Merry Christmas & Happy New Year!

With Christmas day behind us, and the New Year a day away....thoughts turn from reflective to prospective. I love the Holidays. I don't like all the commercialism, the anxiety over gifts and concern of failing to please others....but I still see magic and wonder around me this time of the year. I shot this photo using my cellular phone after a jog - isn't it amazing the technology at our fingertips now? I remember the days before cellular phones and digital camera's....it's funny...I don't feel that old...

With the Holidays, it is easy to loose focus on the reason for the season, the celebration of the birth of Christ Jesus. Even though December 25th is not the actual date of the birth of the Christ Child...it is the day Christians  honor His birth. However, it is His life, His sacrificial death, miraculous resurrection and overwhelming love for us that we can celebrate every day of the year...

"For God so loved the world, that he gave his only begotten Son, that whosoever believeth in him should not perish, but have everlasting life." John 3:16 kjv

It's What We Enjoy....

I love watching the birds that come to my birdfeeders...

"Not what we have, but what we enjoy, constitutes our abundance." John Petit-Seen

How beautiful and sweet. They remind me that whatever issues I face during the day - in the "big scheme of things", when it's all said and done - what really matters in life is the simple things....

A kiss from a grandchild.... a call from a loved one wanting just to say "I love you"...

A gesture of kindness from a stranger.... good service at a fair price.... honesty....

Roasting marsh mellows over a fire.... a gentle, ground-soaking rain....

Yep - it's the simple things that really matter....

 

Matthew 6:25-33

²⁵ Therefore I say unto you, Take no thought for your life, what ye shall eat, or what ye shall drink; nor yet for your body, what ye shall put on. Is not the life more than meat, and the body than raiment?
²⁶ Behold the fowls of the air: for they sow not, neither do they reap, nor gather into barns; yet your heavenly Father feedeth them. Are ye not much better than they?
²⁷ Which of you by taking thought can add one cubit unto his stature?
²⁸ And why take ye thought for raiment? Consider the lilies of the field, how they grow; they toil not, neither do they spin:
²⁹ And yet I say unto you, That even Solomon in all his glory was not arrayed like one of these.
³⁰ Wherefore, if God so clothe the grass of the field, which to day is, and to morrow is cast into the oven, shall he not much more clothe you, O ye of little faith?
³¹ Therefore take no thought, saying, What shall we eat? or, What shall we drink? or, Wherewithal shall we be clothed?
³² (For after all these things do the Gentiles seek:) for your heavenly Father knoweth that ye have need of all these things.
³³ But seek ye first the kingdom of God, and his righteousness; and all these things shall be added unto you.

My Blue Bouquet!

 

"Trust in the LORD with all your heart; and lean not to your own understanding.

In all your ways acknowledge him, and he shall direct your paths. …" Proverbs 3:5-6

 

My daughter sang a song this morning in services that I loved. The message in song was that no matter what life throws at you, or what may come - I choose to trust in the Lord, love the Lord and need the Lord. It is a song written by Tony Wood, Chuck Butler and Kerrie Roberts. I really identify with the lyrics and I wanted to share them with you:

 

"I’m running back to your promises one more time, Lord that’s all I can hold on to, I gotta say this has taken me by surprise, but nothing surprises you. Before a heartache can ever touch my life, it has to go through Your hands, and even though I, keep asking why, I keep asking why,

No matter what, I’m gonna love You, no matter what I’m gonna need You, I know that You can find a way to keep me from the pain but if not, if not, I’ll trust you, no matter what, no matter what.

When I’m stuck in this nothing-ness by myself, I’m just sitting in silence, there’s no way I can make it without Your help, I won’t even try it. I know You have Your reasons for everything, so I will keep believing, whatever I might be feeling, God you are my hope, and you'll be my strength,

No matter what, I’m gonna love You, no matter what I’m gonna need You, I know that You can find a way to keep me from the pain but if not, if not, I’ll trust you, no matter what, no matter what.

Anything I don’t have You can give it to me, but it’s ok if You don’t, I’m not here for those things, the touch of Your love is enough on its own, no matter what I still love You and I’m gonna need You..."

 

The photo is one I took in on a day that I was really feeling down and "invisible". I was pulling into my driveway and saw these beautiful flowers that were blooming in the grass - they just opened up after a shower and my immediate thought was, "Oh look! God sent me a flower bouquet because He knew I was wanting flowers today!". I said, "Thank you so much for my blue flower bouquet, Lord!!!" It's amazing to think of the small, yet very significant ways our great Father cares for us, watches over us and sends us love letters every day....we just need to open our eyes and see them for what they are, thank Him for once again showing us how much He cares for us - then hold those messages of love close to our heart and share that love with those we come in contact with. It's the "little blue flowers" that keep me going! I love HIM so much for that!



Waves of Azul Lift my Soul

Psalm 24:1 "The earth is the Lord's and the fullness thereof; the world, and they that dwell therein."

 

Psalm 25: 1-5 "Unto thee, O Lord, do I lift up my soul. O my God, I trust in Thee:

let me not be ashamed, let not mine enemies triumph over me.

Yea, let none that wait on Thee be ashamed: let them be ashamed which transgress without cause.

Shew me Thy ways, O Lord; teach me Thy paths.

Lead me in Thy truth, and teach me: for Thou out the God of my salvation;

on Thee do I wait all the day."

 

It is amazing to me how much my soul is lifted up when I look up and see sky's like the one I photographed from my backyard shown above. I can be feeling alone, sad, hurt or maybe down but it all dissipates when I gaze at the heavens and the beautiful canvas God paints for me. It is art in motion - ever changing. My soul is lifted up and I feel peace. It is healing and rejuvenating at a spiritual level - at an emotional level - and at a physical level. I say, "I love you, Lord." and "Thank you so much for painting the skies for me tonight."

 









The heavens declare the glory of the Lord.

"The heavens declare the glory of God; and the firmament sheweth His handywork." Psalm 19:1

This Memorial Day I was flying above the clouds at sunrise and took these photos from my airplane window. It was an incredible sight and very inspiring.

Peace

"Finally, brethren, whatsoever things are true, whatsoever things are honest, whatsoever things are just, whatsoever things are pure, whatsoever things are lovely, whatsoever things are of good report; if there be any virtue, and if there be any praise, think on these things." Philippians 4:8

I love the peace and serenity that I feel when I look at this scene.

Wild turkeys display their colors.

Here are the flock of wild turkey's I have the privilege of seeing on my way to and from work on special days. I was able to stop and get a few shots before they disappeared into the brush. They are truely spectacular birds.

Today - the Lord blessed me with scriptures from I Samuel 1:10-18...the prayer of Hannah. It was just what I needed and I praise the Lord for His wonderful Word!

I Samuel 2:1-2 "And Hannah prayed, and said, My heart rejoiceth in the Lord, mine horn is exalted in the Lord: my mouth is enlarged over mine enemies; because I rejoice in thy salvation. There is none holy as the Lord: for there is none beside thee: neither is there any rock like our God."

Blessed is the man that feareth the Lord.

Psalm 112:1 "Praise ye the Lord. Blessed is the man that feareth the Lord, that delighteth greatly in his commandments."

What does it mean to "fear the Lord"? A. Respect, B. Honor, C. Reverence, and D. Trust....

Trusting in the Lord, knowing Christ loves us and even if we don't understand His commandments or where He is leading us - we obey knowing that God's love for us is unwavering....always true.
Psalm 112: 7 "He shall not be afraid of evil tidings: his heart is fixed, trusting in the Lord."

How much does GOD love us? I John 4:10 "Herein is love, not that we loved God, but that HE Loved us, and sent His Son to be the propitiation for our sins." Verse 14: "And we have seen and do testify that the Father sent the Son to be the Saviour of the world." Verse 15: "Whosoever shall confess that Jesus is the Son of God, God dwelleth in him, and he in God."

I'll end today's thought with I John 4:11 "Beloved, if God so loved us, we ought also to love one another."

Crows at Sunset over Stormy Skies

James 1:17 "Every good gift and every perfect gift is from above, and cometh down from the Father of lights, with whom is no variableness, neither shadow of turning."

"...neither shadow of turning." I love that phrase. How beautiful those words are - that the "Father of lights" is the unmoved mover - He does not change.

James is a wonderful book - very powerful. Verse 19 in chapter one says, "Wherefore, my beloved brethren, let every man be swift to hear, slow to speak, slow to wrath:"
Verses 20-25, "For the wrath of man worketh not the righteousness of God. Wherefore lay apart all filthiness and superfluity of naughtiness, and receive with meekenss the engrafted word, which is able to save your souls.
But be ye doers of the word, and not hearers only, deceiving your own selves. For if any be a hearer of the word, and not a doer, he is like unto a man beholding his natural face in a glass: For he beholdeth himself, and goeth his way, and strightway forgetteth what manner of man he was. But whoso looketh into the perfect law of liberty, and continueth therein, he being not a forgetful hearer, but a doer of the work, this man shall be blessed in his deed."

Wow - beautifully written.

Hawk

 

"Faith is a bird that feels the light when the dawn is still dark." Rabindranath Tagore

 

 

I was fortunate to get a photo of our neighborhood Hawk perched high on a telephone pole one evening. He is quite a sight to see. Birds of prey are incredibly magestic and nothing short of magnificent....in my opinion. They inspire me.

I look for my "Neighborhood Hawk" every day as I drive to work and home again. Maybe I'll get another opportunity to get a better photo of him someday!

God's blessings come in all sizes....

"I will love thee, O Lord, my strength." Psalm 18:1



Here are a pair of doves I photographed in the trees in my back yard. I love the beautiful sound of doves cooing. They mate for life and I feel honored to have a mated pair sharing my yard with me and my family!

A Morning That Required Psalms....

This morning was one of those mornings that required hearing words of encouragement and of laying all my concerns (great and small) at the feet of Jesus then trusting Him with them. It is the trusting and letting go that I need to be encouraged to do and reading David's Psalms always helps me focus my attentions on my Saviour.
As I drove into work, I was met with the most beautiful red sunrise....God is such an incredible artist.  I love His handiwork. I never tire of seeing Him paint the sky's.

Tonight, I took this photo with my cell phone of the sunset. It was one of those sunsets that surrounded you with color. I consider the skies one of the ways God expresses His love for us all....it's like His ever changing canvas....I love it.