Outdoor Concert

Present day view of skyline of midtown Atlanta from Piedmont Park.

Piedmont Park in 1968 Our choir and orchestra from Georgia State University presented a patriotic program. I still remember feeling goosebumps when we sang My Country 'Tis of Thee  as the music came to a crescendo on a warm July evening. My Dad, after a long day at work, stayed for the program to drive me home.

Our fathers' God, to Thee,

Author of liberty,

To Thee we sing.

Long may our land be bright

With freedom's holy light;

Protect us by Thy might,

Great God, our King.

Good Quote

"I do not believe there is one problem in this country or in the world today which could not be settled if approached through the teaching of the Sermon on the Mount ...

In this day, whether it be far or near, the Kingdoms of this world shall become indeed the Kingdom of God and He will reign forever and ever, Lord of Lords and King of Kings." President Harry S. Truman, 1945

No Worries

Whenever I get caught up in worry, let that be my cue to start getting caught up in God - His joy, His faithfulness, His love. Philippians 4:8 reads, "Let your mind dwell on these things, and the peace of God will guard your heart and mind, and take away your worry."

Father God, Today, may I let You do the heavy lifting. Take the burden from my shoulders, so I can gaze at Your face.

The same arms that carry my burden, are also carrying me.

Take Courage! God Has a Purpose for Your Life

SURROUNDED

then as we are by these serried ranks of witnesses, let us strip off everything that hinders us, as well as the sin which dogs our feet, and let us run the race that we have to run with patience,

our eyes fixed on
JESUS,
the source and the goal of our faith.

For he himself endured a cross and thought nothing of its shame because of the joy he knew would follow his suffering; and he is now seated at the right hand of God’s throne.

Think constantly of him enduring all that sinful men could say against him and you will not lose your PURPOSE or your COURAGE.

Hebrews 12:1-3 Phillips New Testament

Grow me up to be like You

My granddaughter Ashlynn has a beautiful soprano voice 
and has loved to sing in the choir since she was a preschooler..  

Of the many songs she learned as a child, this is one of her favorites.

I am Yours

You are mine

Grow me up

To be like You

Help me know You

Like You know me, Jesus

I am Yours 

  

Early morning at Lake

Refreshingly cooler this morning with a good breeze off the lake.

Cookout last evening at my daughter's house

with cartwheels by Kaedyn.

Reflection of God's Glory

The Son is the image of the invisible God, the firstborn over all creation.

Colossians 1:15

His Son is the reflection of God's glory and the exact likeness of God's being. He holds everything together through his powerful words. After he had cleansed people from their sins, he received the highest position, the one next to the Father in heaven.
Hebrews 1:3

No other God can be called a father

No other God can be called a friend

No other God can be called Redeemer

No other God's coming back again

Jaye Thomas

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=5aI3jbol68g

What About Lunch?

My Bible study teacher is 86 years old, and she has so much knowledge of the scriptures, and much wisdom. But to tell you the truth, I also like the part after the closing prayer when she says, "Where will we go for lunch today?" Then we pile into some cars and go for a sandwich. That's where I get to know the ladies. There are lots of stories and laughter, and many friendships are formed around the table.

A Father's Smile

Mother and Daddy's birthday celebration.

 1994

My grandfather Luther Williams 

and  great-grandfather Billy Williams

 about 1956

My grandfather at age 90.

Caricature of my grandpa drawn by my son Carl

The flag says

I break for skirts.

Suppertime

When we were growing up, my sister and I often sat on the porch playing while Mother cooked supper. It smelled so good!

Mother was a great cook and she made everything the old fashioned way. I can picture her cracking open the shell of a coconut, grating it, mixing cake batter by hand, to surprise Daddy with a fresh coconut cake. She would recruit us to string beans, shell peas, or cut corn off the cob.

I remember that one of Mother's favorite old hymns was, Come Home, It's Suppertime, and we might sing it in harmony as we washed the supper dishes.

What is your favorite summer supper?

God's Love

Your unfailing love, O Lord, 

is as vast as the heavens; 

your faithfulness 

reaches beyond the clouds. 

Your righteousness 

is like the mighty mountains, 

your justice like the ocean depths.

Psalm 36:5-6

Sunshine

When our family lived in Buford, GA, we had a neighbor who would spend her summer mornings picking day lilies, Queen Anne's lace, sweet pea, and whatever flowers she found in the fields along the road. Then she would arrange them in vases people saved for her, and take them to widows and those who were sick.

I saw these sunny yellow flowers all along the way as I walked early this morning, and thought about all the joy that lady used to bring.

Like Eden

You are my private garden, my treasure, my bride,

 a secluded spring, a hidden fountain.

Song of Solomon 4:12

Let my heart be like Eden inside

Set apart as a pure and spotless bride

Let my heart be like Eden inside

A place where You can dwell in me

Justin Rizzo

Lord Jesus, May we be set apart for you..

Showers of Blessings

Can you remember getting caught out in a sudden rainstorm with no shelter in sight?

That seemed to happen to me often when I was a young student in downtown Atlanta 

coming and going from work to Georgia State University.

I would get off the bus at Five Points and walk several blocks. The breeze would feel like a wind tunnel between the tall buildings and the passing cars would turn puddles into tidal waves. During one torrential rain, I ran into some of my friends who were also soaked. We ducked into the Baptist Student Union building. Taking off my saddle oxfords full of water, someone started a wet sock fight. We all laughed until we cried. Sometimes we have to look for the blessings - and humor - in the showers.

Early in the Morning

The Lord has appeared of old to me, saying:

Yes, I have loved you with an everlasting love;

therefore, with lovingkindness I have drawn you.

Jeremiah 31:3

I love to walk early in the day when the dew sparkles like a prism

and all the birds are singing like a heavenly choir..

Strength in Weakness

Ask the Savior to help you,

Comfort, strengthen and keep you.

He is willing to aid you,

He will carry you through.

Horatio Palmer

The apostle Paul wrote: Three times I pleaded with the Lord about this, that it should leave me. But he said to me, “My grace is sufficient for you, for my power is made perfect in weakness.” 

Therefore I will boast all the more gladly of my weaknesses, so that the power of Christ may rest upon me.  For the sake of Christ, then I am content with weaknesses, insults, hardships, persecutions, and calamities. For when I am weak, then I am strong.
2 Corinthians 12:8-10

So we do not lose heart. Though our outer self is wasting away, our inner self is being renewed day by day.
2 Corinthians 4:16

Jesus said "I will ask the Father and He will give you another Helper who will be with you forever." John 14:16

Happy First Day of June

 

June bugs, lady bugs, lazy bumble bees,

Blue birds, blue jays, cheery chickadees.

Strawberries, watermelons, peaches and cream,

Let's have a picnic down by the stream.

June brings my oldest granddaughter's birthday.

Happy 19th to Kye.