who woulda thunk it?

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I went outside this morning to clean out the bluebird house.  This needs to be done after the babies leave the nest, so it’ll be ready for the next batch.  The pine needle nests are such intricate structures, I like to put them somewhere in my flower garden.  Anyway, I used a trowel to carefully remove it....and what a surprise!  A precious newborn and cracks visible on some of the eggs.  I happened to have my camera strapped around my neck, and snapped a few shots.  What an awesome miracle! 

pause 'n ponder

Attitude

"The longer I live, the more I realize the impact of attitude on life.

Attitude, to me, is more important than facts.

It is more important than the past, than education, than money, than circumstances, than failures, than successes,

than what others think or say or do.

It is more important than appearance, giftedness or skill.

It will make or break a company... a church... a home.

The remarkable thing is we have a choice everyday regarding

the attitude we will embrace for that day.

We cannot change our past... we cannot change the

fact that people will act in a certain way.

We cannot change the inevitable.

The only thing we can do is play on the one string we have, and that is our attitude... 
I am convinced that life is 10% what happens

to me and 90% how I react to it.

And so it is with you... we are in charge of our attitudes."

Charles Swindoll

what matters the most (reprise)

When I was growing up, there were things I dreamed about being, and things I dreamed about doing. I’d imagine my future held promise, and believe my life had possibility. I dared to dream, but did my dreams to come true? A few became realities, but most were never fulfilled. But in the end, as long as I believed in myself and believed in Jesus Christ, that’s what mattered the most.

I dreamed of being:
a singer – quite gifted, perhaps someone like Rebecca St. James
a musician – harp, flute, and piano, incredible at all three
an ice skater – graceful and breathtaking
an artist – painting landscapes, striving to capture the splendor of God’s creation

I dreamed of:
sailing across vast seas overflowing with dolphins
riding in a hot air balloon on lazy summer mornings
hiking up a tall mountain bursting with waterfalls
camping in the wilderness close to Gentle Ben
living in a log cabin and having a pet deer

I'm all grown up, but even now, I still wonder and I still dare to dream. This one thing I know for sure - I searched and found the Lord. That's what matters the most...

You will seek me and find me when you seek me with all your heart.
Jeremiah 29:13 (NIV)

"Come," my heart says, "seek his face!" Your face, Lord, do I seek.
Psalms 27:8 (NRSV)

a song and a prayer

Whom have I in heaven but You? And besides You, I desire nothing on earth. My flesh and my heart may fail, But God is the strength of my heart and my portion forever.
Psalm 73:25-26 NIV)

While I was working in the yard this afternoon, I had a song stuck in my head. I sung it over and over and over and over again. It was 'Be Thou My Vision', an old Irish hymn from the 8th century. My favorite Christian artists who have recorded it are Ginny Owens and Rebecca St. James.

This song is a prayer, asking God to work in our lives, in our hearts, and in our thoughts. It reminds me that God is in control of my life, that He lives within me, that He works thru me, and I am His child.
-->All I need is God in my life and to be in His presence. This song is relevant today, as it was when written in the 8th century.

Be Thou my Vision

Be Thou my Vision, O Lord of my heart

Naught be all else to me, save that Thou art

Thou my best Thought, by day or by night

Waking or sleeping, Thy presence my light

Be Thou my Wisdom, and Thou my true Word

I ever with Thee and Thou with me, Lord

Thou my great Father, I Thy true son

Thou in me dwelling, and I with Thee one

Riches I heed not, nor man’s empty praise

Thou mine Inheritance, now and always

Thou and Thou only, first in my heart

High King of Heaven, my Treasure Thou art

High King of Heaven, my victory won

May I reach Heaven’s joys, O bright Heaven’s Sun!

Heart of my own heart, whatever befall

Still be my Vision, O Ruler of all

in my garden

This is my Father’s world,
and to my listening ears
all nature sings,
and round me rings
the music of the spheres.

(‘This is my Father’s World’, words by Malt­bie D. Bab­cock, 1901)
                                            

There’s a deep feeling of comfort when I’m in my garden.  I find it peaceful and relaxing and soothing and calming.  While resting on my bench, I enjoy the scents of flowers around me, the sounds of birds singing, the brilliant colors around me, the splash of goldfish in the pond, the amazing sky above, and the quiet, gentle breezes.

The sun warms and refreshes my soul, and in these precious moments, all is right with the world.

In the beginning God created the heavens and the earth. 

Genesis 1:1 NAS

God saw all that He had made, and behold, it was very good. 

Genesis 1:31 NAS

foto favs

His love is eternal

For I am convinced that neither death, nor life, nor angels, nor principalities, nor things present, nor things to come, nor powers, nor height, nor depth, nor any other created thing, will be able to separate us from the love of God, which is in Christ Jesus our Lord.
(Romans 8:38-39 NAS)

This is a favorite verse of mine. As a Christian, it’s a comfort to know that God’s love is within me for eternity. I’m secure (and totally convinced) in the knowledge of His wondrous, mighty, and unconditional love. I do not, and I can not, envision my life separated from God. I pray that others would accept and believe in Jesus Christ, and experience the eternal love of God.

Considering how great the universe is, and how tiny and insufficient I am, there is no way I can begin to comprehend how much God loves me. He created every thing and every one that has been, that is, and that will be. I don’t have to, nor need to understand the vastness of God’s love. I just know that He does - He does love me.

dear sweet callie!

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Everything I Need To Know In Life, I Learned From My Cat

1. Life is hard, and then you nap.
2. Curiosity never killed anything, except maybe a few hours.
3. When in doubt, cop an attitude.
4. Variety is the spice of life: one day ignore people, the next day annoy them.

5. Climb your way to the top - that's why drapes are there.
6. Find your place in the sun - especially if it happens to be on that nice pile of warm, clean laundry.
7. When you go out into the world, remember: being placed on a pedestal is a right, not a privilege.

Our character is what God and cats know of us.
Thomas Paine

There is something about the presence of a cat...that seems to take the bite out of being alone.
Dr Louis Camuti

:(

I have blogger’s block!

have a blessed easter

there's something about that name.

Jesus, Jesus, Jesus

There's just something about that name

Master, Savior, Jesus

Like the fragrance after the rain

Jesus, Jesus, Jesus

Let all heaven and earth proclaim

Kings and kingdoms shall all pass away

But there's something about that name

is it well with your soul?

No matter what my circumstances are, can I truthfully say ‘it is well with my soul’?

No matter how terrible it may be, no matter how miserable it may be, no matter how difficult it may be, no matter how terrifying it may be, no matter how lonesome it may be, no matter how unbearable it may be, can I truthfully say ‘it is well with my soul’? Even thru sorrows and troubles and trials and...

Yes, even so, it is well with my soul!

‘It Is Well With My Soul’ is an old hymn that has great meaning to me. Its name may seem impossible to truthfully say, but with the peace of Jesus in my heart, it is.

The words of the first verse and refrain are:

When peace, like a river, attendeth my way,
When sorrows like sea billows roll;
Whatever my lot, Thou has taught me to say,
It is well, it is well, with my soul.

It is well, with my soul,
It is well, with my soul,
It is well, it is well, with my soul.


Only thru Jesus can I honestly say it is well with my soul!

Rejoice in the Lord always; again I will say, rejoice! Let your gentle spirit be known to all men. The Lord is near. Be anxious for nothing, but in everything by prayer and supplication with thanksgiving let your requests be made known to God. And the peace of God, which surpasses all comprehension, will guard your hearts and your minds in Christ Jesus.
Philippians 4:4-7 NAS

Even so, it is well with my soul.