Awakening ~

When you arise in the morning,

 think of what a precious

 privilege it is to be alive

to breathe

to think

to enjoy

to love

Marcus Aurelius

*  *  *
We often take for granted the
very things that most
deserve our
gratitude.
Cynthia Ozick
*  *  *
   

The Touch Of Christmas ~

"I'll hold out my hand and my heart will be in it."

Nat King Cole

*  *  *

"Have a heart that never hardens,

and a temper that never tires,

and a touch that never hurts."

Charles Dickens

*  *  *

Have a heart that never hardens, and a temper that never tires, and a touch that never hurts.
Read more at http://www.brainyquote.com/quotes/keywords/touch.html#KiutBXff2zAtAqbH.99

Have a heart that never hardens, and a temper that never tires, and a touch that never hurts.
Read more at http://www.brainyquote.com/quotes/keywords/touch.html#KiutBXff2zAtAqbH.99

Have a heart that never hardens, and a temper that never tires, and a touch that never hurts.
Read more at http://www.brainyquote.com/quotes/keywords/touch.html#KiutBXff2zAtAqbH.99

Have a heart that never hardens, and a temper that never tires, and a touch that never hurts.
Read more at http://www.brainyquote.com/quotes/keywords/touch.html#KiutBXff2zAtAqbH.9*  *  *

Good Gifts ~

He has filled the hungry

 with good things.

Luke 1:53a

*  *  *

Christmas gift suggestions:
To your enemy, forgiveness.
To an opponent, tolerance.
To a friend, your heart.
To a customer, service.
To all, charity.
To every child, a good example.
To yourself, respect.
Oren Arnold

quote seen at

Robyn Graham Photography

*  *  *

Come III ~

Be patient, therefore, beloved,

 until the coming of the Lord.

 The farmer waits for

 the precious crop from the earth,

 being patient with it until it receives

 the early and the late rains.
You also must be patient.

 Strengthen your hearts,

for the coming of the Lord is near.
Beloved, do not grumble against one another,

 so that you may not be judged.

 See, the Judge is standing at the doors!
As an example of 

suffering and patience, beloved,

 take the prophets who spoke

 in the name of the Lord.

James 5:7-10

*  *  *

Through His Eyes ~

"It is good to be children sometimes,

 and never better than at Christmas,

 when its mighty founder was a child himself."

Charles Dickens

*  *  *

may the wonder

of the Christ

bless you anew

Come II ~

A shoot shall come out from the stump of Jesse,

 and a branch shall grow out of his roots.
The spirit of the LORD shall rest on him,

 the spirit of wisdom and understanding,

 the spirit of counsel and might,

 the spirit of knowledge

 and

 the fear of the LORD.
His delight shall be in the

 fear of the LORD.

 He shall not judge by what his eyes see,

 or decide by what his ears hear;

Isaiah 11:1-3

*  *  *

the

Second Sunday of Advent

Snowbound ~

 {a little click will enlarge}

"The very fact of snow is

 such an amazement."

Roger Ebert

*  *  *

come into 

the gentle woods

and be amazed

*  *  *

Choose Wisely ~

"The life I touch for good or ill

 will touch another life,

 and in turn another,

 until who knows where the trembling stops

 or in what far place my touch will be felt."

 Frederick Buechner

*  *  *

an act of kindness
can have far-reaching effects

Come ~

Isaiah 2:5

*  *  *

the 

First Sunday of Advent

Awaiting A Journey ~

quietly tucking

 November

away

*  *  *

preparing the way

for Advent

*  *  *

But as for me,

 I watch in hope for the LORD,

 I wait for God my Savior; my God will hear me.

Micah 7:7