Do you remember as a child the wonder of a Kaleidoscope. You would peer through the hole and turn the end until you got those little chunks of plastic to fall in exactly the right pattern...then you would want to show someone so you'd gently gently gently hand it to them....chances were great that the image would shift before they saw it completely....and then they'd look... the color schemes would change and the patterns different. It's not the same but here's a link to an online Kaleidoscope
http://aleph0.clarku.edu/~djoyce/java/Kaleido.html

What is it about the temporary nature of these images that fascinates us so much? Is it that we know that beauty is fragile? Is it that we know that time moves quickly and we have to grab for the wonder when we can? Is it that we are the first, and probably ONLY ones to ever see that particular configuration and it cannot be saved? You tell me.

For me it is the temporary nature of beauty. This too shall pass. Good or bad...this too shall pass. Joy or Sorrow...this too shall pass. Comedy or Tragedy...this too shall pass.

Like the beautiful image of a kaleidoscope...

Be not perplexed
Be not afraid
Everything passes
God does not change... Teresa of Avila

God abides
Bobbie Giltz McGarey
@2009

Oh thanks for reminding me

I hadn't read this passage in a while. Today it appeared in something I was reading and on this hot hot hot summer day it seemed to cool down a lot of things...


Isaiah 43: 1-3

Do not fear, for I have redeemed you;
I have called you by name, you are mine.
When you pass through the waters I will be with you;
and through the rivers, they will not overwhelm you;...
For I am the Lord, your God, the Holy One of Israel, your Savior.

Thanks, I needed that.

God abide
Bobbie Giltz McGarey
@2009

Calvin's idea

COR MEUM TIBI OFFERO
DOMINE PROMPTE ET SINCERE, “I offer you my
heart, Lord, readily and sincerely.” John Calvin

Grace and Peace,
How much is enough?

Ok, why are we surprised that it is 100 ...it's July and we are in Oklahoma. We put up a large mosquito net over the patio to bring a little shade and it was 10 degrees cooler than the day before without it. Just that little bit of netting made such a difference.

So many times we think we have to do something BIG for God for it to be worthwhile, for it to make a difference, for our lives to make a difference. But I don't think that is altogether true. I believe, and have seen in action, how little things can make big changes. How a smile here or there, a kind word, a gift of something simple, all these things can make all the difference in someones life.

We watched an old movie, The Bells are Ringing, with Judy Holiday and Dean Martin and at one point they are on the street corner and she says that if you just speak to people they will be friendly in return. They do this...and sure enough, (ok it is a movie) people start speaking and saying hello and introducing themselves. What if we did that?

What if when the waitperson came to your table and said..Hi I'm Sue and I'll be serving you today. You responded. Hi I'm Bobbie and this is John and we are going to be your patrons today.

Have you ever noticed sometimes you go into a store and you don't even make eyecontact with the check out person?

I guess what I am rambling on about is that we need to see God in those next to us as much as to watch for some humdinger of a whizbang epiphany. Maybe they are the same?

Mother Teresa wrote, "Do something beautiful for God"

Let's do that all day, all week, all the time

God abides
Bobbie Giltz McGarey

d365

Children's shoes outside the dining room in Varanasi India
"We have everything - We have Jesus!"






Check out d365 website for a great touchstone way to start your days..

Susan Reed wrote
The example of Christ is something that is hard to grasp. There is an irony in this verse from Corinthians: “so that by his poverty you might become rich.” I think most people would be willing to give up something so that others do not go without. For example, if you had a foot-long sub and someone else had no lunch, would you give them six inches of yours? Probably. Sharing is something we learn at a very young age.

However, if you had a foot-long sub and someone else had no lunch, would you give them your entire sandwich? On a much grander scale, that’s what Christ did for us. Jesus came to live on earth — not so that we could have a little bit of a relationship with God, but so that we could have a full relationship with God. The life and death of Christ happened so that we could have life — life in abundance, life lived in communion with God, our Creator.

Susan Reed

How many shoes do you have? How many feet do you have? How many pairs of shoes can you wear at at time?

Humm

Happy Summer day...

God Abides
Bobbie Giltz McGarey
@2009
Photo by MarthaMcGarey all rights reserved

Time F L I E S

Grace and peace to you all. Wow how can it be July? I have got to get back to a regular routine of writing to You.

Is it not amazing how things come to us when we are open and receptive to them? I flashed on the picture of Jesus standing at the door and knocking...and inviting him in. When you open yourself up to God's activity in your life things come to you...especially when that activity in your life is outward focused... when we work for another/one another.

Not long ago in a conversation with a man that my husband John had recently met we recognized that we both have a passion for mission in India. He has connections and I do as well so it was going benefit both of us. The odd part is that God led us to this through stories of planes being delayed. If I'd never had a plane delayed... we wouldn't have begun or sustained this conversation... There suddenly in the middle of it was the connection the flight from Delhi to Chicago.

Open yourself to the workings of the Spirit all around you and be sure that God's presence is full and real waiting...waiting for you to open that door..

God abides
Happy Summer

Bobbie Giltz McGarey
@2009