Monthly Archives: July 2014

#100happydays Day 43

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“Happiness is not a life without pain, but rather a life in which the pain is traded for a worthy price.”
― Orson Scott Card, Pastwatch: The Redemption of Christopher Columbus

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The above quote pretty closely echoes one of my favorite Scripture verses from Hebrews chapter 12

“Therefore, since we are surrounded by so great a cloud of witnesses, let us also lay aside every weight, and sin which clings so closely, and let us run with endurance the race that is set before us,2 looking to Jesus, the founder and perfecter of our faith, who for the joy that was set before him endured the cross, despising the shame, and is seated at the right hand of the throne of God.” ESV

Every worthwhile endeavor has a price tag attached to it. Even VBS (Vacation bible School) which would seem to be all fun and games comes at a cost to the people who would see young lives changed. There is the giving of time, talent and treasure to every Kingdom event in which we involve ourselves. I am no longer surprised by this nor am I disappointed because I remember something else God said in MA 19:29

“everyone who has left houses or brothers or sisters or father or mother or children or lands, for my name’s sake, will receive a hundredfold3 and will inherit eternal life. 30 But many who are first will be last, and the last first.” ESV

As I come upon a very busy weekend of ministry I am happy because I am being allowed to invest in something that will outlast the sun; That is souls brought into the kingdom of God!

We Were Given More!

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We have such great power. We must use it!

debbestillandlisten's avatarDebBe Still and Listen

 

Did you know we were given more?  More than I ever knew, up until the other day when I had read one of my devotions and the following passage jumped off the page at me.

“Look, I have given you authority over all the power of the enemy and you can walk among snakes and scorpionsand crush them. Nothing will injure you.” Luke 10:19 NLT

 

The phrase “….over all the power of the enemy” is what caught my attention.  That phrase, “….over all the power of the enemy” has repeated over and over in my head. As I wrote this post I was amazed at how much more power we were given, that is if we choose to take it.  It is so great when the wattage suddenly gets bumped up a bit, don’t you think?  The more I meditated on “….over all the power of the enemy” the brighter…

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#100happydays Day 42

Posted on by under Photography, Uncategorized

“There is a kind of happiness and wonder that makes you serious. It is too good to waste on jokes.”  ― C.S. Lewis

Me and the Chimes

As soon as I read this quote I knew I would be choosing this picture taken at the Chimes Tower in Longwood. Life is seriously good these days. A time is come of great accomplishment. Whether the world ever sees what I do or not hardly matters. I am where God has ordained me to be and that is my first and greatest joy! I feel like I am somehow escaping the snare of fear of man and approval addiction I have long struggled with!

Have you ever struggled with approval addiction? What helps you overcome it?

Will The Circle be Unbroken!

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This post is written in response to Cee’s Fun Foto Challenge: Circles & Curves

The challenge reminded me of that old Johnny Cash  song  “Will the Circle be Unbroken”

Entrance to the Collegeville Diner

Entrance to the Collegeville Diner

“Will The Circle Be Unbroken”

I was standing by the window
On one cold and cloudy day
When I saw the hearse come rolling
For to carry my mother away

Will the circle be unbroken
Bye and bye Lord, bye and bye
There’s a better home awaiting
In the sky Lord, in the sky

"You are the light of the world. A town built on a hill cannot be hidden. Neither do people light a lamp and put it under a bowl. Instead they put it on its stand, and it gives light to everyone in the house. MA. 5:14-15

“You are the light of the world. A town built on a hill cannot be hidden. Neither do people light a lamp and put it under a bowl. Instead they put it on its stand, and it gives light to everyone in the house. MA. 5:14-15

I said to the undertaker
Undertaker please drive slow
For this lady you are carrying
Lord I hate to see her go

Will the circle be unbroken
Bye and bye Lord, bye and bye
There’s a better home awaiting
In the sky Lord, in the sky

The Great Eye, Keukenhof

The Great Eye, Keukenhof

Oh, I followed close behind her
Tried to hold up and be brave
But I could not hide my sorrow
When they laid her in the grave

Will the circle be unbroken
Bye and bye Lord, bye and bye
There’s a better home awaiting
In the sky Lord, in the sky

The Water Dandelion, Keukenhof

The Water Dandelion, Keukenhof

I went back home, the home was lonesome
Since my mother, she was gone
All my brothers and sisters crying
What a home so sad and alone

Will the circle be unbroken
Bye and bye Lord, bye and bye
There’s a better home awaiting
In the sky Lord, in the sky

Enkhuisen The Netherlands

Enkhuisen The Netherlands

We sang songs of childhood
Hymns of faith that made us strong
Ones that mother maybelle taught us
Hear the angels sing along

Will the circle be unbroken
Bye and bye Lord, bye and bye
There’s a better home awaiting
In the sky Lord, in the sky

Beneath the clock

Beneath the clock

Check out what Cee’s other contributors have come up with at

http://ceenphotography.com/2014/07/08/cees-fun-foto-challenge-circles-and-curves/

 

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#100happydays Day 41

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“Hope
Smiles from the threshold of the year to come, 
Whispering ‘it will be happier’…” 
― Alfred Tennyson

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I have shared this picture before but I have to share it again because this is my milestone celebration picture. I have reached another milestone. Today wordpress informed me I have 500 followers! Thank you readers! You are very dear to me!

#100happydays Day 40

Posted on by under Photography

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We may live in a dark world but the light is constantly working to infiltrate that darkness. I am happy about that truth, even though light is no gentle rain falling across the meadow of our lives; Most times light comes as a fire ball surprising us with its sudden appearance in the sky over our heads. It can be disconcerting even a bit frightening in its scope and challenge. We can rejoice or mourn over its coming. If you are like me you have done both depending on the situation you find yourself in at the given moment of the light’s appearance.

Light is glorious!

Light is filled with hope!

Light is challenging to our personal darkness!

Light is almost always inconvenient!

Light calls us to be better than we are!

Light leaves no room for shadows!

I am glad God has come with His light to infiltrate my life.

I am challenged by that.

I am happy about that.

How is the light challenging you today?

What emotions is that light stirring inside of you today?

For God so loved the world that he gave his one and only Son, that whoever believes in him shall not perish but have eternal life. 17For God did not send his Son into the world to condemn the world, but to save the world through him. 18Whoever believes in him is not condemned, but whoever does not believe stands condemned already because they have not believed in the name of God’s one and only Son. 19This is the verdict: Light has come into the world, but people loved darkness instead of light because their deeds were evil. 20Everyone who does evil hates the light, and will not come into the light for fear that their deeds will be exposed. 21But whoever lives by the truth comes into the light, so that it may be seen plainly that what they have done has been done in the sight of God. John 3:16-20 NIV

Share Your World 2014 Week 27

Posted on by under For Family & Fun

I am actually getting to share my world with Cee  early this week! I cannot tell you how excited that makes me.

When you have finished reading my shares go visit Ceeland and see what her other contributors have said.

http://ceenphotography.com/2014/07/07/share-your-world-2014-week-27/

If you were the architect of one existing building, which building would you select?

I think it would have to be a Victorian house. I thought about being the architect for some huge city office building or skyscraper. It would probably bring me more fame but not as much satisfaction as knowing I had built a shelter for a family’s lifetime.

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What is one of your favorite quotes?

My all-time favorite quote is “Take time for the quiet moments; For God whispers and the world is loud.”

What color do you feel most comfortable wearing?

I feel best in black.

What is something you learned in the last week?

I learned the difference between elderberry and pokeberry.

Bonus question:  What are you grateful for from last week, and what are you looking forward to in the week coming up?

I am so grateful for a beautiful Fourth of July Weekend. I am looking forward to  preaching at this week’s Special Touch Disability awareness Day on Saturday and  on Sunday morning at Cornerstone.

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Black & White Sunday: Concerts At Sunset

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This post is created in response to “Lost In Translation’s” post…”Black & White Sunday”

Hop on over to Lost In Translation when you are done here to discover what other contributors have offered.

http://bopaula.wordpress.com/2014/07/06/black-white-sunday-soaring-into-the-sky/

Shadow Concert

I took this photo at sunset the other night while attending a community concert with my mother and Aunt.

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#100happydays Day 39

Posted on by under Photography

 

Happiness is mostly a by-product of doing what makes us feel fulfilled.

Benjamin Spock Concert

I think the problem is that most of us end up pursuing things we think will pursue us only to find in the end they could never truly fill the gap. I think it was Spurgeon who said “Inside of every man is a God-sized hole.”. Only in the pursuit of God will we find our true fulfillment and happness.

Thisis my friend Brian Dickens. He is one of our town’s summer musicians doing concerts in the park.

Cee’s Oddball Photo Challenge Week 19

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022714 Odd Ball

This post was created for Cee’s Oddball Photo Challenge. Pop on over to Cee’s place to see what Cee’s other contributors have seen at Ceen photography.

http://ceenphotography.com/cees-odd-ball-photo-challenge/

These are some odd balls from my latest vacation in PA.