The Constant Friend

It seems that most of us aren't terribly good when it comes to change. We avoid it..well, as much as possible. I am practicing flexibility & willingness to learn. It wasn't long ago that I was adamant that I didn't need to run with technology. I had every reason imaginable up my sleeve as to why it just wasn't necessary...silly me! Quite a few of us can be a bit like that about the God stuff. We are quite sure that we have the answers & the right way & we shall not be moved because it's well...tradition; what we know, what we remember, always been done that way. Have you ever tried being childlike in a religious setting?..mmm not so easy. Children love learning. Mostly, they just like to show up, get involved & ask a LOT of questions. I'm not quite sure why Psalm 23 has become so well rehearsed at funeral services...perhaps it's the familiarity that brings us comfort; christian or not. I am feeling that perhaps it really is rather more a psalm for the living. I came across a simplified version a few weeks ago & it got me thinking. The pictures were pretty dickie so, (there is a fine line, sometimes, between vintage & naf!)

I imagined something else.

Here is my thoughts...see what you think.

 Lord, you are my Shepherd

...that's relationship

credit: Barb Pearon

because of that, I have everything I need.

free via The Hub pages.com

You give me rest in the meadow grass,

lead me beside quiet streams & help me find places of beauty.

Jessie Wilcox Smith

You restore my soul....You, make me whole.

via picasa albums

You send me in the right direction..

via beauty in everything

& help me find out who I really am.....that blesses Your heart no end.

via beauty in everything

Even walking through hard & scary places I will not be afraid because I know that You are right there beside me..

via we heart it

guarding me

we heart it

& guiding me no matter what

Susan Brown: artist

Knowing that You love me makes me feel secure..

flickr

 You make me tea parties even when nasty people mean me harm...

Country Living magazine

You have welcomed me as your guest.

Butterfly Photography by Kimberly Chorney

& made me feel special

via we heart it

so that my life is full of abundance & all sweet things.

via we heart it

Your beauty & love chase after me every day of my life.

via we heart it

How can I not be deeply grateful..

via beauty in everything

Forever, I will be with you at Your house... you want me to come & stay...forever!

 You are so good to me..thank you!  via we heart it

Margaret Tarrant    "He prayeth best"

This post was me joining in with others for a Pause in Lent. If you'd like to read some more pop over here to Floss in France.

Every Blessing & much 

X0X0X0 

Goodness Loves Kindness

I have a lovely friend who quite often talks about the "Artist" vs the "Scientist", she & I being "artists". I'm sure that there are other "kinds" of people but the point is figuring out how you're wired so that you can find your place in the world & get to know why you see things the way that you do. Perhaps it was all those science minded sorts that so carefully compartmentalized life for us all, or maybe it was the religious crowd, either way, I no longer believe in separatism. Life is a whole deal...wholesomely, wholeheartedly to be lived in full colour. Every day is sacred.

If I figure out I who I really am, rather than, who I think I'm supposed to be...with all the gentle kindness I can muster...cos He says I'm to love me too, not just everyone else... then I begin to really live. 

Gentle Kindness by Kelly Rae Roberts: artist, author, possibilitarian

If I then ditch the adult view finder, the only question I ever really need to ask after that, is: "What would I want them to do for me? It's really that simple... and mostly the answer is: be kind. 

Margaret Tarrant

When you've abandoned the adult lense, almost everything starts to look different.

Walking home from kindy just down the road, my nephew stopped to stare at a bush, at this leaf, in fact..& then stare some more..finally concluding "someone painted that!" He then carefully picked the admired leaf & carried it ever so gently all the way home.

 I've found a lot lately, that, goodness loves kindness. No wonder the Victorians made up the notion of the three graces... 

The Christian Graces...faith, hope & charity. Goodness, gracious me!

Back when I was really sick, for a very long time, I learnt the "it'll be ok, just do the next thing in front of you" technique....so, when dear Nina took her 90 year old life in her hands & crossed the road to buy plums last week it was easy to be kind & sit her down & patch her up when we discovered she had fallen in to her vicious old lemon tree & cut here arm to shreds.   

& (since that's what we are about selling fruit at the gate & stuff) when we saw a family moving in down the road, & found the move was in order to escape the devastation in their lives caused by the Christchurch earthquake, it was a simple thing to drop in a box of fruit...just being kind (3 foster kids)

Probably should pop in again really.

& goodness, why it's everywhere! Even here!

You've just gotta keep practicing it & keeping your eyes peeled.

Goodness & kindness hold hands with gentleness & integrity & before you know it you've got a little "Sonshine"   

It's all just...

The glue that holds the whole thing together: authenticity.

Being real, brave, telling truth & being grateful.

He lives in goodness (all goodness). He lives in kindness. He lives in LOVE. 

 credit: Kelly Rae Roberts
That's why He made that remarkable journey to the cross..because He loved us with utter abandon...He's nuts about us...imagine that!
As I have pondered this time of Lent, I have come to the joyful conclusion that I am enough & He has done enough & loves me more than enough & that we are all sorted, for all time and that is pretty amazing. So I'm just showing up & I'm grateful as anything.
If you'd like to catch up with other posts along this theme (well probably none quite like this one!) I mean Lent, then please do make your way to France by clicking right here & you'll be able to find Floss & links to some other ponderings over there.
With very kindest regards and much

 X0X0X0

All the Prettiest Things

I am a optimistic realist. My days, as my life, are adorned & filled with beauty. Without loveliness my heart soon droops & wilts. I am a lover of beauty & yet simultaneously, entirely pragmatic & a solution seeker. I have been scolded by leadership types for always looking for the rainbows in life...thank GOD that I never listened! I lug bags of compost & manure all around the garden & keep a large worm farm in an old bath, all the while wearing my pretty floral blouses & homemade shorts. Rob used to tell me off for wearing my "nice" clothes but he's given up on that one & now concedes that it doesn't really matter after all! I've had to work through an awful lot of crap in my little life & sometimes thought that I'd never make it, until, I started blogging & taking photos all of my own & then quite suddenly a kind of peace crept in & sat quietly down under my chair. I had found my Utopia, my home. Like seeking knowledge, beauty is a fluid quest with no ceiling. Where ever I go I see the loveliness & I am so grateful.
A while ago, I came across a discarded Romantic Homes magazine. I can't quite work it out, they end up retailing here for $23, which is absurd & the printing is odd... kind of blurry, so I have taken some pictures & cropped & edited this since this is just too pretty not to share.

    Just the loveliest address book. I was also given a tin of cards..so kind. Don't think that I want to give any of them away!

Isn't this just adorable!!!

  via Peekaboophotos

All the details & credits are there in the pictures if you fancy following the trail.

Wishing you all much loveliness this week

MUCH

X0X0X0