Do you recognize a cycle in your life throughout the year? The Lord recently revealed a pattern of activity. The pattern has four seasons.

Spring brings new birth. New ideas begin to formulate.

Summer brings activity. Those ideas begin developing into projects.

Autumn brings completion. We see the projects finished.

Winter brings rest. We express gratitude for the growth that has taken place through the past year.

(`~`*`~`)`~`*`~`(`~`*`~`)`~`*`~`(`~`*`~`)`~`*``~` (`~`*`~`)

A New Year
by Dusty Reed

The new year brings
A delightful time to play
Thoughts and desires
New discoveries every day.

Finding space and discipline
Taking time to be aware
Listening for answers
Through meditation and prayer.

The holiday rush is in the past
Peace and quiet can now reign
If I slow down, not flying too fast
To enjoy the memories as gain.

Time to listen to my now
Any light bulbs for change
Bringing the what and how
Will they possibly seem strange?

With guidance from the Lord
I know that all is well
He shows me through His Word
To boldly share and tell.

(`~`*`~`)`~`*`~`(`~`*`~`)`~`*`~`(`~`*`~`)`~`*``~` (`~`*`~`)

Self Discipline or Obedience?
by Dusty Reed

Many of us have good intentions to begin each new year with a healthy diet. Other matters press in and our intentions get lost in the shuffle. What are we doing for personal hygiene? For physical exercise? Playing golf, going for a walk, watering and caring for the lawn and flowers, building a snowman, taking a bicycle ride or whatever we feel is stimulating and refreshing, can do much to revive our source of vitality.

Long before nutritionalists studied the effects, the Bible gives many natural health foods. After thousands of years, nutritionists are discovering these truths in today's world. Here are just a few: Apples (Solomon 2:5), Bread (Matthew 6:11), Corn, Beans, Lentils, Honey, Butter, not margarine, Cheese (II Samuel 17:28-29), Herbs (Proverbs 15:7), Eggs (Job 6:6), Venison (Genesis 27:3-4), Figs (Isaiah 36:16), Lamb (Exodus 12:8,11), Spices (Solomon 4:13-16), Fruit (Solomon 2:3), Whole Grain (Isaiah 3:1), Milk (Hebrews 5:12), Fish, Cucumbers, Melons, Leeks, Onions, Garlic (Numbers 11:7) and Beef (Luke 15:23).

A totally healthy body is not the outcome when only self-discipline is the motivation. Unless listening and obedience to divine guidance is adhered to, self-discipline becomes as a dry, barren desert.

"In all thy ways acknowledge him, and he shall direct thy paths. Be not wise in thine own eyes; fear the Lord, and depart from evil. It shall be health to thy naval and marrow to thy bones" - Proverbs 3:6-8

(`~`*`~`)`~`*`~`(`~`*`~`)`~`*`~`(`~`*`~`)`~`*``~` (`~`*`~`)

Some sites I recommend:

OmPlace

Hawaii Heart

Point of Life

Lisa Nichols

Raymond Woo's Feng Shui

Tickle Yourself

(`~`*`~`)`~`*`~`(`~`*`~`)`~`*`~`(`~`*`~`)`~`*``~`(`~`*`~`)

It is my joy to share with you that I continue to add new rose drawings and some photographs available at art.com! You can view them at Dusty's Roses I now have some of my rose drawings at an auction site, Art By Us
And, I have a page with note cards (for sale) with some of my rose drawings. You can check it out by going to Rose Descriptions.
I have been posting nearly all of my drawings that are not displayed elsewhere at Rose Garden I have two galleries there. The other is at Reed's Loft. It has various photographs, other drawings, and notecards available.

My sister-in-spirit, Sunny, has several of her drawings and has added new photos at art.com, too, at Sunny's Art Work

(`~`*`~`)`~`*`~`(`~`*`~`)`~`*`~`(`~`*`~`)`~`*``~` (`~`*`~`)

And, for anyone who enjoys playing at ebay, lots of goodies (records, books & post cards - occasionally some nic nacs) are available at Dusty's eBay

You are welcome to forward this newsletter to friends who might be interested! If they would like to subscribe (at no cost), they can write to me at cascade@mahaska.org(with Expansion Encounters as subject). Thanx muchly!

Working toward consideration and to better humanity, we want to encourage free enterprise, free speech. We are Life Now, a spiritual happening on and off the Internet.

(`~`*`~`)`~`*`~`(`~`*`~`)`~`*`~`(`~`*`~`)`~`*``~` (`~`*`~`)

Back to Expansion Encounters Archives

~ ~ ~ ~ ~ ~ ~ ~ ~ ~ ~ ~ ~ ~ ~ ~

PATHWAY

~ ~ ~ ~ ~ ~ ~ ~ ~ ~ ~ ~ ~ ~ ~ ~

LIFE NOW

~ ~ ~ ~ ~ ~ ~ ~ ~ ~ ~ ~ ~ ~ ~ ~