Time Began in a Garden

"Now the Lord God planted a garden in the east, in Eden." Genesis 2:8

Friday, November 28, 2008

A GOAL WORTH ASPIRING TO

"I am glad in God, far happier than you would ever guess--happy that you're again showing such strong concern for me.
Not that you ever quit praying and thinking about me. You just had no chance to show it.
Actually, I don't have a sense of needing anything personally.
I've learned by now to be quite content whatever my circumstances.
I'm just as happy with little as with much, with much as with little.
I've found the recipe for being happy whether full or hungry, hands full or empty.
Whatever I have, wherever I am, I can make it through anything in the One who makes me who I am.
I don't mean that your help didn't mean a lot to me--it did. It was a beautiful thing that you came alonside me in my troubles." Paul

Thursday, November 27, 2008

HAPPY THANKSGIVING (turn on speaker)

http://www.donnasholidaysentiments.com/thanksgiving.html

My love to each and all on this Thanksgiving Day. May God bless and keep you today and always.

Love, Mom, Grandmother, Great-Grandmother, Peggy, P1, or (as Doris says) " whatever.....".

ps: For extra blessings, click on "lyrics" and "the most beautiful flower".

Wednesday, November 26, 2008

BE ANXIOUS FOR NOTHING

"Don't fret or worry.
Instead of worrying, pray.
Let petitions and praises shape your worries into prayers, letting God know your concerns.
Before you know it, a sense of God's wholeness, everything coming together for good, will come and settle you down.
It's wonderful what happens when Christ displaces worry as the center of your life." Paul

Tuesday, November 25, 2008

FIRST THINGS FIRST

"If you've gotten anything at all out of following Christ, if his love has made any difference in your life, if being in a community of the Spirit means anything to you, if you have a heart, if you care--then do me a favor: Agree with each other, love each other, be deep-spirited friends.
Don't push your way to the front; don't sweet-talk your way to the top.
Put yourself aside, and help others get ahead. Don't be obsessed with getting your own advantage.
Forget yourselves long enough to lend a helping hand." Paul

Monday, November 24, 2008

PINK

Several weeks ago I traveled to Cape to a party put on by the women of Grace UMC.

Each hostess decorated a table with her own china, crystal, silverware, lines, etc.

The room was full (20 tables) of the most beautiful settings you can imagine.

The food was wonderful....carried in by the women of the church and consisted of favorite and fancy main dishes, salads, vegetables and desserts.

Mike Dumey and friends put on a grand musical program that was enjoyed by all. It was such a special evening, andI got to spend some time with my life long- friend and "sister", Carolyn. Here she is with the table she and another friend, Lois, presented.

TFT: "Through your faithful prayers and the generous response of the Spirit of Jesus Christ, everything he wants to do in and through me will be done.
I can hardly wait to continue on my course. I don't expect to be embarassed in the least.
On the contrary, everything happening to me in this jail only serves to make Christ more accurately known, regardless of whether I live or die.
Alive, I'm Christ's messenger; dead, I'm his bounty. It's life versus more life!
I can't lose" Paul.

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Friday, November 21, 2008

THEY CAN'T IMPRISON THE MESSAGE

"I want to report to you friends, that my imprisonment here has had the opposite of its intended effect.
Instead of being squelched, the Message has actually prospered. All the soldiers here, and everyone else too, found out that I'm in jail because of this Messiah.
That piqued their curiosity, and now they've learned all about him (Jesus).
Not only that, but most of the Christians here have become far more sure of themselves in the faith than ever, speaking out fearlessly about God, about the Messiah." Paul

Thursday, November 20, 2008

SHARING GOD'S LOVE TO HIS GLORY

"So this is my prayer: that your love will flourish and that you will not only love much but well.
Learn to love appropriately.
You need to use your head and test your feelings so that your love is sincere and intelligent, not sentimental gush.
Live a lover's life, circumspect and exemplary, a life Jesus will be proud of: bountiful in fruits from the soul , making Jesus Christ attractive to all, getting everyone involved in the glory and praise of God." Paul

Wednesday, November 19, 2008

A LITTLE BACKGROUND

The introduction to the Book of Philippians in The Message gives us some insight to this letter from Paul to the Christian believers in the city of Philippi"

"This is Paul's happiest letter. And the happiness is infectious.
Before we've read a dozen lines, we begin to feel the joy ourselves--the dance of words and the exclamations of delight have a way of getting inside us."

We pick up on the text from yesterday:

"....My prayers and hopes (about you) have deep roots in reality.
You have, after all, stuck with me all the way....
All along you have experienced with me the most generous help from God.
He knows how much I love and miss you these days.
Sometimes I think I feel as strongly about you as Christ does" Paul




Tuesday, November 18, 2008

SHOWED UP YESTERDAY

Once again, looking for a safe spot to hide out for the next few weeks, Tom came here.

As he knows, the TPP is still in effect at this address.











TFT: In the days to come I will be posting passages from the Book of Philippians as recorded in The Message, "a contemporary rendering of the Bible from the original language".

I have chosen Philippians as it is so rich in words of thanks, encouragement, and good advice.

" Every time you cross my mind, I break out in exclamations of thanks to God.
Each exclamation is a trigger to prayer.
I find myself praying for you with a glad heart....
There has never been the slightest doubt in my mind that the God who started a great work in you would keep at it and bring it to a flourishing finish....."

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Monday, November 17, 2008

JUST HANGING OUT

This morning the "cat in the flower pot" was found to be in the neighbor's yard...just sitting there waiting.

(For me to put out the daily supply of birdseed I think.)










TFT: "Calm me, O Lord, as you stilled the storm.
Still me, O Lord, keep me from harm.
Let all the tumult within me cease,
Enfold me, Lord, in your peace.: Celtic Traditional

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Friday, November 14, 2008

A PROMISE

This spot looks a bit barren now.

















But it holds a promise of surprise in just a few short months.
Planted 120 bulbs this past week.
Check back next spring!











TFT: "The fulfillment of God's promises depends entirely on trusting God and His way, and then simply embracing Him and what He does.
God's promise arrives as pure gift." Romans 4:15 The Message

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Thursday, November 13, 2008

CAN'T HELP BUT BELIEVING

"Have confidence in God's mercy, for when you think He is a long way from you, He is often quite near.
Thomas A. Kempis

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Wednesday, November 12, 2008

MORE AUTUMN SPLENDOR

"Welcome this morning--
Like empty pitchers to a full fountain,
With no merits of our own,
O Lord...open up a window of heaven,
And lean out far over the battlements of glory,
And listen this morning."
James Weldon Johnson

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Tuesday, November 11, 2008

VETERANS DAY

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=rM_tDB8OZok&feature=related

Monday, November 10, 2008

GLORIOUS

"Sunshine spills through autumn-colored leaves, lighting up their brilliance like stained glass windows in a great cathedral, expressing the wonder of God's love, declaring His glory." Anonymous

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Friday, November 07, 2008

THE ANSWER

Do you remember the pictures of the Datura plant that I posted on September 16th?

It is sometimes referred to as "Thorn Apple" because of these unique seed pods that form after the bloom has dropped off.



One day a few weeks ago, I brought one in and put in on the window sill in the kitchen.



After a while I noticed that it truly had transformed into something resembling a cross between a mouse and a porcupine. (See #3's comment on yesterday's blog)



And I agree that if it were larger, it would make a really scary Halloween mask!
It continues to dry out and break open, and you can see the seeds inside. Isn't nature wonderful!



























TFT: "There is a God in heaven who reveals mysteries" Daniel 2:28

"He who forms the mountains and creates the winds, reveals his thoughts to man...."Amos 4:13

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Thursday, November 06, 2008

WHAT IS IT?

Any guesses?

Check back tomorrow for the answer.












TFT: "Can you fathom the mysteries of God?
Can you probe the limits of the Almighty?
They are higher than the heavens--what can you do? They are deeper than the depths of the grave--what can you know? Their measure is longer than the earth and wider than the sea." Job 11: 7-9

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Wednesday, November 05, 2008

IT'S NOT A CAT IN A HAT

But it is one in a flower pot!

This kitty likes to "hang out" in the garden; usually hiding near the bird feeders.

But this lovely sunny morning, he was just taking a little nap in the flower pot when I woke him up on my way to the garage.

Went quickly and quietly back into the house to get the camera.

He seemed undisturbed in having his picture taken; but he won't let you get close to him.



















TFT:
"The Lord longs to be gracious to you;
He rises to show you compassion.
For the Lord is a God of justice.
Blessed are all who wait for Him!"
Isaiah 30:18

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Tuesday, November 04, 2008

ELECTION DAY

A guidline for voting.

"Righteousness exalteth a nation...." Proverbs 14:34

Monday, November 03, 2008

WELCOME TO NOVEMBER

Such beautiful days.
Been "winterizing" the garden, but the flowers just continue to bloom.

TFT: "In the garden, Autumn is indeed the crowning glory of the year, bringing us the fruition of months of thought and care and toil.
And at no season, save perhaps in Daffodil time, do we get such superb color effects as November. Rose G. Kingsley


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