The LORD your God is with you,

    the Mighty Warrior who saves.

He will take great delight in you;

    in his love he will no longer rebuke you,

    but will rejoice over you with singing.

Zephaniah 3:7

I've probably used this verse before but I love it so much.  When things around us crumble, it's good to know that God loves us enough to sing for us, though we sometimes have to listen hard to hear it.  Tune in.

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A Study of Industry

Whoever watches the wind will not plant;

    whoever looks at the clouds will not reap.

As you do not know the path of the wind,...

so you cannot understand the work of God

 the Maker of all things.

Sow your seed in the morning,

    and at evening let your hands not be idle,

for you do not know which will succeed,

    whether this or that,

    or whether both will do equally well.

Ecclesiastes 11:4-6

Today's Bible verse from Bible Gateway lead me to this photo--wind blowing heather.  Now, where heather grows is not the best place to plant grain so you farmers don't chastise me too much for using this example:  To get the ground ready for planting one must plow, disk, field cultivate (did I use the right terms?) and then...plant...a lot of work for one crop.

So many times we look at the work ahead of us and then crawl back in bed.  I think Solomon was hoping we'd pick up on his encouragement for working here and get off our keasters.  Wise words...point taken.  

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Knitting

For you created my inmost being;

 you knit me together in my mother’s womb.

 I praise you because I am fearfully and wonderfully made; 

your works are wonderful, 

I know that full well.

Psalms 139:13-14

It's interesting to think about the people in David's time knitting.  I don't know the Hebrew word that David used for our English word, "knit," nor the history of knitting but I do know the intricacy and time involved in the process.  Every piece is unique, even when following a pattern.  Maybe the differences are minute and only noticed by the creator but each is one-of-a-kind and useful.  God has a purpose for every individual He creates even if they have dropped stitches or uneven rows.

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Perception of Beauty

Charm is deceptive, 

and beauty is fleeting; 

but a woman who fears the LORD

is to be praised.

Proverbs 31:30

Fashion is also ephemeral.  I'm glad I don't have to wear all of this fabric in warm weather, especially the bustle.  Hope everyone had a great Mother's Day.  Mine was.

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Snail's Pace

Return to your rest,

 my soul,

for the LORD

 has been good to you.

Psalm 116:7

I'm looking forward to the pace of this cute creature.

I captured him in this photo on one of our morning walks.

The semester is almost over but a graduation and family gatherings are in the offing for next week.  It will be a while for I can take a leisurely stroll...like this little fella.  Hope you get some rest time this weekend.

Pearls

Again, the kingdom of heaven is like

 a merchant looking for fine pearls. 

When he found one of great value,

 he went away 

and sold everything he had 

and bought it.

Matthew 13:45-46

I was looking for pearls to make bracelets and necklaces similar to these when I ran into a wadded up strand.  I did the "tooth" test on them and they were real!  What a find.  Now I own a strand of real pearls.  I won't be using them in my jewelry to sell.  Instead, I'll wear them.

Sometimes I feel dissatisfied and start looking for something to please the surging desire for....whatever....when all I have to do is dig into the treasure box I already own and pull out a valuable gem.  It was there all along but hidden.

The Kingdom of God is like that.  We search and search for something to fill the emptiness within, the God-hole in our hearts, when all along He's been there waiting for us...and all we had to do is ask him to come and meet our need.  God will satisfy...when I trust Him.

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Seasoning

Be wise in the way you act toward outsiders;

 make the most of every opportunity. 

Let your conversation be always full of grace, 

seasoned with salt, 

so that you may know how to answer everyone.

Colossians 4:5-6

I haven't looked it up but I would imagine that salt is the most popular seasoning in the world.  I'm not a pepper person.  It can be thrown out and never missed as far as I'm concerned.  Salt is another story.  I probably use too much according to the health experts but it would be very difficult for me to give it up.  

Salt applied to conversation?   

Hmmm...probably don't use enough.

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Paying Taxes

This is also why you pay taxes, 

for the authorities are God’s servants,

 who give their full time to governing. 

Give to everyone what you owe them:

 If you owe taxes, pay taxes;

 if revenue, then revenue;

 if respect, then respect;

 if honor, then honor.

Romans 13:6-7

Yes, and we're to give with a cheerful heart.

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Confession

Therefore confess your sins to each other 

and pray for each other 

so that you may be healed. 

The prayer of a righteous person

 is powerful and effective.

James 5:16

I'd never noticed the first sentence here.  I do believe it, though.  Many years back, after studying Experiencing God, my husband and I confessed our past indiscretions to each other.  It was cathartic and actually increased our love.  It was scary because both of us were afraid the other wouldn't understand...but we did.  We each realized that we were not perfect.  We were only sinners saved by the grace of God.  Neither was any better than the other.  Our relationship took a turn for the better and we actually respected the other more.  In effect, we were healed.  I don't know how this works in the physical healing aspect but I do know we each were cleansed and able to continue our lives together in peace.

Isn't it interesting how life-changing nuggets of scripture are hidden in the Bible?  Only in reading it can we find them.

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All You Can Do

As I sit here this morning, praying, I realize how insignificant my prayer is.

Then...

I read my daily Bible verse that comes in my email every day...this one...

Be joyful in hope,

 patient in affliction, 

faithful in prayer.

Romans 12:12

My prayers are for a 4-year old little boy who had brain surgery last week.  They got the hideous tumor...a Medullopblastoma, one of the worst you can have.  He'll have to face radiation and chemo therapy but they can't get him to eat.  I wouldn't either...what a trauma in every regard.  I feel so helpless just sitting here praying but that's all I can do from this distance in this circumstance...and it's enough.  I'm hopeful that the family has joy in their hope and is patient in their affliction because I'm going to be faithful in prayer.

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Every New Day

The LORD within her is righteous;
    he does no wrong.
Morning by morning he dispenses his justice,
    and every new day he does not fail.

Zephaniah 3:5

I've borrowed this lovely photo from Lisa Socha on Flickr's Creative Commons. Though I've taken the word "her" personally here, I'll share it with you, too, and pray your morning will be filled with hope and encouragement with this prophet's words.

Natural Transformations

Therefore, if anyone is in Christ,

 the new creation has come: 

The old has gone,

 the new is here! 

2 Corinthians 5:17

I've finally had a little free time to create.  It's been since last Spring since I've done any jewelry-making...only a few earrings for friends.  I've been working in deer antler that Bill had cut into beads and buttons.  No, I'm not really into wearing this style but it's fun making it and I hope it sells.  I've put a new spirit into these pieces.  Once they were a deer antler, now they are to adorn the ear, neck and wrist--quite a transformation.

God transforms our spirit and gives us a new one when we accept His Son as our Savior...the guarantee of a heavenly residence with Him.  ( Now the one who has fashioned us for this very purpose is God, who has given us the Spirit as a deposit, guaranteeing what is to come.  2 Cor. 5:5)  We once were only an earthly body but now we have been transformed and carry the beautiful nature of Christ within us.  We are completely changed...old to new. People should be able to tell a difference between who we are now and what we were.

Morning Mist

I have swept away your offenses

 like a cloud,
    your sins like the morning mist.
Return to me,
    for I have redeemed you.

Sing for joy, you heavens, 

for the LORD has done this;
    shout aloud, you earth beneath.
Burst into song, you mountains,
    you forests and all your trees.

Isaiah 44:22-23

It's good to be reminded of this.  I can't wait to walk today 

and listen to the trees "burst into song."

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Keeping His Promise

 All the trees of the forest will know

 that I the Lord bring down the tall tree

 and make the low tree grow tall. 

I dry up the green tree

 and make the dry tree flourish.

“‘I the Lord have spoken,

and I will do it."

Ezekiel 17:24

Green--not my favorite color...except in Springtime.  It is then that I love green!

The tree-huggers need to read this passage of scripture and believe in tree harvesting for the promotion of natural growth, not that we need to "help" God.  It is obvious by His words that He will take care of His creation on His own. God is in control of everything and everything appears at His command and in His season.  

When I was editing my photos today (taken about two weeks ago), I noticed the juxtaposition of the tree limbs have formed a cross.  Do you see it?  I love when the "unplanned" happens to increase my faith.

Flooding

He lifted me out of the slimy pit,
    out of the mud and mire;
he set my feet on a rock
    and gave me a firm place to stand.

He put a new song in my mouth,
    a hymn of praise to our God.
Many will see and fear the Lord
    and put their trust in him.

Psalm 40:2-3

There is so much flooding.  I have friends who don't have homes and family members who, a few years ago, had to be rescued from theirs.  

There is so much destruction, stress, sorrow, displacement.  People reach out to rescue...bless their hearts but the families still have to sort through what's left when the flood waters recede.

Life is like that.

When our lives are flooded, when we feel overwhelmed and are going under the third time, when we can't lift our heads because of sorrow and the flood waters of emotion rage over us...we can find hope.  Praise God, the Giver of Good Gifts, who rescues us from ourselves and our situations, who lifts our spirits, who gives us new songs of deliverance.  It doesn't happen without our asking and believing.  In so doing, He WILL help us.  He promised...

and usually our situation is even better than it was before the flood--a testament to our loving and caring God.

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