Bird Watching

I check on an elderly relative who can no longer drive. He loves to sit at the table by the bay window and watch the birds. Seems like a gift from God that a dove has built her nest near the window pane, and her eggs are hatching. It will give him so much joy to watch them growing from day to day.

I was reminded of Emily Dickinson's poem.

If I can stop one heart from breaking,

I shall not live in vain:

If I can ease one life the aching,

Or cool one pain,

Or help one fainting robin

Unto his nest again.

I shall not live in vain.

Emily Dickinson

Come On, People!

Trust in Him at all times, you people;

pour out your hearts to Him,

for God is our refuge.

Psalm 62:8

We had a pastor who was in the habit of getting our attention by saying, 

"Come on, people!"

Once when he was in the slow line at Walmart, his toddler took charge of the situation suddenly shouting at the lady in front of them,
"Come ON, People!!!"

Maybe that's how David felt when he was urging Israel: 

Hey! Think about it - 

Jehovah God is our refuge;

You can trust Him!

HAPPY EASTER

Thinking About God's Great Love

Eye has not seen, nor ear heard,
nor have entered into the heart of man 

the things which God has prepared
for those who love Him. 

But God has revealed them to us through His Spirit, 

for the Spirit searches all things,
yes, the deep things of God.

1 Corinthians 2:9-10

SPRING!

A little chilly, but sunny enough to go for a walk and pick a big bouquet of daffodils on this beautiful first day of spring.

Be exalted, O God, above the heavens; 

let Your glory be over all they earth. 

Psalm 108:5

Take it to the Lord in prayer

Our church's prayer garden, where I love to walk in the evening.

Now that we know what we have—Jesus, this great High Priest with ready access to God—let's not let it slip through our fingers. We don't have a priest who is out of touch with our reality. He's been through weakness and testing, experienced it all—all but the sin. So let's walk right up to him and get what he is so ready to give. Take the mercy, accept the help.
Hebrews 4:14-16 Message

More Than Conquerors

...We are more than conquerors through him who loved us. For I am convinced that neither death nor life, neither angels nor demons, neither the present nor the future, nor any powers, neither height nor depth, nor anything else in all creation, will be able to separate us from the love of God that is in Christ Jesus our Lord.
Romans 8:37-39

God Bless You Today

May Christ dwell in your hearts through faith; 

that you, being rooted and grounded in love,

 may be able to comprehend with all the saints

 what is the width and length and depth and height,

 to know the love of Christ which passes knowledge;

 that you may be filled with all the fullness of God.

Ephesians 3:17-21 

Dressed in Your Sunday Best

I remember driving to church one Sunday morning, and seeing a field with thousands of wildflowers. I was amazed by our Father's loving attention to even the weeds by the side of a busy highway.

"If God gives such attention to the appearance of wildflowers—most of which are never even seen—don't you think he'll attend to you, take pride in you, do his best for you?...

Don't worry about missing out. You'll find all your everyday human concerns will be met.

Give your entire attention to what God is doing right now, and don't get worked up about what may or may not happen tomorrow. God will help you deal with whatever hard things come up when the time comes." Matthew 6:30-34

Grandmother's Flowers

Grandmother loved flowers. I remember red tulips all across the front of the house, roses climbing the fence, thrift lining the driveway under the crabapple tree. But my favorite spot was under her kitchen window, with all colors of flowers mixed together. I can see her peering at it with pride from the big double window, wearing her ruffled apron. I can taste her fried apple pies

A woman who fears the Lord, she shall be praised. Give her of the fruit of her hands, and let her own works praise her in the gates. Proverbs 31:31

I the Lord your God hold your right hand; I am the Lord, Who says to you, Fear not; I will help you!
Isaiah 41:13

Prayer

Prayer is the burden of a sigh

The falling of a tear

The upward glancing of an eye

When none but God is near

James Montgomery

Take Courage

Jesus himself endured a cross and thought nothing of its shame because of the joy he knew would follow his suffering; and he is now seated at the right hand of God’s throne. Think constantly of him enduring all that sinful men could say against him and you will not lose your purpose or your courage.
Hebrews 12:3 Phillips New Testament

Ask the Savior to help you,
Comfort, strengthen, and keep you;
He is willing to aid you,
He will carry you through.

- Horatio Palmer

Cardboard Boxes

As kids, we lived within walking distance of the appliance store. We would keep an eye out for a huge cardboard box and drag it up the hill to our yard.

At first, we'd use it for a fort. After it got some wear and tear, we would flatten it out for a sled. We'd run and jump on the cardboard and slide down the leaf-covered hill, hopefully dodging the trees. After we tired of that, we would draw on it.

When Mother couldn't stand the sight of it littering her yard any more, and we'd burn it on the brush pile and toast marshmallows on wire coat hangers!

I don't think we missed a thing by not having iPads and smartphones!