Inspirational Scripture

"But ye have an unction from the Holy One, and ye know all things." 

 - I John 2:20

[unc-tion n., 4. "utterance that is fervent and earnest."

(Webster's New World Dictionary)

"Being rich of heart makes you wealthy beyond compare." - Rodney Williams

Simple things can give me such profound pleasure. Whether it is holding a clicky, inky pen and a piece of scratch notebook paper or walking through the dewy grass barefoot at 6:30 in the morning; I enjoy finding the hidden gifts each day in an ordinary life.... 


Making someone smile, waltzing with your pretended partner in an open field (hoping no one is watching), cooking in the kitchen with the inspiration of Julia Child (*note* this "inspiration" is not fool proof - you're still liable to burn your souffle), laughing off an embarrassing moment, re-arranging a cluttered space into an organized, accessible and aesthetically pleasing area, reading such an incredibly inspirational and profound Scripture passage that you want to share it with the whole world!, sitting at the piano composing a ballad which you'll soon forget, cleaning the house with vigor (*hint* for those of you who lack motivation, just pretend all your in-laws are coming over in 3 hrs - that should do it!), writing a letter, laying in the damp grass on a clear night and marveling at the LORD's beautiful stars (all of which are named and accounted for by Him) and the list goes on and on......

For me, home is the place where most of this takes place. It is the warm, inviting glow of the kitchen chandelier which is a bit too dim because only two of the light bulbs are currently employed; the rough, unfinished hardwood floors which turn my bare feet two shades too dark; the sunlight shining through the south windows onto my desk; our creaky steps (after skipping the third one to the bottom, take two at a time and you'll reach the top without waking the whole house), etc... 


A small house is actually a blessing. The five occupants of it are forced to get along and enjoy each other's company. After all, it would be foolish to be enemies with someone you run into every four minutes. But that's where the great outdoors come into the picture - I often escape to the barn loft or take a walk down "lover's lane" (My version of Anne's dubbed path). Perhaps it's my Father coming out in me. He'll say that the woods are calling him and then he's off, on what he calls, a "walk-about." I often get the same irresistible urge.

Some may think me a strange, sentimental fool for treasuring such things.... but then again, "If you've never been thrilled to the very edges of your soul by a flower in spring bloom, maybe your soul has never been in bloom." ~Audra Foveo

:::Faith:::

"When you're cast about by the storms of life,

When your days are filled with doubt or strife,

When nothing makes sense, it's hard to stand, 

Remember this - God has a plan.

~.~.~.~.~.~.~.~

God has a plan, keep clinging to this, 

Forget your agenda, look to his. 

As you walk by faith, cling to his hand,
Remember this, God has a plan."

~.~.~.~

* Jan McIntosh

{ My Country Tis of Thee, Sweet Land of Liberty. Of Thee I Sing... }

While driving yesterday afternoon, we saw "liberty bells," the Tea Party movement's symbol, placed in the yards of the common American people. I felt deep gratitude to those who are proudly displaying their liberty bells, showing to everyone how they have not given up - they're still fighting for their freedom - the freedom that so many died for and are still sacrificing for.

Some believe the actual Boston Tea Party in 1773 to have been a disrespectful and rebellious act. But in reality, the Boston Tea Party was done lawfully.

"By law, if cargo coming into the harbor was not unloaded within twenty days, it was legally subject to seizure." After the unloaded cargo sat in the harbor for twenty days, the people heard whoops from an Indian who was headed towards the wharf. The "Indians" asked for keys to the chests of tea and assured they would not harm the crew.

They opened 342 chests of tea for over three hours, while more than 10,000 people lined the wharf watching in complete silence as the tea was dumped overboard. Governor Hutchinson, said after watching the procession, "You could hear nothing but hatchets on the chests. Everything was quiet. It was done peacefully and lawfully. I was amazed!"

Benjamin Franklin once said, "Rebellion to tyrants is obedience to God." This quote can be justified. God has given, as our Declaration of Independence states, inalienable rights. We have the God-given liberty to do what we wish with our lives, so long as we do not violate God's moral law or another man's rights. Liberty has come at a cost and it is maintained at a cost. That cost will become increasingly higher if we, as responsible citizens, do not take heed to the increasing amount of tyranny that is being imposed upon us and our businesses. The Revolutionary War was fought under the pretenses of much less governmental tyranny than what is being seen today. 

A quote that many of us are familiar with from Edmund Burke says, "All that is necessary for evil to triumph, is for good men to do nothing." Are you doing nothing?

*thought for the day:* "A free government has often been compared to a pyramid;... it is laid on the broad basis of the people." -James Wilson, Justice of the first Supreme Court