Living on the Edge

Happy 2012 New Year!


This year I hope to live a bit more out on the edge . . . .

(That's me on the left and an adventurous hiking friend on the right.)

                              


  (This is another intrepid hiking friend on the left and me on the right.)

  "God is a safe place to hide, 

ready to help when we need him.

We stand fearless at the cliff-edge . . ." 

                 Psalm 46:1, The Message

"He leads me beside still waters; he restores my soul."  Psalm 23:2,3

Packing Up 2011 . . .

During these last few days, 
I feel like I've begun 
to pack up 2011. 
Feels good in so many ways. 
I'm looking forward to 2012 . . . 
right after I get 
a little last-minute 

2011 hiking accomplished 
in my new 

"Lewis & Clark" hiking boots!
(BTW, Zach the Cat 
does not appreciate 
this particular post.)

Gimme Some Light

ABC News reported: “If the early evening gloom is getting to you, take comfort that the days are about to start getting longer. The winter solstice—which marks the beginning of winter and the shortest day of the year in the Northern Hemisphere—comes tonight at 12:30 AM, EST. Tonight is the night the axis, as seen from the north, points as directly away from the sun as it will all year. So Chicago, for instance, will get just 9.1 hours of daylight tomorrow, Atlanta and Los Angeles will get 9.9 hours (they’re closer to the equator) and everything north of the Arctic Circle will experience 24 hours of darkness.”

On December 21, 2011 . . . Sunrise in Little Rock, Arkansas is 7:12 AM and Sunset is 5:02 PM.

I’m excited.

Why?  

Because on December 22, 2011 the days start becoming 
l-o-n-g-e-r.

Feels like Promise.

Feels like Hope.

Feels like Joy.

Looks like more Light is coming.

I'm excited.

PS--I know that the actual 24-hour day 

doesn't really become longer. 

But you get what I mean. 

Don't you?

Discovering Yourself at the Manger of Jesus

Today, this Christmas, 

who are you (Mary? the little boy? someone in a room off in the distance?)

or 

what are you 
(the dog? a sheep? a barn dove? the hay?)

in this manger scene? 

What is the significance of your choice?

What do you sense God saying to you 

as you ponder 

where you'd be 

and who you would be 

in Jesus' birth scene?

The Baby Jesus Brings Comfort . . .

He is a refuge.


And He did say come to me 
all of you who are weary 
and I'll give you rest.


I worship Jesus Christ, 
the Son of God, 
the Lover of us all . . . 
And Lover of sleeping German Shepherds.

Zach the Cat Stops to Rest 
                      On a Sunny Afternoon



There are two means of refuge from the misery of life - music and cats. 
~Albert Schweitzer





Cats are rather delicate creatures and they are subject to a good many ailments, but I never heard of one who suffered from insomnia. 
~Joseph Wood Krutch



If there is one spot of sun spilling onto the floor, a cat will find it 
and soak it up.  ~J.A. McIntosh



There's no need for a piece of sculpture in a home that has a cat.  
~Wesley Bates

"Are you tired? Worn out?

Burned out on religion?

Come to me.

Get away with me and you'll recover your life.

I'll show you how to take a real rest."

(Matthew 11:28, The Message)