Technical difficulties in Seeing God's Hand preventing posting. Sorry.

Dancer's Delight

1/19/12 Psalm 87:7 says, "They that sing as well as they that dance shall say , All my fountains are in thee." (ASV)

---Singers and dancers alike say, “All my springs are in you.” Psa. 87:7 (ESV)

May I be one who, though she can't sing a lick but loves to dance, recognizes the LORD as the source of living water. May I be one who declares, "springs of spiritual peace and refreshment are available to all who believe." May my delight in my "Lord of the Dance" overflow to others.

CAN YOU HEAR ME NOW!

1/17/12 That's it----that's just what I want. His voice of direction. If I can't hear it, then I'd like to see it---something I can't miss! (My quote from yesterday's blog.)

Mail left on my kitchen table yesterday afternoon. A 2012 program booklet from the Billy Graham Training Center. (The Cove)
Can you hear me now, Dotsy?

My answer---As if on auto-pilot, I turned to Anne Graham Lotz seminar for next November.
I registered. Wouldn't you?

When reading the description, I stood amazed----actually, I had to sit down. "If we want to hear more of His voice....."

Could it be any clearer? Could it be any louder?

I think I can hear Him now.

CLEAR DIRECTIONS

1/17/12 I long to clearly understand God's plan for me, especially now that I am retired. Generally I know the Lord's requirements from Micah 6:8. But.....I want specifics for ministry. Service to others. I want to hear it loud and clear. So far, I've realized His plans for me, after the fact.
Last week's BSF lesson #14 gave a verse for understanding God's guidance.

Your ears will hear a word behind you, “This is the way, walk in it,” whenever you turn to the right or to the left. (Isaiah 30:21)

That's it----that's just what I want. His voice of direction. If I can't hear it, then I'd like to see it---something I can't miss! Like the signs at St. Jude that recently led me to the Grizzlies' House from the hospital.

You're headed in the right direction.

Keep going. Almost there.


None of the aforementioned options, verbal or visible, are occurring. So....what's a gal to do?

I will keep putting one foot in front of the other---after I've spent time with Him. Clearly directing me might not be a piece of cake for Him....but God....can use His principle of inertia on me. I am definitely one of those folks resistant to change. As long as I'm moving, maybe He can just continue to twist and turn and nudge me until I have ears to hear or eyes to see.

Maybe His "mapped out" plan for me isn't one of clear direction but one of plain ole trust.

SCRIPTURAL BIRD WATCHING

1/16/12 Can there be such a thing as scriptural bird-watching?

Not being the resident birder here, I missed National Bird Day this year---actually I’ve missed it every year. It always falls on January 5^th. I wonder, if on that day, anyone correlates Bible verses with bird habits. Probably not.

Married to a semi-birder (he’s never “done” a ”big year” like the one in the recent movie by that name) I’ve learned to make a budget line item for bird food and to house our bird books with the binoculars---both within easy reach of the kitchen table.

I have even come to enjoy the pleasures of bird watching.

Bird watching is calming----though I still find hubby’s bird clock a little grating.

Bird-watching is intriguing. I now see the beauty of the female cardinal as surpassing that of the showier male.

Bird-watching is insightful. One can learn a lot from the nesting, feeding and territorial habits of birds.

Most of my viewing takes place at my big kitchen window---as do some life lessons. When I combine what I am experiencing in life with bird watching and a correlating scripture--- "Voila!"

Today’s verses for meditation come from a combination of

one of my character flaws with the beauty I see in God’s creation of these feathered friends.

25 "Therefore I tell you, do not be anxious about your life, what you shall eat or what you shall drink, nor about your body, what you shall put on. Is not life more than food, and the body more than clothing? 26 Look at the birds of the air: they neither sow nor reap nor gather into barns, and yet your heavenly Father feeds them. Are you not of more value than they? 27 And which of you by being anxious can add one cubit to his span of life? (Matthew 6:25-27)

SABBATH SNAPSHOTS: GIFTS:... ---ADDENDUM

A gift that can keep on giving warmth----but first it has to be given. Daughter Molly assumes she should receive her cowl by Christmas 2014.

SABBATH SNAPSHOTS: GIFTS.......

1/16/12 .....that keep on giving
Monthly floral gift received in May that is NEW every month---a little bit of sunshine for dreary days.Marion in her "Dotsy" togs---an e-mail attachment that makes her Shug keep on smiling!
Kisses from Katie----a good read of passion for the Lord and and ALL his children which warms the heart on a cold day and is continuing to challenge my thinking.
Morning entertainment--
Red Bellied Woodpecker returns for new food....
....along with an immature Hairy Woodpecker friend, I think
















Bible (ESV), Journal, Devotional books

INK JOY

1/13/12 Writing brings me joy as do great writing implements. Finely sharpened pencils. Ink pens with flowing ink. I no longer have my cartridge filled pens but I still have my flat top Sheaffer pen and ink from the 50s with the snorkel filling system----just put the tip in the bottle and pull the lever for it to slurp the ink up and in.

What brings joy to God? Prayers of His children? My prayers?

Prayers are important to God. His word tells us to pray without ceasing (1Thess. 5:17) Obviously God desires our prayers----continual communion with Him---even though they don’t add anything to who God is. He doesn’t need our prayers to complete His work, but He desires them. Revelation 5 passage, particularly verse 8, convinced me that our prayers are important to God. If they are kept in a golden bowl, I can only assume that they bring him delight and Joy.

When He had taken the book, the four living creatures and the twenty-four elders fell down before the Lamb, each one holding a harp and golden bowls full of incense, which are the prayers of the saints. (the prayers of God's people, true believers) (Revelation 5:8)

I desire to bring more joy to the Father this year. In my somewhat OC (obsessive compulsive manner), I have all the color-coded journals and albums that hopefully will keep me focused on Him and improve my "too easily distracted" prayer life. My purple Ink Joy pen for “inkings” (jottings) in my purple “Praises, Prayers and Petitions” journal plus a small one for my purse. Even my light purple (lavender doesn’t start with a p) motif photo album filled with pix of those Saturday kids (big & little) for whom I pray. Faces to focus on. Prayers for salvation, growth in grace and knowledge, godly spouses and anything else the Lord lays on my heart. Faces to bring me joy as I pray.

May my praises and prayers in purple “ink” bring Him joy as well in 2012!

STATUS WOE

1/12/12 Monday’s First Evan prayer time verse from Micah 7 reflected my musings. It took me awhile just to get beyond verse 1, “Woe is me!”

But God…..

⁷ But as for me, I will watch expectantly for the LORD; (more time in His Presence with Word open)
I will wait for the God of my salvation. (waiting for status woe “funk” to pass)
My God will hear me. (Keep crying out & allow others to cry out on your/my behalf)
⁸ Do not rejoice over me, O my enemy. (despair, irritability, sadness)
Though I fall I will rise; (every year around this time seems to be the pattern)
Though I dwell in darkness, the LORD is a light for me. (It’s there I see it!! Light for me from the One who created light and gives light to His children.)

Teetering emotions are on the upswing.

Status woe is NOT my status quo today!

"negativi-TEA"

1/10/12 negativiTEA is a cuppa that I serve others way too often as each new year begins. I know that because I have a post-it® note in my journal that warns me----a funk is coming. An irritability coupled with a darkness that is overwhelming. The scribble really serves as a reminder to accept it and not be blind-sided. Acceptance with preparation----know that there is a brighter day coming. (Usually within the 2nd week of the month.) Only a few more days, maybe.

I've been asking self, “Is it hormonal?” Is it because of the 1/9/09 cancer diagnosis? Emotional let down from holidays?

What ever the cause, the effect is one of pessimism. I become Negative Nelly or Dotsy Downer, as daughter dubs me. Life’s focus is one of disapproval---the flaws of others, the faults and foibles of self.

NegativiTEA is a hard cuppa to swallow. I choke on it myself. Why do I serve it to others, especially loved ones! I don't intentionally serve it but my cuppa seems to slosh over and "dampen" their lives, as well. I think negativiTEA must be the beverage of choice for those in the pit. So....I just need to get out of the pit.

My post-it® note had a suggestion---a spiritual RX of sorts. Time in word during holidays might help. (I wish I had dated that note to track the timetable of this annual malady.)

I need to remember the One "who redeems your (my) life from the pit, who crowns you (me) with steadfast love and mercy, (Psalm 103:4)

Praises for the One who can hear my cry, bring me up of the of the pit, and redirect my footsteps----even putting a new song in my mouth----a song of praise. (Psalm 40:1-3) If others see that in my life during this time may they know it flows from His cuppa, not mine. Grace: His antidote for my negitivi-TEA.