I Hope You Dance

Lessons we can learn from watching a child and from listening to the words of the song "I hope you dance".

Take the high road.

"Never take the path of least resistance"

Choose Joy--sometimes a leap is required.

"Living might mean taking chances but they're worth taken"

Forgive Someone (this is the horse that kicked us) I heard her say.."Its okay now, we are friends again."

"Lovin' might be a mistake, but's it's worth making"

Always Dream

"I hope you never lose your sense of wonder"

Choose Life

"Promise me you will give faith a fighting chance."

"Today I have given you the choice between life and death, between blessings and curses. Now I call on heaven and earth to witness the choice you make. Oh, that you would choose life," Deut. 39:19

(see more black and white photos @ Black and White Weekend

Interrupted Life

I have really enjoyed a Bible Study I am going through called Jonah, A Life Interrupted by Priscilla Shirer. I never thought there could be so many lessons learned from the four chapters in Jonah.
In the study she was going through the last chapter where Jonah was angry because God had him speak five words to the Nineveh and the greatest revival in history took place. Jonah didn't want this revival.
Jonah was mad because God didn't do what Jonah thought He should do. Jonah thought if he held up his end of the deal, God would react like Jonah had scripted in his own mind. "Okay, I yielded--here is what should happen."
How often do we haggle with God? We want to put Him on a schedule and want His approval on what we have planned instead of seeking His will and plans.
Jonah and Elijah both talked of God just  taking their lives while they were in the midst of their trials. How often do we just wish for Heaven when we are in the middle of our trials?
Jonah wanted a relationship with God but only on his terms and conditions.

"The Lord said, 'Do you have good reason to be angry?'" Jonah 4:4

We need to remember if God never does another good thing for us, He did enough at Calvary.

Festival Time

My grandchildren, my Aunt and I went to a Heritage Festival at the Ames Plantation. This is a pre-civil manor and estate that has been preserved Ames Plantation. I love this area and have grown up going to family reunions in one of the old beautiful houses here. In fact, my sister grew up thinking and telling everyone my Uncle Joe owned the Ames Plantation. We later found out he worked there and rented this home. (Our story got more attention). This is also the land that we ride in the bird dog field trials each year.

It was a beautiful day and fun to see different ones dressed in costume of Civil War era, (I guess they were dressed as Yankees since they won).

It is funny we have a tractor at home but one of my grandchildren's favorite things was climbing on hugh shiny tractors.

Fun Day!

Trials

Usually our greatest trial is what most molds and shapes us. It gives us character, backbone, courage, wisdom, discernment, and friendships that are not shallow. God wondrously displays His greatness when He brings good out of bad. The greater the obstacles the greater the glory to God. Everytime we ask God to remove some obstacle in our lives we should realize we may be asking Him to forego one more opportunity to declare His greatness.
 God never wastes a hurt. In fact your greatest ministry will most likely come out of your greatest hurt. (copied)

"Then you will lift up your face without shame. You will stand firm and without fear. You will surely forget your trouble, recalling it only as waters gone by. Life will be brighter than noonday and darkness will become like morning." Job 11:15

A Swing in Soybean Field

I’ve learned more from the back of a horse

than most folks ever get to know

you never really know what you’re made of

`til you ride out on your own

 baby don’t worry

you know you’re gonna be just fine

 don’t be in a hurry

you’ll feel it when you hit your stride

don’t get rattled, sit deep in the saddle

remember to hold on tight

and never ride faster than your guardian angel can fly. (song, Guardian Angel by Templeton Thompson)

See more black and white photos at Black and White Weekend