CHOOSE: UNWAVERING IDENTITY

What's your ID?
Mom. Dad. Child, Spouse. Sibling. Friend. Student.
These are standards and many remain unwavering throughout one's life. Sometimes it feels as if we lose our identity as a person and just become one of our labels.

What about in the area of worship? Do we just wear the label of a denomination or religious affiliation. Christian. Jewish. Muslim. Atheist.

Is this the area of one's life where an ambiguous identity is often more visible in certain places, certain days of the week or certain positions at certain times? 

Is is visible on Sundays in a sanctuary or on Saturday in a synagogue but not as recognizable the rest of the week?

Work and worship are not separate identities for believers. Brother Lawrence showed the sacred in washing pots and pans. Even washing dishes became a blessed sacrament for him. (Practicing the Presence of God, p. 12)
Socrates asked (in the prayer from Phaedrus), "May the inward and outward man be at one." (A. Lindberg. Gift from the Sea, p. 23)

The identity that counts is Child of the King. That identity never wavers.
Beloved in Him. An ID of one who lives a life with no separation between spiritual and secular.  Richard Foster calls it, in Freedom of Simplicity, living out of the divine center. (p. 82)

Choose to identify with the LORD and do not waver. It's a lasting identity!

CHOOSE: A TUESDAY TREAT

On this day, December 19, one hundred and seventy four years ago, Charles Dickens published A Christmas Carol. So, today's choice was easy as "The Man Who Invented Christmas" was showing at the Cordova Malco.

 

For 10 + years, our  family had tickets for "A Christmas Carol" at Theatre Memphis---usually seated in the first row center of the upper section, often needing all 14 seats in row J as we invited friends to go with us. Barry Fuller had our hearts as Scrooge.

To treat ourselves today to see this year's new holiday movie about how Charles Dickens wrote "A Christmas Carol" and thereby creating a tradition was a no-brainer for us, especially when son Buddy's review was so glowing. A perfect movie for our family he said as know all the phrases and word references. He was right----we did. 

It was indeed a Tuesday Treat. According to hubby, the only thing that would have made it better would have been to have all our children in the audience with us----because those are memories we share with them! "God bless us, everyone!"

CHOOSE: MONDAY MOTTO

We've all heard the maxim, "When life gives you lemons, make lemonade." Well, this week I don't have time in my schedule to make lemonade.

But God.....took my "lemony" thoughts in a new direction.

I don't have to "cook" anything. God used Max Lucado's words from his book, Anxious for Nothing Finding Calm in a Chaotic World. (p. 150)

I only need to remember them---no preparations needed.

LIFE STILL GIVES LEMONS. LIFE GVES LEMONS TO GOOD PEOPLE, BAD PEOPLE, OLD PEOPLE, ALL PEOPLE. 

LIFE COMES WITH LEMONS.

BUT, WE DON'T HAVE TO SUCK ON THEM. (Emphasis mine!)

Thanking the Lord for the reminder to choose a "new" Monday motto today. (1 Thessalonians 5:16, 1 Thessalonians  5:18)

CHOOSE: TO LIGHT THE "CANDLE OF HOPE" FOR THE 3rd SUNDAY OF ADVENT

This Collierville neighborhood yard sign "simply" says it all for Christians.

CHOOSE: TO HOPE

I hope to be back within a bit to finish this. "Hope" in my intro sentence is a verb meaning that I "intend, if possible, to do something."
Regardless, that was an unfulfilled expectation/hope for me. Four days is more than "a bit of time."

Earlier today, I passed a house under construction,  and I assume that the prospective owners "hope" (verb) to move in doing the Christmas season----at least that must be what they want to happen. Unsure optimism at its peak!

At night the wreath is even lit and blinks to passer-bys.
Their hope (noun) is synonymous with desired expectation. But their hope seems unlikely.
Hope deferred makes the heart sick. (Proverbs 13:12) Hopefully, (adverb) this seasonal display was more  tongue-in-cheek in cheek. Just a whimsical way for a family to exaggerate their plight!

I choose to hope they will be moved-in sooner or at least in timely manner and to be grateful for their acceptance of the delays and sharing it with us who pass by.

CHOOSE: TO SMILE---everytime you listen

Here's a gift to all who give 48 seconds to hear this Christmas Story, Asher style.
"Great" nephew Asher, was recorded 2 days before his 3rd birthday on Thanksgiving and regaled us with a truncated Luke 2:8-14!
These verses will come alive as you listen to a GREAT Christmas story. It's the RX for a happy heart which will break out into a smile.

Smiling is an involuntary reflex when you listen to Asher's Christmas Story---you have no choice. The smile is the response! It just happens for 48 seconds.

CHOOSE: TO SEW HOPE

A simple license plate speaks volumes. For this driver, it advertises her business.

But for me....it reminds me of my need to sew more hope into my life.

The tapestry of our lives is a pattern of faith, love, hate, joy, disappointments peace, panic, praise. Yet, we all continue to hope to "do better."

For Christians, sewing hope in God, into the pattern of their lives, is the right choice.
Hope, past, present and future, is promised in Scripture. He is our hope. Our faith in Him is an indication of certainty, "for in hope we have been saved." (Romans 8:24)

CHOOSE: A MAP FOR THE JOURNEY

Hubby has always dubbed me, "Ms Rand McNally" as I have such an affinity for maps. In this age, most people are GPS "driven," Not I. I prefer a good ole big fold out paper map or at least an atlas. You see, I like to "see" where I am going. The big picture. It helps me plan ahead for possibilities along the way. i.e. rest areas. Always handy for an OAB lady to know locations of closest bath rooms. Also, I don't want to miss a quaint place along the way that might not show up on the expressway/main highway driven Global Positioning Systems.

Often, I think a spiritual map would be helpful. As topographical maps explore twists and turns and note steep hills, one is able to "plan ahead." The Bible certainly gives direction for the most important destination, eternity---though not quite as clear in the daily of life. I'm sure there is a purpose in that. Too much exact info might lead to worry and dread so God wants us to focus on His presence in each of one's "present" moments. So.....He's given us direction to his heart. The Bible a map of His sovereign will. God's Positioning System.

When we reach those difficult climbs in midst of hard places---when we're struggling through those hard places, God wants us to remember He is there. (Zephaniah 3:7)

By His Spirit and through His people, (Psalm 27:13) God is there to guide us and show us the way. (Proverbs 3:6)

To those fighting their way to the "top" or other side of the bad diagnosis, grief from the death of a loved one or chosen path of a wayward child, know God never leaves or forsakes His loved ones. (Isaiah 41:10)
Find fellowship with other believers on the same side of the struggle. (1 Thessalonians 5:7)
Choose to share your "map" of the same journey with them. (2 Corinthians 1:4)

As my friend, sister in Christ and fellow MAC cancer survivor, Michèle Phoenix, says, "When you get to the "top" remember to call down to those on the way up, not to give up because the view from the top is fabulous. It's worth the climb."

CHOOSE: 3Rs

In choosing 3 Rs, I'm not talking about Reduce, Reuse, Recycle, though those Rs are crucial for the continuance of our environment. I'm not even talking about Readin', Ritin' and Rithmetic. Though education is certainly an important factor for many an individual's success in life, I'm talking about the need of our society as a whole.

We need to rise up and pray; for Repentance, for Revival, and for Renewal of basic moral fervor, tender hearts and an increased sense of caring within our communities.

Repentance--includes turning away from wicked ways (2 Chronicles 7:14)

Revival--revive hearts (Isaiah 57:15)

Renewal---renew a right spirit within (Psalm 51:10)

In a prideful culture that is all about self---self-satisfaction and instant-self gratification, the more folks who choose others over self will certainly bless our nation. An outward focus more than an inward focus certainly refreshes and restores folks around us.

WOW another calculation--repentance, revival and renewal of one's own heart = refreshment and restoration for others! A multiplication of sorts.

Not sure I will be able to attend "Prayer for Revival" group meeting at church next Monday; the beauty of the 3RS for prayer is one can choose it  at any place and anytime. 

Revival is God's arrival.........wherever we are!

CHOOSE: TOO CELEBRATE LIGHT ON THIS 2nd SUNDAY Of ADVENT

As the magi followed the great "light" that rose in the east to find the Lord, (Matthew 2:2) God's word is our light which not only leads us to Him but allows Him to lead us.

Your word is a lamp unto to my feet and a light and a light for my path. (Psalm 119:105)