Tuesday, June 30, 2026

CONSIDERING SPARROWS!

Rarely do we find ourselves reading the same book at our house.
But God used "birder" hubby and I who keeps Philippians on many devotional selections each year to join together in reading "Considering Sparrows."  "What Birds Teach Us About Who We are, Where We're Going, And the Joy of Following Jesus" clearly spoke to both of us.

We follow the recommendation of the author as we try to read it together outside when possible. Think a  on a bench at Deep Creek where our seeing often comes through our ears. Hubby knows Carolina Chickadee  one chirps 3 times in a row.  If it's raining we can read on the porch!

A blustery day might have us inside but sitting beside our double open windows and watch birds flit from tree to tree. Just the mountains in the background remind us of God's absolute ownership of all creation in Scripture. "I know all the birds of the mountains, and wild beasts of fields are mine."
Even Psalm 11:1, NKJV reminds of protection: In the LORD put I my trust: How say ye to my soul, flee as a bird to your mountain?"
We take turns reading and we even mark references in the book in green and red depending on bird info or Scripture verses or Biblical analogy's
  
CONSIDERING SPARROWS---I give a 5**** review on the parts We have read sp far!

Monday, June 29, 2026

GOD IS NEAR!

God is near!
How does one know God is near?.......
.........For the Bible tells Him so!


In the 60's water tag game, "Marco Polo" if Daddy is "it" he wants his children to "find" him! God is similar in our lives. He wants to be found by those who seek Him. He is always near whether they can see him or not.
Allen Bible Church, 3/8/2026. (Click link for service.)

Verse summation God is not far from any one of us.
 that they should seek God, and perhaps feel their way toward him and find him.Yet he is actually not far from each one of us, (Acts 17:27)
Hallelujah---that preacher, the Marco Polo Dad, cometh to us today!

Friday, June 26, 2026

MOCKINGBIRD MATTERS!

Harper Lee's Pulitzer Prize-winning 1960 novel, To Kill a Mockingbird, explores themes of prejudice and injustice. The title refers to the moral lesson that it's a sin to harm innocent creatures, like the mockingbird, which some of the characters in the story symbolize.

This morning, former next door neighbor, WH, who is spending the week here in the mountains with a few (18 of her family) sent me this pic.
A mockingbird no less!

How appropriate as hubby and I have been reviewing the Mockingbird Maturity chapter in Considering Sparrows. Today, we even discussed the unusual traits of mockingbirds, the state bird of Tennessee, identified by the collective noun, "echo".....which makes sense as it has the ability to "mimic" sounds and songs of other birds, people & mechanical noises. 
 
However, it was the book-defining quote (Burrell p. 159) from character Miss Maudie who explains to Scout, the lawyer's daughter in To Kill a Mockingbird, which amazed me. 

'it's a sin to kill a mockingbird' because they 'don't do one thing but make music for us to enjoy. They don't eat up other people's gardens, nest in corncribs, they don't do one thing but sing their hearts out for us.' (Lee, p. 90, emphasis mine)

Two different books, and 1 picture taken by a dear Memphis friend "sealed" the deal for me. 

Share this info. It matters!

Thursday, June 25, 2026

TIMES GONE BY---

Books, pictures, objects and chats with friends like Diane H., have a way of jogging my memory when I think I've lost it.
This morning I was reviewing some fave pages of Wilma Dykeman's book, The French Broad. Meeting her years ago at the Governor's Writers Academy in Appalacha influenced my continued intrigue of the area! Though she was the historian of the state of TN, she was a native of Asheville, NC.

A fave chapter (#10) involved a fervent old time preacher, speaking to a heat-oppressed crowd, with the real soul-splitting, happy-shouting kind of religion. ....not mamby-pamby, low voiced stuff. 
"Because, brother, I'm a-telling you straight, you've got to take the tonic of God and eat the whole word that will put some zip in your soul...." 
(p. 310) 
He reminded those listeners on the courthouse steps of a bone-deep thirst for God's word as similar to theirs for the little 6.5oz, green bottle of Coca-Cola. (a long-time fave of mine as well as Diane's)
The preacher's conclusion .....without God's word one can end up in the "muck and mire of hell" where there ain't  no relief.....
"There ain't no fans, nor no rest and, brother, there ain't no Cokes in hell." (p. 313)

Thx Diane for a fun, encouraging chat!

Tuesday, June 23, 2026

? > SOLOMON

What is > Solomon?
Yes.....greater than!
Think who?

With  a wise wrap up!


WORDS OF WISDOM!!

Monday, June 22, 2026

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.

Sunday, June 21, 2026

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! 



Monday, June 15, 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......

......and Molly who carried it over to Father's Day 2026!

Sunday, June 14, 2026

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, June 12, 2026

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!

Tuesday, June 9, 2026

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!

Monday, June 8, 2026

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! 

Saturday, June 6, 2026

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!

Friday, June 5, 2026

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!