Happy Endings!

Book reviewers tend to look at a work's beginnings more than the ending. They insist that it's those first words that draw you in---take you captive, hold you hostage, so to speak. 

Words that make you want to "hang in there" for more.

There's even a website for those "best first lines of novels." But, since it did not include, "Last night I dreamt I went to Manderley again," (Rebecca) or "It was the best of times, it was the worst of times..."(A Tale of Two Cities) I don't hold much stock in their opinion.

Some readers only read books where "happy endings" are assured.
I call that unrealistic fiction.

Yet, I admit that I do prefer endings that are worth the wait, though not necessarily "happy"---and certainly NOT endings which are contrived or predictable!

I even look for a good tea for my morning cuppa---
a cuppa that makes me happy to the very end!

The "Good Book"does that. It has those first words that draw you in, words in between that teach and encourage you and an eternal ending that is a "happy ending" for all believers. 

"In the beginning, God....(Genesis 1:1) and "the dwelling of God is with men and He will live with them....The grace of the Lord Jesus be with God's people. Amen." (Revelation 21:3 & 22:21)

It's foolishness to look for a "happy ending anywhere else!

Happy Ending, indeed!

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"47"

How does a couple "make it" for 40+ years of marriage?

Nowadays, many folks see "47" as a remarkable milestone---only 3 years from the BIG "Golden Anniversary!"

Along with a couple's commitment to the Lord and each other, there are lots of sweet, endearing answers to sustaining marriages but....beyond all those, it helps when "hubby" agrees to a "white table cloth" restaurant for lunch so "wifey" can attend her summer Bible Study that night. 

It's really dear when "he" orders "sweet tea" chicken, which his spouse wants to try so "she" can order a different "special" which she also wants to try. A "special" which included "her" favorite dessert---creme brûlée!!!

HAPPY 47TH ANNIVERSARY, "my" man! 

We'll have "anniversary" steak this weekend, that is, if you're willing to grill it!!

Dragonfly Lore

Dragonflies---so many analogies. Lore---the knowledge passed from generation to generation by "word of mouth."The lore varies from culture to culture and as all lore can begin to take on a life of its own.

Hubby's pic of a dragonfly and its iridescent wings
as it seeks night time sustenance from our  hummingbird feeder!  

I love it that it is "light" that changes those iridescent wings of the dragonfly. Spiritually  symbolic, it's also "light" in our own lives which changes us as we know the One who is the Light! (2 Corinthians 4:6 & John 8:12)

The life of this beautiful insect symbolizes, in other ways, more truth from scripture.
With a life span of just a "matter of months," it is a great reminder of the brevity of life. This reminder, for me, says, "celebrate life's moments." Make the most of the days you have."

Our time on earth is transient. (Psalm 39:4) Certainly folks in their 7th decade understand that their are more yesterdays in their life than tomorrows.

None of us know the exact number of our days. (Ecclesiastes 9:11-12a)

There is a virtue of living in the moment. There is inspiration as we see others (or a dragonfly) capturing life with the grace of a dancer.

Lore or not, the dragonfly reminders of life's brevity, say "Celebrate Moments!"

This entry is not meant to pour out a cuppa morbid-TEA, but rather to serve others with God's cuppa TEA-ruth---allowing us all to embrace His words, from Psalm 90:12, as we live with wisdom the days He gives us.

Teach us to number our days, that we may gain a heart of wisdom.

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DANCE TO THE MUSIC

Working on acceptance while waiting, I've been discovering the importance of "celebrating moments. "There's a world of activity. A life worth celebrating.

The Lord Himself seems to invite me, this Dancing Granny, to get up and move.

Turn off the TV. Turn off the laptop.

Put down the book. Silence the phone.

Dance to the music. The music that's been playing since the beginning of time!

Feel it in the rhythm of the wind. Hear it in the rain on the roof. See it in the sunrise. 

Know it! Move to it. Sing a-long. The Lord puts new songs in our mouths. (Psalm 40:3)

We all dance every day to the "tune of life" but the most important choice is our partner!
Always choose Him!

Calmness of Soul

“The ability to calm your soul and wait before God is one of the most difficult things in the Christian life." 

Remember all these Warren Wiersbe gems:

• Truth without love is brutality, and love without truth is hypocrisy.
• Never doubt in the darkness what God has told you in the light.” 
• God doesn't bless us just to make us happy; He blesses us to make us a blessing.

What are you waiting for, believer?

Make the most of your moments and trust the Lord to take care of your future.
That's the answer to calmness of soul for today.

Profundi-TEA

Profundi-TEA--I'm steeping a big cuppa to share the deep (for me) insight which the Lord has shown me to aid my knowledge of John !5:1-17.

Irish Breakfast is a good strong black tea---perfect to jog "profound" thoughts!

THOTS as I have dubbed it---Trusting Him On This Subject!

This past week in response to a valid question asked by BSF friend, Jackie, I shared with her how John 15 had changed my "spiritual" life. Then, she asked me how many verses were in the book of John.  I realized that I had not a clue.

So, last Wednesday, I opened my Bible to the book of John (27 verses, by the way) and realized it was not the entire chapter that had so impacted my "first" journey into Bible study. It was the "abiding" passage in the first 17 verses which the Lord used to draw me unto Himself.

As I returned to the passage, I began to use the "precept" method of inductive Bible Study re-introduced to me by Marilyn LeBlanc in our "Summer Refreshment " study of the book of Esther.
I began to look for key words.

As I meditated (and counted # of times certain words were used) I found abide (11) love (9) & bear fruit (7) Arranging  them in descending numerical order put them in alphabetical order----which spells alb.

Alb---a white linen robe worn by a priest at mass.

For the first time in 40 years, when I was first introduced to this passage by Bible teacher Kay Arthur, I saw those words becoming my personal "alb" as the white robe (Psalm 51:7) of His righteousness (Isaiah 61:10) of "my high priest" (Hebrews 4:14) covered me as I worshipped!

I'm not sure the "steeping" is complete in my cuppa profundi-TEA as there still seems to be a few thoughts "brewing" in my head. But....I decided to pour out what I've learned so far. (before I forget it) 

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ABCs......(A-B-C-D-E-F-G-H)........ XYZs of the Beach!

ABCs of Liles' Family Beach vacation---aka "Big Water!"
Starting at the very beginning, a very good place to start!

A---Acceptance of long auto trips and airline cancellations

B---Birdwatching & broad jump event

From youngest to oldest, their strong broad/long jump attempts left a blur!

C---COUSINS (with cute "handmade" bracelets)

D---"Dip-tation"---we dip in the ocean, dip in the pool, we dip into the Pancho's cheese dip and into the Donut Hole boxes.

E---Eating and Eating and Eating some more!!(Peeling shrimp can be hard work)

F---Fish---Amberjack is pretty yummy when Uncle Josh & the boys grill it!

G---Grandparents

H---Hunting hermit Crabs

A.B.C.......(I-J-K-L-M-N-O-P-Q)......X.Y.Z. at the beach!

I---International Meals---USA, Italy,  Mexico and Canada

J---javelin throw event and jellyfish (hooray we had none except a piece of one found while crabbing

K--kite flying and kelp (hooray, this year no kelp either)

L---lakes and lagoons

M---Majestica Beach on 30A, our favorite

N---Natural beauty from God's hand (Psalm 24:1 & Psalm 95:5)

O---lympics at the beach---broad jump, hurdles and relay

P---Pelicans, piers and palm trees

Q---Quiet moments

A.B.C. ......(R-S-T-U-V-W-X-Y-Z).....X.Y.Zs at the beach!

Entries (3) will be entered starting from the end of the alphabet----weird, idiosyncratic person that I am--will want the entries to flow from top to bottom (A-Z) as they are read, when completed.

Thus, today's alphabet focus letters are R-Z.  Updates/replacements may be added as I find other photos.

R---reading, relaxing and ripcurrents 

S---sandcastles, sea oats, sandy burials, snorkeling and "Shark Shot Put" (an olympic sport of our own making)

 

T---Tea Times

U---USA "Beach"Team---pre-olympic trials

V---vacation for 17. How blessed it is when the brethren dwell together in unity. (Psalm 133:1)

W---white sand beaches and white foamy surf

X---xtraordinary extras---laughs known & understood only to those who were there!

Y---yoga on the balcony, on the sand, on the boardwalk & inside for the grannies

Z---Zephyr---ah-h those beach breezes during picture night

SPECTACULAR SUNSETS

God's glory fills the sky. with every sunrise and sunset, His mighty works are there for all to see!!!

Sunset in Memphis at tthe "M" bridge over the "Mighty Mississippi" River

....where morning dawns and evening fades you call forth songs of joy. (Psalm 65:8b)

Over St. Andrews Bay Florida

The heavens declare the glory of God and the sky above proclaims His handiwork. (Psalms 19:1)

Over the East Bayou in Callaway, FL

From the rising of the sun to its setting, the name of the LORD is to be praised. (Psalm 113: 3)

 Gulf sunset---a beautiful end to a perfect day with family at the beach!!