NOTHING TO COMPARE

Proverbs 3: 11-12
"My son, do not despise the Lord's discipline and do not resent his rebuke,
because the Lord disciplines those he loves, as a father corrects the son he delights in."

WHO DO YOU TRUST?

Proverbs 3: 5-7
"Trust in the Lord with all your heart and lean not on your own understanding;
in all your ways acknowledge him and he will direct your paths.
Do not be wise in your own eyes; fear the Lord and shun evil.
This will bring health to your body and nourishment to your bones."

A MIXED BOUQUET

Rose and Daisies...the lingering of summer.
Berries and Chinese Lanterns...the promise of autumn.









Proverbs 3: 16
"My son, do not forget my teaching, but keep my commands in your heart, for they will prolong your life many years and bring you prosperity.
Let love and faithfulness never leave you; bind them around your neck, write them on the tablet of your heart.
Then you will win favor and a good name in the sight of God and man."

BENEFITS OF WISDOM continued

Proverbs 2: 6-11

"For the Lord gives wisdom, and from his mouth come knowledge and understanding.
He holds victory in store for the upright, he is a shield to those whose walk is blameless,
for he guards the course of the just and protects the way of his faithful ones.
Then you will understand what is right and just and fair--every good path.
For wisdom will enter your heart, and knowledge will be pleasant to your soul.
Discretion will protect you, and understanding will guard you."

BENEFITS OF WISDOM

Proverbs 2: 1-5

"My son, (and daughter), if you accept my words and store up my commands within you, turning your ear to wisdom and applying your heart to understanding, and if you look for it as silver and search for it as for hidden treasure,
then you will understand the fear of the Lord and find the knowledge of God."

BEGINNING AT THE BEGINNING

For those who might be interested, in the days ahead, I have chosen to share from the Proverbs of Solomon, son of David, king of Israel, as found in the Holy Bible.

According to the prologue, Proverbs was written to give "prudence to the simple, knowledge and discretion to the young and to make wise men wiser."

Although Proverbs is a practical book dealing with the art of living, it bases wisdom solidly on the fear of the Lord
There it begins...and therefore it should be understood that all that follows in the days ahead is based on this foundation.

Proverbs 1:1-7

"The proverbs of Solomon, for attaining wisdom and discipline; for understanding words of insight; for acquiring a disciplined and prudent life,
doing what is right and just and fair; for giving prudence to the simple, knowledge and discretion to the young--let the wise listen and add to their learning, and let the discerning get guidance--for understanding proverbs and parables, the sayings and riddles of the wise.

The fear of the Lord is the beginning of knowledge, but fools despise wisdom and discipline."

A BOUQUET FOR THE BEDROOM

"We do not demand of nature directly to prove religion. That was never its fuction.
Its function is to interpret. And this, after all, is possibly the mosst fruitful proof. " Henry Drummond

INTRODUCING ELLIE

When I was growing up, there was a phrase that was used when someone had suddenly and unexpectantly come into a stroke of very good fortune. We would say, "you lucky dog, you!".
Well, here
is one...






Her name is Ellie, and she, by the rather sudden and you might say, a bit unexpected stroke of very good fortune, has become a permanent resident at Peggy and Mike's.
Up until just a week or so ago, her life had been, to say the least, a bit unstable and her future was looking a little precarious.
But not any more.
Everyone in the extended family, and circle of friends thinks she is absolutely adorable!
She loves chasing leaves, making friends with all she meets, and chewing.

Welcome to our world, Ellie Rosenthal.

By the way, I think we all might really be "the lucky dogs!".

STEMS AND LEAVES V

"If God had a wallet,
your picture would be in it! " : )

Have a great weekend!

STEMS AND LEAVES IV

"Wherever you go today,
God will be there." Anonymous

STEMS AND LEAVES III

"Let us not become weary in doing good,
for at the proper time we will reap a harvest
if we do not give up."
Galations 6:9

STEMS AND LEAVES II

A little tip from me....
Can't sleep? Don't count sheep.
Talk to the Shepherd.

STEMS AND LEAVES

"Prayer makes your heart bigger...until it is capable of containing the gift of God Himself." Mother Teresa

Happy Birthday, Curtis (yesterday)

GLORIOUS MORNINGS

"To love condtionally is against God's nature. Just as it's against your nature to eat trees and against mine to grow wings, it's against God's nature to remember forgiven sins." Max Lucado
"I will forgive their wickedness and will remember their sins no more." Hebrews 8:12

MORNING GLORIES IN THE ALLEY

"Jesus offers the invitation as a penniless rabbi in an oppressed nation. He has no political office, no connections with the authorities in Rome. He hasn't written a bestseller or earned a diploma. Yet, He dares to look into the cynical eyes of the one who is afraid to believe; the hungry eyes of the one who has "tried it all", and still feels empty; the tired eyes of the weary housewife and mother, and say, 'Come to me, all you who are weary and burdened, and I will give you rest' Matthew 11:28."
Max Lucado

MORNING GLORY

"Our values are messed up...Thrills are going for top dollar and the value of human beings is at an all-time low...Life is reduccd to weekends, paychecks, and quick thrills. The bottom line is disaster...Now please understand, this is man's value system.
It is not God's. His plan is much brighter." Max Lucado

"Wisdom is supreme; therefore get wisdom. Though it cost all you have, get understanding." Proverbs 4:7

REACHING....

This is my view as I sit in the recliner in my bedroom.
For some time now I have been wondering why the plant on the media cabinet seemed to be growing always to the side.












And then one day I realized why.
It was seeking the light.....

Jesus said, "I am the light of the world. He who follows me shall not walk in darkness, but will have the light of life." John 8:12

"Keep your face turned to Christ as the flowers do to the light. Look, and your soul shall live and grow." Hannah Whitall Smith

Happy Birthday, Brad

A SECOND BLOOMING

After a few months of apparent dormancy, the red rose is once again in glorious bloom.
















"Anyone with a spiritual base understands humility.
When you start using the words 'I' and 'me' too often, you get into trouble."
Denzel Washington

A STRANGE THING

I know this looks as though a vine has outgrown its container.
But it is really a plant that is growing right out of the bricks of the garage.







Determined
indeed.






"Every accomplishment begins with a decision to try." author unknown

IN THE AIR

Gathered
these
in an
early
morning
walk
yesterday.

"When the still air and still in summertime
a leaf has had enough of this, it seems
To make up its mind to do; fine as a sage
Its drifting in detachment down the road." Howard Nemerov

MORNING

"Morning is the best of all times in the garden.
The sun is not yet hot. Sweet vapors rise from the earth. Night dew clings to the soil and makes plants glisten. Birds call to one another and bees are already at work." William Longgood

BELATED BIRTHDAY CELEBRATION

I journeyed to Cape this past weekend. Enjoyed seeing Sami Gross (Carolyn's daughter) in an outstanding production of God Spell.
Stayed at my dear friend Helen Ueleke's lovely apartment. Saturday morning Carolyn came over for breakfast (fresh fruit and Helen's famous cinnamon rolls) and she brought the traveling "Birthday Basket" which was filled to overflowing with presents collected since last year.
We have been keeping up this tradition for many years and it is great fun.
Now I will fill it for her birthday in December.




Upon doning
our birthday
hats, we sing
and then
open the
goodies.

She always
picks such
pretty
things.




Carolyn and I were born the same year, and have been friends ever since.





If you are wondering what year that was, we also share a birthday year with Steak and Shake. Which birthday? You can do the math.
They are still going strong... and so are we!
Our thanks to them for the hats.

"No wise man ever wished to be younger." Jonathan Swift

http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Jonathan_Swift