Rain

Rain is certainly a good thing-a perfect gift from Him. He created it to meet some of our most basic of needs and also that of the earth. It refreshes, nourishes, cleans...who can complain about that?! It even makes music-beautiful music! Have you ever paid attention to that music? There's a poem which is entitled "The Music of the Rain", from which come these lines: "...It seems a mighty symphony at times, when down it pours, As it splashes and it crashes as the oceans on their shores. The trumpets, drums and cymbals of the rain together play To make loud, harmonious music and a lovely melody. Then enter the sweet instruments of flute and harp and strings, As the raindrops sprinkle, then they tinkle like the birds that sing...." There is a lovely little phrase that comes from a certain song. It says "into each life some rain must fall". We can't say that it's Scripture, but we can certainly say that it's true. No life, no marriage, no family, no generation can escape the rain that will inevitably fall. But remember that rain is a good thing. Admittidly, at times we think there is an overabundance as we look at the destruction and pain and (what we think is) permanent damage. But whether our rain is literal or symbolic, the truth applies that God is in control. He will not allow more than we can handle. The umbrella of His love and care will be over us at all times, protecting us from the elements..."til the storm passes by".

Take My Picture, Please!

As I said in a previous post, every rose is different. But, interestingly, whenever a new one blooms I want to take pictures of it-even if I have 40-11 pictures of an (almost) identical one from the same bush! Now doesn't that sound just like a mom?? She admires, croons and swoons over each child, thinking it's just the most beautiful one in the world at the moment, worthy of dozens of pictures taken from every possible angle, even though she thought the same thing, umm....3 years ago? Or, as in the case of roses, perhaps just 1 week ago! Ah yes, mothers are like that, they try to capture the moments escaping from their hands, showing, sending and posting these pictures for all who care-or don't care-to see them. And she doesn't care if they don't care...she's oblivious to all of that, only knowing that she loves and admires each little rose as it blooms.

Trust

I am desparately trying to find a "perfect gift" from the Lord in the middle of some painful days. It's difficult to look at a negative time in one's life as a gift given to you in love but I am having to trust Him in an extra-special way, remembering that He is in control, nothing is impossible with Him and He will work things out in the way that will bring most glory to Him. That is difficult for me to see at this point but I know I must trust Him, that He will work all things out for our good and His glory. And also to keep my own sanity. Trust. It's a gift from Him to me. Even more wonderful, is that I have Him to trust!
"Preserve me, O God; for in Thee do I put my trust." (Psalm 16:1)

Morning

I am a morning person...after I have my coffee, that is! But, coffee or not, I just love those early morning hours when the air is fresh, the day is new and those first rays of sun are gently warm-no matter the climate you live in. It's also in the morning when I feel most motivated, ideas tend to come to my brain and I feel like I could conquer the world with my burst of courage! Have you ever watched a sunrise? It is a thing of glory and beauty-a bit of a different flavor than a sunset. One is a beginning, the other is an end. But both are worthy of-you guessed it-reaching for my camera so that I can savor the moment again in the future. Have you ever heard the song, "Morning Has Broken"? I love it, because the words and the music captures some of the essence of what I am trying to say here.

Morning has broken, like the first morning. Blackbird has spoken, like the first bird. Praise for the singing, praise for the morning, Praise for them springing fresh from the Word.

Thank You, Lord, for the gift of morning!

No Pain

Do we take too much for granted? Ah yes, frequently and regularly. But it's not until we are without something that we realize how much we have taken that thing for granted. "No pain" is what I am specifically referring to right now. We go through most of our lives with no pain, thank the Lord, but sometimes He finds it necessary to insert a certain amount of pain into our comfortable existence and routine.

When I was going through chemo a few years ago, every day and almost every hour I was experiencing some sort of pain or discomfot. But I clearly remember one glorious morning when I woke up and noticed that I was not experiencing any of this. The bed was perfectly comfortable, the room was the perfect temperature, my body was in a relaxed, comfy position and...best of all!...I noticed that I was not feeling any pain! I lay there, afraid to move, just enjoying the luxury of the moment and thanking the Lord for such a blessing. It was a small but beautiful moment that brightened the darkness of those months, a startling glimpse of His tenderness to me, a wonderful memory that I'll treasure, amazed and grateful to Him for giving me such a gift. 

"And God shall wipe away all tears from their eyes; and there shall be no more death, neither sorrow, nor crying, neither shall there be any more pain: for the former things are passed away." (Revelation 21:4)

Life!

From beginning to end, life is a gift. A gift is something someone freely gives you-you don't pay for it and you probably don't deserve it. So is physical life. God created it and gave it to us. And, as a gift, we may do with it as we choose. We can cherish and care for it or we can waste and neglect it. Which will it be?? So, too, we have spiritual life in Christ. Freely and lovingly given, those who accept it by faith are the only ones who possess it. Will we cherish it or neglect it? Let us choose the former for it is beyond value. Jesus, Rose of Sharon, bloom within my heart...

"...I am come that they might have
life, and that they might have it
more abundantly." (John 10:10)

God's Word, the Bible

The gifts of God are too many to name but His Word is definitely one of them! What power it has, what comfort it brings, what lessons it teaches, what guidance it gives...there is no limit to what it can do and be in our lives. Those who know, believe, love and obey God will know, believe, love and obey His Word, too. They go hand in hand, you cannot have one without the other. God's Word is truth and nothing needs to be added to or taken from it. He has said it, I believe it, that settles it...as the old song says. There have been times in my life when a Scripture verse was my main source of strength and comfort to carry me through a difficult time. There have been other times when it was the reason for my joy as it called to my attention certain blessings from Him. I cannot live without His Word and I really don't know how I would react to a situation where I did not have it available at my side. Lord, I love Your Word! Help me to always hide it in my heart, practice it in my life and to do my best to make sure that those around me know and love it, too.

"Sanctify them through Thy truth; Thy Word is truth." (John 17:17)

An Indescribable Gift!

"Thanks be unto God for His unspeakable gift" (II Corinthians 9:15). What IS this gift that's such that we cannot describe it? You mean, it's beyond beautiful and precious and wonderful? Can it be that it is beyond even...PERFECT?? More wonderful yet, is that it is a gift! A gift is something that is freely given. No payment, no strings attached, you don't even have to deserve it. You just accept it and it's yours. This gift is Jesus Christ. And all wrapped up in Him is His love and salvation for us-the most beautiful and perfect gift ever. Oh wait, that doesn't fully describe it...it's unspeakable and indescribable! What a beautiful gift for us to receive this Christmas! So, how do I receive it? By faith. By believing on Him. By trusting Him, that what He says is true, that what He promises will come to pass. He said believe in Him and He will save us (Acts 16:31). Forever. It's as simple as that. What a...gift!

Love Measures Grief

This title and photo really need no explanation. Someone else has aptly described it as "Love much, grieve much. Love little, grieve little." One's amount and intensity of grief is measured by one's amount and intensity of love. And vice versa. Those who have experienced this know what I am talking about. As the perfect rose with raindrops, love with grief and tears is also beautiful. Love and pain, sunshine and rain, loss and gain...they are all inseparable twins of life. Each one is measured by the other, each one is nourished by the other, each one is necessary in our human lives. Without them we would not grow, without them we would not know...the pure joys of life that God, in His perfect plan for us, gives on a daily basis. Thank the Lord, there is life after grief, no matter the amount or intensity. There is love after grief for true love never leaves us. Love can be resurrected for love has life. Love IS life! God is love and God is life. God, life, love...they all go hand in hand. For this I am very grateful.

A 16-yr-old Rose

This year marks 16 years since a special pink rose bloomed into my life-that of my closest friend. It is an unusual friendship, unlike any I've had before or since. Words cannot describe how amazed and grateful I am over having received this gift...and that I still have it! Some friends are "of the road" and are only in our lives for a limited time. Some are surface ones or fun ones or helpful ones. But this one goes above and beyond all of these.Thank you, my lasting always, 2-4 friend!

My Sunshine Roses!

In 2002 we were blessed with the arrival of our first grandchild-a boy! Thus began a most interesting and enjoyable phase of life. Currently-as in, as I write this :)-we have 6 (oops, now it's 7...AND now it's 8!) of these precious perfect gifts...and 1 more on the way, to boot! Oh, my heart will burst with all this joy someday!

When I was going through chemo a couple years ago, some of our grandkids would stop by with their moms (our daughters) to visit for a few minutes. Even though I was feeling rather raunchy on many of those occasions, to me it was like a lovely, comforting ray of sunshine to see their smiling faces-maybe because I knew they were pretty much oblivious to what was really going on. Their innocence of my situation just made them seem more precious. Oh, how I love each one of them. They are perfect gifts...to us as well as to their parents. May the Lord protect each one of them from the evil influences of the world around them, maintaining their innocence,beauty and purity as the roses that they represent!

Masculine Roses

The next logical pink roses on my list would be my sons-in-law...except I am going to choose another color that's a bit more masculine. For, after all, "pink" in this case can really be any color. We were so happy and relieved when the last perfect rose came along to capture the hearts of our daughters! They are Christians, they are perfect matches (ohhh yes!) for each of them, and are proving themselves to be wonderful husbands and fathers. Thank You, Lord, for these roses that are part of the beautiful bouquet of my life! (photo: C. Dennis)

My Children

My pride and joy are my children! Although they aren't perfect, since no one on earth is perfect, they are certainly God's perfect gifts to me! I already mentioned how each rose is different but each is beautiful in its own way. Each one is unique! It goes without saying, that each of our children are different, each one has their own beauty. Some are serious & determined, others are happy-go-lucky and go-with-the-flow. Some make you cry, others make you laugh. But they all make this mother's heart beat with profound love and joy. I love you, my 5 precious children! My heart will forever beat with intense love and joy for each of you!

"Lo, children are an heritage of the Lord, and the fruit of the womb is His reward." (Psalm 127:3)

Love

Before I go further, let me interject this thought: Love is certainly in the "top 5" of perfect gifts from God. For "God is love" as He says in His Word. The more I search the internet for this & that, the more I realize that love is sorely lacking in our world today. There are those who have twisted the meaning of this and are saying that murder is love. Can you believe that? I guess I've been a sheltered person all my life and haven't been exposed (thankfully!) to many people like this. God, the embodiment of love itself, will put these people in their place. Someday. Hopefully soon! How beautiful is the pink rose of love! How intricate its petals, how delicate its color, how fragrant its perfume, how beautiful its form! Even in the darkness of this sinful world around us, it shines, giving its unique and breath-taking beauty. Only God can create beauty, only He can show us true love...so that we, in turn, can show it to others. And, I guarantee, that does NOT include murder.

An Outstanding Rose

That would be my hubby. He is a God-given gift to me whose color shines in the light-or in the dark. For 35 years I have had this rose by my side and we have experienced SO much together. As I told him the other day, "life with you has been fun"! I haven't always cultivated this rose as it deserves to be and I've often taken it for granted but it is certainly among my prized ones...of award-winning quality. Thank you, my dear husband, for all that you mean to me! I admire you immensely and love you so much.

The Perfect Pair

The gift I mentioned in the previous post has to do with the most important Person in my life but there are several others that God, in His love, has enriched my life with. The first ones to come along (of course!) were my parents. I could write a huge book just about them and the blessing that they were to me. I say "were" because they aren't with me anymore. Mom & Dad passed away 4 and 2 years ago, respectively. Their example, dedication, love and constancy are all reasons for holding them in a special corner of my heart and I am SO thankful for them. I think of them so often, there are just so many things that remind me of them. It's so wonderful to know that one day I will be reunited with them in heaven. Perhaps there I'll be able to give them adequate thanks, something which never seems possible here on earth, don't you think so? Mom and Dad, I love you!

The Perfect Gift For Everyone

Pink roses are equal to perfect gifts and I would like to let you in on what mine are. You may have some of the same ones or yours may be totally different. God blesses each of us in different ways but at least one of these perfect gifts is the same for everyone who receives it: SALVATION through Jesus Christ. This gift became personally mine on August 19 many years ago when I was 13. I placed my faith in Christ to save me and I became His child. Peace, joy, forgiveness of sins, the certainty of a home in heaven, the companionship, help, friendship of my Lord...all of these things and more combine to make this the most perfect of all gifts!
"I know in Whom I have believed and am persuaded that He is able to keep that which I have committed unto Him against that day..." (IITimothy 1:12)

                                                                                    (cross photo: fotosearch.com)

Every Rose is Different

Although pink is obviously my favorite color of rose, I do, of course, love any color! Every color and every kind of every color has their own personality. To casual observers they may all seem the same. I mean, "a rose is a rose...", right? Umm, yes and no. They're the same in the sense that all the children in one family are the same. They look alike, they act alike, sometimes they even smell alike! But the parents, i.e., the ones that know them from birth and care for them, know that each one is different in his own way, each one has a distinct personality. What a blessing and gift this is, that our God, Who created us, knows us as no one else could possibly know. Not only does He know our personalities, He MADE our personalities. No one knows the creature like the creator does. I could go further into this...but I'll save that for a later "pink rose".

A Rose Is A Rose Is A Rose...

There's nothing like a rose! No other flower is equal to it. Some have similar shapes but don't have the fragrance. Some have lovely fragrances but don't have the unique form and design. They all have their own unique beauty and "something different" but still...a rose is a rose is a rose. Everyone of our gifts from God is unique, there's just nothing like them. Only He can custom-make them to our own needs and tastes and desires. And He does this for EACH of His children. How wonderful is that? May we all join in singing "Praise God from whom all blessings flow"!

How My Pink Rose Was Born

Several years ago I began to notice, in a specific way, the details of pink roses...their delicate color, their fragrance and softness, their exquisite beauty. I just think it is the most perfect and beautiful of all of God's creation! Then it reminded me of the verse in James 1:17 that says that "every good and perfect gift" is from God and I decided that the pink rose would be my own symbol of all the good and perfect gifts God gives to me.