tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-199353242024-03-05T13:11:38.655-06:00C. EternityYou really can if you just try...There are little slivers of it shining through the darkness everywhere you look. But you must do just that.Christa Swartzhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/02272453158445837570noreply@blogger.comBlogger18125tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-19935324.post-13223831398852788222012-06-26T09:08:00.002-05:002012-07-11T10:11:32.416-05:00Talking to Angels and Crickets...<strong><em><a href="http://esv.scripturetext.com/psalms/103.htm" target="_blank">REGARDING PSALM 103 ~</a></em></strong><br />
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<em>Bless the Lord, O my soul, and all that is within me bless His holy name! Bless the Lord, O my soul, and forget not all His benefits: who forgives ALL my sin, who heals all my diseases, who redeems my life from the pit, who crowns me with His steadfast love and mercy, who satisfies me with good so that my youth is renewed like the eagle's. ....</em><br />
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When I sit to read God's word this morning, it envelopes me with it's deliciousness. I want to rush through the chapters and gorge on it, but the richness, and deep sweetness is found in tiny increments for me to savour and contemplate as I read each word, each phrase, each line. [For instance, I just love how many hundreds of times I see the word, "steadfast" used before the word "love", when describing God's love towards me.] <br />
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My heart pounds as I read aloud in this empty room, the words of <a href="http://esv.scripturetext.com/psalms/103.htm" target="_blank">Psalm 103....</a> when I get to talk to the angels who stand in God's presence and do his bidding...I want to shout...shout loud enough to reach across the expanse of all creation so as to reach the ears of every last one of them and command them to bless the Lord with me!!<span style="color: #45818e;"> </span><em><strong><span style="color: #45818e;">"Bless the Lord, O you his angels, you mighty ones who do his word, obeying the voice of his word! Bless the Lord, all his hosts, his ministers who do his will!"</span></strong></em><br />
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I like to think about the little crickets and clouds, the trees and wildflowers and stars all hearing me tell them to bless God with me. <em><span style="color: #45818e;"><strong>"Bless the Lord, all his works, in all places of his dominion..."</strong></span></em><br />
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By the time I reach the next to the last phrase of the Psalm, instead of shouting, my eyes are filled with tears and my voice quiets and faulters. I find myself at just a raspy whisper as I return to the final words: <strong><em><span style="color: #45818e;">"Bless the Lord, O my soul."</span></em></strong> I realize how very small I am in the scope of all creation and eternity. If the angels are busy and don't pay me any heed, if the stars have all fallen asleep, if the cacophony of the traffic drowns out the sound of my voice so the wildflowers and trees and crickets don't join me....even if I am all alone in this tiny corner of the earth, I will bless the Lord, with a full heart and overflowing soul. <br />
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<em><strong>BLESS THE LORD, O MY SOUL, AND ALL THAT IS WITHIN ME BLESS HIS HOLY NAME!</strong></em>Christa Swartzhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/02272453158445837570noreply@blogger.com0Nashville, TN, USA36.1666667 -86.783333335.9615672 -87.099190299999989 36.3717662 -86.4674763tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-19935324.post-67697231511530975842011-09-19T13:09:00.000-05:002012-06-26T09:16:53.585-05:00The Last Letter HomeIn 1900, an uprising in China against Christians and evangelical churches claimed some 32,000 lives. The Shanxi Province was a particularly dangerous place to openly follow Christ. Lizzie Atwater, a young pregnant missionary there, wrote a final letter to her parents on August 3, 1900:<br />
<em><span style="font-family: "Courier New", Courier, monospace; font-size: large;">"Dear Ones, I long for a sight of your dear faces, but I fear we shall not meet on earth... I am preparing for the end very quietly and calmly. The Lord is wonderfully near, and He will not fail me. I was very restless and excited while there seemed a chance of life, but God has taken away that feeling, and now I just pray for grace to meet the terrible end bravely. The pain will soon be over, and oh the sweetness of the welcome above! </span></em><br />
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</em><em><span style="font-family: "Courier New", Courier, monospace; font-size: large;">My little baby will go with me. I think God will give it to me in Heaven, and my dear mother will be so glad to see us. I cannot imagine the Savior's welcome. Oh, that will compensate for all of these days of suspense. Dear ones, live near to God and cling less closely to earth. There is no other way by which we can receive that peace from God which passeth understanding.... I must keep calm and still these hours. I do not regret coming to China, but am sorry I have done so little. My married life, two precious years, have been so very full of happiness. We will die together, my dear husband and I.</span></em><br />
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<em><span style="font-family: "Courier New", Courier, monospace; font-size: large;">I used to dread separation. If we escape now it will be a miracle. I send my love to all of you, and the dear friends who remember me."</span></em><br />
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Lizzie saw eternity. Twelve days after her letter was written, on August 15, 1900, Lizzie Atwater, her unborn baby, and six other missionaries were hacked to death by their guards. <br />
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May God give us the same courage, and his peace that passes understanding during the uncertain times we live in. If you don't know Jesus, please write me and let me introduce you. We are in very precarious times. You need all the courage and help God has available for you.<br />
<span style="font-family: "Courier New", Courier, monospace; font-size: large;"></span>Christa Swartzhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/02272453158445837570noreply@blogger.com2tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-19935324.post-11033687729808869852011-08-13T16:39:00.000-05:002012-06-26T09:19:07.865-05:00Shallow Happiness<h2 style="text-align: center;">
<em><span style="color: #073763;">"The difference between shallow happiness </span></em></h2>
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<em><span style="color: #073763;">and deep sustaining joy is sorrow."</span></em> </h2>
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- W.Wangerin</h2>
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</div>Christa Swartzhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/02272453158445837570noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-19935324.post-84577174369564331452011-01-16T23:03:00.002-06:002011-01-17T19:46:32.537-06:00They Also Serve Who Only Stand and Wait...<div style="border-bottom: medium none; border-left: medium none; border-right: medium none; border-top: medium none;"><span style="color: black;">Ready or not, a new year has begun. Budgets, diets, schedules, and new lists of resolutions should be made by now...here in this 3rd week of January. I like the feeling of hopefulness about all that lies ahead, but I have to admit, another feeling competes with that hopefulness. It's a feeling of "Wait a minute! I am at the starting line, the guy has just fired the gun to start the race, but where are we running? How far do we have to go? and WHY are there not pointers showing which way to even run?!" </span></div><br />
<div style="border-bottom: medium none; border-left: medium none; border-right: medium none; border-top: medium none;"><span style="color: black;">Do you ever feel that way? Spiritually, I am especially aware of this deep hunger to be found in the center of God's will, doing whatever He has in mind...but I am clueless as to what that actually is! My pessimistic mind usually fills in the blank with whatever is least desirable or requires the most amount of self denial, forcing the Holy Spirit, like a referee stepping in, to gently remind me that is not how God "wills".</span></div><div style="border-bottom: medium none; border-left: medium none; border-right: medium none; border-top: medium none;"><br />
</div><div style="border-bottom: medium none; border-left: medium none; border-right: medium none; border-top: medium none;"><span style="color: black;">A couple years ago, in a study with my mentors, Sara and Ava, we studied this beautiful poem by John Milton, that has stuck with me ever since, and given me peace on these days when I wait...</span></div><br />
<div style="text-align: center;"><strong><span style="color: black; font-size: x-large;">On His Blindness</span></strong><br />
<span style="color: black;">John Milton (1604-1674)</span><span style="color: black;"></span></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEg_P1V4X81-WIgK7VxCkaCaBSkZJUnqURQxGM0lstzcmWGZJeaxuJ9ohyZN62mNU3zm8F6CBUZrs3w7GISchrAYjlBh156aMSgr8P6q1EBUTnSeyLi6adj7uV7bcSOek8BdKJPB/s1600/31842_p.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><span style="color: black;"><img border="0" n4="true" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEg_P1V4X81-WIgK7VxCkaCaBSkZJUnqURQxGM0lstzcmWGZJeaxuJ9ohyZN62mNU3zm8F6CBUZrs3w7GISchrAYjlBh156aMSgr8P6q1EBUTnSeyLi6adj7uV7bcSOek8BdKJPB/s1600/31842_p.jpg" /></span></a></div><div style="text-align: center;"><span style="color: black; font-size: large;">When I consider how my light is spent </span></div><div style="text-align: center;"><span style="color: black; font-size: large;">Ere half my days in this dark world and wide, </span></div><div style="text-align: center;"><span style="color: black; font-size: large;">And that one Talent which is death to hide </span></div><div style="text-align: center;"><span style="color: black; font-size: large;">Lodged with me useless, though my soul more bent </span></div><div style="text-align: center;"><span style="color: black; font-size: large;">To serve therewith my Maker, and present </span></div><div style="text-align: center;"><span style="color: black; font-size: large;">My true account, lest He returning chide, </span></div><div style="text-align: center;"><span style="color: black; font-size: large;">"Doth God exact day-labour, light denied?" </span></div><div style="border-bottom: medium none; border-left: medium none; border-right: medium none; border-top: medium none; text-align: center;"><span style="color: black; font-size: large;">I fondly ask. But Patience, to prevent </span></div><div style="border-bottom: medium none; border-left: medium none; border-right: medium none; border-top: medium none; text-align: center;"><span style="color: black; font-size: large;">That murmur, soon replies, "God doth not need </span></div><div style="border-bottom: medium none; border-left: medium none; border-right: medium none; border-top: medium none; text-align: center;"><span style="color: black; font-size: large;">Either man's work or his own gifts. Who best </span></div><div style="border-bottom: medium none; border-left: medium none; border-right: medium none; border-top: medium none; text-align: center;"><span style="color: black; font-size: large;">Bear his mild yoke, they serve him best. His state </span></div><div style="border-bottom: medium none; border-left: medium none; border-right: medium none; border-top: medium none; text-align: center;"><span style="color: black; font-size: large;">Is kingly: thousands at his bidding speed, </span></div><div style="border-bottom: medium none; border-left: medium none; border-right: medium none; border-top: medium none; text-align: center;"><span style="color: black; font-size: large;">And post o'er land and ocean without rest; </span></div><div style="border-bottom: medium none; border-left: medium none; border-right: medium none; border-top: medium none; text-align: center;"><span style="color: black; font-size: large;">They also serve who only stand and wait." </span></div>Christa Swartzhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/02272453158445837570noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-19935324.post-45062826845806891992010-12-22T21:18:00.000-06:002010-12-22T21:18:59.304-06:00Merry Christmas! Happy Birthday, Jesus. I love you!<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhyfAQIShzUGks_XQC3lfn0GjT07ndtbfbwHJxUrSMdAri0Ukdl7Kbtw0d9KQsfZ3wf2OkZc4DeN2ArK4aEa3lSS1Uy6cqTQtTS1ZJ2wx4l9B42Gm6qLchdJlz4JlQdE_edwDC6/s1600/5218358677_0e3f2176cf_z.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="clear: left; cssfloat: left; float: left; height: 417px; margin-bottom: 1em; margin-right: 1em; width: 618px;"><img border="0" n4="true" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhyfAQIShzUGks_XQC3lfn0GjT07ndtbfbwHJxUrSMdAri0Ukdl7Kbtw0d9KQsfZ3wf2OkZc4DeN2ArK4aEa3lSS1Uy6cqTQtTS1ZJ2wx4l9B42Gm6qLchdJlz4JlQdE_edwDC6/s1600/5218358677_0e3f2176cf_z.jpg" /></a></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><br />
</div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><em><span style="color: black; font-family: Times, "Times New Roman", serif; font-size: x-large;">In the Bleak Midwinter </span></em></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><span style="color: black;"><span style="font-size: xx-small;">Christina Rossetti (1872)</span> </span></div><div style="text-align: center;"><span style="color: black;"><br />
</span></div><div style="text-align: center;"><span style="color: black;">In the bleak mid-winter</span></div><div style="text-align: center;"><span style="color: black;">Frosty wind made moan,</span></div><div style="text-align: center;"><span style="color: black;">Earth stood hard as iron,</span></div><div style="text-align: center;"><span style="color: black;">Water like a stone;</span></div><div style="text-align: center;"><span style="color: black;">Snow had fallen, snow on snow,</span></div><div style="text-align: center;"><span style="color: black;">Snow on snow,</span></div><div style="text-align: center;"><span style="color: black;">In the bleak mid-winter</span></div><div style="text-align: center;"><span style="color: black;">Long ago.</span></div><div style="text-align: center;"><br />
</div><div style="text-align: center;"><span style="color: black;">Our God, Heaven cannot hold Him</span></div><div style="text-align: center;"><span style="color: black;">Nor earth sustain;</span></div><div style="text-align: center;"><span style="color: black;">Heaven and earth shall flee away</span></div><div style="text-align: center;"><span style="color: black;">When He comes to reign:</span></div><div style="text-align: center;"><span style="color: black;">In the bleak mid-winter</span></div><div style="text-align: center;"><span style="color: black;">A stable-place sufficed</span></div><div style="text-align: center;"><span style="color: black;">The Lord God Almighty,</span></div><div style="text-align: center;"><span style="color: black;">Jesus Christ.</span></div><div style="text-align: center;"><br />
</div><div style="text-align: center;"><span style="color: black;">Enough for Him, whom cherubim</span></div><div style="text-align: center;"><span style="color: black;">Worship night and day,</span></div><div style="text-align: center;"><span style="color: black;">A breastful of milk</span></div><div style="text-align: center;"><span style="color: black;">And a mangerful of hay;</span></div><div style="text-align: center;"><span style="color: black;">Enough for Him, whom angels</span></div><div style="text-align: center;"><span style="color: black;">Fall down before,</span></div><div style="text-align: center;"><span style="color: black;">The ox and ass and camel</span></div><div style="text-align: center;"><span style="color: black;">Which adore.</span></div><div style="text-align: center;"><br />
</div><div style="text-align: center;"><span style="color: black;">Angels and archangels</span></div><div style="text-align: center;"><span style="color: black;">May have gathered there,</span></div><div style="text-align: center;"><span style="color: black;">Cherubim and seraphim</span></div><div style="text-align: center;"><span style="color: black;">Thronged the air,</span></div><div style="text-align: center;"><span style="color: black;">But only His mother</span></div><div style="text-align: center;"><span style="color: black;">In her maiden bliss,</span></div><div style="text-align: center;"><span style="color: black;">Worshipped the Beloved</span></div><div style="text-align: center;"><span style="color: black;">With a kiss.</span></div><div style="text-align: center;"><br />
</div><div style="text-align: center;"><span style="color: black;">What can I give Him,</span></div><div style="text-align: center;"><span style="color: black;">Poor as I am?</span></div><div style="text-align: center;"><span style="color: black;">If I were a shepherd</span></div><div style="text-align: center;"><span style="color: black;">I would bring a lamb,</span></div><div style="text-align: center;"><span style="color: black;">If I were a wise man</span></div><div style="text-align: center;"><span style="color: black;">I would do my part,</span></div><div style="text-align: center;"><span style="color: black;">Yet what I can I give Him,</span></div><div style="text-align: center;"><span style="color: black;">I'll give Him my heart.</span></div><div style="text-align: center;"><br />
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</div>Christa Swartzhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/02272453158445837570noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-19935324.post-26628301644729773572010-09-22T20:35:00.002-05:002010-09-22T20:38:21.596-05:00Happy First Day of Autumn!<iframe class="youtube-player" frameborder="0" height="360" src="http://www.youtube.com/embed/aP6Zs8B9Zyc" type="text/html" width="580"></iframe>Christa Swartzhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/02272453158445837570noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-19935324.post-3928688275336485212010-08-20T14:09:00.001-05:002010-08-20T14:11:08.302-05:00Broken in the right places<span style="color: #274e13; font-size: large;">Years ago, a friend gave me the book, "Broken In the Right Place" by Alan Nelson. I didn't like reading about being broken, but today I can testify to the validity of the book. He begins by describing the most beautiful, wild stallion. In all it's glory, it is strong and proud and free. It rules over the other horses just by it's powerful presence. It is a glorious sight! Everyone who looks on is in awe, as it bucks and prances and revels in its elegance.</span><br />
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<span style="color: #274e13; font-size: large;">Yes, yes, yes!!! ....so why couldn't he just have stopped there? I would like that so much better....but he asks the question. "How useful is that horse to it's master?"</span><br />
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<span style="color: #274e13; font-size: large;">Uh, I guess it is useful for breeding, but it can't be ridden or used for any helpful tasks. It will never be in tune with a rider or know how to take instruction to go anywhere specific. To the master it has far less value than the broken horse next to it.</span><br />
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<span style="color: #274e13; font-size: large;">Pain. Discipline. Rebuke. Work. Training. More pain. These are the elements required to make any self-willed, strong-willed animal usable to a master. Thankfully, we are not just like horses, and our Master is gentle and most patient. He leads us and trains us carefully, but he does break us. We get to choose to put ourselves into his care in the first place. And we get to choose our response to his "breaking" of us. By nature, it could be easy to respond to him with bitterness, hurt feelings, and temper tantrums. But if we trust him, if we believe it is for our good, if we know that it will lead ultimately to our happiness and usefulness to him, we can let him break us and carry us while we heal correctly. We can accept his comfort and companionship through the process, and something supernatural will begin to happen. Our spirit, and His spirit begin to communicate, and come in tune with one another. </span><br />
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<span style="color: #274e13; font-size: large;">Serendipity. Gentleness. Courage. Strength. Grace. Usefulness to the Master. These are just a few of the results that come from allowing him to break us....in the right places. </span><br />
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<em><span style="color: #274e13; font-size: large;">Oh, somehow Father, break me in the right places and make me useful and pleasurable to you!</span></em>Christa Swartzhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/02272453158445837570noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-19935324.post-1401067678586339192010-07-31T09:47:00.001-05:002010-07-31T09:49:10.931-05:00Part 3 of this little filmlet...<div style="text-align: center;"><span style="color: #660000;">If you haven't watched the first 2 parts, please do before you see this last little bit. No "word picture" is perfect, but hopefully you will catch a glimpse of the eternal by the way this portrays a picture of Christ loving his children... He loves you, more than any man or woman can love you. You have more worth to him than you can possibly know. Let that change the way you see yourself and others. Enjoy...</span></div><span style="color: #660000;"><br />
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<span style="color: #660000;"><object height="335" width="430"><param name="movie" value="http://www.youtube.com/v/BuyBwR7p-iY&hl=en_US&fs=1?color1=0x5d1719&color2=0xcd311b&border=1"></param><param name="allowFullScreen" value="true"></param><param name="allowscriptaccess" value="always"></param><embed src="http://www.youtube.com/v/BuyBwR7p-iY&hl=en_US&fs=1?color1=0x5d1719&color2=0xcd311b&border=1" type="application/x-shockwave-flash" allowscriptaccess="always" allowfullscreen="true" width="430" height="335"></embed></object></span>Christa Swartzhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/02272453158445837570noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-19935324.post-7216489526879083612010-07-29T14:58:00.001-05:002010-07-31T09:48:54.413-05:00Part 2 of Yesterday's movie...<div style="text-align: center;"><span style="color: #660000;">Here is part 2 of yesterday's little filmlet. I know the acting/actors are less than steller, but the message is a glimpse of the eternal, so I simply must post it! Enjoy...</span></div><br />
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<object height="355" width="445"><param name="movie" value="http://www.youtube.com/v/4KDi4Oii0Es&hl=en_US&fs=1"></param><param name="allowFullScreen" value="true"></param><param name="allowscriptaccess" value="always"></param><embed src="http://www.youtube.com/v/4KDi4Oii0Es&hl=en_US&fs=1" type="application/x-shockwave-flash" allowscriptaccess="always" allowfullscreen="true" width="445" height="355"></embed></object>Christa Swartzhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/02272453158445837570noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-19935324.post-21306976983874394582010-07-28T12:08:00.003-05:002010-07-31T09:48:33.800-05:00A picture of Christ's love...<div style="text-align: center;"><span style="color: #660000;">Please don't be mistaken. I am not a Mormon. This odd little filmlet was produced at one of their universities, which I do not wish to support or promote, however, it had a deep impact on me as a young woman. I don't know if there are any men on earth quite like this Johnny Lingo, but more than that, this is a beautiful picture of Love. I imagine this must be how Christ loves me, and sees what I can be, not the mess that I may be at present. :) </span></div><div style="text-align: center;"><span style="color: #660000;"><br />
</span></div><div style="text-align: center;"><span style="color: #660000;">Here is the first of it's 3 parts...</span></div><br />
<object height="355" width="450"><param name="movie" value="http://www.youtube.com/v/x-PLyy0XM3Y&hl=en_US&fs=1"></param><param name="allowFullScreen" value="true"></param><param name="allowscriptaccess" value="always"></param><embed src="http://www.youtube.com/v/x-PLyy0XM3Y&hl=en_US&fs=1" type="application/x-shockwave-flash" allowscriptaccess="always" allowfullscreen="true" width="450" height="355"></embed></object>Christa Swartzhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/02272453158445837570noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-19935324.post-57660032944874380182010-07-21T15:41:00.000-05:002010-07-21T15:41:06.903-05:00Love...<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjvZJ-cR3hv2SFCb9d919TloVepiug6u16BN5Pgi1V9vIg70UmXeahxZyVARH6AalVSpBhUAxv7NGpe-rVXrK81KbtrrA-4YHD1KK-khwv9N3vQ_ku55v2DmVC1vLoP2gFJSCuJ/s1600/tree+star.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" hw="true" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjvZJ-cR3hv2SFCb9d919TloVepiug6u16BN5Pgi1V9vIg70UmXeahxZyVARH6AalVSpBhUAxv7NGpe-rVXrK81KbtrrA-4YHD1KK-khwv9N3vQ_ku55v2DmVC1vLoP2gFJSCuJ/s320/tree+star.jpg" /></a></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><span style="color: #660000; font-family: "Trebuchet MS", sans-serif; font-size: x-large;"><strong>"Once you have been loved by God, </strong></span></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><span style="color: #660000; font-family: "Trebuchet MS", sans-serif; font-size: x-large;"><strong>you are loved completely, </strong></span></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><span style="color: #660000; font-family: "Trebuchet MS", sans-serif; font-size: x-large;"><strong>and you do not need to grasp anymore."</strong></span> </div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"> -Shirley Rice</div>Christa Swartzhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/02272453158445837570noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-19935324.post-603903281139149142010-07-15T14:32:00.001-05:002010-07-15T14:33:39.452-05:00Faith and Poise...<span style="color: #660000;"><strong>"True Christian faith finds its greatest triumph, not in the visible exploits, but in a quiet confidence and poise when there are no encouraging circumstances." - Richard Taylor</strong></span> <br />
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><br />
</div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEh1-Ce4QLSBrh84FfgQhHHtCOWpWshYMPhY9AIdEZS1mk80Uwj-MWA295U7JXf5xI2jLt8ekk57k_9mZ5PMtBfYHOeIgpf8Q6aqqXH96KXFgL8_zGLZTt6xQVyHzLWQ3DgKm2Yc/s1600/froglet+hangin+on.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="248" rw="true" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEh1-Ce4QLSBrh84FfgQhHHtCOWpWshYMPhY9AIdEZS1mk80Uwj-MWA295U7JXf5xI2jLt8ekk57k_9mZ5PMtBfYHOeIgpf8Q6aqqXH96KXFgL8_zGLZTt6xQVyHzLWQ3DgKm2Yc/s320/froglet+hangin+on.jpg" width="320" /></a></div>Christa Swartzhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/02272453158445837570noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-19935324.post-72631784611430721192010-07-08T11:20:00.003-05:002010-07-09T13:18:03.918-05:00We Have This Moment<div style="border-bottom: medium none; border-left: medium none; border-right: medium none; border-top: medium none;"><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><span style="font-size: x-small; margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="240" rw="true" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEi2ZvBZYLHu1SHlpVPd5zxCU4WnngbS_8Ms5w9YX_QcIkEVdg9CsxCgixxq8PRET4ogs4spaIIF0dRUicuuTImEj6E3aWaIxMJ47bvaC2gEFKMRLWoJajEppUrhpmOyD7ppIV4u/s320/where+youll+find+me.jpg" width="320" /></span></div><br />
<span style="color: #274e13; font-family: Georgia, "Times New Roman", serif;">We have this moment to hold in our hands </span></div><div style="border-bottom: medium none; border-left: medium none; border-right: medium none; border-top: medium none;"><span style="color: #274e13; font-family: Georgia, "Times New Roman", serif;">And to touch as it slips through our fingers like sand </span></div><div style="border-bottom: medium none; border-left: medium none; border-right: medium none; border-top: medium none;"><span style="color: #274e13; font-family: Georgia, "Times New Roman", serif;">Yesterday's gone and tomorrow may never come </span></div><div style="border-bottom: medium none; border-left: medium none; border-right: medium none; border-top: medium none;"><span style="color: #274e13; font-family: Georgia, "Times New Roman", serif;">But we have this moment, today. </span></div><div style="border-bottom: medium none; border-left: medium none; border-right: medium none; border-top: medium none;"><span style="font-family: Georgia, "Times New Roman", serif;"><br />
<span style="color: #274e13;"></span></span></div><div style="border-bottom: medium none; border-left: medium none; border-right: medium none; border-top: medium none;"><span style="color: #274e13; font-family: Georgia, "Times New Roman", serif;">Hold tight to the sound of the music of living</span></div><div style="border-bottom: medium none; border-left: medium none; border-right: medium none; border-top: medium none;"><span style="color: #274e13; font-family: Georgia, "Times New Roman", serif;">Happy sounds from the laughter of children at play</span></div><div style="border-bottom: medium none; border-left: medium none; border-right: medium none; border-top: medium none;"><span style="color: #274e13; font-family: Georgia, "Times New Roman", serif;">Hold my hand as we walk through the sweet fragrant meadows</span></div><div style="border-bottom: medium none; border-left: medium none; border-right: medium none; border-top: medium none;"><span style="color: #274e13; font-family: Georgia, "Times New Roman", serif;">Making memories of what was today.</span></div><div style="border-bottom: medium none; border-left: medium none; border-right: medium none; border-top: medium none;"></div><div style="border-bottom: medium none; border-left: medium none; border-right: medium none; border-top: medium none;"><span style="color: #274e13; font-family: Georgia, "Times New Roman", serif;">Tiny voice that I hear is my little girl calling</span></div><div style="border-bottom: medium none; border-left: medium none; border-right: medium none; border-top: medium none;"><span style="color: #274e13; font-family: Georgia, "Times New Roman", serif;">For daddy to hear just what she has to say</span></div><div style="border-bottom: medium none; border-left: medium none; border-right: medium none; border-top: medium none;"><span style="color: #274e13; font-family: Georgia, "Times New Roman", serif;">My little boy running there by the hillside</span></div><div style="border-bottom: medium none; border-left: medium none; border-right: medium none; border-top: medium none;"><span style="color: #274e13; font-family: Georgia, "Times New Roman", serif;">May never be quite like today.</span></div><span style="font-family: Georgia, "Times New Roman", serif;"><br />
<span style="color: #274e13;"></span></span><br />
<span style="color: #274e13; font-family: Georgia, "Times New Roman", serif;">Tender words gentle touch and a good cup of coffee</span><br />
<span style="color: #274e13; font-family: Georgia, "Times New Roman", serif;">And someone who loves me and wants me to stay</span><br />
<span style="color: #274e13; font-family: Georgia, "Times New Roman", serif;">Hold them dear while they’re near don’t wait for tomorrow</span><br />
<span style="color: #274e13; font-family: Georgia, "Times New Roman", serif;">To look back and wish for today.</span><br />
<span style="font-family: Georgia, "Times New Roman", serif;"><br />
<span style="color: #274e13;"></span></span><br />
<span style="color: #274e13; font-family: Georgia, "Times New Roman", serif;">Yesterday's gone and tomorrow may never come </span><br />
<span style="color: #274e13; font-family: Georgia, "Times New Roman", serif;">but we have this moment, today.</span><br />
<span style="font-size: xx-small;">- Gloria Gaither<script>
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</script>Christa Swartzhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/02272453158445837570noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-19935324.post-19625708884006640352010-06-19T21:12:00.008-05:002010-07-15T14:36:42.832-05:00Nothing Gold Can Stay<div align="center"><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><span style="color: #274e13; margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img alt="" border="0" height="213" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5484673970432547666" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEi2JDGCmp1SUTwLlIBw1NLnP25M8l3uDRfVfEL9TAVlvaKHC64h7Epn5zKRbTDYh27AXLcFxZQQfwt1qVhYCDOMTBd9fgWpId2LqmXtrPq5MPc1HGmIAK7vkt_NER0qmQ3UxzbQ/s320/gods+glory.bmp" style="float: left; height: 213px; margin: 0px 10px 10px 0px; width: 320px;" width="320" /></span></div><br />
<span style="color: #274e13;"></span></div><div align="center"> </div><div align="center"> </div><div align="center"> </div><div align="center"> </div><div align="center"> </div><div align="center"> </div><div align="center"> </div><div align="center"> </div><div align="center"> </div><div align="center"> </div><div align="center"> </div><em><div style="text-align: left;"><br />
<span style="color: #274e13;"><strong>Nature's first green is gold,<br />
Her hardest hue to hold.<br />
Her early leaf's a flower;<br />
But only so an hour.<br />
Then leaf subsides to leaf.<br />
So Eden sank to grief,<br />
So dawn goes down to day.<br />
Nothing gold can stay.<br />
<br />
<span style="font-size: 78%;">- Robert Frost</span></strong></span></div></em>Christa Swartzhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/02272453158445837570noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-19935324.post-43121039405439003652010-06-19T20:37:00.010-05:002010-07-15T14:37:40.275-05:00On Finding the Right Man....<a href="http://i548.photobucket.com/albums/ii328/cswartz1/Favorite%20Miscellany%20Pics/old_hands_jpg-3.jpg" style="clear: left; cssfloat: left; float: left; margin-bottom: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img alt="" border="0" height="219" src="http://i548.photobucket.com/albums/ii328/cswartz1/Favorite%20Miscellany%20Pics/old_hands_jpg-3.jpg" style="float: right; height: 231px; margin: 0px 0px 10px 10px; width: 337px;" width="320" /></a><br />
<div><div><em><span style="color: #660000;">My role as a woman might be slightly different than this..., but Tommy Nelson gets it right in this paragraph below. I want a man with this mindset!</span></em><br />
<strong><span style="color: #660000;"></span></strong></div><br />
<span style="color: #660000;"><br />
</span><br />
<div><strong><span style="color: #660000;">Finding the Mate of Your Dreams</span></strong><br />
<span style="color: #660000;">by Tommy Nelson</span></div><span style="color: #660000;"><br />
</span><br />
<div><span style="color: #660000;">Everyone asks me how to find the man or woman of their dreams. The best way I heard on how to pick a mate was this. You run as fast as you can for Jesus Christ, commit your life to Him, love Him, sell out to Him, and stay devoted to Him. Then you start looking to your right and left and see who is running at the same speed. And you wave at them. And if they stay up with you, after a while, say, "Come on over!" And you're running together. That's how you find your mate. When I met Teresa, I wanted to spend my life sharing the Gospel, she wanted to spend her life winning people to Christ. She wanted to bring kids to the Lord, I wanted to have children that loved the Lord. By God's grace, if we keep doing it right we're going to go a long time.</span><br />
<span style="color: #660000;"><br />
</span><br />
<em><span style="color: #660000;">And this quote from Billy Graham gives me hope that everything doesn't have to always be hunky dory....</span></em><br />
<span style="color: #660000;"><strong>Happily Incompatible</strong> </span></div><div><span style="color: #660000;">by Billy Graham</span><br />
<span style="color: #660000;"><br />
</span><br />
<span style="color: #660000;">Ruth and I don't have a perfect marriage, but we have a great one. In a perfect marriage, everything is always the finest and best imaginable; like a Greek statue, the proportions are exact and the finish is unblemished. Who knows any human beings like that? For a married couple to expect perfection in each other is unrealistic. We learned that even before we married.</span><br />
<span style="color: #660000;"><br />
</span><br />
<span style="color: #660000;">The unblemished ideal exists only in "happily ever after" fairy tales. I think that there is some merit to a description I once read of a married couple as "happily incompatible." Ruth likes to say, "If two people agree on everything, one of them is unnecessary." The sooner we accept that as a fact of life, the better we will be able to adjust to each other and enjoy togetherness. </span></div></div>Christa Swartzhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/02272453158445837570noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-19935324.post-28681312981594663332010-06-17T22:22:00.006-05:002010-06-17T22:33:24.447-05:00My date with Jesus...<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEh-E8X3ljTRCsgn3REJ_VHaqm9D4-ZEccALEIkzdIPT4o2zLxWSg6jXh1kdHRW8r9s4fF4E-4IhJnZCdCUo8MOEuEPdH-ej_NG0oDzcUmshaQ1jSqRyKZPveMhCe822ph9VHffn/s1600/7-maya-teaset-0608-xlg-36468525.jpg"><img style="MARGIN: 0px 10px 10px 0px; WIDTH: 250px; FLOAT: left; HEIGHT: 320px; CURSOR: hand" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5483950932195965266" border="0" alt="" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEh-E8X3ljTRCsgn3REJ_VHaqm9D4-ZEccALEIkzdIPT4o2zLxWSg6jXh1kdHRW8r9s4fF4E-4IhJnZCdCUo8MOEuEPdH-ej_NG0oDzcUmshaQ1jSqRyKZPveMhCe822ph9VHffn/s320/7-maya-teaset-0608-xlg-36468525.jpg" /></a><br /><div><span style="font-family:lucida grande;color:#660000;"><em>I was really wanting a date tonight, but that didn't work out, so I dressed all up and had a date with Jesus. We ate Kippered herring on Ryecrisps out on the porch. We didn't talk much, but watched the frogs and turtles on the pond's edge, and listened to the birds sing their evening songs. He turned the sky extra blue, and made the clouds all fancy, and I just sat and smiled up at him.</em></span></div>Christa Swartzhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/02272453158445837570noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-19935324.post-62084167477013220082009-07-07T11:59:00.009-05:002010-07-15T14:38:20.250-05:00The Day of Michael Jackson's Funeral<a href="http://www.bigrockoregon.com/" style="clear: left; cssfloat: left; float: left; margin-bottom: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img alt="" border="0" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5355765207698368162" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiMDdhT72I1sqvQh8tcclLspepcx_TsazV02BBeDW3z9ZEKWHS9mdhkqiiMH40BjmXMZ3LG9qDgh8wjyfO2FQvJ2cSDpTkpjxJsMxNSuR9W07VJTJajKyoXB1MTleZtg8rhdjK6/s320/DSCF0064.jpg" style="float: right; height: 240px; margin: 0px 0px 10px 10px; width: 320px;" /></a><br />
<span style="color: #274e13;"><strong>I sit in front of a live broadcast of the memorial service for Michael Jackson, and the surrounding activities in his honor.</strong></span><br />
<span style="color: #274e13;"><br />
<strong></strong></span><br />
<span style="color: #274e13;"><strong>I can't help but wonder if Michael ever caught a glimpse of eternity. They say he was raised Jehovah's Witness, but "dabbled" in Christianity, Islam, and Kabbalah. Did he hear God calling him by name, whispering in the silence, singing over him as he cried for the arms of a Father's loving emrace that was so foreign to him on earth?</strong></span><br />
<span style="color: #274e13;"><br />
<strong></strong></span><br />
<span style="color: #274e13;"><strong>Life only begins here. There are only a certain number of breaths and moments we are given in this mortal body before eternity breaks upon us, and this vapor of mortal life is past.</strong></span><br />
<span style="color: #274e13;"><br />
<strong></strong></span><br />
<span style="color: #274e13;"><strong>So whether we are given just a few, or a great many breaths down here, would it not seem that every one of them should strain toward what lies beyond this, what will last forever?</strong></span><br />
<span style="color: #274e13;"><br />
<strong></strong></span><br />
<span style="color: #274e13;"><strong>I think I would rather be sitting on some high mountain looking over the rim to watch the first rays of a sunrise burst into view, small at first, sprinkling through the trees, and bringing music and color and hope to everything it kisses. It whispers, "<span style="font-size: 78%;">wake up</span>.", and if I am very silent, and very still, I can hear it.</strong></span>Christa Swartzhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/02272453158445837570noreply@blogger.com0