happy photo!

http://www.smh.com.au/environment/conservation/panda-babies-have-the-cute-market-cornered-20110928-1kwux.html

This photo made my day!

A love that does not change...

                               

God is often described in the Bible as the One who never forsakes us. In Jeremiah 31:37, God says that He would reject His people only "if the Heavens above could be measured." (which they cannot be). God never leaves us, He never rejects us, He is always there for us. 

 "The people of Zion said,

   "The LORD has turned away

   and forgotten us."

    The LORD answered,

   "Could a mother forget her nursing child

   and not have compassion for her own infant?
Even if a mother could forget,

  I will never forget you.

   I have engraved you on the palms of my hands,

    You are continually in my thoughts."

 Isaiah 49:14-16

http://www.linkwitzlab.com/orion_challenge.htm

Monday Manna Promises

Some of my favourite promises from the Bible (some old, some new):


"For the eyes of the Lord run to and fro the whole earth to show Himself strong in the behalf of those whose hearts are loyal to Him." 2 Chronicles 16:9


"For the weapons of our warfare are not the weapons of this world but are mighty in God for the pulling down of strongholds." 2 Corinthians 10:4


"Blessed is the man that endureth temptation: for when he is tried, he shall receive the crown of life, which the Lord hath promised to them that love him." James 1:12


"For the LORD shall comfort Zion: he will comfort all her waste places; and he will make her wilderness like Eden, and her desert like the garden of the LORD; joy and gladness shall be found therein, thanksgiving, and the voice of melody." Isaiah 51:3




image: http://wordlesstech.com/2011/03/12/perfect-rainbow/

the pursuit of Happiness

I have a very humble garden on my balcony. The other day I was transfixed by the beauty of this lavender flower. Despite many many blessings in my life, I often allow little things to rob me of joy and get me depressed, irritated, anxious or stressed. My friend Anna J got a phrase stuck in my mind a while ago- "Attitude of Gratitude!" and I've been repeating it to myself as a cure for whenever I feel tempted to complain. Here are my favourite happiness quotes:

I slept and dreamt that life was joy. I awoke and saw that life was service. I acted and behold, service was joy. 
-Rabindranath Tagore


Happiness does not depend on outward things, but on the way we see them.
 -Leo Tolstoy.


The only way to avoid being miserable is not to have enough leisure to wonder whether you are happy or not.  ~George Bernard Shaw


Happiness is not having what you want. It is wanting what you have. – Unknown


"Ask, and ye shall receive, that your joy may be made full." John 16:24


The best way to cheer yourself up is to try to cheer somebody else up.  ~Mark Twain


"The joy of the Lord is your strength." Nehemiah 8:10

Here's a photo of a little person that gives me great joy. Photo (and chook) courtesy of my sister.