Happy Mothers Day to All that nurture children, plants and animals and often their parents or another’s Mother. Upon awakening and remembering “Mothers Day” I found myself reflecting on my sons and their skill of serving me breakfast in bed with eggshells baked in my bread. Grown men delighting me with the finest restaurants and with gifts that daily adorn me. Today, as we grow together as family we find our family has grown, changes in locales and lots of new adventures to savor and many yet to master.
I am thankful for family, Mothers and the love that grows as we grow, remembering those not with us and those we may embrace today! The old and the new makes for beauty when hearts are aglow with love! ❤️🔥
“ Sing a new song to the LORD! Let the whole earth sing to the LORD!” (Psalm 96:1 NLT)
“The world would love you as one of its own if you belonged to it, but you are no longer part of the world. I chose you to come out of the world, so it hates you.” John 15:19 NLT https://bible.com/bible/116/jhn.15.19.NLT
Ocean City Md
“See what great love the Father has lavished on us, that we should be called children of God! And that is what we are! The reason the world does not know us is that it did not know him.” I John 3:1
In Matthew 3:16,17 A dove symbolizing peace, comfort and the fulfillment of promises. We find other times God uses The Dove to show and tell His Glory within the earth.
Saturday, April 30, 2023 I experienced a love song of kindness as encouragement in my life as this baby Dove dropped into my yard.
Lets keep watch for God’s goodness daily in our lives as he sings love songs to us in so many ways. Psalm 103:5 NLT “He fills my life with good things . My youth is renewed like an eagle.” Tammy
But be doers of the word, and not hearers only, deceiving yourselves. For if anyone is a hearer of the word and not a doer, he is like a man who looks intently at his natural face in a mirror. For he looks at himself and goes away and at once forgets what he was like. But the one who looks into the perfect law, the law of liberty, and perseveres, being no hearer who forgets but a doer who acts, he will be blessed in his doing. (James 1:22-25 ESV)
Wonder how often we have thought of the Mirror’s duties in relationship to our thinking? Buddhist teacher angel Kyodo williams emphasizes how human it is to have desires—and how we can lessen our attachment to them: williams offers instructions on the practice of “letting go” of our thoughts, desires, and judgments through mindfulness meditation:
“We can see the thoughts that come up in our minds the same way a mirror “sees” things.A mirror just notices. It registers whatever passes in front of it without holding on to it in any way. It just lets go. It doesn’t think about it or have a long conversation about it. Since the mirror doesn’t cling to the object that it is reflecting, when the object goes, so does the reflection. It’s the same way with your mind. We don’t hold on to the random thoughts that arise over and over again in our minds and that can take us away from the full experience of now.”
We probably all heard that Dr Charles Stanley passed away recently yet leaving a plethora library of profound Biblical teachings. This message has been said it was the most listened to of any of his messages. I can see why. I would like to share with you. Yes, it’s on thinking!
Recently, I have been working on daily mindfulness. I use a word from Galatians 5 aka as the fruit of the spirit to focus on in am and check in pm for results from my day. My recent word KINDNESS!
Kindness is a word when in action I believe changes a life while healing communities and beyond. I have been contemplating sharing in our community here stories related to kindness. Yesterday a dear artist friend of mine as well as a friend of many others residing in Canada share a story that touched my heart deeply. And, seems to be an inspiration to many others to give kindness and share their story to inspire us to remember to give and receive kindness and share. Matthew 5:16 In the same way, let your light shine before others, that they may see your good deeds and glorify your Father in heaven.
Violette writes, “So this is the little doll I got from the *thrift store for my Mom. It comforts her and sometimes she thinks its her baby. My mom is in a Nursing home as she has Alzheimer’s and a brain tumour. I visit her once a week – its a 9 hour day – door to door (I have to take a ferry). If there is a ferry breakdown it could take 15 hours. So my mom spilt coffee, boost, soup and other food on her doll and I wanted to take her home so I could wash her but I was afraid to remove her in case she freaked out. I put a call out at the thrift store to look for a similar doll for me. My neighbours granddaughter was at the thrift store and overheard them talking in the back room about me needing a baby doll for my Mom. I get a knock at the door and there is this sweet little 7 year old saying “I heard you were looking for a baby doll” handing me the doll on the right. It was her baby doll and she was willing to give her up. I almost cried. That was the sweetest thing.”
Doll on assignment given by a little girl *Doll on assignment giving comfort
Truly was hovering over my yard alone when I gazed upon its mystery. That was how I felt seeing this moon last evening.
I stepped out in my tiny yard to do a chore and spotted a universal PHENOMENON that seemed to be over my community which covers Nothern Virginia and Washington DC!
Biblical references use the moon symbol to highlight cosmic events, divine epiphanies and the ephemeral nature of human life and history (see, for example, Isaiah 30,26; 60,19; Revelations 21,23).
Did you see this moon? If so, where were you? Was there a message for the universe in the glorious display of night light?
There seems to be so much fear, stress, and disunity among peoples around the world? Hope that once rang loud and clear seems to have found a way in the midst of so much disarray to have lost its beautiful tones and often plays hopelessness.
We that have heard and responded to the message of death and resurrection of God’s son hold a universal truth to be lived and shared. How we might ask?
This week we pause to meditate on the meaning of the death and resurrection of Jesus the Christ, The Messiah. We often relate his death to a familiar story to many of us.
The prophet Jonah, “You cast me into the deep, into the heart of the sea, and the flood surrounded me; all your billows and waves have submerged me … The waters closed over me; the deep engulfed me” (Jonah 2:3, 5; Matthew 12:39–40). And, then;
“The passion” is really the mystery of all mysteries, It’s a grand movie title and for us it means the events which ends Jesus’s earthly life: his betrayal, trial, execution on a cross, and death.…
And, we as Believers pick up the storyline of Resurrection which we often call Resurrection Day “Easter” and for 2023 is only a few days away.
“Then he [Jesus]said to the crowd, “If any of you wants to be my follower, you must give up your own way, take up your cross daily, and follow me.” (Luke 9:23)
The average lemon contains eight seeds and three tablespoons of juice. The lifespan of a lemon tree is approximately 50 years, but they can live to be 100 with proper care. A single lemon tree produces an average of 600 pounds of fruit per year.
Lemons in an old family bowl
Lemons were the first fruits to arrive in the Mediterranean around the time of Jesus.
Lemonade, lemon in cooked figs, lemon in ice tea, lemon for my fish! Lemon to clean my fridge! Lemon to give flavor to my treats! Lemons like folks are everywhere. Sweet folks, sour folks, useful folks and often lemon mishaps.
Oooops
When we can’t make lemonade what must we do? Turn to the One that has the power to sweeten your attitude. Change your circumstances and increase your fruit! He stands at our Heart’s door waiting for us.
“The thief cometh not, but for to steal, and to kill, and to destroy: I am come that they might have life, and that they might have it more abundantly. (John 10:10)
The Easter Story of Bunnies, colored eggs and candy are here among us and for our delight. Also, the “One” (not Amazon) that delivered our abundant joy is the “Light of the world”! His name is Jesus! His mode of transportation was a walk carrying a cross where it became his home for a day that lead to a grave.
After three days He delivered the ultimate abounding fullness of joy and strength for our spirit, soul and body by His Resurrected Life!
“So do not fear, for I am with you; do not be dismayed, for I am your God. I will strengthen you and help you; I will uphold you with my righteous right hand.” Isaiah 41:10 NIV
The truth that God never leaves nor forsakes us is a powerful reminder that we are never truly alone. God’s presence is a constant source of comfort and strength, providing us with the courage we need to face each day. When we embrace God’s presence in our lives, we can let go of fear, worry, and anxiety, and live with joy, hope, and confidence
When we feel alone or fearful, we are less than our higher selves. Fear shortens our emotional fuses, causing us to react impulsively and lash out at others and often times even ourselves. Worry suppresses creativity and productivity, making it difficult to focus on the task at hand. Anxiety robs us of joy, peace and hope.
I think we most likely will all agree on the emotion of fear and anxiety and it’s results. I found some of these thoughts tucked among my devotions just this morning. Yet, how do we overcome? How do we trust God? Or, whom or what are we trusting? What is woven into the fabric of our life? Do we recognize the enemy of our joy, peace and hope?
The sounds, sights and smells have been whistling in the air, spring is about to arrive. Hope has a way of indoctrinating the mind often convincing us there is hope for a better thing, whatever may be our better thing at the time. Yet, fear and anxiety may team up to convince us hope has no say in this thing?
The last few days I have been on watch as a small host of birds were diligently building a nest right outside my window. I loved the company of their chatter as they worked away. This morning their chatter seemed more like a contact call. I went out to inquire why? I found their nest dislodged from their branch that seemed sturdy and safe. I’m thinking the gust of high winds we had in the night might have caused their nest to dislodge.
Our Bird Nest
I recalled, consider the Lillies-consider the ravens…my anxiety of hopelessness for these hard working birds subsided into a stillness of silence hoping to show the watchful birds I would be there for them if they decided to rebuild.
It had been my plan to have those branches cut and trimmed within hours. I had made sure to explain to the one trimming we would not harm their nest. Now, I will reevaluate and try and leave a more solid and protective branch for their review.
“And if God cares so wonderfully for flowers that are here today and thrown into the fire tomorrow, he will certainly care for you. Why do you have so little faith?” (Luke 12:28) If you need encouragement today to have a little more faith I encourage you to join Charlotte Ritchie ( below link) as we sing together, Consider the Lilies and then you will know.
thedailylily.com 