The Rest of the Story…

…continued from Good Friday’s “DARKEST DAY” post…

~ ~ ~ ~ ~

Today is EASTER SUNDAY!
EASTER JOY!
THE GREATEST DAY!

~ ~ ~ ~ ~
Early on Sunday morning, as the new day was dawning,
Mary Magdalene and the other Mary went out to visit the tomb.

Suddenly there was a great earthquake!
For an angel of the Lord came down from heaven,
rolled aside the stone, and sat on it…

…Then the angel spoke to the women.
“Don’t be afraid!” he said.
“I know you are looking for Jesus, who was crucified.
He isn’t here!
He is risen from the dead, just as he said would happen.
Come, see where his body was lying.

“And now, go quickly and tell his disciples
that he has risen from the dead,
and he is going ahead of you to Galilee.
You will see him there.
Remember what I have told you.”
(Matthew 1,2, 5-7 NLT)
~ ~ ~ ~ ~

Constant Friends

After I edited this photo and got it ready to publish,
I happened to see a caption beneath a similar rose on the Internet.

It said something to the effect that this was a white rose
that had gotten tossed into the washing machine with red socks –
and it came out with rosy red edges(!)

In the language of flowers,
white roses stand for beauty and purity;
red roses stand for passionate love.
Rather than try to analyze the meaning of this particular variety,
I choose instead just to appreciate its unique loveliness!

♥

Christmas IM’s

Throughout human history,
God has used His angels as supernatural “instant messengers”
to communicate with the people He created.

God sent the angel Gabriel to visit Mary
and give her the news that she was going to be the mother of the Christ Child.

Later, an angel from God visited Joseph
to inform him of the virgin birth and to explain his earthly father’s role in this all-important event.

For generations, the Jews had been looking for their Messiah — their long-awaited King.
The angels revealed to Mary and Joseph that Jesus was this Messiah –
the HOPE of the world!

When the time came for Jesus to be born,
Mary and Joseph found no room in any local inn in Bethlehem –
so they had to spend the night in a lowly stable,
surrounded by the smells and noises of the animals
who shared their space with the expectant couple.

When Mary had delivered her baby,
the first people to learn of Christ’s birth
were shepherds keeping watch over their sheep under the night-time sky.
An angel suddenly appeared to them, announcing the birth and saying,

I bring you good news that will bring great JOY to all people. 
The Savior—yes, the Messiah, the Lord—
has been born today in Bethlehem, the city of David!
(Luke 2:10b-11)

Then the first angel was suddenly joined by a whole army of heavenly angels,
proclaiming this message –

Glory to God in highest heaven,
and PEACE on earth to those with whom God is pleased.
(Luke 2:14)

~ ~ ~ ~ ~
Thank y’all for stopping by to visit Little Things.
May your life be filled with little blessings, little chuckles,
and little deeds of kindness (both given and received)!
♦
During this Christmas season,
may we all know the
HOPE, JOY, and PEACE
that come with the celebration of Jesus’ birth!
♥
Special (((hugggs))) to my friend Margie
who brightens up our neighborhood every Christmas
with these cute lil’ angels!
~ ~ ~ ~ ~

Random Quotes

A smile is a curve that sets everything straight.
Phyllis Diller

A smile is a powerful weapon; you can even break ice with it.
Author Unknown

You’re never fully dressed without a smile.
Martin Charnin

A glad heart makes a cheerful face…
Proverbs 15:13a

What if the only things we had today were what we thanked God for yesterday?
Author Unknown

Sometimes it seems the things we find hardest to be thankful for
are actually what God uses to bring us His best blessings.
me

~ ~ ~ ~ ~
Thank y’all for stopping by to visit Little Things.
May your life be filled with little blessings, little chuckles,
and little deeds of kindness (both given and received)!
♥
…and may you always be thankful enough to smile
…even if you have to smile through tears.
~ ~ ~ ~ ~

Before you leave, here’s a blog you might enjoy.

I just read Lissa Rabon’s post from the Texas Hill Country.
Our state’s severe drought continues, and her family has been searching for hay for their cattle.
Her husband finally located some in Louisiana,
and it arrived this morning.
I think they’re pretty grateful and joyful about today’s delivery!
Lissa’s post includes some very interesting first-hand information about the cattle and drought situation,
as well as wonderfully descriptive comments about her relationship with their animals.
“The Louisiana Round Bales have arrived…”

♦

– and here’s ONE more I just found –

MJ has a heart-warming post on the joys found in everyday life
on Joy

♦

OK.  I’d better let you go.
I’m sure I could find more good ones to share…
but as my southern sistas would say, “I have to wash the supper dishes!”
Hope y’all have a good weekend!

My Precious Moments…

This little Precious Moments figurine perched on our kitchen counter
looks very much like our daughter did when she was a little girl –
all decked out in one of her Strawberry Shortcake outfits,
with her soft, curly blonde hair in ‘dog ears,’
…and looking up at us with her big blue eyes!

She’s all grown up now, but at times in my mind’s eye, I still see the little girl that’s pictured above.
LOL

Some of the most “precious moments” of my life are those that I get to spend with her –
either in person — or more often now by long-distance, via cell phone and Internet.

One favorite activity we have fun sharing is blogging!
We think pretty much alike on most subjects,
but it’s interesting to see our different ways of presenting similar ideas.
I always look forward to what “Daisy Girl” (her blog name) is going to share.
She usually posts at night…and seeing her message (whether brief or lengthy) on our computer screen
is like a ‘good-night hug’ across the miles from my sweet daughter.
♥

Last night, her message really spoke to me –
and I’d like to share it with you now,
in the hopes that it might be meaningful to you, also!

“Resting and Dancing” is a rather brief post, but it also carries one of those “deep thought” messages!
Hope you enjoy!

 ~ ~ ~ ~ ~
Thank y’all for stopping by to visit “Little Things.”
May your life be filled with little blessings, little chuckles,
and little deeds of kindness (both given and received)…
and may you have some precious little moments of “resting” and “dancing” in your life!

~ ~ ~ ~ ~

Random Quotes

Success is to be measured not so much by the position that one has reached in life
as by the obstacles which he has overcome while trying to succeed.
Booker T. Washington

♦

Great opportunities to help others seldom come,
but small ones surround us every day.
Sally Koch

♦

A person without a sense of humor is like a wagon without springs –
jolted by every pebble in the road.
Henry Ward Beecher

♦

I like a teacher who gives you something to take home to think about besides homework.
Edith Ann

♦

Keep a “funny bone” up your sleeve.
Laughter keeps you young at heart!!

Mrs. Edwinna Edwards
My 6th Grade Teacher

 

He will once again fill your mouth with laughter and your lips with shouts of joy.
Job 8:21

We can’t always depend on our outward circumstances to make us happy…
but when we trust in God and put our hope in Him,
then — regardless of our circumstances —
He will fill us with His joy!
♥

J-O-Y