Sweet Incense of Thanksgiving

Through him then let us continually offer up a sacrifice of praise to God,

that is, the fruit of lips that acknowledge his name (Hebrews 13:5, ESV).

Give thanks to the LORD, for he is good,

for his steadfast love endures forever.

Give thanks to the God of gods,

for his steadfast love endures forever.

Give thanks to the Lord of lords,

for his steadfast love endures forever (Psalm 136:1-3, ESV).

Mars, Venus (the morning star), and Jupiter before dawn

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Junco, come for the winter

Dove keeping warm

"A grateful spirit should ever be cultivated by the Christian;

and especially after deliverances we should prepare a song for our God.

Earth should be a temple filled with the songs of grateful saints,

and every day should be a censer smoking with the sweet incense of thanksgiving."

~Charles Spurgeon

Bereavement {A Poem}

 In memory of Angelina P. "Nonni" Leone (1922-2014)

Bee in moonflower

In one swift stroke

The sharp scalpel of sudden loss

Slices away soul calluses,

Exposing quick and tender heart beneath.

Laughter and tears alike

Bubble over more quickly now,

And keenly.

Her glad tidings, his courageous witness,

Every family celebration,

New thorn of affliction,

Persistent pierce of the old

That had become normal—

All sting as they prod

That raw place

Left by loved one lost.

Each “first” passes with wistful weeping

And the ache of remembrance.

Slowly, inscrutably,

The soul accrues fresh calluses

To shelter the quick and tender heart

From the vicissitudes of postlapsarian life,

Until the scalpel strikes again,

Until the woman’s Seed shatters it in pieces

And wipes away all tears,

Our hearts made whole.

The long night shortens.

Soon we shall weep no more.

Young cardinal, Nonni's favorite bird

When Morning Gilds the Skies

My heart awaking cries,

"May Jesus Christ be praised!"

The highlight of Monday morning's sunrise

Minutes later, as the orange began to fade to rose

Four Weeks Ago Today...

To be continued...

Super Blood Moon, September 2015

By the word of the Lord the heavens were made,

and by the breath of his mouth all their host.

Psalm 33:6

For all the gods of the peoples are worthless idols,

but the Lord made the heavens.

Psalm 96:5

Blood moon (lunar eclipse), night of 27 September

Super moon, early morning of 28 September

Super moon at dawn, morning of 28 September