♫"I am a beautiful butterfly" ♫

Today I read a devotion from Proverbs31 that touched my heart in so many ways. The woman who wrote the article has her own blog for Christians with Autistic Children and the full entry is at this site.
 ♫I am a beautiful butterfly ♫ is the song of the redeemed
My verse for today:    His divine power has granted to us all things that pertain to life and godliness, through the knowledge of him who called us to his own glory and excellence, by which he has granted to us his precious and very great promises, so that through them you may become partakers of the divine nature, having escaped from the corruption that is in the world because of sinful desire.
    (2 Peter 1:3-4 ESV)
Shalom~ GIS εїз

What is Easter to me?

     “…for God gave us a spirit not of fear but of power and love and self-control.

         “Therefore do not be ashamed of the testimony about our Lord, nor of me his prisoner, but share in suffering for the gospel by the power of God, who saved us and called us to a holy calling, not because of our works but because of his own purpose and grace, which he gave us in Christ Jesus before the ages began, and which now has been manifested through the appearing of our Savior Christ Jesus, who abolished death and brought life and immortality to light through the gospel…”

                                                                                                                          
 (2 Timothy 1:7-10 ESV)

  

" Jesus  did not die on the cross just to get us out of hell and into heaven. He died on the cross to get Himself out of the heaven and into us. It's what we were made for. It's why we long for glory.
(Quote from Renee Swope's Blog today)

     Today I am ending my online Bible Study with Renee Swope, "A Confident Heart". The confidence that I have to make this blog is from my faith in Jesus. In  2 Timothy 1:5 Paul mentions the faith of Timothy's mother and grandmother which was now in Timothy. I have that kind of legacy too. My mother was in a fatal accident in 1986 and at her memorial service her uncle stood up and quoted these scriptures. Her grandmother was at the service and turned 100 in 1991.  My Great Grandmother taught Sunday school into her 90's in the Lakeview, Oregon area. When we went to her 100th birthday my daughter, Mary, was her youngest Great-Great-Grandchild. Her mind was so sharp that she knew every person's name and place in the family. She taught her faith to my mother and my mother taught it to me.  I pray I will have that kind of clarity of mind until I see Jesus.

      So, what does Easter mean to me? At this time of year I am thankful that I live in a country where I can praise God in public and declare my faith. Jesus was born of a virgin, lived a perfect life, heal sickness, raised the dead, forgave sins and trained 11 men that would continue His work after He went to heaven. He was killed, buried and rose on the third day and now intercedes for me at the right hand of God the Father, according to the scriptures. (Deena's version of  The Apostles' Creed )

     I am not going to live with Jesus for eternity, because of my mother's faith or my grandmother's faith. I live by the faith given to me by the Holy Spirit. I only have that confidence by the grace of God.

 Ephesians 2:8 & 9 declares that "...by grace you have been saved through faith, and this is not your own doing this is a gift of God, so that no one may boast."

    AND  I John 1:9  "If we confess our sins, He is faithful and just to forgive us our sins and to cleanse us from all unrighteousness." (ESV)

    This is the hope that lives in me. I am a sinner saved by grace. I pray if you are reading this and you do not know Jesus as your Lord and Savior that today would be your day of salvation. I would love to hear from you and if you want more depth on the things I have mentioned check out my pastors blog: Pastor Mark has got some great topics and resources.

March Winds Bring April Showers?

I was brought up with the saying, "March Winds bring April Showers and April Showers bring May Flowers". Here in my part of Northern California we get the wind and the showers all at once and daffodils bloom in January.

         One of my favorite blogs is:http://rfgblog.maryjanesfarm.org I just got the update today and Shery is talking about the March winds on her Wyoming cattle ranch. She has a great way of saying what I would, so enjoy her story of the winds in Wyoming.

           I just figured out how to add a picture in the middle of a post. This is a pour off I recently discovered on a hike on one of the rare days this month that it wasn’t raining and blowing. We were at only 2/3 of the needed rainfall for our area at the beginning of March, but I think God has been making up for that the last two weeks. Get our your raincoat, I hear we are in for more rain tonight.

What is GIS and why do I care?

     GIS (Geographical Information Systems) are all around us. “Oct 29, 2005 ... The personal information cloud is a new and interesting way of looking at information…” http://futurememes.blogspot.com/2005/10/next-gen-information-cloud.html

     I learned that I have a knack for using the software to retrieve the information and put it into a readable form.  I am only a beginner in a field that has changed so much that if had I entered it 20 years ago I would be almost in the same place I am now; learning it as it unfolds in the public sector. This cloud of information is floating above us waiting to be used; unfortunately exploited by some, but also used in a way that will help people. Some are completely sanguine about the GST (Geo-spatial Technology) thinking that we can solve the world problems. Others are completely skeptical and think that “Big Brother” is going to rule our lives with all the information he has on us through our modern technology. I believe most are just blindly using whatever technology they can to get the most benefit and personal pleasure to make it through the 24 hours of the day.

    I want to be in the smaller percentage that is knowledgeable enough to use the information wisely for the most common good I can conceive. As a student intern currently I am only beginning to understand basic software usage, and a lot of that is finding out how to work with the kinks in the system. I see the world as a Big Blue Marble in the hand of God, our creator. In Psalm 104:24, “O Lord, how manifold are your works!” http://www.esvbible.org/Psalm+104/

     Since I was a child I have loved being outside and helping people or all ages. I am just beginning to explore the possibilities in GIS and not sure what my niche will be, but I know my heart is to serve not to be served. In upcoming blog posts I will throw out some of the possibilities. I am looking forward to my first California Geographical Society conference at the end of April. I hope to come home with more questions to explore after that trip.  

My Roommate

     Monday I was kicking a soccer ball for our Corgi, Junior (JR) and the ball brush by a Dutchmen’s pipe butterfly lying on the grass.  One of the wings had lost some of the felt and it was 40 degrees and there was the possibility for more rain. I put my finger out and the butterfly climbed onto my finger. There is a vase of cut flowers in my room, so I brought the little fellow in expecting it to die.

The butterfly is still very much alive, three days later. I bought another bouquet of flower for my “flying flower”. I will hence refer to her with female pronouns. To add to my menagerie, a lady bug dropped on my desk yesterday. I have had a number of them winter in my house this year. I understand this is not uncommon in the eastern states, but I have never heard of this in my area.

For more information on ladybugs in your house see:  http://www.ladybuglady.com/infestation.htm