A Bouquet of Praise

Last Sunday two individuals came up to me, at different times, and said “You are amazing!” They were talking about the notes I had sent them to encourage their hearts. Of course, I very quickly said that God is the one who is amazing.

It made me feel uncomfortable as I thought of their comments throughout the day. I’ve certainly received thank yous through the years from individuals, but this really made an impression in my mind. As God often does, my morning devotion on Monday gave me the food I needed.

The scripture verse was from Isaiah 42:8: “I am the Lord; that is my name! I will not give my glory to another or my praise to idols.” The devotion is in “Diamonds in the Dust,” by Joni Eareckson Tada. Joni told how Corrie ten Boom, survivor of Nazi concentration camps, handled the world-wide accolades she received for her efforts to protect Jews during the World War II occupation of Holland.

“She often commented that she was able to accept each compliment as though it was a rosebud, gathering many words of blessings during the course of the day,” Joni shared. “Then in the evening she presented God with a big bouquet of praise. Corrie knew that glory, praise, and honor belonged only to the Lord.”



While pondering these words, I thought of the many notes I have sent my pastor to encourage his heart. He stands tall for Christ and his gift of teaching thrills my soul! How I love to hear God’s word taught with courage.

I suppose what I write to him is in the same vein as what the two individuals said to me. God gives each individual all the ability they need to serve with their unique gifts. And sometimes it does seem amazing what one can do for the Lord. The words God gives me when I write to someone certainly astonishes me.

So my heart is happy knowing the words God gives me to send to others does what it is intended to do . . . encourage . . . uplift . . . and point that person to God.

The next time someone tells you, “You’re amazing!” just think of the beautiful bouquet you can give God at the end of the day. Now that’s amazing!

The above snap is my friend, Kathy Kreyling's beautiful garden. The rose in the middle is mine Kathy's snap below is titled "Baby Buns."

Leave It There

A book I am drawn to frequently is titled, “Amazing Grace,” written by Kenneth W. Osbeck, It is a devotion book of hymn stories. I find it inspiring to learn about individuals who wrote hymns in earlier days. The author also adds additional information to muse over.

The other day I read about the song, “Leave It There,” by Charles A. Tindley, 1851-1933. The scripture verse associated with it is Psalm 42:5: “Why are you downcast, O my soul? Why so disturbed within me? Put your hope in God, for I will yet praise Him, my Savior and my God.”

Psalm 42 has always been a favorite in helping me put all things in perspective. So, naturally, I was drawn to this hymn I don't think I've ever heard. I’ve noted two of the verses plus the chorus:

“If the world from you withhold of its silver and its gold, and you have to get along with meager fare, just remember, in His word, how He feeds the little bird–Take your burden to the Lord and leave it there.

“When your youthful days are gone and old age is stealing on, and your body bends beneath the weight of care, He will never leave you then; He’ll go with you to the end–Take your burden to the Lord and leave it there.

Chorus: Leave it there, leave it there; take your burden to the Lord and leave it there. If you trust and never doubt, He will surely bring you out–Take your burden to the Lord and leave it there.”

I pulled Charles Tindley up on the web and discovered he was born near Berlin, Maryland, and has written several hymns, including "We Shall Overcome," "Stand by Me," and "I’ll Understand it By and By."

Charles Tindley was one of the most famous African American Methodist ministers of his era and has been called “one of the founding fathers of African American gospel music.” During one of his pastorates, a worried parishioner heard him say, “Put all your troubles in a sack, take ‘em to the Lord, and leave ‘em there.” It was the spark that prompted the pastor to develop this thought and pen the words and music of this gospel hymn in 1916.

His composition “I’ll Overcome Someday” is credited by some observers to be the basis for the U.S. Civil Rights anthem “We Shall Overcome.” Tindley was the first hymn writer to have a hymn copyrighted.

Tindley’s father was a slave, but his mother was free. Charles worked in the same fields as his father for most of his young life. There is a museum in the town of Berlin on Tindley, and descendants still live in the Berlin area in a part of town called Tindleytown.

How fascinating to learn about the lives of hymn writers. Thank you, Mr. Tindley, for writing a song that encourages us to, “Take our burdens to the Lord and leave it there.”

I thought we could all use something cool to help us through the summer. Hope the picture above and below help!

He Still Answers Prayer . . . His Way

Psalm 103 is one of my favorite psalms, especially verse 2 which says: “Praise the Lord, O my soul, and forget not all his benefits.” That verse was the subject of a devotion I recently read by Charles Spurgeon.

He begins the devotion by saying: “It is a delightful and profitable exercise to recognize the sovereign hand of God in the lives of the ancient saints of old . . . however, wouldn’t it be even more interesting and profitable for us to recognize the hand of God in our own lives?”

The very same God who answered prayer for the saints of old is still in the business of answering prayers today. “Surely the goodness of God has been the same to us as to the saints of old,” Spurgeon said. I do believe He has!

Psalm 103 is powerful to read and meditate on. Perhaps I should take a little time today and consider all the Lord has done for me. Then, I too, can say, “Yes, the goodness of God has filled my life.”

As we know, God doesn’t always answer prayer or work in our lives the way we want. I think of Shadrach, Meshach and Abednego as they faced a fiery furnace. Their reply to King Nebuchadnezzar was, “If we are thrown into the blazing furnace, the God we serve is able to rescue us from your hand, O king. But even if he does not, we want you to know, O king, that we will not serve your gods or worship the image of gold you have set up.” Daniel 3:16-18

Each of us have one or more very deep requests that we have asked of God through our life. And those requests may not have been answered, and may never be answered the way we think is right. I can clearly say, after years of walking with God, that, yes, “ . . . even if God does not answer the deep requests of my heart” I will still honor, live for, serve, hope in and trust the God of creation. My faith is sure. That’s a good feeling to have. I hope you can claim that too.

I think I’ll take that time right now to meditate on all God has done for me. There must be trillions of answers to recall!

One morning this week I found the above doe in the woods I travel through on my way to work. She was very patient. I had to put new batteries in my camera and she was still there watching me so I could snap this shot!

Beauty and Beast

I had the joy of snapping some pictures in a friend’s garden last week. After snapping a few shots she took me to a master gardener’s home where I also snapped some lovely pictures. Of all the pictures I took, this snap, above, beauty and beast, is my favorite.

The tiny blossom on the unwanted weed, beside the lovely, large blossom, caught my eye, and reminded me that there is beauty and beast in our lives. As it says in Ecclesiastes 3:1, “There is a time for everything and a season for every activity under heaven . . .” God has a plan.

And there lies life. Beauty and beast, good and bad, joy and sorrow. We are not capable of understanding the why in each situation. It is our part to be faithful, believing as a child. And I do.

A treasured friend lost her granddaughter this week. The young woman did drugs and ran with a wild crowd. Her life ended on Sunday morning. This is the beast, the bad, and the sorrow. A precious life gone. Their live’s will never be the same.

My friend and I have corresponded for 25 years. We have prayed for each other and our children. How tragedy breaks are hearts. What loss is felt in a family.

The beauty in the blossom above is so much bigger than the beast and it’s tiny bloom. But they go together. You can’t have one without the other in this life. This one thing I know. God cares. He Cares. God CARES! I’ll shout it again! GOD CARES!

Last week I saw my first fawn (below) of the season. Driving home, on a new road that intersects with one I regularly travel, God delighted me by having a fawn about 10 yards off the road. I know God placed him there because I had to back up 25 feet before I could even get a snap off. But he only let me take four pictures before he turned and ran.



Still looking for my own fawns. Maybe this week!