JOY

Thursday, July 14, 2011

Laugh

Do not conform to the pattern of this world, but be transformed by the renewing of your mind.

Romans 12:2

Sophie's version:

"Do not be deformed to the pattern of the world"

(minus all the "r's")

Wednesday, July 13, 2011

Gifts

Have you read

"one thousand gifts" by Ann Voskamp yet?

You won't regret delving into this thought provoking book.

Want a taste of what's inside?

"How I want to see the weight of glory break my thick scales,

the weight of glory smash the chains of desperate materialism,

split the numbing shell of deadening entertainment,

bust up the ice of catatonic hearts.

I want to see God,

who pulls on the coat of my skin and doesn't leave me

alone in this withering body of mortality.

I want to see God,

who gives gifts in hospitals and gravesides

and homeless shelters and refugee camps and in rain falling on sunflowers

and stars falling over hayfields

and silver scales glinting upriver

and sewage flowing downriver.

Eucharisteo (to be grateful, to give thanks) is everywhere

and I want to see eucharisteo everywhere and

I want to remember how badly

I really want to see."

"All beauty is only reflection."

"And whether I'm conscious of it or not,

any created thing of which I am amazed,

it is the glimpse of His face to which I bow down.

Do I have eyes to see it's Him and not the thing?

Satan came in the scales that gleamed,

a thing of beauty,

and he lured the first woman and she was deceived.

Do I have eyes to see His face in all things so I'm not merely dazzled

by the trinket,

glitzy bauble dangling for the ogling,

till it flakes and breaks

and I strain for more to lie prostate before?"

You will NOT be disappointed.

Have a blessed day!!

Sunday, July 10, 2011

BeSt

“The happiest people

don’t have the best of everything,

they just

make the best of everything.”

Friday, July 8, 2011

Still I Will Praise

This link will lead you to a courageous yet heartbreaking journey

of a woman battling the final stages of breast cancer.

Even in the valley of the shadow of death

she still praises God.

NEVER LET GO

Even though I walk through the valley of the shadow of death
Your perfect love is casting out fear
And even when I'm caught in the middle of the storms of this life
I won't turn back
I know you are near

And I will fear no evil
For my God is with me
And if my God is with me
Whom then shall I fear?
Whom then shall I fear?

(Chorus:)
Oh no, You never let go
Through the calm and through the storm
Oh no, You never let go
In every high and every low
Oh no, You never let go
Lord, You never let go of me

And I can see a light that is coming for the heart that holds on
A glorious light beyond all compare
And there will be an end to these troubles
But until that day comes
We'll live to know You here on the earth

(Chorus)

Yes, I can see a light that is coming for the heart that holds on
And there will be an end to these troubles
But until that day comes
Still I will praise You, still I will praise You

Christian lyrics - YOU NEVER LET GO LYRICS - MATT REDMAN

Saturday, July 2, 2011

You were RIGHT

For those of you who guessed praying mantis...

Right on!

By any name, these fascinating insects are formidable predators. They have triangular heads poised on a long "neck," or elongated thorax. Mantids can turn their heads 180 degrees to scan their surroundings with two large compound eyes and three other simple eyes located between them.

They use their front legs to snare their prey with reflexes so quick that they are difficult to see with the naked eye. Their legs are further equipped with spikes for snaring prey and pinning it in place.

(National Geographic facts)