"While You Were Gone..."

...we had a party!

We budded and bloomed,

we showed off our beauty...

and God looked down at us...

and admired our beauty and smiled for joy.

It was one awesome party!"

 "Thou art worthy, O Lord, to receive honor and glory and power:

for Thou hast created all things,

and for Thy pleasure they are and were created."

(Revelation 4:11)

A Favorite Photo

A favorite photo from the weekend-A little girl and her new puppy. I love the expressions on their faces and just the way the composition of this photo turned out...especially seeing as how I was holding the camera sideways and just kind of took it in a hurry! Makes me smile...

Coffee And Tea For Thee And Me

                                                             

   God created coffee (yes, mine has milk)... 

and tea...

                                                                   

                                                            for thee and me!

                Wish you could join me for a cup today....

                                                                               



  

 "Behold, I stand at the door and knock;
if any man hear My voice, and open the door,
I will come in to him, and will sup with him,
and he with Me."
(Revelation 3:20)

Morning Corner

"Corner" photos are some of my favorites so I couldn't resist taking this one with it's soft and natural morning light in our "pink rose room" which is also our guest room. It's my normal morning corner where I read, write and pray. I tried editing it to change some of the lighting, color and focus but then decided to leave it just the way it was. Perfect. Except there should be a coffee cup on that table corner...

              

"Cause me to hear Thy lovingkindness in the morning:

   for in Thee do I trust.

 Cause me to know the way wherein I should walk;

   for I lift up my soul unto Thee."

           (Psalm 143:8)

                                   

Ivory Palaces

As I prepared some photo cards this week for our music conference, I was blessed to find

this beautiful verse in the Psalms (NASB)...

...which was one of several "pink roses" which the Lord gave me this week.

Have a blessed and beautiful weekend!

I Insist On Blooming!

It's so amazing how some flowers just merrily bloom, no matter what the weather is like! My red miniature rose, light pink rose and snow-white "cup of milk" flowers have all bloomed out this week while we went through record-breaking low temps this week.



(Click on the pics for a closer look at the raindrop jewels!)

 



I don't care if the cold winds blow,

I don't care if there's frost or snow,

I don't care if it's two-below,

I insist on blooming!

Friends around me may wilt and fall,

But I will stand up straight and tall,

My Creator has done it all,

Yes, I insist on blooming!
                             -A. Lenan (c) 2011
                            
    

This all reminds me of these favorite verses of mine...

"Although the fig tree shall not blossom,

 neither shall fruit be in the vines;

the labor of the olive shall fail;

and the fields shall yield no meat;

 the flock shall be cut off from the fold,

and there shall be no herd in the stalls;

Yet I will rejoice in the Lord,

I will joy in the God of my salvation."

   (Habakkuk 3: 17,18

Merry Christmas!

(click on above picture to enjoy it more!)

HUH??

Well, this is the first week of winter here,

it's the 25th day of the month,

 the weather is getting colder, foggier and drearier (is that a word?),

which often makes my husband build a fire

in our fireplace...

AND the poinsettias (mine) are in full bloom!

This all makes me come to the conclusion

that this could be Christmas.

At least I can pretend it is.

And why not? Christ's birth is worth celebrating all year long!

Merry Christmas to all!

(I might even play some Christmas music

 and make cinnamon rolls and hot chocolate...)

A Love Affair With Statistics

Oh yes, I do love statistics, not sure why....I just know that they make me feel happy and blessed. At least some do, such as are on here that show my visitors. I have not kept a record but, currently, they are from 62 cities in 23 countries. That doesn't  mean much to you but it does to me as I realize the potential I have to be a blessing to others. And especially to "go into all the world" and spread the Gospel! The potential is incredible as I see visitors from some countries where missionaries aren't even allowed to enter.

Anyway, so I decided to put a more interesting and colorful statistic thingie here (besides just numbers) to show my visitors from around the world. So, go ahead, scroll down, down, way down, to the last thing that shows up on the right side of the page, underneath the list of books that I'm reading this year. There you will find the number of visitors and the countries that they're from. But that's just since 3 or 4 days ago so I'm looking forward to watching it grow. But I must say that there's a difference between these stats and the ones that show up in my blogspot account. For example, it shows that the United States is at the bottom of the list, believe it or not. Ok, so maybe that's not accurate either...Why would I have more visitors from China than from the USA?? I'm still thinking about that one. Ha, like I said, I find it interesting and it makes me happy.

And, no, these photos don't illustrate what I'm talking about, they are purely for decoration, just some that I like for different reasons. I don't like to read blogs that have zero photos so I figured that maybe you don't either...

Well, if you're still reading this, you're an amazing friend and visitor. Thanks so much for the visit, you're the best! 

As A Father

Thank you, Lord, for my father,

for the excellence of his godly example,

 the strength of his love,

 the inspiration of his life.

I love him and can't wait to see him again!

As ye know how we exhorted and comforted and charged every one of you,

 as a father doth his children.

(I Thessalonians 2:11)

Perfect Peace

It seems there is so much going on these days,

difficult and painful experiences

for family and friends, near and far, young and old.

This is the verse the Lord gave me today.

And for you who need it,

I also offer it to you.

Perfect peace,

from Him to you,

no matter what is happening in your life.

I Shall Not Pass This Way Again

I have been consumed with memories these days as I sort through old slides, look through photo albums, and just...remember. There are memories of when our kids were little (we were a bit smaller, too!), memories of good times and bad, memories of interesting people and rough places and perfect days and...pink roses, lots of them. Yes, blessings and gifts from the Lord.

However, I know that I can't dwell in the past forever, I must concentrate on the present for there is a future to consider. Whatever was said and done in the past must be left there, nothing can be undone, nothing can be changed. "There are places to go and things to do" as someone has said.

I CAN decide what to do with my present! The Lord helping me, "this one thing I do, forgetting those things which are behind, and reaching forth unto those things which are before, I press toward the mark for the prize of the high calling of God in Christ Jesus." (Philippians 3: 13,14)

I reread this morning something that I had written in my Bible several years ago. It seems quite appropriate for my thoughts here...

I expect to pass through this world but once;

Any good thing therefore that I can do,

Or any kindness that I can show to any fellow creature,

Let me do it now, let me not defer or neglect it,

For I shall not pass this way again. 

                              -Stephen Grellet (1773-1855)

Eternity In Their Heart

I read a book by this title once and recently this phrase, found in some of the translations of Ecclesiastes 3:11, has been coming back to mind. It tells me that God has put into the heart of every human being a hunger for spiritual and eternal things-for Him, His Word, His love, His salvation...those things that only HE can provide.

Recently we have entered into some of the grief of people losing loved ones or going through some other painful life experince. I believe that the main purpose of many of these is so that people will turn their hearts toward Him. HE is the one who puts "eternity in their heart"! However, sometimes He speaks to us with a softer voice...such as when we see the crazy, little, intricate design of an orchid, such as this one that I saw this week. How can one look at it and not think, "Wow, what a Creator to make something like this!"

Why don't we listen when God turns our hearts to Him and speaks to us through these? What a blessing to have these prods from Him! They all cause us to "stop, look and listen" to Him. We need to do that...whether He speaks with a soft or a loud voice.

"He has made everything appropriate in its time. He has also set eternity in their heart..." (Ecclesiastes 3:11)-NASB

"O God, thou art my God; early will I seek thee: my soul thirsteth for thee, my flesh longeth for thee in a dry and thirsty land, where no water is." (Psalm 63:1)

 "...and it shall be, if he call thee, that thou shalt say, speak, LORD; for thy servant heareth." (I Samuel 3:9)

Favorite Foto Friday #8

Seen on a college campus...

Pink Roses For Ana

Our hearts grieve with the family of our friend and former missionary colleague as they have laid her to rest. But we also rejoice as we know she is with her Saviour the Lord Jesus!

Lois was known here in Brazil as "Dona Ana". Although we hadn't had too much contact over the past nine years, we are blessed to have many wonderful memories of her and her sweet, gentle and cheerful ways. Isn't it interesting how memories come pouring in when the person is gone? That is a blessing from the Lord to help minimize the pain of their leaving.

 

I think it is fitting here that I post some pink roses in memory of "Ana"...

This rose with the drops of rainwater reminds me of our tears, and especially those of her family, as we feel this sadness of our loss.


And this perfectly beautiful and flawless rose makes me think of how she is

now enjoying perfection in every way. No more pain or suffering but heavenly

joy in His presence!

   Here is one more...just because. Who wouldn't be comforted

looking at such beauty?!



"We are confident, I say, and willing rather to be absent from the body,

and to be present with the Lord." (II Corinthians 5:8)

"...to be with Christ, which is far better." (Philippians 1:23)

Pictures In The Window Frames

Sometimes windows can frame such lovely scenes.

I visited a daughter last month when they moved to their new house. One of the joys of the visit was that of looking through the large "picture windows". This was the scene that greeted us on that first morning. The sun was SO bright!

I frequently glanced out these windows to see this Brazilian coastal city-sometimes gleaming in the sun, sometimes twinkling with lights, always beautiful, always inspiring, no matter what time of day it was. What a blessing from the Lord to have views like this from one's house!

On another morning I managed to capture this peaceful sunrise...

And on one afternoon I snapped a picture of this cloud-such a big, bright and beautiful thing to behold (I did not purposely chose those "b" words, they just naturally came to mind to describe it)!

"O Lord, how manifold are Thy works!

In wisdom hast Thou made them all:

the earth is full of Thy riches."

(Psalm 104:24)

Reach Out And Touch

Most of us remember the line from a phone company commercial of several years ago..."Reach out and touch someone". They probably didn't realize how important that line really is...


Several years ago I received a gift. My husband brought it back from one of his speaking trips. It has always been our laugh that I'M the one who usually gets a gift for HIS preaching! Well, that hasn't happened in a long time so...I guess those lovely days are over.

Anyway, what was I writing about? Oh yes, a gift. My gift on this occasion was one of those lovely touch-lamps. You know the kind, right? You touch it once to turn on the light...

touch it a second time to make the light brighter...

                                   ...and a third time to make it even brighter!

It was only a year or so ago that I realized only the touch of human skin would make the light come on. I tried to turn it on when I had gloves on and it just wouldn't work. So I got curious and touched it with a warm cloth and it still wouldn't work! Only the touch of my skin would do the trick.


I don't think I need to explain much here to tell you the beautiful illustration this brought to me: the importance of the human touch. It is an amazing thing. The love and affection, importance, respect and "you're worth something" message it transmits is not something we should take lightly...whether we're giving or receiving this beautiful gift. A hug, a handclasp, a pat on the back...these and many more are message-bearers to those around us that we care about them.


"Reach out and touch someone" is not just a classic commercial line for a phone company, it should be one of our daily goals!


"And Jesus came and touched them, and said, Arise, and be not afraid."
  (Matthew 17:7)
"Be kindly affectioned one to another with brotherly love; in honor preferring one another."
  (Romans 12:1)

Pass The Bread, Please

Saturday. This is my day to make bread.            The most-eaten food in all the world is bread. Statistics show that rice, wheat and corn are the three grains most eaten by humans. Bread is made from those grains...which proves my first statement, don't you think?Wheat has the highest amount of vegetable protein of any grain-except for amaranth, which I'd never heard of. You find out interesting facts when you research!

Bread is my favorite food. That does not come as a surprise to those who know me. But, sadly, I have to limit my consumption of bread for it is also, um, well you know what bread does. It makes one gain weight pretty quickly and easily! When I was 13 I helped in the school cafeteria that year we lived in Tennessee. They let the workers eat the leftover, huge, yummy, southern biscuits. Ohhhh...! I grew to weigh...well, let's just say, more than I should have for a young teen girl. In fact, I didn't weigh that much again until my first pregnancy!

I can't have all this talk about bread without showing a couple pictures of Brazilian breads. The one on the left is pão francês (french bread) and the other is pão de queijo (cheese bread). The hot, fresh version of these just can't be beat and are the ultimate in bread temptations!

I make homemade bread at least once a week because it's cheaper, because it tastes better and because it has healthier ingredients than what I would buy in the grocery stores. You'd think I would own a bread machine but I've never really wanted one for the simple fact that I know I would eat too much bread. If I ever get arthritis in my hands...well, I would then consent to having one given to me for Mother's Day. *smile*

 

     Let's get a closer look at those rolls...I mean, just look at those pieces of goodness coming through! 

Knowing how basic and important bread is to people around the world, it's no wonder that Jesus referred to Himself as the Bread of Life!

"And Jesus said unto them, I am the bread of life:

he that comes to Me shall never hunger;

and he that believes on Me shall never thirst."

(John 6:35)

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Music For A Monday Morning

I don't know much about this singer but I came across this song today. It was a lovely little pink rose to begin my day!

Motherhood

What is it about mothers? The person that she becomes at the birth of her first child, the emotions that well up within her at the sight, thought or mention of her children, the satisfaction she has when she has "finished" her work of rearing her children...nothing compares to this, no one else experiences this, nowhere will you find its equal.

For sure, fathers have their own thoughts and feelings as they consider their offspring. But they are obviously different for they have a different relationship as well as different responsibilities in regards to their children. I don't know...I'm just expressing my thoughts here. I'm trying to figure out the grandeur of being a mother, why Mother's Day is SO celebrated or why there is this mysterious bond between a mother and her child.

The photo above is of my mother-as a baby and as a great-grandmother. I'm sure that baby never dreamed that one day she would have so many offspring, people that would bring multiplied blessings to her!

Of all the things that I have done in life, none have given me such great joy and satisfaction and completeness as that of being a mother. Thank You, Lord, for giving me my mother and for making me a mother. There are no words to adequately express my gratitude. I'm thankful that You know my heart.

"Honor thy father and thy mother; that thy days may be long upon the land which the Lord thy God giveth thee." (Exodus 20:12)