Celebration! Mega Memory Month ~ January 2009

Although I did not achieve my goal of memorizing the first Chapter of Philippians, I did come out of this challenge with an epiphany of Prayer…God wants us to pray, albeit in thanksgiving, and that is how Paul starts out the book and chapter of Philippians in thankful prayer for the congregation in Philippi. Praying each time that they come to mind and heart. A lesson for me really.

I no longer think to myself, ” wonder why she came to mind?” or “maybe I should call.”, then allowing the thought to drift away on my mental breeze. Now…I pray. And if a simple prayer of thanksgiving for that person does not quench the Spirit within me I intercede in the fashion with which I am lead by the very Spirit of God within me.

So I may not have memorized, but I got what God intended for me, which is an amazing gift!

In celebration a friend and I went to St. Alfonso’s retreat house in Longbranch, NJ. A beautiful Catholic retreat place where our church holds some of our retreats and encounters.

This is where God lives in New Jersey. No matter your stress or angst in life, stepping foot on this property causes everyone, I am aware of, to breath a deep and cleansing sigh of relief. It is just that peaceful and calming. Everyone will tell you the presence of God is heavy and comforting in this place.

So as I stepped onto the grass above the beach God just allowed me to take the most beautiful pictures…so as promised I used one to make a Scripture View, as I like to call them.

Taken January 30, 2009, by me, with my Nikon D60 [which by the way does not need me to take the perfect picture!]. Here is the original photo:

The Beach at St. Alfonso's Retreat House, Long Branch, NJ

and here is what I did with it in Celebration!

 

Beach at St. Alfanso's, Longbranch, NJ

Congratulations to everyone who participated or even thought to. Happy Celebrations!

Blessings.