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!

Does God Sing?

If someone asked me, “Does God Sing?” I probably would have told them he sings when the wind blows through the trees and when the birds wake up in the morning and chirp. I don’t remember thinking about God singing.

Then I heard Kim Hopper sing, “When God Sings” on her CD “I Just Wanted You to Know.” Following is one of the verses: “The rustling of the wings of the angels, The hush of the saints bowing down, Losing themselves in sweet submission, There’s nothing on this earth like the sound . . when God sings.” The song is written by John Colgin and Christy Sunderland. The last two lines of the chorus say, “When God sings . . . every note and every measure, Dances with His delight . . .in me . . . when God sings.”

I love listening to her sing this song. It just sounds special and close to God. It wasn’t until this week that I found out there is a scripture verses that declares that, yes, God does indeed sing! I was in Joni Eareckson Tada’s devotion book, “Diamonds in the Dust.”

The scripture verse is found in Zephaniah 3:17. It reads, “The Lord your God is with you, he is mighty to save. He will take great delight in you, he will quiet you with his love, he will rejoice over you with singing.” Joni says: “When my heart is restless and my soul is downcast, I often surround myself with the calming strains of a favorite hymn. Sometimes when I want to express sheer praise, I’ll pick a happy psalm and just put it to any old tune that comes to mind. I sing to myself. I sing to God. But I’m astonished to think that God sings to me.”

Have you heard God sing? Ask Him to open your ears to His music. It is indeed everywhere!

The heron above was snapped early one morning. I used a filter to blur out it’s surroundings and circled the heron with some light. He blended in so well to the water.

The picture below Jerry pointed out to me when we were sitting outside one summer evening. Mom is still feeding her young, even out of the nest.

Big or Small . . . It all Matters in God's Kingdom

When I give my “Note Writing” talk, I tell a story about a little hearts-ease. I didn’t know what a hearts-ease was when I first read the story so I looked it up in the dictionary. I found out that it is a variety of violets and pansies, especially Johnny Jump-Ups. It also means peace of mind and tranquility.

The story is found in “Streams in the Desert” Volume 1, compiled by Mrs. Charles E. Cowman. An older women who I sat next to in choir many years ago gave me a copy of the book. Jeanne has now passed along, but this little book she gave me has stayed with me 25 years.

The story is about a "King who went into his gardens and found every tree and flower sick of life and discouraged because they couldn’t be someone else. That is until he came across a hearts-ease. He found it’s bright face lifted as cheery as ever and asked it why. The hearts-ease told the king, 'No, I am not of much account, but I thought that if you wanted an oak, or a pine, or a peach tree, or a lilac, you would have planted one; but as I knew you wanted a hearts-ease, I am determined to be the best little hearts-ease that I can.'”

I like that story. I know many times I’ve complained that I couldn’t be like someone else who, in my eyes, has it all together and is recognized for the gifts that they have. Yet, I know, we all have our own gifts and they are all important in God’s mind.

I was reminded of this again after reading the June 21 devotion in the same book. Here’s an excerpt from it: “If your place in God’s ranks is a hidden and secluded one, beloved, do not murmur, do not complain, do not seek to get out of God’s will if He has placed you there . . . The day will come when Jesus will give the rewards, and He makes no mistakes, although some people may wonder how you came to merit such a reward, as they had never heard of you before.”

And that’s the way it should be. The only one who needs to know what you are doing is the Lord, Himself. We are called to be faithful, whether our service is big or small. So I’ll just go on writing my notes and thanking God that He trusted me with this special gift. How about you?

In the picture above, I wonder if Mom wishes she could fly away! In the picture below, I found one of the babies looking down for several minutes. I'm sure he was saying, "How do I get out of here!" The smaller baby's face is just above him.



We were going to take the bird house down after the first family moved out because it's seen better days, but they started a second family quicker than we were! I wonder if there will be family number three in that old house!

"Sticks and Stones . . . "

“Sticks and stones may break my bones, but words will never hurt me.“ Most of us are familiar with this idiom we heard as a child. And we all know that words can indeed harm you. In past years I found this version: “Sticks and stones may break my bones, but words will squeeze the very heartbeat from my heart, the breadth from my soul, the lift from my walk, the twinkle from my eyes, and the hope from my days. Please throw sticks and stones.” Unknown

You know how words can hurt you. You’ve been the receiving end of some devastating words and probably have thrown a few yourself. Yes, words can break your heart and take your very breath away.

As a writer of words, how much more generous it is to hand out words of encouragement. The above “other” version helps me to remember to watch what I say.

Enjoy the following quotes on words . . .

“The tongue is not steel, yet it cuts.” George Herbert 1593-1633

“When you speak, remember God is one of your listeners.” Unknown

“Your chances of blowing it are directly proportioned to the amount of time you spend with your mouth open. Try closing it for a while.” Charles Swindoll

“Words are loaded pistols.” Jean Paul Sartre 1905-1980

“The ability to speak several languages is an asset, but the ability to keep your mouth shut in one language is priceless.” Proverb

“The greatest word is God. The deepest word is soul. The longest word is eternity. The swiftest word is time. The nearest word is now. The darkest word is hypocrisy. The broadest word is truth. The strongest word is right. The tenderest word is love. The sweetest word is home.” James L. Gordon

And from scripture . . .

“When words are many, sin is not absent, but he who holds his tongue is wise.” Proverbs 10:19

“A man of knowledge uses words with restraint . . . “ Proverbs 17:27

“She speaks with wisdom, and faithful instruction is on her tongue.” Proverbs 31:26

“For, whoever would love life and see good days must keep his tongue from evil and his lips from deceitful speech.” 1 Peter 3:10

“May the words of my mouth and the meditation of my heart be pleasing in your sight, O Lord, my Rock and my Redeemer.” Psalm 19

“He put a new song in my mouth, a hymn of praise to our God.” Psalm 40:3

The next time you’re ready to throw out damaging words, remember that words can squeeze the very heartbeat from someone’s heart. Instead, thank God for His Amazing Grace!

I thought the gosling above was precious all curled up!The fawn below is one of my favorite snaps. Fawn watch is only 2 or 3 weeks away!

Fun In The Mist . . .

When I was off the other week I had a delightful time in my sister-in-law's garden! She's a pro, and also has a green house. She invited me over anytime to snap some pictures of her flowers.

Two mornings I arrived at her house at 7:30 in the morning. The first morning there was a light mist falling. I was able to capture these beauties:








The second morning I found these delights to snap:






I may not have a green thumb, but I do know a beautiful flower when I see it!

A Lion, a Lamb and a Bear . . .

A statue now . . . alive then . . .


The picture we’re all familiar with of the lion and lamb lying together is one that always requires a second look by me. It represents a facet of God’s home I want to see! I’m especially refreshed by animals anyhow, so this picture brings me great joy!

The scripture verse suggesting this ideal scene comes from Isaiah 11, verses 6-7, “The wolf will live with the lamb, the leopard will lie down with the goat, the calf and the lion and the yearling together; and a little child will lead them. The cow will feed with the bear, their young will lie down together and the lion will eat straw like the ox.”

The other week, another dimension of this scene was ingrained in my mind. One I’d never thought of before. “I” will lie down with the lion and lamb, putting one arm around the lion’s huge fluffy neck and the other arm gently laying on the lamb, with my hand caressing its head. It made me smile.

I shared this reality in heaven with Jerry, thinking he’d probably say how crazy I am. But instead, Jerry started sharing about a thought he’d been having these last few weeks: “I’ve been thinking about being friends with a bear. Walking through the forest together enjoying God’s creation.” My stock of Jerry rose considerably! Smile. Two older individuals imagining heaven and the joys that await us.

A few weeks ago a co-worker shared her thoughts on animals before the fall, how all of them must have gotten along, enjoying the perfect garden God created. Perhaps that is what prompted my thoughts about the lion and the lamb. But what a thought!

God’s creation is awesome. Recently I’ve been looking at pictures of mature animals and their young. It amazes me. Miniatures of their parents . . . elephants, giraffes, hippopotamus . . .it simply astonishes me what God can do. Seeing a perfect baby elephant stand beside its mother is quite an image to behold! If you haven’t looked at baby animals in awhile, check some out on the web. You’ll have to smile at some of them. Our God is an awesome God.

In Lightposts for Living by Thomas Kinkade, his introduction begins with this: “Close your eyes and picture a place you’re yearning to be . . . Picture a world the way it was meant to be.” There is only one place I want to be . . . heaven.

The beautiful song, “That Sounds Like Heaven To Me” by Paula Stefanovich, and sung by Kim Hopper, shares what its title suggests. One of the lines says, “A place where hate and suffering won’t be found, lamb and lion, side by side, lay down.”

I like my thought of lying down with the lion and lamb. It would make for a refreshing pause through the timeless flow of eternity. One day it will be real.

For now, I'll enjoy the beauty I see here, like the delight below!