“I still find each day too short for all the thoughts I want to think, all the walks I want to take, all the books I want to read, and all the friends I want to see. The longer I live, the more my mind dwells upon the beauty and the wonder of the world.” ~John Burroughs
Continue reading “Thought to Ponder”
A Teacher’s Reward
Mrs. Oynes
I guess by the grace of God I decided to try to find you on the internet today. I don’t know why or how I stumbled upon your e-mail address but in any case I did. My name is Katherine (Katie) Montalbano, I was in your 2nd and 3rd grade class at Woodlake Elementary. To this day, I feel like your class has given me the best foundation to work with throughout my life. Hannah Kaufmann -Swang and I consistently talk about being in your class and how much of an impression you have made on us. Hannah is still one of my best friends and has been my roommate in college for most of the time.
Continue reading “A Teacher’s Reward”
Mama’s Christmas Table
He pressed his tiny cherub face
Against his mother’s table lace.
On tippy toe so he could see
Then clapped his hands in childish glee.
For there upon the table spread
Were golden loaves of homemade bread,
And mounds of mashed potatoes high
And mama’s homemade apple pie.
Continue reading “Mama’s Christmas Table”
Making God Laugh
Q.Do you know how to make God Laugh?
A.Tell Him your plans!
Continue reading “Making God Laugh”
Jabbers
Mr., Mrs., Ms., Master Jabber:
Dear M. Jabber-your name means, fast, excited talk that makes little sense. When one makes sense their words are intelligible, justifiable, or practicable. Now, if one makes no sense with their words they are unintelligible, unjustifiable, or unpractical.
Quote
“In prayer it is better to have a heart without words than words without a heart.”
Bunyan, John
Making a Fresh Advent Wreath
One way we symbolically anticipate the birth and soon coming return of Christ is with an advent wreath. The wreath shows us that God is eternal. Jesus said He was the alpha and the omega, the beginning and the end. The greens are everlasting, like the love of Christ who dies for all. And each candle, with a different meaning, reminds us that He is the light that gives light to every man.
There are several different ways to make an advent wreath but I would like to show you one that will stay fresh throughout the advent season.
The first step is to acquire or purchase your supplies. Local craft stores usually carry the following items at this time of year: a wire wreath form (I chose a 14” size); a wire advent wreath form approx the same size; 1 roll of 3-4” wide green plastic wreath wrap; a bag of milled sphagnum moss (a bag about the size of a cinderblock should be ample/don’t purchase peat, spanish or green moss by mistake); a small package of greening pins; 3 purple and 1 pink dripless candle; 4 yds of #40 wired ribbon (optional).
Step two is to soak the moss in warm water until fully hydrated (about 10 minutes).
For step three place heaping handfuls in the inverted side of wreath form until it is evenly full. Do not squeeze the sphagnum dry, as this is what will hold the moisture in to keep your greens hydrated and fresh.
Season of Christmas
The Giving Season of Christmas is now full-blown upon us. For Christians, true believers in the Lord Jesus Christ, the
meaning of Christmas which lives in our hearts all year long has an opporutunity be shared by reaching out to the poor and needy, which the Church has always tried to do, down the ages of history. But more than that; to reach out to the lost and perishing. For there is something about Christmas where it seems God prepares hearts to be drawn to His Son Jesus Christ. There’s something about the humbleness of the Christ Child that ministers to hardened hearts more than at any other time of the year. We, in the church have always heard this. And in my life it happened that way for it was during the season of Christmas that I received The Lord Jesus Christ into my own heart.
Continue reading “Season of Christmas”
Communication is at a Premium
Communication is at a premium. And, we need to place a premium on our communication skills. Put a premium on peace and stability. Political talks, religious talks, family talks, and relational talks on all levels and fronts.
We find many times our communication skills look Bokeh. While Bokeh may be a great form for photography it might just lack the higher quality in our words. Our words become blurred or fuzzy when meant to be clear and precise.
If we want to go to a higher level with our words to stimulate the idea of Bokeh, we need to have a higher way of thinking. If we stay focused on what’s happening in the natural realm to fill our thoughts we will not experience Bokeh. It would be the supernatural realm happening in our communication that would produce the Bokeh effect. I think most of us, if not all, want to experience what God is doing behind our natural way of thinking.
photo by Jon M.
http://www.flickr.com/photos/trektheworld/
“Bokeh is a photographic term referring to the appearance of out-of-focus areas in an image produced by a camera lens using a shallow depth of field. Different lens bokeh produces different aesthetic qualities in out-of-focus backgrounds, which are often used to reduce distractions and emphasize the primary subject.”
Continue reading “Communication is at a Premium”
Jesus is the Lily
As I have journeyed on this earth, my heart has been retched by numerous things. One of those things is a young child who has lost one of their parents at a very young age. You can see the deep hurt in them. They seem to stand strong, but it’s still there. I have known two such children recently. One not wanting anyone to know the loss they had just suffered – a loss – an open wound. Both children now wanting to please and protect the other parent. They want to make good grades and not displease in any way.
thedailylily.com 