Tuesday, January 11, 2011

Smile!


My header is a giant snowflake I snapped last winter right after it fell. It was cold then and it's cold now. How cold is it? The bible refers to the trees singing and also clapping. But it's so cold here that the trees are actually frowning. Unlike this tree, we should be smiling, because of the great love, mercy, and grace of God.



"Return, faithless Israel", declares the Lord, "I will frown on you no longer, for I am merciful", declares the Lord, "I will not be angry forever. Only acknowledge your guilt..."

31 comments:

Annie Jeffries said...

If I always smile, God will be near. When I'm not smiling, he is nearer still.

Dawning Inspiration said...

ooooh - great post - and love Annie's comment, too!

Regina said...

I need a potato peeler to peel my eyes off those photos below (lol)..I still have a few posters I framed by Greg Brown..one of which is called the (reclining salad). Well, I can sympathize with those trees. I enjoy a visit in the snow and that, but boy am I a big baby! I agree- I'm thankful He is so merciful!
Ginny, that is an iris on my header (misty morning shot) before it opened..and the first in the series of photos was one just opening up- thanks

Reanaclaire said...

Now I have experienced winter, i will opt for spring/autumn next.. but it is still wonderful to feel the four seasons of the year.. Yes, smile because God is with us, in us and for us!!

SquirrelQueen said...

Your header snowflake is so cool (in both ways), you capture the detail very well. Is the snow still avoiding your area? We have rain coming in tomorrow.

aspiritofsimplicity said...

I am smiling because I know Jesus loves me...but also because we are in the midst of a giant snowstorm. I can't even see across the street.

Arti said...

Its winter here in Mumbai too, the temperatures are in the range of 20 degree celcius... Not too cold or hot, just about perfect!!
Great quote:)
Have a wonderful day.

Anonymous said...

Beautiful snowflake Ginny. Have a great day and stay warm.

From the Kitchen said...

I find the snowflake amazing! There's a multitude of snowflakes outside right now. It snowed all day yesterday and, maybe, all night.

Keep warm!

Best,
Bonnie

Fred Alton said...

LoL @ the "tree frown". The trees here are stripped bare of their leaves and are still standing with arms up-lifted, taking whatever God sends. Before you hardly know it, they'll put on a little rouge and then pastel green will turn to healthy shade!

Ruth Hiebert said...

Vert good.Love the snowflake picture.I guess I need to turn my frown upside down.:)
Blessings,Ruth

MadSnapper said...

it is frowning, i would not have seen it and did not see it until i read your post. neat. love the snow flake. i know it is cold and you are hoping for a big thaw soon, me to. we are cold today at 39 and freezing for tomorrow. yikes we are in florida for petes sake. hugs and love you

Karin said...

Beautiful header - that looks like a congregation of snowflakes! I've heard the comment so often, "If you're happy, inform your face and smile." Some folks even sing joyful worship songs with a frown on their face!I think it is just the way their face is made. I LOVE Annie's comment though - what an encouraging thought!

Chatty Crone said...

Wasn't that snowflake awesome? sandie

Remington said...

Cool snowflake! And I think that tree is smiling! Smiling is the BEST!

srp said...

We had sleet, then freezing rain and a dusting of snow, then rain which melted the snow but just disguised the ice and then a freezing drizzle. On one set of steps... the brick ones out the sunroom, I found 1/4 inch of ice and they were deceptive looking. They looked just fine and wet like the concrete... but they were slick as snot. When the sun came out this morning it illuminated the glaze of ice on the patio stone benches... glad I didn't try to go out there yesterday!

Mary Bergfeld said...

I love your header, Ginny. We are quite cold as well. It's time to pull out the slow cooker and make some soup. I hope you are having a great day. Blessings...Mary

Stephanie V said...

Wonderful capture of the snowflake, Ginny. Must be really cold for you there.

Its Time to Live said...

It took me a couple of looks to see what the tree had to do with the words. When I caught on I had to say thanks for the image, the words and the smile both brought to my face!

George said...

I really like your picture of the frowning tree.

S. Etole said...

Such a great snowflake ... hope for happier days for the tree.

Pat @ Mille Fiori Favoriti said...

That shrub does appear to be smiling :)

We had a foot of snowflakes come our way overnight! This time they were thankfully light and fluffy and easy to shovel.

Anonymous said...

Hi Ginny, Yes, The Lord did say that about the trees clapping. I just love that! I am happy where I live partially because I have about 34 trees on my suburban-sized lot. Have a wonderful day and thanks again for your uplifting blog posts.

Ann said...

I was just trying today to get a picture of a snowflake that fell on my glove.
You always have the nicest way of putting your posts together, it always makes me smile :)

Kerrie said...

That is an absolute awesome photo Ginny! Hope you made out well at the surgeon's. ♥

LV said...

I am thankful for every day I have. I have been blessed in many ways and never forget to thank the Great one.

Betsy Banks Adams said...

Hi Ginny, Anything outside of our house today was probably frowning... It was terribly cold (low 20's ) and there was a wicked wind... It is supposed to go down into the single digits tonight..

We still have about 6 inches of snow on the ground here... It won't melt until the sun comes out and the temperatures warm up... THEN--the trees will quit frowning.

Hugs,
Betsy

gemini said...

Hello Ginny, good day always to you and to your loved ones. It's you in whom I mentioned in my blog. The one who always made my day brighter. You have always shone God's light in my day to day activities. Thank you so much for being a friend from afar. God bless you always and forever.

Bobbie said...

What a beautiful header picture. I don't think I've ever examined a snowflake up close that way before. Thank you Ginny, for sharing that.

Neal said...

Ginny, I've seen enough snow without you posting a big flake of it that covers my screen .... just kidding. Actually that's kind of a neat picture.

Nature Rambles said...

lovely post, Ginny!

The Kitchen

 Oh my! I am so late posting my Christmas decorations! So I will replace Sunday sunset with the kitchen ones. Next post will be the living r...