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Friday, July 20, 2012

Anything

Marcia Norwood, 
America's STORYTELLER
Telling Untold Stories in Photographs, Prose and Public Speaking




God is messing with my life again...stirring things up...breaking things down...rearranging...making me uncomfortable. During our intimate time together each morning this summer - He has spoken to me through His Word and also through these books: "Anything"(The Prayer that Unlocked My God and My Soul) by Jennie Allen; "What Every Girl Wants" (A Portrait of Perfect Love & Intimacy in the Song of Solomon) by Lisa Harper; "Every Woman's Hope" (Beloved by God) by Lisa Harper; and "Blindsided" (The Radical Islamic Conquest) by Michael Youssef, Ph.D.

There have been only three other times in my life when He interrupted my life in such as powerful way as He is now. God loves broken people, and He wants me to love them, too. He's asking me to let go of some things to make room for the new things He is doing. He's opening my eyes to broken people - hurting people - who are so caught up in their own pain that they inflict pain on others. Their stories have become real to me, and it has done something inside me.

I'm praying, "Anything. Anything, God - you want me to do."

"Without the Spirit of God to lead our anythings- we will will only be do-gooders with our own agendas." (Jennie Allen)

I'm waiting on Him to tell me what's next.

Saturday, June 9, 2012

BECOME PART OF THE SILENCE

Marcia Norwood, America's STORYTELLER
Telling Untold Stories in Photographs, Prose and Public Speaking



"In order to see birds it is necessary to become part of the silence."
Robert Lynd, Irish Writer, Literary Essayist


Storytellers love to talk, and I'm no exception.  I'm a gregarious talker and doer.  I multi-task with the best of them, and usually have several  projects-in-progress at the same time.   



Yet- I've discovered the JOY of taking time to be still.    

It isn't easy to "become part of the silence" while living with six people, three puppies, in the midst of multiple televisions, radios, CD and DVD players, ipods, iphones, and lap tops who seem to constantly vie for my attention.

Early each morning, I drive my daughter, Faith, to swim practice.    I park under a shady tree and have two hours to spend with the Creator of the Universe. It still amazes me that He cares to spend time with me!

My gardens also provide a beautiful place for me to be still and view the wonders of creation that God puts on display for us to enjoy.

 "Be still , and know that I am God:
I will be exalted among the heathen,
I will be exalted in the earth."
King James Version

We saved a coconut shell to use as a mini-birdbath.  The birds like and and even our three puppies drink from it!
Psalm 19:1-9
The Message Bible
1 God's glory is on tour in the skies, God-craft on exhibit across the horizon.
2 Madame Day holds classes every morning, Professor Night lectures each evening.
3 Their words aren't heard, their voices aren't recorded,
4 But their silence fills the earth: unspoken truth is spoken everywhere. God makes a huge dome for the sun - a superdome!
5 The morning sun's a new husband leaping from his honeymoon bed, The daybreaking sun an athlete racing to the tape.
6 That's how God's Word vaults across the skies from sunrise to sunset, Melting ice, scorching deserts, warming hearts to faith.

7 The revelation of God is whole and pulls our lives together. The signposts of God are clear and point out the right road.

8 The life-maps of God are right, showing the way to joy. The directions of God are plain and easy on the eyes.

9 God's reputation is twenty-four-carat gold, with a lifetime guarantee. The decisions of God are accurate down to the nth degree.
UNTIL ALL HIS CHILDREN HAVE HOMES!
Marcia

Friday, April 27, 2012

REAL LIFE

Marcia Norwood, America's STORYTELLER
Telling Untold Stories in Photographs, Prose and Public Speaking

Broadcast News is one of my favorite movies.  It's a romantic comedy/drama (1987) featuring the lives of three characters who work in television news.  Holly Hunter plays the part of Jane Craig, a smart producer who has almost daily emotional breakdowns. 

Broadcast News is filled with hilarious quotes.  Here's one of my all-time favorites: 

Tom Grunick (charismatic but intellectually limited anchor played by William Hurt) says to co-worker:  "What do you do when your real life exceeds your dreams?"

Co-worker, Aaron Altman, (intelligent but prickly reporter played by Albert Brooks) replies:  "Keep it to yourself." 



 
Dear God,

Help me keep it real..in my speaking and my facebook posts and Christmas letters...so that my life will reflect your humility, love and wisdom. 

Thank you for the gift of laughter.  

In Jesus' Precious Name,
Amen

THE MESSAGE BIBLE


Sometimes our humble hearts
can help us more than our proud minds.
1 Corinthians 8:2

Such things sound impressive
if said in a deep enough voice. 
they even give the illusion
of being pious and humble and ascetic. 
But they're just another way of showing off,
making yourselves look important.
Colossians 2:23

And what He gives in love is far better
than anything else you'll find. 
It's common knowledge that
"God goes against the willful proud; 
God gives grace to the willing humble."
James 4:6

Summing up: 
Be agreeable,
 be sympathetic,
be loving,
be compassionate,
be humble.
1 Peter 3:8

THANKS FOR STOPPING BY!
Marcia



Friday, April 13, 2012

RECIPE: PEANUT BUTTER JUMBOS (Cookies)

Marcia Norwood, AMERICA'S STORYTELLER
Telling Untold Stories in Photographs, Prose and Public Speaking

Here's a long-time favorite recipe that I found on the back of an  M&M's PEANUT Chocolate Candy package!

Recipe:
Peanut Butter Jumbos

Ingredients:
  • 1 Cup Butter
  • 1 Cup Peanut Butter
  • 1 Cup Granulated Sugar
  • 1 Cup Firmly Packed Brown Sugar
  • 2 Eggs
  • 2 Cups Flour
  • 1 Teaspoon Baking Soda
  • 1 and 1/2 Cups M&M's Peanut Chocolate Candies
Directions:
  1. Beat together butter, peanut butter, and sugars until light and fluffy.
  2. Blend in eggs.
  3. Gradually add combined flour and soad and mix well.
  4. Stir in candies.
  5. Drop dough by level 1/4 cup measure onto greased cookie sheet about 3-inches apart.
  6. Press 3 to 4 additional candies into each cookie...if desired.
  7. Bake at 350 degrees F. for 14 to 16 minutes or until edges are golden brown.
  8. Cool on cookie sheet 3 minutes.
  9. Remove to wire rack to cool thoroughly.
Makes about 2 dozen 4-inch cookies.

Variation: 
For 2 and 1/2-inch cookies, drop dough by rounded tablespoonfuls onto greased cookie sheet.  Bake at 350 degrees F. for 11 to 13 minutes.  Makes about 4 dozen cookies.





THANKS FOR STOPPING BY!
COME BACK AGAIN AND INVITE A FRIEND!

Marcia



Monday, April 9, 2012

NATURE: GOD'S UNLIMITED BROADCASTING STATION

Marcia Norwood, AMERICA'S STORYTELLER
Telling Untold Stories in Photographs, Prose and Public Speaking


Copyright 2009 Marcia Norwood

"God writes the gospel not in the Bible alone,
but on trees and flowers and clouds and stars."
Author Unknown, Commonly Attributed to Martin Luther

Copyright 2009 Marcia Norwood

"I love to think of nature
as an unlimited broadcasting station,
through which God speaks to us every hour,
if we will only tune in."
George Washington Carver

Copyright 2009 Marcia Norwood


 Man's heart away from nature becomes hard.
Quote from Standing Bear


Copyright 2009 Marcia Norwood
 
THANKS FOR STOPPING BY!
Marcia



Thursday, April 5, 2012

THE FUN EASTER - THE REAL EASTER

Marcia Norwood, AMERICA'S STORYTELLER
Telling Untold Stories in Photographs, Prose and Public Speaking

I'm a mother, grandmother and teacher who has marinated herself in children for almost 40 years. One of my favorite things to do is interview children...sort of like Art Linkletter and Bill Cosby did on their television shows. 

It's lots of fun, but it also very important for me to have conversations with my own children and my Kindergarten and Preschool students about the secular and spiritual parts of  holiday celebrations.    I do as much LISTENING as I do talking. 


Here are some of my insightful and hilarious  interviews with 4 and 5 year old students from my 2007 class.  We talked about THE FUN EASTER and THE REAL EASTER.


Bunny Tales

By Mrs. Norwood’s Kids

Easter 2007


 Alyssa

The Easter Bunny is a boy. 

He weighs about 50 pounds
and he’s way taller than me.

He is a little blue and a little white.

He lives up where Jesus lives.

He flies to get to all the children.

He knocks on our door
and we have to get out of there.

We have a key to our lock.

I don’t know how he gets our key.

He brings Easter Bunny eggs.



Londyn

The Easter Bunny is a girl.

She is white and weighs 35 pounds.

She wears  a Easter Bunny costume.

She has black and white eyes.

She lives in the grass in a hole
by the lily pad in Blue Springs.

One night she grabbed a car,
and she didn’t know which way to go.

She looked on “The List” for my house.

She has a key to my house.

We always have keys,

but the Easter Bunny bought a key to my house.

She comes in the door:  “Hop!  Hop!  Hop!”



Conner

The Easter Bunny wears a bunny suit.

He’s a boy.

He is white with pink ears.

Maybe he’s like 12 feet tall, and 50 pounds.

What does he eat? 
Hmmmm…. I don’t really know.

They hop around with eggs.

Maybe he lives in a deep hole or nest in Oak Grove by my Old Papa.

He uses the chimney (like Santa)
to get into my house.

He gives eggs to us.

That’s all.



Jordan

The Easter Bunny is a girl.

Her name is Ella.

She wears a pink dress and delivers Easter eggs.

She gets in from the front door that is unlocked.

She has a Daddy and Momma.

She is five.

She leaves Easter eggs.

Sometimes I wish the Easter Bunny lives at my house.

She eats lettuce.

I used to have a real bunny.



Sydney

The Easter Bunny is a boy.

He gives Easter toys and a fake egg.

He lives at his house in a big tree in the country.

He wears just fur and a red and blue bow.

He eats carrots because bunnies like them.

The Easter Bunny comes down the chimney.

He brings me a kite.

I give him cookie letters.



Carson

The Easter Bunny is 3 feet tall.

He weighs 60 hundred pounds.

He’s a boy and he is purple and white.

He wears Easter Bunny clothes.

He stays at my house all year and sleeps with me.

He snores like this: “zzzssszzz.”

He goes through my chimney to get in.

He brings lots . . . lots . . . lots of candy . . .  160 thousand candies!



Ivan

The Easter Bunny is big . . . about 12 inches tall.

He is white and he wears a red, blue and green hat.

He lives in a hole in New York City.

I think he gets to our houses by airplane.

He brings one toy and some candy.

He comes in the door. 

I don’t know how he gets in . . .  maybe the chimney:

‘cause everything’s locked.



Tatum

The Easter Bunny is a girl.

She is gray.

She wears silver pants and a pink shirt.

She lives outside in Kansas.

She bunny hops to my house . . .  it’s not far.

She hops in the downstairs window.

We leave the window open.

She does the bunny hop every single day!



Brittany

The Easter Bunny is a girl.

She wears green pants and a pink shirt.

She hops.

She comes in the open door at my house.

I don’t know where she lives.

She gives me candy.



Conrad

The Easter Bunny is a boy.

He is pink and he doesn’t wear clothes.

He is think about 40 pounds and like 60 tall.

He lives in cave.

He snaps his fingers to get to people’s houses.

Then he snaps fingers again to get inside.

Only the Easter Bunny and Santa can do it.

He gives me a chocolate bunny from last year.

He lays out jelly beans from each room
and on the kitchen table.

I know about the REAL Easter.

It’s when Jesus died on the cross.

The people banged and banged on him.

He rose again.

That’s the REAL Easter.


Here's a song by Kirk Franklin about the REAL Easter:  BEHOLD THE LAMB.

BEHOLD THE LAMB
By Kirk Franklin

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=XRdWEa2D2WQ&feature=player_embedded



THANKS FOR STOPPING BY!
Marcia

Wednesday, April 4, 2012

THE LAMB

Marcia Norwood, AMERICA'S STORYTELLER
Telling Untold Stories in Photographs, Prose and Public Speaking


The April calendar has several special days:
April 1:  Psalm Sunday
April 6:  Good Friday
April 7: First Day of Passover
April 8:  Easter Sunday
April 14:  Last Day of Passover
April 22:  Earth Day

Visit my website  www.marcianorwoodstoryteller.com to download a copy of the April calendar that I designed with my photograph of two lambs. 


Photograph:  Copyright 2009 Marcia Norwood

"Here He is, God's Passover Lamb!
He forgives the sins of the world!
 John 1:30


Photograph: Copyright 2009 Marcia Norwood

The LAMB on the Throne will shepherd them,
will lead them to spring water of Life.
And God will wipe every last tear from their eyes.
Revelation 7:17


          

Go to:   www.marcianorwoodstoryteller.com to download a copy of this calendar.

 

The earth, after all, is God's, and everything in it.

1 Corinthians 10:26

 

HAPPY EASTER!


THANKS FOR STOPPING BY! 

TELL A FRIEND ABOUT MY STORIES AND PHOTOGRAPHS.
Marcia