June 2024

• June is a happy reason to use this beautiful picture again! I can't credit the source as well as I'd like, but the original's from the almost defunct blog, that's what mariel said. Mariel's replacement blog's not active, either. Just the smell of the summer can make me fall in love. Yes!

• As my summary blogs for April and May explained, I started a gap half year mid-December, taking time to reflect and imagine. I'm still catching up with my weekly scripture blogs.

• Urban Wilderness / City Paradise for June

• United Nations World Oceans Day 2024: Saturday 08 June – Awaken New Depths

• Here's a reflection about my original Bethel

• There's another Bethel in my world—along the Miracle Mile in LA!

• Juneteenth 2024 – Wednesday 19 June

• Summer Solstice – Thursday 20 June 2024 – Just saying' No picture this year.

• Strawberry Full Moon – Friday June 21. This illustration from a few years back always has delighted me.

• This house is from a series I created of my original Truro.

• Read about it!

• Now there's another Truro…

Five Minute Friday :: Same

• Five Minute Friday :: Same Linkup

The word "same" invites comparisons: same old; all the same; same store sales.

• Same days.
• Same dreams.
• Same disappointments.


One of these things is not like the others so the others must be the same. Right?

Is it legitimate to compare? Sometimes it isn't, but at times it is. Sometimes it's necessary. It can be reassuring or disheartening. It can measure progress. It can decide if something matches or not. In many cases, that difference just is, with no particular value assigned. This flower is brighter than that flower, but it's the same kind of flower—not better, not worse, though you may prefer one to the other.


I immediately wondered are you still the same if you have the gospel in your life?

•…the gospel of Jesus Christ is the power of God unto salvation.
Romans 1:16

• If anyone is in Christ, there is a new creation: everything old has passed away; behold! Everything has become new!
2 Corinthians 5:17

• Since you have been raised with Christ, seek the things that are above, where Christ is. I love how the KJV says, "If ye then be risen with Christ." For you have died, and your life is hidden with Christ in God. KJV again: "Ye are dead."
Colossians 3:1, 3

For the apostle Paul, the Good News, the Gospel, is death and resurrection.

Are you still the same when you have the gospel in your life?

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Five Minute Friday :: Choice

• Five Minute Friday :: Choice Linkup

Choice:

• something chosen or selected

• the object of choosing or selection


For you are a people holy to the Lord your God.
The Lord your God has chosen you out of all the peoples on the face of the earth
to be his people, God's treasured possession.
Deuteronomy 7:6

For you are a chosen generation
a royal priesthood
a holy nation
a people for God's own possession.
that you may proclaim the excellencies
of the One who called you out of darkness
into the marvelous light.
1 Peter 2:9

...I have called you friends...
you did not choose me
but I chose you.
John 15:15, 16

God reminds us to remember:

I led you through the desert
I quenched your thirst with water from the rock
I fed you with manna from the sky
I zapped your enemies
I made you my chosen

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World Oceans Day 2024

• United Nations World Oceans Day 2024
• Saturday 08 June
• Awaken New Depths