I'm linking up with the Gypsy Mama for Five Minute Friday.

We are to write for five minutes on the following prompt:   'DANCE'.

I love to watch dancers.  They seem so graceful and free.  I long to let myself go like that.  But I seem to worry too much about how silly I look.  So I hold myself back.

I've been watching the TV show "So You Think You Can Dance".  I'm amazed by the top 20 contestants this year.  The talent is simply amazing.  To think that they have to learn several new dances each week with different choreographers is beyond me.  To see their graceful lines and their ability to move so effortlessly ...all I can say is wow!

But I realized something.  The dancers on the show are focusing entirely on their craft.  They are receiving teaching, encouragement and often criticism from some of the best choreographers.  And each week they improve.  It's amazing what focus and training can do.

My dancing is nothing like this.  I love movement and grace.  I even took dance lessons as a child and for a year as an adult.  But I never focused fully on dancing.  It was just fun exercise for me.

Dance recital

Can you find me in the back row?  I'm the third from the right.  Yes, I even followed through and danced in a recital.  I'm just glad we got to wear costumes that covered up much.  But it was fun!

1 Corinthians 10:31 says:

"So whether you eat or drink or whatever you do, do it all for the glory of God."

I may not be a dancer.  But I've been given unique gifts from the Lord.  I want to use them for His glory. 

Blessings and love,

A smile can make a difference!

I was on Facebook (of course) and noticed my friend Lisa Shaw posted this:

Sitting in the waiting room again for my daughter's physical therapy from the accident and FINALLY someone I can relate to....a woman with a warm smile says, "Good morning everyone". Ahh I love people like that! On this rainy, cool early morning our smiles and greetings brought sunshine in. If you know me then you know I'm big on smiles and lovin' on people. :) blessings all!!

It's amazing that something so simple can infect an entire room of people.


I thought of George.  He was a man with a contagious smile. George died in 2003 but I smile every time I think of this man.  He always had a smile on his face.  


Every year for my birthday George called me and sang "happy birthday".  If Greg answered the phone, he'd talk to him and then ask if he could sing to me.  Btw, George was an elderly man from my church.


At George's funeral, Pastor Dan mentioned that George liked to call people on their birthdays. He asked how many of us had been blessed by George's singing.  Almost the entire audience raised their hand.  Then Pastor Dan asked how many of us thought we might be the only one George called each year to sing to.  We all laughed as most of us again raised our hand.


I want to be like George.  How lovely to be able to light up and relax a group of people with a simple smile.  


I found the vinyl decal in the photo on Pinterest.  I'm thinking of buying it to put on my bathroom wall as a reminder each morning.  I may not like all I see when I look in the mirror these days but a smile can make a difference.


Btw, Lisa Shaw has one of the best smiles I've seen.  Having the pleasure of meeting this gal in person, I can say that her smile can light up any room.

Blessings and love,

Show me the way to go.  Signs along the way direct us.  We have the choice to follow them ...or not.

God's Word gives us clear directions.  But again, we have the choice to follow those directions or to ...go our own way.


Which way will you choose?

I'm linking up with Internet Cafe Devotions for Word-filled Wednesday.



Blessings and love,

Today I'm hosting "In Other Words Tuesday".  I invite you to participate by writing your own take on the following quote.  Come back to Heart Choices and link up with your direct URL.  If you are not a blogger, you are welcome to add your comments on our quote for this week.  I love to read your thoughts.

“The eternal perspective is the ability to see all of life from God’s point of view and have what you see affect how you live in the present. Simply stated, the eternal perspective is the ability to walk by faith in God’s Word.”~ Catherine Martin, from A Heart To See Forever

Walking by faith can be challenging.  It's one thing to say you believe that God is in control.  But what happens when your emotions get in the way?  What happens when you aren't seeing answers to the prayers you've prayed again and again?

I don't know about you but there are times when I want to see, hear and feel where I'm going.  And yet God calls us to walk by faith and to trust Him.

I'm in the process of unpacking boxes as we're getting settled in a small condo.  I was delighted when I happened upon a box filled with my journals.  I love to write and as I opened several there were stories I'd almost forgotten.  Prayer requests were written.  From this vantage point, I was able to see that the Lord had heard my cries and many were answered.  Not all were yes.  Some were no or not yet.  But I realized God had better plans for me than some of my requests.

Looking back through the pages of my journals gave me such hope. It was a reassurance to me that God was active and in control of my life, even when I didn't always FEEL it.  I could believe God's Word. There is truth in God's Word.

Believing God encourages me to walk by faith.  

This world is not my permanent home; I'm just passing through. However, while I'm here I want to allow Him to use me for His Kingdom purposes.  I pray that He will give me eyes to see and ears to hear from His perspective.


I can listen for His prompting as I stay close to Him.  Instead of becoming impatient with the grocery clerk who is obviously having a difficult day, I may be able to offer her a smile and word of encouragement instead of being cranky myself.

2 Corinthians 4:18-19 says:

"So we fix our eyes not on what is seen, but on what is unseen.  For what is seen is temporary, but what is unseen is eternal."

How about you?  Are you so focused on the here and now of life that you forget that this world isn't your permanent home?  

• Spend time in prayer and reading your Bible each day.
• Take time to listen to what He has to say to you personally.
• Ask God to give you eyes to see and ears to hear what He wants for you.  
• Ask Him to give you His eternal perspective.  

Keeping an eternal perspective will change the way you live in the present.  

Blessings and love,