Lily of the Valley

I have found a friend in Jesus; He’s everything to me. 

He’s the fairest of ten thousand to my soul. 

The Lily of the Valley, in Him alone I see 

All I need to cleanse and make me fully whole. 

In sorrow He’s my comfort, in trouble He’s my stay; 

He tells me every care on Him to roll. 

Refrain: 

He’s the Lily of the Valley, the Bright and Morning Star;

 He's the fairest of ten thousand to my soul.

~Charles W. Fry~

Although my Easter lilies are late blooming, I am glad The Lily of the Valley is always in season . . . always blooming . . . always adding beauty to our lives . . . and He's always on time - His time, not mine!

Focused

Philippians 3:12-16 (The Message)

I'm not saying that I have this all together, that I have it made. But I am well on my way, reaching out for Christ, who has so wondrously reached out for me. Friends, don't get me wrong: By no means do I count myself an expert in all of this, but I've got my eye on the goal, where God is beckoning us onward—to Jesus. I'm off and running, and I'm not turning back. 

So let's keep focused on that goal, those of us who want everything God has for us. If any of you have something else in mind, something less than total commitment, God will clear your blurred vision—you'll see it yet! Now that we're on the right track, let's stay on it.

 I say:  Let's keep our eyes on the prize!

Vacancy

Son Ripened

Should we be satisfied just believing in Christ and not longing to move more and more into His fullness?  No! . . . To ripen in grace, we must live close to Jesus, in His presence, ripened by the sunshine of His smiles. 

~Charles Spurgeon~

More of You, more of You;

I've had all but what I need -

just more of You.

Of things I've had my fill,

and yet I hunger still.

Empty and bare, Lord, hear my prayer

for more of You.

~Lyrics to More of You - Gloria Gaither~

But grow in the grace and knowledge of our Lord and Savior,
 Jesus Christ.

II Peter 3:18

Tonight's Sunset Unedited

(Click on pic to enlarge.)

Then sings my soul, my Savior, God, to Thee,

how great Thou are; how great Thou art.

Who's Driving?

Family Outing

Family outing 

We all need one now and then 

Makes life sunnier

Whose Strength?

Grandson Aiden

He stepped out of the pool 

and flexed his muscles

showing off his new physique.

I laughed at the results 

of his creative bodybuilding

and his self-made muscles.

He's just a kid at play

so pretending to be strong

is an OK fun thing.

But . . . I wonder how many times

I've flexed my own self-made muscles

and have forgotten the source of my strength.

I should know better by now

but He is patient and reminds me

again and again of the truth:

He is my strength

and His power not my might

makes me more than a conqueror.

Through Him I can do all things

for when I have no strength left

 His strength never fails.

As We Turn . . .

Different stages of growth 

so obvious in the unfolding leaves and blooms 

remind me that as Christ followers,

we only grow, mature, and bloom 

as we turn toward His light. 

We need not compare our maturity to others

for He has a growth plan designed for each of us,

 an unfolding good plan full of hope and a future 

and blooms that add beauty and fragrance 

as we turn toward His light.


The unfolding of your words gives light.
Psalm 119:130

Heart Reflections

As water reflects the face, so one’s life reflects the heart.

Proverbs 27:19

Notice how closely attached the reflection is to the grass.  It's hard to tell where the reflection begins.  It's also true that reflections don't lie!  I know there are lesson there for me . . . lessons about staying close to Him . . . abiding . . .  and letting Him change me into His likeness.

So . . . this song is my prayer:

As we gaze on Your kingly brightness,

So our faces display Your likeness,

Ever changing from glory to glory;

Mirrored here, may our lives tell Your story;

Shine on me.

Shine on me.

~Graham Kendrick - Shine on Me~

Feel the Pull?

I read these words in my devotional for today:

 God permits temptation because it does for us what the storms do for the oaks - it roots us. . . .You never know that you have a grip on Christ, or that He has a grip on you, as well as when the devil is using all his force to attract you from Him; then you feel the pull of Christ's right hand.

~Streams in the Desert~

His hand, reaching out and holding tightly to mine, makes all the difference!  And His comforting words reassure:

I am the Lord, your God, who takes hold of your right hand and says to you, 'Do not fear; I will help you.'

Winged Hope

How the waiting countryside thrills with joy when Bluebird brings us the first word of returning spring. Reflecting heaven from his back and the ground from his breast, he floats between sky and earth like the winged voice of hope.

                                         ~W. L. Dawson~

 

How many are your works, O Lord! 

In wisdom you made them all; 

the earth is full of your creatures. 

~Psalm 104:24~

Lighthouse

I like surprises when I download pics!  Reflections from the late afternoon sun's rays gave this beautiful old church in Fisher, Louisiana, a most interesting look!  The light, which seems to be coming out the window, is quite fitting anytime, but especially on Easter Sunday, don't you think?

He Lives!

In Between

In our Easter celebration, today is the "in between day" . . . 

In between "It is finished!" and "He is risen!" . . . 

In between despair and victory . . . 

In between death and life . . . 

But "in between times" don't last forever! 

God is at work . . . even those times . . . even when we can't see it. 

It's Saturday . . . but Sunday's a'comin'!

The Cross

two

rugged

pieces 

of 

wood 

 bearing the once-and-for-all Sacrifice for my sins

bloody 

cruel 

mocking 

BUT 

what 

happened 

there 

made 

all the 

difference

 in my 

LIFE 

~~~~~~~~~

I will praise Him forever and ever;

for the Cross made the difference for me. 

 

Hope

Hope is the thing with feathers, 

that perches in the soul, 

and sings the tune without words, 

and never stops at all.

~Emily Dickinson~ 

A Pause

Be still and know that I am God.

Psalm 46:10