Pray 4 Tennessee

Sometimes, God can use what seems like tragedies for His Glory.
About a year ago, my youth pastor moved to Tennessee to plant a church. Things were going well, but on Monday, May 2, There was an enormous flood there in Tennessee. Their building was covered in water. Thousands of dollars in equipment, chairs, toys, and other items were lost (not counting the damage to the building). I couldn't figure out how to put the pictures directly here in my post, but you can find some here. But as Kevin Miller (the pastor) explains in his blog, he is just enjoying watching Satan fail in his attempt to discourage them. God has blessed them in ways they could have never expected through this "tragedy".
I encourage you to please pray for their church and other families and businesses who have been hurt by this flood. Many people have lost their belongings, their homes, and some even lost their lives. pray that God can continue to use this tragedy for His glory, and to touch the lives of the people there.
And if you want to find more ways you can help, Kevin also has more information about that on his blog. ^

Poetry Faves

Hey!

I love poetry so much and realized I have not mentioned that a lot on my blog so I thought I would post some of my favorites:

The Joy of the Hills

Edwin Markham

I ride on the mountain tops, I ride;

I have found my life and am satisfied;

Onward I ride in the blowing oats,

Checking the field lark's rippling notes-

Lightly I sweep

From steep to steep;

Over my head through the branches high

Come glimpses of a rushing sky;

The tall oats brush my hoarse's flanks;

Wild poppies crowd on the sunny banks;

A bee booms out of the scented grass;

A jay laghs with me as I pass.

I ride on the hills,I forgive I forget

Life's hoard of regret-

All the terror and pain

Of the chafing chain.

Grind on, O cities, grind,

I leave you a blur behind.

I am lifted elate- the skies expand:

Here the world's heaping gold is a pile of sand.

Let them weary and work in theirnarrow walls.

I ride with voices of the waterfalls!

I swing as one in a dream-I swing

Down the airy hollows, I shout, I sing!

The world is gone like an empty word!

My body's a bough in the wind, my heart a bird!

Song from Pippa Passes

Robert Browning

The year's at the spring

The day's at the morn;

Morning's at seven;

The hillside's dew-pearled;

The lark's on the wing;

The snail's on the thorn;

God's in His heaven-

All's right with the world!

Leisure

William Henry Davies

What is life if, full of care,

We have no time to stop and stare.

No time to stand beneath the boughs

And stare as long as sheep or cows.

No time to see, when woods we pass,

Where squirrels hide thier nuts in grass.

No time to see, in broad daylight,

Streams of stars, like skies at night.

No time to turn at Beauty's glance,

And watch her feet, how they can dance.

No time to wait till her mouth can

Enrich that smile her eyes began.

A poor life this if, full of care,

We have no time to stand and stare.