Marvelous Works

"Marvelous Works" photo by Sally L. Smith--click on photo to enloarge

 Marvelous are Your works,

And that my soul knows very well.

NKJV

Though the photo is mine, it is nothing compared to the original work!  This sunset was breath-taking.

The days of 2015 are almost over and the sun is setting on the year.  I'm making plans for 2016 and many things will be different...schedules, jobs, abilities and priorities, all of which will take adjustments on my part.  I can easily be overcome if I let those dominate my thoughts.  I'm so glad that God calms my soul with His "marvelous works"...

such peace.  

Peaceful Pastures

"Peaceful Pastures" by Sally L. Smith


 The Lord will send rain on the seeds you plant in the ground. The crops that grow will be rich and plentiful. At that time your cattle will eat grass in rolling meadows.
Isaiah 30:23 NIRV

Scripture taken from the Holy Bible, NEW INTERNATIONAL READER'S VERSION®.Copyright © 1996, 1998 Biblica. All rights reserved throughout the world. Used by permission of Biblica. 

This is the scene at the end of our daughter's road...so peaceful, so serene.  I am grateful to live in the country.

Weed Seed

"Just a Weed Seed," by Sally L. Smith

... scatter seeds of justice,

 and harvest faithfulness. 

Hosea 10:12

Not everyone collects dandelion seeds but I couldn't resist this little beauty and saved it for a while on my windowsill.  One does not need to save this kind of seed because the plant is equipped to self-sow.  

I enjoy the little things in life: weeds, feathers, justice, faithfulness...yes, the little things.  

Be

He says, "Be..."

Psalm 46:10 

There is so much "do" at this time of year that I get wrapped up in the wrapping!

All the Lord wants of us is to "be."

I spent over an hour looking up what He wants us to be and I have just scratched the surface.

Be still...Psalm 46:10 

Be holy...Leviticus 19:12 

Be kind, compassionate,forgiving ...Ephesians 4:32 

Be pure, blameless...Philippians 1:10 

Be courageous, strong...Deuteronomy 31:6 

Be on your guard...1 Corinthians 16:13

Be glad...Psalm 9:2

Be loving, like-minded, sympathetic, humble...1 Peter 3:8

Be honest...Proverbs 22:2 

Be gentle,peaceable,considerate...Titus 3:2 

Be patient...Ephesians 4:2 

Be prepared with an answer to those who ask you to give a reason for the hope that you have....1 Peter 3:15 

But first, be close to Him. 

Be...because He is.

All scripture is taken from the

New International Version (NIV)

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

Frosty Peace

"Frosty Walk" by Sally L. Smith

  From whose womb 

comes the ice?
      And who gives birth 

  to the sky’s pale, thick frost?

Job 38:29  VOICE

I took this photo last February after a heavy frost.  There is nothing more peaceful-looking than frost.  Every stick is a thing of beauty covered with cold lace.  Frost doesn't last long though, for as soon as the sun touches, it melts.  God creates the most fantastic things each season and I am looking  forward to winter just to see wonders such as this.

Becoming A Reflection

My mouth will overflow with wisdom;
    the reflections of my heart will guide you to understand the nature of life.

Psalm 49:3 VOICE

Scripture taken from The Voice™. Copyright © 2008 by Ecclesia Bible Society. Used by permission. All rights reserved.

I wish my life was the exact reflection of Christ.  It would not be difficult to say and do the things that would uplift and help people.  Others would know God through me by my words and actions.  People would hear wisdom flowing from my mouth...

hmmmmm.

Christ is in me.  Am I all into Christ? 

He should be greatest.

I should be least.

Serenity

Photo: "Serenity" by Sally L. Smith


In the beginning God
created the heavens
    and the earth.
The earth was barren,
    with no form of life;
it was under a roaring ocean
    covered with darkness.
But the Spirit of God
    was moving over the water.
Genesis 1:1-2

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

 by American Bible Society, Used by Permission.

We were blessed to spend a short time in Florida last weekend.  When I say "short" I mean it.  We stayed a total of 18 hours, 7 of which were spent sleeping.  That time, however, provided a respite from our mid-American scenery and provided some serenity we can't find where we live.  There is something majestic about the ocean/gulf because God is there in all His glory with His paint brush in hand.  It was awe-inspiring with a beauty that cannot be matched.  I took this shot with my phone from the balcony we shared with our daughter, son-in-law and their children.  That is something we will do again and will definitely stay longer next time.  No, we didn't drive that far for less than a day's stay.  We were visiting our older son in South Alabama and took the 1 1/2 hour drive to FL just to see this.  It was worth it!

Words With A Purpose

Dead Sea Scrolls
Wikipedia Commons

"So shall My word be that goes forth from My mouth; It shall not return to Me void, But it shall accomplish what I please, And it shall prosper in the thing for which I sent it."

Isaiah 55:11 NKJV

It is so important to internalize God's Word which is difficult for me since I have much trouble with memorizing anything.  Many times when life has thrown me a curve, the Word of the Lord enters my brain giving me comfort, encouragement and hope.  I still try to memorize and though I don't always have the exact words in my head or the reference in mind, the crux of The Word is there.  It gives me the answer I need for that situation...always.  The problem is that I have not hidden enough words in my heart and there are a lot of problems out there.  

Okay, I have preached to myself again.  I'm off to feed my soul with "Daily Bread" (John 6:35.)

How Do We Line Up?

Photo: "Tree Line Up" by Sally L. Smith

 In his days Judah will be saved
and Israel will live in safety.
And this is the name by which he will be called: “The Lord is our righteousness.”Jeremiah 23:6 NRSV
Scripture quotations are]from the New Revised Standard Version Bible, copyright © 1989 the Division of Christian Education of the National Council of the Churches of Christ in the United States of America. Used by permission. All rights reserved

We went to "A Union Christmas" last night, a beautiful start to our Christmas season that we have enjoyed since we moved here over three years ago.  A scripture from Jeremiah was read of the foretelling of The Christ.
  The last line struck home.
"The Lord is our righteousness"
Many versions of the Bible say, in a variety of translations, "The Lord is Righteous."   This version and several more say it as stated above.  That statement makes it personal.
  
We know God is Righteous but we are not.
We can never begin to line up with The Lord.  Nothing we can do can put our lives in line with God's righteousness.  We are hopeless.
But...
in God's time, He sent His Son to allow us to be Right with Him and in Him.  That is the best gift of all this season.
Remember it and live in Christ.