“In your minds you must be the same as Jesus Christ: His state was divine, yet he did not cling to his equality with God” —Philippians 2:6, Jerusalem Bible

Recently as I meander along through a well-kept small fruit field  in NC, as long as I kept my eyes focused on the field acre or so that was  well kept and diligently showing beauty in its summer season I was energized with hope and joy. When I allowed my eyes to roam in the field adjacent to my walking path I saw an unkept field where weeds  were almost my height and its friends seem to lurk in my mind. My mind said weeds in a field might bring mice, 🐀 snakes🐍 and pricks from bramble and briars. My steps slowed, heat from the day seemed unbearable and my body just wanted to run and hide.

I quickly gave my mind full permission to send my eyes back to the butterflies I saw often in the field where fruit,  berries and blooms were frames and sustenance for butterflies and bees 🐝alike. The sights, sounds and smells were just to wonderful to tell. As I sheep-graze my eyes upon the butterfly and flower in our photo I am filled with the sweetness of honey singing from my heart;  “O taste and see that the Lord is good to you… and See the Lord is Good…The angel of the LORD encamps around those who fear Him, …And rescues them. O taste and see that the LORD is good; How blessed is the man who takes refuge in Him! “(Psalm 34:7-8 NASB)

When we allow the mind of Christ to seasonally shape our viewpoint, we follow His path into the treasure- trove of a creative creator, displaying glorious sightings all around us. O Look and see and dare yourself to take a test taste.  And, let us  complete His joy by being of the same mind, having the same love, 💟 being in full accord and of one mind. 👨‍❤️‍👨Philippians 2:2 ESV

“Teacher, which commandment is the greatest in the Law? 37) Jesus declared, “‘Love the Lord your God with all your heart and with all your soul and with all your mind. 38)  is the first and greatest commandment.…” Matthew 22:37

I have come to understand in order for me to obey the greatest commandment ever I need to love myself! Yes, love myself. I have lassoed this command by understanding  the second command of importance. “And the second is like it: ‘Love your neighbor as yourself.’ Matthew 22:39

Have I listened to my heart recently? What is it telling me?  Do I  have an  open, and seeking heart that is willing to listen, hear, and acknowledge the joyful, beautiful, loving SOUL that I am?  Do I love my neighbor as myself? Is this the water that floats my boat 🚣🏽of showing if I love the Lord  my God with all my heart and soul and mind?

Would love to hear how you self-talk with your heart and show your beauty for others to enjoy. I know I have published Violette’s art before but this hearing heart surely keeps speaking to me. Listen in!💟🕊

“One who forgives an affront fosters friendship, but one who dwells on disputes will alienate a friend.” – Proverbs 17:9 (NRSV)

As I thought on this wisdom provided by the Book of Proverbs I tried to interpret the action that comes with the wisdom from an all inclusive perspective. I was delighted that this wisdom speaks to friends and the cycle of friendship. Thinking from this point I don’t think it would call for to much effort not to dwell on a dispute or not forgive an affront.

I tried to arrange a beautiful bouquet from this understanding. A single fragrant Southern white Magnolia floating in an oblong water bowl with their leaves of shiny wax green floating near by with a few unscented small candles lite and glowing and directing light showing it’s dignity and beauty. In my mind this gives a perfect photo of a friend and shows the harmony of a friendship. A friend and friendship is value that only becomes devaluated when one allows unforgiveness which might just happen when one dwells on a dispute.

When I feel to enter the mind spin zone of dwelling on the negative and causing the wind of my words to blow out the candles and open my mouth to affront a harmless negative I run into Colossians 3:12-17. It is a great Book to find directives to redirect my thoughts and continue to enjoy the magnolia fragrance of friendship!

Rest awhile

Psalm 42:1, NRSV “As a deer longs for flowing streams, so my soul longs for you, O God.”

Do I even know how a deer longs for a flowing stream? Do you? Share your story of a longing deer for a stream.

“A good tree cannot bear bad fruit, and a bad tree cannot bear good fruit. . . . Thus, by their fruit you will recognize them.” – Matthew 7:18, 20 (NIV)

“Fruit takes time to develop and grow. Over time we will get to know others by the fruit that the Holy Spirit grows not only in them but in us as well. The apostle Paul lists that fruit: “love, joy, peace, patience, kindness, goodness, faithfulness, gentleness, and self-control” (Gal. 5:22-23, CEB).”

*art by Rena Oynes -garden fruit grown by Chris Holton 2016

June, you remind me of flash cards.
You flash into our lives with a host
of flair and fanfare!
Birds sing with summer flowers
harmonizing; signaling summer
fruit is just a pick away!
June, the brightest card of your flash
is when graduates show us their
embossed diplomas making
12, 14, 16 or even 18 years
of study
look like a flash of lightening!
Congrats are in order for
all our Grads.
You have done your family, community and
Nation Proud!
We stand and applaud your June, 2016,
With Hope for all your June’s!
Thank you, June
for stopping by each year.
Our hearts are lighter,
our eyes are brighter
when June greets us
each and every year!
Sara Craddock M (c)2013

“[The righteous] will bear fruit even when old and gray; they will remain lush and fresh in order to proclaim: “The LORD is righteous. He’s my rock.”- Psalm 92:14-15 (CEB)

“In all your ways acknowledge [the Lord], and he will make straight your paths.”

– Proverbs 3:6 (NRSV)

What makes you angry? What make you laugh! Is a smile laughter? Is angry a smirk? What mechanical devise flares inside of a human to light a fire or smoke a fire!

Sarah, of ancient times laughed from the thought of having a baby at age 90. God laughed at foolishness of man? Cain became angry with his brother and death for another ensued. Jesus became angry and had a temple fight.

I really don’t know if our sign below is true or not as it has no tag from where info came. But, when I saw it this am it sure got my attention to pay attention. I thought it would be interesting to tell our stories of laughter or angry or both?

My greatest laughter thought comes from the taste of coconut pie on my tongue. Even the thought of a coconut makes me laugh because my mind travels back to memories of childhood with a chisel and hammer fighting with a hairy brown hard shell to release the greatest taste I had or have ever had. Hum, and my brother stealing my coconut as it was his joy also gave me a little fire of angry. YAY, let’s hear your story!