CHOOSE SCRIPT NOT SILICON

Text. Script. Trusted Hard Copy.

Whatever one wants to call the old tried and true way to research, my recommendation is to hold on to that, especially when doing Bible Study.

Certainly the computer can aid in that study but DO NOT COUNT ON SIRI!
Siri is NOT always the answer. Siri is silicon. (Even she knows that!)

Siri's first response to my "word study"request was, I do NOT eschew theological disquisitions.    

How's that for a mouthful---or screen full---just wish I had gotten a selfie of me sitting with my mouth agape and Siri's response in full view.
I did get a screen shot of the next one, though not nearly as complex!

My policy should be that as well---don't count on Siri to answer life's REAL questions.
So...back to basics---my "good ole Strong's concordance." Works ever time I choose to take the time and not be lazy. 

Strong's Concordance certainly helped me to get to the heart of the matter! (Psalm 43:3, Psalm 119:105, Hebrews 4:12)

CHOOSE HYPERBOLE

Wordsmiths and politicians are known for hyperbole. So are bloggers who want to get a point across to readers!

In 1816 Thomas Jefferson sent the message, "I cannot live without books," to John Adams.
Was that fact or hyperbole? For readers it probably reads as fact but in truth it's a greatly exaggerated quote used to express Jefferson's love for books.

I, as most librarians, have a propensity for the written word as well. 

Librarians lean toward literature. Fact or hyperbole? Probably fact. But these days many are information techies so maybe it's hyperbole for us "old schoolers!"

Readers have chosen genres---mystery, science fiction, biographies, etc. 

I have a predisposition for "quirky" books. The Unlikely Pilgrimage of Harold Fry. Keeper of the Bees. Once Upon a Town: The Miracle of the North Platte Canteen.

Many of my quirky choses are books with love and appreciation of books as an underlying theme.

Balzac and the Little Chinese Seamstress. Mr. Penumbra's 24-hour Bookstore. The Book Thief. 84 Charing Cross Road.

Last month I added a new one to the list.

A warm cuppa and The Reader on the 6.27. 

I had died and gone to heaven! 

Ooops, I hope I chose hyperbole...because I want to finish that book.

CHOOSE RANSACKING

I default to ransacking pretty often....but it's not often a joyful choice. It's usually necessary to "find" lost or misplaced items and requires much "hunting" which leaves a ransacked type trail.

This morning I ransacked my pantry in pursuit of some Werther's Caramel Chews.

No where to be found----I had to settle for the "original" hard candies for my sweet tooth.

Persistance paid as ransacking continued after blogging.
Note two twisty caramel chews between book and Werther's bag.

But God....through John Piper's meditation book on Savoring the Supremacy of God in All Your Life, (#55) I saw that ransacking the Bible for truth does indeed bring joy. Plus, it was such a follow-up for yesterdays "Meditating Monday" blog entry. Piper's points sound like meditation to me. (my THOTS below.)

1. Pray and Read. Read the Word. What a privilege. What an obligation. What a potential for seeing God. (p. 166)
2. Pray and Study. Must pray or we'll not see in the Word, the one thing esp. THE Book, needful---'the glory of God in the Face of Christ.' (2 Corinthians 4:4, 6) On knees and in books, a great combo. (p.167)
3. Pray and Ransack. Ransacking is the way to seek God in the Bible. Think Dotsy and her caramel search. (p.167)
4. Pray and think. (2 Timothy 2:7) Consider what I say for the Lord will give you understanding in everything. (KJV) Reflect on... (NIV) Think about...( NLT) Think over (ESV) Mark well...(WNT) Combine the eye-opening work of the Spirit with the mind-informing work of the Word. (Psalm 119:18) (p, 168)

I should choose ransacking to satisfy my sweet soul rather than  my sweet tooth.

CHOOSE JOY IN MEDITATING

It's "meditating" Monday and there's joy because of a cleared agenda.

No agenda gives space without hurry.

A time not just to" taste and see"  the goodness of the Lord but to savor it. (Psalm 34:8)

A time to interweave prayers from the heart with the scripture that prompted them.

It's not an "either-or" but a both-and" of meditation and prayer. 

When you read this, you can perceive my insight into the mystery of Christ, (Ephesians 3:4, Paul to the church in Ephesus) 

R + P = M 

Reading and Praying = Meditation.

When you read scripture as you pray it brings revelation and that brings great joy. 

CHOOSE LAUGHTER

Sometimes we just have to laugh at ourselves.

More often than NOT, it seems, my dearest friends and family have a "feast of laughter" (Ecclesiastes 10:19) at my expense. They even give me endearing gifts to remind me.

So.....I choose to laugh at those as well!

CHOOSE SINGING

Choose singing---even if it's a "joyful" noise, as in my case. (Psalm 100:1)

Gift from Ashley Bryan--- Used with his Permission

For me, singing and praying sometimes go hand in hand and I end up wanting to "shout" for joy!

Shout to the Lord all the Earth, let us singPower and majesty, praise to the King (Zschech)

Christianity is one long shout of joy. (John Stott) 

Hmm-m-m-m.....choosing singing could be a precursor for choosing shouting!

CHOOSE SYNONYMS

Wordsmiths use words well. I couldn't get a good or bad word in edge-wise yesterday---at least not for the timely posting of this entry. The day just flew by.

Weeks are flying by---Wordsmith Wednesday has come and gone.....without words for this entry.

Wordsmiths and "wannabe wordsmiths" have an affinity for language and its uses. For me, that entails blogging.

Before "google," wordsmith's used a thesaurus---often using too many words instead of saying the most with the fewest words, which to me is the sign of a true wordsmith.

2017 word choice, "joy"  spoke to me of word choice possibilities because I wanted to regain  my liveliness. To get "my kicks" again wherever God had placed me. So, today I googled joy.
** (Ck below to peruse both synonyms and antonyms.)

Which will you choose to be? A synonym? An antonym?

**

So many choices. Choose to be a "joy" synonym every time!!

CHOOSE KINDNESS

Each Saturday as I pray for "grands," mine and others, I pray for them to choose to practice kindness in their lives. (Ephesians 4:32) As I finished my "prayer chair" time, I received a text with this picture from "my" NY family. Lucy made a sign that said, "We can be kind." As she matures, may this be written on the tablet of her heart as well. (Proverbs 3:3)

What an affirmation. May we all choose to be kind to others.

CHOOSE MVPs

Most of us have "many valuable people" in our lives. But.....do we tell them? Do we thank God for them? Do we encourage them?

TX son received an MVP award of sorts at the Allen Sport's Association banquet last Friday night. He was recognized as "Coach of the Year" at this non-profit's youth sport's association's 40th year celebration.

As "the" mom, I knew it was very deserving. Other spoken and written accolades confirmed this as well.

His boys, all 5 of them,  know first hand what a sports coach and life coach he has been---(Proverbs 22:6) How fitting a verse, as I have prayed it for him for 40+ years.

This worthy recipient, coached 61 teams in 4 different sports in 10 years!!!

Just ask those boys of his as he has coached them all! Most Valuable Papa indeed!

CHOOSE generosity

During the recent snowy/cold/rainy days, I decided to offer Maurice, our mailman a cup of hot chocolate. It's easy to offer him bottled water or cokes, his favorite----but to offer something cooked in our home is going out on a limb. Folks are understandably very leery these days of accepting home-made goods.

Relational fostering precedes such acceptance.

Easy also to choose bestowing generosity on Maurice, whom I like and then blogging the results, whatever they are! He's such a friendly, nice guy; whether he accepts it or not, will not change that.

However, notice in the entry title, "generosity" is written in lowercase letters as well as throughout the entry. That's because sharing this "generous" act was similar to "touting" which is rampant on all forms of social media.

True GENEROSITY is preceded by humility, is God-directed and is usually done anonymously.
I know that.
My cup of hot chocolate is a step in building a relationship of one who is a part of my life only because of my address. Ones's generosity to another is to benefit the receiver.
For me, that requires knowing a bit more about my mailman than his truck number or mail route times for my street.

RESULTS: I'm glad I offered Maurice a warm cup of chocolate.
He did not accept it, saying his stomach couldn't tolerate chocolate.
However, his refusal was gracious with a smile that warmed my heart.
Then, he added, "you know those cokes are still my favorite."

He's right I do know that cokes are his favorites. For that reason, I will keep them on my grocery list.

And if I'm not going to be home, I can just leave his "treat" in the mailbox.

He'll know who put it there.