Monthly Archives: December 2014

Daily Writing Prompt: The Life In My Hand

Posted on by under Pastor Wrinkles

Today the Daily Post has challenged us to:

 Tell us about the last time a bird in the hand was worth two in the bush for you.

See how others answered by going to:

https://dailypost.wordpress.com/dp_prompt/clich%c3%a9/

The Life In My Hand

by JE Lillie

Another cliché jumps to mind as I consider what to write today, “If wishes were horses beggars would ride.”

I have spent so much time wishing things in my life had turned out differently. The life I am living is certainly not the life I considered when I was twenty. I had a certain picture in my head and it didn’t contain any of the pain I have lived through or any of the pain I have caused.

Mostly those wishes of mine are private things so I don’t suppose many people consider that I have even wished. Oh, but I have and in that I have had to hold myself tight sometimes to keep this life from spinning off the game board into a forfeit. The truth is this other little cliché, “A bird in the hand is worth two in the bush”, has been the counter curse I have muttered every time I have gotten to wishing what life I have away.

Things may not have turned out the way I thought or planned but y’know what? That’s OK. Maybe it’s even better than OK because I know God is not shocked by the way things have turned out. He knew the end from the beginning and He had a plan in mind for this life I am living now.

So a bird in the hand is worth two in the bush… or this life I am living is worth far more than any life I could have wished for because it is this life which has made who I am, who God wants me to be.

“Trust in the Lord with all of your heart. Lean not on your own understanding. Acknowledge the Lord in all of your ways, and He will direct your paths.” Prov. 3:5,6

Friday Fictioneers: The Laska Steps

Posted on by under The Stories, Uncategorized

It is time for Friday Fictioneers again. Here is this week’s 100 word story based on the prompt given by Rochelle at

http://rochellewisofffields.wordpress.com/2014/12/24/26-december-2014/

PHOTO PROMPT - Copyright -Björn Rudberg

When you have finished my story go to Rochelle’s site and click on the blue frog to read Rochelle’s other contributors.

The Laska Steps

Another scene from Higher Places

https://josephelonlillie.com/2014/03/08/friday-fictioneers-higher-places/

By JE Lillie

She massaged the knots in my shoulders but I could not relax.

“Don’t be afraid. There is no power here that can touch us.” she whispered.

I smiled even as my insides rebelled against her words.

She might be safe. Her God was more powerful than mine, more powerful than any god I had ever encountered.

But would His protection extend to me? These after all were the forbidden Laska steps.

“I’ll go first.” She said.

Before I could count ten she was at the top.

I followed and entered the place my people could never go. Our love had survived.

Fun Foto Challenge: Cities and City Structures

Posted on by under Photography

Its life in the big city with Cee this week.

See how her other contributors have answered the challenge by going to

http://ceenphotography.com/2014/12/23/cees-fun-foto-challenge-cities-and-city-structures/

cees-fun-foto

Here  are some fun cityscapes for your perusal

Clifden in the Maumturk
The Derry Guildhall
Delft from on High
The canals of Alkmaar
Dublin Parliament

 

 

It Is Finished…Well Almost

Posted on by under Pastor Wrinkles

The Christmas Holiday is upon us! My work for Christmas 2014 is almost done. I have sung my concerts. I have wrapped my gifts. I have bought our movie tickets for tomorrow. I have purchased the groceries for our Christmas meals. It is finished…well almost. Now all I have to do is walk through it. Here are some photos of our Christmas ministries this year.

 

 

The carolling teams converge
We gather to encourage one another
The happy angel
Donna Marshall and the women’s ministry of Bread of Life made a fabulous meal!
And a Partridge In A Pear Tree

I won’t be publishing tomorrow as it is Christmas Day. But please tune in on boxing Day to read my new flash fiction piece, The Steps of Laska.

 

 

Share Your World 2014 Week 50

Posted on by under For Family & Fun

I will be taking Christmas Day off from blogging this year but check back in with me on Boxing Day (Dec. 26th) for a new story about the Laska Steps.

share-your-world2

It is hard to believe we are almost through 2014 and into a whole new year of sharing. Then again I have been saying “It’s almost Christmas” since January; So maybe I shouldn’t be surprised that we are here.

You can see how others have shared there world at Christmas by going to…

Share Your World – 2014 Week 50

Here are Cee’s four question plus a bonus

Do you have a signature dish? If not is their one in your family?

My family owned a restaurant in Winchendon MA from 1946 until 1990. I was a cook at the Old Travellers  for several years; So I suppose that means I have several signature dishes most of which belonged to my grandfather. I don’t make them much any more even though I have Gramp’s recipe box. I  pulled his recipe for homemade rolls out at Thanksgiving. They were an epic fail. These days I go for dishes that are short on ingredients and fast in the making. I do have this Kielbasa casserole I make a lot super yummy and only four ingredients!

Do you have a favorite board game?

I don’t play board games much anymore. I guess I am a little stodgy. But I used to love Clue.

Is there a household chore that you enjoy?

I really love making beds… and sweeping… and ironing. Just call me CinderAlan.

 What is one thing you will never care about?

I will never care what color socks I wear with my suit or whether or not I can wear socks with sandals. I will never care what color shoes I wear with my suit either. Most days I am glad to get out of the house with shoes on. Speaking to that I actually I have a friend who is a teacher. He got to school the other day and took off his coat only to realize he was only wearing a tee-shirt. I think as a society we may be moving a touch too fast.

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

I am grateful I got to lead Christmas concerts at the Gardner VNA and at the Lifeskills Day Habilitation Program. I am also grateful we had four teams caroling in eight locations last Friday night reaching some of the loneliest people in our area with Christmas love.

This next week I am looking forward to spending a few hours with my son who is home visiting from PA.

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One of our Carolling Teams

Take Your Medicine!

Posted on by under Uncategorized

I’ll take the laughter please.

Ken Knowlton's avatarartistdayapart

I’m old enough to remember my parents being sure that cod liver oil was good for whatever ailment I might have or as a preventative to take care of any possible future ailments. Turns out, they were right:  Cod liver oil is used for high cholesterol, high triglycerides, kidney disease in people with diabetes, high blood pressure, heart disease, osteoarthritis, depression, an autoimmune disease called systemic lupus erythematosus (SLE), glaucoma, and middle ear infections (otitis media).  While I know that it apparently was very appropriate to good health, that didn’t eliminate the fact that it tasted absolutely horrible.

                      

If you’re a male, you’ve all heard the expression, Take it like a man–meaning to respond to pain, hardship, adversity, or emotional distress in a collected, aggressive, and typical or stereotypical masculine manner, especially without question, crying, complaining, or becoming emotional–not very politically correct these days.  This certainly was applied…

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Know Your Enemy

Posted on by under Uncategorized

A good admonition

debbestillandlisten's avatarDebBe Still and Listen

It is important to know your enemy and the tactics he uses. The evil one is so cunning that you have to pay close attention to his every move.   Believe me he will use anyone and everyone you know to deceive you. Christian, be on guard don’t let yourself be fooled by the evil one!

Not only do you need to know your enemy but you need to know your friends as well.  Of course, you already know them because they’re your friends, right? Well, more importantly you need to know their character.  Jesus knew Peter’s character and this is why Peter was chosen to be the rock to build his church on.

Matthew 16:13-19

13 When Jesus came to the region of Caesarea Philippi, he asked his disciples, “Who do people say that the Son of Man is?”

14 “Well,” they replied, “some say John the Baptist, some say Elijah…

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