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And my favorite part of that scripture is verse 17:

For God sent NOT His son into the world to condemn the world,

But that the world through Him might be saved.

A Blessing indeed!

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My heartfelt wishes

for a very Blessed and Happy Day of Thanksgiving

go to all those who are celebrating God's faithfulness

today and everyday!

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The deer are on the move in our area -

This photo was taken in our yard on Thursday, by my husband, shortly after I went to work.

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My first thought when I saw this photo - was the Twila Paris Song called "Hold On" (embedded below)

I have several friends and acquaintances going thru some extremely hard times right now. A young couple with 3 children lost their home, 2 dogs and all their possessions in a tragic house fire. A long time friend, just a couple of years older than me, diagnosed with the kind of cancer that took my mom. A colleague's grand mom hit by a car and killed while crossing the street in front of her home. Several folks have lost spouses and children in the last month.

When nothing is as we understand or would like it to be - we cling to the one who is constant, steady and faithful - L O V E

God is Love. Love will never pass away. God will always be the constant.

1 Corinthians 13: 3-8 BibleGateway

If I give all I possess to the poor and give over my body to hardship that I may boast, but do not have love, I gain nothing. Love is patient, love is kind. It does not envy, it does not boast, it is not proud. It does not dishonor others, it is not self-seeking, it is not easily angered, it keeps no record of wrongs. Love does not delight in evil but rejoices with the truth. It always protects, always trusts, always hopes, always perseveres.

Love never fails. But where there are prophecies, they will cease; where there are tongues, they will be stilled; where there is knowledge, it will pass away.

The video has the words in a foreign language - but her voice is so clear you can understand the words perfectly.

Hold On my friends ... hold on ...

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A friend of mine has a 19 year old son serving on the front lines as a medic in Afghanistan. In a recent conversation she told me that he said it is freezing cold where they are, and many of the guys have lost their winter coats. At times they can't feel their feet.

I know it is just a small thing - but have you ever heard of "A Cup of Joe for a Joe?" I posted a link over at Composition-Life sharing how you can buy a cup of coffee for a soldier over in Iraq or Afghanistan. Pop on over and see if it is something you might be able to do.

Here is the link: COMPOSITION-LIFE

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As you look at this photo - you may just see a dried up old plant - but in my eye - there is so much more.

Although this past spring I planted 6 more peony plants - I still have only one that grew. I love that plant. So beautiful when it first breaks thru the soil with it's red stalks. Then then green leaves bush out with the tiny buds that get bigger and bigger - until they finally burst open in beauty!

Even after the flowers fade - and I clip them off to keep from weighing the plant down, the green leaves stay beautiful and healthy most of the summer. Near the end of the season - the leaves start to put on their powdery wigs of grey - eventually drying up into a mass of unmoving crunchy and static leaves. But there is beauty in even that. Under the soil - the heart lives on, resting, until it will burst forth once again - in the spring.

As I looked at this photo this morning - I was reminded - how the world is so visual - what you see is what you get -

But I have to keep reminding myself - in the same way I want people to know me for who I am on the inside - judging someone else on their outward appearance - isn't fair for me to do either. We don't always know the history behind why someone 'looks' as they do - we don't know their potential. But God always does.

Something I need to work on . . .

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The actual Lake of Lake Placid is actually quite large.

The village of Lake Placid is comparably very small.

On the very left side of this photo - you will see a smaller lake.

It is called Mirror Lake.

The village of Lake Placid surrounds it (with most of it on one side).

One of my favorite places in the world.

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In memory of Jake Hiebert, who now knows the embrace of His Savior.
Please pray for Ruth and her family as they grieve this separation from her beloved.

Jake and Ruth's Photo Blog

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Full Text from BIBLE GATEWAY

Galatians 3:11-13

Clearly no one who relies on the law is justified before God, because “the righteous will live by faith.” The law is not based on faith; on the contrary, it says, “The person who does these things will live by them.”Christ redeemed us from the curse of the law by becoming a curse for us, for it is written: “Cursed is everyone who is hung on a pole.”

For More Spiritual Sunday's please click HERE

*side note:

A friend posted a youtube video on Facebook that really moved me. Although it was a "Random Act of Culture" when 650 area choristers joined together with the Opera Company of Philadelphia, to perform Handel's "Hallelujah" from Messiah, in shopping center, and many sang for the value of the music (that is just how musicians are sometimes) - when I saw the video - I couldn't help but think - how amazing to have that many people in a random place - just start to praising God for the amazing and magnificent God that He is.

I embedded the link for the video over at my first blog Composition-Life (CLICK HERE). It is definitely neat to watch and hear.

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I love the bright and warm feel of yellow! Guess the chilly weather has affected me a bit more than I want to admit.

When I was growing up, my parents had some Christmas Albums that we had gotten from the gas station, for faithfully filling up at the same spot. One was pink and one was baby blue. Both had big ribbons on the cover, they were crafted to look as though they were gifts.

Mahalia Jackson sang Silent Night and Away in a Manger on them (I am pretty sure those were the ablums). Such sweet passion and expression in her performance. They will to this day be among my favorite versions of those songs.

Can't imagine a day without music (even if it is only 5 year olds trying to find the beat on some rhythm sticks - you should see their smiles!!)

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Full Text: (referencing the Church)

1 Corinthians 3:6-16 (NIV) from BibleGateway

I planted the seed, Apollos watered it, but God has been making it grow.

So neither the one who plants nor the one who waters is anything, but only God who makes things grow.

The one who plants and the one who waters have one purpose, and they will each be rewarded according to their own labor. For we are co-workers in God's service; your are God's field, God's building.

By the grace God has given me, I laid a foundation as a wise builder and someone else is building on it. But each one should build with care. For no one can lay any foundation other than the one already laid, which is Jesus Christ.

If anyone builds on this foundation using gold, silver costly stones, wood, hay or straw, their work will be shown for what it is, because the Day will bring it to light. It will be revealed with fire and the fire will test the quality of each person's work. If what has been built survives, the builder will receive a reward.

If it is burned up the builder will suffer loss but yet will be saved, even though only as one escaping through the flames.

Don't you know that you yourselves are God's temple and that God's Spirit dwells in your midst?

* not so sure the verse and quote fit today- I feel as though I was led to this scripture and I know that it is speaking to me today - volumes - more so than the quote and scripture combined. I've been battling (what I found out yesterday) croup. Sometimes feeling totally fine - but then going into coughing spasms to beat the band. So have not had much time to be able to work on the computer.

I did find that I mis-numbered my posts. And so they have now been corrected.

I am going to try to go to go into work today. Kind of hard having a music teacher that doesn't talk or sing (or breathe too deeply) Hoping that I will be able to last the day.

Hope your day is blessed!

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