The Wings Of Angels

"We're all kissed by angels but some of us never think to pucker."

Terri Guillemets

"He will cover you with his feathers, and under his wings you will find refuge...For he will command his angels concerning you to guard you in all your ways..."

Psalm 91

I have touched the wings of angels, even tasted them, and they are sweeter than you can imagine. Really. You are looking at my latest supermarket find, Cruscik, commonly called Angel Wings. Do you think they look like the wings of an angel? I had to use my imagination. I had never heard of them before now. They are a Polish treat usually eaten just before Lent, a deep fried dough that is sprinkled with powdered sugar. In some countries, husbands give them to their wives on Friday the 13th to avoid bad luck. And in this country they are often served at Polish-American weddings. Nice to have angel wings at your wedding.

"Under the expanse their wings were stretched out one toward the other, and each had two wings covering it's body. When the creatures moved, I heard the sound of their wings, like the roar of rushing waters, like the voice of the Almighty, like the tumult of an army. When they stood still, they lowered their wings." Ezekiel 1:23

A Thoughtful Post

"...for the Lord searches every heart and understands every motive behind the thoughts. If you seek him, he will be found by you..." 1 Chron. 28:9

This is the second time I have posted pansies, and I hope it won't be the last. They are such willing photography subjects. Each little face turned upwards, saying "Over here, over here, take MY picture!" The word pansy comes from the French pensee, meaning "thought". This is because the pansy resembles a face, and in August it leans forward as if deep in thought. There is one who knows all our deepest thoughts.

"O Lord, you have searched me and you know me.

You know when I sit and when I rise;

you perceive my thoughts from afar.

You discern my going out and my lying down;

you are familiar with all my ways.

Before a word is on my tongue

you know it completely, O Lord."Psalm 139:1,4

The Request Is Powerful

"In those days, Hezekiah became ill and was at the point of death...this is what the Lord says "Put your house in order because you are going to die. You will not recover." Hezekiah turned his face to the wall and prayed to the Lord...and Hezekiah wept bitterly...This is what the Lord, the God of your father David, says"I have heard your prayer and seen your tears, and I will heal you." 2 Kings 20

Yesterday, I told Ella that she could pick out one kind of Easter candy when we went to the grocery store. She chose this ginormous egg (that's it's real name) But a deal is a deal. She had to eat lunch before she could try it (only a few bites!), so she sat it up in front of her plate while she ate. At McDonald's, she nicely asked for a particular toy in her Happy Meal, a little kitty. The lady said they didn't have any more, and Ella began to cry. This brought another clerk over, who did manage to get her one. Her joy was complete. This reminds me of a book Phil is reading called "The Divine Conspiracy". The author talks about the power of prayer, and he tells us how powerful earthly requests are. Some people will cross to the other side of the street rather than give money to a homeless person. They don't want to even feel the power of the request. The same for not answering the phone when a charity or telemarketer calls. And if earthly requests have such power, just imagine when we make a request to God. Making a request without being demanding is one of the most powerful things there is. And our prayer does not have to be some big formal thing. As the author says "We are simply children walking and talking with our Father at hand." A wonderful thought indeed.

"Which of you, if his son asks for bread, will give him a stone? Or if he asks for a fish, will give him a snake? If you, then, though you are evil, know how to give good gifts to your children, how much more will your Father in heaven give good gifts to those who ask him?!"

Matthew 7:9

The Blue Light District

Tonight we stopped at KFC for some dinner. Lately, I have been hooked on their new boneless chicken breast sandwich. This is the big sandwich you see on top of Phil's head as he orders while I photograph him from a mirror. O.K., so I'm cheating on Chik-Fil-A, but the KFC sandwich has melted swiss cheese and a tasty sauce. Also, I love all the blue lamps here!! They are many, and so are their reflections. In fact, all their decor is very nice, kind of modern. You would almost think it is a fancy restaraunt. The lamps worked their transforming magic well, but the illusion was broken as we were leaving and some people drove up in this car. Only then did I realize we were only at a drive thru chicken place that charged $7.00 for both of us.

"You are my lamp, O Lord;

the Lord turns my darkness into light.

With your help I can advance against a troop;

with my God I can scale a wall."

2 Samuel 22:29,30

Visions Of A Spring Snow

Guess what? It snowed here last night! If it had been just a few days later, it would have been on April Fool's Day. I hope it doesn't ruin the beautiful cherry blossoms I showed you yesterday. The weather here has been wild lately. One day it will be in the seventies, the next day almost freezing. So these are some images from my window, and also as we were out driving around today. The two shots of pine trees I loved because the snow on them looks like white blossoms. That is not shadows on the old couch sitting by the curb, it is snow. I liked the way it looked under the snow topped branches of the tree. And last is our new bird feeder, the "Squirrel Buster Classic", which is guaranteed to keep out squirrels, and so far has worked!! This is actually your virtual bird feeder, dear followers, because I got it to take bird pictures and post them. Has it gotten any birds so far? Well, that remains for future posts...

"God's voice thunders in marvelous ways;

he does great things beyond our understanding.

He says to the snow 'Fall on the earth,'

and to the rain shower, 'Be a mighty downpour.'

So that all men he has made may know his work..."

Job 37:5

A Blossoming Friendship

The cherry trees are blossoming around here, aren't they beautiful? The bees think so, they love them! The ones at the Tidal Basin in Washington D.C. began blooming on Thursday. Their two week National Cherry Blossom Festival draws 1 million visitors a year. Even though I was born and raised in D.C., I have never been to one of the festivals. Japan gave us those trees in 1912, and about 100 of the original 3,000 are still growing. Beside being a yearly symbol of spring, they also symbolize the friendship between the U.S. and Japan. And now they are blooming for the 99th time, as Japan is reeling from the deaths of at least 18,000 people. A fundraising walk and vigil will be held among the trees. So now not only will the trees be a symbol of the rebirth of spring, but also of Japan. That's what friends are for.

"The desert and the parched land will be glad; the wilderness will rejoice and blossom...they will see the glory of the Lord, the splendor of our God." Isaiah 35

Addicted

"First we make our habits, then our habits make us." Denis Waitley

Today we spent a lovely morning with our granddaughter, Anne Marie. First, we took her to her favorite place for breakfast, Starbucks. Yes, though she's only four, I think she loves it there because it is so grown up. She had an apple bran muffin with chocolate milk and we got to sit in the big stuffed purple chairs. Then back to our house where we both put our feet up for a long time. Can you guess why? She is addicted to the DS (hand held video game player). Specifically, Super Mario. It's the first thing she grabs when she gets here. She would spend hours on this if I let her, she doesn't want to leave the house or do anything else. She won't even go out for ice-cream. She knows the moves of the games that even Phil and I don't. Today I managed to drag her away to play with and eat these neat candy lego blocks I got her, and we made these bracelets together. But she still had to have the game unit in her sight! Were you ever addicted to anything?Are you now? Are any addictions a good thing, or should EVERYTHING be in moderation?

"...have the wisdom to show restraint." Proverbs 23:4

Clarice's Heart

"...the Lord searches every heart and understands every motive behind the thoughts."

1 Chron. 28:9

Meet Clarice. But be careful, or she'll skate right into your heart. Clarice is Ella's new best friend. She has different outfits, and she even has these nifty skates, and she will skate in them when you pull her matching leash. Who is Clarice? Why, she is very, very special indeed. She was the only reindeer who saw Rudolph for what he really was, and loved him even though the other reindeer made fun of him. Ella watched Rudolph many times with me and was enchanted with Clarice. This may be because Clarice and Ella are so much alike. You see, ever since she was a toddler, Ella has had great sympathy for people. She was born with a caring heart, like Clarice. When she was three, and saw I had hurt my foot, she rushed over and put her blanket and favorite toys on my foot, and kissed it. I was dumbstruck. I had always thought that all children were self centered, sympathy being a thing we learn as we mature. A three year old proved me wrong. Oh, yes, Clarice has a real heart, and like Ella's, it is a beautiful thing to see.

"The Lord does not look at the things man looks at. Man looks at the outward appearance, but the Lord looks at the heart." 1 Samuel 16:7

Chains Of Love

So often time it happens, we all live our life in chains, and we never even know we have the key.

The Eagles, from "Already Gone"

Last year I posted about my friend Karen, who was practising carving chains. She began by learning with soap bars. Well, she is now carving spirals and chains from wood. Specifically, 2x4's. They are not assembled or put together, they are from one solid piece of wood. Since she loves carving them, they are chains of love. God draws us to him with chains of love as well. We are is creation, and he still loves us even when we mess up, just like a father does his children.

"Then they cried out to the Lord in their trouble, and he saved them from their distress. He brought them out of darkness and the deepest gloom and broke away their chains."

Psalm 107:13