Leaning

Photo: "Leaning" by Sally L. Smith

One of the followers was next to Jesus and was leaning close to him. 

This was the one Jesus loved very much.

John 13:23 ERV

Every day I need to examine how closely I am leaning toward Jesus.  Without Him, I will fall.

Seeing Red...and Yellow....and Orange...and

Photo by Sally L. Smith



He is generous and has sent the autumn....

Joel 2:23 CEV

 Scripture taken from the Contemporary English Version © 1991, 1992, 1995

 by American Bible Society, Used by Permission.

It has been a beautiful Autumn with luscious

 colors, cool temps and shorter and shorter 

days.  Things are always changing but not 

all change is bad.  God has kept His word  

and is keeping His promise of changing 

seasons.

My thanks goes to Him.

Guarding The Doorposts

Photo by Sally L. Smith

{Wisdom says:}  Happy are those who listen to me,
    watching at my door every day,
    waiting at my open doorway [ guarding my doorposts].
Proverbs 8:34

Scripture taken from The Expanded Bible. Copyright ©2011 by Thomas Nelson. Used by permission. All rights reserved.

It was there before the fence was built... guarding what belonged to the owner.  As the years passed, it grew until it encompassed the the post that held up the gate.  It kept growing and flourishing, holding it up, giving it the support it needed to do its job.  It's still here today and thriving.  It's still doing the work given by its Creator.  The gate remains embedded in its heart and nothing can remove it until the tree is no more.  It stands guard at the doorpost gaining strength every day.

Oh, for the wisdom of God that was with God before the creation of the world.  It is that wisdom that gives His children the strength and knowledge of life and of Him.  We, His followers, need that wisdom so we can lead a happy life but how many are willing to stand watch as He shows us the way?  Who actually dares to be wise?  

Excuse me while I go open the gate and allow wisdom to enter.

Live in the Light

Photo by Sally L. Smith

Anyone who loves their brother and sister
 lives in the light,
and there is nothing in them
 to make them stumble.
1 John 2:10 NIV


I love how the light shines through the trees and highlights the edges of the branches.  These trees live in the light of every day and depend on that light to make them grow into the tree God intended them to be.  
The same can be said of me if I live in the light of God's Word, love as He intends and depend on what He says to make me into the person He wants me to be.  
Does His Word highlight my life?

Speaking Through the Fog

"Foggy Sunrise" by Sally L. Smith

You don’t know what will happen tomorrow. Your life is like a fog. You can see it for a short time, but then it goes away.  James 4:14 ERV

Yes, life is like a fog...some days more than others.  Usually I don't awaken from my morning fog until midway through my second cup of coffee.  I'm almost sure James wasn't using this metaphor in this context but reading it made me think how much I live in a fog.  Some of my days are so busy that I run into myself getting from one place to another.  I have to clear my thoughts and rethink my intentions.  I'm so busy in my fog that I walk by an opportunity to serve someone else or miss my chance to share a word of encouragement or to lift a helping hand.

Lord, clear the fog of self and let me see your glory in every person and experience today. Help me know the joy of serving You in every circumstance.

The Humble Persimmon

Photo by Sally L. Smith

Make sure there is no man or woman,...  whose heart turns away from the Lord our God;...make sure there is no root among you that produces such bitter poison.

Deuteronomy 29:18 NIV

THE PERSIMMON

It looks pretty, doesn't it?

However, looks aren't everything.

If you take a bite of this fruit in its present state, you will be sorry because the bitterness will make the whole inside of your mouth pucker...for a long time.  Nothing you eat or drink will dissolve that feeling.

I find something similar when I look at some people.  Inside the most beautiful ones, you may find one steeped in bitterness.  She may look pretty and seem like she has it all together, but her life's journey has culminated in her contorted outlook on life.  On the surface, she's smiling and looks happy but underneath, because of sin or hurt or dissolution, she is miserable.  She feels alone...among friends and family.  She carries guilt that engulfs her.  What is she to do to regain her true self?

Sometimes taking a look at our relationship with the Lord and returning to our first Love (Jesus, the one who purchased us with His blood) will straighten everything out and give us a different perspective on the life God wants for each of us.  It takes the effort of humbling ourselves before the Lord, turning from lingering sinful ways and thoughts and totally surrendering ourselves to the Lord Almighty who has just the right life for us.  It is not an easy road to purity, honesty and humility but it can be done with God's help.

About face!