A Very Long Time

 "Few delights can equal the mere presence of one whom we trust utterly."

George Macdonald, 1824-1903

 

A favorite snap in my sister-in-law's home with snow on the ground.
 

 Last week I came upon a phrase that gave me pause for quite awhile. These are the words I read: "Our hearts have been friends for a very, very long time."

 

My mind immediately went to my elementary school friend who has been in my life all these years. I had just spoken to her the other day. We've been active friends for 60 years, seeing each other through all times of good and bad.

 

My mind then visited other friends I have enjoyed for a very long time.What a joyful walk down memory lane. Yes, my heart has been friends with many for a very, very long time.

 

"A friend is one who makes me do my best."

Oswald Chambers, 1874-1917 

 

But it wasn't until a few days later that my mind was taken in another direction. It was early morning, during my devotions, when I heard in my mind: "I've been friends with God for a very, very long time." It's been 43 years since I was born in God's family. Has my heart been His for all those years?

 

I believe yes, it has. I cannot remember a time when my heart wasn't with Him. Even during times of extreme heart break and suffering, my heart was always with Him. Many times I have read about hearts being angry with God for one reason or another, but I cannot ever remember being angry with Him.

You see, He's all I have. He's the one that loves me unconditionally. He's always been a whisper away. All my heart break and sorrow has only pushed me closer to Him. It's been a very, very long time.

 

"Insomuch as anyone pushes you nearer to God, he or she is your friend."

Unknown 

A memory from our home in Maryland

Who's heart has yours been friends with for a very, very long time? Do you speak to them often? Do you carry good memories that bring joy to your spirit?

Tis the season to give thanks. Who can you cheer and encourage by just touching base with them? I know who I can! So thankful my heart has been friends for a very, very long time with dear friends, and my wonderful Savior!

What a Title?

 "However painful or difficult, or, on the other hand, however inconspicuous or humdrum, life may be, the Christian finds his peace in accepting and playing his part in the master plan."

 J. B. Phillips, 1906-1982

 

A graphic I created many years ago with the help of Karla Dornacher's art.

 

 A good title catches your eye. A good song lyric stays in your head. A good caption speaks volumes.

And that's what happen to me as I was reading through issues of Home Life and Mature Living magazines. "What if this is as Good as it Gets?" caught my eye, as well as "When the Rain Falls . . . Things Begin to Grow."

Now that's a good looking boy!

As a writer I was trained to create catchy titles because that's what draws the eye. Some of the titles I've created and had published are: "Are you Afraid of a Divorced Person?" "A Life Changing Truck" "My Melody of Words" "Out of Tune" and "Is The Answer Reverence." Titles get you thinking, and that's just what I did when I read those two titles!

"What if this is as good as it gets? . . . Are you okay with that?" Me. My personal life. Here we are Thanksgiving week - the time to give thanks for God's blessings. Am I truly thankful for my life and all the joy and sadness I've been through? Wow. That's a doozy of a question.

The truth is, we all have our stories of life, the joys, the disappointments, the weaknesses. There's always something we wish could be rewritten to have a happier ending. Many times I voice David's words in Psalm 55:6: "Oh, that I had the wings of a dove! I would fly away and be at rest" and forget all my cares.

Mr. Dove trying to stay warm as winter begins its reign!

Accepting all that has happened to me doesn't mean I like everything, or that I'm happy about everything. It means I've accepted my life and trust God. Whether it's good or bad, God picks up the pieces and continues to work. He continues to work. Let me say that again. He continues to work. Thankfully, He continues to work.

All that my life is, God has provided and directed, and I trust Him to bring me safely home to Him.

"When the Rain Falls . . . Things Begin to Grow." When I accept God's control over all the things that happen in my life, patience grows, understanding grows, humility grows, compassion grows, acceptance grows. Of course, if I don't accept God's control, bitterness grows, anger grows, indifference grows, hate grows, dissatisfaction grows.

A covered bridge I enjoyed seeing one year in Vermont.

Life sure is a journey. As I age, accepting God's control in my life and letting Him work gets easier. It sure helps my day-to-day living when I accept His way. But, I'm not perfect yet and still have a ways to go before my growing season is up.

“Gratitude unlocks the fullness of life.
It turns what we have into enough, and more.
It turns denial into acceptance, chaos into order,
and confusion into clarity. It turns a meal into a feast,
a house into a home, a stranger into a friend.
Gratitude makes sense out of our past,
brings peace for today, and creates a vision for tomorrow."

 Melody  Beattie

I believe I have accepted the course of my life, definitely not liking everything, but I can say: "Yes, I'm okay with it as long as God is in control."  Farther down in Psalm 55, my heart is expressed completely: "But as for me, I trust in you." And that's definitely a reason to celebrate this Thanksgiving!

Late fall scenery.

Two little titles brought quite a discussion in my mind. What about you? What if this is as good as it gets? Are you okay with it? I think it's worth your time to consider as you prepare to celebrate Thanksgiving and Christmas.

God is the giver of all good things. "Glorify the Lord with me; let us exalt His name together."

 

                                                                                                                                                       Graphic ownership unknown

Be Thankful for Mercy

 "When all thy mercies, O my God, my rising soul surveys,

Transported with the view, I'm lost

In wonder, love and praise."

Joseph Addison, 1672-1719

 

Mercies Anew was written in 2001 by Mark Altrogge and Bob Kauflin, and I love the words!

Each morning when you have your first conscious thought of God, thank Him for His mercies. Most of us our aware of the Scripture in Lamentations 3:22-23 which says: "Because of the Lord's great love we are not consumed, for his compassions [mercy] never fail. They are new every morning; great is your faithfulness."

My friend, Kathy's, front window, a few years ago.

The first verse of Mercies Anew:

"Every morning that breaks, There are mercies anew
Every breath that I take Is your faithfulness proved
And at the end of each day When my labors are through
I will sing of Your mercies anew."

Charles Spurgeon said: "His mercy is unfailing. It will never . . . leave you . . . If mercy is your friend, it will be with you when you are tempted not to yield to the Lord and when you are in deep trouble, to keep you from sinking. It will always be with you to be the light and life of your countenance and to be the joy of your soul when, earthly comfort is quickly fading."  He also said: "His mercy is tender . . . infinite . . . underserved . . . effective . . . diverse and abundant."  

                                August 17th devotion in Look Unto Me: The devotions of Charles Spurgeon, edited by Jim Reimann

"I trust in the mercy of God for ever and ever." 

Psalm 52:8

Chorus of Mercies Anew:

"And Your mercies, they will never end For ten thousand years they'll remain

And when this world's beauty has passed away Your mercies will be unchanged."

 

 If you haven't heard this song, or it's been awhile, enjoying listening to it again and sing along.  

 https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=-ggnyu0J37k

Graphic Unknown

Why don't you take a few moments and meditate on God's mercies in your life. I think you'll soon be singing: "I will sing of Your mercies anew"!

Forever Friends

Money might make you wealthy, but having friends make you rich."

Unknown 

 

One of my favorite figurines!

 

I recently saw these words on a friend's post:

 

"One day, all of us will get separated from each other.

We will miss our conversations. Days, months and years

will pass until we rarely see each other. One day, someone

will see our photos and ask, 'Who are these people?'

And we will smile with a few tears and say,

'It was with them that I had the best days of my life." 

Author unknown

 

These words are certainly true in my life. My most treasured memories are ones with friends. I have always treasured my friends. They are my family.

 

My blood family was small. There was more cussing than conversation. It's so hard for me to relate when I read posts from friends that have families that love each other, although not perfect. Once I became a Christian, and my brothers and sisters in Christ became my family, it helped. But it still didn't take away the hurt of never experiencing a loving family and feeling alone, especially during holidays.

 

I don't know why God's plans for my life didn't include a loving family. So, from early adulthood through all my years, I've shared my life with friends.

 

I'm thankful for the many ladies who have shared my life, helped me grow as a person, and taught me what loving families are like.

 

A favorite graphic. 

Artist unknown

 

This is the month of thankfulness so I salute the friends in my life. I've been blessed with many close friends. I believe God knew I needed friends to help me along my path so He provided friends to mentor me, encourage me, laugh with me, cry with me, strengthen me and care for me.

 

These are the people I shared friendship with by keeping in touch frequently, meeting together and giving gifts of love. I will forever be thankful for the friends in my life. I have been greatly blessed.

 

To have friends you must be a friend. You must give of yourself in loving care to share your life with friends. The Proverbs tell us that "those who are to have friends, must show themselves friendly." We need good, true, honest, godly friends, and we need to be that for others.

I've mentioned in previous posts about my 55th birthday party: A celebration of friends! Sixteen of my closest friends, from elementary school up to that present time, were celebrated in my home. It was a lovely day of memories, good times and special friends.

 

Better is a neighbor who is really 'near' in heart and spirit, than a brother who though closer . . . by blood, is 'far off' in feeling."

Albert Barnes

Yet, I have been doubly blessed. For I have a Friend who means all the world to me. As the song title goes: "Jesus Is All the World to Me."

"Jesus is all the world to me, my life, my joy, my all;

He is my strength from day to day, without Him I would fall.

When I an sad, to Him I go, no other one can cheer me so;

When I an sad, He makes me glad, He's my Friend."

Will Lamartine Thompson, 1847-1909

So whether you are blessed with a loving family or not, there is a friend above all friends who longs to be yours. I love all my friends, but Jesus is the best friend of all. He is Lord; He is Savior; He is God. I praise Him!

 

After the friendship of God, a friend's affection is the greatest treasure here below.

Unknown

Sorry to see you go . . .

With every leaf a miracle . . .

Walt Whitman, 1821-1894

 

 

Yes, fall color is coming to an end. It's been a dreary fall in NW PA. I've taken zero pictures. This past weekend we saw more fall than the entire month of October. Yes, there are still some color to be seen. But not for long.

 

So this post will share a few more of my photos from previous years and a few good words from fellow lovers of fall!

 

"God writes the gospel not in the Bible alone, but on trees and flowers and clouds and stars."

Martin Luther

 

 "Listen! The wind is rising, and the air is wild with leaves. We have had our summer evenings, now for October eves!

Humbert Wolfe

"Is not this a true autumn day? Just the still melancholy that I love - that makes life and nature harmonize . . . delicious autumn! My very soul is wedded to it, and if I were a bird I would fly about the earth seeking the successive autumns."

George Eliot

 

 "And that afternoon, as the sun slanted low through the changing autumn leaves, I remembered to savor the moment, soak in the beauty, breathe deeply and feel the immensity of God."

Cindee Snider

 

 

 

 "Even if something is left undone, everyone must take time to sit still and watch the leaves turn."

Elizabeth Lawrence

"They come and go so quickly, spring and fall . . . as if they had not really come at all. Perhaps we could not take too much of beauty, breath-catching glory, ecstasy without relief; and so . . . God made them brief."

Ruth Bell Graham

"The testimony of nature alone is sufficient to lead man to an understanding of the personal righteous nature of God so that they are without excuse."

Romans 1:20

"In the entire circle of the year there are no days so delightful as those of a fine October, when the trees are bare to the mild heavens, and the red leaves bestrew the road, and you can feel the breath of winter, morning and evening -- no days so calm, so tenderly solemn, and with such a reverent meekness in the air."

Alexander Smith

Good bye fall color. I will miss you!