CHOOSE: THE WAY

Biblically, "the Way" was the Acts 9:2 description of a group of people. Believers of Jesus Christ.

Psalm 32:8 shows the "way" as a direction. "I will instruct you and teach you in the way which you should go....."

The gospel of John describes "The Way" as a person. "Jesus said to him, I am the Way, and the Truth and the Life...." (John 14:6, w/ my capitalization emphasis)

For me, all of the above are the right way to choose.

CHOOSE: TO GIVE

I grew up hearing, "it is better to give than to receive." I believed it.

Later on I learned that particular "adage/platitude" was actually scriptural truth. Jesus said, "It is more blessed to give than to receive." (Acts: 20:35)

So.....I "give" my friend, Elnora, a special treat every month. It's her day.  "Nora's Day." 

It's always on Thursday. Except today---it was on Wednesday because of a scheduling conflict. Friends who called were confused when I said I was with her because they too know that for years, our together time has always Thursday.

This Thursday/Wednesday started with waffles at Bedrock on South Main....

....continued with a foliage hunt....(she likes pictures of trees, no matter what her sisters say.)

on the way to the National Civil Rights Museum, because she had always wanted to go...

....and onward to the Harrahan Bridge but said "NO!" to standing over the river, as she does NOT like heights!

We ended our day as we had begun it----with laughter!!

I still understand the truth of Acts:20:25 but I also know that I am the one who truly receives when I give Elnora a day. 

I guess that's the true blessing that comes from giving---receiving a blessing yourself.

Choose to give and it shall be given unto you. (Luke 6:38) 

Thanks Nora, for choosing to go with me even though you know we always get lost at least once!

CHOOSE: TO REMEMBER

The preacher in Ecclesiastes reminds us that there is a time to be born and a time to die. (3:2)

Certainly it seems easier to celebrate births (neighbor, baby Ford---or impending births (Emily and Nathan’s first child due this month as well as Norman and Linda’s grandbaby, Lilly B, due in May) and years of birthdays (Almeda, 101 & Lilly, 88) than to go into houses of mourning. But funerals have outnumbered births these last 6 weeks.

In the last 5 days, two friends have buried their husbands.

The week prior, I attended visitations for daughter of one friend and mother of another friend, both of whom I had worked with in education at Shelby County. 

A few weeks before that I mourned with a family, from my hometown, who had come to Memphis for their “Debbie’s” funeral. Not only were we all from Hopkinsville, but the Drurys were former neighbors who had lived around the corner from me on Virginia St. first on Moreland Dr. and then Jimmy and Greta lived on Alumni Moreland. 

Just a few days days before, I had attended the funeral for a dad of a former student from Southwind Elementary. 

Plus, two encouragers of mine, Carolyn O. from AR and Carolyn F. from MS both “lost” their sister and sister-in-law, respectively.

But God......in His love and mercy (Ephesians 2:4) reminded me to remember. Remember the good times and be grateful that they had chosen to believe.  A lot of grieving and yet much to remember with thankful hearts. 

For most it was a relief from physical suffering and a hope for a better life in the Presence of the Lord. So much earthly loss but so much heavenly gain.

Without that, the times of remembering would be difficult. But.....because of their faith choices, my choice to remember was one of celebration!

CHOOSE: TO HOPE

Locked out of laptop. Phone too small for me to blog. 

Hoping the Apple Store can fix it.

CHOOSE: SATURDAY AND TEACAKES

Saturday and Tea Cakes---a story in photos which blesses my heart.

Pictures can speak louder than the words this book loving, tea drinking grandmother could have even attempted to write when her only granddaughter set up this party for her friends.

CHOOSE: FRIDAY FUN

"FRIDAY FUN"----a little late but hopefully worth the wait.

CHOOSE: TO CELEBRATE GOD'S GOODNESS

HAPPY THANKSGIVING!

With a joyous houseful and beyond, I'm celebrating God's goodness, not just reading about it! (Philippians 4:4)

Will share pix soon, I hope...or maybe not---my heart is so full.

CHOOSE: AN ALTERNATIVE TO ANXIETY

If anxiety is often synonymous with stress, How does one rid herself from stress, the bad kind that is?

What is an effective, appropriate alternative to anxiety?

The answer is simple. The application is harder. (Philippians 4:6-7)
Friend Drenda, who knows me oh so-o-o well after working with me for years, has given me a tangible reminder. A pocket prayer shawl---how original and perfect.

Some choices are easier to make with encouragement from friends.

CHOOSE: NOT TO DIVIDE

"I don't "do" numbers." is a declarative sentence I often use. Just yesterday I used it in the joy blog entry.

Therefore it makes sense that my mathematical calculations don't go much past add, subtract, multiply and divide. In fact, I remember in 4th grade having trouble with division. I sat in my teacher's (Mrs. Munday) lap and cried over my ineptness with remainders and such.

But....division is a necessary calculation in our world.
However, division is not needed in one aspect of a Christian's walk.

There is always one common denominator---Jesus. I know that's fractions, which I also don't do well, but I do understand "that figure" for the total population of all Christians should express the same value. Christ in us, the hope of glory. (Colossians 1:27)
Chuck Swindoll reminds us in chapter 3 of Christ at the Crossroads, that when one divides his/her life into secular and spiritual, he/she has forgotten who's in charge.
In the individual life of each believer....

....there should be no division of the secular and sacred.

You are what you believe in every facet of your life. 

Today, I choose not to divide what I believe with how I act. 

Trust me, such choosing has to be a daily, actually a moment by moment, choice!

CHOOSE: MULTIPLYING JOY

How does a worrier multiply joy?
Worry negates joy.

A cup of worry can cover life like a fog that covers 7 city blocks. Yet, a fog though thick and dense, can be reduced to 1 cup of water. (Chuck Swindoll, Christ at the Crossroads) That sounds like a scientific deduction I can't begin to understand. But, certainly a cup of water sounds like it's easier to handle than 7 blocks of fog in one's life. 
I not only need to replace worry with joy in my own life, but I also want to "pay it forward" in the lives of others. I want to be a multiplier of joy.

Multiplying joy is and of itself an equation. Though I am NOT a "numbers person," I need to work out this worry "problem" with help.

His joy > my worries = my joy with a remainder of joy for others.

John 15:11 says, "These things I have spoken to you, that My joy may be in you, and that your joy may be full. Yes, your cup of joy will overflow!" (TCB)
Fullest possible joy." is the way NCV translates.

Fulness of joy = complete joy---with no room for worry. Worry is substituted/replaced with sufficient joy so that there is a joyful remainder to share.

And God is able to bless you abundantly. (2 Corinthians 9:8)

Multiplying joy = joy in abundance. 

Multiplying His joy in and through  me is the best calculation for serving others with joy as Thanksgiving approaches.