Ruminations from the Temple

OK, so I love quotes.  I'm drawn like a magnet to those little quote collection books and websites that allow you to find just the right quote with a search word.  Yesterday, while perusing a wonderful little hospital gift store, I found a awesome new addition to my quote library - squeeeee! Ross and Kathryn Petras, brother and sister, are great curators of quotes; this offering has 618 rules to live by...618?  That makes me excited!  They have also written "Age Doesn't Matter Unless You're a Cheese" and a calendar, "The 365 Stupidest Things Ever Said" that may have to be sought out by yours truly. Padawan and I stood in the gift store for quite a while laughing at quotes as we paged through this little book.  The quote on the cover is one of my all-time favorites, and completely describes my life! Everyone at a party is uncomfortable.   Knowing that makes me more comfortable. ~Gary Shandling Don't accept your dog's admiration as conclus...

Favorite movie in the original trilogy... Return of the Jedi. I love the prequels best.  So sue me. *shrug* However, ROTJ has some great scenes; Jabba gets iced, Lando is pretty incredible and Leia gets to sport that overly-coveted metal bikini...how can you not like all that?  I have to admit a pretty strong dislike of Ewoks, but a Jedi respects all life forms, right?  I'll get over it. So, in honor of this week's challenge, I think I'll go plug in ROTJ and enjoy the return of the one who will re-establish the Jedi Order back to it's rightful place in the galaxy and facilitate balance being returned to the Force. (Gosh, Luke, don't you know the Jedi color is brown , not black...*sigh*  Ah well, that's what happens when you are not trained properly.  Actually, Luke looked more like a Jedi back on Tatooine...) Ben! Why didn't you tell me? You told me that Darth Vader betrayed and murdered my father. Your father... was seduced by the Dark Side...

from the Complete Jewish Bible Consider it pure joy, my brothers and sisters, whenever you face trials of many kinds, because you know that the testing of your faith produces perseverance. Let perseverance finish its work so that you may be mature and complete, not lacking anything. If any of you lacks wisdom, you should ask God, who gives generously to all without finding fault, and it will be given to you. But when you ask, you must believe and not doubt, because the one who doubts is like a wave of the sea, blown and tossed by the wind. That person should not expect to receive anything from the Lord. Such a person is double-minded and unstable in all they do. I think of James often.  Well, I suppose I can't say I think of James, himself, but of his words.  Since I definitely affirm that James is my favorite book of the canon, I can easily say that I meditate on his words, find myself quoting him often, as well as recognizing them in conversations and writing. ...

A meditation of rest. Rest for our bodies. Rest for our minds. Rest for our souls. By the seventh day G-d had finished the work He had been doing; so on the seventh day He rested from all His work. Then G-d blessed the seventh day and made it holy, because on it He rested from all the work of creating that He had done. So they set out from the mountain of the LORD and traveled for three days. The ark of the covenant of the LORD went before them during those three days to find them a place to rest . Truly my soul finds rest in G-d; my salvation comes from Him. Yes, my soul, find rest in G-d; my hope comes from Him. This is what the Sovereign LORD, the Holy One of Israel, says: “In repentance and rest is your salvation, in quietness and trust is your strength..." “Come to me, all you who are weary and burdened, and I will give you rest . Take my yoke upon you and learn from me, for I am gentle and humble in heart, and you will find rest for your souls....

So grateful for spring! I'm grateful for my warm slippers. I'm grateful for digital photographs. I'm grateful that I can come up with some gratefuls this morning! I'm grateful that the Spring Flinger letterboxing event went well, even though we couldn't go. I'm grateful for friends who are willing to pray with me. I'm grateful for the LORD's provision. I'm grateful for our wonderful conversation on Monday nights (and, I'm grateful that our next study is ordered and on it's way!). I'm grateful for public assistance that is able to help those who are truly in need. I'm grateful for compassion. I'm grateful for the sweet photo of my friend, Yofi, that sits right beside my computer. I'm grateful for a mini-roadtrip - and for mostly dry weather! I excited that the mountain was visible today! Sunny, blue sky! I'm grateful for some really wonderful friends across the pond. I'm grateful for Lisa...

As many of you know, I have had problems with my character being maligned maliciously, most seriously in the last year.  I have said it many times through this dark time of my life; I have never experienced such pain, sadness, betrayal,  anguish, and sheer amazement at the lack of integrity and purposeful hurt.  Through it all, I have done my absolute best to be humble, righteous, polite, kind and loving.  I have done nothing to be ashamed of, as the LORD has enabled me to be honest and forthright.  I am thankful for a clear conscience. Many friends, both near and far, have expressed their concern, love, hope and prayers for myself, and my close friends, as we have endured.  From the wise words of my husband and parents, to my beloved letterboxing community, to all my wonderful costuming friends, even friends of friends - they were all right.   You were all right ...the writing was on the wall.  Thank you for your continual love, care and compa...

Favorite planet? This city girl thinks Coruscant is definitely the planet to call home, especially since the Jedi Temple is located there.  Such a fascinating place with the many 'levels' - what a melting pot of the entire galaxy.  If you can't find it on Coruscant, it just doesn't exist! Definitely Coruscant is my favorite planet. One big city! the Jedi Temple on Coruscant