Winter Wonderland in Tulsa

Day 48 of Photo Inspiration -- Winter Wonderland in Tulsa
I remember these days, as a kid -- so thankful for a snow day when schools were closed.  But, today, t I know the kids are probably thinking "Of all days for it to snow, when schools were already closed because it's President's Day!  So, Happy Snow Day and Happy President's Day, everyone!

I knew these photos of what I awoke to would be my photo inspirations for today.  I bundled up to capture this snowy day in February -- AFTER some record warm temperatures this winter.  Golf clubs replaced parkas as the outdoor accessory of choice and Oklahoma’s kids have only dreamed  of missed school days filled with sledding and snowball fights. The mildness of this winter – the 11th warmest on record at nearly 3 degrees above normal – stands in stark contrast to the cold, snowy experiences of previous years.  

I'm reminded of my science classes where we learned that many billions of snowflakes drift down to the Earth's surface in the course of a winter, yet no two snowflakes are alike.  AMAZING!

And, as amazing as "no two snowflakes alike" -- there are currently seven billion people alive today and not one of us have an identical finger print.  God had His reasons. I am certain God designed every part of our bodies for a purpose.  As the Psalmist puts it:  "Oh yes, you shaped me first inside, then out; you formed me in my mother’s womb. I thank you, High God – you’re breathtaking!  Body and soul, I am marvelously made! I worship in adoration—what a creation! You know me inside and out, you know every bone in my body; You know exactly how I was made, bit by bit, how I was sculpted from nothing into something” (Psalm 139: 13-15, The Message Bible).

So on this snowy, President's Day, I think I'll just bask in the all-knowing, all-seeing, omnipotent, AWESOME God who planned this day from the beginning of time.....and perhaps, even had me in mind -- "I think I'll inspire my girl, Donna, on February 16, 2015, with the revelation of My creativity and My forethought, and My wisdom to know that I ONLY make ORIGINALS -- One-of-a-Kind -- No two alike -- and each one of them are my MASTERPIECES!  I know she'll share that, and she'll also share....I LOVE EACH AND EVERY ONE OF THOSE MASTERPIECES with my everlasting, unending love."

My Name is in His Hand

I'm a fan of Max Lucado's writings -- he's so real and relevant, and what he says touches my heart so much. This one, I just had to pass on to my wonderful FB friends:

"When I see a flock of sheep I see exactly that, a flock. A rabble of wool. I don’t see a sheep. I see sheep. All alike. None different. But not so with the Shepherd. To Him every sheep is different. Every face has a story. John 10:3 says, “The sheep listen to the voice of the shepherd. He calls his own sheep by name.”

When we see a crowd, we see exactly that, a crowd. We see people, not persons. A herd of humans. But not so with the Shepherd. To Him every face is different. Every face is a story. The Shepherd knows you. He knows your name. And he will never forget it.

God said in Isaiah 49:16, “I have written your name on my hand.” Quite a thought isn’t it? Your name on God’s lips. My… could it be? -- Max Lucado
In the 7th grade, I fell for a boy named "Ronnie" Wuerch. I wrote his name in the palm of my hand. It meant I was thinking about him all the time. And how awesome to know that our names are written in the palm of God's hand? He's thinking about us all the time. We are individualized. We are so special. We are exactly who He planned us to be. We are one-of-a-kind masterpieces. Yes, that my friends, is TRUE LOVE!