God's Poetry

The poetry of the earth is never dead.

-John Keats

Honoring the Day

Happy Birthday Alisha

Happy Birthday Alisha

What a wonderful daughter you are
You bring joy and happiness always
Love you dearly, Mom

Seed of Faith

The smallest seed of faith is better
than the largest fruit of happiness.

- Henry David Thoreau

Serenity Calls

God grant me the serenity to accept the things I cannot change, the courage to change the things I can, and the wisdom to know the difference.

O' Sting. . .

All the honey a bee gathers during its lifetime
doesn't sweeten its sting - Italian Proverb

Contentment in the Valuable

The most valuable things in life are not measured in monetary terms. The really important things are not houses and lands, stocks and bonds, automobiles and real state, but friendships, trust, confidence, empathy, mercy, love and faith. - B.Russell

What Happened to the Graceful Process?

This picture speaks volumes to the importance of how we should handle ourselves as we grow older (or become more mature). 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 Definitely to many, age maturity is outdated.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.

Well, here I go...mounting my soap box (if I don't slip due to age).

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. With my husband's surgery this month at a UCSF medical facility to remove a cancer, I was shocked at the number of men who accompanied their wives to have facial rearrangement. Yep, these guys (men older than me) were having surgery right along side the wife who had already had one too many plastic jobs done. But why not go back for more? Right?

Finding the Mr. & Mrs. face job duos so prevalent, I went to the telephone yellow pages and wow! What used to take a small portion of one page, now fills a whole page or more. Still don't believe it? Well look at the newspapers and magazines 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 adult? Beauty isn’t the outward appearance as society would try to make us believe – it is the inner makings of 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 silvery 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 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 dwell on the beauty of just being a child of God.

Today I choose to grow old gracefully. Sure, I will stumble 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 maturing through my heart).

Do You Truly Follow After Him?

Perhaps it is time to ask ourselves this question: What are we doing?

Do we have the compassion of Christ as His child? Do we have a measure of the Lord's compassion in our lives at all times? Are our hearts drawn to the oppressed as was the Lord's?

Yes, in this busy, burdened down generation, we seem to ignore the reasons we are here on this earth in the first place. We find in His Word that we are to have compassion, and be willing to pay the price for it in our lives.

I don't know about you but I must strive to avoid the words the Master will speak to the (goats) in the day of reckoning: "Depart from Me, you who are cursed. . .For I was hungry and you gave Me nothing to eat; I was thirsty and you gave Me nothing to drink; I was a stranger and you didn’t take Me in; I was naked and you didn’t clothe Me, sick and in prison and you didn’t take care of Me. Then they too will answer, ‘Lord, when did we see You hungry, or thirsty, or a stranger, or without clothes, or sick, or in prison, and not help You?’ Then He will answer them, I assure you: Whatever you did not do for one of the least of these, you did not do for Me either.”

Lord help us all to be as sheep, following your voice - and desiring to have your spirit of compassion at all times.

I Will Follow

My path may not always be easy
but where He leads me, I will follow

Try Jesus

Celebrate Birthday

Happy Birthday Cameron
May you have an awesome day
with blessings lasting through the year
You are the best!
Love you dearly, Mom

Sleepy?

Happy Birthday!

Happy Birthday, Kellee!
What an awesome daughter you are!
May your year be filled with every good thing!
Love you dearly!!!

What It Takes to Enter Heaven

"Truly I say to you, it is hard for a rich man to enter the kingdom of heaven. And again I say to you, it is easier for a camel to go through the eye of a needle, than for a rich man to enter the kingdom of God." Matt 19:23-24

Sometimes it pays to really study the scripture to understand its true interpretation. I admit that I never truly understood the message in this setting of scripture, thinking “the eye of a needle” meant a sewing needle. Well, HELLO. Camels can't go through the eye of a sewing needle! Guess what I found out? (only for myself, I am sure, as all you probably already knew this). Sigh!

During Jesus' time, cities were surrounded by protective walls so that invaders, the enemy couldn't get inside. However, there were gates in the walls to let the people and their materials come in and out. The large gates were closed at night but in times of danger it was necessary to allow access to entry to a sparse number of people. Inside these large gates was a small door that actually let the people in and out at night. This small door was called “the eye of the needle.”

Where does the camel come in? Camels were used for transport of goods, and merchandise would be piled high. If a man came to the gates after they'd been closed and needed to enter, it was possible to go through and take his camel along, but it was very difficult. The camel's master had to take all the merchandise off of the camel, and the camel would have to go through the gate on his knees.

Hmm..could this be the picture of how we must enter the Kingdom of Heaven? Getting on our knees? Yes, it definitely speaks of humility. And come to think of it, the removal of all goods from the camel’s back speaks of us unburdening ourselves from thinking more highly of our earthy possessions than we should. Yes folks, nothing in this life is more important than us entering into our heavenly City someday.

Lord, May I Have A Flour Sack Walk

The Flour Sack poem brought back memories as a little girl in late 1940s. Most of you are way too young to remember flour (or feed) sacks. My dad would use the feed for the chickens, my mother would wash the sacks, cut out a dress, and sew it up. She made aprons too. The plain white sacks would be hemmed into dish towels with my grandmother embroidering them into the days of the week. I remember wearing many a "sack" dress. No one considered it embarrassing back then - it was a way of life. Have we come a long way? Yes, we have but sometimes I am not so sure it is for the best (my personal opinion). We've lost the "wonder" of innocence, of loyalty, of faith, and the list goes on and on (but I'll hush).

THE FLOUR SACK by Colleen B. Hubert

In that long ago time when things were saved,
When roads were graveled and barrels were staved,
When worn-out clothing was used as rags,
And there were no plastic wrap or bags,
And the well and the pump were way out back,
A versatile item, was the flour sack.

Pillsbury’s Best, Mother’s and Gold Medal, too
Stamped their names proudly in purple and blue.
The strings sewn on top were pulled and kept;
The flour emptied and spills were swept.
The bag was folded and stored in a sack
That durable, practical flour sack.

The sack could be filled with feathers and down,
For a pillow, or would make a nice sleeping gown.
It could carry a book and be a school bag,
Or become a mail sack slung over a nag.
It made a very convenient pack,
That adaptable, cotton flour sack.

Bleached and sewn, it was dutifully worn
As bibs, diapers, or kerchief adorned.
It was made into skirts, blouses and slips.
And mom braided rugs from one hundred strips
She made ruffled curtains for the house or shack,
From that humble but treasured flour sack.

As a strainer for milk or apple juice,
To wave men in, it was a very good use,
As a sling for a sprained wrist or a break,
To help mother roll up a jelly cake,
As a window shade or to stuff a crack,
We used a sturdy, common flour sack.

As dish towels, embroidered or not,
They covered up dough, helped pass pans so hot,
Tied up dishes for neighbors in need,
And for men out in the field to carry seed,
They dried our dishes from pan, not rack
That absorbent handy flour sack.

We polished and cleaned stove and table,
Scoured and scrubbed from cellar to gable,
We dusted the bureau and oak bed post,
Made costumes for October (a scary ghost)
And a parachute for a cat named Jack.
From that lowly, useful old flour sack.

So now my friends, when they ask you
As curious youngsters often do,
“Before plastic wrap, Elmer’s Glue
And paper towels, What did you do?”
Tell them loudly and with pride don’t lack,
“Grandmother had that wonderful flour sack.”

Please Lord, let my walk with You be as versatile, as durable, as adaptable, and as useful as a flour sack.

Girls in picture whose dresses have floral patterns were made from flour (or feed) sacks.

Colors were bright and cheery as seen in the patches.

Psalm 150 Praising

Praise ye the LORD.
Praise God in His sanctuary.
Praise Him in the firmament of His power.
Praise Him for His mighty acts.
Praise Him according to His excellent greatness.
Praise Him with the sound of the trumpet.
Praise Him with the psaltery and harp.
Praise Him with the timbrel and dance.
Praise Him with stringed instruments and organs.
Praise Him upon the loud cymbals.
Praise Him upon the high sounding cymbals.
Let every thing that hath breath praise the LORD.
Praise ye the LORD.

Do You Believe in It?

Bogged Down?

Life's cares bogging you down?
Time for review of the situation
and possible change in direction.

Dare to Be Different

Be daring, be different, be impractical, be anything
that will assert integrity of purpose and imaginative vision
against the play-it-safers, the creatures of the commonplace,
the slaves of the ordinary.

- Cecil Beaton

Detour Ahead

The really happy person is one
who can enjoy the scenery
when on a detour.

Count It All JOY

Faith Speaks

A Special Mother's Day to You!

What is a Mother?

A Mother Is STRONG

A Mother Is WISE

A Mother Is PATIENT

A Mother UNDERSTANDS

A Mother Is GENTLE

A Mother Is LONG SUFFERING

A Mother TEACHES

A Mother PROTECTS


A Mother Is IMPARTIAL


A Mother LOVES AT ALL TIMES

Happy Mother's Day!

Smile Anyway!

LIFE at times is a ZOO

Prayer Is A Changer

Got Pressure?

If we feel pressure,
why not turn
what's steaming us
over to the Lord?

Do You Give Light?

Light gives of itself freely, filling all available space. It does not seek anything in return; it asks not whether you are friend or foe. It gives of itself and is not thereby diminished.
-Michael Strassfeld

What Do You See?

The face is the mirror of the mind,
and eyes without speaking confess
the secrets of the heart. - St. Jerome

How's Your Day Going?

Some days go better than others!

Praise Him!