Wishing on a Star

Christopher A. Mills Photography

Houlton Maine

 “Why wish on a star when you can pray to the one who created them.”

Think Positive Power

I saw this quote on the "Think Positive Power" Facebook page and then pulled up some resources online to see what was said about it.

Of course, most of us, from our earliest days of childhood, were told to make a wish on a star. The song "When You Wish Upon a Star" is from the 1940 adaption of Pinocchio by Walt Disney. The song is also popular at Christmas time.

I'm sure some of us still wish upon a star, but hopefully we all are well aware of the fact that stars don't make wishes come true. Only God can do that. Most of us are aware of this Scripture verse:

"Do not be anxious about anything, but in every situation, by prayer and petition, with thanksgiving,

present your requests to God. And the peace of God, which transcends all understanding, will

guard your hearts and your minds in Christ Jesus."

Philippians 4:6-7

Following are words from two web pages about this quote:

picturequotes.com: "Wishing upon a star has been a common practice for centuries, with people believing that their wishes will come true if they make them while looking up at a star-filled sky. However, the idea of wishing upon a star raises the question: Why put your faith in a distant, lifeless object when you can pray to the one who created it?

"Stars have long been a source of wonder and inspiration for humanity. Their twinkling lights in the night sky have captivated people's imaginations and led them to believe in the power of wishes. but stars are simply balls of gas burning millions of miles away in the vast expanse of space. They have no consciousness, no ability to grant wishes or fulfill desires. So why do we put our hopes and dreams in something so distant and impersonal?

"On the other hand, praying to the One who created the stars -- God -- makes much more sense. Believers trust in [God] who is all-knowing, all-powerful, and all-loving. They believe that God is actively involved in their lives and has the ability to answer their prayers. By praying to God, they are putting their faith in a being who can truly make a difference in their lives."

crosswalk.com, Alexis A. Goring: "God is the Creator of all those billions of brilliant stars we see shining bright against the backdrop of the midnight blue sky. The Bible says He knows each one by name (Isaiah 40:26) just like He knows each of us by name. So why would we whimsically pray to the creation when we can talk directly to the Creator?"

The next time you look up at our beautiful sky and see the bright shining stars, instead of wishing on them, why not thank God for such a beautiful creation. Then ask Him for your wish!

By His Grace . . . 

What a day!

 

“How wonderful, at evening, to be able to say,

“What a day, Lord! What a day! Because I could pray.”

P. J. Wolz

 Years ago I was typing words that a friend’s grandfather wrote, making a book for her. The above words caused me to pause then and continue to have me pause every time I see them. A saint filled with God’s Spirit who was thankful He could pray.

Do I feel that way? At the end of the day, am I thankful I had the chance to talk with God? Her grandfather’s words continue to make me shiver in excitement. In possibility. In desire.

I want to catch the joy this man had. The relationship He shared with God. The happiness that filled His heart because He could talk to God.

I am thankful I can talk with God, but I haven’t realized it in this way. To come to the end of my day and be thankful that I can talk with God.

I see a simple life. Doing simple things. Regular work each day. A home to come to and rest. And thankfulness to God.

We can talk with God any time and know He hears and guides us. But our lives are so crowded with “things” that we miss the simplicity of talking with God any time we want too.

 Ephesians 6:18

“And pray in the Spirit on all occasions with all kinds of prayers and requests. With this in mind, be alert and always keep on praying for all the Lord’s people.”

Biblerepository.com: “Ephesians 6:18 provides insight into the vital role of prayer in the lives of believers . . . This isn’t just about a one-time prayer; it speaks to a continuous, active communication with God. This ongoing dialogue with our Creator is our lifeline, helping us stand firm in our faith . . . The phrase ‘Praying always with all prayer and supplication’ indicates that we should be in constant communication with God. This means both thankfulness and asking for guidance or help. Throughout scripture, prayer is presented as a way to deepen the relationship we have with God. In 1 Thessalonians 5:17, Paul urges believers to ‘pray without ceasing,’ which captures the essence of this ongoing conversation.”

“How wonderful, at evening, to be able to say,

“What a day, Lord! What a day! Because I could pray.”

I made a sign with these words so that I see them each day. I want to feel this in my heart each evening and thank God as this man did. What a day indeed!

By His Grace . . .

The Beautiful Palace

 

The March 20th reading in Streams of the Desert, Volume 2, was interesting. W. Duns provides a picture of the Bible expressed in a unique way. I googled W. Duns to see if I could find out anything about him, but to no avail. Yet, he was important enough to Mrs. Charles E. Cowman to include something he wrote in her book.

Sit back for a different description of the Bible:

"The Bible is a beautiful palace, built up out of sixty-six blocks of marble--its separate books. In the first chapter of Genesis we enter the vestibule, which is filled with the mighty acts of creation. The vestibule gives access to the law courts, the five books of Moses. Passing through these we come to the picture gallery of the historical books. Here we find hung upon the walls scenes of battlefields, representations of heroic deeds, and portraits of eminent men belonging to the early days of the world's history. Beyond the picture gallery we find the philosopher's chamber, the Book of Job. Passing on we enter the music room, the Book of Psalms, where we listen to the grandest strains that ever fell on human ears. Then we come to the business office, the Book of Proverbs, where right in the center of the room stands facing us the motto: 'Righteousness exalteth a nation; but sin is a reproach to any people." From the business office we pass into the chapel Ecclesiastes, or the preacher in his pulpit, and thence into the conservatory, the Song of Solomon, with the rose of Sharon, the lily of the valley, and all manner of fine perfumes, fruits, and flowers. Finally we reach the observatory, the prophets, with their telescopes fixed on near and distant stars, and all directed toward the bright and morning star that was soon to arise.

"Crossing the court we come to the audience chamber of the King, the Gospels, where we find four lifelike portraits of the King Himself. Next we enter the workroom of the Holy Spirit, the Acts of the Apostles, and beyond that the correspondence room, the Epistles, where we see Paul and Peter and James and Jude busy at their desks. If you would know what they are writing about, their Epistles are open for all to study.

"Before leaving we stand for a moment in the outside gallery, the Revelation, where we look upon some striking pictures of the judgment to come and the glories to be revealed, concluding with an awe-inspiring picture of the throne room of the King."

It was enjoyable to read this description of the Bible. But have no doubt about it-God's Word, God's Truth and God's Light is what it's all about.

Owning a Bible is one thing; reading it is another. The Bible is God's primary message to us. Reading and studying it has revolutionized millions of lives--it can revolutionize your life too! You can't escape God. 

In John, Chapter 14, verse 2, Jesus says: "In my Father's house there are many mansions. I go to prepare a place for you." That's the palace I'm looking for!

By His Grace . . . 

A Delightful Encounter

Last week I was reading a magazine article where the subscribers were told: “There are certain people we encounter regularly, even if only for a moment, who leave a lasting impression on us. Their presence makes an impact on our lives. Have you experienced such an encounter?” Following were words written by numerous subscribers with their story.

The question caused me to pause and consider. An encounter did come to my mind, and I smiled remembering it. I had wrote an article about this encounter and started looking for it. I was so excited when I found it. 

I had started a new job, and while driving to work one morning I saw a man walking his two Golden Retrievers. Each morning as I drove by, the man would be at a certain spot, and I smiled watching him and his dogs. One day I stopped my car and asked him if I could take a picture of him and his dogs. I explained that I was on my way to work and I always smile when I see them.

I'll let the article I wrote about this encounter tell you the rest of the story:

"I love dogs. I've owned a few most of my life. The wagging tail of Sammy, my purebred mutt, always makes me smile. It's no surprise when I saw a man walking his two Golden Retrievers in the same spot every day that I would smile and arrive at work happy.

"What is surprising are the words I heard one sunny morning: 'Take a picture of them.' 'Take a picture of them?' Where did that come from? I questioned out loud. 'You want me to go up to this man I don't know and take a picture of him and his dogs?'

"God's still, small voice always surprises me--send a note, bake a cake, make a breakfast date. I do my best to act on whatever God brings to my mind, but this request was out of my comfort zone. 'You just don't go around asking to take a picture of someone,' I argued.

"'What will he think of me?' I asked God. 'I'll feel so silly.' But, as the days passed, I found I took to the idea and started envisioning the picture on my desk at work. I have pictures of a lot of animals: calves, a baby donkey, goslings, birds, and of course, Sammy. 'It would be a treat,' I decided, 'to have the man and his dogs on my desk too.'

"Mustering all my confidence I pulled up beside him the following morning. Lowering the window I smiled and said, 'Can I take a picture of you and your dogs? You give me so much joy each morning.'

"Before he could say anything I jumped out of the car with my camera. 'Your dogs look so happy--I enjoy them so much,' I told him. He seemed a little flustered, but worked on getting the dogs to stand still.

'Are you done?' he asked, after I snapped a few pictures. 'Yes, I think I have enough,' I said. Thanking him again I got in my car and drove off.

"'I did it,' I yelled! 'I can't believe I did it. Thank you, Lord, for this joy.'

"I was gleaming when I arrived at work a few minutes later. Laughing, my friend, Melody, said: 'I saw you taking pictures of those dogs.' Melody follows the same route as I do the last two miles. 'They are beautiful animals,' she continued. Laughing with her I said, 'I can't believe I stopped and took their picture!'

"I enjoy photography. Six months ago I went digital and love the ability to see my pictures instantly. Editing them to just what I want gives me a whole new area of enjoyment. I was thrilled when I saw the pictures of the man and his dogs. After a little cropping around the edges so my car wasn't in view, I printed off two copies of the prints so I could give the man a set.

"The next morning I could hardly wait to see him and hand him the envelope of pictures, but he wasn't there. 'Oooh,' I muttered. 'I'll have to wait until tomorrow.' But he wasn't there the next morning. He wasn't there all week.

"'Maybe he went on vacation,' I thought. It was the Memorial Day Weekend. 'I'll see him soon.'

"But he wasn't there the next week either. 'Did I scare him?' I wondered. 'Was he uneasy about what happened.'

"'Lord, Why did you want me to do this,' I groaned. 'I feel so bad that he isn't there. Am I the reason?'

"Each morning as I past 'his spot' my disappointment grew. The weeks passed, but not my memory.

"'Melody, have you seen the man with the dogs lately,' I asked about five weeks later. 'Yes,' she replied. 'I saw him one day last week.' 'I'm so glad,' I told her. 'I haven't seen him since I took the pictures.'

"'There he is!' I whispered as I turned on the road. Stunned, there was only one dog. 'Oh no. Where's the other dog?' I wondered.

"I didn't stop. I couldn't. Was it my imagination or did he put his head down as I drove by? 'Oh, Lord,' I asked. 'Is that why I haven't seen him? Please let me see him again,' I asked.

"The next morning, my stomach in turmoil, I pulled up along side of him. Handing him the envelope with the pictures I said, 'These are the pictures I took. Is your other dog ok?'

"'He died of cancer,' the man said. 'Gone in a matter of five days.' Listening, I took his hand to transfer my sympathy.

"He looked at the envelope. 'Pictures of both dogs?' he asked. And then I knew. I had a treasure to give him. A reminder of his early morning walks with his two friends. 'Yes,' I said happily. He opened the envelope and looked at his friends. I reached for his hand again. 'I care,' I said.

"'You won't see me next week.' he said. 'I'm having shoulder surgery.' 'I will pray for you,' I shared.

"Every time I drive past 'his place' I send a prayer heavenward. One day I'll see him again, walking his friend. I'll stop and ask how he is and tell him of the prayers I said for him each day.

"I don't always know the reason for God's prompting me to do something. I've just learned to act when I hear Him. I have a feeling the memory I placed in this man's hands will hold a special place in his heart. An unexpected treasure. A gift from God.

"I smile when I look at the picture now on my desk. It's a reminder that even the smallest act can make a giant different in the life of another."

A lot more happened between this man and I as we stopped each morning to say hello. His wife invited me to have lunch with them one day, and they invited Jerry and me to have dinner with them and another couple at a special restaurant in the development.

This is a happy memory and a lasting impression of a time when a man and his dogs brought joy to my heart as I drove to work. And how I brought joy to his heart with a picture of his two best friends.

By His Grace . . .

Growing Old With Jesus

Me and my hot cocoa!

From "CottageWhimsy" Facebook page, with a little editing

In honor of my birthday on the 14th, I'm posting some words I found on the "Walking With Jesus" Facebook Page recently. Seems appropriate.

"Growing old isn’t easy. We lose strength, forget things, and come closer to the end of life. But I have no fear, because when my time here is done, I will step into a new world. My body and mind will be restored, and I will meet Jesus face to face.

"Growing old is not easy. Your body does not do what it used to do. The steps feel steeper. The mornings feel slower. You might walk into a room and forget why you went there. You might search for a name you have known for years. And some days, that can scare you more than you want to admit.

"Because it is not just about sore knees or tired hands. It is also the quiet losses. The changes you did not ask for. The hard truth that you are closer to the end of this life than you were before.

"If that is where you are today, take a gentle breath. God is not shocked by your weakness. He is not disappointed by your slowing down. He is not standing far away, watching you struggle. He is close. He is near. And He knows your frame.

"Jesus understands what it is to be human. He felt tired. He wept. He carried pain in His own flesh. So when your strength is not what it was, you are not alone. You are seen by a Savior who is tender with suffering.

"Sometimes faith looks like honesty. It looks like whispering, “Lord, I do not like this.” It looks like bringing your fear into the light and letting God hold it with you. And little by little, hope begins to rise.

"God does not measure your life by how strong you are. He does not love you less because you need help now. Your worth has never been in your energy. Your worth has always been in His love.

"Even now, your prayers matter. Your quiet faith matters. Your kindness still reaches people. Your life still carries fruit, even in a season that feels simple and hidden.

"And here is the truth that steadies the heart.

"This world is not the end of you.

"There will come a day when your tired body will not feel tired anymore. There will come a day when your mind will not feel scattered. God has promised a new beginning for His children. A day with no more pain. No more sorrow. No more death.

"No more fear of forgetting. No more nights where worry keeps you awake. No more feeling like your body is failing you.

"And best of all, Jesus will be there.

"Not far away. Not hidden behind faith alone. You will meet Him face to face.

"The One you have prayed to in the dark will be the One you see in the light. The One who carried you through grief will welcome you with joy. The One who forgave you will hold you with love.

"So if the thought of aging brings tears to your eyes, you do not have to pretend you are fine. God is gentle with you. When your hands tremble, His hands do not. When your memory slips, He remembers you fully. When your strength fades, His strength remains.

"And when your time here is done, you will not step into emptiness. You will step into home.

"So let today be a day of quiet courage. Not because aging is easy, but because Jesus is faithful. You are being carried toward restoration. And you are deeply loved, now and forever."

We all are going through it or will go through it sooner than we think. My favorite exclamation when I'm trying to do something is: "Why is this so hard!" This saying appeared shortly after I turned 65 and it's only gotten more frequent as the years go by.

No, growing old isn't easy, but I am thankful for the years I have and look forward to the eternity to come!

By His Grace . . . 

God Sees

 
I've always felt a kinship with Eeyore. So every March I decorate my Christmas tree

with ornaments of him. It's my birthday month and seeing him makes me smile.

"The best part of all Christian work is that part which only God sees."

Andrew Bonar

I thought this quote interesting. Bonar lived in the 1800s.  He was a minister of the Free Church of Scotland. I was reading in Warren Wiersbe's book, "50 People Every Christian Should Know" and came across this quote.

We are told to do things in secret in Matthew 6:3-4 for God will see what is done and will reward us. There is something special about doing something for God and no one knowing about it.

There's the preparation in doing something for God before you do it in public. A pastor researches and prepares sermons. A Sunday School teacher reads and studies the lesson. A choir director prepares music. A cook prepares food. A worker prepares what he or she will need to accomplish something. These are things that only God sees as you prepare to do work for Him.

And knowing only God sees as you prepare for something makes it special. You are trusting Him to help you put together what is needed so you can accomplish the service He's called you to do.

When you spend time preparing yourself for God's service, He makes it a special time between you and Him. No matter what we are called to do, although God qualifies us to do it, we still have to research and plan to get it done, all with God's help.

And that may very well be the best part of working for God!

By His Grace . . . 

 

God's Power

 

“God’s power is restrained by God’s wisdom and judgment . . .

He knows what is best and never makes a mistake.”

David Jeremiah

We all know God’s power has no boundaries. He is able to do all things. Difficult is not a word in His vocabulary. It doesn’t matter how hard something is, how unbelievable something is or how mysterious something is. There are no limits to what God can do.

David Jeremiah shares that God doesn’t always use the power He has. Since He makes no mistakes, God uses His wisdom and judgment when He is doing something. He knows the past, the present and the future, and He knows how to determine what is best at all times.

It’s wonderful to know that His choice is always the right one. He will do what is best for us no matter how much we’d like something to be different. We may not understand or like it, but we have the confidence that He does.

Biblehub.com: “Understanding God's power is essential for comprehending His nature and His work in the world. It is a source of awe, reverence, and hope for believers, providing assurance of His ability to accomplish His will and fulfill His promises. Through creation, miracles, salvation, sovereignty, and empowerment, God's power is a central and defining attribute of His divine character.”

God is able to accomplish anything and gives believers hope during all situations and future happenings. We can have confidence that God will do what is good and right for each one of us. “He knows what is best and never makes a mistake.”

Matthew 22:29

“Jesus replied, “’You are in error because you do not know the Scriptures or the power of God.’”

 Biblerepository: “’Or the power of God,’ emphasizes that God’s abilities are beyond human comprehension. He has the power to influence the world, perform miracles, and even bring about resurrection. Understanding both the Scriptures and the power of God is significant in our faith journey and relationship with Him . . . God is not limited by our understanding of reality. His ability to perform miracles, to change hearts, and to resurrect the dead is a cornerstone of our faith. Recognizing His power gives us hope in seemingly hopeless situations and confidence that God can do great things in our lives.”

We don't always understand why things happen like they do, but we have complete assurance that God knows and has chosen the very best for us. Now that's God's Power!

By His Grace . . .