As for us, we will walk

In the name of the Lord our God forever and ever.

Micah 3:9

He who dwells in the shelter of the Most High,

Will abide in the shadow of the Almighty.

Psalm 91:1

If I remain for a time in a position of being covered and protected by God, the Most High, then, I will continue in the place of His reflected image. Just my own late night attempt at paraphrasing. I started out my day memorizing and repeating this verse in my head, over and over. So, I guess it's right that I end my day thinking on the same words. I looked up the definitions of the words in Webster's, trying to find a way of making them more clear, more alive.

I like this one too.

I will lie down and sleep in peace,

for you alone, O LORD, make me dwell in safety.

Psalm 4:8

Goodnight All!

new growth

One of the perks of not working full time at the moment, is I have ttttiiiiimmmmeeee to read and reflect that I didn't always have before. In reading the post about pruning on The Master's Artist blog, I remembered my old rose bush that I trimmed way back earlier in the spring. It was here when we moved into this house a little over 10 years ago. It had grown to be as tall as the house itself and was looking very woody and dead in some places. So, I trimmed it back, as far as my clippers would allow and sort of forgot about it since it's towards the back, on the side of my house.

*

The amazing thing about it is, new green growth is growing out of what looked to be dead, and the roses are a bright pink color instead of the deep, dark red they were before! Even they are expressing the newness of new life.

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Maybe that's what I'm experiencing in this in between time. Maybe this is a time to be open to newness, new color, new growth, new ideas. . . For some reason, worry about money hasn't hit me yet. I'm just more aware of God being in the details, details I see in the beauty of creation around me, details in creating and accepting what I have been given to create, and the joy in all of that. I think it's a kind of healing for me. I can certainly use all of that I can get!

*

Well, my dogs can't decide whether to play or take a nap. I think they've decided on the nap. I just put my tea bags in for some fresh brewed iced tea for today, my daughter's still asleep, my son's not home yet from his sleepover, I've emptied the dishwasher, and I'm soaking up the quietness of the morning. Love to you all.

No Fear in Love

There is no fear in love,

but perfect love casts out fear.

1 John 4:18

God is love. When we take up permanent residence in a life of love, we live in God and God lives in us. This way, love has the run of the house, becomes at home and mature in us, so that we're free of worry on Judgment Day—our standing in the world is identical with Christ's. There is no room in love for fear. Well-formed love banishes fear. Since fear is crippling, a fearful life—fear of death, fear of judgment—is one not yet fully formed in love.
We, though, are going to love—love and be loved. First we were loved, now we love. He loved us first.

1 John 4:17-19

Do everything in love.

1 Corinthians 16:14

So, it occurrs to me, that if I am living my days in the presence of God, who is love, that my fears will diminish, and love will increase. I'm reading a book by Jan Karon called " Home to Holly Springs". It fills me with the sense that God is in the details of my life. If that is true, then the details take on new meaning. I have tended to skip over the details, because the big picture is what matters. However, the big picture is made up of all of the details. If I take care of the details, then the big picture will take care of itself. (I think). I guess what I'm trying to say, is that I'm learning to trust that God will help me with the details that I'm afraid of, and if He cares about the details, then they aren't so overwhelming to me. The big picture is too big for me to take care of, anyway. I think I'll trust Him with that. Jan Karon's books are precious. Her characters often refer to "praying the prayer that never fails". And that is my prayer today, for your day and mine.

Sing Out Loud

"It is the greatest of all mistakes to do nothing because you can do only a little. Do what you can."

***

Anyway

* * *

You can spend your whole life buildin'

Somethin' from nothin'

One storm can come and blow it all away

Build it anyway

*

You can chase a dream

That seems so out of reach

And you know it might not ever come your way

Dream it anyway

*

God is great, but sometimes life ain't good

When I pray it doesn't always turn out like I think it should

But I do it anywayI do it anyway

*

This world's gone crazy and it's hard to believe

That tomorrow will be better than today

Believe it anyway

You can love someone with all your heart

For all the right reasons

And in a moment they can choose to walk away

Love 'em anyway

*

(Repeat Chorus)

You can pour your soul out singin'

A song you believe in

That tomorrow they'll forget you ever sang

Sing it anyway

Yeah sing it anyway

*

I sing

I dream

I love anyway

*

Martina McBride/Brad Warren/Brett Warren

*Sydney Smith

To Know This Love

I pray that out of his glorious riches he may strengthen you with power through his Spirit in your inner being, so that Christ may dwell in your hearts through faith.And I pray that you, being rooted and established in love, may have power, together with all the saints, to grasp how wide and long and high and deep is the love of Christ, and to know this love that surpasses knowledge—that you may be filled to the measure of all the fullness of God.

Now to him who is able to do immeasurably more than all we ask or imagine, according to his power that is at work within us, to him be glory in the church and in Christ Jesus throughout all generations, for ever and ever!

Ephesians 3:16-21

This is my prayer for you today!~and for me, for all of us!

Do Re Mi

This video is so much fun. I just found it on facebook. Maybe you've already seen it, but if not I hope you enjoy it! It made me smile :)

Sunshine on My Shoulders

There are songs that are so woven into our memories and days that they become a part of us. This is one of those songs. Written in the early 1970's, it was one that I learned to play on my acoustic Yamaha guitar. (I even had a dream once that I married John Denver).

I'm enjoying a quiet, peaceful afternoon. Mowing my yard, thinking back over this past week, planning my flower beds in my mind, thanking God for His wonderful blessings, of sitting beside my daughter in church this morning, taking communion, of friends and fellowship, and knowing that my God is greater than can be imagined.

The sunshine is shining on my shoulders today as I work outside and I wish you the warmth of sunshine on your shoulders today, too!

Beauty is in the Eye of the Beholder

I love this subject for our new Brenda Photo Challenge hosted by Karen at Loved and Engraved. This has been a busy week, but I like the fact that God is reminding me to remember the beauty of what He is accomplishing around me.

This is a beautiful sight to all proud parents who only have

eyes for one of the 1200 high school graduates. My eyes were glued on the 19th row, 7th student in from the right side. Her expression says it all! The day finally arrived! Yeah!

My amazing 12 year old son graduated from 6th grade and my wonderful parents were able to be here to share the excitement of both graduations and the beauty of new beginnings and looking to the future!

"I know what I'm doing. I have it all planned out—plans to take care of you, not abandon you, plans to give you the future you hope for."

Jeremiah 29:11

Seek Him

Seek the Lord and His strength,

Seek His face continually.

Psalm 105:4