Why?

When you hear of wars and rumors of wars, do not be alarmed. Such things must happen, but the end is still to come.  Nation will rise against nation, and kingdom against kingdom. There will be earthquakes in various places, and famines. These are the beginning of birth pains.

You must be on your guard....

And the gospel must first be preached to all nations.

Mark 13:7-10

Unfortunate, but true...people are doing what people do...being mean to each other.

"What the world needs now is love, sweet love" lyrics popped into my head but love is far from man's intentions.

The earth is doing what it does, quake.  There's nothing new here but it is still alarming.  Why is this happening?  Why don't we have peace?

We're not expected to, according to what the Lord said.  He knew there would be destruction because he knew the heart of man and the fragility of the earth.  He warned us that these are precursors to the end and that warning was 2,000 years ago.  It is still in effect today...for a reason.  We may not like His reasoning but it is still true and we still have a responsibility to do what he expects of us.  

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Remarkable Dad

...a time to weep 

and a time to laugh, 

a time to mourn 

and a time to dance...

Ecclesiastes 3:3-5

The loss of my son-in-law's grandfather brought back memories of my Dad--a most remarkable man.

World War II Navy veteran

committed husband 

proud Daddy

doting Grandpa

lover of God

lover of life

lover of all people

lover of fun

big-time ham

comedian

and so much more...

The first photo is of him before I was born and just after coming home from the war in the late '40s.  The second is him hamming it up with a co-worker celebrating in the real estate office where he worked...effectively...into his eighties.  He might have been about 78 in this shot.

Just wanted to share my thoughts.  I still love him and think about him often.  I so much wish I were like him but, alas, I'm more like my Mom...staid, somber and prim.  There is a closet inside me that I open on occasion when I least expect it...usually around the people I love and trust or, in rare moments, in front of a crowd of church people.  Vacation Bible School is approaching and it brings back memories of my "hamitude" where my Dad-clone surfaced.

The Valley

Even though I walk
    through the darkest valley,
I will fear no evil,
    for you are with me;
your rod and your staff,
    they comfort me.

Psalm 23:4

My son-in-law lost his Granddaddy last night. 

 My daughter knows why I posted this scripture today.

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The Light

Light shines on the righteous

    and joy on the upright in heart.

¹² 

Rejoice in the Lord

 you who are righteous,

    and praise his holy name.

Psalm 97:11-12

I don't count myself as being righteous, though I do seek righteousness.

I praise your name, O Lord.  I seek your face and your will.

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Majesty

The Son is the radiance of God’s glory

 and the exact representation of his being, 

sustaining all things by his powerful word.

 After he had provided purification for sins,

 he sat down at the right hand 

of the Majesty in heaven.

Hebrews 1:3

Majesty...another name for the eternal God who rules all.  

I am humbled before Him.

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Dark Clouds

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Clouds and thick darkness
  surround him; righteousness and justice are
  the foundation of his throne.
Psalm 97:2

We're in for more storms today...a day in which many are afraid.  We've not feared storms because we have not been hit by a bad one yet and hope that never happens.  Many are afraid, though, because their property has been damaged by high winds.
  It's difficult to put all one's trust in God when things have not gone our way...when we've been damaged by the storms of life.  He's still on the throne and wants our trust regardless.  Are you game?  I hope I am.

Celebrating 45

May your fountain be blessed,

 and may you rejoice in the wife of your youth. 

 Proverbs 5:18

Many of our anniversaries have been spent visiting our large family--three children and fourteen grandchildren.  I would have posted our wedding picture (and may in the future) but this one is more appropriate.  This is our last grandchild as of now.  Micah was born last year.   Every child has been a blessing to us and we feel honored to have been

given such a healthy and happy family. 

 Thank you, Lord, for the 45 years

you've given us and the joy we still have with each other.

Our daughter and her family at Micah's first birthday.

Our two sons and their families two summers ago.

God's Eye

Photo attribution here

 But the land you are crossing the Jordan to take possession of
is a land of mountains and valleys that drinks rain from heaven.
 It is a land the Lord your God cares for;
the eyes of the Lord your God are continually on it
from the beginning of the year to its end.
Deuteronomy 11:11-12

I take so much for granted:
day and night
sun and moon
stars
rain and snow
animals and people
family and job
comforts and discomforts.

I tend to complain more than praise and grouch more than encourage.  I don't give God the glory for the little things that mean so much to my life and realize He has a purpose for every minute that transpires.

His eye is on me all the time.  He sees and knows everything I do and will do.  He cares for me and I will give Him praise for everything...yes, everything; for it's in the acceptance of the "everythings" that show my true love for Him.

Nest in a Rock

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Your dwelling place is secure,  
your nest is set in a rock.
Numbers 24:21


It's nice to feel secure in a world that is so crazy.

Blood Donor

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This is how we know what love is: 

Jesus Christ laid down his life for us.

 And we ought to lay down our lives

 for our brothers and sisters.

1 John 3:16

When I read this verse today I  thought of blood donors...those silent warriors who sacrifice time and discomfort for someone they do not even know.  My husband and daughter have been donors for years and they don't think twice when they have the opportunity to give.  I've tried but my body does not want to donate quickly enough and they've suggested I not give.  I would anyway, though, if there were an eminent emergency.

My thoughts went to the fact that Jesus was the ultimate blood donor and we sing of his blood sacrifice in our hymns.  Non-believers don't like to hear those hymns because they don't understand Christ's immense love for them as He gave up his life on the cross.  

What can we do today to "lay down our lives for our brothers and sisters?"

Cloudless Morning

From personal files

When one rules over people in righteousness,

    when he rules in the fear of God,

⁴ 

he is like the light of morning at sunrise

    on a cloudless morning,

like the brightness after rain

    that brings grass from the earth.

2 Samuel 23:24

The above verses can be an encouragement to people in leadership positions.  Isn't wonderful hearing the words of a leader who truly cares and honors the Lord with what he or she says or does?

These verses are so poetic and  breathe thanks for the heavenly sunlight we have this morning after three days of clouds and rain.  Thank you, Lord, for your precious world.

Scripture Photos

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I thought I'd share a new site on Flickr with you.  I love photos with scripture.

No temptation has seized you except what is common to man.  And God is faithful; he will not let you be tempted beyond what you can bear.  But when you are tempted, he will also provide a way out so that you can stand up under it.

2 Corinthians 10:13

Confess and Believe

What must I do to be saved?

If you declare with your mouth,

 “Jesus is Lord,”

 and believe in your heart 

that God raised him from the dead, 

you will be saved.

Romans 10:9

...simple and effective words...taken seriously by my granddaughter Easter Sunday.

Praise the Lord.

The Chosen Path

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Direct me in the path of your commands,
for there I find delight.
Psalm 119:35

Many times through life I've chosen the path that I think God wanted for me only to look back and think, "Is this the right one?"

This one is too difficult.
  I don't feel confident here.
  I'm afraid to continue.
Are you sure this is right, Lord?

And then I find consolation in His Word--strength for the walk.  His voice comes to me...
 Do not be afraid.
I have come to test you,
 so that your respect and trust in Me will be always be with you
to keep you from sinning.(My paraphrase of Exodus 20:20)

So, I continue on the path He has set before me until He points to another path to take.  I trust Him to choose the right one for me.
I just keep on walking.

The One Who Trusts

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But blessed is the one who trusts in the Lord,

whose confidence is in him. 

They will be like a tree planted by the water

that sends out its roots by the stream. 

It does not fear when heat comes;

its leaves are always green. 

It has no worries in a year of drought

and never fails to bear fruit.

Jeremiah 17:7-8


I want to be one who trusts regardless of circumstances.