My Hope America with Billy Graham / The Cross Review

First of all, I should state that I love Billy Graham. I think of him as my father in Christ because it was at one of his talks that I received Jesus as my personal Savior and Lord. I'd read the Bible, gone to church and a lot of people thought I was a Christian, including myself, but it wasn't until that day Reverend Graham spoke to me (and a whole crowd of eager teens) that I truly repented, started a personal relationship with Jesus and experienced the joy of salvation and peace of God.

That said, I totally enjoyed watching My Hope America with Billy Graham / The Cross and highly recommend it. I hadn't heard of Lecrae or the beautiful female singer who were also featured on the video but both of their stories brought tears to my eyes. The message was completely unlike one of Reverend Graham's revival talks in format but the heart of it was the same. If you're curious about the difference Christ can make in someone's life, definitely watch the program.

If you didn't get a chance to watch My Hope America with Billy Graham on Billy Graham's 95th birthday (November 7, 2013, when it first aired) it's airing through November 10, 2013 and also available online. You can see the broadcast schedule or view the program online at http://watchbillygraham.com/. Only God knows for sure, but this may Be Reverend Graham's last major undertaking and I think it's a must see.

For more information on how to become a Christian or to chat online with trained Christian counselors 24/7 visit http://peacewithgod.jesus.net/. 

May God bless Billy Graham, his family and all of their ministries and may He bless you too!

Related posts:
http://lovejoyandpeas.blogspot.com/2011/12/happy-birthday-jesus.html
http://lovejoyandpeas.blogspot.com/2012/04/easter-good-news-how-to-become-born.html
http://lovejoyandpeas.blogspot.com/2013/07/anti-depression-prayers.html

Disclaimer:
This post is my personal opinion and I wasn't paid or asked to write it. My only affiliations with any of the people or organizations mentioned herein are as stated above and a donor/fan.

Fall Foliage at the U.S. National Arboretum

The fall foliage at the U.S. National Arboretum seemed to peak this week and it's a great time to visit if you're close enough. If you look closely you can see the capitol columns in the background in the photo above.

I love the different reds in the Japanese maple trees in the photo above (taken outside the National Bonsai and Penjing Museum, which is within the National Arboretum).

This interestingly shaped tree is near the old capitol columns (I plan to feature a picture of them in an upcoming post so be sure to return in a few days!).

 Graceful yet fiery Japanese maple tree.

Here's an overall shot of the little bonsai maple from yesterday's blog post. Some of its companions have lost their leaves already but it's still a striking display.

May God bless you this autumn and always!

Related posts:
Autumn bonsai: http://lovejoyandpeas.blogspot.com/2013/11/autumn-bonsai-exhibit-at-us-national.html
Autumn blessing: http://lovejoyandpeas.blogspot.com/2013/09/happy-autumn-blessing.html
Fall foliage in Maryland: http://lovejoyandpeas.blogspot.com/2012/10/fall-foliage-in-my-suburban-maryland.html
Peaceful pond trail foliage: http://lovejoyandpeas.blogspot.com/2013/10/peaceful-pond-trail-photos-haiku-poem.html

Autumn Bonsai Exhibit At U.S. National Arboretum

Yesterday my husband and I happened upon the National Arboretum's Autumn Bonsai exhibit in their National Bonsai and Penjing Museum. If you're within driving distance of the Arboretum the exhibit runs until November 10, 2013. The outdoor bonsai trees photographed better but the indoor ones were amazing too. The bonsai tree pictured above was located outside.

 This amazing pear tree bonsai was also located outside.

This spooky bonsai tree with bat art greets visitors as the enter the National Bonsai and Penjing Museum.

 My photo doesn't do this beautiful bonsai justice but I hope you enjoy it anyway.

 I thought this little bonsai was neat. I think it was the smallest on display.

I think this is Japanese blood grass and I'd like to add some to our garden next year (along with a Mr. Lincoln rose and some variegated Solomon's seal). I hope you enjoyed my mini photo tour of the Autumn Bonsai exhibit. May God bless and keep you!

Related posts:
Azalea bonsai: http://lovejoyandpeas.blogspot.com/2013/06/azaleas-of-old-japan-satsuki-bonsai.html
Secret gazebo: http://lovejoyandpeas.blogspot.com/2013/05/secret-gazebo-photos-haikus-short-poems.html
Orchid jubilee: http://lovejoyandpeas.blogspot.com/2012/10/orchid-jubilee-at-us-national-arboretum.html
Dragonflies and butterflies: http://lovejoyandpeas.blogspot.com/2012/08/dragonfly-and-butterflies-on-flowers-at.html
Day lilies: http://lovejoyandpeas.blogspot.com/2013/07/beautiful-day-lilies-and-day-lily-haiku.html

Happy Halloween & Funny Cat Pictures

Moose the cat wasn't as cooperative as usual for her Halloween photo shoot this year but I thought some of these photos were hilarious. I hope you get a smile from them too.

She shook off the skirt faster than I could click the camera but it took her a bit longer to shake off the orange headband wig.

 Baby cat mostly just wrestled with the skirt. She eventually took great relish in destroying it.

Moose the cat got a little tangled in the skirt and hair but I made sure she was amply rewarded with treats after the photos were finished.

 If you click to enlarge this photo you can see Moose the cat's eyes peering outward from under the skirt.

Moose may not enjoy the costumes but she loves her orange basket (which I got at a thrift store for $1!).

Happy Halloween from our home to yours! May God bless you!

Related posts:
Moose in many costumes: http://lovejoyandpeas.blogspot.com/2012/11/companion-animals-pets-day-24-of-30.html
Funny Halloween cats: http://lovejoyandpeas.blogspot.com/2012/10/happy-halloween-funny-cat-photos.html
Halloween squirrel: http://lovejoyandpeas.blogspot.com/2012/10/happy-halloween-squirrelly-photos-and.html
Funny St. Patrick cats: http://lovejoyandpeas.blogspot.com/2013/03/funny-st-patricks-day-photos-of-moose.html

Breast Cancer Awareness Haiku and Prayer

Pink rose in honor of those who are, have or will battle breast cancer

My heart goes out to everyone affected by breast cancer. In October, breast cancer awareness month here in the USA, it tends to be on our minds more often. But for those dealing with the disease or the loss of a loved one due to it, it's almost always on their mind. I pray for an end to all cancers, all suffering and all disease. There's breast cancer treatment center that calls all of it's patients survivors from the moment of diagnosis. I like that positive label so I tend to use it in my writing. Whether you're on the first day of your battle with breast cancer or you're in your 20th year of remission, you're a survivor! While researchers labor to find a cure and end this terrible disease, I cannot offer such concrete help. But I hope my little poem and prayer offerings can bring someone a moment of awareness, comfort or peace.

 

Breast Cancer Awareness Haiku

One in nine women

will fight breast cancer in her

lifetime. We need a cure!

 

Prayer for Breast Cancer Survivors

Dear Lord, please be with all breast cancer survivors, comfort them, heal them, guide their medical team so they receive the best human care possible. Guide the researchers so a cure is found soon. Grow the faith of those who know You so others can see Your love in their hearts, even as they battle breast cancer. Show those who love breast cancer survivors how to help them on their journey and open channels of communication so their relationships grow stronger despite the challenges. Let Your peace reign in the hearts of all breast cancer survivors and their loved ones. Lend your strength to weary shoulders. Provide divine healing so You might be glorified on earth as You are in heaven. In Jesus' name, Amen.

May God bless, keep and heal you!

Related posts:

http://lovejoyandpeas.blogspot.com/2012/10/a-challenge-my-thoughts-in-pink.html

http://lovejoyandpeas.blogspot.com/2013/07/anti-depression-prayers.html

http://lovejoyandpeas.blogspot.com/2012/03/dont-waste-your-trials.html

Free Brainbench.com Tests - Limited Time

For a few more days, Brainbench.com's certification tests are free! They're also giving away prizes and having international competitions. So, not only do you get free certification tests and a chance to win prizes but you can help your country (and, at least in the USA, state) in the competition when you successfully complete certification exams. Note: while the exams are free and you can create a public transcript, if you want pretty certificates there is a fee.

In my last traditional job my supervisor was highly impressed by my certification list (I'm one of those rare people who thinks taking tests is fun) so I'm sharing in case these certifications might help you too. Other than as a customer/member, I'm not affiliated with Brainbench in any way. Even though I'm my own boss these days I do like to keep certifications current and the free certifications during Brainbench's annual "Bench Games" is a great time to do it. The 2013 Bench Games end on October 25th at 5:00pm EST. If you miss out in this year's games, be on the lookout for next year's games.

According to their website: "Brainbench certifications are used by 15,000 leading employers worldwide to support their daily hiring and promotion decisions. By partnering with Brainbench, members across the world have advanced their careers, finding better career opportunities, more interesting work, and are earning more. You can do the same."

May God bless and keep you!

Sources:
http://brainbench.com/xml/bb/landing/offer/home/promotion.xml?contentId=3049
http://brainbench.com/xml/bb/aboutus/consumer/whybb.xml
Personal experience

Related posts:
http://lovejoyandpeas.blogspot.com/2012/01/free-work-from-home-resource.html
http://lovejoyandpeas.blogspot.com/2013/08/75-ways-to-feel-happier.html
http://lovejoyandpeas.blogspot.com/2013/08/my-top-4-tips-for-limiting-internet.html

Scott Cole's "Qigong Wakeup Call" Affirmations

This morning I was blessed with the opportunity to attend fitness legend Scott Cole's Qigong Wakeup Call class in Baltimore. Scott radiates kindness and a healthy, helpful energy. His classes are my favorite part of AAAI/ISMA's annual fitness conference.

My beautiful classmate, Heather, kindly agreed to model the end of class four-step affirmation poses Scott shared with us. Above is step one, strength. The key to this affirmation pose is to have relaxed power in your muscles and keep your fists lose (versus tight and clenched).

The second affirmation is self acceptance. It's like hugging yourself loosely and it doesn't matter which hand is on top.

For the third affirmation pose you just reverse which hand is on top and bottom in your self hug. I am not 100% sure but think this affirmation was awareness.

The fourth and final affirmation pose, with your arms joyfully held wide, is openness (to experience, to helping others and being vulnerable enough to be your true self). To Scott, "that's what life's all about."

Hearty thanks to Scott and Heather for a fantastic class and graciously allowing me to photograph them! May God bless them and may He bless you too!

Related posts:
Feel happier: http://lovejoyandpeas.blogspot.com/2013/08/75-ways-to-feel-happier.html
Baltimore flowers: http://lovejoyandpeas.blogspot.com/2012/09/flower-garden-at-baltimore-convention.html
Autumn blessing: http://lovejoyandpeas.blogspot.com/2013/09/happy-autumn-blessing.html