Famous Quotes

       We're all familiar with many famous quotes from literature, movies and TV, and even the Holy Bible.  I mean who doesn't know what is probably being said in the picture above.  It didn't take Dorothy too long on the Yellow Brick Road before she was saying, "Uh, Toto, I've a feeling we're not in Kansas anymore!"  

       My granddaughter Marisa played the part perfectly when our Children's Museum had a Wizard of Oz exhibit some years ago.

       

       I thought we could have some fun with a variety of famous quotes.  Some may be easy for you, while others might be difficult.  Test yourself on the famous quotes below and see how many you can answer correctly.  One point if you know who said it?  One point if you know which movie or book it comes from?  The answers are at the bottom of this post.  I'd love to know how many you get right (:

 1.  "Call me Ismael"

 2.  "You complete me."

 3.  "It was the best of the times, it was the worst of times."

 4.  "For this child I prayed, and the Lord has granted me my petition which I asked of Him."

 5.  "Love means never having to say you're sorry."

 6.  "I hate snakes!"

 7.  "Christianity, if false, is of no importance, and if true, of infinite importance."

 8.  "Who knows whether you have come to the kingdom for such a time as this?"

 9.  "Here's lookin' at you kid!"

10.  "Speak softly and carry a big stick, you will go far."

11.  "I'm gonna make him an offer he can't refuse."

12.  "Entreat me not to leave you...Your people shall be my people, and your God, my God..."

13.  "Life is like a box of chocolates..."

14.  "Carpe Diem" - one of my favorite quotes!

And what very famous quote comes to mind with this picture?

      Hope you enjoyed taking this quiz.  Do you have any favorite quotes you'd like to share?  Let us know.  If you want to comment, be sure and click on the blog's name and you'll be taken to the site so that you can comment.  I'd love to hear from you!

      Answers are below:

 1.  spoken by the ship's boy Ismael in the intro to Moby Dick, by Herman Melville.

 2.  spoken by Renee Zellweger's character in movie "Jerry McGuire."

 3.  from Tale of Two Cities, by Charles Dickens, describing the background of France at the beginning of the French Revolution.

 4.  spoken by Hannah in 1 Samuel 1:27, Holy Bible.

 5.  spoken by Ali MacGraw's character (Jennifer) in "Love Story."

 6.  spoken by Harrison Ford's character (Indiana Jones) in "Raiders of the Lost Ark"

 7.  by author C.S. Lewis 

 8.  spoken by Mordecai, uncle of Queen Esther, in book of Esther 4:14.

 9.  spoken by Humphrey Bogart's character in movie "Casablanca."

10.  spoken by President Theodore Roosevelt

11.  spoken by Marlon Brando's character in "The Godfather," movie.

12.  spoken by Ruth to her mother-in-law Naomi, in book of Ruth 1:16.

13.  spoken by Tom Hanks character (Forrest Gump) in movie Forrest Gump.

14.  spoken by Robin Williams character in the movie "Dead Poets Society."

 

 And, of course, the famous quote with the picture of members of my family portraying characters from Star Wars is:  "May the Force be with you!"  While that phrase has a specific meaning speaking of the source of inner power in the movie, I like to twist it around and consider the true source of inner power which comes from Almighty God.  I say, "May the Force of the Holy Spirit's power be with you!"  Now, THAT'S real power!

 

Struggles

 

STRUGGLES

      This beautiful Monarch butterfly was enjoying nectar from a brilliant orange flower in New Bern, North Carolina, some years ago.  Butterflies offer us many spiritual messages and here's one I want to share today.

      A man was walking in the woods and saw a cocoon hanging from a tree.  He took the cocoon home with him, set it on a table and watched as the gauzy, whitish gray oblong shook and bounced across the surface, struggling to free itself.  After awhile, the cocoon lay still for a moment.  The man felt sorry for the little creature and wanted to help it emerge from its confining covering, so he carefully snipped it with scissors to free the insect.

     Sadly, when the butterfly emerged, it had a swollen body and small wings, only able to walk on wobbly legs.  You see, the struggle required to free the butterfly from its cocoon was what it needed to force fluid into its wings and cause them to fully form. 

     Struggle was what the butterfly needed to make it strong enough to fly.  The same is true for us.  Struggle makes us stronger.  If God allowed us to go through life without any obstacles and struggle, it would only cripple us.  We would not be as strong as what we could have been - and we could never fly.

     There's a beautiful song by Laura Story that speaks of struggle and difficulty that often result in precious blessing.  Here are lyrics from the end of the song:

'Cause what if Your blessings come through raindrops

What if Your healing comes through tears

And what if a thousand sleepless nights

Are what it takes to know You’re near

What if my greatest disappointments - Or the aching(s) of this life

Is the revealing of a greater thirst this world can’t satisfy

And what if trials of this life --

The rain, the storms, the hardest nights --  are Your mercies in disguise.

     Adding another layer of truth to this 'object lesson,' I recently read in Sarah Young's Jesus Calling, these words that Jesus might speak to us:  "I know everything about you, far more than you know of yourself.  But I restrain My yearning to 'fix' you,' waiting instead for you to come to Me for help.  Imagine the divine restraint this requires, for I have all power in heaven and on earth."

     We might say that's sorta like the man if he had restrained himself from snipping the cocoon, even though it bothered him to see the butterfly struggle, because he knew it needed the struggle to grow strong and fly.

     But, in the case of Jesus our Lord and Creator, it goes much deeper than that.  Jesus feels our pain as we struggle and sorrow in life.  "For we do not have a High Priest who cannot sympathize with our weaknesses..." Hebrews 4:15.  Remember when He saw the pain felt by the mourners after Lazarus' death, "Jesus wept," John 11:35.  And yet, in His great wisdom, He retrains Himself from reaching down and removing that struggle from our lives.

     Not only does He feel our pain, but as scripture points out, He knows everything we are feeling and thinking, and He understands far better than we ourselves do, just what it will take for our attitudes to shift and our understanding be awakened and the muscles of our mind, spirit and body become stronger.  What does it take for you and I to become true overcomers in the power of the Lord?  I don't fully know, but Jesus knows every atom in our being and He loves us so much, He wants what is best for us.  Sometimes, that 'best' requires a good bit of struggle to evolve into who God wants us to be.

    It all comes down to these two verses that have been used over and over, and offer us the best way to live in this world:  "Trust in the Lord with all your heart, and lean not on your own understanding; in all your ways acknowledge Him, and He shall direct your paths," Proverbs 3:5-6.

    As we struggle out of the last remnants of one of our cocoons of difficulty, I can just imagine Jesus smiling, saying, "Fly, my child!  Fly!"

Three Mile Station

 THREE MILE STATION

      Here is a tour of a very special house in the Outer Banks of North Carolina, along with a glimpse of our relaxing week.  The third week in April, we had the pleasure of spending a week at probably the oldest structure on the oceanfront of the Outer Banks.  Dubbed "Three Mile Station," the Victorian house was built in 1896 by sea captain Marlin Winston and his wife Rebecca.  

      Orville and Wilbur Wright came to the house several times during their visits on the Outer Banks while they were working on the first flying machine in the early 1900s.  

     This old house has withstood well over a century of storms and pounding surf.  Its sturdy beams and firm foundation have stood strong and I was so delighted to be able to spend time within its lovely walls and gaze out of its spacious windows that look out at the sea.  I love the way the sky looks as the sun began to set in front of the house.  The Master Painter was at work again!

    As you can see from a view of the living room, the house has been nicely updated and furnished comfortably.  Portions of the house are original (some of the floors, walls & ceilings), while most other places have been replaced.  The house has three small bedrooms, two baths, well-equipped kitchen, and two nice porches.  The best feature are the many windows and wonderful views.  I have been fascinated with this house for years, so staying there was a dream come true for me!

     I was mesmerized by this glorious view!  I love the way the ocean changes from day to day and how the light changes.  A flock of pelicans flew just beyond the windows several times a day - so cool!  The ocean is so huge and humbling.  Knowing God created and controls this massive body of water as if it is no more than a small bowl of liquid, and that He keeps every wave marching forward in perfect rhythm -- it's beyond words amazing!  "The Lord on high is mightier than the noise of many waters, than the mighty waves of the sea," Psalm 93:4, and God says, "When you pass through the waters, I will be with you," Isaiah 43:2.

    We popped into the North Carolina Aquarium on Roanoke Island and saw some huge fish, turtles, snakes and a rare alligator.  Both of the two guys below are American alligators.   The white gator is called a 'Leucistic' American alligator and is only one of several million gators - yes, you read that right.  This small aquarium has a super rare white alligator (it lacks skin pigment).  The American alligator can live up to 50 years.

We stopped at the Outer Banks Visitor Center and discovered a very interesting Monument to a Century of Flight.  There are about 14 tall obelisks, each chronicling milestone events in the world of flight. Somehow, we'd missed ever seeing this.  Glad we found it - it's very nice!

    Part of our family joined us near the end of the week and the kids had a great time playing in the sand and the water.  They didn't seem to care that it was rather chilly - ah, the joys of childhood!

    And, of course, they always have to climb Jockey's Ridge.  The five climbed while I stayed behind (knees aren't up to it).  They love jumping down sandy hills and watching the pretty sunset - all more comfortable in the cooler weather.

    I got up early one morning and watched the sun rise over the Atlantic Ocean.  From it's first rays of light to this full-fledged risen sun reflecting over the water, I watched.  I stood on the deck in the chill morning air, listening to birds greeting the morning light with their songs, and I watched the changing colors.  It was beautiful!  

"From the rising of the sun to its going down the 

Lord's name is to be praised," Psalm 113:3.

"This is the day the Lord has made; we will rejoice

 and be glad in it," Psalm 118:24

Still Relevant

STILL RELEVANT

 

I chose these ancient scales that were on display in a museum in Ephesus, Turkey, to illustrate part of this post.  Have you ever used this old saying, "An ounce of prevention is worth a pound of cure?"

     Chances are, you've used this useful truism at some time in your life.  Have you ever wondered where the phrase originated?  Maybe not, but I'm going to tell you anyway -

      In 1736, Benjamin Franklin coined the phrase, using it to encourage the citizens of Philadelphia to be very careful to prevent unwanted fires that could easily become raging infernos (as frequently happened in those days).  Meaning, a little precaution before a problem occurs is preferable to a lot of fixing up afterward.  Wise words to live by every day!

      I have a humorous story to share about the next truism.  I had always considered this a good phrase to use, but apparently, not everyone agrees - it is:  "Six of one, half-a dozen of the other," which basically means that the two things are identical.

     A few years ago, I was in the car with my two daughters and their husbands.  Derek stepped out of the car to get some information and we began talking about various quotes people use - like the 'ounce of prevention' quote.  Sara said there was one that always puzzled her, it was, "Six of one, half-a dozen of the other."  She said, "What does that even mean?"

     We began explaining the meaning to Sara, trying to help her understand, and that's when Derek returned to the car.  We asked what he'd found out and he said, "Oh, you know, six of one, half-a dozen of the other."

     We all burst into tears down the face laughter and could not believe the coincidence!  Poor Derek looked at us like, "What? Was it something I said?"

     The phrase in question originated in 1790 (why does everything seem to originate in the 1700s?).  A British Naval officer Ralph Clark used the expression in his ship's journal.  The ship had undergone some sort of wreck in the Pacific Ocean and this is what he wrote about the behavior of the men: "Of all the places in the world, this is the greatest nest of rascals.  It is impossible to trust any one of our men hardly any much more than any of the convicts.  In short, there is no difference between soldier sailor and convicts.  They're Six of the One and half a Dozen of the other."

     So, you ask, what spiritual message can you glean from this?

--"An ounce of prevention is worth a pound of cure" offers numerous spiritual messages.  I'll grab a couple and say, "Ponder the path of your feet, and let all your ways be established," Proverbs 4:26.

          "See then that you walk circumspectly, not as fools but as wise, redeeming the time, because the days are evil," Ephesians 5:15

--"Six of the one and half-a dozen of the other" - in our case, I'll just say, "A merry heart makes a cheerful countenance," and "Laughter is good medicine," from Proverbs.

Flowers

 

FLOWERS

'Tis the season for flowers and more flowers!  The poet Ralph Waldo said, "The earth laughs in flowers."  The beautiful blossoms in the picture above grew in the garden of the Stan Hywet house in Dayton, Ohio. God is a master artist in His marvelous creations!

These extravagant looking mounds of flowers covered Japanese Cherry trees in the garden of the Taiwanese Pagoda in Norfolk, Virginia, in April. The Japanese celebrate the arrival of the cherry blossom each year with a festival known as Sakura Matsuri. I celebrate the fact that God created beautiful, colorful flowers in the first place!  What a blessing He gave to us all!

These lovely golden orange day lilies were growing in Williamsburg, Virginia, a few weeks ago.  Sadly, they are long-gone because they only last for one day.  Their blossom opens in the morning and droops by nightfall.  They are a perfect illustration of the verse in Isaiah, "The grass withers, the flower fades, but the word of our God stands forever," 40:8.

Jumping for joy in a lovely garden - I love it!!  "And the desert shall rejoice and blossom as the rose; it shall blossom abundantly and rejoice, even with joy and singing," Isaiah 35:1-2.  Not only are these blossoms beautiful and abundant, but my sweet granddaughter Noelle goes through life with joy and a song in her heart each and every day.  Thank you, O Lord, for such blessings!!

The Mimosa tree is adorned with silky, feathery pink flowers in the summer.  These blossoms look like exotic pink fans waving in the breeze.  They always remind me of my granddaughter Marisa, who  spotted the flowers with me when she was little.  Jesus told His disciples to consider the flowers - "they neither toil nor spin; and yet I say to you, even Solomon in all his glory was not arrayed like one of these," Luke 12:27

"He has made everything beautiful in its time..." Ecclesiastes 3:11.  This delicate pink flower is part of the Mandevilla vine.  The genus was first described in 1840 and named for British diplomat, Henry Mandevilla, who was also an avid gardener.  My mother had a green thumb and each summer grew lush Mandevilla vines that climbed her fence and were loaded with these tropical beauties.

       The Song of Solomon is describing the Lord, with the verse, "I am the rose of Sharon, and the lily of the valleys," 2:1.  I like the famous old saying about how important it is for us to 'stop and smell the roses' along our pathway in life. Not only is it a pleasant way to live, it is also healthier for mind, body and soul.  It goes along with another of my favorite phrases "carpe diem," Latin for "seize the day," a quote taken from Roman poet Horace's Odes, written over 2,000 years ago.

     Here's another cool quote, "A flower does not think of competing with the flower next to it, it just blooms," from Zin Shin.  

     Stopping to appreciate the wonder and beauty of a flower -- and it's Maker -- will bless your heart in a myriad of ways.

 Final photo of me smelling the roses was taken a few years ago at the Ringling Mansion in Sarasota, Florida.