WISDOM. From the Beginning. Before the Horizon was marked on the Ocean.

  

Does not wisdom call out?
Does not understanding raise her voice?
At the highest point along the way, where the paths meet, she takes her stand;
beside the gate leading into the city, at the entrance, she cries aloud:
“To you, O people, I call out;
I raise my voice to all mankind.
You who are naive, gain prudence;
you who are foolish, discern wisdom.
Listen, for I have noble things to say;
I open my lips to speak what is right.
My mouth speaks what is true, for my lips detest wickedness.
All the words of my mouth are just; none of them is crooked or perverse.
To the discerning all of them are right;
they are upright to those who have found knowledge.
Choose my instruction instead of silver,
knowledge rather than choice gold,
for wisdom is more precious than rubies,
and nothing you desire can compare with her.

I, wisdom, dwell together with prudence;
I possess knowledge and discretion.
To fear the Lord is to hate evil;
I hate pride and arrogance, evil behavior and perverse speech.
Counsel and sound judgment are mine;
I have insight, I have power.
By me kings reign and rulers issue decrees that are just;
by me princes govern, and nobles—all who rule on earth.
I love those who love me, and those who seek me find me.
With me are riches and honor, enduring wealth and prosperity.
My fruit is better than fine gold; what I yield surpasses choice silver.
I walk in the way of righteousness, along the paths of justice,
bestowing a rich inheritance on those who love me
and making their treasuries full.

“The Lord brought me forth as the first of His works, before His deeds of old;
I was formed long ages ago, at the very beginning, when the world came to be.
When there were no watery depths, I was given birth,
when there were no springs overflowing with water;
before the mountains were settled in place, before the hills, I was given birth,
before He made the world or its fields or any of the dust of the earth.
I was there when He set the heavens in place,
when he marked out the horizon on the face of the ocean,
when He established the clouds above and fixed securely the fountains of the deep,
when He gave the sea its boundary so the waters would not overstep his command,
and when He marked out the foundations of the earth.
Then I was constantly at His side.
I was filled with delight day after day, rejoicing always in His presence,
rejoicing in His whole world and delighting in mankind.

“Now then, my children, listen to me;
blessed are those who keep my ways.
Listen to my instruction and be wise;
do not disregard it.
Blessed are those who listen to me, watching daily at my doors, waiting at my doorway.
For those who find me find life and receive favor from the Lord.
But those who fail to find me harm themselves;
all who hate me love death.”

Proverbs 8

Baby Swallow.

Every year the swallows come back in spring.  They build mud nests in the eaves of most of the homes in my neighborhood, and we’ve had multiple nests on our home every year that we’ve lived here.  Once the babies exit their nests, our home becomes one of the launch pads for flight lessons.  This year, unfortunately, the babies seem to be falling out of the nest before they learn to fly.  We found this little guy still alive after his fall.  So we made him a temporary nest, hid him from the sight of predatory birds, gave him shade during direct sunlight hours, and fed him water from a medicine dropper. Dog Dude watched over him pretty closely. We did our best to keep him safe thru the day.  But he didn’t survive the night.  Poor little guy.

Better is One Day …

My soul longs, and even yearns, for the courts of the LORD;
my heart and my flesh cry out for the living God.
Even the sparrow has found a home, and the swallow a nest for herself,
where she may have her young – a place near Your altar, LORD Almighty, my King and my God.
Blessed are those who dwell in Your house;
they are ever praising You.
Blessed are those who strength is in You,
in whose hearts are the highways to Zion!.
As they pass through the Valley of Baka, they make it a place of springs;
the autumn rains also cover it with pools.
They go from strength to strength, till each appears before God in Zion.
Hear my prayer, LORD God Almighty; listen to me, God of Jacob.
Look on our shield, O God; look with favor on Your anointed one.
Better is one day in Your courts than a thousand elsewhere;
I would rather stand at the threshold of the house of my God than dwell in the tents of the wicked.
For the LORD God is a sun and shield;
the LORD gives grace and glory;
no good thing does He withhold from those who walk uprightly.
O LORD Almighty, how blessed is the one who trusts in You.
Psalm 84

Boy, oh Boy! And the Beach! :: Orange County Family Photography

We began our high-energy session not long after the sun came up (but not out!).  It was a fabulously fun morning filled with superhero cars (that these dudes made themselves at Disneyland!), sand between toes, tidepools, digging for sand crabs, vroom-vroom motoring, all topped off with a squirt-gun-infused-pancake-breakfast in the hot tub.  I’m betting these boys always fondly remember their vacations in Laguna Beach!



  That universal squat/stance that little ones can hold f.o.r.e.v.e.r…  It never fails to pull at my heartstrings.   Look who gets to haul the stuff back up the hill?!?  Just for a fleeting couple of years, though.  In the blink of an eye, these strong boys will be hauling Mom’s groceries in from the car!   L Family, thank you so much for allowing me the extreme pleasure of sharing a delightful Laguna morning with you all!

Orange County Family Lifestyle Photography