The Backyard Pond
I am fabulously (past the limits of belief) in love with the great outdoors. God was so good to create all of this wonderful earth for us. Can you even begin to imagine what Heaven will be like? You know; His word says that in His Father's House are many mansions. In another part of His Word; He tells us that He goes to prepare a "place" for us. We can use our imaginations here. These are just my thoughts, but I would like to think of a beautiful pond with stepping stones and you can just hear the water gurggling as it flows down those stones.
The birds are fairly singing for joy, trying to outdo one another with their praise for God. As I meander down one of the woodsy paths, it takes my breath away to see the sunlight trickling down, splashing the forest floor with the warmth of its rays. As we sit down to visit on some old white wicker; we feel the whisper of a breeze as it gently kisses our brow. Was that a drone of a bee sipping on nectar, the song of the wiperwill and yes, in the distance the hunted love song of the turtle dove?
I do know one thing for sure...God is here! His presence is so overwhelming that it brings tears to my eyes.
I would love to invite anyone that would read this to feel welcomed to stop by. I believe each and everyone of us has problems, face trials, bear burdens that sometimes seem heavier than we can bear. His Word tells us to bear one anothers burdens and that is what I would like the Backyard Pond to be...a place to come and share, a place to come to encourage one another.
Would you meet me at the pond for a spot of tea and a visit? We can start by praising God for what He has done and let Him have His way in the remainder of our visit.
"Glorify ye the Lord in the fires." Isaiah 24:150
Have you ever been through the fires of afflication? Do you know the definition of afflication? Webster's Dictionary says it aptly well. Afflection: suffering, pain, mental suffering. The Lord allows us to face some things. We may be struggling with finantial difficulties and even though we know God will undertake and work it out; all these other little "foxes" come tearing in. Sickness strikes, perhaps long term. Our children may go through things of their own which causes our hearts to break. "Oh, Lord..how long"?
Not a one of the above is a stranger to me. I must share of a testimony that I was priviledged to hear. Is it not heartening to see some precious one who just has to be broken in body, but who retains the splendor of an unbroken patience? What a witness all this offers to His wonderful grace! Our God was certainly glorified in this. This precious one has been through so much and still; there is a song in her heart.
No matter what my dear and precious family and friends may be facing in this amazing day of "falling away", we need to just hold onto the Lord's hand real tight like. He won't let go...thank God, He won't let go! And...as my friend encouraged me with her testimony, that in turn glorified our God. He is my all in all.
Remember..."Glorify ye the Lord in the fires."
"COURTESY IS THE QUALITY OF HEART THAT OVERLOOKS THE BROKEN GARDEN GATE AND CALLS ATTENTION TO THE FLOWERS BEYOND THE GATE".
"Sympathy is two hearts tugging at one load."
"Never waste a minute thinking about your enemies; pray for them".
"Happiness is like your shadow. Run after it and you will never catch it, but keep your face to the sun (son) and it will follow you.
"If you don't climb the mountain, you can't see the view".
It is a dreary morning here along the Banks of the Alleghney River. Rain is falling softly. It feels like a "candle" morning. I adore lighting a candle to help dispel the gloom. Not only does my home smell like Hazelnut Cream (my favorite old-fashioned scent) but the flickering glow of the candle is soothing. It tells me that the "sun" is out there behind all those clouds and in turn reminds me that no matter what clouds of adversity are in my life...The (Son) is still there.
I have a dear friend that has been faced with much grief. Serious physical issues have touched her family. She has had more than her share of what any human could stand. Much is yet to be faced. "Sometimes the days seem long...our trials hard to bear...". "It will be worth it all, when we see Jesus...". My family have gone through some real trials lately...burdens that seemed too hard to bare. I needed to remember what I just read recently in the Book of Isaiah. Chapter 40, beginning with verse 28 states, "Hast thou not known? hast thou not heard, that the everlasting God, the Lord, the Creator of the ends of the earth fainth not, neither is weary? there is no searching of his understanding. He giveth power to the faint; and to them that have no might he increaseth strength. Even the youths shall faint and be weary, and the young men shall utterly fall: But they that wait upon the Lord shall renew their strength; they shall mount up with wings as eagles; they shall run, and not be weary; and they shall walk, and not faint".
Powerful words! So we must remember that when things look gray, we have an attic full of yesterdays to remind us how much God loves us. His Word is filled with promises and if we love Him, have put Him first in our lives; He will give us the help we need, the strength to keep pressing on. If what we pray for is according to His Will, He will undertake. Remember...it will be worth it all.
Yesterday is a cancelled check; tomorrow is a promissory note; today is the only cash you have~spend it wisely.
Hey everyone...I'm back. I can't believe that it has been two years since I have been to my blog. A lot has happened over the past two years. My husband and I moved and two of my grandchildren have been through serious physical times. When your granddaughter has two blood clots and is only 10 years old, that is serious. A grandson had a procedure done on his heart and he just turned 14. God has been so good through it all. None of us deserve His goodness to us. It is only through His Amazing Grace that He answers prayer.
My last post was in 2009 and at that time I stated that I was going to just give up on my blog. It seemed hard for me to do what I wanted to with it. I mean, you have to be a college graduate to understand the language and "how-to's" of a computer. However, I am told that several of my posts have been an encouragement and that was the very reason I wanted to do my own blog.
I have been through most of the topics that I post and find every time that God is the answer.
The subject of this post is Opportunity. I want to "try" and take "opportunity" and apply it to my own life. I loved to be encouraged. Therefore, I want to try and encourage others when we are discouraged. I want to "do unto others as I would have them do unto me". Whenever there is human need, there is opportunity to do a kind deed. Let's look for that opportunity today.
I'm a novice, a greenhorn, a newcomer...In other words, I am a BEGINNER. They tell us that you can't teach a dog new tricks. I didn't use to believe that but after trying to do my own blog; I've become a fan of whom ever said that saying above. I'm not really an "old dog" but I am retired. Before retiring, I counted it amazing that I was able to "catch on" to the new ways of doing various things at my work. However, something took place in the past two years. I can not seem to understand like I use to. Is it age? Anyways, I am discouraged dear blogger friends and family. I need help in "putting things in the order that I want them to be" on my blog! I mean...is it too much to ask that a picture of a creek would come before a bit of a few words about said picture? I just can't seem to get on to it. I need help!
MONEYTo be rich in God is better than to be rich in goods.Giving is a thermometer of our love.No one is poor who by prayer can open the storehouse of God.Money can't buy happiness...unless you spend it on somebody else.
I'm pretty sure this picture of a creek does not look much like a pond...unless you can picture the creek that runs through the wooded area near your property as it meanders along over rocks and crevices and settles in a small pool before flowing on. But...wait! My back yard pond is an imaginary place and this creek is real! I'm listening to a song on my playlist, "Take Me To Your Sacred Place". I love the outdoors, the smells of the newness of this time of the year, the sound of water as it wanders and winds through a secluded wood. "Draw me, draw me, to your sacred place". This is truly a time to worship Him, the maker of all things...yes, even this bit of quietness.
LIFELife is a canvas...you fill in the picture.Your life is God's gift to you; what you do with it is your gift to God.Live your life carefully...there are no reruns.This is prime time! Life is in session now. There will be no reruns.
