Enjoying Blue

...until the day dawns 

and the morning star rises 

in your hearts

2 Peter 1:19

It was a beautiful day today after three days of clouds and rain.  It's always good to see the sun.  It looks so good against the blue of the sky.  I'm very grateful.

Photo Credit: Rachel Kramer on Flickr

Rainy Monday Work Day

The Lord will open the heavens,

 the storehouse of his bounty, 

to send rain on your land in season

 and to bless all the work of your hands. 

Deuteronomy 28:12

It's a beautiful rain now, the second day, but it's supposed to get nasty this afternoon.  It's good that I have this day off and can do some jewelry-making to replenish items purchased Saturday at a craft fair.  It was a beautiful sunny day and people were there in droves...a good day of sales...Yay!

I'm also working on a blanket for my newest grandbaby so I'll spend time on that as well.  We'll probably HAVE to have lunch with my daughter's family...a tough job but somebody has to do it...another good day in Dixie.

Photo Credit: missi ali on Flickr

Thinking Beautiful Thoughts

Brothers and sisters,

 whatever is true, whatever is noble, 

whatever is right, 

whatever is pure, whatever is lovely, 

whatever is admirable—

if anything is excellent or praiseworthy—

think about such things.

Philippians 4:8

My mind is always searching for The Beautiful.

There is so much ugly on this earth because of sin that I long for The Beautiful.  Unfortunately, the ugly usually begins with me and my thoughts.  Sin is insidious even to the believer and I long for escape.  When I intentionally look for The Beautiful, God never fails to provide it.  I'm so grateful for His goodness...even in the bad things.

God never fails.

Photo Credit: Craig Deakin on Flickr

Who Is Today's Christ?

Now when Jesus came into the district of Caesarea Philippi, he asked his disciples, “Who do people say that the son of Man is?” and they said, “some say John the Baptist, but others Elijah, and still others Jeremiah or one of the prophets?” he said to them, “But who do you say that I am?” 

Matthew 16:13-15

Jesus is still asking that question of us today.  If we claim to be Christians, we are faced with answering, "You are the Christ, the Son of the Living God." just as Peter did.  But will all Christians answer this way and mean it.  I think our actions show who the "Living God" truly is to us even if our words declare the above statement.  
For whom do we sacrifice?

Who do we idolize?  
In whom do we put ALL our trust?  

Just asking.

Photo Credit: Sharon (4thglryofgod) on Flickr

Seeds of Spring

For as the soil makes the sprout come up

 and a garden causes seeds to grow,

 so the Sovereign Lord will make

 righteousness and praise 

spring up before all nations.

Isaiah 61:11

The seeds even look like flowers.  I think these come from a red maple.  In just two days' time, the trees are full of leaves.

Gorgeous Spring is here.

Photo from personal files.

Brothers Will Be Brothers

 I appeal to you,brothers and sisters, in the name of our Lord Jesus Christ, that all of you agree with one another in what you say and that there be no divisions among you, but that you be perfectly united in mind and thought.

1 Corinthians 1:10

All was going well and Micah was loving his brother and Jonah was OK with it...

until the wrestling began.  The way Jonah is growing, it won't be long until he'll take Micah down.

Bill was there to referee.

We had the Jackson bunch over for Easter lunch on Saturday.  We're so thankful to have a child living close enough to easily share holidays.

Simply To The Cross I Cling

Rock of Ages, cleft for me,

let me hide myself in Thee;

Let the water and the blood,

From thy wounded side which flowed,

Be of sin the double cure,

Save from wrath and make me pure.

Not the labors of my hands

Can fulfill thy law's demands;

These for sin could not atone;

Thou must save, and Thou alone:

In my hand no price I bring,

Simply to Thy cross I cling.

Rock of Ages, Cleft for Me

 Augustus M. Toplady, 1740-1778

Photo Credit: Jo Jakeman on Flickr

Wait 'Til You Hear This!

Let no evil talk come out of your mouths,

 but only what is useful for building up, 

as there is need, 

so that your words may give grace

 to those who hear

Ephesians 4:29

I've been re-reading Bonhoeffer's writings on living in community with one another through a set of devotionals from biblegateway.com the past few weeks.  One of the best ways to break up a community of believers is to gossip.  We all love a good story, especially if it concerns one of the body of church members, but passing along information about another only causes rifts in relationships.  If someone wants to pass along a juicy tidbit, maybe we could find something "urgent" to do instead and not make ourselves willing receivers.

Photo Credit: jinterwas on Flickr

Lead the Way

Search me, O God, and know my heart;
test me and know my thoughts.
See if there is any wicked way in me,
and lead me in the way everlasting.

Psalm 139:23-24

Usually my "wicked ways" are there for all to observe and I don't have to challenge God to find them to accuse me.  Because we are a selfish generation, it is always a good idea to check the mile markers to see if we're on the right path.

Photo Credit: John Hayes on Flickr

Intercessory Prayer

 I would never sin against the Lord 

by failing to pray for you. 

1 Samuel 12:23

It is important to pray for each other.  

If we don't, we sin.  

Photo Credit: Leland Francisco on Flickr

Ooops

The greatest among you

 will be your servant.

Matthew 23:11

Some days your intentions are good but the worm drops.  Serve anyway.

Photo Credit: jinterwas on Flickr

The Dogwood Tree

 They ... led him off

 to be nailed to a cross.

Matthew 27:31

As the legend goes, the dogwood tree was used to make Jesus' cross.  The tree was cursed by Jesus and was made to not grow strong after that.  The flowers make a cross and on the end of each petal are red scars denoting the wounds Jesus bore.  The center appears to be a crown of thorns like the one Jesus wore at his death.  The story is a legend but every year when I see the Dogwood Tree, it reminds me of the suffering of my Lord...a beautiful reminder of a not so beautiful event.

Read one person's account of the legend HERE.

Photo from my personal files.

Red Sky

If the sky is red in the evening, 

you say the weather will be good.

Matthew 16:2

When I saw the sky the other evening, I ran to get my camera.  This is the prettiest time of the day for me and that night was not disappointing.  I had been sick the past three days and not out of the house so this was a gift wrapped in pink, blue and purple.

Thank you, Lord, for your unspeakable gifts.

Photo from personal files

And Away We Go!

My darling, I love you!
Let’s go away together.

Winter is past,
the rain has stopped;

flowers cover the earth,
 it’s time to sing.

Song of Solomon 2:10-12

...and we've been on the go

 and singing that sweet song 

 since 1968.

Happy Anniversary to my wonderful husband.

Sun At Dawn

 Let everyone who loves you 

shine brightly like the sun

 at dawn.

Judges 5:31

It was good to see the dawn this morning and be able to unload the dishwasher and make my husband's two pitchers of tea, one decaf and one regular, make a small piece of toast and my own cup of tea this morning.  After a sickly weekend, I'm ready for normal.  

Thank you, God, for that tiny glimpse of sun this morning before the predicted rainy day.  It was a gift.

Photo Credit: Rachel Kramer on Flickr's Creative Commons

Sick

Because of my sickness,

 no friends or neighbors will come near me.

Psalm 39:11

...except my husband and daughter, if I would let her.

I'm rarely sick so when I am, I make the most of it, I guess.

I got a stomach virus in the wee hours of Saturday and still am not back to normal.  My two year old grandson had it a couple of weeks ago and I think I have the same thing.  Poor little guy wanted a drink and couldn't have one because it didn't stay down for about eight hours or so.  My daughter gave him sips of water but he wanted milk...a no no in the sick world. I took my sips of water and was sorry.  I even had to miss Sunday and playing for church which I haven't done very often in my career as a church organist.  I found this photo and it hit home as it is green and is what I have been viewing through sleepy eyes for the past two days.  At least I'm vertical now.  I hate being sick!

Photo Credit: Agnus Fraser

People of His Pasture

O come, let us worship and bow down,
   let us kneel before the Lord, our Maker!
For he is our God,
   and we are the people of his pasture,
   and the sheep of his hand.

Psalm 95:6-7

I'm thanking God for my family today.  We got to see everyone this week.  Now we're home and visiting with more family...so grateful for a safe trip though it was delayed 1 1/2 hours because of a bad wreck.  Detours sometimes are not that bad considering the alternatives.

I'm praising God.

Photo Credit: ralmonline alm