There is happiness!

This dog loves the snow so much that it is leaping for joy. Finding delight in the simplest of things is the pathway to genuine happiness. Here is a passage from the book of Luke that talks a little bit about happiness and that is always something to reflect upon.


Luk 1:39-56
(39) Mary arose in those days and went into the hill country with haste, into a city of Judah,
(40) and entered into the house of Zacharias and greeted Elizabeth.
(41) It happened, when Elizabeth heard Mary's greeting, that the baby leaped in her womb, and Elizabeth was filled with the Holy Spirit.
(42) She called out with a loud voice, and said, "Blessed are you among women, and blessed is the fruit of your womb!
(43) Why am I so favored, that the mother of my Lord should come to me?
(44) For behold, when the voice of your greeting came into my ears, the baby leaped in my womb for joy!
(45) Blessed is she who believed, for there will be a fulfillment of the things which have been spoken to her from the Lord!"
(46) Mary said, "My soul magnifies the Lord.
(47) My spirit has rejoiced in God my Savior,
(48) for he has looked at the humble state of his handmaid. For behold, from now on, all generations will call me blessed.
(49) For he who is mighty has done great things for me. Holy is his name.
(50) His mercy is for generations of generations on those who fear him.
(51) He has shown strength with his arm. He has scattered the proud in the imagination of their hearts.
(52) He has put down princes from their thrones. And has exalted the lowly.
(53) He has filled the hungry with good things. He has sent the rich away empty.
(54) He has given help to Israel, his servant, that he might remember mercy,
(55) As he spoke to our fathers, to Abraham and his seed forever."
(56) Mary stayed with her about three months, and then returned to her house.

Two women, two babies and happiness; who could ask for more? Yet there is more because God is in the picture. He enabled an old woman (Elizabeth) and a virgin (Mary) to conceive. How do they respond; with happiness of course. Never mind the difficulty in a pregnancy of an old woman, there is happiness. God is at work, they see it and are happy. Good lesson, good example, good tidings. I just need to think about it more often and be happy. Snow problem!!

One fat cat

This is one very big, very fat cat. There may be others that are bigger and fatter, but this one is a whopper! This doesn't happen by accident; they are very well fed and PAMPERED! People can be like that too! Over fed and their every desire fulfilled; here is an example.


Deu 31:14-22
(14) Yahweh said to Moses, Behold, your days approach that you must die: call Joshua, and present yourselves in the Tent of Meeting, that I may commission him. Moses and Joshua went, and presented themselves in the Tent of Meeting.
(15) Yahweh appeared in the Tent in a pillar of cloud: and the pillar of cloud stood over the door of the Tent.
(16) Yahweh said to Moses, Behold, you shall sleep with your fathers; and this people will rise up, and play the prostitute after the strange gods of the land, where they go to be among them, and will forsake me, and break my covenant which I have made with them.
(17) Then my anger shall be kindled against them in that day, and I will forsake them, and I will hide my face from them, and they shall be devoured, and many evils and troubles shall come on them; so that they will say in that day, Haven't these evils come on us because our God is not among us?
(18) I will surely hide my face in that day for all the evil which they shall have worked, in that they are turned to other gods.
(19) Now therefore write you this song for you, and teach you it the children of Israel: put it in their mouths, that this song may be a witness for me against the children of Israel.
(20) For when I shall have brought them into the land which I swore to their fathers, flowing with milk and honey, and they shall have eaten and filled themselves, and grown fat; then will they turn to other gods, and serve them, and despise me, and break my covenant.
(21) It shall happen, when many evils and troubles are come on them, that this song shall testify before them as a witness; for it shall not be forgotten out of the mouths of their seed: for I know their imagination which they frame this day, before I have brought them into the land which I swore.
(22) So Moses wrote this song the same day, and taught it the children of Israel.

Moses was about to die; unpleasant, but necessary because of his disobedience. God foretells Israel's spiritual adultery and has Moses write a song that testifies as to what they will do. Sometimes having too much is as bad as having too little. Perhaps The United States of America should read this passage and reflect upon it before its too late. We don't have nine lives to play with; the end could be near!

Some things will never change

Jimmy Durante (left) and Buster Keaton, WOW! It has been many decades since this silent flick was made, but even this still photograph is funny. We don't make silent pictures any more and regular (low def) TV is passe, but funny is still funny, no matter what form its in. Soon 3-D will be all the rage and who knows what or even if will have TV by the middle of the century. Its nice to know that some things will never change, as the book of Malachi tells us.

Mal 3:1-6
(1) "Behold, I send my messenger, and he will prepare the way before me; and the Lord, whom you seek, will suddenly come to his temple; and the messenger of the covenant, whom you desire, behold, he comes!" says Yahweh of Armies.
(2) "But who can endure the day of his coming? And who will stand when he appears? For he is like a refiner's fire, and like launderer's soap;
(3) and he will sit as a refiner and purifier of silver, and he will purify the sons of Levi, and refine them as gold and silver; and they shall offer to Yahweh offerings in righteousness.
(4) Then the offering of Judah and Jerusalem will be pleasant to Yahweh, as in the days of old, and as in ancient years.
(5) I will come near to you to judgment; and I will be a swift witness against the sorcerers, and against the adulterers, and against the perjurers, and against those who oppress the hireling in his wages, the widow, and the fatherless, and who deprive the foreigner of justice, and don't fear me," says Yahweh of Armies.
(6) "For I, Yahweh, don't change; therefore you, sons of Jacob, are not consumed.

People sin, people hurt, people search for meaning in life. That's just the way it is and that will NEVER, EVER change. Neither does God. But I can't help from wondering... Since we are made in the image and likeness of God... Does God ever need a haircut? Maybe Jimmy Durante does have a job in heaven after all????

What it is

This little one sees something that has caught its interest. As far as "baby" pictures go, this one isn't very flattering, but it is quite revealing. It shows that she (??) really doesn't know what glass is all about and that just maybe she should not lick it so readily. A passage from Corinthians came to mind and I think you will enjoy it as much as I do.


1Co 13:1-13
(1) If I speak with the languages of men and of angels, but don't have love, I have become sounding brass, or a clanging cymbal.
(2) If I have the gift of prophecy, and know all mysteries and all knowledge; and if I have all faith, so as to remove mountains, but don't have love, I am nothing.
(3) If I dole out all my goods to feed the poor, and if I give my body to be burned, but don't have love, it profits me nothing.
(4) Love is patient and is kind; love doesn't envy. Love doesn't brag, is not proud,
(5) doesn't behave itself inappropriately, doesn't seek its own way, is not provoked, takes no account of evil;
(6) doesn't rejoice in unrighteousness, but rejoices with the truth;
(7) bears all things, believes all things, hopes all things, endures all things.
(8) Love never fails. But where there are prophecies, they will be done away with. Where there are various languages, they will cease. Where there is knowledge, it will be done away with.
(9) For we know in part, and we prophesy in part;
(10) but when that which is complete has come, then that which is partial will be done away with.
(11) When I was a child, I spoke as a child, I felt as a child, I thought as a child. Now that I have become a man, I have put away childish things.
(12) For now we see in a mirror, dimly, but then face to face. Now I know in part, but then I will know fully, even as I was also fully known.
(13) But now faith, hope, and love remain--these three. The greatest of these is love.

There was a time when we all saw through the glass like this baby; a simpler time in our lives, when our thoughts we less complicated than today. We change, and with that change comes understanding, development and finally, decline and death. That is what it is, life as human beings know it. But there is something more, something external that guides us through all the years of constant change: love. You see, the most important thing about this picture is NOT THE BABY AT ALL, BUT THE HAND THAT IS HOLDING HER!!! We learn many things in this world and go through many changes in our lives, but if we can learn to appreciate love, then maybe we know a lot more than we think.

you win a ....

Yummy; chocolate covered bacon! When I told my son-in-law about it, he wasn't a bit surprised and said that he had had one at the Florida State Fair. Then, he went on to tell me about his dream meal... a sandwich of... fried donuts with a hamburger in the middle, garnished with three or four of these little bacon things and deep fried butter for dessert. There was something else too, but all I can think of is LARD and that can't be right, because everyone knows LARD just doesn't jive with the dessert. What ever the final meal was; I had one knee jerk reaction...YUK! It was just too much for even me to think about eating (and believe me, that takes a lot!!). Sometimes it takes an extreme for a point to be made and this passage from the book of Ephesians fills the bill.

Ephesians 1:17-21 WEB (R)
(17) that the God of our Lord Jesus Christ, the Father of glory, may give to you a spirit of wisdom and revelation in the knowledge of him;
(18) having the eyes of your hearts enlightened, that you may know what is the hope of his calling, and what are the riches of the glory of his inheritance in the saints,
(19) and what is the exceeding greatness of his power toward us who believe, according to that working of the strength of his might
(20) which he worked in Christ, when he raised him from the dead, and made him to sit at his right hand in the heavenly places,
(21) far above all rule, and authority, and power, and dominion, and every name that is named, not only in this age, but also in that which is to come.

Consider the power of Jesus; above everything! That's way more that I could even begin to understand, let alone comprehend. Add the time aspect to it, and it makes my head hurt. But, I am glad I understand at least one thing... if you are on the winning side... you win. And I don't mean some crazy sandwich, either.

I wonder who it could be

Life is full of things to do; everything from when to do your taxes to talking (or texting) on the telephone. So, we prioritize. But, I wonder, do we make the right choices? To bring it a little closer to home: Do I make the right choices? It would appear that the lady in the picture has more important things to do that to hold her newborn; but, if we only knew who was on that phone?????? Here is a passage to think about.

Mark 14:27-42 WEB (R)
(27) Jesus said to them, "All of you will be made to stumble because of me tonight, for it is written, 'I will strike the shepherd, and the sheep will be scattered.'
(28) However, after I am raised up, I will go before you into Galilee."
(29) But Peter said to him, "Although all will be offended, yet I will not."
(30) Jesus said to him, "Most certainly I tell you, that you today, even this night, before the rooster crows twice, you will deny me three times."
(31) But he spoke all the more, "If I must die with you, I will not deny you." They all said the same thing.
(32) They came to a place which was named Gethsemane. He said to his disciples, "Sit here, while I pray."
(33) He took with him Peter, James, and John, and began to be greatly troubled and distressed.
(34) He said to them, "My soul is exceedingly sorrowful, even to death. Stay here, and watch."
(35) He went forward a little, and fell on the ground, and prayed that, if it were possible, the hour might pass away from him.
(36) He said, "Abba, Father, all things are possible to you. Please remove this cup from me. However, not what I desire, but what you desire."
(37) He came and found them sleeping, and said to Peter, "Simon, are you sleeping? Couldn't you watch one hour?
(38) Watch and pray, that you may not enter into temptation. The spirit indeed is willing, but the flesh is weak."
(39) Again he went away, and prayed, saying the same words.
(40) Again he returned, and found them sleeping, for their eyes were very heavy, and they didn't know what to answer him.
(41) He came the third time, and said to them, "Sleep on now, and take your rest. It is enough. The hour has come. Behold, the Son of Man is betrayed into the hands of sinners.
(42) Arise, let us be going. Behold, he who betrays me is at hand."

We think that we make the right choices in life (well, at least most of the time), but do we? The truth is that we never know what tomorrow may bring; we just have to make decisions one at a time in light of our current knowledge and go from there. The disciples thought they would respond a certain way and Jesus told them otherwise; I wonder, are we (am I) the same? Only time will tell, but wait, I have to go now, the phone is ringing; I wonder who it could be?

camera ready

Is this picture real? I am not a photography expert so I couldn't say, but my guess is that it is genuine. why? Because The Bible refers to spirits (ghosts) as being real. And contact with the spirit world is not always a good thing, as this passage relating to king Saul illustrates.

1 Samuel 28:5-20 WEB (R)
(5) When Saul saw the army of the Philistines, he was afraid, and his heart trembled greatly.
(6) When Saul inquired of Yahweh, Yahweh didn't answer him, neither by dreams, nor by Urim, nor by prophets.
(7) Then said Saul to his servants, Seek me a woman who has a familiar spirit, that I may go to her, and inquire of her. His servants said to him, Behold, there is a woman who has a familiar spirit at Endor.
(8) Saul disguised himself, and put on other clothing, and went, he and two men with him, and they came to the woman by night: and he said, Please divine to me by the familiar spirit, and bring me up whoever I shall name to you.
(9) The woman said to him, Behold, you know what Saul has done, how he has cut off those who have familiar spirits, and the wizards, out of the land: why then do you lay a snare for my life, to cause me to die?
(10) Saul swore to her by Yahweh, saying, As Yahweh lives, there shall no punishment happen to you for this thing.
(11) Then said the woman, Whom shall I bring up to you? He said, Bring me up Samuel.
(12) When the woman saw Samuel, she cried with a loud voice; and the woman spoke to Saul, saying, Why have you deceived me? for you are Saul.
(13) The king said to her, Don't be afraid: for what do you see? The woman said to Saul, I see a god coming up out of the earth.
(14) He said to her, What form is he of? She said, An old man comes up; and he is covered with a robe. Saul perceived that it was Samuel, and he bowed with his face to the ground, and did obeisance.
(15) Samuel said to Saul, Why have you disquieted me, to bring me up? Saul answered, I am sore distressed; for the Philistines make war against me, and God is departed from me, and answers me no more, neither by prophets, nor by dreams: therefore I have called you, that you may make known to me what I shall do.
(16) Samuel said, Why then do you ask of me, seeing Yahweh has departed from you, and has become your adversary?
(17) Yahweh has done to you as he spoke by me: and Yahweh has torn the kingdom out of your hand, and given it to your neighbor, even to David.
(18) Because you didn't obey the voice of Yahweh, and didn't execute his fierce wrath on Amalek, therefore Yahweh has done this thing to you this day.
(19) Moreover Yahweh will deliver Israel also with you into the hand of the Philistines; and tomorrow you and your sons will be with me: Yahweh will deliver the army of Israel also into the hand of the Philistines.
(20) Then Saul fell immediately his full length on the earth, and was sore afraid, because of the words of Samuel: and there was no strength in him; for he had eaten no bread all the day, nor all the night.

Saul was afraid because God had left him and would not communicate with him any longer. So, he contacts a woman who conjures up the spirit of Samuel and the news is bad, very bad. So bad that it took all the strength from Saul. The next day, Saul and his sons did in fact die and there you have it; the end of the story. Except that all this shows that spirits (ghosts) are real. There may be those who would scoff at the mere mention of a spirit world, but just think about it, today we have made advances in astronomy that enable us to see right through the interstellar dust clouds that have hidden untold numbers of galaxies for the whole of recorded human history. We are unlocking the DNA structure the encodes the blueprint of life and even have robots on the planet Mars. Maybe proving that the spiritual world is a reality is right around the corner. In the meantime, I choose to believe in what I can't truly prove because God has shown me so many other things. I just hope that if I meet up with a ghost, I get better news than Saul did!! And, oh, yes, I hope I have a camera ready!!!