THE PILGRIM'S WAY

Carry Your Candle. Go Light Your World

2011-05-22T07:08:00.002-04:00

2011-03-30T12:38:00.002-04:00

"There is no tear which prayer cannot wipe away or dry up.
There is no depression of spirits which it cannot relieve and elevate.
There is no despair which it cannot dispel.
Prayer always bring God to our relief to bless and to aid,
and brings marvelous revelations of His power."
~~Edward M. Bounds~~

"Have we trials and temptations?
Is there trouble anywhere?
We should never be discouraged,
Take it to the Lord in prayer."
~~Scriven~~

Right Thought, Right Will

2010-08-13T00:07:00.005-04:00

"The greatest, deepest, truest thought of God is generated in prayer, where right thought has its essential condition in a right will."

"Prayer is not only a necessity of faith, it is faith itself in action.
It is not an act of knowledge but of faith."

"Prayer must be the application of faith to a concrete actual and urgent situation."
The reality of prayer is bound up with the reality and intimacy of life."

Quotes were taken from P.T Forsyth's The Soul Of Prayer

Life Hurts, We Know It....

2010-01-15T03:57:00.003-05:00

New Year brings new hopes. But life hurts. We know it. I know it. Everyone around us knows it. The whole world has a lot of practice facing the trials of life. and it isn't fun, is it? There certainly isn't any joy to be found in our trials...is there? The truth is, no one has ever lived a life completely free from pain, uncertainty, stress and trials. Yes, life does hurt. But those of us in Christ will never face hardships alone. As we bow down before the Lord, we know that Jesus is with us in our trials. Moreover, He will take our mournful ashes and use them to paint a magnificent picture for His glory.

"Many things about tomorow

I don't seem to understand

But I know who holds tomorrow

and I know who holds my hand!"

The Spirit Of Christmas....

2009-12-19T03:26:00.007-05:00

"For unto you is born this day in the city of David a Savior, which is Christ the Lord!"

~~Luke 2: 11~~

"Behold, I come" - the darkness lightens

Above all sorrow and all fear;

Beyond the clouds the Daystar brightens,

And our deliverance is near;

The groaning earth awaits the hour

When all the wrongs of time are past,

And clothed with glory and with power,

The King of kings shall reign at last.

- Annie Johnson Flint-

May the true meaning of Christmas live always in our hearts!

Have a Blessed and Merry Christmas Everyone!

Redeeming The Time

2009-10-17T01:41:00.004-04:00

Life's Clock

The clock of life is wound but once,

And no man has the power

To tell just where the hands will stop —

At late or early hour.

To lose one's wealth is sad indeed,

To lose one's health is more,

To lose one's soul is such a loss

As no man can restore.

The present only is our own,

Live for Christ with a will;

Place no faith in tomorrow,

For the clock may then be still.

"Redeeming the time, because the days are evil."

~~Ephesians 5:16~~

A Balm For Every Wound, A Salve For Ever Sore

2009-08-30T08:04:00.003-04:00

"Thy Word is a lamp unto my feet, and a light unto my path."

~~Psalm 119:105~~

"Within the Scripture there is a balm for every wound, a salve for every sore. Oh, the wondrous power in the Scripture to create a soul of hope within the ribs of despair, and bring eternal light into the darkness which has made a long midnight in the inmost soul!" (C. H. Spurgeon)

The Solace

2009-08-11T00:32:00.003-04:00

"I have learned that we are not to find solace in our own strength;

We must seek it in God's omnipotence."

"Life hurts. You know it. I know it. Everyone around us knows it. The whole world has a lot of practice facing the trials of life. And it isn't fun, is it? There certainly isn't any joy to be found in our trials...is there? The truth is, no one has ever lived a life completely free from pain, uncertainty, stress, trials. The Bible makes this point abundantly clear. Therefore, it is important that we learn how to cope with these harsh patches of life. Yes, life does hurt. But those of us in Christ will never face hardships alone. As we bow down before the Lord, we know that Jesus is with us in our trials. Moreover, He will take our mournful ashes and use them to paint a magnificent picture for His glory. Thank you, Jesus."

Have blessed days ahead Bloggers!

Sincerely,

Ophelia Jane Julia.

a c k n o w l e d g e m e n t

top photo: The Sonata by Childe Hassam (oil on canvas)

Ophelia (Flickr)

GOD IS STILL ON THE THRONE

2009-07-01T00:05:00.004-04:00

"Great is Thy faithfulness, O God my Father

There is no shadow of turning with Thee

Thou changest not Thy compassions they fail not

As Thou hast been Thou forever wilt be!"

" The Lord is the "same yesterday and today and forever" (Hebrews 13:8). Here is a stable rock on which to rest amid the changing billows of the sea of life. What awful alterations we are now witnessing in the world. Peace has given place to war, order to chaos, happiness to misery. The homes of millions cruelly broken up, the plans and prospects of countless young lives widely shattered, kingdoms overthrown, the most stable and ancient institutions are now in the melting pot. But none of this has affected God: it will never have to be said of Him that He began to build and was unable to finish. He is still on the throne "working all things after the counsel of His own will" (Ephesians 1:11). It is this which enables faith to say. "Therefore will not we fear, though the earth be removed and though the mountains be carried into the midst of the sea" (Psalm 46:2). It is this which assures the believer that no matter how he may waver or professing Christians apostatize, he shall not perish: "I am the Lord, I change not..." (Malachi 3:6). It is which causes the Christians to rely on the Divine promises: the knowledge that with God "is no variableness, neither shadow of turning" (James 1:17)...ARTHUR W. PINK

WISH YOU BLESSED DAYS AHEAD BLOGGERS!

BLESSINGS,

OPHELIA JANE JULIA

Keep Sweet

2009-06-21T02:23:00.003-04:00

"It is not possible for us to know each other except as we manifest ourselves in distorted shadows to the eyes of others. We do not even know ourselves; therefore, why should we judge a neighbor? Who knows what pain is behind virtue and what fear behind vice? No one, in short, knows what makes a man, and only God knows his thoughts, his joys, his bitternesses, his agony, the injustices committed against him and the injustices he commits...God is too inscrutable for our little understanding. After sad meditation it comes to me that all lives, whether good or in error, mournful or joyous, obscure or of gilded reputation, painful or happy, is only a prologue to love beyond the grave, where all is understood and almost forgiven." (Seneca)

" KEEP SWEET "

How these words help us! Think of them when people rasp you, when the devil pricks you with his fiery darts, when your sensitive, self-willed spirit chafes or frets. Let a gentle voice be heard above the strife, whispering, "Keep sweet, keep sweet!" And, if you will but heed it quickly, you will be saved from a thousand falls and kept in perfect peace.
True, we cannot keep ourselves sweet, but God will keep us if He sees that it is our fixed, determined purpose to be kept sweet, and to refuse to bear a grudge or retaliate. The trouble is, we may at times enjoy a little irritation and morbidness. We want to cherish the little grudge, and sympathize with our hurt feelings and nurse our little grievance.
God will give us all the love we really want and honestly choose. We can have our grievance, or we can have the peace that passeth all understanding, but we cannot have both.

Wish you the most blessed of days ahead Blogger Friends!

Yours,

Ophelia Jane Julia

When I Was A Child....

2009-06-07T01:10:00.005-04:00

DEEP, DEEP THINGS!

When I was small, I used to ask this question to my dad, " Daddy, where did God come from and where is heaven?" A simple question from a small child but to have to attain the answer to it, one has to deal with the profound things and mysteries of faith. I have always been deep into spiritual things since small which I simply couldnt hide. Life is not just "eat, drink and be merry" but deeper than that is the soul's yearning for its rest. For in the center of every man's heart is a great void which no one or nothing can fill but the Almighty. No matter how successful, contented or happy a person can be, that deep spiritual void is ever present awaiting to be filled. I have always been a lover of nature and i always find solace in its glory, the bright skies, the star-filled sky at night, the cold breeze, gentle and fierce winds, swaying leaves, sunrise and sunset. I can find beauty in everything even in a withered leaf. I can make out a paradise out of a solitary and lonely place. I am thankful I am blessed with this keen and positive perception of things.As to the deep and mysterious and spiritual things I have always been unceasing in seeking answers to all the profound questions seated deeply in my mind. I could still remember myself trying to absorb the following excerpts at the age of 11!

"In the beginning God..." There was a time, if "time" it could be called, when God in the unity of His nature (though subsisting equally in three divine person) dwelt all alone. "In the beginning God" There was no heaven, where His glory is now particularly manifested. There was no earth to engage His attention. There were no angels to hymn His praises; no universe to be upheld by the word of His power. There was nothing, no one, but God; and that, not for a day, a year or an age, but "from everlasting." During eternity past, God was alone: self-contained, self-sufficient, self-satisfied, in need of nothing! Had a universe, had angels, had human beings been necessary to Him in any way, they also had been called into existence from all eternity. The creating of them when He did, added nothing to God essentially. He changes not (Mal. 3:6), therefore His essential glory can neither be augmented nor diminished.

God was under no constraint, no obligation, no necessity to create. That he chose to do so was purely a sovereign act on His part, caused by nothing outside Himself, determined by nothing but His own mere good pleasure. That He did create was simply for His manifestative glory. God is no gainer even from our worship. He was in no need of that external glory of His grace for He is glorious enough in Himself without that! Had God so pleased, He might have had continued alone for all eternity without making known His glory unto creatures. Whether He should do so or not was determined solely by His own will. He was perfectly blessed in HImself before the first creature was called into being. Such an One is to be revered, worshipped, adored. He is solitary in His majesty! unique in His excellency! peerless in His perfections! He sustains all, but is Himself independent of all. He gives to all, but is enriched by none!"

Excerpts taken from "The Attributes of God" by Arthur W. Pink

DEEP THINGS ABOUT PRAYERS (Auntie, check this out...these excerpts are good for your HPN...means, HYPERanxiety tension...lol)

"Prayer is a disinfectant and a preventative. It purifies the air; it destroys the contagion of evil. Prayer is no fitful, short-lived thing. It is no voice crying unheard and unheeded in silence. It is a voice which goes into God's ear, and it lives as long as God's ear is open to holy pleas, as long as God's heart is alive to holy things. God shapes the world by prayer. Prayers are deathless. The lips that uttered them may be closed in death, the heart that felt them may ceased to beat, but the prayers live before God, and God's heart is set on them and prayers outlive the lives of those who uttered them; outlive a generation, outlive an age, outlive a world. The possibilities of prayer are the possibilities of faith. Prayer and faith are Siamese twins. One heart animates them both. Faith is always praying. Prayer is always believing. Faith must have a tongue by which it can speak. Prayer is the tongue of faith. Faith must receive. Prayer is the hand of faith stretched out to receive. Prayer must rise and soar. Faith must give prayer the wings to fly and soar. Prayer must have an audience with God. Faith opens the door, and access and audience are given. Prayer asks. Faith lays its hand on the things asked for. When God's promise and man's praying are united in faith, then ...."nothing shall be impossible!" (E.M Bounds)

"Pray alone. Let prayer be the key of the morning and the bolt at night. (Philip Henry)

2009-05-22T02:45:00.007-04:00

I had passed through experiences that only thought me one truth that's clear as crystal and that is....that through all of life's joys and happiness, loneliness and sorrows, troubles and pressures, victories and defeats, life has no meaning until it is surrendered to Jesus. I realized that there is not one moment in my life in which I can do without Christ. There is really a rest in a conscious grasp of Christ, a rest of contentment with Him as my all in all.

The slogan "If it feels good, do it" is pure hedonism - the philosophy that pleasure is the chief good of man. Although pleasure in itself is not wrong, it can lead to moral and spiritual ruin if it is not controlled by God's Spirit. Take the natural longing for physical, emotional and spiritual intimacy. We all desire and need it. It's natural to seek pleasure and avoid pain, so it's easy to believe that if something feels right it can't be wrong. But feelings are NEVER a reliable guide to morality. Because all of us are sinful human beings, we need one all-encompassing good desire that is stronger than any others. When we experience God's love through faith in Jesus Christ, something wonderful is born within us - a desire to love and please God for all He has done for us. This desire may grow faint at times, especially when other passions clamor for fulfillment. But the Lord is always working in us "both to will and to do for His good pleasure" (Philippians 2:13). When we realize that He always desires our good, we will want to live for His glory. My friend, what is your greatest desire?

"I love to dwell upon the thought

That Jesus cares for me;

It matters not what life may bring -

He loves me tenderly."

~~Adams~~

When we're feeling alone or overwhelmed by
our circumstances, we often cry out, "Lord, don't You care?"
But when Jesus calms our storm and speaks our name, we realize that we have much more to learn about His compassion for us, and we long to trust Him with all our cares.

a c k n o w l e d g e m e n t s

middle image: clytie by Lord Fredric Leighton (oil on canvas)
bottom image: Storm by William-Adolphe Bouguereau (oil on canvas)

I'll be off here for a while but I encourage you to read all my blogs on yahoo 360, blogger, multiply and live journal (I blog for Jesus and for His glory)....Below are the links to these blogs, you can just click on them, thank you...

http://janejulia1128.livejournal.com/

http://360.yahoo.com/janejulia1128)

http://opheliajane.multiply.com/journal

Have a blessed weekend bloggers!

Ophelia Jane Julia

HE WILL CARRY YOU

2009-05-11T10:00:00.007-04:00

~~~***~~~

There is no problem too big God cannot solve it

There is no mountain too tall He cannot move it

There is no storm too dark God cannot calm it

There is no sorrow too deep He cannot soothe it

~~~***~~~

And if He carried the weight of the world upon His shoulders

I know my brother that He will carry you

And if He carried the weight of the world upon His shoulders

I know my sister that He will carry you

He said....

"Come unto me, all who are weary and I will give you rest"

~~~***~~~

There is no problem too big God cannot solve it

There is no mountain too tall He cannot move it

There is no storm too dark God cannot calm it

There is no sorrow too deep He cannot soothe it

~~~***~~~

And if He carried the weight of the world upon His shoulders

I know my brother that He will carry you

And if He carried the weight of the world upon His shoulders

I know my sister that He will carry you

~~~***~~~

I know my brother......

And I know my sister.....

That He, He's going to carry you

Oh yes, He will...

He's going to carry you

~~~~~~~~~~

Performed by

Steve Green and

Linda Randle

~~~~~~~~~~

2009-04-19T03:23:00.009-04:00

" I arise from dreams of thee

In the first sweet sleep of night

When the winds are breathing low,

And the stars are burning bright

I arise from dreams of thee,

My cheek is cold and white, alas!

My heart beats loud and fast:--

Oh! press it to thine own again,

Where it will break at last."

~~Percy Bysshe Shelley~~

Hola bloggers! Allow me for some reminiscing this time. I still remember my childhood days, we lived around the rolling hills and near a river with lots of cedar and bamboo trees. I was living with my grandparents and I used to spend just about everyday at the river, fishing and swimming and playing in the park. I specially loved it when we were sitting on the rocks, the sun was going down and it was a bright orange. It was very beautiful lookin' over the river at it!

I don't know how we did it but grandfather and I used to walk over town to mow yards to make money for fishing. We would mow people's yards and take the money to the hardware store and buy what we needed to fish, go to the state park and fish with an old man for hours at a time. Oh, boy, but we caught mostly rainbow trout! We wanted to buy bait and hooks and we spent a lot of time making little forts and camping at grandpa's friend's house to fish. We never caught too much, but we had fun. At grandpa's friend's place, there were a lot of bamboo patches and we would take a machete and cut trails and have a pretty big room. We tried to camp in there but we were too scared to stay whole night in there because of snakes, yes and yikes, we came close many times to getting bit! But oh, it was so much fun for me! Anyway, this is just one of my fondest memories of childhood days.

The whole time in high school, I would go to school and would go to work at our grocery store right after. Unlike other teenagers, I didn't go out much for fun, instead I worked because I wanted to help mom with the bills. I seldom went out to any parties but my friends understood why. I was a bookworm with the capital B. I love reading, I read everything, from books, to magazines, to mom's grocery list. I was so much fascinated with the classic authors, Jane Austen, the Bronte sisters, Louisa May Alcott and I had heaps of volumes of English and American poetry and spanish poetry as well. I used to spend all my savings on books. High school was pretty easy, and yes, I was very shy, painfully shy. I always wanted to go to the school where my grandmother went to.

In college I went to an all-girls university for my Bachelor's Degree in Communication Arts under university scholarship as a student assistant. I would work at the University Treasurer's Office in the morning and would attend classes from afternoon till early evening. This time I had overcome my shyness. During summer it was sooooo hot and right after work, I went to class where the teacher kept the room at about 65 degrees. Every night after class, I was very tired and the temperature change even made me more tired. One night after class while driving towards home, I almost had a wreck........

T o B e C o n t i n u e d

2009-04-11T00:20:00.005-04:00

"Up from the grave He arose,
with a mighty triumph o'er His foes;
He arose a Victor from the dark domain,
And He lives forever with His saints to reign!"
~~Lowry~~

"The resurrection of Jesus Christ is the cornerstone of the Christian faith. Without it, we have no hope for this life nor the life to come. That's why it is important to recognize that our belief in Christ's resurrection is not based on some religious feeling, nor on unfounded rumor but on historical fact with solid evidence to support it. Historical evidence and countless changed lives testify that the resurrection of Jesus is a fact, not a fable. If God could take some dust and breathe life into it to create a man (Genesis 2:7), why would anyone think it incredible for this same God to raise His Son from the dead?"

Christ's resurrection is a factor in salvation because it is a fact of history.
Only a living Savior could rescue a dying world!

HAVE A BLESSED AND HAPPY EASTER SUNDAY TO ALL!

2009-04-08T04:06:00.002-04:00

"Was it for crimes that I have done

He groaned upon the tree?

Amazing pity! grace unknown!

And love beyond degree!"

~~Isaac Watts~~

"When Jesus hung upon that accursed tree of Calvary,

When His precious hands were pierced, when; -

From His head, His hands, His feet,

Sorrow and love flowed mingled down,

There was nobody to help Him;

He was "all" in the work of salvation."

~~C.H Spurgeon~~

"I am the good shepherd; the good shepherd layeth down his life for the sheep."

~~John 10:11~~

2009-04-05T23:19:00.004-04:00

"Ride on! Ride on in majesty!

In lowly pomp ride on to die,

O Christ, Thy triumphs now begin

O'er captive death and conquered sin!"

"The cheering crowd that surged around Jesus on that first Palm Sunday recognized that He had no equal, yet there was something unsettling about Him. Jesus rode calmly into Jerusalem on a donkey although a stately war horse might have better suited the occasion. They recognized that Jesus had come from God, but they completely misunderstood His spritual mission. Do we pay tribute to Jesus because of who He is or just from what He can do for us? To honor Him means to obey Him and to die to our self-centered nature. On that first Palm Sunday, the crowd saw Him as their deliverer, but we are called to submit to Him as King, the One who has come to rule in our hearts."

Top image: Christ by Mikhail Alexandrovich Vrubel

2009-03-30T21:57:00.003-04:00

"Your hand shall lead me,

and Your right hand shall hold me."

~~Psalm 139:10~~

"Life holds no surprises for God. No path is unknown to Him - no circumstance unsettling. Because the future is perfectly clear to our Father, Christians have the full assurance that we can follow where God leads, whether the way is marked by calm or storm. We can confidently put our hand in God's for He forgives the past, controls the present, and holds the future."

NO ONE IS HOPELESS WHOSE HOPE IS IN GOD.

a c k n o w l e d g e m e n t

Top image: Hope by George Frederick Watts

2009-03-21T21:37:00.005-04:00

"Look now toward heaven and count the stars..."
"Genesis 15:5"

When we have trouble believing God for the solution to some pressing problem, we can enter the classroom of creation and observe the wonders of nature. Doing so strengthens our faith in the promises found in the Bible.

Mr. T.C Roddy, Jr. from Rusk, Texas wrote, "In my front yard are six huge oak trees that must be over 100 years old....I ponder as I look at them and realize that the leaves must have barrels of fresh water each day to stay green. As a retired engineer, I know that no pump ever devised or designed by man could force that amount of water through the dense wooden trunk of these trees. Yet God causes their roots to gather all the water these trees need... To do this, these roots must exert a working pressure of more than 3,000 pounds per square foot just to move the water up to the leaves - not considering the resistance of the wood in the tree trunk. That is just another of God's miracles that occur every day unnoticed."

"All I have seen teaches me to trust the Creator for all I have not seen."
~~Ralph Waldo Emerson~~

2009-03-13T02:24:00.003-04:00

"I wanna hold you till I die!
Till we both break down and cry!
I wanna hold you,
Till the fear in me subsides!"

In love, it is the principle I hold that we must remain SEMPER FIDELIS (always faithful) and SEMPER IDEM (always the same)....the keys to everlasting love.

Have a blessed and fruitful weekend bloggers!

2009-03-10T05:00:00.004-04:00

I have found the place where I can hide,
It's safe inside Your arms of love.
Like a child who's held throughout the storm
You keep me safe in Your arms of love.
You're always here,
Even when my skies are far from gray.
I can stay, teach me to stay there,
In the place I've found where I can hide.

"Thou are my hiding place; Thou shalt preserve me from trouble;
Thou shalt compass me about with songs of deliverance."
~~Psalm 32:7~~

2009-03-07T20:42:00.006-05:00

"Thy mercy, O Lord, is in the heavens;
and Thy faithfulness unto the clouds."
~~Psalm 36:5~~

"Thy righteousness is like the great mountains;
Thy judgments are a great deep O Lord,
Thou preservest man and beast."
~~Psalm 36:6~~

"God's promises remain the same no matter how we feel. We should rest in His Word - not in our feelings. Emotions change. The tides of enthusiasm are often controlled by the current of daily happenings. But based on what Christ has done and what the Bible says, we can have a settled assurance about our relationship with God."

"It is of the Lord's mercies that we are not consumed. They are new every morning. Great is Thy faithfulness."
~~Lamentations 3:22-26~~

Have fruitful and blessed days ahead bloggers. God bless us all!

2009-02-26T20:24:00.004-05:00

"Though earth and man were gone
And suns and universes ceased to be
And thou were left alone
Every existence would exist in thee!"
~~Emily Bronte~~

I am someone who still believe in eternal love if we pray God to bring it to us. Somewhere out there, under the same star with me is someone who was born to love me, born for me and I for him. It's worth the wait. I don't want anybody else but him, him whom God has prepared and chosen for me to share my journey from here till eternity....

"Herbs, scentless in their entire, give off their precious scents when they are bruised."
~~Charlotte Bronte~~

Have a grrrreat and blessed weekend Bloggers!
Sincerely,
Ophelia Jane Julia

2009-02-22T20:51:00.012-05:00

"This is my Father's world!

He shines in all that's fair;

In the rustling grass I hear Him pass-

He speaks to me everywhere!"

A white goat.....
and a black one....

our dog sits comfortably among the grass...

take a look at this ....

view from my room's window....

and outside...

view from the terrace...

and another one from the terrace...

Hola bloggers! I had a grand time yesterday at the countryside taking photos of the fresh views of the grassy fields that lay in front of my sister's house and the view of the mountain afar...lovely and serene and the goats that grazed the fields. I felt so refreshed after such an experience. When you feel buffeted by the hustle and bustle of the city, take time to go to the countryside and unwind and relax. Try it.

Have another great and blessed week bloggers!

2009-02-16T01:04:00.006-05:00

"To you I am neither man nor woman. I come before you as an author only. It is the sole standard by which you have a right to judge me - the sole ground on which I accept your judgement."

~~Charlotte Bronte to a critic~~~

Blind and deaf from the age of two, Helen Keller was asked by a young boy, "Isn't it the worst thing in the world to be blind?" Smiling, she replied, "Not so bad as to have two good eyes and see nothing."

Many people with sharp eyesight and acute hearing seem totally unaware of the beautiful sights and pleasing sounds all around them. They never notice the majesty of stately trees, the tranquility of a quiet lake, or the splendor of starry skies. They fail to hear the melodies of singing birds or the gentle rustling of leaves.

God is pleased when we delight in the wonders of His creation and praise Him for them. Stepping outside each morning and breathing the fresh air reminds us to stop a moment and thank God for life. And an approaching storm with its flashing lightning and rolling thunder displays the power of God, prompting us to worship. Observing the sights and sounds around us will motivate us to live for the Lord and to praise Him. Let us learn to enjoy nature's beauty - it's the handwriting of God.

Acknowledgements

Featured oil on canvas painting: And She Shall Be Called A Woman by George Frederick Watts

Helen Keller Photo from Yahoo Image

Have great and blessed days ahead BLOGGERS!

2009-02-12T20:44:00.005-05:00

"A long and lasting love

Is what I've always dreamed of

A special bond

That goes beyond the changing of the seasons

A long and lasting love."

"I scarce believe my love to be so pure

As I had thought it was

Because it doth endure

Vicissitude, and season, as the grass;

Methinks I lied all winter, when I swore

My love was infinite, if spring make it more."

~~John Donne~~

True love endures in spite of difficulties. It does not depend upon the continuance of pleasing qualities in the loved ones. It flows from a deep desire for the welfare of the other and grows sweeter with the passing of the years.

Happy Hearts Day, Bloggers!

"I think true love is never blind,

But rather brings an added light.

An inner vision, quick to find

The beauties hid from common sight."

~~Cary~~

2009-02-07T01:24:00.002-05:00

"It will not be long

And I'll be by your side my love!

Gone will be the torments...

Gone will be your pain...

I will hold you so preciously,

Keep you well and unharmed,

There will be no regrets,

Only relief...

That destiny at last is fulfilled!"

"As my heart holds you

Just one beat away

I cherish all you gave me everyday."

2009-02-02T04:20:00.003-05:00

"I only live to love you,

Love you until forever.

Day after day,

Year after year

For always

We will journey together..."

Ah, love...isn't it the most wonderful feeling of all?

Let us stay true to it, it's worth all the try to keep its flames burning till forever.

Have a great week bloggers!

2009-01-28T03:27:00.004-05:00

We've all read lists of advice for consumers. Here's a summary of some main points:

Resist impulse-buying.
Read labels; don't be persuaded by slick packaging or jingles.
Consider your budget, not just the price of an item.
Give attention to the quality and probable life of the product.
Compare and shop for price when it's reasonable to do so.

Now let's apply these principles to the Christian life, remembering that according to Isaiah 55, it is possible to be unwise spiritual consumers.

Respond to God's faithfulness rather than to impulse.
Read God's Word to evaluate the contents of your spiritual food and to find fulfillment in life.
Take into account the "budget" the Lord has put you on by not taxing yourself beyond the grace He supplies.
Don't settle for temporal pleasures and superficial relationships.

The wise man always compares the price of material values with the cost of spiritual values and concludes that only one brand is worth buying. It is the life produced by the Ultimate Manufacturer and...

This truth we all one day must face

Before the die of life is cast:

All things of time and things of space

Are temporal goods that will not last.

Wish you blessed days ahead Bloggers!

Sincerely,

Ophelia Jane Julia

Acknowledgement:

Featured Photo by jimforest on FLICKR

Solitude, try it sometimes

2009-01-09T23:04:00.010-05:00

Hola bloggers! The world is a place of vanity and fleeting desire. We can lose everything we own in the blink of an eye. But here's one thing that can never be taken from us and that's our brain. Let's make our life a great intellectual challenge and let our riches be those of the heart, mind and the soul. People all over the world fight and long for peace. The Lord Jesus said, " Peace I leave with you, my peace I give unto you: not as the world giveth, give I unto you. Let not your heart be troubled, neither let it be afraid." (John 14:27) My dear friends, there can never be attainment of peace unless the peace that the Lord Jesus gives reigns in the hearts of men! (Ophelia)

Amid the hustle and bustle of everyday living, we all need to be alone sometimes.....to unwind and relax our minds and at the same time to examine our priorities in life. Oftentimes, we tend to lose our perspectives to the pressures of everyday existence and the occurrences of unexpected circumstances. As for me, whenever i start to feel even the slightest pinch of pressure I would immediately go to nature for comfort. I love going down to the river or lake at sunset. I feel so elated as I watch the sun set looking through the river at it and feeling the warm summer breeze or the cold winter winds touch my face. Or sit down on the green grass while reading a book under a tree on top of the hill. When we are pressured and troubled we usually go to our family and friends for comfort but we also can find it in nature and solitude in much more soothing ways. Try it sometimes.....(Ophelia)

"The mass of men lead lives of quiet desperation. What is called resignation is confirmed desperation. From the desperate city, you go into the desperate country, and have to console yourself with the bravery of minks and muskrats. A stereotyped but unconscious despair is concealed even under what are called the games and amusements of mankind. There is no play in them, for this comes after work. But it is characteristic of wisdom not to do desperate things."
~~From Walden by Henry David Thoreau~~

2008-12-27T23:32:00.004-05:00

I set out on a narrow way many years ago

Hoping I would find true love along the broken road

But I got lost a time or two

Wiped my brow and kept pushing through

I couldn't see how every sign pointed straight to you

Every long lost dream led me to where you are

Others who broke my heart they were like northern stars

Pointing me on my way into your loving arms

This much I know is true

That God blessed the broken road

That led me straight to you

I think about the years I spent just passing through

I'd like to have the time I lost and give it back to you

But you just smile and take my hand

You've been there you understand

It's all part of a grander plan that is coming true

Every long lost dream led me to where you are

Others who broke my heart they were like northern stars

Pointing me on my way into your loving arms

This much I know is true

That God blessed the broken road

That led me straight to you

~~God Bless The Broken Road, Recorded and Sung by Rascall Flatts~~

Broken lives, broken homes, shattered dreams and broken hearts are but parts of life's journey. But do not fear dear fellow traveler, do not fear at all today: for God has given us His promise that He'll be with us all the way. Let us face the New Year with a renewed faith in God's ability to handle everything that we entrust to Him.

I Wish Everybody A Most Blessed and Prosperous New Year!

Ophelia

Broken Road Photo by hope21 on FLICKR

2008-12-08T23:52:00.007-05:00

The Sacrifice of Iphigenia by Timanthes

Many years ago, a promising Greek artist named Timanthes was under the instruction of a well-known tutor. After several years, the young painter created an exquisite portrait. He was so thrilled with what he had painted that he sat day after day gazing at his work.

One morning, however, he was horrified to discover that his teacher had deliberately ruined his painting. Angry and in tears, Timanthes ran to him and asked why he had destroyed his cherished possession. The wise man replied, "I did it for your own good. That painting was retarding your progress. It was an excellent piece of art, but it was not perfect. Start again and see if you can do even better." The student took his advice and produced a masterpiece called "Sacrifice of Iphigenia," regarded by some as one of the finest paintings of antiquity.

Like the teacher in the story above, God never wants us to be content with our accomplishments. He wants us to reach even higher plateaus of service. My dear friends, let us not be satisfied with our spiritual attainments. In this world decaying with immoralities, let us keep pressing on ....

When you've reached a plateau,

And your strength almost gone,

But the Lord still says, "Go,"

That's the time to press on!

~~Hess~~

I wish you the best of the season Bloggers! Amidst the festive mood and celebration this season, let us not forget that the Babe of Bethlehem is the Savior at Calvary.

Have a blessed day one and all!

Sincerely,

Ophelia

2008-12-02T03:19:00.003-05:00

Meditative Rose, 1958 by Salvador Dali

THE ROSE

Some say love, it is a river
That drowns the tender reed
Some say love, it is a razor
That leaves your soul to bleed
Some say love, it is a hunger
An endless aching need
I say love, it is a flower
And you, its only seed
It's the heart, afraid of breaking
That never learns to dance
It's the dream, afraid of waking
That never takes the chance
It's the one who won't be taken
Who cannot seem to give
And the soul, afraid of dying
That never learns to live
When the night has been too lonely
And the road has been too long
And you think that love is only
for the lucky and the strong
Just remember in the winter
Far beneath the bitter snow
Lies the seed
That with the sun's love, in the spring
Becomes the rose

~~Lyrics and Song Music by Amanda Mc Broom~~

HOLA BLOGGERS! The song above, The Rose, is one of my perennial favorites. I love the song, i love the melody. I love the lyrics. It echoes classic emotional upheavals on love, life, hope and inspiration. Yet, there is one thing about the rose which we can ponder upon whenever we see a rosebud.....

Unfolding The Rose

It is only a tiny rosebud,

A flower of God's design;

But I cannot unfold the petals

With these clumsy hands of mine.

The secret of unfolding flowers

Is not known to such as I.

GOD opens this flower so sweetly,

When in my hands they fade and die.

If I cannot unfold a rosebud,

This flower of God's design,

Then how can I think I have wisdom

To unfold this life of mine?

So I'll trust in Him for His leading

Each moment of every day.

I will look to him for His guidance

Each step of the pilgrim way.

The pathway that lies before me,

Only my Heavenly Father knows.

I'll trust Him to unfold the moments,

Just as He unfolds the rose.

~ © Bryan T. Burgess ~

2008-11-22T04:40:00.002-05:00

Hola bloggers! I can still remember once on a flight from London to New York, I was seated next to a nervous passenger. It was his first time to board a plane and he admitted to me that he felt he was keeping our plane airborne by sheer willpower. He couldn't relax for a moment, for fear that gravity would drag us down.

Even though the law of gravity would keep us earthbound, there's a law of aerodynamics that overcomes the pull of gravity. If this passenger had trusted that principle when he boarded the plane, he would have saved himself a lot of needless worry.

In a similar way, many believers, including myself, are trying to reach and maintain spiritual heights by sheer willpower. But by ourselves, we're bound to the downward drag of the law of sin and death. However, in Romans 8:2, Paul wrote about a higher law - the law of the spirit of life in Christ Jesus, which sets people free from the law of sin and death.

If we are living by sheer willpower, our Christian life hasn't really, "taken off." But the moment we entrust ourselves fully to Christ, we're freed from the body of death, and we begin rising on the wings of His Spirit. And I m Ophelia sharing with you this thought...

"Our spirit fails us unless God's Spirit fills us."

Have a blessed day Bloggers!

Sincerely,

Ophelia

2008-11-21T05:07:00.004-05:00

Life's Clock

The clock of life is wound but once,

And no man has the power

To tell just where the hands will stop —

At late or early hour.
To lose one's wealth is sad indeed,

To lose one's health is more,

To lose one's soul is such a loss

As no man can restore.
The present only is our own,

Live for Christ with a will;

Place no faith in tomorrow,

For the clock may then be still.

~~Robert W. Wesley~~

Hola bloggers! It's the start of the Christmas season (at least here on my page....lol). Let me thank all of you who sent messages...it's always a delight to hear from you and I cherish all your shared thoughts. I am happy to blog in the midst of migraine attack ...migraines are my miseries in life lol. Here's something for all of you....A BALLAST FOR MY SOUL!

A Ballast for My Soul

Life is like a stormy sea

That tosses to and fro,

But God's Word will ever be

A ballast for my soul.

By its truth I'll be held fast

Till I reach heaven's shore

Where I will be home at last

And sail life's sea no more!

—Perry Boardman

HAVE A WONDERFUL AND BLESSED WEEKEND BLOGGERS!!!

SINCERELY,

OPHELIA

If Wishes Were Changes

2008-11-07T03:49:00.006-05:00

I wish that you loved me

The way that I love you

I wish I had angels

Who sang in my dreams

If wishes were changes

We'd all live in roses

And there wouldn't be children

Who cried in their sleep.

He wishes I loved him

The way that I love you

If wishes were changes

I'd dry all his tears

If wishes were changes

I'd make him my anchor

He'd be my angel

Who sang through the years

I wish that I had your

Wings of desire

I wish I had seen you

As I see you now

I wouldn't feel sorrow

You've left here inside me

But wishing won't change

Right from wrong for you now

So long to the blue days of wishing

If wishes were changes

There'd be no goodbyes

So long to the heart I have given

Coz wishing won't bring back

The love in your eyes.

~~If Wishes Were Changes by Nancie Griffith~~

Hola bloggers! Good day! Yeah, yeah, wishes, wishes, wishes.

What it would be like if wishes really bring changes? Let me see...if wishes were

changes there wouldn't be any sorrow, we'll all be happy right? coz who would want to wish for sorrow anyway? If wishes were changes, there wouldn't be any wars, crimes or atrocities coz

who would want all these horrible things anyway? If wishes were changes, no children go to bed hungry, no wife would be battered by their husbands, no husband would leave their families and families would all be happy....then the whole world would be a happy and safe place to live in...that is...if wishes were changes. Impossible isn't it? But we can turn wishes into changes if we would constantly pray to the Almighty God who is the only One who can make wishes come true for the Hand that holds the universe is the Hand that holds me and you.

Have a great and blessed day bloggers! God bless!

Sincerely,

Ophelia

Kitchen Musings by Ophelia

2008-10-30T04:59:00.003-04:00

Curried Mushroom with a grilled vegetable sandwhich

(a pizza dough baguette fresh from the oven in the background)

This soup is tangy in its mildest rendition, and just gets hotter, depending on the strength of the curry used. You can also dust with cayenne pepper for added tastebud tingling. Nowadays we can always find a variety of marvelous wild mushrooms, even int he supermarket. Use what is available. For the dried mushrooms, I like the mix of oyster, morel, and porcini, but a cup of any single variety can be substituted. Garnish with chopped parsley if you can't find chervil.

Ingredients
2 cups boiling water1 cup assorted dried oyster, morel and porcini mushrooms

(1 ounce dried mushrooms)Light vegetable oil cooking spray

1 1/2 cups chopped leek, white part only (2-3 leeks)

2 tablespoons all-purpose flour

1 tablespoon curry powder

4 cups skim milk

1 chicken bouillon cube

2 cups chopped fresh portobello mushrooms (3 smallish mushrooms)

4 cups chopped fresh shiitake mushrooms (10-12 mushrooms)

1 tablespoon dry sherry

1 tablespoon chooped chervil

Preparations:
Pour the boiling water over the dried mushrooms in a bowl and set aside to soak.

Preheat a heavy stockpot over medium heat for about 1 minute, then spray it twice with the vegetable oil. Add the leeks and saute' for about 3 minutes, stirring constantly, until translucent. Add the flour and curry powder. Stir with a wooden spoon until the leeks are well coated. Add the milk and bouillon cube. Raise the heat to high and cook just until bubbles begin to form around the edge.

Reduce the heat to low and whisk until all ingredients are thoroughly combined. Stir in the fresh mushrooms and cook for 5 minutes.

Meanwhile, remove the reconstituted mushrooms from their soaking liquid, strain, squeeze out excess moisture,a nd roughly chop. (Save the soaking liquid for another soup or sauce; here it would thin the soup too much and curdle the skim milk.) Add to the stockpot and cook for 1 minute more. Stir in the cherry.

Garnish with the chopped chervil.

There you go, I took this recipe from the cookbook of one of my favorite lady chefs, Rosie Daley. I've had cooked this several times and each time I asked for more. Try it and you'll surely like it.

I wish all my friends and visitors great days ahead. Take care Bloggers! and Blog on!

Sincerely,

Ophelia

e e cummings

2008-10-10T05:25:00.008-04:00

Miranda, 1916 by John William Waterhouse

One of my favorite major American poets is E.E Cummings. He was known for his disregard of the use of uppercase letters. One Cummings scholars believes that on the occasions Cummings signed his name in all-lowercase, the poet may have intended it as a gesture of humility, and not as an indication that it was the preferred orthography for others to use for his name. Herein I am delighted to share with you two of my favorite poems by E.E Cummings.

stand with your lover on the ending earth-

and while a(huge which by which huger than

huge) whoing sea leaps to greenly hurl snow

suppose we could not love,dear;imagine

ourselves like living neither nor dead these

(or many thousand hearts which don't and dream

or many million minds which deep and move)

blind sands,at pitiless the mercy of

time time time time time

-how fortunate are you and i, whose home

is timelessness:we who have wondered down

from fragrant mountains of eternal now

to frolic in such mysteries as birth

and death a day(or maybe even less)

i carry your heart with me(i carry it in

my heart) i am never without it(anywhere

i go you go,my dear;and whatever is done

by only me is your doing, my darling

i fear no fate(for you are my fate,my sweet) i want

no world(for beautiful you are my world,my true)

and it's you are whatever a moon has always meant

and whatever a sun will always sing is you

here is the deepest secret nobody knows

(here is the root of the root and the bud of the bud

and the sky of the sky of a tree called life;which grows

higher than soul can hope or mind can hide)

and this is the wonder that's keeping the stars apart

i carry your heart(i carry it in my heart)

Solitude by John Everett Millais

Yours Truly

Have great weekend ahead bloggers!!!

Poetically Yours,

Ophelia

(God knows why I got encased in here...lol!)

Huggsssss and kissesssss Bloggersssssss!!!!

Only The Sea / Two Hearts

2008-09-30T05:59:00.008-04:00

"Only the sea still keeps the love you want no more. Being closer to the sea, I am closer with you without you knowing it. Only the sea still speaks the same language with you, the language I had learned so to be closer to the sea and to your soul. Now only the songs are left, only the songs still tell the words you will never tell me again. I once was a goddess you worshipped in the temple of love and I ended up in the goddesses' destiny, imprisoned in a piece of marble."

Imprisoned therein are the tears I shed for the worship lost and the love erased! Oh, that my champion will come, to free me from this marble prison that engulfed my whole being and tormented my soul. Way beyond the sea, way beyond the sea is where my love lies and my soul delights.

When I first met you, inside I felt

Like I was coming home where I belong

To you and to your words I cling

For you I am willing to give anything

And to you everything I'll bring

You came along and turned the key of my life

Your love was big enough to give me a new start

Yet small enough to live in my heart

Two hearts that beat as one

Two minds with single thought

No one else could ever have been you

It's always been...

Our destiny to fall in love

You're even more than I dreamed of

You came along and turned the key of my life

Your love is big enough to give me a new start

Yet small enough to live in my heart

~~Ophelia~~

" In the deep heart of the man was a shrine where none but God was worthy to come. Our woes began when God was forced out of His central shrine and "things" were allowed to enter. Within the human heart, "things" have taken over. Men have now by nature no peace within their hearts, for God is crowned there no longer, but there in the moral dusk stubborn and agressive usurpers fight among themselves first place on the throne... There is within the human heart a tough fibrous root of fallen life whose nature is to possess, always to possess. It covets 'things' with a deep and fierce passion...The roots of our hearts have grown down into things, and we dare not pull up one rootlet lest we die. Things have become necessary to us, a development never originally intended. God's gift now take the place of God, and the whole course of nature is upset by the monstrous substitution...There can be no doubt that this possessive clinging to 'things' is one of the most harmful habits in the life. Because it is so natural it is rarely recognized for the evil that it is; but it's outworkings are tragic. We are often hindered from giving up our treasures for the fear of their safety; this is specially true when those treasures are loved ones, realtives and friends. But we need have no such fears. Our Lord came not to destroy but to save. Everything is safe which we commit to Him and nothing is really safe which is not so committed."
A.W Tozer, 'The Pursuit of God'

Source of oil painting photo:

Miranda 1875 by John William Waterhouse taken from:

http://www.johnwilliamwaterhouse.com/

Source for sea photos: ophelia's private collection

A Verse From My Heart

2008-09-20T21:09:00.005-04:00

Listen here now my love

For I want you to know

That I love thee not for the

pleasing things you do

Nor for the great things you know

And I love thee not for thy tender looks

Neither for the fairness of thine speech

But I love thee for that which is in thine heart

That matches that which is in mine heart

And I love thee more for the eternal essence of thine spirit

That gives glorious savour to mine

For heart to heart and soul to soul

Is love in its grandest and purest design.

~~Ophelia 9-21-08~~

Source of Photo: Moon by Alphonse Mucha taken from illusionsgallery.com

"We found each other somewhere between

the day and the night...amidst the past

and the future...and now we are tangled up

with each other. I would love to spend

all my time writing to you; I'd love to share

with you all that goes through my mind,

all that weighs on my heart, all that

gives air to my soul...phantoms of art,

dreams that would be so beautiful

if they could just come true."

~~Luigi Pirandello~~

Have a blessed Sunday and a great new week ahead BLOGGERS!

Sincerely,

Ophelia

When I Die I Keep On Living

2008-09-18T21:57:00.009-04:00

You give me strength when i start to worry
You lift me up when I'm feeling sorry
You're building me up with love and affection
When I'm in danger you're my protection
And I'm the one you can depend upon
I'll always treat you right,never do you wrong
Just feel the love burning inside of me
It's gonna last for eternity
Sometimes you're afraid
I won't be there for you
But through it all
I'll always cherish you
You are my angel
Sent down from heaven
And I'm sure I'll never be blue
Cause baby, I love you
Baby, I need you
Yes, I do

And when I die I keep on living
You'll always have my love seeing you through
I'll be your angel up in heaven
Forever all my love will shine down on you
Cause baby I love you
Baby, I need you
Yes, I do

Are you that someone you can believe in
No one can take away what we're feeling
Our love is strong it goes on forever
No one will ever love you better
And when they'll moan I'll still be true to you
The seed of love lives inside of you
I'll be your angel up there in heaven
And all my love will shine down on you
For eternity

And when I die I keep on living
You'll always have my love seeing you through
I'll be your angel up in heaven
Forever all my love will shine down on you
Cause baby I love you
Baby I need you
Yes, I do.

Source of Photo: Sense of Sight by Annie Louise Swynnerton taken from illusionsgallery.com

When I die Lyrics by No Mercy/ lipped sync and made popular by Milli Vanilli...lol ...(one of the biggest scandals in the US music industry)...nevertheless, i love this song...It's one of my perennial favorites. Have a great weekend ahead bloggers!

Sincerely,
Ophelia

Let Me Be There

2008-09-13T20:39:00.009-04:00

Ribbons of blue, remind me of you.

Ribbons of red are the way that my heart bled.

Memories so clear are still ringing in my ear.

So I wanna send to you all my ribbons of blue.

I am so upset and no one can comfort me! My lovable cat Shy is lost. She's nowhere to be found....waaaahhhhh!!! I hope she is just having a date with another cat and will come back soon. All I have are memories of my faithful, lovable sweet cat...ribbons of red and blue that i used to tie to her neck!...These are my my only remembrances of her! Oh I pray she wouldn't be run down by any vehicle, i pray she wouldnt be scratched fought and scratched by other cats....I pray...I pray...

Below is not for my cat SHY...it's for someone dear to me...giggles

Wherever you go,

Wherever you may wander in your life

Surely you know

I always wanna be there

Holding your hand

And standing by to catch you when you fall

Seeing you through

In everything you do

Let me be there in your morning

Let me be there in your night

Let me change whatever is wrong

and make it right

Let me take you through that wonderland

That only two can share

All I ask you is let me be there.

Watching you grow

And going through the changes in your life

That's how I know

I'll always wanna be there

Whenever you feel

You need a friend to lean on, here I am

Whenever you call

You know I'll be there.

Let me be there in your morning

Let me be there in your night

Let me change whatever's wrong

and make it right

Let me take you through that wonderland

That only two can share

All I ask you is let me be there.

~~Olivia Newton John~~

Have a blessed Weekend Bloggers!!! God Bless Us All!

Sincerely, Ophelia

All Things Bright: When The Burden Gets Heavy, Humor Lightens the Load

2008-09-10T21:30:00.006-04:00

Fried Happy Face by Ephemeron on Flickr

Hola Bloggers! Good day! Ces't La Vie, that's life...good or bad day, life must go on. Continueon dreaming and pinning your hopes to your dreams for an inspiration. One of my dreams is to have my own travel, arts and literature bookshop. I love traveling, arts and literature from when I was small so I would be really contented and happy to have my own bookstore dealing and selling the things that I love. I just want a simple, happy and contented life. It's the kind of life I want to put down roots in and the way I would want my future children to grow up...the simple things....the real things. Ok, before I get carried away I want to be corny this time....I would like to share corny and funny jokes that really made me laugh upon reading them. I apologize to the real source of the jokes. I had jotted them down one day and i forgot which site I had taken them from. Bloggers, let the sense of humor get going, always remembering that, "when the burden gets heavy, humor lightens the load."

Innkeeper: The room is $15 a night. It's $5 if you make your own bed.

Guest: "I'll make my own bed."

Innkeeper: "Good. I'll get you some nails and woods."

Man: " I know how to please a woman."

Woman: " Then please, leave me alone."

Man: "I'd go through anything for you."

Woman: "Good! Let's start with your bank account."

Man: "I would go to the end of the world for you."

Woman: "Yes, but would you stay there?"

Man: "Haven't I seen you some place before?"

Woman: "Yeah, that's why I don't go there anymore!"

Man: "How do you like your eggs in the morning?"

Woman: "Unfertilized!"

Man: "Your body is like a temple."

Woman: "Sorry, there are no services today."

OK, bloggers. Time to end my corny jokes corner. Have great days ahead one and all!

I Dare You

2008-08-12T01:57:00.007-04:00

An atheist professor was teaching a college class and he told the class

that he was going to prove that there was not a God.

He said, "God if you are real, then I dare you to knock me off this platform. I'll give you 15 minutes!"
Ten minutes went by He kept taunting God, saying, "Here I am God, I'm still waiting" He got down to the last couple of minutes and a BIG 240 pound football player happened to walk by the door and heard what the professor said. The football player walked in the class room and in the last minute, he walked up, hit the professor full force, and sent him flying off the platform.

The professor got up, obviously shaken and said, "Wow, where did you come from and why did you do that?"

The football player replied, "God was busy, so He sent me!"

Why Me Lord?

2008-08-11T02:54:00.006-04:00

Why me Lord? what have I ever done

to deserve even one of

the pleasures I've known

Tell me, Lord,what did I ever do

that was worth lovin' you

or the kindness you've shown

Lord help me, Jesus, I've wasted it so

help me Jesus I know what I am

but now that I know that I've needed you so

help me, Jesus, my soul's in your hand

Try me, Lord, if you think there's a way

I can try to repay all I've taken from you

maybe Lord I can show someone else

what I've been through myself,

on my way back to you

Lord help me, Jesus, I've wasted it so

help me Jesus I know what I am

but now that I know that I've needed you so

help me, Jesus, my soul's in your hand

Lord help me, Jesus,

I've wasted it so help me Jesus I know what I am

but now that I know that I've needed you so

help me Jesus my souls in your hand

Jesus, my soul's in your hand.

~Kris Kristofferson~

God the Artist

2008-08-09T05:10:00.008-04:00

God, when you thought of a pine tree,

How did you think of a star?

How did you dream of the Milky Way

To guide us from afar.

How did you think of a clean brown pool

Where flecks of shadows are?

God, when you thought of a cobweb,

How did you think of dew?

How did you know a spider's house

Had shingles bright and new?

How did you know the human folk

Would love them like they do?

God, when you patterned a bird song,

Flung on a silver string,

How did you know the ecstasy

That crystal call would bring?

How did you think of a bubbling throat

And a darling speckled wing?

God, when you chiseled a raindrop,

How did you think of a stem,

Bearing a lovely satin leaf

To hold the tiny gem?

How did you know a million drops

Would deck the morning's hem?

Why did you mate the moonlit night

With the honeysuckle vines?

How did you know Madeira bloom

Distilled ecstatic wines?

How did you weave the velvet disk

Where tangled perfumes are?

God, when you thought of a pine tree,

How did you think of a star?

Beneath Your Strong Wings: I Miss You Daddy!

2008-08-05T04:50:00.004-04:00

I Miss You, Daddy!

Your arms around me I will never feel now

At least not that I remember

I was born in late September

You died 11 years later.

I wish you could have waited

Until at least i could've had graduated

But death came to you by surprise

It really wasn't your choice.

I had to grow up without you dad

My future children you'd never see

But through my life and through my heart

You'll always live in me.

The others say you're not my dad

Because I am not of your own blood

But even though i am not yours

I still am part of you.

I forgive you dad for leaving me

You didn't ask to go

I'd only wish that you were here

Because I love you so.

I love you daddy, very much

You are my shining star

If you could I know you'd be here

But heaven's just too far.

DO YOU LOVE ME?

2008-08-04T00:46:00.005-04:00

One day, I woke early in the morning to watch the sunrise. Ah! ... the beauty of God's creation is beyond description. As I watched, I praised God for His beautiful work. As I sat there, I felt the Lord's presence with me.
He asked me, "Do you love me?" I answered, "Of course, God!
You are my Lord and Saviour!"
Then He asked, "If you were physically handicapped, would you still love me?"
I was perplexed. I looked down upon my arms, legs and the rest of my body and wondered how many things I wouldn't be able to do and thought about the things that I take for granted.
I answered, "It would be tough Lord, but I would still love You."

Then the Lord said, "If you were blind, would you still love my creation?"
How could I love something without being able to see it? Then I thought of all the blind people in the world and how many of them still loved God and His creation. So I answered, "It's hard to think of it, but I would still love you."
The Lord then asked me, "If you were deaf, would you still listen to my word?"
How could I listen to anything being deaf? Then I understood. Listening to God's Word is not merely using our ears, but our hearts. I answered, "It would be tough, but I would still listen to Your word."

The Lord then asked, "If you were mute, would you still praise My Name?"
How could I praise without a voice? Then it occurred to me, God wants us to sing from our very hearts and souls. It never matters what we sound like. And praising God is not always with a song, but when we are persecuted, we give God praise with our words of thanks. So I answered, "Though I could not physically sing, I would still praise Your Name."
And the Lord asked, "Do you really love Me?"
With courage and a strong conviction, I answered boldly, "Yes Lord! I love You because You are the one and true God!"
I thought I had answered well, but God asked, "Then why do you sin?"
I answered, "Because I am only human. I am not perfect."
"Then why in times of peace do you stray the furthest? Why only in times of trouble do you pray the earnest?"
I had no answers ... only tears.

The Lord continued. "Why only sing at fellowships and retreats? Why seek Me only in times of worship? Why ask things so selfishly? Why ask things so unfaithfully?"
The tears continued to roll down my cheeks. "Why are you ashamed of Me? Why are you not spreading the good news? Why in times of persecution, you cry to others when I offer My shoulder to cry on? Why make excuses when I give you opportunities to serve in My Name?""You are blessed with life. I made you not to throw this gift away. I have blessed you with talents to serve Me, but you continue to turn away. I have revealed My Word to you, but you do not gain in knowledge. I have spoken to you but your ears were closed. I have shown My blessings to you, but your eyes were turned away. I have heard your prayers and I have answered them all. Do you truly love me?

I could not answer. How could I? I was embarrassed beyond belief. I had no excuse. What could I say to this? When my heart had cried out and the tears had flowed, I said, "Please forgive me Lord. I am unworthy to be Your child."
The Lord answered, "That is My Grace, My child."
I asked, "Then why do you continue to forgive me? Why do You love me so?"
The Lord answered, " Because you are My creation. You are my child. I will never abandon you. When you cry, I will have compassion and cry with you. When you shout with joy, I will laugh with you. When you are down, I will encourage you. When you fall, I will raise you up. When you are tired, I will carry you. I will be with you until the end of days, and I will love you forever."

Never had I cried so hard before. How could I have been so cold? How could I have hurt God as I had done? I asked God, "How much do You love me?"
The Lord stretched out His arms, and I saw His nail-pierced hands. I bowed down at the feet of Christ, my Savior. And for the first time, I truly prayed.

CROSS ON MY HOMEPAGE

2008-08-03T02:41:00.003-04:00

Cross On My Homepage

I have a cross on my homepage

A simple reminder to me

Of the fact that I'm a Christian

No matter where I may be
This little cross is not magic

Nor is it a good luck charm

It isn't meant to protect me

From any physical harm
It's not identification

For all the world to see

It's simply an understanding

Between my Savior and me

When I logon to my homepage

For the new things to see

The cross is there to remind me

The price He paid for me
It reminds me too, to be thankful

For my blessings day by day

And to strive to serve Him better

In all that I do and say
It's also a daily reminder

Of the peace and comfort I share

With all who know my Master

And give themselves to His care
So, I keep a cross on my homepage

Reminding no one but me

That Jesus Christ is Lord of my life

If only I'll let Him be

-From the Poem by Verna Thomas-

All Things Wise: Enthusiasm

2008-07-24T09:37:00.003-04:00

Enthusiasm leads to achievement. A sense of achievement - an awareness of accomplishment. Here is poise - poise through enthusiasm.

"We are often troubled, but not crushed;

sometimes in doubt, but never in despair;

there are many enemies, but we are never

without a friend; and though badly hurt at

times, we are not destroyed.

For this reason we never become discouraged.

Even though our physical being is

gradually decaying, yet our spiritual

being is renewed day after day.

And this small and temporary trouble

we suffer will bring us a tremendous and

eternal glory, much greater than the trouble."

(2 Corinthians 4:8,9,16,17)

Photo: Stormy Landscape by Rembrandt

ALL THINGS WISE: ACCEPTING YOURSELF

2008-07-18T22:28:00.003-04:00

Why is it we spend more time looking at our faults than we do at our good points? We don't like our home or family background or even our hair color! But God wants us to accept ourselves as we are and to depend on His strength where we are weak.

In her book Love Adds the Chocolate, Linda Anderson recounted this incident: "I once knew a young woman who pointedly disliked not only what she was doing but who she was. She was convinced of her uselessness to both God and her fellowman, and she was certain that if the earth opened up and swallowed her nobody would miss her. After a few months of futile self-absorption, she came to the point we all must face if we are to find God's direction in our lives. One night she surrendered the peculiarities of her individual temperament to the Lord, piece by piece. she named them all and asked the Lord to put the pieces together and glorify Himself through them. To her surprise, over a period of years the very qualities she had once hated became polished gems in the Master's hands. She found to her delight that He was using them all!"

Whenever we feel guilty of looking too much at our faults and failures, let us remember who we are in Christ and thank God for the good points He's given us, and get busy doing things for others and for the Lord. It's the best way to begin accepting ourselves. Loving God above all, I am Ophelia Jane Julia thanking everyone who drop by my blog page and reminding everyone that: "Jesus wouldn't pay an infinite price for someone of no value."

Oil painting image was Expectations by Sir Lawrence Alma-Tadema taken from illusionsgallery.com

All THINGS WISE: Choose How To Grow Old

2008-07-07T01:20:00.005-04:00

When I was in my teens, I admired a woman in her seventies - an active elder in our church. She dressed neatly, smiled a lot, and paid attention when i talked with her. I wanted to be like her when I got old.

I knew another woman in the same age bracket, but i surely didn't want to be like her. She seemed to do nothing but complain and was so self-centered that she wouldn't listen to anybody. She wouldn't take advice from anyone. She was a disgruntled old woman.

Psalm 92 shows us that those who believe in God and live in fellowship with Him and with His people will be in old age like a vigorous tree with wide-spreading, luxuriant branches.

If you want to stay optimistic and interested in life when you get old, start preparing while you are young. After trusting Jesus to be your Savior, make Him your chief model. Also select as living examples those who walk with Him. You will be kinder, gentler, purer, and more loving with the passing years. You and I choose each day the kind of person we will be when we are old.

O keep me sweet and let me look

Beyond the frets that life must hold,

To see the glad eternal joys;

Yes, keep me sweet in growing old.

~~Hazard

What you hope to be like tomorrow depends on the choices you make today!

Source for photo: abrahamescence1 of Flickr

All Things Wise: Not Ruled By Time

2008-07-01T00:36:00.004-04:00

The ancient Mayans of Central America were obsessed with time. Early in their history they began to study the movement of the planets. Soon they noted a correlation between the cycles of the planets and the seasons, and they began to chart the stars. The priests interpreted their findings, and they devised an elaborate calendar which was as accurate as any calendar used today. With it they were able to calculate dates far into the past and the future. Mayan life was dictated by this calendar. Times for plantings, harvests, and sacrifices were minutely calculated and strictly observed.

Our culture too is dominated by time. Clocks and calendars, datebooks and watches keeps us marching rigidly on schedule. In some ways such attention to time is good, if it helps us to use wisely. Our earths and its seasons will one day pass away. And when they do, many of the things we tried to crowd into a day will not mean a thing. When we stand before God, will we be able to say that time did not rule us but that we ruled time?

If time could be our servant,

Our work would be sublime;

But if we do not master it,

We're only "serving time."

~~C. Hess

"To everything there is a season."

Ecclesiastes 3:1

All Things Wise: Needed: A New Vision

2008-06-29T07:07:00.004-04:00

Christ by Mikhail Alexandrovich Vrubel

Almost without realising it, a spiritual myopia has afflicted us; we are not seeing life clearly because we do not see God clearly. A right perspective on God gives us the right perspective on everything else - life, work, money, service, relationships and so on.

The reason our problems often seem overwhelming is because we allow the things of time to loom larger in our gaze than the things of eternity. The tiniest of coins, when held close to the eye, can blot out the sun.

Life works better when we know how to glance at things but gaze at God. Seeing Him clearly will enable us to see all other things clearly. Often, we look up only when something happens that knocks us flat on our backs. How sad that sometimes earthly securities have to be removed before we can see the glory of Him who sits upon the throne!

Pieta by William Adolphe-Bouguereau

Source for images: illussionsgallery.com