I Pledge

Freedom--simply defined as the power to determine action without restraint.

Do I take it for granted? Today I was free to walk out my vacationing doors to the beach, enjoy the relaxing time under the beautiful warmth of the sun, read my book and chat with my new-found friends. Even at home in Indiana I wonder, "do I take my freedom for granted"?  Yes, I believe I do. Easy to do as I have never known anything but freedom. Active duty for 6 years in the U.S. Army and  6 years in U.S. Army Reserve deeply rooted in me honor, respect and duty, a sense of what freedom is truly about. Yet, I still take my freedom for granted. Today, right now " I pledge allegiance to the Flag of the United Stares of Americe, and to the republic for which it stands, one Nation under God, indivisible with liberty and justice for all." 

This I do.... Pledge!

There is no one telling me what I have to do, no one telling me who I can talk to, no one telling me what I can read and no one telling me I can not vacation. 

I am free!!!

Glorious day!!

I can't help but recall the beautiful words of a song by Casting Crowns:

"Living, He loved me
Dying He saved me
Buried, He carried my sins far away
Rising, He justified freely forever"
(And here's the part that gets me every time.)
One day He's coming
Oh glorious day, oh glorious day."

Let us look to "The One" who makes us stronger, gives us a hope, directs our goings and comings, binds our hearts, tenders our spirit, provides love like a brother, gives us peace beyond understanding, forgives our sins as far as east is from the west, will never leave us nor forsake us, was mocked by man, humbly went to the cross, shed His righteous blood to cover our sins, cried to His Father to forgive man 'cause they did not know what they were doing, who died on the cross, arose from the cold grave and lives at the "Right Hand of Father God".

Oh glorious day!

Strong vs Weak

Walking in the park I am reminded of the strong and the weak. Atop the electric pole is perched a big Osprey with his fish clutched between his claws while the smaller black bird attempts to move in for a steal.  However, as I continued to observe it was the size and power behind the Osprey that dominated, but yet the little black bird never left. Sort of like the begger in the Bible who was ragged and hungry, and covered with sores that sat at the rich man's gate for he desired to be fed the crumbs that fell from the table. 

The strong vs the weak, but the weak do prevail. 

God never let's go. He is always taking care of us.

He gives strength to the weary and increases the power of the weak.

Isaiah 40:29

Man's best friend?? Wait!!! Woman's best friend!

-Revised  2/22/2014 Blog-

Just a "wee humor" in the title posting. Have you noticed how dogs are becoming more domesticated? We dress them, put shoes on their feet, buy medical insurance for them, have them groomed, give them their own little spot in the house and whatever else we can think of to show our love. Yes, we do go overboard sometimes,  but aren't they the most lovable animal? Wait! Did I say animal??? I mean baby. All jokes aside, I adore my 3 babies. This little fellow is my Bobby Bichon and has a mind of his own, but loves me unconditionally. We enter the grooming salon and he begins to talk to all the ladies and they love  it. Recently I was in a department store when a lady walked by me, stopped, turned around and said,"you're Bobby's mom". Now, I haven't heard that line since my daughter's grade school days.
"Dogs come into our lives to teach us about love. They depart to teach us about loss. A new dog never replaces an old dog, it merely expands the heart. If you have loved many dogs, your heart is big."  ~author unknown~

Magnify His Beauty

Yes! I sit here in beautiful Daytona Beach Shores during the Daytona 500 and Bike Week thanking God that I can. Winters at home in Indiana can be brutal so a little winter-get-away is great. Now don't get me wrong I love my home, family, friends and my community. But I am amazed that our God provides for us 4 wonderful seasons and an escape when one is just a bit more than our bodies can handle. Some escape the cold to a warmer climate in the winter months while others escape the heat for a colder climate. People go south in the winter months to enjoy sunshine and tan, while others escape the heat in the summer and go north to ski and sit by the fireplace. 

There is nothing more beautiful than to see a vast blue, seemingly endless body of water as it appears to brush the sky and know God made this beauty for our eyes and to magnify His greatness. 

~I remain in His Grip~

Kayron

Redeemed

I have a heart that loves, but a heart that gets mad.

I have a soul that lives to serve, but I get tired at times.

I have a Savior that died on the cross for me, but yet my flesh fails me and I  sin.

I have a Father, a  God whom I pray to in the name of His Son , Jesus, but there are times when my heart has the words but my lips do not utter the words of praise and adornment. 

I have the Holy Spirit dwelling in my temple,  but sometimes I try to take charge of a temple that is not mine to govern.

My cup has Jesus, overflowing with all that I need.

Thank God! I am redeemed!

~k.d.huff~

Quiet Splendor

On my way home from church feeling the warmth of sunshine on my face I was reminded of life and death, rest and sleep and the comparison of God's beautiful creations: the heavens and earth and man.

In the midst of our cold winters and dreary days we see the GROUNDS loose their luster as they turn from green to brown, the trees shed their leaves and stand bare, the rose bush once aflame with red buds now stands broken and lifeless.

In the midst of our cold winters and dreary days we see our BODIES loose their moist sparkle now to take on an ashed appearance, our outdoor activities are now limited, and we tend to reach for things of comfort as we too, are somewhat like the rose bush, lifeless and broken.

This beautiful earth and man have similarities, but the source of both creations is God. HE designed all creation to slumber. To die the trees and vegetation awake to take on new shape, new form. Thus, man does too. He claims the "new body", "new life", as the soul never dies but continues into eternity.

I will lie down and sleep in peace.

Lord, you alone keep me safe.

Psalm 4:8

Colors Of The Spirit

Let our days speak of big, bold, beautiful bright hues……”Nature always wears the colors of the spirit.”

Our days can be bleak, a little challenging at times, but never so much that the beauty of this life we've been given is overshadowed by the fact that we can do all things. Nothing is impossible, if we believe. The accomplishment you make is yours, it's mine. Let's take ownership!

Our Dreams....

Dreams....they belong to us. As a child it was always my dream to simply marry and be a mother. As I grew and matured, my dream changed. Later on I wanted to become a nurse. I pursued my dream, but in mid-stream, again it changed. I entered the adult phase of my life completing my educational years and finally all my dreams came true. I married, became a mother and cared for all her little cuts and bruises...so, yes, I became a nurse. The greatest lesson through all this growing, learning and dreaming was I had to WANT THE DREAM.

    “Throw your dreams into space like a kite, and you do not know what it will bring back, a new life, a new friend, a new love, a new country.”
 ~Anais Nin~

Beauty

Outside the wind breaks through the trees, softly brushing my face as another beautiful and glorious day breathes life into a chilled winter day. I say, "It is good." Soon Spring will push her warmth into the air announcing her beauty as it once again arrives. 

                  Trees

I THINK that I shall never see  

A poem lovely as a tree.  

  

A tree whose hungry mouth is prest  

Against the sweet earth's flowing breast;  

  

A tree that looks at God all day,          

And lifts her leafy arms to pray;

A tree that may in summer wear  

A nest of robins in her hair;  

  

Upon whose bosom snow has lain;  

Who intimately lives with rain.  

  

Poems are made by fools like me,  

But only God can make a tree.

     

 Joyce Kilmer. 1886–1918