Cute Kitty

photo (c) 2007 by DKF

Who would you choose?

I was watching "Deal or No Deal" tonight and the contestant was a huge fan of a certain music group. As part of the show, they often connect people with celebrities that they really really like. This lady actually planned to spend some of her winnings on a private concert with this group. Suddenly they were on stage with her giving her big hugs and high fives.

It made me think about who I would want to meet if I could meet anyone in the world. I've actually had the opportunity to chat face to face with some of my favorite musicians. It's pretty cool to talk with them about their experiences and it makes you realize that they're just normal people even if you have 5 of their CDs in your collection. It takes away some of the awe factor. It might be cool to meet B.B. King or Keanu Reeves, but they are just people, no matter how talented or gorgeous they may be and they have their own lives that don't include me and probably never will.

In light of that, the only person I could come up with that I truly want to meet in the flesh is Jesus. I really want to give Him a big hug, take a walk in the park, watch a DVD in my living room, wander around Wal-Mart, laugh over lattes at Starbucks... I know He's always with me, but I want to be able to be with Him like I am with my friends. I want to see Him and touch Him and audibly hear His voice.

Lord, I pray that You would reveal Yourself to me in new, tangible ways. May all of my senses be opened and aware of You day and night. Please lead me on paths that will bring me closer to You.

Beautiful Reminder!?

"He will cover you with his feathers, and under his wings you will find refuge; his faithfulness will be your shield and rampart." --Psalm 91:4 (NIV)

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Could snowflakes represent feathers? Could a snowstorm be considered a beautiful reminder of God's faithfulness and covering?

photo (C) 2007 by DKF

Snow

"Surely you desire truth in the inner parts; you teach me wisdom in the inmost place. Cleanse me with hyssop, and I will be clean; wash me, and I will be whiter than snow."

-- Psalm 51:6,7 (NIV)

Amen!!!

photos (c) 2007 by DKF

Finally Frozen!!

photos (c) 2007 by DKF

Santa Snippets

I stumbled across this movie on the $1 DVD rack. Santa Claus Conquers the Martians is a 1964 science fiction film that regularly appears on the lists of the worst films ever made, but if you go into it knowing that, it can be a fun movie to watch. The theme song, "Hooray for Santy Claus," is truly an unbelievable recording. The dollar I paid for the DVD was almost worth it just to hear the song. If you're interested in movie trivia, an eight year old Pia Zadora plays one of the Martian children.

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THE FOUR STAGES OF LIFE:
1) You believe in Santa Claus.
2) You don't believe in Santa Claus.
3) You are Santa Claus.
4) You look like Santa Claus.

Doodles

"Let us fix our eyes on Jesus,

the author and perfecter of our faith..."
--Hebrews 12:2a (NIV)

Know that the LORD is God.
It is he who made us,
and we are his; we are his people,
the sheep of his pasture.
-- Psalm 100:3 (NIV)

drawings (c) 2007 by DKF

Time and Time Again

Then I looked and heard the voice of many angels, numbering thousands upon thousands, and ten thousand times ten thousand. They encircled the throne and the living creatures and the elders. In a loud voice they sang:

"Worthy is the Lamb, who was slain,
to receive power and wealth and wisdom and strength
and honor and glory and praise!"

Then I heard every creature in heaven and on earth and under the earth and on the sea, and all that is in them, singing:

"To him who sits on the throne and to the Lamb
be praise and honor and glory and power,
for ever and ever!"

The four living creatures said, "Amen," and the elders fell down and worshiped.

-- Revelation 5:11-14
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As I was reading in Revelation this morning, I was struck by the praises that were lavished on Jesus so I wrote a poem as my proclamation of God's sacrifice and faithfulness.

Time and Time Again
You gave up Your life.
You stepped down from Your throne
And made your home among peasants.
Blameless,
You died a horrible death,
All for the joy set before you,
That I might be free.
But I feel like a prisoner
Bound by lies and deception,
Bound by the staggering rhythm of
The desires of my heart,
Bound by what I see in
My mind’s eye.

I can’t fathom
Your awesome sacrifice.
My heart is as cold as ice
And You still love me,
Even though over and over again
I ignore You and
Over and over again
I implore You to
Be at my side.
My brain is on such a wild
Ride through this journey of
Belief and I seldom find relief
From these gruesome chains that
Bind me.
But time and time again I
Return to You and
Time and time again
You come and
You give me peace and
You release me.

Lord, thank you! All glory and honor belong to You!


poem (c) 2007 by DKF
photo (c) 2007 by DKF

My Obsession

Okay, I admit it! I'm a PEZHEAD! I love anything PEZ and I want to own it all! I am signed up for e-newsletters and an online PEZ group and I own hundreds of PEZ products from apparel to pens to cars to Christmas cards to actual dispensers, regular size and GIANT, to the PEZHEADS documentary (I recommend this DVD whether you are a collector, just a little bit curious about PEZ or anywhere in between.).

As I was worshipping at church this morning, it occurred to me that I don't get nearly as excited about my relationship with God as I do about PEZ. It was a harsh reality check, and even as I write this, I'm more excited about the Giant PEZ I just ordered ([pictured below] Aren't they cool? They're 12 inches tall!) than about trying to shift my focus.

Jesus said that the most important commandment was this: "Love the Lord your God with all your heart and with all your soul and with all your mind and with all your strength." -- Mark 12:30 (NIV) I want to live that way not only because Jesus commanded it, but because I know that kind of lifestyle brings joy to the Lord's heart and I also know that I'm missing out on an abundance of blessings by not making God my primary focus.

Lord, thank you for Your grace and forgiveness. Even though I struggle with making You number one in my life on a fairly consistent basis, You are still faithful to me and You never stop loving me and You even bless my PEZ obsession at times. Help me shift my focus more towards You, Lord. I want to live with You as my primary obsession.

Awwwwwwwww...

photo (c) 2006 by DKF

What do YOU see? (5)

photo (c) 2006 by DKF

Some Quotes to Ponder

This movie is based on a true story. Pierre Dulaine is a Manhattan ballroom teacher and competitor who volunteers his time to teach ballroom dancing to a group of New York inner city high school kids. Initially forced to participate as a form of detention, the kids reject Mr. Dulaine's efforts until his unwavering commitment and dedication finally inspires them to embrace the program, infusing it with their own unique hip-hop style while subconsciously learning valuable life lessons about pride, respect, self-esteem and honor.

Mr. Dulaine: You can get what you want.
Rock: No, some people get what they want.
Mr. Dulaine: Those are the people who
show up to get it.

Mr. Dulaine: Do you love to dance?
Caitlin: Yeah
Mr. Dulaine: Then you were born to dance.

Mr. Dulaine: Sometimes it takes as much strength to follow as to lead.

Resolution

Happy New Year!!!

~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~
"Look to the LORD and his strength;
seek his face always."
-- Psalm 105:4
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My New Year's resolution is to try
to live this verse everyday, 24-7.

Lord, HELP ME!!

drawing (c) 2007 by DKF

Focus

"Therefore, since we are surrounded by such a great cloud of witnesses, let us throw off everything that hinders and the sin that so easily entangles, and let us run with perseverance the race marked out for us. Let us fix our eyes on Jesus, the author and perfecter of our faith, who for the joy set before him endured the cross, scorning its shame, and sat down at the right hand of the throne of God." -- Hebrews 12:1,2 (NIV)

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Cats have an amazing ability to focus on an object of interest. They may turn their ears towards other things around them to stay alert to what's going on, but they rarely avert their eyes if they're really interested. Sometimes, seemingly for no apparent reason to us humans, cats will suddenly sprint across the room towards whatever they were so fixated on until they "capture it".

Somewhere deep inside of my heart I have that kind of zeal for God. The problem is that my mind is more in control of me than my heart. I am very easily distracted by the things around me. Even though they are garbage compared to what God has for me, they seem so appealing in the moment and I allow my attention to be drawn away from God. None of the things I choose to focus on are bad or ungodly necessarily, but don't I owe it to God to keep my eyes fixed on Him? Jesus came and He died so that I could live without shame and I spend so much of my time ignoring Him!

Lord, forgive me! Give me the ability to focus on You with all of my heart and with all of my mind in the midst of my daily activities. Help me "run with perseverance the race marked out for" me. I pray that my heart, my mind and all of my senses would be open and alert to You.

photos (c) 2006 by DKF

Sleep

"I will lie down and sleep in peace,
for you alone, O LORD,
make me dwell in safety. "

-- Psalm 4:8 (NIV)
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Thank you, Lord for the peace and rest that Your continued faithfulness gives me. Help me to be faithful to You in everything I do.

photo (c) 2006 by DKF

Light

"If I say, 'Surely the darkness will hide me and the light become night around me,' even the darkness will not be dark to you; the night will shine like the day, for darkness is as light to you."

-- Psalm 139:11,12 (NIV)

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I lift up my praises to you, Lord! Thank you that you indeed are Light, even in the darkest caves and caverns of life. Help me keep my eyes open so I can stop living in the darkness that I sometimes choose to dwell in!

photo (c) 2006 by DKF

My Meditation

"May the glory of the LORD endure forever;
may the LORD rejoice in his works-

he who looks at the earth, and it trembles,
who touches the mountains, and they smoke.

I will sing to the LORD all my life;
I will sing praise to my God as long as I live.

May my meditation be pleasing to him,
as I rejoice in the LORD."

-- Psalm 104:31-34 (NIV)

photo (c) 2006 by DKF

From the Core

Volcanic lava rising
From the core
Is heating up this mountain
With new found
Passion and joy
Melting the
Statue-like ice caps
Mobilizing rivers of
Life and Love to flow
Down into dry
Desolate valleys
Birthing new
Succulent fruit and
Reviving withered souls

poem (c) 2005 by DKF
photo (c) 2006 by DKF

Blue Hues

photos (c) 2006 by DKF

Thy Word

"Your word is a lamp to my feet and a light to my path... Your testimonies I have taken as a heritage forever, for they are the rejoicing of my heart."
-- Psalm 119:105, 111 (NKJV)

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Thy word is a lamp unto my feet
And a light unto my path.
Thy word is a lamp unto my feet
And a light unto my path


When I feel afraid,
And think I've lost my way.
Still, You're there right beside me.
Nothing will I fear
As long as You are near;
Please be near me to the end.

I will not forget
Your love for me and yet,
My heart forever is wandering.
Jesus be my guide,
And hold me to Your side,
And I will love you to the end.

"Thy Word" (c) by Amy Grant & Michael W. Smith
photos (c) 2006 by DKF