The Incredible Brain

"One of the highest and noblest functions of man's mind is to listen to God's Word, and so to read His mind and think His thoughts after Him."

John R. W. Stott, 1921-2011

Well hello to you!

I've been reading the book: The One Year Book of Amazing Stories: 365 Days of Seeing God's Hand in Unlikely Places by Robert Petterson. And the stories have been quite amazing.

Robert Petterson carries on the time-honored tradition of storytelling, weaving unique, life-changing and inspirational stories into all of his personal interactions with readers and fellow pilgrims. He has been senior pastor at some of America's well-known churches and was on the adjunct faculty of Covenant Theological Seminary.

Last week one of the devotions was titled: The Incredible Brain. I found it fascinating and want to share some of his words.

"Your brain weighs about 3 pounds, making up less than 2 percent of your body weight. Yet it uses 20 percent of your total energy and oxygen--and for good reason! This cerebral sea contains 400 miles of blood vessels bringing nutrients to some 86 billion cells."

A little black beauty.

I read something like that, and I'm just amazed. First, how scientists discovered it, and second, how immensely amazing our God is. He is the master creator of our entire body which works together effortlessly to bring us life. 

"The amount of sights, sounds, smells, and other bits of sensory information that floods into the brain each millisecond is dizzying. In the average lifetime, the number of data bits stored in the brain adds up to the number 1 followed by a line of zeros 6.5 miles long . . . If you think that you control all your thoughts, think again. About 95 percent of your decisions are made in your subconscious mind, often processed by the incalculable bits of forgotten information stored away in your memory.

"Nothing taken into the brain can ever be erased. Everything stored in our subconscious memory lasts a lifetime, even if we can't access it. Recollections pop up at the most inconvenient moments." I'm sure most of us can relate to that. It happens all the time. Out of nowhere a thought comes to mind, 10, 20, 50 even 60 years ago for me. 

"What we need is a new software program to help us to filter past experiences through new perspectives. God offers such a program in the Bible--a new way to look at old data. Energized by the Holy Spirit and equipped with the truths of Scripture, we can reinterpret everything for a healthier way of thinking."

Who's that looking at us?

His book has some incredibly amazing stories. This one brought my thoughts to our amazing God and all He has done for us. It is good for us to stop and consider God's creativity. It is amazing.

By His Grace . . .

Nature's Frequency

 "More and more as we come closer and closer in touch with nature and its teachings are we

able to see the Divine and are therefore fitted to interpret correctly the various languages

spoken by all forms of nature about us."

George Washington Carver

1864-1943

I love this snap because she was just about to go down on the bunch. Five seconds after I took the snap she had them all covered!

The other week I watched a video that featured Sonya Isaacs from The Issacs, gospel and country singing family. She spoke about an early album they recorded titled, Natures Frequency 432, and from their studies at that time they learned some interesting things about nature's frequency..

I looked it up online but can't do justice to the meaning of this. Sonya said: "The natural hum of the earth is at that frequency. God created everything into existence. Everything resounds to His voice. We have little bitty vibrators in our body. Our bodies respond to His voice."

Continuing, "When the birds sing, their voices cause the vegetation to awaken in the morning and cause the pores of the plants to open so they can receive the dew of the morning." I think that's just plain cool!

"God created everything we need in nature and the sounds can bring healing. There is a natural hum to the earth." If your hearing is extremely sensitive, like a blind person's hearing, you can hear the hum.

She said they learned that listening to music with this frequency can be healing to your body. 

"Nothing is without voice; God everywhere can hear

Arising from creation His praise and echo clear."

Angelus Silesius, 1624-1677

On Music Theory: 432 Hz - Separating Fact From Fiction: Ask Audio 432 Hz, it says: "The magic number everybody is talking about. It is said to be the natural frequency of the universe, to have cosmic healing powers and to attract masses of audience to our music . . . Just by tuning our music we are promised direct access to the universe's hidden treasures."

All of this is way above my knowledge level, but I find it very interesting. Our God is a master creator. Just think of our human body. It is amazing how all of our parts have an exact function and can only work as all the other parts do their assigned jobs.

If you want to check out the video you can find it here: 

Sonya Isaacs Emotional Interview // Behind The Mask with Ray Flynn - YouTube'

While attending a ladies retreat, I walked around the grounds and found this family.

A Number

Isn't it strange how good your birth date looks when you turn over the calendar and see it? It is for me. Seeing my birth date brings a "feel good" feeling and makes me smile.

I had that feeling today, March 14th. I turn 74, and I smiled.

Not even the year upsets me. I've never been concerned about my age. Well, when I turned 30, I wasn't too happy. But since then, I joyfully celebrate each birthday!

When I reached the milestone of 50, I said, "Thus begins celebrating an entire week!" From that year forward I have joyfully celebrated my birthday for a week.

My birth date may look especially happy to me because I was saved on the 14th, married on the 14^th, and retired on the 14^th.. None of these occasions were specifically planned for the 14th. They just worked out that way. You can imagine what the day of my death is going to be.

I so often hear people say having birthdays are "better than the alternative." I wonder if they are aware of the heaven I know. Better than that? When my God calls me home, what rejoicing there will be!

As fun as I try and make my birthday celebrations, I'm ready to meet my God for an eternity in heaven. Now that will be a celebration!

Last week . . . 8 years cancer free! Thank you, God! 

On my way to work one morning I was delighted to see this family and stopped and took their picture!

By His Grace . . .

We Can Never Lose His Love

 "God did not choose us because we were worthy, but by choosing us he makes us worthy."

Thomas Watson, 1557-1592

March brings the anticipation of baby animals in the barnyard.

I've been in a few barnyards now and love to see the little ones.

"Praise be to the God and Father of our Lord Jesus Christ, who blessed us in the heavenly realms with every spiritual blessing in Christ. For he chose us in him before the creation of the world to be holy and blameless in his sight. In love he predestined us for adoption to sonship through Jesus Christ, in accordance with his pleasure and will." Ephesians 1:3-5

In the devotion book, Truth for Life, by Alistair Begg, I enjoyed reading his words on the doctrine of election. Election is a hard thing to get a handle on and believe for many. Why me? Why not you?

"Our election in Christ is not some kind of historical afterthought; it goes all the way back into eternity past, before creation. Yes, we do decide to follow Christ--but it is so humbling to recognize that we could never have chosen God if He had not chosen us before the creation of the world. You would not be capable of deciding to follow Him if He had not first decided to make you His child."

"The elect are whosoever will; the non-elect are whosoever won't."

Henry Ward Beecher, 1813-1887

Lady in waiting.

God has loved you for a long, long time. I especially like these words Begg wrote that bring us comfort and peace:

"The doctrine of election is not a banner under which we march but a bastion for our souls. It makes all the difference to our security and our joy. Once you humbly recognize that your identity in Christ was established the moment He first set His affection upon you, even before the dawn of time, you find freedom and you have confidence. You don't need to seek to come up with some reason in yourself to understand why you have received His amazing grace; you can simply enjoy knowing that He chose you because He loves you. You don't need to live burdened by your sin or crushed because you feel you are making little progress in your Christian life, for His love was never based on your performance or on your promise of doing better. You can walk through the peaks and valleys of this life with the assurance that you are loved by the one who made all things and directs all things--and that because you never had to win His love, you can never lose it."

I could just cuddle them!

Let us be diligent in sharing His love and His story so those who have not accepted His love can hear it and make that decision as we once did. We were all lost until we heard the good news of Jesus Christ and made that decision to follow Him. Now we are safe in His arms.

By His Grace . . .

Reading the Hard Ones

This past week I've been dealing with a head cold, laying low, resting and trying to get through the normal irritations of a cold. It gave me plenty of time to think. 

I think we all find it hard reading through many of the books of the Old Testament. When I'm looking for the next book in the Bible to read and study, I rarely choose the hard ones, relying on the easier books like Psalms and Proverbs, and the ones we hear most often in sermons like: Genesis, Job, Daniel and Ruth.

Isaiah kept coming to my mind though. I've read some things recently, and Isaiah must have been mentioned. I thought about how I could tackle this long and difficult book and came up with a game plan.

I will read one chapter a week. A week, I'll read it several times. In sections. With a commentary. When I feel confident in what I'm reading and understand that chapter I'll move forward. Isaiah is filled with readings about our Lord and the future Kingdom. I decided I didn't want to miss that!

I have read through the Bible twice, from beginning to end, so I have gone through the book of Isaiah before. But I'm thinking this new approach will leave a better and deeper understanding of what this great prophet was inspired to write.

With 66 chapters in Isaiah, I have my work cut out for me this year. I'm looking forward to it. Even excited about it. Being in God's family now some 44 years, the desire of learning about God's Word never ends. The opportunities are boundless.  

Now, if only this cold will go away. I've turned a corner, so I think I'm coming to the end of it now. After all, I have a book to read!

By His Grace . . .

Quotes: Inspiring Words

"Writers love quotations. They love quoting someone else's work

almost as much as they love quoting their own."

Unknown

Where are you snow? I'm waiting for you!

Yes, I love quotations and have several journals where I write down words of others. Quotes have the ability to make you stop and think. They touched your heart, prompt you to think and inspire you.

The other day I read the following quotes from one of my journals and decided to share them with you.

"If, like the lake that has the boon of cradling the little moon above the hill, I want the Infinite to be reflected undisturbed in me, I must be still."  Edna Becker

"Music washes away from the soul the dust of everyday life."  Berthold Auerbach, 1812-1882

"The woods would be very silent if no birds sang there except those who sang best."  Unknown

"It rained so hard that all the pigs got clean, and all the people dirty."  Georg Christoph Lichtenberg, 1742-1799

"The heart has eyes that the brain knows nothing of."  Charles Henry Parkhurst, 1842-1933

"The insight that relates us to God arises from purity of heart, not from clearness of intellect."  Oswald Chambers, 1874-1917

"Little strokes fell great oaks."  Benjamin Franklin, 1706-1790

"The Word of God hidden in the heart is a stubborn voice to suppress."  Billy Graham

"On your knees you are taller than trees."  Jan Beck

"As the years pass, I am coming more and more to understand that it is the common, everyday blessings of our common, everyday lives for which we should be particularly grateful. They are the things that fill our lives with comfort and our hearts with gladness."  Laura Ingalls Wilder

"Wrong, wrong, wrong will never be right, right, right."  Ann Platz

"It ain't those parts of the Bible that I can't understand that bother me, it is the parts that I do understand."  Mark Twain, 1835-1899

"All work done for God is spiritual work and therefore not merely a duty but a holy privilige."  Elisabeth Elliot

"A thousand words will not leave so deep an impression as one deed."  Henrik Ibsen, 1828-1906

"God is looking for people to use, and if you can get usable, He will wear you out."  Rick Warren

"The person with a talent they are meant to use will find their greatest happiness in using it."  Johann Wolfgang Von Goethe

"Is any pleasure on earth as great as a circle of Christian friends by a fire."  C. S. Lewis

"A home with a little dust and a lot of laughter will win the heart of God every time!  Karla Dornacher

" . . .  and if you write to others sharing the good news of salvation, your letters just might mingle souls for eternity."  Lyn Morrissey

These were taken from my 2008 - 2009 journal. Still relevant today. Be someone who reads for the purpose of learning, being encouraged, being inspired, being convicted and being blessed.

By His Grace . . .

A Chocolate What?

This Valentine's Day I'm reposting an article I wrote in 2013 for Valentine's Day. It always makes me smile. Hope you smile too!

I enjoy reading blogs other have created. I gravitate towards those who enjoy photography, and artists whose pictures and writings I enjoy. Susan Branch and Karla Dornacher are two artists who inspire me and encourage my heart. 

Last week I stopped at Susan's blog and found a simple recipe for chocolate eclairs, and since the recipe was simple, I decided to give it a try. That Saturday morning, I prepared to make them.

I'll take them to my Sunday School class in honor of Valentine's Day," I decided.

Suffice to say my first attempt was not successful. The little puffs of dough didn't rise, the cream filling turned out ok (much to my astonishment), and the chocolate didn't come out smooth for dripping over the dough. I couldn't help but laugh at my attempt. They certainly would not be going to my Sunday School class. 

Jerry tasted one and said they were good. Mom even liked them. I finally ate one and must confess it did taste good. Jerry said he'd take them to his Sunday School class. "Only if you tell them it's my first attempt and they don't look so good." I said.

Sunday morning came. I walked in my Sunday School class and there were sweet donuts in the shape of hearts for us to enjoy. I began telling my friends about my ill-fated eclairs when in walked Jerry, Floyd, Steve, Talmadge, Dan, Tom and Barry, each holding one of my misshaped eclairs.

"Jerry said we had to tell you that he told us this is your first attempt in making chocolate eclairs," one of them said. "Please bring us all other rejects! They are delicious!"

It was so funny. They had me bending over with laughter. And my dear Sunday School class was disappointed they weren't eating them!

My friend, Janet told me, "There is no such thing as a badchocolate eclair if there's something you can lick off your finger!" I like that!

Yes, I will try again. With a few pointers from my friends, I will attempt a second time to make chocolate eclairs. This time, though, I know I can still enjoy the delicious taste, even if they don't pass the look' test!

By His Grace . . .

Round as a Stone

Gladys Taber, author of The Best of Stillmeadow: A Treasury of Country Living, gives a good analogy of storms in our lives:

"The beach itself is a lesson in time. I pick up a tiny shell which has been polished and shaped by the waves but still keeps it original shape. As time goes on, it will become part of the sand. Here and there a shiny pink pebble is left when the tide ebbs, and this too is on a course. It will roll and sweep forward with the tide and retreat with the tide. And always it will be shaped, smoothed, rounded and lessened until it too is a grain of sand.

"As I pick up a cool pebble and hold it in my palm, it seems to me that the tide of life shapes me in much the same way. An edge is polished off in a great storm of grief, a jagged point is smoothed away by disappointments, disillusionments which have been faced. Gradually life polishes the stone. The surface of a small pebble is satiny. It feels cool to the palm.

"So it is with people, I think. If the core of the stone is sound, the wearing away by the tide results in a smooth oval. If the core is soft, there is no pebble left after a few nor'easters. I have known people buffeted by life mercilessly who still give me a sense of serenity. The integral core was sound. And I have known people who disintegrated at the first blow as a bit of clay exposed on the great beach dissolves in the first turn of the tide."

Taber wrote over 50 books, including fiction, nonfiction, cookbooks, children's books, plays, poetry and more. Her best loved books are her series about her life at Stillmeadow, her farm in the then rural country of Connecticut, as well as at Still Cove, her smaller home on Cape Cod. She also wrote on general topics for Ladies Home Journal and Family Circle.

Her book on Stillmeadow is enjoyable as you find yourself in her world and God's nature.

Yes, storms sure do buffet us and throw us around, trying to knock us down. That's why it's so important to have a deep settled confidence of our faith in our very being so we don't let the storms of life carry us away.

"Let us then approach God's throne of grace with confidence, so that we may receive mercy and find grace to help us in our time of need."

Hebrews 4:16

I want to be round as a stone, smooth and sound because I know my God, and I live my faith. Don't you?

By His Grace . . .