A Busy Day

I have too many photos to edit tonight, so I’ll just show you my favorite – and post the others later.

This one was from the Fiftieth Wedding Anniversary Celebration for friends from church – Glenn & Shirley Wenger.

Every part of Scripture is God-breathed and useful one way or another—showing us truth, exposing our rebellion, correcting our mistakes, training us to live God’s way.

Through the Word we are put together and shaped up for the tasks God has for us.

2 Timothy 3:16-17 (The Message)

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I praise You, Lord, for the Bible

The wonderful, written revelation of Yourself

And Your plan.

Thank you for condensing Your thoughts into the written page

Thoughts which are vastly higher, and deeper, and wider

Than anything I can think or comprehend.

Thank you for caring enough to communicate

Your clear

Unchanging

Always accessible

Refreshing

Word.

What a privilege it is to store your Word in my heart

So when You want to speak to me or bless me

In a special way or application

You can bring it to my mind.

Thank you that I can learn of You in the Scriptures.

I can

See Your face

Hear Your voice

Feel Your touch

Discover Your will

Seek Wisdom

Develop deep faith

Find confidence and courage.

I praise you that Your Word can enlighten and guide me

And change me more and more into Your image.

Inspired by 31 Days of Praise by Ruth Myers

Posted in Day 7 of my Prayer & Praise Journal

He Made My Day

Busy Finches

Little Boys

We were still enjoying our first cup of coffee when Jeff (oldest son) surprised us with an early morning visit.

He stopped in for a ten-minute coffee break…

and even brought his own coffee!

Then after a hug and a kiss he was gone!

We’ve seen him in a variety of White Oak Mills trucks, as he began driving for them shortly after graduating from high school – and he will be forty-five this fall.

The goldfinch convention must still be going on in our woodlot, as the feeders were full of them again today.

Notice that the one on the upper left is arriving a bit late.

If you look close, you can see that their feathers are just beginning to turn yellow.

I love when they wear their brilliant yellow feathers.

Caught mid-flight

Pretty feather pattern

These little guys were here for an hour and a half this afternoon while Kristen went to an appointment.

(Hey, Howard, do you recognize the hat?)

 (

This was my view of them, while I put finishing touches on the PowerPoint pictures of our trip to Europe last summer.

Blessed be the God and Father of our Lord Jesus Christ

who according to His great mercy has caused us to be born again…through the resurrection of Jesus Christ…to obtain an inheritance imperishable and undefiled and will not fade away, reserved in heaven for you.

Excerpts from 1 Peter 1:3-4 (New American Standard Bible)

~~~

I magnify You for Your

Purity

Holiness

Justice

Fairness

Faithfulness

Power

Protection

Thank you that Jesus will return

With a shout of triumph

The dead in Christ will be raised – imperishable

In a flash – the twinkling of an eye

I will be completely, utterly changed

I will see You face to face.

Your Kingdom is just, peaceful, and everlasting

A kingdom that cannot be shaken

You will never be voted out

Satan will be chained

No coup will ever dethrone You.

 

Thank You for a lasting inheritance

Imperishable – I can’t think of anything on earth that can not be destroyed.

Undefiled – Everything and everyone I know is full of impurities.

Unfading – I cannot imagine joy that will not go away, flowers that will not die, clothing that will not fade.

Reserved – It is done – with my name on it.

 

You are King of Kings and Lord of Lords

For all eternity

Forever and ever.

Inspired by 31 Days of Praise by Ruth Myers

Posted in Day 6 of my Prayer & Praise Journal

Not Much Time for Creativity Today

I did experiment with another setting on my lens – just for fun.  I don’t think it made much difference.

~~~

I’ve been spending every working hour updating addresses and mailing newsletters.  I had lots of additions, deletions, and changes from the staff who had written the letters.

~~~ 

Before and after hours, I have been preparing our Germany/Switzerland pictures as a PowerPoint to show to our Sunday School class on Saturday evening.  It has been so much fun, and takes me back to that wonderful trip last summer.

~~~

Tonight we finalized reservations for a trip we are taking to Vancouver in a few weeks.  We received vouchers after canceling a flight last spring – when plans changed and we drove the chapel to British Columbia instead of flying.  We must use them before March 4 – or lose them.  It feels good to have plane, car, and lodging reservations completed.

~~~

I think there was a goldfinch meeting in the feeder this morning.

Then, just as the committee was ready to make a major decision, they were interrupted by the “hog of the feeders.”

Oh, squirrel, you irritate me – and my birds.

 Who is like you among the gods, O Lord—glorious in holiness, awesome in splendor, performing great wonders?

Exodus 15:11 (New Living Translation)

~~~

I praise You for your unlimited power

Beyond my imagination

Beyond anything I have ever seen

Beyond anything I can ask – or think – or dream.

You have power to make everything

Power to keep everything

Nothing is too hard for You. 

I praise You for Your power over the broad events of my life

And the details.

My very breath is in Your power.

Nothing in my life has been accidental.

Nothing in my life is incidental.

No experience is wasted.

Thank You that I can live today in Your power.

I can face the future free of concern

With hands outstretched to whatever lies ahead.

Thank You that I can know for certain that You are with me today

That You will always be with me – to old age and through all eternity.

There is no one like You.

 Inspired by 31 Days of Praise by Ruth Myers

Posted in Day 5 of my Prayer & Praise Journal

Strange Snowstorm

I think this was the most unusual snowstorm we ever had. 

We got about two inches.  An area about seven miles away got eleven inches!

This tractor didn’t have to remove much snow in our neighborhood.

The snow was light and fluffy, sticking to the birds beaks.

The feeders were busy this morning.

This housefinch was keeping an eye on me.

This one was enjoying a black oil sunflower seed.

Worthy is the Lamb who was slain, to receive power and wealth and wisdom and might and honor and glory and blessing!

Revelation 5:12 (English Standard Version)

~~~

I am still amazed that…

You first loved me

Jesus saved me and atoned for my sins

He made me justified and righteous

Jesus did not claim His own rights as Your equal

He came to earth to be humiliated – for me

Death could not hold Him

He is the Great High Priest

He intercedes and prays for me

The Holy Spirit empowers me for the work You have called me to do.

I bow at the feet of Him who was dead, and is alive forever and ever.

I exalt Him.

I yield myself to Him.

For He alone is worthy to receive power, riches, wisdom, might, honor, glory, and blessing.

 Inspired by 31 Days of Praise by Ruth Myers

Posted in Day 4 of my Prayer & Praise Journal

Clouds Are Moving In

A sunny evening. 

We’ve been expecting about an inch of snow since last night, but all we got was a few flurries.

Just as the sun was setting, I noticed a large cloud-cover moving in from the west.

It will be interesting to see if these clouds produce snow. 

This storm has been a bit like a thunderstorm – some nearby areas got snow and others did not.  It seemed strange to hear about evening cancelations (local radio) in the area, when we didn’t even have snow.

While I was working on this, Cerwin said, “It’s snowing!”

 Inspired by 31 Days of Praise by Ruth Myers

Posted in Day 3 of my Prayer & Praise Journal