It Is Well

"Short words, soon spoken; but to have a suitableness of heart to them is one of the highest attainments of faith. To be sure, it is well; we think so when all things go according to our wish, when there is nothing in providence that crosses our desires, that thwarts our designs, that sinks our hopes, or awakens our fears: submission is easy work then. But to have all things seemingly against us, to have God smiting in the tenderest part, unravelling all our schemes, contradicting our desires, and standing aloof from our very prayers; how do our souls behave then? Faith sets aside every obstacle. It shall be well; the end will be peace. God is with me and He will make all things work together for good.

It is a dark night, but the darkness of your heart will not light a candle for you. It is a terrible tempest, but to quench the fires of comfort and open the doors to admit the howling winds into the chamber of your spirit will not stay the storm. A troubled heart will not help us in our difficulties or out of them. You have not all you could wish, but you have still more than you deserve. Your circumstances are not what they might be, but still they are not even now so bad as the circumstances of some others.

There are flowers that bloom in winter, if we have but grace to see them. Never was there a night of the soul so dark but what some lone star of hope might be discerned, and never a spiritual tempest so tremendous but what there was a haven into which the soul could put if it had but enough confidence in God to make a run for it. Rest assured that though you have fallen very low, you might have fallen lower if it were not that underneath are the Everlasting Arms.

~~C.H Spurgeon~~

Permanent Love

Wedded by Lord Frederick Leighton

Hola, Bloggers! I am back and I feel good to be back after a very busy week on assignment. I need to finish everything that has to be done at work so i can have my most-awaited vacation leave at last!!! Ok, the busy sked had not take the romantic out of me...ha, ha. Mind refreshed having not logged on the net for quite a time, I feel bright and breezy and still am the romantic renaissance woman that i claim to be. So again at this time I want to share with you a bit of my love philosophy...AGAIN! I told you i'm so romantic...lol! For me, love must be eternal and unconditional. Eternal means in simple word, sticking to each other through thick and thin being true to the marriage vows of "till death do us part." Unconditional simply means an all-encompassing love; accepting and understanding each other's faults and mistakes, defects and weaknesses. Let me tell you in a simple illustration. If my lover has bad breath, i won't be turned off because i love him but his bad breath must be cured...lol...so in a not so offending way i will tell him nicely to use dental floss regularly to protect gums and teeth from decay...ha, ha...i'm enjoying this. I would even brush his teeth, mind you. If he has body odor, i will give him axe...lol...oh boy!...i'm just joking...What i mean to say is...when you really love someone, you must accept them as they are and make them not break them.

I once heard a man say: "Love is not love if it alters when it alteration finds." He was commenting on the response of a young wife to her husband who had come home from the war. The soldier, severely wounded, had extensive facial disfigurement and was missing two limbs. Yet she warmly welcomed him back and would not think of leaving him.

Such devotion is hardly in keeping with the attitude that prevails today. a prominent newswriter observed that old-fashioned weddings are back in style, but not old-fashioned lifetime commitment. Most people, he says, are glad for easy divorce laws that makes possible a quick release from their wedding vows when they become a burden. Because of this, I'm gladdened every time I see love and tenderness between a husband and wife - whether young or old.

Isaac was not a dynamic man like his father Abraham. Yet his singular love for Rebekkah stands in sharp contrast to the other patriarchs of his time, who had concubines and many wives. Nothing in the Scriptures suggests that he ever followed that practice. He is portrayed as a kind, loving, faithful husband.

True love endures in spite of difficulties. Paul says it "never fails" (1 Cor. 13:8). It does not depend upon the continuance of pleasing qualities in the loved one. It flows from a deep desire for the welfare of the other and grows sweeter with the passing of the years.

I like old-fashioned weddings. But I'm more excited about old-fashioned marraiges - where love is permanent.

The marriage bond that joins two hearts

No power on earth can break,

If these two hearts will yield to God

And of his love partake.

~~Dennis J. DeHaan

Always Yours,

OPHELIA

Mamma Mia!

Hola, bloggers! This time i go to the movies. One of the hit movies this summer is the film adaptation of the West End stage musical, based on the songs of successful Swedish pop group ABBA. Mamma Mia did very well at the box and was said to have the largest opening weekend of any musical film in the US! Oh, yes! I love it very, very mucho because of so many things. Besides that Meryl Streep tops the list of my favorite Hollywood actresses and ABBA being one of my all-time favorite pop group (mind you i have all their songs on DVDs!), most of the filming was done on small Greek islands, including Skopelos and Skiathos and Damouchari in Pelion area of Greece. These places gave romantic touch to the movie and i couldnt help but giggle, giggle and giggle to death! The movie has a very interesting plot revolving around mother Donna (Meryl Streep) and daughter Sophie (Amanda Seyfried) who wants her father to give her away on her wedding day but does not know who he is, but after reading her mother's diary from 20 years ago, she concludes, he is one of three men: Sam Carmichael (Pierce Brosnan), Harry Bright (Colin Firth),or Bill Anderson (Stellan Skarsgard)....Who is really her father among the three...that's where the story revolves and which makes it a musically hilarious and entertaining movie! Watch it, watch it! I guarantee you will love it! It's a perfectly entertaining movie...one of the best musical films i have ever seen! Mamma Miaaaaaaa!!!! Take it from me!

Take care one and all and have a great, blessed and entertaining weekend!!!

Never Alone...

Dear Friend,
I just had to write to tell you how much I love you and care for you.
Yesterday, I saw you walking and laughing with your friends. I hoped that soon you'd want me to walk along with you, too. So, I painted you a sunset to close your day and whispered a cool breeze to refresh you.
I waited .... you never called. I just kept on loving you. As I watched you fall asleep last night, I wanted so muchto touch you. I spilled moonlight onto your face, tricklingdown your cheeks as so many tears have. You didn't even think of me. I wanted so much to comfort you.
The next day I exploded a brilliant sunrise into glorious morning for you. But you woke up lateand rushed off to work. You didn't even notice. My sky became cloudy and my tears were the rain.
I LOVE YOU!!!
Oh, if you'd only listen. I really LOVE you. I try to say it in the quiet of the green meadow and in the vibrant blue sky. The wind whispers my love throughoutthe treetops and spills it into the vivid colors of all the flowers.I shout it to you in the thunder of the great waterfalls and compose love songs for birds to sing for you. I warm you with the clothing of my sunshine and perfumethe air with nature's sweet scent. My love for you is deeperthan any ocean and greater than any need in your heart. If you'd only realize how I care.
My dad sends his love. I want you to meet him.He cares, too. Fathers are just that way. So, please, call on me soon. No matter how long it takes,I'll wait forever.
Because I LOVE YOU.
Your Friend, Jesus

written by Yvonne S. Rathkey

Till Death Do Us Part

When I created the heavens and the earth,

I spoke them into being.

When I created man,

I formed him and breathed life into his nostrils.

But you woman, I fashioned after I breathed the breath of life into man

because your nostrils are too delicate. I allowed a deep sleep to come

over him so I could patiently and perfectly fashion you.

Man was put to sleep so that he could not interfere with the creativity.

From one bone I fashioned you. I chose the bone that protects his heart

and his lungs and supports him, as you are meant to do. Around this one bone I shaped you.

I modeled you. I created you perfectly and beautifully.

Your characteristics are as the rib, strong yet delicate and fragile.

You provide protection for the most delicate organ in man, his heart.

His heart is the center of his being; his lungs hold the breath of

life. The rib cage will allow itself to be broken before it will allow

damage to the heart.

Support the man as the rib cage supports the body. You were not taken

from his feet, to be under him, nor were you taken from his head, to be

above him. You were taken from his side, to stand beside him and be

held close to his side.

You are My perfect angel. You are My beautiful little girl. You have grown to be a splendid woman of excellence, and My eyes fill when I see the virtues in your heart.Your eyes - don't change them. Your lips - how lovely when they part in prayer. Your nose, so perfect in form, your hands so gentle in touch. I've caressed your face in your deepest sleep;

I've held your heart close to mine.

Of all that lives and breathes, you are the most like Me. Adam walked

with Me in the cool of the day and yet he was lonely. He could not see

Me or touch Me. He could only feel Me.

So everything I wanted Adam to share and experience with Me, I fashioned in you:

My holiness, My strength, My purity, My love, My protection and

support. You are special because you are the extension of Me.

Man represents My image, woman My emotions.

Together you represent the totality of God.

So man - treat woman well. Love her, respect her, for

she is fragile. In hurting her, you hurt Me. What you do to her, you

do to Me. In crushing her, you only damage your own heart,

the heart of your Father, and the heart of her Father.

Woman, support man. In humility,

show him the power of emotion I have given you.

In gentle quietness show your strength. In love, show him

that you are the rib that protects his inner self.

by Dianna Hagee

God Created Marriage

God created marriage,

for he knew we'd need a friend.

To share our hopes and dreams with,

and love us 'till the end.

God created marriage,

to teach us how to share.

All our earthly assets,

and make us more aware;

That someone else's feelings,

are more important than our own.

And not one of us is perfect,

so we can't cast a stone.

God created marriage,

to teach us to forgive.

His life was our example,

He showed us how to give.

God created marriage,

to teach us how to say.

"I love you" to another person,

each and every day.

Written By Valerie Rousseau.

Copyright © 2000