That "Never" Word

 This and following are some of my favorite snaps taken in Maryland.

 

"A habit  cannot be tossed out the window; it must be coaxed down the stairs a step at a time!

Mark Twain (1835-1910) 

You know what I mean. As soon as you say never you end up eating your words. It's happened to me a few times during my adult years. I learned to be very careful to never say never. (Now how else could I say that?)

One big "never" I remember was when I was pregnant and left my job to have my daughter. Back then a pregnant women left in her seventh month. I said I wouldn't be back. I was going to be a homemaker.

That lasted all of two years, and I found myself walking right back to where I left. That was difficult to swallow.

"The chains of habit are too weak to be felt until they are too strong to be broken."

Samuel Johnson (1709-1784)

Another time I said "never" and ended up eating my words was the first time I spoke to a group about note writing.  No, I would never talk in front of a group. Why I had difficulty talking within a small group of my co-workers. I'm sure they wondered why I never said anything.

But talk in front of a group I did, not once, but many times. Well, if you could call it talking. The only way I was able to do it was having my "talk" typed word for word and reading it. I actually got pretty good at it.

"God delights on our temptations and yet hates them. He delights in them when they drive us to prayer; he hates them when they drive us to despair."

Martin Luther (1483-1546) 

But this last time eating my words caused me grief. I will never give up ice cream, chocolate or potato chips. They were my favorites, my friends, and I didn't care what else happened, I wasn't going to give them up!

But June 24, 2018 I finally had to eat my words and stop eating my favorites. Or should I say my addictions. My body was rejecting them and it was definitely more pleasant to give them up than continue down the unpleasant road.

"Habits are servants that regulate your sleep, your work and your thoughts.

Elbert Green Hubbard (1856-1915)

Ten months ago today, and I've survived! I'm feeling much better, and I've lost 40 pounds! That old temptation is still in me, but I've been successful in overcoming this habit and addiction that followed me through all of my life.

I hope I haven't let any of my dye hard fans of ice cream, chocolate and potato chips down. My body just wouldn't let me be in control anymore. (But, yes, I still make Jerry a chocolate chip coffee cake, and every once in awhile, I eat a piece!)

So let me encourage you that habits and addictions can be broke. Hershey may be missing my business, but this stubborn girl broke free of her destructive habit and addiction.

Well, I can assure you I will never say never again. (I wouldn't count on it. Old habits are hard to break.)

"Temptations that find us leaning on God are to our faith like winds that more firmly root the tree.)

Unknown

One of my favorites! A soon to be mom.

And the Song Goes . . .

The Magnolia tree is one of my favorite. I had a Magnolia Jane in MD and loved the blooms!

"Sometimes living takes the life out of you . . . and sometimes living is all you can do."

That's a line from the song "Life is Hard (God is Good). Debra Talley sings it on her CD Seasons of the Heart. Debra has a beautiful and soothing alto voice. You may recognize her from the group The Talleys which includes her husband and daughter.

I bought the CD some 10 or 15 years ago, and through my adult life I have related to the words in that song. And as I've learned through many years now, no matter what you're going through, God is Good. He doesn't change. A new season will come if you'll only hold firm to His Hand.

My Magnolia Jane never failed to make me smile!

Living can take the life out of you. That's why during times of sunshine and happiness you must dedicate yourself to studying God's Word and filling your mind with good. When those bad times come, you will be filled with just the encouragement and knowledge you need to get you through.

God is often overlooked when everything is going good and you're happy in your life. But that's just the time you need to fill yourself with Him

Found these lovely blooms in my travels.

Pam Thum wrote the words to Life is Hard (God is Good) If you're in a season of tears, consider the words below.

"You turn the key then close the door behind you

Drop your bags on the floor

You reach for the light but there's darkness deep inside

And you cant' take it anymore.

'Cause sometimes living takes the life out of you

And sometimes living is all you can do.

Life is hard, the world is cold

We're barely young and then we're old

But every falling tear is always understood

Life is hard, but God is good.

You start to cry 'cause you've been strong for so long

And that's not how you feel

You try to pray but there's nothing left to say

So you just quietly kneel. 

In the silence of all that you face

God will give you His mercy and grace

Jesus never said it was an easy road to travel

He only said that you would never be alone.

So when your last thread of hope

Begins to come unraveled

Don't give up, He walks beside you

On this journey home and He knows.

Life is hard, the world is cold

We're barely young and then we're old

But every falling tear is always understood

Life is hard, Oh life is hard, but God is good."
 

Spotted this magnificent Magnolia tree on the way to Lancaster.

During your days of sunshine and contentment, don't forget God. Fill yourself with as much of Him as you can. When those rough times come, He'll be right inside of you to help you through. Life IS hard, but God is Good!

 A snapshot of my Magnolia Jane at sunset.

My Complement of Songs

 This little one is enjoying the heat from the sun as it snuggles on mom.

Back in 1997 I wrote a short article about something I did that helped me during a discouraging time. I was unhappy in my job, and cried on the way to work and home again. One day a thought came to my mind, and "my complement of songs" was born.

"Singing always makes me smile, and I was looking for a smile. Times were hard and my emotions frayed. A laboring trial was working hard to drain my senses. I needed someway to relax, especially while I drove back and forth to my job.

"I've always used that hour drive productively--listening to cassette tapes on spiritual matters, praying and singing with tapes of favorite singers. But I needed something different to help me over this trying period.

 I loved seeing this scene with these new buttercups.

"Taking a pack of 3 x 5 index cards, I wrote the first verse of 40 hymns that I enjoyed on separate cards. I was familiar with most of the words to these hymns--the first verse is always sung in church services. But this way, if I was confused, I'd have the words in front of me.

"As I drove to work, I systematically sang each hymn--the same order each day. Soon, before I flipped the card to the next song, I knew what it would be. And, as several months passed, I found the songs were now in my heart, and I could sing for 45 minutes from memory.

"Since that time several years ago my complement of songs have served me well. They did help me through that particular trial--and several others. But they're not only for trials. At least once a week now, as I drive to my job, I present them to God as my gift of praise.

"My songs pop up all over the place. When I'm on vacation . . . taking a relaxing bubble bath . . . even doing the laundry. I receive joy from my complement of songs wherever I am. And you know what? They make me smile."

 One morning on the way to work I stopped and enjoyed seeing this new family. I took pictures for 40 minutes and got to see the calf stand for the first time. (I think I was late to work, but hey, some things you just have to do!)

It's been more than 20 years I've been singing what I now call "My Melody of Hope." It ranks way up there as one of the best things I've ever done. I had no trouble memorizing these songs like I do with memorizing scripture. And, when you think of it, many hymns are based on scripture..

I tried to publish the article as I had some success back in the 90s being published, but this short article didn't make it. I figured I was promoting reading while driving and that certainly wouldn't go over very big. Yet, somehow, God gave me the ability to memorize these hymns while driving, but I wouldn't suggest doing it in this day and age. Making a tape to listen to would work, or making a special time to sit and sing would work too.

 I'll be driving two hours tomorrow to visit a friend from Maryland passing near my way. I know one of the things I will do will be singing my "Melody of Hope." It's suppose to rain, but there will be sunshine in my car!

There were three horse and foal in the yard, and I enjoyed taking a number of snaps. This one made me laugh when the young one peeked under mother.

It's Amazing

Every moment of this strange and lovely life from dawn to dusk is a miracle. Somewhere, always, a rose in opening its petals to the dawn. Somewhere, always, a flower is fading in the dusk."

Beverley Nichols (1899-1983

Unknown photographer

I've been looking at the above picture all week. Many of us have seen similar scenes in person. Rain falling from the clouds.

I've flown a few times and have watched out the window as the plane flew through clouds. There isn't anything there. You can't put your hand on a cloud. You can't feel anything (at least I don't think you can. I haven't had the opportunity to try.)

I've flown through stormy skies, rain falling, dark clouds, and come out the other side to sunshine and beauty. My thinking isn't deep enough to try and figure out the scientific reasons for this and I don't need too.

It's enough for me to know the Creator of the universe, God, made it. And multiply that by millions of miraculous and amazing things throughout the earth and universe!

Sometimes you just have to stop and take a moment to see all the magnificence God has created. It's amazing!

From the Facebook page PhysiosAstronomy.com

 "My heart is awed within me when I think of the great miracle--that still goes on, In silence, round me--the perpetual work Of thy creation, finished, yet renewed forever. Written on thy works I read The lesson of thy own eternity."

William Cullen Bryant (1794-1878)