Monday Musings ...quincentenary

The Bible is available
in over 1, 300 languages.
Wycliffe Bible Translators believe
everyone needs the Bible in
their own language.
This Bible is in Chinese on the left side
and English on the right. 

This year marks the year long celebration of the quincentenary when Martin Luther nailed his 95 theses to the door of a church in Wittenberg, Germany on October 31, 1517. The issue that may be considered Luther's greatest contribution to Christian Theology is Sola Scriptura. This theological doctrine hold that the Christian scriptures are the supreme authority in all matters of doctrine and practice.

Visit Ligonier Ministires website to have a more detailed account of the significance of this day. Here is one important quote, "Salvation is by grace alone through faith alone, and good works result from our faith, they are not added to it as the grounds for our right standing in the Lord's eyes. Ephesians 2:8 - 10.  sums it up this way.

Pet of the week, Ida

"I feel sorry for people who don't have dogs.
I hear they have to pick up food they drop on the floor."
Unknown

Ida is enjoying an afternoon at the Good Food Co Op. 

Wordless Wednesday

Journaling for Hope

"When autumn darkness falls, what we will remember are the small acts of kindness: a cake, a hug, an invitation to talk , and every single rose. These are all the expressions of a nation coming together and caring about its people."

Jens Stotlenberg

Altrusa of Lexington participated in Make a Difference Day on October 21, 2016.
Members of this organization visited the Hope Center for Women.
"Make a Difference Day" is one the largest national days of community service.
Celebrated on the Fourth Saturday of October thousands of
volunteers unite in a common mission to improve the lives of others."
Volunteers from Altrusa  offered women thoughts and techniques regarding
journaling.  We hope the women will use the journals as a safe place to express
their hopes, dreams, and steps toward restoration.

Monday Musings ... comparison

“Comparison is the thief of joy.”

Theodore Roosevelt 

Do you find yourself taking most of the pictures at gatherings?  Do you feel most at ease taking pictures rather than being in them?  Do you find yourself easing out of snapshots instead of  rushing to be included?

On many occasions, I find myself always behind the camera.  I have the reputation in my family as the “one” who often records events with a digital camera or phone.  I enjoy the chance to meet and mingle. Clicking pictures at events allows me the freedom and opportunity to try to meet everyone.

 I  also think there is a deeper reason. I don’t always like the way I look. Here are a few of the reasons, my hair does not look good, my makeup is fading, or I really don’t like what I am wearing.  

I have decided not to be so obsessed about pictures.  I will embrace who I am at this stage in my life. I am a woman of a certain age and weight.

Embracing who I am allows me the freedom from comparing myself to others. Each of us is unique and valuable to God. 

We are unique, valuable and loved by God.  

Pet of the week, Grace

Friendship Friday

Are there benefits from reconnecting with old friends? According to Elite Daily, an online article stated there may be several reasons  you might consider reconnecting with old friends.

I think Paul Hudson, (the author) gives the best reason, "Friends are a fundamental part of our lives - there should be a reason for either letting them go or keeping them around."

Nancy and Ginny were college friends as students at Ohio Wesleyan University. Marriage, careers, and moves  interrupted their friendship. Since moving to the same city, they have reconnected a special friendship.

Today, I am fortunate to count these ladies as friends. Both were generous in providing meals while I recuperated from knee surgery last December.

Aspire

aspire: to long, aim, or seek ambitiously, be eagerly desirous, especially for something of great or

high value

My water fitness instructor took a plain green water bottle and transformed it into an object of inspiration. She added flowers and inspiring words.  What are the words? Inspire and Perspire.

Physical fitness is something of high value.

On Tuesdays and Thursdays, I attend water fitness classes. On Saturdays, I embrace the challenge of  re -learning Tai Chi.

These classes are so different. One class is gravity free where I am able to do amazing things in the water.  Most days, we have music to accompany the routines.  The music is so inspiring.

Then on Saturdays, I attend a class where we move in silence. The only words I hear, are the words of instruction. My body is learning to move in different ways.  The silence of this class is so calming.

 I am learning to embrace the joy of more silence in my daily living.

My Saturday instructors... ( they are not a couple)
The gentleman is a professor at UK.
This sweet lady is my friend who is also a teacher..
Her husband is also a professor at UK. 

Have you not heard?

 To whom, then, will you compare

God?

What image will you compare

him to?

As for an idol, craftsman casts it,

and a goldsmith overlays it with

gold

and fashions silver chains for it.

A man too poor to present such an

offering

selects wood that will not rot.

He looks for a skilled craftsman

to set up an idol that will not

topple.

Do you not know?

Have you not heard?

Has it not been told you from the

beginning?

Have you not understood from since the

the earth was founded?

He sits enthroned above the circle

of the earth?

and its people are like

grasshoppers.

He stretches out the heaven like a

canopy,

and spreads them out like a tent to

live in.

He brings princes to naught

and reduces the rulers of this

world to nothing.

No sooner are they planted,

no sooner are they sown

no sooner do they take root in

the ground,

than he blows on them and they

wither

and a whirlwind sweeps them

away like chaff.

To whom will you compare me?

Or who is my equal? says the

Holy One.

Lift your eyes and look to the

heavens.

Who created all these?

He who brings out the starry host

one by one,

and calls them each by name.

Because of his great power and

mighty strength,

not one of them is missing.

Isaiah 40:21 - 26

Pet of the week, Marvin

"Petting , scratching, and cuddling a dog could be as soothing to the mind and heart as deep meditation and almost as good for the soul as prayer."
Dean Koontz

Marvin is a rescue dog that lives in Washington, D.C.  Marvin enjoys walking to the park.
Thanks to Jonathan for sharing the picture.

Friendship Friday

 This time last Friday, I was with a group of women who had traveled to  Dale Hollow State Park to enjoy our church's annual Women's Retreat.

When you take a road trip with sisters prepare to have fun. Traveling around curving roads in a large charter bus, we had our share of nervous giggles and a few muffled screams. I admit, I was a little scared.

We arrived safely.

As I remember last weekend, I smile. God answered so many prayers. Before we left, Pastor Gaines, prayed we would have safe travel, grow closer to God, grow closer to our sisters, enjoy laughter, and experience God in a deeper way.

God abundantly answered prayers.

While we are not biological sisters we are sisters in the Lord.
Cheryl is on the left. Regina is on the right. 

Favorite fitness instructors

Here is to  fitness exercise instructors who inspire us and create routines that make exercise fun. We sacrifice sleep to begin our day with  aerobic  exercise. We embrace our less than perfect bodies as we work to improve our physical fitness.

Each week we look forward to pushing ourselves to become better. Do you have an favorite exercise instructor? I do!  I have two... Wendy and Michelle.

I look forward to the exercise class! 

Wordless Wednesday

Tasty Tuesday

Are there really zero calories foods? One online source states this about zero calorie foods. " The theory behind zero calories  or negative calories foods is that they contain such a scant amount of calories that the energy that you expend eating them cancels out their calories."  What are some of the so called zero calorie food? Here are a few of the foods: celery, cucumbers, cauliflower, asparagus and cabbage.

This morning, Wendy, our exercise instructor shared that her birthday cupcakes have zero calories. She is not fooling us.

so loved

"For God so 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 him." John 3:16 - 17

Wordless Wednesday

simple little pleasures

“After all," Anne had said to Marilla once, "I believe the nicest and sweetest days are not those on which anything very splendid or wonderful or exciting happens but just those that bring simple little pleasures, following one another softly, like pearls slipping off a string.” 
― L.M. Montgomery

A gentle answer

"A gentle answer turns away wrath,
but a harsh word stirs up anger.

The tongue of the wise adorns knowledge,
but the mouth of the fool gushes folly.

The eyes of the LORD are everywhere,
keeping watch on the wicked and the good.

The soothing tongue is a tree of life,
but a perverse tongue crushes the spirit.

A fool spurns a parent's discipline,
but whoever heeds correction shows prudence.

The house of the righteous contains great treasure,
but the income of the wicked brings ruin.

The lips of the wise spread knowledge,
but the hearts of the fools are not upright.

The LORD detests the sacrifice of the wicked,
but the prayer of the upright pleases him.

Proverbs 15:1 - 8 ( NIV)

Hank and Frances

 Hank and Frances are the pets of the week.  They have faces you have to love!  Ric (their  owner) says,  "Why leave them at home? When they can go for a ride!" They seem to be happy. Special thanks to Ric for letting me take their pictures.  Hank is the Boxer. Frances is a rescue dog.

 "I believe a calm dog is a happy, obedient dog that won't get into trouble."
Cesar Millan

They have calm faces.