Happy Birthday Star Origami

HPBD Star Origami by Laura Moody

It's the birthday of Our Lord and Savior Jesus Christ this month! 

We celebrate Him and His Graciousness. 

We thank God for creating us and allowing us to know Him and to have our own birthdays! 

Praise the Lord Jesus Our King - Ruler over everything!

p.s. Here is a video on how to make the Happy Birthday Star. :)

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Aloha Christmas & German Traditions :)

Foam Christmas Ball decorations by Laura Moody.

Christmas is celebrated worldwide and each family has its own traditions, sometimes based on their heritage. Part of my family is of German descent and thus some of our fun during the month of December comes from that country and its culture. My relatives and I place an evergreen tree in our family room and make popcorn and cranberry garlands to decorate it. We also bake and construct small gingerbread houses and give them away or enjoy them in our own homes before eating them. 

As an adult I have been able to visit Hawai'i and I love the idea of 

incorporating beautiful flowers and bright colors into Christmas decorations. 

Mele Kalikimaka!

Wishing you a wonderful holiday season filled with lovely memories. :)

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Poor Richard's Anthology on Trees by C. F. Kleinknecht

I enjoy perusing antique stores and came across a 

1946 copy of Poor Richard's Anthology on Trees. 

Very good poetry! Attached is photo of the back cover.

Merry Christmas!

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Christmas America - LP Record (Song - America the Beautiful)

Christmas America LP Record

Yep, we pulled it off the shelf, slid the album from its sleeve and 
played it on the record player!

It is that time of year again. Yea!

Here at this house, the LP Christmas America shouted out its instrumental version of America the Beautiful by The Hollywood Pops Orchestra & Choir while we merrily strung cranberries and popcorn for the Christmas tree. It was a lovely moment! 

If you have never read or heard the America the Beautiful lyrics, I encourage you to read the poem below and to also listen to Ray Charles singing his version of the 1910 poem 

with gusto, jive and jazziness in the video!

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=TRUjr8EVgBg

Wishing you and your family a wonderful holiday season. I pray that your relationship with Our Lord and Savior Jesus Christ will grow with each passing day. 

Enjoy!

America the Beautiful Poem 

by Katharine Lee Bates (1859–1929)

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!

O beautiful for pilgrim feet,

Whose stern, impassioned stress

A thoroughfare for freedom beat

Across the wilderness!

America! America!

God mend thine every flaw,

Confirm thy soul in self-control,

Thy liberty in law!

O beautiful for heroes proved

In liberating strife,

Who more than self their country loved,

And mercy more than life!

America! America!

May God thy gold refine,

Till all success be nobleness,

And every gain divine!

O beautiful for patriot dream

That sees beyond the years

Thine alabaster cities gleam

Undimmed by human tears!

America! America!

God shed His grace on thee

And crown thy good with brotherhood

From sea to shining sea!

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Be A Light in the Darkness

Photo of Lights at Cheekwood Botanical Garden by Laura Moody.

Jesus says: "The thief comes only to steal and kill and destroy; I have come that they may have life, and have it to the full." - John 10:10

Have Faith in our Lord God and His Incredible Plans!

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1 John 4:4 God is Greater! Do not Despair!

Reflected Light and Glass Stones
on acrylic painted canvas board.
Created by Laura Moody, Nashville, TN.

Jesus is sovereign over everything in the universe. He holds it all together with His strength and might! He knows every tear that falls and every thought that comes to pass. He knows every creature, every star, every plant, every rock and river. Every bit of life is a result of the Lord God's hand and owes Him their praise.

For those individuals who have willingly accepted Jesus as their Lord and Savior, you are a new creation and the Holy Spirit has been deposited in your being. 

Jesus will work in you, to mold you into that person who reflects Christ and all his incredible attributes. Your life is no longer your own. In worship of your King, you freely submit to His wishes for your life and move with Him, not against. Consistent prayer is your communication with your Savior who will soon be your best friend!

People are walking, talking pieces of art created by the Lord! 

All who have a relationship with Jesus will watch Him work through them 

while they accomplish the good things that he has prepared in advance for them to do. 

We live in the world, with all its imperfections, 

but we are spiritual beings who know (or will soon know) the Truth! 1 John 4:4

Jesus is master over all and we will not despair. He has a plan, the best plan, and knows exactly what to do and when. Praise Him! His name will be known throughout the Earth, throughout every generation. Romans 14:11 Hallelujah!

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Oswald Chambers Quote

Wisteria. Photo by Laura Moody.

“He who believes in Me . . . out of his heart will flow . . . ” John 7:38     

Jesus did not say, “He who believes in Me will realize

 all the blessings of the fullness of God,” but, in essence, 

“He who believes in Me will have everything he receives escape out of him.” 

Our Lord’s teaching was always anti-self-realization. 

His purpose is not the development of a person—

His purpose is to make a person exactly like Himself, 

and the Son of God is characterized by self-expenditure. 

If we believe in Jesus, it is not what we gain but 

what He pours through us that really counts. 

God’s purpose is not simply to make us beautiful, plump grapes, 

but to make us grapes so that He may squeeze the sweetness out of us. 

Our spiritual life cannot be measured by success as the world measures it, 

but only by what God pours through us—and we cannot measure that at all.” 

― Oswald Chambers, My Utmost for His Highest: Traditional Updated Edition

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