Vignettes

Photo by Sally L. Smith

...the joy of the Lord is your strength.

Nehemiah 8:10 NIV

I take pleasure in the little things in life.  I love making little vignettes of items I enjoy...bottles, pretty weeds, rocks, things made by my children and grandchildren, feathers, leaves, rose hips.  I know to the average eye, most of these things should go into the burn pile but not at my house.  My family can attest to my baskets of rocks, collections of buttons, bags of lace and hankies, old torn up books.  Why do I like these things?  I have no idea but re-purposing old and useless things gives my joy.  These things on my window sill may never find a place on my "Re-purposed Items" list but they have a place in my kitchen.  Just looking at them gives me joy and reminds me to thank God for all of his creations.  

His joy is my strength.

A Long Life

Photo by Sally L. Smith

For, “All people are like grass, and all their glory is like the flowers of the field; the grass withers and the flowers fall, but the word of the Lord endures forever.” And this is the word that was preached to you.

1 Peter 1:24-25 NIV

These little beauties are some of the first to arrive in Spring and close to the last to exist in Fall.  Though they have a long seasonal life span, they do die...only to arise again the next year.  We all die but it is only those who believe in the Lord Jesus Christ that will arise again.

I trust in God's Word.

Guide My Path

Photo by Sally L. Smith


He guides me along the right paths
 for his name’s sake.

Psalm 23:3 

THE HOLY BIBLE, NEW INTERNATIONAL VERSION®, NIV® Copyright © 1973, 1978, 1984, 2011 by Biblica, Inc.™ Used by permission. All rights reserved worldwide.

This is the view of the acorn-strewn path I walked yesterday.  The Lord provides for his creations in many ways.  Food and light come to mind when I view this photo.  He is such a good God and I praise Him for His wonders.

P.S.This is the second go-round for this post.  I decided to edit my photo made from my phone and wound up deleting my paragraph.  I've basically said the same thing except my mind is more tired now than when I only had a half-cup of coffee this morning.  Ahhh, technology and the elderly...but, He is such a good God to get me through my day!

P.S.S. I give up!  I can't get Blogger to straighten out my scripture passage into one font.  Sometimes the Big B won't respond.

Life and Peace

Photo: Sally L. Smith

The mind governed by the flesh is death, 

but the mind governed by the Spirit

 is life and peace.

Romans 8:6  NIV
THE HOLY BIBLE, NEW INTERNATIONAL VERSION®, NIV® Copyright © 1973, 1978, 1984, 2011 by Biblica, Inc.® Used by permission. All rights reserved worldwide.

We live in a flesh-world, not a Holy Spirit-world.  We cannot expect the world to be godly but we should expect that of Spirit-filled people.  So many of us profess to be Christ-people but our lives are far from it. Oh, to live a life free from the world, to graze in peace and bask in God's presence free from anxiety and fear of the unknown.  It is only in the solace of His company that we will know true peace.

I've Got My Day Planned

Photo by Sally L. Smith

In their hearts humans plan their course,
    but the Lord establishes their steps.

Proverbs 16:9 NIV

Holy Bible, New International Version®, NIV® Copyright ©1973, 1978, 1984, 2011 by Biblica,                                           Inc.®Used by permission. All rights reserved worldwide.

Whenever I read three scriptures in a row about the same subject, I take note.

Today three different devotions (one from yesterday that I didn't have time to read then) was one of those days and this scripture was Number Three.

I'm a list-maker.  When I plan my day, I seem to get a lot of things done but the longer the list, the more stress I feel.  If I let God guide my list, I feel more peace.  I need to pray, "God, if you want me to do these things today, allow me to do them but help me listen to your voice that may override anything I've planned."

When I follow my divine interruptions, I feel like I've listened to God and have a peace about my day that a finished list of worldly things doesn't give.

The Best Gifts

Photo by Sally L. Smith

May the Lord bless his land...

with the best the sun brings forth...

with the best gifts of the earth and its fullness...

excerpts from Deuteronomy 33: 13-16 NIV

THE HOLY BIBLE, NEW INTERNATIONAL VERSION®, NIV® Copyright © 1973, 1978, 1984, 2011 by Biblica, Inc.™ Used by permission. All rights reserved worldwide.

God gives the best gifts:

wild daisies, brought in by my grandsons that we keep outside on our deck so the ants don't visit the kitchen.

multiple blue bird families, enough to need two houses for them (my Mom's favorite bird)

tools and a shed/workshop for Bill; his health to do all that he does for us and many more people

a forest behind our house that brings us glimpses of wild creatures on a regular basis

a gravel road that winds its way to a pond, a grand two-mile walk that keeps me in the same sized jeans 

a place up the hill for a small garden that offered us delicious tomatoes, lettuce and green beans for the season

country air by just stepping out on the porch, along with the wasps, spiders and gnats...but who's counting?

a four-mile drive to our daughter's house and her husband and four children...a two hour drive to our other son's with his five children at home and two more within a 30 minute drive from us at college...a six-hour drive to another grandson in college, an hour away from our oldest son and his wife and remaining three children 

a church with wonderful people and young staff who are bringing in loads of young families who enjoy a blend style of worship...and who also provide an organist position for me 

the opportunity for Bill and me to teach our respective trumpet and piano lessons at a Community Music Center

working with pre-school music again at church

living near a city with a variety of musical activities to keep us highly entertained

so many gifts, and more I didn't mention.

Yes, God, the giver of the best gifts, has blessed us beyond what we deserve and it is to Him that I offer my praise.

Autumn Findings

Photo by Sally L. Smith

Rejoice in the Lord your God,

 for he has given you the autumn rains 

because he is faithful. 

Joel 2:23 

THE HOLY BIBLE, NEW INTERNATIONAL VERSION®, NIV® Copyright © 1973, 1978, 1984, 2011 by Biblica, Inc.™ Used by permission. All rights reserved worldwide.

Our walks in the woods bring us the wonders of the Lord.  This year it turned up black acorns.  I've never seen black ones before but they were lying on our walking path.  I couldn't resist picking them up and enjoying their beauty indoors as well as seeing if someone else might enjoy them.  I've put a few in my Etsy shop to see if they are as unusual as I think.

This surprise must be due to the kindness of the Lord who provided the many rains we had this year.  They must love His watering.