Nature Speaks Through One

Not Always What They Seem

2012-01-19T09:16:00.000-06:00

Strawberries in the winter...I love strawberries, so when i saw these beauties at the store, I was quick to grab a few cartons. As I carefully washed and prepared to cut them, the anticipation to take a taste overwhelmed me, so I plopped large berry into my mouth.

Ughhhh! It was bitter! I thought to myself, "You should have known better than to buy strawberries in the

winter! Not wanting to trash the beauties, I went to my natural "go to" when things don't taste right. SUGAR A little sugar just makes everything taste better, and it did.

⁸ "Taste and see that the LORD is good;
blessed is the one who takes refuge in him." (Psalm 34:8)

Since Adam and Eve decided that they didn't "need" God, and a life of independence and knowledge would suffice, our lives as humans have been like the berries without the sugar. We may look beautiful on the outside, appetizing, and desirable, but without the sweetening of Jesus in our lives, we just taste bitter.

Add the sweetening of Jesus to your life today!

Darkness

2011-11-01T06:40:00.000-05:00

Making sense of madness...of things we don't understand is so hard. Trying to look for the light in the darkness is almost an impossible task, but we keep searching, searching, looking for the light that will lead us out.

"For my thoughts are not your thoughts, neither are my ways your ways," declares the LORD. (Isaiah 55:8)

The Light is seen most clearly in darkness. The rays streaming through, beckoning the way, guiding the feet to the Source of the light. Jesus is the source of the Light. He is Light, and "in Him there is no darkness at all" (1John 1:5)

The darkness is not Jesus. He is Light. He is the way out of the darkness. He is the beacon that guides you to Him and takes you home.

"Arise, shine, for you light has come

and the glory of the Lord rises upon you.

See, darkness covers the earth and

thick darkness is over the peoples,

but the LORD rises upon you

and His glory appears over you.

Nations will come to your light

and kings to the brightness of your dawn." (Isaiah 60:1-3)

Steadfast

2011-10-16T10:44:00.000-05:00

Sunrise...

The picture of God's steadfast Love for us.

Sunday has become true Sabbath for me. During my time with Him this morning in my warm bed with the sun streaming in through the window, my Bible, journal, pen, devotions, and my Itunes, He led me to a series of verses, and the word that God made jump off the pages was STEADFAST.

"O God, my heart is steadfast." (Psalm 108:1)

I love to look up the original meanings of words through Blue Letter Bible, and the meanings for steadfast are so much richer than the word itself.

"to be firm, be stable, be established, be fixed, be secure"

"to lean, lay, support, rest upon"

"You will keep in perfect peace him whose mind is steadfast because he trusts in You." (Isaiah 26:3)

The sunrise and the sunset remind me of the steadfast Spirit of our God. Both are firm, stable, established, fixed, and we are able to lean and rest upon the fact that they will come up and go down each day like clock work (literally).

Sunset...The picture of God's steadfast Love for us.

No matter how unsteady life seems, insecure, not fixed, unstable, not supportive, unable to rely on or rest upon, our TRUE stability and security is found in the Person of Jesus Christ, our Savior. He came in the chaos of our world to show that true rest can only be found in Him.

"He will not be afraid of evil tidings, his heart is steadfast, trusting the Lord. His heart is upheld, he will not be afraid, until he looks with satisfaction on his adversaries." (Psalm 112:7-8)

JOY

2011-10-14T08:57:00.000-05:00

JOY

J...JESUS
O...ONLY
Y...YOU

YOU are what satisfies my longing soul; YOU fill my empty cup; YOU mend my broken heart; YOU shine your Light in dark places; YOU make my heart and mouth sing; YOU give me the ability to love; YOU give me the ability to forgive; YOU complete me; YOU compel me; YOU love me; YOU are my perfect example; YOU are my friend; YOU are my salvation; YOU set me FREE; YOU are my enough; YOU are my truth; YOU are my thanksgiving; YOU are my provider; YOU are my healer; YOU help me truly see; YOU are beautiful, YOU are my life; YOU are my love; YOU are my shelter; YOU are my comfort; YOU are my refuge; YOU are my song, my melody; YOU are the only One for me; YOU are the only God for me.

Sun and Shadows

2011-10-10T08:55:00.001-05:00

2011 has been a year of great change at the Bivins house. Change is hard, no matter if you're ready for it or not, but I know that God has been at the forefront of all it, guiding, steering, and showing us the next steps to take. The steps have been uncertain, wobbly, and often painful, but the joys, affirmation, and encouragement to move forward, equally as exhilarating.

This season has been a mixture of sun, clouds, and shadows.
There have been times in this journey that all I could see surrounding me were clouds. You know those days when it's been raining, and the clouds just seem to linger and linger? You know in your heart that the faithful sun (Son) is high above the clouds, but for this season, the clouds just have to cover? Sometimes the clouds produce a cleansing rain, and one that readies the soil (soul) for new growth, fresh beauty, and new flowers. Other times the clouds produce a storm with beating hail, torrential downpours, and damaging winds. I have felt all of this from the clouds that have hovered in this season, but have constantly been reassured that the sun (Son) would eventually, in it's timing, part the clouds and reveal the glory and the splendor again.

(My sweet cardinal (Jesus) is chirping loudly outside as I type this...sweet affirmation)

As God settles us more and more into the calling that He has ordained, and the more my heart surrenders fully into the magnitude of what He has called, He has allowed the clouds to move on, to break apart, so that His bright light, that shows clearly the way, that warms the soul, that grows the seeds planted, can do what only it can do.

I am thanking God for the sun (Son)! I know that for sustained growth, the clouds and the rain have to come again, but somehow know that the sun (Son) is above it all gives the strength and the stamina to walk forward in His confidence.

The Scapegoat

2011-10-02T10:14:00.000-05:00

Leviticus 16:22 "The goat will carry on itself all their sins to a solitary place; and the man shall release it in the desert."

Leviticus 16 is all about instructions. Life and death instructions...do this or die instructions. Aaron had quite a bit of pressure on his shoulders as he, as the very first High Priest, dared to enter the Most Holy Place on behalf of himself and the people of Israel. Any mishap of the order of things and he's a dead man. The verse above is a bit confusing as it says "all their sins". I found that later in the chapter in verse 34 that it's for "all their sins made once a year".

I can imagine the Day of Atonement being such a glorious, peaceful day, as for on that day, the slate is wiped completely clean... Nothing hanging over your head, but the next day starts a new year. The slate that was yesterday clean, is now, without even 24 hours passing has new things written on it. Just thinking about it and the guilt that it brings is exhausting to me.

THANK YOU, GOD FOR JESUS!!!!

For under the OLD System of Sacrifice
-was temporary (Heb. 8:13)
NEW
-is permanent (Heb. 7:21)

OLD-Aaron was the first high priest (Lev. 16:32)
NEW-Jesus is the only High Priest (Heb. 4:14)

OLD-ministered on earth (Heb. 8:4)
NEW-ministered in heaven (Heb. 8:1-2)

OLD-used the blood of animals (Lev. 16:15)
NEW-uses the blood of Christ (Heb. 10:5)

OLD-Required many sacrifices (Lev. 22:19)
NEW- Requires one sacrifice (Heb. 9:28)

OLD-Required careful approach to the tabernacle (Lev. 16:2)
NEW-Encourages confident approach to the throne (Heb. 4:16)

OLD-looked forward to a new system (Heb. 10:1)
NEW-sets aside the old system (Heb. 10:9)

I hope you will join me in thanking God for a sacrifice "once and for all" (Hebrews 10:10) in Jesus Christ our Savior? Because of Jesus, my sin slate is FOREVER clean. Jesus, thank you that you are the scapegoat for every sin I have ever committed, in the past, in the present, and in the future. I love You with an inexplainable love.

Under His Wing

2011-09-22T18:59:00.001-05:00

"He will cover you with his feathers. He will shelter you with his wings. His faithful promises are your armor and protection."
(Psalm 91:4)

More like the Savior every day...

2011-09-20T10:17:00.000-05:00

It's cool how this sweet baby, that just a few weeks ago only had a small resemblance to a cardinal, but his beak is now turning more orange, and his feathers are transforming into the red that the cardinal is designed to be. I feel like this cardinal at times, where my life only has a small resemblance to the Savior and the gray of the world dominates my life. But I am thankful that because of the sacrifice, once and for all (Romans 6:10) that when God looks at me and you who are in Christ, all He sees is Christ.

2Cr 3:18

And we, who with unveiled faces all reflect the Lord's glory, are being transformed into his likeness with ever-increasing glory, which comes from the Lord, who is the Spirit.

Reflect the Son

2011-09-12T21:32:00.000-05:00

My absolute favorite part of this day was to get a text from a friend saying, "Whoa, look at the moon!" God gave me a neat glimpse of it through the neighbor's trees. I was freaking out, trying to get my settings on my camera right to take a decent picture of it. There have been many times that I have missed pictures of a sunset, because it changes and moves so quickly. I was able to take picture after picture of God's gorgeous creation.

The only way that the moon can shine any light, is through the reflection of the sun. It's because the sun shines on the moon, that we can see it at all. The only way our light will ever shine for Jesus is if He is shining His Light through us.

When Jesus spoke again to the people, he said, "I am the light of the world. Whoever follows me will never walk in darkness, but will have the light of life." (John 8:12)

I Am the Moon (Sara Groves)

"And I am the moon with no light of my own

But still you have made me to shine

And as I glow in this cold dark night

I know I'll never be a Light unless I turn my face to You.

No, I'll never be a Light unless I turn myself to You."

The Harvest Is Plentiful

2011-09-07T20:51:00.000-05:00

This is the first year that I've been able to attract hummingbirds. I have put out the same feeder year after year, and have even put enticing red sweet stuff in the feeder to lure them, but with no success. Just this year, my mom brought me a new feeder, and within a day, the hummingbirds started coming.

Something that I quickly began to notice with these Hummingbirds is that they are very territorial. It is rare to see more than one on the feeder at once, because as another comes, the other will chase it off.

There are like 8 feeding holes on this feeder, but yet only one, two at the most are ever on the feeder at one time. That's my growing heart for the Body of Christ. That we would be a people united for the Kingdom of Christ, pulling on the same rope in order that "no one would perish". I know that is Christ's heart for us.

You are Complete

2011-09-06T17:08:00.000-05:00

On a rainy afternoon about to sit down to finish my Bible Study, I hear my familiar beloved sound of the cardinal. He sounds so close, so of course I get up to look for him. I go to my kitchen to look in the Crepe Myrtle that I often see him lounging in, and there he is on my window sill. To my surprise, it's not one that I expect to see this time of year. It's a baby!!

I had just been studying in God's Word in Colossians 2:9-10 that we have been given all the "fullness of Christ" and that we are totally complete in Him. When we receive Christ as our Savior we are given, according to 2Peter 1:3, "everything that we need for life in godliness". That doesn't mean that we are totally mature in Him, but we can be confident, as said in Philippians 1:6 that Jesus will mature us, as He completes His work in us.

So...back to the cardinal. By looking at him, if you aren't a cardinal lover like I am, there is nothing about his appearance that would let you know that he is one. He has to mature and be made more complete as he grows. Does that make him any less of a cardinal? No. His identity as a cardinal is secure. No matter if he looks like a cardinal or even acts like one, his identity is still that he is a cardinal. As is our identity in Christ...many of our lives may look like this cardinal, but He is still completing His work in each of us. As this cardinal grows and matures, his features will become who he's been created to be...but not without time and maturity. Soon, the gorgeous red feathers and the vibrant orange beak will emerge, but not without a lot of growth.

We are all in process, being formed and transformed more into the likeness of the One who created us and loved us enough to save us. You are COMPLETE in Jesus!

New pictures of Tanner Michael

2011-07-12T10:57:00.000-05:00

My heart leaps every time I go out back :)

He multiplies and divides spreading his beauty.

At the end of the day he wilts slightly...tired

Thank you God for Your Beauty for ashes!

This is my favorite picture right now. Roses (along with cardinals) remind me of Jesus. The bright red symbolizing Jesus' blood shed for me, the thorns representing the crown of thorns that was mine to wear, but He chose to wear it instead in order to save me. The way the rose is behind Tanner, I picture him sitting in Jesus lap, in the palm of His Hand, closer than I could ever imagine. Thank You Jesus for your restoration in my heart and in my life.

It's so cool to hear my oldest daughter Kinsey, as she told me just the other day that when she gets married, that she wants the Black Eyed Susan to be a part of her bouquet and that all the family will somehow have one, in honor of her brother Tanner. Can I just tell you that there is immense freedom in sharing our deepest hurts? To know that I don't have to look over my shoulder because I'm fully KNOWN? Hallelujah!

How do you prepare for HEAT?

2011-07-12T10:39:00.000-05:00

In Middle Tennessee over the past few days, we've been under a heat advisory. As temperatures have peaked close to 100, people are clamoring for a cool place, and others are on the lookout for people who are in need of shelter and water. For me, I have two choices: either be in a pool, which is like bath water, or be inside. Even walks to get in and out of the car make me break out in a sweat.

I don't have much luck with ferns, because by July, they are half dead because I've gotten tired of watering them. This year has been different as I made a pact with myself that they live and look good! I have impatiens that colorfully decorate the front of my house, but they NEED water.

So, during these 100 degree days, I tell myself, "I need to water my flowers every day, or the heat will kill 'em". I've even changed my timer on my backyard flowers to water twice a day.

As I watered I began to think of my walk with Christ. When I'm in a season of "heat", and things are coming at me from all sides, is my tendency to intensify my dose of "Living Water" so that the heat won't consume me, or do I whine and complain and neglect the very One who will sustain me through the heat? If I'm honest, there are times where I live in that place where I try to rely on myself instead of my Jesus, who I know will give me all that I need to get me through the heat.

Something I've also seen from my flowers and also my own life is that when I am giving them extra drinks during heated times, they actually flourish and grow instead of wilt and fade! The past 6 months for me has been an intense time of "heat", but also probably some of the greatest growth in Him that I can remember. The heat can be very damaging, but it can also, if you allow it to, be the greatest drink of "Living Water".

Don't resist the heat. Embrace it. But always make sure you prepare for it with extra drinks of Living Water. He will never leave you thirsty.

John 7:38
Whoever believes in me, as Scripture has said, rivers of living water will flow from within them.”

John 4:10
Jesus answered her, “If you knew the gift of God and who it is that asks you for a drink, you would have asked him and he would have given you living water.”

Revelation 7:17
For the Lamb at the center of the throne will be their shepherd; ‘he will lead them to springs of living water.’ ‘And God will wipe away every tear from their eyes.’ ”

Bloom Big!

2011-07-01T08:18:00.000-05:00

People have certain expectations of how they want flowers to bloom. If you go to the flower shop, most of the flowers look a certain way, with long slender stems and blooms bursting at the the top. Not many people would be willing to buy flowers from a bush, because they just don't look like we expect.

You have planted them, and they have taken root; they grow and bear fruit. (Jeremiah 12:2)

I saw this tree with these blooms on it this Spring, and my heart just screamed with excitement! Of all the blooms I saw this Spring, this one was my favorite, because it's not your ordinary bloom, it just bloomed wherever it could. It's like this tree was screaming, "I can't bloom quick enough so I'm going to pour out of every orifice of my being!"

Lord, let me be this kind of tree that blooms for You. That every crack and crevice of my being blooms with the sweet aroma of Christ. Lord, I may look different, but what is seen and felt and
experienced through me, may it be beautiful like
You. May I look and bloom so different in the world,
that it will stop, take notice, and be drawn to You.
Amen

"For we are to God the pleasing aroma of Christ among those who are being saved and those who are perishing". (2 Corinthians 2:15)

Tanner Michael

2011-06-29T08:07:00.000-05:00

I wait patiently for you every Summer.
Your beauty fills my backyard and my heart.
All who enter sense your presence with us.
I'm no longer afraid to speak of you,
because you have stolen a piece of me forever.

My heart smiles as your sprouts come back every Spring
Grow taller, greener, buds emerging
You come back in places that you were never planted,
but I don't mind
Your beauty reminds me that you are the child of my dreams now
not my biggest nightmare

I picture your face and can't wait til I meet you in the air one day.
Sandy brown hair with golden flecks of blonde, just like your sisters and brother
Strong baby-boy-man with the strength of your Daddy

Because of you, I get to tell daily HIS Story of complete love and grace towards me and your Daddy. You are always part of me because you are part of God's Hand of grace extended to me.

I love you Tanner Michael
I honor your memory through the Black Eyed Susan
instead of trying to forget you ever existed
Mommy loves you
I'll see you soon

Magnificent God!

2011-06-28T07:22:00.002-05:00

¹² But God made the earth by his power;

he founded the world by his wisdom

and stretched out the heavens by his understanding.

¹³ When he thunders, the waters in the heavens roar;

he makes clouds rise from the ends of the earth.

He sends lightning with the rain

and brings out the wind from his storehouses.

(Jeremiah 10:12-14)

As the thunderstorm woke me this morning, God reminded me of His Magnificence, His Greatness, His Power. I continue to be in awe of the daily gall I have to try to be the "queen" of my own life. Don't I know what's best for me? Don't I know myself better than anyone else? Uh, NO!! Luke 12:7 plainly lets me know that "the very hairs of your head are all numbered."

I've heard it said that there is only One King, and He's not taking applications for His position, so as the thunder rumbles outside, the lightning lights up a greenish-yellow sky (are there any warnings out?), I am appreciating the Majesty of the One King who sits high upon One Throne.

Join me in being in crazy AWE of our Creator today.

Lord Jesus, I admit that I try to take you off your throne at times and put myself there, as if I know what's best and right for me. help me to know my rightful place before you, kneeled at your feet in adoration and trust. You do know best, and You know me better than I know myself. Thank you for loving me enough to create me, and to save me. I love you Jesus.

Amen

"As the heavens are higher than the earth,

so are my ways higher than your ways

and my thought than your thoughts." (Isaiah 55:9)

Still or Rushing?

2011-03-17T06:50:00.000-05:00

I took this picture at Evins Mill in Smithville last week as Mike and I were celebrating 22 years of marriage. Yay GOD! As I walked down these stairs to cross this water, my eyes were drawn to the contrasting sides...One side smooth as glass, and the other rushing violently out. I'm tempted, most of the time to desire the smooth side, the one where all is buttoned up nice and neat and things are flowing and going just as "I" planned. Life seems easier over there. Safe, I'm finding, can be slow moving or stagnant...little growth...no new life pouring in...the water looks stuck.

The other side looks alive, fresh and something I would want to drink! Yes, it's scary to get to the edge where you feel like you're losing control and you just have to leap over the edge and let the current take you. But there's true LIFE on the side that is moving, rushing, seeking what's ahead, even though there's rocks and hazards to anticipate.

"...but the fountain of wisdom is a rushing stream." (Proverbs 18:4)

"But even if I am being poured out like a drink offering on the sacrifice and service coming from your faith, I am glad and rejoice with all of you." (Philippians 2:17)

Dear Jesus, may I allow you to take me wherever You want us to go. I don't want a safe life with You, I want the FULLEST life with You. Amen

A New Thing

2011-03-16T06:29:00.000-05:00

Maples are strange trees unlike any I've seen. They hold onto their dead leaves right up until the moment that the new leaves come in. They don't have blooms like other trees. At the appropriate, God given time, they just let go and new leaves come. It's kind of crazy to look at them right now when all the other trees are blooming with new growth.

As I've looked at this tree over the past months, I've thought, "God, what do you want to teach me through this tree?" Looking and looking, God has shown me that many times in my journey with Him, I have chosen to cling to things, habits, and sin that suck the life out of me.

"See, I am doing a new thing! Now it springs up; do you not perceive it? I am making a way in the wilderness and streams in the wasteland." (Isaiah 43:19)

Do I cling to things that God is no longer working in, that are basically dead like the leaf on the Maple? Why do I long for what's been, when there's new growth just waiting to push through? It's probably the same reason that the Israelites started moaning and begging to go back to Egypt to be slaves again. It's all they knew. It stunk (is that even a word?) but at least they knew how to navigate it.

Lord, help me to allow you to do new things through me. I don't want to cling to things are not "life bringing". Just because it's known doesn't make it your very best for me. I want to bloom for You.

In Jesus Life Giving Name,
Amen

Chasing Glory

2011-03-15T08:03:00.001-05:00

The absolute brilliance of this sunset sent me chasing after it yesterday in my car. I felt like some kind of crazed storm chaser as I raced down a side road, not really even paying attention to whether there was any oncoming traffic. I had to get that perfect shot with no obstructions to block the Glory I wanted to behold. I stopped right in the middle of the road and God allowed my eyes and my heart to breathe this in. All I could do was sit in my car and clap for joy at the marvelous display my Father had created. I felt like it was just for me.

"Glory in his holy name; let the hearts of those who seek the LORD rejoice." (1Chronicles 16:10)

"Yours, LORD, is the greatness and the power and the glory and the majesty and the splendor, for everything in heaven and earth is yours. Yours, LORD, is the kingdom; you are exalted as head over all." (1Chronicles 29:11)

“Holy, holy, holy is the LORD Almighty; the whole earth is full of his glory.” (Isaiah 6:3)

Free or Just Plain Scared?

2011-02-27T09:57:00.000-06:00

This tree is growing crazy. As I was looking at it, I kept looking for a break of some sort or whether it had been blown down by wind, but it hadn't. If you will follow the line of the tree, it starts to curve to the right, and then continues to grow along the ground...One trunk, no break. I've been thinking about this tree for a week and praying as to what God wanted me to learn from it, and this doesn't happen much, but He gave me two lessons.

1) Be Free to be You...most trees are made and have a natural growth pattern to grow upward, stand tall, and reach toward the sky. This tree is growing just as God intended. It may look different, but it was still created by God and has purpose. The same applies to each of our lives. We have to be free to grow in the way God intended us to grow, even if we don't look like "everyone else".

2) Close to the ground is not always God's best...Looking at the tree also reminded me of lives that "play it safe" by staying close to the ground. Growing tall takes us further from the safety of the ground. It makes us vulnerable, and situations and circumstances don't seem as controlled the higher we get. On this tree, we would probably feel safer to walk and play on it, because the possibility of getting hurt is less. Climbing a taller tree definitely brings more risk of getting hurt, but the excitement and the view once you get to the top is worth it.

Tangled?

2011-02-24T07:48:00.000-06:00

"Therefore, since we are surrounded by such a great cloud of witnesses, let us throw off everything that hinders and the sin that so easily entangles. And let us run with perseverance the race marked out for us" (Hebrews 12:1)

I have new glasses (ughh). I've never had them before, and "some" people say that it's just a sign of age, but I'm choosing to be thankful that God has given me great sight for 44 years. I have found that in getting used to my new glasses, my depth perception needs adjusting, so I have been tripping over things that I didn't know were there, and things that I knew were there but I thought I could navigate around.

Taking a picture of these "vines" as I would call them, reminded me of Hebrews 12:1 and how just like adjusting with my new glasses, sin seems to have a way of creeping up, tripping up, and entangling. Many times, it just slithers in like a soundless snake, and before I know it, it has a death grip on me.

Awareness...God's Best...guarding against complacency...sticking close to the One who hacks away the vines of sin before they settle in, calcify, and choke out
the Work of God in me, so that I can finish that race set before me.

In His Hands

2011-02-23T11:21:00.000-06:00

"The skies lay low where You are

On the earth You rest Your feet

Yet the hands that cradle the stars

Are the hands that bled for me"

(Aftermath-Hillsong)

(notice the Hands in the picture)

Ruler Over ALL

2011-02-23T06:39:00.000-06:00

"You rule over the surging sea; when its waves mount up

You still them.

The heavens are yours, and yours also the earth;

You founded the world and all that is in it."

(Psalm 89:9,11-120)

Jesus...the calmer of our storms

Glory!

2011-02-19T08:54:00.000-06:00

"His Glory covered the heavens

and His praise filled the earth

His splendor was like the sunrise;

rays flashed from His hand,

where His power was hidden."

(Habakkuk 3:3-4)

Holding My World

2011-02-15T12:47:00.000-06:00

And this is Your world, You made it
And all of creation is breathing because You sustain it
Jesus, by Your powerful word, You spoke out the earth and the heavens

So I will not worry or fret
My God is the God who will never forget
All of His goodness and all of His promises
He's holding my world in His hands

And these are your days, You give them
All for your fame and all for Your glorious kingdom
Jesus, You have ordained all things to dwell in Your purpose

So I will not worry or fret
My God is the God who will never forget
All of His goodness and all of His promises
He's holding my world in His hands

And I am Your child, Beloved
And all of my days my future is laid in Your promise
Jesus, to the end of the age, I am not alone of forgotten

So I will not worry or fret
My God is the God who will never forget
All of His goodness and all of His promises
He's holding my world

So I will not worry or fret
My God is the God who will never forget
All of His goodness and all of His promises
He's holding my world in His hands

Christian lyrics - HOLDING MY WORLD LYRICS - KRISTIAN STANFILL

I Have All I Need

2011-02-15T06:28:00.000-06:00

Psalm 23

A psalm of David.

¹ The Lord is my shepherd;

I have all that I need.

² He lets me rest in green meadows;

he leads me beside peaceful streams.

³ He renews my strength.

He guides me along right paths,

bringing honor to his name.

⁴ Even when I walk

through the darkest valley,^[a]

I will not be afraid,

for you are close beside me.

Your rod and your staff

protect and comfort me.

Notice the sheep...except for the one looking at the camera, all have their heads down. They trust the Shepherd. They are not looking around for danger saying, "Hey, do you see that? Something's coming to harm us! Watch out! What was that sound?" They trust the Shepherd. They trust the Shepherd.

Jesus is our Shepherd. He is watching. Our job is just to remain with Him, in the close proximity of His Love and care, and let Him be our Shepherd. He's trained, He's capable, He's loving, He wants the absolute best for us. Remain...Remain...Remain

“As the Father has loved me, so have I loved you. Now remain in my love." (John 15:9)

Hide me Lord!

2011-02-14T10:16:00.000-06:00

"Keep me as the apple of your eye; hide me in the shadow of your wings" (Psalm 17:8)

Those who are in Christ Jesus will always be like the female cardinal. At first glance, you can not see her, because she is camouflaged by the tree. Her enemy can not see her because she is protected. The enemy's eye is drawn to her mate.

Jesus is the male cardinal. His bright red covering marked with the reminder of His blood shed for each of us that call on His Name ("all who call on the Name of the Lord will be saved". Acts 2:21)

The enemy has to go through the King to get to the bride...every time...Hide me Lord!!

Awesome Creator!!

2011-02-07T09:25:00.000-06:00

⁵ This is what God the LORD says—

the Creator of the heavens, who stretches them out,

who spreads out the earth with all that springs from it,

who gives breath to its people,

and life to those who walk on it (Isaiah 42:5)

"And even the very hairs of your head are all numbered." (Matt. 10:30)

Okay, can I just say that things like this don't just evolve?! A single snowflake on a scarf (got pic from Meredith Andrews tweet) is evidence that things just don't happen...they are created, and all things are created to give God Glory! From the mountains, to the sea, to the newborn baby's cry and how it miraculously grows from a microscopic egg united with a sperm and then somehow survives in a mother for 9 months...the Divine Creator weaving and molding His Creation to give Him Praise!

Down, but Not Defeated

2011-02-05T09:36:00.000-06:00

The sight of swarming buzzards overhead makes me look for something wounded, weak, or dead below. As I watched this scene as I drove home the other day, God reminded me of this fallen world where we are temporarily making our home. Just as quickly as God will come to the aid of those who are hurting, fallen, or seemingly "dead", the buzzards (satan) will come in to try to devour the same.

"For our struggle is not against flesh and blood, but against the rulers, against the authorities, against the powers of this dark world and against the spiritual forces of evil in the heavenly realms." (Eph 6:12)

But for those of us who are "in Christ Jesus", nothing that the evil one could ever do can ever devour us. Satan was declawed and defanged at the cross. All he can do to us now is gum us to death. Glory!!!

"I press on toward the goal to win the prize for which God has called me heavenward in Christ Jesus." (Phil 3:14)

Drawing You Back

2011-02-03T11:23:00.000-06:00

I've had an injury since my last post that has basically kept me from exercising, both outside and inside, for almost 3 months. I'm realizing that in order to see God in nature, you actually have to be in it, feeding off of it so that it can nourish your soul.

When I leave my feeders empty for several days in a row, the birds go elsewhere to find food. I feel like there are times in my life when I feel empty, and void, and like the birds, because there's no food in the feeder, I search out other possibilities to fill me. Because I miss my birds, I will go out today and fill their feeders again. Maybe, possibly, that's what God does with us at times. He allows the feeder to go empty for a season, allows us to go and eat in places that we've deemed "satisfying", in order to show us that our true "fill" only comes from Him. And just like Jesus does, when we've come to the end of ourselves, He will fill the feeder back up to draw us back home.

"come and eat and be satisfied, and so that the LORD your God may bless you in all the work of your hands." (Deut. 14:29)

Holy Focus

2010-11-17T08:33:00.000-06:00

I've been studying Hebrews 12:2 today which says,

"Let us fix our eyes on Jesus, the author and perfecter of our faith, who for the joy set before him endured the cross, scorning its shame, and sat down at the right hand of the throne of God."

I love looking up the original meanings for words/phrases in scripture on www.blueletterbible.org, and this morning, I was curious to see what the original meaning of the word "fix" meant. The original word means to "turn the eyes away from other things and fix them on something else". My mind thinks visually, so immediately I began to think of something that would explain what I picture the word to mean.

This dog is fixated. His focus is planted on something, and nothing, other than its owner will be able to pull him from what he sees.

We all have a lot of things going on right now. Life is busier than I've ever seen it, and it is so easy to shift our focus to the details of life, and really never experience the true Joy of life, which is Jesus Christ. God has impressed upon my heart today, that, just like the dog, I need to be fixated on Him and on Kingdom things. I have found that when I do, all the other details of life are still there and eventually get accomplished, but the day finds a new meaning and purpose when I seek a Holy Focus.

Go

2010-11-10T08:26:00.000-06:00

It's a glorious Fall morning, well, it really feels like Spring, because it's cool, but will be in the mid 70's today again with warm sunshine. As I sat down with my coffee and my Bible, my sweet dog Cooper came to me and did what he does a lot. He laid his head on the chair next to my leg. Now, before you say in your head, "Aww", this is generally the thing he does when he wants something from me, so like I have done many times before, I said, "Go". Most of the time that doesn't work until I say, "Go lay down," to which he doesn't leave my presence, but he lays close by.

Before I sat down, I prayed that God would speak to me this morning, and as I said the word "Go", a truth resonated in my heart. I do that with God. When life is too busy and there are too many things on my "to do" list, my actions say "Go" to God when He comes close. But what does He do? Much like Cooper, He never leaves and stays by my side until I'm ready for Him. “Never will I leave you; never will I forsake you.” (Hebrews 13:5)

Today my heart says, "Lord, come near, closer than I think I need you. Thank you for never leaving me, even when my heart says "Go lay down."

Hold On

2010-10-26T08:46:00.000-05:00

It's crazy windy in Middle Tennessee today! Fall is trying desperately to make an entrance, but warmer temperatures keep it at bay. The leaves have changed, but since we haven't had the rain that we need, it seems this year that the colors aren't as vibrant, along with the fact that the trees are letting them go more quickly. As I was taking my son to school this morning, I noticed a smaller tree that was being whipped by the wind. If the leaves could talk (which the older I get, I do animate and give things voices :) ) I believe that they would be screaming, "Hold on! Hold on for dear life!" At that very moment, God began forming this on my heart. "A shoot will come up from the stump of Jesse; from his roots a Branch will bear fruit." (Isaiah 11:1) As I looked at the leaves being battered by the wind and trying to hold on, I thought of the excruciating "wind" that this life deals us living in this world: lies, pain, divorce, success at all cost, disease, disappointment, loss, exhaustion, addiction, shame, guilt, and the list could go on an on. But as long as we hang on to the Branch, we have LIFE. Leaves apart from the branch wither and die. Leaves that decide to fly off on their own and ride the wind, never have a source of direction, and they are a slave to the wind. The Branch (Jesus Christ) is the only source of true life.

For you

2010-10-04T20:48:00.000-05:00

I did this for you...for you...even if you were the only one...for you

John 10:17-19 (New International Version)

¹⁷The reason my Father loves me is that I lay down my life—only to take it up again. ¹⁸No one takes it from me, but I lay it down of my own accord. I have authority to lay it down and authority to take it up again.

The Call to Fly

2010-08-02T13:39:00.002-05:00

"3The watchman opens the gate for him, and the sheep listen to his voice. He calls his own sheep by name and leads them out. 4When he has brought out all his own, he goes on ahead of them, and his sheep follow him because they know his voice." (John 10:3-4)

Babies know Momma's voice...They sing back the same chirp...Dad joins the song...It's a song that beckons the frightened babies to take the plunge out of the nest...The bush trembles at their movement. Momma leaves for a moment and the babies call loudly. She comes back, on the ground now, making her demands louder. Their insistent chirp back seems to be screaming, "I'm not ready to go." She continues to come back, each time with more food the strengthen the apprehensive, readying babies.

New seasons of life for our babies are so hard at times, but God blesses us with them so that we can call them out of the nest to try out what we've taught them to spread their wings and FLY! (Sidenote...I have had 3 litters (i know they're not called litters, but you get it) of baby robins from the same mom and dad all summer. They have been nesting since April 15th, and the last 3 flew the coop last week...)

Give Me a Drink!

2010-08-02T13:14:00.000-05:00

The temperature in Tennessee this week will be close to 100 degrees. The heat index will be close to 110 degrees. I usually water my flowers every other day in the summer, but because of the heat, I am stepping it up daily, at least until the heat subsides. The Miracle Grow has even made its way out of the shed, as I'm fearful that the flowers will wilt in the heat.

As I made my way around the yard, flooding all of my plants with a good drink of water, God turned my thoughts toward my own walk with Him. I had to ask myself the question, "When I feel the sweltering heat come into my own life through challenges, pain, weakness, or sadness, do I flood my life with an extra drink in the Word to sustain me?" Many times, the answer is "No". I become so consumed with the circumstance, "the heat", that it becomes my main focus, and not the Source that can give me a drink through the relief and nourishment of His Word.

I look at my flowers and I'm reminded that they need watered regularly in order to stay healthy, and a double watering when the heat tries to consume them. My life, also, needs a watering of His Word to keep me healthy as well, and when the heat comes, it needs a double portion!

"you would have asked him and he would have given you living water." (John 4:10)

Harmony?

2010-05-30T19:10:00.000-05:00

My birdie hotel...I've been watching it since March, eager for the Purple Martins to reserve a room. Sparrows quickly moved in, and for a few months have annoyed me, because pretty much anywhere I have provided a house, here and in my Bluebird house, they have moved in and taken over.

Last week I began to see a lone Martin checking out the hotel. As the week passed, it started coming around more and more, with the sparrow staring it down each time it perched. One Martin turned into to two, into three, and finally into four. Since March, I have been wanting the Martins to come in and kick the Sparrows out....until...the babies were born, and now I just want them to share!!!

I'm a freak, I know, but Mike gave me a pair of binoculars that we've had, and I've been staring at the birds for days. I've been worried about the baby Sparrows, and with good reason. Today before church, I saw one of the Martins in the Sparrow's nest tormenting the babies and it made one fly out!

So my heart is torn, as I'm sure God's is when his children can't or wont live together in harmony. I want the Martins to live in the Birdie Hotel, but I don't want them to kick the Sparrows out. Stay tuned...as of this afternoon, the Sparrows still have a home.

(1Pe 3:8) "Finally, all of you, live in harmony with one another; be sympathetic, love as brothers, be compassionate and humble."

Majesty

2010-05-30T18:26:00.000-05:00

I'm sitting under my carport as a scattered thunderstorm pops up. I'm beginning to smell the wet asphalt and the cadence of the rain is getting more rapid. The activity of the birds has slowed quite a bit as all of the nesting birds fly back to warm their exposed eggs. I see a few stray birds here and there, probably the Daddy's watching over their brides. The chirp of the Cardinal (my Jesus) is the loudest sound I hear right now. His Majesty is everywhere!

Baby Oh Baby

2010-05-22T22:00:00.000-05:00

So much has happened since baby robin was born a little over a month ago. Life has flown at a shutter speed pace, with our 18 year old winding down her Senior year of high school...prom...CATS...graduation...oh, I'm getting sidetracked. I'll talk about her later. Back to this bird...God has shown me lots of lessons through this small life.

Lesson #1 Time passes so fast... It seems like just yesterday that my kids were babies.

Lesson #2 Along with this bird, there was another egg that never hatched. As baby continued to grow, momma robin realized that her other baby would never be a baby, so she kicked it out of the nest to crack on the concrete. What God showed me about this is that so many times we focus on what might have been that we miss out on what already is. If momma would have continued to sit on the nest trying to hatch the other egg, she would begin to neglect the baby that already lived.

Lesson #3 A momma's work is never done...nothing more to say about that!!

Lesson #4 Sometimes life scares the bejeebies out of us, but God still holds us in the palm of His Hands. On day 12 of this new life, we had a bunch of people over to our house for Kinsey's graduation celebration. As we were preparing, we scared the baby just one too many times and it literally jumped out of the nest and ran off into the bushes. It wasn't quite ready to fly! We never saw baby again...We kept checking the nest, watching for momma, and praying that she found him, but resting in the fact that God cares about all of His creation. I honestly don't know what became of him. I'm just hoping that he got to try out his wings!

Lesson #5 Life moves on...4 or 5 days have passed, and I was shocked to see momma robin come back to the nest and what does she do? She lays 3 MORE EGGS!

Discipleship

2010-05-22T21:55:00.001-05:00

I have a dear neighbor that lets me steal flowers from her. She has a bunch of daisies, so I knew she wouldn't mind some of them making their way to my yard. I've been realizing a little bit about transplanting flowers. They need lots of water!!! Each day, I would go outside and this daisy would be drooping again, as if to say, "I need more water so I can grow!" So what do I do? I water, and I water, and I water!

God's whisper to me in the daisies is this..."New believers need lots of watering!" My heart couldn't help thinking about young children who accept Jesus as their Savior, believe that He is God's Son who died for their sins and rose to life again, and who also commit their lives to Him. So many times, just like this daisy, I feel like they make that decision and are "planted", but then, we as parents and older disciples, leave them to droop because we don't "water" them! New believers, just like new plants, need tons of attention to flourish! We want our world to bloom with the love of Christ in His believers, so we have to take the time to invest in the future of the Kingdom...those young daisies!!

I'm a Grandmother!!

2010-05-03T20:37:00.000-05:00

For two weeks, I have been watching a robin carefully, methodically build her nest, lay her eggs, and screech at anyone who disturbed her. She laid three eggs, but only two survived. We have had the most gorgeous past two weeks, up until this past weekend when we got the most rainfall in two days that I have ever witnessed. Tennessee got 25 percent of our yearly rainfall in two days. I have never seen such flooding. 22 have lost their lives so far, which absolutely breaks my heart. In the midst of the downpours, I kept a close eye on my robin. Rain poured down upon her all day for two days, but like devoted mothers do, she sat patiently on her nest all weekend long, knowing, like a mother's heart does, that her precious ones were soon to arrive. Today is Monday, and after a long and frightening weekend, we awoke to the glorious glow of the sunshine. When I checked on the nest, this is the sight that I found!!! Life came out of the dark of the rainy, flood-filled weekend. Hallelujah! I feel like a grandmother! (Gigi is what I want to be called)

New Life!

2010-04-05T19:33:00.001-05:00

My heart has been leaping with all of the new life in Spring! The South is absolutely gorgeous in the Spring, with every type of tree budding and blooming, daffodils scattering their yellow everywhere you look, and tulips popping their heads left and right. I take many pictures of my beloved cardinal in the winter, because the bare limbs allow me to see them more clearly. Winter symbolizes death for me, with all of life pretty much asleep, so when Spring came this year, my heart yearned to take a picture of the cardinal in the bloom of LIFE! How perfect that God gave me this picture on Easter! The day that Jesus rose from the dead so that we all could LIVE is the very day that I was able to capture this precious scene. GLORY!! Anyone who accepts Jesus as Savior is clothed in LIFE! Hallelujah! I live because He lives!!

"The thief comes only to steal and kill and destroy; I have come that they may have life, and have it to the full." (John 10:10)

Bitter Roots

2010-04-05T19:19:00.000-05:00

"See to it that no one misses the grace of God and that no bitter root grows up to cause trouble and defile many." (Hebrews 12:15)

This tree, well now it's a dead tree, has been taunting me for weeks. I drive by it almost every day, and each time it's as if screams, "Take a picture of me! I have a word to speak!" Every time I'm reminded to capture it, I don't have my camera in the car. It's Springtime, and the chainsaws are screaming, so I've been in a panic thinking that someone would cut the tree down before I could take a picture.

The tree is totally dead. Some sort of root has trailed up the trunk and squeezed, inch by inch, bit by bit, the life that once lived in this tree. Just like this tree, bitterness is a deadly root that can take hold of our lives and inch by inch, bit by bit, squeeze the life out of us and out of those we are embittered toward.

I have seen marriages suffocated because of bitterness. I have watched churches disintegrate because of bitterness. I have seen friendships vanish because a root of bitterness has taken hold.

"Get rid of all bitterness, rage and anger, brawling and slander, along with every form of malice." (Ephesians 4:31)

Is bitterness a root that is squeezing the life out of you?

God's Heart

2010-04-05T17:48:00.000-05:00

"For God so loved the world that He gave His only Son, that whosoever believes in Him will not perish, but have everlasting LIFE". (John 3:16)

My daughter Kinsey took this picture on Easter at my parents house. I love this old oak tree in every season, because the sun always sets behind it. I quote the "oaks of righteousness" verse quite a bit as I strive to live a free life in Christ. It is so fitting that the day that Jesus took every sin ever committed and bore it on His perfect Body, He once and FOR ALL made those who would believe in Him righteous before Him. We are clean because He had to wear our dirty stains.

"Amazing Love, O what sacrifice! The Son of God given for me. My debt He paid, and MY DEATH He died, that I might LIVE, that I might LIVE"!!

"God made him who had no sin to be sin for us, so that in him we might become the righteousness of God." (2 Cor. 5:21)

Signs of Spring

2010-03-18T22:08:00.001-05:00

I have come that they may have life, and have it to the full. (John 10:10)

Fellowship

2010-03-18T21:56:00.000-05:00

"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." (1John 1:7)

Come!!

2010-03-18T21:33:00.000-05:00

In my Father's house are many rooms; if it were not so, I would have told you. I am going there to prepare a place for you. (John 14:2)

I love my new birthday present!! No, my birthday is not until July, but I needed this one NOW! This is not just ANY birdhouse, it's a hotel for Martins! Their scouts come back from Brazil to seek nesting shelter for the summer, and they come mid-March, so they need to come and stay in my beautiful, spacious Birdie Hotel! This hotel has enough space to house 16 families of Martins. WooHoo!!!

Jesus came to earth, lived a sinless life, a perfect example for us to follow so that one day, He could go back to Heaven and prepare a room for us! I am so thankful that He has room not just for 16 but for anyone who calls on His Name!

"And everyone who calls on the name of the Lord will be saved." (Acts 2:21)

Fly FREE!

2010-03-17T16:58:00.000-05:00

"It is for freedom that Christ has set us free" (Galatians 5:1)

God gave me two words yesterday. "Fly Free"! Each time my eyes would land on a bird soaring through the air, my heart said, "Fly Free!" The word "free" has such a sentimental place in my heart and has since 2003 when Jesus set me FREE from the sin and shame of having an abortion. My heart longed to truly be free, but somehow I just didn't know how as long as I was carrying the chains of shame behind me.

Watching birds is so soothing for me. Flying from tree to tree, methodically manuevering between branches, knowing where the food is, and singing all the while. My heart was drawn to birds that I see in the pet stores. I feel so sorry for them, because the cage is all they'll ever know, and in reality, if they were released into the free space of the sky, they would probably die from the predators that lurk, waiting for the weak.

Up until seven years ago, I was that caged bird, willingly bound, because I felt too weak, too ill-equipped, too worthless to "fly free", but oh, how wrong I was! For every truth, there is counterfeit, a lie, waiting to take up residency in our hearts. Through the Truth of God's word I have embraced that...

I am God's child (John 1:12); I am Christ's friend (John 15:5); I have been justified (Romans 5:1); I am a saint, a holy one (Ephesians 1:1); I have been redeemed and forgiven of ALL my sins (Colossians 1:14); I am complete in Christ (Colossians 2:10); I am free forever from condemnation (Romans 8:1-2); I cannot be separated from the love of God (Romans 8:35-39); I may approach God with freedom and confidence (Ephesians 3:12)

The door to the cage is open...FLY FREE!!!!

Sweet Time

2010-03-16T10:28:00.001-05:00

My heart has been yearning to be outside and see God. With Spring's rebirth getting closer, it heightens my anticipation, because although I love to see God in Winter, I see Him much more in the the LIFE of the other seasons. Mike and I had the blessing of getting away to a B & B for our 21st anniversary. It was sooo awesome! God took that yearning and fed it as He showed off for me and Mike as we hiked, listened to the rushing water, and just "vegged" in His creation. The next few posts were from our time away. We stayed at Evins Mill in Smithville. I highly recommend it!

Only For a Season

2010-03-15T18:20:00.001-05:00

What is seemingly dead will soon come to life...no leaves yet...no sign of life, but life is around the bend. There is a season for everything. At times, our lives are alive with color and every facet blooming, and then there are seasons where the branches are bare, brittle, and barely hanging on. His Love brings life to the darkest places, and His Promise is that there is a time to die, and there is also a time to live. He has the power to bring life out of anything and anyone.

1 There is a time for everything,

and a season for every activity under heaven:

2 a time to be born and a time to die,

a time to plant and a time to uproot,

3 a time to kill and a time to heal,

a time to tear down and a time to build,

4 a time to weep and a time to laugh,

a time to mourn and a time to dance,

(Ecc. 3:1-4)

Let Me Step Where You Step

2010-03-15T18:12:00.001-05:00

Hiking, for the most part, is a single file adventure, with one leading, and the rest following. I found that as I was following Mike along this trail, wherever he stepped I stepped there too. As I watched his steps stay secure wherever he went, I planted my feet there as well. Mike is also the leader of our home, and I have to trust his steps and direction in our family. I watch where he goes, and because I know that ultimately Jesus is ahead of him, guiding his steps, I know that I can trust his direction of our marriage and our family. By his staying on course with Jesus, our path together will always head in God's direction.

"5 Trust in the Lord with all your heart;

do not depend on your own understanding.

6 Seek his will in all you do,

and he will show you which path to take." (Prov 3:5-6)

Legacy

2010-03-12T23:08:00.000-06:00

"I wanna leave a legacy. How will they remember me? Did I choose to love? Did I point to You enough to make a mark on things? I wanna leave an offering. A child of mercy and grace who blessed Your Name unapologetically." (Nichole Nordeman)

As the water of truth pours over the ledge and touches everything in its path, our lives on this earth affect others, both for the good and bad...the words we speak, the actions we take. At the end of my life, I want to have touched other lives for Jesus and those lives touch others, just as the water falls down and touches every layer until it reaches bottom. My heart is to leave a legacy of love in honor of the Perfect Lover of my soul. Lord, pour me out like a drink offering!

"For I am already being poured out like a drink offering" (2Tim. 4:6)

The Path That Leads to Living Water

2010-03-12T22:53:00.001-06:00

"Whoever believes in me, as the Scripture has said, streams of living water will flow from within him." (John 7:38)

Roots Exposed

2010-03-12T22:49:00.000-06:00

The roots of our faith grow deep as we journey in our walk with Jesus. With each passing year, the roots should grow deeper and stronger as they search for the "Living Water" that nourishes them and makes them take deeper root. Life happens though...storms of disappointment, anger, disease, failure, shame, deceit, and struggle try to erode the foundation of our lives in Christ. With each storm, the erosion has to be tended to, filled in, and rebuilt, otherwise the roots become exposed and vulnerable. But no matter how many storms crash against our lives, our foundation is always secure in Christ Jesus.

"It will be a shelter and shade from the heat of the day, and a refuge and hiding place from the storm and rain."

(Isaiah 4:6)

Rushing Water

2010-02-25T10:29:00.000-06:00

"6So then, just as you received Christ Jesus as Lord, continue to live in him, 7rooted and built up in him, strengthened in the faith as you were taught, and overflowing with thankfulness." (Colossians 2:6-7)

It was a gorgeous, Spring-like day this past Saturday in the South. Temperatures in the 60's beckoned our family to take an extended ride on the Greenway. As God would have it, one of the tires blew on a bike about 7-8 miles from our starting point. I volunteered to stay back and let someone come back and get me and the wounded bike. I had some time to look at the river as it rushed by. We've had quite a bit of rain so the river has been consistently up .

As I was basically in a trance looking at the water, my eyes happened upon these two scenes. Looking up and down the banks of the river from where it had swelled, there were large logs and debris that got caught in the current. But then I looked down and saw this tiny twig. It swayed with the current, but it was never uprooted. Why? Because it's foundation was planted far enough into the river bed that that current couldn't sweep it away. The larger log couldn't stay in its place because it had nothing to hold it there.

In this crazy fallen world that we live in, we have to be deeply rooted and established in Christ, otherwise the troubles, challenges, heartbreaks, and just the busyness of life will sweep us away.

Uninvited Guests

2010-02-25T10:11:00.000-06:00

"The Lord is not slow in keeping his promise, as some understand slowness. He is patient with you, not wanting anyone to perish, but everyone to come to repentance." (2 Peter 3:9)

So...I love me some birds. I think it's so neat that even after I have not filled my feeders for a few days and they pretty much disappear, I can refill the feeders and within minutes the birds are back...ALL of them. I love the beautiful birds...of course the cardinal, the chickadee (Kinsey's favorite), the gold finch, the tufted titmouse, and the blue bird. Sidenote: I currently have no blue birds because the sparrows have taken over their house :( I get very excited when my yard is filled with beautiful birds, but I have found that I get annoyed when the "ugly" birds, the scavengers, the food hogs come and eat all the bird's food. So what do I do? I bang on the window to scare them off! Even though I like doves (primarily because they are monogamous birds) I tend to bang on the window at them because they are feeder hogs!! I especially dislike the starlings and the black birds because the starlings are ugly to me, and the black birds remind me of satan.

God's truth to me about the starlings is this: "They are my creation; they have a purpose; I love them; and they need fed too." As I stare out the window at the birds I could care less about, my heart steered toward His people creation. How many times have I judged someone because of how they looked, or what I felt that they had to offer, by the lifestyle that they choose or by the simple fact that they didn't look or act like me? (I know! UGHHH!) God is sweetly but firmly showing me that ALL of His creation has a purpose and meaning to Him. Just as the pretty birds need fed, so do the ones we perceive as "ugly". He wants ALL of His creation to come to Him for the feeding of their souls.

Who or what is a starling to you?

Perception of His Light

2010-02-04T10:29:00.000-06:00

"This is the message we have heard from him and declare to you: God is light; in him there is no darkness at all." (1 John 1:5)

The sun has not shown much over the past week. God has blessed our region with beautiful snow that we don't usually get to enjoy. More rain/sleet/snow in the forecast, so the sun will be hiding for days to come. As I was driving home today, I caught a quick glimpse of the sun peeking behind the clouds. There wasn't even enough light for it to cast a shadow on the ground, but it was a gentle reminder that it hasn't gone anywhere.

As Christ followers, there are times when we look at our lives, our circumstances, and our pain as a measuring stick to God's presence in our lives. When we feel pain or are going through a particularly challenging season in our lives, it's easy to view God as not as close, or not shining brightly enough in our lives.

As I gazed at this picture, I see the clouds as our circumstances. Many times we can't see the sun for the clouds, even though in our hearts we know that the sun is behind them. I've heard, and have said myself, especially in the winter, that too many cloudy days send my spirit into a funk. I need the sun! Just as our physical bodies need Vitamin D, our spirits need Jesus!

"Now faith is being sure of what we hope for and certain of what we do not see." (Hebrews 11:1)

The SON is always there...always...forever...the clouds are temporary, our circumstances, pain, and heartache are only for a moment. Let's remind ourselves the focus on the Son, not the clouds.

FREEDOM

2010-01-30T14:44:00.001-06:00

"It is for freedom that Christ has set us free. Stand firm, then, and do not let yourselves be burdened again by a yoke of slavery." Galatians 5:1

Only God could make a red, white, and blue sky! Marvelous!! Yay God!!

I Will Wait

2010-01-30T14:33:00.000-06:00

I have a dear friend Stacey that looks at nature the way I do...I asked her permission to share this. I know from living life with lots of people how depression can consume life, draining it of any meaning. I pray that this is an encouragement that our HOPE that satisfies and will sustain us is Jesus Christ and Him alone.

I took this picture today. Daffodils’ are close to my heart. They are symbolic of restoration and a new beginning. I look for them daily in expectation during the last stretch of each winter. When I was consumed by bondage and depression, there were many years that they were my only hope – a hope of what was to come. “If I can just make it until the daffodils bloom…” I would repeat over and over.

Today my hope lies in the glory of our LORD! I still wait daily in expectation – in expectation of God. “He is good to those whose hope is in him, to the one who seeks him; it is good to wait quietly for the salvation of the LORD.” (Lamentations 3:25-26) My soul rejoices in its restoration! I am thankful that the earth is full of God’s glory – like the newness of a daffodil as it pierces thru the pure white fresh fallen snow.

Scarlet and White

2010-01-29T22:12:00.003-06:00

Isaiah 1:18

"Come now, let us reason together," says the LORD. "Though your sins are like scarlet, they shall be as white as snow; though they are red as crimson, they shall be like wool.

The crimson red against the white reflection of the snow. Absolutely Beautiful picture of our Savior wearing the scarlet color of OUR sin. He's amazing...Simply amazing...

Building Back the Boundary

2010-01-29T22:03:00.000-06:00

Our area has had a great deal of rain lately. The Stones River is close to my home, and generally when it rains a bunch, it floods the greenway walking trail that borders it. I usually look on one side of the river to see if the water is above the trail, but this particular day my eyes were drawn to the other side of the bridge, where usually, the water is a good bit below these rocks. Every time the water rises to the rocks, the current of the water breaks down the strength of the boundary that the rocks provide the river. Isn't that so true with our lives? Rains come, sometimes torrential downpours, and the waters rise on the boundaries that keep us safe. Sometimes damage is done, foundation washed away, but as the waters recede, it is necessary to make the foundation strong again. That true foundation builder can only be found in the person of Jesus Christ and the abundant Life that only He can provide. Rains do come in like a flood at times in our lives, but with Jesus, we are eternally safe.

"So this is what the Sovereign LORD says: "See, I lay a stone in Zion, a tested stone, a precious cornerstone for a sure foundation; the one who trusts will never be dismayed." Isaiah 28:16

The Path of a Raindrop

2010-01-26T15:26:00.002-06:00

I am absolutely THRILLED to have a guest writer today. My sweet middle child Madison loves to write, and she shared with me Sunday what God showed her through the raindrops. It is so cool to see my kids grasp the legacy being passed down to them. To see God in nature is a daily reminder of His perfect faithfulness and the assurance that we are never alone.

As I'm going to church, looking out the car window, I'm watching the raindrops trickle down acrossthe car, and I picture those tiny, innocent raindrops being humans, and how a raindrop always has to go first and the other ones following the same exact path. As humans, we look at other people's walk with God and try to mirror it, so my dad or mom being the first raindrops that trickle down their walk with God. Sometimes I want to follow the same exact path with God. So, looking back, are you the follower or will you branch out and be on your own with God? Jesus has a specific path for all of us and when the "pour" of people come asking you how your life with God is, are you going to be ready for the storm?

The Wounded

2010-01-15T12:33:00.000-06:00

So, I'm on my run this morning, being very "God aware", asking Him to teach me as I ran. I'm finding that I see Him lots more when I get OUT! I encourage any of you reading that do not get outdoors much to bundle up and get ready for His Glory! He's out there waiting! Now, I'm not saying that He can't give you spiritual truths while you're doing laundry, scrubbing toilets, or vacuuming, but it's much prettier outside.

I'm running down Riverview Drive when I happen upon a squirrel that had been hit and killed by a car. It was obvious that it hadn't been there long because of the way it lay as if it just looked like it was taking a nap in the road. As I passed, my mind went to a place of, "Maybe it's still alive, and I just need to gently move it to the grass so it will survive. Next thought, "If I pick that wounded thing up, it will surely BITE ME"! It was obvious that it was dead, but here's where God began weaving His teaching into my heart.

Just like it was very probable if I picked up a wounded animal and it bit me, that is very true of humans as well. Mike and I have an awesome privilege of walking with wounded people every day. Unfortunately, as we try to pick them up and move them to the side of the road, they BITE. Hurting people have a tendency to hurt people, but even as Jesus was being spat upon, whipped, scourged, ridiculed, and ultimately slain, He did not bite back.

It is so hard as imperfect humans to grasp that fact, but as I learned in a great way at Passion in Atlanta, "3His divine power has given us everything we need for life and godliness through our knowledge of him who called us by his own glory and goodness." (2Peter 1:3) We have EVERYTHING THAT WE NEED when life, or the people in life BITE US. We just have to access that Divine Power instead of relying on our own strength.

Lifeless Limbs

2010-01-14T20:17:00.001-06:00

So, I've been staring at this tree with a broken limb for days. It happens to be in my view as I watch the sun rise. With all the strong limbs around it, my eyes are continually drawn to the broken limb, the limb that no longer has life in it and just needs to be cut off.

"He cuts off every branch in me that bears no fruit, while every branch that does bear fruit he prunes so that it will be even more fruitful." (John 15:2)

The truth that keeps invading my mind is how in our lives we have broken places, even places that are completely severed, and totally lifeless, that need to be "cut off", but we continue to drag them behind us like a lifeless limb.

God promises us that "He has made everything beautiful in its time", (Ecc. 3:11) even that broken limb. Maybe it needs to be cut off so that it can be made into a fire to warm someone, maybe it can be used to build something, or maybe even chopped up into mulch to nourish the earth. Whatever the use, that broken limb can be used for good, just as our brokenness can be used to minister to others.

Are you carrying around dead limbs?

Purity

2010-01-09T09:36:00.002-06:00

Soccer on a snowy Saturday...The beauty of falling white snow is purification for me. It's as if God's cleansing, perfect Self is covering me. All that is blemished and imperfect covered by the white snow. The snow will melt, and all that's underneath will be exposed, but I am so thankful that Christ's purification through His blood on the cross will never leave or ever melt away. I am pure because of Him. Nothing that I will ever do or not do will change His total acceptance of me. Because of Him, I am transformed as the snow transforms the Earth. Praise Him!

"To appreciate the beauty of a snowflake, it is necessary to stand in the cold."

My Birds

2010-01-08T15:00:00.001-06:00

The male and female that look sort of damaged its because they are! Both of them hit my back door and laid under my carport stunned. Praise God they flew away, otherwise I would still be wearing black and in a state of mourning!!

Worthy Is The Lamb!

2010-01-08T14:45:00.000-06:00

Wow! It has been forever since I've posted! My heart is so full and ready for 2010! Many make resolutions or goals for the new year, and I personally like it. It's as if the New Year says "fresh start", "clean slate", "a chance for a do over". I personally get excited over all of those phrases because it means that I am grasping the fact that I can look at the past to help me learn from my mistakes or keep doing the things that worked for me, but it also means that I, by my own choice don't have to take those mistakes into the future. GLORY!!

My beloved red birds have been congregating at my house over the past weeks and my heart has been singing!!! One particular day I counted 14 males/females. I was absolutely screaming in my kitchen. Something that God has shown me in the new year is how it feeds my soul to see Him in creation and then write. Everytime I write, my focus is totally on the One who is so Worthy, and I know that gives Him Glory! I know that God has called me to write in worship to Him, and my goal in 2010 is to write every time He shows me a truth about His Creation, so please pray that I will be obedient! I don't love the computer, so it will definitely be a sacrifice, but HE IS SO WORTH IT!

Obstacles to Worship

2009-11-20T10:14:00.002-06:00

I've recently started training for a 1/2 marathon. I have done several in the past, but haven't done one in several years. Today's run was 3 miles. It is a beautiful, crisp, sunny day today, and as I started to run, I began listening to my Ipod. Music is my heart's language, so it feeds me to zone out to the words of my favorites.

As I traveled along, I came to a hill (which I despise) which changed my breathing patterns. It was not as easy, and became quite difficult to regulate it again. During that time, one of my favorite songs "Lead Me to the Cross" by Hillsong was playing in my ears, and what I realized was that the entire song passed without me even thinking about the words or worshipping to them, all because I was preoccupied with my breathing.

Our lives tend to be that way as welll. When the road is even with nothing to waiver our breathing or be an obstacle to us, it is easy to keep our mind stayed on the Lord, but bring those hills, obstacles, or frustrations, and it is very easy to take our eyes off of the One who wants to help us, the One who loves us, the One who wants the very best for us.

Worn Out from eatin'!

2009-10-12T22:13:00.002-05:00

I honestly think this is the same bird that was asleep in the bird feeder in an earlier post that I wrote! This bird has been feasting off the Birdy King buns that are still hanging outside my kitchen window. The other hanging buns have been devoured already, and slowly but surely, the feast continues. It just makes me laugh that the bird doesn't even have the strength to make it off my shed's roof to the tree for a nap. Sometimes, we're just so worn out, we just need to collapse where we are! Too funny! I love it!!

"Be still and know that I am God". (Psalm 46:10)

2009-10-01T11:12:00.002-05:00

"More of You, less of me". ( John 3:30) I have had the blessing this Fall to watch baby cardinals grow. I had no idea until I witnessed it myself that these beloved birds are not red when they are young! No beautiful red coat, no red beak, no red tail feathers. GRAY!!! Just gray!! Nothing really that would ever turn my head when I've been bird watching. My heart knew they were cardinals though, by their shape, and of course by their call. As weeks passed, I noticed this scene...a little red here, a little there, each feather filling with the crimson red that warms my heart every time I see one. As I watched, I kept looking for what God wanted me to learn from this gradual transformation that I was witnessing. The gray that I saw represents the "me" in me. Those places at times of my flesh that I would like to forget or those tendencies that seem to surface when I least expect it. As I talked it through with a friend, I realized that each day that I walk with Jesus, become more like Him, allowing myself to be transformed by Him, I am, like the young cardinal, getting another red feather and another, and another. Ultimately, to be complete in Him and completely transformed into His likeness when I meet Him in Glory!

"Dear friends, now we are children of God, and what we will be has not yet been made known. But we know that when he appears, we shall be like him, for we shall see him as he is." (1John 3:2)

Birdy King

2009-10-01T10:48:00.002-05:00

I am confessing that I am a lunatic. Labor Day came and went, and my sweet husband ended up buying too many buns for the cookout. They have been sitting in my pantry for weeks, and oddly enough, mold had not set in. I am always looking for ways to "treat" my flying God friends, so i decided to set them up for a "Birdy King" meal of buns, peanut butter, and their favorite bird seed. A sweet friend of mine, who just so happens to be an engineer, guided me in the process and encouraged me to attach a stick at the bottom so they could perch. So, I waited, and waited, and waited. Two days later, a brave flying friend decided to take a closer, yummier look. I am reminded of the choice we make to follow God. The table of plenty is set for all that will take that leap of faith, realizing that He is safe, coming to get their fill. It was funny to watch the other birds below, waiting for the extra seed to drop so they could eat. I feel like that's how the world looks on at times...seeing something a little different, but not getting close enough to get the true "filling" that only Christ can give.

"Taste and see that the LORD is good; blessed is the man who takes refuge in him. (Psalm 34:8)

So Close

2009-09-21T16:14:00.002-05:00

I have been driving past this scene for weeks, and God just won't let its truth leave my mind. Looking closely, you can see 3 potted plants that are almost completely dead and a sprinkler only a few feet away. The truth that God implanted (get the wordplay? :) ) on my heart is that there are times when our heart's desire is to grow in Him. We desire to learn more about Him, but at times are at a loss as where to start. Sometimes the answers lie only a few feet away! These plants desperately need water, just as our lives desperately need the Living Water that only Jesus can provide. Won't you turn on the water?

"For the Lamb at the center of the throne will be their shepherd; he will lead them to springs of living water." (Revelation 7:17)

Fishing Truths

2009-09-21T12:20:00.000-05:00

The next few posts are coming from a delightful, relaxing, chigger biting, canoe tipping, fish catching day at a dear friend's stocked pond. God was pouring His truth into my head so fast that I had to use my voice recorder on my phone to capture them all so I wouldn't forget. Satan likes to laugh in my face often when God gives me a word and then by the end of the day I forget it. Not this time!!!

Truth #1 So many times when we are setting out to catch "fish of the faith", we go to a place or a foreign land where there seem to be a bunch of fish to catch. And when we don't catch them, as in this picture where my husband and son have moved to another dock in hopes of more fish being there, we get discouraged and go to another place. I feel like a lot of times, God is just calling to catch fish on our own dock. It's hard to fish a sea when you don't have experience in your own pond.

"Come, follow me," Jesus said, "and I will make you fishers of men." (Matthew 4:19)

Real or Artificial?

2009-09-21T12:13:00.003-05:00

The choices for bait were plentiful. I have no idea what they are all called, but all I know is this...Some were alive and some were rubber. I started out with a larvae looking white wormy thing that was completely rubber. I will give it this...it's fake tail wiggled as you reeled in which seemingly made it look alive, but NOPE, it wasn't. The girls and my son, on the other hand, fished with sweet, sacrificial worms. Something about worms and being sacrificed to catch something else reminds me of Jesus. The girls and my son alike had a great fish catching day because of their authentic, real bait.

As we seek, with Jesus' guidance to lead the lost to a saving relationship with Him, I'm praying that our lives are real and authentic like the worms, and not fake like the ugly larvae. The fish were only attracted to the real bait. They sniffed (well, not sniffed, but I don't know the word) the larvae, only to move on. Is that what the world does to us as Christians? Do they come close enough to "sniff" our faith only to move on because it doesn't seem "real" or authentic?

"But thanks be to God, who always leads us in triumphal procession in Christ and through us spreads everywhere the fragrance of the knowledge of him. For we are to God the aroma of Christ among those who are being saved and those who are perishing." (2Cor. 2:14-15)

Just Waiting to Be Caught

2009-09-21T11:56:00.003-05:00

There will be large numbers of fish, because this water flows there and makes the salt water fresh; so where the river flows everything will live. (Ezekiel 47:9)

As we sat on the dock, preparing our fishing poles with bait, Mike's pole with the bobber hung slightly over the side of the dock. I looked down, and there were at least 5 fish underneath the pole. It was as if the fish were just waiting to be caught! It blew me away!

How many people cross our paths each and every day, just waiting to be drawn into the hope that we have? God purposes every heart that He creates to have a yearning to worship something. Unfortunately, in this life we have bought into the temporary cravings of this world that leave us discontent each and every time. Draw others toward your "pole" by putting off the "fragrance of Christ"! They will be so drawn, whether they understand what/WHO is drawing them, that they will want what you have on your pole!

Where the "Living Water" flows everything LIVES!

Growth Where You Least Expect It

2009-09-21T11:12:00.002-05:00

"The desert and the parched land will be glad; the wilderness will rejoice and blossom. Like the crocus, it will burst into bloom; it will rejoice greatly and shout for joy. (Isaiah 35:1-2)

A popular saying goes, "Bloom where you are planted", but the problem here is that I didn't plant these! (not this year anyway) The red geraniums in the background were planted this Spring, but the white flowers, Vincas I think, were planted, and thought to be pulled up more than 5 years ago.

God showed me through this picture that it is Him who plants the seeds, and it's His timing as to when they will bloom. There have been areas in my life where I thought God had bloomed me all He could, and that He was ready to plant a new "bloomer" because the old had had it's season. Just like the added summer rain resurrected this beautiful flower, I know that any flower that He has planted in me He can bring back at any time as it fits into His purposes for my life.

Rest in Your Fill

2009-08-27T14:06:00.002-05:00

"She had a sister called Mary, who sat at the Lord's feet listening to what he said. Mary has chosen what is better, and it will not be taken away from her." (Luke 10:39;42)

It's been awhile since I have filled my bird feeders. I try not to much in the summer so the birds can naturally take advantage of summer treats. I filled my feeders up earlier in the week, and the birds have gone nuts over it! Birds have been swarming all over my backyard, much to my delight!

This is the crazy sight I saw today...a goofy bird asleep right in the feeder! I imagine that he ate til he couldn't eat anymore, then he just decided to take a nap where he was!

This picture was a sweet reminder of Mary as she sat at Jesus' feet. She sat there, taking in His words like they were food to her, and then after he spoke and she got her fill, she just sat in the fullness of it all and rested.

We unfortunately live in a world that screams that you're lazy if you rest, but much like the bird, we would benefit from getting filled up by Jesus and then just resting in Him.

No Weapon...

2009-07-24T08:44:00.002-05:00

"No weapon formed against me will prosper."(Isaiah 54:17)

I love being outside, but this summer has been unusually mosquito infested. Mosquitos love me. Every time I venture outdoors, they have their forks and knives ready to chow down on my skin! I always have to have tiki torches flamin', Off sprayed, or my new Off Clip On Fan nearby to ward off the mosquitos.

It was a beautiful morning today, so I was bound and determined to sit outside to have some time with Jesus. As I was sitting under my carport with all of my ammunition ready for the mosquitos, this picture caught my eye next to me. It was a sweet reminder from God to persevere. A reminder that He's got this life under control, and that nothing, not even mosquitos, should keep me from seeking hard after Him.

"With God we will gain the victory, and he will trample down our enemies." Psalm 108:13

I know that I will have more mosquito bites, but Jesus is always the healing salve.

Watered and Fed

2009-07-22T10:25:00.004-05:00

"He is like a tree planted by streams of water, which yields its fruit in season and whose leaf does not wither." (Psalm 1:3)

Planting in containers poses many challenges. It is very exciting at the beginning of Spring and Summer to go the nursery and stock up on new plants to make my yard look beautiful. I am very diligent when I first plant to water regularly to ensure growth. The problem with container plants like these ferns are that they need constant attention because they don't have enough soil to keep them from drying out quickly and not much room for their roots to spread out and flourish. The fern on the left has been neglected, while the fern on the right has been fed regularly.

I am reminded that taking time to focus on my relationship with Christ keeps me fed and healthy. Keeping watered by staying in His Word, looking for Him in His Creation, and basically being preoccupied with Him throughout the day keeps the soil of my heart moist and ready for growth.

Restored, Renewed

2009-07-22T09:36:00.004-05:00

"Branches were broken off so that I could be grafted in."

(Romans 11:19)

Several years ago, the sweet warmth of Spring crept in before its usual time, and this Crepe Myrtle, along with many other plants in my yard made an early appearance. Not long after that, a verocious cold snap covered our area and virtually killed every bit of the new growth that my plants had. That summer, I wondered if this tree and others would ever recover. No life appeared in those shocked plants.

Two years later, this is the picture that I look at when I go outside. What I felt couldn't recover is more beautiful than ever!

The verse above reminds me that in our journey in this life with Christ, there are times when a quick and mighty wave of adversity can absolutely make us snap and appear that there is no life left in us. Unfortunately, our timetable is not God's, and restoratation may not be immediate...it may even take years, as with this Crepe Myrtle, but just as the picture shows, when it comes, it is more beautiful and healthy, because it was in God's timing. The blooms of our lives are so much prettier when the Savior is grafted in.

Every Step of the Journey

2009-06-27T21:29:00.002-05:00

" so I will be with you; I will never leave you nor forsake you." (Joshua 1:5)

As we journeyed to California, Oklahoma proved very flat, but as I looked out the window, I couldn't help but notice the power lines and how they were shaped like crosses. As far as I could see, I could see these powerlines. It reminded me of God's sweet faithfulness to His children and His promise to always be with them. It warmed my heart to know and be sure that no matter where I am in the journey, He is with me every step of the way. Great is His Faithfulness!

My Beloved

2009-06-27T20:50:00.006-05:00

You're My Beloved You're My Bride

To sing over you is My delight

Come away with Me My love

Under My mercy Come and wait

Till we are standing face to face

I see no stain on you My child

You're Beautiful to Me

So Beautiful to Me

I sing over you My song of peace

Cast all your care down at My feet

Come and find your rest in Me

I'll breathe My life inside of you

I'll bear you up on eagle's wings

And hide you in the shadow of My strength

I'll take you to My quiet waters

I'll restore your soul

Come rest in Me and be made whole

You're My beloved You're My Bride

To sing over you is my delight

Come away with me my love

(words by Kari Jobe)

On The Wings of the Storm

2009-06-11T09:02:00.003-05:00

"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)

This scene came right on the heels of a violent storm. Lightning flashing everywhere...torrential downpour...wind shaking things in its path. In my experience with God, storms always bring beauty...always

Sometimes Ya Just Gotta Pull Over

2009-06-11T08:51:00.002-05:00

God's beauty is everywhere! He's sitting in Heaven just waiting for someone to ask Him to show off His Glory! This scene was one of those days...God used the ordinary task of going to pick up pizza to ask me if I was going to take time to notice His Glory. I could not pull off the road fast enough to try and capture this beauty with my camera! I figured that I needed to pull over instead of trying to drive and hang my camera out the window.

"Thus the heavens and the earth were completed in all their vast array." (Genesis 2:1)

The Climb

2009-06-11T08:32:00.003-05:00

We had a fun opportunity to go to the mountains of Georgia where the Appalachian Trail begins. We made the trek up more than 600 stairs to get to our destination the the top of some amazing Falls. As we were climbing and huffing and puffing up each stair anxious to get to the "beauty", I looked back upon this scene. God gave me a gentle nudge as I looked down. So many times in this life, God presents us with a mountain to climb. It may be a mountain of pain, of sorrow, of growth, or even of joy, but as we tend to do, we want to get the hard work of climbing over with so that we can reach the top and see the beauty. In my hurriedness to reach the top, I was missing the beauty of the climb...the stopping every so often to see the beauty of where I was and the even greater beauty of looking below to see how far I came. The peak and end destination was beautiful, but God didn't want me to miss the beauty in the climb.

Breath of God

2009-04-14T16:22:00.005-05:00

" The voice of the LORD twists the oaks and strips the forests bare. And in his temple all cry, "Glory!"

It's taken me a few days to digest all that has happened in our city over the past few days. One moment I was cleaning out flower beds with my husband, and the next our city was in crisis from a tornado that rummaged the earth for 22 minutes. I have two families that are dear to me that will have to rebuild because their homes are unliveable from the storm.

Spending the next days racking my brain to find ways to help, something occurred to me. This devastation occurred on Good Friday, and it was amazing to see the Body of Christ be His hands and feet of service over these past days. I have seen Jesus, in the form of His people, all over Murfreesboro. I can't help but think that God at times has to allow these devastating things to remind His creation that we were meant for something more in this life besides serving self. We were meant to live a life of service to Him. That's exactly what I've seen. Service out of the overflow of Christ living in us. Is this time excruciatingly hard to watch? Of course. But, I know that in all things, God works for the good of those who love Him.

I posted this picture because of something that my friend James said to me as we were surveying his devastation. He lives in an older neighborhood with very mature trees...actually an oak in the front and back yard. With the sound of chainsaws in the background, he said these words to me, "The mighty oak is no match for the breath of God." So true, James, so true.

I am thanking God today for the good that I already have seen coming from this storm in our lives. Just as the rubble leaves the scene of devastation overflowing in the trucks that carry it, our lives continue to overflow with the love of Jesus Christ, who is with us in the midst of every single storm we face in this life.

Rain

2009-04-08T16:56:00.003-05:00

I will send you rain in its season, and the ground will yield its crops and the trees of the field their fruit. (Leviticus 26:4)

Spring, just as in life, has its share of rain. Rain has many purposes...it nourishes the ground; prepares new life to flourish, it acts as a storehouse for drought; it makes what was dry, wet, and what was thirsty, a drink. Rain also can "rain" on our parade. It keeps us in, it makes us wet and irritable, it obscures our vision, makes us "blue", and thwarts our plans.

The rain in our lives has many purposes as well. It can make us blue; thwart our plans; come unexpectedly; and be an inconvenience. There is beauty in the rain because God is always in the rain.

God can allow rain in our lives to nourish us; to cloud our vision so that He can show us His; to bring about new life after a season that seemed dead. God's rain can offer us a drink after a season of drought. No matter how we look at it, God is always for us and has a purpose and a plan for our lives. His rain in our lives is ultimately to bring forth growth and a harvest in our lives. Hallelujah! Bring the rain!!

Beauty from Ashes

2009-03-30T22:10:00.004-05:00

" to bestow on them a crown of beauty instead of ashes, the oil of gladness instead of mourning, and a garment of praise instead of a spirit of despair." Isaiah 61:3 It is amazing to me that my God can take something that I never thought could be redeemed, and use it for His perfect Glory. What I never thought could be "made right", has been made right by the blood of Jesus Christ. These flowers represent 14 innocent lives, but more than that, the flowers represent the "new lives" in complete grace that their mothers feel...and that grace only comes from the the sacrificial blood of Jesus Christ. His word promises that "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 I see the good every day when I am reassured by my Savior that His blood is enough to cover my sin... I see the good when my mistakes can be used to guide someone in truth...I see the good when I can finally be at peace and know that my child rests in the Father's Hand and that I will see him one day in Glory....I see the good when shame is replaced with joy...guilt is replaced with peace...condemnation is replaced with acceptance.

"My biggest nightmare has become the child of my dreams".

(excerpt from Surrendering the Secret)

Beauty from ashes...there's no greater feeling of joy than to be "you" and still be used by God. All praise to His Holy Name!!

Foggy Road

2009-03-19T15:55:00.005-05:00

"You have made known to me the path of life; you will fill me with joy in your presence, with eternal pleasures at your right hand."
(Psalm 16:11)

On a foggy day, it is extremely difficult to see much in front of you. Your focus must be on the road in front of you, and nothing else. The road farther in front of you is unclear, and hard to discern. Our lives are a lot like a foggy day. All we can see is the day in front of us. The days beyond today are foggy and unclear. But as with our drive on the foggy day, we have no other option but to focus on the road directly in front of us. Our comfort has to lie in the fact that God is in the fog, and that all things are clear to Him, even as we're straining to see.

"Therefore do not worry about tomorrow, for tomorrow will worry about itself. Each day has enough trouble of its own." (Matthew 6:34)

Only One

2009-03-19T15:39:00.003-05:00

"You are the only One I need

You are the only God for me

I cannot move, cannot breath

unless You exhale in me."

(words by Antonio Neal)

As I think of the God of the Universe exhaling through me, I am reminded of the power my words have as they come out of my mouth. Throughout the course of the day, how many times do I battle God's exhale when I choose my own? He urges me to build up and not tear down...He sweetly cautions me to choose my words carefully...Very simply, our words have the power to give life or to destroy. When I choose me over God living through me, I cut off my only true life source.

"It is so sweet to know that you have drawn so close

And in return I lay my life down at your feet

Your desire is the song i want to know

You are my song, my melody"

Daffodils

2009-03-12T17:49:00.003-05:00

The daffodils bend as the wind pours over them. They sway, but they never lay down. They are resilient...they continue to bloom no matter how much they are blown...if it rains on them it doesn't destroy them. In Christ we have the strength to be like the daffodil. The winds, storms, and rains of life may try to make us buckle, lay down, or even be destroyed, but in Christ we can always rise above and bloom.

"The rain came down, the streams rose, and the winds blew and beat against that house; yet it did not fall, because it had its foundation on the rock." Matt. 7:25

Magnificent Glory!

2009-03-12T16:12:00.014-05:00

Our trip to St. John celebrating 20 years of marriage was absolutely the most magnificent display of God's Glory that I have ever beheld. The sweet and vastly different mix of translucent aqua blue waters against the backdrop of rocky mountains with a splash of green from the rain forest took my breath away every single day that we were there. While visiting, I got the awesome opportunity to take my first stab at snorkeling. I have been a water lover all of my life, but have never had the chance. I could not help screaming through my snorkel with absolute delight as I saw fish that I had only seen behind glass at the aquarium. The Nemos and Doris and so many others that I had never seen were right below my face nibbling at the coral below. Just another awesome display of God's creativity that He blew me away with. I told Mike as I came out of the water, "There's a whole other world under there that God wanted ME to see"!!!This starfish is alive and about the size of both of my hands with fingers spread apart big! He was right near the shore, but I was trying to keep my composure and not jump up and down with excitement at seeing something that I had never seen before! I was a bit scared snorkeling at first, because being the Gladys Cravitz that I am, I was listening to others say that they had seen huge turtle, octopus, and barracuda under there! I didn't know if I was ready to be immersed in that! I just wanted to see the pretty fish that wouldn't hurt me.

The end of each day always left my heart clapping for the Lord at His beautiful creation. From sunrise to sunset, He is in it all...all you have to do is just look for Him.

This view is from atop the mountain near where we stayed. The small dots in the bay are huge sailboats. From each direction there are views just like these. Mike and I took books and magazines to read, but didn't read any of them because we went to a different beach each day and there was a different view. We didn't want to miss a thing, and we didn't!! Yay God!!

These were the views from our back porch. In the evening picture, the mountain in the distance is St. Thomas. Isn't God marvelous!! His Name be Praised!!

God knows my soft heart towards His feathery creations. I love the yellow finch and the cardinal of course which are not in St. John, so He showed me a bird that I had never seen before...the Bananakeet! We filled a bowl full of water and a little sugar to attract them. They are so used to looking for you to feed them, that the first day they landed on Mike's coffee cup. Precious God birds...

Every facet of God's creation is so amazing...

Seeing Past

2009-02-24T14:02:00.002-06:00

As you first looked at this picture, were your eyes drawn to the clouds or to the light??? God reminded me this morning as I was waiting to drop kids off and I was looking into the sky at this scene of how many times I focus on the clouds and can't see past them to see the brilliance of the sun behind them.

In the world we're living in right now, it's easy to get caught up focusing on the dark clouds of our circumstances. Maybe you're out of work, money is tight, you have marriage problems, sickness in your life or the life of one dear to you...all of these and more could be object of your focus like the clouds,instead of seeing the Light behind the clouds who is always Jesus.

God has something to teach us in every circumstance that we find ourselves in, and we have a choice every day to see past the clouds to the Light. Jesus is the Light.

"I am the light of the world. Whoever follows me will never walk in darkness, but will have the light of life." (John 8:12)

New Life

2009-02-19T12:25:00.000-06:00

It's Not Time

2009-02-19T12:17:00.003-06:00

"There is a time for everything, and a season for every activity under heaven" (Ecclesiastes 3:1)

It's only February and the redbuds are trying to bloom! It's not their time! A few days of warmer weather and all of creation begins to ready itself for Spring. God reminded me of how often I try to bloom a lot of times before His timing. God has a purpose and a plan for all seasons, and in order for things to bloom and be fruitful, they have to go according to His timetable. Chances are these beautiful blooms will be zapped by frost, but fear not, God can bring beauty out of all circumstances.

Obstructed View

2009-02-19T12:03:00.003-06:00

Sometimes the trees get in the way...other times it's clouds, but whatever the obstruction, I always know that the sun is behind it all. Some days there is nothing to get in the way of the sun's brillance, other days the clouds are so thick that although you know the sun is resting behind them, I am missing it's warmth.

Jesus is like that. He says, "I am the light of the world. Whoever follows me will never walk in darkness." (John 8:12) Life may obstruct our view and problems may get in our way, but we can always rest in the eternal hope that the "Son" is always resting behind them.

Forever More

2009-01-30T13:17:00.005-06:00

Wanna live my life with You
Wanna give all that I do
Wanna have each day so close to You
And love you more and more
Wanna spend more time with you
Wanna hide confide in You
Wanna laugh and sing and cry with you
And love you more and more

So I will run until I find You
Where Your arms are open wide
It's only when I'm near You
I'm safe and whole inside
You're the only One I treasure
You're the One that I adore
To be with You forever
And Love you more and more

(words by The Parachute Band)

Faithful

2009-01-29T11:53:00.003-06:00

"Faithful" by Brooke Fraser

There's distance in the air and I cannot make it leave

I wave my arms' round about me and blow with all my might

I cannot sense you close, though I know you're always here

But the comfort of you near is what I long for

[CHORUS]

When I can't feel you,

I have learned to reach out just the same

When I can't hear you, I know you still hear everyword I pray

And I want you more than I want to live another day

And as I wait for you maybe I'm made more faithful

All the folly of the past, though I know it is undone

I still feel the guilty one, still trying to make it right

So I whisper soft your name, let it roll around my tongue,

knowing you're the only one who knows me

You know me

[BRIDGE]

Show me how I should live this

Show me where I should walk

I count this world as loss to me

You are all I want

The Desert Song

2009-01-29T08:07:00.005-06:00

This is my prayer in the desert,

When all that's within me feels dry,

This is my prayer in my hunger and need,

My God is the God who provides,

And this is my prayer in the fire,

In weakness, or trial, or pain,

There is a faith proved more worth than gold,

So refine me Lord through the flame,

I will bring praise,

No weapon formed against me shall remain,

I will rejoice,

I will declare,

God is my victory and He is here

This is my prayer in the battle,

When triumph is still on its way,

I am a conqueror and co-heir with Christ,

So firm on his promise I'll stand,

All of my life,

in every season,

You are still God,

I have a reason to sing,

I have a reason to worship,

And this is my prayer in the harvest,

When favor and providence flow,

I know I'm filled to be emptied again,

The seed I receive I will sow

Wash Me

2009-01-27T14:54:00.003-06:00

Let Your Love flow, like water
Refreshing my soul
From the thirst within me
Let Your Love flow over me like rain
Let Your rain cleanse me again

For my hope is in You
My eyes are fixed
Upon Your Face
So let the rain fall as it may
I am safe, I am sure, beneath Your Heart
Let the waters cleanse and wash me
Purify me in Your Presence
Let the rain fall down upon me
That I may be clean

Wash me, wash me and I will be clean
Wash me, wash me and I will be clean