Monday, August 10, 2009

A Time for Everything and The Value of Friends



A Time for Everything

Ecclesiastes 3:1-8

1 To every thing there is a season, and a time to every purpose under the heaven:

2 A time to be born, and a time to die; a time to plant, and a time to pluck up that which is planted;

3 A time to kill, and a time to heal; a time to break down, and a time to build up;

4 A time to weep, and a time to laugh; a time to mourn, and a time to dance;

5 A time to cast away stones, and a time to gather stones together; a time to embrace, and a time to refrain from embracing;

6 A time to get, and a time to lose; a time to keep, and a time to cast away;

7 A time to rend, and a time to sew; a time to keep silence, and a time to speak;

8 A time to love, and a time to hate; a time of war, and a time of peace.

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The Value of a Friend

Ecclesiastes 4:9-12

9 Two are better than one, because they have a good reward for their labor. 10 For if they fall, one will lift up his companion. But woe to him who is alone when he falls, for he has no one to help him up. 11 Again, if two lie down together, they will keep warm; but how can one be warm alone? 12 Though one may be overpowered by another, two can withstand him. And a threefold cord is not quickly broken.

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I can't discuss poetry and leave out the Bible. It has some of the most beautiful, comforting, uplifting and powerful poetry ever written, especially the Psalms, Proverbs and Ecclesiastes. The two passages I posted above are two of my favorites and I read them often. I taught Sunday School when my children were young for almost eight years and we memorized countless Bible verses. I still meditate on those verses I learned so many years ago. I loved teaching children and learned right along with them. The passage about the value of a friend is untouchable, in my opinion, the most beautiful passage about friendship with people and God ever written. My friends are my treasures, more valuable than gold.....

I ask, again, that you all pray for Renee and her family. My heart is heavy and full of love for her and her precious family.

Love, Peace, and Blessings to you all---

~*~Marion~*~

PS: I have to include my #1 favorite chapter of the Bible which has comforted me and gotten me through many a crisis and many a painful, sleepless night.

PSALM 23

1 The Lord is my shepherd; I shall not want. 2 He makes me to lie down in green pastures; He leads me beside the still waters. 3 He restores my soul; He leads me in the paths of righteousness for His name’s sake. 4 Yea, though I walk through the valley of the shadow of death, I will fear no evil; for You are with me; Your rod and Your staff, they comfort me. 5 You prepare a table before me in the presence of my enemies; You anoint my head with oil; my cup runs over. 6 Surely goodness and mercy shall follow me all the days of my life; and I will dwell in the house of the Lord forever.

16 comments:

Kelly said...

I love this post, Marion.

You know I love the Bible, too. The living Word.

Marion said...

I knew you'd love this one, Kelly. These particular verses have been running through my head for days, so I knew I had to post them. Blessings!!

Renee said...

Marion, you dear friend. I love it. I am honoured that you wrote this. It means a lot to me.

Come over for tea after and we will talk each others ears off.

Love Renee xoxo

Marion said...

I'm on my way, Renee. Don't let the frickin' priest leave....LMAO! I love you!! Blessings..

couragetocreatewriteandlove said...

They both are my very favorite bible verses!
I will pray for Renee and a sweet thought in your way too ;-)

Marion said...

Thanks so much for stopping by, Carmen! I know Renee will appreciate your prayers and thank you for the sweet thoughts. Blessings!!

Rikkij said...

Marion- I think any decent writing I may accomplish is due at least in part to the fact I have read the king james through many, many times. Ecc. is one of my very favorites. Just wish things had worked out better for ol' Solomon. His heart was turned aside when he was old, after he wrote so much wisdom. And visited by God twice! I think things just went too well for him. God promised Solomon that his reign would be one of peace and ease and what reason is there for crying out to God then? Now if I can just figure out the song of Solomon. But I do like all the mention of breasts and such. beautiful language.
I'm going on again, Aren't I? Sorry. Thanks for sharing your space and thoughts. ~rick

Marion said...

Rick, I've read the Bible through twice, too. (I didn't know you had, though. See, we learned something about each other today!) The first time I was 12 years old. Heavy reading for a 12 year old, but it got me through some hard times, as much as I could understand of it and I did have a children's version of the bible, but it was ten volumes!

Oh, yeah, gotta love Solomon with his magnificent words of love: "1 The song of songs, which is Solomon's. 2 Let him kiss me with the kisses of his mouth: for thy love is better than wine...." and it only gets better. Also a favorite of mine. I asked our youth pastor about it when I was a young teen and he told me I had to be married to understand it. Ha! He was right. You can talk as long as you want here. That's on my lease when I got this pink Victorian mansion...That friends can expound all they want, without interruption. LOL! Thanks for stopping by, friend of my heart. Love & Blessings!!

kj said...

hello marion, i hope you've had a good day. i don't read the bible much (okay, just about never--my catholic upbringing just about did me in) so i am given litte treasures here. i've enjoyed this post.

and pray for renee? i'm praying so much my hands are locked together. i was wondering and talking about the power of prayer tonight. renee has a solid hundred, probably 200, maybe 300 people praying fervently for her. does prayer heal? it seems to me there is some rule of physics that explains energy fields that confirms that prayer heals....

xoxo
kj

Olivia said...

Thank you for your beautiful comment on my blog Marion. I will pray for Renee and her family. I loved reading your post today. Blessings, Olivia

Karen said...

Marion - I'm a Bible reader, too. I try to read some every morning before I start my day. I sometimes get in a rush and then I can feel it later in the day. I'm a pray-er, too. I can't pray out loud, though. See, I'm a cry-er, too. LOL

These are beautiful verses and wonderful reminders to us. Thanks for posting!

Prayers for your friend Renee and family.

Woman in a Window said...

Only here could you make the bible sound so interesting to me. Took it up when I was twelve, too, Marion. What is it with you and I? I remember standing in my mother's bedroom in her front window overlooking our yard. Bible in hand, the other kids played outside and I read. My mother thought me a curious freak. I'm afraid I didn't take anything away from it, other than I enjoyed sunlight, windows, reading and being away from others. I've never picked it up again but I am called to in different ways, perhaps by familiar voices. I'm unsure.

Judith Ellis said...

This is a beautiful inspiring post, Marion. Loved the photos too. Thank you very much. I will remember Rebecca and family in prayer. "In my distress I called on the Lord and He heard me."

Rikkij said...

Marion, thanks, but Renee's new digs are looking pretty awesome. So I sometimes camp on her couch, too. I think that youth pastor was full of shit. Just blowing you off. I'da said, it's whatever it says it is to you. ~rick

Marion said...

Thanks, everyone, for your comments. And for your prayers for our Renee. I read the Bible for inspiration and comfort. It never fails me. I also read the Tao, the Talmud, the Koran and many other spiritual texts. I love a book called "Spiritual Literacy" which is full of quotes and wisdom from poetry and books and spiritual texts. It's a treasure-trove of wisdom. Thank you all for stopping by. Blessings!!

Judith Ellis said...

Reading is so very important. Inspiration comes from many sources, even the most unlikely places.