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Heaven Hears . . .

Some years ago, when the beautiful Christmas season was upon us, Ron and I had finished our shopping: toys and clothes, specially selected by Nana and Papa for the grandchildren; and uniquely selected presents for our adult children, in hopes they would be pleased. The gifts were wrapped and placed under the tree, in papers coordinating with the ornaments! The house was decorated in anticipation of our beautiful family gathering on a hopefully snowy, Sunday, December afternoon. During this time, I celebrated the Savior’s birth, and I rejoiced in the influx of Christmas carols and classics  playing on every Pandora, radio, or satellite station I heard. Yet my heart hurt, more during this season than at any throughout the year. Some of you understand.  You’re feeling similar right now. I’m writing this especially for you.
 
Pangs of shame pierced me when I perceived that hurt, urging me to think on the good things and to praise God for all the joys of this season.

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The Cold Moon Supermoon Night

Luke Chapter 10 – Advent Reading

The Lord Jesus sends us out. We’re among the seventy-two. We might be “lambs among the wolves,” but He sends us, nonetheless.

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Simeon’s Lullaby – Memories

 I recently wrote about memories – memories of an experience that is in your mind for good. It’s yours. Your memory. Your experience. You own it.

Others might not understand or relate, but that’s okay. It’s something special God has given you.

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Pondering . . .

 
Mary kept all these things, treasured the very thought of them, and pondered them in her heart. (Luke 2:19 paraphrased)
 
So much had happened. Mary had been visited by the Angel Gabriel, 
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Winter in the Yellow House

Cold. Oh my, it was cold outside.

Daddy had placed an outdoor thermometer outside the front “picture” window. Through the thin old glass, he aimed his flashlight on it. It read -18°.

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Speak Life

            We can count on God’s promises! Cherish each one. Make it personal. Write them down on lined paper – every promise in the Bible that you need., so that even if your mind seems cluttered with so many obstacles – even if you can’t always remember where each promise is found, you will be able to see the promises and speak the promises.

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Perils along the Autumn Pathways

Let your eyes look straight ahead, fix your gaze directly before you. Consider the paths for your feet and take only ways that are firm. Do not swerve to the right or the left; keep your foot from evil.

Proverbs 4: 25-27

We Michiganders believe that nothing is more beautiful than a Michigan Autumn. We relish its jumble of colors; we inhale the spices of its drying leaves and crave its briskness on our faces. And, if possible, we abide in it – every possible moment of every possible day – captivated by its presence, knowing that we possess it only a short time.

 

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#18 I Walk Among the Giants

I recently posted about the importance of deep roots, established and rooted in Jesus Christ. Additionally, another type of root system is also vital in the Christian life – that of “connection.” Scripturally taught throughout the New Testament, this lesson was reinforced in my mind when, of all places, Ron and I traveled through the beautiful Redwoods in Northern California. Let me explain . . .

From Oregon, we drove just a short distance south into California before gps instructed us to turn east onto Highway U.S. 199 toward our destination campground. I had booked three nights here, which I thought gave us two full days to go into the parks to see the beautiful Redwoods ~ our purpose in coming to this southernmost point of our journey. I assumed we would reach our campsite, set up, and visit the parks the next day, but – once we made that turn onto U.S. 199,  we  discovered were already in the Redwoods:

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#2 Where you go, I will go . . .

 The northwest has called us, and I invite you to come along!

“Those who contemplate the beauty of the earth find reserves of strength that will endure as long as life lasts.”

~ Rachel Carson

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#7 Prairie Grasses Have Purpose and Deep Roots

“In nature we never see anything isolated, but everything in connection with something else which is before it, beside it, under it and over it.” ~ Johann Wolfgang von Goethe

Yes, all of nature is connected and has purpose. As we headed west from Michigan’s Upper Peninsula via Hwy 2, a fellow RV’er advised us not to bother driving through North Dakota and Montana – he said it was boring with no striking views. But, you see, Ron and I like to make the connections; we like to see what others might not.

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