Recent Books, Movies, and Powerful Poem

 how refreshing!!
Before Inauguration, and then that, too, was fabulously hopeful!
Cord of three strands in not quickly broken : Ecclesiastes 4:12
Day 204  of BibleProject's reading of Bible from the beginning straight through. Day 205
Ecclesiastes is so much more than 3:1 "time for every purpose unto heaven"
Friendship, Family, good meal, sunny day, gifts from God. Fear God, keep His commandments." Ecclesiastes 12:13-14
Great Equalizer: Death
Hevel. Hevel no guarantees Enigma acceptance. Honesty and
Integrity before God
Jan 24 2021 : Interesting overlap of church messages. Summit. Grace. and GraceSummit: "John 4 - Nicodemus Contrasted with the Woman at the Well - Jesus Elevates"
"Keep Your Confidence" January 30 "GOD, your God, is above all a compassionate God. In the end he will not abandon you." Deuteronomy 4:31 Restoration Year: 365-Day Devotional by John Eldredge
Listening to the entire Bible, passage by passage, Psalm by Psalm, Proverb by Proverb...
Mr. Church YouTube movie staring Eddie Murphy - so good!
"Need to put our whole self into being [with Jesus] and pray back to God what we find there." p. 171 Renovation of the Heart in Daily Practice and practice loving our Neighbors no matter what...
"Our job, then, is to pay attention to this constant companion of our lives. This
Practice of the Presence of God is not a chore but the best way to live. We can turn our thoughts to Jesus throughout the day, using small reminders at first but always living out of a foundation of regular moments of being with Jesus through the written Word." p. 171 Renovation of the Heart in Daily Practice

 "Quantum entanglement" suggests that our perceived material reality is actually a simulation, projected and controlled from another dimension. This phenomenon also suggests that, through a concept known as...
 "Retrocausality time loops," our inevitable future currently co-creates our present dimensional experience as we simultaneously co-create that same inevitable future—in endless feedback cycles to the end and beginning of time. And as I 
Stand in the shadow of such immense possibility and implication, I realize more profoundly that all I really want to remember, feel and give from this moment forward and for as long as I'm able to...is 
love and compassion."
The Shack I watched this movie somewhat reluctantly. I finally read the book last May, having out it off for over a decade after Misty literally devoured our first copy. Not really sure what to say about it though... interesting way to depict God the Father, Son, and Holy Spirit, but more importantly, a clear message of LOVE and forgiveness over the pain of anger and judgement. 
"Understanding and doing the things Jesus gave us specific commandments and teachings about... Consider how Jesus would lead your life if he were you—working at your job, living in your family and neighborhood, going to your church." p. 172 Renovation of the Heart in Daily Practice
Vexation of Spirit : Ecclesiastes 1:14-2:26

Without Brushing My Hair
The
Closer
I get to you, Beloved,
The more I can see
It is just You and I all alone
In this 
World.

I hear
A knock at my door,
Who else could it be,
So I rush without brushing
My hair.

For too
Many nights
I have begged for Your 
Return

And what
Is the use of vanity
At this late hour, at this divine season,
That has now come to my folded
Knees?

If your love letters are true dear God
I will surrender myself to
Who You keep saying
I
Am.

Hafiz Translation:  Daniel Ladinsky

Peace - the week in review


A human being is part of something so much greater. We tend to experience ourselves, our thoughts and feelings as something separated from the rest, a kind of optical delusion of consciousness. This delusion has become a prison for us, restricting us to our personal desires and to affection for a few persons nearest to us. Our task must be to free ourselves from this prison by widening our circle of compassion to embrace all living creatures and the whole of nature in its beauty. ~ Albert Einstein
Be a lamp, or a lifeboat, or a ladder. Help someone's soul heal. Walk out of your house like a shepherd ... ~ Rumi ~


"Entrust our souls to a faithful Creator in doing what is right" 1 Peter 4:19
"Faith is not a Feeling" YouTube video shared by Jess, check it out here
God, show me how to rest in your life as you give it to me. Show me how to be at peace, Amen 🙏 
Help someone's soul heal. Walk out of your house like a shepherd ... ~ Rumi
Inauguration Day  at my work space
"If we find ourselves with a desire that nothing in this world can satisfy, the most probable explanation is that we were made for another world." C.S. Lewis Mere Christianity 
Journals of old have treasures like this one
Kate's 41st birthday...Loyal Love video by The Bible Project
"Learning how to use His strength and ours together to bear our load and His. We will find His yoke an easy one and His burden a light one because, in learning from him, we have found rest for our soul..." p. 143 Renovation of the Heart in Daily Practice: Experiments in Spiritual Transformation

 PLNL Children's section 1.19.21
"One of the most common descriptions of God in the Hebrew Bible, and it’s almost impossible to translate into any other language! "Khesed" This word is rich with meaning, combining the ideas of love, loyalty, and generosity. Join us as we explore this fascinating Hebrew word and how it shapes our understanding of God’s character." Bible Project Podcast
"Quiet isn't always peace" ~ Amanda Gorman
Rest for our soul is Rest in God. Our soul is at peace only when it is with God, as a child with its mother." p.148 Renovation of the Heart in Daily Practice by Dallas Willard and Jan Johnson
Sometimes I do get to places just when God’s ready to have somebody click the shutter.” – Ansel Adams
 thank you Priscilla
"The Thunder, Perfect Mind : This mysterious poem, discovered among the gnostic manuscripts at Nag Hammadi, is narrated by a female divine revealer. 'Thunder Perfect Mind' is a marvelous, strange poem. It speaks in the voice of a feminine divine power, but one that unites all opposites...It's a poem which sees the radiance of the divine in all aspects of human life, from the sordidness of the slums of Cairo or Alexandria, as they would have been, to the people of great wealth, from men to women to slaves. In that poem, the divine appears in every, and the most unexpected, forms.... source
   PLNL Children's section 1.19.21
"What if " Works both ways" qtd from "Faith" video shared in "F" above... What if ...
"X" never happens? p. 146 Renovation of the Heart in Daily Practice by Dallas Willard and Jan Johnson
 sent to Jess before finally getting a chance to chat this week.

Zoom meetings Bunnies style :)

The Cost of Discipleship by Dietrich Bonhoeffer

"Above all, it is grace because God did not reckon his Son too dear a price to pay for our life, but delivered him up for us." p. 45
"By judging others we blind ourselves to our own evil and to the grace which others are just as entitled to as we are.” p. 185
Costly grace is the gospel which must be sought again and again and again, the gift which must be asked for, the 
Door at which a man must knock..." p. 45
Earthly goods are given to be used, not to be collected. In the wilderness God gave Israel the manna every day, and they had no need to worry about food and drink. Indeed, if they kept any of the manna over until the next day, it went bad. In the same way, the disciple must receive his portion from God every day. If he stores it up as a permanent possession, he spoils not only the gift, but himself as well, for he sets his heart on accumulated wealth, and makes it a barrier between himself and God.” p. 175
"For God will give us all we need  / To cover our necessity." qtd. Tersteegen p. 175
Grace has proved a fount of mercy...go with Jesus... gift of Christ " p. 61-63
 “Hear the Word, receive the Sacrament; in it hear him himself, and you will hear His call.” p. 228
It is only because he became like us that we can become like him.” p. 304
Judging others makes us blind, whereas love is illuminating. By judging others we blind ourselves to our own evil and to the grace which others are just as entitled to as we are. But in the love of Christ we know all about every conceivable sin and guilt; for we know how Jesus suffered, and how all men have been forgiven at the foot of the cross.  ” p. 185
Knock and it shall be opened unto you: for every one that asketh receiveth; and he that seeketh findeth; and to him that knocketh it shall be opened." Matthew 7:7-8 p. 182
"Love is illuminating" click here for article
"Messengers of Jesus will be hated to the end of time. 
Not hero worship, but intimacy with Christ.”
"Only he who believes is obedient ... Only he who is obedient believes." p. 63
Path of discipleship is narrow, and it is fatally easy to miss one’s way and stray from the path, even after years of discipleship."
"Question - where today do we hear the call of Jesus to discipleship, there is no other answer than this: Hear the Word...
Receive the Sacrament; in it hear him himself, and you will hear his call." p. 228
"Such grace is costly because it calls us to follow, and it is grace because it calls us to follow Jesus Christ. It is costly because it costs a man his life, and it is grace because it gives a man the only...
True life. It is costly because it condemns sin, and grace because it justifies the sinner." p.45
"Unless he believes, a man cannot obey." p. 66
Visible Community - Chapter 30
When Christ calls a man, he bids him come and die.” p. 89
“How would you eXpect to find community while you intentionally withdraw from it at some point? The disobedient cannot believe; only the obedient believe.”
"Yahweh—Yahweh is a compassionate and gracious God, slow to anger and rich in faithful love and truth..." Exodus 34:6 Bible Project Podcast #216 listen here
Zeal which refuses to take note of resistance, springs from a confusion of the gospel with a victorious ideology. p. 186

Favorite New Years pics and posts so far...

 "As we watch 2020 sail into the sunset...
 thank you, Jack
Clementine and kiwi for breakfast 1.1.2021

Doyles at Macondo 01.09.21  
Eloise "Grateful for sunshine, good health, and good work."
   by the Holderness Family click here
Gager/Palmer/Crowley... Generations

 thank you, Jo Anne
Inauguration Day is coming...
Julian: a lovely surprise in my mailbox this week

 seen on Flanders Road, Stonington, 1.9.21
Listen... source:  A.C. Sparks on Instagram
Merry Christmas Messages continue...  1.9.21 Boro 
"Never underestimate the beauty of a new beginning."thank you Kelly
Our lovely cards... 

Puzzle (Bob's)  and Pomegranates (part of my lunch)

return visit soon
Rivulets:   and...
Seagull clouds New London 1.1.2021
 Henry Wadsworth Longfellow
"Understanding is a lifelong, dynamic process." The Bible Project Podcast click here to listen 
Violet and Ken on New Year's Eve eveVery favorite favorite
 thank you Mary Carr Robert

unXpected surprise Andrew's video. click here and enjoy!!
 thank you again, Janice Swab


The Pursuit of God by A.W. Tozer

"Above the noise of selfish strife  / We hear Thy voice, O Son of Man." p. 6
"Believing a promise, that it is taking God at His word, that it is reckoning the Bible to be true and stepping out upon it. p.77
Comes by hearing, and the ear to hear by the word of  God...“I had rather exercise faith than know the definition thereof.” ~ paraphrase Thomas à Kempis p.77
Drop the notion of definition and think about faith as it may be experienced in action. 
Essence of faith: Like the eye which sees everything in front of it and never sees itself, faith is occupied with the object upon which it rests and pays no attention to itself at all. p. 79
"Fixing our eyes on Jesus, the author and perfecter of Faith." Hebrews 12:2
Gift of God
Hebrews 11:1 faith is defined functionally, not philosophically; that is, it is a statement of what faith is in operation, not what it is in essence. assumes the presence of faith and shows what it results in, rather than what it is. p. 77
"I want deliberately to encourage this mighty longing after God." p.7
Jesus, the author and perfecter of faith. Hebrews 12:2
Keeping His inward eyes upon His Father. His power lay in His continuous look at God. John 5:19-21
 “Looking” on the Old Testament serpent is identical with “believing” on the New Testament Christ; that is, the looking and the believing are the same thing... that while Israel looked with their external eyes, believing is done with the heart... faith is the gaze of a soul upon a saving God.
Meekness and Rest : "Blessed are the gentle, for they shall inherit the earth." Matthew 5:5 Chapter 9
Nothing will or can restore order until our hearts make the great decision: God shall be exalted above." p. 91
Order in nature depends upon right relationships; to achieve harmony each thing must be in its proper position relative to each other thing. In human life it is not otherwise." p. 87
Question: How can you believe, when you receive glory from one another and you do not seek the glory that is from the one and only God?" p. 93
Restoring the Creator-Creature Relation - Chapter 8
"Since believing is looking, it can be done any time. No season is superior to another season for this sweetest of all acts." p. 83 The Pursuit of God by A.W. Tozer
They looked to Him and were radiant, and their faces will never be ashamed. Psalm 34:5 To You I lift up my eyes, O You who are enthroned in the heavens! Behold, as the eyes of servants look to the hand of their master, as the eyes of a maid to the hand of her mistress, so our eyes look to the LORD our God, until He is gracious to us. Psalm 123:1-2
"Unceasingly to impart sweetest love of Thee; ‘tis to inflame me to love of Thee by love’s imparting, and to feed me by inflaming, and by feeding to kindle my yearning, and by kindling to make me drink of the dew of gladness, and by drinking to infuse in me a fountain of life, and by infusing to make it increase and endure.” ~ Nicholas of Cusa The Vision of God A.W. Tozer qtd. p. 82 
Vitally important, if it is an indispensable must in our pursuit of God
"When the eyes of the soul looking out meet the eyes of God looking in, heaven has begun right here on this earth." p. 81
Lord Jesus Christ Himself is eXplaining to His hearers how they may be saved. He tells them that it is by believing. Then to make it clear, He refers to... Moses lifted up the serpent in the wilderness, even so must the Son of Man be lifted up; so that whoever believes will in Him have eternal life. John 3:14-15
"Worthy are You, our Lord and our God, to receive glory and honor and power; for You created all things, and because of Your will they existed, and were created." p.83
"ToZer felt the church was on a dangerous course toward compromising with "worldly" concerns." source

Christmas recap

Advent and Angel atop our tree
Blessings and Baking   a few decades ago
Cards and Cookies, Comfort and Joy

Deck! the halls... with snow!!
"Each day awake and celebrate! thank you Eloise

Friends and Family near and far

Gram's Gingerbread got an upgrade this year
Happy Birthday, Jesus

Icicles in abundance!!


Kimberly sent last year, with poem
Lauren's visit to the office

Mornings with Misty
New Year's wreath

Peace to you my friends with much gratitude
Quiet moments and memories..
Rest, Restore, Read and Rejoice
Stocking hung with love, memories  and care...

Train with a frosty look
"Up on the housetop.."
Violet and Dylan visiting Grampi and Great-grandma

Winterberry