Sparrows ... and other birds ...

(click on picture to enlarge)

Dear Reader,
When I found this painting I came to think of Matthew 10: 29-31

Matthew 10:29-31(REB)
Are not two sparrows sold for a penny? Yet without your Father’s knowledge not one of them can fall to the ground. As for you, even the hairs of your head have all been counted. So do not be afraid; you are worth more than any number of sparrows.

Matthew 10:29-31 (The Message MSG Bible)
“What’s the price of a pet canary? Some loose change, right? And God cares what happens to it even more than you do. 30 He pays even greater attention to you, down to the last detail–even numbering the hairs on your head! 31 So don’t be intimidated by all this bully talk. You’re worth more than a million canaries.

Ever asked yourself why Jesus chose sparrows when he told the disciples that they were " worth more than many sparrows"? Why not eagles, peacocks, or some other spectacular bird? What bird would you have chosen?
Sincerely yours
Ida

Painting made by Vladimir Rumyantsev

God has a tattoo

Dear reader,
Isaiah 49:16 says
See, I have engraved you on the palms of my hands; your walls are ever before me.

The essential idea is, that you are dear to God's heart; and that he has sketched your name as an object in which he feels a deep interest - so deep as even to write your name on the palms of his bands, where it is constantly before him.

Thy walls - The meaning is, that he constantly looks upon you; that he never forgets you. He has a constant and sacred regard for you, and always remembers you.

Sincerely your, Ida

First of Advent - Messiah is coming !

Dear Reader

Jesus came into Jerusalem riding on a donkey and people praised him as The Messiah. So many years later Jesus is still coming to each and everyone of us who invites him into our hearts. Now we start a 4 week celebration of the coming of Jesus; with joy that we can celebrate the birth of our savior. We need to remember how he came, how he lived, how he died and rose from the dead and how he is still moving in the hearts of you and me who invites him to be our savior.
When we look around in this crazy world we might say "Do something Lord, or we will perish!" But he has done something already.
For so God loved the world that he gave his one and only Son, that whoever believes in Him shall not perish but have eternal life. For God did not send his Son into the world to condemn the world, but to save the world through Jesus.
Sincerely Yours, Ida

Wherever I go; in forests, on mountains and in valleys; a friend follow me and I hear his voice ...

Dear reader,
The video is from a Swedish TV program called "Do you remember the song?"It aired between 1998-2000 and was the Swedish version of "Gaither homecoming".
The song is a well known and loved Swedish psalm composed in 1847 by Carl Olof Rosenius

Stuart Townend - Spirit of heaven - Christ in me

Spirit of heaven, flood over me
Forming Christ in all that I do
Turn every sinful desire in me
Into holy passion for You

O Spirit of God, come down
Let mercy and grace abound
My passionate prayer shall be
Christ in me

Spirit of beauty and holiness
Come refine with fire from above
Till I am cast in Your righteousness
And I love the things that You love

O Spirit of God, come down
Let mercy and grace abound
My passionate prayer shall be
Christ in me

Breathe Your forgiveness when darkness falls
And my heart is heavy with sin
Fill me with faith for the higher cause
Of the ceaseless praise of the King

O Spirit of God, come down
Let mercy and grace abound
My passionate prayer shall be
Christ in me

Stuart Townend - There is a hope

THERE IS A HOPE
by Stuart Townend and Mark Edwards
Copyright (c) 2007 Thankyou Music.

There is a hope that burns within my heart,
That gives me strength for ev'ry passing day;
a glimpse of glory now revealed in meager part,
Yet drives all doubt away:
I stand in Christ, with sins forgiv'n;
and Christ in me, the hope of heav'n!
My highest calling and my deepest joy,
to make His will my home.

There is a hope that lifts my weary head,
A consolation strong against despair,
That when the world has plunged me in its deepest pit,
I find the Savior there!
Through present sufferings, future's fear,
He whispers, "Courage!" in my ear.
For I am safe in everlasting arms,
And they will lead me home.

There is a hope that stands the test of time,
That lifts my eyes beyond the beckoning grave,
To see the matchless beauty of a day divine
When I behold His face!
When sufferings cease and sorrows die,
and every longing satisfied,
then joy unspeakable will flood my soul,
For I am truly home.

Psalm 91:4

Psalm 91:4
He will cover you with his feathers. He will shelter you with his wings. His faithful promises are your armor and protection.

(Got this from a friend in Florida. She didn't tell who the photographer is so I don't know either. If you recognize it please tell and I will credit the rightful owner)

"A bruised reed He will not break and a dimly burning wick He will not extinguish" (Isa. 42:3).

There Is A Balm In Gilead

Dear Reader,
I got a letter from a dear friend yesterday and her words brought this song to my mind.
Her answer was like "balm" to my soul. I'm blessed with a friend who is a wise woman, a trustworthy woman and a woman of God who believes in Jesus /Yeshua/ as her savior and in a moment of need for help she always has a word of comfort and encouragement. So I praise God for her friendship and share the song with you

Sincerely yours, Ida

"The Paradoxical Commandments"

"The Paradoxical Commandments" were written by Kent M. Keith in 1968 as part of a booklet for student leaders. It has also a second version credited to Mother Teresa.

1.The Original Version:

The Paradoxical Commandments

by Dr. Kent M. Keith

1. People are illogical, unreasonable, and self-centered.
   Love them anyway.
2. If you do good, people will accuse you of selfish ulterior motives.
   Do good anyway.
3. If you are successful, you win false friends and true enemies.
   Succeed anyway.
4. The good you do today will be forgotten tomorrow.
   Do good anyway.
5. Honesty and frankness make you vulnerable.
   Be honest and frank anyway.
6. The biggest men and women with the biggest ideas can be shot down by the smallest men and women with the smallest minds.
   Think big anyway.
7. People favor underdogs but follow only top dogs.
   Fight for a few underdogs anyway.
8. What you spend years building may be destroyed overnight.
   Build anyway.
9. People really need help but may attack you if you do help them.
   Help people anyway.
10. Give the world the best you have and you'll get kicked in the teeth.
    Give the world the best you have anyway.

© 1968, 2001 Kent M. Keith

2. This version found written on the wall in Mother Teresa's home for children in Calcutta:

People are often unreasonable, irrational, and self-centered. Forgive them anyway.

If you are kind, people may accuse you of selfish, ulterior motives. Be kind anyway.

If you are successful, you will win some unfaithful friends and some genuine enemies. Succeed anyway.

If you are honest and sincere people may deceive you. Be honest and sincere anyway.

What you spend years creating, others could destroy overnight. Create anyway.

If you find serenity and happiness, some may be jealous. Be happy anyway.

The good you do today, will often be forgotten. Do good anyway.

Give the best you have, and it will never be enough. Give your best anyway.

In the final analysis, it is between you and God. It was never between you and them anyway.

Sincerely yours, Ida

FAll ... and the need to care

Dear Reader,
September is here; with mornings filled with chill in the air and fog covering the fields like a loosely knitted blanket and the geese are going south. The young geese are trying to perfect their formation with various results. They cry out to each other to keep the v-line and to keep the formation because that is the only way they will succeed in reaching their destiny.

How we need each other as human beings. Being alone can be fatal. A human touch can bring a sad heart to recover and a kind word heals wounds.

"Security is always another person" is a quote from another blogger "Harpasione". When everything is said and done it is the people we have known that counts. Some in a formal way; some as close to us as our hearts but they all matter one way or the other.

Sincerely yours
Ida

James Taylor The Water Is Wide

Bless me

Lord Jesus,
If you stood before me,
here,
visible,
like you stood before Thomas
maybe I wouldn't dare kiss your feet
because I have unclean lips.

But when you are gone,
I would bend down
on the spot where your feet touched the floor.
with my forehead touching the floor.

But Lord, you are here,
as you promised.
Therefore I bend all the way down and I ask you to
put you hand on my head and bless me.

For the one who is alone.

Lord God, help those who are alone
alone in being your disciple,
alone in yearning for a Christian life,
alone in knowing about the secret of you, Lord Jesus.

alone in a family,
alone at work,
alone in a group of friends,

alone when blessing the food,
alone in sneaking into a place for prayer,
alone in attending church.

Lord God tell this lonely person:
"I Am" with you
don't be afraid, I have redeemed you,
I have called you by your name,
you are mine".

Amen

/Painting by Natasha Villone/

Potrait of a friend

Potrait of a friend

I can't give solutions to all of life's problems, doubts,
or fears. But I can listen to you, and together we will
search for answers.

I can't change your past with all it's heartache and pain,

nor the future with its untold stories.
But I can be there now when you need me to care.

I can't keep your feet from stumbling.
I can only offer my hand that you may grasp it and not fall

Your joys, triumphs, successes, and happiness are not mine;
Yet I can share in your laughter.

Your decisions in life are not mine to make, nor to judge;
I can only support you, encourage you,
and help you when you ask.


I can't prevent you from falling away from friendship,

from your values, from me.
I can only pray for you, talk to you and wait for you.

I can't give you boundaries which I have determined for you,
But I can give you the room to change, room to grow,
room to be yourself.

I can't keep your heart from breaking and hurting.
But I can cry with you and help you pick up the pieces

and put them back in place.

I can't tell you who you are.
I can only love you and be your friend.

--Unknown