Please Wonder

A friend posted this poem on my Facebook page. If you've never stopped to wonder, this would be a good time!

Have You Ever Stopped to Wonder?

Have you ever stopped to wonder what this life is all about?

Why you're here and where you're going when you're lease on life runs out?

Maybe you've been far too busy trying hard to reach your goal;

Would you let me ask you kindly, have you thought about your soul?

You may reach the highest portals, and your dreams may all come true;

Wealth and fame may be your portion, and success may shine on you.

All your friends may sing your praises, not a care on you may roll;

What about the great tomorrow--have you thought about your soul?

Don't forget your days are numbered, though you may be ridin' high;

But like all of us poor mortals, someday you'll just up and die.

Your success and fame and glory won't be worth the bell they toll;

Let me ask you just one question, have you thought about your soul?

If you've never thought it over, spend a little time today;

There's nothing more important that will ever come your way.

Than the joy of sins forgivern and to know you've been made whole.

In the name of Christ the Saviour, have you thought about your soul?

Author Unknown 

It's not admired; it's not desired; it's not hip, and it's not the thing to do. But one day you'll be sorry for passing this question and not wondering. Please wonder. There's very few things that are true and right. Your soul is the very being of you. And in the end, your soul is all that will matter.

That Well Again

 Fawn are almost spotless now and have grown confidant and sure. I love seeing them stamp their feet like Momma when there may be danger.  It always makes me smile.

I know that trials and sufferings are hard. You do too. But looking at it from God's perspective makes those trials and sufferings easier. Knowing He will work for good and instill qualities in you that you can share with others makes it a little easier to go through them.

I was introduced to a song in 2018, and I heard it mentioned again this past Sunday morning. I wrote a post regarding it in 2018, and following is that post. I think it's a good lesson for all of us and encouragement in helping us through valleys. I love the words, especially the chorus, and several groups sing it on YouTube.

 "Leave a Well in the Valley."

"Leave a well in the valley

your dark and lonesome valley

for others have to walk that valley too

what a blessing they will find

the well of JOY you've left behind

leave a well in the valley you go through."

Gordon Jensen, Lyrics 

These words struck a cord in me. As a note writer who wants to encourage those that I write, I definitely believe sharing what God has done for you will help others. You can encourage, inspire and motivate a person who is walking through their own valley.

The phrase "leave a well in the valley" signifies hope and joy. That you made it through and others will too. My dictionary defines "well" as "a spring serving as a source of water." Such as "streams in the desert."  Isiah 35:6.

  

 The fields are alive with color! Everywhere you look entire fields are yellow. Goldenrod blooms. What a fitting way to welcome Fall!

"Thou hast enlarged me when I was in distress." Psalm 4:1a    I liked what was written in the September 8th devotion in Streams in the Desert about this verse: "This is one of the grandest testimonies ever given by man to the moral government of God. It is not a man's thanksgiving that he has been set free from suffering. It is a thanksgiving that he has been set free through suffering . . . He declares the sorrows of life to have been themselves the source of life's enlargement . . . to encourage others."
 

There is also a book by the same title by Dale Peterson. I appreciate these words he said: "Emotional and spiritual stamina begins with the tiniest seed--thoughts of hope deep within the recesses of our hearts and minds." How true. That word hope matters. Hope. HOPE! GOD'S HOPE!

"But as for me, I will always have hope; I will praise you more and more."

 Psalm 71:14

Hope is a big word for me. I live it. I trust it. I believe it. Sharing that hope with others makes a difference. 

Just a few spots are seen on this fawn as it takes a rest behind our house.

I also like these words Dave Brown said in the description of this book on Amazon: "God prepares deep valleys for some of us to walk through in order to touch many lives with His love and grace . . . Instead of allowing Peterson's troubles to destroy him, he dug wells in his valleys that would not only refresh him but also water the lives of those his life touches."

I believe strongly in leaving a well in the valley so others can be refreshed. The second verse says:

"Blessed is the man who has learned to understand

He's to be the hand of God to those in need

then all the tears that you have shed

with God's help become instead

a precious balm for those hearts that bleed." 

My life verse identifies with the words "leave a well in the valley:" Proverbs 11:25: " . . . he who refreshes others will himself be refreshed."  In Matthew Henry's Commentary he speaks about Proverbs 11:25:

 "The liberal soul, the soul of blessing, that prays for the afflicted and provides for them, that scatters blessings with gracious lips and generous hands, that soul shall be made fat with true pleasure and enriched with more grace . . . He that waters others with the streams of his bounty shall be also watered himself, God will certainly return it in the dew, in the plentiful showers, of his blessing, which he will pour out, till there be not room enough to receive it. (Malachi 3:10)

I'm so thankful for the joy that is ours because of the creative gifts of writers who fill our soul with good things to read. I'm so glad I was introduced to this song. It is encouragement to me!
 

Praise It Is!

 "Angels listen for your songs, for your voice rises to the very gates of heaven when you praise Me."

Frances J. Roberts

The joy of a sunrise across the land. One of my favorite farms to pass each day.

"By day the LORD directs his love, at night his song is with me, a prayer to the God of my life."  

Psalm 42:8

Most of us are familiar with the doxology: "Praise God, from whom all blessings flow; Praise Him, all creature here below; Praise Him above, ye heavenly host; Praise Father, Son and Holy Ghost." You may have even been singing it as you read it. If you don't recognize it you can hear it on this link:

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=RBz7vuJ2b1A


Those words are a doxology: a set form of words praising God. I remember the doxology from my childhood.

No what are they investigating?

That verse is actually the fourth verse of the hymn: "All Praise to You, My God, This night." Written by Thomas Ken, 1637-1711, the hymn is actually an evening song for God's protection through the night.

"All praise to You, my God, this night,

For all the blessings of the light,

Keep me, O keep me, King of kings,

Beneath the shelter of Your wings.

"Forgive me, Lord, for this I pray,

The wrong that I have done this day.

May peace with God and neighbor be,

Before I sleep, restored to me.

"Lord, may I be at rest in You

And sweetly sleep the whole night through.

Refresh my strength, for Your own sake,

So I may serve You when I wake.

"Praise God, from whom all blessings flow;

Praise Him, all creature here below;

Praise Him above, ye heavenly host;

Praise Father, Son and Holy Ghost."

Reading through a hymn book as part of my devotions has opened my eyes to many hymns I've never heard. This is one of them.

Wilson's farm always captured my attention. Like this little one in the buttercups.

I read this hymn early on a Sunday morning, before leaving for church. When I walked into the church building, I heard my pastor singing, "Praise Him! Praise Him! Jesus, our blessed Redeemer!" during the first service. It immediately brought a smile to my face. It's one of my favorite hymns.

Then as I listened to the sermon during the second service, about praising the Lord, from Psalm 148 and 150, Pastor Jim had the congregation turn to Praise Him! Praise Him! and we sang the joyful words. If you feel like praising Him right now, click on this link and let your voice shine!


https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=q98phadl5Ws

It certainly was a morning filled with praise for God!

There are still some pink flowers to be found.

Speak Out Loud

 Over the Labor day weekend I finished this top. I love the wildlife scene. It felt good to accomplish something after my "lazing" summer. I purchased the fabric months ago and donated some of it to the quilting group. They created two blankets out of it. But I kept some for myself, and finally felt like doing something with it. I'm hoping the Quilt Shop just down the road will still have the blue fabric. I want to use it for the back.

"Discretion will preserve you; understanding will keep you."

Proverbs 2:11

That's the scripture verse Charles Stanley used for a short devotion in Wisdom From Above. His message was : "Help me speak the words of faith that will preserve my soul."

We read the Bible all the time, but how many of us actually speak the words from our mouth? Sometimes I do, but the majority of times I don't. I thought his words interesting as he wrote about going through adversity:

"Adversity should never be the end of our faith--it should be the spark that ignites it . . . What should you do when you discern that your circumstances are indeed rattling your confidence . . . Make the decision to believe that God is trustworthy . . . The Lord always keeps His promises, so quote them often . . . Give Him thanks for guiding you . . . Praise Him for having wisdom . . . He knows the way to produce the most spiritual fruit, the strongest character, and the greatest faith in you . . . Refuse to doubt God . . . When you see adversity through God's perspective, you will always receive His peace and rest . . . Read His Word aloud . . . SPEAK in faith, it will certainly return to you in blessing . . . Help me speak the words of faith that will preserve my soul."

Spots are beginning to fade on older fawn as we head into the Fall season. The cuteness of early life and exploration is giving way to confidence.

When we hear a sermon, God's Word is spoken aloud. It reaches us. It settles in us. It motivates us. If we actually speak it aloud, it reaches into the depths of us.

We sing aloud, and what encouragement our soul receives. Let's speak his Words aloud, often, and gain a deeper feeling of His presence.

Whether you're in a season of adversity or your heart is full of joy and thankfulness, SPEAK God's Word out loud and let it permeate your entire being!

Speak boldly, and speak truly. Shame the devil!

John Fletcher (1579-1625)

Summer gardens are full as we come into the Fall season. How I miss you, lovely garden!