Who Am I?

 

At this time of year many are rushing to get the shopping done, presents wrapped, the tree up and decorated, the lights up on the house and all manner of holiday preparations done. This year is not like any other year I can remember for any of the holidays that were celebrated. This year much time has been suddenly placed in our laps with no prior warning or fanfare. It has posed a problem of identity for many people, a place not known before. For me it was a time of stress and searching for answers. High blood pressure and a silent heart attack didn't help calm things down. A nation divided with politicians building iron curtains and turning everything into a war zone didn't help either. Spite and anger driven hate stalling the workings of government even at the time of this writing has caused me to stand back at take stock of who I am. It is not in my power to stop any of this nonsense and I want no part of  it. I can't speak for anyone else but myself. I am asking myself "Who am I?" There is no simple answer to that question. Any answer I would have would only be what I think I am. It would be a self opinion. How others perceive me would be only partially correct or not correct at all. Living life makes me who I am. The choices I make, what I believe in, what my interests are, my dislikes, in fact the whole of my life is what makes me who I am. I am who I am. My favorite statement is " I am all that humanity is or ever was." I don't recall who said it but it was profound to me. The answer to "who am I"  is a simple "I am who I am." It is not set in stone because it is in constant flux, ever changing. Who are you?

Today I would like to share a house mouse image. Enjoy.

  Copic Colors:

RV00, E53, E31, Voooo, T2

Tis the season to be merry and joyful. Many of us do not have a lot but what we do have we should be thankful for. There are those that have far less than we do. Remember them and be generous toward them this Christmas season. Give some joy to the needy. This will be my last post for the holidays. See you after New Year and to always "Remember The Details."

Merry Christmas and a very Happy New Year

Sin & Repentance

 The wonderful news is that our Lord is a God of mercy, and He responds to repentance. Billy Graham

Read more at https://www.brainyquote.com

How true. Living in our denial of sin is counter to being repentant. NO ONE is without sin. It is why we should never judge another for the mistakes they make.(Mt 7:1, Lk 6:37) To do so would bring judgement on us that could be harsher than the one we judge would suffer. It is like saying we are not sinners. We have not been given the right to fudge the living and the dead. That has been given to Christ.(Acts 17:31, 2 Timothy 4:1, John 5:22, 1 Peter 4:5, Romans 14:9) It is important to go into this season and holiday of Christmas with a heart of repentance to fully appreciate what the birth of Christ means. Without that birth we would not have the grace of forgiveness that we cannot earn by any works. Only ask and repent, turn away from the sin and change your heart in the knowledge you are forgiven. The Christmas season is a time when a new birth has come to change the heart of mankind into something better and more pure. Truly this is a greater gift than any that may be under the tree. It is a child that is pure of heart and selfless of spirit come to bless any that would embrace the grace Yahweh is offering to all people. The joy of the season is all around us with light displays, gift buying, parties with all manner of celebrations. How much of this really matters if it does not recognize the reason for the season? I enter this season with head hung low in the realization the child whose birth we celebrate will grow up to be crucified on a cross for me, that I may be forgiven for my sins. It is only right that I honor the gift of His life and death for my sins by repenting of any sins in my life. No present under the tree means as much to me. How do you view the Christmas season?

I am not sure the image where the image I am sharing with you is from but I thought it was a cute love image. Enjoy!

Copic colors:  

The Girl: Clothing -YR24, R30 - Hair - E35

The Boy: Clothing B45, B28, B32, E39 - Hair - E35

Mail Box: W2, 100, R29, E87, Wink of Stella Silver

Grass & Vines: G14, G17, R81, Y08

That is it for this post. Snow is on the way. It is not looked forward to since it means shoveling. Stay safe wherever you are and have a happy holiday. Remember to always "Love The Details".

Solitude

 

Solitude is strength; to depend on the presence of the crowd is weakness. The man who needs a mob to nerve him is much more alone than he imagines. Paul Brunton
Read more at https://www.brainyquote.com

I must admit that I am not a person who enjoys crowds of any kind. Solitude is a place of quiet meditation, a place of healing. It is the place Jesus sought at the end of each day to renew his bond with His father in heaven. (Mk 1:35) It is a place where strength can be found to settle the soul, to gain insight into the place we occupy in this life. It is a place where we can put aside the business and strife of everyday life and find peace outside those places that distract us from what is important. Solitude provides a place where the state of mind can go from chaotic to peaceful and serene. Solitude should not be feared but embraced as a place for the soul to renew it's contact with Yahweh. My DW has often said of me that I would have made a good Monk. It is not denied that solitude has been and is important to me. It has been the one place that is a calm and peaceful refuge in a world that is not. It is often the place that these posts are created and refined. It is not a place to hide from reality but to stop and reflect on what is the true reality. The pace at which we live does not always provide the luxury of peace and quiet. It is often required of us to find that place where we can just stop, shut out the world, be still and listen in the silence of solitude. I often put ear plugs in to shut out the noise. There are many places in scripture where Jesus sought solitude to pray. (Mk 14:22-25, Mk 6:45-46, Lk 5:16, Lk22:41, Jn 22:41 from the New Jerusalem Bible) I am in good company. 

Today I would like to share a house mouse image. 

Copic Colors:  V0000, RV00, R43, Y23, Y28, BG11, BG18, E41, E43, E50, E71, E84

That is it for this post. Please stay safe, wear your masks and social distance. More and more people around us are falling victim to COVID. I get increasing numbers of prayer requests for it. Don't become a statistic. Thank you for stopping by and leaving a comment. God bless. Remember to always "Love The Details." 

Time

Lost - yesterday, somewhere between sunrise and sunset, two golden hours, each set with sixty diamond minutes. No reward is offered, for they are gone forever. Horace Mann
Read more at https://www.brainyquote.com

Time has been given many meanings. Our version of it is a very narrow way of seeing it. By Einstein's definition; "Time and space are one". If you stop and think about that it is mind boggling. Time and space can be warped by gravity to the point that not even light can escape. Has time ceased to be? As we travel faster and faster time begins to slow down. As we travel faster and faster, we age slower. Yet the progression of our lives never stops to rest but moves on relentlessly. History is not something we can bring back to do over but we will repeat it sometime in the future. All of the above are facts of time. It is what governs us in this life. What of the life after we pass to the next life, our spiritual life? No one  knows? Do you even believe in the spiritual world? (John 6:51) Spiritual life according to scripture is real. (John 14:2-3) Why else would the Lord prepare a place for us where he is? Time there does not exist. It is forever. Treasure the moments, hours and days of your existence. Your passage through this life is but once. Set your course toward the Lord for the place He readies for us is an eternal one. 

Today I would like to share a precious face with gorgeous eyes in a photograph by Sophia Adonopoulou that I found on Pinterest. Those eyes are beautiful and irresistible. This will be the last image for awhile.     

Copic Colors

Eyes: rv000, E42, E30

Lips : E95

Hair: E30

Sjin: E00, Eooo, E0000, RV0000

Flower: YG91, G20

This concludes my post for today. Thank You for stopping by and thank you if you left a comment. Your thoughts and comments are much appreciated. Remember to always "Love The Details". Stay happy, healthy and may you be blessed.