I Don’t Get It but…

Going to church today, I bumped into the marathon. A 26+ mile run for fun? In the rain?As those who read my blog know I live on the Mississippi river within a 4 city metropolis called the Quad cities, with 2 cities either side of the river. This is the runningest place I have ever lived in, or maybe because of the size and layout of the land here, I see them more. This particular marathon hits all 4 cities. It takes major amounts of commitment, courage, perseverance and love of running. Some run for a cause, some for themselves to beat the last run time and some just run for the fun and enjoyment or it, regardless of the weather. I don’t get it but I admire it.

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I realize these picture are not clear, I was driving at the time, but that folds into what my true purpose of this post is about.

Runners train endless hours to be able to preform the endurance that is required for any given race. They train their bodies to withstand the pressure they may encounter, they revise their diets to help strengthen their endurance and they gear their minds into the proper mindset to be able to finish the race. Sometimes it not about a clear manor in running but that clearly you finish.

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For me, walking .2 miles can be a challenge on some days depending on what the weather is doing to my arthritic knees. But I admire the training of the runner and this morning I thought of a different thought pattern for running a race, which includes all the training mentioned above in different forms.

What if we turned our life into a race of…Running TO Jesus. What if we put a marathon’s passion of running to run toward the one who loves us more than we can imagine. I look at it as a child being lost and then being found like the prodigal some spoken of in scripture. The father running with love toward the some. Our heavenly father is forever running to us, and if we will just turn toward Him…of course it is easier to say than to do.

Or for animal loves, tears come to my eyes as soldiers are reunited with their canine loves upon their return from service. They RUN to each other with love overflowing.

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That really is what God wants from us…to run to Him with His overflowing love for us. Scripture talks about running the race of life and to run it with Christ as our goal, while in fact He is running beside us to make sure we finish with Him.

So when you see runners cheer them own and remember to run your own race to God. He never said it would be easy but it did say it would be worth it.

And while you are running, remember to reflect the love he is showing you and share it with for other to see His love.

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Our Amazing Mind, #SoCS-Blue

Our minds are an amazing gift from God that in some instances is phenomenal and in others its…Whaat??!?? I have heard it said that as long as you have the first and last letters correct and a general understanding of what is being said, your brain will make it right. On one hand that is great but on the other hand, its why writers had editors. It struck close to home when we purchased T-shirts for an community outreach program at church. We ordered shirts to let anyone know that we would pray for them right then, whatever was on their heart. What a great concept. The shirts came in, we loved them, several of us took one. I even posted one to show how excited we were about this. The next day we excitedly showed the pastor and he said “What? Did anyone proof read that before ordering?” “Well yea, we said…whats the problem…oh crap.” Three of us missed it.

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Okay I said. I can fix this so we can at least wear them, plus it will be another conversation starter. “Whatever” he said …”order new ones.”

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It just shows how our brains work for us when we don’t seem to be able to do it correctly ourselves. But it emphasizes how we all really need to care for each other and find unique ways to show we care…as in praying for each other. Those of us in the Christian religion like to say we are all brothers and sisters in Christ but it really goes deeper than that. We are all brothers and sisters period. We are all descendants of Adam and Eve…if you believe the bible is true.

I know for me, the idea of me coming from a one cell organism and developing into an ape and then into a human….yea, no. If that were true we would still be seeing that today. Now I will clarify that as there are some people who periodically act like apes and would probably get smack around by an ape if the ape saw that behavior. They don’t tolerate nonsense either.

The new shirts came in today so now we won’t embarrass the church. Funny how many people took one of those shirts with a “4” painted on it…hmmm.

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That being said, if ever I can pray for you about a specific situation or just an unspoken request just reply on any given post P4me and I will do just that.

Today’s prompt for Stream of Consciousness Saturday by Linda Hill is blue and these shirts are blue although the coloring from house lights really change the color. Come join in and have fun and remember to always be kind. Let the ripples of kindness flow from you to the world.

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Things You Forget, #1LinerWed

Things you forget when you see the preciousness of a new puppy and have been wanting one, like no sleep, cleanup detail, making you home puppy proof and toys all over the floor.

IMG_20190909_220030 — Playing with big sister Mimi

IMG_20190910_123905 — Living the good life…doesn’t take long to get spoiled

And as always I remind us all the value of kindness, not just because there may be cuteness around you but because in all things God shows his love to us to reflect it to others.

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Linda G Hill’s One Liner Wednesday is a good quick break for mid week. Come join in.

Mixed Emotions, Ashes and Dust

This is a post of many mixed emotions and possibly a thought just for the black hole of the universe with each person having their own opinion with most of us have a leaning one way or the other. I took a walk the other day for quiet reflective thinking and left being sad and upset. Why was this not fixed? How can this remain this way? Does no one care?

IMG_20190824_162452 — You can tell by the tree its been this way for a while

Life is a cycle, I think everyone agrees with that. Babies are born, become young children, grow into crazy teen, then young adults, and so on until we die. We as living beings don’t like talking about death as it seems a scary thing. But in reality, its just a part of life. We don’t know what to expect so we fear it, or we lean on our faith with hope and strength. My faith tells me that with my very last breath, I die. Only to take my next breath with Jesus. It is that fast.

Scripture tells us that when God made Adam, he was made from the dust of the earth. Gen 2:7, the Lord formed man from the dust of the ground and breathed into his nostrils the breath of life and man became a living being. Gen 3:19, tells us that from dust we came and into dust we will go. In my opinion of how I understand the scriptures, and my knowledge is small, I think people get concerned about not having a body to rise from the grave. Ezekiel 37, in speaking about the valley of dry bones and how God will give them knew life to be with him. 37:12 says ‘I will open the graves and bring you up’. I Thessalonians 16 tells us that at Jesus’ second coming, the dead will rise first from the grave and join Jesus in the air. But I think what people forget is at that split moment in time, we will receive new bodies, the earthly body is no longer useful. So it doesn’t matter if its dust, ashes, from the ground, from the ocean, wherever the remains are lying, they will be raised to new life in Christ.

Now that the philosophical and Christian avenue has been spoken, lets go back to the original shock of mixed feelings for cemeteries. When you think of all cemeteries over the centuries that are no longer in existence, yet the graves are still in the ground, then the pictures I took may make it more understandable. It still makes me very sad of the apparent apathy as this is a final resting place. I, myself, am choosing cremation as my family is scattered and in 200 years, who will care. Some of these tombstones are over 200 years old now and only because perpetual care of the grounds is done does it seem mostly cared for. You could tell they just mowed around fallen head pieces. So sad.

This is all the more reason I push in all of my post for the show of kindness to all living creatures while we are still on this side of the dirt. Once we are in heaven, we are in the middle of all the love of Christ but can not get it that kindness back down to earth where it is so badly needed. So remember to always be kind.

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Textures, Photo A Week Challenge

Nancy Merrill has challenged us with a wonderful word of textures. We normally think of textures as material, like the difference between silk and wool but textures have many forms from the visual sense, touching sense and even the emotional sense.

Visual senses can also tie in with the touching sense like in the texture of a painted wall or the texture of sculptured carpet, which can also show textures of color patterns.

In the plant world you have many textures of leaf types which also are visual and feel totally different, like the thin ribbed look and feel of a banana tree leaf or the thick rubbery pointed leaf of the Christmas cactus. What about the thick fuzzy leaf of a African violet? All leaves are designed to serve the environment and the plant that they support.

Let’s go a little different direction with the scratchy roughness of your best friends paw, verses the soft velvety feel of their ears. Each designed with a purpose.

All textures have a purpose in their design, whether they were created by God above or by an ingenious man who proved the reason for the creation.

Let’s go one step over and talk about a non-touchable textures. A texture that you can feel but not with your hands. The texture of emotions. These are textures you can chose to use and temper for good or let them run wild into the wind.

Jesus is a contrast of textures as strength in the Lion of Judah and gentleness as the lamb of salvation. A complicated and difficult texture to be. Gentle to all but strong enough to stand against evil.

As you study all the textures of life that surround you, remember to be strong and safe but always be kind as it reflects God’s love that shines down on us all.

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May you all have a great holiday weekend, and if it is not a holiday weekend for you where you are, still have a great weekend.

A Quick Word

I wanted to say a quick word of encouragement this morning before heading to work as I was blessed by my devotion this morning from Jesus Calling by Sarah Young and wanted to share it with you.

Grow strong in the Light of My Presence. As My Face shine upon you, you receive nutrients that enhance your growth in grace. I designed you to commune with Me face to Face and this interaction strengthens your soul. Read Psalm 4:6-8

My prayer for you today is to feel the warmth of His Light and Love as He shines upon you this and every day. As you take in that warmth and light, reflect it on others and always be Kind.

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Technically Not Flowers, FOTD

Cee has wonderful fun challenges for us to play with and today I am going a little off path with the Flower of the Day.

Between working part time, playing with the children at Party in the Park events, blogging and trying to write a book, several days in a row of heavy rain…who has time to cut the grass.

FOTD is supposed to be flower of the Day, well flowers are growing beauties, so I reached in and pulled out my clowning silliness and I give you….’shrooms.

Boy, the difference a day makes….

IMG_20190823_081102 — This morning’s view

They are kind of cool and I was going to wait and share the one below for Sunshine’s Monday Micro but its going to be tomorrow before I have a chance to mow so we will see what they look like tomorrow.

IMG_20190823_081033 — Beauty all its own

Each creation has a beauty all its own and as poisonous as some ‘shrooms are, they can really be beautiful.

Remember the beauty of your creation as God made you special to do what you do. Allow your beauty to shine and reflect God’s love on others.

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BOTD/FOTD Combo

Since they both happened pretty much because of preparing for a solution of a problem, I figured we could post them on the same post. The problem was – needed more bird food, the solution – go to Lowes and while we are there you know we have to look at all the pretty flowers….I was very good…I did not buy flowers this time.

im1 However I did buy dirt for re-potting a house plant. But here is the beauty for Flower of the Day. Evidently you plant roses in the fall…who knew? Not me.

IMG_20190822_122147 — Was slightly disappointed as it had no fragrance that I could tell

Still experimenting with what the birds seem to like the best. I know the thistle seeds are a favorite for the Goldfinches. Cardinal’s love the back oil sunflower seeds but they come with peanuts which draw the squirrels. But the squirrels like the sunflowers seeds as well. The safflower seeds were a big hit with the finches and squirrels don’t like them but the birds make a mess by scattering them too much on the ground but… that brought in the morning doves. Oh well. We will just keep playing to see what shows up. For now enjoy lunch time.

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All creatures great and small. It is the Lord God who made them all. And while that is technically not said in the scripture it is reference throughout the scriptures and God is the creator of all things. So enjoy all of creation, use caution when necessary, and let the things He loves remind you of just how much He loves you. Then let that love go out and ripple in waves of kindness wherever you go creating joy as it moves.

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Cee and Granny both have fun challenges we c an add to at any time, so enjoy.

Key Variations, TPC

Dutch Goes the Photo has given us a fun challenge of a word of “key” that could go in MANY directions. I have chosen four angles on the word key and looking forward to seeing others ideas. Come join in on the fun of Tuesday Photo Challenge.

First we have my grandmother’s china cabinet with a key my children loved to play with when young.

The next variation I chose is key ingredients in making yummy oatmeal cookies.

IMG_20190820_114015 — Making some on Saturday…yum

The third variations deals more with a Christian truth we hang onto as a key of hope.

IMG_20190820_114249 — Revelation 1:17, 18

The fourth is a lot more illusive with more variations than the word “key”. The KEY to Happiness. To me happiness is not a fleeting feeling but an inner joy of hope we have in Jesus Christ and staying in tune with his words. Will things blow up, yes. Does life get hard, yes. Do I fail at it daily, yes. Do others not believe as I do, yes. But for me, I have that Key hope that He will always be by my side, guiding, comforting, loving and I always try to pass on the key of hope He gives us by being kind as a key way of life.

From Pauper to Prince

Fairy tales are noted for taking those humble well meaning people with no visible riches and taking their story up a notch to give them the visible riches that matches their gifts of love they give to those around them, as in Cinderella.

But sometimes riches come to people unexpectedly, like the lottery, and because they have never had them, they don’t know what to do with them, and they waste them on un-needed items, then the riches are gone. Putting them back into worse conditions than before.

But today’s story is a follow up on a previous post of God’s guiding light to shine not only on a bedraggled mutt that was dirty beyond belief and covered in fleas to a now happy home, fully loved by two people, which also gives these people a much needed purpose in care for others. If you don’t know the story, this pup was found in the middle of the road by the church and a neighbor brought it inside to hopefully find its home. People, like dogs, sometimes lose our way as well in hopes of a kind neighbor to rescue us. We all need to be loved and we all need to be able to love. It is how God has programmed us – Love one another as I have loved you. And I think that goes for all of His creation. He created it in love, asked us to take care of it in love therefore we must love.

The last time I talked to his new mom, they still had not settled on a name but that doesn’t really matter, when ever she gets up, so does the new little prince. He follows her everywhere and sleeps in his own cushioned bed next to theirs. If you have ever had anything to do with a rescued dog, you will know that they fully understand they have been rescued and are forever grateful shadowing the new mom/dad with love and honor. See below the pictures from bedraggled pauper and the new little prince.

Remember, God looks at us the very same way. He created us all and loves us all and when we get lost from his care, he rejoices when we return and covers us in his love. Never forget that your heavenly father is a king, therefore you are a prince or princess, so stay fast in his love and show other the kindness he has lavished on you – even when it feels like no kindness may be falling on you at the moment. Let your kindness shine through the storm.

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