InSPIREd Sunday - Thinking About Prayer

 

 First United Methodist Church
Red Wing, MN

Some Thoughts on Prayer, C.S. Lewis:

"Prayers are not always - in the crude, factual sense of the word - 'granted.' This is not because prayer is a weaker kind of causality, but because it is a stronger kind. When it 'works' at all, it works unlimited by space and time. That is why God has retained a discretionary power of granting or refusing it; except on that condition prayer would destroy us. It is not unreasonable for a headmaster to say, 'Such and such things you may do according to the fixed rules of this school. But such and such other things are too dangerous to be left to general rules. If you want to do them you must come and make a request and talk over the whole matter with me in my study. And then - we'll see." - C.S. Lewis, God in the Dock.

Looking back over my life, I am so grateful for the times that God said, 'No' in answer to particular prayers.

'We know that all things work together for good for those who love God, who are called according to his purpose.'  Romans 8:28

That would be ALL things, including God's answer, 'No.'

 In Him is LIFE.

Linked to InSPIREd Sunday

and Roses of Inspiration

Have a blessed Lord's Day!

Round Barn Farm B&B, Red Wing, MN

Round Barn Farm B&B

Red Wing, MN

The above collage is of a beautiful B&B barn near Red Wing, MN. I thought the sign, 'Dead End,' might be a little scary if you were trying to find your B&B after midnight on a stormy summer night when even the windshield wipers set on high couldn't keep up with the downpour. You know the kind of rain I mean - an Alfred Hitchcock rain. There's something about the sign and the railroad tracks...It would be a great setting for a thriller, don't you think?  But that barn was so attractive, I'd probably rather stay in the barn than in the brick house, anyway.

 Red Barn at the intersection of

M and W, nr. Colfax, WI

Along the beautiful Red Cedar River

There's another fence in the very first photo,

but you might have missed it!

*** 

 

"Mom, what does 'olden days' mean?"

"Well, people sometimes say that when they're referring to things that happened a long, long time ago..."

Grandson, excitedly, "in a galaxy far, far away?!"

*** 

And since we spent the weekend in western Minnesota with another set of grandkids, I have lots of photos for Cranberry Morning, but I need to go through them first. Anyway, we had a great weekend, and one of the grandsons returned with us. He'll be enjoying our sub-zero weather, time with Grandpa, and homeschooling - and I hope having a good time here this week. As I'm writing this Sunday night, it's already minus 14 degrees Farenheit at the cranberry bush outside the office. (That would be -25.5 C. Brrrrr.)

Linked to Judith's MOSAIC MONDAY

and TREASURE BOX TUESDAY 
and ROSES OF INSPIRATION

and Theresa's GOOD FENCES 
and Tom's BARN COLLECTIVE

***

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Wisconsin Barns and Good Fences

These were drive-by photos taken with my cell phone. Barns were somewhere just south of Ellsworth, WI or just south of Red Wing, MN. I think it's the same barn in both photos. You would think that I would know for sure, but I was taking photos with both my cellphone and my regular Panasonic camera, both on the way to Rochester and on the way back. It can get confusing, especially since I've not yet taken the time to go through all my photos and nail down locations.

It's only a three-hour drive from our home to Rochester, MN, but it is a beautiful drive, especially once you get near the Mississippi River. The bluffs, THE RIVER, the hills. I'm planning to make that trip again next summer, just because of the gorgeous scenery. There are several places along the river to pull off and enjoy a picnic while watching Old Man River. So it's not just Lake Superior that feels like a geographical anchor, but also that huge Mississippi River. I don't know how else to explain it.

Anyway...in the meantime, Winter's back.

And so am I.

Linking to Theresa's GOOD FENCES

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