An Icy Blast Brings the Deer

He hurls down his hail like pebbles.
    Who can withstand his icy blast?

He sends his word and melts them;
    he stirs up his breezes, and the waters flow.

Psalm 147:17-18

A cold, rainy day in Dixie...no snow to melt here but raw...a good day for deer hunting.  My husband got his second of the season with a muzzle-loader.  He's so happy.  We put up our first one last week and probably tomorrow we'll do the second one.  God does provide.

Photo Credit: Kevin Teague

Finding Your Solitary

At daybreak, Jesus went out to a solitary place. 

The people were looking for him...

Luke 4:42

If we really want to be like Jesus, 

we need to find our
"solitary place"

every day.

Photo Credit: Simon Powell

Walk In the Light

But if we walk in the light, 

as he is in the light, 

we have fellowship with one another,

 and the blood of Jesus, his Son,

 purifies us from all sin.

1 John 1:7

It's a beautiful, sunny day today and this verse popped into my head.  Walk in and with The Light today.

Photo Credit: Anurag Agnihotri

His Word Runs Swiftly

He sends his command to the earth;
 his word runs swiftly.

He spreads the snow like wool

 and scatters the frost like ashes.

He hurls down his hail like pebbles.
Who can withstand his icy blast?

Psalm 147:15-17

From Fall to Winter...overnight.

Even in Tennessee, today we will feel His "icy blast."

"It's time."  He states.

He's handed down His word.

The lady bugs, butterflies and wasps knew to drink the nectar left by the hummingbirds who left weeks ago.  The bluebirds made their last appearance as they stopped to rest here yesterday on their migration journey. 

It's time to pull out the fuzzies and put the soup on the stove because God has spoken.

Photo Credit: Ryan Blyth 

The Blood Trail

But now in Christ Jesus 

you who once were far away

 have been brought near 

by the blood of Christ.

Ephesians 2:13

I sealed some leaves I picked up on my walk the other day and when they dried, I put them on our table for a Fall decoration.  My husband walked by and pointed to one leaf and said, "I don't like this leaf."  I was confused and wondered why he would be so adamantly against a beautiful leaf, the one I thought was the prettiest one, the yellow one with the big red splotch on the corner.

"Why?" I asked.

"Because it's the one that can lead the tracker away from his kill.  You see," he continued, "the hunter is looking for blood stained leaves to lead him in the right direction after he's shot his deer.  The deer must be found and many are very strong, even after being shot, and wander far into the woods for protection.  Because I don't want to waste a good deer, I go after him until I find him.  When I see a leaf like this, it can lead me on another 'trail' and I can lose the deer."  That made sense to me and it's something of which I'd never thought and it got me thinking of how many times we get off the blood-stained trail of Christ.

We're well on our journey and tracking his will with all our might until, suddenly, we see what we think is the "trail of Christ" when, in fact, we've been side-tracked by the evil one who put a diversion in our way...something that looked like Christ but was actually a ploy.  Some keep following that until they get desperately lost and lose their reason for coming in the woods in the first place.  They find their way home but never get the trophy.  Some realize they are on the wrong track and return until they find the right one again and at the end of the trail, they find their prize.

I've noticed a lot of leaves like that in my walks, still like them and even more so since they remind me to stay fixed on the blood trail of Christ.

Photo Credit: Jody Roberts  

I've Made My Choice

 But if serving the Lord seems undesirable to you, then choose for yourselves this day whom you will serve, whether the gods your ancestors served beyond the Euphrates, or the gods of the Amorites, in whose land you are living. But as for me and my household, we will serve the Lord.”

Joshua 24:15

  Each day presents a challenge...either I choose to do what God wants or what his adversary wants.  We choose each day which god/God to serve.

We taught our children to worship the true God and now they are teaching their children but it only takes one generation who doesn't care which god they serve for the Lord to vanish from the earth in the hearts of man.  Look around and you'll see what I mean.  It's happening as I speak.

Who do you choose?

Photo Credit: Chris Hartman

Whine or Worship?

 I know what it is to be in need, 

and I know what it is to have plenty.

 I have learned the secret of being content 

in any and every situation, 

whether well fed or hungry,

whether living in plenty or in want.

  I can do all this through him who gives me strength.

Philippians 4:12-13

This last line has been my mantra since my sister (who has gone to be with Jesus) gave me a purse with this inscription on it.  It must be others' too since I receive positive comments every time I carry it.  However, the first part of this scripture sometimes gets overlooked.  We've lived in "want" before and I must say that I was not as contented as I could have been during those times.  I wanted more instead of being grateful for what I had.  Even when we had "plenty," I still wanted more.  I whined instead of worshiped.  

We have entered our retirement years and we are still working hard to get extra money to live our lives comfortably but I am realizing how spoiled I have been in the past.  I am living merely by the grace of God and God gives me the strength each day to accomplish His task for me.  I'm fully aware that He has gifted me in unique ways and I am full of thanks to Him, the Giver of All Things, for the opportunities He still provides for me.  I am humbled that He allows me, a sinner, to share in His wonderful work.  Things are different now...a lot less whining and a lot more praising.

Photo Credit: Sharon 

Sometimes Children are Just...Children

 Children just naturally 

do silly, careless things,... 

Proverbs 22:15a

Good News Translation in Today’s English Version- Second Edition Copyright © 1992 by American Bible Society. Used by Permission.

I was reading an excerpt of a book today that talked about "Love and Respect in the Family"

and this was one of the scriptures used.  I don't think I have seen it put this way in the Bible before but it is so true.  Sometimes we over-react to everyday situations that maybe have even happened to us adults and blamed the kids for being non-respectful when, in fact, they are only being kids.  The author stated that after a childish event she would pray, "Lord, help me to respond instead of react."  That sounds like good advice in any touchy situation.

Photo Credit:  r.nial bradshaw

Light

The life-giving fountain
   belongs to you,
and your light gives light
  to each of us.

   Psalm 36:9

Contemporary English Version © 

1991, 1992, 1995 by American Bible Society,

 Used by Permission

I want to walk in that light today.

Photo Credit: Sharon

Seasons

Everything on earth
has its own time
 and its own season.

Ecclesiastes 3:1

Contemporary English Version © 1991, 1992, 1995 by American Bible Society, Used by Permission.

There will never be a season into which we can settle because life is always changing.  As I age I realize that even the battles are there for a purpose and I should find a reason to accept them along with the beauty.  Life's disappointments may be God's divine interventions.  If I can remember that they are just a bump in the road, life works more easily for me.  

And we know that in all things God works for the good of those who love him, who have been called according to his purpose.

Romans 8:28

Photo Credit: Sandeep Pawar

Darkness to Light

God has brought you out of darkness 

into his marvelous light. 

Now you must tell all the wonderful things 

that he has done. 

1 Peter 2:9

It's an imperative.

Photo Credit: Sharon

Perfect Peace

The Lord gives perfect peace
 to those whose faith is firm.

Isaiah 26:3

 Scripture taken from the Contemporary English Version © 1991, 1992, 1995 by American Bible Society, Used by Permission.

I needed this kind of peace yesterday afternoon as the jitters set in before playing for the Women's Chorus concert.  Many times a semester I had asked for God's calming as I attempted to play music I'd practiced and was still learning yet had to play for their rehearsals.  This was the performance.  Those who know me well know how nervous I get prior to performance.

  

God works.

I trusted Him completely and realized that I can do absolutely nothing without Him.  He gave me enough peace to drift off to sleep for a while and awaken to total serenity.

The performance when very well and I was pleased and grateful.

Ahh, Perfect Peace is a wonderful gift.

Photo Credit: D Sharon Pruitt

Eternal Offering

For it is by grace you have been saved,

 through faith—

and this is not from yourselves,

 it is the gift of God— 

 not by works, 

so that no one can boast.

Ephesians 2:8-9

God offered me the chance to have Him as my master.  That's a gift from Him that I decided to open.  I did have a choice to either accept His offering or not.  I stepped out in faith. 

I had done nothing to deserve His favor but He offered me His life anyway.  I have done nothing about which I can boast except how Christ has worked in me.  I'm a pretty pitiful participant in His eternal offering but somehow he delighted in me enough to offer me eternity.  I'm thankful.

Photo Credit: Flower's Lover

What Is Worship?

Therefore, I urge you, brothers and sisters, 

in view of God’s mercy, 

to offer your bodies as a living sacrifice,

 holy and pleasing to God—

this is your true and proper worship. 

Romans 12:1

In a small group on Sunday night we have been studying how we use our music in worship.  The question has been asked: "What is worship?"

I believe Paul gives us a very good description here in Romans 12.  I've read the first verse and always remember the "offer your bodies as a living sacrifice, holy and pleasing to God" and that's it in a nutshell.

However, I tend to forget the rest of the verse that tells us how important that is.

The offering of our total being is our "true and proper worship."  If we do that, we will be able to accomplish the near impossible list of ways that Paul states in the rest of the chapter.

Christians, go offer your best sacrifice, yourself, and worship your God who allows you that privilege.  He'll show you what else He wants you to do when the time is right, if anything.

Photo Credit: Guppydas

And Why Are We Confused?

So you must be careful to do everything they tell you. 

But do not do what they do, for they do not practice what they preach.

They tie up heavy, cumbersome loads 

and put them on other people’s shoulders, 

but they themselves are not willing to lift a finger to move them.

Matthew 23:3-4

We hear the words our leaders say but their actions deny their intent.  Parents, teachers, politicians, employers, religious leaders and more tell us one thing but do another.

What are we to think and do?

I don't know about you but I'm confused...

and it's not just because I'm old.

Photo Credit: Jason Rogers