me hope.

CHOOSE: TO CELEBRATE FREEDOM WITH GRATITUDE

JULY 4TH 2017!
Blessed is the nation whose God is the Lord/ (Psalm 33:12)

Today choose to thank a member of our military. The marines are at the Farmington Kroger in Germantown! (Before the rain)

Better yet, if you are blessed enough to have a family member choosing to currently serve in our military or a "vet" in your family, give them a big hug or at least a phone call.

CHOOSE: GOD'S WORD

All. 

Three little letters. An adjective indicating the entire quantity. The all of the all.

Then God spoke all these words. (Exodus 20:1) 

That sentence,"Then God spoke all these words," preceded the 10 Commandments. (Exodus 20: 2-17)--- a foundation for us---both as a spiritual basis for our lives as well as moral and ethical basis for our conduct.

A paraphrase of the first commandment sums up the basis for all the commandments to me...... 

above all else, love God alone.

Whether one's Bible is large or small, the words therein are all God's word.

Open it to find that all of them are the basis for all truth!

I choose all of God's word for the foundation of my faith.

CHOOSE: FIVE FOR THE 5TH FRIDAY

Choose: Acts of Kindness could have been this entry because kindness is key in relationships.
According to a google search, I've already written 5 entries on kindness and according to the marginalia in my NKJV Bible, a needed reminder....
"Desire a life measured more by kindness than by competency."

So...you can "choose" to search through the links below for your favorite of the five:

Kindness Reciprocated pays it forward.
Mature in Kindness.
Kindle Kindness.
Kindness "gentles" responses of others, even family.
Be Kind.

https://dotsydetails.blogspot.com/2009/02/kindness.html (2/24/09)

http://dotsydetails.blogspot.com/2009/08/watermelon-kindness-analogy.html (8/18/09)

https://dotsydetails.blogspot.com/2011/11/kindness-kindled.html (11/7/11)

http://dotsydetails.blogspot.com/2014/11/loyal-tea-adams-family-cuppa.html (11/7/14)

http://dotsydetails.blogspot.com/2017/01/choose-kindness.html?m=0 (1/24/17)

Desire a life measured by kindness more than by competency. (Marginalia, NKJV)
Choose: To Be Kind in at least one of the 5 ways. It will bless your heart!

CHOOSE: FRETLESS

To be "Fretless in Memphis," one has to fret less and trust more. 
Cut out the worrying. That means fret NOT, Dots! (That's scriptural---just read Psalms 37: 1, 7, 8! Okay so it doesn't say Dots---feel free to insert your own name.

Choose faith not fretting.
Easier said than done, sometimes. Maybe if I were "more" fretless it would render me less sleeplessness. What a praise that would be!
But God....through Cole Huffman's  Philippians 4:4-7 sermon (3/19/17), reminded me of 2 things I know. Two things that give me peace.

1. I know I am not in control. (God is)
2. I know that I am cared for.  (By God)

Knowing those 2 truths reminds me that in the midst of fears (basis for much of my fretting) the Lord is at hand! (v. 5, ESV) Therefore, I not only can lean into His control but I can also lean into His care.

Fretless hot tea drinkers see their cuppa as 1/2 full, NOT 1/2 empty. A cuppa positive-TEA!

CHOOSE: WACKY WEDNESDAY

This was an easy choice as "my" Molly needed me to accompany Owen to today's "Wacky Wednesday" event at the Brooks Museum.

So....I've decided to look for God there---as Jenna Fergus taught us. Look for God everywhere, even in an art museum. (Job 34:21)

I'm headed out, having asked God for direction and will  report later on what I "see."
I'm back!
I thought God would have me use my "sense of seeing" in order to clearly see Him in works of art.
But God......impressed me with two "life lessons" using my sense of smell and sense of hearing. WOW, GOD!
As we approached our destination from the backside, a new direction, we stopped to smell the roses. Not knockout roses, which are pretty to look at but without even the barest scent of a rose.
Roses. Fragrant roses.

Roses along our journey to see museum art, which emphasized the sweet-smelling "life lesson" that goal-oriented, destination-bound folks need to enjoy the journey along the way.
As the old adage says, "Stop and smell the roses!"Which is exactly what Owen did.

The 2nd lesson was auditory and was gleaned from the voice of a school teacher who simply said, art classes are more than teaching painting or drawing.

"Art is teaching people to see."  

Wacky Wednesday---what a sensory experience, even beyond the visual!

CHOOSE: PRAISE

Signs of God's creation have a way of making my heart leap in praise. Such was the case this past weekend in Brentwood when God's sunset had me in awe!

They who dwell in the ends of the earth stand in awe of Your signs; You make the dawn and the sunset shout for joy. (Psalm 65:8)

From the rising of the sun to its setting, the name of the LORD is to be praised. (Psalm 113:3)

CHOOSE: FLEXIBILITY

"Nora's Day" is Thursday---at least it has been for the last 6 years!

For many years it was every Monday-Friday. Once Molly started kindergarten we only had her once a month and it was always on Thursday. She would spoil us on those days with the BEST fried chicken and pound cake or carrot cake for Larry. 

But....when I retired, those Thursdays became Elnora's Day. A "treat" day for her after 30+ years of her "treating" us! 

Then, this week a schedule snafu had us changing to Monday. What a laughing, eating, (Freddy's w/ Nancy) hugging (w/Margie) visiting, (at KDS nursing home) more laughing time----with laughter that even followed us from the movie, "Going in Style," all the way back home!!

God's Word says "there is a time for everything"---so grateful that our choice of flexibility allowed us a time to LAUGH! (Ecclesiastes 3:4)

CHOOSE: NEW EQUATION

New mug at brother Bobby's for my morning cuppa says it all as I begin the day and share "tea" with him, a fellow hot tea aficionado. A morning ritual  carry over from childhood days at 2211 in Hoptown!

Start the day grounded in faith (Colossians 2:7) and filled with hope (Colossians 1:23) to give joy for one's self that it might be poured out into the lives of others to bolster their faith. (Ephesians 3:17)

Equation of the heart: Rooted and grounded in faith + gospel hope = joy and love poured in to one's heart and then out to others!

Choose this equation daily!

CHOOSE: TO CELEBRATE

A Liles wedding.

There's nothing quite like them.
Sacred ceremonies. Vows before God and man. 
Then the dancing begins!
Tonight's wedding dance of Michael and Megan began with dancing down the aisle as the recessional music was played for these newlyweds----celebrating their new life together.

Dancing continued at the Old Natchez Country Club for all of us.
For them, the beauty of this new season in their lives is that from this time forth there is a new dance---regardless of the "music" life throws their way, that they will dance it together, led by the Lord.
How easy it is to choose to celebrate with Megan and Michael Liles.