JUMBLED FOCUS!

Is "jumbled focus" an oxymoron? Or am I just the moron? 

Wordsmiths know all about such contradictory terms. 

For this moron, whose brain is in a state of "organized chaos" these days, some oxymorons seem to make sense.

But God, in His mercy and great love, (Ephesians 2:4) patiently reminds me to "keep on keeping on" in the focus realm.

Setting (and resetting as needed) my "mind on things above not on things that are on earth." (Colossians 3:2)

God has been cutting me some slack lately as I have been in such a "fluctuating" state of focus. 

Maybe I, as well, need to "cut myself some slack" in the midst of this  "jumbled focus" time---knowing "in quietness and trust is my strength!"

LOST VOICE!

This morning I awakened with NO voice?

Sometimes in a group I might sense I have "no voice" in certain discussions. 

This new voice omission is not social; it's physical.

Today, long-time friends had "lunch and love" at Beth's. I couldn't even squeak out much that was discernible, so I laughed and  "listened."

 

LISTENING! Understanding dawned! 

Listening was the answer, literally.

Be still....listen to God and others had been a heart prayer of mine recently.

Quietude.

Faith strengthening increases as one seeks to listen the Lord in order to know him better. (Romans 10:17) Evidence of the strengthening in that relationship is seen as one chooses to listen! To God first and then to others.....looking not only to his/her own interest, but also to the interests of others. (Philippians 2:4)

A "lost voice" was the perfect answer to my prayer! A blessing for me!

DANCE IS STILL A CHOICE!

Dance can be a divisive topic. Physically. Socially. Spiritually  

Dance has certainly changed physically and socially through the years. 

Some folks can be dismissive of dance as one ages and choose to sit out.

When people think you're too old to learn new tricks (steps)....take a "tap" class or Zumba Gold and show 'em! ) or not!

What about spiritual? Again, choices vary.

Certain congregation participants refuse to clap or raise hands within their sanctuary, regardless of the music that plays---hymns or praise songs. Others dance in the aisles. Not wrong, just different. 

Dancing is mentioned in the Bible and used in the OT as a means of worship. 

Read a few Bible verses and decide for yourself.

In 2 Samuel 6:14, "David dances before the Lord with all his might," an example of surrender to his Maker

"Let them praise his name with dancing..."(Psalm 149:3)

Psalm 150 includes ways of praising the Lord with trumpet, harp, lyre and dance, along with other instruments.

"...there is a time to dance." (Ecclesiastes 3:4)

Lamentations 5:15 illustrates, joy leaving our hearts when dancing has turned to mourning.

When you get the choice to sit it out or dance....DANCE! 

That would be my choice. What's yours?

 

Dance is still a choice....no answer is right or wrong, just different. 

5 WORDS MEDITATION

"Monday Meditation".........."through love serve one another."*

Only 5 words from Galatians 5:13.

Few words to bring many thoughts.

"Self-indulgent" words" omitted.

How will I/you respond to those words today.

FOND FAREWELLS!

Bye, Bye, Beach!

Bye, Bye, "BIG WATER," as the older cousins first called it!

Whether by jet to NY, truck to NC or SUV to TX---all arrived safe and sound to sleep in their own homes. 

"NIte, I love you." as our family always says!

BIRTHDAYS @ BEACH

Celebrating with a cousin is always more fun!

Gogo is almost 4!!!! Jack just turned 5!!!!!

A headband made by sister, Lucy under Aunt Molly's tutelage!

A headband Yay---water guns.....

...and Donut Chalk!

What a glorious mess!

For Uncle Corey to clean up.

Grandchildren are the crown of the aged, and the glory of children is their fathers. (Proverbs 17:6)

So grateful to "see my children's children!" (Psalm 128:6)

My grandchildren are always in my heart, on my mind and in my prayers!

PLAY BY THE SEA!

PLAY DOUGH, THAT IS!

The single digit year cousins helped make play dough.

Those double digit year cousins ......used "helping the younger ones" as justification to join the "play."

DONUT HOLE

YUM!

What a way to start a Big Water day.

So many Donut Hole locations but we went to the original one. 

Jack took his giraffe which has now become a goat. 

He ordered s donut with sprinkles to eat his way---1 sprinkle at a time with a side of bananas and blueberries. 

When his "BIG PANCAKE" arrive his eye opened

 wide and his excited hands flew up!

Hooray! Hooray!!

Hooray1 Hooray!!    We 're on our way.....our "BIG WATER" vacation begins today!

"The sea is His, for He made it; 

And His hands formed the dry land." (Psalm 95:5, NKJV)

"Oh come, let us worship and bow down; Let us kneel before the Lord our God our Maker." .(Psalm 95:6, NKJV)

PREPOSITIONS!

Prepositions are very small, common words. We're all familiar with them as they point to or show direction.Think....by, for, to, through, in and of. My 4th grade teacher Mrs. Munday taught us not to end our sentences with a preposition but that rule seems to have vanished these days.

What hasn't changed: Prepositions all have an object. Prepositions precede said object. Objects of prepositions are nouns or pronouns, NEVER a verb. That's the "golden rule" of prepositions.

Yesterday's New Morning Mercies (July 11) was filled with prepositions pointing to the ONE who is always the answer!

For to us a child is born, (Isaiah 9:6)

For from him and through him, and to him were all things. (Romans 11:36)

For by him, all things were created in heaven and on earth, visible and invisible, (Colossians 1:16)

And he is before all things and in him all things hold together. (Colossians 1:17)

...by your will (all things) existed and were created. (Revelation 4:11)

BTW, regardless of the preceding preposition....The answer is JESUS!