Not a true Audubon here. You know, the experts who can distinguish between the two million variations of sparrows…with one eye closed. Nope, I’m not one of them. But there are some birds that even I can point out with some degree of confidence. Bob goes considerably beyond that—his still has his trusty Peterson’s from high school, and if there is a question about a sighting, out Continue reading “Red-headed jackhammer!”
My husband, Bob, will tell you that I’m all about stories with puppies and butterflies. In other words, don’t give me drama unless there’s a happy ending. (Here’s my disclaimer….) Having said that, it might seem a bit incongruous for me to reblog this beautiful poem, but it continues to amaze me that God–in His sovereign wisdom and unfathomable love–gave us the power to break His heart. Part of the good news, however, (spoiler alert!) I’ve read the last part of the Book, and we do have a happy ending.
A great offering by Susan Irene Fox, and check out her full site at http://susanirenefox.com/
JESUS WEPT
Lord Jesus, would You please replyThe world’s in strife, You can’t deny
We turn away from Your commands
And scorn becomes our newest stand; I hear You cry.
For those who still in grace believe
We ask Your healing to receive
For who from love will abdicate
Whose nations turn from love to hate; we hear You grieve.
Your Body now asunder torn
From accusation now is worn
The ‘right’ and ‘wrong’ denouncing calls
Not grace or love, no light at all; I hear You mourn.
It seems majority’s content
To claim their turf, in fact resent
Such talk of love, and grace they shun;
A pity too, because there’s none heed Your lament.
In spite of odds, hear Spirit deep
This gift of love and grace to keep
…and as we pray for open hearts
The gap continues, miles apart. And Jesus weeps.
Thank you, Susan, for allowing me to post this on my site!
Prior to the 1700’s, the concept of the supernatural was taken for granted. You worshiped something, somewhere, society even becoming largely defined as a “B.Y.O.G.” (Bring Your Own God). The thought that we are not alone in this universe was simply self-evident.
Then came the so-called Enlightenment, and that mode of thinking crept in as a polar opposite ideology throughout all strata of society disguised as rational, scientific, and evolved. The supernatural was quite passé, and the human intellect took center stage. There was clearly no room for any deity among the test tubes and Bunsen burners.
So I continue to think it most Continue reading “B.Y.O.G…. (Bring Your own God)”
“Jesus Christ is the same yesterday, today, and forever.”
This FABULOUS photo was captured by Julie at I Sing Because I’m Free. It reminds me that, low-tech or high-tech, ancient or “sophisticated” 21st century, we all must meet at the foot of the Cross.
Hebrews 13:8 Holy Bible, New Living Translation, copyright © 1996, 2004, 2015 by Tyndale House Foundation. Used by permission of Tyndale House Publishers Inc., Carol Stream, Illinois 60188. All rights reserved.
When I made the decision to go to Purdue, I think my father was quite pleased, since he is a Boilermaker himself, an engineer. A practical man, my dad.
While in college, I had the opportunity to learn how to parachute out of plane. Now, for some reason, my dad was not so happy. Neither was Bob, my soon-to-be-finance. They each mounted their separate retaliations, and whether it was because of those, or lack of funds, or lack of time, or simply collegiate inertia, it never happened.
My dad was happy again.
When most kids decide to go to college, they are Continue reading “Making dad happy”
He created them male and female, and he blessed them…
Sometimes we’re just too afraid, or maybe just to numb, to cry. Evidently, science is finding different chemical components to our tears, based on why we are crying at that moment. Tears of pain, tears of joy, tears of laughter (those are my favorite.) Either way, tears are an important part of our humanity.
This beautiful offering is from one of my bloggish buddies, joyindestructible. If you haven’t found her site, please hop over there (after reading this, naturally….!) And here’s my poetry INFO.
THE JOY IN TEARS
Tears washing over me,
Disinfect and set me free,
From the trauma of tragedy,
Purify hot anger infecting me,
Wash all pain away inside of me,
Tears of joy celebratory,
Release intensity so easily,
Happy moment glisten freely,
Jump and shout glee indwell me,
Tears of Hallelujahs praising Thee,
Tears of Compassion sweetly,
Course of mercy full-heartedly,
Expressing all genuine empathy,
For the pain of others a sympathy,
A human bond of love, peace, unity,
Tears of Jesus wept for me,
And you, hating sin’s tyranny,
Tears of blood to make us free,
Of death, the end of sin-infamy,
Is this what I really signed up for?
For some reason, this God of the Bible insists, continually, consistently, on risking everything by working through His fallen creation, fallible people like Abraham and Sarah and the whole Hagar debacle. Or the David and Bathsheba affair, (out of which eventually came Solomon.) Then there’s the terse separation between Paul and Barnabas over some young guy named Mark (who later wrote said gospel…)
And what about Jesus, who entrusted His infinitely important message to twelve goofballs, well…make that eleven, since one was a turncoat who off-ed himself after greasing the Lord’s way to a gruesome execution. Even without modern Continue reading “You mean I have to work at this?”
If Jonah was a prophet, then he must have been a very discouraged and disillusioned one. You know how it goes. Serve, serve, pray, pray, but nothing seems to change, except maybe to get worse. You’re misunderstood, misrepresented, laughed at (at best), ignored, shunned, or shut away. Serving the Lord God Almighty was not a particularly easy, stress-free job. It had few Continue reading “What were you thinking…?!?”
He has removed our sins as far from us
as the east is from the west.
INSPIRATION with an ATTITUDE 