Scatter the flowers

"Mathematics is the language with which  God  has  ruled the universe." ~ Galileo . Go back with me to a quick math lesson recall from Geometry (stay with me, it's short I promise).    Straight logic, right?  Let's apply one of the principles our Almighty God, the great Mathematician who designed numbers and the universe and our minds, created.   (a) - He knew we would need advice, help and support on this earth, in this broken life. (b) -  He gave us His Holy Scriptures, His Word, that miraculously survived over the years, to guide us. (c) -   He gave us the Holy Spirit as our "advocate", to help us understand His Word. So, therefore, our support, guidance and help comes by way of the Holy Spirit guiding us as we read the Bible- the holy, inspired Word of God.  Isn't math awesome? Don't just take this from an 8th grade math teacher.  Even man-made institutes support the benefits of reading the bible frequently, conclud...

  a tangled tapestry "The world is a place in which God creates order, but humanity has a tendency to create chaos." ~Rabbi Sacks 🕊  Ever feel beat up by life?  Like you're on the merry-go-round and it won't slow down enough to exit?  Having the thought, "If one more thing happens..." running through our mind, wondering what we would do? I remember as a mom of young children often just reacting to the cycling sickness, hectic schedule of activities, never-ending decisions of what to make for dinner, and constant barrage of discipline.  It was Monday, then in a blink it was Friday.  🕊   Or an even quicker blink, the kids were babies and now they're grown. As a retired grandma, I have a second to breathe and think about what's going on around me.  There's still the chaotic events of the world, the cycling of sickness and death, and  the decisions to make about how to invest your time, but I think God wants to remind us to breathe during it an...

  Google image "The greatest glory in living lies in not never falling,  but in rising every time we fall." ~Nelson Mandela 🐕 It's raining cats and dogs outside my window right now.  Where did that phrase come from anyway?  I mean, I would be okay if it rained cats, but dogs ? That's just mean.  Unless upon landing their paws turned into marshmallows.  Cats would just go on with their barren lives upon landing.   🐈 Is that too vicious?  Anyway ... 🐕  Rain turns me into a 'grab a throw and another cup of coffee' kind of person.  Somewhere along the lines I made a decision to respond in that way, and I'm glad.  I don't want rain to make me grouchy.  Yes, it can damper some outdoor plans, but where I live as long as it's raining there won't be fire danger.   These past several weeks a lot of spiritual 'rain' fell across our world.  It was dark, storms raged between people, and suffering and sadness loomed....

  Crosswalk image Nothing makes Satan weak in the knees more than when we are on our knees."   ~ Skip Heitzig, Pastor Death.  Killing.  Violence.  What do we do with such heavy hearts in such a dark time? With the knot in our throats and the pit in our stomachs that are weighing on our souls?  When we look around us, nothing on this broken earth can fill our void of sadness and despair.   So we look up to the One who created all things and who alone has the power to bring light and help: "I lift up my eyes to the hills. From where does my help come? My help comes from the Lord, who made heaven and earth.   What does help look like?  When does it come?  How much will we get?  Anger, confusion, bitterness, hostility, helplessness and fear overcome us in different ways and at different times.  We want reasons- we ask, "Why, Lord, why?" We instinctively want a reckoning- someone to pay for the injustice that has happened....

The Hobbit "I killed a goblin or two with a flash." ~ Gandalf, from The Hobbit by J.R.R. Tolkien    🏡  I came across some fall villages I had bought months ago & forgot about.  When I unpacked them I realized I had a huge smile on my face.  Now I have been building a Christmas village for 39 years now, so imagine my heart leaping for joy when I discovered fall villages!  What genius soul created that- thank you!! 🏡 I know I have a weird fascination with fairy garden world.  Those cute miniatures just make my heart happy.  It's like a hobbit world without the bad goblins, trolls or wargs.  It's like a piece of the world where sin is not allowed, no mean people can live there, food has no carbs, everyone is kind, and each house has endless coffee brewing if you just happen to stop by.  And everyone has their own pumpkin patch. Hmmm.  That reminds me of a place we read about where sin isn't allowed, where love abounds, Jesus is K...

  Google image "Good friends will stick with you until you're unstuck." ~ Winnie the Pooh Remember that time we ...? I will always think of you when I see... This reminds me of that time we ... I can't believe you remember... I recall you were the one that ... Ah, memories.  Good, bad,  life giving,  life threatening, even life endangering.  There's no greater feeling than seeing an old friend, someone we shared life with at one time or another, or still do.  They know us for us - in weakness and strength,  sound mind and sound body or unsound mind and frail body.   There is a niche in time carved out that we shared together, where we put our imprint on something somewhere.  The understanding doesn't even have to be uttered but it is because it brings back the emotion of the experience and resolidifies our relationship. Acceptance is realized and appreciated.  No one can take away that shared survival. ❔Who is our best old friend? "...