Peaceful

This morning I was thinking about the wildflowers that grew near our house in Georgia when I was young. Remembering when times were more peaceful, and children could play freely and explore the neighborhood and take time to notice the flowers and birds, and clouds.

You will keep him in perfect peace

whose minds is stayed on You

because he trusts in You.

Isaiah 26:3

The peace of God,

which surpasses all understanding,

will guard your hearts and minds

through Christ Jesus.

Philippians 4:7

The Lord is close to the brokenhearted;

He rescues those whose spirits are crushed.

Psalm 34:18

Echoes of Mercy, Whispers of Love

Perfect submission, perfect delight,

Visions of rapture now burst on my sight.

Angels descending bring from above

Echoes of mercy, whispers of love.

Thankful

From the rising of the sun

unto the going down of the same

the Lord's name is to be praised.

Psalm 113:3

It is good to give thanks to the Lord
And to sing praises to Your name, O Most High;
To declare Your lovingkindness in the morning
And Your faithfulness by night

 I will sing for joy at the works of Your hands.

Psalm 92:1, 2, 4b

After the Storm

The sound of 'gentle stillness' 

after all the thunder and wind 

have passed 

will be the ultimate Word from God. 
Jim Eliot 1927-1956

The gentle breeze of the Holy Spirit captures our attention so we can listen for the still small voice of our loving Father. It is He who will enable us to endure as seeing Him Who is unseen. 

see Hebrews 11:27 

and 1 Kings 19:11

Yesterday, I tried to get in a short walk between the rain showers. 

I could smell the sweetness of spring after the rain.

Prayer Garden

Keep on praying.

Be strong - not in yourselves but in the Lord, in the power of His boundless resource.

Pray at all times with every kind of spiritual prayer.

Ephesians 6:10  18

My Rock

Adonai is my Rock,

my fortress and deliverer,

the God who is my Rock,

in whom I find shelter, 

my shield, the power that saves me,

my stronghold and my refuge.

2 Samuel 22:2-3 CJB

Wings of a Dove

Rise up, my love, my fair one,

And come away!

O my dove, in the clefts of the rock,

In the secret places of the cliff,

Let me see your face,

Let me hear your voice;

For your voice is sweet,

And your face is lovely.

Song of Solomon 2:14

When troubles surround us

when evils come

The body grows weak

The spirit grows numb

When these things beset us, 

God doesn't forget us

He sends down His love

On the wings of a dove

On the wings of a snow-white dove

He sends His pure sweet love

A sign from above

On the wings of a dove 

Ferlin Husky

This is my prayer

To keep Your lovely face 

ever before my eyes

This is my prayer. 

Make it my strong desire

That in my secret heart 

no other love competes.

No rival throne survives,

and I serve only You.

Graham Kendrick

I think the words to this song express my prayer that in these chaotic times, we will not be deceived by counterfeit 'gods', In times like these, more than ever, we need a Savior. Also praying for our leaders and our military and the innocent victims of war.

Brooklyn Botanical Garden

Son Cameron visited this beautiful garden in Brooklyn NY yesterday.

I was thrilled to see the photos and

glad he and his friends had pretty weather

after a long winter.

Happy Guy

"Happy Guy" has a laugh that makes everyone around him stop and smile. As a substitute teacher I was supervising some children in the gym one day. Happy Guy climbed into a huge box full of foam  balls and began throwing them to each of his friends. Each time they would throw one back to him, the peals of laughter would ring out again. He is a child with Down syndrome.

His joy made me think. When is the last time I laughed until I lost my breath?

Thank You, Jesus, that You are not a gloomy gus. I imagine that there is a "ball pit" in Heaven and a whole lot of laughter there!

“I have loved you even as the Father has loved me. Remain in my love.
When you obey my commandments, you remain in my love, just as I obey my Father’s commandments and remain in his love.
I have told you these things so that you will be filled with my joy. Yes, your joy will overflow!
This is my commandment: Love each other in the same way I have loved you."
John 15:9-12 NLT

Sunshiney Day!

"Now to Him who is able to do exceedingly abundantly above all that we ask or think, according to the power that works in us, to Him be glory in the church by Christ Jesus to all generations, forever and ever. Amen."

Ephesians 3:20-21

I am going to the rehab for physical therapy twice a week for a few weeks, so I haven't been posting and commenting very much. I have trouble with my knees and hands from osteoarthritis. I'm so happy for warmer weather and being able to go for a nice walk!

God of the Impossible

 

Got any rivers you think are uncrossable?

Got any mountains

you can't tunnel through?

God specializes 

in things thought impossible.

He'll do for you 

what no other friend can do.

Hope

As for me,
I watch in hope for the Lord.
I wait for God my Savior.
My God will hear me.

Micah 7:7 Message

Some of us have been praying for something specific for decades, and have not seen the answer yet. 

I remember my Dad fervently praying for his father who had been through some rough times in his life. Nearly 90, and never very vocal about his faith, Grandpa went to the altar one Sunday night, and asked to speak to the congregation. You can't imagine how amazing this was for him to do that. He said that he knew he would not live much longer and he wanted to declare his faith in Jesus Christ. It is one of those memories that strengthens my faith to say with the prophet Micah: As for me, I'm not giving up. My hope is in the Lord.

Wise Question

When I was young, I saved up $400 and purchased my first car, a 1962 Chevy- refrigerator white. I was whining to my friend that I wished I had a sportier car-  metallic silver with racing stripes! My wise friend shocked me with his question: "Would that make you a more loving person?"

That caught me off guard. NOT: Would it make me popular...but would it make me more loving!!

That question came back to mind as I read Paul's prayer:

My prayer for you is that you will overflow more and more with love for others, and at the same time keep on growing in spiritual knowledge and insight. Philippians 1:9

Trusting in the Lord

Trust in the Lord with all your heart

and lean not on you own understanding.

In all your ways acknowledge Him

and He shall direct your paths.

Proverbs 3:5-6

Let us then approach 

God's throne of grace with confidence,

so that we may receive mercy 

and find grace to help us

in our time of need.

Hebrews 4:16