Field of Spring

On my drive home Wednesday I came up over a hill and there it was . . . a field of spring! Baby lambs and a few calves too!



What a prize! I so enjoyed looking at this new life. It was siesta time in Mt. Airy and everyone looked quiet and peaceful.


Hope you enjoy the pictures!

A Stronghold for You . . .

The picture above is my birthday rose from Jerry. Thank you, honey!

Psalm 119 is a glorious psalm. Matthew Henry's Commentary opens with this sentence in regard to the psalm: "The general scope and design of this psalm is to magnify the Divine law, and make it honourable." If you are familiar with this psalm you know this to be true.

I was reading verses 161-168 this morning and my Liberty Bible Commentary had this to say: "The riches of God's word only come to those who have disciplined themselves to battle the enemies of time, apathy, and irregularity with regard to the reading of God's word. Anyone who gives himself to such a rewarding practice will be able to say with the psalmist, 'I hate and abhor lying. Not only hate lying, nor simply abhor it, but hate and abhor lying is the responsibility of one who loves the law of God."

This is indeed a stronghold to living for God. May you be strengthened this morning to stand tall in your faith and be encouraged that God's riches are within your reach.

The pictures below are from the Women's Retreat I attended last weekend at Camp Wo-Me-To. I was thrilled to see and hear my friend, Karla Dornacher, speak about "savoring the moment."



The picture below is my friend, Kathy Kreyling, and her friend Cathi, who cheered my heart with their presence as I ate not one, not two, but three "small" cups of frozen ice cream!

"Just One Letter . . . "

Have you ever received a note or letter that spoke to your heart and changed your course of action for the rest of your life? I received one some 28 years ago that so affected me that my life goal and future service were defined that day.

That’s when my note writing to encourage others began. And by God’s grace, I’ve been faithful through the years. Having firsthand experience in what a note can do in a life has kept me busy sending God’s love to those He directs me too. And He does direct me!

Consider the following excerpt from “The Fragrance of Kindness” by Cheri Fuller. One of the stories is written by Alexandra Stoddard:

“Sit by a crackling fire and read some of your favorite letters. While sitting there soaking up all the love and support, think of one person you love and write a beautiful, loving letter to that person. Let the flame in your hearth warm your heart. One letter in a lifetime . . . to a special friend could make a greater difference than you dare to believe.”

I’ve literally sat by a crackling fire and twice wrote a beautiful, loving letter to a friend. It not only inspired me and provided many memories for me to enjoy, but it gave both of my friends warm and loving thoughts to remember for a lifetime.

All it takes is just one note or letter. In these days of speed, you’d be surprised how important a note or letter is that arrives via snail mail. My baskets are full of ones I’ve received, and through the years the encouraging words keep me going.

Christmas, 2009, my friend, Kathy Kreyling, gave me a note a month for 2010. Some loving friend had gifted her the year before and she wanted to pass on that gift. It warms my heart to know I have a packet of notes just waiting to be opened each month of this year.

Why not give it a try? It certainly isn’t hard. It’s doesn’t consume a lot of time. I guarantee it will be one of the most important things you’ll ever do!

I found the picture on the blog Encouragement From The Heart. If anyone knows where it originated from please let me know so I can give proper credit.

Majesty and Control

I was drawn to one of my favorite books in the Bible this week: Job, and it is the majesty and splendor of God's words from Chapter 38 to the end of the book that thrill my soul. You cannot read these words without realizing that God is All Powerful, All Mighty and in control of All things. It brings a renewed awe of all He has created, and reminds me that He is in control of all things, even though I don't understand.

But there is also another point made that demands our attention. Affliction. Job shows us "that there is a benevolent divine purpose running through the sufferings of the godly, and that life's bitterest enigmas are reconcilable with this purpose did we but know the facts."1 As with Job, when baffling affliction comes my way I may know, as a believer, that the same holds good for me--"that there is a purpose for it in the counsel of heaven, and a foreknown outcome of blessing."1

These thoughts and words were affirmed to me, when in chapel at my work this week, the teacher spoke from Isaish 55:8&9: "For my thoughts are not your thoughts, neither are your ways my ways," declares the LORD. "As the heavens are higher than the earth, so are my ways higher than your ways and my thoughts than your thoughts."

It helps me to know it doesn't matter if I know why things happen . . . God knows! "God permitted Job's trials to prove that a person could love God for Himself without thought of reward, and that a loving, sovereign God is always in control though our own knowledge and understanding are limited."1

"Faith enables me to relinquish my need to know why the unthinkable happens and instead to trust the One who so irrefutably proved Himself worthy of my trust by the sacrifice of His own Son's life for my sake." Mayo Mathers

Job thrills my soul with all God is and comforts my soul that He is in control. This inspires me!

and Job also gives me ". . . treasures of the snow . . . " (38:22) and I like that!




1 The Liberty Bible Commentary

A serendipity find . . .

On a beautiful morning this week, about 7 a.m., I was driving one of my favorite roads and spotted someone enjoying the beauty too! Need a peaceful heart? Find roads to enjoy as you travel along.

"Did you ever get stuck?" and "What is Love . . . ?"

That's Sam, as she tried to turn around in the middle of a narrow path after the first storm six days ago. We'd walked to the back gate where we put corn for the deer, just pushing the snow as we walked. 24" is a lot of snow to push around!

The second storm brought our total to 40+ inches. We may have had two blizzards, but 40+ inches of snow is not going to stop me from posting my Valentine post . . . What Is Love? Hope it touches your heart . . .

What is Love? Brocade curtains . . . boots Ingrid’s father wore, and an engagement ring . . .

I rarely watch television anymore, and we don’t have cable, which is a good thing I suppose. I’d rather read or watch DVDs of my own choosing for my entertainment. But a number of years ago, there was one television series that I loved to watch– Dr. Quinn Medicine Woman. Maybe it was the romance of life on the frontier that drew me to it. Whatever it was, I watched faithfully from it’s beginning in 1993 to the last show in 1998.

As a gift to myself, I recently purchased the complete series, and I’ve been enjoying the shows as I go through the box of 42 CDs. Thankfully, Jerry liked the show too, so he watches with me.

The other night we watched “What is Love?” as the cast prepared to perform Romeo and Juliet. Brian, the young boy, was writing an essay about love, and as the show ended his essay declared brocade curtains, boots Ingrid’s father wore and an engagement ring love. These were stories in that episode.

But Jerry topped this saying, “Love is trying to explain ice cream to someone who’s never tasted it.” It brought fun laughter to my face–we love ice cream! A little while after, the thought came to me on how to explain faith to someone who doesn’t believe.

Many words came to my mind . . . hope, trust, forgiveness, comfort, rest, peace, and integrity all came to mind. Following are words from faithful men and women:

“Faith is not a sense, nor sight, nor reason, but taking God at his Word.” Arthur Benoni Evans (1781-1854)

“Faith is deliberate confidence in the character of God whose ways you cannot understand at the time.” Oswald Chambers (1874-1917)

“Faith is not anti-intellectual. It is an act of man that reaches beyond the limits of our fives senses.” Billy Graham.

“Faith is knowing something is true, but you can’t prove it, and you prove faith by the way you live your life and treat others in Jesus name.” Jerry

“Faith means being grasped by a power that is greater than we are, a power that shakes us and turns us, and transforms and heals us. Surrender to this power is faith.” Paul Johannes Oskar Tillich (1886-1965)

"Faith see’s the invisible, believes the unbelievable, and receives the impossible.” Corrie Ten Boom (1892-1983)

All this because of trying to explain love. I can certainly identify with this description: “Love is like swallowing hot chocolate before it has cooled off. It takes you by surprise at first, but keeps you warm for a long time.” Anonymous

I hope your Valentine's day will include special care for those you love. And a warm and sincere thank you to God for the greatest love gift of all . . . Jesus!

Sometimes I'd like to be a duck . . .

Many years ago as I drove to work in the morning, I’d past a pond half frozen and watch ducks taking a bath. What a chuckle I’d have! Frigid temperatures and here those ducks were relishing a fresh bath! I’d still be slowly warming up to the heat in the car.

I enjoyed that scene again, recently, and it just brought back good memories. The other week I stopped at a pond I pass and shot the above scene. Serene and tranquil, the geese having a quiet start to their day . . . some bathing . . . a beautiful example of God’s handiwork.

The rushed drivers who watched me pull over and walk to the pond probably were wondering what that crazy woman was doing. But once God has opened your eyes to His beauty and creation, well, I’ll do just about anything to get that shot!

The scene below is a fountain that refreshed me as I drove by.




The next time you pass a pond in the middle of winter and see those ducks taking a bath, thank God for His beautiful creation and His amazing works. What a delight!

The scene below was taken the morning after our fresh snow Tuesday night. It's a favorite farm I love to photograph in any season. I got a different view that morning through the fence. There were many geese in the pond and they began taking off. It's just a delightful memory!