11/1/09

GRANDMA



Today was my wife's 60Th birthday. All of our children called to wish her a happy birthday (and some even sang too). But one grand-daughter went beyond what I expected; she made this card. She didn't use a computer and the spelling isn't perfect, but I couldn't be more proud of her. She put some thought into her gift, which showed love and respect, but inside the card she wrote "and as sweat as chocolate, HERSEY'S CHOCOLATE"! Then she glued Hersey's candy to the opposing side (and also a tootsie roll). Think on this passage from Proverbs for a few minutes.


Proverbs 17:6 WEB (R)
(6) Children's children are the crown of old men; the glory of children are their parents.


Better than this were the hugs and kisses. And the dinner, cake, flowers were a nice touch! I went home feeling that somehow, somewhere we must have done something right! If nothing else, I learned the value of this passage from the Proverb's!!! Oh, by the way, my wife, Linda was very happy too!

Vistas



One of the things that I loved about the Northeast was the vistas. When we lived in New Jersey, once in awhile we would go to the Amish country of Pennsylvania and drive through the Poconos. This picture reminds me of some of those scenes and someday I hope go there once again. I immediately thought of this passage from Deuteronomy and I know that you will see its importance once you read it.


Deuteronomy 32:45-52 WEB (R)
(45) Moses made an end of speaking all these words to all Israel;
(46) He said to them, Set your heart to all the words which I testify to you this day, which you shall command your children to observe to do, even all the words of this law.
(47) For it is no vain thing for you; because it is your life, and through this thing you shall prolong your days in the land, where you go over the Jordan to possess it.
(48) Yahweh spoke to Moses that same day, saying,
(49) Go up into this mountain of Abarim, to Mount Nebo, which is in the land of Moab, that is over against Jericho; and see the land of Canaan, which I give to the children of Israel for a possession;
(50) and die on the mountain where you go up, and be gathered to your people, as Aaron your brother died on Mount Hor, and was gathered to his people:
(51) because you trespassed against me in the midst of the children of Israel at the waters of Meribah of Kadesh, in the wilderness of Zin; because you didn't sanctify me in the midst of the children of Israel.
(52) For you shall see the land before you; but you shall not go there into the land which I give the children of Israel.


Moses did something wrong and paid for it. How hard it must have been for him to see the "promised land" and know he would never enter! Fortunately, the Christian dispensation is more forgiving than that of the law; we have hope! Even if we do something wrong, we CAN BE FORGIVEN and our "promised land" of heaven is within our grasp. Oh, to be able to see the sight of it; knowing that I WILL BE ABLE TO ENTER!!!

Precious



I love these pictures of balloons! The colors are fantastic and the designs simply beautiful. I have been thinking a lot about color lately because of designing the new blog. When I saw this picture I thought of the colors of the heavenly city and how they represent how precious it is!

Revelation 21:18-23 Complete Apostles' Bible
(18) And the construction of its wall was of jasper; and the city was pure gold, like transparent glass.
(19) The foundations of the wall of the city were adorned with every precious stone: the first foundation was jasper, the second sapphire, the third chalcedony, the fourth emerald,
(20) the fifth sardonyx, the sixth carnelian, the seventh chrysolite, the eighth beryl, the ninth topaz, the tenth chrysoprase, the eleventh jacinth, and the twelfth amethyst.
(21) The twelve gates are twelve pearls: each one of the gates was made of one pearl. And the street of the city was pure gold, like transparent glass.
(22) But I saw no temple in it, for the Lord God Almighty is its temple, also the Lamb.
Rev 21:23 The city had no need of the sun nor of the moon to shine, for the very glory of God illuminated it, and its lamp is the Lamb.


Gold, pearls, precious stones and above all the light of the glory of God as its light! Wow! Talk about a feast for the eyes!!! I wonder if the transparent glass of the gold streets would look something like the mica portal we used to have in our wood stoves? Probably a lot more honey colored, I imagine. And I bet the streets will reflect as well, something like the reflection of the balloons on the water. How will I describe heaven when I see it? I am not sure, but what will be on my mind will be the precious blood of the lamb and that is worth more than all the jewels in the world!