Winding Down 2016!

It's the Winter Solstice today!  With all of the buzz and razzle-dazzle this time of year, I probably 'shouldn't' be posting here but dang! -- slowing down and connecting and smiling and stepping outside of the razz is liberating and calming... and a must to keep some sanity.

My original holiday card writing (which doing ours and receiving others' is one of my greatest joys) was axed as 'too political' which I was balked at but finally conceded and resigned to just post it here:

Oh gosh, 2016, wow-wee.  Well, first… no, I don’t know what’s first.  Many things have been confusing, heartbreaking, eye-opening – personally, nationally and worldly.  Most all of it is based in fear.  What’s the opposite of fear?  Love.

So we’re sending love to you, our most loved in the world.  We pray that you and every person in this world – including our personal and public oppressors – speak and act with love – with mindfulness, selflessness and compassionate kindness.  And that every person in this world feels love in their life.  Let us be generous with each other and be able to imagine standing in each others’ shoes.

A prayer that I try to pray which I heard from a woman who spoke at President Obama’s inauguration is ‘Lord, Let Me Be A Blessing’.  When we are seeking to understand each other, serve each other, listen to each other, accept each other:  we bless each other.  And those blessings make precious ticks towards peace, towards harmony, towards balance.

We are each only one person.   We make so many mistakes and we need each other – each other’s support and forgiveness.  We need to stay hopeful.  We need to stay faithful.  We need to hurdle fear and count our blessings… for which you are one of our dearest.

Peace, Love and Open-mindedness happened in 2016 too – and we wish you these this holiday season and all through 2017.

Warm wishes and many blessings to you and your loved ones!

Aaaaah, it feels good to let it out.  Thank you internet and this blog's following of three (;

Also wanted to post the entry from today's God Calling:

Children, take every moment as of My Planning and ordering.  Remember your Master is the Lord of the day's little happenings.  In all the small things yield to My gentle pressure on your arm.  Stay or go, as that pressure, Love's pressure, indicates.

The Lord of the moments, Creator of the snowdrop and the mighty oak.  More tender with the snowdrop than the oak.

And when things do not fall out according to your plan, then smile at Me indulgently, a smile of Love, and say, as you would to a human loved one "Have your way then" -- knowing that My loving response will be to make that way as easy for your feet as it can be.

A Little Help From Friends

For me, for you, for my friend Mary who just lost a dear furry friend...

From Streams in the Desert
May 18

We were under great pressure,... so that we despaired even of life... But this happened that we might not rely on ourselves but on God, who raises the dead. 2 Corinthians 1:8-9

Pressed beyond measure; yes, pressed to great length;
Pressed so intensely, beyond my own strength;
Pressed in my body and pressed in my soul,
Pressed in my mind till the dark surges roll.
Pressure from foes, and pressure from dear friends.
Pressure on pressure, till life nearly ends.

Pressed into knowing no helper but God;
Pressed into loving His staff and His rod.
Pressed into liberty where nothing clings;
Pressed into faith for impossible things.
Pressed into living my life for the Lord,
Pressed into living a Christ-life outpoured.

The pressure of difficult times makes us value life.  Every time our life is spared and given back to us after a trial, it is like a new beginning.  We better understand its value and thereby apply ourselves more effectively for God and for humankind.  And the pressure we endure helps us to understand the trials of others, equipping us to help them and to sympathize with them.

Some people have a shallowness about them.  With their superficial nature, they lightly take hold of a theory or a promise and then carelessly tell of their distrust of those who retreat from every trial.  Yet a man or woman who has experienced great suffering will never do this.  They are very tender and gentle, and understand what suffering really means.  This is what Paul meant when he said, "Death is at work in us" 2 Cor. 4:12.

Trials and difficult times are needed to press us forward.  They work in a the way the fire in the hold of a mighty steamship provides the energy that moves the pistons, turns the engine, and propels the great vessel across the sea, even when facing the wind and the waves.  A.B. Simpson

"Everyone's on their own path" -- my Dad

this one looks nice (:

Direction

Look for beauty and joy in the world around.  Look at a flower until its beauty becomes part of your very soul.  It will be given back to the world again by you in the form of a smile or a loving word or a kind thought or a prayer.

Listen to a bird.  Take the song as a message from God.  Let it sink into your soul.  That too will be given back to the world in ways I have said.  Laugh more, laugh often.  Love more.  I am with you.  

God Calling

March 11

Happy Birthday tomorrow to Graham Robert!

He's a dapper, fun, feisty, independent, and totally terrific 10!