"Life is lived forward, but understood backward. It is not until we are down the road and we stand on the mountain looking back through the valley that we can appreciate the terrain God has allowed us to scale.” Jill Savage

Sunday, March 06, 2011

Sunday's Gift - beauty of spring and prayers . . .

Spring time in Atlanta is not a season it's a blessing. My mom used to tell me that all the time. And it is. No place any prettier or any season any prettier here. (And these are not my photos - but they could have been taken here).



This is a national prayer weekend - and I read these quotes and thought I would share them with you.

"Prayer from the heart can achieve what nothing else can in the world." ~ Mahatma Gandhi

"Prayer does not change God, but it changes him who prays," observed Danish writer Søren Kierkegaard.

"My secret is quite simple," confessed Mother Teresa of Calcutta. "I pray."
And have any of you read or seen Shadowlands by C.S.Lewis (I love his writings.) - he married late in life - and she was his joy and she was named Joy. She had cancer and eventually died. But what he said about prayer is that it doesn't change God - it changes him. And I think that is true for me. It makes me have a relationship. It makes me closer to him and when I am closer to him - it changes me to become a better person.




I was emailing a blog friend, Jerry, and we were talking about spring and the beauty in it and this is what he said. I thought it was so wonderful and so true.

"With all of that always being meant to be temporary, just think what the permanent things will look like." Jerry -

Prayer from the heart is the most powerful thing in the world.
Love,
Chatty

24 comments:

Susan said...

Hello Sandie! Happy Sunday. My Mom used to say, "More things are wrought by prayer than this world every dreamed of." Also, "Prayer can move mountains." She's gone now, to the other side of life, but those words that I heard thousands of times in my life, have gone straight to my heart, mind, and very being. Prayer is, indeed, the answer. Turning things over to the Creator takes them off our own hearts and minds. He is in control. Susan

Lisa @ Two Bears Farm said...

Oh, those trees are so pretty!

Linda @ A La Carte said...

Spring here is lovely! I need to take some photos once it stops raining!

Southhamsdarling said...

Yes, I believe that prayer can move mountains too. Lovely post with lovely words today, Chatty. Spring must, indeed, be very beautiful over there in Atlanta, judging by those beautiful photos of the trees in blossom. I think that's a new quote at the head of your Blog, isn't it? Love it.

Unknown said...

G'day Sandie ~ We have some peek-a-boo'ers in our garden ... can hardly wait. The crocus are now blooming.

Thank you for your sweet notes & support, my friend. They are heart warming & deeply appreciated.

TTFN
Hugs, Marydon

betty said...

love all the pictures of the blooming trees you included in this post Sandie; how neat to see them in your "neighborhood" blooming again after the long winter!! I love what Jerry said; very neat to imagine how the permanent will be; beyond our wildest imaginations I think!!

prayer is one of the ways we communicate with God, as you know; always good to stay in communication with the one who really is in control of it all!

hope you had a great day!

betty

Anonymous said...

Beautiful quotes on prayer and beautiful pictures. Thank you!

Love to you! Carol

Rae said...

If ever there was a season that feels just a little closer to God I think it must be Spring. It holds new life and so much promise. It is a ceaseless wonder seeing the trees and flowers come back to life. I am eager for our weather to get warm enough here so that we can start seeing some signs of Spring.

Tanna said...

Amen, Sandie. Amen.

Ginny Hartzler said...

Amen to all this, and the pictures are beautiful! I can't wait till things start blooming there and I can see pictures that you took!!

Terra said...

Wonderful flowering trees and I love C.S. Lewis too. I agree, Shadowlands is a great film, and I have read most of his books. The Great Divorce and Mere Christianity are two favorites of mine by him.

The Boston Lady said...

Oh Sandie, you have lifted my heart again! The quote at the top of your post is so wonderful as are all the others. The pictures are beautiful. My mother's favorite time of year was spring and I always think of her and her love for all the renewal that spring brings about. Spring is about hope and I like to think that today I have hope in my heart. Ann

Mevely317 said...

Gotta tell you, Jerry's quote just struck me ... so true and thought-provoking!
Thank you, Jerry ... and thank YOU, Sandie, for sharingf it today!

Jane said...

Sandie, as usual you have outdone yourself,the quotes were so true. And the pic of was it cherry trees? was just beautiful! Blessings jane

^..^Corgidogmama said...

...you're kidding, right? This, is what it looks like in your area now???????
Sheez-o-pete...we woke up to a layer of snow on top of mud.
What a difference 500 miles makes, huh??? Glad for you though, that you're seeing color, and blooms. That should make it easier to smile!

Cindy Caudle said...

So glad someone is having spring. We had snow today. Prayer is my saving grace. I always keep a prayer in my heart. Have a good week.

Starry Dawn said...

Wooowww!!! Chatty dear,
What a wonderful post you have got in here!! Prayer is the best communication with our dear Lord. It comes from the heart, and it is through prayer language the way we approach God when we talk to Him. It makes me feel so good inside when I do it. I pray when I get up every morning, and before I go to sleep, plus somewhere in between. I thank God for this brand new day that He has granted to me, and for the many blessings for having my dear family and friends in my world today. I am grateful in all circumstances, not only the good ones, but also in the sad ones. I praise His Almighty Glory in all circumstances no matter what. God's will be done, it is so true.
Your post about prayer is pure wisdom from your wonderful soul, Chatty. I love your blog, and I am so happy to have found you in Blogland. I'll visit you often.
God bless you, Chatty, and all your beloved ones!!
By the way, thank you for visiting my poetry corner and writing your wise evaluations, Chatty!!
In God's Garden,
Starry.

BECKY said...

Hi Sandie! What beautiful trees. That first photo is of Bradford Pear trees, right? I LOVE them and we have an abundance of them here...but won't see blooms on them for quite a while yet...maybe close to a month? I think we're about a month behind y'all down there in Georgia! I've been to Atlanta many times, and in every season but spring! Maybe next year! Have a wonderful week!

Unknown said...

He told me that I'd better not take credit for that! (LOL?)

Linda O'Connell said...

Sandie, This is so true. The trees are gorgeous I tell my students whent hey see a butterfly or flower to say, Thank you God for my eyes. I know, I do!

Unknown said...

Atlanta is one of the most beautiful large cities in America and so much more so in the spring.
Our Bradford Pears are also blooming as well as a Japanese Tulip or two. Spring is finally coming!

Velvet Over Steel said...

Beautiful!! Should have gotten on the computer this weekend. Needed this post so much! Thank you, Sandie!!

Angela said...

Great quote from your friend Jerry! That is so true. I've often wondered why the flowering trees are just around for a short time. They are so beautiful. I'd love to see everything green that should be green and everything flowered that should have flowers with a beautiful blue sky with the sun shining and the birds singing all at the same time! That would be wonderful! I can't wait to see it!

Hugs,
Angela

ps We had snow yesterday!

Sharon said...

Great words, and beautiful pictures.

I love C.S. Lewis - he's my favorite author. And I thought Jerry's quote was just perfect. As Lewis said, these are but the Shadowlands. God's reality is in our future - and we can't even imagine how wonderful it's going to be!

GOD BLESS!