MURMURATIONS MONDAY!

Hubby and I sat by the open window listening to the birds this morning* ---woodpeckers, a tufted tit mouse and Carolina wrens. Yesterday in the Nantahala National Forest we saw signs and info on many birds. 

We also heard what we thought was a ruckus of blue jays.

Together we have been reading Considering Sparrows by Kevin Burrell which offers analogies of timeless truths from our feathered friends to the book of Philippians. 

Chapter 5 dealt with murmuration of starlings. What a unified group!(Burrell. p.46-47, 50-51) Burrell compares the importance of their collective consciousness to that of the body of Christ. 

Believers whose hearts are bound in Christian love!

"Blest be the tie that binds" (John Fawcett)......birds or believers....all a part of God's creation.

"The flock of God is a murmuration, dancing in the sky like grace." (Burrell. p.56)

*listening to the birds between the cacophony of Great Smoky Mountain Railroad clacking on the tracks or blaring horns down ridge from us.

EULOGY: A GOOD WORD!

GOOD WORDS!

WISE WORDS!!

Live your life in such a way that when you die other people cry and you rejoice! 

ALLEN Bible Church 6/21/2026

BIGFOOT SEARCH PARTY!

A true search to look for clues to see if BIGFOOT is REAL!

The hunt begins with bag to hold clues found, binoculars, a magnifying glass and a whistle to alert the leader when a clue was discovered.

Then he appears! Is he real or not?

Check the feet and decide!

Check the nails if you're not sure!

Hmmm....some are not afraid but others not so sure!

A big thanks to Poppy for the best pix.

HOORAY! HOORAY!!......TODAY'S THE DAY...

JLK....our youngest  grandson is 8 today!

The celebration began with a song from his grandparents and a Star Wars Secrets of the Troopers book from Amber and playing with his chickens!

Continuing soon to celebrate with Jack who is 8!@ Deep Creek pavilion to eat pizza and cake.

FRIDAY FOCUS WITH TRUST!

Worry is the problem!  (Philippians 4:6)

What's the two-fold answer?
1)    Go to God through His Word!

2)    PRAY!

TRUST---HAVE IT---THRUST IT!*

*ODK had a birthday thrust of joy as all the patrons of Haywood 209 Cafe sang "Happy Birthday" to him and the stage sent him off with a slice of coconut cake "on the house" to honor his 19th!

CHOOSEDAY!

ChooseDay! I love the play on words for Tuesday!*

It has me thinking about Biblical choices to be considered. 

Think---love, joy, peace, patience, kindness. As the picture hanging in my prayer room reminds me, "Choose this day whom you shall serve.....

... as for me and my house, will serve the Lord."(Joshua 24:14)

On this ChooseDay, let us choose what is right. (Job 34:4)

*Thanks to friend Renee for the ChooseDay text this morning!

ABIDING IN CHRIST!

Apart from Christ we can do nothing.

A fruitful life is an overflow of one who abides.

As my grandson, Nathan said,--- "no root = no fruit" so water your roots with His goodness and grace!

Monday Musings appropriate to begin the week! 

FAREWELL HIGH SCHOOL!

What a special time for many school events occur in the month of May----especially for high school seniors!

Senior Walk from Main St. to Everett St.-------

Baccalaureate Service w/ family lunch after----

Swain County Elementary School Visits--

Prom---

Senior Drive-by from Everett St. to Main---

Say Farewell to High School but don't forget those final weeks. 

Keep them close to your heart as you go out into the world of young adulthood!

A powerful principle for all approaching adulthood (with its times of confusion or difficulty making decisions) comes from God's Word in James 1:5.

"If any lack wisdom, let him ask of God......and it will be given to him."

Think seek divine guidance after leaving high school!

ODK MATRICULATES TO WESTERN CAROLINA UNIVERSITY!

Grandson Owen's Swain High School Events ended last night. 

According to his first-grade brother, he became a "graduator."

Even Mr. Mike and wife brought blessings!

The Maroon Devils commencement began with the SHS Concert Band playing "Pomp and Circumstance" and the Star Spangled Banner, as all rose from their concrete stadium seats covered in sunshine! 

The ceremony itself opened with prayer delivered by one of the top 5 academic class leaders followed by the SCHS Vocal Ensemble singing Psalm 86! 

When I thought it couldn't get any better than that, the valedictorian delivered an encouraging charge to all her classmates to remember the old as well as embrace the new as practicing righteousness and serving others in their future as cited from God's Word, Romans 12:2:

Do Not conform anymore to the patterns of this world, but be transformed by the renewing of your mind. Then, you will be able to test and approve what God's will is--His good, pleasing and perfect will.

I so agree with her choice of Scripture.

Mindset is key when young adults go forth in today's world. 

Think matriculating.

Not only did each graduate receive a diploma but a Bible as well!

Fireworks and tossing their mortarboards ended the night with a BANG!

S.I.S.

S.I.S.----each of you. Listen up!

Struggles Increase Strength.....for those who suffer according to God's will. There is a point; His point.

Joni Erickson Tada, whose suffering season of disability will last a life time, shared once on a JoniandFriends Video of the time she had voiced these words from her soul---Tired, weary, collapsed, heavy, sad and defeated. Not voiced as a prayer. Yet, 30ish minutes later she felt a brightness in her chest as if God had answered what she hadn't even known was a prayer. She saw this as evidence (Isaiah 40:29) that God gives power to the faint and to those who have no might, He increases strength.

In The Way of The Wildflower,* Ruth Chou Simons stated, "It's grace that suffering isn't purposeless" (p. 110) and "It's grace when things don't happen according to my plan but happen for my good." 

(p. 111)

Psalm 72 says, "God will deliver the needy who cry out"!

"Find Strength in Struggle."

Cry out, S.I.S.----Loud and Clear!!