CHOOSE: TO RELY

In my weird idiosyncratic way, I have a 3x "heads up" system on appearances of a word, verse or events. If something occurs just once, I probably rarely notice. Two times becomes a head tilt often with an expectation of #3. This past week, the word rely has been on my radar. First seen, In All to Jesus 10/11 devotional entry. At Monday's Prayer for Revival time, our passage was 2 Chronicles 15:1-7, great verses for meditation so relevant to our nation today. Opening my Bible, 2 Chronicles 14:11, on the opposite page already had, "Help us O Lord, our God for we rely on you" underlined, with some words highlighted. Rely emerged again......That's two.......and I WAS counting.
Last night as I finally picked up Sunday's Commercial Appeal to try and calm my mind for bedtime, I came across the Clue for 40 across, "Hinge (on)."

And the answer was.......rely! Of course it was!
Nudged by 3x rule, today I began a word study on rely. A quick glance at my Strong's Concordance (KJV) showed me 14 uses in the parent tense and 2 past tense entries in the Hebrew with 3 uses in the Greek. I'm sure this varies with Bible versions. 
One definition was used over and over---to trust. Therein was my life lesson. 
I need to trust Him rather than relying on my own strength. I am definitely a work in progress but being armed with His word which is the sword of the Spirit (Ephesians 4:17) is the truth I can "lean on to support one's (my) self" another biblical definition of rely.

In my own life, I have run out of strength in many areas and I need more than ever to rely on Him just as Asa did.

Then Asa called to the LORD his God and said, "LORD, there is no one besides You to help in the battle between the powerful and those who have no strength; so help us, O LORD our God, for we rely on You, and in Your name....(2 Chronicles 14:11)....

(My paraphrase of the remaining words...."we come against all the multitude," I see multitudes as synonymous for struggles which life can bring, in my life, especially as I age. DAL)
Robert Morgan, author of All to Jesus, says, Rely on the grace of God. He says he can rely on the Lord who is the all-in-all all his life and quotes the verse, "I have relied You all my life." (Psalm 71:6) 

I cannot say that I have relied on the Lord all my life but I can say, I chose to rely on Him today.

CHOOSE: TO PRACTICE SIMPLICITY IN CONVERSATION

Deceit does not please God. God checks the heart for motives. To be honest is marked as being free from deceit. That includes motive.

That's why 1/2 truth is a WHOLE lie when one's motive is to deceive.

O, what a tangled web we weave when first we practise to deceive! Sir Walter Scott

Scripture advises, let your yes be YES and your no mean NO. Is that simple enough?  (Matthew 5:37) For those who don't keep a tight rein on their tongues even deceive themselves. (James 1:26)

Choose to simply live a life of integrity that pleases God.

CHOOSE: A CUPPA speciali-TEA

Many of us need a good morning cuppa to start the day. For me it can also take on a TEA-rrific element of fun as I love word play!

A "Tea with Thee" quiet time of sorts as God helps me plan my day with my Bible open and my cuppa in hand.

Often the day's agenda helps choose the most needed brew. But.....no matter my plans, I need to ask the Lord to direct my steps. (Proverbs 16:9, NASB) Sometimes I have such a full schedule, that I cannot see a way to check everything off my list. But God.....

Today's choice for me was a cuppa sensitive-TEA. The Lord directed my FULL schedule so that I was able to spend extra time with a widow friend who needed a listening ear.

I left her sipping a cuppa sereni-TEA!!! PTL!

CHOOSE: TO MAGNIFY YOUR FAITH

Magnifying the Lord is the way to magnify one's faith.

Even sweeter is having that loved one, family or friend, to come alongside and magnify the Lord with you.

That's what fellowship entails. Coming alongside the brethren.

O, Magnify the LORD with me and let us exalt His name together. (Psalm 34:3)

Together in the faith makes it so easy to choose to magnify the Lord.

CHOOSE: POSITIVE THOUGHTS ABOUT MEMPHIS

Watching the "nightly news"can rob me of my joy.
So I continue to subscribe to the Commercial Appeal, my local paper and "look for" good in "my" city, where the Lord has placed me. He determines the "exact places where they (I & you) would live." (Acts 17:26)  I am thrilled when I see hopeful info like last Friday's list of areas all over Memphis where the Tennessee Shakespeare Company would perform "Shout-Out Series" in public spaces. Admission Free. Hubby and I went downtown to Shake(s) Rattle and Roll at Madison Avenue Park. Click here for the TSC Shout- Out schedule. You'll be glad you did!

Who knew there was a park in this itty bitty green space at 151 Madison Ave. ?

They wove Shakespeare into the music and lyrics of Memphis music. Think, Soul Man. Sittin' on the Dock of the Bay and Blue Suede Shoes. Creative!! Great performance---worth the drive!

This morning's CA newspaper had a picture of the performance with the back of hubby's head in the foreground.

I would know that glow in the dark head full of gorgeous white hair anywhere, even from the back, CA  10/11/17 p. 4A

Today's Commercial Appeal made it easy to choose positive thoughts about Memphis. 

CHOOSE : EXACTNESS

How does one choose exactness?
Need a blueprint? Need specifications of where to walk? How to walk?
(Psalm 119:3, Psalm 128:1, Micah 6:8)

An architect's rendering to good relationships?
How to build one another up? There's a a blue print in God's word. (1 Thessalonians 5:11)

A voice coach? Choose right words---let yes be yes and no be no---(Matthew 5:37)
....with the right tone and voice inflection.
Speak the truth in love. (Ephesians 4:15)

Often in difficult places and conversations, it's important to choose exactness.

CHOOSE: ONE DAY AT A TIME

A daily choice. One day at a time.
Let go of the if only's and the what if's and celebrate the day, one moment at a time. We hear it at every turn. That idea seems to be pasted all over self-help book sections and gift shops display plaques, wood blocks and even tea towels with the message.

Yet, it is not some sweet sentimental thought, it's scriptural.

Give your entire attention to what God is doing right now, and don’t get worked up about what may or may not happen tomorrow. God will help you deal with whatever hard things come up when the time comes. (Matthew 6:34, MSG)

Some churches choose to post it on their message boards.

So....if God's word chooses it and the people of God choose it, it must be a good daily choice to make.

CHOOSE: FRIDAY FUN

It's easy to choose Friday Fun when you're with friends---especially when it has been Friday ever since Tuesday!

God's Word says there is a friend who sticks closer than a bother. (Proverbs 18:24) I have GREAT brothers so these special friends stick with me just as my brothers do. Friends who are there through thick and thin. Friends who "nurse" you through your cancer journey.

Friends who often put your needs above their own. Friends whose very presence blesses your that you might bless others by their example.

Therefore, as God’s chosen people, holy and dearly loved, clothe yourselves with compassion, kindness, humility, gentleness and patience. 

Bear with each other and forgive one another if any of you has a grievance against someone. Forgive as the Lord forgave you. 

And over all these virtues put on love, which binds them all together in perfect unity. (Colossians 3:12-14)

What fun it was to celebrate Friday together for 4 days this week!

CHOOSE: TO BE SURPRISED 10/5/17

You might be surprised at the "theme" of this blog as well as surprised when I get it posted!!
Now you’re probably really surprised b/c this is a Thursday
Blog entry & today is Friday.

CHOOSE: A WORD FOR WEDNESDAY

Blog readers might recall the entry "My One Word" For 2017 my "focused word morphed from joy to choose.
After all most things in life are a choice.
The gist of this Wednesday word is Choose. Choose to make hope-filled choices.

NOTES: Choices based onCarol Kent's presentation at our Girls' Getaway presentation last weekend.

• CHOOSE LIFE. Instead of an emotional death, help others choose life as well---but don't minimize pain. (John 10:10)
• CHOOSE TRUST. Too often we live in fear, not freedom. Freedom comes from knowing how great is our God.  (Isaiah 41:10, Matthew 14:22-36)
• CHOOSE VULNERABILITY. All our longings are open before the Lord; even our sighs are not hidden from Him. (Psalm 38:9) 
• CHOOSE GRATITUDE. In everything give thanks. (1 Chronicles 16:34, 1 Thessalonians 5:18) 
• CHOOSE FORGIVENESS.  Forgive quickly and completely as the Master has forgiven you.(Colossians 3: 13-14, MSG)
• CHOOSE PURPOSEFUL ACTION. Do something new. (Isaiah 43:19) Be open handed in your doing for others. (Deuteronomy 15:11)

A List of 6 hope-filled choices with God's promise of being with you, strengthening and helping you and upholding you with hHis righteous right hand.
Be intentional in your choosing of one uniquely for you this Wednesday.