A Place to Visit

Each month, since my husband's last medical bout in December, we spend approximately a week in San Francisco for his doctor appointments, etc. It is a time of him being poked and prodded to determine if his medical condition is being contained, advancing, or getting better. The five hour trip each way has its blessings too, namely, visits with children and grandchildren which are so special to us.

It is also a time to visit many of the places we loved while living just south of the City by the Bay. Our March visit took us to the Conservatory of Flowers in Golden Gate Park. If you get the chance and you love flowers and plants, you need to go as it is an ever-changing environment. Also, the Park has the De Young Museum (which is great), the Japanese Gardens, the soon-to-reopen-in-September Aquarium, and much more. So there is plenty to see. (See this is what happens when you were a City employee for years; you never get away from promoting).

Without Liberty

Without liberty, life is a prison,
not of iron bars but made of life's cares.

Minds will be held captive,
every movement being privileged to control
and peace will be cast away,
bringing darkness and torment.

Confidence and self-worth will become void
and, God forgive us,
there will be no room for Him.

Without liberty, no key can unlock a heart,
no strength withstand evil,
and no confidence overturn suppression's forces.

Once beautiful testimonies declaring His glory
will become defiled and outdated,
and doors once open will close shut.
We Must Guard Our Liberty!

As we progress (or digress??) in society, what is happening to our God-given LIBERTY? Me thinks we are being "lulled" into submissiveness of our spirit by our very surroundings. Everything has become gray, nothing is any longer black or white. There is no sin, only shortcomings and indiscretions. I find this of great concern, and hope that I have presented my heart's cry this day. Staying close to Him, will truly keep us free (that is, if we will pray).

Growing Old Gracefully

I loved this picture with its words that a dear friend sent me today - speaking volumes to the importance of how we should handle ourselves as we grow older (or become more mature). When I received this, my first thought was - whatever happened to growing old gracefully? It seems that hardly anyone finds grandeur in the state of aging anymore. Definitely to many, age maturity is outdated. To be “in” requires that one obtain eternal youth. Now I want to share my words with you. Here I go (on my soap box once again).

True, in our society many find embarrassment in having wrinkles, silver hair, etc. Being uncomfortable in themselves has led to an abundant supply of tucked-and-rolled people (in the 60s tuck-and-roll was a term used for car upholstery). However, today it pertains to rearrangement of body parts. When looking in the telephone yellow pages, I was astonished to find that where the names of plastic surgeons used to take only a small portion of a page, the list of surgeons now fills a whole page or more. Or, just look at the newspapers that actively advertise operations to vitalize faces, and overhaul bodies. Men and women in their twilight years no longer find growing old a graceful process.

What happened to the beauty of becoming a mature, caring person? Beauty isn’t the outward appearance as society would try to make us believe – it is the inner man. It is the part of us that should shed forth warmth, peace and comfort to the younger generation. Our wrinkles should be worn as battle scars of times past where we weathered harsh storms beating at our souls. Our gray hair should be a reminder of concern and worry for our loved ones and friends that took us to our knees in prayer. Our slowing steps should tell that we no longer must keep the fast pace as in the past but now we are more at peace with life and our God because we have fought a good fight and are keeping the faith. And as for our minds (well, I prefer not to go there – it would be all telling). No, really, our minds should after all these years be filled with goodness, reflections of wonderful days spent with the Lord, of times of laughter and joy with our children and grandchildren. And our minds should dwell on the beauty of just being a child of God.

Today I choose to grow old gracefully. Sure, I will stubble and fall like I have all my Christian life – but every time I do, I know the Lord will pick me up so that I can continue to mature in Him (hopefully through my heart).

What'cha Carrying?

Excuse me for asking but what type of burdens are you carrying?


Pig (err...BIG) or small, He's there to help.


"Lay aside every weight..." because pigs are heavy.

Reflection

To LEARN is a reflection of TEACHING.

How important it is that we listen with our hearts to the preaching/teaching of the Word. Why? Because we are a reflection of what fills our minds.

"Let him that is taught in the Word communicate unto him that teacheth in all good things." Gal 6.6

Consider Your Health

Wow! Here's a whole new meaning to "An Apple a Day". Made me think of how important it is to stay healthy, not only physically but (how about) spiritually.

PS: Doing this post reminded me of an old-time preacher who used to say, while preaching, "Eat it saints". Any of you remember hearing his words?

The Mirror Experience

Declare His Glory in Your Countenance

Psalm 19, verse 1, reads: "The heavens declare the glory of God; and the firmament sheweth His handywork." How much more that we than the heavens declare His glory to others. Surely, we are His voice but what about our countenance? Does it reflect the testimony of the Lord?

My prayer: "Let the words of my mouth, and the meditation of my heart, be acceptable in thy sight, O LORD, my strength, and my redeemer." And may I add, let my countenance be such that others would desire to know Him.

Call Him Up

He is the One that will bring Peace and Rest to our souls,
if we will but call upon Him.

His number is "J-E-S-U-S"
(this line is guaranteed to have no dropped calls)

Go Team(s)!

Springtime is baseball time. Here's pictures of my favorite players.

Madison
Belmont Hot Shots

Cassidy
Belmont Fire

Preston
Bend Angels

Rooting for you guys! Love Nana

Guiding Us Through

Where God Guides - He Provides
(in fact, He even carries us through troubled waters at times)

First Grade Proverbs

These special set of proverbs were emailed to me, and I had to share the priceless words of children with you.

A first grade school teacher had 26 students in her class. She presented each child in her classroom the first-half of a well-known proverb and asked them to come up with the remainder of the proverb. While reading them, keep in mind that these are first graders (6 year olds). My kids and grandkids have said a few priceless words too but another day for posting precious moments with them.

1. Don’t change horses until they stop running.
2. Strike while the bug is close.
3. It’s always darkest before Daylight Saving Time.
4. Never underestimate the power of termites.
5. You can lead a horse to water but How?
6. Don’t bite the hand that looks dirty.
7. No news is impossible.
8. A miss is as good as a Mr.
9. You can’t teach an old dog new Math.
10. If you lie down with dogs, you’ll stink in the morning.
11. Love all, trust Me.
12. The pen is mightier than the pigs.
13. An idle mind is the best way to relax.
14. Where there’s smoke, there’s pollution.
15. Happy the bride who gets all the presents.
16. A penny saved is not much.
17. Two’s company, three’s the Musketeers.
18. Don’t put off till tomorrow what you put on to go to bed.
19. Laugh and the whole world laughs with you, cry and you have to blow your nose.
20. There are none so blind as Stevie Wonder.
21. Children should be seen and not spanked or grounded.
22. If at first you don’t succeed get new batteries.
23. You get out of something only what you see in the picture on the box.
24. When the blind lead the blind get out of the way.
25. A bird in the hand is going to poop on you.
26. Better late than pregnant.

Is Nature the Only One Aware?

Upon looking at the beauty and strength of our creation, and then looking at our world as it stands today with what mankind has established in it, I cannot help but wonder Is Nature The Only One Aware? Has man become so involved in events that it has become oblivious to the happenings surrounding us? We walk each day in Creation's glory, smelling, seeing, hearing, and speaking - and yet we get so familiar with its sights and sounds that we forget to really see the beauties of His Universe. Lord, let me reacquaint myself with your Creation (perhaps my thoughts below best reflect what I am trying to say).

Look to the hills, to the many groupings of trees,
Varieties staunchly together, branches touching
Their limbs as arms stretching into billowy clouds
Strength is represented in this tranquil space.

In the field, stand congregations of flowery bouquets.
Each bloom, once a small seed, now a mass of petals
Daises and lilacs mixed among roses - all dance in unison
Floral fragrances delivering sweet smelling perfume.

The seas' waters move in a myriad of configurations,
A body, though vast, seemingly merging collectively
Idealistically its destiny is to meet as one at shore’s edge
Integrating the wave, the foam, the tidal pools, and the stilling.

Above, winged creatures glide effortlessly through the galaxy,
With space giving way for each to fly in untangled patterns
Wings of equality, graphic interpretations of ascent and descent
No altercation eminent, freedom will survive.

Is nature the only one truly aware of life’s meaning?
Understanding the need for all men to meet in brotherhood
Bringing the legitimatises of charity into our hearts
Allowing us to become one in purpose, spirit and desire.

Patience

PATIENCE

Sorry, but there is no shortcut through the forest of life.

My Pig Is Dieting

My Piggy Bank after Buying Gas Yesterday

A friend sent this picture to me today, and just had to share the truth in in it. (BTW, we had to make a quick trip to San Francisco this week, and the price difference in a gallon of regular grade gas from our place to SF was 43 cents a gallon - unfortunately the highest being where we live on Central Coast).

We're Special

Come on, SMILE

God Not Only Loves Me,
He Loves You Too!

Genuine Compassion

It is important to understand the true meaning of love, for without it we can be nothing for Him. I wrote this poem several years ago - so here's my personal observation of what genuine compassion should to be, and this is the type of love I desire to possess.

Genuine Compassion
reaches beyond self
into the lives of others,
feeling their hurts, their pains, their humility.

It weeps,
it smiles, it laughs, it cares,
its authenticity speaking
from the depths of the spirit.

It acts
not as a facade of hypocrisy,
soliciting service through pretense
to receive rewards.

Genuine compassion is
and will be in the heart of a true believer,
Devotion, steadfastness and virtue
will be its covering.

To Be Boss, Could Cost

Sometimes It's Not Worth Getting Our Way

"Guys, come back. I was only kidding.
I don't have to be boss.
We'll do it your way, okay?"

Being boss doesn't always get the best results. Today is a great day to be a team player.