Annie's Blog

A very relevant quote from the Sounds Bites Ministry lately: Professor Donald Francis Toney often said to his students at Edinburgh that in music the rests are just as important as the notes. At first that appears to be an exaggeration, but musicians tell me that a choral or orchestra director soon learns that without careful attention to pause, the music will lose much of its beauty. So in the music of life, the rests must be written into the score. That's the way we keep coming in trust to God. We deliberately wait on the Lord to receive the gift of [rest]. -- Maxie Dunnam in Living the Psalms: A Confidence for All Seasons   SOUND BITES is a free, five-day-a-week e-mail ministry begun in 1999 in memory of Dustin Wilkinson, 1982-1998.  Rev. Dave Wilkinson is founder and editor. SOUND BITES originates from First United Methodist Church in Green Bay , Wisconsin, USA.  SOUND BITES Ministry™ is also available as a blog at www.SOUNDBITESministry. blogs...

Lovely rain here at the moment. And nice and cool where I am. Not a bad time of the year, unless it is too warm and humid! The jacarandas were wonderful to watch for a while, and the mangoes are coming into the shops now to eat. Delicious. There are many things to be thankful for. For friends, and family. For shelter, food, and love. As we approach Thanksgiving, or Harvest Festivals here, we also think of those who are missing out on many things especially those who have undergone much trauma such as the typhoon in the Philippines. And this reminds me of a wonderful post from one of my favorite bloggers Ann Voskamp, in her blog Holy Experience wrote very well, on Thanksgiving, and putting one foot in front of the other another very meaningful and thought provoking blog post Many thanks to her for her putting thought provoking thoughts into words. Her current post on Men who are "Boring",  is also a very good one to read !! May God go with you this...

It is all about perspective isn't it? About getting down on our knees for a better shot. At life, and love. HUNGRY FOR SOMETHING MORE another wonderful post about community and renewal  from Ann Voskamp's blog A Holy Experience Some wonderful words, as well as beautiful photography!

The spring flowers are abloom, bringing joy to some, and misery to others, who are allergic. An excellent article by Ann Voskamp, from her blog A Holy Experience , about home schooling her children among other things, brought a great post this week: When you are missing feeling loved, How to practice the presence of God . Thanks to Ann who so wonderfully brings the reality of her world of practicing Christianity in the home to us. And another special link from Ann's post for this weekend, which you will find by clicking on A Holy Experience link above

Reading through a previously very well devoured devotional As well as Ann Voskamp's very inspirational blog post today Many thanks once again to Ann V for her very inspirational, insightful and honest writing!

concentrating... carefully... making time for fun and relaxation, even when you are feeling a little unwell...  learning to play new notes, in a new skirt learning a new balancing trick.. and having fun at the beach while you can... the kids have had some days off their normal routines while they were just a little unwell, and this Grandma gets more fun days to be with them.. This week, I am a teeny little bit unwell, so I have enjoyed catching up with Ann Voskamp's blog   Holy Experience and some of her latest links... her weekend links are always inspirational, especially the two I have read so far on some of the world's greatest libraries, and four sisters photographed every year....for 36 years...interesting..and wonderful! and On being a MOM she shared at In Courage was good too.... Thank you to Ann for being so open and honest, and inspirational... and faithful!

 some interesting things flowering at the moment  wish I knew what to call the one above, think it might be a melaleuca and these little things below are so pretty and delicate!! May God go with all who are overwhelmed, disillusioned, lonely, bored , stressed or sick.  May he give them a glimpse of his light and love to strengthen them, and renew their minds and bodies and faith. May he Bless them and keep them May his face shine upon them And be gracious to them. May he lift up the light of his countenance upon them and give them His Peace. And for the weary at heart...a glimpse of heaven two links from Ann Voskamp's Holy Experience blog ... on How to celebrate a significant birthday (Being the Real Giving Tree) and also how to celebrate a birthday (two) (How to have the best birthday)!! Thanks so much Ann  for sharing the love of God with us and with your village.

Just as one sits wondering if one is doing the right thing, when a friend asks "have you prayed about it"? The answers come... the new blooms in the garden for moral support today a wonderful reading from Acts 16:9-15 13  On the Sabbath we went outside the city gate to the river, where we expected to find a place of prayer. We sat down and began to speak to the women who had gathered there. 14  One of those listening was a woman from the city of Thyatira named Lydia, a dealer in purple cloth. She was a worshiper of God. The Lord opened her heart to respond to Paul’s message. 15  When she and the members of her household were baptized, she invited us to her home. “If you consider me a believer in the Lord,” she said, “come and stay at my house.” And she persuaded us. and the comments from With Love to the World : Many of us consider church to be a settled place. Some have appropriated images of "journey" for their spiritual life, but may sti...

some images for contemlation and a quote and a link from   Ann Voskamp   : It’s an astonishing thing to know God’s clear will for you in the next year: “Give thanks in all circumstances, for this is God’s will for you…” (Thess. 5:1 8)   DAILY PLANNER link