Shepherds abiding...

In the story of Christmas, an angel told the lowly shepherds about a babe in a manger.  There appeared a bright cloud and then a multitude of angels glorifying God and proclaiming peace among men. 

The importance of the event marked the appearance of a multitude of angels.  Why did they appear to lowly shepherds, who in those days were among the poor?   The answer is simple: God's love isn't only for those of means, God loves everyone.  The shepherds cared for their sheep.  They were responsible for the animals in the field, keeping watch by day and night. 

After witnessing the multitude of angels, the shepherds followed the bright star of Bethlehem to a stable.  Jesus was born in a stall, not a palace.  He was mightier than any king and yet he was visited by kings.  Shepherds were an important part of the Christmas story because God is our shepherd as Jesus was a lamb of God.
God loves each one of us.  If we follow Him, we will be bathed in the light.
"The shepherds went back to their flocks, glorifying and praising God for all they had heard and seen. It was just as the angel had told them." Luke 2:20.   Christmas blessings to all.

Blessing the Masses

Yes, it is an unbelievably busy time of year.  But then, don't we push ourselves to make it that way?  I always wish I had one more week before Christmas. 

As I stood in a long, long line the other day, I noticed other line folks playing with their phones or looking around with disdain. We are an impatient society.  We expect instant attention. This thought hit me: I need to spend this time asking blessings for these people.  I blessed the shoppers in front of me, the shoppers behind me, and the cashiers.  I spent time wondering what difficulties they experienced; what losses they felt.  Then I blessed their families and asked God to bring them comfort.

"May your unfailing love be my comfort, according to your promise to your servant."Psalm 119:76.

Soon it was time for me to check out.  I greeted the cashier with a smile and a beautiful smile was returned.  "Merry Christmas," I replied as I headed out into the rat race.  It was a joyful experience: not because I shopped and survived the line to buy the gifts, but because God was right there with me spreading His light.

"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.

 

Entertaining Angels

Many verses in the Bible tell of angels.  In fact, angels appear in at least 34 books of the Bible because they are messengers of God. Sometimes they warn, sometimes they direct, sometimes they encourage.  One thing is for sure: they are sent directly from God.

One of my favorite Bible verses is Hebrews 13:2: "Do not neglect to show hospitality to strangers, for thereby some have entertained angels unawares."  This is an encouraging suggestion to be kind to those you meet and those in need.  What a wonderful thought to know that someone we encounter could be an angel sent to earth!  Seeing the smile on the face of a complete stranger because you first smiled, is a blessing in itself. 

 

During the rush of this Christmas season, take time to look around, open a door, or give a smile to a stranger.  You never know when an angel might appear!

 

 

Comfort Foods

Turkey roasting in the oven, fresh scents of chopped celery and onion. The sweetness of bright candles and homemade desserts.  Comfort foods take us back.  No matter how often we taste, we always remember. 

I celebrated Thanksgiving at my grandparents' home until I married.  It was always a happy time; the table filled with plenty.  In those days, the turkey had to be basted every so often and my grandmother seemed to stand at the oven all day.  The windows around the table were dripping with condensation from the heat of the kitchen.  Outdoors, the chilly landscape was an array of browns, golds and garnet.

Of course, the best comfort food of the day was the pumpkin pie.  Even though my grandmother always made a mince meat pie, there was nothing finer than good ol' pumpkin!  And real whipped cream piled high. 

I remember saying the blessing one year when I was about 10.  I had written a poem about the day. How blessed we were to enjoy the combination of family and comfort food: truly gifts from God.  As I think back on those special moments, I realize how God has comforted me throughout my life and I thank Him.

Today, take time to count your blessings. Deuteronomy 7:13 "He will love you, bless you, and multiply you. He will also bless the fruit of your womb and the fruit of your ground, your grain and your wine and your oil..."

Then the earth will yield its harvests, and God, our God, will richly bless us. Psalms 67:6.

Scents of Fall

Something in the air tells us it is autumn.  The dampness of the leaves piling upon ground. Camellias making a last bid for color.  Wafts of smoke weaving through tree limbs.  Not a hope filled spring palette, but a mottled scented hush of fading season.  There is a sadness to fall.  Sometimes I think of it as the last hurrah of the year before the starkness of winter.

{Kathleen Pizzella}

Then I remember that God created all this beauty for us.  Even though a season is dwindling, we should rejoice in Him. Do our eyes grow dim as the year ends?  Are the scents of life less pungent?  
Ephesians 5:2 says, "...and live a life of love, just as Christ loved us and gave himself up for us as a fragrant offering and sacrifice to God."

If we think of Jesus as a fragrant offering, we should strive to reflect the beauty of our senses through word and deed.  Each moment, a gift from God. 
"For we are a fragrance of Christ to God..." 2 Corinthians 2:15

                                                                   {Robert Grazzi}

Hope

Several things have occurred lately that have made me wonder about hope.  Job 17:15 says, "Where then is my hope? Who can see any hope for me?  We pray with conviction and know God is listening.  But why do things turn out in a very different way?  What about the future?

Perhaps we put too much stalk in earthly leaders and circumstances. "Don't put your confidence in powerful people; there is no help for you there." Psalms 146:3.

 

God gives us daily blessings, but most times we don't put them to the best use.  We are concentrating on the earthly problems when we should be utilizing our blessings and placing our hope in God who offers us unfailing love. 

 Source{ -theperfectmistake}

Our time on earth is fleeting. Heaven is where our hope lies.

Silent Strength

 

(Source: inspirationsforlife)

When our sons were in college, a verse they turned to on many occasions was Philippians 4:13, "I can do all things through Him who strengthens me." They knew that God was with them through all their trials but it was up to them to prepare and trust in God.

God is our silent strength.  Have you ever had moments where you felt you couldn't make it through?  God is always there and He can calm your fears as you face the tallest barriers.  Strength is not always a physical attribute.  Many times is takes a strong faith to weather the storm.  If you believe in yourself, you believe in the gifts God has given you.  Therefore, you can keep going. 

We take so much for granted.  Is it too much to ask that we acknowledge God's hand in our lives?
Isaiah 41:10: "fear not, for I am with you; be not dismayed, for I am your God; I will strengthen you, I will help you, I will uphold you with my righteous right hand."

Great Love

 

I love reading quotes.  So many writers have hit the nail on the head about life.  Here is one of my recent favorites: "Not all of us can do great things. But we can do small things with great love.”  Mother Theresa was the author of that quote and since she did great things, I feel she was speaking to folks like me.

I have always been a volunteer.  Sometimes a reluctant volunteer and other times an enthusiastic volunteer.  As I grew in knowledge and age, I realized that the best volunteer is a person who performs good deeds with joy.  Hebrews 13:16 tells us: "Do not neglect to do good and to share what you have, for such sacrifices are pleasing to God."

 

As I consider my usefulness in this big, beautiful world, I pray that my small acts of love are felt by many.

"In the same way, let your light shine before others, so that they may see your good works and give glory to your Father who is in heaven." Matthew 5:16.

The Gift of Sight

This week I visited the eye doctor for my annual check up.  The good news is that my current vision requires no change to my glasses. The bad news is that as we get older, our eyes begin to wear out. 

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That started my thought process about not having the gift of sight.  How much I would be missing if I couldn't enjoy God's every day miracles.  How some people never get the chance to see at all.

We take so much for granted.  Think about the workings of your eyes.  A complex process involving the brain and nerves working together to produce sight.  Amazing!  Nothing to wind up each day or plug in...the human body takes care of it all.  Blue, brown, green, hazel...eyes come in many colors but each one designed by God.

Matthew 6:22 says, “The eye is the lamp of the body. So, if your eye is healthy, your whole body will be full of light." How blessed we are to have a lamp that lights our way.  Look for good things in average settings and be thankful you are in possession of such a wonderful gift: the gift of sight.

Wear a smile

Last week I greeted an older couple at church and asked how they were doing.  The lady remarked that she noticed I always have a smile on my face.  My answer was, "Why not?" 

I have been blessed with a happy disposition. I wake up humming and ready to see the beauty of the day.  When I was a 'tween, my parents bought me an antique looking wind-up alarm clock.  Instead of buzzing me awake, it played "Oh, What a Beautiful Morning."  Even today, I find myself singing that song as I jump into the shower.

 

The truth is, life is short.  Do you want to move through your days feeling moody or unhappy only to look back and wish for a happier outlook or what might have been?  Start today.  We aren't all optimists and Pollyannas, but each of us can try to move forward in a positive direction. Choose to enjoy this lifetime. Baby steps....now. 

I know that there is nothing better for men than to be happy and do good while they live.  Ecclesiastes 3:12

 

A beach stroll...

There is something special about a beach stroll.  Not just any beach, but a pristine, white sand beach showered with sunshine.  The hard packed sand can stretch out for miles before your feet, but it always beckons and you must answer the call.  Beach walks are relaxing, inspiring, and filled with pleasurable sights and sounds.

Always something interesting to see along an ocean stroll, don't you think?  The way the wind creates patterns in the dunes.  Or the glistening bubbles from a recent high tide.  Sometimes there are treasures of untouched shells or sea creatures spilled at your feet.

Birds on the beach are more reminders of God's creation.  Pelicans flying low level attack patterns as they adjust their bills to skim the water for a fresh bite to eat.  Seagulls guarding their favorite section of sand. 

A stroll on the beach puts things in perspective.  As tiny grains of sand create a lovely landscape, we realize that we are but a speck in a moment of time.  God gave Solomon wisdom and very great insight, and a breadth of understanding as measureless as the sand on the seashore. 1 Kings 4:29.
Enjoy every blessing. God is watching over all.  How precious to me are your thoughts, O God! How vast is the sum of them! If I would count them, they are more than the sand. I awake, and I am still with you. Psalm 139:17-18.

Eye on the Sky

In the South, Autumn skies carry a palate of white billowy clouds on deep blue.  During other seasons, the clouds warn of rain or hurricanes or swift winds. But, in Autumn, there is a relaxed comfort to the clouds.

I enjoy viewing the cloud formations as they float along. To quote R. Tagore, "Clouds come floating into my life, no longer to carry rain or usher storm, but to add color to my sunset sky."

When I was young, I loved a Peanuts cartoon about clouds.  Lucy, Linus, and good ol' Charlie Brown are lying on a grassy knoll looking up at the sky.  Lucy tells the boys that if they use their imaginations they will see many things within the clouds.  Linus, of course, sees the figure of a prominent painter and sculptor, an outline of different countries, and a Biblical event.  When Lucy asks Charlie Brown what he sees, he tells her he was going to say a ducky and a horsey but he changed his mind.  If you look long enough, you will see a variety of visions within the clouds. Sometimes simplistic, sometimes in depth.  It is all about using the imagination God gave you.

Job 36:29 Also can any understand the spreadings of the clouds, or the noise of his tabernacle?

It can be overwhelming to think of all God's beauty available to us in this lifetime.  The sky, the sea, all of nature.  Perhaps it is enough to know that God is here, right now, directing this glorious symphony of clouds as they sail the deep blue sky.

Job 37:16 Dost thou know the balancings of the clouds, the wondrous works of him which is perfect in knowledge?

Summer's End

Everyone has a favorite season or two.  My most favorite season is summer.  It is a time to relax, escape, and feel like a kid again.  I love daylight into evening, refreshing waters, and, to borrow a phrase, "long walks on the beach." I even love the heat! Colorscape changes throughout the pleasant days and swiftly we come to summer's end. 

Yes, there are golden signs of autumn as I hold on to my happy Gardenia days.  Acorns begin to crunch beneath my sandals, leaves gravitate to their earthly floor.  The sky deepens and clouds billow with determination to reach an uncharted destination.  Mornings awake cooler and evenings shorten minute by minute.  And one day, the calendar tells us that summer is over.

  

 As I let go of the rich greens and soothing waters, I am thankful knowing that God has made four distinct seasons, each filled with beauty and wonder.  While the earth remains, seedtime and harvest, cold and heat, summer and winter, day and night, shall not cease. Genesis 8:22.

   

He made the moon to mark the seasons; the sun knows its time for setting. Psalm 104:19.

Great Imaginings

Now that my granddaughter is old enough to use her imagination, we will have many tea parties together.  She possesses great dexterity for her young age, picking up her tea cup with a tiny thumb and index finger and little pinkie extended.  The joy of watching her pretend is a blessing in itself.

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When I was a girl, I enjoyed real tea parties after school with my grandmother.  It was a special treat for me to select one of the English tea cups in her collection to suit my fancy on that particular day. When we reached the bottom of the tea cup, my grandmother would pretend to read the tea leaves.  It was always a surprise to hear what mysteries she saw amid those few bits of tea.  Of course, my grandmother always created a positive vision that would spark my imagination.


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In comparison, it is interesting how someone my granddaughter's age can pretend to have tea and how my grandmother in her old age pretended to know the future. The truth is, only God knows the future.  If we humans could read the future, we would be fearful of what was to come.  God gives us the gift of imagination to live on the edge of wonder. 

Jeremiah 29:11
For I know the plans I have for you," declares the LORD, "plans to prosper you and not to harm you, plans to give you hope and a future.

Sometimes it takes a child to lead us to the wonder.  And, other times, as grown ups, we will be blessed for helping a child  to believe without seeing. 

1 Corinthians 2:9  However, as it is written: "No eye has seen, no ear has heard, no mind has conceived what God has prepared for those who love him." Enjoy the wonder, but remember, only God knows the future.

Small Miracles

Summer sunrise, bright winged butterflies,dew on tall grass,a cobweb spun from tree to tree.  Such small miracles, yet they happen daily.  God is everywhere, if we care enough to look. 

A child's laughter, an ocean wave, fresh flowers,hummingbirds,billowing clouds,a heartbeat.

An ancient Chinese proverb tells us: The miracle is not to fly in the air, or to walk on the water; but to walk on the earth.

Small miracles, everywhere we go.  In every lifetime there are many daily gifts, yet most of them go unnoticed. Take time to enjoy them. We walk this earth but once. See the miracles along your path.



Genesis 9:13: "I do set my bow in the cloud, and it shall be for a token of a covenant between me and the earth."  Always with us.

In My Garden...

A garden is great therapy.  There is always something to watch and nurture.  In my garden there is a sign with words from a Chinese proverb.  It says, "If you would be happy all your life, plant a garden."  That pretty much sums up my attitude.  I can go outdoors at any time of the day and find something of beauty.  It is always a surprise to see a new bloom or a stand of color. 

Gardening teaches patience.  Bulbs planted in fall do not display their glory until spring.  It is all about the anticipation of a breath of beauty.  Man can cultivate but God created each petal and stamen.  A little rain, a bit of sunshine and soon the excitement of a sliver of green pushing up through the earth overwhelms me.  It is one small miracle in one big world.

As summer ends, the leaves turn to orange and gold, covering the landscape below.  The kid in me wants to kick the contents skyward in celebration of another season.  In spring my eyes delight in the freshness of pale green buds and puffs of white filling the tree branches.  Each season proves it's worth under God.

And there are weeds in the garden.  Small irritations amid the flowers.  Did God place them there to help me exercise?  Fresh mulch, dragonflies hovering over a bloom, all the smells and sights to provide inspiration in life.  An open palette, a beautiful lesson everywhere I look. Keep a watchful eye.  God is telling us to grow in grace.

Job 12: 8-9 " Speak to the earth, and it will teach you.... Which of all these does not know that the hand of the LORD has done this?

                                                  

A Joyous Wedding Day

One year ago, the sky turned blue and the sun reminded us that it was summer in the South.  Hearts were racing, eyes were teary, and church bells rang in memory of past lives. Young and old, family, friends.  Delicate flowers, glowing candles, beautiful music. White fabric flowing upon red carpet.  Steps taken forward, uniting two lives. Sincerity, trust, truth, commitment. A touching message, smiles and celebration. As always, God in our midst.

Weddings cause us to remember our own youthful hopes and dreams.  Weddings give us reason to believe in the future.  To our son and daughter-in-law, we pray for many years of joy, health, happiness and most of all, LOVE.  Happy first anniversary!

Colossians 3:14"And over all these virtues put on love, which binds them all together in perfect unity."

Every Little Moment

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As a young child I felt that time operated in slow motion when it came to important FUN events. Time, like a long ride in the car, compelled me to ask, "Are we there yet?" Summers filled with swimming and camping drifted at a leisurely pace before routine school days. And in December, the days slowed to a crawl until we could celebrate.

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Now that I am older, time finds me wondering how we arrived at the end of the week when I just left church.  Days fly by and going to bed seems like a short jump from getting up and putting the comforter and shams back in place. Birthdays, anniversaries, holidays, fly off the calendar as the monthly pages are folded away.  Moments longed for are savored but lived in fast motion.

The irony is this: by the time we are older, we have learned to enjoy every little moment.  We look forward to each day and we aren't in a rush for the clock to strike midnight.  Every visit with those we care about is an event.  Every tick of the clock makes us realize that life is a GIFT.  Go out and enjoy the scenery!

"Man is like a breath; his days are like a fleeting shadow." Psalm 144:4

About the Bling???

On the fifth of July, I came to a startling discovery.  I had lost the diamond on my engagement ring!  I stared at the pronged cavity in disbelief.  The ring had been on my hand for 41 years....how could the diamond be gone?  I immediately looked throughout the house and then in the yard.  I felt heartsick when I realized we had walked a mile and a half that morning in the neighborhood........it could be anywhere. 



It wasn't large, but combined with my wedding ring, it was a unique setting.  I never wanted lots of Bl*ng.  I have a small finger and hand...and it was just right.  I remembered when we picked it out. My husband sold his motorcycle to pay for part of it.

I recalled all the events I experienced while wearing the ring.  Our wedding, the births of our sons, our sons' weddings, our granddaughter's birth... so many wonderful occasions. My daughter-in-law made the comment that it gave a new meaning to 'precious' stones. A sad day, indeed. 

FreeDigitalPhotos.net

I started thinking about our marriage and the many years we've shared.  It really isn't about the ring or the diamond.  It is about something you cannot see. It is about a love that started long ago.  A love that changed from one decade to the next.  A love that brings a smile and a closeness matched by no one else. A diamond can be replaced.  A love that has survived over four decades cannot.  Here's to the next forty years!     "Love bears all things, believes all things, hopes all things, endures all things. Love never ends."  1 Corinthians 13:7-8

Thoughts about the Fourth of July....

Fly the flag. 

Take time to read what the founders of our country dreamed for America.  Write to your elected officials.  They are there to represent you.  Enjoy your freedoms.  Be thankful that so many patriots fought to preserve those freedoms.

Say a prayer.  God was the main reason our ancestors came to America.

                                                                          



And God was foremost in the very foundation of our government.  God willing, we will continue to be the greatest country; our sweet land of liberty. 

                                                                                 

Land of the free, home of the brave.

GOD BLESS AMERICA.

Proverbs 22:6 Train up a child in the way he should go; even when he is old he will not depart from it.

Have I told you lately about my granddaughter?  I think she's the smartest little toddler on the block!!   Now, don't groan, followers, I could fill up this post and hundreds more with the daily antics of this 2 1/2 year old!  Recently, her mommy and daddy introduced her to the regular church service.  She stays in church until after the children's message and then wanders into the nursery to see what is happening there. She is very curious about her pew neighbors and she loves watching the very young men who are acolytes.  I adore watching her as she follows the order of service.  She likes to hear the children's message but when someone gets a bit long winded, she starts making eyes at those very young men in the congregation!  Last Sunday she knew to put her hands together for the Lord's Prayer.  It was angelic!  After church and Sunday school, her little family shared Father's Day with us.  We ate (and yes, she can say the blessing).... and then we played.  At the end of the day, (when she finished entertaining us with a kazoo) in a sing-song voice, came "A....Men." Oh yes, she is listening and learning.

Deuteronomy 4:9 “Only take care, and keep your soul diligently, lest you forget the things that your eyes have seen, and lest they depart from your heart all the days of your life. Make them known to your children and your children’s children—

A new day...

Today is a new day.  I have been in a fog trying to create my new blog and I will succeed....at some point!  Thanks to blog mentors, you know who you are, I am proceeding slowly but surely.  I created this blog to write about some of my favorite things.  God has given me many blessings in life and under His guidance, I strive to write and live in a way that will glorify His word.  I have always been a daydreamer.  Some folks think daydreams are a waste of time.  I have always found daydreaming to be beneficial.  Sometimes I am transported to another place, sometimes I expand on a wonderful memory, and many times I glean an idea for writing from daydreaming.  Dragonflies?  I love gardens, greenery, and vivid colors of flowers.  In my garden there are dragonflies.  They are a reminder of fleeting moments.  A reminder to enjoy what I see right now.