a friend shares;

“A proverb I love to share: “
“…just when the caterpillar thought the world was over – it became a butterfly!” ❤️

Sara’s Garden Photos

A brilliant friend shared this “proverb” with me a few days ago and these words just sings and makes melody in my heart. Then, I hear, Psalm 37:4 saying, “Take delight in the Lord, and he will give you the desires of your heart.”

Miriam Danced…

Then the prophet Miriam, Aaron’s sister, took a tambourine in her hand. All the women followed her playing tambourines and dancing.
—Exodus 15:20 (CEB)

“Lord of the Dance” is a hymn with words written by English songwriter Sydney Carter in 1963. It follows the idea of a traditional English carol, “Tomorrow Shall Be My Dancing Day” which tells the gospel story in the first person voice of Jesus of Nazareth with the device of portraying Jesus’ life and mission as a dance.”

🎼I danced in the morning when the world was begun,
And I danced in the moon and the stars and the sun,
And I came down from heaven and I danced on the earth:
At Bethlehem I had my birth.

Dance, then, wherever you may be,
I am the Lord of the dance, said he,
And I’ll lead you all, wherever you may be,
And I’ll lead you all in the dance, said he.

I danced for the scribe and the Pharisee,
But they would not dance and they wouldn’t follow me;
I danced for the fishermen, for James and John;
They came with me and the dance went on:

Dance, then, wherever you may be,
I am the Lord of the dance, said he,
And I’ll lead you all, wherever you may be,
And I’ll lead you all in the dance, said he.

I danced on the Sabbath and I cured the lame:
The holy people said it was a shame.
They whipped and they stripped and they hung me on high,
And they left me there on a cross to die:

Dance, then, wherever you may be,
I am the Lord of the dance, said he,
And I’ll lead you all, wherever you may be,
And I’ll lead you all in the dance, said he.

I danced on a Friday when the sky turned black;
It’s hard to dance with the devil on your back.
They buried my body and they thought I’d gone;
But I am the dance, and I still go on:

Dance, then, wherever you may be,
I am the Lord of the dance, said he,
And I’ll lead you all, wherever you may be,
And I’ll lead you all in the dance, said he.

They cut me down and I leapt up high;
I am the life that’ll never, never die.
I’ll live in you if you’ll live in me:
I am the Lord of the dance, said he.

Dance, then, wherever you may be,
I am the Lord of the dance, said he,
And I’ll lead you all, wherever you may be,
And I’ll lead you all in the dance, said he.🎼

Do you feel so close to Jesus at times that you just have to dance?

When the Bee stings

When the Bee stings

I’m sharing an excerpt from an account of Eric Burnett’s reporting from Ukraine. The moment of Lucky, a goat, a gratitude…(see link to full interview below)

“Tell us what you saw in Ukraine and how it’s different from your previous reporting trip to the region, when you witnessed the transition into war?

I met a couple whose son was killed in the war. Their house was rubble, filled with rockets and bullets. Their backyard was a series of holes dug by Russian troops, still filled with the mattresses, sheets and cigarettes they stole when they lived there for more than a month. 

Vadim and Olga had lost everything. The day I met them, their goat, who was pregnant before the invasion, gave birth to two kids. Olga held them, inhaling their smell, and murmured that it was like milk, honey and eggs. She said, “We have new life.” 

Olga lost her only child in this war and yet she found joy in the newborn goats. I asked Vadim what word he would use to describe his life now — he didn’t pause. Lucky, he said. Lucky, because the Russians in nearby houses raped women and tortured people. 

Lucky, he said, because God helped them. They felt lucky. And there I was, unable to fathom their loss.

I learned from Vadim and Olga that sometimes, as much as a moment moves you and affects you, you cannot understand it. I was silenced by their ability to take joy in their goats and to find themselves lucky. 

I could only listen and witness their experience. 

I learned from them in a new way that this is something we humans can do for one another.”

https://www.cnn.com/2022/10/01/world/inside-cnn-newsletter-erin-burnett-ukraine-reporting-cfc/index.html

Give Thanks

Colossians 3:17 ESV

And whatever you do, in word or deed, do everything in the name of the Lord Jesus, giving thanks to God the Father through him.

Give thanks in all circumstances; for this is the will of God in Christ Jesus for you.

1 Thessalonians 5:16-18 ESV

Rejoice always, pray without ceasing, give thanks in all circumstances; for this is the will of God in Christ Jesus for you.

Philippians 4:6 ESV

Kind Words

“Kind words are like honey— they cheer you up and make you feel strong.”
‭‭Proverbs‬ ‭16:24‬ ‭CEV‬‬
https://bible.com/bible/392/pro.16.24.CEV


“Jesus answered, “Everyone who drinks this water will get thirsty again. But no one who drinks the water I give will ever be thirsty again. The water I give will become in that person a flowing fountain that gives eternal life.””
‭‭John‬ ‭4:13-14‬ ‭CEV‬‬
https://bible.com/bible/392/jhn.4.13-14.CEV

I have been doing a Study with Debi and a few others on Friendships. We had been thinking of inviting our friend Tammy to join. Today, she had no clue we were doing this word study and; she decided to include me in her activities. Now, we are approximately 200 miles apart and I’m a foodie.

In thinking about friendship would this video reach out to me a foodie be a friendly gesture? Bring it on!🤗

https://share.icloud.com/photos/086NlAkpLWJ9FdCVnl7OA2pPA

Grow Tall-Bloom Big-Make a Show

I’m growing daily

According to the Book of Samuel, an “evil spirit from the Lord” plagued King Saul, making him agitated and fearful of persecution. Because music was thought to have a therapeutic effect, the king summoned the hero and warrior David, who was renowned for his skill with the harp. (Ref I Samuel 16:14-23)

The Holy Spirit plays the Harp within our souls, inviting us to dance. “The Dance of Healing is within!”

“Now the Lord is the Spirit, and where the Spirit of the Lord is, there is freedom.”
—2 Corinthians 3:17 (NRSV)

Sunflowers and Bees

“Behold, I have given you every plant yielding seed that is on the face of all the earth, and every tree with seed in its fruit. You shall have them for food.” (Genesis 1:29)

A field of sunflowers or group is amazing to see. Every single flower is parallel to the others around it. Because of a central focus, sunflowers stay unified in purpose and position. The Bible says, “Behold, how good and how pleasant it is for brethren to dwell together in unity” (Psalm 133:1).

A single Sunflower from a group by my mailbox. I rush out each morning to see what Sunny Jazz and her bee friends have to share with me. Sunny Jazz is so tall I find myself on tiptoes trying to see her photo words. Bees are naturally attracted to Sunny Jazz and her sunflower family. Why you might ask? There is only one main reason why– sunflowers enable bees to produce honey.

Sunny Jazz invites you to peek in her sunny face and share your photo words.

Broken Crayons

Isaiah 42:3 “He will not snap off a broken reed
or snuff out a smoldering wick.
He will bring forth justice according to truth;”

I ran across this photo today after hearing a number of stories of broken dreams and broken lives. I was colorfully joyfully reminded of God’s promises to his children.

“A broken reed He will not break [off]
And a dimly burning wick He will not extinguish [He will not harm those who are weak and suffering];
He will faithfully bring forth justice.”

Look at all those colorful crayons and begin to imagine how many more lives you have yet to color. 2 Corinthians 4:9 NLT “We are hunted down, but never abandoned by God. We get knocked down, but we are not destroyed.” And, always remember when looking for perfect in yourself or another, that the purple crayon broken or not, colored the same.