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I love how CS Lewis makes me think about things !

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I have always loved the red bellied woodpeckers!

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Hebrews 4:12-13

¹²For the word of God is living and active. Sharper than any double-edged sword, it penetrates even to dividing soul and spirit, joints and marrow; it judges the thoughts and attitudes of the heart. ¹³Nothing in all creation is hidden from God's sight. Everything is uncovered and laid bare before the eyes of him to whom we must give account.

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The whole quote:

You have trusted Him in a few things, and He has not failed you. Trust Him now for everything, and see if He does not do for you exceeding abundantly above all that you could ever have asked or thought, not according to your power or capacity, but according to His own mighty power, that will work in you all the good pleasure of His most blessed will. You find no difficulty in trusting the Lord with the management of the universe and all the outward creation, and can your case be any more complex or difficult than these, that you need to be anxious or troubled about His management of it? Hannah Whitall Smith

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I found so many quotes this morning when looking up the word patience. I used to often say "Patience is highly regarded and a virtue we should all pursue, but it is one virtue I do not have!" As I get older - I wish it was something I had cultivated more. I have blasts of anger at times - that are so useless and only cause hurt and anger. And then I dare judge another, for their outbursts.

I know they say you can't teach an old dog a new trick - but hopefully I am not too late to work on my ability to be patient and loving in difficult circumstances.

Here are some more of the quotes I found about patience at 'Quote Garden' that inspired me . . .

How can a society that exists on instant mashed potatoes, packaged cake mixes, frozen dinners and instant cameras teach patience to its young? ~ Paul Sweeney

Patience is something you admire in the driver behind you and scorn in the one ahead. ~Mac McCleary

Patience is the ability to count down before you blast off.

Beware the fury of a patient man. ~ John Dryden 1680

Patience is the companion of wisdom. ~ St. Augustine

and one of my favorites and most thought provoking for me today:

One moment of patience may ward off a great disaster.

One moment of impatience may ruin a whole life. ~ Chinese Proverb

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For more Spiritual Sunday's Click Here

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Although I think the quote may be true for us as we imitate one another, I don't think any of us is trying to flatter God.

When we accept Christ, and He lives within us, I think we become part of one another. He lives within us, and it should be our prayer, that His thoughts become our thoughts, as we strive to be more and more like him on a daily basis - so that others are able to see Him in us.

In that way, He and we are not being flattered - but we are bringing Glory to Him - as others want to be like Him - and the cycle continues.

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We had a unique and beautiful sunrise on Saturday this past weekend. Yesterday's shot (click link) as well as today's came from my roaming in the fog and frost to capture these shots. Another one is here at Composition Life (click link).

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Saturday October 9 2010
Our first Frosty Morning of the Fall

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I have always loved the song, "True Colors" that I first heard sung by Cyndi Lauper.

She was singing that when I was in High School and I latched on to it.

Something about a singer who sings with passion.

I think that is what made music so attractive to me.

Anyway, in recent years I have heard a version by Phil Collins.

I am so partial to harmony of men and women's voices.

This surely has become my favorite version.

Give it a listen if you have time - I have the video embeded below)

Sorry .. on to today's post.

I came across the photo of the leaf and my first thought was "True Colors"

Isn't it true that the colors we see in the fall are the TRUE colors of the leaves?

I read this ...

As the leaf is "abandoned" by the tree, the green chlorophyll--the dominant chemical found in most leaves--is broken down and "recycled" by the tree, leaving behind other-colored chemicals. Supply lines to the leaves also become clogged. If the major chemical remaining in the abandoned leaf is red, then the leaf turns red. If it’s yellow, then the leaf turns yellow, and so on.

In trying to link a scripture to it - the passage from Revelations stood right out at me!

God is Just

God is Real

God is TRUE

His attributes are many and varied

Magnificent, Marvelous and Great

We have only our experience to describe God -

and so today I connect the beauty of truth

the beauty of color

and the beauty of God.

Enjoy the weekend!!

MORE SPIRITUAL SUNDAY"S POSTED HERE

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I was shocked when I came across this quote this morning. I started out with the leaf - and how trees go thru the beautiful color change in the fall and then of course the thought that God never changes. Of all the things and people in our lives, He is the one we can count on to never change, to always be the constant.

I was looking for a quote that always makes me think of my mom. It was either on a wall hanging or something she used to say about how God never changes. And then I read this one ...

God grant me the serenity to accept the people I cannot change

The courage to change the one I can

and the wisdom to know it is me.

I had to read it 3 times before I realized it was not the usual serenity prayer. And I knew that it was meant just for me this morning. I cannot tell you how that one slapped me in the face.

Isn't it just like God to do that. Just when we need it most - for Him to point it out and make it clear ... "It's not everyone else who needs to change . . . it's YOU!!"

And there is plenty in me - that needs changing. I pray I have the strength to lean on the NEVER CHANGING ONE and allow Him to work in and on me!

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I love this time of year -
The goldfinches start to change their coats
And the golden rod changes its colors as well.
A match made in heaven.
God will provide all I need . . .

What a magnificent example

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I know I have used this verse before -

But we need to plaster it in our minds and hearts:

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The Mighty Niagara River right before it crashes over Niagara Falls

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Seed head from a Queen Anne's Lace flower

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Psalm 147:1-12 (BIBLE GATEWAY)

Praise the Lord. How good it is to sing praises to our God, how pleasant and fitting to praise him!

The LORD builds up Jerusalem; he gathers the exiles of Israel.

He heals the brokenhearted and binds up their wounds.

He determines the number of the stars and calls them each by name.

Great is our Lord and mighty in power; His understanding has no limit.

The LORD sustains the humble but casts the wicked to the ground.

Sing to the LORD with thanksgiving; make music to our God on the harp.

He covers the sky with clouds; he supplies the earth with rain and makes grass grow on the hills.

He provides food for the cattle and for the young ravens when they call.

His pleasure is not in the strength of the horse, nor his delight in the legs of a man;

the LORD delights in those who fear him, who put their hope in his unfailing love.

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After putting this one together, I came across a second quote that I think makes us to think even more so on the subject ...

Franklin said:

"As we must account for every idle word,

so must we account for ever idle silence."

And then I found this from Victor Hugo:

"A man is not idle because he is absorbed in thought.

There is a visible labor and there is an invisible labor."

Reminds me of my worship leading days and how I would get so frustrated with folks who did not have an outward expression of the musical portion of the worship service - but yet I knew some of those I loved most dearly ... walked very closely with God in an intimate and covert relationship - demonstrating their love and commitment in many other ways instead of exuberant singing.

So how 'bout another quote: "Judge not, lest ye be judged" (Matthew 7:1)

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I know that we all love the song, "Let There Be Peace on Earth" and we all pray for peace among nations, peace among cultures, and peace among the folks we live with.

But realistically - when we look at scripture - there will be no peace ... until He returns.

That is hard to swallow, hard to understand, but it is what we are told:

Luke 12:45 -56 ( from: BibleGateway)

⁴⁵But suppose the servant says to himself, 'My master is taking a long time in coming,' and he then begins to beat the menservants and maidservants and to eat and drink and get drunk. ⁴⁶The master of that servant will come on a day when he does not expect him and at an hour he is not aware of. He will cut him to pieces and assign him a place with the unbelievers.

⁴⁷"That servant who knows his master's will and does not get ready or does not do what his master wants will be beaten with many blows. ⁴⁸But the one who does not know and does things deserving punishment will be beaten with few blows. From everyone who has been given much, much will be demanded; and from the one who has been entrusted with much, much more will be asked.

⁴⁹"I have come to bring fire on the earth, and how I wish it were already kindled! ⁵⁰But I have a baptism to undergo, and how distressed I am until it is completed! ⁵¹Do you think I came to bring peace on earth? No, I tell you, but division. ⁵²From now on there will be five in one family divided against each other, three against two and two against three. ⁵³They will be divided, father against son and son against father, mother against daughter and daughter against mother, mother-in-law against daughter-in-law and daughter-in-law against mother-in-law."

⁵⁴He said to the crowd: "When you see a cloud rising in the west, immediately you say, 'It's going to rain,' and it does. ⁵⁵And when the south wind blows, you say, 'It's going to be hot,' and it is. ⁵⁶Hypocrites! You know how to interpret the appearance of the earth and the sky. How is it that you don't know how to interpret this present time?

How does that open a kettle of worms among believers?

More Spiritual Sunday's Here

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1 Kings 19:11-13 (BibleGateway)

I love this scripture! Although I have read it many times - it came to life for me when I sang Mendelssohn's, "Elijah" in college.

11 The LORD said, "Go out and stand on the mountain in the presence of the LORD, for the LORD is about to pass by."

Then a great and powerful wind tore the mountains apart and shattered the rocks before the LORD, but the LORD was not in the wind.

After the wind there was an earthquake, but the LORD was not in the earthquake.

¹² After the earthquake came a fire, but the LORD was not in the fire.

And after the fire came a gentle whisper.

¹³ When Elijah heard it, he pulled his cloak over his face and went out and stood at the mouth of the cave.

Then a voice said to him, "What are you doing here, Elijah?"

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This post was born out of a dilemma we are facing (you can read about here). And so I am thinking a lot about what really matters? What is most important? When an opportunity comes before you, how do you make the decision? I guess sometimes the decision is made for you due to resources. Oh dear ... what shall we do?

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I know I have used this quote before from the Fernando Ortega song "Give Me Jesus"

It is just so heavy on my heart this morning.

Just like the rain and dew is here for a moment, and evaporates away

We are here on this earth for a temporary time

The pain and the hurts we endure are momentary

Compared to the eternity of bliss we will experience

If we are faithful and true to our Creator, Savior and Lord

So in all circumstances

Let Jesus be the focal point

He puts it all into perspective.

Can I ask you to pray for those who are carried away by the temporary of the world

They can't see thru the moment - to Him

They see only the immediate need

No matter who they hurt.

It's immaturity, but it is sharp and painful to be on the receiving end

This morning I pray for eyes to see when I am in that place too.

Thinking only of myself, my own needs.

I too, can lose sight of Who is important.

Give me Jesus . . .

To hear the song: Click this Link *GIVE ME JESUS*