Clay Animals. . .

I didn't have much to do today, so I was looking through things in my closet. I found some of my crafts in a box, and decided to take pictures of them.

   These are clay animals I made and painted over the last few years. They don't have anything to do with writing, but oh well. ;)

These are the littlest ones I've ever made.

I used to spend hours making these, then even more hours painting them. They had to be perfect - or as perfect as I could make them.

He's got a sword! And it can come in and out!

 

  I got the idea for these from the Redwall series by Brian Jacques. They were always having feasts, so I made a large assortment of food.

Don't worry, the teeny tiny pieces are glued to the plates. . . I did individually paint each bit of food though.

More food. . .

Mice. . .

 

Badgers. . .

Wolves. . . (I don't think there were any wolves in Redwall, but I made these anyway.



Squirrels!





Otters. . . (I made them first, so I have more of them than any other creature.)

Moles. . .

Hedgehogs. . .

Hares. . . (The big one didn't turn out. :P )

This is a group shot of the small ones. :)



So there they all are . . .Minus all the ones I've made and given away. ;)

~ZA

Father I Know That All My Life- Hymn

       Tonight I practiced with my church's praise team the songs we're singing Sunday. We sang this hymn, and I started to really think about the words. This song is a beautiful prayer.

I love this line in verse five: "Content to fill a little space, if Thou be glorified."

Father I Know That All My Life

Father, I know that all my life is portioned out for me,
And the changes that are sure to come I do not fear to see;
But I ask Thee for a present mind intent on pleasing Thee.

I ask Thee for a thoughtful love, through constant watching wise,
To meet the glad with joyful smiles, and to wipe the weeping eyes;
And a heart at leisure from itself, to soothe and sympathize.

I would not have the restless will that hurries to and fro,
Seeking for some great thing to do or secret thing to know;
I would be treated as a child, and guided where I go.

Wherever in the world I am, in whatso'er estate,
I have a fellowship with hearts to keep and cultivate;
And a work of lowly love to do for the Lord on whom I wait.

So I ask Thee for the daily strength, to none that ask denied,
And a mind to blend with outward life while keeping at Thy side;
Content to fill a little space, if Thou be glorified.

And if some things I do not ask in my cup of blessing be,
I would have my spirit filled the more with grateful love to Thee,
More careful, not to serve Thee much, but to please Thee perfectly.

There are briers besetting every path that call for patient care;
There is a cross in every lot, and an earnest need for prayer;
But a lowly heart that leans on Thee is happy anywhere.

In a service which Thy will appoints there are no bonds for me;
For my inmost heart is taught "the truth" that makes Thy children "free"
And a life of self-renouncing love is a life of liberty.

Source: Link

You Are

You Are 2/29/12

You are

Unbreakable

As I bend and start to shatter.

You are

The whole picture

When I'm just a broken thread.

You are

Unbreakable hope.

You are

Unchangeable

When I am spinning around.

You are

The straight path

When every other way is crooked.

You are

Unchangeable guidance.

You are

Unstoppable

When I'm fighting Your leading.

You are

The patient shepherd

When I'm seeking a shortcut.

You are

Unstoppable love.

You are

Unmovable

While I battle the rising tide.

You are

The firm rock

In the midst of crashing waves.

You are

Unmovable strength.

You are

Unshakable

When my whole world is falling.

You are

The tower of strength

While I'm in shifting sand.

You are

Unshakable peace.

~ZA

Other title suggestions for this poem are welcome.

I had this song stuck in my head when I wrote this  poem.

Copyright © 2012 Ophelia M. Flowers

Water and clouds image: LINK

Charles Spurgeon Quote

        

                   Every Saturday night we read part of a sermon by Charles Spurgeon. Tonight we read from one entitled The Condescension of Christ. His writing is amazing; I especially loved this part:

             "He was rich, yet for our sakes he became poor." If I had a tale to tell you this day, of some king, who, out of love to some fair maiden, left his kingdom and became a peasant like herself, ye would stand and wonder, and would listen to the charming tale; but when I tell of God concealing his dignity to become our Saviour, our hearts are scarcely touched. Ah, my friends, we know the tale so well, we have heard it so often; and, alas, some of us tell it so badly that we cannot expect that you would be as interested in it as the subject doth demand. But surely, as it is said of some great works of architecture, that though they be seen every morning, there is always something fresh to wonder at; so we may say of Christ, that though we saw him every day, we should always see fresh reason to love, and wonder, and adore. "He was rich, yet for your sakes he became poor."

 ~Charles Spurgeon

Full Sermon: Link

Picture: Link

Easter!

1 Corninthians 15:17-22

¹⁷ And if Christ has not been raised, your faith is futile; you are still in your sins. ¹⁸ Then those also who have fallen asleep in Christ are lost. ¹⁹ If only for this life we have hope in Christ, we are of all people most to be pitied.

²⁰ But Christ has indeed been raised from the dead, the firstfruits of those who have fallen asleep. ²¹ For since death came through a man, the resurrection of the dead comes also through a man. ²² For as in Adam all die, so in Christ all will be made alive.

 I Know You Are Risen 4/8/12

Some say You can't be

Risen,

But keep holding to my faith.

You were just a really good

Man,

But You didn't die to take my place.

But why have faith in a good

Man-

There can't be such a thing.

If You didn't rise from the

Dead,

Why call You Master and my King?

Some say it's just a

Story-

Nice words upon a page.

You were just a good

Teacher,

Not the Savior of our race.

But I know it's a true

Story,

You rose on Easter morn.

Over death You had

Conquered,

And our hope had been reborn.

Some say I just have blind

Faith,

That I'm trusting in a dream.

The story's only so

Thick,

And it's ripping at the seams.

But I'm not trusting on my own

Strength,

And there is proof if they will see.

You really are

Arisen,

Oh, I know that I am free!

~ZA

Picture:LINK

Copyright © 2012 Ophelia M. Flowers

Saturday

Yesterday was a day of sadness. Our Savior died all those years ago.

But we don't skip from Friday's pain, to Easter's joy.

Today is Saturday.

Everyone thought He was dead.

 

 

Saturday 4/7/12

I hear about, that Friday

When Your blood was spilled

To take our sins away.

Your crown of thorns,

And the mocking crowd.

When the world was dark,

And our sins came down.

I wonder about, that Saturday,

When all hope was lost,

You had gone away.

Lying in that tomb,

The stone was rolled

The disciples hid,

Forgetting what You told.

What did they feel,

Knowing You were dead?

Oh the painful loss,

And the mounting dread.

You were dead,

You were gone away.

All hope seemed lost,

On that Saturday.

Oh You were dead,

You were gone away.

All hope seemed lost,

On that Saturday.

~ZA

Copyright © 2012 Ophelia M. Flowers

Hallelujah, What a Savior!

Today was the day Jesus died-

for you, for me,  and  all His people.

This such a beautiful hymn.

Hallelujah, What a Savior!

"Man of Sorrows!” what a name
For the Son of God, who came
Ruined sinners to reclaim.
Hallelujah! What a Savior!

Bearing shame and scoffing rude,
In my place condemned He stood;
Sealed my pardon with His blood.
Hallelujah! What a Savior!

Guilty, vile, and helpless we;
Spotless Lamb of God was He;
“Full atonement!” can it be?
Hallelujah! What a Savior!

Lifted up was He to die;
“It is finished!” was His cry;
Now in Heav’n exalted high.
Hallelujah! What a Savior!

When He comes, our glorious King,
All His ransomed home to bring,
Then anew His song we’ll sing:
Hallelujah! What a Savior!

Picture: LINK

Wishing And Surrendering

This is me today.

 Wishing And Surrendering 4/4/12

Waiting:

It feels like I've been doing that

Forever

Without definite answers.

Trusting

Is a continuous warring

Battle

But You give me the strength.

Wondering:

It feels like I'm asking all the

Time

Yet mostly hearing my own voice.

Listening

Is quieting my mind to hear

You

Speaking guidance to me.

Hoping:

It feels like I'm reaching for elusive

Winds

That slip through my fingers.

Obeying

Is giving up my selfish

Desires

To joyfully do what you require.

Wishing:

It feels like I'm floating on fantasy

Dreams

That cannot be fulfilled.

Surrendering

Is letting You take full

Control

To do with me as You will.

~ZA

Picture: LINK
Copyright © 2012 Ophelia M. Flowers

April Fools!

It's April Fools, so I am posting a poem that isn't my usual style. . . I'm not sure where it came from ;) , but here it is. Don't go pondering it- there is no hidden meaning or what-not. *Grins*

Randomness

If up were down,

And I were you,

And if the sky was brown, not blue:

If yes was no,

And black was white,

And if somehow the dark was light:

If late was now,

And here was there,

And what is just wasn't there:

If left was right,

But right was back

And all things were out of whack:

Then is might make sense.

~ZA

Copyright © 2012 Ophelia M. Flowers