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.

CHOOSE: LISTENING

At our home, the "S" word is not allowed---never has been since the children were old enough to talk. "Shut-up" is our "S" word. "We" don't see it as a kind word. So...we don't say it. That's the Liles' rule!

However, we acknowledge that there are times when all of us need to close our mouths in order to listen. When silence is necessary to get another's attention, we say HUSH!

Somedays I need to tell the world to "HUSH!" so that I can "hear" from the Lord. (Proverbs 19:29) Yet, sometimes even when I close out the world and am alone, I still have "noises" in my mind that whirr and drown out God's still small voice. Then, I need to open my Bible and tell my mind to "hush." His word is His voice---and it's the best way to listen to Him. Then, I need to heed what I hear.

"Come, O children, listen to me; I will teach you the fear of the LORD." (Psalm 34:11)

More often, listening as to hear  and heed is more of a heart problem than an ear problem.

Choosing to listen needs to become the antecedent for choosing "heartfelt" action.

CHOOSE: PRAYER IN ANY POSITION

While VBS "campers" in Memphis were learning that "God is always with us," (Joshua 1:9) and acting out positions of sleeping, driving, playing, running everywhere and praying.............

..........congressmen in Virginia at a ball practice chose a pray stance as they prayed for wounded colleagues and Capitol police after a lone gunman shot at the participants early in the day. 

A standing position with heads bowed. 

I know because I saw it on my TV as the news was broadcast. People coming together to pray for others.

In biblical accounts of prayer many positions are noted: "Abraham fell on his face before God;" (Genesis 17:3) "Moses prayed with outstretched arms;" (Exodus 9:29) "King Solomon knelt before the altar with hands outstretched toward heaven;" (1 Kings 8:54) and Jesus prayed looking up to heaven." (John 17:1)

My 6 old attendees know that prayer is "talking to God," and there is not a required position. 

Prayer's the expression of the attitude of one's heart---a heart which is bowed in worship regardless of any certain physical position.

That's why believers can choose to pray any place, anytime and in any position. 

CHOOSE: GRATITUDE

There is nothing like prayer---when it comes from the lips and heart of others on one's behalf.
"I have prayed for you." (Luke 22:32) "I pray that God.....will fill you with joy...."(Romans 15:13)

How can I pray for you?
Do you have any specific prayer requests for this week?
I praised the Lord today for our friendship.
I'm rejoicing with you on God's answer to the prayers we've been praying over these last few years.

"I prayed for you today." (One of my warriors, 6/13/17)
 Those words are music to my ears----making it easy to choose gratitude.

CHOOSE: TRUTH WITH HOPE

Whether an adult reads it on their smart phone Bible app, or in the pew Bible or a teacher reads it to a first grader in the glowing artistic lighting of hallways at VBS, it's comforting for everyone to know we can hope in God who made us for a purpose.

.

"For I know the plans I have for you," declares the LORD. "They are plans for good and not for disaster, to give you a future and a hope." (Jeremiah 29:11, NIV)

Hope is always a positive choice.

CHOOSE: HOPE

God's Word says it well. (Romans 15:13)

When I choose hope, I choose from within. 

I choose God, my source of hope! 

CHOOSE: NOSTALGIA, A REPRISE

A reprisal is usually musical but last Thursday....it became a resumption of an activity.
Waxing nostalgic.

Elnora and I ended ended up wandering around the square in Collierville and decided to peep in the log cabin on the green. That's what resumed my nostalgic recall and ramblings.
Nora is the perfect person to accompany on the memory journey because she's known us for years and is well acquainted with my mother. She didn't mind standing by the furniture that stoked my memory. A pie safe. 
The hinged doors on the front had those tin plates with punched holes just like on Mother's pie safe!

A few differences----most pie safes were located in kitchens and used to store pies or bread and other perishables. Ours was in the "backroom." It didn't hold pies or any kind of food items. 
Instead, our pie safe at 2211 held the crispest linens in town---tightly folded and ironed. Sheets and pillow slips, (as Mother called them) dried on a clothes line. 

Precious memories to share with a precious person---recalling God's goodness from days gone by and "all of His doings and musing on the works of His hand" in our shared lives. (Psalm 143:5)

CHOOSE: STILLNESS

This snapshot says it all.

My plan for today's quiet time. To sit before the Lord and allow Him to guide my thoughts.

In stillness. With an open Bible and an open heart. 

Speak (LORD) for your servant is listening. (1 Samuel 3:10)

If I can't be still and listen with my heart, how else will I know Him?

CHOOSE: TO ANSWER TRUTHFULLY

Answering truthfully to people doesn't seem hard at all unless I'm trying to "spare" their feelings. But answering myself truthfully is not always so easy. Too often rationalization gets factored in to the equation. 

Tidying the pantry (not alphabetizing, tho that is often very helpful) had me questioning myself today. As I stacked the "NICE" products from a Walgreens sale with the Kroger "Home Sense" cheapies, I thought about being nice to others. 

Then, questions followed. Who are you nice to in your daily walk? 

My first thought was, "I "try" to be nice to everyone who crosses my path---from clerks and sales people to "late" repair men and sanitation workers." Friends are easy to be nice to as are church folks. 

Even people whom I don't know, can elicit a "nice" smile, especially if I see them showing patience & kindness to others. Sometimes, if I don't feel like being nice, I choose to "stuff" my negative emotions and smile anyway.

But.....what happens when I get home? Do I allow earlier negative emotions to roll out and steam roll over loved ones? I think the Dr. Nutcrackers of this world call it displaced anger or displaced aggression.

Do I choose to be nice to hubby when he's grumpy or he's been nice and emptied the dishwasher and I can't find where he's put things? Do I take that "minor" frustration out on him just because earlier in the day an unknown male behind the wheel cut me off and then raised his "not so nice finger "at me?. 

Why is it that family often get the brunt of our stress-induced emotions or our suppressed negative ones just waiting to vent?

Like my pantry shelving I need to choose to "mix" my "nice" in with "home" folks as a matter of course. It just makes sense to be NICE at home.

Love one another. (1 Peter 4:8) I think love includes being nice and "another" includes those folks both outside and inside the home----especially those who have been "patient and bearing with you" (Ephesians 4:2) for almost 48 years!

CHOOSE: TO WALK FAITHFULLY

Henry Blackaby says, "To walk faithfully with God will always bring a person to experience God's laying His heart over his." (hers)

Not my way, but His way, as my Jehovah-Jirah provides the path way through dashed hopes.
A FAITHWALK!

For we walk by faith not by sight. (2 Corinthians 5:7)

Whether in tennis shoes or heels-----thank you, Lord for continung to guide my walk when my eyes are blinded with tears.