A Moment of Leisure

"Therefore my heart is glad and my tongue rejoices; my body also will rest in hope."

Acts 2:26

From the Just Breathe Facebook page.

Since the first of August I've taken a moment of leisure. A moment of rest. A moment of thought. It's taking a while to adjust.

I like to be productive, to have something to do that I consider worthwhile. Since November 2022, I have written hymn studies and enjoyed doing it immensely. When we first moved to NW PA, I became involved in the quilt ministry at church and worked at it for five years. I learned a skill I never thought I'd be able to do. It was a worthwhile project.

Although I'm always creating online with my pictures, writing for this and that, and enjoying the gifts I believe God gave me and using them for His glory, not having a daily purpose is hard to adjust too.

The first of August I prayed and asked God if He wanted me to continue writing hymn studies. I still have 28 new hymn studies to post online. Is there something else He wants me to do now? 

My life is changing with the advance of age of myself and my husband. I'm noticing the many changes that are becoming needs for me to meet. 

"Return to your rest, my soul, for the Lord has been good to you."

Psalm 116:7

Unknown source.

The best thing I can do is continue my daily time with God, finding encouragement through study and singing, and resting my mind from the "I have to do this to be productive." It may be a few weeks or longer until I know I am ready to continue the work I have been doing, or God brings another avenue of service to me. 

Immersing myself into the story behind a hymn and finding Scripture that is relevant to each verse has been an inspiring and joyful activity. Just in these two short weeks I have missed the fulfillment of doing something with purpose. Resting isn't as easy as it sounds. 

I can be still. Being an introvert, solitude fills me up. Recharges me. But not doing something fulfilling, that is hard.

Allie Boman, on Biblestudytools.com wrote: "Waiting on the Lord is a deeply personal and transformative experience that requires trust, patience, and active faith. It's not about passively standing by but about confidently expecting God's perfect timing and guidance. For me, it's been a journey of learning to trust that God's plans are far greater than my own.

"Even when it's hard to see, God is always working behind the scenes, aligning everything for our good. Waiting on the Lord means believing that His timing is perfect and that He will fulfill His promises in ways beyond our imagination."

Between books that encourage and inspire me and hymns to sing and praise God with, I am blessed. I am thankful. I am grateful. I am loved. A moment of leisure. I am smiling. I'm trying to enjoy.

"Yes, my soul, find rest in God; my hope comes from Him."

Psalm 62:5

By His Grace . . .

The Creator. He's Amazing!

 "All things were made through Him, and without Him, nothing was made that was made."

John 1:3

The four pictures on this post are of the four gardens God gave me after I retired. I had never played in dirt before, never wanted too. But God gave me this unknown joy after I retired. It was a joyful blessing in my life, and I miss God walking with me "In the Garden." I'm thankful to have pictures to remember it by, and I look at them often during this season of the year. This was the first garden created in the Spring, the Summer garden.

I don't always have words to share, and I didn't for this post. During times like this I pray and ask God to give me words to write. He has never failed me. Yesterday morning during my reading time, my heart was encouraged by an unknown hymn in my hymnal and words by Anne Graham Lotz in her book, The Joy of My Heart." They sealed my joy. This post is in honor of our wonderful Creator of all things.

This is the second garden created the following fall, the Spring garden. The bird house sign says: "God lives here" from a picture I saw in Karla Dornacher's book, "Down a Garden Path."

My daily devotion time always includes the reading of two hymns in the hymnal I have. I read straight through the hymnal every year. When I turned to the reading yesterday morning, I saw a hymn where I had previously highlighted all the verses. A hymn I was not familiar with and have never heard sung. I couldn't find a video of this hymn, so I don't know the music, but the words are enough.

Creator of the Universe

Wesley I. Forbis

"Creator of the universe, of cosmic wind and storm;

Creator of all life on earth, of atom, cell and form;

Of all the wonders that You are, or that You may yet be,

The birth of Christ, love's Morning Star, Your greatest gift to me.

"Creator of the universe, of matter, space, and time;

Creator of all life on earth, of body, soul, and mind;

Of all the wonders that You share, I tremble at Your call;

That I should go, that I should dare to share Your gift to all.

"Creator of the universe, of water, fire, and stone;

Creator of all life on earth, of wonders yet unknown;

The cross that shattered death's domain is love's triumphant call;

God's love in Christ, I must proclaim the greatest gift of all."

This is the Wildflower garden created the next spring. A buck statue guards the garden. 

Then I picked up Anne Graham Lotz's book, "The Joy of My Heart" and read these words:

The Greatness of God's Power

Anne Graham Lotz

" God created atoms and angels and ants,

crocodiles and chiggers and clouds,

elephants and eagles and electrons,

orchids and onions and octopuses,

frogs and feathers and sea foam,

diamonds and dust and dinosaurs,

raindrops and sweat drops,

dewdrops and blood drops,

and me! and You!

"The greatness of His power to create and design and form,

 and mold and make and build and arrange, defies the limits of our imagination.

And since He created everything, 

there is nothing beyond His power to fix or mend or heal or restore!"

This is the Peony/Hibiscus garden created the following fall. I was able to enjoy these gardens for four years before moving to NW PA. 

I thank God for always bringing words to my heart so that I can share them with others, hoping to encourage hearts and inspire readers to live for Christ. And I thank Him for my gardens that He gave me to inspire my soul and draw closer to Him as I walked through them.

The creator. He's amazing!

By His Grace . . .

What is Best?

On Moore Bridge Road the cows were taken a break from the heat.

Most of us are faithful to ask for forgiveness when we have sinned. When we know we did something wrong. When we are ashamed of what we did.

But it's a little bit harder to tell God, "Do with me whatever you think is best." And that's what the Israelites did as told in Judges 10:15: "But the Israelites said to the Lord, 'We have sinned. Do with us whatever you think best, but please rescue us now.'"

It takes a brave person to tell God, "Do what you think is best." Have you ever said that to God? I'm not sure I have. Oh, I've told Him, "I don't know what to do so please help me." I've said, "It hurts, Father, please help me." In those times I didn't do anything wrong but needed guidance.

But to know I've sinned and to tell God to do what He thinks best? 

I'm enjoying seeing Queen Anne's Lace on the side of the road.

David Guzik, Enduringword.com, wrote: "This indicates that Israel came to a place of total surrender to God. The prayer that comes naturally to us is, 'Do to me whatever seems best to ME.' The change in heart meant that the season of affliction eventually did affect Israel in a good way. Israel finally discovered that the worst of serving God is better than the best of serving idols."

Of course, we all know and believe God knows best. But asking that question can be difficult. 

Stacy Edwards, in her book 100 Favorite Bible Prayers, wrote: "David had a similar response when he sinned against the Lord: 'Let us fall into the Lord's hands because His mercies are great.' (2 Samuel 24:14)   David trusted the character of God." 

Matthew Henry said: "But there is hope when sinners cry to the Lord for help and lament their ungodliness as well as their more open transgressions . . . they acknowledged what they deserved . . . We must submit to God's justice, with a hope in His mercy."

A cathedral of God's creation in Cook's Forest!

This is a verse I will ponder. "Do with me whatever you think is best." It must be our wish. For in our hearts, we know God knows best. With such a loving, caring, forgiving, merciful and grace-filled God, He will always give what is necessary to bring us to a right relationship to Him.

Yes, we sin. But we have a Savior who died for us, justified us and helps us every minute of every day. That's worth any punishment we receive that prepares us to join Jesus in heaven.

The beauty of a summer day.

By His Grace . . . 

Learning to Cope

 

From "In The Garden of Faith, Hope and Love" Facebook Page

We, who have been Christians for many years, haveand more years behind you of walking with God, your life is filled with memories and words that can encourage you with just a recall from your brain.

Scripture makes it clear. "I know, Lord, that Your laws are righteous, and that in faithfulness You have afflicted me." Psalm 119:75

It's not what we would really like to happen. But after each disappointment--broken heart, burden, concern, illness--you learn and understand Scripture verses for what they mean and what they can do for you. 

Charles Spurgeon wrote in his book, Beside Still Waters: "Many passages of Scripture will never be made clear by the commentator, for these must be expounded by experience. Many a verse is written in a secret ink that must be held to the fire of adversity to make it visible."  

This is the way God works to bring us to complete understanding of Him and His works. As a young Christian it is hard to see how a Scripture verse applies to you. You read it. You understand what it says. But you can't understand the meaning it will have on you when you have been afflicted with pain.

This is one of the reasons we never stop reading and learning from the Bible. Through the years you continually find new meaning to words as you experience life and its's joys and hardships.

This is a peace you learn. This is a peace that will get you through everything and anything that happens in your life. This is a blessing that you receive in your walk with God. 

I like what Carolyn Larsen said in her book, Courage and Hope for Every Day: You will undoubtedly experience problems at one time or another in your life . . . Search the Scripture to be reminded of God's presence and care for you. Focus on the lessons you're learning and how your dependence on God is growing stronger because of your experiences. 

Never stop learning. Never say you've learned everything about the Bible. It isn't possible. There is always something new to learn. And that's what gets you through life.  

I agree with the words at the beginning: "You are completely at peace knowing that He has never let you down, that He will never let you down, and what He has planned next, will always be better than what's behind."

By His Grace . . .

A Good Day

"When you arise in the morning, think of what a precious privilege it is to be alive,

to breathe, to think, to enjoy, to love."

Marcus Aurelius

I had the pleasure of walking through "Mark's Garden" in Sigel last week. I discovered this garden two years ago on one of my early morning fawn spotting drives. When I drove by his house last week it was full of color, and I just knew I had to go back and walk through it. His wife, Rosemary, is home during the day and she always comes out and makes me feel welcomed and appreciated, telling me to come back any time. The pictures in this post are from that walk. 

Recently while having some lab work done, I saw a sign on a desk that caught my eye. I'd never seen it said quite like this: "This is a good day for it to be a good day." Hoda Kotb

We're always saying, "Yesterday was a good day." Or at the beginning of the day, "I hope this is a good day." Or at the end of the day, "What a good day this has been!"

I want to begin each day saying, "This is a good day for it to be a good day!" It sounds so much happier, anticipating and believing that today will be a good day.

Positive words have so much effect on us. Optimistic. Hopeful. It starts us off down a good path. I like to think that even on days that don't turn out like we want, there are probably things in the day that we did or said or read or saw that was good.

Psalm 23:6 says: "Surely goodness and mercy will follow me all the days of my life, and I will dwell in the house of the LORD forever." Charles Spurgeon said of this verse: "These twin guardian angels [goodness and mercy] will always be with me at my back and my beck."

Studylight.org, Ganns' Commentary on the Bible: "These words are spoken as though 'goodness and mercy' are two angels sent by God to walk with [us] all our life."

I think every day can be a good day if we keep in mind that our heavenly Father is always with us and helps us through each day so it can be a good day. 

"Give every day the chance to become the most beautiful day of your life."

Mark Twain

"In one minute you can change your attitude, and in that minute you can

change your entire day."

Spencer Johnson

"Each day comes bearing its gifts; untie the ribbons."

Ann Ruth Schabaacker

By His Grace . . .

Heart Loyalty

 

The following post was published in July 2015. Its importance is magnified as we live in a time of unrest and destruction among people and our nation. God is judging our country. There is no wondering about it. Where do you stand?

Job possessed heart loyalty. Those were the words I read in a Bible study lesson written by James T. Draper. Those words certainly aren't a new idea, but one that needs to be revisited during a crucial and needy time in America.

 

Heart loyalty.

 

The question is: "What are you loyal too?" No matter what answer you give, your number one loyalty should be to God. If you have been saved and live for God, He should be your number one loyalty.

 

Are you devoted to God? Do you live for God? Would you die for God? As our country and world continues its vigorous spiral downfall, who are you loyal too?

My heart breaks as I see our country continue to abandon and overrule God. We were a great nation; a smart nation, a nation built on freedom and God. We are collapsing and it's happening faster and faster as each day goes by.

 

Being loyal to God isn't a hard thing. It's truly a heart issue. You either stand for Christ or you don't. Once you've made your decision, loyalty is easy.

 

I've lost a lot in my life because of my stand for Christ, and it hurts. Yet I stand for what I believe and have no regrets of that choice.

 

Once your heart is settled, no matter what happens in this life, you stand behind the living God where all things are possible--even the impossible.

 

" . . . I urge you to live a life worthy of the calling you have received." Ephesians 4:1

The ministry "Contending for the Faith" says: "We have been 'called' to fellowship with God. This calling influences our mind by appealing to our conscience, our reason, and our need. We are called to enter God's kingdom by moral persuasion rather than by supernaturally imposed physical power. The call of the gospel is a general, universal invitation extended to all, for everyone has been invited to enjoy this salvation and its blessings through Christ. Since the gospel call is the greatest invitation ever offered to us, we should conduct ourselves in a way that reflects our appreciation for such an unmerited privilege. As Paul says to the Phillipians 'Conduct yourselves in a manner worthy of the gospel of Christ.'"

The call in this day and age is: "Who are you loyal too?" Job possessed heart loyalty. I've made my choice. What about you? 

By His Grace . . .

Call Back

 "And so you will bear testimony to me."

Luke 21:13

 

It's time to run again a favorite poem that I discovered in my late 20s when an older woman gave me a copy of "Streams in the Desert," a devotion book by Mrs. Charles E. Cowman. The poem was written by her husband, Charles E. Cowman.

OnBibleportal.com these words were shared regarding the purpose of this poem: "Life is a steep climb, and it does the heart good to have somebody 'call back' and cheerily beckon us on up the high hill. We are climbers together, and we must help one another. This mountain climbing is serious business, but glorious. It takes strength and steady step to find the summits. The outlook widens with the altitude. If anyone among us has found anything worthwhile, we ought to 'call back.'"

I am thankful for those friends and acquaintances who have shared their story in hopes of helping someone who may need encouragement through life's path. I also love reading about saints of old and how they made it through because of our faithful God.

Hearing real life stories about your faith can inspire and carry others through difficult times. Consider these words and think of how you can "tell your story" so others can be helped.

"If you have gone a little way ahead of me, call back--

'Twill cheer my heart and help my feet along the stony track;

And if, perchance, Faith's light is dim, because the oil is low,

Your call will guide my lagging course as wearily I go.

"Call back, and tell me that He went with you into the storm;

Call back, and say He kept you when the forest's roots were torn,

That, when the heavens thunder and the earthquake shook the hill,

He bore you up and held you where the very air was still.

"Oh, friend, call back, and tell me for I cannot see your face;

They say it glows with triumph, and your feet bound in the race;

But there are mists between us and my spirit eyes are dim,

And I cannot see the glory, though I long for word of Him.

"But if you'll say He heard you when your prayer was but a cry,

And if you'll say He saw you through the night's sin-darkened sky--

If you have gone a little way ahead, oh, friend, call back--

'Twill cheer my heart and help my feet along the stony track."

My friends, He went with me into the storm and kept me when my roots were torn; He bore me up and held me close when the earthquake shook my heart; He heard me when my prayers were but a cry, and He saw me through the night's sin-darkened sky. My face glows with triumph and my feet continues the race. My God is FAITHFUL, you CAN trust Him to see you through!

Call back friend. Let your life be the encouragement someone needs as they travel this road. 

By His Grace . . .