An Album of Beauty Spots

If it wasn't for seeing spots of beauty in my day, some days would be a bit depressing. That's what being down physically does for one! I've had a cold and cough that is going away so gradually it's barely noticeable by me, much less by others. Anyway, here are a few beauty spots in my life that the Lord has sent my way these days, not in any particular order...

Waterdrops that look like ice.

A spotlight of late afternoon sun on a rockingchair.

Oh robin, sweet robin...

A "bally" cardinal on a cold but sunny morning.

Not in focus but I love the look on a granddaughter's face as she looks at her dad.

My new pot of pansies. More about those later!

My new bird feeder and its first visitor, the lowly sparrow.

Golden sun shining through raindrops on the window.

A North Carolina sunset.

A North Carolina sunrise.

Stained glass church windows on a Sunday morning.

Bird on a roof...with little white "floaties" in the air, outlined by the sunshine.

Leftover Christmas poinsettias that a church gave us.

A sunflare that my camera caught as my husband drove out on a cold, sunny, Sunday morning. I had to stay home because of
my cold but this picture brightened my day!

 "...to give unto them beauty for ashes,
 the oil of joy for mourning,
 the garment of praise for the spirit of heaviness..."
(Isaiah 61:3

Taste Test

A grandson eating his lunch at our house. Let me assure you, he found
that little bowl of food to be very good!

I was noticing my "viewers" number  reaching 5000 this week and thought that I'd like to post something to celebrate that. Well, this doesn't really have much or anything to do with that-but then maybe it does. You can decide...

The past few days I've been battling a royal cold (my first in perhaps 7 years!). Today I'm finally seeing some improvement but not without first experiencing that stage of not being able to taste. My husband thinks that's strange since he's never been blessed by the absence of this (not fair, I say!), but...well, that's beside the point.

My 2 favorite Brazilian desserts. Only by tasting them will you
ever know how heavenly they are!

Now those of you who have experienced this know that your motivation for eating goes down quite a bit...which I realize CAN be a good thing. But when you're hungry it's NOT!

Where am I going with this? Well, it reminds me of that wonderful verse in Psalm 34:8 which says "Oh, taste and see that the Lord is good; blessed is the man that trusteth in Him." If we don't taste the food, we don't know what it tastes like. If we don't taste (trust) the Lord, we won't know how good He is.

I'm sure there's always room for my trust in the Lord to grow, but the bit that I've done during my life has been more than rewarded! "The Lord is good" is not just a trite statement. It's the truth!

My Feathered Friends

I've been enjoying the birds that come to our back porch. And, yes, that's the seed with which I keep them supplied. Feeding God's creatures, that's my job. And pleasure. Here are a little pair of doves and of cardinals, birds which come now and then, although not near as often as the sparrows and juncos. But they all are a delight to see and I am honored to have them for my daily guests!

Now for Mr & Mrs Cardinal...

        I love the comical little masked face of the male. Makes me laugh just to see him!

These simple but beautiful creatures teach me much about their Creator. I'm sure that if they could speak my language they would tell me that it's SO very easy to trust God to care and provide for them!

^"But ask now the beasts, and they shall teach thee; and the fowls of the air, and they shall tell thee."

(Job 12:7)

A Bouquet Of Pink Roses

Just before we left Brazil in December we attended the wedding of a lovely couple. I was delighted to see the bride's bouquet...

Really, the bride was as lovely as her bouquet but, given the generic nature of my blog, I won't post her picture as well. Perhaps I should have given this post the title of "Wordless Wednesday" for no words are really needed. The Lord's blessings are often meant to share with others so that is the purpose of sharing this photo. It's too beautiful to keep just for myself. Enjoy!

"...whatsoever things are lovely, whatsoever things are of good report; if there be any virtue and if there be any praise, think on these things." (Philippians 4:8)

Are You Blind??

Do you see beauty in your life? Look closely...

and yet more closely...

If you see no beauty

then you are blind.

"Come, behold the works of the Lord..."

(Psalm 46:8)

"The Lord openeth the eyes of the blind,

the Lord raiseth them that are bowed down,

the Lord loveth the righteous."

(Psalm 146:8)

A Better View For The New Year

Someone needs to reward me. I went 20 days without a camera. Not on purpose, mind you! No, I've tried going just a few days without and it just doesn't work. This time it was of necessity because I did not own a working camera. But my DH and kids came to the rescue, they gave me a new camera for Christmas!

And so now I am one happy camper as of 6 days ago. Not that I wasn't happy but I am definitely happiER!

So here is the first picture I took with my new camera. In my excitement I wasn't holding it very still but, even then, managed to get a decent photo. What a great camera to cooperate like that!

On the next day I took this one. Do you get the idea that I like taking pictures of birds? Indeed, I do.

               I've taken many Christmas photos...thinking of the fotocards I can make in about 11 months. This was an artificial tree borrowed from a daughter. She said the angel on top was my mom's...which suddenly gave it great value in my eyes.

So, photographically speaking, in starting out this New Year I definitely have a better view of things! But my desire and prayer is that spiritually I will, too. As I look to Him and His Word I believe that I will have that. He helps me to see things clearly and in a more beautiful way. The lens of His camera, if you'll give me permission to describe it that way, will certainly give me pictures of high resolution.

"Open Thou mine eyes that I may behold wondrous things out of Thy law." (Psalm 119:18)

"Let the words of my mouth and the meditation of my heart be acceptable in Thy sight, O Lord, my strength and my redeemer." (Psalm 19:14)

Christmas: God's Pursuit Of Man

"At the heart of the Christmas message is the wonderful truth of God's pursuit of every one of us."      -J. Stowell (Our Daily Bread)

"But when the fullness of the time came, God sent forth His Son,
born of a woman,
born under the Law, 
so that He might redeem those 
who were under the Law,
that we might receive
the adoption as sons. 
Because you are sons,
God has sent forth the Spirit
of His Son into our hearts,
crying, Abba! Father!” 
                         -Galatians 4:4-6 (NASB)


How thankful I am for God's relentless pursuit of me. He did His utmost to provide for my salvation, to bring me to Himself. What love! What grace! What an unspeakably beautiful gift!


Every December I am saddened and gladdened all at the same time. The beautiful truths of the Christmas story are more than enough to gladden the heart and soul of all who take the time to think of it. But the ignorance and neglect of those truths are so very obvious as we mingle with the Christmas shoppers, watch TV or even look for items that refer to the real meaning of Christmas! However, we don't need to dwell on the sadness but, rather, on the joy of the Good News of salvation which is for all.


A Merry and Blessed Christmas to all who are reading this!

Forgiven

The blessing of forgiveness from God is beyond description. I was touched this morning by a devotional about this from Spurgeon's writings, part of which I quote here:

Can there be a sweeter word in any language than that word "forgiveness", when it sounds in a guilty sinner's ear, like the silver notes of jubilee to the captive Israelite?...For ever blessed be the revelation of atoning love which not only tells me that pardon is possible, but that it is secured to all who rest in Jesus. I have believed in the appointed propitiation, even Jesus crucified, and therefore my sins are at this moment, and for ever, forgiven by virtue of His substitutionary pains and death. What joy is this! What bliss to be a perfectly pardoned soul! My soul dedicates all her powers to Him who of His own unpurchased love became my surety, and wrought out for me redemption through His blood. What riches of grace does free forgivenss exhibit! To forgive at all, to forgive fully, is to forgive freely, to forgive for ever! Here is a constellation of wonders; and when I think of how great my sins were, how dear were the precious drops which cleansed me from them, and how gracious was the method by which pardon was sealed home to me, I am in a maze of wondering, worshipping affection. I bow before the throne which absolves me, I clasp the cross which delivers me, I serve henceforth all my days the Incarnate God, through whom I am this night a pardoned soul.

                                                                                                            -Charles H. Spurgeon

"And He said unto her, Thy sins are forgiven."

(Luke 7:48)

Little But Lovely

I'm sure some of you know the name of this little flower but I don't. However, it has brought me much joy during the past few months and I have been drawn to it many times, just admiring its perfect beauty.  Since I could not decide which photos were my favorites I decided to post several. I played around a bit, editing a couple of them but really prefer them in their natural setting.

I'm thinking that maybe, just maybe, this next one might be my favorite. Which one would YOU pick?

So simple yet so lovely. Isn't that just like so many of His creations?

Today after I began this post I came across a sermon entitled "Little, But Lovely". How appropriate, I thought. So I would like to copy a couple lines from that, just a little something to complete this collection of pictures of the little, but lovely flower.

  “Fear not, little flock, it is your Father’s good pleasure to give you the kingdom.”  (Luke 12:32)

 But far surpassing woman’s love, outvying all maternal instincts, our Savior’s strong affection can no rival know. In accents mild, he seems to say,  Never mind how few you are, or how despised; your feebleness gives you a warmer place in my heart, and makes me press you more closely to my bosom. Hush, hush; be still; fear not, little flock.  -C.H.Spurgeon

Thanksgiving Reflections

Your goodness to me is abundant, O Lord,

Your love is beyond my comprehension,

Your power is more than I can fathom,

Your patience is...well, amazing,

Your salvation is free and beautiful,

Your gifts are beyond measure,

You are more than I deserve...

   But I THANK YOU!

From the depths of my heart I lift my song to You,

The only One who deserves such praise.

Survivor!



With a grandson in 2008, during
the first months of chemo.

 

By the grace, mercy and power of God, I am a five-year suvivor. This month completes five years that I was diagnosed with stage 3 cancer and I am happy to report to you that I am still clean 'n clear. Thank you SO much to the many of you who prayed for me during those months and to those of you who are still praying for me. I consider it no small thing to have been prayed for by so many, it truly is a gift from Him. He chose to use those prayers, together with His unlimited power, to cure me. And I don't doubt one bit but that He is also using my diet!

I've wondered "what can I do to truly celebrate this victory and blessing?" and I've decided that the best way is just to declare to the world (after all, this blog has entered 43 countries in just the past 5 months) that God has done this marvelous thing for me!

My oncologist had told me that I had probably a 50% chance of seeing the cancer return within 5 years and, in researching recently, I saw where that number can be even higher. I am so very thankful that God does not have to act according to statistics!

My heart is full, I am amazed and grateful for this extra-special blessing.

"This is the LORD's doing; it is marvelous in our eyes." (Psalm 118:23)

Wings Of The Dawn

This song has been such a blessing to me for

the past several months as I have heard it

once in awhile on AbidingRadio.com.

I was thrilled to finally come across it online to be able to post it here.

Both the music and lyrics (from Psalm 139) are beyond beautiful. You can hear it below...

                                                       

Oh Lord, You have searched me and known me,

You know when I sit and when I rise,

Where can I go from Your Spirit, Where can I go from Your presence?

If I rise on the wings of the dawn,

if I settle on the far side of the sea,

Even there Your hand will guide me,

Your right hand will hold me fast.

If I say surely darkness will hide me,

and the light be dark around me,

Not even dark is dark to You,

night will shine like the day.

(photo: D.Bodlien)

And if I rise on the wings of the dawn,

if I settle on the far side of the sea,

Even there Your hand will guide me,

Your right hand will hold me fast.

So I'll praise You, praise You,

 praise You, Lord.

Father, I praise You, praise You,

 praise You, Lord.

You created me within,

You knit me in my mother's womb,

I praise You for I am fearfully made,

Your works are wonderful!              

And if I rise on the wings of the dawn, if I settle on the far side of the sea,

Even there Your hand will guide me, Your right hand will hold me fast.

                                                                             -Linda A. Spencer

Miscellaneous Moments

These days are rather busy for us as we prepare to travel to our homeland for a year of furlough. So much to do, so little time. However, I've been amazed (cough, cough) at how I seem to have time for other things. I mean, should I really be taking the time to make a bookmark out of 3 things that I found and couldn't bear to part with? A rectangle of cardboard with rounded corners, a paper with a 5-line quote, a pretty picture that I'd torn out of a magazine who-knows-when. It made a very lovely bookmark, in my opinion. Anyone need a bookmark?

Our lives are made up of moments, moments of every shape, color and flavor. God, in His grace, mercy and love gives us these-to do, to speak, to think, to be and...to notice.

In my "spare" moments recently, I have noticed different things which prompted me to take a picture so that I could record it "forever".

Here are a few of them...
                       The reflection of the basketball backboard behind the drops of water on top of the car.

Morgan soaking in some morning sunshine.

Bubbles that I (yes, I) was blowing. I'd found the little bubble-blowing bottle left from a daughter's wedding of over 9 years ago...

The moon. Need I say more?

Three vultures flying high. Did you know that vultures are graceful?

And every sunny morning I notice the bright colors of the green cedar and pink rose as the first rays of sun hit them. I'm restraining myself by only posting ONE of the several pics I've taken of this one scene, I want you to know. For some reason, I seem to think that I'll get a better photo and truly capture what it really looks like. Crazy, no? But beautiful, yes!

I can't speak of "moments" without thinking of the hymn "Moment By Moment":

Moment by moment I’m kept in His love;

Moment by moment I’ve life from above;

Looking to Jesus till glory doth shine;

Moment by moment, O Lord, I am Thine.

                                 -Daniel W. Whittle