Sincerity

"Love rejoiceth in truth."

It includes, perhaps more strictly, the self restraint which refuses to make capital out of other's faults; the charity which delights not in exposing weakness of others, but 'covereth all things.' He will accept only what is real; he will strive to get at facts; he will search for truth with a humble and unbiased mind.

Part 3 of 9

Part 2 - Kindness

Part 1 - Patience

Old Fashioned Friendship

It isn't hard to find the kind of friends we meet each day.

Who join you in the sunshine, but with clouds will drift away.

But good, old-fashioned friends who share both your woe and pleasure,

Are a very rare and special gift -- a love to always treasure!

Kindness

"Love...is kind."

Love active. Have you ever noticed how much of Christ's life was spent in doing kind things? You will find that He spent a great proportion of His time simply in making people happy...God has put in our power the happiness of those about us. Where love is, God is; for God is love.

Therefore love - without distinction, without calculation, without procrastination. There is a difference between trying to please and giving pleasure. Lose no chance of giving pleasure.

Part 2 of 9

Part 1

It came!

I am now the happy owner of a Nikon flash.

With my Dad's help, I've been searching the internet for the best price on an attachable flash unit for my camera. And guess what?! E-bay came through again. There was one going much cheaper than any other place I'd checked, so Daddy and I decided on a maximum price and placed our bid.

The auction ended on Sunday night. After the evening service, my sister Ruth took over the CD table for me (thank you Ruth!) and encouraged me to go find out if I'd gotten it or if I'd been out bid. I headed to the bus and it had only 3 more minutes yet before the auction ended. I was still high bidder...by 8 dollars.

So I began praying. "Lord, if this is the flash for me, then don't let any one else bid. If this is something that would enable me to glorify you more, guard it for me..."

I hit the refresh button on the computer, and -- it's mine!

Praise the LORD! My prayer is that He will guide and enable me to take pictures to glorify HIS name, and that He would receive abundant praise.

The flash came in the mail today...now I just need to go buy some batteries so I can start figuring out how it all works! (grin)

Love is...Patient

"Love suffers long..."

This is the normal attitude of love; love passive; love waiting to begin; not in a hurry; calm; ready to do its work when the summons comes, but meantime wearing the ornament of a meek and quiet spirit. Love suffers long; beareth all things; believeth all things; hopeth all things.

For love understands, and therefore waits.

Part 1 of 9

Beautiful things

To everything there is a season,

a time for every purpose under heaven...

He has made everything beautiful in its time.

Ecclesiasteds 3:1, 11

God gives to every time and season some beauty of its own.

Precious Promises

I am a creature of God, and He has undoubted right to do with me as seemeth good in His sight. He has my heart in His hands, and when I am called to face danger, to pass through scenes of terror and distress, He can inspire me with fortitude and enable me to trust in Him.

Jesus His faithful;
His promises are precious.
Ann Judson

In the garden

The things that matter most in life

aren't things.

Doesn't this look like an old-fashioned watercolor picture? It is one I took yesterday; then enhanced with some effects with my Grandma's picture program. It reminds me of what I've hearn' tell of in the yester-years --

Enjoying the simple pleasure in life.

Going barefoot in the garden...fresh, sun-warmed peas and beans...the breeze on my face...picking red rasberries...summer rain storms...

Oh the delights of summertime -- and being at Grandpa and Grandma's house!

Faith...

"Why could we not?..." the disciples asked Jesus.

"Because of your unbelief,

for assuredly, I say to you, if you have faith as a mustard seed,

you will [move mountains],

and nothing will be impossible for you."

Matthew 17:19-20

Faith -- not necessarily great faith,

but little faith in a great God.

Faith that knows during the darkest of night,

the Son still radiates within.

Psalms 65:8, 11

"Thou makest the outgoings of

the morning and evening to rejoice.

Thou crownest the year with Thy goodness."

God gives us richly all things to enjoy, while He Himself is His own best gift, and to be enjoyed not in a way of duty, but in the simple, natural realizing aright of what we possess in Him. -J.M. Campbell

Thank you!

A big thank you to everyone who left blog comments and sent birthday wishes my way! I had such a special, special day with my family and friends, and getting all your comments from across the miles added that extra special-ness to my day. Thank you!

"O magnify the Lord with me,
let us exalt His name together."
Psalms 34:3

My first roses ever.

Thank you Daddy!

Today is the day...

...that my number of years finally reaches the number of how many fingers and toes I have! (grin)

Four things to learn in life:

To think clearly without hurry or confusion;
To love everybody sincerely;
To act in everything with the highest motives;
To trust God unhesitatingly.
-Helen Keller

Psalms 31:11-12

"You have turned for me my mourning into dancing; You have put off my sackcloth and clothed me with gladness, [Why?! Why did Jesus do that for me?] To the end that my glory may sing praise to You and not be silent. [Don't be quiet about what the Lord has done for you -- rejoice! That the world may see!]
O Lord my God, I will give thanks to You forever."
Psalms 31:11-12

Neither go back in fear and misgiving to the past,

nor in anxiety and forecasting to the future;

but lie quiet under His hand, having no will but His.

H.E. Manning

Independence Day

We had an action packed day, and as the sun began to set it was so relaxing to gather in Seward's city park for the evening. The band was playing, families were all gathered together busy catching up with each other, then...what we'd all been waiting for -- the fireworks! I'm posting a few of the many pictures I took, as well as some quotes from the past. What a Godly heritage we have been given!

Our laws and our institutions must necessarily be based upon and embody the teachings of the Redeemer of mankind. It is impossible that it should be otherwise; and in this sense and to this extent our civilization and our institutions are emphatically Christian.

United States Supreme Court 1892

I sought for the key to the greatness and genius of America in her harbors...; in her fertile fields and boundless forests; in her rich mines and vast world commerce; in her public school system and institutions of learning. I sought for it in her democratic Congress and in her matchless Constitution.
Not until I went into the churches of America and heard her pulpits flame with righteousness did I understand the secret of her genius and power. America is great because America is good, and if America ever ceases to be good, America will cease to be great.
Alexis de Tocqueville

"He hath shown thee, O man, what is good;
and what doth the Lord require of thee,
but to do justly and love mercy
and walk humbly with thy God."
Micah 6:8

Hey ya'll!

Sorry I haven't updated for a few days. Things have been busy on the home front; therefore, blogging was way down on the list of my things to do. But stay tuned...my brain has been busy even though I haven't made it to the computer.

Blessings to you! Do any of you have special 4th of July plans?! I hope you have a good one!