tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-42449710559745789402024-03-07T13:12:00.877-06:00ART---A Passion To CreateClick on photos to enlarge.Sally L. Smithhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/02946899217879609949noreply@blogger.comBlogger1605125tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-4244971055974578940.post-62984343102299582582017-11-11T13:32:00.001-06:002017-11-11T13:32:24.913-06:00Autumn or Spring?<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhINUG29V5rz1sc0Ms2AEzBAPAoVM4ucVi1TDaAmKvHdn8r-3Kk6VkptPRlGrOZj_leZ5u9Th7NKKYaPgHxk77o_x-S0vt5uTzPVdYHMhaHU05qWFHOSQ4Wvfd5BZrme6VMMgj7F8FRTS7X/s1600/000_0018+%25282%2529.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="1600" data-original-width="1600" height="320" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhINUG29V5rz1sc0Ms2AEzBAPAoVM4ucVi1TDaAmKvHdn8r-3Kk6VkptPRlGrOZj_leZ5u9Th7NKKYaPgHxk77o_x-S0vt5uTzPVdYHMhaHU05qWFHOSQ4Wvfd5BZrme6VMMgj7F8FRTS7X/s320/000_0018+%25282%2529.JPG" width="320" /></a></div>
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Autumn Mix-Up</div>
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photo by Sally L. Smith</div>
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<span style="color: #741b47; font-size: large;"><span style="background-color: white; font-family: "Helvetica Neue", Verdana, Helvetica, Arial, sans-serif; text-align: start;">Be glad, people of Zion, rejoice in the </span><span class="small-caps" style="-webkit-font-smoothing: antialiased; background-color: white; box-sizing: border-box; font-family: "Helvetica Neue", Verdana, Helvetica, Arial, sans-serif; font-variant-caps: small-caps; font-variant-numeric: normal; text-align: start;">Lord</span><span style="background-color: white; font-family: "Helvetica Neue", Verdana, Helvetica, Arial, sans-serif; text-align: start;"> your God, for he has given you the autumn </span><span style="background-color: white; box-sizing: border-box; font-family: "Helvetica Neue", Verdana, Helvetica, Arial, sans-serif; text-align: start;">rains</span><span style="background-color: white; font-family: "Helvetica Neue", Verdana, Helvetica, Arial, sans-serif; text-align: start;"> because he is faithful. He sends you abundant showers, both autumn and </span><span style="background-color: white; box-sizing: border-box; font-family: "Helvetica Neue", Verdana, Helvetica, Arial, sans-serif; text-align: start;">spring</span><span style="background-color: white; font-family: "Helvetica Neue", Verdana, Helvetica, Arial, sans-serif; text-align: start;"> </span><span style="background-color: white; box-sizing: border-box; font-family: "Helvetica Neue", Verdana, Helvetica, Arial, sans-serif; text-align: start;">rains</span><span style="background-color: white; font-family: "Helvetica Neue", Verdana, Helvetica, Arial, sans-serif; text-align: start;">, as before.</span></span></div>
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<span style="background-color: white; font-family: "Helvetica Neue", Verdana, Helvetica, Arial, sans-serif; font-size: 16px; text-align: start;"><span style="color: #741b47;">Joel 2:23</span></span></div>
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<span style="background-color: white; font-family: "Helvetica Neue", Verdana, Helvetica, Arial, sans-serif; text-align: start;"><span style="color: #783f04; font-size: large;">I'm confused. The little boys brought back Spring flowers from their walk today...clover, yellow day daisy, purple weed, and white Chamomile...plus a straggling yellow Fall daisy (my favorite Fall flower) that quit blooming last week. What with very cool temps at night and Spring-like temps during the day, I think the flowers are confused</span></span><span style="background-color: white; color: #783f04; font-family: "Helvetica Neue", Verdana, Helvetica, Arial, sans-serif; font-size: large; text-align: start;">.</span></div>
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<span style="background-color: white; color: #783f04; font-family: "Helvetica Neue", Verdana, Helvetica, Arial, sans-serif; font-size: large; text-align: start;">That's okay with me, though. </span></div>
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<span style="background-color: white; color: #783f04; font-family: "Helvetica Neue", Verdana, Helvetica, Arial, sans-serif; font-size: large; text-align: start;">God loves to surprise us with His gifts and watch us smile. </span></div>
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Sally L. Smithhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/02946899217879609949noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-4244971055974578940.post-79700422669535876002017-11-07T06:19:00.000-06:002017-11-07T06:19:44.077-06:00Using My Best<br /><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
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<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhsudBMuZvx9URRfG8m7A4typQyz0V2TQJO8bvoAYl2VuUCRl-00PGOFut-4Qs27JP4EvhrVBDXl4fZSdY3-AcjsHVJEhZW-M144cCdv-C9uy23PiE-od6Pon0md30dv9OfhR1j2okm6Ez4/s1600/000_0033+%25283%2529.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" data-original-height="881" data-original-width="883" height="319" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhsudBMuZvx9URRfG8m7A4typQyz0V2TQJO8bvoAYl2VuUCRl-00PGOFut-4Qs27JP4EvhrVBDXl4fZSdY3-AcjsHVJEhZW-M144cCdv-C9uy23PiE-od6Pon0md30dv9OfhR1j2okm6Ez4/s320/000_0033+%25283%2529.JPG" width="320" /></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;"><span style="color: #274e13;">Using My Best<br />photo by Sally L. Smith</span><br /><br /><br /><span style="font-size: large;"><span style="color: #b45f06;">You must present as the</span><span style="color: #b45f06;"> <span class="small-caps" style="-webkit-font-smoothing: antialiased; background-color: white; box-sizing: border-box; font-family: "Helvetica Neue", Verdana, Helvetica, Arial, sans-serif; font-variant-caps: small-caps; font-variant-numeric: normal; text-align: start;">Lord</span><span style="background-color: white; font-family: "Helvetica Neue", Verdana, Helvetica, Arial, sans-serif; text-align: start;">’s portion <br />the </span><span style="background-color: white; box-sizing: border-box; font-family: "Helvetica Neue", Verdana, Helvetica, Arial, sans-serif; text-align: start;">best</span></span></span><span style="background-color: white; font-family: "Helvetica Neue", Verdana, Helvetica, Arial, sans-serif; text-align: start;"><span style="font-size: large;"><span style="color: #b45f06;"> and holiest part <br />of everything given to you</span>.</span><br /><span style="color: #783f04; font-size: 16px;">Numbers 18:29 NIV</span><br /></span></td></tr>
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<span style="color: #990000; font-family: Verdana, sans-serif; font-size: large;">I love our walks down the gravel lane behind our house. My husband and I walked the other day and I picked up this bouquet of colored leaves and berries.</span></div>
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<span style="font-family: Verdana, sans-serif;"><span style="color: #990000; font-size: large;">The flowers are gone now and this made a beautiful centerpiece. Though not my best photo, I did use my best crystal vase. Using my best to display God's gifts is the only way to go. When I put my arrangements on the deck just outside my kitchen window, I get to see them everyday...</span></span></div>
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<span style="font-family: Verdana, sans-serif;"><span style="color: #990000; font-size: large;">and without bugs.</span></span></div>
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Sally L. Smithhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/02946899217879609949noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-4244971055974578940.post-51633278140795066012017-05-03T07:02:00.001-05:002017-05-03T07:02:53.001-05:00It's Just Rain<table align="center" cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0" class="tr-caption-container" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto; text-align: center;"><tbody>
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<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">Genesis 7:12<br /><div style="text-align: center;">
<span style="background-color: white; box-sizing: border-box; text-align: start;">...</span><span style="background-color: white; box-sizing: border-box; font-family: "Helvetica Neue", Verdana, Helvetica, Arial, sans-serif; font-size: 16px; text-align: start;">rain</span><span style="background-color: white; font-family: "Helvetica Neue", Verdana, Helvetica, Arial, sans-serif; font-size: 16px; text-align: start;"> fell on the earth forty days and forty nights.</span></div>
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<span style="font-size: large;">I take so much for granted...rain, for example. We have had so much that I don't find it beautiful and am not grateful for it. Shame on me. What if we didn't have rain? </span></div>
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<span style="font-size: large;">When God made the Earth, He rested. There was no need for rain because He was watering the Earth with mist (Gen 2:6 KJV) and/or underground water (Gen. 2:6 NIV). He was caring for it until the time that He would make Man to be its caregiver. There was no need for rain. (This is just speculation because there is not enough information about rain before the time of Noah.)</span></div>
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<span style="font-size: large;">I do know that we can't live without it and that God has everything in control. I love Him and His creations even if they are a little soggy.</span></div>
<br />Sally L. Smithhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/02946899217879609949noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-4244971055974578940.post-7793327440725903292016-09-19T14:51:00.000-05:002016-09-19T14:51:06.974-05:00It's All In The Presentation<table align="center" cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0" class="tr-caption-container" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto; text-align: center;"><tbody>
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<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">IN TRAINING</td></tr>
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<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">THE PRESENTATION<br /><br /><br /><span style="color: #134f5c;"><span style="background-color: white; font-family: "Helvetica Neue", Verdana, Helvetica, Arial, sans-serif; font-size: large; text-align: start;">A good person leaves an inheritance for their </span><span style="background-color: white; box-sizing: border-box; font-family: "Helvetica Neue", Verdana, Helvetica, Arial, sans-serif; font-size: large; text-align: start;">children</span><span style="background-color: white; font-family: "Helvetica Neue", Verdana, Helvetica, Arial, sans-serif; font-size: large; text-align: start;">’s </span><span style="background-color: white; box-sizing: border-box; font-family: "Helvetica Neue", Verdana, Helvetica, Arial, sans-serif; font-size: large; text-align: start;">children</span></span><span style="background-color: white; font-family: "Helvetica Neue", Verdana, Helvetica, Arial, sans-serif; text-align: start;"><span style="color: #134f5c;"><span style="font-size: large;">,...</span></span><span style="font-size: small;"><span style="color: #134f5c;">Proverbs 13:22 NIV</span><br /></span></span></td></tr>
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I love when my husband gives me flowers. He trained our children to do so and now he is training our grandchildren. Wildflowers are the best when one like this is the presenter!</div>
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Sally L. Smithhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/02946899217879609949noreply@blogger.com1tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-4244971055974578940.post-89981016908324170262016-05-28T06:42:00.000-05:002016-05-28T06:42:03.344-05:00Happy Are We<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
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<span style="font-size: large;"><span style="background-color: white; font-family: 'Helvetica Neue', Verdana, Helvetica, Arial, sans-serif; line-height: 24px; text-align: start;"> </span><span class="woj" style="-webkit-font-smoothing: antialiased; background-color: white; box-sizing: border-box; font-family: 'Helvetica Neue', Verdana, Helvetica, Arial, sans-serif; line-height: 24px; text-align: start;">for theirs is the kingdom of heaven.</span></span></div>
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<span style="background-color: white; font-family: 'Helvetica Neue', Verdana, Helvetica, Arial, sans-serif; font-size: 16px; line-height: 24px; text-align: start;">Matthew 5:3 </span></div>
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<span style="background-color: white; font-family: Verdana, sans-serif; font-size: large; line-height: 24px; text-align: start;">I don't know why I took this picture...probably because our backyard looked pretty in the fog in the evening. As I look at it, I'm inpressed by the blessings we have. We're not rich people by America's standard but we feel very wealthy. </span></div>
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<span style="background-color: white; font-family: Verdana, sans-serif; font-size: large; line-height: 24px; text-align: start;">I feel particularly blessed today. We kept three of our grandchildren overnight, something we try to do a couple of times a month, and having them here is a joy. The fourth child is not ready to stay overnight yet but we're getting there. He stays long enough to eat supper, play and get a bath. It gives Mom and Dad a few hours together until they pick him up...ready for bed. </span></div>
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<span style="background-color: white; font-family: Verdana, sans-serif; font-size: large; line-height: 24px; text-align: start;">We will see four more grandchildren this week and we look forward to that so much. We don't get to see them very much...only two or three times a year so our visit is special. Last week we visited our other seven grandchildren to celebrate a high school graduation. We love to celebrate!</span></div>
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<span style="background-color: white; font-family: Verdana, sans-serif; font-size: large; line-height: 24px; text-align: start;">In reading Matthew 5 today...The Beatitudes. I realize that we are truly given these gifts by God...A little home, a nice yard, a place to store the machines that make us money, a few swings and a loving family. What more could we want here on earth? God is good and we are very much aware of our blessings.</span></div>
Sally L. Smithhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/02946899217879609949noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-4244971055974578940.post-23585629560889888422016-05-23T08:38:00.000-05:002016-05-23T08:38:01.955-05:00Flowing From The Heart<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
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<span style="font-size: large;"><span class="text Prov-4-23" id="en-ESV-16514" style="background-color: white; box-sizing: border-box; font-family: "helvetica neue" , "verdana" , "helvetica" , "arial" , sans-serif; line-height: 24px; position: relative;">Keep your heart with all vigilance,</span><br style="background-color: white; box-sizing: border-box; font-family: 'Helvetica Neue', Verdana, Helvetica, Arial, sans-serif; line-height: 24px; text-align: start;" /><span class="indent-1" style="background-color: white; box-sizing: border-box; font-family: "helvetica neue" , "verdana" , "helvetica" , "arial" , sans-serif; line-height: 24px;"><span class="text Prov-4-23" style="-webkit-font-smoothing: antialiased; box-sizing: border-box; position: relative;">for from it flow the springs of life.</span></span></span></div>
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<span class="indent-1" style="background-color: white; box-sizing: border-box; font-family: "helvetica neue" , "verdana" , "helvetica" , "arial" , sans-serif; line-height: 24px;"><span class="text Prov-4-23" style="-webkit-font-smoothing: antialiased; box-sizing: border-box; position: relative;"><span style="font-size: x-small;">Proverbs 4:23 ESV</span></span></span></div>
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<span class="indent-1" style="background-color: white; box-sizing: border-box; font-family: "helvetica neue" , "verdana" , "helvetica" , "arial" , sans-serif; font-size: 16px; line-height: 24px;"><span class="text Prov-4-23" style="-webkit-font-smoothing: antialiased; box-sizing: border-box; position: relative;"><br /></span></span></div>
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<span class="indent-1" style="background-color: white; box-sizing: border-box; font-family: "helvetica neue" , "verdana" , "helvetica" , "arial" , sans-serif; line-height: 24px;"><span class="text Prov-4-23" style="-webkit-font-smoothing: antialiased; box-sizing: border-box; position: relative;"><span style="font-size: large;"> For out of the abundance of the heart </span></span></span></div>
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<span class="indent-1" style="background-color: white; box-sizing: border-box; font-family: "helvetica neue" , "verdana" , "helvetica" , "arial" , sans-serif; line-height: 24px;"><span class="text Prov-4-23" style="-webkit-font-smoothing: antialiased; box-sizing: border-box; position: relative;"><span style="font-size: large;">the mouth speaks.</span></span></span></div>
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<span class="indent-1" style="background-color: white; box-sizing: border-box; font-family: "helvetica neue" , "verdana" , "helvetica" , "arial" , sans-serif; line-height: 24px;"><span class="text Prov-4-23" style="-webkit-font-smoothing: antialiased; box-sizing: border-box; position: relative;"><span style="font-size: x-small;">Matthew 12:34 NKJV</span></span></span></div>
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<span class="indent-1" style="background-color: white; box-sizing: border-box; font-family: "helvetica neue" , "verdana" , "helvetica" , "arial" , sans-serif; line-height: 24px;"><span class="text Prov-4-23" style="-webkit-font-smoothing: antialiased; box-sizing: border-box; position: relative;"><span style="font-size: large;"><span class="text Ps-119-11" id="en-NKJV-15910" style="-webkit-font-smoothing: antialiased; box-sizing: border-box; position: relative;">Your word I have hidden in my heart,</span><br style="box-sizing: border-box;" /><span class="text Ps-119-11" style="-webkit-font-smoothing: antialiased; box-sizing: border-box; position: relative;">That I might not sin against You.</span></span></span></span></div>
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<span style="font-size: x-small;">Psalm 119:11 NKJV</span></div>
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<span class="indent-1" style="background-color: white; box-sizing: border-box; font-family: "helvetica neue" , "verdana" , "helvetica" , "arial" , sans-serif; font-size: 16px; line-height: 24px;"><span class="text Prov-4-23" style="-webkit-font-smoothing: antialiased; box-sizing: border-box; position: relative;"><span style="font-family: "helvetica neue" , "helvetica" , "arial" , sans-serif; font-size: 14px; line-height: 20px;">(Scripture taken from the New King James Version®. Copyright © 1982 </span></span></span></div>
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<span class="indent-1" style="background-color: white; box-sizing: border-box; font-family: "helvetica neue" , "verdana" , "helvetica" , "arial" , sans-serif; font-size: 16px; line-height: 24px;"><span class="text Prov-4-23" style="-webkit-font-smoothing: antialiased; box-sizing: border-box; position: relative;"><span style="font-family: "helvetica neue" , "helvetica" , "arial" , sans-serif; font-size: 14px; line-height: 20px;">by Thomas Nelson. Used by permission. All rights reserved.)</span></span></span></div>
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<span class="indent-1" style="background-color: white; box-sizing: border-box; font-family: "helvetica neue" , "verdana" , "helvetica" , "arial" , sans-serif; font-size: 16px; line-height: 24px;"><span class="text Prov-4-23" style="-webkit-font-smoothing: antialiased; box-sizing: border-box; position: relative;"><span style="font-family: "helvetica neue" , "helvetica" , "arial" , sans-serif; font-size: 14px; line-height: 20px;"><br /></span></span></span></div>
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<span class="indent-1" style="background-color: white; box-sizing: border-box; font-family: "helvetica neue" , "verdana" , "helvetica" , "arial" , sans-serif; font-size: 16px; line-height: 24px;"><span class="text Prov-4-23" style="-webkit-font-smoothing: antialiased; box-sizing: border-box; position: relative;"><span style="font-family: "helvetica neue" , "helvetica" , "arial" , sans-serif; font-size: 14px; line-height: 20px;"><br /></span></span></span></div>
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<span style="font-family: "courier new" , "courier" , monospace; font-size: large;">I purchased this 1800's Bible and love looking at the well-used and worn pages that someone had read and loved. They spent time in God's Word and the cover and pages show it. The book is falling apart but the words are still there with loads of meaning.</span></div>
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<span style="font-family: "courier new" , "courier" , monospace; font-size: large;">How spent is your Bible?</span></div>
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<span style="font-family: "courier new" , "courier" , monospace; font-size: large;">"Today we don't even need one. </span></div>
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<span style="font-family: "courier new" , "courier" , monospace; font-size: large;">We have The Bible App." </span></div>
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<span style="font-family: "courier new" , "courier" , monospace; font-size: large;">Wow, just saying that makes me cringe.</span></div>
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<span style="font-family: "courier new" , "courier" , monospace; font-size: large;">Yes, I'm from the old school</span></div>
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<span style="font-family: "courier new" , "courier" , monospace; font-size: large;">but I try to live in this modern world by using what the younger generation uses. I do have the app, </span><br />
<span style="font-family: "courier new" , "courier" , monospace; font-size: large;">but</span><span style="font-family: 'courier new', courier, monospace; font-size: large;"> somehow, it is not the same as holding the printed Word of God in my hands and reading the words I have underlined through the years. Those words have meant something to me in times of need, in times of spiritual despair, in times of searching for God's presence.</span></div>
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<span style="font-family: "courier new" , "courier" , monospace; font-size: large;">Just having God's Holy Word in my hand is not the same as having it in my heart. Life has meaning when God's Word enters my brain in my time of need. I don't memorize well so I have to renew my memory by reading scripture again and again, by revisiting those underlined passages and reading them in context, by seeking God's will in those words as I turn the pages.</span></div>
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<span style="font-family: "courier new" , "courier" , monospace; font-size: large;">In times of sorrow, disappointment or despair, gladness, excitement or celebration...I remember that God is in my heart and flows out of it as I follow His calling.</span></div>
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<span class="indent-1" style="background-color: white; box-sizing: border-box; font-family: "helvetica neue" , "verdana" , "helvetica" , "arial" , sans-serif; font-size: 16px; line-height: 24px;"><span class="text Prov-4-23" style="-webkit-font-smoothing: antialiased; box-sizing: border-box; position: relative;"><span class="crossreference" data-cr="#cen-NIV-16514B" data-link="(<a href="#cen-NIV-16514B" title="See cross-reference B">B</a>)" style="box-sizing: border-box; font-size: 0.625em; line-height: 22px; position: relative; top: 0px; vertical-align: top;"><br /></span></span></span></div>
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<span class="indent-1" style="background-color: white; box-sizing: border-box; font-family: "helvetica neue" , "verdana" , "helvetica" , "arial" , sans-serif; font-size: 16px; line-height: 24px;"><span class="text Prov-4-23" style="-webkit-font-smoothing: antialiased; box-sizing: border-box; position: relative;"><span class="crossreference" data-cr="#cen-NIV-16514B" data-link="(<a href="#cen-NIV-16514B" title="See cross-reference B">B</a>)" style="box-sizing: border-box; font-size: 0.625em; line-height: 22px; position: relative; top: 0px; vertical-align: top;"><br /></span></span></span></div>
Sally L. Smithhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/02946899217879609949noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-4244971055974578940.post-51420375980761304862016-05-13T07:47:00.001-05:002016-08-20T07:24:23.296-05:00Waiting Quietly<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiKwvKiQ1mnxL_aBkeEf2hTZqaJMFiULFiqF-uo-72vOmeFfTvPWGU_Yrr0BTvGe5LuTKND6WrXapMLgCGN5drro7jL9YqcHI8xp98quZSmjVEUxnHpFTB5dWqZdJhRXk0tU67FSHAaNdCx/s1600/Bird+Robins+Card+%25282%2529.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="302" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiKwvKiQ1mnxL_aBkeEf2hTZqaJMFiULFiqF-uo-72vOmeFfTvPWGU_Yrr0BTvGe5LuTKND6WrXapMLgCGN5drro7jL9YqcHI8xp98quZSmjVEUxnHpFTB5dWqZdJhRXk0tU67FSHAaNdCx/s400/Bird+Robins+Card+%25282%2529.jpg" width="400" /></a></div>
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<span style="font-size: large;"><span class="text Lam-3-25" id="en-NIV-20380" style="background-color: white; box-sizing: border-box; font-family: "helvetica neue" , "verdana" , "helvetica" , "arial" , sans-serif; line-height: 24px; position: relative;">The <span class="small-caps" style="-webkit-font-smoothing: antialiased; box-sizing: border-box; font-variant: small-caps;">Lord</span> is good to those whose hope is in him,</span><br style="background-color: white; box-sizing: border-box; font-family: 'Helvetica Neue', Verdana, Helvetica, Arial, sans-serif; line-height: 24px; text-align: start;" /><span class="indent-1" style="background-color: white; box-sizing: border-box; font-family: "helvetica neue" , "verdana" , "helvetica" , "arial" , sans-serif; line-height: 24px;"><span class="indent-1-breaks" style="box-sizing: border-box; font-family: monospace; line-height: 0;"> </span><span class="text Lam-3-25" style="-webkit-font-smoothing: antialiased; box-sizing: border-box; position: relative;">to the one who seeks him;</span></span></span></div>
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<span class="indent-1" style="background-color: white; box-sizing: border-box; font-family: "helvetica neue" , "verdana" , "helvetica" , "arial" , sans-serif; line-height: 24px;"><span class="text Lam-3-25" style="-webkit-font-smoothing: antialiased; box-sizing: border-box; position: relative;"><span class="crossreference" data-cr="#cen-NIV-20380AN" data-link="(<a href="#cen-NIV-20380AN" title="See cross-reference AN">AN</a>)" style="box-sizing: border-box; line-height: 22px; position: relative; top: 0px; vertical-align: top;"><span style="font-size: large;"><span style="line-height: 24px;">it is good to wait quietly...</span></span></span></span></span></div>
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Lamentations 3:25-26</div>
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<span style="font-family: "courier new" , "courier" , monospace; font-size: large;">Spring has been beautiful...one of the best ever with more flowering trees and profuse roses than I can remember --- Breathtaking!</span></div>
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<span style="font-family: "courier new" , "courier" , monospace; font-size: large;">Literally!...</span></div>
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<span style="font-family: "courier new" , "courier" , monospace; font-size: large;">but in reality, it has been awful.</span></div>
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<span style="font-family: "courier new" , "courier" , monospace; font-size: large;">Two months ago I got sick with a three-day cold-like virus with a low-grade fever and the next day my left ear went almost completely deaf. It was Thursday, Sunday was just around the corner and Holy Week with its rehearsals and services was looming.</span></div>
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<span style="font-family: "courier new" , "courier" , monospace; font-size: large;">I expected it to last a short time but it has lingered through two rounds of antibiotics, a month of antihistamine and cortisone nose sprays and four doctors' visits with zero results.</span></div>
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<span style="font-family: "courier new" , "courier" , monospace; font-size: large;">Deafness. This is quite a disability to a musician and I know three others in the music paths I walk that had EXACTLY the same thing. What gives? It has been a challenge playing when I couldn't hear myself. Two times I could not play with the choir in the service because I couldn't hear if I was too loud or too soft. I don't put myself on the same musical plane as Beethoven but I can definitely associate with his frustration at being deaf and having to perform, rehearse and teach music.</span><br />
<span style="font-family: "courier new" , "courier" , monospace; font-size: large;"> I'm planning to retire from playing this summer and am thinking I may as well do it now. I don't feel very effective. At least this week I feel better physically!</span></div>
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<span style="font-family: "courier new" , "courier" , monospace; font-size: large;">I'm being thankful for the little things</span></div>
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<span style="font-family: "courier new" , "courier" , monospace; font-size: large;">and </span></div>
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<span style="font-family: "courier new" , "courier" , monospace; font-size: large;">"waiting quietly."</span></div>
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Sally L. Smithhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/02946899217879609949noreply@blogger.com1tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-4244971055974578940.post-23366002902048443722016-04-11T09:18:00.000-05:002016-04-11T09:18:14.999-05:00Tomorrow? and Tomorrow!<table align="center" cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0" class="tr-caption-container" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto; text-align: center;"><tbody>
<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiN9ZNBMSv6Q_j2nShuJ-NnWW7b0AnKGzZNtjHAf0aEe-qZnhAxEm-QiW2pBXkP-rUTR2dJ0M0KYuwfWyW2URou3cUAf8Ziec4jJS8U06ZQ_Bhv2-tf26w2vThwTZ0znQPjogJr_Zf3CFyU/s1600/000_0013.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" height="300" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiN9ZNBMSv6Q_j2nShuJ-NnWW7b0AnKGzZNtjHAf0aEe-qZnhAxEm-QiW2pBXkP-rUTR2dJ0M0KYuwfWyW2URou3cUAf8Ziec4jJS8U06ZQ_Bhv2-tf26w2vThwTZ0znQPjogJr_Zf3CFyU/s400/000_0013.JPG" width="400" /></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">"Tomorrow?...!" photo by Sally L. Smith</td></tr>
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<span style="font-family: Helvetica Neue, Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif; font-size: large;"><span style="background-color: white; line-height: 24px; text-align: start;">"This sign will occur </span><b style="line-height: 24px; text-align: start;">tomorrow</b><span style="background-color: white; line-height: 24px; text-align: start;">.’” Exodus 8:23</span></span><br />
<span style="font-family: Helvetica Neue, Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif; font-size: large;"><b style="background-color: white; box-sizing: border-box; line-height: 24px; text-align: start;">"Tomorrow</b><span style="background-color: white; line-height: 24px; text-align: start;"> the </span><span class="small-caps" style="-webkit-font-smoothing: antialiased; background-color: white; box-sizing: border-box; font-variant: small-caps; line-height: 24px; text-align: start;">Lord</span><span style="background-color: white; line-height: 24px; text-align: start;"> will do this in the land.”</span></span><br />
<span style="background-color: white; line-height: 24px; text-align: start;"><span style="font-family: Helvetica Neue, Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif; font-size: large;"> Exodus 9:5</span></span><br />
<span style="font-family: Helvetica Neue, Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif; font-size: large;"><span style="background-color: white; line-height: 24px; text-align: start;">"...at this time </span><b style="background-color: white; box-sizing: border-box; line-height: 24px; text-align: start;">tomorrow</b><span style="background-color: white; line-height: 24px; text-align: start;"> I will send..." Exodus 9:18</span></span><br />
<span style="font-family: Helvetica Neue, Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif; font-size: large;"><span style="background-color: white; line-height: 24px; text-align: start;">"...by this time </span><b style="background-color: white; box-sizing: border-box; line-height: 24px; text-align: start;">tomorrow</b><span style="background-color: white; line-height: 24px; text-align: start;"> I will hand..." Joshua 11:6</span></span><br />
<span style="font-family: Helvetica Neue, Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif; font-size: large;">"<span style="background-color: white; line-height: 24px; text-align: start;">Go, for </span><b style="background-color: white; box-sizing: border-box; line-height: 24px; text-align: start;">tomorrow</b><span style="background-color: white; line-height: 24px; text-align: start;"> I will give..." Judges 20:28</span></span></div>
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<span style="font-family: Courier New, Courier, monospace; font-size: large;"><span style="background-color: white; line-height: 24px;">Sometimes tomorrow seems like a long time but God does things in His time, not ours. </span><span style="background-color: white; line-height: 24px;">Sometimes we just have to wait for good things to come. God promised that He would take care of us but we spin our wheels worrying about needless things. Worry is a miserable place to be and it will only make us feel worse?</span></span></div>
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<span style="background-color: white; font-family: Courier New, Courier, monospace; font-size: large; line-height: 24px;">Why don't we just trust Him?</span></div>
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<span style="background-color: white; font-family: Courier New, Courier, monospace; font-size: large; line-height: 24px;">He does hold our tomorrow, doesn't He?</span></div>
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<span style="background-color: white; font-family: Courier New, Courier, monospace; font-size: large; line-height: 24px;">If we actually trust Him, He will give us the peace we need until our "tomorrow" comes...</span><br />
<span style="background-color: white; font-family: Courier New, Courier, monospace; font-size: large; line-height: 24px;">maybe even...</span><br />
<span style="background-color: white; font-family: 'Courier New', Courier, monospace; font-size: large; line-height: 24px;">Tomorrow!</span><br />
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Sally L. Smithhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/02946899217879609949noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-4244971055974578940.post-49213772236329875242016-04-08T21:32:00.001-05:002016-04-08T21:32:48.092-05:00Violets...Ahhh.<table align="center" cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0" class="tr-caption-container" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto; text-align: center;"><tbody>
<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgQwHx6efPDbdaNH75ylesRbrF_AHLchO3p3oZqlWg2TeTDI-dBxT1_fFS6udZ47lRxRSOVOFMydRSoJHjM9XtT8kK3LTbvjataQjhAeb5AG9eWwbjLcx5260YdWlbivVe__2TrmLMxDdg_/s1600/000_0003+%25282%2529.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" height="400" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgQwHx6efPDbdaNH75ylesRbrF_AHLchO3p3oZqlWg2TeTDI-dBxT1_fFS6udZ47lRxRSOVOFMydRSoJHjM9XtT8kK3LTbvjataQjhAeb5AG9eWwbjLcx5260YdWlbivVe__2TrmLMxDdg_/s400/000_0003+%25282%2529.JPG" width="332" /></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">"My Favorite Spring Flower" photo by Sally L. Smith</td></tr>
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<span style="font-size: large;"><span style="background-color: white; box-sizing: border-box; font-family: 'Helvetica Neue', Verdana, Helvetica, Arial, sans-serif; line-height: 24px; text-align: start;">Flowers</span><span style="background-color: white; font-family: 'Helvetica Neue', Verdana, Helvetica, Arial, sans-serif; line-height: 24px; text-align: start;"> appear on the earth;...</span></span></div>
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<span style="background-color: white; font-family: 'Helvetica Neue', Verdana, Helvetica, Arial, sans-serif; font-size: 16px; line-height: 24px; text-align: start;">Song of Songs 2:12</span></div>
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<span style="background-color: white; line-height: 24px; text-align: start;"><span style="font-family: Courier New, Courier, monospace; font-size: large;">It's here...Spring!</span></span></div>
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<span style="background-color: white; line-height: 24px; text-align: start;"><span style="font-family: Courier New, Courier, monospace; font-size: large;">As I write this, however, I just heard that there is snow in Central Illinois. It's supposed to be freezing here tonight. One of many things about the Lord is His sense of humor. It's a good thing I took this picture this week!</span></span></div>
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Sally L. Smithhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/02946899217879609949noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-4244971055974578940.post-75470810177882921102016-03-31T09:26:00.000-05:002016-03-31T09:28:06.230-05:00A Rock...True Love<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEigJ9eA0sLt2McVw70svzXB8O6O1Z4_p27EwFkaM0NLhJwXIDdry5KAbaa27BcA-K3zfdaWMhTAb35rwLVa8_jajf1JXVA-l0MQ-iZOrZBTaT26FAaKy2tLuuDZ9OrAmN38MbGTQ33AVQFW/s1600/000_0020+%25282%2529.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="396" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEigJ9eA0sLt2McVw70svzXB8O6O1Z4_p27EwFkaM0NLhJwXIDdry5KAbaa27BcA-K3zfdaWMhTAb35rwLVa8_jajf1JXVA-l0MQ-iZOrZBTaT26FAaKy2tLuuDZ9OrAmN38MbGTQ33AVQFW/s400/000_0020+%25282%2529.JPG" width="400" /></a></div>
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<span style="font-size: large;"><span class="text Num-24-21" style="background-color: white; box-sizing: border-box; font-family: "helvetica neue" , "verdana" , "helvetica" , "arial" , sans-serif; line-height: 24px; position: relative;">Your dwelling place is secure,</span><span class="text Num-24-21" style="background-color: white; box-sizing: border-box; font-family: "helvetica neue" , "verdana" , "helvetica" , "arial" , sans-serif; line-height: 22px; position: relative;"> </span></span></div>
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<span class="indent-1" style="background-color: white; box-sizing: border-box; font-family: "helvetica neue" , "verdana" , "helvetica" , "arial" , sans-serif; line-height: 24px;"><span class="text Num-24-21" style="-webkit-font-smoothing: antialiased; box-sizing: border-box; position: relative;"><span style="font-size: large;">your nest is set in a rock;...</span></span></span></div>
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<span class="indent-1" style="background-color: white; box-sizing: border-box; font-family: "helvetica neue" , "verdana" , "helvetica" , "arial" , sans-serif; font-size: 16px; line-height: 24px;"><span class="text Num-24-21" style="-webkit-font-smoothing: antialiased; box-sizing: border-box; position: relative;">Numbers 24:21</span></span></div>
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<span class="indent-1" style="background-color: white; box-sizing: border-box; font-family: "helvetica neue" , "verdana" , "helvetica" , "arial" , sans-serif; font-size: 16px; line-height: 24px;"><span class="text Num-24-21" style="-webkit-font-smoothing: antialiased; box-sizing: border-box; position: relative;"><br /></span></span></div>
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<span class="indent-1" style="-webkit-font-smoothing: antialiased; background-color: white; box-sizing: border-box; line-height: 24px; text-align: start;"><span class="text Num-24-21" style="-webkit-font-smoothing: antialiased; box-sizing: border-box; position: relative;"><span style="font-family: "courier new" , "courier" , monospace; font-size: large;">We tend to build nests...we mothers and grandmothers and wives and sisters. We want our home to be comfortable and the people that live within to be loved and nurtured. It is a rare occasion when that love is reciprocated in a meaningful and lasting way</span></span></span></div>
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<span class="indent-1" style="-webkit-font-smoothing: antialiased; background-color: white; box-sizing: border-box; line-height: 24px; text-align: start;"><span class="text Num-24-21" style="-webkit-font-smoothing: antialiased; box-sizing: border-box; position: relative;"><span style="font-family: "courier new" , "courier" , monospace; font-size: large;">but</span></span></span></div>
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<span class="indent-1" style="-webkit-font-smoothing: antialiased; background-color: white; box-sizing: border-box; line-height: 24px; text-align: start;"><span class="text Num-24-21" style="-webkit-font-smoothing: antialiased; box-sizing: border-box; position: relative;"><span style="font-family: "courier new" , "courier" , monospace; font-size: large;">such was the case the other day.</span></span></span></div>
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<span class="indent-1" style="-webkit-font-smoothing: antialiased; background-color: white; box-sizing: border-box; line-height: 24px; text-align: start;"><span class="text Num-24-21" style="-webkit-font-smoothing: antialiased; box-sizing: border-box; position: relative;"><span style="font-family: "courier new" , "courier" , monospace; font-size: large;"><br /></span></span></span></div>
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<span class="indent-1" style="-webkit-font-smoothing: antialiased; background-color: white; box-sizing: border-box; line-height: 24px; text-align: start;"><span class="text Num-24-21" style="-webkit-font-smoothing: antialiased; box-sizing: border-box; position: relative;"><span style="font-family: "courier new" , "courier" , monospace; font-size: large;">My grandson went for a walk with Grandpa the other day and returned with this heart rock. I have a few that I have saved for myself and he said, "Grandma, I found this heart rock and I thought you might like to add it to your collection." How sweet! I was so touched that he thought of me and as a rock lover himself, he sacrificed his find for me.</span></span></span><span style="background-color: white; font-family: "courier new" , "courier" , monospace; font-size: large; line-height: 24px;"> </span></div>
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<span style="background-color: white; font-family: "courier new" , "courier" , monospace; font-size: large; line-height: 24px;"> That is true love...</span></div>
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<span style="background-color: white; font-family: "courier new" , "courier" , monospace; font-size: large; line-height: 24px;">something you love and sacrifice for another.</span></div>
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<span class="indent-1" style="-webkit-font-smoothing: antialiased; background-color: white; box-sizing: border-box; line-height: 24px; text-align: start;"><span class="text Num-24-21" style="-webkit-font-smoothing: antialiased; box-sizing: border-box; position: relative;"><span style="font-family: "courier new" , "courier" , monospace; font-size: large;"><br /></span></span></span></div>
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<span class="indent-1" style="-webkit-font-smoothing: antialiased; background-color: white; box-sizing: border-box; line-height: 24px; text-align: start;"><span class="text Num-24-21" style="-webkit-font-smoothing: antialiased; box-sizing: border-box; position: relative;"><span style="font-family: "courier new" , "courier" , monospace; font-size: large;">That is what God did for us when He sent His Son to die for our sins.</span></span></span></div>
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<span class="indent-1" style="-webkit-font-smoothing: antialiased; background-color: white; box-sizing: border-box; line-height: 24px; text-align: start;"><span class="text Num-24-21" style="-webkit-font-smoothing: antialiased; box-sizing: border-box; position: relative;"><span style="font-family: "courier new" , "courier" , monospace; font-size: large;">That is true love!</span></span></span></div>
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Sally L. Smithhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/02946899217879609949noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-4244971055974578940.post-92016011476849727212016-03-25T10:16:00.000-05:002016-03-25T10:16:15.398-05:00Perfect Unity<table align="center" cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0" class="tr-caption-container" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto; text-align: center;"><tbody>
<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEikl56bG0l3zrLvkoNG9dQiCzhIGHZyEuOEPS5BK96rPm-VOVsrk1h-i_rItxzzt75vaaea5DJribhpPCsHIa_dUgRZCyuIj1FN4zvVNm2lKO7OB2ZSRjgSIMKtWopJLhCz2BOg-IFGaOG5/s1600/000_0013+%25283%2529.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" height="320" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEikl56bG0l3zrLvkoNG9dQiCzhIGHZyEuOEPS5BK96rPm-VOVsrk1h-i_rItxzzt75vaaea5DJribhpPCsHIa_dUgRZCyuIj1FN4zvVNm2lKO7OB2ZSRjgSIMKtWopJLhCz2BOg-IFGaOG5/s320/000_0013+%25283%2529.JPG" width="252" /></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">"Holy Week Sunset" photo by Sally L. Smith</td></tr>
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<span class="text John-17-20" style="-webkit-font-smoothing: antialiased; background-color: white; box-sizing: border-box; font-family: 'Helvetica Neue', Verdana, Helvetica, Arial, sans-serif; font-size: 16px; line-height: 24px; text-align: start;"><span class="woj" style="-webkit-font-smoothing: antialiased; box-sizing: border-box; color: red;">“My prayer is not for them alone. I pray also for those who will believe in me through their message,</span></span><span style="background-color: white; font-family: 'Helvetica Neue', Verdana, Helvetica, Arial, sans-serif; font-size: 16px; line-height: 24px; text-align: start;"> </span><span class="text John-17-21" id="en-NIV-26781" style="-webkit-font-smoothing: antialiased; background-color: white; box-sizing: border-box; font-family: 'Helvetica Neue', Verdana, Helvetica, Arial, sans-serif; font-size: 16px; line-height: 24px; text-align: start;"><span class="woj" style="-webkit-font-smoothing: antialiased; box-sizing: border-box; color: red;"><span class="versenum" style="box-sizing: border-box; font-family: Arial; font-size: 12px; font-weight: bold; line-height: 22px; position: relative; top: 0px; vertical-align: top;"> </span>that all of them may be one, Father, just as you are in me and I am in you. May they also be in us so that the world may believe that you have sent me.</span></span><span style="background-color: white; font-family: 'Helvetica Neue', Verdana, Helvetica, Arial, sans-serif; font-size: 16px; line-height: 24px; text-align: start;"> </span><span class="text John-17-22" id="en-NIV-26782" style="-webkit-font-smoothing: antialiased; background-color: white; box-sizing: border-box; font-family: 'Helvetica Neue', Verdana, Helvetica, Arial, sans-serif; font-size: 16px; line-height: 24px; text-align: start;"><span class="woj" style="-webkit-font-smoothing: antialiased; box-sizing: border-box; color: red;"><span class="versenum" style="box-sizing: border-box; font-family: Arial; font-size: 12px; font-weight: bold; line-height: 22px; position: relative; top: 0px; vertical-align: top;"> </span>I have given them the glory that you gave me, that they may be one as we are one—</span></span><span style="background-color: white; font-family: 'Helvetica Neue', Verdana, Helvetica, Arial, sans-serif; font-size: 16px; line-height: 24px; text-align: start;"> </span><span class="text John-17-23" id="en-NIV-26783" style="-webkit-font-smoothing: antialiased; background-color: white; box-sizing: border-box; font-family: 'Helvetica Neue', Verdana, Helvetica, Arial, sans-serif; font-size: 16px; line-height: 24px; text-align: start;"><span class="woj" style="-webkit-font-smoothing: antialiased; box-sizing: border-box; color: red;"><span class="versenum" style="box-sizing: border-box; font-family: Arial; font-size: 12px; font-weight: bold; line-height: 22px; position: relative; top: 0px; vertical-align: top;"> </span>I in them and you in me—so that they may be brought to complete unity. Then the world will know that you sent me and have loved them even as you have loved me... </span><span class="woj" style="-webkit-font-smoothing: antialiased; box-sizing: border-box;">Jesus Christ, the Son of the Living God</span></span></div>
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<span class="text John-17-23" style="-webkit-font-smoothing: antialiased; background-color: white; box-sizing: border-box; font-family: 'Helvetica Neue', Verdana, Helvetica, Arial, sans-serif; font-size: 16px; line-height: 24px; text-align: start;"><span class="woj" style="-webkit-font-smoothing: antialiased; box-sizing: border-box;">John 17:20-23</span></span></div>
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<span class="text John-17-23" style="-webkit-font-smoothing: antialiased; background-color: white; box-sizing: border-box; font-family: 'Helvetica Neue', Verdana, Helvetica, Arial, sans-serif; font-size: 16px; line-height: 24px; text-align: start;"><span class="woj" style="-webkit-font-smoothing: antialiased; box-sizing: border-box;"><br /></span></span></div>
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<span style="background-color: white; font-family: 'Helvetica Neue', Verdana, Helvetica, Arial, sans-serif; font-size: large; line-height: 24px; text-align: start;">It amazes me that Jesus was thinking of those of us who WILL come to know him even after his disciples die. He wrote these words for us and He expects us to get along with each other, to be united with no fighting, backbiting, arguing or hateful speech,no gossip, idle talk or ridicule...just love.</span></div>
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<span class="text John-17-23" style="-webkit-font-smoothing: antialiased; background-color: white; box-sizing: border-box; font-family: 'Helvetica Neue', Verdana, Helvetica, Arial, sans-serif; line-height: 24px; text-align: start;"><span class="woj" style="-webkit-font-smoothing: antialiased; box-sizing: border-box;"><span style="font-size: large;">Sounds easy but we know it is not. Only through understanding the perfect love of Christ can we get along with everyone around us, even those who get on our nerves, even those who think they are a god, even those who do not love us back. Sounds easy but we know it is not...not without the love of God through Christ in us.</span></span></span></div>
Sally L. Smithhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/02946899217879609949noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-4244971055974578940.post-76308600965405265632016-03-14T09:08:00.000-05:002016-03-15T09:24:17.992-05:00The Path to Love<table align="center" cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0" class="tr-caption-container" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto; text-align: center;"><tbody>
<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiOvK3iqhMfL0w0leiXHZjsDy85Ah1HRQfhl5Q7D-NzHGqjF-zULELeSDJzVQGkF92SNrG08h9DOgD6XgOmRaua1R6UKlfVqUJcexrpPsuT7lb9-f89OiBNRJpllJx-jxvGfe7r3Z_OVBC5/s1600/000_0007.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" height="300" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiOvK3iqhMfL0w0leiXHZjsDy85Ah1HRQfhl5Q7D-NzHGqjF-zULELeSDJzVQGkF92SNrG08h9DOgD6XgOmRaua1R6UKlfVqUJcexrpPsuT7lb9-f89OiBNRJpllJx-jxvGfe7r3Z_OVBC5/s400/000_0007.JPG" width="400" /></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">"Sky Islands" photo by Sally L. Smith</td></tr>
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<span style="font-size: large;"><span class="text 2Pet-1-5" id="en-NIV-30485" style="background-color: white; box-sizing: border-box; font-family: "helvetica neue" , "verdana" , "helvetica" , "arial" , sans-serif; line-height: 24px;">... make every effort to add to your faith goodness; and to goodness, knowledge;</span><span style="background-color: white; font-family: "helvetica neue" , "verdana" , "helvetica" , "arial" , sans-serif; line-height: 24px;"> </span><span class="text 2Pet-1-6" id="en-NIV-30486" style="background-color: white; box-sizing: border-box; font-family: "helvetica neue" , "verdana" , "helvetica" , "arial" , sans-serif; line-height: 24px;"><span class="versenum" style="box-sizing: border-box; font-family: "arial"; font-weight: bold; line-height: 22px; position: relative; top: 0px; vertical-align: top;"> </span>and to knowledge, self-control;</span><span class="text 2Pet-1-6" style="background-color: white; box-sizing: border-box; font-family: "helvetica neue" , "verdana" , "helvetica" , "arial" , sans-serif;"><span style="line-height: 22px;"> </span><span style="line-height: 24px;">and to self-control, perseverance;</span><span style="line-height: 24px;"> and to perseverance, godliness;</span></span><span style="background-color: white; font-family: "helvetica neue" , "verdana" , "helvetica" , "arial" , sans-serif; line-height: 24px;"> </span><span class="text 2Pet-1-7" id="en-NIV-30487" style="background-color: white; box-sizing: border-box; font-family: "helvetica neue" , "verdana" , "helvetica" , "arial" , sans-serif; line-height: 24px;">and to godliness, mutual affection; and to mutual affection, love.</span><span style="background-color: white; font-family: "helvetica neue" , "verdana" , "helvetica" , "arial" , sans-serif; line-height: 24px;"> </span><span class="text 2Pet-1-8" id="en-NIV-30488" style="background-color: white; box-sizing: border-box; font-family: "helvetica neue" , "verdana" , "helvetica" , "arial" , sans-serif; line-height: 24px;">For if you possess these qualities in increasing measure, they will keep you from being ineffective and unproductive in your knowledge of our Lord Jesus Christ.</span></span></div>
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<span class="text 2Pet-1-8" style="background-color: white; box-sizing: border-box; font-family: "helvetica neue" , "verdana" , "helvetica" , "arial" , sans-serif; line-height: 24px;"><span class="crossreference" data-cr="#cen-NIV-30488M" data-link="(<a href="#cen-NIV-30488M" title="See cross-reference M">M</a>)" style="box-sizing: border-box; line-height: 22px; position: relative; top: 0px; vertical-align: top;">2 Peter 1:5-8</span></span></div>
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<span class="text 2Pet-1-8" style="background-color: white; box-sizing: border-box; font-family: "helvetica neue" , "verdana" , "helvetica" , "arial" , sans-serif; line-height: 24px;"><span class="crossreference" data-cr="#cen-NIV-30488M" data-link="(<a href="#cen-NIV-30488M" title="See cross-reference M">M</a>)" style="box-sizing: border-box; line-height: 22px; position: relative; top: 0px; vertical-align: top;"><br /></span></span></div>
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<span style="font-family: "courier new" , "courier" , monospace; font-size: large;"><span style="background-color: white; line-height: 22px;">I have heard this scripture preached for years but never paid attention to the process it describes. Today, after reading it again, these thoughts came.</span></span></div>
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<span class="text 2Pet-1-8" style="-webkit-font-smoothing: antialiased; background-color: white; box-sizing: border-box; line-height: 24px; text-align: start;"><span class="crossreference" data-cr="#cen-NIV-30488M" data-link="(<a href="#cen-NIV-30488M" title="See cross-reference M">M</a>)" style="box-sizing: border-box; line-height: 22px; position: relative; top: 0px; vertical-align: top;"><span style="font-family: "courier new" , "courier" , monospace; font-size: large;"><br /></span></span></span></div>
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<span class="text 2Pet-1-8" style="-webkit-font-smoothing: antialiased; background-color: white; box-sizing: border-box; line-height: 24px; text-align: start;"><span class="crossreference" data-cr="#cen-NIV-30488M" data-link="(<a href="#cen-NIV-30488M" title="See cross-reference M">M</a>)" style="box-sizing: border-box; line-height: 22px; position: relative; top: 0px; vertical-align: top;"><span style="font-family: "courier new" , "courier" , monospace; font-size: large;">The Bible tells us that believing in Jesus is a commitment process. Following His teachings and living a life like His should be our goal and our whole life should be straining toward that goal.</span></span></span></div>
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<span class="text 2Pet-1-8" style="-webkit-font-smoothing: antialiased; background-color: white; box-sizing: border-box; line-height: 24px; text-align: start;"><span class="crossreference" data-cr="#cen-NIV-30488M" data-link="(<a href="#cen-NIV-30488M" title="See cross-reference M">M</a>)" style="box-sizing: border-box; line-height: 22px; position: relative; top: 0px; vertical-align: top;"><span style="font-family: "courier new" , "courier" , monospace; font-size: large;"><br /></span></span></span></div>
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<span class="text 2Pet-1-8" style="-webkit-font-smoothing: antialiased; background-color: white; box-sizing: border-box; line-height: 24px; text-align: start;"><span class="crossreference" data-cr="#cen-NIV-30488M" data-link="(<a href="#cen-NIV-30488M" title="See cross-reference M">M</a>)" style="box-sizing: border-box; line-height: 22px; position: relative; top: 0px; vertical-align: top;"><span style="font-family: "courier new" , "courier" , monospace; font-size: large;">So, you've accepted that Christ was and is, now you will want to lead a better life. How do you do it? Maybe following the progression in the scripture above will help.</span></span></span></div>
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<span class="text 2Pet-1-8" style="-webkit-font-smoothing: antialiased; background-color: white; box-sizing: border-box; line-height: 24px; text-align: start;"><span class="crossreference" data-cr="#cen-NIV-30488M" data-link="(<a href="#cen-NIV-30488M" title="See cross-reference M">M</a>)" style="box-sizing: border-box; line-height: 22px; position: relative; top: 0px; vertical-align: top;"><span style="font-family: "courier new" , "courier" , monospace; font-size: large;"><br /></span></span></span></div>
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<span class="text 2Pet-1-8" style="-webkit-font-smoothing: antialiased; background-color: white; box-sizing: border-box; line-height: 24px; text-align: start;"><span class="crossreference" data-cr="#cen-NIV-30488M" data-link="(<a href="#cen-NIV-30488M" title="See cross-reference M">M</a>)" style="box-sizing: border-box; line-height: 22px; position: relative; top: 0px; vertical-align: top;"><span style="font-family: "courier new" , "courier" , monospace; font-size: large;">Try <b>goodness</b> for starters: Do something good for someone. Simple? Yes, but you must act and not just think. Continue walking this path as you...</span></span></span></div>
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<span class="text 2Pet-1-8" style="-webkit-font-smoothing: antialiased; background-color: white; box-sizing: border-box; line-height: 24px; text-align: start;"><span class="crossreference" data-cr="#cen-NIV-30488M" data-link="(<a href="#cen-NIV-30488M" title="See cross-reference M">M</a>)" style="box-sizing: border-box; line-height: 22px; position: relative; top: 0px; vertical-align: top;"><span style="font-family: "courier new" , "courier" , monospace; font-size: large;"><br /></span></span></span></div>
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<span class="text 2Pet-1-8" style="-webkit-font-smoothing: antialiased; background-color: white; box-sizing: border-box; line-height: 24px; text-align: start;"><span class="crossreference" data-cr="#cen-NIV-30488M" data-link="(<a href="#cen-NIV-30488M" title="See cross-reference M">M</a>)" style="box-sizing: border-box; line-height: 22px; position: relative; top: 0px; vertical-align: top;"><span style="font-family: "courier new" , "courier" , monospace; font-size: large;"> gain more <b>knowledge</b> about Jesus. Reading the Bible, especially Jesus' words, is a good start toward what He expects from us. This is a life-long process since He reveals new things every time we read.</span></span></span></div>
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<span class="text 2Pet-1-8" style="-webkit-font-smoothing: antialiased; background-color: white; box-sizing: border-box; line-height: 24px; text-align: start;"><span class="crossreference" data-cr="#cen-NIV-30488M" data-link="(<a href="#cen-NIV-30488M" title="See cross-reference M">M</a>)" style="box-sizing: border-box; line-height: 22px; position: relative; top: 0px; vertical-align: top;"><span style="font-family: "courier new" , "courier" , monospace; font-size: large;"><br /></span></span></span></div>
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<span class="text 2Pet-1-8" style="-webkit-font-smoothing: antialiased; background-color: white; box-sizing: border-box; line-height: 24px; text-align: start;"><span class="crossreference" data-cr="#cen-NIV-30488M" data-link="(<a href="#cen-NIV-30488M" title="See cross-reference M">M</a>)" style="box-sizing: border-box; line-height: 22px; position: relative; top: 0px; vertical-align: top;"><span style="font-family: "courier new" , "courier" , monospace; font-size: large;">Try a little <b>self-control. </b>Start with the little things and work (yes, I said "work") at it. This does not come easy for one who has had no control over his/her own life.</span></span></span></div>
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<span class="text 2Pet-1-8" style="-webkit-font-smoothing: antialiased; background-color: white; box-sizing: border-box; line-height: 24px; text-align: start;"><span class="crossreference" data-cr="#cen-NIV-30488M" data-link="(<a href="#cen-NIV-30488M" title="See cross-reference M">M</a>)" style="box-sizing: border-box; line-height: 22px; position: relative; top: 0px; vertical-align: top;"><span style="font-family: "courier new" , "courier" , monospace; font-size: large;"><br /></span></span></span></div>
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<span class="text 2Pet-1-8" style="-webkit-font-smoothing: antialiased; background-color: white; box-sizing: border-box; line-height: 24px; text-align: start;"><span class="crossreference" data-cr="#cen-NIV-30488M" data-link="(<a href="#cen-NIV-30488M" title="See cross-reference M">M</a>)" style="box-sizing: border-box; line-height: 22px; position: relative; top: 0px; vertical-align: top;"><span style="font-family: "courier new" , "courier" , monospace; font-size: large;">Gaining control over oneself takes <b>perseverance. </b>It is a stick-to-it road and not something that comes over night. Persevering puts us closer to Christ because it is a sacrifice to stick with it.</span></span></span></div>
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<span class="text 2Pet-1-8" style="-webkit-font-smoothing: antialiased; background-color: white; box-sizing: border-box; line-height: 24px; text-align: start;"><span class="crossreference" data-cr="#cen-NIV-30488M" data-link="(<a href="#cen-NIV-30488M" title="See cross-reference M">M</a>)" style="box-sizing: border-box; line-height: 22px; position: relative; top: 0px; vertical-align: top;"><span style="font-family: "courier new" , "courier" , monospace; font-size: large;"><br /></span></span></span></div>
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<span class="text 2Pet-1-8" style="-webkit-font-smoothing: antialiased; background-color: white; box-sizing: border-box; line-height: 24px; text-align: start;"><span class="crossreference" data-cr="#cen-NIV-30488M" data-link="(<a href="#cen-NIV-30488M" title="See cross-reference M">M</a>)" style="box-sizing: border-box; line-height: 22px; position: relative; top: 0px; vertical-align: top;"><span style="font-family: "courier new" , "courier" , monospace; font-size: large;">As we grow in all these things we gain <b>godliness,</b> thinking and doing things as God would. We listen to our "leanings" toward godliness and act on those thoughts and feelings from the Holy Spirit.</span></span></span></div>
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<span class="text 2Pet-1-8" style="-webkit-font-smoothing: antialiased; background-color: white; box-sizing: border-box; line-height: 24px; text-align: start;"><span class="crossreference" data-cr="#cen-NIV-30488M" data-link="(<a href="#cen-NIV-30488M" title="See cross-reference M">M</a>)" style="box-sizing: border-box; line-height: 22px; position: relative; top: 0px; vertical-align: top;"><span style="font-family: "courier new" , "courier" , monospace; font-size: large;"><br /></span></span></span></div>
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<span class="text 2Pet-1-8" style="-webkit-font-smoothing: antialiased; background-color: white; box-sizing: border-box; line-height: 24px; text-align: start;"><span class="crossreference" data-cr="#cen-NIV-30488M" data-link="(<a href="#cen-NIV-30488M" title="See cross-reference M">M</a>)" style="box-sizing: border-box; line-height: 22px; position: relative; top: 0px; vertical-align: top;"><span style="font-family: "courier new" , "courier" , monospace; font-size: large;">We look for others with whom we can share our God-experience...those who share this passion to be more godly. We find a<b> mutual affection</b> with them and we work together for good and God. That affection helps us reach out to non-believers to share His hope with them.</span></span></span></div>
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<span class="text 2Pet-1-8" style="-webkit-font-smoothing: antialiased; background-color: white; box-sizing: border-box; line-height: 24px; text-align: start;"><span class="crossreference" data-cr="#cen-NIV-30488M" data-link="(<a href="#cen-NIV-30488M" title="See cross-reference M">M</a>)" style="box-sizing: border-box; line-height: 22px; position: relative; top: 0px; vertical-align: top;"><span style="font-family: "courier new" , "courier" , monospace; font-size: large;"><br /></span></span></span></div>
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<span class="text 2Pet-1-8" style="-webkit-font-smoothing: antialiased; background-color: white; box-sizing: border-box; line-height: 24px; text-align: start;"><span class="crossreference" data-cr="#cen-NIV-30488M" data-link="(<a href="#cen-NIV-30488M" title="See cross-reference M">M</a>)" style="box-sizing: border-box; line-height: 22px; position: relative; top: 0px; vertical-align: top;"><span style="font-family: "courier new" , "courier" , monospace; font-size: large;">Then we can truly <b>love</b> because we can better understand God's love for us.</span></span></span></div>
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<span class="text 2Pet-1-8" style="-webkit-font-smoothing: antialiased; background-color: white; box-sizing: border-box; line-height: 24px; text-align: start;"><span class="crossreference" data-cr="#cen-NIV-30488M" data-link="(<a href="#cen-NIV-30488M" title="See cross-reference M">M</a>)" style="box-sizing: border-box; line-height: 22px; position: relative; top: 0px; vertical-align: top;"><span style="font-family: "courier new" , "courier" , monospace; font-size: large;"><br /></span></span></span></div>
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<span class="text 2Pet-1-8" style="-webkit-font-smoothing: antialiased; background-color: white; box-sizing: border-box; line-height: 24px; text-align: start;"><span class="crossreference" data-cr="#cen-NIV-30488M" data-link="(<a href="#cen-NIV-30488M" title="See cross-reference M">M</a>)" style="box-sizing: border-box; line-height: 22px; position: relative; top: 0px; vertical-align: top;"><span style="font-family: "courier new" , "courier" , monospace; font-size: large;">Each is a step in the right direction. Should one decide that it is just too difficult to do all this, then he/she does not really want to be an effective and productive Christian. (Sitting in a pew is much easier.) Yes, we stumble but He picks us up. We then start on the path of love again where we got off because our goal is to be like Him and live with Him in His Glorious Forever. </span></span></span></div>
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<span class="text 2Pet-1-8" style="-webkit-font-smoothing: antialiased; background-color: white; box-sizing: border-box; line-height: 24px; text-align: start;"><span class="crossreference" data-cr="#cen-NIV-30488M" data-link="(<a href="#cen-NIV-30488M" title="See cross-reference M">M</a>)" style="box-sizing: border-box; line-height: 22px; position: relative; top: 0px; vertical-align: top;"><span style="font-family: "courier new" , "courier" , monospace; font-size: large;"><br /></span></span></span></div>
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<span class="text 2Pet-1-8" style="-webkit-font-smoothing: antialiased; background-color: white; box-sizing: border-box; line-height: 24px; text-align: start;"><span class="crossreference" data-cr="#cen-NIV-30488M" data-link="(<a href="#cen-NIV-30488M" title="See cross-reference M">M</a>)" style="box-sizing: border-box; line-height: 22px; position: relative; top: 0px; vertical-align: top;"><span style="font-family: "courier new" , "courier" , monospace; font-size: large;">It's not always easy to be a Christian, especially in our fallen world, but it is not impossible. We just have to take it step by step everyday. You may have to start at the top some days but this progression has been given to us for a reason...to gain a love like His.</span></span></span></div>
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<span class="text 2Pet-1-8" style="-webkit-font-smoothing: antialiased; background-color: white; box-sizing: border-box; line-height: 24px; text-align: start;"><span class="crossreference" data-cr="#cen-NIV-30488M" data-link="(<a href="#cen-NIV-30488M" title="See cross-reference M">M</a>)" style="box-sizing: border-box; line-height: 22px; position: relative; top: 0px; vertical-align: top;"><span style="font-family: "courier new" , "courier" , monospace; font-size: large;"><br /></span></span></span></div>
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<span class="text 2Pet-1-8" style="-webkit-font-smoothing: antialiased; background-color: white; box-sizing: border-box; line-height: 24px; text-align: start;"><span class="crossreference" data-cr="#cen-NIV-30488M" data-link="(<a href="#cen-NIV-30488M" title="See cross-reference M">M</a>)" style="box-sizing: border-box; line-height: 22px; position: relative; top: 0px; vertical-align: top;"><span style="font-family: "courier new" , "courier" , monospace; font-size: large;"><br /></span></span></span></div>
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<span class="text 2Pet-1-8" style="background-color: white; box-sizing: border-box; font-family: "helvetica neue" , "verdana" , "helvetica" , "arial" , sans-serif; line-height: 24px;"><span class="crossreference" data-cr="#cen-NIV-30488M" data-link="(<a href="#cen-NIV-30488M" title="See cross-reference M">M</a>)" style="box-sizing: border-box; line-height: 22px; position: relative; top: 0px; vertical-align: top;"><br /></span></span></div>
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<span class="text 2Pet-1-8" style="background-color: white; box-sizing: border-box; font-family: "helvetica neue" , "verdana" , "helvetica" , "arial" , sans-serif; line-height: 24px;"><span class="crossreference" data-cr="#cen-NIV-30488M" data-link="(<a href="#cen-NIV-30488M" title="See cross-reference M">M</a>)" style="box-sizing: border-box; line-height: 22px; position: relative; top: 0px; vertical-align: top;"><br /></span></span></div>
Sally L. Smithhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/02946899217879609949noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-4244971055974578940.post-67993621692796632832016-03-07T09:43:00.001-06:002016-03-07T09:43:59.432-06:00The Spotlight<table align="center" cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0" class="tr-caption-container" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto; text-align: center;"><tbody>
<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEg5IKW_nkLHCOI_8dh9oPyAwD25sC_IvSmjXHxlUEkeJ2xhsOK-kyMMlNmfwG6_u85wZVp9mYRuVecd5GrlyRtwS_VNSULbXTUomAD3GN2ezn8q2ACioT2LRu1GR00w_tKTcyDngWAUDuPT/s1600/20160229_170803_resized.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" height="400" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEg5IKW_nkLHCOI_8dh9oPyAwD25sC_IvSmjXHxlUEkeJ2xhsOK-kyMMlNmfwG6_u85wZVp9mYRuVecd5GrlyRtwS_VNSULbXTUomAD3GN2ezn8q2ACioT2LRu1GR00w_tKTcyDngWAUDuPT/s400/20160229_170803_resized.jpg" width="300" /></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">"Sundown Spotlight" photo by Sally L. Smith<br /><br /><span style="color: #4c1130; font-size: large;"><span class="text Ps-139-24" id="en-NIV-16264" style="-webkit-font-smoothing: antialiased; background-color: white; box-sizing: border-box; font-family: 'Helvetica Neue', Verdana, Helvetica, Arial, sans-serif; line-height: 24px; position: relative; text-align: start;">See if there is any offensive way in me </span></span><span class="indent-1" style="-webkit-font-smoothing: antialiased; background-color: white; box-sizing: border-box; line-height: 24px; text-align: start;"><span class="text Ps-139-24" style="-webkit-font-smoothing: antialiased; box-sizing: border-box; position: relative;"><span style="color: #4c1130; font-family: 'Helvetica Neue', Verdana, Helvetica, Arial, sans-serif; font-size: large;">and lead me in the way everlasting.</span><br /><span style="font-family: Helvetica Neue, Verdana, Helvetica, Arial, sans-serif;"><span style="font-size: 16px;">Psalm 139:24 NIV</span></span><br /><br /><br /><span style="font-family: Times, Times New Roman, serif; font-size: large;">The Lord doesn't have to look long to find my "offensive way." Oh, if I had only one! Mine come in multiples and yet, He still loves me and forgives me when I ask. Even after spotlighting my faults, He continues to provide peace at the end of the day. </span><br /><span style="font-family: Times, Times New Roman, serif; font-size: large;">Oh, sweet forgiveness!</span><br /><br /><span style="font-family: Helvetica Neue, Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif; font-size: small;">(I don't know why my phone's camera highlighted something in the middle of the page with a ray from the sun. It reminded me of God spotlighting my sins and loving me anyway.)</span></span></span></td></tr>
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<br />Sally L. Smithhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/02946899217879609949noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-4244971055974578940.post-46395552777940974162016-03-04T07:54:00.001-06:002016-03-04T07:54:46.988-06:00The Palette in the Sky<table align="center" cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0" class="tr-caption-container" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto; text-align: center;"><tbody>
<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgBAFOMYBIlYu7TmZyKy1nRs1o4wFhAbhfpgtQ-I2M5ifjDEOMW3BkbfnXan4ktP5zC8IJa3b0HjBupWWE0GgHs9te-HUdHLyAFCmcOzAsWs5_1YDPuYi1jFIp7J6JSiMEVK4fJCajmAJ8j/s1600/20151124_165723-2-1_resized.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" height="400" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgBAFOMYBIlYu7TmZyKy1nRs1o4wFhAbhfpgtQ-I2M5ifjDEOMW3BkbfnXan4ktP5zC8IJa3b0HjBupWWE0GgHs9te-HUdHLyAFCmcOzAsWs5_1YDPuYi1jFIp7J6JSiMEVK4fJCajmAJ8j/s400/20151124_165723-2-1_resized.jpg" width="327" /></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">"God's Sky Painting" photo by Sally L. Smith</td></tr>
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<span style="background-color: white; font-family: 'Helvetica Neue', 'Segoe UI', Helvetica, Arial, 'Lucida Grande', sans-serif; text-align: start;"><span style="font-size: large;">Your love, LORD, reaches to the heavens,</span></span></div>
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<span style="background-color: white; font-family: 'Helvetica Neue', 'Segoe UI', Helvetica, Arial, 'Lucida Grande', sans-serif; text-align: start;"><span style="font-size: large;"> your faithfulness to the skies.</span></span></div>
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<span style="background-color: white; font-family: 'Helvetica Neue', 'Segoe UI', Helvetica, Arial, 'Lucida Grande', sans-serif; text-align: start;">Psalm 36:5</span></div>
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<span style="font-family: Courier New, Courier, monospace; font-size: large;">I never get tired of looking at the clouds. They are a constant reminder of their Creator. The closest man can come to making a cloud is exhaust of some kind and that does not bring rain to nurture the earth. Clouds are proof that God loves everyone. </span></div>
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<span style="font-family: Courier New, Courier, monospace; font-size: large;">These clouds were so beautiful that I had to pull over to take a picture. What a palette!</span></div>
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Sally L. Smithhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/02946899217879609949noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-4244971055974578940.post-72904311288025471802016-03-03T06:39:00.000-06:002016-03-03T15:37:36.490-06:00Growing Up<table align="center" cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0" class="tr-caption-container" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto; text-align: center;"><tbody>
<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjIoUcgzKw6kMiNx9xAnDasd05KNDE2jix33oJj65f5r1PFrQoEPoUFp9m1hmbwDHRh0a9NoOc5cCuIkS0WjbuT9k5aDZzzi4_dYbFfQomVuB516aZSQwnnRXHetBMfNDx36dNKO9khYxsq/s1600/20160110_113556-1_resized.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" height="400" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjIoUcgzKw6kMiNx9xAnDasd05KNDE2jix33oJj65f5r1PFrQoEPoUFp9m1hmbwDHRh0a9NoOc5cCuIkS0WjbuT9k5aDZzzi4_dYbFfQomVuB516aZSQwnnRXHetBMfNDx36dNKO9khYxsq/s400/20160110_113556-1_resized.jpg" width="286" /></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">"Two Growing Boys" photo by Sally L. Smith</td></tr>
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<span style="background-color: white; font-family: "helvetica neue" , "verdana" , "helvetica" , "arial" , sans-serif; line-height: 24px;"><span style="font-size: large;">Like newborn babies, crave pure spiritual milk, </span></span></div>
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<span style="font-size: large;"><span style="background-color: white; font-family: "helvetica neue" , "verdana" , "helvetica" , "arial" , sans-serif; line-height: 24px;">so that by it you may </span><span style="background-color: white; box-sizing: border-box; font-family: "helvetica neue" , "verdana" , "helvetica" , "arial" , sans-serif; line-height: 24px;">grow </span><span style="background-color: white; font-family: "helvetica neue" , "verdana" , "helvetica" , "arial" , sans-serif; line-height: 24px;">up in your salvation...</span></span></div>
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<span style="background-color: white; font-family: "helvetica neue" , "verdana" , "helvetica" , "arial" , sans-serif; font-size: 16px; line-height: 24px;">1 Peter 2:2 NIV</span></div>
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<span style="background-color: white; line-height: 24px; text-align: start;"><span style="font-family: "courier new" , "courier" , monospace; font-size: large;">Our baby grandsons are growing up. One turned two a week ago and today his brother is four. My, how the time flies. Today is also the birthday of another of our grandsons who is 16. How did that happen so fast?</span></span></div>
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<span style="background-color: white; line-height: 24px; text-align: start;"><span style="font-family: "courier new" , "courier" , monospace; font-size: large;">Each is growing at his own pace, that which is set by our God who created them. Each is different in his own way, just as God has decided. If we raise them to be just like us, we have messed with God's design. We treat them as individuals who were created to perform a special purpose in God's creation. I'm eager to experience each as he grows...both physically and spiritually.</span></span></div>
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Sally L. Smithhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/02946899217879609949noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-4244971055974578940.post-82570018972362890592016-02-24T07:59:00.000-06:002016-02-24T07:59:36.322-06:00Seeking His Paths<table align="center" cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0" class="tr-caption-container" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto; text-align: center;"><tbody>
<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgqLpt0yeRFPQzXuMAmQFPOWdg0qpEDMJc54iRXHMz8VXbyAL4Z-HT6G6h45Te-QZQfUN7veRQPDKS9JtNaZOdp9wK9mw68gKMYEKoZg8ynQszTvsMy4Tz6LvKKcWKkEWq-XsU4IEsjD5uK/s1600/20160222_071242_resized+%25282%2529.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" height="400" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgqLpt0yeRFPQzXuMAmQFPOWdg0qpEDMJc54iRXHMz8VXbyAL4Z-HT6G6h45Te-QZQfUN7veRQPDKS9JtNaZOdp9wK9mw68gKMYEKoZg8ynQszTvsMy4Tz6LvKKcWKkEWq-XsU4IEsjD5uK/s400/20160222_071242_resized+%25282%2529.jpg" width="300" /></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">Photo, "Path in the Woods," by Sally L. Smith</td></tr>
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<span style="font-size: large;"><span class="text Ps-9-10" id="en-NIV-14032" style="-webkit-font-smoothing: antialiased; background-color: white; box-sizing: border-box; font-family: 'Helvetica Neue', Verdana, Helvetica, Arial, sans-serif; line-height: 24px; position: relative; text-align: start;">Those who know your name</span><span class="text Ps-9-10" style="-webkit-font-smoothing: antialiased; background-color: white; box-sizing: border-box; font-family: 'Helvetica Neue', Verdana, Helvetica, Arial, sans-serif; position: relative; text-align: start;"><span style="line-height: 22px;"> </span><span style="line-height: 24px;">trust in you,</span></span><br style="background-color: white; box-sizing: border-box; font-family: 'Helvetica Neue', Verdana, Helvetica, Arial, sans-serif; line-height: 24px; text-align: start;" /><span class="indent-1" style="-webkit-font-smoothing: antialiased; background-color: white; box-sizing: border-box; font-family: 'Helvetica Neue', Verdana, Helvetica, Arial, sans-serif; text-align: start;"><span class="indent-1-breaks" style="-webkit-font-smoothing: antialiased; box-sizing: border-box; font-family: monospace; line-height: 0;"> </span><span class="text Ps-9-10" style="-webkit-font-smoothing: antialiased; box-sizing: border-box; position: relative;"><span style="line-height: 24px;">for you, </span><span class="small-caps" style="-webkit-font-smoothing: antialiased; box-sizing: border-box; font-variant: small-caps; line-height: 24px;">Lord</span><span style="line-height: 24px;">, have never forsaken</span><span style="line-height: 22px;"> </span></span></span></span></div>
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<span style="font-size: large;"><span class="indent-1" style="-webkit-font-smoothing: antialiased; background-color: white; box-sizing: border-box; font-family: 'Helvetica Neue', Verdana, Helvetica, Arial, sans-serif; text-align: start;"><span class="text Ps-9-10" style="-webkit-font-smoothing: antialiased; box-sizing: border-box; position: relative;"><span style="line-height: 24px;">those who seek you.</span></span></span></span></div>
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<span class="indent-1" style="-webkit-font-smoothing: antialiased; background-color: white; box-sizing: border-box; font-family: 'Helvetica Neue', Verdana, Helvetica, Arial, sans-serif; font-size: 16px; line-height: 24px; text-align: start;"><span class="text Ps-9-10" style="-webkit-font-smoothing: antialiased; box-sizing: border-box; position: relative;">Psalm 9:10 NIV</span></span></div>
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<span style="font-family: Courier New, Courier, monospace; font-size: large;">My husband, the "Always Alert Deer Hunter," is always seeking deer paths on our walks. The one above is a "Man Path" created as a short cut to a field on which the land owner can drive his heavy equipment. There is not a lot going on this time of year so the path has become strewn with leaves and debris. Deer paths are less noticeable and are shortcuts through the woods to the deer's feeding ground. He wants to know where the deer are so he can determine the best place to set up his deer stand. We eat the venison during the year and share it with our family. (It takes two TN deer compared to one IL deer so we never seem to have enough). He provides for our family and saves us money. Plus, we like our deer meat.</span></div>
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<span style="font-family: Courier New, Courier, monospace; font-size: large;"> If we follow His Paths, </span><span style="font-family: 'Courier New', Courier, monospace; font-size: large;">God provides for us</span><span style="font-family: 'Courier New', Courier, monospace; font-size: large;">. He will lead us to His Plans for our lives if we are alert to the signs He leaves for us, do the work He gives us and thank Him for the privilege of serving Him afterward.</span></div>
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<span style="font-family: 'Courier New', Courier, monospace; font-size: large;">Thank you, God, for your Paths.</span></div>
Sally L. Smithhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/02946899217879609949noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-4244971055974578940.post-31954723493154266042016-02-20T15:06:00.000-06:002016-02-20T15:06:07.026-06:00There Was This Rock...<table align="center" cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0" class="tr-caption-container" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto; text-align: center;"><tbody>
<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEj_dBRZLJNaOb_LHK1fPCMPT2oon78iyhLdo351cAJQocBvulYObmQ2lmWaPWwMDv7r9CLAN2siFpUBxW0JLO1kptA2Iai8_grbHDwdkIO072f0MS06E7CL4yKVZMcgC5HzjHQddWYlrgFn/s1600/000_0016+%25284%2529.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" height="200" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEj_dBRZLJNaOb_LHK1fPCMPT2oon78iyhLdo351cAJQocBvulYObmQ2lmWaPWwMDv7r9CLAN2siFpUBxW0JLO1kptA2Iai8_grbHDwdkIO072f0MS06E7CL4yKVZMcgC5HzjHQddWYlrgFn/s200/000_0016+%25284%2529.JPG" width="158" /></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">ON THE KITCHEN TABLE</td></tr>
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<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhsLM45dlNtIYw9KnrbRi9E9vVmOwY52N_8eKHxACFMrFxasDVAIu7mVky-43wIZzpW6S2ASyrjI1cXLwX4VA85e1WpLgkL4WFyCpBHFYnUvzAFVO73EdGr1IcT5gYhhUQQz0xc8JTp809a/s1600/000_0023+%25283%2529.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" height="196" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhsLM45dlNtIYw9KnrbRi9E9vVmOwY52N_8eKHxACFMrFxasDVAIu7mVky-43wIZzpW6S2ASyrjI1cXLwX4VA85e1WpLgkL4WFyCpBHFYnUvzAFVO73EdGr1IcT5gYhhUQQz0xc8JTp809a/s200/000_0023+%25283%2529.JPG" width="200" /></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">ON THE TABLE BY BILL'S BIBLE AND GLASSES</td></tr>
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<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjqVPx_O20pV7QANErGed4xGFyH0aXcov9qyc9GqssD4fohxcdCBZx9ICWJ91IIfyEXYrF1qG5GKsA05Q7KKOpGGIKClzXeD1yV3hDWhakkLeVE59iX8EeJmiU51SCveBntbTSjXy4qXIFc/s1600/000_0021+%25283%2529.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" height="133" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjqVPx_O20pV7QANErGed4xGFyH0aXcov9qyc9GqssD4fohxcdCBZx9ICWJ91IIfyEXYrF1qG5GKsA05Q7KKOpGGIKClzXeD1yV3hDWhakkLeVE59iX8EeJmiU51SCveBntbTSjXy4qXIFc/s200/000_0021+%25283%2529.JPG" width="200" /></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">ON THE KITCHEN COUNTER</td></tr>
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<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">IN THE MIDDLE OF THE DINING TABLE</td></tr>
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<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiT110kdIgoNsRhJOQLBAJTzrQn47rwoobaY9cKCgkxIthJ2QZJK8l5doJ81TGISghD53SLbDdCYWJ0CmwtP1iAiMJkUxNHKgGEdxa0HiZApRuHqBSTL-u_WZFBhoTJjPRqja-rw9FLsnxW/s1600/000_0024+%25283%2529.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" height="191" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiT110kdIgoNsRhJOQLBAJTzrQn47rwoobaY9cKCgkxIthJ2QZJK8l5doJ81TGISghD53SLbDdCYWJ0CmwtP1iAiMJkUxNHKgGEdxa0HiZApRuHqBSTL-u_WZFBhoTJjPRqja-rw9FLsnxW/s200/000_0024+%25283%2529.JPG" width="200" /></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">JUST SCRATCHING THE SURFACE OF MY OWN COLLECTION<br /><br /><br /><span style="font-family: Courier New, Courier, monospace;"><span style="font-size: large;">Where did they get their love of rocks?</span><br /><span style="font-size: large;">...by one who loves rocks.</span><br /><span style="font-size: large;">Where did they get their love of working outside?</span><br /><span style="font-size: large;">...from the one who loves to work outside.</span><br /><span style="font-size: large;">Where did they get their love of reading?</span><br /><span style="font-size: large;">...from the one who is the avid reader and read to them when they were so young they couldn't even focus yet.</span><br /><span style="font-size: large;">Where did they get their love of wild play?</span><br /><span style="font-size: large;">...from the man who throws them in the air, chases them through the house and keeps them busy while Mom get dinner.</span><br /><span style="font-size: large;">Where did they learn to pray?</span><br /><span style="font-size: large;">...from the ones who prayed at bedtime and at meals.</span><br /><br /><span style="font-size: large;">Where do they get their love of Jesus?</span><br /><span style="font-size: large;">Well, from ones who love Jesus, of course.<br /><br /></span></span><span style="font-family: Verdana, sans-serif; font-size: large;"><span style="background-color: white; line-height: 24px; text-align: start;">From the ends of the earth I call to you, I call as my heart grows faint; lead me to the </span><span style="background-color: white; box-sizing: border-box; line-height: 24px; text-align: start;">rock</span><span style="background-color: white; line-height: 24px; text-align: start;"> that is </span><span style="background-color: white; box-sizing: border-box; line-height: 24px; text-align: start;">higher </span><span style="background-color: white; line-height: 24px; text-align: start;">than I.<br /></span></span><span style="font-family: Courier New, Courier, monospace;"><span style="font-size: small;">Psalm 61:2 NIV</span><br /><br /><br /><span style="font-size: x-small;">Photos by Sally L. Smith</span></span></td></tr>
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Sally L. Smithhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/02946899217879609949noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-4244971055974578940.post-82305484803973516362016-02-17T08:06:00.000-06:002016-02-17T08:06:29.764-06:00Blue Jays and Water Oaks<table align="center" cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0" class="tr-caption-container" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto; text-align: center;"><tbody>
<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgMz1d1mSSa2mDVvZskBcaJflu34zUIyFpc8oTijPfEaZ-EBk2Ahx6n75eKp5LyFUxuuCMDqPWVRSaH2KWOZgXLW-uVgz9xSALXO0yF2I-6dX2cuFxlHo9UiltpbvfKX8P9LQQVqaxS4xdi/s1600/000_0005+%25284%2529.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgMz1d1mSSa2mDVvZskBcaJflu34zUIyFpc8oTijPfEaZ-EBk2Ahx6n75eKp5LyFUxuuCMDqPWVRSaH2KWOZgXLW-uVgz9xSALXO0yF2I-6dX2cuFxlHo9UiltpbvfKX8P9LQQVqaxS4xdi/s1600/000_0005+%25284%2529.JPG" /></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">Blue Jay and Water Oak by Sally L. Smith</td></tr>
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<span style="font-size: large;"><span class="text Ps-102-27" id="en-NIV-15549" style="-webkit-font-smoothing: antialiased; background-color: white; box-sizing: border-box; font-family: 'Helvetica Neue', Verdana, Helvetica, Arial, sans-serif; line-height: 24px; position: relative; text-align: start;">But you remain the same,</span><br style="background-color: white; box-sizing: border-box; font-family: 'Helvetica Neue', Verdana, Helvetica, Arial, sans-serif; line-height: 24px; text-align: start;" /><span class="indent-1" style="-webkit-font-smoothing: antialiased; background-color: white; box-sizing: border-box; font-family: 'Helvetica Neue', Verdana, Helvetica, Arial, sans-serif; line-height: 24px; text-align: start;"><span class="indent-1-breaks" style="-webkit-font-smoothing: antialiased; box-sizing: border-box; font-family: monospace; line-height: 0;"> </span><span class="text Ps-102-27" style="-webkit-font-smoothing: antialiased; box-sizing: border-box; position: relative;">and your years will never end.</span></span></span></div>
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<span class="indent-1" style="-webkit-font-smoothing: antialiased; background-color: white; box-sizing: border-box; font-family: 'Helvetica Neue', Verdana, Helvetica, Arial, sans-serif; font-size: 16px; line-height: 24px; text-align: start;"><span class="text Ps-102-27" style="-webkit-font-smoothing: antialiased; box-sizing: border-box; position: relative;">Psalm 102:27</span></span></div>
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<span style="font-family: Courier New, Courier, monospace; font-size: large;">Every year they come in droves and fill our trees as they look for the leftovers from our Water Oaks. Though the acorns are small they are little treats this time of year for the birds. It is a joy to see them right outside our back windows.</span></div>
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<span style="font-family: Courier New, Courier, monospace; font-size: large;">It's the little joys in life that give help me through the day. I can easily lose perspective when schedules mount and overlap. It is then that I need to remember to be thankful for the little things...and the big things.</span></div>
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<span style="font-family: Courier New, Courier, monospace; font-size: large;">Keep a list of everything for which you are thankful as they come into your life today. It may give you encouragement in times of distress to remember the little things and that God's love never ends.</span></div>
Sally L. Smithhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/02946899217879609949noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-4244971055974578940.post-73251027418611160022016-02-15T11:31:00.000-06:002016-02-15T11:31:33.027-06:00Apple Roses!<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjQpzwhYfpnySi2OKZuiU0pjbvbXB_0LCL4RxjbeW3dRjjsBT5xZQ3D5NdIumyWsI5_3n3IgCDjjVE3-SxOGUyyBjcqfprwWMGQncsFlD7nmQjjo-B_Ye9MApl6XubvFf4OFK2ucTHjN-ZI/s1600/000_0014+%25283%2529.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="258" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjQpzwhYfpnySi2OKZuiU0pjbvbXB_0LCL4RxjbeW3dRjjsBT5xZQ3D5NdIumyWsI5_3n3IgCDjjVE3-SxOGUyyBjcqfprwWMGQncsFlD7nmQjjo-B_Ye9MApl6XubvFf4OFK2ucTHjN-ZI/s400/000_0014+%25283%2529.JPG" width="400" /></a></div>
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<span style="font-size: large;"><span style="background-color: white; font-family: 'Helvetica Neue', Verdana, Helvetica, Arial, sans-serif; line-height: 24px; text-align: start;">He </span><span style="background-color: white; box-sizing: border-box; font-family: 'Helvetica Neue', Verdana, Helvetica, Arial, sans-serif; line-height: 24px; text-align: start;">carve</span><span style="background-color: white; font-family: 'Helvetica Neue', Verdana, Helvetica, Arial, sans-serif; line-height: 24px; text-align: start;">d cherubim, palm trees </span></span></div>
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<span style="font-size: large;"><span style="background-color: white; font-family: 'Helvetica Neue', Verdana, Helvetica, Arial, sans-serif; line-height: 24px; text-align: start;">and open flowers on them </span></span></div>
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<span style="background-color: white; font-family: 'Helvetica Neue', Verdana, Helvetica, Arial, sans-serif; line-height: 24px; text-align: start;"><span style="font-size: large;">and overlaid them with </span></span></div>
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<span style="background-color: white; font-family: 'Helvetica Neue', Verdana, Helvetica, Arial, sans-serif; line-height: 24px; text-align: start;"><span style="font-size: large;">gold hammered evenly over the carvings.</span></span></div>
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<a class="bible-item-title" href="https://www.biblegateway.com/passage/?search=1%20Kings+6:35&version=NIV" style="-webkit-font-smoothing: antialiased; background: rgb(255, 255, 255); box-sizing: border-box; color: #b34b2c; cursor: pointer; display: inline-block; font-family: 'Helvetica Neue', Verdana, Helvetica, Arial, sans-serif; font-size: 16px; font-weight: bold; line-height: 24px; margin-bottom: 0px; margin-top: 0px; text-align: start; text-decoration: none;">1 Kings 6:35</a> NIV</div>
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<span style="color: #783f04; font-family: Courier New, Courier, monospace; font-size: large;">He carved juicy apples into petals with the skins still on the edges</span></div>
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<span style="color: #783f04; font-family: Courier New, Courier, monospace; font-size: large;">and overlaid them with apricot jelly and </span></div>
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<span style="color: #783f04; font-family: Courier New, Courier, monospace; font-size: large;">pressed pie crust evenly over the petals.</span></div>
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<span style="color: #783f04; font-family: Courier New, Courier, monospace; font-size: large;">Bill found another wonderful recipe and outdid himself with his Valentine surprise for me. I countered with walnut and chocolate chunk brownies but he won the contest! What a surprise they were and so good, too. Even manly men can make beautiful and tasty things for their wives. It's certainly OK with me.</span></div>
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<span style="color: #783f04; font-family: Courier New, Courier, monospace; font-size: large;">The Lord gives skills to those who are willing to do the work. Take a look at the number of artisans that helped decorate the temple...from beams and walls to flowers and woven cloth. They were no doubt manly men but God gifted them with the ability to create beauty. </span></div>
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Sally L. Smithhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/02946899217879609949noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-4244971055974578940.post-44487629233634627032016-02-03T07:15:00.001-06:002016-02-03T07:15:55.893-06:00I Will Sing!<table align="center" cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0" class="tr-caption-container" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto; text-align: center;"><tbody>
<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgzKeM331Txk3aCj5y7jQ4xAon-lG6oy2LjH-kNk2CcjEigaPrgbXP5eCqL_GRSw5sSZuRY2or7dHz8f6DGA8xjyImgm3xxqUKUbe4aFUR4Vhl5uYnROcyGkzwh8ONtmDwOtE-tU5xU-XBE/s1600/000_0015+%25282%2529.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" height="400" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgzKeM331Txk3aCj5y7jQ4xAon-lG6oy2LjH-kNk2CcjEigaPrgbXP5eCqL_GRSw5sSZuRY2or7dHz8f6DGA8xjyImgm3xxqUKUbe4aFUR4Vhl5uYnROcyGkzwh8ONtmDwOtE-tU5xU-XBE/s400/000_0015+%25282%2529.JPG" width="302" /></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">"In the Morning I Will Sing" photo by Sally L. Smith</td></tr>
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<span style="font-size: large;"><span class="text Ps-59-16" id="en-NIV-14807" style="-webkit-font-smoothing: antialiased; background-color: white; box-sizing: border-box; font-family: 'Helvetica Neue', Verdana, Helvetica, Arial, sans-serif; line-height: 24px; position: relative; text-align: start;">But I will sing of your strength,</span><br style="background-color: white; box-sizing: border-box; font-family: 'Helvetica Neue', Verdana, Helvetica, Arial, sans-serif; line-height: 24px; text-align: start;" /><span class="indent-1" style="-webkit-font-smoothing: antialiased; background-color: white; box-sizing: border-box; font-family: 'Helvetica Neue', Verdana, Helvetica, Arial, sans-serif; line-height: 24px; text-align: start;"><span class="indent-1-breaks" style="-webkit-font-smoothing: antialiased; box-sizing: border-box; font-family: monospace; line-height: 0;"> </span><span class="text Ps-59-16" style="-webkit-font-smoothing: antialiased; box-sizing: border-box; position: relative;">in the morning I will sing of your love;</span></span><br style="background-color: white; box-sizing: border-box; font-family: 'Helvetica Neue', Verdana, Helvetica, Arial, sans-serif; line-height: 24px; text-align: start;" /><span class="text Ps-59-16" style="-webkit-font-smoothing: antialiased; background-color: white; box-sizing: border-box; font-family: 'Helvetica Neue', Verdana, Helvetica, Arial, sans-serif; line-height: 24px; position: relative; text-align: start;">for you are my fortress,</span><br style="background-color: white; box-sizing: border-box; font-family: 'Helvetica Neue', Verdana, Helvetica, Arial, sans-serif; line-height: 24px; text-align: start;" /><span class="indent-1" style="-webkit-font-smoothing: antialiased; background-color: white; box-sizing: border-box; font-family: 'Helvetica Neue', Verdana, Helvetica, Arial, sans-serif; line-height: 24px; text-align: start;"><span class="indent-1-breaks" style="-webkit-font-smoothing: antialiased; box-sizing: border-box; font-family: monospace; line-height: 0;"> </span><span class="text Ps-59-16" style="-webkit-font-smoothing: antialiased; box-sizing: border-box; position: relative;">my refuge in times of trouble.</span></span></span></div>
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<span class="indent-1" style="-webkit-font-smoothing: antialiased; background-color: white; box-sizing: border-box; font-family: 'Helvetica Neue', Verdana, Helvetica, Arial, sans-serif; line-height: 24px; text-align: start;"><span class="text Ps-59-16" style="-webkit-font-smoothing: antialiased; box-sizing: border-box; position: relative;">Psalm 59:16 NIV</span></span></div>
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<span class="indent-1" style="-webkit-font-smoothing: antialiased; background-color: white; box-sizing: border-box; font-family: 'Helvetica Neue', Verdana, Helvetica, Arial, sans-serif; line-height: 24px; text-align: start;"><span class="text Ps-59-16" style="-webkit-font-smoothing: antialiased; box-sizing: border-box; position: relative;"><br /></span></span></div>
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<span class="indent-1" style="-webkit-font-smoothing: antialiased; background-color: white; box-sizing: border-box; line-height: 24px; text-align: start;"><span class="text Ps-59-16" style="-webkit-font-smoothing: antialiased; box-sizing: border-box; position: relative;"><span style="font-family: Courier New, Courier, monospace; font-size: large;">Every day is a good day because God is in it. Sometimes we have to look for Him and some days He is very evident. On the days I try to find Him, I have to command myself, as the Psalmist did in the first line of this scripture. "I will sing!"...but not today. Today I am looking forward to the busy.</span></span></span></div>
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<span class="indent-1" style="-webkit-font-smoothing: antialiased; background-color: white; box-sizing: border-box; line-height: 24px; text-align: start;"><span class="text Ps-59-16" style="-webkit-font-smoothing: antialiased; box-sizing: border-box; position: relative;"><span style="font-family: Courier New, Courier, monospace; font-size: large;"><br /></span></span></span></div>
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<span class="indent-1" style="-webkit-font-smoothing: antialiased; background-color: white; box-sizing: border-box; line-height: 24px; text-align: start;"><span class="text Ps-59-16" style="-webkit-font-smoothing: antialiased; box-sizing: border-box; position: relative;"><span style="font-family: Courier New, Courier, monospace; font-size: large;">I had a great birthday yesterday and I am appreciative of all the birthday wishes I received from friends and family.</span></span></span></div>
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<span class="indent-1" style="-webkit-font-smoothing: antialiased; background-color: white; box-sizing: border-box; line-height: 24px; text-align: start;"><span class="text Ps-59-16" style="-webkit-font-smoothing: antialiased; box-sizing: border-box; position: relative;"><span style="font-family: Courier New, Courier, monospace; font-size: large;">Today is a big day with lots of extra planning and ends to tie together. It is a good thing God is in it!</span></span></span></div>
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<span class="indent-1" style="-webkit-font-smoothing: antialiased; background-color: white; box-sizing: border-box; line-height: 24px; text-align: start;"><span class="text Ps-59-16" style="-webkit-font-smoothing: antialiased; box-sizing: border-box; position: relative;"><span style="font-family: Courier New, Courier, monospace; font-size: large;">La-La-La</span></span></span></div>
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Sally L. Smithhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/02946899217879609949noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-4244971055974578940.post-33070295772321009532016-01-29T04:50:00.000-06:002016-01-30T12:43:11.339-06:00Laser Light<table align="center" cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0" class="tr-caption-container" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto; text-align: center;"><tbody>
<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjhL6UZwV2v7CEGJwF-Fst76yA2a_RZUSLkP241v2Nhw9c1jFiSyciewJcUT7tN5RsoadiB9j6cRcmq381SYByRpE_2p9svSQ8mJdY4QDw-6UssfB3hhnwwMWB3pfxoBh4GugTa9vgHzjdD/s1600/20160114_083426-1_resized+%25282%2529.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" height="400" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjhL6UZwV2v7CEGJwF-Fst76yA2a_RZUSLkP241v2Nhw9c1jFiSyciewJcUT7tN5RsoadiB9j6cRcmq381SYByRpE_2p9svSQ8mJdY4QDw-6UssfB3hhnwwMWB3pfxoBh4GugTa9vgHzjdD/s400/20160114_083426-1_resized+%25282%2529.jpg" width="381" /></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">"Laser Light" photo by Sally L. Smith</td></tr>
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<span style="background-color: white; font-family: "helvetica neue" , "verdana" , "helvetica" , "arial" , sans-serif; line-height: 24px;"><span style="font-size: large;">Then Jesus said,</span></span></div>
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<span style="font-size: large;"><span style="background-color: white; font-family: "helvetica neue" , "verdana" , "helvetica" , "arial" , sans-serif; line-height: 24px;"> </span><span class="woj" style="background-color: white; box-sizing: border-box; color: red; font-family: "helvetica neue" , "verdana" , "helvetica" , "arial" , sans-serif; line-height: 24px;">“Did I not tell you that if you believe,</span></span></div>
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<span class="woj" style="background-color: white; box-sizing: border-box; color: red; font-family: "helvetica neue" , "verdana" , "helvetica" , "arial" , sans-serif; line-height: 24px;"><span style="font-size: large;"> you will see the glory of God?”</span></span></div>
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<span class="woj" style="background-color: white; box-sizing: border-box; font-family: "helvetica neue" , "verdana" , "helvetica" , "arial" , sans-serif; font-size: 16px; line-height: 24px;">John 11:40</span></div>
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<span class="woj" style="background-color: white; box-sizing: border-box; font-family: "helvetica neue" , "verdana" , "helvetica" , "arial" , sans-serif; font-size: 16px; line-height: 24px;"><br /></span></div>
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<span class="woj" style="-webkit-font-smoothing: antialiased; background-color: white; box-sizing: border-box; line-height: 24px; text-align: start;"><span style="font-family: "verdana" , sans-serif; font-size: large;">It was a glorious cold day with the sun rising over the meadow just beyond my house. I caught the picture to get the lighted fronds in the background but came up with this giant ray of light directing its beam through the trees and onto the road like a laser.</span></span><span class="woj" style="-webkit-font-smoothing: antialiased; background-color: white; box-sizing: border-box; line-height: 24px; text-align: start;"><span style="font-family: "verdana" , sans-serif; font-size: large;"><br /></span></span></div>
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<span class="woj" style="-webkit-font-smoothing: antialiased; background-color: white; box-sizing: border-box; line-height: 24px; text-align: start;"><span style="font-family: "verdana" , sans-serif; font-size: large;"><br /></span></span></div>
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<span class="woj" style="-webkit-font-smoothing: antialiased; background-color: white; box-sizing: border-box; line-height: 24px; text-align: start;"><span style="font-family: "verdana" , sans-serif; font-size: large;">That is how Jesus touches us when we truly believe He is God in flesh. He will shine a light in us that will radiate into a dark world and illuminate truth. A true God-filled Christian radiates light through their eyes and smile and breaks through the darkness of a person's soul. There are so many dark souls in this world, so much sin, so much distress. People want to be loved and understood. Sometimes it's just too much trouble to spread light. I'm either not confident that I have the right words to help them or think they will reject what I say so I don't even pick up my laser. When that happens, I haven't truly believed that God can work through me and later I realize, when it is too late, that I just missed the glory of God.</span></span></div>
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Sally L. Smithhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/02946899217879609949noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-4244971055974578940.post-15686545370785439992016-01-27T13:45:00.001-06:002016-01-27T13:45:17.007-06:00Just Shadows<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
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<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEj4SKGDTeBXEFfC8G0Aegm3Qh6vLXRWUDpGNOdtEvSPXi-sHFQStOPfqUYbjwXyLC0mB9XkzoyZO1jrPo_JVzRc3UkmEGlHkZ-Y4ifTqejeIqK9FeDXaA-wL0drapar6om1PRD7sojiyRxv/s1600/20160127_112315-1-2-1_resized+%25282%2529.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" height="310" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEj4SKGDTeBXEFfC8G0Aegm3Qh6vLXRWUDpGNOdtEvSPXi-sHFQStOPfqUYbjwXyLC0mB9XkzoyZO1jrPo_JVzRc3UkmEGlHkZ-Y4ifTqejeIqK9FeDXaA-wL0drapar6om1PRD7sojiyRxv/s320/20160127_112315-1-2-1_resized+%25282%2529.jpg" width="320" /></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">"Just Shadows" photo by Sally L. Smith</td></tr>
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<span style="font-size: large;"><span class="text Job-14-2" id="en-NIV-13184" style="-webkit-font-smoothing: antialiased; background-color: white; box-sizing: border-box; font-family: 'Helvetica Neue', Verdana, Helvetica, Arial, sans-serif; line-height: 24px; position: relative; text-align: start;">They spring up like flowers and wither away;</span><br style="background-color: white; box-sizing: border-box; font-family: 'Helvetica Neue', Verdana, Helvetica, Arial, sans-serif; line-height: 24px; text-align: start;" /><span class="indent-1" style="-webkit-font-smoothing: antialiased; background-color: white; box-sizing: border-box; font-family: 'Helvetica Neue', Verdana, Helvetica, Arial, sans-serif; line-height: 24px; text-align: start;"><span class="indent-1-breaks" style="-webkit-font-smoothing: antialiased; box-sizing: border-box; font-family: monospace; line-height: 0;"> </span><span class="text Job-14-2" style="-webkit-font-smoothing: antialiased; box-sizing: border-box; position: relative;">like fleeting shadows, they do not endure.</span></span></span></div>
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<span class="indent-1" style="-webkit-font-smoothing: antialiased; background-color: white; box-sizing: border-box; font-family: 'Helvetica Neue', Verdana, Helvetica, Arial, sans-serif; line-height: 24px; text-align: start;"><span class="text Job-14-2" style="-webkit-font-smoothing: antialiased; box-sizing: border-box; position: relative;">Job 14:2 NIV</span></span></div>
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<span class="indent-1" style="-webkit-font-smoothing: antialiased; background-color: white; box-sizing: border-box; font-family: 'Helvetica Neue', Verdana, Helvetica, Arial, sans-serif; line-height: 24px; text-align: start;"><span class="text Job-14-2" style="-webkit-font-smoothing: antialiased; box-sizing: border-box; position: relative;"><br /></span></span></div>
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<span style="font-family: Courier New, Courier, monospace; font-size: large;"><span style="background-color: white; line-height: 24px;">Turn, and they're gone...forever. Such was the case of the little two-year-old boy who wandered away from a close family member who was distracted a short time helping his sibling. She looked, they looked, the whole community looked and he couldn't be found until a week later. It was the last effort and the searchers were returning home without finding him. One of the men walked right up on him, body curled tight, no mark on him, asleep, or so it seemed. He had died of hypothermia and no one could have done anything about it. </span></span></div>
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<span style="font-family: Courier New, Courier, monospace; font-size: large;"><span style="background-color: white; line-height: 24px;">I have run the gamut of emotions this last week and a half: shock, fear, sadness, anger, blaming, deep sorrow and depression...all of which are signs of grief. I've been miserable but my feelings cannot even begin to describe what this family must feel.</span></span></div>
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<span style="font-family: Courier New, Courier, monospace; font-size: large;"><span style="background-color: white; line-height: 24px;"> </span></span></div>
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<span style="font-family: Courier New, Courier, monospace; font-size: large;"><span style="background-color: white; line-height: 24px;">The memorial service is tonight. Though I cannot go because of my own church obligations, I'm sure the community will turn out in force like they did for the search.</span></span></div>
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<span style="font-family: Courier New, Courier, monospace; font-size: large;"><span style="background-color: white; line-height: 24px;">However, there is a faction of the community that is still dealing with the anger portion of grief. They cannot let go and have to blame someone for his death. They have started a petition for justice for him.</span></span></div>
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<span style="font-family: Courier New, Courier, monospace; font-size: large;"><span style="background-color: white; line-height: 24px;"><br /></span></span></div>
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<span style="background-color: white; font-family: 'Courier New', Courier, monospace; font-size: large; line-height: 24px;">I do not blame the family at all! I know how difficult it is to keep track of an active boy. I've "lost" mine more than once and was so grateful to have found them in a short time. We get distracted and it doesn't take long for them to get away. I hope the blame-ers come to their senses soon and don't make trouble. They are not perfect either. I hope they can let the family grieve without producing more grief for them.</span></div>
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<span style="font-size: large;"><span class="indent-1" style="-webkit-font-smoothing: antialiased; background-color: white; box-sizing: border-box; font-family: 'Helvetica Neue', Verdana, Helvetica, Arial, sans-serif; line-height: 24px; text-align: start;"><span class="text Job-14-2" style="-webkit-font-smoothing: antialiased; box-sizing: border-box; position: relative;"><br /></span></span></span></div>
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<span style="font-size: large;"><span class="indent-1" style="-webkit-font-smoothing: antialiased; background-color: white; box-sizing: border-box; font-family: 'Helvetica Neue', Verdana, Helvetica, Arial, sans-serif; line-height: 24px; text-align: start;"><span class="text Job-14-2" style="-webkit-font-smoothing: antialiased; box-sizing: border-box; position: relative;"><br /></span></span></span></div>
Sally L. Smithhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/02946899217879609949noreply@blogger.com1tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-4244971055974578940.post-31151457862983229832016-01-20T13:03:00.001-06:002016-01-20T13:03:56.392-06:00Bubble Glass Fruit<table align="center" cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0" class="tr-caption-container" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto; text-align: center;"><tbody>
<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhCF8CbQ8TBwiuYed-x0t8SLKcimwoF0ioJBRVvNu-Tv9bvY3jaUx0zS-cHlWWR6Ub-A0dDzddIOodoUqVwDtokX3pHIDLiaBNOJes9U23XoqW4_OkFuIiCbf7slGhLlYw9JaMKXt4JNGSm/s1600/000_0018+%25283%2529.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" height="326" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhCF8CbQ8TBwiuYed-x0t8SLKcimwoF0ioJBRVvNu-Tv9bvY3jaUx0zS-cHlWWR6Ub-A0dDzddIOodoUqVwDtokX3pHIDLiaBNOJes9U23XoqW4_OkFuIiCbf7slGhLlYw9JaMKXt4JNGSm/s400/000_0018+%25283%2529.JPG" width="400" /></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">"Bubble Glass Fruit" photo by Sally L. Smith</td></tr>
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<span style="font-size: large;"><span style="background-color: white; font-family: 'Helvetica Neue', Verdana, Helvetica, Arial, sans-serif; line-height: 24px; text-align: start;">I will give you rains at the right season </span><span class="inline-note" style="-webkit-font-smoothing: antialiased; background-color: white; box-sizing: border-box; color: #555555; font-family: 'Helvetica Neue', Verdana, Helvetica, Arial, sans-serif; line-height: 24px; text-align: start;">[Deut. 11:14]</span><span style="background-color: white; font-family: 'Helvetica Neue', Verdana, Helvetica, Arial, sans-serif; line-height: 24px; text-align: start;">; the land will produce crops, and the </span><span style="background-color: white; box-sizing: border-box; font-family: 'Helvetica Neue', Verdana, Helvetica, Arial, sans-serif; line-height: 24px; text-align: start;">trees</span><span style="background-color: white; font-family: 'Helvetica Neue', Verdana, Helvetica, Arial, sans-serif; line-height: 24px; text-align: start;"> of the field will produce their fruit.</span></span></div>
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<a href="https://www.biblegateway.com/passage/?search=Leviticus+26:4&version=EXB">Leviticus 26:4 EXB</a></div>
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<span style="background-color: white; font-family: 'Helvetica Neue', Helvetica, Arial, sans-serif; line-height: 20px; text-align: start;"><span style="font-size: xx-small;">Scripture taken from The Expanded Bible. Copyright ©2011 by Thomas Nelson. Used by permission. All rights reserved.</span></span></div>
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<span style="background-color: white; font-family: 'Helvetica Neue', Helvetica, Arial, sans-serif; line-height: 20px; text-align: start;"><span style="font-size: xx-small;"><br /></span></span></div>
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<span style="background-color: white; line-height: 20px; text-align: start;"><span style="font-family: Courier New, Courier, monospace; font-size: large;">The trees looked like old fashioned bubble glassware this morning, though it seems most of it is melted off here at mid-day. The ice dripped from the branches like tiny fruit...thus the scripture above. </span></span></div>
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<span style="background-color: white; line-height: 20px; text-align: start;"><span style="font-family: Courier New, Courier, monospace; font-size: large;">I was hoping for a "snow day" but such is not the case...again.</span></span></div>
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<span style="background-color: white; line-height: 20px; text-align: start;"><span style="font-family: Courier New, Courier, monospace; font-size: large;">Ho-hum, but I loved staying home this morning and watching the trees melt.</span></span></div>
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Sally L. Smithhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/02946899217879609949noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-4244971055974578940.post-26911867946775302362016-01-19T08:09:00.001-06:002016-01-19T08:09:36.303-06:00The Making of Diamonds<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
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<table align="center" cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0" class="tr-caption-container" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto; text-align: center;"><tbody>
<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhJSI9jaYT1V1JVfdDolibn_66LfG-MPq_UYbaQY7wpC2bDJfj1KgvRhDkpLgWOsf4Ruiw_kWz6owNvQBDX8ZYjyIVqYyXmX0cW7TMMo2XlQQ_IccrzzliuUjmSzF-jWxvTda_JGg5LFt7W/s1600/000_0014+%25283%2529.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" height="387" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhJSI9jaYT1V1JVfdDolibn_66LfG-MPq_UYbaQY7wpC2bDJfj1KgvRhDkpLgWOsf4Ruiw_kWz6owNvQBDX8ZYjyIVqYyXmX0cW7TMMo2XlQQ_IccrzzliuUjmSzF-jWxvTda_JGg5LFt7W/s400/000_0014+%25283%2529.JPG" width="400" /></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">"The Making Of Diamonds" photo by Sally L. Smith</td></tr>
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<span style="font-size: large;"><span style="background-color: white; font-family: 'Helvetica Neue', Verdana, Helvetica, Arial, sans-serif; line-height: 24px; text-align: start;">I am making ·you </span><span class="inline-note" style="-webkit-font-smoothing: antialiased; background-color: white; box-sizing: border-box; color: #555555; font-family: 'Helvetica Neue', Verdana, Helvetica, Arial, sans-serif; line-height: 24px; text-align: start;">[<span class="inline-note" style="box-sizing: border-box; font-weight: bold; line-height: normal; position: static; top: auto; vertical-align: text-top;"> </span>your forehead]</span><span style="background-color: white; font-family: 'Helvetica Neue', Verdana, Helvetica, Arial, sans-serif; line-height: 24px; text-align: start;"> as hard as ·a diamond </span><span class="inline-note" style="-webkit-font-smoothing: antialiased; background-color: white; box-sizing: border-box; color: #555555; font-family: 'Helvetica Neue', Verdana, Helvetica, Arial, sans-serif; line-height: 24px; text-align: start;">[<i style="box-sizing: border-box;">or</i> flint; <i style="box-sizing: border-box;">or</i> the hardest stone]</span><span style="background-color: white; font-family: 'Helvetica Neue', Verdana, Helvetica, Arial, sans-serif; line-height: 24px; text-align: start;">, harder than ·stone </span><span class="inline-note" style="-webkit-font-smoothing: antialiased; background-color: white; box-sizing: border-box; color: #555555; font-family: 'Helvetica Neue', Verdana, Helvetica, Arial, sans-serif; line-height: 24px; text-align: start;">[<i style="box-sizing: border-box;">or</i> flint]</span><span style="background-color: white; font-family: 'Helvetica Neue', Verdana, Helvetica, Arial, sans-serif; line-height: 24px; text-align: start;">. Don’t be afraid of them or be ·frightened </span><span class="inline-note" style="-webkit-font-smoothing: antialiased; background-color: white; box-sizing: border-box; color: #555555; font-family: 'Helvetica Neue', Verdana, Helvetica, Arial, sans-serif; line-height: 24px; text-align: start;">[terrified; dismayed]</span><span style="background-color: white; font-family: 'Helvetica Neue', Verdana, Helvetica, Arial, sans-serif; line-height: 24px; text-align: start;"> by them, though they are a ·people who turn against me </span><span class="inline-note" style="-webkit-font-smoothing: antialiased; background-color: white; box-sizing: border-box; color: #555555; font-family: 'Helvetica Neue', Verdana, Helvetica, Arial, sans-serif; line-height: 24px; text-align: start;">[<span class="inline-note" style="box-sizing: border-box; font-weight: bold; line-height: normal; position: static; top: auto; vertical-align: text-top;"> </span>rebellious house]</span><span style="background-color: white; font-family: 'Helvetica Neue', Verdana, Helvetica, Arial, sans-serif; line-height: 24px; text-align: start;">.”</span></span></div>
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<span style="font-size: large;"><span style="background-color: white; font-family: 'Helvetica Neue', Verdana, Helvetica, Arial, sans-serif; line-height: 24px; text-align: start;">Ezekiel 3:9</span></span></div>
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<strong style="background-color: white; box-sizing: border-box; font-family: 'Helvetica Neue', Helvetica, Arial, sans-serif; font-size: 14px; line-height: 20px; text-align: start;"><a href="https://www.biblegateway.com/versions/Expanded-Bible-EXB/" style="-webkit-font-smoothing: antialiased; background: transparent; box-sizing: border-box; color: #b34b2c; cursor: pointer; text-decoration: none;">Expanded Bible</a> (EXB)</strong><span style="background-color: white; font-family: 'Helvetica Neue', Helvetica, Arial, sans-serif; font-size: 14px; line-height: 20px; text-align: start;"></span></div>
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The Expanded Bible, Copyright © 2011 Thomas Nelson Inc. All rights reserved.</div>
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<span style="font-family: Courier New, Courier, monospace; font-size: large;">It's a process: Get cold enough, make frost, send sun. Voila! Diamonds. Click on the photo above to enlarge and you may see them too.</span></div>
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<span style="font-family: Courier New, Courier, monospace; font-size: large;"><br /></span></div>
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<span style="font-family: Courier New, Courier, monospace; font-size: large;">No, we can't make diamonds; only God can.</span></div>
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<span style="font-family: Courier New, Courier, monospace; font-size: large;">He can also make us like real diamonds: hard, strong,and beautiful. He can make us shine in a dark world by sharing His light with us...the light of His Son. We are to pass that light around and sparkle even though we are afraid to do so. People are not receptive to that kind of light because sin hides in darkness but we have a job to do.</span></div>
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<span style="font-family: Courier New, Courier, monospace; font-size: large;">Go thou out and sparkle!</span></div>
Sally L. Smithhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/02946899217879609949noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-4244971055974578940.post-36265224828956315562016-01-15T13:49:00.000-06:002016-01-15T13:49:25.754-06:00Lightshine<table align="center" cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0" class="tr-caption-container" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto; text-align: center;"><tbody>
<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhxsxQHwnozaFcLQfkQuSJRQeR0BPmGrwyx9WimuXRB3Asqe1VsHdw5wH1quRimZCuTGuTLHpE9eHyfUG7odwuHBHsYX-yTC0GwcELuoa_lqIGg3fFodXD-ckG2hquapLP1OCWEi23vCMo2/s1600/20160114_083448-1-1_resized+%25282%2529.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" height="400" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhxsxQHwnozaFcLQfkQuSJRQeR0BPmGrwyx9WimuXRB3Asqe1VsHdw5wH1quRimZCuTGuTLHpE9eHyfUG7odwuHBHsYX-yTC0GwcELuoa_lqIGg3fFodXD-ckG2hquapLP1OCWEi23vCMo2/s400/20160114_083448-1-1_resized+%25282%2529.jpg" width="331" /></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">"Shining Through" - Photo By Sally L. Smith<br /><br /><br /><span style="font-size: large;"><span style="background-color: white; font-family: 'Helvetica Neue', Verdana, Helvetica, Arial, sans-serif; line-height: 24px; text-align: start;"><br />...Thorns and </span><span style="background-color: white; box-sizing: border-box; font-family: 'Helvetica Neue', Verdana, Helvetica, Arial, sans-serif; line-height: 24px; text-align: start;">weeds</span></span><span style="background-color: white; font-family: 'Helvetica Neue', Verdana, Helvetica, Arial, sans-serif; line-height: 24px; text-align: start;"><span style="font-size: large;"> will grow in it....</span></span><span style="background-color: white; font-family: 'Helvetica Neue', Verdana, Helvetica, Arial, sans-serif; line-height: 24px; text-align: start;"><br /></span>Isaiah 5:6 <a href="https://www.biblegateway.com/passage/?search=Isaiah+5:6&version=GW">GW</a><br /><br /><br /><span style="color: #274e13; font-family: Courier New, Courier, monospace; font-size: large;">God put them here and I love the way the light shines through the fluff on these tall weeds. Each is illuminated like a torch but they don't burn up. They stick around all winter and entertain me with their beauty. These are right across from our driveway so I get this view often. Though weeds can be contentious to a gardener, many are also beautiful. The eye is in the beholder.</span></td></tr>
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<br />Sally L. Smithhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/02946899217879609949noreply@blogger.com0