How Fragile

"Greater Lansing Orchid Society" by Christine Cimala is licensed under CC BY 2.0

...roots that reach

  down to the water,

 and with leaves

  that are always green.

They bear fruit every year

and are never worried

 by a lack of rain.

Our lives are like the orchid...a hot house plant that needs specific care with just the right light, feed and water.  It takes a master horticulturist to raise this beauty because it is so fragile.

Our lives are like the orchid...tender, needy and reaching for the Light...dissatisfied with our earthly existence and longing to be fed with more than we get from our life here in this world.  We need strength, nurturing and love and are always seeking.  

The world will fail us.  We will continue to search but will not find it here unless...

we look to what God left for us when He took His Son to be with Him...

His Word.

Oh, what comfort for my fragile soul.

Set Boundaries

"Beside Still Waters" by Art4TheGlryOfGod by Sharon under Creative Commons License.

I placed the sand for the boundary of the sea, a perpetual barrier beyond which it cannot pass and by an everlasting ordinance beyond which it cannot go? And though the waves of the sea toss and shake themselves, yet they cannot prevail [against the feeble grains of sand which God has ordained by nature to be sufficient for His purpose]; though [the billows] roar, yet they cannot pass over that [barrier]. 

Jeremiah 5:22 (AMP)

We have barriers in life, too.  Yet, how many times have I chosen to try to cross the barriers only to find myself floundering and sinking in the ocean of life.  God gives us His boundaries in His Word and we must respect them and live by them if we don't want the waves of life to bury us.  It would do us all well to live within the boundaries.

The Art of Being Still

Photo by Sally L. Smith

Be still, and know that I am God: 

I will be exalted among the heathen, 

I will be exalted in the earth.

Psalm 46:10 KJV

Shhhhhh.

He Knows My Name

But now, this is what the LORD says—

he who created you, O Jacob, 

he who formed you, O Israel:

 “Fear not, for I have redeemed you;

 I have summoned you by name; 

you are mine.”

Isaiah 43:1

When I'm feeling forgotten, I can always remember that God calls me by name.  It gives me a sense of belonging and love.

Photo from personal files

Instant in Prayer

"sunrays" by Zest-pk is licensed under CC BY 2.0

Rejoicing in hope;

 patient in tribulation;

 continuing instant in prayer;...
Romans 12:12 KJV

I've been reading the King James Version lately and basking in the beauty of the wording.  Though it is sometimes difficult to understand the Old English, it is, indeed, beautiful.

My thoughts go to "No prayer in the schools or businesses."

One can pray anywhere and anytime and eyes can remain open."Continuing instant in prayer" implies praying all the time and at a moment's notice.  One can instantly turn to the Lord in prayer in any situation.  Nothing can stop him except Death itself.  We have this gift given to us and yet...how many take advantage of it?

Gifts From Above

"The Gift by the Maker," by Sally L. Smith 

But the wisdom from above is first pure, then peaceable, gentle, open to reason, full of mercy and good fruits, impartial and sincere. And a harvest of righteousness is sown in peace by those who make peace. (ESV)

But the wisdom that comes from above leads us to be pure, friendly, gentle, sensible, kind, helpful, genuine, and sincere. When peacemakers plant seeds of peace, they will harvest justice. (CEV)

James 3:17-18

In whatever version you choose, it stills make sense.

  If only I displayed more of this wisdom.  

My heart says "yes" but my stubborn will says "no." 

 Come on Heart!!!  Do your work.

Evening Shadows

"The fear of God is the antidote" by Art4TheGlryOfGod by Sharon under Creative Commons License.

The wicked will not prosper, 
for they do not fear God.
 Their days will never grow long
 like the evening shadows.

 Ecclesiastes 8:12-13

I must continue to remember this 
but 
sometimes it is difficult.

Where Is Wisdom?

"Group of Trees at Sunset" by Derek Σωκράτης Finch is licensed under CC BY 2.0

Look for it as hard as you would for silver or some hidden treasure. If you do, you will know what it means to fear the Lord and you will succeed in learning about God.

Proverbs 2:4-5 

Wisdom is illusive and,

 when discovered, 

few recognize it for what it is...

a gift from God.

Make Your Choice

"Ireland Trip - Japanese Gardens" by Erin Costa is licensed under CC BY 2.0

The Lord saved me from death; he stopped my tears and kept me from defeat. And so I walk in the presence of the Lord in the world of the living. I kept on believing, even when I said, “I am completely crushed,” even when I was afraid and said, “No one can be trusted.”

Psalm 116:8-11

We make choices everyday...right or wrong.

Sometimes we don't have a choice and life deals us a tough card.  It is in those times that we must trust that God has things under control and wants the best for us.  When tempted or tried, we sometimes give up and suffer under our own fear.  Trusting is a difficult choice but oh, so rewarding.

Little Things of Spring

"Little Wonders," by Sally L. Smith

 ...I worship at your altar,

  while gratefully singing
    about your wonders.

Psalm 26:6b-7

I am so grateful for Spring...

even the bugs.

What's the Big Secret?

"untitled" by Katie Tegtmeyer is licensed under CC BY 2.0

These are things we learned
  from our ancestors,

and we will tell them
 to the next generation.
We won’t keep secret
 the glorious deeds
 and the mighty miracles
  of the Lord.

     Psalm 78:3-4

Tell them early and

tell them often.

Don't stop

even when they are

adults.

Live what you tell them.

Shouting Praise

"Robin's First Hello" by Pleasant Point Inn is licensed under CC BY 2.0

Shout praises to the Lord!
With all my heart
I will thank the Lord
 when his people meet.

Psalm 111:1

It's Spring! Shout for joy!

But instead...

I take so much for granted. 

Instead of shouting praise for the sheer joy of gathering together with fellow believers, I find myself criticizing the structure, the service or the people there.  

We have so much here in the USA that we cannot be happy with what God has given us...the freedom to openly worship.  Thanking the Lord is an act of will...a conscious act...and an overpowering emotion and response to what God is doing in our lives.  All of this can be taken away in the passing of a law and we just sit back and let it happen.

I will shout praise to the Lord!

I will worship Him in the beauty of His holiness and be grateful.

Maker's Mark

Photo by Sally L. Smith

Splendor and beauty mark his craft;
His generosity never gives out.

Psalm 111:3 MSG

This was a photo taken a few days ago at dawn.  I rarely see the moon pictured like this and even though my camera is limited, I think the shot is beautiful...mainly because the subject is.

God, the Creator of Splendor, never fails to put His maker's mark on His creations.

Clouds

"Storm Clouds During Sunset," by idreamlikecrazy  CC BY 2.0

For the LORD is great, and greatly to be praised:

 he is to be feared above all gods. 

For all the gods of the nations are idols: 

but the LORD made the heavens.

Psalm 96:4-5

I love clouds...ever changing, ever beautiful.  God in His wisdom provided us built-in entertainment on this earth but sometimes we take it for granted.  Look to the heavens and be amazed.

To Keep A Promise

"Where Are We Now?" by Maria Teresa Ambrosi  CC BY-NC-ND 2.0

Give the Lord your God what you promised him; 

bring gifts to him, all you nearby nations. God makes everyone fear him; he humbles proud princes and terrifies great kings.

Psalm 76:11-12 GNT

As taught to us again in a recent Bible study, we Christians are "little Christs."  We are to be holy as He is holy.  We are to live our lives as a reflection of Him.  No, that is not blasphemous; it is a call to allegiance of the highest order.  When we promise God we'll serve Him, he listens to us, as usual and as He promised. God does everything He promises.

Why don't I?