Saturday Snippet # 6: Life Questions

11/23/13 Questions to provoke thinking....

Where does one get strength to continue on in life?

The indwelling of the Holy Spirit strengthens our inner man, enlightens the eyes of our heart and, makes our body healthy. The Lord delights in flooding every nerve, capillary, and cell of our body with His might. (Watchman Nee, The Spiritual Man, Vol. III part 10, Chapter 3)

Let the morning bring me word of your unfailing love, for I have put my trust in you.
 Show me the way I should go, for to you I entrust my life. (Psalm 143:8)

BOYS! BOYS!! BOYS!!!

11/22/13 What the world needs is more godly men. Tonight we had a house full of potential! Caleb celebrated his 8th birthday with a sleepover. 

Hooray for game room floors & a good Monster U movie to bed down the troops---2 younger brothers were already asleep out of camera range.

Psalm 127:3-5  Behold, children are a heritage from the LORD, the fruit of the womb a reward. Like arrows in the hand of a warrior are the children of one’s youth. Blessed is the man who fills his quiver with them! (Buddy & Day have 5 boys.)

Psalm 17:6 Grandchildren are the crown of the aged, And the glory of sons is their fathers.

Glory streams from heaven afar.....

11/21/13 Glory streams from heaven afar.....today seems more than lyrics from a Christmas carol----Some days heaven seems closer than normal

as we behold the glory of the Lord in the lives of others.

But You, O Lord, are a shield for me, my glory, and the lifter of my head. (Psalm 3:3)

Ask yourself, Do others see God's glory in my life? 

When the Lord raises my friend Claudia's head as she comes out of some dark gray days, those around her know that she will once again speak of the glory of God and His goodness.

Declare His glory among the nations, 

His marvelous works among all peoples. (1 Chronicles 16:24)

ETERNAL HOPE

11/18/13 Life is full of struggles. There are many kinds of struggles.

What can one say to one in the midst of a struggle? 

Hope is the answer. Hope for a better tomorrow. 

Hope promotes the desire for a positive future, regardless of the circumstances of the day.

Therefore we do not lose heart. Though outwardly we are wasting away, yet inwardly we are being renewed day by day. For our light and momentary troubles are achieving for us an eternal glory that far outweighs them all. So we fix our eyes not on what is seen, but on what is unseen. For what is seen is temporary, but what is unseen is eternal. (2 Corinthians 4:16-18)

And hope does not disappoint us, because God has poured out his love into our hearts by the Holy Spirit, whom he has given us. (Romans 5:5) 

 That hope is eternal. Eternity with the One who is our “Hope!”

SABBATH SNAPSHOTS: Nativity

11/17/13 Nativity definition, per on-line dictionary---

Birth, especially the place, conditions, or circumstances of being born. Certainly for a Christian, the place is a stable in less that perfect conditions and the circumstances necessary to fulfill the Messianic words of Isaiah, Micah, Malachi and other prophets.

This year's Vesta Home show at St. James Place (off of Forest Hill Irene) had several homes with nativities as part of their holiday decorations. A great start to the Christmas season.

PRAYERS OF THANKSGIVING: ADDENDUM

11/15/13 PM 

Yesterday ended with prayers of thanksgiving as I sat in Claudia's new room praising the Lord for the only possible answer to an impossible situation---Him. I still don't know the answers to "how" but I do know the One who is the Answer.

Claudia's transport had not even arrived at the beautiful new, serene setting and wouldn't arrive until sometime after 10 pm. I began praying and thanking, and thanking and praying. Praise and Prayers all jumbled up together. The tears began to flow.

I had not cried since Dr. Mullins gave the prognosis, but I wept. Tears of relief. Tears of thanks. 

Tears of joy at seeing God's hand being shown in such a powerful way.

11/116/13 Today, Claudia told me that yesterday "someone from Baptist" came in with a form and said, "You've been accepted. They have a bed. An ambulance will be here to pick you up.

The form was blank. The ball was rolling but.....she didn't know how.

I don't have to know "how" or "why"----I just know Who!

PRAYERS OF THANKSGIVING

11/15/13 Standing at foot of dear friend, Claudia's, bed last night and surrounded by her family, I heard her prayers of thanksgiving for her day. To an outside viewer such an observation would not have matched hers. But God ....continues to use Claudia to show His sufficiency to others, even in the midst of HARD circumstances.

When I arrived this morning, the doc had just left and her start to the day had not been exactly auspicious----BUT as I was kneeling down to untangle IV cords for a bathroom trek, she began....."Dotsy, since you're already kneeling let's start the day thanking God for this day before us----before we do anything. Let's focus on Him."

He is the God of the impossible---so I, too, thank Him for all that He will do this day----for without HIm, it could certainly loom as impossible. 

Taken at Vesta Home Show '13 which I had shown to CP last night

Beginning one's day and ending one's day with prayers of Thanksgiving......shows the faith of a believer in relationship with the One who is always faithful. What a testimony to behold.

GOOD GOLLY MISS MOLLY

11/14/13 Okay, so I'm a PROUD mama but I've seen Molly's incredible lifestyle shots. Especially those with children and even pets. Two groups that are hard to corral.

Brooks Museum of Art is featuring her in a workshop this Saturday. Great info on their newsletter.

Just click here for info! 

http://rebrooksblog.com/2013/11/12/four-people-who-should-take-the-slr-workshop/#more-6340

By golly, it's gonna be GOOD!

ATTITUDE OF GRATITUDE

11/12/13 Though fall was recognized officially on our calendars seven weeks ago, recent temps felt like summer was still holding its breath, not completely giving over to those cooler temps of autumn. But...oh my goodness, this morning it felt as if both summer and fall joined in a collective inhalation of any warmth that was left in our atmosphere. A resulting exhalation of cold, gusty breath took our portion of the mid-South right into winter temps.

United States Army, est. 1775. Daddy served under that flag in WWII.

I noticed because I was trying to take a picture outside* on this gusty day. A day that moved from  a"freeze watch" to "hard freeze warning" in a matter of hours. Uncomfortable? Somewhat.
Earlier on my errand runs,  I noticed I was sliding into the "complaint" mode, along with many folks around me. I even like the fact that I live in an area that actually has seasonal changes, so what would be my complaint? Is complaint contagious?

But God....reminded me of I Thessalonians 5:18, "in everything give thanks..." How dare me (or anyone) to take umbrage at a drop in temps, seeing it as unjust if it inconveniences us and our comfort. Imagine how such carping would be viewed in the Philippines. 

A thankful heart. A grateful spirit. A change of attitude.

Would gratitude be equally contagious? Why can't it start with me?

War and Peace

11/11/13

11th hour of 11th day of 11th month---Armistice Day in 1918

I didn't remember that....but I do remember Veterans Day. How grateful I am for those who have served our country well while protecting our freedom, which I, for one, don't ever want to take for granted.

I desire peace among nations but have also seen, at times, the necessity of war during such times to afford Americans that peace. 

There is an appointed time for everything. And there is a time for every event under heaven—A time for war and a time for peace (Ecclesiastes 3: 1, 8)

Remembering and thankful, for the vets throughout my life.