tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-69110011727999126222024-03-12T22:55:59.836-07:00Hilltop GlimpsesPatrick Collinshttp://www.blogger.com/profile/04142860593504026432noreply@blogger.comBlogger140125tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-6911001172799912622.post-55762273747737417562018-12-15T11:59:00.000-08:002018-12-15T11:59:41.469-08:00LUCY... AND LESSONS I LEARNED FROM HER<div style="text-align: right;">
<img alt="Related image" height="480" src="https://nexter.org/wp-content/uploads/2018/01/corgi-facts-photos-pic11.jpg" width="640" /></div>
<br />
<div>
<br />
<div class="MsoNormal" style="text-align: left;">
<span style="font-size: large;">Remember, if a dog was the teacher you would learn things like the following. Dogs seem to naturally know and do these things:<o:p></o:p></span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="text-align: left;">
<span style="font-size: large;"><br /></span></div>
<span style="font-size: large;">• When your loved ones come home, always run to greet them.<br />• Never pass up the opportunity to go for a joyride.<br />• Allow the experience of fresh air and the wind in your face to be pure Ecstasy.<br />• Take naps.<br />• Stretch before rising.<br />• Run, romp, and play daily.<br />• Thrive on attention and let people touch you.<br />• Avoid biting when a simple growl will do.<br />• On warm days, stop to lie on your back on the grass.<br />• On hot days, drink lots of water and lie under a shady tree.<br />• When you’re happy, dance around and wag your entire body.<br />• Delight in the simple joy of a long walk.<br />• Be faithful.<br />• Never pretend to be something you’re not.<br />• If what you want lies buried, dig until you find it.<br />• When someone is having a bad day, be silent, sit close by, and nuzzle them gently.<br /></span><br /><span style="font-size: large;">I miss you dear Miss Lucy.... </span><br /><br /><br /><br /></div>
Patrick Collinshttp://www.blogger.com/profile/04142860593504026432noreply@blogger.com1tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-6911001172799912622.post-55696648651018676052018-11-07T08:36:00.002-08:002018-11-07T09:18:21.449-08:00BE LIKE THE BEES!<br />
<div style="clear: right; float: right; margin-bottom: 1em; margin-left: 1em;">
<img alt="Image result for bees buzzing in a corn field" height="427" src="https://encrypted-tbn3.gstatic.com/images?q=tbn:ANd9GcTZsvgETn11PwT0hPkihU_L9m5GmeWXoSxJBV0dkLzrvjI3WzknjQ" width="640" /></div>
<br />
<br />
<br />
<br />
<div class="MsoNormal">
<span style="font-family: "comic sans ms"; font-size: 14pt; line-height: 21.4667px;"><br /></span><span style="font-family: "comic sans ms"; font-size: 14pt; line-height: 21.4667px;"><br /></span><br />
<span style="font-family: "comic sans ms"; font-size: 14pt; line-height: 21.4667px;"><br /></span> <span style="font-family: "comic sans ms"; font-size: 14pt; line-height: 21.4667px;"><br /></span> <span style="font-family: "comic sans ms"; font-size: 14pt; line-height: 21.4667px;"><br /></span> <span style="font-family: "comic sans ms"; font-size: 14pt; line-height: 21.4667px;"><br /></span> <span style="font-family: "comic sans ms"; font-size: 14pt; line-height: 21.4667px;"><br /></span> <span style="font-family: "comic sans ms"; font-size: 14pt; line-height: 21.4667px;"><br /></span> <span style="font-family: "comic sans ms"; font-size: 14pt; line-height: 21.4667px;"><br /></span>
<br />
<span style="font-family: "comic sans ms"; font-size: 14pt; line-height: 21.4667px;"><br /></span> <span style="font-family: "comic sans ms"; font-size: 14pt; line-height: 21.4667px;"><br /></span> <span style="font-family: "verdana" , sans-serif; font-size: 14pt; line-height: 21.4667px;"><br /></span> <span style="font-family: "verdana" , sans-serif; font-size: 14pt; line-height: 21.4667px;"><br /></span> <span style="font-family: "verdana" , sans-serif; font-size: 14pt; line-height: 21.4667px;"><br /></span> <span style="font-family: "verdana" , sans-serif; font-size: 14pt; line-height: 21.4667px;"><br /></span>
<br />
<span style="font-family: "verdana" , sans-serif; font-size: 14pt; line-height: 21.4667px;"><br /></span> <span style="font-family: "arial" , "helvetica" , sans-serif; font-size: large;"><b><span style="line-height: 21.4667px;">Walking through the 7 foot tall rows of sweet corn, checking the ears for </span>insects, corn worms and to see how close to harvest they were, I loved the buzzing of the honeybees even though it was so loud it blocked out all other sounds. Thousands of bees buzzing around my head, darting here and there, skillfully pollinating, painted a beautiful lively picture that was a joy to witness. They were such “Busy Bees”, fulfilling their work, that they didn't seem to notice me. They weren't distracted at all by this “intruder” in their midst. </b></span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<span style="font-family: "arial" , "helvetica" , sans-serif; font-size: large;"><b><br /></b></span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<span style="font-family: "arial" , "helvetica" , sans-serif; font-size: large; line-height: 21.4667px;"><b>Recently, the remembrance of that “bee” experience of several years ago suddenly came to my thought as I realized how I had been mesmerized by the political maelstrom that had encompassed the country and distracted me from my “mission”. I had fallen for the “bait” to engage… spouting strong feelings, <o:p></o:p></b></span><span style="font-family: "arial" , "helvetica" , sans-serif; font-size: large;"><b>participating in sometimes hateful rhetoric, self righteous opinions, bitterness... being drawn away from what I had considered my life purpose.</b></span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<span style="font-family: "arial" , "helvetica" , sans-serif; font-size: large; line-height: 21.4667px;"><b><br /></b></span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<span style="font-family: "arial" , "helvetica" , sans-serif; font-size: large; line-height: 21.4667px;"><b>I was disappointed in myself but seemed drawn to get involved. Remembering the bees hit me like a ton of bricks and it awakened me to what commitment to a mission means. <o:p></o:p></b></span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<span style="font-family: "arial" , "helvetica" , sans-serif; font-size: large; line-height: 21.4667px;"><b><br /></b></span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<span style="font-family: "arial" , "helvetica" , sans-serif; font-size: large; line-height: 21.4667px;"><b>As I pondered, feeling ashamed of myself for being pulled down once again, a story from the Bible came to thought. Lessons from the Bible, though maybe thousands of years old, continue to provide a rich treasure of life lessons when we can see them as applied to our daily experience.<o:p></o:p></b></span><br />
<span style="font-family: "arial" , "helvetica" , sans-serif; font-size: large; line-height: 21.4667px;"><b><br /></b></span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<a href="data:image/jpeg;base64,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" imageanchor="1" style="clear: right; float: right; margin-bottom: 1em; margin-left: 1em;"></a><a href="data:image/jpeg;base64,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" imageanchor="1" style="clear: left; float: left; margin-bottom: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"></a><span style="font-family: "arial" , "helvetica" , sans-serif; font-size: large; line-height: 21.4667px;"><b>How easily I had been diverted from my strong desire to follow the appeal of Micah the Morasthite quoted in the Bible when he said of God: … <span style="color: #990000;"><i>“He hath shewed thee, O man, what is good; and what doth the Lord require of thee, but to do justly, and to love mercy, and to walk humbly with thy God?” </i></span> No mention of being distracted, veering from the path, lowering our standard to the level of hateful conduct, criticism or losing touch with spirituality. <o:p></o:p></b></span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<span style="font-family: "arial" , "helvetica" , sans-serif; font-size: large; line-height: 21.4667px;"><b><br /></b></span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<a href="data:image/jpeg;base64,/9j/4AAQSkZJRgABAQAAAQABAAD/2wCEAAkGBxESEhUTEhMVFhUWFhYYGRUXFxUXFhgbFhgWFxUYGBcYHSggGB0lHRUVITEhJikrLi4uGB8zODMtNygtLisBCgoKDg0OGxAQGy0lICUtLi0tLystLS0tLS0tLS0vLS0wLS0tLS0tLS0tLS0tLS0tLS0tLS0tLS0tLS0tLS0tLf/AABEIAMAA8AMBEQACEQEDEQH/xAAcAAABBAMBAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAwQFBgECBwj/xABFEAACAQIDBQQHBAcGBgMAAAABAgADEQQhMQUSQVFxBiJhgQcTMkKRobEUUsHRIzNicpKy4VNjc4Ki8QgVQ8LD8CQ0s//EABoBAQACAwEAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAADBAECBQb/xAAzEQACAgEDAwIEBQMEAwAAAAAAAQIDEQQhMQUSQVFhEyIycYGRobHwI8HRM0Lh8RQkUv/aAAwDAQACEQMRAD8A7jACAEAIAQAgBACAEAIAQAgBACAEAIAQAgBAMX4QBKniVZmUZlbb3IE5gdbZ+YgG7VlBsSAesDJvACAEAIAQDXfGlxeAbQAgBACAEAIAQAgBACAEAIAQAgBACAEAIAQAgBAIbD4soMXVb3HbL9lKakD6nzgG2yKRo4VN7Ooy77nm9TvMfiflBhi1PCrbvC5OpM2NBSidzL3T/p/pDRsmPZqbBAEq9cL4k6DiYMN4GzIze2f8oyH9ZsampwqcreI1gxgXwNQkENmVNr8+UwzdMczBkIAQAgBACAEATq1lXU+Uyk2aymo8jVsceA+M37CJ3eiAY48hHYjHxn6Gy44cRMdhsrvYWTFKeNusw4s3VkWLCam4QAgBACAEAIAQBnUp06i1VUqSwKvYg2Nt3O2ht9IBvi1sqjhvLMowzEyamCL5GAK4Zrix1GX5TDNkbV6oUX15DmeUwGxtTQ6nNjr+QmxqbwAgBgR7Z5t9MphmYjqYNggBACAEAIAyxGM4L8fykkYepBO3whmTNyEIMBACAEA3p1mXQ+XCYaTNoyceB9QxQbI5GRuOCxCxMcTUkCAEAq/pF7Q18Dg2q4ag1aqzBFAUsFLZBmAzIvoOJtAKZ2B7I7aGNTH7Qrj2WBpM5ZgHGYAXurmBl4QDrcA4ftz0abVwVapj9n4r1lQu1RqaqUZt5ixULcioM9DAOr7Jxdatg6VWvS9VVKKz09d06np04TKMPgfzJqEAzQNnI5i/wNvxmGZQmzbzk8FyHU6mZRhm8AIBpVewy10HU6QDFdxTFOkD3na3jYd5z8PqJqbofQAgBACAYZgBcwYbwR2IxJbIZD6yWMcFadncITYjCABMAiNpbW3Ran/F+Uw2SRh6kVhsU6jeDG5JvfO/XnMG7SZMbO2ylQhWG650+6eh4dJlMjlHBKTJoEAd4bFcG+P5zSUfQnhZ4Y+kZOEAidobTIO6lstTr5CcTW9TlCfw6vHLL1GmTXdMYVNrVlFwQ1uBGvwlKvqd6e7z9yaWlrYpidpu+ndHIH8Y1HUrbXiPyr2FemhHncbCs494/EymrrE8qT/Mm7I+g9wO1G3xTqG6vkG4g8jzvOxoOoSlL4dr+zKeo0yS7oj+lldTqvzHAzvHOFIBqGs9+SMfmIZlGmGHdHM5/HODUVgyBMA1w67x3zoPZv8ANphmUiIweNVjVxz/AKsKadAc1v3mXmajBQOYVecwbE/Q3t0b3tWz5X4gQBSAEA1dgBcwlkw3jdkbiK5Y+HKTKOCrObkJTJoEAwSOYgybUxcjjmIBU8KgOGavVrVLh6wtemQbVGVQAynkBKbl21ObbOpa8X/DjBY28e33N8DZ0wyuxQ1PX3amqKWKMoW91NsidJFTe5xh3v6s8eptdXGtSlCK2xz7iuzUNLaNSkGcp9lVwGbe73rLE/ISyl2249iGcu/SdzSz3eEWOWDnBACAOsLibZHTnymko54Ja7MbMfyMskRidmAklTY55cP6Tk39IhN91bx+qLVeslHaSyVrs9j6mLFQ/ZsRRNMhSKybhJzuF4Na2duYnOn0rURWUs/Ysx1db52JGpTZfaBHUWlKdNkPqi1+BOrIy4ZpeRGw12i1lB4ggjym8Hh5Qxkt9WmWAYe1a/W+oM9rCWUmcOS3E6VQMPqOIm5oJVTlUPJQvx1/CALgQDFSoF1+HE+UAEoF83Fl+7z6/lMNmUhhtJjiWOHpkikMq9QZZf2SH7x4kaDxMwbDbCWxdZSgthMOe5b2atQZAr+wlsjxPSAWSAEAwTaARuJr7x8OEmisFSc+5iMyaBAG+NxYpi5zJ0HP+kGyWSt4mqXO8xuf/dJqTJYNKVQqwNyLEHIngZgHO9t7Mr+tqMadQoalRlIuRZmJBy01nNlCxeGenqv080sSWcL2JjFYGpW2fgFW9xUxN2JI3RdcydZtGEpRio+5BK2qqyxz4wsL1Jfs7Q+x1TVDPVJp7hDtwuDkdRppLddPZLOWzl6jVu6HZ2pb52LQnaan7yMOhBk+Tn/DZNrcgGxFwDY5HPnMp5NXFrkzBqEAdYXE2yOnPlNJRzuTV2Y2Y6rAAFibASKU1CLlLhFhRcnhEFXx7MwIyAOQ/OeZv6nbOxSjsk9l6/c6delhGOHyx/iaNPEUXpv3qdRSrC9jZhYi40M9JTdC6CnF7HMnBwlhkf2Y7M4fAUfU0d9lLFi1Rt9yTlrYACwGQE2dUHyl+Rjvl6jnamJp0VBKKzHRSBnz6CU9XOnTxz2rPhE9EbLHjLwOqe2MPZQaiKzAlaZYBzu23rLqbXF7c5ItVV8JWt4X82MOmff243K1247XJgaP2lKFSrZgG3SFAB0LX4XyvI6OoVWz7IizTTiu5lK2b6bsNUYUquGemHYXqb6sFudTkMhlLk5OKbSz7EUY52OpUsbvm28EHM5k9DpKdXU9PZtnD99iWWlsj7/YkqGGVcxmeZzMu5yQ4wbVqe8LXIvxGR8jwgyR+J2b6wCl+roDVVyZ/C49lefE+HEB8u5TCoAFHsqoy0BNgOgMAWgBAGGNrXO6NBrJIryV7Z52Gs3IQgCGLxIpi514Dn/SMmyWSv16pY7zG5M1JUsDdpgyJtAE2gCbGDIm0Ac4AU0D4it+qojeb9o+4g5kmaTkorLJaanZNRQx7GduKj4h6eMcbld95WOlJzkFB+4ch1HjKlN7Ut/J19boIutOtbr9TorqQbGdFPJ5xpp4ZiDUIAnjcQdzd4E/ScXrdnbVGK8v9jp9OWZNvwR88ydgAzDNGKnmNPMcZPTqLKXmDwRzrjNYkjDbRxJuAyZZEgC4/KXn1W9rn9CBaSrP/I3TDktvVGLNOfZdKby3llmMVFYRS+3TeoxOExa5GniBTc86dXJgedrE+cvaNd9c6n5WfxRBfs4y9y57VwC16VSi/s1FZD5iwPkZz65uE1NeCaSUo4PK1amVYqwsykgjkQbET2qaayjitYPRvo52qcTs+i7G7KDTbqmV/haeT19Srvklxz+Z1tPPughl2m7ZYjZGMpVDephMQD6ymcyjJYM1M+6SGU20Np1+k3Odbg/H7MqauGJZXk6tsvaNLEUkrUWDU6ihlYcQfoZ1ioOoBS6e2ftO2hh6bdzB0HapbMGrWKqATwKqD/EYBdIBrUawJ5TK3MSeFkiJMUggCWJrhBc+Q5wbJZILEVSxudf/AHKakqWBu0GRJpgCbQBNoAm0GTQKSQALkmwHMnQQCH7f7RC7mCptdaXerEe9VNsuij5nwlDUWdz7Tv8ATdP2Q+I+Xx9inEXlc6R1r0d9qPtKfZq7fpqY/Rsf+og4H9oZX5jOXdPd/tZwuo6JL548fs/8FuItLpw2sGIMDfGLlfkZxutVOVSmvD/RnR6dNKbi/IznmDtDepi1WotNjZnVit/e3bbwHiAwNuvKbqDcXJeDVySeCC2mtYY0JhKyo9WmXrK6esRRT3VpuAGBVm3iNbHc8JZr7HTmxZSeFh455/AhlnvxFliTuqN5r2GbGwvbU2GQlR7vYnXByz0ubQulCgp79WsHtyC5L8S3yM7PTK95TfCRU1ctlE6vxnFLfg8u9q1AxuJA09fV/nM9lpnmmGfRfscaz639zrHoMqk4OsvBa+X+ZF/KcTrC/qxft/cvaN/Kxf024YNgUfjTrKf4gVP4fCa9Ili5r1RnVr5MjL/h57UlKlXA1G/Rspq07nJWH6wDwIIPUeJnpDmlx9JPpVw+CptSwrpVxRuvdO8lL9piMiRwX4wBn/w+7HdMLWxlXeL4qoLFr3Kpvd431uzPn4CAdXgDfHN3epm0OSO1/KR0lKonWqhRc/7wZSyQuIqlzc/7TUmSwN2gyJtAEmmAJtAE2gCbQZFXxgwlB8W1t72KCn3qhHtW5KM5DdZ2RLWjod1mPHk5gzEkliSSSSTqScyTOcen+xiAb4eu9NldGKupurDUEaERnG6MNJrD4O29ku0abQo3yWvTAFRNOjLzU2PTSdGi7uR5rXaN1SyuPH+CWlk5YETWcFOLjLhm0ZOLyiLxKMnAleYzI6ieU1nTLKXmG8f2+53dPrIWrD2ZE7YweGxdP1dW9gQyspZXRhoysMwZTqnZVLMSzOCksMbbD2VhsGH9Uaju9t+pUYvUbdvugseAucvGb3W2XY7sJLhLZGsK1Dgj+1Xa+hhVvVYb3u0VN3bryHiZJptHO1/KvxMWXRgtzlvZp6u1NrUnq5gOHIHsqlPvBR4XsPOdrUKOl0rUft+LKEG7bU2d/eoFBZjYAEk8gMyZ5hLOyOo9keU9oYn1tWpUORd2f+JifxntoR7YqPojiSeXk7R6DsOVwVVz79c26Kij6kzz3WJZuS9EdDRr5Wxz6aawXZ4U6tWQDyu30E06Ss359jbVv5Dg4NtJ6Y5hbfR72ExG1KwCgpQUj1la2QH3Vv7TGx6cYB6t2fgqdCklKku6lNQqqOAAsIA4gDPaJyHWbwIbvAykhXIfb+Jp0V9bWqKibwW7XsC2mmnWaSko7ssUwdj7YLcaIwYbykMp95SGHxEJp8GXFxeGsGhmTAm0ASaYAm0ATaAbYTCtVdUXVj8BxPlBlFQ7cbZXEVwlI/oKANOnyJ99/G5GvIeM5t1nfI9NoqPhV78vkrsiLZi8wCVwfZzG1VL08PUKgEliN0WGZ9q1/KbqEn4IpaiqLw5I17MY2rSxNF6DWcsqjkwYgbp8DM1P50aauKdMs+Fn8judGv6xd5kNNxkyHnzB0I8Z1I5WzPJT7Wu5CGJrlTYW85yOpdRtosUK0uM7l3SaSFsO6RmhiN7I5GSaHqkb32TWJfozTU6J1rujujNTCU2zKKfKXp6SmbzKKK8dRbHiTIP0m7LUbLxFTDkUXRQ4cHdNlILLe/EXEgWjoi9ootrUWSXJ5aqVCxJYkk6km5PUydJLZEZ2z0cdnW2fg62MrLas9NnCn3ERSyg8ixzPlPO6/ULUWxqjwn+p0KK+yLk+SR9IvaL1Gzbmwq4lFRVHDeUGoR4AG3mJFodP8TUe0X/0b32Yr92ef56g5h6W7BbLOGwFCmRZt3fYftP3j9Z5DW2/EvlJfzB16I9sEihenbaOeGw4Ogeow62VPkH+M6fRq9pT/Aq6yW6RA+hzswmPx4Wsm/RpIXdT7J4ID1J+U7hSPUODwlOigp0kVEUWCqAAOgEAXgBAGO0TmPOSQK93KGk3ISo+lRL7PbwqUj/qt+Mg1P0HQ6Y//YX2ZyHA46rRO9RqPTP7JI+I0MoJtcHoJQjNYksln2d29qrliKa1R99bU6nmB3W+Ak8dRJc7lGzp9ct4bfsWfZ/aPB1yAlYI59yqPVnyY9xvjJ43xZQs0NsN8ZXsSVaky6gjx4HodDJSq1gQaDAm0GRLtBtH7HhLg2r4kFU5pTHtv4XuB5iVtRZ2rCOj0/T/ABJ9z4RRdj7BxWJsMPRdx97JUH+ZrCUowlLhHcsvrr+tlwpejynh0FXH4gqv3KKPUYmxJA3VLMbAnuroDLEdP/8ATOdb1PxWvzJ1MRsrZ7laOGNTcSoz1gpchqZQBd6pm1y1rpcAgg2sbTxrjHhFC3VW2fUxzW2xi8Q1hR3KSBy7AMUKqrfpErZK6lrgLa/cJNgRfZ8EMPqX3OUdkVvicKP7yn8rGUKvrX3PR614ps+zO7zrnjBvi6RIuNRw5zl9S0D1CU4fUv1Re0eqVT7ZcP8AQjXr20Db3AbpvPNKi6M0kmmdnvg45bWCGp9vHe4TZuNZuAKBQfMnKe3Un6Hnexeo/wBm7HxW0HWptFFpYekQ1PBht/ebUPiCMmtlZBlzmkuSavGMIr1f0X4XB4psSE30Z96mjC6Ujra3HPS85HUrLorEdovyv2L+lhCXPI97ZbQH/L8Ub2b1LjPmwtl8ZxtJX/Xh9y3c8Vs4d227Stj6+/mKVNQlJOSi2Z8Ta/wnpNJplRDHl7s5ttnex56NezJxuLG8t6NKz1DwP3U8yPgDI9fqfgVbcvg2or75ex6Fr1lRWdyFVQWYnQAZkzysYuTwjqNpLJ5t7QbQrbTxzPTRmaq4SlTAu26MkW3TM9TPYaWhU1KH8yciyffJs9I+i7sWuy8LusAa9WzVmGeYvuoDyW58yTxlgjLlACAEAYbQ1HSSQ4K93KGs3ISt+kSnvbOr+AVv4WBkV/8ApsuaB41ETimGw71HVKalnY2VRmSeQnOPSNpLLDFYZ6bblRGRvusCp+BhrATUllCREGSR2Zt3FYf9TWdR9w2dD4FHBE2jJx4ZHOquf1LJZ8B26ptliaG6f7SgbeZpObfAyaOofko2dOj/ALH+ZZ9j4rB4ghkxNM0xdnDXp1AozN0YXPUXkyui/JSno7YPdFM2ntf7dj6dRh+jarSREPCmHAC28dT1lCUu+eT0FdPwaXFc4f54L9hNubSerUTDojIuIVBZU3KaLVxKOp3SLG1Kle5JW98rgToHm855F62CZcEE2ri6SvvlyzblS10Kn1e+LoblmUqMrgWtlNXJLkkhVObxFZGGH7Q4Yuf+W4OtinJP6SoX3Bdt6wNUmy7wvbKRO7P0rJcWh7d7pKP6shu3dfaqUqZxVVESqzKMPRyVQAD3mHtcrXtIbXZj5mW9JHTuTVazjyyvdi0vjsOP27/BWMxQv6iJte8aaf2O2TqnkAgBBkLwYH+zx3T1kc+SzTwL1KYYEMAQdQdJFKKksPgmTaeUcd9MnYas9MVqOJPq9+mi4ZrBd+q6ou641zPvX6iQ06WqneCN53TnyznOF9FO1TW9XUw7U1HtVCVZQL2uN0ne6Te634cc4b+xiEO54zg61sLYn2GitGijIpYXYjvO7ZAknUnQCeduhffPulF/kdODrrWEyP7Y7E2himpYQfoKNdyjVnIJYhS4RUU3sQrZm1yLdehoNC4P4li38Iq6jUKS7Ylz7Eej3BbMG9SUvWIs1Z826KNEHTXK97TrlMt0AIAQAgDHaOo6GSQK93KGk3ISK7V0d/BYledF/kL/AITSxZgyfTS7bov3Rx/0fm+0ML+//wBjTnV/Uj0mq/0ZHXu0Gz6WIoOlZA9qbspPtKwUkFW1GkuWRTTycaiyUJrtZwPCqX3ANXKgdWIA+ZlE9BLbJctp+jXHU7mmadcC9whKvlyR7X8jJZUyRThrqpc7FNZSCQRYgkEHUEZEGRFscUBl5zSXJNXwOcLWKVEcao6sBz3SDb5TC2ZtJZTXqdJ2ftXau1AxoVKWEoKxDMub3OZANrk565ayypWWcbI5U6tNpsd6cmS+zuwODV96uXxNW196qSV/hvn53m6ojy9yvPqFj2h8q9izIAncQBVCXAUADTwkySwUpSbeWUD0tn9BhP8AEqfyiV9V4On0rmX2RWPR3T3sfT8FdvgtvxmmmX9RFjqjxppfgdinTPKhACAAgyS1GnugCQt5ZbjHCwbzBsVztRSp19ymwNqdWlVyNu9SYOo6XAvOPrepSqs7K1xz/guU6ZTj3SJzCYgVFDDzHIzo6a9XVqaK1lbhLtIbt24XBvUIJFJ6VU21Ap1UZiPIGTmhr27BXCGst74d6dfLW1JgzjTim8POAWBGBAIzBFx5wDaAEAIAQBntEZAzeBDcuBlJCuJ4mlvo6feRl+KkTD3RtF4aZwr0f5Y/CA/2gH+lhOZX9SPVaveqZ2/FL3Gsf+nU8D7LS9LhnBh9SPPuwRethh/e0f51nPXJ6KziX2Z6Ic94fvn6idE834PPu3ltisQP7+t/+jTnvlno6/oj9kJYfTzkb5LEOBWYNzqfor/+lX/xv+1Zb03DOL1T64/b+5eaX6w/uD6Sx4OYKtRu1+G7bxgyc79MVOyYRF+9V+ifnKupfB0+nTjBTlLhJEP2Xpmhig6qMqFs9LkgHTjKtVzg+5FK3VfG0rzz38ei5RfaO2lPtqR4jMS7DXxf1LBzMD+jiEf2WB+vwluFkJ/SwKzcwO8FQ94+X5zSUvBPVDyx9IycIBWcepFR7855DWprUTz6nYpea0SHZ03pseBc28rCdzpUWqN/Uo6t/OY7W4L1+CxFG9vWUnQE6XYEDTxtL110aoOcuEV4Qc3hDlEWth9xzvB6ZR/G62b8YpvhbDvjwZnBxl2sY9jS64OjSqkGrSpqj20O4N0MOoAken1dV+ex8GbKpQ+onJZIwgBACAI4pLqfjNovDNLFmJGSUqCOIxiUrFzbw1J6CR2WxrWZMHC8DiFw20VqNcJSxJY5XIXfPAa5Gc6MlnuPVL+rRt5idpTFU61JnoulRNyp3kII9lteI85d7k1scb4coSSkjgvZ8/psN/i0P51lJco79n0y+zPRNRhfMe8dMuInQPN+Dz92jH/y8T/j1f5zOfLlnoqv9OP2Q3w+kjfJZhwLAHPwmps5JNJvk6t6IEDYWuDp64fyLLem4Zx+qfXH7f3L5VU27tgcs/Af0k0+5r5eTnRxnczSUgAE38esQi0sN5EnlnOvS+/fwY8a/wD4xK2q4RZrg5aW7Hov7jTZGZuBqo0+k55xoMnaWzqrcLdTaRSvgvJYjTNmzbNqjh8CJlaiv1DpmvAthtpVaR7w3hycfQy7XrJpc5RHjte6LDgtvUXyJ3DybTyOktw1MJc7E6sTJRSDpLBuZgDHH7MSqbksDod02uPGU9Roqrpd0uSau+Vawh1QoqihVFgMgJahCMIqMeERSk5PLGG3W7ijmfpOT1iTVcV6st6NfM2Mtm1ju1l/ZB+NwfoJT0NjWntivTJNfFfEgxHZ9bdqL4mx88pX6fZ2Xx99iTUR7q2WaesOSEAIAQAgFY29tNabFKWb8eS/mfCQXars+WPJWnFJ7FYdyxuxJJ4mc6Um3lmhUe0GxEq1iabEOc6l81/O/hMqzCwX9P1N1R7Gs44IHHbNrYbvb9lYlbozKT4MBbXlnJYWKXB1NNrK9Rslut9/7EfQqFGVhqrKw5XUgj6TcuPdYOv7J9ImCr2FYth3vc743qZ52ddPMCWo3p8nIs0Fkfp3OV7drrUxNd0N1atUZTzBYkGVnydStNQSfoJ4fSRvksw4J7s9hgwctoRu26yGb3PP9X1DV8FH/bv+L/6OgeiCkUo4hW1WsB/oEvaZ5iyx1CyNnZOPDRenYBSSQAAbk5AdTLJz0ssiKm294AYdfWZDvm60xlwOr+WXjK9uprr5ZMqcfV+Xn/gY1NnesYVK533AIU2A3AbXCD3b2HibDOcnUdQU9or8X/g2ksx7eF/OR3hsLTpiyIq9BOfKcpcs1jCMfpQvNDYyIMGlXdOTC46XE2jlbow0nyV/G0Qjso04To1y7oJsoWRUZNIMPi6lP2HZehy+GkmhOa+lmsc+CVw/aWoPbUN0yP5S9XZd5X9ieKn6Evg9vUXyJKHk2Xz0llMk7WSYN5sYGO2ad6d+RB/Oc3qtfdRleHks6WWLMepG7Dp77VuW6q+feJ/CUemUucLF6rH7ljVT7XEYtcFRx31HzE5mnT+LFeclmbXay3z2ZxQgBACARHaPaZopZfbe4HgBqZBfb2R25ZHOWEUec0rhMAa1sCGbeBsTryPLzho1cd8mTs+mQVdQ4PBhcfCFsbwlKD7ovDIDafYxWzoNun7jXK+Taj5yVWep1KOpyW1qz7rkgsN2cqte7KoGV82zGun1mXakTS6vSvpi3+gyxuzKtLN1yvbeGY/pebxmpcFynV1XbQe/oaUNJh8l6vgtuwwPV5WlaXJ43VSk7593OWWzshtB6AxA9WSXqKVLHdSwQC5Opz4AS3p7FGOC/GVTqrj3bpPK/ElWZqzj1zb4vfd0pjomh6m5mdTa41ORInjaO389SR3hzE89hvcMUE1BkQDJYDMzaMXJ9sVlmreBGpicwBxvnyt/vOppemSlY43bYSeF5yQzuWPlE2Vi1zwW/wBJHOymuuUI8vuX6rGTZKTeX7G2J2crksTa/HifKVK75V+MmXVCTyyJxuBNPO9156HzE7Wl1cLflSw/Qz244GsuglNmbEqVe8e6nM6noPxmUsmrlgtGz9nrRFlLHqSR8NBNkjRvI6ZQRY5g8IaTWGYTwJYXCpTXdRbDWaVVQqj2wWEbTnKbzIaPspTWFW+Qz3eG9zlVaGtX/FX5e5L/AORL4fYSMvEAQAgBAKZ2wv68X03Bb4m/4TnarPeV7eSDlYjMwDMAIAFbix4wCKpbLZCQu6UOmeY5Dx6zDRGoNCO1ez5r0wvrCjA3Fs1P7w4zaD7S7o7/APx5OWM5/mxC4PshXvZ2RVB1BLE9BYfOSOaOw+rVRj8qbf5FmwGxKVIALvHnc3v5cJE9ziai532d8kk/b+bklaYIh5s5jvgdfpIr5P4bRY08n34JcqDL3R5x7JQ85ySalPKY1q1GTNdL5jh/SXNRoabU3jD9VsRQtlEeYmpuqSJ5vSVK66MJcMt2Pti2JNTZhryOfgZ2dRKjR3VtLGzzjn2K8VKcWOUpjqZy9VrZ3TclssYwn49yaFaihOqc/I/SVYywml5JcZENv480aLOti2SrfS7ZAkchrJtJR8e1Q/MjnLtjkrHZza7ucTTqu1ZVZQjMFDXYEkd3LIgT0K0dFU++Md/5uQwnOXkuGxdg6PWHRPxb8pMkbuXoWObGgQAgBACAEAIAQAgDPaWzqddd1xpoRqOkjsrjNYZrKKlyVzEdlao9hlYeN1P5SnLSS8MidT8DVuz2JHuA9GE0ens9DX4chjiMM9PJ1K9R+MilGUeUatNciU1MBBkzACAZgGZgBAHmzUO/e2QvnI9RF/CbxsT6b/UJYGUK1mSSePf0L8uA3AdRL1mt1NTdbkn78/qQquEt8ChAORznPhJwacXholazyKIt9Jhtt5ZgyRaYAyx9dV11tpx/pLWm0s7ntx6juwiE2uK2LVaSkDO9gCSSNOOVp29LpK6JuccshsTksFj7KdlKeEQX7zk7xJ5nU9Zde7yzRLCwixwAgBACAEAIAQAgBACAEAIAQDV0DCxAI5HMTDWeQQ2N7N0nzS9M+Ga/CV56WL42I3WnwQWL2DXp+7vjmufy1lWennH3I3W0RpFjY5HkcpAzQIBmYBmAbJTJ0kkK5S4RtGDlwSGBcICDoc50aIKEXCe6ZMqmt0PhzEoX9JT3pf4P/JLHUY2kjYGci2mdTxNYLCkpcG4kJka9otrphKBqMC1iAFGrsdBJ9Np5X2KC/wCkRymorLGGwtuHE4dqm76t1LKynOxFufgRLM9GqtTGqW6YhPvjkMJhalZrLmeJOg8SZ3YxSWEtjVst2zNmJRGWbHVuJ6chJEsEbeR9MmAgBACAEAIAQAgBACAEAIAQAgBACAEASr4ZH9tVbqAZrKKlyjDSZH1tgYc+7u9CRInpq34NfhxIrE7Owq6M7HkCLfG0jemr9x8FDE4dL5D4m8zGiEXwbqqKMkSYkNCIBlHK6GZTa4MOKfIuuKHHLxknfGSxJETra3iKfaSM8jKNvSqbN4fL9t0ZV8lsyqdrtoF2RSCdxt8ADLMWGfEyzptHVp/p58sjnOUuSY7H9n6zUy1UlfWOaj+JOQA52AGczKMZT7se2SaHyrBe8LhUpruoLD6+J5zcxkWgBACAEAIAQAgBACAEAIAQAgBACAEAIAQAgCdairizC4gDCrsVDoSPnNe0zkZ1dhv7rKetxMdpnuGdXZtVfcJ6ZzGGZyM3UjUEdcoMmhgGpEAzSpMx3VBJ5CAywbN2EFs1XvHgvuj85somrkTYmxqEAIAQAgBACAEAIAQAgBACAEAIAQAgBACAEAIAQAgBACAaugOoB6wBlX2RRb3bfu5TGDORgezve9vu9O905THaZ7iYwuFSmLILfU9TM4Nci0yAgBACAEAIAQAgBACAEAIAQAgBAP/Z" imageanchor="1" style="clear: right; float: right; margin-bottom: 1em; margin-left: 1em;"></a><span style="font-family: "arial" , "helvetica" , sans-serif; font-size: large;"><b><br /></b></span>
<br />
<table cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0" class="tr-caption-container" style="float: left; margin-right: 1em;"><tbody>
<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://portlandurbanbeekeepers.org/wp-content/plugins/files/civicrm/persist/contribute/images/BeeSchool.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="clear: left; margin-bottom: 1em; margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><span style="font-family: "arial" , "helvetica" , sans-serif; font-size: large;"><b><img alt="Image result for bees in school" border="0" height="160" src="https://portlandurbanbeekeepers.org/wp-content/plugins/files/civicrm/persist/contribute/images/BeeSchool.jpg" width="200" /></b></span></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;"><span style="color: #990000; font-family: "arial" , "helvetica" , sans-serif; font-size: large;"><b>Bee-ing a Good Student</b></span></td></tr>
</tbody></table>
<span style="font-family: "arial" , "helvetica" , sans-serif; font-size: large; line-height: 21.4667px;"><b>Then just a few days after thinking about the faithfulness of the bees to their mission, while reading from the book of Nehemiah in the Holy Bible, the realization came that this old “distraction” trick is not new. The pull to separate us from Love, goodness, kindness and right thinking is as old as time itself. I wondered if the bees had read that story in school and learned from it!!!! </b></span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<span style="font-family: "arial" , "helvetica" , sans-serif; font-size: large; line-height: 21.4667px;"><b><br /></b></span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<span style="font-family: "arial" , "helvetica" , sans-serif; font-size: large; line-height: 21.4667px;"><b>Nehemiah was a high official in the Persian court of King Artaxerxes I. After hearing about the sad state of affairs in Judah, the home of his ancestors, Nehemiah acquired the king’s permission to return to Jerusalem and rebuild that city and its fortifications which had been destroyed by enemies. That became his mission and purpose.<o:p></o:p></b></span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<span style="font-family: "arial" , "helvetica" , sans-serif; font-size: large; line-height: 21.4667px;"><b><br /></b></span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<table cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0" class="tr-caption-container" style="float: right; margin-left: 1em; text-align: right;"><tbody>
<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhKN9-xQQVRjygKo_wvIFohYIgOoL-tvO7Zgowj_P7UWH1YfHoiC5XIC9I7W440F4u8Vk3JxVEBAjKAko-bksZ061QnT24CU1B1x4B04BoE5kul1mwyZDyF5t2pQaln5R_8eOxzcUtoIGU/s1600/Nehemiah+for+blog.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="clear: right; margin-bottom: 1em; margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><span style="font-family: "arial" , "helvetica" , sans-serif; font-size: large;"><b><img border="0" height="230" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhKN9-xQQVRjygKo_wvIFohYIgOoL-tvO7Zgowj_P7UWH1YfHoiC5XIC9I7W440F4u8Vk3JxVEBAjKAko-bksZ061QnT24CU1B1x4B04BoE5kul1mwyZDyF5t2pQaln5R_8eOxzcUtoIGU/s320/Nehemiah+for+blog.jpg" width="320" /></b></span></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;"><span style="font-family: "arial" , "helvetica" , sans-serif; font-size: large;"><b>Nehemiah the Builder</b></span></td></tr>
</tbody></table>
<span style="font-family: "arial" , "helvetica" , sans-serif; font-size: large;"><b><span style="line-height: 21.4667px;">There were many distractions, primarily from Sanballat and </span><span style="line-height: 21.4667px;">Tobiah, </span> Regional Governors who resented his involvement and were trying to tempt him to come down from the work, to distract him and draw him away from the work he was doing. This seemed to me like a parallel to the temptation I had experienced to engage in “conflict” over our own political process.</b></span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<span style="font-family: "arial" , "helvetica" , sans-serif; font-size: large; line-height: 21.4667px;"><b><br /></b></span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<span style="font-family: "arial" , "helvetica" , sans-serif; font-size: large; line-height: 21.4667px;"><b>But Nehemiah stuck by his guns (well… a figure of speech actually as there were no guns in those days!!). He stayed on the wall and, like the Busy Bees, told the detractors that he had a work to do and he was not going to be distracted.<br /><br />Seeing how easily we can be pulled away from our work, drawn into endless conflict, it became important to me to “define” my mission and purpose. A clue came from the master Christian, Jesus of Nazareth when he said: <o:p></o:p></b></span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<span style="font-family: "arial" , "helvetica" , sans-serif; font-size: large;"><b><br /></b></span>
<br />
<div style="text-align: center;">
<span style="color: #990000; font-family: "arial" , "helvetica" , sans-serif; font-size: large;"><i><b>The Spirit of the Lord is upon Me, </b></i></span></div>
<div style="text-align: center;">
<span style="line-height: 21.4667px;"><span style="color: #990000; font-family: "arial" , "helvetica" , sans-serif; font-size: large;"><i><b>Because He has anointed Me</b></i></span></span></div>
<span style="font-family: "arial" , "helvetica" , sans-serif; font-size: large;"><b><span style="line-height: 18.4px;"></span><br /></b></span>
<br />
<div style="text-align: center;">
<span style="line-height: 21.4667px;"><span style="color: #990000; font-family: "arial" , "helvetica" , sans-serif; font-size: large;"><i><b>To preach the gospel to the poor;</b></i></span></span></div>
<span style="font-family: "arial" , "helvetica" , sans-serif; font-size: large;"><b><span style="line-height: 18.4px;"></span><br /></b></span>
<br />
<div style="text-align: center;">
<span style="line-height: 21.4667px;"><span style="color: #990000;"><i><span style="font-family: "arial" , "helvetica" , sans-serif; font-size: large;"><b>He has sent Me to heal the brokenhearted,</b></span></i></span></span></div>
<span style="font-family: "arial" , "helvetica" , sans-serif; font-size: large;"><b><span style="line-height: 18.4px;"></span><br /></b></span>
<br />
<div style="text-align: center;">
<span style="line-height: 21.4667px;"><span style="color: #990000; font-family: "arial" , "helvetica" , sans-serif; font-size: large;"><i><b>To proclaim liberty to the captives</b></i></span></span></div>
<span style="font-family: "arial" , "helvetica" , sans-serif; font-size: large;"><b><span style="line-height: 18.4px;"></span><br /></b></span>
<br />
<div style="text-align: center;">
<span style="line-height: 21.4667px;"><span style="color: #990000; font-family: "arial" , "helvetica" , sans-serif; font-size: large;"><i><b>And recovery of sight to the blind,</b></i></span></span></div>
<span style="font-family: "arial" , "helvetica" , sans-serif; font-size: large;"><b><span style="line-height: 18.4px;"></span><br /></b></span>
<br />
<div style="text-align: center;">
<span style="line-height: 21.4667px;"><span style="color: #990000; font-family: "arial" , "helvetica" , sans-serif; font-size: large;"><i><b>To set at liberty those who are oppressed;</b></i></span></span></div>
<span style="font-family: "arial" , "helvetica" , sans-serif; font-size: large;"><b><span style="line-height: 18.4px;"></span><br /></b></span>
<br />
<div style="text-align: center;">
<span style="line-height: 21.4667px;"><span style="color: #990000; font-family: "arial" , "helvetica" , sans-serif; font-size: large;"><i><b> To proclaim the acceptable year of the Lord.”</b></i></span></span></div>
<span style="font-family: "arial" , "helvetica" , sans-serif; font-size: large;"><b><span style="line-height: 18.4px;"></span><br /></b></span>
<br />
<div style="text-align: center;">
<span style="font-family: "arial" , "helvetica" , sans-serif; font-size: large; line-height: 18.4px;"> Luke 4:17-19</span></div>
<span style="line-height: 18.4px;"><span style="font-family: "arial" , "helvetica" , sans-serif; font-size: large;"><b><o:p></o:p></b></span></span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<span style="font-family: "arial" , "helvetica" , sans-serif; font-size: large; line-height: 21.4667px;"><b><br /></b></span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<span style="font-family: "arial" , "helvetica" , sans-serif;"><b><span style="font-size: large; line-height: 21.4667px;">Religious leader Mary Baker Eddy, whose Bible companion book Science and Health with Key to the Scriptures is studied worldwide, offers this counsel as an alert to stay focused on spirituality: <span style="color: #990000;"><i>“Being in sympathy with matter, the worldly man is at the beck and call of error, and will be attracted thitherward." </i></span> </span><span style="line-height: 18.4px;">Science and Health with Key to the Scriptures by Mary Baker Eddy 21:25<o:p></o:p></span></b></span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<span style="font-family: "arial" , "helvetica" , sans-serif; font-size: large; line-height: 21.4667px;"><b><br /></b></span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<span style="font-family: "arial" , "helvetica" , sans-serif; font-size: large; line-height: 21.4667px;"><b>If our Mission and Purpose is to be Christian Healers and to uplift the lives of others, this hymn in the Christian Science Hymnal (#5) gives direction:</b></span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<span style="font-family: "arial" , "helvetica" , sans-serif; font-size: large;"><b><span style="line-height: 21.4667px;"><br /></span> </b></span><br />
<div class="MsoNormalCxSpFirst" style="line-height: normal; margin-bottom: .0001pt; margin-bottom: 0in; mso-add-space: auto;">
<span style="font-family: "arial" , "helvetica" , sans-serif; font-size: large;"><b> A voice from heaven we have heard,<o:p></o:p></b></span></div>
<div class="MsoNormalCxSpMiddle" style="line-height: normal; margin-bottom: .0001pt; margin-bottom: 0in; mso-add-space: auto;">
<span style="font-family: "arial" , "helvetica" , sans-serif; font-size: large;"><b> The call to rise from earth;<o:p></o:p></b></span></div>
<div class="MsoNormalCxSpMiddle" style="line-height: normal; margin-bottom: .0001pt; margin-bottom: 0in; mso-add-space: auto;">
<span style="font-family: "arial" , "helvetica" , sans-serif; font-size: large;"><b> Put armor on, the sword now gird,<o:p></o:p></b></span></div>
<div class="MsoNormalCxSpMiddle" style="line-height: normal; margin-bottom: .0001pt; margin-bottom: 0in; mso-add-space: auto;">
<span style="font-family: "arial" , "helvetica" , sans-serif; font-size: large;"><b> And for the fight go forth.<o:p></o:p></b></span></div>
<div class="MsoNormalCxSpMiddle" style="line-height: normal; margin-bottom: .0001pt; margin-bottom: 0in; mso-add-space: auto;">
<span style="font-family: "arial" , "helvetica" , sans-serif; font-size: large;"><b><br /></b></span></div>
<div class="MsoNormalCxSpMiddle" style="line-height: normal; margin-bottom: .0001pt; margin-bottom: 0in; mso-add-space: auto;">
<span style="font-family: "arial" , "helvetica" , sans-serif; font-size: large;"><b> The foe in ambush claims our prize,<o:p></o:p></b></span></div>
<div class="MsoNormalCxSpMiddle" style="line-height: normal; margin-bottom: .0001pt; margin-bottom: 0in; mso-add-space: auto;">
<span style="font-family: "arial" , "helvetica" , sans-serif; font-size: large;"><b> Then heed high heaven’s call.<o:p></o:p></b></span></div>
<div class="MsoNormalCxSpMiddle" style="line-height: normal; margin-bottom: .0001pt; margin-bottom: 0in; mso-add-space: auto;">
<span style="font-family: "arial" , "helvetica" , sans-serif; font-size: large;"><b> Obey the voice of Truth, arise,<o:p></o:p></b></span></div>
<div class="MsoNormalCxSpMiddle" style="line-height: normal; margin-bottom: .0001pt; margin-bottom: 0in; mso-add-space: auto;">
<span style="font-family: "arial" , "helvetica" , sans-serif; font-size: large;"><b> And let not fear enthrall.<o:p></o:p></b></span></div>
<div class="MsoNormalCxSpMiddle" style="line-height: normal; margin-bottom: .0001pt; margin-bottom: 0in; mso-add-space: auto;">
<span style="font-family: "arial" , "helvetica" , sans-serif; font-size: large;"><b><br /></b></span></div>
<div class="MsoNormalCxSpMiddle" style="line-height: normal; margin-bottom: .0001pt; margin-bottom: 0in; mso-add-space: auto;">
<span style="font-family: "arial" , "helvetica" , sans-serif; font-size: large;"><b> The cause requires unswerving might:<o:p></o:p></b></span></div>
<div class="MsoNormalCxSpMiddle" style="line-height: normal; margin-bottom: .0001pt; margin-bottom: 0in; mso-add-space: auto;">
<span style="font-family: "arial" , "helvetica" , sans-serif; font-size: large;"><b> With God alone agree.<o:p></o:p></b></span></div>
<div class="MsoNormalCxSpMiddle" style="line-height: normal; margin-bottom: .0001pt; margin-bottom: 0in; mso-add-space: auto;">
<span style="font-family: "arial" , "helvetica" , sans-serif; font-size: large;"><b> Then have no other aim than right;<o:p></o:p></b></span></div>
<div class="MsoNormalCxSpMiddle" style="line-height: normal; margin-bottom: .0001pt; margin-bottom: 0in; mso-add-space: auto;">
<span style="font-family: "arial" , "helvetica" , sans-serif; font-size: large;"><b> End bondage, O be free.<o:p></o:p></b></span></div>
<div class="MsoNormalCxSpMiddle" style="line-height: normal; margin-bottom: .0001pt; margin-bottom: 0in; mso-add-space: auto;">
<span style="font-family: "arial" , "helvetica" , sans-serif; font-size: large;"><b><br /></b></span></div>
<div class="MsoNormalCxSpMiddle" style="line-height: normal; margin-bottom: .0001pt; margin-bottom: 0in; mso-add-space: auto;">
<span style="font-family: "arial" , "helvetica" , sans-serif; font-size: large;"><b> Depart from sin, awake to love:<o:p></o:p></b></span></div>
<div class="MsoNormalCxSpMiddle" style="line-height: normal; margin-bottom: .0001pt; margin-bottom: 0in; mso-add-space: auto;">
<span style="font-family: "arial" , "helvetica" , sans-serif; font-size: large;"><b> Your mission is to heal.<o:p></o:p></b></span></div>
<div class="MsoNormalCxSpMiddle" style="line-height: normal; margin-bottom: .0001pt; margin-bottom: 0in; mso-add-space: auto;">
<span style="font-family: "arial" , "helvetica" , sans-serif; font-size: large;"><b> </b></span><span style="font-family: "arial" , "helvetica" , sans-serif; font-size: large;"><b>Then all of Truth you must approve,<br /> And only know the real.</b></span><br />
<span style="font-family: "arial" , "helvetica" , sans-serif; font-size: large;"><b><br /></b></span></div>
</div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<span style="font-family: "arial" , "helvetica" , sans-serif; font-size: large; line-height: 21.4667px;"><b> When we keep our mission and purpose foremost in thought, we can silence the world's distractions with that buzzing activity we witness in the Bee World. </b></span><br />
<span style="font-family: "arial" , "helvetica" , sans-serif; font-size: large; line-height: 21.4667px;"><b><br /></b></span> <span style="font-family: "arial" , "helvetica" , sans-serif; font-size: large; line-height: 21.4667px;"><b> Thanks Bees and Nehemiah for being good role models. </b></span></div>
Patrick Collinshttp://www.blogger.com/profile/04142860593504026432noreply@blogger.com5tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-6911001172799912622.post-62398064528466056532018-09-16T06:30:00.000-07:002018-09-16T06:30:05.925-07:00KEEPING LIFE BEAUTIFUL<br />
<div style="text-align: center;">
<img alt="Image may contain: text" src="https://scontent.ftpa1-1.fna.fbcdn.net/v/t1.0-9/41774008_10212727143629890_7064997683231981568_n.jpg?_nc_cat=0&oh=35308b26da5114683535f4634b1c05c8&oe=5C1DF1E3" /></div>
<br />
<br />
<span style="color: #990000; font-family: Verdana, sans-serif; font-size: large;">I saw this and was so touched it made me rethink my recent attitude and actions. I confess to having been pulled down into the maelstrom of political bitterness, to have been nearly overwhelmed with distress over the direction of our nation. </span><div>
<span style="color: #990000; font-family: Verdana, sans-serif; font-size: large;"><br /></span></div>
<div>
<span style="color: #990000; font-family: Verdana, sans-serif; font-size: large;">During my long lifetime the United States has been a SELFLESS defender of freedom for others, a strong tower and champion of good causes across the world, mostly a kind and gentle nation that demonstrated "speak softly but carry a big stick" as Roosevelt counseled.<br /><br />Maybe I am a hopeless romantic that thought things would always be that way!! <br /><br />This little poster jolted me back to a better place. TODAY I will try my best to follow the guidance of this simple lessons that Jesus of Nazareth taught. I will try to overlook the many distressing signals and be a gentle, more loving, less critical follower of the Master Christian. <br /><br />This hymn from the Christian Science Hymnal is a mainstay for me:</span></div>
<div>
<span style="color: #990000; font-family: Verdana, sans-serif; font-size: large;"><br />Speak gently, it is better far<br />To rule by love than fear;<br />Speak gently, let no harsh word mar<br />The good we may do here.<br /><br />Speak gently to the erring ones,<br />They must have toiled in vain;<br />Perchance unkindness made them so;<br />O win them back again.<br /><br />Speak gently, ’tis a little thing,<br />Dropped in the heart’s deep well;<br />The good, the joy that it may bring,<br />Eternity shall tell.<br /><br />I know that as I put my limited, mortal critical view of life on hold, and speak gently and think gently, I will see the beauty of loving gently and living a more joyous experience. </span></div>
<div>
<span style="color: #990000; font-family: Verdana, sans-serif; font-size: large;"><br /></span></div>
<div style="text-align: left;">
<span style="color: #990000; font-family: Verdana, sans-serif; font-size: large;">My little friend below is a great example of the peace and joy that comes with a more simple life!!</span></div>
<div>
<span style="color: #990000; font-family: Verdana, sans-serif; font-size: large;"><br /></span><span style="font-size: large;"><span class="text_exposed_show" style="background-color: white; color: #1d2129; display: inline; font-family: "helvetica" , "arial" , sans-serif;"><br /></span></span>
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEh3sYSzzd1ZH1UiTfV2_DDGBwclnRGc7e5elMw3VtFJmTer0kIbo40KZkd_-F4FpDr9g1K9rbsyAXqyMGMEhabYXZHFkky1roo_rdLTOpxHwuIHbqBrCFMBHL59Y3DXBm98m9yirWjsupg/s1600/Doggie+smelling+flowers+567567567.png" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="581" data-original-width="990" height="372" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEh3sYSzzd1ZH1UiTfV2_DDGBwclnRGc7e5elMw3VtFJmTer0kIbo40KZkd_-F4FpDr9g1K9rbsyAXqyMGMEhabYXZHFkky1roo_rdLTOpxHwuIHbqBrCFMBHL59Y3DXBm98m9yirWjsupg/s640/Doggie+smelling+flowers+567567567.png" width="640" /></a></div>
<span style="font-size: large;"><span class="text_exposed_show" style="background-color: white; color: #1d2129; display: inline; font-family: "helvetica" , "arial" , sans-serif;"><br /></span></span> <span style="font-size: large;"><span class="text_exposed_show" style="background-color: white; color: #1d2129; display: inline; font-family: "helvetica" , "arial" , sans-serif;"><br /></span></span> <span style="font-size: large;"><span class="text_exposed_show" style="background-color: white; color: #1d2129; display: inline; font-family: "helvetica" , "arial" , sans-serif;"><br /></span></span> <span style="font-size: large;"><span class="text_exposed_show" style="background-color: white; color: #1d2129; display: inline; font-family: "helvetica" , "arial" , sans-serif;"><br /></span></span></div>
Patrick Collinshttp://www.blogger.com/profile/04142860593504026432noreply@blogger.com10tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-6911001172799912622.post-49434567176359603602018-02-16T06:36:00.000-08:002018-02-16T06:36:49.535-08:00LOVE AND LOVELINESS!!!<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiDdl-eibhFvTIhdeRAzTBlIzJiq1vD0yEFbwD3vcseidvznA9mJ0DD8inwPqHK9iI3Q5G4tJRQV7B8wbVLgWyYsxoodEnzFSvXjMxqeb_Fv-2UiWBXHElRnOpPo4OWGMtdS-7lwaIIVL0/s1600/Beautiful+animal.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="767" data-original-width="755" height="640" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiDdl-eibhFvTIhdeRAzTBlIzJiq1vD0yEFbwD3vcseidvznA9mJ0DD8inwPqHK9iI3Q5G4tJRQV7B8wbVLgWyYsxoodEnzFSvXjMxqeb_Fv-2UiWBXHElRnOpPo4OWGMtdS-7lwaIIVL0/s640/Beautiful+animal.JPG" width="627" /></a></div>
<br />
<span style="font-family: Verdana, sans-serif; font-size: x-large;"><br /></span>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<span style="line-height: 115%;"><span style="font-family: Verdana, sans-serif; font-size: x-large;">When I saw this picture, my heart went out to her in love. How often we may overlook the goodness and genuine beauty of those we meet by looking at the outward appearance instead of the inner person.<o:p></o:p></span></span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<br /></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<span style="line-height: 115%;"><span style="font-family: Verdana, sans-serif; font-size: x-large;">In her <u>Science and Health with Key to the Scriptures</u>, Mary Baker Eddy wrote about “real beauty”, in these words: </span></span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<span style="line-height: 115%;"><span style="font-family: Verdana, sans-serif; font-size: x-large;"><br /></span></span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<span style="line-height: 115%;"><span style="color: #990000; font-family: Verdana, sans-serif; font-size: x-large;">"The embellishments of the person are poor substitutes for the charms of being, shining resplendent and eternal over age and decay."<o:p></o:p></span></span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<span style="line-height: 115%;"><span style="color: #990000; font-family: Verdana, sans-serif; font-size: x-large;"><br /></span></span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<span style="line-height: 115%;"><span style="color: #990000; font-family: Verdana, sans-serif; font-size: x-large;">“The recipe for beauty is to have less illusion and more Soul, to retreat from the belief of pain or pleasure in the body into the unchanging calm and glorious freedom of spiritual harmony."<o:p></o:p></span></span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<span style="line-height: 115%;"><span style="color: #990000; font-family: Verdana, sans-serif; font-size: x-large;"><br /></span></span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<span style="line-height: 115%;"><span style="color: #990000; font-family: Verdana, sans-serif; font-size: x-large;">"Love never loses sight of loveliness. Its halo rests upon its object. One marvels that a friend can ever seem less than beautiful." </span></span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<span style="line-height: 115%;"><span style="color: #990000; font-family: Verdana, sans-serif; font-size: x-large;"><br /></span></span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<span style="line-height: 115%;"><span style="color: #990000; font-family: Verdana, sans-serif; font-size: x-large;">"Men and women of riper years and larger lessons ought to ripen into health and immortality, instead of lapsing into darkness or gloom."<o:p></o:p></span></span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<span style="line-height: 115%;"><span style="color: #990000; font-family: Verdana, sans-serif; font-size: x-large;"><br /></span></span></div>
<span style="font-family: Verdana, sans-serif;"><span style="color: #990000; font-size: x-large;">"Immortal Mind feeds</span><span style="font-size: x-large; line-height: 115%;"><span style="color: #990000;"> the body with supernal freshness and fairness, supplying it with beautiful images of thought and destroying the woes of sense which each day brings to a nearer tomb.“</span> </span>(SH 247:28–11)</span><br />
<div class="MsoNormal">
<br /></div>
<br />
<div class="MsoNormal">
<span style="line-height: 115%;"><span style="font-family: Verdana, sans-serif; font-size: x-large;">What a beautiful lesson you have given us dear friend. You are Lovely!!!! Now may we all see in ourselves and others that "inner beauty" that is ours as God's dear children. </span></span></div>
<br />Patrick Collinshttp://www.blogger.com/profile/04142860593504026432noreply@blogger.com3tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-6911001172799912622.post-39183053885585901792018-02-13T11:32:00.000-08:002018-02-13T11:32:54.126-08:00AND THE LITTLE ANIMALS SHALL LEAD THEM....<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEirZJjJSNsKdJaZhMuVgZIHrbRdCFPDA_r_21OZcGxRT4ar5qPubJ_MHviglD9BRzt94gDImwlMA9UpO6jovw9TAXskXSCtBLeX127muOvNsKa_HJ_dyFbWR9J0CNZgEmjzu8rWO-VzZcw/s1600/Cat+and+bird+sleeping.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="819" data-original-width="1101" height="475" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEirZJjJSNsKdJaZhMuVgZIHrbRdCFPDA_r_21OZcGxRT4ar5qPubJ_MHviglD9BRzt94gDImwlMA9UpO6jovw9TAXskXSCtBLeX127muOvNsKa_HJ_dyFbWR9J0CNZgEmjzu8rWO-VzZcw/s640/Cat+and+bird+sleeping.JPG" width="640" /></a></div>
<br />
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
<br /></div>
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
<br /></div>
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
</div>
<div>
<span style="font-family: Trebuchet MS, sans-serif; font-size: large;"><b>While the world often seems to be in turmoil there is another side.<br /><br />We constantly hear of political wrangling, nation against nation and rattling swords, personal and family squabbles, corporate battles, even school ground fights and discord. The Bible, that chronicle of the past and predictor of the future, promises a time when, after the people of the world reach a level of maturity, there will be a time of peace.<br /></b></span> <a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgmVXlpYSFUO9AWszeHyQv2L-LUnJtqz0w65jZ8F3F2gZ4rY3pS5OXagyciVmaj8mRni8jTrwWHVmMuDetWP4Y3jAxIXwmhULqjn7FdSEtmelTPvRWK6IiIgZCCIeadJStoLtmrlKnW-k0/s1600/Cat+and+dog+sleeping.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em; text-align: center;"><img border="0" data-original-height="616" data-original-width="727" height="542" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgmVXlpYSFUO9AWszeHyQv2L-LUnJtqz0w65jZ8F3F2gZ4rY3pS5OXagyciVmaj8mRni8jTrwWHVmMuDetWP4Y3jAxIXwmhULqjn7FdSEtmelTPvRWK6IiIgZCCIeadJStoLtmrlKnW-k0/s640/Cat+and+dog+sleeping.JPG" width="640" /></a><span style="font-family: Trebuchet MS, sans-serif; font-size: large;"><b><br /><br /><br />In the Book of Isaiah, we read of a time when:<br /><br />“The wolf also shall dwell with the lamb, and the leopard shall lie down with the kid; and the calf and the young lion and the fatling together; and a little child shall lead them.<br /><br />And the cow and the bear shall feed; their young ones shall lie down together: and the lion shall eat straw like the ox.<br /><br />They shall not hurt nor destroy in all my holy mountain: for the earth shall be full of the knowledge of the Lord, as the waters cover the sea. “ Isaiah 11<br /><br />But, for those whose eyes are open, we can even now see signs in our own time when that sense of peace and acceptance are “here and now.”<br /><br />I love the promise depicted in these two pictures and I pray to be ever more alert to recognize the signs of peace and love all around us.<br /><br />Can we each do our best to emulate this promised “coming together in love and acceptance” demonstrated by our little "role models" pictured here?</b></span></div>
Patrick Collinshttp://www.blogger.com/profile/04142860593504026432noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-6911001172799912622.post-38723737380798161482017-12-23T09:15:00.001-08:002017-12-23T09:15:22.788-08:00ANIMAL PHOTO OF THE DAY... Waiting on Angels<br />
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEj8tVy_MsevI0kt-rsZRsfwTp2ihyMWzWcd302lmlFOxShJ0pVnPp9cknijXpcN3OnHrm0uTnyg2WY-RkBAwoFN-w4d9N6n5QTv4WW6PfHnMok34HmBgTUBDRVpsuLi9bLckl8ZHHfTpAY/s1600/Worried+Dog+1+12-23-2017.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="518" data-original-width="799" height="412" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEj8tVy_MsevI0kt-rsZRsfwTp2ihyMWzWcd302lmlFOxShJ0pVnPp9cknijXpcN3OnHrm0uTnyg2WY-RkBAwoFN-w4d9N6n5QTv4WW6PfHnMok34HmBgTUBDRVpsuLi9bLckl8ZHHfTpAY/s640/Worried+Dog+1+12-23-2017.JPG" width="640" /></a></div>
<div style="background-color: white; color: #1d2129; font-family: Helvetica, Arial, sans-serif; margin-bottom: 6px;">
<br /></div>
<span style="font-size: large;"><br />This picture of this sad little doggie touched my heart. I saw worry in his eyes, not a picture of lively joy and spontaneous happiness that we love to see in puppies.<br /><br />Sometimes we may all feel that sense of worry, fear and doubt. We may wonder… are we in this big world alone? Can we handle the challenges that come to us today? Are we loved? Are we loving?<br /><br />Maybe, like many of us, this dog is waiting on his “Angel.”<br /><br />Mary Baker Eddy, in her Bible companion book, Science and Health with Key to the Scriptures, describes Angels this way:<br /><br /><span style="color: #990000;"><i><b>“Angels. God’s thoughts passing to man; spiritual intuitions, pure and perfect; the inspiration of goodness, purity, and immortality, counteracting all evil, sensuality, and mortality. " </b></i></span>p 581<br /><br /><br />These angel thoughts come to us when we are quiet. When we shut out the noise of the world which is shouting fear, mortality, illness, sin, and doubt... in that stillness… God’s thoughts come to us to heal and bless. Our job is to trust, and listen for their message.<br /><br />As a favorite hymn proclaims:<br /><br /><span style="color: #990000;"><i><b>“O longing hearts that wait on God<br />Through all the world so wide;<br />He knows the angels that you need,<br />And sends them to your side,<br />To comfort, guard and guide.<br /><br />O wake and hear the angel-song<br />That bids all discord cease,<br />From pain and sorrow, doubt and fear,<br />It brings us sweet release;<br />And so our hearts find peace.” **</b></i></span></span><div>
<span style="font-size: large;"><span style="color: #990000;"><i><b><br /></b></i></span><br />Take heart little friend. God cares for each of His ideas and you are loved and protected. Cheer Up and listen for the Angels!!!!!</span><br /><br /><span style="font-size: x-small;">** Christian Science Hymnal #9</span></div>
Patrick Collinshttp://www.blogger.com/profile/04142860593504026432noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-6911001172799912622.post-74001854813504218552017-12-22T08:53:00.000-08:002017-12-22T08:53:37.171-08:00ANIMAL PHOTO OF THE DAY... SWEET LAND OF LIBERTY<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhvszhkjqAWfVN9JzcLZG18WqhREFK8nvUFdbaHituluKeu1Gdova53xYPI7e-h6PYGiw0sx2yZn5KA0bPFL_aCnJbo8o1XiNrW0Eog4sVC-7GtKVraPrtXyNJILL7dGxItjg-8pY7-yFE/s1600/bEAR+HUG.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="592" data-original-width="642" height="588" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhvszhkjqAWfVN9JzcLZG18WqhREFK8nvUFdbaHituluKeu1Gdova53xYPI7e-h6PYGiw0sx2yZn5KA0bPFL_aCnJbo8o1XiNrW0Eog4sVC-7GtKVraPrtXyNJILL7dGxItjg-8pY7-yFE/s640/bEAR+HUG.JPG" width="640" /></a></div>
<br />
<br />
<div class="MsoNormal">
<b><span style="font-family: "Comic Sans MS"; font-size: 14.0pt; line-height: 115%;">Sometimes
in modern day United States of America, a country characterized in the song, America
the Beautiful as “Sweet Land of Liberty”
we seem to fall from the high standard and promise of LIBERTY. </span></b></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<b><span style="font-family: "Comic Sans MS"; font-size: 14.0pt; line-height: 115%;"><br /></span></b></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<b><span style="font-family: "Comic Sans MS"; font-size: 14.0pt; line-height: 115%;">We often appear
to have strayed far from the wonders of that true land of Liberty and have become slaves to
anger, held in the bondage of personal opinion and intolerance and even engage
in selfishness, bitter political wrangling and hatefulness towards one
another. <o:p></o:p></span></b></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<b><span style="font-family: "Comic Sans MS"; font-size: 14.0pt; line-height: 115%;"><br /></span></b></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<b><span style="font-family: "Comic Sans MS"; font-size: 14.0pt; line-height: 115%;">The Holy Bible
contains the recipe for true freedom and liberty… it is called “brotherly love”.
The main ingredient in the recipe that
loosens the shackles and frees us from bondage is Love, as in: “Beloved, let
us love one another: for love is of God; * (I John
4:7)<o:p></o:p></span></b></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<b><span style="font-family: "Comic Sans MS"; font-size: 14.0pt; line-height: 115%;"><br /></span></b></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<b><span style="font-family: "Comic Sans MS"; font-size: 14.0pt; line-height: 115%;"> And the recipe instructions are: <o:p></o:p></span></b></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<b><span style="font-family: "Comic Sans MS"; font-size: 14.0pt; line-height: 115%;">“Stand fast
therefore in the liberty wherewith Christ hath made us free, and be not
entangled again with the yoke of bondage. <o:p></o:p></span></b></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<b><span style="font-family: "Comic Sans MS"; font-size: 14.0pt; line-height: 115%;"><br /></span></b></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<b><span style="font-family: "Comic Sans MS"; font-size: 14.0pt; line-height: 115%;">For,
brethren, ye have been called unto liberty; only use not liberty for
an occasion to the flesh, but by love serve one another.” (Galations 5)<o:p></o:p></span></b></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<br /></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<b><span style="font-family: "Comic Sans MS"; font-size: 14.0pt; line-height: 115%;">The
Grizzly Bears pictured here seem to have the right idea. If Bears can love one another… CERTAINLY we
can too!!! <o:p></o:p></span></b></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<br /></div>
<br />
<div class="MsoNormal">
<b><span style="font-family: "Comic Sans MS"; font-size: 14.0pt; line-height: 115%;">Let’s
CLAIM our personal Sweet Land of LIBERTY and Love One Another!!!! <o:p></o:p></span></b></div>
Patrick Collinshttp://www.blogger.com/profile/04142860593504026432noreply@blogger.com3tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-6911001172799912622.post-6137095447991546222017-12-14T07:21:00.001-08:002017-12-14T07:21:41.065-08:00ANIMAL PHOTO OF THE DAY.... ETERNAL BEAUTY OF LOVE<div style="text-align: center;">
<img alt="Image may contain: dog, outdoor and nature" height="377" src="https://scontent.ftpa1-1.fna.fbcdn.net/v/t1.0-9/24993439_10210875310655223_7302897706809477830_n.jpg?oh=5c56d79ab6d87c74b65503e596f3b35b&oe=5ACF8FF2" width="640" /></div>
<span style="color: #990000;"><br /><span style="font-size: large;">It may come as no surprise that I LOVE dogs... BIG DOGS, small dogs... every size, shape and breed. Dogs are always beautiful to me!!</span><br /><br /><span style="font-size: large;">The doggies shown here may not be "Show Quality" beauties but I would love them to pieces. I can see the beauty in their eyes and in their spirit!!</span><br /><br /><span style="font-size: large;">My favorite author, Mary Baker Eddy describes true beauty as Spiritual. We see it with the heart. In her "Science and Health with Key to the Scriptures", she writes:</span><br /><br /><span style="font-size: large;">"Comeliness and grace are independent of matter. Being possesses its qualities before they are perceived humanly."</span><br /><br /><span style="font-size: large;">"Beauty is a thing of life, which dwells forever in the eternal Mind and reflects the charms of His goodness in expression, form, outline, and color."</span><br /><br /><span style="font-size: large;">"It is Love which paints the petal with myriad hues, glances in the warm sunbeam, arches the cloud with the bow of beauty, blazons the night with starry gems, and covers earth with loveliness." **</span><span style="font-size: x-small;">SH 247</span><br /><br /><span style="font-size: large;">I see the eternal beauty in each of you wonderful dogs!!! Maybe mankind can eventually see that inate loveliness in all of earth's people too.</span></span>Patrick Collinshttp://www.blogger.com/profile/04142860593504026432noreply@blogger.com3tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-6911001172799912622.post-33084863995749049762017-11-13T08:35:00.003-08:002017-11-13T08:35:23.498-08:00PHOTO OF THE DAY.... SIMPLY LOVE<br />
<div style="text-align: center;">
<img alt="Image may contain: plant, outdoor and nature" height="547" src="https://scontent.ftpa1-2.fna.fbcdn.net/v/t1.0-9/23519244_10210694579657061_6746393673912815576_n.jpg?oh=be93b7e19bd25d177e3bd5d9f0ac0278&oe=5A9FF615" width="640" /></div>
<br />
<br />
<div class="MsoNormal">
<span style="font-family: "Comic Sans MS"; font-size: 14.0pt; line-height: 115%;">This morning on my morning “dog walk”, I saw these little
yellow flowers peeking out.<o:p></o:p></span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<span style="font-family: "Comic Sans MS"; font-size: 14.0pt; line-height: 115%;"><br /></span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<span style="font-family: "Comic Sans MS"; font-size: 14.0pt; line-height: 115%;">While the material world seems to be churning around us,
reports of violence, hatred and cruelty, political instability and corruption
garnering the headlines, how wonderful it
is when something comes to view to remind us of what is important.<o:p></o:p></span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<span style="font-family: "Comic Sans MS"; font-size: 14.0pt; line-height: 115%;"><br /></span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<span style="font-family: "Comic Sans MS"; font-size: 14.0pt; line-height: 115%;">In the midst of the weeds and underbrush, these humble little ”yellow Love reminders” made me think
of God’s loving tenderness, gentleness and kindness. No "horn blowing", no boasting, bragging or loud attention getting, they just reflect loveliness and let the observer feel the love. <o:p></o:p></span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<span style="font-family: "Comic Sans MS"; font-size: 14.0pt; line-height: 115%;"><br /></span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<span style="font-family: "Comic Sans MS"; font-size: 14.0pt; line-height: 115%;">This hymn came to thought, one of my favorite “reminders”!!<o:p></o:p></span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<span style="font-family: "Comic Sans MS"; font-size: 14.0pt; line-height: 115%;"><br /></span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="line-height: normal; margin-bottom: .0001pt; margin-bottom: 0in;">
<i><span style="color: red; font-family: "Comic Sans MS"; font-size: 14.0pt;">How gentle God’s commands,<o:p></o:p></span></i></div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="line-height: normal; margin-bottom: .0001pt; margin-bottom: 0in;">
<i><span style="color: red; font-family: "Comic Sans MS"; font-size: 14.0pt;">How kind His precepts are;<o:p></o:p></span></i></div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="line-height: normal; margin-bottom: .0001pt; margin-bottom: 0in;">
<i><span style="color: red; font-family: "Comic Sans MS"; font-size: 14.0pt;">Come, cast your burdens on the Lord,<o:p></o:p></span></i></div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="line-height: normal; margin-bottom: .0001pt; margin-bottom: 0in;">
<i><span style="color: red; font-family: "Comic Sans MS"; font-size: 14.0pt;">And trust His constant care.<o:p></o:p></span></i></div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="line-height: normal; margin-bottom: .0001pt; margin-bottom: 0in;">
<br /></div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="line-height: normal; margin-bottom: .0001pt; margin-bottom: 0in;">
<i><span style="color: red; font-family: "Comic Sans MS"; font-size: 14.0pt;">Beneath His watchful eye<o:p></o:p></span></i></div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="line-height: normal; margin-bottom: .0001pt; margin-bottom: 0in;">
<i><span style="color: red; font-family: "Comic Sans MS"; font-size: 14.0pt;">His saints securely dwell;<o:p></o:p></span></i></div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="line-height: normal; margin-bottom: .0001pt; margin-bottom: 0in;">
<i><span style="color: red; font-family: "Comic Sans MS"; font-size: 14.0pt;">That hand which bears creation up<o:p></o:p></span></i></div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="line-height: normal; margin-bottom: .0001pt; margin-bottom: 0in;">
<i><span style="color: red; font-family: "Comic Sans MS"; font-size: 14.0pt;">Shall guard His children well.<o:p></o:p></span></i></div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="line-height: normal; margin-bottom: .0001pt; margin-bottom: 0in;">
<br /></div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="line-height: normal; margin-bottom: .0001pt; margin-bottom: 0in;">
<i><span style="color: red; font-family: "Comic Sans MS"; font-size: 14.0pt;">His goodness stands approved,<o:p></o:p></span></i></div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="line-height: normal; margin-bottom: .0001pt; margin-bottom: 0in;">
<i><span style="color: red; font-family: "Comic Sans MS"; font-size: 14.0pt;">Unchanged from day to day:<o:p></o:p></span></i></div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="line-height: normal; margin-bottom: .0001pt; margin-bottom: 0in;">
<i><span style="color: red; font-family: "Comic Sans MS"; font-size: 14.0pt;">I drop my burden at His feet,<o:p></o:p></span></i></div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="line-height: normal; margin-bottom: .0001pt; margin-bottom: 0in;">
<i><span style="color: red; font-family: "Comic Sans MS"; font-size: 14.0pt;">And bear a song away. **<o:p></o:p></span></i></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<br /></div>
<br />
<div class="MsoNormal">
<span style="font-family: "Comic Sans MS"; font-size: 14.0pt; line-height: 115%;">And I did!! I dropped
my troubles and a song sprung up in my heart and thanked God for the lovely gift!!</span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<span style="font-family: "Comic Sans MS"; font-size: 14.0pt; line-height: 115%;"><br /></span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<span style="font-family: "Comic Sans MS"; line-height: 115%;"><span style="font-size: xx-small;">**Christian Science Hymnal #124</span></span></div>
Patrick Collinshttp://www.blogger.com/profile/04142860593504026432noreply@blogger.com4tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-6911001172799912622.post-12951527702565551522017-11-05T09:32:00.002-08:002017-11-05T09:32:21.942-08:00ANIMAL PHOTO OF THE DAY... WASH THEM CLEAN<img src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/proxy/AVvXsEjmPYWv0NwvfqXLgQ2eA-8pCYrH9CMRsaGnT5922oWDcpI0dHKWDOyRvq2BYRh8s7RbZOdAU1quA7pNmQdUqomvftABXbGPyYFVTS4oSEJOP-G-YVJfxoegYzIc7ACDeN-tWJBKLvrK_GzDDWmtRRrJEbq2-Y2Gpr9D0HTgLuNdHdOGXaJ1V0MQu-w=s0-d-e1-ft" /><br />
<br />
<br />
<span style="font-family: Helvetica Neue, Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif; font-size: large;">ANIMAL PHOTO OF THE DAY... </span><br />
<span style="font-family: Helvetica Neue, Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif; font-size: large;"><br /></span>
<span style="font-family: Helvetica Neue, Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif; font-size: large;">When I saw this picture of two "freshly laundered" dogs, my heart melted. Having experienced the joys, challenges and "surprises" we often encounter while bathing a doggie, I could only imagine what it was like bathing two at once.</span><br />
<span style="font-family: Helvetica Neue, Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif; font-size: large;"><br />For Sam, this was his first bath in some years. The lady who rescued him feared that giving him a bath would add to his stress after he was rescued from the heavy flooding in Thailand, and she wanted him to feel safe and secure before getting him wet again. He is understandably afraid of water after his distress in the floods.<br /><br />His recent encounter with an American skunk led to a "change of plan" and he has just gotten his first bath.<br /><br />As a guy who loves all dogs, and has participated in the dog rescue process with a local Humane Society, I just wanted to jump in the shower and hug these little ones. </span><div>
<span style="font-family: Helvetica Neue, Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif; font-size: large;"><br />This sweet picture brought to mind the wonderful appeal to our common Shepherd, the heavenly Father, to support our own efforts to rescue, help and heal all of mankind, written as a poem and hymn, FEED MY SHEEP, by Mary Baker Eddy, the Discoverer and Founder of Christian Science.</span><span style="background-color: white; color: #222222;"><span style="font-family: Helvetica Neue, Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif; font-size: large;"><br /></span></span>
<span style="background-color: white; color: #222222;"><span style="font-family: Helvetica Neue, Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif; font-size: large;"><br /></span></span>
<span style="font-family: Helvetica Neue, Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif; font-size: large;"><span style="color: #990000;">S</span><i><span style="color: #990000;">hepherd, show me how to go,</span></i></span><div>
<span style="color: #990000; font-family: Helvetica Neue, Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif; font-size: large;"><i>O’er the hillside steep,</i></span></div>
<div>
<span style="color: #990000; font-family: Helvetica Neue, Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif; font-size: large;"><i>How to gather, how to sow,</i></span></div>
<div>
<span style="color: #990000; font-family: Helvetica Neue, Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif; font-size: large;"><i>—How to feed Thy sheep;</i></span></div>
<div>
<span style="color: #990000; font-family: Helvetica Neue, Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif; font-size: large;"><i>I will listen for Thy voice,</i></span></div>
<div>
<span style="color: #990000; font-family: Helvetica Neue, Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif; font-size: large;"><i>Lest my footsteps stray;</i></span></div>
<div>
<span style="color: #990000; font-family: Helvetica Neue, Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif; font-size: large;"><i>I will follow and rejoice</i></span></div>
<div>
<span style="color: #990000; font-family: Helvetica Neue, Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif; font-size: large;"><i>All the rugged way.</i></span></div>
<div>
<span style="color: #990000; font-family: Helvetica Neue, Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif; font-size: large;"><i><br />Thou wilt bind the stubborn will,</i></span></div>
<div>
<span style="color: #990000; font-family: Helvetica Neue, Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif; font-size: large;"><i>Wound the callous breast,</i></span></div>
<div>
<span style="color: #990000; font-family: Helvetica Neue, Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif; font-size: large;"><i>Make self-righteousness be still,</i></span></div>
<div>
<span style="color: #990000; font-family: Helvetica Neue, Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif; font-size: large;"><i>Break earth’s stupid rest.</i></span></div>
<div>
<span style="color: #990000; font-family: Helvetica Neue, Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif; font-size: large;"><i>Strangers on a barren shore,</i></span></div>
<div>
<span style="color: #990000; font-family: Helvetica Neue, Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif; font-size: large;"><i>Lab’ring long and lone,</i></span></div>
<div>
<span style="color: #990000; font-family: Helvetica Neue, Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif; font-size: large;"><i>We would enter by the door,</i></span></div>
<div>
<span style="color: #990000; font-family: Helvetica Neue, Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif; font-size: large;"><i>And Thou know’st Thine own;<br /><br />So, when day grows dark and cold,</i></span></div>
<div>
<span style="color: #990000; font-family: Helvetica Neue, Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif; font-size: large;"><i>Tear or triumph harms,</i></span></div>
<div>
<span style="color: #990000; font-family: Helvetica Neue, Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif; font-size: large;"><i>Lead Thy lambkins to the fold,</i></span></div>
<div>
<span style="color: #990000; font-family: Helvetica Neue, Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif; font-size: large;"><i>Take them in Thine arms;</i></span></div>
<div>
<span style="color: #990000; font-family: Helvetica Neue, Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif; font-size: large;"><i>Feed the hungry, heal the heart,</i></span></div>
<div>
<span style="color: #990000; font-family: Helvetica Neue, Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif; font-size: large;"><i>Till the morning’s beam;</i></span></div>
<div>
<span style="color: #990000; font-family: Helvetica Neue, Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif; font-size: large;"><i>White as wool, ere they depart,</i></span></div>
<div>
<span style="color: #990000; font-family: Helvetica Neue, Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif; font-size: large;"><i>Shepherd, wash them clean.**</i></span></div>
<div>
<br /></div>
<span style="font-family: Helvetica Neue, Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif; font-size: large;"><span style="color: #990000;">WASH THEM CLEAN, INDEED!!</span> And thank you Father for giving us loving animals that set examples of what true love and loyalty and forgiveness are.<br /><br /><br />**Christian Science Hymnal #304</span></div>
Patrick Collinshttp://www.blogger.com/profile/04142860593504026432noreply@blogger.com2tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-6911001172799912622.post-28375914286811284462017-10-10T10:34:00.001-07:002017-10-10T11:09:07.265-07:00ANIMAL PHOTO OF THE DAY... BE NOT DECEIVED!!!<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEipoIjSv8BQgXwJMIenCU3tcOB6mCxgFCy6oc35k6wu7GI5IZYwTEUpz73od3xedgEyGxfpp3NN0X2OTnTSjDXCueDXxhUZMtr7GdKEyJDxiOWx5AnCsdlZT1OAwpsRe-g3hhADE4kY9HA/s1600/Dog+eating+poster.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="713" data-original-width="766" height="371" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEipoIjSv8BQgXwJMIenCU3tcOB6mCxgFCy6oc35k6wu7GI5IZYwTEUpz73od3xedgEyGxfpp3NN0X2OTnTSjDXCueDXxhUZMtr7GdKEyJDxiOWx5AnCsdlZT1OAwpsRe-g3hhADE4kY9HA/s400/Dog+eating+poster.JPG" width="400" /></a></div>
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
<br /></div>
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
<br /></div>
<span style="font-family: "verdana" , sans-serif; font-size: large;">Today's animal photo reminded me of how easily we can be deceived by the material senses. This little dog seems convinced that there is a real treat hiding in that picture!!<br /><br /><br />Of course, the Bible is full of examples of how people throughout history have been fooled by the material senses. From Abraham to Moses and from Elijah to Jesus of Nazareth, the material senses have been proven to be "deceivers". <br /><br />Seeing through the deception of the material senses, Moses led his people to safety through the Red Sea, Jesus of Nazareth made water into wine, gave back sight to the blind, and he and his disciples healed many other people who suffered the illusion of disease and death.</span><br />
<div>
<span style="font-family: "verdana" , sans-serif; font-size: large;"><br /></span></div>
<div>
<span style="font-family: "verdana" , sans-serif; font-size: large;">This hymn reassures us that even though the material senses still try to deceive and fool us, God is ever present and ready to deliver us from our worst fears.<br /><br /><i><span style="color: #990000;">In atmosphere of Love divine,<br />We live, and move, and breathe;<br />Though mortal eyes may see it not,<br />’Tis sense that would deceive. <br /><br />The mortal sense we must destroy,<br />If we would bring to light<br />The wonders of eternal Mind,<br />Where sense is lost in sight. <br /><br />For God, immortal Principle,<br />Is with us everywhere;<br />He holds us perfect in His love,<br />And we His image bear. **</span></i><br /><br />Better give up believing the deceiving illusion, Doggie. Go for the Alpo!!!</span><br />
<div class="text_exposed_show" style="background-color: white; color: #1d2129; display: inline;">
<span style="font-family: "trebuchet ms" , sans-serif;">
</span></div>
</div>
<div>
<span style="font-family: "verdana" , sans-serif; font-size: large;"><br /></span></div>
<div>
<span style="color: #990000; font-family: "verdana" , sans-serif; font-size: x-small;"><b>** Christian Science Hymnal #145</b></span></div>
Patrick Collinshttp://www.blogger.com/profile/04142860593504026432noreply@blogger.com1tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-6911001172799912622.post-60220325064522674182017-10-02T13:18:00.000-07:002017-10-02T13:18:13.908-07:00Mr. Peanut and the Closet<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
</div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;">
<br /></div>
<br />
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjNdCY61G9NlBbVKql9Ba7hKG-3F__o8NizPBrImJwDMwnhJAH72kgtJn7tyKU1O6yAPM7jNj_IRbqSHkwJwwXRQxbuV4sz8fwY4gE2nOc9mglE5b6FCaaoojdrlvut_OhvDGxKRCEQmP8/s1600/mrpeanut++yellow+figure.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="1600" data-original-width="850" height="640" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjNdCY61G9NlBbVKql9Ba7hKG-3F__o8NizPBrImJwDMwnhJAH72kgtJn7tyKU1O6yAPM7jNj_IRbqSHkwJwwXRQxbuV4sz8fwY4gE2nOc9mglE5b6FCaaoojdrlvut_OhvDGxKRCEQmP8/s640/mrpeanut++yellow+figure.jpg" width="337" /></a></div>
<br />
<div class="MsoNormal">
<span style="line-height: 115%;"><span style="color: #990000; font-family: "helvetica neue" , "arial" , "helvetica" , sans-serif; font-size: large;"><br /></span></span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<span style="line-height: 115%;"><span style="color: #990000; font-family: "helvetica neue" , "arial" , "helvetica" , sans-serif; font-size: large;"><br /></span></span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<span style="color: #990000;"><span style="font-family: Trebuchet MS, sans-serif; font-size: large;">It's funny how things suddenly come to mind, out of the blue,
mostly in my case, glimpses of the past.
Many times we are suddenly reminded of childhood experiences, workplace
situations or memories of wonderful family memories. It seems we are somehow able to put mainly
hurtful, painful experiences behind us
and recall fondly the good times.</span></span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<span style="line-height: 115%;"><span style="color: #990000; font-family: Trebuchet MS, sans-serif; font-size: large;"><br /></span></span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<span style="line-height: 115%;"><span style="color: #990000; font-family: Trebuchet MS, sans-serif; font-size: large;">Last week it was my Mr. Peanut memory that came to
thought.. <o:p></o:p></span></span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<span style="line-height: 115%;"><span style="color: #990000; font-family: Trebuchet MS, sans-serif; font-size: large;"><br /></span></span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<span style="line-height: 115%;"><span style="color: #990000; font-family: Trebuchet MS, sans-serif; font-size: large;">There were, in the 1940s, exciting daytime radio shows for
younger people. Captain Midnight, Superman. Roy Rogers and others were
broadcast in the afternoon hours after we returned home from school. We were glued to the radio in the living
room, awaiting each new episode and of course we were always tempted by the trinkets
and gifts promised by the sponsors, all crafted to entice young listeners. Young kids are great targets for
advertisers!!!<o:p></o:p></span></span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<span style="line-height: 115%;"><span style="color: #990000; font-family: Trebuchet MS, sans-serif; font-size: large;"><br /></span></span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<span style="line-height: 115%;"><span style="color: #990000; font-family: Trebuchet MS, sans-serif; font-size: large;"><br /></span></span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<span style="line-height: 115%;"><span style="color: #990000; font-family: Trebuchet MS, sans-serif; font-size: large;"> As I recall it was from
one of these programs that I ordered this special gift, a genuine “glow in the
dark” replica of Mr. Peanut, the advertising symbol of Planters Peanuts. </span></span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<span style="line-height: 115%;"><span style="color: #990000; font-family: Trebuchet MS, sans-serif; font-size: large;"><br /></span></span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<span style="line-height: 115%;"><span style="color: #990000; font-family: Trebuchet MS, sans-serif; font-size: large;">Oh the way they described it… Colorful, Authentic… Unbreakable they said; it glows in the dark,
they promised!! Be the first in your
neighborhood to have this wonderful Mr. Peanut, they suggested. Impress your friends, they touted!<o:p></o:p></span></span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<span style="line-height: 115%;"><span style="color: #990000; font-family: Trebuchet MS, sans-serif; font-size: large;"><br /></span></span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<span style="line-height: 115%;"><span style="color: #990000; font-family: Trebuchet MS, sans-serif; font-size: large;"><br /></span></span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<span style="line-height: 115%;"><span style="color: #990000; font-family: Trebuchet MS, sans-serif; font-size: large;">I waited eagerly for this trinket to arrive, watching hopefully
for the mail carrier to come down the street; maybe TODAY would be the day it
arrived.<o:p></o:p></span></span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<span style="line-height: 115%;"><span style="color: #990000; font-family: Trebuchet MS, sans-serif; font-size: large;"><br /></span></span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<span style="line-height: 115%;"><span style="color: #990000; font-family: Trebuchet MS, sans-serif; font-size: large;">And eventually the day came!!! </span></span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<span style="line-height: 115%;"><span style="color: #990000; font-family: Trebuchet MS, sans-serif; font-size: large;"><br /></span></span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<span style="line-height: 115%;"><span style="color: #990000; font-family: Trebuchet MS, sans-serif; font-size: large;">And, true to my expectations,
Mr. Peanut gave me much joy. I
was consumed with wonder about how he could possibly glow in the dark. Science hadn’t made that much progress back
when I was small and “glow in the dark” was a strange concept!! In order to see the little guy glow, I would
go into the tiny closet under the stairway in our small house, close the
door and spend long periods standing in
the dark just looking at the glowing figurine.
<o:p></o:p></span></span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<span style="line-height: 115%;"><span style="color: #990000; font-family: Trebuchet MS, sans-serif; font-size: large;"><br /></span></span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<span style="line-height: 115%;"><span style="color: #990000; font-family: Trebuchet MS, sans-serif; font-size: large;"><br /></span></span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgy9n8k1t9mkEkcc1ZmEMxfqQoSxShkmVFejkLXq-Qi-NHk9305ry8pKgYgtHrhqgivOYPzB3J_mtuN8AhSzXKQJSI0xaNhD-IwfCtF-JEJ6mcg4qxVg-biVygOcTJC5eXBelW5h5HmU2E/s1600/surprised-boy-peeks-behind-door-20687622.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="clear: left; float: left; margin-bottom: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="900" data-original-width="600" height="320" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgy9n8k1t9mkEkcc1ZmEMxfqQoSxShkmVFejkLXq-Qi-NHk9305ry8pKgYgtHrhqgivOYPzB3J_mtuN8AhSzXKQJSI0xaNhD-IwfCtF-JEJ6mcg4qxVg-biVygOcTJC5eXBelW5h5HmU2E/s320/surprised-boy-peeks-behind-door-20687622.jpg" width="213" /></a></div>
<span style="line-height: 115%;"><span style="color: #990000; font-family: Trebuchet MS, sans-serif; font-size: large;">I soon discovered that my mother was a little worried about a
son that would go into the closet for long periods of time just to look at a
plastic peanut. I took quite a teasing
from my family, even from my dear
Mother, about being Closet Peanut Man, and hiding in the dark. , I guess that concern
was understandable!!<o:p></o:p></span></span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<span style="line-height: 115%;"><span style="color: #990000; font-family: Trebuchet MS, sans-serif; font-size: large;"><br /></span></span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<span style="line-height: 115%;"><span style="font-family: Trebuchet MS, sans-serif; font-size: large;"><span style="color: #990000;">As I look back on that time I can see how childlike innocence
made the whole world a fantastic and interesting place. Maybe it was because I learned that in that
dark closet I was able to shut out the outside
world, drop all distractions and let my mind listen, dream and permit my
imagination to soar, see things I couldn't see outside. When I was not in the
closet, Mr. Peanut just looked like another
piece of white plastic.</span><o:p></o:p></span></span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<span style="line-height: 115%;"><span style="font-family: Trebuchet MS, sans-serif; font-size: large;"><br /></span></span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<span style="line-height: 115%;"><span style="font-family: Trebuchet MS, sans-serif; font-size: large;"><br /></span></span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<span style="line-height: 115%;"><span style="color: #990000; font-family: Trebuchet MS, sans-serif; font-size: large;">As an adult I can now see that being in the
closet helped me close off the distractions of the “outside world”. There was no light, nothing to pull my
thought away. I could totally
concentrate on “my little glowing man” and marvel how it could glow in the
dark.</span></span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<span style="line-height: 115%;"><span style="color: #990000; font-family: Trebuchet MS, sans-serif; font-size: large;"><br /></span></span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<span style="line-height: 115%;"><span style="color: #990000; font-family: Trebuchet MS, sans-serif; font-size: large;"> <o:p></o:p></span></span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhJ-a84h4UkLgCR2VjKtNl0OWkWKtr-pwY2O8EsGBIGkHznqdo4zIq6_isQAnbFUTfDSTgvNcN7zLWXf4vLXzlBVUe47a1o5DfGb9ZWt2Ya2Sf14p8HooURlCqOFD9GNvD5iQ14emVFP6Y/s1600/Prayer+closet.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="clear: right; float: right; margin-bottom: 1em; margin-left: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="194" data-original-width="259" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhJ-a84h4UkLgCR2VjKtNl0OWkWKtr-pwY2O8EsGBIGkHznqdo4zIq6_isQAnbFUTfDSTgvNcN7zLWXf4vLXzlBVUe47a1o5DfGb9ZWt2Ya2Sf14p8HooURlCqOFD9GNvD5iQ14emVFP6Y/s1600/Prayer+closet.jpg" /></a><span style="line-height: 115%;"><span style="color: #990000; font-family: Trebuchet MS, sans-serif; font-size: large;">Imagine my surprise years later when I was introduced to
Christian Science as a way of living, and began to study the Bible and <u>Science
and Health with Key to the Scriptures</u> by Mary Baker Eddy, and found out that centuries ago Jesus of
Nazareth even RECOMMENDED going into the closet!!! (Take that all of you teasers who made fun
of me for being a little weird!!!)<o:p></o:p></span></span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<span style="line-height: 115%;"><span style="color: #990000; font-family: Trebuchet MS, sans-serif; font-size: large;"><br /></span></span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<span style="line-height: 115%;"><span style="color: #990000; font-family: Trebuchet MS, sans-serif; font-size: large;"><br /></span></span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<span style="line-height: 115%;"><span style="color: #990000; font-family: Trebuchet MS, sans-serif; font-size: large;">Apparently Jesus knew that the “outside world” can be a noisy,
hectic place. There are wars, rumors of
wars, jealously, hatred, selfishness, cruelty.
On his daily walks he encountered those who were blind, deaf, suffering
from illness, crippling disabilities, hunger and sin and disease. </span></span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<span style="line-height: 115%;"><span style="color: #990000; font-family: Trebuchet MS, sans-serif; font-size: large;"><br /></span></span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<span style="line-height: 115%;"><span style="color: #990000; font-family: Trebuchet MS, sans-serif; font-size: large;">He, himself, was not wealthy in worldly terms and traveled
the area on foot. BUT, he was rich in
wisdom and understanding. He knew the
power of quiet communion with God, the Divine Mind, that guided and uplifted him. </span></span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<span style="line-height: 115%;"><span style="color: #990000; font-family: Trebuchet MS, sans-serif; font-size: large;"><br /></span></span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<span style="line-height: 115%;"><span style="color: #990000; font-family: Trebuchet MS, sans-serif; font-size: large;">He knew how to pray and that being closeted
in a quiet environment helps us to listen more closely to God’s direction. <o:p></o:p></span></span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<span style="line-height: 115%;"><span style="color: #990000; font-family: Trebuchet MS, sans-serif; font-size: large;"><br /></span></span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<span style="line-height: 115%;"><span style="color: #990000; font-family: Trebuchet MS, sans-serif; font-size: large;"><br /></span></span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<span style="line-height: 115%;"><span style="font-family: Trebuchet MS, sans-serif; font-size: large;"><span style="color: #990000;">He said: </span><i><span style="color: #cc0000;">“But thou, when thou prayest, enter into thy closet, and
when thou hast shut thy door, pray to thy Father which is in secret;
and thy Father which seeth in secret shall reward thee openly.”</span></i> <span style="color: #990000;">Matthew 6:6<o:p></o:p></span></span></span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<span style="line-height: 115%;"><span style="color: #990000; font-family: Trebuchet MS, sans-serif; font-size: large;"><br /></span></span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<span style="line-height: 115%;"><span style="color: #990000; font-family: Trebuchet MS, sans-serif; font-size: large;"><br /></span></span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<span style="font-family: Trebuchet MS, sans-serif; font-size: large; line-height: 115%;"><span style="color: #660000; font-family: "helvetica neue" , "arial" , "helvetica" , sans-serif; font-size: medium;">He knew that </span><span style="color: #990000; font-family: "helvetica neue" , "arial" , "helvetica" , sans-serif; font-size: medium;">even if the storm may roar and the problems of
the world seemed overwhelming, peace and joy can be achieved through quiet communication with God in the “closet” of
thought.<o:p></o:p></span></span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<span style="line-height: 115%;"><span style="color: #990000; font-family: Trebuchet MS, sans-serif; font-size: large;"><br /></span></span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<span style="line-height: 115%;"><span style="color: #990000; font-family: Trebuchet MS, sans-serif; font-size: large;"><br /></span></span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<span style="line-height: 115%;"><span style="color: #990000; font-family: Trebuchet MS, sans-serif; font-size: large;">He also promised: <i>“These things I have spoken
unto you, that in me ye might have peace. In the world ye
shall have tribulation: but be of good cheer;
I have overcome the world.<b>”</b></i> John 16:33<o:p></o:p></span></span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<span style="line-height: 115%;"><span style="color: #990000; font-family: Trebuchet MS, sans-serif; font-size: large;"><br /></span></span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<span style="line-height: 115%;"><span style="color: #990000; font-family: Trebuchet MS, sans-serif; font-size: large;"><br /></span></span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<span style="line-height: 115%;"><span style="color: #990000; font-family: Trebuchet MS, sans-serif; font-size: large;">Now we may not always be able to actually be in a real closet
like the one in my old house on Jefferson Avenue when I was a child, but we
can enter the quiet “mental closet” of our own thought. We can be in THAT closet anywhere… in the car in traffic, in the midst a crowd,
at the office, at school, really anyplace
where we can shut out the noise of materiality and listen for a moment. </span></span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<span style="line-height: 115%;"><span style="color: #990000; font-family: Trebuchet MS, sans-serif; font-size: large;"><br /></span></span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<span style="line-height: 115%;"><span style="color: #990000; font-family: Trebuchet MS, sans-serif; font-size: large;"> <o:p></o:p></span></span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<span style="line-height: 115%;"><span style="color: #990000; font-family: Trebuchet MS, sans-serif; font-size: large;">In the Holy Bible, that treasure trove of “Life Instruction”,
we find that even thousands of years ago God was leading our ancestors into
quiet closets to pray. In the Book of
Psalms we find wonderful reassurance: <o:p></o:p></span></span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<span style="line-height: 115%;"><span style="font-family: Trebuchet MS, sans-serif; font-size: large;"><br /></span></span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="margin-left: .5in; tab-stops: 58.5pt;">
<b><i><span style="color: #c00000; line-height: 115%;"><span style="font-family: Trebuchet MS, sans-serif; font-size: large;"><br /></span></span></i></b></div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="margin-left: .5in; tab-stops: 58.5pt;">
<i><span style="color: #c00000; line-height: 115%;"><span style="font-family: Trebuchet MS, sans-serif; font-size: large;">1. He that dwelleth in the secret place of the most High shall
abide under the shadow of the Almighty.</span></span></i></div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="margin-left: .5in;">
<i><span style="color: #c00000; line-height: 115%;"><span style="font-family: Trebuchet MS, sans-serif; font-size: large;"><br /></span></span></i></div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="margin-left: .5in;">
<i><span style="color: #c00000; line-height: 115%;"><span style="font-family: Trebuchet MS, sans-serif; font-size: large;">2. I will say of
the Lord, He is my refuge and my fortress: my God; in him will I
trust.<o:p></o:p></span></span></i></div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="margin-left: .5in;">
<i><span style="color: #c00000; line-height: 115%;"><span style="font-family: Trebuchet MS, sans-serif; font-size: large;"><br /></span></span></i></div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="margin-left: .5in;">
<span style="font-family: Trebuchet MS, sans-serif; font-size: large;"><i><span style="color: #c00000; line-height: 115%;">3. Surely he shall
deliver thee from the snare of the fowler, and from the noisome pestilence.
</span></i><i><span style="color: #c00000;">Psalms 91:1-3<b><o:p></o:p></b></span></i></span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="margin-left: .5in;">
<b><i><span style="color: #c00000;"><span style="font-family: Trebuchet MS, sans-serif; font-size: large;"><br /></span></span></i></b></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<span style="line-height: 115%;"><span style="font-family: Trebuchet MS, sans-serif; font-size: large;">I love to think of that <span style="color: #990000;">“Secret
Place’</span> referenced above as the
closet of my thought!!! And the <span style="color: #990000;">“refuge” </span>in the next verses as the “closet of
refuge.”<o:p></o:p></span></span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<span style="line-height: 115%;"><span style="font-family: Trebuchet MS, sans-serif; font-size: large;"><br /></span></span></div>
<div class="MsoListParagraphCxSpFirst" style="margin-left: .75in; mso-add-space: auto; mso-list: l0 level1 lfo1; text-indent: -.25in;">
<!--[if !supportLists]--><span style="font-family: Trebuchet MS, sans-serif; font-size: large;"><i><span style="color: #c00000; line-height: 115%;">1.<span style="font-stretch: normal; font-style: normal; font-variant-numeric: normal; line-height: normal;">
</span></span></i><!--[endif]--><i><span style="color: #c00000; line-height: 115%;">God is our refuge and
strength, a very present help in trouble.<o:p></o:p></span></i></span></div>
<div class="MsoListParagraphCxSpLast" style="margin-left: .75in; mso-add-space: auto; mso-list: l0 level1 lfo1; text-indent: -.25in;">
<!--[if !supportLists]--><span style="font-family: Trebuchet MS, sans-serif; font-size: large;"><i><span style="color: #c00000; line-height: 115%;">2.<span style="font-stretch: normal; font-style: normal; font-variant-numeric: normal; line-height: normal;">
</span></span></i><!--[endif]--><i><span style="color: #c00000; line-height: 115%;">Therefore will not we fear,
though the earth be removed, and though the mountains be carried into the midst
of the sea; <o:p></o:p></span></i></span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="margin-left: .5in;">
<span style="font-family: Trebuchet MS, sans-serif; font-size: large;"><i><span style="color: #c00000; line-height: 115%;">10. Be still, and know that
I am God: </span></i><i><span style="color: #c00000;">Psalms 46<b><o:p></o:p></b></span></i></span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="margin-left: .5in;">
<b><i><span style="color: #c00000;"><span style="font-family: Trebuchet MS, sans-serif; font-size: large;"><br /></span></span></i></b></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<span style="line-height: 115%;"><span style="font-family: Trebuchet MS, sans-serif; font-size: large;"><span style="color: #990000;">To me, these verses are saying: Be Still… Be in the Closet. Listen in the Silence. We may not have a Mr. Peanut in there with us
but we will definitely feel a glow from God’s presence. We need only enter, listen and make sure the
door stays closed.</span><o:p></o:p></span></span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<span style="line-height: 115%;"><span style="color: #990000; font-family: Trebuchet MS, sans-serif; font-size: large;"><br /></span></span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<span style="line-height: 115%;"><span style="color: #990000; font-family: Trebuchet MS, sans-serif; font-size: large;">Mary Baker Eddy, the Discoverer and Founder of Christian
Science counsels in her book Science and Health with Key to the
Scriptures: </span></span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<span style="line-height: 115%;"><span style="color: #990000; font-family: Trebuchet MS, sans-serif; font-size: large;"><br /></span></span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<span style="font-family: Trebuchet MS, sans-serif; font-size: large;"><span style="line-height: 115%;"> <i><span style="color: #c00000;">“Stand porter at
the door of thought. Admitting only such conclusions as you wish realized in
bodily results, you will control yourself harmoniously.”</span></i><span style="color: #c00000; font-weight: bold;"> </span><b> </b></span><i><span style="color: #c00000;">SH 392:24</span></i><span style="line-height: 115%;"><o:p></o:p></span></span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<i><span style="color: #c00000;"><span style="font-family: Trebuchet MS, sans-serif; font-size: large;"><br /></span></span></i></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<span style="line-height: 115%;"><span style="color: #990000; font-family: Trebuchet MS, sans-serif; font-size: large;">Because the closet is our thought, we can exercise our
authority, shut the door and block out
unwanted entrance. We can keep erroneous thoughts out of closet by standing “porter”, or guard , at the
door. </span></span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<span style="line-height: 115%;"><span style="color: #990000; font-family: Trebuchet MS, sans-serif; font-size: large;"><br /></span></span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<span style="font-family: Trebuchet MS, sans-serif; font-size: large;"><br /></span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<span style="line-height: 115%;"><span style="font-family: Trebuchet MS, sans-serif; font-size: large;"><span style="color: #990000;">Today, as the news media goes about their business of broadcasting
stories of threats of war, terrorism, murder, political strife, questionable ethics in government, poverty and man’s seeming inhumanity to fellow man, it is
good to keep our thoughts affixed on the Truth of God’s flawless kingdom.</span> </span></span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<span style="line-height: 115%;"><span style="font-family: Trebuchet MS, sans-serif; font-size: large;"> <o:p></o:p></span></span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<span style="line-height: 115%;"><span style="color: #990000; font-family: Trebuchet MS, sans-serif; font-size: large;">Is that irresponsible?
Should we be knee deep in the world’s problems and personally dive head
first into the muck of human tragedy due to a false sense of responsibility? Or are we more helpful by praying to see and
hear God’s direction and feel His healing presence. </span></span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<span style="line-height: 115%;"><span style="color: #990000; font-family: Trebuchet MS, sans-serif; font-size: large;"><br /></span></span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<span style="line-height: 115%;"><span style="color: #990000; font-family: Trebuchet MS, sans-serif; font-size: large;">I love to think of what Jesus did when he
faced difficulties. He went up to the
mountain to a place apart… and prayed. He
certainly didn’t shy away from problems but he knew his best help was quiet
prayer. <o:p></o:p></span></span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<span style="line-height: 115%;"><span style="color: #990000; font-family: Trebuchet MS, sans-serif; font-size: large;"><br /></span></span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<span style="line-height: 115%;"><span style="color: #990000; font-family: Trebuchet MS, sans-serif; font-size: large;"><br /></span></span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<span style="line-height: 115%;"><span style="font-family: "helvetica neue" , "arial" , "helvetica" , sans-serif; font-size: medium;"><span style="color: #990000; font-family: Trebuchet MS, sans-serif; font-size: large;">Here is a quick recap of the quotes above from our mentors
from centuries back:</span></span></span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<span style="line-height: 115%;"><span style="font-family: "helvetica neue" , "arial" , "helvetica" , sans-serif; font-size: medium;"><span style="color: #990000; font-family: Trebuchet MS, sans-serif; font-size: large;"><br /></span></span></span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="margin-left: .5in;">
<i><span style="color: #c00000; line-height: 115%;"><span style="font-family: Trebuchet MS, sans-serif; font-size: large;">But thou, when thou
prayest, enter into thy closet, and when thou hast shut thy door, pray to thy
Father which is in secret; and thy Father which
seeth in secret shall reward thee openly.<o:p></o:p></span></span></i></div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="margin-left: .5in;">
<i><span style="color: #c00000; line-height: 115%;"><span style="font-family: Trebuchet MS, sans-serif; font-size: large;"><br /></span></span></i></div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="margin-left: .5in;">
<i><span style="color: #c00000; line-height: 115%;"><span style="font-family: Trebuchet MS, sans-serif; font-size: large;">In the world ye
shall have tribulation: but be of good cheer; </span></span></i></div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="margin-left: .5in;">
<i><span style="color: #c00000; line-height: 115%;"><span style="font-family: Trebuchet MS, sans-serif; font-size: large;">I have overcome the world.<o:p></o:p></span></span></i></div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="margin-left: .5in;">
<i><span style="color: #c00000; line-height: 115%;"><span style="font-family: Trebuchet MS, sans-serif; font-size: large;"><br /></span></span></i></div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="margin-left: .5in;">
<i><span style="color: #c00000; line-height: 115%;"><span style="font-family: Trebuchet MS, sans-serif; font-size: large;">He that dwelleth in the secret place of the most High shall
abide under the shadow of the Almighty.<o:p></o:p></span></span></i></div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="margin-left: .5in;">
<i><span style="color: #c00000; line-height: 115%;"><span style="font-family: Trebuchet MS, sans-serif; font-size: large;"><br /></span></span></i></div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="margin-left: .5in;">
</div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="margin-left: .5in;">
<i><span style="color: #c00000; line-height: 115%;"><span style="font-family: Trebuchet MS, sans-serif; font-size: large;">God is our
refuge and strength, a very present help in trouble.<b><o:p></o:p></b></span></span></i></div>
<span style="font-family: Trebuchet MS, sans-serif; font-size: large;"><span style="font-family: "helvetica neue" , "arial" , "helvetica" , sans-serif; font-size: medium;"><br /></span><span style="font-family: "helvetica neue" , "arial" , "helvetica" , sans-serif; font-size: medium;"><br /></span></span><br />
<div class="MsoNormal" style="margin-left: .5in;">
<i><span style="color: #c00000; line-height: 115%;"><span style="font-family: Trebuchet MS, sans-serif; font-size: large;"><br /></span></span></i></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
</div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<span style="line-height: 115%;"><span style="color: #990000; font-family: Trebuchet MS, sans-serif; font-size: large;">Thanks Mr. Peanut for showing me the importance of discovery
in the closet. Your gentle glow has helped me find the rewards of quiet
observation and prayer. </span><span style="font-family: "comic sans ms"; font-size: 14pt;"><o:p></o:p></span></span></div>
Patrick Collinshttp://www.blogger.com/profile/04142860593504026432noreply@blogger.com4tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-6911001172799912622.post-12754117126487225672017-09-04T09:03:00.000-07:002017-09-04T09:07:52.349-07:00ANIMAL PHOTO OF THE DAY..... TEMPTATION AND THE CAKE<br />
<div class="MsoNormal">
<span style="font-family: "comic sans ms"; font-size: 14.0pt; line-height: 115%;">
<!--[endif]--><o:p></o:p></span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<br /></div>
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgm2lDuQ8MYiXeaycyDEMoB5j6GFUSD_RK1TdZW-A0PjgZwp7sCVpg_vtkCSMtwIgc7Zhq5ywUekulbZ_Unm_vf-KyUGCHm2rqffXHT7z1UzwrZWUqF0hE3gKFOWj5tttujOZnpZ0Ufcog/s1600/Beagle+and+Cake.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="330" data-original-width="620" height="339" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgm2lDuQ8MYiXeaycyDEMoB5j6GFUSD_RK1TdZW-A0PjgZwp7sCVpg_vtkCSMtwIgc7Zhq5ywUekulbZ_Unm_vf-KyUGCHm2rqffXHT7z1UzwrZWUqF0hE3gKFOWj5tttujOZnpZ0Ufcog/s640/Beagle+and+Cake.jpg" width="640" /></a></div>
<br />
<div class="MsoNormal">
<br /></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<br /></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<br /></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<span style="font-family: "comic sans ms"; font-size: 14.0pt; line-height: 115%;">Today's photo reminds me of how hard it is to resist
temptation. Sometimes the allure of doing absolutely the wrong thing is almost
irresistible.<br />
<br />
Now the Bible has some nice reassurance for people who overcome that
temptation, but it didn't mention cute little doggies. I am hoping this little
boy can resist!!! He may not care about "the Crown of Life" anyway. <o:p></o:p></span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<br /></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<span style="font-family: "comic sans ms"; font-size: 14.0pt; line-height: 115%;">The Bible promise, contained in the Book of Luke says: </span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<span style="font-family: "comic sans ms"; font-size: 14pt;"><br /></span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<span style="font-family: "comic sans ms"; font-size: 14pt;"><span style="color: #990000;"><i>“Blessed is the man that endureth temptation: for when he is
tried, he shall receive the crown of life, which the Lord hath promised to them
that love him.”</i></span></span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<span style="font-family: "comic sans ms"; font-size: 14pt;"><span style="color: #990000;"><i><br /></i></span></span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<span style="font-family: "comic sans ms"; font-size: 14.0pt; line-height: 115%;"><span style="color: #990000;"><i>“Let no man say when he is tempted, I am tempted of God: for
God cannot be tempted with evil, neither tempteth he any man:”<o:p></o:p></i></span></span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<span style="font-family: "comic sans ms"; font-size: 14.0pt; line-height: 115%;"><span style="color: #990000;"><i><br /></i></span></span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<span style="font-family: "comic sans ms"; font-size: 14.0pt; line-height: 115%;"><span style="color: #990000;"><i>“Count it all joy, my brethren, when ye fall into temptations;
knowing that the proving of your faith
worketh patience. And let patience have its perfect
work, that ye may be perfect and entire, lacking in nothing.” </i></span> <o:p></o:p></span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<span style="font-family: "comic sans ms"; font-size: 14.0pt; line-height: 115%;">
<br />
That cake looks awfully good! And the puppy is being a very good, very patient
boy.<o:p></o:p></span></div>
<br />
<br />
<br />
<br />
<br />
<br />
<br />
<a href="https://www.facebook.com/photo.php?fbid=10210251852709164&set=a.1100817717081.2015218.1125826318&type=3&theater&notif_t=like&notif_id=1504456708101648#"></a>Patrick Collinshttp://www.blogger.com/profile/04142860593504026432noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-6911001172799912622.post-6227420609724117882017-08-02T09:14:00.000-07:002017-08-02T09:14:54.585-07:00ANIMAL PHOTO OF THE DAY... BEAUTY <img alt="Image may contain: dog" height="505" src="https://scontent.ftpa1-2.fna.fbcdn.net/v/t1.0-9/20429972_10210019808708209_4386353459715272633_n.jpg?oh=b49d08b2b200ba86a9813324cdee14cd&oe=59F4F12C" width="640" /><br />
<br />
<div class="MsoNormal">
<span style="color: #c00000; font-size: 14.0pt; line-height: 115%;"><br /></span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<span style="color: #660000;"><br /></span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<span style="font-size: 14pt; line-height: 115%;"><b><span style="color: #660000;">Do
we sometimes relate to comedian/actor George Gobel who said: "I feel like
the whole world is a tuxedo and I am a pair of old brown shoes!!" ? </span></b></span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<span style="font-size: 14pt; line-height: 115%;"><b><span style="color: #660000;"><br /></span></b></span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<span style="font-size: 14pt; line-height: 115%;"><b><span style="color: #660000;">This
photo of the little black SILLY LOOKING dog sitting with two lovely dogs reminded me of the
many times when I have felt so outclassed, awkward, maybe less than attractive
and out of place compared to the "beautiful people" around me.<o:p></o:p></span></b></span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<br /></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<span style="font-size: 14pt; line-height: 115%;"><b><span style="color: #660000;">In
her Bible companion book, Science and Health with Key to the Scriptures, Mary
Baker Eddy remarks:</span><span style="color: #990000;"><o:p></o:p></span></b></span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<br /></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<span style="font-size: 14pt; line-height: 115%;"><b><span style="color: #990000;"><i>"Comeliness
and grace are independent of matter. Being possesses its qualities before they
are perceived humanly.<o:p></o:p></i></span></b></span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<br /></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<span style="font-size: 14pt; line-height: 115%;"><b><span style="color: #990000;"><i>Beauty
is a thing of life, which dwells forever in the eternal Mind and reflects the
charms of His goodness in expression, form, outline, and color. It is Love
which paints the petal with myriad hues, glances in the warm sunbeam, arches
the cloud with the bow of beauty, blazons the night with starry gems, and
covers earth with loveliness.<o:p></o:p></i></span></b></span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<br /></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<span style="font-size: 14pt; line-height: 115%;"><b><span style="color: #990000;"><i>The
embellishments of the person are poor substitutes for the charms of being,
shining resplendent and eternal over age and decay.<o:p></o:p></i></span></b></span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<br /></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<span style="font-size: 14pt; line-height: 115%;"><b><span style="color: #990000;"><i>The
recipe for beauty is to have less illusion and more Soul, to retreat from the
belief of pain or pleasure in the body into the unchanging calm and glorious
freedom of spiritual harmony.<o:p></o:p></i></span></b></span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<br /></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<span style="font-size: 14pt; line-height: 115%;"><b><span style="color: #990000;"><i>Love
never loses sight of loveliness. Its halo rests upon its object.<o:p></o:p></i></span></b></span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<br /></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<span style="font-size: 14pt; line-height: 115%;"><b><span style="color: #990000;"><i>"One
marvels that a friend can ever seem less than beautiful. Men and women of riper
years and larger lessons ought to ripen into health and immortality, instead of
lapsing into darkness or gloom.<o:p></o:p></i></span></b></span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<br /></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<span style="font-size: 14pt; line-height: 115%;"><b><span style="color: #990000;"><i>"Immortal
Mind feeds the body with supernal freshness and fairness, supplying it with
beautiful images of thought and destroying the woes of sense which each day
brings to a nearer tomb."</i> (Science and Heath page 248)<o:p></o:p></span></b></span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<br /></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<span style="font-size: 14pt; line-height: 115%;"><b><span style="color: #660000;">So
little black doggie, fear not. Your beauty is deep within and you are loved!!
And thanks for reminding me that all of God's perfect children are beautiful
and can never be less than "lovely"!<o:p></o:p></span></b></span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<br /></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<span style="font-size: 14pt; line-height: 115%;"><b><span style="color: #660000;">No
brown shoes here!!!</span><span style="color: #990000;"><o:p></o:p></span></b></span></div>
<br />
<div class="MsoNormal">
<br /></div>
Patrick Collinshttp://www.blogger.com/profile/04142860593504026432noreply@blogger.com3tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-6911001172799912622.post-21808496250000566482017-07-01T08:15:00.000-07:002017-07-01T08:16:25.644-07:00ANIMAL PHOTO OF THE DAY - FEAR NO EVIL!!!<br />
<br />
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhDBg7uTniqKoRzyPMbN1uC6gmTwdhGNEUfbUQ6_ZVjSjubTdcsn9zhCUwOmcNZN4-__jb2lVfVkQEOdTMOHcOTSB6_yfAkGvuGTi3PIx75m2NYW3LCVKiZLaCwprBou9geFIrP9mkeeEs/s1600/Gang+of+Dogs+-+Shepherds.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="589" data-original-width="624" height="603" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhDBg7uTniqKoRzyPMbN1uC6gmTwdhGNEUfbUQ6_ZVjSjubTdcsn9zhCUwOmcNZN4-__jb2lVfVkQEOdTMOHcOTSB6_yfAkGvuGTi3PIx75m2NYW3LCVKiZLaCwprBou9geFIrP9mkeeEs/s640/Gang+of+Dogs+-+Shepherds.jpg" width="640" /></a></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<span style="font-family: "verdana" , sans-serif; font-size: large;"><br /></span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<span style="font-family: "verdana" , sans-serif; font-size: large;">When I saw this lovely picture of a VERY BRAVE Cat in the
foreground sitting calmly with these German Shepherds, the thought came to me
that the cat must surely be familiar with David's 23rd Psalm from The Bible.<o:p></o:p></span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<span style="font-family: "verdana" , sans-serif; font-size: large;"><br />
<br />
He may just know that King David, who wrote the psalm, grew up and worked as a
shepherd, so he knew a lot about sheep and shepherding. David loved the
metaphor of seeing God, or the Lord, as a shepherd. The shepherd's job is to care
for his flock, making sure they are safe, protected, nourished, calm and happy
at all times.<br />
<br />
Surely a gentle shepherd wouldn't hurt a sheep, OR a loving kitty. What
may seem threatening to some... maybe even seem to be "the valley of
the shadow of death"... is not threatening when you are with the
Shepherd. The Psalm says:<br />
<br /><span style="color: #990000;"><i>
"The Lord is my shepherd; I shall not want.<br />
<br />
He maketh me to lie down in green pastures: he leadeth me beside the still
waters.<br />
<br />
He restoreth my soul: he leadeth me in the paths of righteousness for his
name’s sake.<br />
<br />
Yea, though I walk through the valley of the shadow of death, I will fear no
evil: for thou art with me; thy rod and thy staff they comfort me.<br />
<br />
Thou preparest a table before me in the presence of mine enemies: thou
anointest my head with oil; my cup runneth over.<br />
<br />
Surely goodness and mercy shall follow me all the days of my life: and I will
dwell in the house of the Lord for ever."" Psalm 23</i></span><br />
<br />
With all of those Shepherds around you, I am sure you are safe Kitty!!!</span><o:p></o:p></div>
<br />
<div class="MsoNormal">
<br /></div>
<br />
<div class="MsoNormal">
<br /></div>
Patrick Collinshttp://www.blogger.com/profile/04142860593504026432noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-6911001172799912622.post-62003649668403711902017-06-19T12:25:00.001-07:002017-06-19T12:25:53.575-07:00ANIMAL PHOTO OF THE DAY.... FIGHTING FOXES<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhFb9UWe_-_NESP7JDcMHKDPg8qyMprHrFzZ_goR5SAiogT3LSlWIN56lAE_DO8u44UWmdWFXzKHuAulRVftGlZfSokjD1HOzmduzjN0YV_5xRlP6FlB8a9M7NZfllWvC-jui9dvw01LZs/s1600/Fighting+Foxes.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="695" data-original-width="966" height="460" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhFb9UWe_-_NESP7JDcMHKDPg8qyMprHrFzZ_goR5SAiogT3LSlWIN56lAE_DO8u44UWmdWFXzKHuAulRVftGlZfSokjD1HOzmduzjN0YV_5xRlP6FlB8a9M7NZfllWvC-jui9dvw01LZs/s640/Fighting+Foxes.jpg" width="640" /></a></div>
<span style="color: #990000;"><br /></span>
<span style="color: #990000;"><br /></span>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<span style="font-family: "Comic Sans MS"; font-size: 16pt; line-height: 115%;"><span style="color: #990000;">In our world today, we observe normally good
people pushing and shoving for position and power at the expense of others.<o:p></o:p></span></span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<span style="font-family: "Comic Sans MS"; font-size: 16pt; line-height: 115%;"><span style="color: #990000;"><br /></span></span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<span style="font-family: "Comic Sans MS"; font-size: 16pt; line-height: 115%;"><span style="color: #990000;">For some, the daily battle to be "The
Greatest" or The Best" often causes jealousy, rancor and strife. In
her extensive writings, late 19th century theologian Mary Baker Eddy counseled:<o:p></o:p></span></span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<span style="font-family: "Comic Sans MS"; font-size: 16pt; line-height: 115%;"><span style="color: #990000;"><br /></span></span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<span style="color: #990000;"><span style="font-family: "Comic Sans MS"; font-size: 16pt; line-height: 115%;">"Competition in commerce, deceit in
councils, dis</span><span style="font-family: "Comic Sans MS"; font-size: 16pt; line-height: 115%;">honor in nations,
dishonesty in trusts, begin with </span><span style="font-family: "Comic Sans MS"; font-size: 16pt; line-height: 115%;">“</span><span style="font-family: "Comic Sans MS"; font-size: 16pt; line-height: 115%;">Who shall be greatest?</span><span style="font-family: "Comic Sans MS"; font-size: 16pt; line-height: 115%;">”</span><span style="font-family: "Comic Sans MS"; font-size: 16pt; line-height: 115%;"><o:p></o:p></span></span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<span style="font-family: "Comic Sans MS"; font-size: 16pt; line-height: 115%;"><span style="color: #990000;"><br /></span></span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<span style="font-family: "Comic Sans MS"; font-size: 16pt; line-height: 115%;"><span style="color: #990000;">"The imaginary victories of rivalry and
hypocrisy are defeats.<br />
We are brethren in the fullest sense of that word; therefore no queries
should arise as to “who shall be greatest.”<o:p></o:p></span></span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<span style="font-family: "Comic Sans MS"; font-size: 16pt; line-height: 115%;"><span style="color: #990000;"><br /></span></span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<span style="font-family: "Comic Sans MS"; font-size: 16pt; line-height: 115%;"><span style="color: #990000;">"Let us serve instead of rule, knock
instead of push at the door of human hearts, and allow to each and every one
the same rights and privileges that we claim for ourselves. "<o:p></o:p></span></span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<span style="font-family: "Comic Sans MS"; font-size: 16pt; line-height: 115%;"><span style="color: #990000;"><br /></span></span></div>
<br />
<div class="MsoNormal">
<span style="font-family: "Comic Sans MS"; font-size: 16pt; line-height: 115%;"><span style="color: #990000;">As the Master, Jesus of Nazareth said,
"Love one another."</span><span style="color: #c00000;"><o:p></o:p></span></span></div>
Patrick Collinshttp://www.blogger.com/profile/04142860593504026432noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-6911001172799912622.post-53445002278577226522017-06-16T05:45:00.002-07:002017-06-16T05:45:48.614-07:00ANIMAL PHOTO OF THE DAY... A TRUSTING FIELD MOUSE<div class="MsoNormal">
<span style="font-family: "Comic Sans MS"; font-size: 14.0pt; line-height: 115%;"><span style="color: #990000;"><br /></span></span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="text-align: center;">
<span style="font-family: "Comic Sans MS"; font-size: 14.0pt; line-height: 115%;"><img alt="No automatic alt text available." src="https://scontent.ftpa1-1.fna.fbcdn.net/v/t1.0-9/19059806_10209620711571030_5329312053638961354_n.jpg?oh=f03ea3e30f677f0ce4e707e4184eadae&oe=59A3FBE0" /></span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<span style="font-family: "Comic Sans MS"; font-size: 14.0pt; line-height: 115%;"><span style="color: #990000;"><br /></span></span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<span style="font-family: "Comic Sans MS"; font-size: 14.0pt; line-height: 115%;"><span style="color: #990000;"><br /></span></span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<span style="font-family: "Comic Sans MS"; font-size: 14.0pt; line-height: 115%;"><span style="color: #990000;"><br /></span></span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<span style="font-family: "Comic Sans MS"; font-size: 14.0pt; line-height: 115%;"><span style="color: #990000;">When I saw this delightful picture of a little field mouse,
sleeping peacefully beside what may be his breakfast, I thought how naturally
little animals like this go about their daily business and Trust that all will be well, contrasted with the
Worry, Worry, Fret and Hurry of our busy lives. </span></span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<span style="font-family: "Comic Sans MS"; font-size: 14.0pt; line-height: 115%;"><span style="color: #990000;"><br /></span></span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<span style="font-family: "Comic Sans MS"; font-size: 14.0pt; line-height: 115%;"><span style="color: #990000;">While sometimes we humans are
"worriers", feeling responsible for making the world go around, this little guy sets a good example of the peace that is
there for us when we relax and accept God's beneficence. <o:p></o:p></span></span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<span style="font-family: "Comic Sans MS"; font-size: 14.0pt; line-height: 115%;"><span style="color: #990000;"><br /></span></span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<span style="font-family: "Comic Sans MS"; font-size: 14.0pt; line-height: 115%;"><span style="color: #990000;">The Bible contains the promise for those who are receptive, as
in these verses from Proverbs:</span><o:p></o:p></span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<span style="font-family: "Comic Sans MS"; font-size: 14.0pt; line-height: 115%;"><br /></span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<b><i><span style="color: #c00000; font-family: "Comic Sans MS"; font-size: 14.0pt; line-height: 115%;">"</span></i></b><b><i><span style="color: #c00000; font-family: "Times New Roman","serif"; font-size: 14.0pt; line-height: 115%;"> </span></i></b><b><i><span style="color: #c00000; font-family: "Comic Sans MS"; font-size: 14.0pt; line-height: 115%;">Trust in the Lord with all thine heart; and lean not unto thine
own understanding. In all thy ways acknowledge him, and he shall direct thy
paths.<o:p></o:p></span></i></b></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<b><i><span style="color: #c00000; font-family: "Comic Sans MS"; font-size: 14.0pt; line-height: 115%;"><br /></span></i></b></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<b><i><span style="color: #c00000; font-family: "Comic Sans MS"; font-size: 14.0pt; line-height: 115%;">When thou liest down, thou shalt not be afraid: yea, thou shalt
lie down, and thy sleep shall be sweet.<o:p></o:p></span></i></b></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<b><i><span style="color: #c00000; font-family: "Comic Sans MS"; font-size: 14.0pt; line-height: 115%;"><br /></span></i></b></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<b><i><span style="color: #c00000; font-family: "Comic Sans MS"; font-size: 14.0pt; line-height: 115%;">Be not afraid of sudden fear, neither </span></i></b></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<b><i><span style="color: #c00000; font-family: "Comic Sans MS"; font-size: 14.0pt; line-height: 115%;">of the desolation of the
wicked, when it cometh.<o:p></o:p></span></i></b></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<b><i><span style="color: #c00000; font-family: "Comic Sans MS"; font-size: 14.0pt; line-height: 115%;"><br /></span></i></b></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<b><i><span style="color: #c00000; font-family: "Comic Sans MS"; font-size: 14.0pt; line-height: 115%;">For the Lord shall be thy confidence, and shall keep thy foot
from being taken." </span><span style="color: #c00000; font-family: "Comic Sans MS"; line-height: 115%;"><span style="font-size: x-small;"> Proverbs 3</span><span style="font-size: 14pt;"><o:p></o:p></span></span></i></b></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<br /></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<b><span style="font-family: "Comic Sans MS"; font-size: 14pt; line-height: 115%;"><span style="color: #990000;">Let's be like this little Mouse today. We can relax and TRUST
God to guide and protect us. Then we will not fear and our sleep will be
SWEET!!!!!!</span><span style="color: #c00000;"><o:p></o:p></span></span></b></div>
Patrick Collinshttp://www.blogger.com/profile/04142860593504026432noreply@blogger.com2tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-6911001172799912622.post-77056515081028098952017-06-14T11:03:00.002-07:002017-06-14T11:03:44.915-07:00 ANIMAL PHOTO OF THE DAY.... PEACEFUL PUSSYCAT<img alt="Shangrala's This Is My Spot" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/proxy/AVvXsEiLshkujxe0FBCopZMijHhxv_pNhFiWoBLlS2xEv6eYdzz0xfddIGixZJ0YR-5rmFTjTqED4y7ULE4vN9mLeja_lXRImW5Bw9QZd6OfzUpI0ZxUPoAi6vFLVa1fXUJ8gfkhvckmAFuwTkD1jXjXnhP295Xd=s0-d-e1-ft" /><br />
<br />
<span style="font-family: Trebuchet MS, sans-serif; font-size: large;"><br />When I saw this I was reminded of the Bible's promise of peace and harmony.<br /><br />In her wonderful work, Science and Health with Key to the Scriptures, Mary Baker Eddy elaborates on God's natural Love and Tenderness. She writes:<br /><br /><span style="color: #cc0000;"><i>"Tenderness accompanies all the might imparted by Spirit. The individuality created by God is not carnivorous, as witness the millennial estate pictured by Isaiah: —</i></span><br /><br /><span style="color: #990000;">'The wolf also shall dwell with the lamb,<br />And the leopard shall lie down with the kid;<br />And the calf and the young lion, and the fatling together;<br />And a little child shall lead them.'</span> Isaiah 11"<br /><br />As I, in my own life, strive to reflect that loving spirit, that acceptance of others who may be different, that lack of "judgement"... and as I work to resist the fear that would keep us at odds with each other, I ponder the verses above from Isaiah.<br /><br />And, I found a role model!! This lovely cat...a little wary maybe, but cautiously accepting a historic "arch enemy", a bird of all things, into her personal space.<br /><br />Thanks for the lesson in peace and harmony Dear Pussycat.</span>Patrick Collinshttp://www.blogger.com/profile/04142860593504026432noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-6911001172799912622.post-21169718187053888512017-06-10T05:23:00.000-07:002017-06-10T05:23:13.810-07:00ANIMAL PHOTO OF THE DAY... DOG TIRED<div class="MsoNormal">
<span style="color: #c00000; font-family: "Comic Sans MS"; font-size: 14.0pt; line-height: 115%;"><img alt="Image may contain: dog" src="https://scontent.ftpa1-1.fna.fbcdn.net/v/t1.0-9/18953002_10209570544916895_7575276156667688483_n.jpg?oh=71d6d0020964a463d78ef9c616b7c54b&oe=59AB08B8" /></span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<span style="color: #c00000; font-family: "Comic Sans MS"; font-size: 14.0pt; line-height: 115%;"><br /></span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<br /></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<span style="font-family: "Comic Sans MS"; font-size: 14pt; line-height: 115%;"><span style="color: #660000;">This picture is so appealing to me. This
wonderful doggie is completely relaxed, ready to fall asleep. The security of a
"doggie toy" gives assurance that all is well.<o:p></o:p></span></span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<br /></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<span style="font-family: "Comic Sans MS"; font-size: 14pt; line-height: 115%;"><span style="color: #660000;">We too can feel that assurance, as promised long
ago in the Bible book of Proverbs. When we are listening for God's direction,
shutting out the madness of the material world and being in tune with the one
Mind, we can emulate this trusting boy.<o:p></o:p></span></span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<br /></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<span style="font-family: "Comic Sans MS"; font-size: 14pt; line-height: 115%;"><span style="color: #660000;">The reassuring thoughts from the Bible .....<o:p></o:p></span></span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<br /></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<span style="font-family: "Comic Sans MS"; font-size: 14pt; line-height: 115%;"><span style="color: #660000;">"When thou liest down, thou shalt not be
afraid: yea, thou shalt lie down, and thy sleep shall be sweet.<br />
Be not afraid of sudden fear, neither of the desolation of the wicked,
when it cometh.<br />
For the Lord shall be thy confidence, and shall keep thy foot from being
taken." Proverbs 3:24-26<o:p></o:p></span></span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<br /></div>
<br />
<div class="MsoNormal">
<span style="font-family: "Comic Sans MS"; font-size: 14pt; line-height: 115%;"><span style="color: #660000;">I wonder if this beautiful boy has his own copy
of the Bible.</span><span style="color: #c00000;"><o:p></o:p></span></span></div>
Patrick Collinshttp://www.blogger.com/profile/04142860593504026432noreply@blogger.com1tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-6911001172799912622.post-36016252877042212912017-06-08T12:04:00.002-07:002017-06-08T12:04:49.695-07:00DAY AT THE CAR WASH!!!!<br />
<div class="MsoNormal" style="margin-right: 45.0pt;">
<span style="line-height: 115%;"></span></div>
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEj8byKic6Quq5OdEQRY6ETahwr9FEgwYiJPVorKZL__MooX3RWsabCzF6uxnqdCzR_VezvLnYix-kn7wAxqcmRjBhmirWBCwVXHyHOc6Zz7VFWjkAWq9_6yycJb0lJROY4c6-6iT1vIRms/s1600/Car+Wash+Car.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><span style="color: #660000; font-family: Verdana, sans-serif; font-size: large;"><img border="0" data-original-height="648" data-original-width="1200" height="345" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEj8byKic6Quq5OdEQRY6ETahwr9FEgwYiJPVorKZL__MooX3RWsabCzF6uxnqdCzR_VezvLnYix-kn7wAxqcmRjBhmirWBCwVXHyHOc6Zz7VFWjkAWq9_6yycJb0lJROY4c6-6iT1vIRms/s640/Car+Wash+Car.jpg" width="640" /></span></a></div>
<br />
<div class="MsoNormal" style="margin-right: 45.0pt;">
<span style="line-height: 115%;"><span style="color: #660000; font-family: Trebuchet MS, sans-serif; font-size: large;"><br /></span></span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="margin-right: 45.0pt;">
<span style="line-height: 115%;"><span style="color: #660000; font-family: Trebuchet MS, sans-serif; font-size: large;">It starts when your wife tells
you that you seem to have become negative over the last week. Negative? Well, I
don’t think so. Me? Of all people???<o:p></o:p></span></span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="margin-right: 45.0pt;">
<br /></div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="margin-right: 45.0pt;">
<span style="line-height: 115%;"><span style="color: #660000; font-family: Trebuchet MS, sans-serif; font-size: large;">But, actually it does seem that
many things have gone awry lately, maybe I am a little down. Just because my back
aches, and I broke a bottle of liquid on the garage floor while getting the
groceries out of the car, and… yeah… there is the computer virus someone is
trying to implant in my laptop, and… well about a thousand other things.<o:p></o:p></span></span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="margin-right: 45.0pt;">
<span style="line-height: 115%;"><span style="color: #660000; font-family: Trebuchet MS, sans-serif; font-size: large;"><br /></span></span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="margin-right: 45.0pt;">
<span style="color: #660000; font-family: Trebuchet MS, sans-serif; font-size: large;"><span style="line-height: 115%;"></span></span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="margin-right: 45.0pt;">
<span style="clear: left; float: left; line-height: 115%; margin-bottom: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><span style="color: #660000; font-family: Trebuchet MS, sans-serif; font-size: large;">But, the GOOD news is that the
new automated car wash in Palm Coast Florida has lots of suds!! I found out as
I tried out the new place which is pretty much completely automated after the
initial mirror check and bug removal at Stage 1. </span></span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="margin-right: 45.0pt;">
<span style="line-height: 115%;"><span style="color: #660000; font-family: Trebuchet MS, sans-serif; font-size: large;">It is terrific… You pay for the automated car wash with a
credit card device, pull up to the front of the line where two young guys are
standing. As you reach the red line, these “almost eager” workers jump into action. They start washing
the bugs off of the front of the car, make sure your side mirrors are
retracted, give a special wash to the windshield. Then they direct you to put
car in neutral… foot off of the brake…and … the car rolls forward into the wash
bay.<o:p></o:p></span></span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="margin-right: 45.0pt;">
<span style="line-height: 115%;"><span style="color: #660000; font-family: Trebuchet MS, sans-serif; font-size: large;"><br /></span></span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="margin-right: 45.0pt;">
<span style="line-height: 115%;"><span style="color: #660000; font-family: Trebuchet MS, sans-serif; font-size: large;"><br /></span></span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="margin-right: 45.0pt;">
<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgyCtfY2JTOSA7nfXjDFrazMGjXCSLl3DooCiK1qpV_rnAoeUhefPFieYAazh-Mzr3ERwQ7-27MAzQp62yqpsyZdnE3Ctoq0MIWbuvYkiZSHoaSfvc1tTXGo6c9b_rHu9uYZ37jBAdmc9E/s1600/Wash+Attendat.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="clear: right; float: right; margin-bottom: 1em; margin-left: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="300" data-original-width="191" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgyCtfY2JTOSA7nfXjDFrazMGjXCSLl3DooCiK1qpV_rnAoeUhefPFieYAazh-Mzr3ERwQ7-27MAzQp62yqpsyZdnE3Ctoq0MIWbuvYkiZSHoaSfvc1tTXGo6c9b_rHu9uYZ37jBAdmc9E/s1600/Wash+Attendat.jpg" /></a><span style="line-height: 115%;"><span style="color: #660000; font-family: Trebuchet MS, sans-serif; font-size: large;">Being the gracious and
entertaining fellow that I am, I have the driver’s side window down while the
attendants do their job regaling them with some old jokes and friendly
comments. Then they finish their work and we move on. AND, at that moment… that
particular moment… the driver’s side electric window, for the first time EVER,
refuses to go up.<o:p></o:p></span></span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="margin-right: 45.0pt;">
<span style="line-height: 115%;"><span style="color: #660000; font-family: Trebuchet MS, sans-serif; font-size: large;"><br /></span></span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="margin-right: 45.0pt;">
<span style="line-height: 115%;"><span style="color: #660000; font-family: Trebuchet MS, sans-serif; font-size: large;">As I frantically wrestle with the
offending button, we roll quickly into the car wash, tons of suds washing over
and into the car. As the panicking occupant (that would be me!!) wrestles with
modern technology, an electric window which having only a two way button is not
overly complex, about 1,000 gallons of water and soap suds are poured into the
car by a completely unsympathetic automated process which I am guessing gets a
perverse kick out of dousing the cheap customer who opted for the low cost wash
instead of the $50 FULL SERVICE with hot wax and whitewall tire cleaner. </span></span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="margin-right: 45.0pt;">
<span style="line-height: 115%;"><span style="color: #660000; font-family: Trebuchet MS, sans-serif; font-size: large;"><br /></span></span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="margin-right: 45.0pt;">
<span style="line-height: 115%;"><span style="color: #660000; font-family: Trebuchet MS, sans-serif; font-size: large;">As the
water and suds flowed in covering the dashboard, the seat, most of the interior
AND… the driver, I am almost positive I heard a faint electronic “chuckle
coming from the mechanism !!!<o:p></o:p></span></span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="margin-right: 45.0pt;">
<span style="line-height: 115%;"><span style="color: #660000; font-family: Trebuchet MS, sans-serif; font-size: large;"><br /></span></span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="margin-right: 45.0pt;">
<span style="line-height: 115%;"><span style="color: #660000; font-family: Trebuchet MS, sans-serif; font-size: large;">Now, having been recently
admonished by a certain wife who is ALWAYS correct, and remembering well her
exact words about my being negative, I started to laugh!! I laughed with suds
on my face and in my mouth, suds on my shirt and pants, suds on my head, suds
in my lap and all over the inside of the car, water streaming in as if I was
under Niagara falls.<o:p></o:p></span></span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="margin-right: 45.0pt;">
<span style="line-height: 115%;"><span style="color: #660000; font-family: Trebuchet MS, sans-serif; font-size: large;"><br /></span></span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="margin-right: 45.0pt;">
<a href="data:image/jpeg;base64,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" imageanchor="1" style="clear: left; float: left; margin-bottom: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img alt="Image result for SPILLED ICE CREAM" border="0" height="232" src="data:image/jpeg;base64,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" width="320" /></a><span style="line-height: 115%;"><span style="color: #660000; font-family: Trebuchet MS, sans-serif; font-size: large;">I FINALLY got a little
cooperation and the window suddenly went up just as it dawned on me that the
window problem might relate back to an incident some months ago when a
foolishly placed cup of soft ice cream slid off of the dash board onto the
window button unit as I, oblivious to the danger, accelerated and the ice cream
went flying. </span></span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="margin-right: 45.0pt;">
<span style="line-height: 115%;"><span style="color: #660000; font-family: Trebuchet MS, sans-serif; font-size: large;"><br /></span></span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="margin-right: 45.0pt;">
<span style="line-height: 115%;"><span style="color: #660000; font-family: Trebuchet MS, sans-serif; font-size: large;">I learn a hard lesson, apparently! But to show that I am NOT negative,
TODAY I laughed uncontrollably all the way through the car wash.<o:p></o:p></span></span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="margin-right: 45.0pt;">
<span style="line-height: 115%;"><span style="color: #660000; font-family: Trebuchet MS, sans-serif; font-size: large;"><br /></span></span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="margin-right: 45.0pt;">
<span style="line-height: 115%;"><span style="color: #660000; font-family: Trebuchet MS, sans-serif; font-size: large;">As the car rolled out of the bay
I smugly thought, “That’ll show her!! Who is negative? Certainly not me!!! “
And then as if to offer one last humiliation, a big blob of soapsuds fell off
my head into my lap.<o:p></o:p></span></span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="margin-right: 45.0pt;">
<span style="line-height: 115%;"><span style="color: #660000; font-family: Trebuchet MS, sans-serif; font-size: large;"><br /></span></span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="margin-right: 45.0pt;">
<span style="line-height: 115%;"><span style="color: #660000; font-family: Trebuchet MS, sans-serif; font-size: large;">As I pulled off the car wash lot
I thought, to paraphrase Rudyard Kipling: “If you can laugh while all those
around you are not laughing, you probably don’t understand the situation.”
:::sigh:::<o:p></o:p></span></span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="margin-right: 45.0pt;">
<br /></div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="margin-right: 45.0pt;">
<span style="line-height: 115%;"><span style="color: #660000; font-family: Trebuchet MS, sans-serif; font-size: large;">It isn’t easy being me.<o:p></o:p></span></span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="margin-right: 45.0pt;">
<span style="clear: left; float: left; line-height: 115%; margin-bottom: 1em; margin-right: 1em;">
</span><span style="clear: left; float: left; line-height: 115%; margin-bottom: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><span style="color: #660000; font-family: Trebuchet MS, sans-serif; font-size: large;"><br /></span></span><span style="clear: left; float: left; line-height: 115%; margin-bottom: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><span style="color: #660000; font-family: Trebuchet MS, sans-serif; font-size: large;"><br /></span></span></div>
Patrick Collinshttp://www.blogger.com/profile/04142860593504026432noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-6911001172799912622.post-41150204620944708162017-06-01T06:53:00.001-07:002018-10-14T05:30:00.047-07:00MISS PIGGY and PONDERING REALITY<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
</div>
<div style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;">
<img alt="Shangrala's This Is My Spot" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/proxy/AVvXsEjH_iVWNXA-Sw-yEkSwOLmU6xrRrdzewvZCP_v55_Nl4EvWRwYgDDCBZEe_Ye5Np_WqbQD0prtk6ni4kedbQnCvvoOjxDxdU0PnK5R-gDnIh3cp1M03HSQEbywUp54shXNTeuBaDCuX82iffjsu3ePEDU0m=s0-d-e1-ft" /></div>
<br />
<br />
<br />
<br />
<br />
<span style="font-family: "verdana" , sans-serif; font-size: large;">In a world that seems to have forgotten or neglected the spiritual realities of existence, this lovely hog, I call her Miss Piggy, seems to be looking though the restraining fence of materiality longing for a more meaningful life. </span><br />
<div>
<span style="font-family: "verdana" , sans-serif; font-size: large;"><br /></span></div>
<div>
<span style="font-family: "verdana" , sans-serif; font-size: large;">Sometimes I feel like this, overweight with self-imposed restrictions and limits, peering through a myriad of physical restraints. Like many others, I question whether my simple life measures up to the standard set by ancient worthies, and ponder whether we are merely material flesh and blood creatures or entirely spiritual, as taught by Jesus of Nazareth.<br /><br />In my pondering, I have found, as described by Mary Baker Eddy in the late 1800's, that life is actually spiritual, and best understood through a metaphysical view, a view that explores the fundamental nature of reality. She wrote:</span><span style="font-family: "verdana" , sans-serif; font-size: large;"> </span><span style="font-family: "verdana" , sans-serif; font-size: large;"> </span><br />
<div>
<span style="font-family: "verdana" , sans-serif; font-size: large;"><br /></span></div>
<div>
<span style="font-family: "verdana" , sans-serif; font-size: large;">"Metaphysical healing seeks a wisdom that is higher than a rhubarb tincture or an ipecacuanha pill. This method is devout enough to trust Christ more than it does drugs."<br /><br />"Meekly we kneel at our Master’s feet, for even a crumb that falleth from his table. We are hungry for Love, for the white-winged charity that heals and saves; we are tired of theoretic husks, — as tired as was the prodigal son of the carobs which he shared with the swine, to whom he fed that wholesome but unattractive food."</span></div>
<div>
<span style="font-family: "verdana" , sans-serif; font-size: x-small;">(Miscellaneous Writings p 359... Mary Baker Eddy)</span></div>
<div>
<span style="font-family: "verdana" , sans-serif; font-size: large;"><br /></span></div>
<div>
<span style="font-family: "verdana" , sans-serif; font-size: large;">I love you Miss Piggy. May I join you in contemplating how best to rise above the simple corn husks of self-centered daily living and pursue a Life of Love and service?</span></div>
</div>
Patrick Collinshttp://www.blogger.com/profile/04142860593504026432noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-6911001172799912622.post-21291614619627162862017-05-30T06:48:00.005-07:002017-05-30T06:50:20.580-07:00ANIMAL PHOTO OF THE DAY... GOOD PUSSYCAT<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
</div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;">
<img alt="Image may contain: dog" height="454" src="https://scontent.ftpa1-2.fna.fbcdn.net/v/t1.0-9/18740275_10209483087690519_2882312687925499657_n.jpg?oh=a6963144a4d1ff7432331b5f8fb187bf&oe=59B542CE" width="640" /></div>
<br />
<br />
<div class="MsoNormal">
<br /></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<span style="font-size: large;">I really laughed when I saw this picture of a TRUSTING cat
letting her doggie friend "attack" her!!! Wouldn't it be wonderful if
we could all remain calm and trusting in the face of seeming danger.</span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<span style="font-size: large;"><br /></span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<span style="font-size: large;">Many of us may have pondered and benefited from the
following counsel from the Christian Science textbook, Science and Health with
Key to the Scriptures by Mary Baker Eddy. I certainly have!!<o:p></o:p></span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<span style="font-size: large;"><br /></span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="line-height: normal; margin-bottom: .0001pt; margin-bottom: 0in;">
<span style="font-size: large;">"When the illusion of sickness or sin tempts you, cling </span><span style="font-size: large;">steadfastly to God and His idea. Allow nothing but His </span><span style="font-size: large;">likeness to abide in your thought. "</span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="line-height: normal; margin-bottom: .0001pt; margin-bottom: 0in;">
<br /></div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="line-height: normal; margin-bottom: .0001pt; margin-bottom: 0in;">
<span style="font-size: large;">"Let neither fear nor doubt overshadow your clear sense and </span><span style="font-size: large;">calm trust, that the recognition of life harmonious — as </span><span style="font-size: large;">Life eternally is — can destroy any painful sense of, or </span><span style="font-size: large;">belief in, that which Life is not. " </span><span style="font-size: x-small;">S&H 495</span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<span style="font-size: large;"><br /></span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<span style="font-size: large;">It is almost like the cat somehow understands Mrs Eddy's
guidance and the Bible correlative passage from Proverbs:<o:p></o:p></span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<span style="font-size: large;"><br /></span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<span style="font-size: large;">" Trust in the Lord with all thine heart; and lean not
unto thine own understanding. In all thy ways acknowledge him, and he shall
direct thy paths." </span><span style="font-size: x-small;">Proverbs 3</span><span style="font-size: large;"><o:p></o:p></span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<br /></div>
<br />
<div class="MsoNormal">
<span style="font-size: large;">Good Cat!! Good Cat!!!!</span><o:p></o:p></div>
Patrick Collinshttp://www.blogger.com/profile/04142860593504026432noreply@blogger.com1tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-6911001172799912622.post-65076877853510957462017-05-29T05:58:00.001-07:002017-05-29T05:58:51.586-07:00ANIMAL PHOTO OF THE DAY - A Comforting Mom in the Style of the Heavenly Father/Mother<div>
<img height="460" src="http://static.inspiremore.com/wp-content/uploads/2017/05/25073155/dachs1.jpg" width="640" /></div>
<br /><span style="font-size: large;"><br /><span style="color: #990000;">In many instances our precious doggies more nearly reflect God's "mothering" than humans do!!! They seldom use baby sitters, don't run off to play bridge, play golf, go shopping or spend hours on the phone or watching television!!<br /><br />This little lady is fully occupied as a dedicated mother. However, she may do a bit of knitting as we can see from the picture.<br /><br />This picture reminds me of how God "mothers" us as this favorite hymn proclaims:</span><br /><br /><i><span style="color: #0b5394;"><b>Like as a mother, God comforteth His children;</b></span></i></span><div>
<i><span style="color: #0b5394; font-size: large;"><b>Comfort is calm, that bids all tumult cease;</b></span></i></div>
<div>
<i><span style="color: #0b5394; font-size: large;"><b>Comfort is hope and courage for endeavor,</b></span></i></div>
<div>
<i><span style="color: #0b5394; font-size: large;"><b>Comfort is love, whose home abides in peace.<br /><br />Love is true solace and giveth joy for sorrow,</b></span></i></div>
<div>
<i><span style="color: #0b5394; font-size: large;"><b>—O, in that light, all earthly loss is gain;</b></span></i></div>
<div>
<i><span style="color: #0b5394; font-size: large;"><b>Joy must endure, Love’s giving is forever;</b></span></i></div>
<div>
<i><span style="color: #0b5394; font-size: large;"><b>Life is of God, whose radiance cannot wane.<br /><br />O holy presence, that stills all our demanding,</b></span></i></div>
<div>
<i><span style="color: #0b5394; font-size: large;"><b>O love of God, that needs but to be known!</b></span></i></div>
<div>
<i><span style="color: #0b5394; font-size: large;"><b>Heaven is at hand, when thy pure touch persuades us,</b></span></i></div>
<div>
<i><span style="color: #0b5394; font-size: large;"><b>Comfort of God, that seeks and finds His own.</b></span></i><div>
<div style="text-align: right;">
<i><span style="color: #0b5394; font-size: large;"><b>(Christian Science Hymnal p 174)</b></span></i></div>
<span style="font-size: large;"><br /><br /><span style="color: #990000;">Thanks for being a precious little mother. I love your family!!</span></span><span style="font-size: large;"><br /></span>
<span style="font-size: large;"><br /></span><br /></div>
</div>
Patrick Collinshttp://www.blogger.com/profile/04142860593504026432noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-6911001172799912622.post-33105238423897600022017-05-02T08:46:00.001-07:002017-05-02T08:46:37.377-07:00ANIMAL PHOTO OF THE DAY... MISS SPRINGTIME OF ADORABLE LOVE AND MEEKNESS<div class="MsoNormal">
<span style="line-height: 115%;"><span style="font-family: "Comic Sans MS"; font-size: 14pt;"> </span></span></div>
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgU7Gf22DxOivbhm5JDWHMjjiwYDWyl-t7jI5kykzeUo9Xk1SKEzeK1ovCjnqHhDLwtZnetVbZnPdYdQ42qLsSqC2sOLEMZNBonyNLI8a6nCeGXt39qZQA6p7OPop6PxCZwODJtnoubVck/s1600/Field+mouse.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><span style="color: #660000; font-family: Verdana, sans-serif; font-size: large;"><img border="0" height="362" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgU7Gf22DxOivbhm5JDWHMjjiwYDWyl-t7jI5kykzeUo9Xk1SKEzeK1ovCjnqHhDLwtZnetVbZnPdYdQ42qLsSqC2sOLEMZNBonyNLI8a6nCeGXt39qZQA6p7OPop6PxCZwODJtnoubVck/s640/Field+mouse.jpg" width="640" /></span></a></div>
<br />
<div class="MsoNormal">
<span style="line-height: 115%;"><span style="color: #660000; font-family: Verdana, sans-serif; font-size: large;"><br /></span></span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<span style="line-height: 115%;"><span style="color: #660000; font-family: Verdana, sans-serif; font-size: large;"><br /></span></span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<span style="line-height: 115%;"><span style="color: #660000; font-family: Verdana, sans-serif; font-size: large;"> "God fashions all things, after His own
likeness. Life is reflected in existence, Truth in truthfulness, God in goodness,
which impart their own peace and permanence. " </span><span style="font-family: Verdana, sans-serif; font-size: large;"><span style="color: #cc0000;">**</span><span style="color: #660000;"><o:p></o:p></span></span></span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<span style="line-height: 115%;"><span style="color: #660000; font-family: Verdana, sans-serif; font-size: large;"><br /></span></span></div>
<br />
<div class="MsoNormal">
<span style="line-height: 115%;"><span style="color: #660000; font-family: Verdana, sans-serif; font-size: large;">"Love, redolent with unselfishness, bathes all in beauty and
light. The grass beneath our feet silently exclaims, “The meek shall
inherit the earth.”</span><span style="font-family: Verdana, sans-serif; font-size: large;"><span style="color: #cc0000;"> ** </span><span style="color: #660000;"><o:p></o:p></span></span></span><span style="color: red; font-family: "Comic Sans MS"; font-size: x-small;">*</span><span style="font-family: "Comic Sans MS"; font-size: x-small;"><span style="color: #990000;">* (From Science and Health with Key to the Scriptures by Mary Baker Eddy)</span></span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<span style="line-height: 115%;"><span style="color: #660000; font-family: Verdana, sans-serif; font-size: large;"><br /></span></span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<span style="line-height: 115%;"><span style="color: #660000; font-family: Verdana, sans-serif; font-size: large;">This little Miss, elegant in her Spring finery is the picture of innocence and meekness. You can feel God's dear Love reflected in her sparkling eyes. </span></span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<span style="line-height: 115%;"><span style="color: #660000; font-family: Verdana, sans-serif; font-size: large;"><br /></span></span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<span style="line-height: 115%;"><span style="color: #660000; font-family: Verdana, sans-serif; font-size: large;">We are so fortunate just to... BE! And to be able to see and enjoy lovely little creatures like Miss Springtime.</span></span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<span style="line-height: 115%;"><span style="color: #660000; font-family: Verdana, sans-serif; font-size: large;"><br /></span></span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<span style="line-height: 115%;"><span style="color: #660000; font-family: Verdana, sans-serif; font-size: large;">Thank you Father of All!!! May each of us live each day with Love and Meekness too.</span></span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<span style="line-height: 115%;"><span style="color: #660000; font-family: Verdana, sans-serif; font-size: large;"><br /></span></span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<span style="line-height: 115%;"><span style="color: #660000; font-family: Verdana, sans-serif; font-size: large;"><br /></span></span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<br /></div>
Patrick Collinshttp://www.blogger.com/profile/04142860593504026432noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-6911001172799912622.post-71242634335005898542017-05-01T06:44:00.000-07:002017-05-01T06:44:40.702-07:00ANIMAL PHOTO OF THE DAY... Dropping Greed <div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjmvP9ulQV1u0oyjJKWr9MpETTh555voReC57xfbnbbeEa72vO4eX-WXPQqBwciir9-it4bv8KpGWd7cUJWOcQWwrHBNDeX1pARa5p1eObSCn6IGk4pbFDTR2IKFutfJro2xGYRLG0IyE4/s1600/Doggie+with+balls.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="640" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjmvP9ulQV1u0oyjJKWr9MpETTh555voReC57xfbnbbeEa72vO4eX-WXPQqBwciir9-it4bv8KpGWd7cUJWOcQWwrHBNDeX1pARa5p1eObSCn6IGk4pbFDTR2IKFutfJro2xGYRLG0IyE4/s640/Doggie+with+balls.jpg" width="472" /></a></div>
<br /><br /><div>
<br /></div>
<div>
<span style="font-size: large;">Dear Doggie,<br /><br />We need to have a talk about some of your habits.<br /><br />In the Bible New Testament book of Luke, Jesus of Nazareth advised against greed, covetousness and the blind accumulation of material things.<br /><br />He once said: “Take heed, and beware of covetousness: for a man’s life consisteth not in the abundance of the things which he possesseth.”<br /><br />In order to find happiness he advised that we drop the sense of happiness in acquiring material things. He said: “Take no thought for your life, what ye shall eat; neither for the body, what ye shall put on. The life is more than meat, and the body is more than raiment.”<br /><br />“Consider the lilies how they grow: they toil not, they spin not; and yet I say unto you, that Solomon in all his glory was not arrayed like one of these.”<br /><br />“Fear not, little flock; for it is your Father’s good pleasure to give you the kingdom.”<br /><br />So, lovely Doggie, you can relax and share the toys with your friends. Don’t be a Greedy Doggie!!! God will provide all that you need.</span><br /><div class="_3x-2" style="background-color: white; color: #1d2129; font-family: Helvetica, Arial, sans-serif; font-size: 12px;">
<div data-ft="{"tn":"H"}" style="font-family: inherit;">
</div>
</div>
</div>
Patrick Collinshttp://www.blogger.com/profile/04142860593504026432noreply@blogger.com1