joy's notepad: January 2014

Wednesday, January 29, 2014

Dead, but alive!

Not me, of course! In fact I feel so alive especially now. One more night sleep and of I go to visit my loved ones in the Philippines and to meet bloggers friends in PBO's outreach.

I am talking about these trees, no leaves, looks dry, brown in color but they are alive inside. In spring time, they will sprout again. Anyway, I think they still have charm as you can see in the pictures.

sunrise

Frozen mushrooms

sunset

Ending this post with these flowers and I hope that I can still post once in a while during my vacation in the Philippines.

Hugs from me!
JOY

Tuesday, January 28, 2014

Snowflakes!

I must admit that my body longs for a little more warm temperature. It has been so cold. Strong cold winds everyday. But, sun was up one day and it made the day brigther. So I put on my warm coveralls and went out to capture snowfalkes at the seashore. So friends, enjoy my snowflakes. They are free for the taking:)

Anyway, on Thursday, I am going to the Philippines where the sun shines almost all year round.

Leaving you this thought

Accept the past for what it was.

Acknowledge the present for what it is.

Anticipate the future for what it can be.

Tracy L. McNair

Sunday, January 26, 2014

The words that we speak"

The words that we speak!

Recognize any of these statements?

I am going to eat less and lose weight.

I am going to exercise.

I am going to quit bad habits.

I am going to work more.

I am going to be rich and famous!

I am going to pray.

I am going to read my bible every day.

The list of going to do or going to be can be endless.

There are many things we want to do because we want to be a better person and of course, to look better. Maybe we have the desire to be more popular? To gain more friends. To earn more money so that we can buy things that we need or want.

We made statements like these – strong declarations of what we want to happen in our lives especially after the New Year’s Eve. Am I right? But saying something and making sure it occurs are two different things. It takes effort and dedication, and even then, what we want to happen may not take place.

As I look at myself, there are many things in myself that I want to be better. But it takes so much time and effort to do all those things that it can drain my energy. Therefore, I just do my best and I let God do the rest.

How about you? Are you a person with one word? Do you always manage to do all the things that you had planned to do or said that you are going to do?

I know one that can do everything that He promised that He would do. Our Almighty God!

In Psalm 33:4-5 we read:

⁴For the word of the Lord is right and true;

he is faithful in all he does.

⁵The Lord loves righteousness and justice;

the earth is full of his unfailing love.

There are many though who still doubts His credentials or does not believe that He exist either, although the creations are enough evidence to define the Creator. Our loving and most powerful God. In fact, some can say that God is a liar. That he just couldn’t do anything! Just think of the wars that is going on, people that are being murdered, injustice everywhere, catastrophes and so on.

Have you blamed God for a disaster that happened in your life? I had done it many times before during those moments that I didn’t feel His presence. I am so thankful though for his mercy towards me that He had given me chances to learn from my mistakes again and again. I believe that He do it for everyone who repent.

Anyway, we must be careful of the words that we utter every moment. Our words can lead us to destruction of ourselves without we knowing or being aware of it.

We can read in Proverbs 18:21 :

²¹Death and life are in the power of the tongue: and they that love it shall eat the fruit thereof.

Again: “ How about the word that God speaks”?

According to Psalm 33: 6-9

⁶By the word of the Lord the heavens were made,

their starry host by the breath of his mouth.

What God says comes to being. God spoke , and the world came into existence. What a testimony of God’s greatness! That is the difference between us and God. When we speak, we voice out our wishes, when God speaks, He creates reality.

But the good thing is, if we proclaim God’s words and His promises into our lives, then they will too become reality. Because God’s words are powerful. A treasure and life for those who find it.

Jesus said, “The [Holy] Spirit gives life; the flesh counts for nothing. The words I have spoken to you are spirit and they are life.” (John 6:63)

“For the word of God is living and active.” (Hebrews 4:12)

So what would you choose? God’s words or your words?

JOY

Friday, January 24, 2014

Being thankful!

Hi friends! It is weekend again and time to summarize things to be thankful about. First

I want to thank you all for visiting my blog.

So this is my week so far! I was at the flowershop one day and I fell in love with the flowers there. I couldn't resist to buy some flower plants that was on sale.

After taking pictures of them, I pondered how these different colors impact my thinking.

First one:

I believe the color is indigo?

After google search I found out that the color meaning of indigo reflects great devotion, wisdom and justice along with fairness and impartiality. It is a defender of people's rights to the end.

How about white?

It is said that white is color at its most complete and pure, the color of perfection. The color meaning of white is purity, innocence, wholeness and completion.

What about yellow color?

This color relates to acquired knowledge. It is the color which resonates with the left or logic side of the brain stimulating our mental faculties and creating mental agility and perception.

Do you believe that by looking of these colors, it will make me or you acquire the traits of these colors? Maybe yes, maybe not:)

How about flowers with many colors?

Anyway, it makes me happy and peaceful looking at them.

More colorful sights around me:

Sunrise this morning

sunset ( not so clear picture, taken by my phone)

Yes, at work I had to think of things I can make as a prize for our lottery in Easter. The profits goes to the elderly. So, since yellow is the color of Easter here, I knitted a wine bag with yellow colors in it.

Inside this beautiful lady is a bottle of liqour:)

Since it will not be long for the spring to come, I crocheted this flower pot holder to welcome the spring. Those things that I made are usually sold in the activity center where I work. Those things inspire the elderly too to make something of their own or they buy those stuffs to give as a gift for their loved ones.

Anyway, this pot holder is mine and I am thinking to give them as a gift to someone. Red! Valentines color and it won't be long from now:)

Leaving you this thought:

Be thankful in all circumstances, for this is God's will for you who belong to Christ Jesus.

1 Thessalonians 5:18

JOY

Monday, January 20, 2014

God's handpaintings!

I was ironing clothes one day when I saw these special colors in the sky through our window. So, who can resist taking pictures?

Enjoy God's handpaintings and His words!

How great are your works, LORD, how profound your thoughts!

For you make me glad by your deeds, LORD; I sing for joy at what your hands have done.

For you, O LORD, have made me glad by your work; at the works of your hands I sing for joy.

Oh, the depth of the riches of the wisdom and knowledge of God! How unsearchable his judgments, and his paths beyond tracing out!

Remember to extol his work, which people have praised in song.

Sunset today!

Your righteousness is like the highest mountains, your justice like the great deep. You, LORD, preserve both people and animals.

Many, LORD my God, are the wonders you have done, the things you planned for us. None can compare with you; were I to speak and tell of your deeds, they would be too many to declare.