{ DRIVEN }

Saturday, August 7, 2010

Collection of Favorite Quotes and Bible Passages

Let your roots grow down into him and draw up nourishment from him, so you will grow in faith, strong and vigorous in the truth you were taught. Let your lives overflow with thanksgiving for all he has done.
Col. 2:7

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No, in all these things we are more than conquerors through him who loved us. For I am convinced that neither death nor life, neither angels nor demons, neither the present nor the future, nor any powers, neither height nor depth, nor anything else in all creation, will be able to separate us from the love of God that is in Christ Jesus our Lord.
Romans 8:37-39

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If Christ is risen, nothing else matters. And if Christ is not risen - nothing else matters. Jaroslav Pelikan

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A leader is like a shepherd. He stays behind the flock, letting the most nimble go out ahead, whereupon the others follow, not realizing that all along they are being directed from behind.
Nelson Mandela

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And now these three remain: faith, hope, and love. But the greatest of these is love.
1 Corinthians 13

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Now to Him who is able to do exceedingly abundantly above all that we ask or think, according to the power that works in us,
Ephesians 3:20 (New King James) I think I like this one better!

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God can do anything, you know-far more than you could ever imagine or guess or request in your wildest dreams! He does it not by pushing us around but by working within us, his Spirit deeply and gently within us.
Ephesians 3:20 (The Message)

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Likewise, the Spirit helps us in our weakness: for we do not know how to pray as we ought, but that very spirit intercedes with sighs too deep for words.
Romans 8:26

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For I know the plans I have for you," declares the Lord, "plans to prosper you and not to harm you, plans to give you hope and a future.
Jeremiah 29:11

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The Parable of the Drowning Man

While out to sea, a large boat became shipwrecked and there was only a single survivor. This man prayed and asked God to save his life. Soon thereafter, another boat came by and offered the man some help.

"No thanks," he said. "I'm waiting for God to save me."

The men on the boat shrugged their shoulders and continued. As the man became more deeply concerned, another boat came by.

Again, the people aboard offered this man some help, and again he politely declined. "I'm waiting for God to save me," he said again.

After some time, the man began to lose his faith, and soon after that he died. Upon reaching Heaven, he had a chance to speak with God briefly."Why did you let me die? Why didn't you answer my prayers?"

"I sent you two boats!"

-Unknown
(I have heard this awesome parable several times in the past couple of months.)

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But they that wait upon the Lord shall renew their strength; they shall mount up with wings as eagles; they shall run, and not be weary; and they shall walk, and not faint.
Isaiah 40:31

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Chance cannot change love,
nor time impair,
for love is more than a feeling...
love is a decision,
a commitment
to care forever.
-unknown
(from a plaque I like in my Uncle Joe and Aunt Barb's home)

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I will build them up and not tear them down; I will plant them and not uproot them. I will give them a heart to know me, that I am the Lord. They will be my people, and I will be their God.
Jeremiah 24:6-7

Sunday, August 1, 2010

Stearns County, MN

Stearns County holds great history on both my Dad's and Mom's side. In July, I was able to meet many family members at a reunion on my Dad's side that I had never met before.

Pioneer Inn

Freeport, MN

Grandma Rose Miller

My great-grandparents, John "JB" and Mary Josephine "Josie", owned and ran Pioneer Inn and raised my grandma and her siblings in the upper level from 1899 to 1914. JB became a banker and they moved into a large white house in Holdingford, MN. I was told that JB was said to have funded those who produced and distributed Minnesota 13 whiskey during prohibition. It was named after Hwy 13 - the road that the whiskey was transported on. The things you learn at reunions! My great-aunt Marcella continued living there after my great-grandparents passed away. After Marcella's death in 2007 at the age of 100, my Dad contemplated purchasing the house and turning it into a bed & breakfast but in the end decided against it. I have fond memories there. I'd like to visit both the Inn which is now a restaurant and drive past "the white house" next time I'm in MN. I would also like to visit the resting place of the little baby girl, Mary, who my Dad and his late wife lost just a few days after she was born. I think Mary would be in her 40's right now had she pulled through.

Phenomenal Woman

Pretty women wonder where my secret lies.
I'm not cute or built to suit a fashion model's size
But when I start to tell them,
They think I'm telling lies.
I say,
It's in the reach of my arms
The span of my hips,
The stride of my step,
The curl of my lips.
I'm a woman
Phenomenally.
Phenomenal woman,
That's me.

I walk into a room
Just as cool as you please,
And to a man,
The fellows stand or
Fall down on their knees.
Then they swarm around me,
A hive of honey bees.
I say,
It's the fire in my eyes,
And the flash of my teeth,
The swing in my waist,
And the joy in my feet.
I'm a woman
Phenomenally.
Phenomenal woman,
That's me.

Men themselves have wondered
What they see in me.
They try so much
But they can't touch
My inner mystery.
When I try to show them
They say they still can't see.
I say,
It's in the arch of my back,
The sun of my smile,
The ride of my breasts,
The grace of my style.
I'm a woman
Phenomenally.
Phenomenal woman,
That's me.

Now you understand
Just why my head's not bowed.
I don't shout or jump about
Or have to talk real loud.
When you see me passing
It ought to make you proud.
I say,
It's in the click of my heels,
The bend of my hair,
the palm of my hand,
The need of my care,
'Cause I'm a woman
Phenomenally.
Phenomenal woman,
That's me.

-Maya Angelou

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A search for a poem by William Blake referenced in church this morning brought me to one of my favorite poems... Timeless...