Storm Clouds Overhead?

No Need to Worry

The Lord Will Calm Our Storms

If We Will Just Call Out to Him

A Prisoner to?

Harry Emerson Fosdick once said:

Bitterness imprisons life; love releases it.
Bitterness paralyzes life; love empowers it.
Bitterness sours life; love sweetens it.
Bitterness sickens life; love heals it.
Bitterness blinds life; love anoints its eyes.

It is concerning how in the day in which we live that pain and suffering comes racing into meet so many. In pain and suffering, everything has opportunity to get at us. We become a target to be bruised, taunted, mocked, and belittled. Our anxieties bring stress. We are numbed and start to lose vision. We are held prisoners! Our flesh asks, "Where is the Savior?" Doesn't He care one bit? In some situations, it would be far more logical to agree with rejection than believe God really cares. And that is why I am offering my two cents but remember I’m not holding you prisoner to read or agree with my two pennies. You can turn me off right now.

What is my advice? Guard your liberty! Losing our liberty allows hurt (or pain) to turn into bitterness and hate. It is often said that survival goes to the fittest. I say, survival goes to the bravest - daring to stand when there seems nothing to stand for, daring to speak when the whole world is silent, and daring to love when it would be easier to hate. Without liberty, life becomes a prison, not of iron bars but made of life's cares, intermingled with the hurtful/condemning attitudes of others who we highly respected and honored. It is then that darkness and torment start their rule. Our confidence and self-worth becomes void. We start to believe we are of little use to Him, never be used of Him, and that gifts/talents given by Him are overrated. It is then the worst thing happens - we start our journey away from the things that the Lord gave us to use for His glory. We can't see that the Lord is taking us to a new place in Him. We just want to complacently stay where we've felt comfortable for years. We don't want to change - go in His direction. In other words, we are bent on locking our self in a dark, dreary place because it's easier to do that than venture out and do the Will of the Master. God Help Us!!!!

If we find ourselves a prisoner, in our darkness, let's sincerely, earnestly pray that His Will be done - not ours! Prayer is the key that will loosen us from our personal prison. Remember, Jesus never leaves us; we are the ones who leave Him. And if you don’t agree as yet, let me ask: How can we complain of our cross being too heavy for we have not nor will we ever have to carry a cross to Calvary? He's already paid that price (for our liberty).

Free your heart from the bonds of bitterness.

Hee Hee!

Once in awhile, we need to start our day with a good horse laugh.

Quit Blowing!

If we go around tooting our own horn,
we are in for a fall.

Different?

You laugh at me because I'm different,

I laugh at you because you're all the same.

Jonathan Davis

Plastic?

Years ago, a certain set of words came to my mind - ones I have never forgotten, What were they? BEWARE OF THE PLASTIC! Well, being an average “Joe” – on second thought, “Joette” - I thought it meant use of my credit card so I quickly checked to make sure that I wasn’t abusing that little piece of (security??). However, the words continued to echo for weeks in my mind, and then one day - WHAM, they came alive - Beware of those wearing Masks - wearing “plastic” faces in order to conceal their true identity (i.e., character). Using Pretense! Yes, we all see them, know them, and are approached by them. They may be Plastic Faces that worship and fellowship with us, work with us at our jobs, live beside us as neighbors, perhaps even some may be kin folk, and the list could go on and on (I'll let you let your mind take you there).

I know you probably think I am “hung up” on being careful. Well, I am! The Word tells us to do so, particularly in the hour in which we live. Deception, deceit, pretense, whatever you want to call it is FOR REAL folks. There are those among us wearing the disguise of righteousness, goodness and honesty - making His Word fit their lifestyle, their wants, and their desires. Caught up in the “I”, “Me”, “Mine”, "Myself" syndrome - serving God without any compromise of their thought process. And they desire for us to join them - to compromise our walk with Him. It is important to hold firm to our faith and belief in the truths of God’s Word and His teachings. We must seek out the Better Way. As for me, I plan to heed the words offered me 40 years ago this June - BEWARE OF THE PLASTIC!

Feeding Time

"My sheep hear my voice...and they follow me".

Could He be calling you to take the steps

to open His Door,

and receive a feeding of His Word today?

Church Sign

Cold, Cold Heart

Diagnosis: Heart Condition

Suggested Treatment: Prayer *

* It's thawed out many a cold heart

1st Person Syndrome

Tired of the "I", "Me", "Mine", "My", "Myself" Drumbeat?

Well....Stop Parading Yourself

and Start Marching Toward Others

Taking 1,000 Steps

A couple of weeks ago the Presidio Trust opened a section of the Immigrant Point/Coastal Connector Trail. The new part of the trail, called the "1,000 Steps", descends from an overlook near the Golden Gate Bridge, winding downward along the hillside. The hike takes about 20 minutes from start to finish. It's the ascending that - well, don’t ask how long it takes because all I can say is that it was designed to accommodate the Hulk, Superman and Spiderman types.

The 1,000 Steps offer beautiful coastal views, while passing through mossy pines laden with red pine cones as well as aromatic eucalyptus trees. Could do without the aroma part as I'm allergic to eucalyptus...oh no, here comes a headache and trouble breathing and I'm only thinking about it. Well, let's get back to my story - at the bottom of the path is a little bridge over a gully, with a log bench where nature lovers can take in the beauty of Creation.

If any of you are interested in visiting this place, be sure to bring your tennies the next time you head to San Francisco. And since you must climb back up the steps, be sure to take along a liter of water - and possibly, a couple of oxygen tanks and a cell phone to dial "911". (If you are like me and "Papa", it would come in handy.)

Seriously, the whole experience is wonderful and makes one think: What if we would make an ascension of 1,000 Steps toward the Lord and His work? I can guarantee one thing that no enablers would be needed and the sights along the way would hold beauty beyond measure.

Write to Right

Been finding myself writing a lot lately. What? Well, the pennings could be labeled good things, bad things, agreeable things, indifferent things, beautiful things, ugly things, and "things" in general. I leave that to the choice of the reader.

Many of the "things" have and will end as words in blog postings, others will be tucked away in file drawers or electronically stored as poems and thought collections; while others will end as writing upon cards and letters. Oh, and some are headed for emails (ah, email - what a curse and what a blessing rolled into one).

Must admit that writing takes time away from daydreaming, house cleaning, doing the laundry, gardening, shopping, etc. However, by choosing to WRITE THINGS, the Lord is allowing me to RIGHT THINGS in my life and in my spirit. Yes, turning WRITE into RIGHT is a refreshing burden lifter and spirit soarer.

Welcome!

No longer bored. Enjoying the beautiful raindrops. Now is not the time to flaunt our Sunny California banner. It's time to say "Welcome Rain"! You may not be a drought-buster but oh how we are being blessed by the sights and sounds you are providing.

Boring!!!

I am so bored today!

Can you tell?

History Honoring Holiday

Presidents' Day
(a holiday filled with history)

George Washington
1st President USA
(1789-1797)

Abraham Lincoln
16th President USA
(1860-1865)

Preserve Us Lord

The Lord Preserves the Faithful

Hugs, Squeezes, Kisses & Slobbers

Wishing My Love Bugs A Special Fun-Filled Day!!

The Beauty of the Rosebud, the Exquisiteness of the Orchid

Written in memory of my granddaughter, Zoe Claire

November 10, 1995-February 13, 1996

Today, tomorrow, and forever, I will search for life's beauty,
beholding the rosebud and the orchid. Prominent profusions of elegance,
with swirls of perfumed fragrance floating about.
Each flower has figurative and ornate expressions.
A rosebud, its petals budding forth with cherished remembrances,
An orchid, elegantly proclaiming intricate, unblemished grace.
Both adorning the corridors of my soul to arouse wondrous delight.

What an unblemished beauty Zoe was. Radiant, gorgeous, full of grace and love. She was royal. Yes, royal, and so therefore the beauty of rosebuds and exquisiteness of orchids described her as perfection.

We all have memories, most good and some devastating. But in all we can either let it build our character or break it. Allotted to me have been two of the greatest hurts that a mother and grandmother could face - the loss of a child and a grandchild. Many have said that life isn’t fair. No, it is not, but if we will hold fast, as calamity came unexpectedly, so will the day come when the absolutes of cause and reason will move aside and the beauty of loving, of having, of caring will comfort us. It won't be because we no longer hurt, but because our memories are more precious than any pain. We will find ourselves holding to faith, yet not understanding.

While living in the Bay area, there was a small valley nestled near our home with several greenhouses sprinkled around. Each grew beautiful flowers - roses, orchids, daisies, tulips, chrysanthemums, asters, dahlias, and many, many more. I loved going into their flower shops, where buds and blossoms of every size, shape and color were offered. Sometimes it was hard to pick out a bouquet to take home, or up the hill to where our granddaughter was laid to rest, or over the Bay to our son Mark's final resting place. Every time I found myself carefully scrutinizing the flowers, numbering the beauties scattered among baby breath and other inexpensive fillers. What I want was the most beauty. Never did I zero in on the fillers or ordinary flowers, and say, this is the most beautiful floral arrangement I'd ever seen. I was drawn to the predominant feature, the central attraction - for me, it is and was rosebuds and orchids.

What am I saying? Well, we must never hide the beauty of memories among fillers but focus our attention on the special blossoms grown in our life’s garden. When we pick a bouquet from the garden God plants for us, we must always choose the best flowers available. Why? Because these gardens have been sown with seeds of love, moistened with tears, and cultivated by caring hands. Please don't feel that I wish for sympathy - I do not! My garden is filled with beauty – a beauty complimented by a wonderful Savior, an absolutely precious family still with me, and two beautiful blooms that have gone on to a better place. My garden displays "The Beauty of the Rosebud, the Exquisiteness of the Orchid" - bringing forth a prominent bouquet in my life’s arrangement.

". . . array thyself with . . . beauty." Job 40:10

Togetherness

Birds of a feather flock together

Love's On Its Way! Or, Is It??

"I don't understand why Cupid was chosen to represent Valentine's Day. When I think about romance, the last thing on my mind is a short, chubby toddler coming at me with a weapon". Provider Unknown

After reading that quote, I "googled" some various Cupid types. I was surprised at the many looks (and shapes). You know, Cupid was originally created to personify "falling in love" - and after seeing some of the faces (and bodies) of the Valentine icon I believe it could have a reverse effect in a few cases. Here's a few illustrations of Lover Boy (or Girl).

Mailing My Heart

Yesterday I mailed my heart to my precious grandchildren in the form of Valentines. Don't know about you but I love writing a little something on the cards while putting a little something inside (which 'little something' I'm sure really pleases my grandkids). After I got through readying my heart(s), I started thinking of the various sizes, designs and messages of Valentine cards. There are a lot!

Well, my mind swirled back 55-60 years to when I was a kid (yeah, believe or not, I was one at one time). Back then, when you bought a package of Valentine cards, each had a different design and message. It made for hard decisions as you had to select the proper one for each classmate (fit the personality, you know). However, no problem in picking the teacher's card as the pack always had one labeled "Teacher".

Oh how I love Valentines! What delight! It makes me want to take you down my memory's lane of great old cards.

Why not mail your HEART to special someone.

36 x 4 = 144 and more

Cupcakes, what would we do without them?


I remember making these yummy specialties for school parties. It was particularly fun baking them for Valentine’s Day. With four children, it could end up in preparing approximately 36 x 4 = 144 delightful treats. It was a fun time, conversing with my kids as they decided the most appropriate flavor, icing color, and novelty topping for their prized school event. (Oh and mustn't forget the ones for Sunday School class and the church youth parties - no wonder I favored boxed cake mixes).

Cupcakes were first created in the early 19th century. In fact, they were baked in a much smaller size than they are today, looking more like Petit Fours. It seems that time has super-sized them (unfortunately many of us have super-sized with them).

Don't know about you but this post has me longing for a cupcake. If you'd like one too, - let's get out our favorite recipe (or cake mix?) and stir up, bake, then majestically ice these treats to offer to others as a symbol of extending our hearts to others.

Blessings!

Have a Blessed Bible-Believing Day!

de Young Museum

If you love art in various forms, a trip to the de Young Museum in San Francisco's Golden Gate Park is a must. We enjoyed such a visit while mixing it in with hubby's medical appointments. Here's a little of what you can see at the newly constructed museum which opened last year. I thought its old building was great but when moving from room to room in the new building I was overtaken with its arts' beauty and the building's craftsmanship. And don't forget to go to the 9th floor of the Tower to see the sweeping view of the City.