Shells of memories

We went to beach today in the afternoon - first time this summer. Beautiful hot day. Even Sea seemed very refreshing with its ice cold water.
I think those moments count for eternity. As we put them together they form beautuful picture like these shells which i saw as we were leaving beach...
I thought about these shells - that they are like (could represent) our memories which sometimes is good to count and put together and be (feel) grateful that we had moments like these.
The wind (of life) can rise and sand can hide the shells - make us to forget good times, good days, but the Good Book says: Remember! Count your blessings!

Little Bella

This is Bella with her smile some minutes before going to Heaven to be with Jesus

"Little Bella, You know that we love You! Just yesterday we attended the anniversary service at Valmiera Church. You went to the Sunday school. Afterwards You came, sat next to mummy and drew little hearts in your new notebook. Mummy whisper

ed to You, „I love You. You are beautiful. You will be a singer…” The service went on, and You moved to the front row to sit next to me. You drew little flowers. I whispered into Your ear, „I love You. You are very beautiful.” We told You these words often. We told You often that Jesus loves You! So often You would come up to me or mummy, snuggle up to us and say in the way only You could, „I love you!” Thank You. Quite often You would sing to Yourself the song with this refrain, „I come, I come to you, Jesus! You are my Joy, when I don’t have it, You are my Strength when I am weak, You are my Friend when I am alone, You are MY GOD!” Once I was tired and harsh, and You started singing this song quietly to Yourself… I felt ashamed. After the service You ran around with Your sisters and other children in the backyard, full of sunlight. We all were there. Mum took a nice picture of You. Of Your light, lovely face, of Your blue eyes. You are so beautiful! Often I would ask You, „Why are You so beautiful?” You would say, „God made me so.” We said goodbye to people, started walking towards the car, You ran a couple steps ahead of us and… You were fighting for Your next breath. We tried to bring You back, apply artificial breathing, move You… Many people around us prayed to God and called on Jesus’ Name! A moment later You were in reanimation room... In the hallway, behind a glass wall, I collapsed on my knees and prayed to Jesus to whom we have prayed to together so often. Mummy and Your sisters prayed in the car. I prayed, prayed – but then I put You into the arms of the Heavenly Father. This thought startled me, I did not understand from where these words came to me. But even though people in reanimation were fighting for Your life, it seemed that at that moment Your soul went to Heaven. A moment later we were standing by Your bed. Artificial breathing had been applied to You, but Your little heart had stopped beating. I kissed Your forehead and, as every night before going to bed, drew a little sign of the cross on Your forehead. You always wanted it big and, if I made it small, You corrected me… Now You are a singer in Heaven. You sing for the glory of God! Hallelujah! We have so many memories! We drove home, it was raining and we cried. So much we did not want to part from You! You made us so rich, and Your going Home has given us many gifts. So many incomprehensible, beautiful memories… How You danced, sang, how You could put together a puzzle by Yourself for a long time… Oh, dear, You are with Jesus, and You are very well now. You were with us for a little more than 4 years. But Your little life, with Your little feet has left deep, lasting and big footsteps. We will never be the same again. God will use You and Your going Home for His Glory. There are many things we do not understand and cannot comprehend but I believe that many will be in Heaven because of You! You in Your four years have done more than I in my almost 40. Already in this life we will see how God has used You. Many things we will see only in Heaven. It seems to me that already today You saved a crumbling family and two boys will again have a dad who lives for God’s Glory… Oh, dear Bella! We will bid farewell to You on Thursday, August 30 at 15:00 in Uzava, Your and our summer home “Nikaži”. There You ran, swung, danced, sang, fed little sheep, trained the big dog, helped in all country work, helped grandma and grandpa, walked around clinging to me… Then we will go the cemetery by the seaside. But, as Gabite and I discussed when I was holding her on my lap, You are sitting in Jesus’ lap now, and Jesus tells You, „I LOVE YOU! YOU ARE VERY BEAUTIFUL!” BELLIŅ, You often met me when I came home from work, ran to meet me in the backyard yelling, „Daddy!” As long as God will grant me, I will still work here and then I will come home from work and You will run to meet us! Mummy and I love You very much! You will always be in our hearts until we meet again! Thank You! The Lord has given, The Lord has taken away. Blessed be the Name of the Lord!"

by Peteris Sprogis

Departing ...

Here Comes The Flood

When the night shows
the signals grow on radios
All the strange things
they come and go, as early warnings
Stranded starfish have no place to hide
still waiting for the swollen Easter tide
There's no point in direction 
we cannot even choose a side.
I took the old track
the hollow shoulder, across the waters
On the tall cliffs
they were getting older, sons and daughters
The jaded underworld was riding high
Waves of steel hurled metal at the sky
and as the nail sunk in the cloud, 
the rain was warm and soaked the crowd.
Lord, here comes the flood
We'll say goodbye to flesh and blood
If again the seas are silent
in any still alive
It'll be those who gave their island to survive
Drink up, dreamers, you're running dry.
When the flood calls
You have no home, you have no walls
In the thunder crash
You're a thousand minds, within a flash
Don't be afraid to cry at what you see
The actors gone, there's only you and me
And if we break before the dawn, they'll
use up what we used to be.
Lord, here comes the flood
We'll say goodbye to flesh and blood
If again the seas are silent
in any still alive
It'll be those who gave their island to survive
Drink up, dreamers, you're running dry.

by Peter Gabriel


*               *                 *

Since i heard the news about plane crash with "Lokomotiv" ice hockey team, my mind was occupied with it all that evening and following day ...

Probably the "touchful" effect was caused by the fact that among the players was also our Latvian Karlis Skrastins, who played in NHL for many years. That made the news more personal, although how can i say word "personal" ... not knowing anybody personally.
But this tragedy SPEAKS, - reminds me about fragility of our lives, my life, speaks about values and our characters. It SPEAKS about Love. As the Good Books says: Love is eternal, it never dies.
I heard some recent interview with Karlis's previous team mates as their shared their memories about him telling that he was a kind man. Where does kindness come from?
I think it is to do with humility and gratitude and i also sense that this is why people loved him and that's why this news touched them soooo deeply.

37 - 37

I just noticed today that Karlis was 37 and his number was 37.
I heard of his many injuries during his hockey career, so his body was "beaten up", but now also crashed...
But there is another part of him, his soul and it seems to me that it was healthy, and still is, because it is also eternal and never dies.

When i took the picture (in August) i am posting, associations in my mind with it was to do with going up, - up in the sky, Heaven, Resurrection ...
and now i think it fits with these thoughts. 
Yesterday i also happened to hear this Peter Gabriel's song and again ... it touched me in the light of the tragic events, speaking to me about Eternity ... 


___________________________________________________

On BBC
http://www.bbc.co.uk/news/world-europe-14822582

Streets of gold

There was this guy, who really wanted to go to heaven, but had issues with giving up his worldly belongings: he was very very rich. So he pleaded with God: when I die, please please, can I take some of my richness with me?
Finally, God told him that this was fine: he could take one bag.
So the man stuffed a bag with all the gold he could fit in and tucked it under his bed. He forgot about it, until the day he died: he took his bag and knocked on the pearly gates of heaven.
Peter: "Oi! You cannot take anything with you!"
Man: "But, I had an agreement with God.. check it out with Him, Ill wait."
So Peter had a chat with God and came back. He said to the man:
"Okay, you checked out all right. But, I  have to admit.. I am a bit curious as to what you think is so important that you want to take it with you to heaven?"
The man opened his bag and showed Peter the gold he packed.
Peter first looked with disbelief, then started to giggle. Laughing out loud, he said:


... (wait for it)...



YOU BROUGHT PAVEMENT?

God's Butterflies for His Glory

I saw this short film the other day: "The Butterfly Circus" and it touched me very deeply.
It spoke to me about the way God sees us, how He turns us from something ugly into something beautiful, - from not of much use into being useful, from feeling useless into being useful, shining His Light for others to see, - to see His Glory as He changes us from inside to make us fly like a beautiful butterflies who come out of their cones...






As i shared this film on Facebook i got a comment which led me to the name of the guy who plays the main character in it. That was the first time i heard of him.....


What a Story!!! What a miracle!!!! What a gold vessel (2. Tim. 2:20,21) for God's Glory to shine through to the lives of others, to change them from caterpillars of this Earth into butterflies of God's Everlasting Kingdom to live with the Giver of Life forever...







Lord, let me be butterfly of Your Kingdom!

Word of God Speak

I'm finding myself at a loss for words
And the funny thing is it's okay
The last thing I need is to be heard
But to hear what You would say

Word of God speak
Would You pour down like rain
Washing my eyes to see
Your majesty
To be still and know
That You're in this place
Please let me stay and rest
In Your holiness
Word of God speak

I'm finding myself in the midst of You
Beyond the music, beyond the noise
All that I need is to be with You
And in the quiet hear Your voice

Word of God speak
Would You pour down like rain
Washing my eyes to see
Your majesty
To be still and know
That You're in this place
Please let me stay and rest
In Your holiness
Word of God speak

I'm finding myself at a loss for words
And the funny thing is it's okay

Oh, my soul, Praise the Lord

Couple days ago i played my guitar and got this nice rhythm which grew into song few days later. I don't write songs very often but time to time they come to me, or are given to me. I don't know if other people like them, but they really give joy to my soul.


O, my soul
Praise the Lord!

Never let me walk away
From your narrow road i pray

O my soul
Praise the Lord!

Things of world will fade away
But His Kingdom and His love will stay

O my soul
Praise the Lord!

Classic

"Melancholic waltz" by Emils Darzins

Seasons

There is seasons in nature with all its beauty - all sorts of colors, light games day and night, from dawn till dusk, births and dyings as seasons change, changing appearance of a trees and fields. And there is also seasons in our lives as we grow and mature, hopefully changing from physical beauty of our life's spring to our inner beauty as we bring fruits of our existence and setting for Home which is not made by human hands but by the One who created Seasons and us and who is waiting for his children to come Home to live forever.

God's smile

Many people say, "Who will show us better times?"
Let the smile of your face shine on us, LORD.
You have given me greater joy than those who have abundant harvests of grain and wine.
I will lie down in peace and sleep, for you alone, O LORD, will keep me safe.
/Psalm 4:6-8 / NLT

Some while ago i came across these verses of the Psalm 4. I was reading Good News translation and verse 6. says: There are many who pray: "Give us more blessings, O Lord. Look on us with kindness!" and in next verse David sings: "But the joy that you have given me is more than they will ever have with all their grain and wine." I thought, 'what a wonderful contrast'. I thought - blessing from God could be like well being, having all you need for life - clothing, food, health. And this Psalm also answers that, that some people have joy in the blessing itself (abundant harvest). But for David joy came from God itself, from his relationships with Him and that Joy surpasses the joy of the blessing. What kind of joy is in my life - joy of the Giver or the joy of the gift?

As i discover verses like these, often i translate them into Latvian language making modern Bible translation for myself. But with trying to translate verses and trying to make translation as accurate as possible to original texts, i compare different translations and even take a look in some commentaries and very often that is when the most interesting part starts - discovering the hidden treasures. And this is a case of this Song of David as well. I suddenly discovered that prayer of David in verse 6, 'Let the smile of your face shine on us, LORD' (Let the light of your face shine upon us, O Lord (NIV)) is actually words of God to Aaron - how to bless His people in well known benediction (Numbers 6:22-27)

Then the LORD said to Moses, "Instruct Aaron and his sons to bless the people of Israel with this special blessing:
"May the LORD bless you and protect you.
May the LORD smile on you and be gracious to you.
May the LORD show you his favor and give you his peace"
This is how Aaron and his sons will designate the Israelites as my people, and I myself will bless them."

/Numbers 6:22-27/ New Living

My last thoughts (2-3 years ago) of this benediction prayer before i discovered what i will share next was that God himself said that. That already was quite a revelation to me - God says to say that, meaning that He wants to bless, protect, to shine upon, be gracious, show favor and give peace to His people. Amazing! But it was even more amazing to discover this 'face shining' puzzle which i never understood before.

These benediction words always has been too 'holy' for me to understand, words which i heard pastors speak at the end of the service, words without much meaning behind them (for me). Before i more thought how Holy He is, that His brightness shines on us, but SMILE made the difference and made sense in my understanding of His attitude towards his people. - He is happy for his children, He smiles seeing them, smile is light shining itself, and from smile comes grace and forgiveness. It all is so much understandable, logic and close - Father - children relationships - this all makes sense. Anger does the oposit (with not forgiving, punishing and revenge). Angry face would represent dark face. And that is how many people see God when they don't know Him - His real Heart and Love. But in reality God wishes to 'shine on us' (happiness and joy reflects on face with a SMILE and so its SHINES)

in verse 26. i would like to combine two translations - The Message and New Living "God look you full in the face - and give you his peace"

These words remind me my son Josh (3 1/2) when i put him to sleep. He wants me/us to come in his bed when we put him to sleep/ bed and then after reading book, when i put it away and waiting for him to fall asleep, he - looks full in my face and i am convinced that that is how he is filled with peace and security.

I will lie down in peace and sleep, for you alone, O LORD, will keep me safe.

May the Lord smile on you, may He look you full in your face and give you His peace.

Waiting

I was going through some music files tonight and found file with a date (Dec.30, 2005) and name labeled as "Waiting". I was surprised to discover that it is my own composition, or better to say piece of music. I can't say that i composed it because i did not write down music which i am not able to do anyway as i can't read it. But i really was quite surprised by this music piece - i really like it and i just thought how good it could be if some proper piano player with the skills would play it and improvise over this melody.
I wondered why i named it "Waiting". Maybe i was waiting for New Year to turn new blank page in the book of my life, maybe i was waiting for snow to paint over the city dirt, but maybe i was waiting to hear God to speak and bring peace in my heart...

Praise Him

Life's Seasons

Couple of Our Daily Bread pages/writings came to mind this morning and i did some effort to find them on ODB website.
I like the perspective of these thoughts by Bible teacher J. Robertson McQuilkin

READ: Psalm 71:1-21

By You I have been upheld from birth . . . . My praise shall be continually of You. —Psalm 71:6

"When we are young, we can't wait to grow up. When we are old, we look back longingly to former years. But God intends that we joyfully take each season of life as it comes. Whatever our age, He imparts what we need to be all that we can be. He asks us to commit our way to Him and accept the struggles He allows and the strength He provides.

A woman who was facing the difficulties of aging asked Bible teacher J. Robertson McQuilkin, "Why does God let us get old and weak?" McQuilkin replied, "I think God has planned the strength and beauty of youth to be physical. But the strength and beauty of old age is spiritual. We gradually lose the strength and beauty that is temporary so we'll be sure to concentrate on the strength and beauty that is forever. And so we'll be eager to leave the temporary, deteriorating part of us and be truly homesick for our eternal home. If we stayed young and strong and beautiful, we might never want to leave."

Are you in life's springtime? Trust God's timing to fulfill your dreams. Are you in life's summer or autumn? Face your daily challenges head-on. And if you feel winter's chill, draw close to the Lord. His presence can make every season of life one of strength and beauty." —Dennis J. De Haan

While the earth remains..

"While the earth remains, Seedtime and harvest, Cold and heat, Winter and summer, And day and night Shall not cease"
/ Genesis 8:22 King James v.

The Art of God

Do we have time to stop and notice beauty which is there everyday, but hidden if we rush about, rush past - past familiar flowers, past morning dew, stumping on millions of dewdrops, which are waiting for us to bend down and to enjoy freshness of new day...

STOP ! - to see, to fill your heart with Beauty!

Pictures versus Words

Whenever it has come to the decision in the evenings to work on pictures or to write something in my Blog - pictures always wins. So you who time to time faithfully still keep coming back to my Blog to check it out (for some miracle) and being disappointed, could go to my pictures and find couple new pictures every week. But there is many pictures on my albums, whose stories behind them you don't know. Like this one - which i kept in my mind to write about for almost a year now.
There is a program on VH1 music channel on TV which is called "Storytellers" and for some while i meant to create an album with that title in my galleries. As not really knowing with what to start (return) to my writing i thought that this could be good return.

So, here is the STORY behind this picture/monument.
The monument is called "Monument of Faithfulness (dedication)"
One the other picture you see the junction of the street. Some years ago there was a car accident in which deadly was hurt a man. With him in his car there was a dog. The man was carried away from the place where accident took place, but the dog stayed where he last saw his owner. It lasted several days till people started to notice faithful dog who was still waiting for his master. People started to feed the dog, but as he finished his meal he would always go back to his spot.
This continued for couple years or so till the faithful Dog died and somebody came with the idea to build the ' Monument of Faithfulness'

Now it is the place for the people of Tolyatti (in Russia) where newlyweds come to pledge their Faithfulness to each other.

What a STORY for us, people to learn from about Faithfulness!

79 years ago or 'breath of eternity'

As i emptied some box with my wife's old letters from friends and some old photos, i noticed some really old photos. i could say that some of those photos are Historical. It is about history of Salvation Army in Latvia. I found one quite small photo of Salvation Army march in Riga.
On the other side of the photo it said that it is Salvation Army congress in Riga, year 1928. From the photo i could recognize the building which is on the left side, but i was not sure where i have seen it, but i was sure that it is still standing there today.

For two weeks this photo has bothered my mind making me figure it out where that tram line went. Two times i failed with my presumptions where it could be, which made me study the picture more intently. And IT WORKED. My closer look did not disappoint me. I found some clues - main was building with the columns farther on the street, which made me think that it is Orthodox Church on the main street of Riga and it surely was correct. So the next day i had chance to stand at the very same spot where the picture was taken 79 years ago.
In these last days i had some interesting thoughts around This picture and maybe they came to me even at that particular moment when i stood there waiting for some traffic to clear to make my "79 years after" photo.



I thought about the moment - the daily life of that (THEN) photo and this (NOW) one which i was taking. The same place, the same street, but time gap tells the difference. Time wanted to whisper to me some story. As the lens of an old photo showed the street from above, the same way Eternal with His Spirit lifted my thoughts up to look to this old picture from above.
My thoughts stopped at the people on that old picture with the question: Where are they all now? And the answer was easy - they ALL are gone, probably even the youngest. Who were they? some were richer, some purer, some were happier and some maybe not so happy. But they all had given their Time to live - to grow and learn, to laugh and cry, to sing and dance, to work and rest, to sow and reap, to do good or evil, to LOVE or hate. They all have their choices whom to believe 'before leaving earth'. That is why Salvation Army marched that day - to help others to make the right choices about Eternal things - the things what matters the most, the things which lasts Forever. Their flag was raised to show to Whom they belong and to know where they are now. As for others - on the other side of the street - we don' t know where they are in Eternity.
Maybe 79 years from Today there will be other man finding these two pictures from 1928 and 2007, trying to find out where those pictures were taken, and finding the street and the spot he will stand there and will think similar thoughts as he take the same picture, just with his Time settings, but the same questions to answer.

Perfect day.

Today was a perfect day to finally enjoy the sun after winter which again seemed would never end. Just two days ago there was snowing here, but today sun warmed the air till + 10 C
Today was Saturday and we had a car for few days, so we HAD to go out somewhere at last. All morning was nice and sunny. We made our move after lunch and as we started out there was a couple rain drops falling and i thought OOOOOhhhh Noooooo! I pleaded with our Father to clear the sky AND...... He did it. He brought joy to our small company. As we reached our destination the Sun was out greeting us and welcoming to enjoy our walk through a forest towards the Sea.
Sea was calm with no wind to freeze our noses and other parts of our body. Beta, my daughter was prepared for photo session, so i did not have much chance to sit still and relax. It was nice to make pictures but it was a bit too much for me.






On our way home we stopped at some nice place to have kind of supper and that was almost the end of our Perfect day. Evening went very fast as usual.
Actually today on TV they showed my dance group 60th jubilee where i took part dancing couple dances. We recorded that so i have not seen it yet. I should have made blog entry about that Jubilee and maybe i will.
Those who read my blogs i need to say that most updated is my pictures in pbase.com.
Not that i take pictures every day and put them on web, but there you could see some clues what's new.
Labi - means good - meaning i should go to bed. good night.

Freeze unfreeze

This is not picture from some photo studio - this is my selfportrait at home. This winter i think i did more inside pictures then in all previous years together counted. With the new camera comes new and better possibilities.
In this blog i don't want to speak anymore about the time which passes unnoticed and about so many days which seems all alike. At least Josh does the progress of growing bringing much joy to us, our family and friends.


...out by the Baltic Sea

having a nice day with Sarah's special friends from England.



...that day was still in old (as we say) year. It is sooooo nice that 'you' can get really cheap plain tickets in these days making geographic distance between friends disappear.

Breaking the silence

Trying to break the silence. At least can put some photos
in. Sometimes they speak louder then words or as the saying here goes:
"It is better to see for once then to hear for hundred times"


Today was such a beautiful sunny warm Saturday. There was a harvest and craft market all over our lovely old town. There was lots of people around and good feeling in the air. Well, some people (...) needed to cope/bear with me due to my passion for photography and experimenting with my new digital camera with Russian camera lens on it (needed to do all shots manually)