Sunday Serenity :: Waiting and Watching

Each Sunday, I will feature a picture or two taken by one of my daughters,

and some words of faith, hope, and love given by our Father.

The Son of Man's arrival will be like this: 

two men will be working outside--one will be taken, one left behind;

two women will be working at home--one will be taken, one left behind.

So stay awake, alert.

You have no idea what day your Master will show up.

But, you do know that if the homeowner had know what time of night the burglar

would arrive, (s)he would have been there to prevent the break-in.

Be vigilant just like that.

You have no idea when the Son of man will show up.

Matthew 39-44

(The Message)

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Sunday Serenity

Each Sunday, I will feature a picture taken by one of my daughters, 

and some words of faith, hope and love given by our Father:

But godliness 

with contentment 

is 

great gain.

For we brought nothing into the world, 

and we can take nothing out of it. 

But if we have 

food 

and 

clothing, 

we will be content with that.

1 Timothy 6:6-8

Sunday Serenity - True Love

Sunday Serenity

(I have been slacking! But here we go again:)

Each Sunday, I will feature a picture taken by one of my daughters,

and some words of faith, hope, and love given by our Father:

Is there anyplace I can go to avoid your Spirit?
      to be out of your sight?
   If I climb to the sky, you're there!
      If I go underground, you're there!
   

If I flew on morning's wings
      to the far western horizon,
   You'd find me in a minute—
      you're already there waiting!

   Then I said to myself, 

"Oh, he even sees me in the dark!
      At night I'm immersed in the light!"
   

It's a fact: 

darkness isn't dark to you;
      night and day, 

darkness and light, 

they're all the same to you. 

Psalm 139:7-12 (The Message)

Sunday Serenity

Each Sunday, I will feature a picture taken by one of my daughters,

and some words of faith, hope, and love given by our Father:






Open your mouth and taste, 


open your eyes and see— 
        

how good God is.
  

 Blessed are you 

who run to Him.

Sunday Serenity

Each Sunday, I will feature a picture taken by one of my daughters,

and some words of faith, hope, and love given by our Father:

But the exact day and hour? 

No one knows that, not even heaven's angels, not even the Son. 

Only the Father. 

So keep a sharp lookout, for you don't know the timetable. 

It's like a man who takes a trip, 

leaving home and putting his servants in charge, 

each assigned a task, 

and commanding the gatekeeper to stand watch. 

So, stay at your post, watching. 

You have no idea when the homeowner is returning, 

whether evening, 

midnight, 

cockcrow, 

or morning. 

You don't want him showing up unannounced, 

with you asleep on the job. 

I say it to you, and I'm saying it to all: 

Stay at your post. 

Keep watch.

Mark 13:33 (The Message)

Sunday Serenity

Each Sunday, I will feature a picture taken by one of my daughters,

and some words of faith, hope, and love given by our Father:

We can tell you with complete confidence—we have the Master's word on it-

that when the Master comes again to get us,

those of us who are still alive will not get a jump on the dead

and leave them behind.

In actual fact, they'll be ahead of us.

The Master himself will give the command.

Archangel thunder! God's trumpet blast!

He'll come down from heaven and the dead in Christ will rise—they'll go first.

Then the rest of us who are still alive at the time

will be caught up with them into the clouds to meet the Master.

Oh, we'll be walking on air!

And then there will be one huge family reunion with the Master.

So reassure one another with these words.

1 Thessalonians 4:15-17 (The Message)

Sunday Serenity

Each Sunday, I will feature a picture taken by one of my daughters,

and some words of faith, hope, and love given by our Father:

 

 

The Lord bless you and keep you;

The Lord make His face to shine upon you,

and be gracious to you;

 

 

The Lord lift His countenance upon you and give you

PEACE.

 

Numbers 6:24-26

Sunday Serenity

Each Sunday, I will feature a picture taken by one of my daughters, 

and some words of faith, hope, and love given by our Father:

You're here to be light, 

bringing out the God-colors in the world. 

God is not a secret to be kept. 

We're going public with this, 

as public as a city on a hill. 

If I make you light-bearers, 

you don't think I'm going to hide you under a bucket, 

do you? 

I'm putting you on a light stand. 

Now that I've put you there on a hilltop, 

on a light stand

—shine! 

Keep open house; 

be generous with your lives. 

By opening up to others, 

you'll prompt people to open up with God, 

this generous Father in heaven.

Matthew 5:14-16 (The Message)

Sunday Serenity - Sweet Sixteen

My sweet daughter,

16 years ago today,

something wonderful happened.

YOU!

I love you, Miss A!

You are: 

happy memories,

joyful moments,

hope

and 

promise!

Your beauty should not come from outward adornment, 

such as braided hair and the wearing of gold jewelry and fine clothes. 

Instead, it should be that of your inner self, 

the unfading beauty of a gentle and quiet spirit, 

which is of great worth in God's sight.

For this is the way the holy women of the past who put their 

hope in God 

used to make themselves beautiful.

I Peter 3: 3-4

Sunday Serenity

Each Sunday, I will feature a picture taken by one of my daughters, 

and some words of faith, hope, and love given by our Father:

Your eye is a lamp, 

lighting up your whole body. 

If you live wide-eyed in wonder and belief, 

your body fills up with light. 

If you live squinty-eyed in greed and distrust, 

your body is a dank cellar. 

Keep your eyes open, 

your lamp burning, 

so you don't get musty and murky. 

Keep your life as well-lighted as your best-lighted room.

Luke 11:35-36

Sunday Serenity - Toil and Blood, Pomp and Parade

John Adams was our 2nd President,

and the 1st President to live in the White House.

He was George Washington's Vice-President for 8 years!

He personally urged Thomas Jefferson to write

the Declaration of Independence.

On July 3, 1776, the day before the Declaration was signed, 

John wrote a letter to his wife Abigail.

She was a home maker, wife, and mother to their 5 children,

a strong supporter of her husband, and our nation's freedom.

John's letter to her, concerning our Independence Day, read:

"...it ought to be commemorated, as the Day of Deliverance,

by solemn acts of devotion to God Almighty.

It ought to be solemnized with pomp and parade, 

with shows, games, sports, 

guns, bells, bonfires and illuminations,

from one end of this continent to the other, 

from this time forward forever.

You will think me transported with enthusiasm, but I am not.

I am well aware of the toil and blood and treasure that it will cost 

to maintain the Declaration, 

and support and defend these States.

Yet through all the gloom I can see the rays

of ravishing light and glory.

I can see that the end is worth more than all the means;

that posterity will triumph in that day's transaction..."

Sunday Serenity

Each Sunday, I will feature a picture taken by one of my daughters, 

and some words of faith, hope, and love given by our Father:

Lord, 

You alone are my inheritance, 

        my cup of blessing.      

You guard all that is mine.