oh sweet Callie...

pause 'n ponder

quick quotes

Dwight L Moody (1837-1899)

Joy is love exalted; peace is love in repose; long-suffering is love enduring;
gentleness is love in society; goodness is love in action; faith is love on
the battlefield; meekness is love in school; and temperance is love in
training.

I prayed for faith and thought that some day faith would come down and strike
me like lightning. But faith did not seem to come. One day I read in the tenth
chapter of Romans, "Faith cometh by hearing, and hearing by the Word of God."
I had up to this time closed my Bible and prayed for faith. I now opened my
Bible and began to study, and faith has been growing ever since.

A man can no more take in a supply of grace for the future than he can eat
enough today to last him for the next 6 months, nor can he inhale sufficient
air into his lungs with one breath to sustain life for a week to come. We are
permitted to draw upon God's store of grace from day to day as we need it.

☆

Some people cross our path to teach us a lesson,

others to learn from us, some to stay, while others just get us through a chapter in our life,then vanish and sadly are never heard from again.

What matters is not how many people or how much of this or that,the thing that matters most, is how we act in those encounters and relationships, that each one makes us a better person.

~unknown

♥

Yesterday was a very good day.  Our kids and three grandkids were here!  

Their Mom had been asked to speak at two ladies meetings, one at 10:30 am and the other at 7:00 pm.  She talked about how her journey began.  She told of her life experiences overseas: about her average day, adjusting to a new culture, different customs, learning the language, the numerous obstacles she faced, and so much more.  She made us aware of several specific areas we need to remember.  Some of them were unexpected.  There were many questions asked and answered.  She did a wonderful job! 

As I sat listening, my mind wandered (I’m sorry about that).  I remembered the first time I met her, the college years, the engagement ring, the wedding, the birth of my grandkids (one girl, two boys, & little girl out there that will join the family soon).  I listened to her speak with ease and wisdom and confidence.   

There were many ladies there, from young to advanced in age.  Over the years, I feel sure a large number have sat and listened to others talk about their experiences.  But this one was different.  This was my daughter-in-law.  The wife of my son.  The mother of my grandkids.  The one they can relate to.    The one they’ve heard so much about.  The one sitting before them in person.  The one I’m blessed to have in my life.

Yes, yesterday was a very good day.

(For the evening meeting, I had my sweet granddaughter in my lap.  I will cherish the smell of freshly shampooed hair, feeling her body relaxing, and her breathing changing to sleep.  So precious!)

i love what's outside my door...wonderful gifts from God

European Starling

Dark-eyed Junco

Northern Cardinal - female

Goldfinch

Carolina Chickadee

Northern Mockingbird

Long-billed Thrasher

Carolina Wren

House Finch - Male

Downy Woodpecker - Male

Tufted Titmouse

White-throated Sparrow

Northern Cardinal - Male

it’s my life

Ever sat down and thought about your life?  About where you are in life’s journey?  About places you’ve gone and people you’ve met?  About precious memories or awful thoughts?  About what you’ve done right and what you’ve done wrong?  About words you shouldn’t have spoken and those you left unsaid?  About how much or how little money you have?  About what you cherish and what you despise?  About what you look forward to and what you dread?  About what you want and what you need?  About what gives you comfort and what you fear?

About what is important and what really doesn’t matter?

This is a partial list of what really shouldn’t matter to me:

not a big house

not a new car

not my 1200 count sheets

not a flat screen or hdtv

not my smart phone

not a laptop nor notepad nor notebook

not a kindle nor nook

not my watches nor rings nor necklaces nor bracelets nor earrings

not my warm fluffy throw

not my digital camera

not my morning coffee

not my cds nor dvds

not my wireless internet

not my photos nor photoshop nor games nor anything else on my desktop pc (Yikes! Yes, I said a desktop!)

not my blog nor facebook nor email.......

Not one of these things, not a single one, never not ever should matter to me!

both are empty!

I didn’t realize I’ve been away since March 18^th!  This is my Easter post:

"The Resurrection is the ground of our assurance, it is the basis for all our future hopes, and it is the source of power in our daily lives here and now. It gives us courage in the midst of persecution, comfort in the midst of trials, and hope in the midst of this world's darkness." (Preface, in Gerard Chrispin, The Resurrection: The Unopened Gift (Epsom, UK: Day One, 2002), 6.) 

These two sentences from Gerard Chrispin’s book are a glimpse of the magnitude of the resurrection.

First, there was the empty cross, and then there was the empty grave.  Jesus had resurrected from the dead!  We should never forget what took place before Jesus died on the cross, and what took place when He rose from the grave, and what took place in between. 

Before, God required the sacrifice of animals because without their blood, there was no forgiveness. Sacrificing animals to God was no longer needed...  Jesus, the Son of God, was the ultimate sacrifice for our sins!  We are covered by His blood!

and if Christ has not been raised, your faith is worthless; you are still in your sins. Then those also who have fallen asleep in Christ have perished. If we have hoped in Christ in this life only, we are of all men most to be pitied.

1 Corinthians 15:17-19 NAS

thankful for these three gifts from God...