Summer Ribbons…
Summer – this gift tied up with ribbons of life…
Creation is never more alive than in the heat and busyness that is summer. Bunnies abound in our grasses right now. Birds chase around comically. All busily eating and putting on winter’s fat for the lean cooler months.
All of us are busy too – going on vacations, or to the beach, or to a picnic, or baseball game. Slurping watermelons and spitting their seeds. Fanning as we sit in the shade. Dipping toes and whole bodies into cool water.
Each of these are gifts – and the opening – the untying of their ribbons is the fun. To wake up on a summer morning and rush outside to feel what little chill there is to the air – a curly blue ribbon of sky above. To listen to the cicada bugs rattle away telling of afternoon rain coming – a silky brown ribbon of wings. To smell the clean air as the storm pelts all wet – a twist of ribbons white and flowing. To taste the peaches and the Vidalia onions and the cucumbers and tomatoes – a rainbow of ribbons wrapping us in delight.
Days of summer fly by, one tumbling into the next – I don’t want to them to fade away unnoticed. I want to tug each ribbon open daily and drink in the gift of this humid, sunny, go barefoot, stay up late listening to the crickets time.
Ann Voskamp wisely said “May we see calendars not so much as rows of boxes to fill up with things to do – but as boxes that we get to unwrap – the present moment is always the gift.” Each day our wonderful Creator gives us ribbons and ribbons to tug open His gifts – given to delight us in ways He created us for, too often we are scurrying after that which has no eternal value.
I still love the old saying ‘Yesterday is history, tomorrow is a mystery, today is a gift that’s why it’s called the present.’ Take time each day to see the abundant, lavish ribbons of His love and savor sweet summer a little longer…
Mason Jars…
It’s hard for us to let things sit empty – we have this need to fill them… Jugs become loose change collectors, boxes become mail catchers, some jars become candle holders – others become flower vases…
Never does a bouquet look lovelier than when it’s in a mason jar. The simplicity of a jar topped off with the intricacy of God’s handiwork, the perfect pairing.
It is the same with people, we are vessels longing to be filled up. Sometimes we fill up on work, on people, on money – funny how we never feel filled up…
Sometimes we fill up on social media, entertainment of one kind or another, the latest gossip…still empty…
God longs to fill us – with His mercy, His love, His forgiveness. Oh when we let ourselves be filled with His offerings how every little nook and cranny finds fulfillment. Yet we can’t get enough. The more He gives of Himself the more we can be filled. The more we are filled the more we can offer to others…
I want to be the mason jar, no frills or airs – just a vessel saying ‘Fill me Lord with love, joy, peace’. Let me be a bouquet of patience, kindness, goodness. That others will see gentleness, faithfulness, self-control… Let my filling be that of the Holy Spirit who has been given to us as a deposit so that we will never doubt the return of our Savior.
We are God’s handiwork, made in His image – to be image bearers to a world trying alcohol and pills, power and popularity, never feeling like they are filled up. Let us be so filled that others are drawn to find out what our sweet fragrance is.
God’s handiwork, His vessels, His ambassadors to the lady in line, the waiter at our table, the receptionist at the office. What the world needs now… a Savior, sweet Savior…
And the Hands That Made It…
Recently I was challenged to set a timer for five minutes and do…nothing. To sit back and breathe and listen – to let the tension roll away and be filled for good use…
I wondered during that time about things…I glanced at the beautiful quilt and I could feel God say ‘whose is it?’ and I replied in my heart ‘Yours and so are the hands that made it’…
My eyes wandered to pictures of children and grandchildren and again I was asked ‘whose are they’ and I replied ‘Yours and so are the bodies that made them’…
I noticed a silk flower arrangement I made about year or so ago, definitely not my skill set, but it turned out so lovely and He asked ‘whose is it?’ and I replied ‘Yours and so are my hands that made it’…
We are His, dear ones, and He wants us to know – to know beyond a shadow of a doubt how loved, how protected, how cherished we are… Though the tensions of the world may say otherwise, this is only temporary.
Finally my eyes wandered to a picture of my mother when she was a little girl. This time I asked ‘whose is she?’ and He replied ‘Mine and I made her and all eternity is hers’… Sweet comfort for the soul of a daughter wanting to know she will see her mommy again someday.
Emily Freeman is the author challenging us to be still and she said “Stillness is to the soul as decluttering is to the home.” Take the challenge, set the timer, declutter your soul…breathe, empty your hands to the Hands that made you…
If you stopped by because you read my devotion over at Encouragement Cafe, WELCOME! So glad you are here!
H. U. G….
Handing. Us. Grace. – every blooming flower, newborn cry, mountain meadow, crashing wave, bird in flight, frog croaking, butterfly fluttering – hugs from our Creator…
I’m a hugger – I especially love hugging someone unexpectedly. I don’t understand non-huggers – cause I know deep inside they need a hug, and they know it too. I also don’t understand timid huggers – you know, kind of come at you from the side, or lean forward so only shoulders touch, or make it quick with a pat on the back…
Look, if I’m gonna hug you it’s going to be full on, squeezing, and all that stuff – or I’m not going to hug you at all. A hug is a way of extending grace to each other. Especially those we are closest to. Sometimes I may not think my hubby deserves a hug, but I give him one anyway (knowing there are many more times I don’t deserve one and he still gives me one anyway).
Our love, kindness, feelings are so fickle. One minute we’re all sunshine and sweet thoughts and the next we’re on a tirade of ‘how dare they’ or “I can’t believe they’ or ‘how could they’. Grace is favor extended when most undeserved. You know, like what God does for us every minute of every day.
I can guarantee you that our offenses against a Holy God far outweigh all the wrongs done to us by friends or foes. Yet He still grants each next breath, a perfect sunrise, and even a mouthwatering dessert now and then.
He Hands.Us.Grace (H.U.G.) – can we hand.out.grace (h.o.g.)? Melt a frown, calm the worry, renew the passion – h.o.g. someone’s attention with a hug… Enjoy this link to a video that will definitely wrap you in His hug today…
http://www.andiesisle.com/creation/magnificent.html
If you stopped by because you read my devotion over at Encouragement Cafe, WELCOME! So glad you are here!
So-ing Lessons…
A lot can be learned from a thirteen year old…
They like to use the word ‘so’ – a lot. ‘So, grandma, how did you and grandpa meet?’ My story made him smile wide and relax in his seat. (So, I guess I’m a good story teller.)
‘So, grandpa, see if you know the answer to this, you would have been around then… Back in the prohibition all alcohol was illegal. Which alcohol was still illegal after prohibition?’ Uh, grandpa wasn’t even born til 1956 and where do they get this stuff – must have been in his history class this past year.
‘So there’s this kid at school whose the same age as me. He has a mustache and chest hair already and he’s not even as tall as me. He looks a lot older, like seventeen. But he’s really my age.’ Hmmm, we’re happy that this year our just turned teen has grown several inches and his voice changed but that’s it for now…
It’s amazing how the metabolism of a thirteen year old can consume a week’s worth of groceries in one day with a super large bowl of ice cream just before they go to bed and not only can they sleep well, but they never put on any weight. So I guess he may be two inches taller before he goes back home to his parents.
Thirteen year old boys also have come into their own with humor and telling jokes. It’s like the light bulb came on and they can’t get enough. Everyday he has a new one ‘So, grandma, what do you call a cow with no legs?’ Honestly I thought my answer of ‘sitting bull’ was good, he rolled his eyes. ‘No, the answer is – ground beef.’ So, now he has us searching our memory banks for long lost silly jokes…
In the quiet of day just before bedtime we have deep discussions. A serious side comes out. He reflects before answering and sharing and then when we all pray he says something like this: ‘So, God, thank you for all the fun of the day, all the good food and things you’ve given us. Watch over my family while I’m away and help other people around the world with their problems. In Jesus’ Name, Amen’
So, being a grandparent is pretty cool, to see the world through eyes only beginning the adventure… Lessons learned in a short summer stay, memories to last a lifetime…
In God Do We?
Are we losing it – t r u s t ? A nation pulling further away, at times unrecognizable any longer as believers in the one true God. That’s what we see and hear on the networks, the papers, the hype… That’s what we see in the actions of our government… But is that what is in the hearts of Americans?
Maybe some, but certainly not all. Read beyond the networks wanting ratings and political favors and you read of hard working men and women trying to raise a family, to run a business, to make a day’s wage. Talk to people in the grocery store line and in the bank lines and you hear of belief or hope that surely God will take care of us…
America, from the beginning, has been a nation of imperfect people and not all came here to have freedom to worship the one true God. But more did than didn’t and this nation ran well and prospered from the constraints in place when a body of people base the rule of law, justice, freedom on Christian values.
America, I fear, is beginning some dark days as we ‘tell’ God by our rulings and our actions and our restrictions that we no longer need Him. Amazing when bad things happen people are quick to say ‘where was God in this?’ but just as quick to shout ‘separation of church and state’, just as quick to oust him out of our schools, our ceremonies, our government – calling on Him only when tragedy strikes.
Hope lives in the America’s hearts and God tells us “If my people, who are called by my Name, will humble themselves and pray and seek my face and turn from their wicked ways, then will I hear from heaven and will forgive their sin and will heal their land.” (2Chronicles 7:14 NIV)
This is a call, dear friends, to be humble, to seek His face, to turn from all the wicked ways we have allowed to creep in and beg our Father to hear us and to ignite a mighty revival in this country – that this nation may be known as a Christian nation. If He does not, if we continue to snub our noses at Him, then our shining light to the world will be extinguished.
Somber words for my usually light hearted posts but timely… Celebrate our freedom as Americans this 4th of July, and praise God for our true freedom in Him…
If you stopped by because you read my devotion today over at Encouragement Cafe, WELCOME! So glad you are here!
Sea Shells & Other Collections…
My husband says I should take a few bags with me to the beach – but he doesn’t mean empty ones for more shells. He thinks I should return a few bags just to be fair to others who are missing out…
People usually go to the beach to tan or to play in the water or to relax by the surf – I don’t understand… So much treasure just waiting to be picked up. My son once found a beautiful watch for me in a bed of seaweed. My mother used to live near the Oregon coast, she collected agates she found at the seashore.
A good friend has collected ‘sea glass’ and turned it into a jewelry business. Ever see those guys out there with their metal detectors? I bet they find some good stuff…
When I go to the mountains there aren’t any shells…But there are leaves in the fall. I have a huge, old dictionary whose pages have leaves pressed between them. They’re beautiful. If it’s not fall, I can collect some rocks – well, we don’t have rocks in Florida so they are quite a find.
Once we were in Asheville strolling down the street – there were these brown prickly balls with a little stem lying everywhere. They looked like brown fuzzy maraschino cherries. Perfect for a bowl on my table.
Acorns are really cool looking, but we don’t have any oaks around us so I only have a couple. I recently started collecting seeds from my flowers – why not? I can store them and replant them the following season and not have to buy as many plants. I love cat tails – not the animal kind, the kind that grow on those blowing grasses. Stick them in a vase, they last forever.
Late in the year I pull out a collection of pine cones that I’ve had for over twenty years. While I certainly cannot put down the store bought collections we all have, I must say that the ones God has sprinkled about for us to enjoy are much more unique – and they’re free! Creation – the best collecting grounds there are…
If you stopped by because you read my devotion today over at Encouragement Cafe, WELCOME! So glad you are here!
What’s A Daddy to do?
My mother always used to say “Anyone can be a father, it takes someone special to be a daddy.” She should know – she was born in the height of the depression to a seventeen year old mom, adopted when she was almost two because she was starving – by a couple who were unable to have children.
Life was no cake walk after that for my mother but she always thought highly of her adopted father and always called him: Daddy.
Fast forward twenty years to my birth. My parents were not perfect either, in fact, they divorced when I was six. But I often came home in the summer and until his death I always called my father: Daddy.
Today’s world is full of fathers, as it always has been, but how many Daddys are there? Fortunately even if we do not have a great father here on earth – we have a great Father in heaven: our Abba, Daddy.
His Word tells us that He has gone to all lengths to make sure that we have everything we need and that we are spoiled with His lavish love. He sent His own son to die for our reckless behaviors. He has given us His Word to teach us everything we need to know. He has given us His Spirit to guide us and as a deposit for eternity. He has given us prayer to communicate with Him, with His Son interceding for us night and day.
What a great picture for fathers here one earth: To the best of their ability provide for their children’s needs, spoil them with love, make sure they know about Jesus’ sacrifice, teach them all they need for life and godliness from the Word, lead them to a point they make a decision for Christ, and pray with them and for them all the time.
What’s a Daddy to do? Humble himself before the Lord His God and when life becomes to hard to stand – kneel…
Happy Daddy’s Day to the men of God in your life!
Dice & Laughter…
If laughter is the best medicine, then twelve ladies in my neighborhood must be the healthiest around. Once a month we get together and play a silly dice game called bunko. It doesn’t take any strategy or effort – so we throw dice and talk and laugh and talk and laugh – and oh yeah, we throw dice and eat – usually yummy sweet desserts…
One sweet friend has the most wonderful laugh – it is distinct to her and every time I hear it I smile and want to go her hug her…
My best friend told me one time that someone said her laugh sounded like Wilma on the Flintstones. Next time she laughed, I had to agree, precious.
Unfortunately my laugh is one of those loud, obnoxious laughs and though I really should make the effort to tame it, when something strikes me funny, I can’t help myself.
Lately there have been some hilarious YouTube videos of babies laughing – what a crack-up. I guess we were created with a sense of humor that develops even before we walk…
I love to tell a joke when I can remember it. My poor hubby, he tries, it’s not that he doesn’t remember the joke, he just can’t keep a straight face. When I tell him a joke I usually start out ‘So there was this guy’ and the minute he hears me – he knows what I’m up to. I have to think of a new approach…
Truly our Father in heaven has a great sense of humor, that He put in us to enjoy. So many things in creation I think He created just to get a smile or giggle out of us.
Maybe we all just need to be perpetual smilers – consider the alternative 😦 Hmmm, I think smile lines are the only pretty wrinkles. In the midst of all that’s difficult in our world today, there is still joy if we just look for it, if we just let Him show it to us. Share a laugh with someone today – you’ll both feel better and so will those around you…
If you stopped by because you read my devotion today over at Encouragement Cafe, WELCOME! So glad you are here!
Purse-anality…
So I’m not all that big on purses, whatever is functional – well, I sometimes do try and match my outfit for a special occasion…. Let’s see that would be Sunday for church, on a date with my hubby, and weddings…lunch with a friend, out with my daughter. Ok so I do like purses…
Really though I would rather have the money in my purse than spend it on the purse – but that’s just me. I understand the whole designer thing, I think… It’s a fashion statement, it’s a purse-anality statement…
I have a dear friend who sews meticulously. She has made several purses for me, without me even asking, and at no charge. They are works of art – truly. They have pockets galore and the fabrics she uses would put Vera Bradley to shame. For her its a work of love and satisfaction in a job well done.
I’m thinking the owner of a store I saw called Purse-anality, probably has a great personality. I love it when people come up with a play on words like that. So if you’re a cat person things are purr-fect. She-shells are what you find on the beach and keep – guys don’t keep them so they have to be she-shells. My mother was a hair dresser – they come up with great shop names: Short Cuts, Curl Up & Dye, No Loose Ends, The Mane Attraction…
The gift of language is one of the joys unique to humans. Animals communicate with purpose. We communicate sometimes just for the fun of it. Puns are a great example: Two silk worms had a race, they ended up in a tie. Bakers trade recipes on a knead to know basis. A will is a dead giveaway.
Ok, I’ll stop now…
The point is life isn’t always happy, but it is always joy – when you know Jesus as Savior. Our words have the power of life, share Him with someone today and bring life – then they will be joy-full too!
parisrenae 