Friday, September 24, 2010

CHANGES


"Jesus Christ, the same... yesterday... today ... and forever."  
     Hebrews 13:5  KJV        
        Autumn brings us another time of reflection.

          I know for me it's refreshing  because the hot and dry summer is past (not yet)  and the upcoming fall is becoming evident in the cooler mornings and less humid evenings. My ideal weather conditions for heaven are 70 degrees, sunny, and a breeze. But, of course, I know that whatever the weather conditions in heaven are----I KNOW it will be perfect, right?

          Then we veer into the future with the beautiful fall season in all its splendor. The leaves turn vibrant colors, the air becomes crisp and cool in the day and chilly in the night.  And, there's that certain smell about autumn-- the falling  leaves--the garden flowers and vegetables withering and dying on the plants--the cornstalks drying.   The beautiful colors of pumpkins, gourds and squash gracing our tables and landscapes.


          The end of one season preparing to go into another.  There’s  changes... changes... changes. Nothing ever stays the same.
 
          But praise God!  There's Someone who NEVER changes. Our Lord and Savior-- our God and Father-- and the  Holy Spirit. 



           "For I am the Lord, I change not: therefore ye sons of Jacob are not consumed." Malachi 3:6  KJV.

          In this world of technology and constant changes, it's a comfort for us to know that  Jesus is always the same. He hasn’t changed just because it's the 21st century.   He’s always the same.


  So,  in the seasons of our lives--- remember that Jesus Christ is our Constant.     He's always there.  He never changes.   

                                                                                   
PRAYER:  Dear Lord, what a wonderful comfort to know that even though the seasons change and we change----You are a changeless God.   Praise Your name.     Amen.

Friday, September 10, 2010

NEVER FORGET!!! September 11, 2001!


Remembering the survivors, lost and fallen..at the World Trade Center as well as our Pentagon and in the hills of Pennsylvania!!





9-11-2001.. 19  years since that fateful day.  We still must 'NEVER FORGET' the horror and the fight that our country has initiated against terror.  For all our troops throughout the world and in Afghanistan and Iraq who have put their lives on the line for our freedom.  May we 'NEVER FORGET' them as well.  For all those who have died.. for their families... and loved ones.. Please dear Lord.. bring all our men and women home safe.  Where were you when you saw and heard about the planes crashing into the World Trade Center, Pentagon, and Pennsylvania



  The Lord is so good to our country, the United States of America.  When this disaster hit, hearts were changed into truly patriotic ones.. ones that would die for their homeland and their kinsman... the congress and government agencies were united and "God Bless America" was sung by Senators and Congressmen alike..   

Have you become complacent too and forgotten why we went to war against the Terrorism that so fills this world? 

As our country continues to be at war against these terrorists.. we pray God's continued protection and wisdom be given to our president and all our men and women in the military who are in harm's way.





This statue still stands in New York harbor welcoming the oppressed ones of the world..America is STILL a loving and forgiving nation


These pictures tell it all. don't they?


O beautiful for spacious skies....for amber waves of grain.. For purple mountain majesties.. Above the fruited plain.. America! America! God shed His grace on thee.. And crown thy good with brotherhood.. From sea to shining sea!!

Here is the cross of iron beams that was found among the debris at the WTC, which now is a permanent fixture at the Memorial at Ground Zero

And remember when the firemen put up the flag they had found... Another Iwo Jima!!

Fireman raising American flag at the World Trade Center after September 11th attack. 2001 The Record (Bergen County, N.J.). Photo Credit: Thomas E. Franklin, Staff Photographer. Photo taken September 11, 2001 at the World Trade Center and published in The Record on September 12, 2001

Here is a series of pictures from the attack at the Pentagon as well as the crater that was left in the hills of Pennsylvania with Flight 93.

The Pentagon was attacked


Pennsylvania outside of Somerset, Pa..and rescuers at the crater where the wreckage of Flight 93  was found.



IF I KNEW 

If I knew it would be the last time 
That I'd see you fall asleep,
I would tuck you in more tightly
and pray the Lord, your soul to keep.

If I knew it would be the last time 
that I see you walk out the door, 
I would give you a hug and kiss
and call you back for one more. 

If I knew it would be the last time 
I'd hear your voice lifted up in praise,
I would video tape each action and word, 
so I could play them back day after day. 

If I knew it would be the last time, 
I could spare an extra minute 
to stop and say "I love you," 
instead of assuming you would KNOW I do. 

If I knew it would be the last time 
I would be there to share your day,
Well I'm sure you'll have so many more,
so I can let just this one slip away.

For surely there's always tomorrow 
to make up for an oversight, 
and we always get a second chance
to make everything just right. 

There will always be another day
to say "I love you," 
And certainly there's another chance
to say our "Anything I can do?"  

But just in case I might be wrong,
and today is all I get, 
I'd like to say how much I love you
and I hope we never forget.

Tomorrow is not promised to anyone, 
young or old alike, 
And today may be the last chance 
you get to hold your loved one tight.

So if you're waiting for tomorrow, 
why not do it today? 
For if tomorrow never comes, 
you'll surely regret the day, 

That you didn't take that extra time 
for a smile, a hug, or a kiss 
and you were too busy to grant someone, 
what turned out to be their one last wish.

So hold your loved ones close today,
and whisper in their ear, 
Tell them how much you love them
and that you'll always hold them dear

Take time to say "I'm sorry," 
"Please forgive me," "Thank you," or "It's okay."
And if tomorrow never comes, 
you'll have no regrets about today.
-----Author Unknown 

 LINKS


A lovely touching memorial in poems and remembrances..
The Day America Cried

A Christian Response.. with Peggie.

Annie's Thoughts about Remembering September 11th


Will we ever forget those famous last words by  Todd  Beamer, Flight 93,  as he and other passengers lead the fight against the terrorists on that plane.  Many believe it was heading for the White House