The Master's Lead

Five Minute Friday at http://lisajobaker.com/2012/06/five-minute-friday-dance/

I don’t know how to dance.  I can’t dance with you.  I stop and pray.  I will dance with my Lord.  I submit to His lead.  It is jerky at first, but His gentle pressure guides me.  I submit to His lead.  I am awkward and I don’t do well.  Oh, I step on His toe.  Will I learn to dance?

. My Lord, my Father, my Master, He is patient.  He guides me, then twirls me.  I am learning to relax under His leadership.  I submit to His lead.  I smile and glide.  He is a master, the Master. 
He knows how to dance and He teaches me.  I submit to His lead.  I am learning to dance.  It is becoming more natural and comfortable as I rest in His lead.  

I can dance with you; I have been taught.  I go to the Master for lessons.  He is gentle; He is passionate; He knows what He is doing.  He is making a dancer of me as I submit to His lead.  I delight in His lead.  I delight in the dance.

It's About Relationships

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Life is about relationships.  How does evolution explain that?  The relationship between male and female to propagate the species, ok, that would be necessary, but relationships with emotions, encouragement, laughter,   connectedness with      friends, frustration, challenges, hurt, emoting of any kind, well, that makes no sense at all in the evolutionary model.  We were made for relationship by a loving God who created us first and foremost to have relationship with Him.  God knows about relationships since He was in relationship in the context of the Trinity before the creation of the world.  Relationship, then, is part of the innate character of who God is.  When thought of in this context, relationship makes perfect sense; it is an expression of the character of God.

The kind of relationship that reflects the character of God is relationship of commitment.  God is committed within the Trinity, and He is committed to us, His fallen creatures who He has created in His image, to reflect His character and dwell in His pleasure.  It is the fallen part that makes relating and commitment so hard.  We find it hard to love, hard to forgive, hard to just get along.  However, if we will work through the challenges, delight in the God who made us, submit to the Holy Spirit given to us to help us as we struggle through relating, we will find richness, growth, and joy by standing firm in our committed relationships.  “It is of Jehovah's lovingkindness that we are not consumed, because His compassions fail not.  They are new every morning; great is Thy faithfulness.  Jehovah is my portion, saith my soul; therefore will I hope in Him.”  (Lamentations 3:22-24)  God is loving and faithful to put up with us and see us through to the end.  Will we reflect that loving faithfulness in our approach to those whom God has given us in relationship, whether they deserve it or not?

Risk - Five Minute Friday

I'm still figuring out this blogging thing, and one thing I just figured out is that the five minute Friday gal actually posts the prompt for the day.  So since that is a new insight for me, I thought I would do a second five minute Friday for today.  I still haven't figured out how to link to the actual site and become part of the five minute friday gang, but each day brings new lessons.  Today's prompt is risk so here goes...

Five Minute Friday at http://thegypsymama.com/category/five-minute-friday/ 

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There’s an elephant in the room and no one, including me will address it.  Is it because I think it belongs here?  Or maybe I think it will stomp all over me if I try to take it on.  Perhaps I am just afraid that I won’t handle the elephant correctly and then who knows what it might do.  I have been with this elephant before and it is difficult to take risks around it.  I have been with similar elephants before.  They always make me uncomfortable but I just don’st seem to know what to do with them.  Why won’t I take the risk to deal with these animals?  They cause so much stress having them around, but they are there prancing around like nobody’s business.  And perhaps that is the reason I won’t risk it.  Is it really my business.  Who is this nobody anyway?  If it is nobody’s business, this elephant, then why can’t this nobody come and take him away?  Why does this elephant so often show up to make relationships uncomfortable when the elephant belongs to nobody.  Somebody should take a risk and come deal with this nobody character.

Kindness revisted - Five Minute Friday

Five Minute Friday at http://thegypsymama.com/category/five-minute-friday/ 

I can’t seem to get the definition of kindness out of my mind.  The definition I found said kindness was being friendly, generous, and considerate.  It seems to me that that is backward.  One might not be especially friendly and yet not be unkind.  One can be not necessarily generous and still not be unkind.  However, it is difficult not to be considerate without simultaneously being unkind.  One might have to go out of one’s way to be friendly and generous, but being considerate ought to be just a product of our regular dealings with one another.  When you are done eating, put your own dish in the dishwasher instead of leaving it on the table.  As you get back from the pool or taking a shower, hang up your towel instead of leaving it on the floor for someone else to pick up.  Use words like please and thank you.  These are just basics of being considerate and to be otherwise is inconsiderate and unkind.  

Simple Acts of Kindness

A friend gave me a copy of the Good Housekeeping, July 2012 issue when he was done with it.  Right away an article listed on the cover caught my eye, “Little Acts of Kindness, that will change your life.”  Since our typical diet of news is replete with the negative happenings around us, I always appreciate articles like this that add more nourishing energy to our psyche.  Beginning with a quote by Winston Churchill, “We make a living by what we get.  We make a life by what we give,”  author Katy McColl discusses some of the fruitful benefits of giving for the giver, as she offers plenty of ideas on simple acts that any of us can implement to give a boost to our lives. 

My children seem to come up with similar simple wisdom to Churchill.   My son, Kipp, observed recently, “Do you know that there are billions of people in the world, Mom?  Why is it with billions of people in the world and so much time in our lives, that we let little things in little moments by just a few people cause us so much grief?” 

Healing Crisis - Five Minute Friday

Five Minute Friday at http://thegypsymama.com/category/five-minute-friday/ 

What is a healing crisis?  Within my limited knowledge,the best way I can describe it is a healing crisis is the way the body deals with the unloading of toxins, whether they be pollutants or microbes.  As your body goes through the process of cleansing when you oil pull, change your diet to one of healthier choices, or choose some cleansing process, you can experience events which are very much like sickness or like other ailments you have had in the past.  I have read that these can often be a reliving of what you have experienced in reverse order even back to childhood.  So that if you most recently had a cold and last year you had a swollen ankle, for instance, you might have cold symptoms again and after that at some point you may re-experience the swollen ankle.

I haven’t quite figured out how that might work if say you have had a heart attack, but I hope my research will provide further insight.  That’s brief, but we are out of time.  The point is, if cleansing, don’t run to the medicine closet if you feel sick; rejoice that you are getting healthier with each cough.

Storms Come. Be Ready.

art source

“Mom, I heard a quote the other day that I know you would like.  ‘Storms will come in life, but without rain, we’d have a drought.’”

As part of a Bible Study assignment, we were discussing the oft repeated one-liners spoken in our home over the years.  The exercise was to consider the things you have heard in your home, and then evaluate those thoughts from a Biblical perspective.

We listed several of the ones we could think of that had become part of the family mantras: 

Dunns are different.

Make good choices.

Nothing good happens after midnight.

It’s not what happens to you, it’s what you do with it.

Attitude ‘A’ everyday!

Be a blessing and be blessed.

Leave a place better than you found it.

Be part of the solution not the problem.

Remember, you are an ambassador for Christ.

What you practice you become.

Health Journal

Five Minute Friday at http://thegypsymama.com/category/five-minute-friday/ 

In early May I decided to start something that is often recommended by doctors, nutritionists, and friends, a health journal.  In my quest for better health, I thought it would be a good way to track changes I was making as well as changes in my condition.  It is already rather fun to look back and see how I began this adventure - yes, at my age everything is an adventure.  

As I go through the process of writing things down, I have become more aware of what I am doing, what I am consuming, and the slight changes in my own wellness.  Journaling does help to motivate and keep me accountable; so I become my own accountability partner.  I am looking forward to what I will learn and to seeing how I will change over the course of the coming year.  For now little changes seem to be reaping positive health-rewards, and I am delighting in the process.

Accountability and Discipleship Prayer-Partners

I have been working on developing a pamphlet or leaflet for women desiring to establish accountability and discipleship relationships.  Here's my first draft and I welcome input.  God bless, Maria

Accountability and Discipleship Prayer-Partners

We are called In Scripture to love one another in the Lord, to come together, support one another, and hold each other accountable as we encourage one another to good works and to walk by the Spirit.  Even in the church it can be difficult to connect to one another as we are either holed away in our homes or too busy with our day-to-day lives and work or simply unable to make the connections when we do meet with others. 

This is a tool to assist accountability partners in building a relationship with one another that is biblical, meaningful, and fruitful. 

 “Be devoted to one another in brotherly love, give preference to one another in honor, not lagging behind in diligence, fervent in spirit, serving the Lord.”  Romans 12:10-11

“This is My commandment, that you love one another, just as I have loved you.”  John 15:12

“Let the word of Christ richly dwell within you, with all wisdom, teaching and admonishing one another with psalms and hymns and spiritual songs, singing with thankfulness in your hearts to God.”  Colossians 3:16

Seek to be specific with each other in your answers to each of the questions to help you to be able to better verbalize your faith walk.   This will also help each of you do what the Scriptures call us to do for one another.  You may not address all of them each time you meet.  This is a tool, a guide to help you build your relationship in a Christ-honoring direction through which you can both get to know each other on a deeper level in order to stand firm in the Lord when and where you face storms and to encourage each other’s growth in Christ.

Determine a regular time to meet, preferably in person, but if that isn’t always practical, then you can skype or talk on the phone, but do meet regularly, once a week or once or twice a month.  Find a schedule that works and allows you to develop a bond of love.

“Sanctify Christ as Lord in your hearts, always being ready to give a defense to everyone who asks you to give an account for the hope that is within you, yet with gentleness and reverence;” 1 Peter 3:15

“Therefore be imitators of God, as beloved children; and walk in love, just as Christ also loved you, and gave Himself up for us , an offering and a sacrifice to God as a fragrant aroma.”  Ephesians 5:1-2

1.  Open by reviewing the Gospel together.  Jesus Christ should be the center of our lives, and we do not give enough legitimate focus to Him, and what He has done and does for us.  Beginning with Jesus reminds us of what is really important and central.

“Blessed be the God and Father of our Lord Jesus Christ, Who according to His great mercy has caused us to be born again to a living hope through the resurrection of Jesus Christ from the dead, to obtain an inheritance which is imperishable and undefined and will not fade away, reserved in heaven for you,” 1 Peter 1:3-4

“For consider Him who has endured such hostility by sinners againsht Himself, so that you may not grow weary and lose heart.”  Hebrews 12:3

“Therefore gird your minds for action, keep sober in spirit, fix your hope completely on the grace to be brought to you at the revelation of Jesus Christ. “  1Peter 1:13

2.   How are you doing with your personal time and relationship with God, devotions, Bible study, prayer?

“Draw near to God and He will draw near to you. “ James 4:8

“Like newborn babes, long for the pure milk of the word, that by it you may grow in respect to salvation,”  1 Peter 2:2

“Pray without ceasing.”  1 Thessalonians 5:17

3.  What is God teaching you?  

“All Scripture is inspired by God and profitable for teaching, for reproof, for correction for training in righteousness; that the man (woman) of God may be adequate, equipped for every good work.  2 Timothy 3:16-17

“But godliness actually is a means of great gain when accompanied by contentment.”  1 Timothy 6:6

4.  How is He challenging you, stretching you, growing you?

“You are my friends if you do what I command you.” John15:14

“…the fruit of the spirit is love, joy, peace, patience, kindness, goodness, faithfulness, gentleness, self-control; against such things there is no law.”  Galatians 5:22-23

“Consider it all joy, my brethren, when you encounter various trials, knowing that the testing of your faith produces endurance.  And let endurance have its perfect result, that you may be perfect and complete, lacking in nothing.”  James 1:2-4

5.  How are you using your gifts for Kingdom purposes?

“For just as we have many members in one body and all the members do not have the same function, so we, who are many are one body in Christ, and individually members one f another.  And since we have gifs that differ according to the grace given to us, let each ecercise them accordingly…” Romans 12:4-6

“And whatever you do in word or deed, do all in the name of the Lord Jesus, giving thanks through Him to God the Father.”  Colossians 3:17

“  If we live by the Spirit, let us also walk by the Spirit.”  Galatians 5:25

6.  How are you involved in God’s mission, sharing the Gospel and/or discipleship?

“Go therefore and make disciples of all the nations, baptizing them in the name of the Father and the Son and the Holy Spirit, teaching them to observe all that I commanded you, and lo, I am with you always, even to the end of the age.”  Matthew 28:  19-20

“I urge you therefore, brethren, by the mercies of God, to present your bodies a living and holy sacrifice, acceptable to God, which is your spiritual service of worship.”  Romans 12:1

“Preach the Word; be ready in season and out of season; reprove, rebuke, exhort, with great patience and instruction.”  2 Timothy 4:2

7.  With what are you struggling and how can I encourage you?

“Bear one another’s burdens and so fulfill the law of Christ.“  Galatians 6:2

 “Blessed is a man who perseveres under trial; for once he has been approved, he will receive the crown of life, which the Lord has promised to those who love Him.  James 1:12

“Therefore, confess your sins to one another, and pray for one another, so that you may be healed.  The effective prayer of a righteous man can accomplish much.”  James 5:16

“But encourage one another day after day, as long as it is still called “Today,” lest any one of you be hardened by the deceitfulness of sin.”  Hebrews 3:13

8.  Do you have relationships that need repairing?

Pursue peace with all men, and the sanctification without which no which no one will see the Lord.”  Hebrews 12:14

“Let all bitterness and wrath and anger and clamor and slander be put away from you, along with all malice.  And be kind to one another, tender-hearted, forgiving one another, just as God for Christ sake has forgive you.  Ephesians 4:22

9.  What thoughts do you need to change and replace?

“We are destroying speculations and every lofty thing raised up against the knowledge of God, and we are taking every thought captive to the obedience of Christ.”  2Corinthians 10:5

“Finally, brethren, whatever is true, whatever is honorable, whatever is right, whatever is pure, whatever is lovely, whatever is of good repute, if there is any excellence and if anything worthy of praise, let your mind dwell on these things.”  Philippians 4:8

10.  What are you thankful for and rejoicing in?

“Give thanks in everything.”  1Thessalonians 5:18

“Rejoice in the Lord always; again I say rejoice!”  Philippians 4:4

“I will bless the Lord at all times; His praise shall continually be in my mouth.  My soul shall make its boast in the Lord; The humble shall hear it and rejoice.  O magnify the Lord  with me, and let us exalt His name together.”  Psalm 34:1-3

“Delight yourself in the Lord, and He will give you the desires of your heart.”  Psalm 37:4

11.  What other prayer requests and concerns do you have that you would like to share with me?  How else can I pray for you?

“Be anxious for nothing, but in everything by prayer and supplication with thanksgiving, let your requests be made known to God.”  Philippians 4:6

“These all with one mind were continually devoting themselves to prayer, along with the women, and Mary, the mother of Jesus, and with His brothers.”  Acts 1:14

“First of all, then, I urge that entreaties and prayers, petitions and thanksgivings, be made on behalf of all men,” 1 Timothy 2:1

Discovery

Five Minute Friday at http://thegypsymama.com/category/five-minute-friday/ 

 Each morning I oil pull as a part of my daily oral hygiene an health regimen.  I take a tablespoon of food oil, usually coconut, swish it around in my mouth for 20 minutes, and then spit it out.  I do this before I brush my teeth.  Coconut oil is hard below 76 degrees, and so usually needs to be softened.  Recently I took to softening by placing in a cup and that into a pot or bowl of hot water.  As I was going through this process one morning, I placed the scooping spoon into the hot water.  Immediately the oil left on the spoon was released into the water as it too became soft.

Being the frugal person I am, I took hold of that oil with two fingers and smoothed it onto my hands.  I found that it absorbed more easily than using the oil directly and hydrated my hands at the same time.  They were less greasy as well.  My husband commented how that must have been such a delight for me, oil, no waste, and soft hands all in one, and of my own discovery.  Oh yes, quite the delight.

The Joy Pain Offers

Though when in the midst of pain, its positive benefits may not be our primary focus, perhaps they should be.  Tolerating, and perhaps even welcoming pain, may also be just a delight away.  What can we do to foster a productive view of pain while seeking to endure it, move through it, and overcome it to the greatest degree possible?  There are probably multifarious answers to this question, but I would like to explore it just a bit from my own experience.  Pain comes in all shapes and sizes, from mild discomfort to torturous torment.  Much of it we bring or have brought on ourselves as a result of choices we make or have made, choices which may have been good or bad. 

Some obvious bad choices, like smoking, can have immediate negative consequences, and down the road, long term painful effects.  The short term negatives are painful as well, though we may not define them as such because the magnitude is minimal.  If we are self-aware and responsive to that self-awareness, that discomfort brought about by the negatives of smoking, even if minute initially, could act as a catalyst to bring about change which would help us make better choices.  Pain combined with self-awareness then can help us move out of poor choices and into better ones - one thing to be joyful about. 

Though I know people who smoke who I wish would gain some self-awareness from their discomfort to redirect their paths, it isn’t my personal pain problem.  However, there are irritations and even significant tribulations which I have been party to creating in my own life.  Eating too much and eating the wrong things have added burdens to my body that left their mark in unwelcome and even agonizing ways.  Failing to floss as sedulously as I should, I have suffered with multiple misfortunes of the dental kind.  Impetuous decisions and actions, as well as letting emotions guide me, have resulted in significant loss, unnecessary conflicts, and other consequential troubles, which have been problematically painful.  None of these self-inflicted wounds were joyful in themselves, but when viewed  rightly, they did cause me to grow in fruitful ways.  I have learned that knowledge IS power and so have sought to acquire all I can to address and conquer my infirmities, empowering me to take actions to deal with the source problem as well as the symptoms that resulted.  I need not be defeated because I have issues of age or ailment or anything else.  I can move from defeat to triumph with sagacious reflection and action.  

Some of the problems with which I will have to continue to contend are not in and of themselves a joy either, but they can be a reminder of all that there is to be joyful about.  Developing a heart of thanksgiving helps deflect an attitude of bitterness, dejection, or anger.  “Rejoice in the Lord always, Again I say rejoice.”  Philippians 4:4.  This verse is prescriptive as is this whole chapter of the book of Philippians in the Bible.  When we can learn to turn our thinking around, count our blessings, if you will, we can gain perspective on our problems and deal effectively with those issues that will pull us down.  We need not give in to a downward drift if we can foster an attitude of gratitude which will pull us up and perpetuate a delight-directed life.

Of course pain is not always self-wrought.  We encounter a myriad of painful emotional trials and physical tribulations which assault us without any provocation.  These too, however, can be dealt with in similar fashion, and those outside our control often offer the greatest benefits.  

Self-awareness, perspicacious action, and deliberate contemplative, and celebratory gratitude will empower anyone to address whatever we encounter.  There is no substitute for God’s prescriptions from which these three principles flow.  As pain leads one to spend more time in His company, we attain the greatest benefit of them all. 

Joining the Five Minute Friday Challenge - Wasted Energy

Five Minute Friday at http://thegypsymama.com/category/five-minute-friday/  

One of the first pieces of furniture that I purchased was a combination book case, tv stand, kitchen stand.  Shortly after I made the purchase, it was discounted even further.  I could have saved an additional 30 dollars.  I stewed over that 30 dollars for the longest time.  It bothered me.  I could have saved 30 dollars more, and I couldn’t seem to let it go.  Then one day I realized how much that 30 dollars was robbing me.  I was losing so much more than the 30 dollars emotionally and spiritually which ultimately meant physically as well.  I determined then that I was not going to let it take any more away from me.  

That piece of furniture still stands  in my house.  I use it for storage in our cellar closet.  It reminds me each time I look at it how we can waste time and energy on some pretty futile thoughts when we could be focusing on valuable delights.

From Pain to Natural Healing

My journey into blogging began with my journey into better health.  I have suffered with several pain issues over the past several years, most recently a debilitating bout with back pain.  Two herniated discs, one bulging and putting pressure on nerves leading into my arm, kept me in excruciating pain.  After more than a month of chiropractic care, several different medications for pain, and physical therapy, the spine surgeon said, “It’s time for surgery.”  He explained the surgery to me, and I went home to think about it.  It did not take more than a few days for me to agree; the pain was just too unbearable, and I could endure it no longer.  

After my decision, however, I began to have moments of relief.  The moments turned to hours, and I began to question the wisdom of running to surgery.  I talked with a number of people who had chosen to do it and a few who had decided not to, who had chosen to wait.  Then I would have days of misery which would send me back to considering the operation as the only option.  As the day drew near though, I seemed to be bearing the unbearable more tolerably.  I noticed that my good days were becoming more frequent and my bad days less severe.  Just a few days before, I decided to hold off on surgery to give me time to investigate healthy alternatives and natural healing methods as I continued physical therapy.  It was 2 and 1/2 months since this particular episode of back pain had begun, and I felt like I was improving.  I could wait.

One night as I struggled to sleep, the idea of oil pulling popped into my head.  It had been 20 years since someone had mentioned this idea to me.  At that time, a friend who had suffered with disabling fatigue to the point of being bedridden told me someone had suggested to her that she try oil pulling.  Since she was willing to try anything, it didn’t take much convincing.  She told me after just three days, she had more energy than she had had in years and was on the road to recovery.  This person was one of the most energetic people I knew at the time.  I couldn't imagine her with chronic fatigue. 

What would make me think of this now, I didn’t know?  I could barely remember what it even was, but like my friend, I was willing to try anything -- within reason.  The next day investing some time in searching the internet for oil pulling, I was not disappointed with the wealth of information I found there.  I would try it.

Taking into my mouth a tablespoon of olive oil, I swished back and forth for 20 minutes, then spit it out.  Surprisingly, I DID notice an elevation in my energy level.  I continued to do this for several days, but decided to also continue my research both of oil pulling and other natural health approaches.  If I was going to heal my back, I knew that weight, sleep, and better eating were part of the key, and I also knew that God, the author and finisher of all things good,  ultimately had the answers.  What started as a vague thought about oil pulling became an all out delight-directed search for truth in healing.

It occurred to me then that I could be successful in any area if I would let delight direct my path.  First, I got excited about seeking out the truth regarding oil pulling.  I found a book, Oil Pulling Therapy by Bruce Fife, and consumed it.  So thrilled about what I was learning, I shared my message with everyone who would listen.  I bought several copies of the book so I could lend them out to friends who asked for more as well.  I immersed myself in learning all I could learn about oil pulling, then moved on to the tangents of natural healing that branched out from my study - coconut oil, detox methods, healing crisis, and more.  The point is, as I poured myself into this education and actively decided to stir this passion, it became my delight and directed my course to successful healing.

I am so grateful to God for a new-found comprehension of not only healthy healing alternatives, but in my growth of understanding of delight’s role in success.  Working to motivate myself was as important as what I did to heal, because it was fuel for being able to carry it out.  I could be an active agent in healing my body and stirring my delight.  About three months since my decision began to hold off surgery, I was eating better and lost 30 pounds.  I was sleeping better and had additional energy.  I was off all medications and had relief in my back like I hadn’t had in 6 months since my most recent occurrence began and years since I started having back pain originally.  I felt like a new person.  Answers are available and the move towards health - spiritual, emotional, physical - is just a delight away.  

Update:  Now a year since that bout of back pain occurred, I am still holding it at bay.  I do have to be sure my exercise includes stretching or I feel it creeping back into the danger zone.  I do use my neck traction devices a couple times a week or more if it is acting up.  A tens unit, which can be purchased for as little as about $30 on Amazon, has been great for helping with pain.  I have had to resort to medication on an off, but no longer do I live on ibuprofen.  Natural methods are still providing relief from pain and delight in the journey.

                                                              

Involved in the Choice

We all know those someones who lighten the atmosphere wherever they happen to be.  Something about them lifts you when you are with them.  Rather than a chore to be around, they energize you, almost relieving your own burden of cares.  Just thinking about people like this makes me want to take a deep breath to breathe in the fragrance of delight they exude. 

However whether or not you are one of those people who lights up a room, you still have the choice to be someone who is vitalized or drained by existence, who is an energizer or a drag to themselves and others, who delights in life or chases happiness with discontent.   We make choices with each thought we allow to cycle and recycle through our minds.  We recycle thoughts more than we think new ones.  And much of what we rethink is negative.  

Knowing that about one’s thinking empowers and helps one to be more attuned to one’s inner self, to identify what is undermining one’s successful direction, and to make different choices.  One need not be stuck in a malaise.  We can adjust our thinking and change our condition.  One of my husband’s frequent one-liners to recalibrate our children’s thinking is, “It’s not what happens to you, it is what you do with it.” This is key to delight-directed living.

I think that concept is the reason my favorite books brought to screen are Anne of Green Gables and Anne of Avonlea.  In the movie Anne epitomizes someone who delights in living no matter what comes her way.  In one scene, Anne invites a boring, unhappy, spiteful schoolmarm to come home with her to Avonlea for the summer.  Sure that Anne must not be sincere, the schoolmarm spews out about her miserable existence, then taunts Anne, insisting Anne can’t possibly understand since she has always had it so easy.  Of course the miserable spinster doesn’t know the difficult rejection and trials Anne has experienced, yet persistently overcome.  What happened to her made her stronger, wiser, better, because of what she did with it. 

I am constantly in the middle of the process of gauging my own responses and evaluating my own mental rumination.  Am I letting myself get bogged down in the muck and mire of negative recycled thought?  If so, I have a choice;  I need not believe the lies;  I can change directions.  If I am to live a delight-directed life, then I must be actively engaged in my responses, my thinking, and my living.  

“We are destroying speculations and every lofty thing raised up against the knowledge of God, and we are taking every thought captive to the obedience of Christ.”  (1 Corinthians 10:5)  

Beginning with Delight

Too many folks suffer from a lack of joy.  There is hope.  It resides in learning to delight, learning in what to delight, and then letting that delight guide your living - thus delight-directed living.