Wednesday, March 23, 2016

Waiting---adverbial directions

Waiting is not static. In the spiritual realm waiting is a time of expectancy. Waiting expectantly is the psalmist's adverbial rendering.
In the morning, LORD, you hear my voice; in the morning I lay my requests before you and wait expectantly. NIV (Psalm 5:3) 

As Andrew Murray puts it, "Christians do not know.....the unspeakable blessedness of continually waiting on God." (Waiting on God, p. 13) 

Continually. Uninterrupted. A constant in my life. Not just this specific time of waiting for emotional, physical and possible medical directions. 

Patiently. An adverb that is not in my adverbial repertoire when it comes to waiting. 

I waited patiently for the LORD; he turned to me and heard my cry. (Psalm 40:1)
I want a new song --Now---actually yesterday.  (Psalm 40:3)

So you, by the help of your God, return, hold fast to love and justice, and wait continually for your God. ESV Always is an appropriate waiting adverb too. God's Word translation says, "always wait with hope for your God." Love the propositional phrase that emphasizes how to wait---with hope. (Hosea 12:6)
Waiting, with adverbial directions-----and prepositional hope!
Waiting on God----but without GRAMMATICAL GAFFES, I hope! After all, it's Wordsmith Wednesday!

Tuesday, March 22, 2016

Passing Time While Waiting

Can't waiting be more than just "whiling away the hours?"

Spending time at West Clinic today as I waited for a friend's radiation treatment to "finish up," I picked up a book, to "finish up" my morning read.  Roger Rosenblatt's, making toast, "a painfully beautiful memoir....how people die out of order." (E.L. Doctorow)
It became more than "passing time" as I came across a few jewels. 
When the author's grandaughter responded to her "Boppo's" comment that children have no power... 
"That's not true, Boppo," she said. "We have the power of thought and kindness." (p. 159)

Rosenblatt's summation of a book review he had written (Deaf Sentence) concerning Desmond  Bates visit to Auschwitz, " '...I see how one was unable to value the passing time.' "
"As far as I can tell, this is how to live---to value the passing time." (p. 157)

 A needed reminder ---when in a season of waiting, value the passing time. 

Wednesday, March 16, 2016

MINDFUL

Mindful. A full mind. 
What should the contents of one's mind be? 
Not regrets. Not fears. Not financial worries. Not distress.
So.....I've been meditating on filling my mind---
(happy thoughts, pure thoughts, worthy thoughts, Phil. 4:8)
Acrostic reminder (Draft form)---

M - ini moment celebrations as I
I - ntentionally & thankfully
N - otice God's hand and
D - elight in Him & discover more of His truth--
F - inally... fully forgiving myself and others so that I
U - nderstand my
L - Lord's lasting love!

Then, I found this----
Others must need a handle on their thought life as well!

Sunday, March 13, 2016

Little Big Shots - Four-Year-Old Basketball Trick Shot Whiz

This is for my "grand boys" to watch! He even shoots from a raised platform at the end. (Hopefully, the innuendo will go right over their heads and they'll just watch the tricks!)
I have seen them do many "fun" shots as well from the balcony in Texas!


Wednesday, March 9, 2016

Quotidian Quest

Alliteration strikes again. Of course, it's Wordsmith Wednesday.

Quotidian. A great word that keeps popping up lately in my reading.

Mr. Webster defines quotidian (kwōˈtidēən/) as an adjective---- occurring every day. Many think of it as the ordinary----the everyday---possibly occurring so routinely that we don't give it much thought. 
Mundane is probably a synonym of quotidian though I haven't confirmed. 
A quotidian schedule. A ritual. A routine.
A quotidian cuppa is certainly a part of my morning ritual.

As far as routines go, I learned those from a master---Daddy. You could set your clock by him. The sense of routine and order bode him well, especially as he aged. Routine offered security. Habits long practiced kept him focused. 

  • ....LORD; in the morning my prayer comes before you. (Psalm 88:13)
  • My soul waits for the Lord More than the watchmen for the morning; (Psalm 130:6)
  • In the morning, LORD, you hear my voice; in the morning I lay my requests before you and wait expectantly. (Psalm 5:3)
Quiet time with an open Bible, more that a morning ritual-------scripture is more of a love letter from God to our quotidian lives which give hopes to our little corner of the world.
A Quotidian Quest of Quality.

Sunday, March 6, 2016

Mind Speed

"90 to nothing."
The term is slang, used heavily in the South. For me, it means y'ull (Southern for you will) have a millon things to do and y'ull be moving fast to get all those things finished. 
Admittedly, in our household, 11th hour is the default timing for productivity. Wait 'til the last minute. Crisis management style = most accomplished in the least amount of time. 
But....I no longer want "90 to nothing" accomplishments or productivity---I want peace. 
Peace of mind.


This little, old, streaked blonde, lady I know, way down South, talk's "90 to nothing," drives "90 to nothing", and is "90 to nothing" at everything...and I mean everything...unless she's asleep, then I imagine she dreams "90 to nothing!" When she can sleep, that is.

If  my mind is going to continue in what I see as warp speed, I need to make sure my mind is full of worthy thoughts. (Philippians 4:8)
Worthy NOT worrisome. 
An acrostic is needed. (A work in progress---help me out)

M
I
N
D
F
U
L

Wednesday, March 2, 2016

Wednesday Wordsmiths

Wednesday Wordsmiths.
My daily prayer list is compartmentalized in a way that would not make a bit of sense to others----but that doesn't matter as it is "my list" and tends to help my recall.
God has been gracious to help me remember what day it is and thus folks for whom I intercede on each day of the week.......as recall these days seems more difficult.
Part of my Wednesday "default" list is filled with wordsmith friends and family.
Wednesday Wordsmith Bernie has recently shared her Biblical Truths --Alliterated. Now that's right up my alley. 
Acronyms. Acrostics. Alliteration. 
Any literary device that helps me recall truth is appreciated.
Bernie's "P" list was thought provoking today. A great reminder that as I continue to "wait" I need to remember that the best location for waiting patiently is in His Presence. Patiently, an adverb, that needs to characterize my "waiting" journey. (Psalm 40:1)
My "pig" pottery cup led me to BE's "P" list where patience was listed.

OK, Wednesday Wordsmith Bernie, now I need some M(s). 
M(s) to keep me mindful or maybe help on my mindful acrostic, as I'm struggling to keep my wandering mind filled with positive, peaceful ponderings. (especially in the wee hours) 

Monday, February 29, 2016

Adverbs to never use----never and always, oops

Seems like I'm always waiting for something. 
Obviously, I'm not the only one. Shauna Niequest in cold tangerines, writes of waiting to become something else----the person she is biding her time to be...." (p. 15)
Biding. A Mama Davenport term. I've always known, because of her, that sometimes one has to "bide her time" BUT not to miss opportunities and adventures along the "wait."
I recommend an icy glass of sweet tea and a Niequest's chapter "on waiting"* as an adventure during my wait for results of hubby's MRI.
*Enlarge the pic & enjoy celebrating "little" moments...
instead of waiting for those big ones!

Now I'm learning that waiting never needs to be static. Waiting is attitudinal and "the wait" does not have to be undesirable or uninteresting.

Hubby said, just last night, "I can't wait for SPRING!" Yet, the calendar shows---this "Leap Year," means he will have to wait an extra day!
But...he can wait with a positively expectant outlook, maybe even celebrating the 365.25 day itself.
It's his choice---- always a choice for each of us in our waiting game!

Today's "Google" pic might indicate a "nap" as a good option as one anticipates springtime.
I never say "no" to a nap!

Friday, February 26, 2016

Waiting---adverbial directions

Coming soon---you'll just need to wait patiently, joyfully and expectantly!

Wednesday, February 24, 2016

Spiritual Permission

Do you ever have to give yourself "permission" to do something just for yourself----esp in the middle of a "blustery" day?
I had to do just that---a cuppa tea and a cozy mystery. Yet, somehow it seemed like what I needed. 
Whether waiting in a physical space like ER room #2 with your daughter or in a spiritual waiting room of God's design, sometimes you need to "escape" with a little light reading and a warm cuppa.
Agatha Christie is usually a safe bet and The Harlequin Tea Set which was a story collection seem the perfect fit. 

I was reading, relaxing and resting. It seemed almost spiritual.
Guess what? It was. (Romans 8:1)