Quotes about love

Posted on February 12, 2007 by Barbara Harper

Love is an irresistible desire to be irresistibly desired. ~Robert Frost

To do him any wrong was to beget
A kindness from him for his heart was rich-
Of such fine mould that if you sowed therein
The seed of Hate, it blossomed Charity.
– Tennyson

“The gratification of the senses soon becomes a very small part of that profound and complicated sentiment which we call Love. Love, on the contrary, is a universal thirst for a communion, not merely of the senses, but of our whole nature, intellectual, imaginative and sensitive. He who finds his antitype, enjoys a love perfect and enduring; time cannot change it, distance cannot remove it; the sympathy is complete.”
– Benjamin Disraeli 1804-1881 from “Henrietta Temple”

Lovng can cost a lot but not loving always costs more, and those who fear to love often find that want of love is an emptiness that robs the joy from life.
– Merie Shain

You will find as you look back upon your life that the moments when you have really lived are the moments when you have done things in the spirit of love.
– Henry Drummond

Love means to love that which is unlovable; or it is no virtue at all.
– G K Chesterton

Love is a gift. You can’t buy it, you can’t find it, someone has to give it to you. Learn to be receptive of that gift.
– Kurt Langner

The greatest happiness of life is the conviction that we are loved – loved for ourselves, or rather, loved in spite of ourselves.
– Victor Hugo

Love gives itself; it is not bought.
– Henry Wadsworth Longfellow

Love has nothing to do with what you are expecting to get. Only with what you are expected to give … Which is everything.
– Katherine Hepburn

Never part without loving words to think of during your absence. It may be that you will not meet again in this life.
– Jean Paul Richter

We should measure affection, not like youngers by the ardour of its passion, but by its strength and constancy.
– Cicero

(Graphics courtesy of Antique Clipart)

Hearts here and there

Posted on February 10, 2007 by Barbara Harper

I love heart-shaped things. I’ve been collecting them for a long time (I hope to get pictures taken of some of them next week). With Valentine’s Day approaching, I am seeing a lot of hearts around Blogville, and wanted to share them with you. Some have directions for making them; some are just beautiful to look at.

John 3:16 Valentine (see next post below this one)

Heart garland and felt heart

Heart pincushion with felt rose

Small stuffed hearts

Paper crafted hearts

My Country Cottage Garden — scroll down to see many beautiful stitched hearts.

Heart pins

Heart crafts for kids

More heart crafts and activities for kids

Heart garland and scalloped hearts

CD sleeves for Valentine cookies

Valentine pockets and boxes

Heart shaped pizza

Heart-shaped and Valentine food ideas from Pillsbury

Make a candy message heart for your blog

John 3:16 Valentine

Posted on February 10, 2007 by Barbara Harper

I received this in an e-mail a few years ago. I searched the ‘net for it today and found it here at Caleb’s Country Corner Graphics, but I don’t know if it is original with that artist or not. I sent an e-mail to ask, but haven’t received an answer yet. Her site does give permission to use it, though. I thought it was a very sweet Valentine, not to mention the greatest expression of love ever.

Thursday Thirteen #22: Valentine’s jokes

Posted on February 8, 2007 by Barbara Harper

Some of these are really corny; some are cute. 🙂 There are more than 13, so you get a free bonus today. 🙂

What did one light bulb say to the other?
“I love you a whole watt!”

What did the caveman give his wife on Valentine’s Day?
Ughs and kisses!

What did the paper clip say to the magnet?
“I find you very attractive.”

What is a ram’s favorite song?
I only have eyes for ewe, dear.

What would you get if you crossed a dog with a valentine card?
A card that says, “I love you drool-ly!”

What did the painter say to her boyfriend?
“I love you with all my art!”

What did the man with the broken leg say to his nurse?
“I’ve got a crutch on you!”

Did you hear about the romance in the tropical fish tank?
It was a case of guppy love.

Why do valentines have hearts on them?
Because spleens would look pretty gross!

What did one piece of string say to the other?
“Be my valentwine!”

What did one fir tree say to the other?
“Be my valenpine!”

What did one bell say to the other?
“Be my valenchime!”

What did the boy pig say to the girl pig?
Be my Valenswine!

What did Frankenstein say to his girlfriend?
Be me Valenstein!

What happened when the monster kissed his one true love?
He left lip prints on the mirror!

What did the French chef give his wife for Valentine’s Day?
A hug and a quiche!

What did the pencil say to the paper?
“I dot my i’s on you!”

What did one pickle say to the other?
“You mean a great dill to me.”

What did the bat say to his girlfriend?
“You’re fun to hang around with.”

Did you hear about the nearsighted porcupine?
He fell in love with a pincushion!

What did one oar say to the other?
“Can I interest you in a little row-mance?”

Get the Thursday Thirteen code here!The purpose of the meme is to get to know everyone who participates a little bit better every Thursday. Visiting fellow Thirteeners is encouraged! If you participate, leave the link to your Thirteen in others’ comments. It’s easy, and fun! Trackbacks, pings, comment links accepted!View More Thursday Thirteen Participants

Works-For-Me Wednesday: “Love, Sweet Love’

Posted on February 7, 2007 by Barbara Harper

Today’s edition of “Works For Me Wednesday,” hostessed by Shannon at Rocks In My Dryer, is a themed one on the subject of love in honor of Valentine’s Day. We’re asked to contribute relationship advice, romantic tips, Valentine’s ideas, etc. So I present you with various odds and ends. 🙂

♥ One piece of advice: I mentioned this several days ago, but something Elisabeth Elliot wrote spoke to me:

Many women have told me that my husband’s advice, which I once quoted in a book, has been an eye-opener to them. He said that a wife, if she is very generous, may allow that her husband lives up to perhaps eighty percent of her expectations. There is always the other twenty percent that she would like to change, and she may chip away at it for the whole of their married life without reducing it by very much. She may, on the other hand, simply decide to enjoy the eighty percent, and both of them will be happy.

So often we can get hung up on the few little things that bother us rather than putting it into perspective.

♥ Traditions: The only thing I do every Valentine’s Day is make heart-shaped cupcakes using some heart-shaped muffins pans. One year I made a big Valentine sign for the family using candy bars for various words. I forget where I had first seen the idea. I went to the store to get candy bars first, so I could see what was available and make up sentences using those words, then made up the sign writing out my “greeting” and replacing the key words with candy bars. Another year I made a little clue-finding expedition, cutting out a heart and putting a series of clues on the two halves which led to some prize, I forget what now. The kids really loved that and asked for it for the next couple of years, but I had exhausted my clue-making abailities. That was harder than I thought! I try to make a nice dinner that night — not all-out like Thanksgiving, but not hot dogs or fish sticks, either. I also usually buy or make cards for everyone. When the kids were little we made cards with them for each other, and I loved that — those are some of my treasures.

♥ Resource: Family Fun magazine and its web site are wonderful resources for neat, fun, and simple holidays ideas (crafts, foods, ways to celebrate). It’s Disney-owned, so there are a lot of ads for Disney stuff, and I wouldn’t agree with every philosophy or product they recommend, but the holiday and party ideas are great.

♥ Book: There are many great books on marriage, but I think my all-time favorite is The Ministry of Marriage by Jim Binney. It reall emphasizes that aspect, that marriage is a minstry to the other person.

♥ Funnies: This is something from my files I thought you might enjoy. I received it in an e-mail years ago, author unknown:

Pearls of wisdom from Grandpa on having a long, happy marriage…

Whether a man winds up with the nest egg or a goose egg depends a lot on the kind of chick he marries.

Many girls like to marry a military man – he can cook, sew, make beds and is in good health, and most importantly he’s already used to taking orders.

Too many couples marry for better or for worse, but not for good.

When a man marries a woman, they become one. The trouble starts when they try to decide which one.

Trouble in marriage also often starts when a man gets so busy earning his salt that he forgets his sugar.

If a man has enough “horse sense” to treat his wife like a thoroughbred, she will never be an old nag.

On anniversaries a wise husband always forgets the past, but never the present.

As I did for Thanksgiving, Christmas, and New Year’s Day, over the next few days I want to post some quotes, jokes, and such for Valentines’s Day.

In related news, as most probably already know, Shalee is sponsoring a “50 Cheap Dates” event where folks can link to their ideas for fun and inexpensive things to do for two. 🙂 I don’t have anything to share for that one, at least not that I can think of yet. I tend to be a homebody, and most things that we do involve the whole family. But we probably should do some of that kind of thing — I’ll be looking forward to gleaning some ideas from there and from this week’s Works-For-Me Wednesday. 🙂

(Photo courtesy of the stock.xchng)

2007 New Year Meditations

Posted on January 5, 2007 by Barbara Harper

Laurel Wreath has invited us to share our New Year Meditations, the hopes, dreams, and goals we have for 2007.

This post has been simmering on the back burner for several days. I had some other obligations and deadlines this week, and then when I did sit down to write about this, I couldn’t quite think through what I wanted to say. I’ve been experiencing a bit of brain fog with a cold this week. I think what I’ll do is divide my thoughts into categories.

Spiritual Goals:

The thoughts that come to mind are “But continue thou in the things which thou hast learned and hast been assured of, knowing of whom thou hast learned them” (II Timothy 3:14) and “But grow in grace, and in the knowledge of our Lord and Saviour Jesus Christ” (II Peter 3:18a). For instance, years ago the Lord dealt with me about spending regular time in His Word. Once that is settled, however, the temptation some days is to just drag my eyes down the page to get that part of the day done and then go on. I need to keep in the Word, but I also need to stay engaged mentally, to remember I am there to meet with the Lord and have Him speak to me, not just fulfill an obligation. Then through His Word, both read on my own and preached and taught about at church, He continues to develop my relationship with Him, shows me things that need to be dealt with, areas in which I need to grow, etc. We probably never have a virtue or character trait down perfectly in this life: we will always need to nurture and cultivate those traits. And we continually need our “blind spots” to our sin and selfishness revealed. So spiritually I want to stay the course, keep in God’s Word, keep growing, maturing, and to gain ground over my “besetting sins.”

Personal Goals:

Incorporate some form of regular exercise into my life.
Learn and incorporate healthier and more moderate eating.
Get back into sewing. I have fabric and patterns (I used to work in a fabric store) and I can rarely find things I like that fit well and are affordable.
Make a winter reading list. I read all the time, anyway, but I discovered with the Fall Reading Challenge that it only takes a little planning and making a list to include some of those books I’ve “always wanted to read some day.”
I tend to be “task-oriented” and need to be more “people-oriented.”

Family Goals:

There are specific areas I am praying about for each member. I want to continue to treasure the time I have with them. My oldest is likely going to “leave the nest” some time in the next year or so. I am sure that will be a shock to my system.

House goals:

Do some sorting and organizing in the attic and shed.
Make or buy curtains for the family room.

I am sure new things will come to light as the year progresses. But these will keep me busy for a very long while. 🙂

Happy New Year!

Posted on January 1, 2007 by Barbara Harper

Several years ago, a teacher in my Christian college shared a passage at the beginning of the year that continually comes back to my thoughts with each new year:

But the land, whither ye go to possess it, is a
land of hills and valleys, and drinketh water of the rain
of heaven: A land which the LORD thy God careth for:
the eyes of the LORD thy God are always upon it, from
the beginning of the year even unto the end of the year.

Deuteronomy 11:11-12

How wonderful that the eyes of the Lord our God
will be upon His children
throughout the hills and valleys of this coming year,
and no matter what happens,
He is with us and cares for us.

(Graphic courtesy of Anne’s Place)

Quotes for the new year

Posted on January 1, 2007 by Barbara Harper

There remaineth yet very much land to be possessed. Joshua 13:1

Not as though I had already attained, either were already perfect: but I follow after, if that I may apprehend that for which also I am apprehended of Christ Jesus. Philippians 3:12

From Joy and Strength compiled by Mary Wilder Tileston:

Be strong and of good courage … fear not, nor be dismayed; for the Lord God, even my God, will be with thee; He will not fail thee, nor forsake thee. 1 Chronicles 28:20:

That we should serve in newness of spirit.. Romans 7:6:

Help us, O Lord! behold we enter
Upon another year today;
In Thee our hopes and thoughts now centre,
Renew our courage for the way;
New life, new strength, new happiness,
We ask of Thee; oh, hear, and bless!

— Johann Rist

The year begins; and all its pages are as blank… Let us begin it with high resolution; then let us take all its limitations, all its hindrances, its disappointments, its narrow and common-place conditions, and meet them as the Master did in Nazareth, with patience, with obedience, putting ourselves in cheerful subjection, serving our apprenticeship. Who knows what opportunity may come to us this year? Let us live in a great spirit, then we shall be ready for a great occasion.

— George Hodges

From Our Daily Walk by F. B. Meyer:

We can all start afresh! However far we have ascended, there is something higher; and however far we have fallen, it is always possible to make a fresh start. We need to take our place in the School of Christ and be taught by Him (Eph. 4:20-21). If the Holy Spirit be ungrieved, He will witness to our sonship. He will enthrone Christ as King of our life; He will keep the self-life in the place of death; He will give us a hunger for the things of God; He will give power in witness-bearing. In order to have a strong and blessed Christian experience, the one thing is to see that we do not grieve the Spirit. I do not think that we can grieve Him away, but we may greatly limit and restrain His gracious work by insincerity of speech, the nursing of an unforgiving spirit, any kind of over-reaching or fraudulent dealing, impurity of speech, or failure in love. We may be bound, so as not to move our arms, by a number of cotton threads, quite as tightly as by a strong rope…Let us take care not to grieve Him by such inconsistencies.

From Streams in the Desert by Mrs. Charles E. Cowman:

Today, dear friends, we stand upon the verge of the unknown. There lies before us the new year and we are going forth to possess it. Who can tell what we shall find? What new experiences, what changes will come, what new needs shall arise?
All our supply is to come from the Lord. Here are springs that shall never dry; here are fountains and streams that shall never be cut off. Here, anxious one, is the gracious pledge of the Heavenly Father. If He be the Source of our mercies they can never fail us. No heat, no draught can parch that river, “the streams whereof make glad the city of God.”
We cannot tell what loss and sorrow and trial are doing. Trust only. The Father comes near to take our hand and lead us on our way today. It shall be a good, a blessed new year!

From My Daily Meditation by John Henry Jowett:

He went out not knowing whither he went (Heb. 11:6-10). Abraham took “one step” and he did not “ask to see the distant scene.” And that is faith. Faith is not concerned with the entire chain; its devoted attention is fixed upon the immediate link. Faith is not knowledge of a moral process; it is fidelity in a moral act. Faith leaves something to the Lord; it obeys His immediate commandment and leaves to Him direction and destiny.
And so faith is accompanied by serenity. “He that believeth shall not make haste ‘ — or, more literally, “shall not get into a fuss.” He shall not get into a panic, neither fetching fears from his yesterdays nor from his tomorrows. Concerning his yesterdays faith says, “Thou hast beset me behind.” Concerning his tomorrows faith says, “Thou hast laid Thine hand upon me.” That is enough, just to feel the pressure of the guiding hand.

Face the New Year with the Old Book.
Face the new needs with the old promises.
Face the new problems with the old Gospel.

–Author Unknown

(Graphic courtesy of Antique Clipart)

Daily Light for the last day of the year

Posted on December 31, 2006 by Barbara Harper

Love how today’s verses from Daily Light combine looking back on God’s provision in the past and looking ahead to His provision in the next year:

The LORD thy God bare thee, as a man doth bear his son, in all the way that ye went, until ye came into this place.

BARE you on eagles’ wings, and brought you unto myself.–In his love and in his pity he redeemed them; and he bare them, and carried them all the days of old.–As an eagle stirreth up her nest, fluttereth over her young, spreadeth abroad her wings, taketh them, beareth them on her wings: so the LORD alone did lead him.

Even to your old age I am he; and even to hoar hairs will I carry you: I have made, and I will bear; even I will carry, and will deliver you.–This God is our God for ever and ever: he will be our guide even unto death.

Cast thy burden upon the LORD, and he shall sustain thee.–Take no thought for your life, what ye shall eat, or what ye shall drink; nor yet for your body, what ye shall put on.–For your heavenly Father knoweth that ye have need of all these things.

Hitherto hath the LORD helped us.

DEUT. 1. 31. Ex. 19. 4.–Is. 63. 9.–
De. 32. 11, 12. Is. 46. 4.–Ps. 48. 14.
Ps. 55. 22.–Mat. 6. 25, 32. 1 Sa. 7. 12.