Hope In The Darkness

     I am sitting outside with my laptop trying to write about the life we try to live in the Lord our God. Given that since my last post we have experienced two destructive hurricanes and one of the worst terrorist tragedies in recent history, it would seem a difficult task. Add to that the many individuals we know and cherish who were affected by these events and the messege becomes difficult to come to grips with. The suffering and in some cases, the loss, creates a heaviness in our hearts that is hard to overcome. The natural disasters are hard enough to take but the recent event in Las Vegas is another matter. I find myself grieving for the loss of so many innocent lives. There is a disbelief of the total lack of compassion or restraint on the part of the shooter or total lack of conscience for the hundreds that have had their lives altered or destroyed. Even in the face of all of this there is a powerful example of what life is all about. Through each and every disaster and tragedy there come multitudes of tales of courage and selflessness. Stories of strangers helping stranger and some cases giving their life for another. In many cases there was no thought of what they were doing other than providing a need for another that was helpless. In some cases it was the selfless protection of another that cost them their lives. We are not talking about military people. These are ordinary citizens in most cases that were in the same danger as those they were helping. They ignored the danger to themselves and helped others. In the face of the evil of this world there are those that our Lord will touch, unbeknownst to the “heroes” being called forth, to react and step forward to be counted, not necessarily noticed. For every fenatic out there, if we look hard enough there will be many more that will be selfless when the need arises. It will never take away the pain or the horror but at least it gives hope that tomorrow can and will be better.
     In this broken world the only thing that can fix it is faith in Christ Jesus. To hope that man will find the morals, the sanity to overcome what has become a world of hate and irresponsibility is fantasy without God in the mix. Rhetoric is so much lip service in this day and age. Without Christ and God there is nothing but chaos and death. I pray that the Lord return to our lives and bring sanity and peace to this country and the world. Unity, understanding, forgiveness, compassion, love and an eye to someone other than ourselves are His way. It should be our way as well. May the good Lord bless and keep you all safe. May He bless you, forever holding you in His loving hands. Amen, Amen and Amen.

      Hopefully the next post will be more joyous. Until then here are two more cards. Both are from Em Fairley. They are late in being acknowledged. I hope You like both of these cards as much as I do. 

      

They are Gorgeous. The first is a birthday card. You know me well Em. Fabulous design. Can't express how much I love is card. Thank you.

This was for Jill and my 54th wedding anniversary. Jill and I love this card. I must be strange because I love lacy cards. These are special cards from a very special lady in our lives. Thank you.

     The Lord be with you all and keep you safe. Never forget to Love The Details. Until next post, God Bless.

The Human State

      Have you ever given any thought to what it means to be human? What is that really? Being human has been described in many ways some of which are good and some not so good. The full range of the human state is far too great to begin to explain in the space of this blog. It is questionable if a book or a library full of books could accomplish that feat. There are many libraries on this planet full of books explaining or trying to explain the human state and what it is to be human. If you could see my smile you would understand that there is another explanation coming.
     It is important to understand that what most people think of as our purpose on this planet is to live life to it's fullest, acquire all they can, love, procreate and be as happy as they can. That is the human vision of it all. To some degree that is part of the human condition and vision but it is only partly correct. First of all, it is not what we were created for. We were originally created as children of God and placed in a garden that provided all we could possibly want. Why? So God could have children to love and love Him back. What proof do I have of that? God so loves us He gave His only begotten Son that we may be forgiven our iniquities for all time. We have nothing God wants since all things are His to begin with. The human state is that we are born in darkness. The choice is ours to travel to the light of His love or remain in the darkness.
      A major portion of the travel toward the light is littered with dark spots impeding our progress. The dark spots are often the people who have chosen the material things they see as what makes them human. The original sin. Those material things are very tempting. That is not what we were created to pursue. The pleasure of what is finite is not the true human state. We were created to be an infinite creation but it is our choice to travel that path toward God. Our hearts are drawn to the light and the promise of eternal life. 

I would like to take a few moments to pray for all those who are affected by the hurricanes and earth quakes in the past weeks. May the good Lord be merciful and provide what is needed to recover from the destruction and loss. May He comfort and wrap His loving arms around those who lost loved ones in these tragedies. May those who have passed be granted entrance into Your house for eternity. Bless those giving of their time and money in response to those in need. Thank you Lord for hearing this prayer. AMEN and AMEN.

I have one card to share with you today (75th). Two of Jill and my friends, Kathie and Cheri had an early birthday party for me. Kat was going to be away this month and they wanted to be sure they celebrated it with us. It was a surprise to say the least.

This card is one created by Cheri and knowing the ladies it was a collaboration project. It is a step card. 

 
Here is the inside.

Very clever and very appreciated. Thank you both. You are both very special to both of us.

There are other cards to share but they will be spread  out over the next two posts. Until then be sure to pray for those affected by the hurricanes and earth quakes and remember to always Love The Details.

Healing and The Spirit

It takes move than a good looking body. You've got to have the heart and soul to go with it.
https://www.brainyquote.com/quotes/quotes/e/epictetus119454.html?src=t_health

     The above does not mean that what resides inside is not beautiful. What resides within is often far more beautiful that what is seen on the outside. 

     As many of you know, I am involved in a prayer ministry both on my own and with a prayer group. Prayers of all sorts go into my “One Day At A Time” prayer request book. It is a book acquired many years ago for the purpose of writing a journal. The title of it is apropos for the purpose it serves today. Once a name is entered into the book it is never canceled, erased, removed nor ignored. As long as I am able the book will be prayed over. As many of you have professed, problems never go away in this world. They are ever present and ongoing. This should tell you that being remembered in prayer should never be discarded. Prayer is lifted up each and every day for those in the book, It is rare that a day is missed or forgotten. The book even goes with me when we take a vacation. 
     Years ago someone said to me that if your body was not taken care of you could not go to heaven. Ridiculous! If that were the case then would heaven receive anyone? These bodies are conceived in a world that is passing away. They are part of it in every way. These bodies are also the place where the spirit that is us has come to reside. The spirit that is us will survive when the body returns to dust. I see it as a temporary dwelling much like an egg shell or cocoon where we can mature and grow to be what God intended us to be. The spirit should not be reliant on the container it is in but the container is reliant on the spirit within. We are spiritual beings in a mortal home to learn the will and ways of God in a way that will preserve that spirit eternally. (Psalm 42:1) Healing of the body is important for the mind but healing of the spirit is paramount to the life we live today and the life yet to come. Often when the spirit is healed the body is also healed. Sometimes it is the other way around but often both are involved. (Jn 7:37) We are passing through this dying world on our way to our spiritual eternal home. Growth of the spirit can bring peace in an embattled existence. Jesus is our example for that life. He has shown that the death of this body is not the end but the beginning. That does not mean taking your own life but living in the spirit until you are called home. This body can't go there but when the spirit arrives in the next life there will be a new, perfect body awaiting us. Do not let this world and this body discourage you from growing the spiritual person within. You are a spiritual being in a mortal body. 

The image I have chosen to share today is from Coloring for Adults. It was downloaded from Pinterest. I have searched for the image but cannot find it. Considering the shear volume of images on this site it is assumed to be there somewhere. At any rate, the face and hair are all I colored. A stunning image to say the least.             

Eyes: B0000  Skin: R0000  Hair: E42  Lips: R81

     The colors used were minimal but the results were anything but. I pray your days are bright, healthy and spirit filled. Remember to always Love The Details.

Walk With Me

Stress is standing at an unfamiliar 5 way cross road trying to decide which turn is the right one and which turn will get you lost when you only have enough gas to choose the correct turn. Should have brought that road map.


     Last post we dealt with stress. It would seem little can be done to come to grips with stress. Much has been written about it. Doctors have loads of patients trying to deal with it. Much research, many studies and many drugs are being produced to combat it. The research and studies may find ample causes for stress, most of which the person experiencing it already knows. The drugs prescribed for a cure are a lifetime thing that only push the problem aside without curing it.
     “Come! Take my hand. Walk with me and I will give you peace. Come walk with me. Rest in my presence and I will deliver you from your worry.” says the Lord our God. (Matthew 11:28-30) (Luke 1:79)(Romans 5:1)(Eph 2:14) The darkness is a curtain drawn before us to hide the truth of the Lord. Stress is the vehicle used to prevent us from opening the curtain. Jesus called His disciples to ‘come follow me’ and they dropped what they were doing and followed. They were blessed for having the Lord in the flesh to hear, see and touch. We are asked to do the same without that obvious advantage. It is a step of faith I know but, once made, not as big as one would expect. Taking the hand of Jesus is our choice to make. From there it is a Spiritual walk. Talking to the Lord and resting in His presence brings a peace like no other. Many of the worries and fears begin to dissipate and in many cases begin to have less meaning. Through walking in His presence the Word, the Bible, takes on a whole new meaning as you read it. It becomes the living word because now the Holy Spirit is opening your eyes in ways your soul can drink in, understand, grow. Where the Spirit of God dwells no negative can dwell. Walking hand in hand with Jesus has a calming effect through healing of the whole person. It is not necessarily a quick answer but rest assured, as you walk and trust in Him you will find peace. It is a far more complete peace than any other can provide.

My dear wife gave me a father’s day card that is special to me. She created a collie on the front. My first pet was a border collie. He was with us for several years before he contracted distemper and had to be put to sleep. He was and is special even today, even though that was back in the 50’s. 

     The next image is one gotten from the internet strictly for the purpose of coloring. I know it is a coloring for adults image but I don't remember where it is from.

     That is pretty much it for today. Thank you for stopping by and commenting. Your visits and comments a much appreciated. Remember to always Love The Details.

Stress

    Stress! It is an unwelcome part of our lives. It has the ability to dominate us. It can make us sick, bring on migraines, heart problems, distract us from our duties and generally be a health hazard. It can even cause death. For many years it was a factor in my life that caused many problems. The cause? Usually fear or uncertainty. Health, job security, family problems, death of loved ones or any number of things can cause stress. Everyone has faced stress at one time or other. Much of what we face in life is uncertain. Why is recognizing this so important? It always has to do with what we cannot see. It is not something we can pick up or touch, smell or see physically. It is the unknown.

    What does this have to do with faith? Let me ask you this? What is it in your life that causes stress for you. OK! How do you handle that part of your life? Does faith enter in as a solution? It should because we are told not to worry about our needs or concerns. (Matt 6:31) Christ is there with guidance and blessings to fill every need. (Mat 6:26) All too often we allow ourselves to be convinced that our freedom from these things is beyond a solution. That is exactly what our adversary would have you believe. The truth of the matter is we are free of such things through Christ, the Holy Spirit and YHWY, our father in heaven. Have faith in Christ and believe that His death has freed use from stress. Praise the Lord.

    

    I have some photos I would like to share with everyone. We had a storm roll through here several days ago. Shortly after the rain stopped, Jill came upstairs all excited and wanted me to check out back. I got up, went to our back window, came back to the office, grabbed my camera and went out back. This is what I captured.

    This and the next image are not as spectacular as the 'in person' double rainbow.

    It is only the second complete ground to ground double rainbow I have ever seen. It is the brightest by far. 

    It is also the only one that hinted at the existence above the red and below the violet bands that there were more bands. Actually there are that our eyes are unable to see. 

    This last image was taken as the rainbow faded. It serves to remind me of God's promises and that just because they seem not to be there, they are there forever. The faint second rainbow is a reminder that even greater things are promised. Faith is a powerful ally in our walk. Without it there is no hope. Believe and you shall be rewarded.

    It has been a blessing to have you stop by. Thank you for your comments and remember to always Love The Details.

Did You Know?

    It seems life is always throwing surprises our way. Sometimes that means we must stop and take notice. It may not mean much at the time but all things in the path of life change our lives. Put enough of those happenings in our life and the path we take is altered forever, right? Actually, even the first and most insignificant of those happenings has that effect on life. How aware are you of what is going on around you? How do you greet the day when you wake up in the morning? Do you greet the day with a smile or a frown? Have you considered that every day is one The Lord has made? It is you know! Rejoice and be glad in it for these are days of wonder and learning. All things work to teach us His ways and strengthen us for what will come next, no matter what it may be. 
    It is a huge struggle to accomplish this when things are not bright and festive. It all seems as though it is pointless or against the current. It is as if you are seeing only the ways of the world. This life would have you think all is hopeless and futile. Depressing thought but the reality is that the Lord has made this day and we should be rejoicing in it no matter what we face. When your eyes open or when your feet hit the floor you should be handing your life over to Him and proclaiming "This is a day the Lord has made and I will rejoice and be glad in it." You might be surprised with the results in the rest of your day.
    It is something I try to do each and every day. I still struggle sometimes as my body heals from last June's accident. The challenges that come up each day can seem very overwhelming. The Lord will provide for everything we need when He is kept first in our lives. He has made provision for us by His sacrifice. All we need do is rejoice in the day He has granted us and place ourselves in His hands. He wants us to know Him. A life time, in fact, an eternity is not enough time to know Him completely. The more you know of His love the more you strive to know. For now it is for us to rejoice and be glad for each day that is given us. When we do this He will reveal more of Himself to us.

                     

                                Psalm 95: 1-7

         1 Come, let us cry out with joy to Yahweh, 
         acclaim the rock of our salvation. 
         2 Let us come into his presence with thanksgiving, 
         acclaim him with music. 

         3 For Yahweh is a great God, 
         a king greater than all the gods. 
         4 In his power are the depths of the earth, 
         the peaks of the mountains are his; 
         5 the sea belongs to him, for he made it, 
         and the dry land, moulded by his hands. 

         6 Come, let us bow low and do reverence; 
         kneel before Yahweh who made us! 
         7 For he is our God, 
         and we the people of his sheepfold, 
         the flock of his hand. 
                 The New Jerusalem Bible. (1985). (Ps 95:1–7). New York: Doubleday.

    I recently received a card from Em. We share from time to time and she knew I was struggling physically and spiritually. I would like to say a very special Thank You for your support, kindness and understanding.     

    I would also like to share something that caught me very much off guard. While attending a local prayer meeting, a gentleman sitting in front of me turned, shook my hand and thanked me for my service. He then handed me a small plastic envelope explaining that he belonged to a group that recognizes veterans. (Sorry I do not remember the name of the group) The back of the envelope is shown below.

I sat dumbfounded but did remember to than k him several times. In the front of the envelope is a star from a flag that is embroidered, about 1.5 inches wide sitting on a backdrop of the stars and stripes. If I told you I felt honored it would be an understatement.

He told me they do this rather than burn the flags to honor those that serve. God Bless these folks. They will never know how much they touched me.

That is about it for now. Keep me in prayer. Thank you for stopping by and always remember to Love The Details.



      

Patience - In God's Will

It is a sad statement, seeing the hatred and self centered actions in the world today. There is much judgement and stony hearted behavior everywhere we look. There is more than enough the world over to make one wonder where we are headed. It certainly is anything but God's way. No wonder there is so much despair and stress in this world. What is the answer? Put the love of God back into everything we do. Hatred and all the things that come from it is not the way. The above statement is true in so many ways, there is not enough room to mention them all here. Sanity the world over appears to be absent. It is frightening to think of the consequences of a world gone mad. Friends against friends, brother against brother, allies against allies. Where will it all lead. To be honest, with the weapons available today, extinction comes to mind. Everyone wants their way no matter what the cost, no matter who is hurt, even at the cost of life whether innocent or not. Why? The lack of moral vision? A twisted sense of right and wrong? We all have needs and dreams that will be dashed at times. That is a fact of life. Nothing will be forever except for God's love for us.

So what is the solution? Given the fact that so many, both abroad and domestic, are so focused on hurting those that do not agree with them it is very evident that God is not their focus. Doing things outside of His will always lead to ultimate failure. That failure can be catastrophic. Letting go and letting God does not mean being silent or sitting still. It does mean being sure of what God wants then standing up and being heard. That does not include violence, terroristic or destructive actions. Those actions are born of other than love and are self destructive to any movement. It is born of hatred not love. Since God is love, it does not take a genius to realize where those actions originate. Following Jesus, surrendering to Him, allowing Him to set our direction, putting one foot in front of the other, living in peace and harmony with compassionate understanding is far more desirable than living in turmoil and strife created because others are not willing to live in His gentle shadow. The need to destroy is born of mankind and the need to control. That is not the way to happiness nor is it the way to peace and harmony. Where is your heart? Are you at peace? Think about where your heart is. 7 My dear friends, let us love one another, since love is from God and everyone who loves is a child of God and knows God. 8 Whoever fails to love does not know God, because God is love. 9 This is the revelation of God’s love for us, that God sent his only Son into the world that we might have life through him. 10 Love consists in this: it is not we who loved God, but God loved us and sent his Son to expiate our sins. 11 My dear friends, if God loved us so much, we too should love one another. 12 No one has ever seen God, but as long as we love one another God remains in us and his love comes to its perfection in us. 13 This is the proof that we remain in him and he in us, that he has given us a share in his Spirit.  The New Jerusalem Bible. (1985). (1 Jn 4:7–13). New York: Doubleday.

I have a card that my lovely wife made for me for Valentine's day. How appropriate for this post. Love you very much sweetheart. 

Sorry about the shadow in the image. It is the result of the layering of the image. This is a very special card. 

Thank you to those who have been supportive over the last few months. Jill and I have spent the better part of the beginning of this year sick with a flu that was pretty nasty. We were both down, me first and then Jill, for roughly three weeks each. That is about it for now. Remember to always Love The Details.

Being An Example

I walk in the way Jesus walked, even though I am a sinner, in hopes of reflecting the life He has changed within.

Last post was on becoming. To become a reflection of Christ when we are sinners is the process of becoming the word of God in spite of being sinners. Sounds impossible doesn't it?  Jesus was the only one who was without sin. It isn't hard once you realize all of the saints, in fact all of the holy people of the bible, were sinners. The difference was that each of them repented and went forward in the ways God was teaching them to go. How is that possible when "God does not talk to His people any longer". That is a fallacy! The problem is not with God or Christ but with us. We live in a world that is moving at break neck speed. There is little to no time given to pause and hear Him speak to us. We are taught from the time we are born to be on the go, to seek out everything this world can give us. The things of this world seldom reflect the kingdom of God. (Mark 10:17-31) If you are willing to stop, be still and listen for the voice of God, you will soon find He still speaks to those who seek Him. My favorite reminder is in 1 Kings 19:9-13. I try to practice this every day, especially on my walks. Find a private place free of distractions. STOP! BE STILL in mind and spirit. Talk to Him as you would someone standing next to you. With some practice you will find He is always talking to you. It is very often in a very quiet, soft voice. It has the power to change your very appearance, to make you visibly different from the world. Everyone is different. He is always present no matter the state we are in. Imitate Him and follow His ways. Others will take note of the change in you. Of that you can be sure.

This brings up a very interesting thought. It is hard to see ones self as a saint but by striving to be an example of Christ you are also becoming saint like. Remember that the saints were sinners too. They just worked hard at what our Lord chose for them to do. They surrendered to His will. As they surrendered their life changed in ways that became an example of His life. Still think you are not noticed when you imitate Christ? People do notice when someone becomes "different" in a good way. That is a very interesting way of looking at being an example.

Last weekend I got a very special surprise after finishing shoveling snow off my front walk. I heard a bird call not heard in my neighborhood before. I looked around and sitting high in the pine tree two houses down was a very wet
visitor. It was cloudy, damp and dreary day but there sad an adult Bald Eagle. The pictures are a tad fuzzy due to the weather and full telephoto. Enjoy!

Neither my neighbor that was helping to clear my sidewalk nor I saw it land there. It was obviously aware of us though.
We both went and got our cameras to record the event. It was a surprise that the Eagle stayed as long as it did.

I managed to get many pictures from both my back and side yard. It was in the tree for more than a half hour. In fact I don't know how long it visited. Here are a few more pics.

Like an owl they can rotate their heads at least 180 degrees. Amazing.

Magnificent birds. As you can tell this one is soaked from the rain and snow mix. I am sure it was taking a break from its migration.

Than you for visiting. May the good Lord bless and keep you always safe and healthy. May you Christmas be more than you expect and your New Year be the best ever. Remember to always Love The Details.

Becoming

Today is a new day, a chance to live as Christ lived so that we may grow into what we were meant to be.

I have been looking at the life of Christ and how He lived in Israel. Not from a Christian point of view but from the view of his people, the Israelites. How?  The language and conditions under which he lived. I some ways it changes one's perspective not to mention understanding. The original language is difficult to translate into Greek let alone English. Many of the Hebrew words have no counter part in either language. They are not translatable without lengthy expositions. It amazes me that the bible scholars managed to do what they did as accurately as they did. Still there are things that I wanted to understand that seemed unfinished or unspoken. Crazy? Maybe! Since I neither speak nor understand Hebrew, ancient Hebrew, it poses a problem. Research is what was needed to understand the root words and phrases Jesus would have been familiar with and used. The result is a fuller understanding and appreciation of His daily life and the things He taught. That is a revelation on what He wants us to become, at least to me. Becoming as He is, that is right, IS, means allowing Him to become us. When He died on the cross for us and we accept his gift of salvation, we are forgiven for past, present and future sins so long as we believe in Him and allow Him into our lives. "You are healed. Go and sin no more," were often his words. Imagine that. A love so great that instant forgiveness is possible. Those words are relevant even today.
     It is true that it is difficult to grasp those words without His physical body for us to see and touch. It is possible to touch Him spiritually. He does come to us and touch us daily in our walk with him. We are not always aware of His presence but He is there. When it seems He is far from us, it is not he that moved but us. We are never abandoned. The miracle of healing is often very subtle to the point of not being noticed. This is often the one that is experienced. It may be in retrospect that it will be seen. That does not make it any less a miracle. Every breath we take is a miracle. Every birth, first step, new experience, first love, waking moment or anything else you might name is a miracle. It all contributes to drawing closer to Him to become the "I am" we were meant to be. 

I have a card that Em from creative EM sent last Easter. Jill had it all this time so I am sure it was never posted. Thanks and God bless you Em.

     Thank you for stopping by and leaving a comment. May the good Lord keep you safe and well. Remember to always Love The Details. God Bless. 
             

               

Let go! Open up!

Begin to be now what you will be hereafter. 
William James
Read more at: http://www.brainyquote.com/quotes_of_the_day.html

This past few months have been mind numbing. The inner hunger for spiritual enlightenment is unreal. It seems there has been a spiritual dam burst and it has caused an overload. There are times in our lives when choices are presented to us. Those choices are crossroads that allow us to stay where we are or move on. The right choice may mean staying in the shallows or moving out into the deep end. Until the choice is made there is no way of knowing which it will be. Facing life ending or changing choices is one of those places. The decision to place yourself in the hands of the Lord, to accept whatever it is He has for you, is life changing. Why? At that point you are open, without pretense, without barriers, without defenses or excuses. You are prostrate, face down in the dirt and vulnerable. Is this where the Lord wants you to be? At times! It is the place of total and complete acceptance. It does not matter how intelligent you are, what your education is, how much knowledge you have or how rich your are. It does not matter if you are wildly popular with a plethora of friends, alone and forgotten, happy or sad. At the moment of complete abandonment to Christ He pours more into you than can be absorbed in a lifetime of experiences or study. You will never finish understanding it all. Amazingly, it does not matter since He will guide you on your way. He will give you what you need as you need it. It is His understanding living in us and moving through us that is what is important. All that is needed is the willingness to remain open and to be willing to move forward. Open yourself to His Spirit to find life and peace in all you do. There are many surprises for those that allow Him to become one with them. 

I have a card to share with you today. This card came at just the perfect time, right after getting the news that my only living aunt had passed away. Though the card was for support for the accident the uplift was immediate.

The cards from Maria F (rieslingmama). Hugs back to you Maria. Your card is beautiful.

OOPS: I missed these die cuts Maria sent me on the original Post. Sorry Maria and thank you again.

Now to share a bit of the fall color from one of my walks.

  A hiking trail through one of the local developments.

 Just a few of the neighborhood beauties.

That's it for now. Thank you for the support and understanding. I am already preparing a new post but it will still be a week or two before it is done. God bless you all and remember to always Love The Details.