Isn't it a Wonder?

Isn't It A Wonder...

I recently bought a little Golden Book called "Wonders of Nature," written by Jane Werner Watson, with lovely illustrations by talented Eloise Wilkin.  My children grew up loving her sweet illustrations and this book is full of them.  As I read the book, I was struck by the beauty of the message by Watson.  Although it doesn't appear it was meant to have a spiritual message, it most certainly does.  I'm going to share a few of the "wonders" mentioned in the book and include my pictures as illustration before I end with the spiritual truth I think is most beautiful.

 

"Isn't it a wonder that on the dry desert some plants have thick

stems in which they store water....and no leaves at all...and lots

 of prickly spines to keep thirsty animals from eating them up?"



These two photos of cactus and ocotillo in Arizona are perfect examples of the amazing wonder of God's creation in the dry desert.

"Isn't it a wonder that some birds fly thousands of miles
over oceans and land...and return to the same special
spots, to lay their eggs?"

The photo shows a bluebird couple who return to this box year after year to lay eggs and bring their baby birds out into the light of a new day.

"Isn't it a wonder that out in the pond smooth wiggly tadpoles
lose their tails and grow legs, and turn into frogs?"

The photo of a blue poison dart frog at the Science Museum in Durham, NC, is a beautiful example of God's variety and love of color and style.

"And that fuzzy caterpillars weave silken cocoons around
themselves and go to sleep, then wake up as pretty moths
or butterflies?"

Here is an owl butterfly that is so cool with its spots that look like eyes.

Isn't it a wonder that God created such a vast, complex and beautiful world for His children to live in?  And isn't it a wonder that God sent His only begotten Son to this earth to save His children from eternal death and offer them everlasting life in a place even more wonderful and beautiful than this earth?  As the songwriter wrote, "Oh, the wonder of it all, just to think that Jesus loves me!"

Christ is Born

Christ is Born

What a beautiful and gracious gift God the Father gave to us all on that first Christmas night.  "He gave His only Son, that whoever believes in Him shall not perish, but have everlasting life" John 3:16.

Why on earth would God the Father give such an unspeakably precious gift and why would God the Son agree to such an incredibly hard task?  The answer is found in one word - "Love."  God SO loved the world.  As incomprehensible as that is to our finite minds, it's a fact.  A fact that blesses our lives daily in more ways that we can know.

The stained glass window in Trinity Episcopal Church in Staunton, Virginia, shows shepherds worshipping the newborn King.  As we celebrate the birth of our Savior on Christmas day, let us join with the shepherds, the angels and the wise men - worshipping and adoring this greatest of gifts.

Here is part of the lyrics to an old French carol:  "He is born, the holy Child, play the oboe and bagpipes merrily, He is born, the holy Child, sing we now of the Savior mild.  Jesus, Lord of all the earth, coming as a child among us, Jesus, Lord of all the earth, coming down in lowly birth!"

Praise God from whom all blessings flow.  I hope you have a blessed and happy Christmas!

The Star

The Star

My sweet little granddaughter is entranced by the beauty of a star on the wall at the Children's Museum.  Stars have always been special to people.  Even the word star in Spanish - Estrella - has a lovely sound to it.

It's interesting to think that when God created them on the fourth day of creation, He filled the sky with stars by the very breath of his mouth:  “By the word of the Lord the heavens were made, and all the host of them by the breath of His mouth” Psalm 33:6.  Furthermore, we’re also told that when the foundation of the earth was laid, those newborn stars “sang together” and at the same moment, all the angels shouted for joy.  That is so cool!  What an amazing sound they must have made!

For the past 2,000 years, one particular Star has been of special interest to Christians.  The Star announcing the birth of the holy Son of God is surely the most famous and beloved of all the stars God created.  It's appearance in the night sky portended the beginning of a new age - the fulfillment of God's promise to Adam and Eve that He would someday send a Savior for all mankind.

 

This picture of another sweet granddaughter shows her gazing at a Thomas Cole painting of that scene in Bethlehem (on display at Chrysler Museum, Norfolk).  That beautiful, bright star is happily shining its light down on the stable where the King of kings has just been born.  Our choir sings a song with these lyrics:

 

   "Tonight in the city of Bethlehem, there's a star that fills the skies; Reflecting the Light of compassion from the manger where it lies.  Angels stand in awe at its splendor, kings and paupers bask in its glow;  Though it is found in a stable, still it shines for the whole world to know.  For the Light of Bethlehem lies in a manger, it's only seen through the eyes of a seeker.  Promise of Heaven, a gift divine, let the Light of Bethlehem shine."

 

 

The beautiful stained glass depicting the wise men following the star reminds me of a popular saying, "Wise Men still Seek Him Today."  May the Light of Bethlehem shine in your life and warm your heart with love and praise to His Holy Name.

 



Surrounded by His Light

Surrounded by His Light

 

"Let My Presence override everything you experience.

 Like a luminous veil of Light, I hover over you and

everything around you"  -from Jesus Calling

I love this picture my daughter took of my youngest precious granddaughter walking down a long pathway surrounded by light.  The gracefully lit trees and smooth sidewalk make for a lovely, easy walk to her destination in the distance.  As a two-year old in a loving, stable family, she is enjoying a smooth path in this young season of her life.  But what of the future?  What lies around the bend as she grows older?

Rather than fear the future and rocky, hilly pathways that inevitably lie ahead, we can rest in the assurance that our heavenly Father knows every root that will trip us up and every stone that will stub our toes - and He's always there to help us over every rough patch.

In Sarah Young's Jesus Calling, as if Jesus is speaking to us, He says, "Stay ever so close to Me, and you will not deviate from the path I have prepared for you." .... "Think of your life as an adventure, with Me as your Guide and Companion. Live in the Now, concentrating on staying in step with Me. When our path leads to a cliff, be willing to climb it with My help. When we come to a resting place, take time to be refreshed in My Presence." ... "Marvel at the wonder of being able to commune with the King of the universe - any time, any place. Never take this amazing privilege for granted!"

While God has not promised a carefree life of smooth paths, He has promised to be with us and help us along the way.  In Psalm 119:105, we are assured, "Your word is a lamp to my feet and a light to my path," followed by "The Lord shall preserve your going out and your coming in from this time forth, and even forevermore" in Psalm 121.  Having our paths lit by the Almighty King who is the Light of the world Himself is a blessing that will help us over the rough places, preserve us, and bring us to our journey's end after a life of adventure with our Lord.

I am so thankful that my sweet little granddaughter is surrounded by the Light of God's loving care for her.  From the time she was conceived He has kept her in His care and promised, "For He shall give His angels charge over you, to keep you in all your ways. In their hands they shall bear you up, lest you dash your foot against a stone" Psalm 91:11-12.

Armor of God

Armor of God

On a recent trip to the Blue Ridge Parkway, we stopped in an old stone church in Lexington, Virginia.  The R.E. Lee Memorial Episcopal Church was begun in 1840.  It's on the edge of the beautiful Washington & Lee campus.  I'm a sucker for stain glass (my husband frequently asks, "And why are you taking another picture of stain glass?"), and this church has some unique windows.  Let me share them with you -

I love the passage in Ephesians 6 about the Armor of God and this stain glass perfectly represents one of the items that is imperative to our desire to "be strong in the Lord and in the power of His might."  I like this picture of the "helmet of salvation" listed in verse 17.  This helmet has a nice plume of feathers along the top and a bold golden Maltese cross on the front.  Certainly Salvation is the number one piece needed to make us strong in the Lord.

Next, we have the "sword of the Spirit," which is the Word of God, and also listed in verse 17.  The next verse continues the Spirit theme, adding "praying always with all prayer and supplication in the Spirit, being watchful to this end with all perseverance and supplication for all the saints."  And speaking of the Spirit, the glass below is meant to represent that gentle, holy person -

The pure, white dove that settled upon Jesus was our first glimpse of a representation of the Holy Spirit - "And the Holy Spirit descended in bodily form like a dove upon Him, and a voice came

from heaven which said, 'You are My beloved Son; in You I am well pleased" Luke 3:22.

Robe of Righteousness

Robe of Righteousness

"I have clothed you in My righteousness and holiness. I see you attired in these radiant garments, which I bought for you with My blood....it is a pure gift."  from Jesus Calling by Sarah Young.

This picture of my granddaughter Marisa shows her happily admiring a beautiful white dress and cloak she is trying on at the store.  It reminds me of the beautiful, pure robe of righteousness that Jesus clothes us with when we are redeemed by His cleansing blood of salvation.

Imputed righteousness means that because of our faith in Jesus, God looks at Jesus' righteousness as if it were our righteousness.  God's Son Jesus is without sin and completely righteous.  We humans are born in sin and in our natural selves are completely without righteousness.  But, something wonderful and mysterious and miraculous happens when we accept Jesus as our Savior.  He frees us from the wages of sin AND He wraps (covers) us in His pure righteousness.  Thereafter, when God looks upon us He no longer sees our sin, but rather He sees His precious Son's righteousness which we have been given as a priceless gift.

Marisa twirled in delight when she tried on that elegant white garment.  May our hearts "twirl in delight" by God's promise that we, His children, are clothed in the elegant white garments of Christ's righteousness and have His perfection counted as ours by our Holy Father God.

"For He made Him who knew no sin to be sin for us, that we might become the righteousness of God in Him" 2 Corinthians 5:21

Our Own Caboose

OUR OWN CABOOSE

   There's something special about that little red caboose at the end of a train.  We stayed at the Caboose Inn in Fancy Gap, Virginia, on our recent trip to the mountains.  It might  not be five-star lodging, but it was unique and fun. 

 

   Our little red caboose is the center of three cabooses on the top of a mountain.  There was a nice sunset and then a very dark night.  Unfortunately, it was very cloudy and we only saw a sprinkling of stars.  When we got there, it was quite warm.  When we left the next morning, it was quite cold.

 



 

    I could almost hear the Little Red Caboose saying, "I think I can! I think I can!"  Which reminds me of the Bible verse, "I can do all things through Christ Who strengthens me" Philippians 4:13.  That is one of my favorite verses and one to live by each and every day.  I'm so thankful for that promise.  

     The little red caboose made it in the end, and so can we with the help of our Lord and Savior!

Apples

APPLES

   We covered the lovely orange pumpkin, now we're moving on to the luscious Apple.  Fall and Apples just go together.  Of course, where there are apples, there are also worms - like the one lurking in the apple above.  Hmmm....that worm looks awfully familiar...

There is something so refreshing about biting into a crisp, sweet apple.  What is your favorite apple?  My favorites are Gala and Fuji.  Larry's favorite is Pink Lady.  Of course, you can't go wrong with Red and Yellow Delicious.  Here's a simple recipe for yummy, healthy, chunky applesauce:  peel and slice a couple dozen sweet apples; put several generous pats of butter in a pot and then add the apples.  Sprinkle with 2 tablespoons of sugar and a pinch of cinnamon (to taste).  Cook gently, stirring occasionally, for about 20 minutes - or until you have the chunky/mushy consistency you prefer.  If you have any pears, you might add a couple of those to the mix for a richer flavor.  Enjoy!

We enjoyed a visit to Carter's Mountain in Charlottesville, Virginia, for fresh apples and delicious fresh apple cider and donuts.  This popular farm is truly on top of a mountain with beautiful views.

"A word fitly spoken is like apples of gold in settings of silver" Proverbs 25:11

  

Pumpkins

PUMPKINS

We just returned from a nice, little jaunt into the mountains.  We popped in and out of the Blue Ridge Parkway and drove along the Alleghany Mountains a bit - from around Fancy Gap to Staunton.  In spite of very little color in the trees, it was still lovely up "in them thar hills."

With the Fall season and our recent trip in mind, here is a bit about Pumpkins.  I think pumpkins are one of the prettiest decorations of the season.  So here are a few pictures, a couple facts - and a few quiz questions.

The name Pumpkin means "a large melon" which comes from the Greek word "Pepon."  Here are a few quiz questions for you:

--Are pumpkins a vegetable?
--Are pumpkins always orange?
--How many calories are in a 13 lb. pumpkin?
      (Answers at the end)

The picture above shows pumpkins still in the field in Fancy Gap, Virginia.  Below are pumpkins for sale on the top of Carter's Mountain in Charlottesville.

 

The pictures answer one of your questions.  Here are the three answers;

 

--Are pumpkins a vegetable?   No, they're a fruit
--Are pumpkins always orange?  No, they also come in red, yellow, green and white
--How many calories are in a 13 lb. pumpkin?  a mere 120 calories!

So there you have it -- a Pumpkin Post from start to finish (:  Go Orange!  Hope your Fall is going great -- God bless!

 



The Wedding Ring

 

THE WEDDING RING







    This wedding ring belonged to my brother Clark.  His sweet wife Sally gave it to him on their wedding day with the inscription, "You are my sunshine."  I never knew about the inscription before, but when I discovered it a few weeks ago, my heart was warmed, remembering the loving and caring relationship they shared with one another.  They each provided "sunshine" into the life of the other.

     What a wonderful legacy to leave behind -- a legacy of a loving and caring heart, not only to one another, but to all they came in contact with.  Yesterday marked the six-month anniversary of our loss of Clark and Sally.  Although it is a painful loss and we miss them so much, the memory of who they were during their sojourn on this earth is comforting and uplifting.

     Such thoughts make us wonder what sort of legacy are we leaving behind? 

     I'm reminded of the song by Steven Green, "Find Us Faithful."  The verse that talks about our children sifting through all we've left behind, "May the clues that they discover and the memories they uncover become the light that leads them to the road we each must find.  Oh, may all who come behind us find us faithful."

     That is such a powerful song with such a rich message.  Clark's wedding ring, like the song, has a rich message for me.  To bring sunshine into the lives of others, that's a good and happy thing.  Clark and Sally brought sunshine into my life and rays of sunlight spread around them, touching everyone with whom they came into contact.  They were faithful.

     Today, they are basking in the perfect Sonlight of the Light of the World Himself.  Revelation 21:23 tells us that in heaven, "The city had no need of the sun or of the moon to shine in it, for the glory of God illuminated it. The Lamb is its light."  I'm heartened to know, that as the song says, Clark and Sally are now among the "cloud of witnesses" in heaven, "Cheering on the faithful, encouraging the weary, their lives a stirring testament to God's sustaining grace."

     As we carry on in this world, our challenge is to bring sunshine, not shadows, into the lives of those around us.  "Let your light so shine before men, that they may see your good works and glorify your Father in heaven" Matthew 5:16.

The Stop Light

The Stop Light

        I really like this vintage traffic signal hanging in front of the Jolly Roger Restaurant in the Outer Banks.  The vine hanging down from one side gives it an elegant, yet rakish appearance that is quite appealing.  I also like how the faded green paint causes the lights to shimmer like jewels -- or maybe it's the sunlight glinting on their glass surfaces.  At any rate, I consider it a true work of art.
       When I was younger, we always called these traffic signals "stop lights."  One might say, "Watch out, there's a stop light up ahead." 
        Even though the green for "go" light and the amber for "slow and be prepared to stop" are important lights, the red for "stop" would have to be the most important of the three.  If we don't stop when the light is red, we run the danger of a deadly crash, with harm to ourselves and those around us.  I guess that's why we always called it the Stop Light when I was young.

        I'm reminded of a verse in Job where Elihu says to his friend, "Listen to this, Job; stop and consider God's wonders...God comes in awesome majesty.  The Almighty is beyond our reach and exalted in power" 37: 14 & 23 NIV.
        Sometimes we need to stop and consider God's wonders.  Otherwise, we tend to zip through life without stopping to appreciate the beauty God has placed in the world around us.  Stopping to smell the roses is not just an indulgence, it makes like more beautiful and enjoyable.

       Then there are times we should stop what we're doing and reassess our lives.  Does God want us to continue on this road, or does He want us to go in another direction?  In the book of Jeremiah, God told His people to "Stand in the ways and see, and ask for the old paths, where the good way is, and walk in it; then you will find rest for your souls" 6:16.

        There's a neat Child Evangelism song the kids love to sing.  Even though it's primarily a child's song, the truth of its message is as bright as that red light.  Here's how it goes:  "Stop, and let me tell you what the Lord has done for me.  Stop, and let me tell you what the Lord has done for me.  He forgave my sins and He saved my soul; He cleansed my heart and He made me whole.  Stop, and let me tell you what the Lord has done for me."
        Stopping can be a lifesaving action.

    

The Whalehead Club

 

The Whalehead Club

    I'm ever intrigued by paths.  Here we have a path in the form of a boardwalk that crosses over a boggy marsh from the Sound to the elegant Whalehead Club in the distance.  This unique hunting lodge is located in Corolla, North Carolina.  It has quite an interesting history.

     In 1922, the land (which was in the middle of nowhere at the time) was purchased by Edward Knight and his bride, Marie-Louise.  It took three years to complete the rambling waterfowl hunting lodge.  The walls are 18-inches thick and the frame is constructed of steel beams.  Also unusual for a hunting lodge is the elegant Art Nouveau decorative style used for the interior.
     In 1940, the house was sold to Ray Adams and just two years later, leased by the U.S. Coast Guard.  During WWII, German submarines were active along our shores and this location was used to train recruits.  In the late 50's, the house was used as a summer boarding school for boys, which sounds like a fun place to spend the summer!  Then, in the 1960s, the location was used for military and space program developments, which all sounds very hush-hush to me.
      These days, the beautifully renovated hunting club is a jolly good piece of history that's nice to walk around - and especially nice to tour through.

      Getting back to the path stretching out in the picture.  There's a verse in Proverbs that might describe this sturdy, straight pathway:  "Make level paths for your feet and take only ways that are firm.  Do not swerve to the right or the left; keep your foot from evil" 4:26-27 NIV.
       While there might be a few places on this pathway that I could pop off safely, for the most part, it's important for me to keep my feet on these well-placed, level boards.  If I swerve to the right or left up ahead, I'll find myself in either mud or several feet of gunky water and who knows what manner of danger within their depths.
       It's my choice.  I can either follow the rules and keep on the designated, safe path, or I can flaunt the rules and place myself in a possibly dangerous predicament.  I prefer to keep my foot dry and free from evil gunk.

        The object lesson is pretty straight forward.  If we seek to obey God in our daily lives, our paths through this world will be much safer and firmer.  God loves us and has a good plan - if we'll just follow it.  "For the eyes of the Lord range throughout the earth to strengthen those whose hearts are fully committed to Him" 2 Chronicles 16:9.  

 

      And if you ever find yourself in Corolla, be sure and enjoy a tour of this lovely hunting lodge. It's a very cool place!



    

Outer Banks

Outer Banks

 

   Larry and I spent last week in the Outer Banks of North Carolina.  The ocean was beautifully rough and as you see in the photo, the sky was filled with majestic clouds.  God sure painted a gorgeous picture (:

 

  The Wright Brothers Memorial looked regal in the glow of late afternoon sunlight, perched up on the hill from where the brothers began their historic flight.  Here I am (below) cheering with the other fellows as we celebrate that first foray into the world of airplanes (for which I am very grateful!).

 







  Now, for a couple pictures of beautiful flowers I saw.  The first lovely purple (complete with busy bumblebee) was taken at the Lost Colony Theater, where Trish and I took a tour of Fort Raleigh.  The second lush looking red flowers were in front of the Elizabethan Gardens.  We had a fun day together while our husbands played golf.

 

Although these flowers are not lilies, I'm reminded of what Jesus said about how He takes care of the flowers He created:  "Consider the lilies of the field, how they grow; they neither toll nor spin; and yet I say to you that even Solomon in all his glory was not arrayed like one of these.  Now if God so clothes the grass of the field, which today is, and tomorrow is thrown into the oven, will He not much more clothe you....Therefore do not worry..." Matthew 6:28-31.

 



Bow the Knee

BOW THE KNEE

   Our choir sings a song entitled, "Bow The Knee," by Chris Machen and Mike Harland.  We sang the song a few weeks ago, the first time we'd sung it since our tragedy in April.  It touched my heart deeply and I want to share the moving lyrics with you:

There are moments on our journey following the Lord
Where God illumines every step we take.
There are times when circumstances make perfect sense to us,
As we try to understand each move He makes.
When the path grows dim
And our questions have no answers, turn to Him.

Bow the knee; trust the heart of your Father
      when the answer goes beyond what you can see.
Bow the knee; lift your eyes toward heaven and
      believe the One who holds eternity.
And when you don't understand the purpose of His plan,
In the presence of the King - bow the knee.

There are days when clouds surround us,
And the rain begins to fall,
The cold and lonely winds won't cease to blow.
And there seems to be no reason for the suffering we feel;
We are tempted to believe God does not know.
When the storms arise,
Don't forget we live by faith and not by sight.

Bow the knee; trust the heart of your Father
      when the answer goes beyond what you can see.
Bow the knee; lift your eyes toward heaven and
      believe the One who holds eternity.
And when you don't understand the purpose of His plan,
In the presence of the King - bow the knee.

I smile through my tears as I sing this song and hold onto its eternal message.  I know too that there will come a day - in the not too distant future -- when Scripture will be fulfilled, "that at the name of Jesus every knee should bow, of those in heaven and of those on earth, and of those under the earth, and that every tongue should confess that Jesus Christ is Lord, to the glory of God the Father" Philippians 2:10-11.

~Photo: The stained glass window is in a church we visited in Aarhus, Denmark.

Praise

Praise

This morning I choose my Portmerion cup and saucer for breakfast.  The creamy white china with a perky spray of pink and rose diantus flowers is both dainty and pretty.  I pour hot, dark Irish Breakfast tea into the cup.  Although not visible in the picture, delicate, undulating wisps of steam spiral upward.  The graceful swirls of vapor dance as they lift heavenward.  I believe they are rising in praise to their Creator.  The swiftly-fading beauty of that white mist is, I'm sure, pleasing to the Father who made it. 

I delight in knowing that the smallest and seemingly insignificant detail upon this earth is neither of those things.  Would that I would be as faithful as those tiny fingers of steam lifting heavenward throughout their entire existence. 

This is also a picture of the impermanence of our life on earth, as well.  In scripture we read, "For what is your life?  It is even a vapor that appears for a little time and then vanishes away" James 4:14.  While that might sound a bit morbid, it's really not.  We are simply being reminded that life on this spinning ball is very brief in comparison with the unending eternity that we will experience when our earthly life ends. 

So - it behooves us (nifty word, isn't it?!) to glorify and praise our Creator while our temporary mist swirls and spins down our earthly path, because the best of life doesn't begin until we reach the other side - and "only what's done for Christ will last."

A Shepherd Boy

A Shepherd Boy

Earlier in the spring, I visited the historic Hunter House in Norfolk.  It's a beautiful late 1800s house with adorable nooks and crannies - and some nice fireplace art too.  The picture above shows a carved insert above a tile fireplace in the home's elegant dining room.  The shepherd boy in the picture reminds me of David in the Bible.  In fact, that was very likely what the artist had in mind.

The whole story of David's life - from start to finish - is an impactful picture of what God can do in a life that is dedicated to Him.  From the time he was a young boy working in his father's pastures, David wrote poetry and songs of praise to His heavenly Father.  Psalm 23 mirrors what David did for his sheep and what God did for Him (and still does for us every day).  "The Lord is my shepherd; I shall not want.  He makes me to lie down in green pastures; He leads me beside the still waters...."

David probably spent weeks at a time in the fields and pastures, caring for great herds of sheep.  As he faithfully cared for the animals and observed nature around him, he grew closer and closer to the great God who created it all.  His many wonderful Psalms are eloquent testimony to relationship and reverence for the Almighty.

  --"The Lord is my light and my salvation; whom shall I fear?"
  --"When you said, 'Seek My face,' My heart said to You, 'Your face, Lord, I will seek.'"
  --"You crown the year with Your goodness, and Your paths drip with abundance."
  --"Bless the Lord, O my soul; and all that is within me, bless His holy name!"

Even as David fulfilled the job of shepherd boy, he had no idea that someday he would be king of God's people.  Indeed, on the day Samuel arrived to anoint one of Jessie's eight sons, no one even considered calling David from the fields -- until.... there were no sons left to choose from.  That's when the prophet Samuel said to send for the boy, because they would not sit down to eat until he came.  When David arrived, the Lord said, "Arise, anoint him; for this is the one!"

I love the song by Ray Blotz and Steve Millikan, entitled Shepherd Boy.  The chorus repeats this heart-warming phrase, "But when others see a shepherd boy, God may see a king."

One of the wonderful lessons from that story is that we don't have to be the biggest or the best or the most educated or the richest - or any superlative you might think of.  God can and does use ordinary people to do His extraordinary work on this earth every single day.  What a joy and honor to be used of Almighty God to perform some work for Him. 

I love the verse in Philippians, "I can do all things through Christ who strengthens me" 4:13.

Rejoicing with Song

 Rejoicing with Song

Recently, my devotional reading in Jesus Calling has been so on-target for my needs.  No surprise since Jesus has a way of making anything around us personally relevant to our particular needs.  Such faithfulness from Him draws praise and thanksgiving from us.  Here is a verse that brought a smile to my face and warmth to my heart:

"The Lord your God is with you, He is mighty to save. He will take great delight in you, He will quiet you with His love, He will rejoice over you with singing" Zephaniah 3:17.  He will rejoice over me with singing -- How very special!!

The Photo above shows angels surrounding Jesus Christ in heavenly places.  They are all in positions of praise to Him.  We are told in scripture that the angels are in constant praise to King Jesus.  The photo above was taken in the Church of the Spilt Blood in St. Petersburg, Russia and is done totally in mosaics.

God rejoices over us - and in return, as so many verses in Psalm testify, we should also rejoice over Him:

 "Shout joyfully to the Lord all the earth" 100:1
 "The voice of rejoicing and salvation is in the tents of the righteous; the right hand of the Lord does valiantly" 118:15
 "Sing aloud to God our strength; make a joyful shout to the God of Jacob. Raise a song and strike the timbrel, the pleasant harp with the lute" 81:1-2

 

This picture is also a mosaic in the same church.  It depicts an angel praising God as described by Isaiah when he told of his vision of heaven.  He wrote:  "I saw the Lord sitting on a throne, high and lifted up, and the train of His robe filled the temple. Above it stood seraphim; each one had six wings; with two he covered his face, with two he covered his feet, and with two he flew. And one cried to another and said: 'Holy, holy, holy is the Lord of hosts; the whole earth is full of His glory!'" 6:1-3.

 

The angel mosaic is a lovely, powerful depiction of that vision of a scene that takes place in heaven on a daily basis.

 

Although we are not yet in heavenly places with the ability to praise God in complete perfection, we can and should offer frequent praise to our great, loving, gracious Father, Son and Spirit - the God who is always with us, hearing our every thought, and caring for our every need.  All praise King Jesus!  Blessed be the name of the Father, Son, and Holy Spirit.  Amen!

 



The Dividing Line

The Dividing Line

The photo above is taken at a cool place.  It's a spot on the map where four states intersect with each other.  It's called Four Corners and it's on an Indian reservation.  The four states are Mexico, Utah, Colorado and Arizona.  In this picture taken in 2009, I'm managing to be in four states at one time -- talk about multi-tasking! 

I thought of this picture when I was doing a lesson in my Bible study, "All Things New," by Kelly Minter, and she made a statement that struck me as being very relevant.  She wrote, "I can think of a few dividing lines in my life, experiences that marked a before and after.  Some were amazing; others painful." 

The point for this post is that each state has a dividing line from the other state.  Except in situations that produce a cute photo opt, we are on one side of a dividing line or the other side.  The dividing line we're talking about here is the "before and after" line that pops up in our lives on a regular basis and marks our life's calendar with both gladness and sadness.

One of our family's dividing lines happened three months ago today when My brother and sister-in-law went up to heaven.  The tragic events surrounding their home-going were traumatic, producing a stark before and after.  As my sister Ava said, our lives will never be the same.  In truth, there are many dividing lines in our lives that cause a complete shift in our paths, though few as horrific as our most recent shift. 

Consider various dividing lines in life.  Marriage takes us from being single before, to being a couple hoping for a happily ever after.  The birth of a child presents a big dividing line -- such as before I was able to sleep -- after ... not so much.  These are some of the good before and after events that dot our lives.  As Kelly Minter pointed out, "Some are amazing; others painful."

When my husband Larry lost vision in one of his eyes, one day before he could see and the next day marked an after when his vision in that eye was no more.  We had a similar feeling when my 91-year old mother fell and broke her hip.  The remainder of her two years of life were marked by before and after that event.

Getting back to the Bible lesson - Kelly continued by writing, "All of us living today are on the backside of history's most epic event: Christ's death and resurrection...this historic dividing line can do nothing but change our thinking."  Various times I've considered how glad I am that I was born after Christ's death and not before.  For one thing, we are so blessed to have the Holy Spirit dwelling within us - something the early believers usually did not have.  And, we can know our Redeemer personally.

Dividing lines in life can be turning points in our lives that cause us to look at life more carefully.  It can be a time as scripture would say, "to examine ourselves" - to check the direction our lives have been heading.  Dividing lines can be life-changers for better or worse.  I think we all know that "better" is not only better, but best.

From our earthly view, some dividing lines can be so painful.  We know from scripture how the disciples felt on the day Jesus was crucified on the cross.  They were devastated and from their earthly view, life as they knew it was over.  Ironically, life as they knew it was indeed over - but for the best.  That painful death and later resurrection was, from heaven's view, the triumph of eternity because, at last, sin's debt had been paid once for all and the promise made in the garden had been fulfilled. 

From heaven's view, the eternal before and after is this:  "Therefore, if anyone is in Christ, he is a new creation; old things have passed away; behold, all things have become new" 2 Corinthians 5:17.

Trust in the Lord

TRUST IN THE LORD

Trust seems to be the theme of the day for me -- one that is all-important to each of us.  Looking at yesterday's Jesus Calling, God reminded me to "Take a deep breath and dive into the depths of absolute trust in Me. Underneath are the everlasting arms!"  Such reminders refresh my soul!  The photo above was taken when we visited Vor Frue Kirke (Our Lady Church) in Copenhagen, Denmark, in May.  I love the way the sculptor portrayed Jesus with open arms of welcome to all who will accept Him.

As I thumbed through Psalms, I came upon one of my favorite verses, "Some trust in chariots and some in horses, but we trust in the name of the Lord our God" 20:7.  I always smile when I read that wonderful truth.  We serve such a mighty God -- with might and power and omnipotence beyond anything we can ever understand.  How marvelous!

Then, as I drove back from the post office this morning, listening to a delightful CD my daughter Sara burned for me, I heard the song by Lauren Daigle, "Trust in You."  Oh, my, those words spoke to my heart and, of course, I cried.  I also lifted my hand in praise (the other hand kept firm control of the car) and thanked God for always meeting me where I am.  Here are some of the lyrics of a wonderful truth:

When You don't move the mountains
I'm needing You to move
When You don't part the waters
I wish I could walk through
When You don't give the answers
As I cry out to You
I will trust, I will trust, I will trust in You

Truth is, You know what tomorrow brings
There's not a day ahead You have not seen
So let all things be my life and breath
I want what You want Lord and nothing less

You are my strength and comfort
You are my steady hand
You are my firm foundation
The rock on which I stand
Your ways are always higher
Your plans are always good
There's not a place where I'll go
You've not already stood.

Trusting when we cannot see or understand - that's what God wants of us.  It's not easy, but that's where the peace and power and purpose begins.  Let's pray that God will help us to trust Him fully.  My favorite verse is found in Proverbs:  "Trust in the Lord with all your heart and lean not on your own understanding. In all your ways acknowledge Him and He will direct your path" 3:5-6.

 

  

If The Shoe Fits...

If The Shoe Fits...

   There's an old saying, "If the shoe fits -- wear it."  As you can see, these shoes were not about to fit my size 7 foot.  Granted, they weren't made to fit anyone's foot, but I kinda think that's the point of the whole message.  There are some "shoes" in life that we as women try our hardest to fill, but its just not gonna happen.  Just like Cinderella's two wicked step-sisters trying to cram their big feet into that dainty glass slipper, some shoes will never fit.

    The key to avoiding pinched toes and walking comfortably through life with a spring to your step, is to find the correct size shoe that God created for your very unique feet.  These giant shoes I'm playing around with in the photo sit in front of a shoe store in the charming town of Rostock, Germany -- and I'm pretty sure they're not going anywhere. 

    I'm sure you've guessed this message goes beyond finding a correctly-fitting shoe.  Sometimes in life, we try to wear a shoe that is way too big for our feet.  In other words, we try to do too much, perhaps thinking some part of Wonder Woman or Supergirl is in our job description.  Have you ever tried to wear shoes that are too big?  It's a strain trying to keep them on your feet, and sometimes they cause you to trip.  Taking on too many responsibilities and trying to do too much can be downright exhausting -- and, it's been known to trip us up as well.

   God tells us that He has plans for us (Jeremiah 29) - plans that fit like a well-crafted shoe.  One of the things we are told to put on our feet is the "gospel of peace" (Ephesians 6:15) -- now that's a lovely shoe I'd like to put on every day.  If we walk in the light as He is in the light, His peace will spread over us, and the shoes of peace and purpose will fit just as He intended them to fit.

     I've always been a person who likes shoes and I have a 17-month old granddaughter who is following in my footsteps (literally - she tries to put on my shoes!).  My big shoe doesn't fit her anymore than her cute tiny shoe fits me.  In the same way, my responsibilities and purposes don't fit her anymore than the paces she's going through in life -- learning to talk and stop climbing on everything -- fit me.  I can talk, let me tell you!  And, climbing on tables is just not my thing anymore. 

     Find out what shoe God wants you to wear in life and that life will fit you so much better than trying to force your foot into a shoe -- or a life -- that is too big or too small.  "The Lord will fulfill his purpose for me; your steadfast love, O Lord, endures forever. Do not forsake the work of your hands" Psalm 138:8.

Glimpses of Europe

Glimpses of Europe

Here are some glimpses of lovely Europe.  We enjoyed our recent journey to some neat countries.  You can experience some of our travels without any aching feet (which I had on most days).  In the pic above, Larry and I are standing before the large, handsome Royal Palace in Brussels Belgium.  A pretty, green park spreads out in front of it on the other side of the street.  And no, we were not invited inside -- an oversight, I'm quite sure.

The Town Square in beautiful Brugge, Belgium

 

Canals, canals and more canals in Amsterdam, Netherlands

 

In Amsterdam, we boarded the Holland America Koningsdam for a 14-night cruise

 

I was excited to see this famous view of Copenhagen, Denmark called Nyhaven

 

I daresay there is not a single TJMaxx in America that is located in a building as pretty and historic as this one in Rostock, Germany.

 

Not the greatest picture of us, but the wonderful medieval town of Tallinn Estonia is like a beautiful fairy tale village.

 

It was hard to choose which picture to use from St. Petersburg, Russia, but I just loved this Church of the Spilt Blood.  The interior is literally covered in mosaics primarily depicting the life of Christ.  It's a really beautiful church.

 

It was a lovely day in Helsinki, Finland, and we saw beautiful spring flowers along the way.

 

My favorite thing about Stockholm, Sweden was the narrow European streets that I love. It was our one rainy day on the whole cruise.

 

It was a beautiful sunny day in Kiel, Germany.  Here's a view of their Town Hall across a lake.

 

Aarhus, Denmark was our last stop on the cruise.  It is a lovely medieval town and it was a pretty day.  Here is a view down a lane with colorful old houses.  It was so picturesque.

 

We are thankful for our grand journey and as always, so thankful to be home.