little butterfly

 Touched by a Butterfly

Dear butterfly,
Majestic monarch of the sky,
holder of universal secrets and reasons why,
color my canvas, touch my heart before I die,
to live in joy, teach me how never to say good-bye.

As you flutter by, you hear me sigh,
things missed because I forgot to try,
on your serene beauty I can rely,
oh what celestial magic you do supply.

Once you did struggle to be free,
you turned your life around to show me,
amazing my angel how you heard my plea,
you've cocooned my mind so I can see.

Lets fly together both as one,
and sore beyond time, once upon,
our silken wings God has spun,
Souls entwined, our infinite journey has just begun.

Author: Michael Levy

(Eastern Tiger Swallowtail)

memories

I came across these old pictures today.  I just sat and stared and stared.  It hit me that this little girl is now 8 and 1/12 years old.  How on earth did this happen???  She is Ladybug, my first grandchild.  Then came Stink Bug, now 6 and 2/3. No Way!!!  Doodlebug is 4 and 3/4.  What???  And, Love Bug, almost 2, will be joining us soon.

Ladybug

Stink Bug

Doodlebug

Love Bug

pause 'n ponder

that's just a start

what is wrong with this world?

violence

wars

terrorists

racism

persecutions

hatred

beheadings

abortions

disputes

murders

homosexuality

hostilities

conflicts

prejudices

genocides

tragedies

that’s just a start

but just think...

how many are lost?

how many are bound for hell?

as Christians,

what can you do about it?

what can I do about it?

prayer

witness

support missions

share your talents

live your life so others will see Jesus in you

do what you can, where you can, when you can

that’s just a start

but just think...

your neighbor may accept Jesus Christ

a family in China may convert to Christianity

that homeless person will hear the story of Jesus

that group of hungry people will also be fed the Word of God

the needs of the war-torn will be met physically and spirituality

that’s just a start

but just think...

no matter what, there is always hope

While studying loneliness in the Bible, I found an abundance of references in the Old Testament.  

Looking at the definition and the difference between being alone and being lonely - one has nothing to do with the other.  Being alone means you have no one with you at a particular time.  Being lonely is an emotion.  You can be lonely when you feel left out, when you have no close friends, when you feel isolated, when you feel no one cares.  You can be lonely even in the presence of others.

In the Bible, one example of loneliness is David.

In Psalm 25:16:

• David was lonely
• He was afflicted
• He was suffering
• He was in deep despair
• He was devastated
• He pleaded to God for mercy

In Psalm 25:21:

• David could only turn to God
• He prayed for protection
• Protection with integrity
• With uprightness
• With honesty
• He plead to God for mercy
• For intervention
• His only hope was in God

Feeling lonely, for whatever reason or circumstance, a Christian can always turn to God.  Only in God will you find true love and joy and comfort and peace and assurance and encouragement and guidance and strength.

Only in God will you find Hope!

one beautiful morning (reprise)

I sit here on my bench, soaking in the dappling sun as it peeks thru the shade of a tree.  There’s a soft breeze, gently kissing my cheeks, carrying the fragrance of flowers swirling all around me.  I hear the bubbling water on the pond, a buzzing bee flying by, the music of the wind chime, the chirping of baby birds.  I open my eyes and see a beautiful butterfly resting on a colorful bloom, a mother sparrow poking a worm into her nest, the glint of goldfish as they swim back and forth, a tiny crape myrtle bloom floating by, a limitless deep blue sky holding white fluffy clouds.  

 I am astounded by the sheer beauty of God’s creation.  I close my eyes and thank God for my life, for His grace, for His salvation.  There are no words to express the immense love I feel.  God is so good. 

“Nature never taught me that there exists a God of glory and of infinite majesty. I had to learn that in other ways. But nature gave the word glory a meaning for me. I still do not know where else I could have found one.”

~C.S. Lewis

when life is a race

There are days I feel I’m on a roller coaster, and it can be hard for me to stop and get off.  When my mind is filled with chaos, I have to slow down, I have to take things one at a time, I have to clear my head.  In Jesus, I find peace and comfort, I know He is always there for me.  This poem pretty much sums it up...

You’re Always There for Me

When the world comes crashing in
And chaos rules my mind,
I turn my heart to you, Lord,
And pure, sweet peace I find.

You lift me out of trouble
You comfort me in pain;
You nourish, heal and cleanse me,
Like cool, refreshing rain.

In times of joy and bliss,
When things are going right,
You lift me even higher,
And fill me with delight.

You listen to my prayers;
You hear my every plea;
I’m safe because I know
You’re always there for me.

By Joanna Fuchs

senior moment

Sitting on the side of the highway waiting to catch speeding drivers, a State Police Officer sees a car puttering along at 22 MPH. He thinks to himself, "This driver is just as dangerous as a speeder!" So he turns on his lights and pulls the driver over. Approaching the car, he notices that there are five old ladies -- two in the front seat and three in the back - eyes wide and white as ghosts. The driver, obviously confused, says to him, "Officer, I don't understand, I was doing exactly the speed limit! What seems to be the problem?"
"Ma'am," the officer replies, "You weren't speeding, but you should know that driving slower than the speed limit can also be a danger to other drivers."

"Slower than the speed limit?" she asked. No sir, I was doing the speed limit exactly... Twenty-Two miles an hour!" the old woman says a bit proudly. The State Police officer, trying to contain a chuckle explains to her that "22" was the route number, not the speed limit. A bit embarrassed, the woman grinned and thanked the officer for pointing out her error.

"But before I let you go, Ma'am, I have to ask... Is everyone in this car ok? These women seem awfully shaken and they haven't muttered a single peep this whole time." the officer asks.
"Oh, they'll be alright in a minute officer. We just got off Route 119."

in the country

When I was in the fifth or sixth grade, we were given a writing assignment.  We had to choose one from a few pictures and write a story around it.  A few kids were asked to read theirs aloud to the class.  They were really good, showed great imagination, and took the story down paths I never would have thought of.  That said, I’ve chosen a picture and I’m going to attempt this assignment once more. 

Way Out in the Country

When I was a young girl, I remember visiting my Aunt Sadie and Uncle Silas who lived way out in the country.  There lived four of my cousins.  The oldest was Henry, then Mattie, then George, and Sarah was the youngest.  Mattie was one year younger than me.  Like I said, they lived way out in the country.  Way out.  The drive took almost an hour, but we made the trip about once a month in nice weather. 

They lived in a two story farm house that had the best porch ever.  And that porch had a creaky old swing.  Its rhythmic sound was peaceful.  Us girls would swing and tell stories and laugh and giggle.  I loved that old swing.  The kids' bedrooms were upstairs.  From Mattie and Sarah’s bedroom, you could see for miles around.  The windows were wide open, and the cool breeze felt like heaven.  We played with dolls, colored pictures, played house, and pretended we were princesses.  I loved that old house.

Uncle Silas was a farmer.  He had cows and chickens and grew corn, beans, peas, peanuts, tomatoes, squash, and lots of other stuff I don’t remember.  He stayed busy, but always took time to sit for a spell and visit with us kids.  He grew up in that house and told us tales of his life as a boy, how he swam in the pond, stumbled upon deer, played with frogs in the creek, picked apples from a tree, drank from a spring, hiked up to a hill above the meadow, stretched out on his back and watched the clouds.  I could close my eyes and imagine I had the same adventures.

When we went outside for our own adventures, Henry always looked after us younger ones.  He made sure we didn’t get into any trouble.  He was a good kid.  I looked up to him.  Mattie and I played with Sarah since she was the youngest.  She was the cutest little girl with curly hair and an adorable laugh.  Mattie took good care for her little sister.  Henry and George were brothers and best friends.  I guess that’s because they lived way out in the country. 

Outside, we played kick ball underneath the tall, shady trees.  Hide and seek and tag were other favorite games.  We skipped rocks across the pond, chased each other around the trees, played tic tac toe in the sand, and all kinds of things that kids did in the country.  The girls and I would pick wild flowers for Aunt Sadie to put on the kitchen table.  We always had fun.  Lots of fun.  I loved being way out in the country.

As we rested on the porch, smells from the kitchen wafted out the windows calling us in for a wonderful meal Aunt Sadie had cooked.  Fried chicken or roast beef, mashed potatoes or yams, green beans or peas, carrots or tomatoes, fried cornbread or biscuits, and sweet tea.  And always a luscious dessert.  Apple pie or peach cobbler or strawberries and cream or banana pudding.  Aunt Sadie was a chubby lady who always had an apron on.  Always.  Her cookie jar had an unending supply of sweet cookies.  If she wasn’t cooking delicious meals, she was canning vegetables, or snapping beans, or freezing something or another.  She was as busy as Uncle Silas.  But, she always made time for us.

As we grew older, the visits became fewer and fewer.  After Uncle Silas died, George and his family moved back to the country house with Aunt Sadie to run the family farm. Henry had moved to the city and had some very important job.  Mattie got married and had three children of her own, all boys.  Sarah married a young man from a nearby farm way, way out in the country.  And so our families drifted apart.

Recently, some thirty years later, I went for a ride, way out in the country, to look at that old house.  It was weathered but still standing, overgrown with shrubs and vines, but I could hear the sound of a creaky old swing and the faint sound of giggles drifting out the upstairs windows.  I loved that old house. Way, way out in the country.

He has risen!

He isn't here! He is risen from the dead,
Matthew 28:6 NLT

He loves us

He died for me and for you

Rock of Ages

Rock of Ages, cleft for me,

Let me hide myself in Thee;

Let the water and the blood,

From Thy wounded side which flowed,

Be of sin the double cure,

Save from wrath and make me pure.

remember this

He's got the whole world in His hands...

A song for little ones with a message that adults need to remember.  

What is wrong with this world?

Wars, terriosts, geonicides, abuse, beheadings, poverty, murders, homosexual marriages, abortions, rapes, destruction, racism, violence...

What can I do about it?  What can you do about it?

Stand up and boldly share the message of God. Pray. Love. Live my life in the will of God. Don't miss opportunities which God puts in front of me.......

quick quotes

God uses chronic pain and weakness, along with other afflictions, as His chisel for sculpting our lives. Felt weakness deepens dependence on Christ for strength each day. The weaker we feel, the harder we lean. And the harder we lean, the stronger we grow spiritually, even while our bodies waste away. To live with your ‘thorn’ uncomplainingly — that is, sweet, patient, and free in heart to love and help others, even though every day you feel weak — is true sanctification. It is true healing for the spirit. It is a supreme victory of grace.
J.I. Packer

 Wait on the Lord" is a constant refrain in the Psalms, and it is a necessary word, for God often keeps us waiting. He is not in such a hurry as we are, and it is not His way to give more light on the future than we need for action in the present, or to guide us more than one step at a time. When in doubt, do nothing, but continue to wait on God. When action is needed, light will come.”
J.I. Packer, Knowing God

wise words

feather facts

the Brown-headed Nuthatch: 

I began feeding birds several years ago, and it quickly became my favorite hobby.  I’m not that great at photography, and I use a point-and-shoot camera, but I do get lucky sometimes and get a great, focused shot.

I recently stopped by one of my favorite stores, Wild Birds Unlimited.  (http://.wbu.com/)  I love to browse, look at all kinds of neat stuff, and if I’m lucky, I get to rub the store cat.  The slogan of Wild Birds Unlimited is ‘Saving the World One Bird at a Time’.  I like to think I do my part.

Anyway, I talked with one of the owners of WBU about a new, first time ever, perky little bird that has hung around my backyard.  It has a squeaky song that sounds like a rubber duck toy.  I ended up buying a nesting box (birdhouse) specifically for these little Brown-headed Nuthatches.  I nailed it on our fence, in a quiet corner, that I can see from our bedroom window.  As it turns out, my new, first time ever, visitor is in need of kind, human hands. 

*A message from the Audubon Society:

Brown-headed Nuthatches are losing the pinewoods and dead trees they need for food and nest cavities due to urbanization and deforestation. This loss of habitat has caused the Brown-headed Nuthatch to decline in the Piedmont region. The North Carolina Audubon Society is asking for our help to put up 10,000 new Brown-headed Nuthatch homes in North Carolina by 2015.

*(http://nc.audubon.org/make-little-room-brown-headed-nuthatch)

The LORD gives his people strength. The LORD blesses them with peace.

Psalm 29:11 NLT

Peace

Peace will come when people live
In friendship, side by side,
And cherish understanding
More than hatred, greed and pride.

Peace will come when people see
All people as the same,
And no one has to live in fear,
In ignorance, or shame.

Peace will come when people
Who are needy can reach out
For shelter, food, or love,
And no has to do without.

Peace will come when people
Learn to listen and to care
About the rights and dignity
Of people everywhere.

Peace will come when love and trust
And kindness know rebirth,
And on that day all people
Will rejoice in peace on earth.

-Amanda Bradley-

quick quotes

Adrian Rogers quotes

I believe that a great number of people are going to die and go to hell because they're counting on their religiosity in the church instead of their relationship with Jesus to get them to heaven. They give lip service to repentance and faith, but they've never been born again.

He came the first time to die; He is coming again to raise the dead. When He came the first time, they questioned whether He was King; the next time the world will know that He is King of kings and Lord of lords. The first time He wore a crown of thorns; the next time He will be wearing a crown of glory. The first time He came in poverty; the next time He is coming in power. The first time He had an escort of angels; the next time He will come with ten thousands of His saints. The first time He came in meekness; He is coming again in majesty.

The day of judgment will be a day when the skeletons come out of the closets! And each of us will be standing there to face the record.

making memories

who is He?

Out of every narration hubs has done at our church, my personal favorite is the 'Names of Jesus'.  He delivers these words with ease, with clarity, and with passion.

In GENESIS Jesus is the Ram at Abraham’s altar

In EXODUS He’s the Passover Lamb

In LEVITICUS He’s the High Priest

In NUMBERS He’s the Cloud by day and pillar of fire by night

In DEUTERONOMY He’s the City of our refuge

In JOSHUA He’s the Scarlet Thread out Rahab’s window

In JUDGES He is our Judge

In RUTH He is our Kinsman Redeemer

In 1st & 2nd SAMUEL He’s our Trusted Prophet

In KINGS and CHRONICLES He’s our Reigning King

In EZRA He is our Faithful Scribe

In NEHEMIAH He’s the Rebuilder of everything that is broken

In ESTHER He is the Mordecai sitting faithful at the gate

In JOB He’s our Redeemer that ever liveth

In PSALMS He is my Shepherd and I shall not want

In PROVERBS and ECCLESIASTES He’s our Wisdom

In the SONG OF SOLOMON He’s the Beautiful Bridegroom

In ISAIAH He’s the Suffering Servant

In JEREMIAH and LAMENTATIONS it is Jesus that is the Weeping Prophet

In EZEKIEL He’s the Wonderful Four-Faced Man

In DANIEL He is the Fourth Man in the midst of a fiery furnace

In HOSEA He is my Love that is forever faithful

In JOEL He baptizes us with the Holy Spirit

In AMOS He’s our Burden Bearer

In OBADIAH our Savior

In JONAH He is the Great Foreign Missionary that takes the Word of God into all of the world

In MICAH He is the Messenger with beautiful feet

In NAHUM He is the Avenger

In HABAKKUK He is the Watchman that is ever praying for revival

In ZEPHANIAH He is the Lord mighty to save

In HAGGAI He is the Restorer of our lost heritage

In ZECHARIAH He is our Fountain

In MALACHI He is the Son of Righteousness with healing in His wings

In MATTHEW Thou art the Christ the Son of the Living God

In MARK He is the Miracle Worker

In LUKE He’s the Son of Man

In JOHN He is the Door by which everyone of us must enter

In ACTS He is the Shining Light that appears to Saul on the road to Damascus

In ROMANS He is our Justifier

In 1st CORINTHIANS our Resurrection

In 2nd CORINTHIANS our Sin Bearer

In GALATIANS He redeems us from the law

In EPHESIANS He is our Unsearchable Riches

In PHILIPPIANS He supplies our every need

In COLOSSIANS He’s the Fullness of the Godhead Bodily

In 1st and 2nd THESSALONIANS He is our Soon Coming King

In 1st and 2nd TIMOTHY He is the Mediator between God and man

In TITUS He is our Blessed Hope

In PHILEMON He is a Friend that sticks closer than a brother

In HEBREWS He’s the Blood of the everlasting covenant

In JAMES it is the Lord that heals the sick

In 1st and 2nd PETER He is the Chief Shepherd

In 1st, 2nd, and 3rd JOHN it is Jesus who has the tenderness of love

In JUDE He is the Lord coming with 10,000 saints

And in REVELATION, lift up your eyes, Church, for your redemption draweth nigh, He is King of kings and Lord of lords