bathed in light

the funny thing is

this tulip was anything but beautiful

petals barely hanging on

beauty all spent

but then.....

the light just right

a glint catching my eye

and I saw myself

radiant when bathed in streams of Jesus light

it really is all in the seeing.

ugly beautiful.

again.

(p.s. click on the link to "whispering soul streams" to like this on facebook 

and thanks for sharing! )

words and images © copyright Melody Armstrong 2014

you're still the one.......

19 years married babe.........and I'd do it all over again.

I love you

(and your awesome shirts!!)

xo

Happy Valentines Day!!

l o v e t o y o u

what words come to mind when you think of LOVE?

these were some of mine....

happy 

valentines

day

enjoy the magic

however it shows itself

today.

x o 

images © copyright Melody Armstrong 2015

8:00 am. in February

we wave to them.  my mom and I.
(she's spent the night and we get to share
this quiet, wintery morning together)

a few last hollers and grins

we've whooshed them out the front door
into frosty February

i think to myself how

everything
everywhere
is frozen into
glittering blankets of white

 & pale washes of grey

but then...
right there on the kitchen table

fiery, blazing sunlight turns petals into glowing embers

and here's me....surprised
amazed
reaching for the lens
(and mom chuckling at her daughter)
trying to capture
the magic
in a moment of warmth 

filling

a winter morning.



may you be warmed by such a moment today
--maybe even with someone you love.

p u r i t y

photo credit: Brooklyn Armstrong

:: p u r i t y ::

bold

daring

outrageously-

breathtakingly-

beautiful

rare
courageous
bursting
with life
&
freedom
to be
full

purity
is not
a bonnet
or boredom
or buttons to the neck
not prudish
or Victorian
lace or fluff


purity is the stuff
of soul warriors
who keep
the
fight
let us join the ranks

pure heart
pure mind
pure lips
pure life!!

Psalm 51:1-2 (New Living Translation)

"Have mercy on me, O God,    because of your unfailing love. Because of your great compassion,    blot out the stain of my sins. Wash me clean from my guilt.    Purify me from my sin."

words and images (unless otherwise cited) ©copyright Melody Armstrong 2013

crazy beauty....and being surprised

i pass this old red barn every day

and I'm still mesmorized

by the way it stands tall against the sky

even if it's shoulders are sagging a little

it glows soft red as twilight works its magic

and I stare as longs as i can

till i've passed it again

but today I stop

(with my one teenage boy and his buddy) 

and we all pull out our phones and start shooting

cuz there's beauty everywhere

when you stop to look for it

...wishing you a few moments to 

see the unexpected beauty 

on your travels today

 and thank you to my boy

who still occasionally surrenders 

that outrageously gorgeous smile

to the camera 

melting mama's heart

every time.

(and thanks to instagram for those filters that I still can't master on my own!!!  haha)

words and images © copyright melody armstrong 2015

frosty diamonds

: :
so many gorgeous mornings lately
everything cloaked in diamonds

so i pull the car over
plod through snow much deeper than my boots
snap pictures and smile while
snow flakes sneak inside my socks
and diamonds melt between my toes
: :

have a lovely, frosty day

P.S. if you wish to be amazed at the exquisite beauty of a single snowflake like this one
 treat yourself to more incredible photography by Alexey Kljatov
and maybe you'll even try your hand at it since he gives some
really great instructions on his techniques

-this photo by Alexey Kljatov of "chaotic minds" blog

...anticipation

I'm sitting in our living room this morning with a hot mocha in a favourite mug, just enjoying the soft glow of our Christmas tree and the hush that still rests over the house.  The kids are sleeping in (one of their long- awaited holiday pleasures) and a quiet anticipation of my own fills the stillness of this moment.  

It's advent --the season of waiting, anticipating, longing.  In two short days, Christians all over the globe will celebrate together the coming of our Saviour, Jesus.    

But this moment, right here, is about the waiting, the believing that something good is still on the way.  It is about remembering the promise of hope for the all the nations, the promise of hope for me and for you. In every sorrow, in every question, in every hardship, there is assurance that help and salvation is on the way.

^"5 My soul is quiet and waits for God alone. My hope comes from Him. ⁶ He alone is my rock and the One Who saves me. He is my strong place. I will not be shaken. ⁷ My being safe and my honor rest with God. My safe place is in God, the rock of my strength. ⁸ Trust in Him at all times, O people. Pour out your heart before Him. God is a safe place for us." Psalm 62:5-8

  
I love to imagine how all those years ago, in the presence of humble shepherds lying out under the stars with their sheep, a mighty angel of the Lord appeared and lit up the entire landscape with the shining presence and glory of God.  His appearance alone would have made anyone tremble in fear and amazement.  But the the good news he proclaimed, how could they have known it would not only blaze in their own hearts forever, but that it would ignite the heart of every believer down through the ages? Can you imagine what it would have been like?  The heavens radiant with God's presence and a thunderous chorus of praise filling the skies....all of it to announce the coming  of one who would save, who would love, who would lay his life down so we could really live.  

"...Don't be afraid!" he said.  "I bring you the most joyful news ever announced, and it is for everyone!  The Savior --yes, the Messiah, the Lord-- has been born tonight in Bethlehem!  How will you recognize him? You will find a baby wrapped in a blanket lying in a manger!"  Suddenly, the angel was joined by a vast host of others--the armies of heaven--praising God:"Glory to God in the Highest heaven," they sang, "and peace on earth for all those pleasing him."

Luke 2:10-14 (TLB Living Bible)

My wish for you and I is that we would treasure these last moments of waiting before Christmas day arrives.  That we would acknowledge our needs, and revel in the hope of a Saviour and provider who promises to meet us right where we need him most, and every other space in between.  My prayer for you comes from the beautiful words of Ephesians 1: 19-21 (TLB. TheLivingBible):

^19" I pray that you will begin to understand how incredibly great his power is to help those who believe him. It is that same mighty power ²⁰ that raised Christ from the dead and seated him in the place of honor at God’s right hand in heaven, ²¹ far, far above any other king or ruler or dictator or leader. Yes, his honor is far more glorious than that of anyone else either in this world or in the world to come."

Love, Hope, Joy and a Merry Christmas to you all,

Melody

waking to this

waking to this

the heavens declaring

and I can only smile

and count

more gifts

more grace

more ways He loves

the rush of the day waits

a hush settles

on my soul

a moment

to taste eternity

there is so much more

no wonder

my heart wonders

and longs for home

P.S.  for more beauty and sky gazing...see here or here.

word and images © copyright Melody Armstrong 2014

feeling blue...and loving it

some shots from my lving room and the old & new blue accents that I’m loving

images © copyright Melody Armstrong 2014