Good memories....bad memories....

Good memories...bad memories...

I like to take photos.  I then download them to my computer, clean them up,  crop, whatever needs to be done, until I like them better...the other day, I downloaded a variety file, worked them over until I was ready to share.  Ones that were unduplicatable, a male quail sitting on my basalt water bath right outside my window, a flicker in juniper tree digging for hidden food, a hill of flowers in the sunlight ......then with a click of a wrong button, they were gone.......memories only in my mind....not retrievable ....

Just as in life.....there are some memories that are only in our minds,   Good ones that shower their blessing on on us over the years, details which we may forget or not, emotions that are charged , smells that bring a memory..

Then there are the ones I  wish i could forget....books that I wish I hadn't read, movies I wish I hadn't seen,  shows I wish I hadn't watched...situations i wished i hadn't endured...scenes of life that will be forever etched in my mind.....

We cannot help with one...except in our choices...for some memories we could have made better choices at the start....for others, they are have become part of our life experiences.  They color our life with good or bad....we can move on and use them  as stepping stones or be held by them as a wall holds us back...

Thank you for the memories....the good and the bad...the experiences ....the good and the bad......they make up who I am, what I have done....they are a part of me....help them each to glorify You In some way......

Deuteronomy 4:9

Only be careful, and watch yourselves closely so that you do not forget the things your eyes have seen or let them fade from your heart as long as you live. Teach them to your children and to their children after them.

Psalm 9:18

But God will never forget the needy; the hope of the afflicted will never perish.

Psalm 45:17

I will perpetuate your memory through all generations; therefore the nations will praise you for ever and ever.

Isaiah 43:18

“Forget the former things; do not dwell on the past.

Matthew 26:13

Truly I tell you, wherever this gospel is preached throughout the world, what she has done will also be told, in memory of her.”

2 Peter 1:13

I think it is right to refresh your memory as long as I live in the tent of this body,

Habakkuk 1:13a

Your eyes are too pure to look on evil; you cannot tolerate wrongdoing. 

2 Corinthians 10:5

We demolish arguments and every pretension that sets itself up against the knowledge of God, and we take captive every thought to make it obedient to Christ.

Hebrews 13:16

And do not forget to do good and to share with others, for with such sacrifices God is pleased.

I have listened to this song over the years....I didn't see the movie....just the song....  It says a lot,  simply......of memories .......

"The Way We Were"

Mem'ries,

Light the corners of my mind

Misty water-colored memories

Of the way we were

Scattered pictures,

Of the smiles we left behind

Smiles we gave to one another

For the way we were

Can it be that it was all so simple then?

Or has time re-written every line?

If we had the chance to do it all again

Tell me, would we? Could we?

Mem'ries, may be beautiful and ye

What's too painful to remember

We simply choose to forget

So it's the laughter

We will remember

Whenever we remember...

The way we were...

The way we were...

Peace in the middle of growth....

Peace in the middle of growth

Acts 9:31

New International Version (NIV)

31 Then the church throughout Judea, Galilee and Samaria enjoyed a time of peace and was strengthened. Living in the fear of the Lord and encouraged by the Holy Spirit, it increased in numbers.

I found this verse one day....and kept it written down....the book of Acts is a book of action...all the way through.....there is movement by God, world leaders, church leaders, people, the church, the Jews,persecution...truth, voyages, storms ...God moving in lives.....but here is a period of peace in that movement, before the lives of Christians were literally put on the chopping block...

How the peace must felt....growth...through it all.

Sometimes our lives are so hectic, movement, constant movement...that  that time of peace is a blessed  thing. A calmness that our hearts need, our bodies need...for strengthening our minds, souls..."a time of peace....encouragement,   Growth...."

My picture in my mind for this  is a very stormy sea, but deep ,,deep down there is no turbulence , peacefulness even in the storm....there may be tears, even dread, but a deep abiding peace ....in the midst of growth..., action....

I have to ask myself, InThe midst of turbulence, unrest, busyness, despair, am I clinging to that peace, that growth,     To move forward in life,  learning , growing in peace...encouraged by the Holy Spirit?.....

Psalm 4:8

In peace I will lie down and sleep, for you alone, Lord, make me dwell in safety.

Proverbs 14:30a

A heart at peace gives life to the body, .....

Isaiah 26:3

You will keep in perfect peace those whose minds are steadfast, because they trust in you.

Isaiah 26:12

Lord, you establish peace for us; all that we have accomplished you have done for us.

Isaiah 27:5

Or else let them come to me for refuge; let them make peace with me, yes, let them make peace with me.”

Isaiah 32:17

The fruit of that righteousness will be peace; its effect will be quietness and confidence forever.

Isaiah 32:18

My people will live in peaceful dwelling places, in secure homes, in undisturbed places of rest.

Music for the soul....

Music for the soul....

Psalm 108:1

 My heart, O God, is steadfast; I will sing and make music with all my soul...

 God gave me the idea of downloading music on my iPad  and taking it with me when I visit with my dad. So I downloaded old songs that my parents had when I was little and that my dad enjoyed, .....my first remembrances of music.... 

Sons of the pioneers , Patti page, Marti Robbins ..etc....was soothing for him...I think...at least he endured it, not wanting me to stop the songs until  they  were finished. "Red river valley", "Tennessee waltz", "how much is that doggie in the window", "somebody bigger that you and I"......

I have been raised with music all my life, country, classical, contemporary, movie musicals, concerts, etc as my dad was a cowboy and my mother was a music major and teacher.  We also owned a music store at one times. My first "job" was catalog updates for music in this huge ledger that received update pages every week.  $.01 per page...as well as alphabetizing all the sheet music that came in.

Church music was  and is also a very big part our Lives. It speaks to my soul....it has all my life and continues to do so....certain songs evoke certain emotions, memories....praise....

there are whole books of music in the Bible, musicians for worship, and music is mentioned from the beginning to the end.....there is an importance here....one part of worship for all of eternity...

2 Chronicles 5:13

The trumpeters and musicians joined in unison to give praise and thanks to the Lord. Accompanied by trumpets, cymbals and other instruments, the singers raised their voices in praise to the Lord and sang: “He is good; his love endures forever.” Then the temple of the Lord was filled with the cloud,

Psalm 27:6

Then my head will be exalted above the enemies who surround me; at his sacred tent I will sacrifice with shouts of joy; I will sing and make music to the Lord.

Psalm 57:7

My heart, O God, is steadfast, my heart is steadfast; I will sing and make music.

Psalm 95:2

Let us come before him with thanksgiving and extol him with music and song.

Psalm 98:4

Shout for joy to the Lord, all the earth, burst into jubilant song with music;

Psalm 98:5

make music to the Lord with the harp, with the harp and the sound of singing,

Ephesians 5:19

speaking to one another with psalms, hymns, and songs from the Spirit. Sing and make music from your heart to the Lord,

Griefshare Day 306 - Making Music unto God

Every person walks to the rhythm of different tunes. The music of your life can be a source of praise to God.

“It is good to praise the Lord and make music to your name, O Most High” (Psalm 92:1).

You may be a singer, a hummer, an instrumentalist, a dancer, or an avid listener. God made you musically unique.

“Let them praise his name with dancing and make music to him with tambourine and harp” (Psalm 149:3).

“Sing joyfully to the Lord, you righteous; it is fitting for the upright to praise him” (Psalm 33:1).

Put on some praise music or take an early-morning walk and sing with the birds! Do this again and again and experience healing through music.

“Worship the Lord with gladness; come before him with joyful songs” (Psalm 100:2).

Lord, I sing my own song to You today. I will sing to You when I rise up in the morning, as I go about my day, and when I retire at night. Jesus, keep this song in my heart and change my life. Amen.

The hardy dandelion.....

The hardy dandelion ......

Definition of PERSEVERANCE

: continued effort to do or achieve something despite difficulties, failure, or opposition, obstacles or discouragement..

I was walking one very wintery day, probably about 10 degrees outside ...I was down, down , wondering what I should be doing, going through painful teen years again....the fields were brown with winter brown,,  everything seemed drab...gray....colorless...the sky was clpudy, cold, snow-leaden....    when I came upon a dandelion...

 It was struggling in the frozen ground, but the bright yellow flowers were blooming right there in all that drabness, frozenness .....like a ray of sunshine through the day...it was like God was saying , we can still shine in the grayness, drabness, hardness of life....BLOOM,,,,don't give into the gloom...it sure brightened my day....life didn't get any easier, but I knew that perseverance would pay off at some point. ....Some time...

There are times when we just have to push through the pain....the trials...the uneasy....to get to the other side...to see the sunshine, to see the finishing line....to see the rest....persevere...

Thank you , Lord,, for your pictures to us ...

1 Corinthians 13:7

It ( love) always protects, always trusts, always hopes, always perseveres.

1 Timothy 4:16

Watch your life and doctrine closely. Persevere in them, because if you do, you will save both yourself and your hearers.

Hebrews 10:36

You need to persevere so that when you have done the will of God, you will receive what he has promised.

Hebrews 11:27

By faith he left Egypt, not fearing the king’s anger; he persevered because he saw him who is invisible.

James 1:12

Blessed is the one who perseveres under trial because, having stood the test, that person will receive the crown of life that the Lord has promised to those who love him.

James 5:11

As you know, we count as blessed those who have persevered. You have heard of Job’s perseverance and have seen what the Lord finally brought about. The Lord is full of compassion and mercy.

Revelation 2:3

You have persevered and have endured hardships for my name, and have not grown weary.

The quilt....

The quilt.....

Several years ago, when my grandmother passed away , I inherited her unfinished quilt pieces.  She had several finished squares as well as piles of  small pieces to be appliquéd on larger ones, but not the in-between colors   or backing for either the smaller pieces or the whole thing. It was the "granny Dresden plate" pattern....lots of color, pieces....

Now, if you are into color palettes , there is a theory or whatever that each of us is a different  "season" of color: spring. Winter, fall, or summer... We are most comfortable In our own color palette.  We like to wear those colors, live in those colors and work in those colors which fit our "season".  I happen to be a toned down fall, not the brilliant oranges and gold, but more subdued oranges and golds...

This quilt was all primary colors,  pure blues, reds, yellows, greens....I fought with the colors mentally and had a hard time working with them, trying to change the borders into my subdued ones.....to the verge of tears....it didn't work...I had to revert to the primary colors to finish the quilt to be "right" with the original intent.....and it turned out wonderful, just not "me".

At the same time in my life, one of my children was going through teen growing mental and physical growing pains.  We were at odds,   I realized one day, while working on the quilt,  that I was trying to turn this teenager into another "me" and not accepting her for who she was meant to be ....she had her own "color palette" as it were...

It was so profound, I remember sitting at the sewing machine,  crying over the quilt and this precious person both of which I was trying to fit into my mold of what and who I thought they should be ....when all the time they were to be something else, beautiful in their own right...

John 13:34

“A new command I give you: Love one another. As I have loved you, so you must love one another.

Romans 12:10

Be devoted to one another in love. Honor one another above yourselves.

Romans 12:16

Live in harmony with one another. Do not be proud, but be willing to associate with people of low position. Do not be conceited.

Romans 15:7

Accept one another, then, just as Christ accepted you, in order to bring praise to God.

1 Corinthians 7:7

I wish that all of you were as I am. But each of you has your own gift from God; one has this gift, another has that.

1 Corinthians  12:27 Now you are the body of Christ, and each one of you is a part of it. 

2 Corinthians 13:11

Finally, brothers and sisters, rejoice! Strive for full restoration, encourage one another, be of one mind, live in peace. And the God of love and peace will be with you.

Galatians 5:13

[ Life by the Spirit ] You, my brothers and sisters, were called to be free. But do not use your freedom to indulge the flesh; rather, serve one another humbly in love.

Ephesians 4:2

Be completely humble and gentle; be patient, bearing with one another in love.

Ephesians 4:32

Be kind and compassionate to one another, forgiving each other, just as in Christ God forgave you.

Philippians 2:5

In your relationships with one another, have the same mindset as Christ Jesus:

Colossians 3:13

Bear with each other and forgive one another if any of you has a grievance against someone. Forgive as the Lord forgave you.

Colossians 3:16

Let the message of Christ dwell among you richly as you teach and admonish one another with all wisdom through psalms, hymns, and songs from the Spirit, singing to God with gratitude in your hearts.

 

..

Cloning....

Cloning.....

Several years ago, there was news of cloning sheep and other animals,,,Dolly, the  sheep was cloned from another sheep So that they were identical, had identical characteristics.  Then the concern was cloning people for whatever reason ..  You never give them the same life experiences which can be so much a part of our makeup as a person...

As I watch my dad, I wonder how much am I like him.......we both sleep the same on our sides.  My hair looks like his in the morning-woody woodpecker style, same color and texture,some of our mannerisms are the same...

I know I have made some decisions in my life not to be like my parents, and to be me personally..and others to carry on like them...

We have had similar experiences and some Very different ones which make us unique In our  outlook on life, the way we live..the way we interact, the way we hope, and think...but the genes are still there, strong in many ways....

Matthew 13:43

Then the righteous will shine like the sun in the kingdom of their Father. Whoever has ears, let them hear.

Matthew 7:24Therefore everyone who hears these words of mine and puts them into practice is like a wise man who built his house on the rock...

Matthew 10:25a

It is enough for students to be like their teachers, and servants like their masters.....

Luke 6:40

The student is not above the teacher, but everyone who is fully trained will be like their teacher.

Ephesians 4:24

and to put on the new self, created to be like God in true righteousness and holiness.

Philippians 2:2

then make my joy complete by being like-minded, having the same love, being one in spirit and of one mind.

1 Peter 3:8

Finally, all of you, be like-minded, be sympathetic, love one another, be compassionate and humble.

1 John 4:17

This is how love is made complete among us so that we will have confidence on the day of judgment: In this world we are like Jesus.

I love my father.....but, i want to follow Jesus....

Boundaries.....

Boundaries......

I realized the other day, that I have no " quiet place" except in bed early in the morning anymore..I was doing paperwork all day, all hours, phone ringing, all day all hours.....I was in the office all day all hours ....when I came home, it was the office , a work place all the time...not my home.....I wasn't taking time to relax or play,,,it was all business , responsibilities, form one project to another, one set of forms to another, one email to another, one phone call to another...bank statements, lawyers, accountants, .....no down time....which led to tension, sleeplessness. ......

I don't do crafts, read very little, everything has a purpose, a to do list...no sit down time, veg out time, it is go, go, go, very little laughter, fun...no photography, ....joy time.....even the dog was on the to do list-make sure I walk him......

Little---be still, and know that I am God.....time....

I  need to set some boundaries with my time, home, the phone, the business, fun....summer is disappearing .....time is disappearing....and  there will just be another to do list...checked off...

help me, Lord, to find that balance, joy , in separating out the times, to make the best use of time, space, 

To take time to enjoy life, people that You have put there....not to keep spiraling into more and more to do's, just for more to done's.....

Numbers 34

34 The Lord said to Moses, 2 “Command the Israelites and say to them: ‘When you enter Canaan, the land that will be allotted to you as an inheritance is to have these boundaries:

3 “‘Your southern side will include some of the Desert of Zin along the border of Edom. Your southern boundary will start in the east from the southern end of the Dead Sea, 4 cross south of Scorpion Pass, continue on to Zin and go south of Kadesh Barnea. Then it will go to Hazar Addar and over to Azmon, 5 where it will turn, join the Wadi of Egypt and end at the Mediterranean Sea.

6 “‘Your western boundary will be the coast of the Mediterranean Sea. This will be your boundary on the west.

7 “‘For your northern boundary, run a line from the Mediterranean Sea to Mount Hor 8 and from Mount Hor to Lebo Hamath. Then the boundary will go to Zedad, 9 continue to Ziphron and end at Hazar Enan. This will be your boundary on the north.

10 “‘For your eastern boundary, run a line from Hazar Enan to Shepham. 11 The boundary will go down from Shepham to Riblah on the east side of Ain and continue along the slopes east of the Sea of Galilee.[a] 12 Then the boundary will go down along the Jordan and end at the Dead Sea.

“‘This will be your land, with its boundaries on every side.’”

Psalm 74:17

It was you who set all the boundaries of the earth; you made both summer and winter.

Micah 7:11

The day for building your walls will come, the day for extending your boundaries.

 Acts 17:26

From one man he made all the nations, that they should inhabit the whole earth; and he marked out their appointed times in history and the boundaries of their lands.