Easter Images

Easter to me is the fact that Jesus Christ rose from the dead by the power of God. Having said that, here are some images I hope you enjoy. The Cross is the power of Christ; The eggs represent new birth; the lambs - The Lamb of God and Freedom!

It's Sunday

It's Sunday
Time to worship.
Time to rest....maybe take a drive?
Time to breathe deeply.
Time to be thankful.
Time to refocus and renew for the coming days.
What's your favorite Sunday activity?

Appreciation

An 87 year old man said to a group, but no one in particular, "There are a thousand people who would give anything to sit where you're sitting and do what you do."
My natural smarty-pants side wanted to whisper, "Name me ONE." But before I could take my next breath, I realize he was right.
Why? Because before I was here, I had wanted to be where I was sitting and do what I am doing.
He's right and in my limited thinking, he stated a profound thought.
It's easy to become bored, tired, feel unappreciated, see greener grass, feel you're capable of so much more, get antsy...you get my drift.
Today I am taking inventory and deciding to be truly appreciative of where I am and what I'm doing.

Lily-Livered

Blogging about lilies made me wonder why would someone be referred to as "lily-livered." It means the person is a coward, gutless or afraid.

I heard the term most often in Western movies and TV programs when the sheriff would call out to an outlaw hiding in a barn, "Come outta thar, you lily-livered coward!"

Every one of us have been lily-livered at one time or another.

Years ago our German Shepherd had gotten injured. The piece of metal was stuck in his neck and he needed treatment. Understand that our vet had refused to treat him b/c he was "too mean." Sheesh, what a lily-livered veterinarian!

Anyway, so we had to take out the metal from an "excited" dog.

We took a deep breath; summoned our courage; said a quick prayer and yanked the metal out quickly. Our shepherd licked our hands and allowed us to treat the wound without a whimper.

Are you facing a scary thing, my lily-livered reader? Breathe deeply; summon your courage; say a quick prayer and do it quickly.

Lilies

In the last couple of years I've developed a real appreciation for daylilies.

Old Sweetwater Cottage came with the common orange and yellow ones. I don't know how long the plant can live, but most have been there at least 30 years and some much longer. Anyone know the answer to that Q?

Don't you like the beautiful colors and form?

Whether they get doted on in a prestigious garden, or get a Coke can thrown on them in a dusty ditch on the side of a country road, they produce a new, beautiful bloom each day. It's their characteristic. It's what they do.

Jesus appreciated that fact. In Luke 12:27 He's quoted, "Consider how the lilies grow; they don't work or make clothes for themselves. But, I tell you that even Solomon with his riches, was not dressed as beautifully as one of these flowers." Consider the "daylilies" in your life.

New Sock

I starting a new pair of knitted summer socks on US #2 Double Pointed Needles. The yarn's from Italy. The colors look like a field of wild flowers.

The fiber: 40% cotton, 40% merino wool & 20% nylon. Yum.

It always amazes me how perfect those little knitted stitches are. They're very uniform. That's my goal. *sigh of content*

As I studied each stitch it made me wonder...

If stitches could talk, would a bunch of them whine because they weren't "special?" Would one stitch snarl at the stitches on either side, "You're just a bunch of conformists and you should think for yourselves?"

Would there be stitch yelling that everyone else was copying? Would the heather blue stitches envy the golden stitches? Would there be a stitch screaming at another to grow a spine and not be so stinking flexible?

Would the stitch that may have a tiny more cotton feel plain? Would the more woolen stitch look at the stitch with a bit more nylon in its strand as artificial?

Hummmmm.....

If my stitches knit they way they should, and the way I want, I'll be very pleased with my socks.

If not, I rip stitches out and start over....from the beginning if I have to. It would be a little frustrating, but I want socks that fit and socks that don't have a gaping hole or sloppy stitches.

How many times has our Heavenly Father had to "start over" with us until we finally yield to His skilled hands?

Don't you think He's pleased when we accept His decisions for our life?

Psalm 139:14 says, "Thank You for making me so wonderfully complex! Your workmanship is marvelous - and how well I know it."

Paths

I read about a little child who was walking down a pathway toward home at sunset...not just walking, but weaving, skipping and occasionally, whirling in a circle.

The child was noticing everything from the tree branches above to the crunchy pebbles under feet.

The child crested the hill and in a moment's time, disappeared from site with the descent.

The child didn't just MERELY walk the path. The child MERRILY walked the path. I wondered to myself, "Am I just merely walking my life's path or merrily walking along it?"

The difference is attitude.

Jesus said after bringing a child in the midst of adults, "Unless you change and become like little children you will never enter the Kingdom of Heaven."

How are you walking your life's path? Merely or merrily?