I'm enjoying time with family . . . be back to blogging in a few days.

Journeying

The wind blew

ruffling his feathers,

but he didn't retreat;

he was too near his destination -

lunch at the bird feeder!

Gusts of wind

sometimes ruffle my feathers,

but I must not retreat;

I'm too close to my destination

to turn back now!

. . . forgetting what lies behind and reaching forward to what lies ahead,
I press on toward the goal for the prize of the upward call 
of God in Christ Jesus.
Philippians 3:13-14

It's All About HIm!

If you have visited my blog for a while, you're already aware of how much I enjoy nature! The older I get, the more I revel in God's handiwork. I love sunrises and sunsets, the mountains and woods, birds and butterflies, and flowers of all kinds. But I don't want to ever put the creation above the Creator! The world is His . . . and it's all about Him!

I think of the question asked by Francis Chan: Are we really in love with God, or do we just love His stuff? I definitely love His stuff, but I worship Him! I praise Him for His awesome power!

This is my Father's world; I rest me in the thought . . .

Who Am I?

 

I look up at your macro-skies, dark and enormous, your handmade sky-jewelry, moon and stars mounted in their settings. 

Then I look at my micro-self and wonder, Why do you bother with us? Why take a second look our way? 

~Psalm 8:2-4 The Message~

It's a staggering thought that I can't wrap my mind around:  The Creator and Keeper of the universe knit me together in my mother's womb, and I never leave His thoughts nor His sight!  I don't understand it, but I don't have to understand to experience His unconditional, never-ending love.  

With the songwriter I ask, "Who am I that a King should bleed and die for?"  And with another I can sing the answer:  "I'm a child of the King!"  Amazing . . . but true!

Guard Duty

~Faithfully guarding the newly-hatched bluebirds~

1 Timothy 6:20-21: 

And oh, my dear Timothy, guard the treasure you were given! 

Guard it with your life. 

Avoid the talk-show religion and the practiced confusion of the so-called experts. People caught up in a lot of talk can miss the whole point of faith. 

Overwhelming grace keep you! 

2 Timothy 1:13-14: 

So keep at your work, this faith and love rooted in Christ, 

exactly as I set it out for you. 

It's as sound as the day you first heard it from me. 

Guard this precious thing placed in your custody by the Holy Spirit who works in us. 

 (The Message - emphasis mine)


So much to guard . . .
So much at stake . . .
So many watching our lives . . .
So much behind us . . .
So much to gain . .
So good to know He is guarding and guiding!!


  

Earth is crammed with heaven 

And every bush aflame with God,

But only those who see take off their shoes. 

~Elizabeth Barrett Browning~

I Get To!

Higher Ground

The gorgeous, glowing setting sun gave this tree, damaged from last year's storm, a golden hue. The mockingbird perched atop it was an added bonus! 

Don't we all wish for "higher ground" at times . . . above all "the stuff" of life . . . soaking in the Son's golden rays?  It's a healthy part of our journey toward Christian maturity. Many years ago, Johnson Oatman, born in 1856, must have had similar desires when he wrote the hymn "Higher Ground." For those of you not familiar with those words, here they are: 

I'm pressing on the upward way; 

New heights I'm gaining every day. 

Still praying as I onward bound, 

"Lord, plant my feet on higher ground." 

My heart has no desire to stay 

Where doubts arise and fears dismay. 

Tho' some may dwell where these abound, 

My prayer, my aim is higher ground.

I want to live above the world 

Tho' satan's darts at me are hurled.

For faith has caught the joyful sound 

The song of saints on higher ground. 

I want to scale the utmost height 

And catch a gleam of glory bright. 

But still I'll pray till heaven I've found 

"Lord, lead me on to higher ground." 

Chorus: 

Lord, lift me up and let me stand 

By faith on heaven's table land. 

A higher plane than I have found, 

Lord, plant my feet on higher ground. 

Backroads Blessings

Usually my posts are fairly short, so I hope you won't get bored with my rambling today! I found it difficult to summarize our drive on some country roads yesterday . . . way, way back country roads! We visited some old homeplaces, a beautiful little church and rode for miles admiring God's creation. Feel free to click on the pics to enlarge them, and I hope you enjoy the ride!

I was struck by the stillness of the old homeplace where this swing hung motionless 

on a long, long dusty porch. 

 

I was amazed at the longevity of these handmade, original log gutters that run the length of the porch and  and empty into a cistern.  I'm not sure that much water reaches the cistern now because of straw and leaves filling the gutters.

.

If these walls could talk, the stories would be endlessly woven together with happy times, sad times, and God's presence.  It's a special place to me for several reasons.  I have fond memories of visiting the services held here many years ago, and I can still hear Aunt Ollie's beautiful, clear voice as she led the small congregation in old hymns.  In a corner of the peaceful churchyard, she and six other family members were laid to rest - among them, Aunt Sallie.

.

Aunt Sallie lived not far from the church and spent many happy hours in her little house in the woods . . . making sassafras tea, hunting, gardening and enjoying her quiet life. She's been gone a long, long time, but the cistern she used still stands . . . sturdy and strong . . .

 just like  Aunt Sallie!

We drove for miles, not meeting one vehicle . . . just enjoying the quietness, the simple beauty of the wildflowers, the abundance of grapes and huckleberries, the longleaf pines, and cool, clear creeks. 

Solitude and the beauty of God's awesome creation are good for the soul! We  returned home feeling blessed to have visited the past but also to have been so keenly reminded of God's mercies and blessings that are new every morning! The God who met with that small group of people at Good Hope Baptist Church long before I was born and who was so real to Aunt Ollie and Aunt Sallie is still alive and well!

No doubt about it . . . we saw Him on those backroads!

Stark Beauty

Riding in my FIL's pasture yesterday, this dead - very dead - tree caught my eye. 

Sitting atop all the deadness, though, was life, and beauty . . . and a song! 

Standing

Standing on the promises that cannot fail 

When the howling storms of doubt and fear assail. 

By the living Word of God I shall prevail, 

Standing on the promises of God. 

~R. Kelso Carter~

Waiting - and waiting - in a semi-dark room at the optometrist's office yesterday after having my eyes dilated, those words played in my mind. There's not a whole lot one can do in that situation, so I used some of those moments to meditate and pray and think. Actually, I sang those words, too . . . very quietly, of course . . . but I like to think my audience of one, He who started the whole world singing, might have tapped His foot! 

And would you believe that when I opened my devotional book this morning, there were those same lyrics jumping off the page at me? God is just so good like that!! This Scripture was also added: 

You know with all your heart and soul that not one of all the good promises the Lord our God gave you has failed. 

 Every promise has been fulfilled; not one has failed. 

Joshua 23:14 

In a shaky and uncertain world, I'm so thankful that I can stand on His unfailing promises!

Creature Comforts

 Notice the tiny sliver of a tongue protruding from the thin beak.

This amazing little creature seems satisfied and comfortable!

O Lord, what a variety of things you have made!

 In wisdom you have made them all. 

The earth is full of your creatures. 

They all depend on you to give them food as they need it. 

When you supply it, they gather it. 

You open your hand to feed them, and they are richly satisfied.

~Psalm 104:24, 27, 28 NLT~

And I say, "Amen!"

Sunshine Days

Looking at this beautiful sunflower - and watching a row of them open up to the sun - remind me of this little song
that I sang as a child. 

So let the sunshine in; 

face it with a grin. 

Open up your heart 

and let the sun shine in. 

 Spending time with family for a few days has brought lots of sunshine into our lives . . . lots of laughter . . . lots of good times! 

 I'm thankful for the "sunshine days"!

Oops!

Got a gripe grip? 

It's amazing how one little letter can change things!!

Got a gripe? 

Get a grip! 

(I'm talking to me!)

I could gripe about this cute, pesky squirrel eating all the bird feed but . . . :)

Have a great weekend!

The Peace Speaker

Fearing for their lives

and full of uncertainty,

they gathered to wait

behind locked doors.

Suddenly He appeared -

though the door remained locked -

speaking words they needed,

"Peace be unto you."

He still comes

through locked doors

to fearful hearts

who need His peace.

(Based on John 20:19-31)

~~~~~~~~~~~~~

Peace! Peace! Wonderful peace,

Coming down from the Father above!

Sweep over my spirit forever, I pray,

In fathomless billows of love.

~Lyrics - Wonderful Peace (19th century)~

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?