One bright star...

“He turns not back who is bound to a star” Leonardo daVinci

Cool Autumn weather brings clear night skies and a perfect time to view the firmament.  I remember as a child, getting up in the darkness to take a family trip.  Up before the sun and sleepy-eyed, filled with excitement for the day ahead. Watching from my back seat window as the car rambled down the road, and searching... for the brightest star.

         

Numbers 24-17 says, "Falling into a trance, but having his eyes open: I shall see him, but not now: I shall behold him, but not nigh: There shall come a Star out of Jacob, and a scepter shall rise out of Israel." Clearly, the brightest star shall lead us. His name is Jesus Christ. No other is the brightest star.

 

It is a great comfort to know the star is always there; even on a cloudy night, He leads us. "We also have the prophetic message as something completely reliable, and you will do well to pay attention to it, as to a light shining in a dark place, until the day dawns and the morning star rises in your hearts." 2Peter 1:19. When we ask Jesus into our heart, there is no longer clouds or darkness, but light.

Revelation 22:16 says, “I, Jesus, have sent my angel to give you this testimony for the churches. I am the Root and the Offspring of David, and the bright Morning Star.” Do not fear or worry, look to the brightest morning star. Faith will guide you...and faith is all you need.

Poetry in nature...

There is always music amongst the trees in the garden, but our hearts must be very quiet to hear it.  ~Minnie Aumonier

I am a huge fan of trees. Not just oaks or maples, but trees in general. I love to gaze at their shapes, their colors, the way they reach up to heaven.  Trees provide enjoyment in the ascent of their branches by young climbers or in the cool shade at the base of their trunks for those with less energy.

Some of my favorite Bible verses are about trees. Psalms 52:8 says, "But as for me, I am like a green olive tree in the house of God; I trust in the loving kindness of God forever and ever."

"I will put the cedar in the wilderness, The acacia and the myrtle and the olive tree; I will place the juniper in the desert Together with the box tree and the cypress, That they may see and recognize, And consider and gain insight as well, That the hand of the LORD has done this, And the Holy One of Israel has created it." Isaiah 41:19-20.

My favorite verse is Isaiah 55:12: "You will go out in joy and be led forth in peace; the mountains and hills will burst into song before you, and all the trees of the field will clap their hands."

Indeed, there is poetry in nature. In every musical movement of leaves on branches, swaying rhythmically  in the wind. In every expression of new growth in spring and even in the stark limbs of winter. It is all God's creative gift to us. The Bible was written long ago, but even today it offers us glimpses of the poetry and wonder of the Lord.
 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 



Wanting it all...

On a recent trip to the Florida coast, my husband and I returned from a long beach walk to encounter a strange sight involving a bagel.  What looked like a whirlwind of white, was a flock of gulls, each trying his best to claim the bagel for his own.

One of the more decisive gulls snatched the bagel and tried to fly away with his catch. Time after time he attempted to take flight and time after time the bagel proved too heavy to lift. Watching this comedy of errors made me think that seagulls are much like humans. We tend to dream big and to want it all. Hebrews 13:16 says, "Do not neglect to do good and to share what you have, for such sacrifices are pleasing to God." As children we are taught to share, but as life goes on, the lesson tends to get lost in translation.

 

The seagull?  Well, he learned to eat what he needed and leave the rest for others who are also hungry. Being selfish was much harder on him in the long run than sharing with the flock.  

It was a great visual lesson to all of us beach walkers who were able to take time off for a holiday, complete with wonderful meals and comfortable lodging. We must never forget to thank God for our blessings and, being more like Him, offer what we can in kindness to others.

        

And he said to them, “Take care, and be on your guard against all covetousness, for one's life does not consist in the abundance of his possessions.” Luke 12:15.