Ruminations from the Temple

Nothing is more honorable than a grateful heart. ~Seneca My grateful thought for this morning is that I'm grateful for the wisdom of those who have walked the path before me. Their willingness to share their experiences and conclusions with me is indispensable and needed. Today I am grateful for HaShem and His provision for me every day. He has put into me all that I need and I am eternally thankful. I am so very grateful for good worship music and the opportunity to sing with others.  I thank the Master for my good friend Cherrie and her patience with my stumbling to learn to read music - she's a saint! I'm so glad that my daughter's cat didn't get lost when he escaped from the house - yay! I am so very grateful for my bestest friend in the whole world, Lisa.  She is a treasure that I certainly never deserved.  I am humbled that the LORD has brought her into my life. I am grateful that we have another opportunity to road trip, this time to go visit Lis

A beautiful sunny summer day, two friends with cameras and no plans...sounds wonderful! We headed over the Narrows Bridge to the west side of Washington State to see what we could see. We stopped and ate eclairs in Poulsbo, wandered a farmer's market in Port Gamble and poked around gifty shops in Port Townsend. We drove the Dungeness Scenic Loop in Sequim and were awed again at the beauty of Lake Crescent. Ending up at the stunning Ruby Beach, we were surprised to find it socked in with fog! I hope you enjoy some of the best shots of the day.

Silent gratitude isn't much use to anyone. ~G.B. Stern I am grateful for the opportunity to write and connect with friends on the internet. I love blogging, both my own and the ones I read, and the various sites that I peruse each day - it is such a blessing. I am so grateful that we got to drive the North Cascades Highway today in the glorious PNW sunshine - it was GLORIOUS! We are so blessed to live in such a beautiful part of our great country! Since I'm pretty discouraged with some things I have been reading here on the internet as of late (not worth discussing, though), I'm going to say that I'm grateful for the ability to ignore. I'm pondering this quote: “People do not seem to realize that their opinion of the world is also a confession of character.” (Ralph Waldo Emerson ) The LORD is my everything. Period. I can't do anything without Him. "The best thing to give to your enemy is forgiveness; to an opponent, tolerance; to a friend, you

According to Ben, Luke's uncle feared that Luke "might follow old Obi-Wan on some damn-fool idealistic crusade ..." DFIC. Sound familiar? I think it should be called the 'Superhero Syndrome'. The symptoms and behaviors should be easy to spot: hyper-observant behavior overly sensitive to injustice heart of compassion for those that are hurting protector and/or champion of the under-dog discerning of those in need avid listener responds with "I can help with that" or "I can make that happen" skilled in negotiation and diplomacy willing to confront, when necessary well familiar with all area hospitals able to change schedule at a moments notice These afflicted with the syndrome, the ones who think they are superheroes, are nice to have around...especially in a crisis. Unfortunately, they always tend to have enemies. I know, you wouldn't think so, but it's true. There is always someone, somewhere who is looking to g

grateful , adj ., feeling or showing gratitude (ie. "a grateful heart") ------------------------------------ We all need to be grateful - we all have so much, wouldn't you agree? Being the richest country in the world affords us things that third world countries just don't have. Fresh water to drink, right out of the tap, I might add. Flushing toilets, public transportation and police, fire and medical emergency service at the touch of 911. How 'bout grocery stores that carry anything and everything we may need or want without having to grow it ourselves? Even if you are on a slim budget, we still all have the opportunity to have so much. I am grateful. In response to my recent downturn in mood, as you may remember, a friend who lives in the next state (my favorite, by the way), suggested that we lift each other up by sending daily 'grateful' messages. I have been blessed each day with a happy thought and smile for what sweet Susan sends me. And I

He possesses dominion over himself, and is happy, who can every day say, "I have lived." Tomorrow the heavenly Father may either involve the world in dark clouds, or cheer it with clear sunshine; he will not, however, render ineffectual things which have already taken place.” ~Horace “How fast has brother followed brother, From sunshine to the sunless land!” ~William Wordsworth The art of art, the glory of expression and the sunshine of the light of letters, is simplicity. ~Walt Whitman Live in the sunshine, swim the sea, drink the wild air… ~Ralph Waldo Emerson Far away there in the sunshine are my highest aspirations. I may not reach them but I can look up and see their beauty, believe in them and try to follow them.” ~Louisa May Alcott May flowers always line your path and sunshine light your day. May songbirds serenade you every step along the way. May a rainbow run beside you in a sky that's always blue. And may happiness fill your heart each day your whole life thr

Is the fog finally lifting? Can I be so lucky? I have been walking in a daze of sorts, it would seem, not really here, not really there, just...being. Wandering from room to room, looking out the window, watching others go about their business but not willing or desiring to participate and not really wanting to do anything at all. Some would call it a depression. Doesn't everyone know that the best way to deal with depression is to serve? Help someone else with their problems, take a needy friend some food, help in a homeless shelter...somehow take the focus off yourself - right? Well, I have said this for years, with some arrogance, I'm sure. Except when I find myself mired in the fog of a depressive state, those wise sayings and such good advice seems so, well, empty. I wanted out of the mire, so I did serve. Did it make me feel less down? Only until I was by myself again, then it would descend again, like a bad penny. OK, I'm mixing metaphors, but you know what

Skimmin'. I'm guilty of it, for sure. Quickly reading what others write, even making the tragic mistake of assuming that I can make a judgment of their character perhaps from a pithy status update or single blog post. Do you do this, too? You start reading someone's writing, the first paragraph perhaps, then stop and scan down the page to see how long the article is? For me, I'm sorry to say, the length can determine the amount of 'scan' that happens. Guilty. There is a problem with this, however. I miss so much. Little words or nuances of meaning lost...hearing only one facet of the writer when there is so much more to be realized by reading more carefully or by investigating further. And I wonder...do others do this with my writing, as well? If you are a regular reader of this blog, you may think that I can be pretty 'in your face'. Yeah. Guilty, again. (As a matter of fact, someone close to me just told me so...I denied it, then had to take

You can shed tears that she is gone, or you can smile because she has lived. You can close your eyes and pray that she'll come back, or you can open your eyes and see all that she has left. Your heart can be empty because you can't see her, or you can be full of the time you shared. You can turn your back on tomorrow and live yesterday, or you can be happy for tomorrow because of yesterday. You can remember her and only that she's gone or you can cherish her memory and let it live on. You can cry and close your mind, be empty and turn your back, or you can do what she'd want: Smile, open your eyes Love and go on. ~Author Unknown My dear friend Rose went to be with our LORD today. No more sorrow, no more pain. Only pure joy and the freedom of being in the presence of the Almighty. Dearest Rose, I will remember you. I will remember your laugh, your curious mind and your zeal for life. I will continue to be inspired by your study and perseverance. I will hold your mem