THE SOURCE

"For the Spirit of God has made me,

and the breath of the Almighty gives me life."

Job 33;4

A PLEDGE

"I will let God's peace infuse every part of today.

As the chaos swirls and life's demands pull at me on all sides.

I will breathe in God's peace that surpasses all understanding.

He has promised that He would set within me

a peace too deeply planted to be affected

by unexpected or exhausting demands."

(no author listed)

A PROMISE FULFILLED

This appeared Saturday. It took my breath away, as the first bloom of each New Year always does.

I hope it always will.

"Grace means that God already loves us as much as an infinite God, who Himself is love, possibly can." Philip Yancey

Photo by Brad

ACCEPT THE GIFT

"Steep yourself in God - reality,

God-initiative,

God provisions.

You'll find all your everyday human

concerns will be met.

Don't be afraid of missing out.

You're my dearest friends!

The Father wants to give you

the very kingdom itself."

Jesus - Luke 12:22-31 The Message
Curt's photograph

BECOMING

"In a special way,

human beings...

being made in the image of God,

only become real human beings,

are only able to grow and thrive as human beings,

as they also yearn for God."

Roberta Bondi

A REPORT

The Snow People have gone.
Must have left in a hurry as they forgot their hats!

The little garden sign pretty much tells the story of what's happening outside.

Hence, a shortage of new daily pictures.

Have been trying to "catch" a shot of the birds enjoying the "critter tree" out front, but haven't been succesful as yet.

As I sit reading by the fire in the living room , I can hear them chattering; but when I grab camera and attempt to get them focused in my lens, they are gone! I will keep trying.

I have begun a long overdue winter project of sorting through OLD pictures and other memorobilia from Mom's home.

Thought I might post a few of them as I work through the boxes.

Any thoughts on this idea to pass the days as we move through the slower winter months?

"The God who created, names, and numbers the stars in the heavens also numbers the hairs of my head...

He pays attention to very big things and to very small ones.

What matters to me, matters to Him, and that changes my life."

Elisabeth Elliot 

BACKYARD NEIGHBORS

A real nice couple...understand they aren't staying long.

"The Lord's chief desire is to reveal Himself to you and, in order for Him to do that, He gives you abundant grace.

The Lord gives you the experience of enjoying His presence.

He touches you, and His touch is so delightful that, more than ever, you are drawn inwardly to Him."

Madame Jean Guyon

LOOKING AHEAD

"Live for today,

but hold your hands open to tomorrow.

Anticipate the future

and its changes with joy.

There is a seed of God's love

in every event,

every circumstance,

every unpleasant situation

in which you may find yourself."

Barbara Johnson

WHO AM i?

"You are God's created beauty

and the focus of

His affection and delight."

Janet L. Weaver Smith

CONTENTMENT

"We are never more fulfilled

than when our longing for God

is met by His presene in our lives."

Billy Graham

ALL THE TIME

"Lord, sometimes I feel like a mouse in a treadmill,

Rushing around, faster and faster.

Getting nowhere...

Lord, it's at times like this that

I need you most.

Yet you seem so far away.

Why, Lord? Where have you gone?

Then I hear it, the quiet voice.....

be still and know that I am.

You are near.

You have been all the time."

Eddie Askew

THIS ONE THING I SEEK

"I am convinced beyond a shadow of a doubt

that the most valuable pursuit we can embark upon

is to know God."

Kay Arthur

HEAVEN ON EARTH

"Life is so full of meaning and purpose,

so full of beauty,

beneath it's covering,

that you will find the earth

but cloaks your heaven."

Fra Giovanni

NEED HELP?

"If you don't know what you're doing,

pray to the Father.

He loves to help.

You'll get his help,

and won't be condescended to when you ask for it.

Ask boldly, believingly,

without a second thought."

James 1: 3-6 The Message

UNFATHOMABLE AND YET SIMPLE

"Just to be is a blessing,

just to live is holy."

Abraham Joshua Heschel

AN INVITATION

"God wants us to be present where we are.

He invites us to see and to hear what is around us,

and through it all,

to discern the footprints of the Holy."

Richard J. Foster

Editors note: An RSVP might be nice. You know where to send it.

PLANS

"For I know the plans I have for you" declares the Lord.

"plans to prosper you and not to harm you,

plans to give you hope and a future."

Jeremiah 29:11

WORTH REPEATING

"Life ia a promise,

fulfill it."

Mother Teresa

SOMETIMES HARD TO REALIZE

"We are always in the presence of God....

There is never a nonsacred moment!

His presence never diminishes.

Our awarness of His presence may falter,

but the reality of His presence never changes."

Max Lucado

LOOK AROUND

"Something deep in all of us yearns for God's beauty,

and we can find it

no matter where we are."

Sue Monk Kidd

DO YOU AGREE?

"I look up and try to understand that our solar system is a tiny pinprick in that great river of stars...

The truth I hold to is that it is all God's,

joyfully created,

and that it is good."

Madeleine L'Engle

"BEHOLD, I MAKE ALL THINGS NEW!..." Revelation 21:5

"You do not know what you are going to do;

the only thing you know is that God knows what He is doing...

It is this attitude that keeps you in perpetual wonder -

you do not know what God is going to do next."

Oswald Chambers
and...


"God guides us, despite our uncertainties, and our vagueness,

even through our failings and mistakes...

He leads us step by step from event to event.

Only afterwards, as we look back over the way we have come...

do we experience the feeling of having been led without knowing it,

the feeling that God has mysteriously guided us."

Paul Tournier