You Never Know

  "He that wrestles with us strengthens our nerves and sharpens our skill. Our antagonist is our helper."

Edmund Burke, 1729-1797

The first baby fawn I've seen this year.

 

I've been studying the book of Job for the past two months. I've turned to it many, many times in the course of my Christian walk, mostly to the end of the book when God speaks. I love reading about all He has created as He drills Job in chapters 38-41.

 

God spoke to Job asking him where he was when God made the earth: "On what were its footings set, or who laid its cornerstone--while the morning stars sang together, and all the angels shouted for joy?" God asked: "Have you entered the storehouses of the snow or seen the storehouses of the hail . . ." and "Who endowed the heart with wisdom or gave understanding to the mind?" "Everything under heaven belongs to me."

 

It's an interesting section of Scripture I read again and again!

 

I'm using an old, old, Sunday School quarterly from 1995. I was working at my home church at that time. On the front of the quarterly I wrote in big letters "THIS IS EXCELLENT ON JOB" and I never threw the quarterly away.

 

This time I read something that caused me to pause. It isn't what we normally hear when Job is preached. But it brings home a point that God uses often. God uses all people to complete His will. They may be good people. They may be bad people. In His perfect wisdom He arranges all circumstances to complete His will. These are the read I read:

 

"Ironically, even though Job's three friends were dead wrong, and their intent was to drive him to his knees in submission to their religious preconceptions, they were indirectly doing Job a great service.

 

"Credit them with: being with him; the comforting ministry of those first seven days of silence; not walking away when he started spewing out his bitterness; and giving him a sounding board with faces against which to bounce his conflicting thoughts and feelings.

 

"They miserably failed to feel with him, support him, or directly contribute to his understanding of what God was doing in his life. Their motives were mixed. Their theology was incomplete and inadequate. Their methods were wrong, they intensified his pain. But in spite of their misguided efforts, the fact that they were there arguing with him encouraged him to work through his feelings and grow in his perspective on the truth. A lesser man might have caved in to their pressures and missed finding out what God was doing. But, for Job, it was the fulfillment of Romans 8:28."  Adults Teaching Guide, June/August 1995, Scripture Press

 

 

Most of us our familiar with Romans 8:28: "And we know that in all things God works for the good of those who love him, who have been called according to his purpose." It's a well taught verse of scripture.

 

For all the wrong Job's three friends laid on him, in the end they helped him work through his problems. It's hard to thank someone(s) when they seem to beat you up in the process. 

 

Sometimes someone's suggestion may leave you in a bigger mess, so you need to use the wisdom God endowed you with to work through suggestions. 

 

No matter the circumstances, the person, the place, God uses all things to perform His will. We can be thankful that His guidance is always with us, helping us to do the right thing. 

 

So, if your mother or father, or sister or brother, or friend or enemy, or teacher or boss upset you because of something they said, it just may be God giving you an opportunity to learn, rethink, grow. You just never know. 

What Matters?

This is a trustworthy saying that deserves full acceptance, (and for this we labor and strive), that we have put our hope in the living God, who is the Savior of all men, and especially of those who believe . . . Be diligent in these matters, give yourself wholly to them, so that everyone may see your progress."

1 Timothy 4:9-15

The other morning, while reading in George Beverly Shea's book: "How Sweet the Sound," he considered the song, "These Are the Things That Matter." The author, Arthur Smith, 1951, wrote the words when their son was born. These are the first and third verses:

"A heart that's concerned for a fellow man,
An ear that will hear and will understand;
An eye that will look for the best in a man;
These are the things that matter.

"To know that this life is for such a short time,
And to know there's a God and to know He's divine;
To know that He walks beside you all the time;
These are the things that matter."

What matters? Our lists will be different, but if you are a child of God we should have similar thoughts. Here are three of mine:

For my life the first thing that really matters is that I consistently live for and love God with all my heart. As it says in Mark 12:28: "Love the Lord your God with all your heart and with all your soul and with all your mind and with all your strength."

The second thing that matters is that my family members are saved by God's grace. I will pray for this until the day I go to my heavenly home.

The third thing in my life that matters is that I do what God has gifted me to do.

If I do these things I will live the life God created me for and everything else will fall into place according to His plan.

 

Just what is it that matters to you?  The prayer given at the end of the devotion is simple and to the point: "Dear Lord, teach me how to show my love for You and for my family and friends, because I want to keep my focus on 'the things that matter.'"

"Make up your mind to stay enthused, determined, and active in whatever task God gives you today. Never grow weary in doing good. It's always too soon to quit." 

David Jeremiah, Strength for Today

 

Hear George Beverly Shay sing"These Are The Things That Matter."  

 https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=4Itqp2ZO7s4

A Fine Possession

 "We need the joy of the Lord to witness for Him. Joy shows unsaved people that it is worthwhile to know Jesus. He is the Power for our service."

Warren W. Wierbe

 

"My most cherished possession I wish I could leave you is my faith in Jesus Christ, for with Him and nothing else you can be happy, but without Him you'll never be happy." 

 Patrick Henry, 1736-1799

A reading in "Devotions from the Garden" with Miriam Drennan talked about heirloom plants. "Some heirloom plants have been passed down for hundreds of years, and the reasons are as diverse as the plants themselves: better flavor, better texture, sentimental value, no genetic modifications, etc."

Drennan continues: "The prophet Joel spoke of another type of heirloom--a spiritual one. We don't have much information about this man of God, but we do have the message God spoke through him, urging the elders of Judah to pass down God's lesson to the younger generations."

 I love seeing little "lumps" in the field!

Yes, we are to hand down our spiritual legacy so that others can know the God we love. It is urgent as God's plan continues to unfold until the time of the rapture of the church. We've seen first hand that those who live for and serve Jesus Christ are now being persecuted in the United States. The need to pass down God's Word is of great importance to this generation.

God makes this clear in His Word in Psalm 145:4-7:

"One generation commends your works to another;
    they tell of your mighty acts.
They speak of the glorious splendor of your majesty—
    and I will meditate on your wonderful works.
They tell of the power of your awesome works—
    and I will proclaim your great deeds.
They celebrate your abundant goodness

    and joyfully sing of your righteousness."

A nice snap from our yard in Mt. Airy.

 

The prayer at the end of the devotion says " . . . I long to build a spiritual legacy that honors You by pointing to You. Enable me to boldly pass along my spiritual treasures to those who will journey behind me." 

You may have a few heirlooms that have been passed down to you from your parents or grandparents. But remember, your greatest heirloom is your faith. Pass it on. You still have time to influence another for Christ. You still have time to share you faith with another and change their life. You still have time to tell your story of faith in person, over the phone, via email or through the mail 

 One summer drive I spotted this foal standing straight and proud!

Stand tall. Stand strong. Stand for the good news! It's your greatest possession! A very fine possession!

If you've lost your joy, don't wait! Ask God:

"Restore to me the joy of Your salvation, and uphold me by Your generous Spirit."

  Psalm 51:12

One morning my sister-in-law called to say they had a cute lamb in their yard. I rushed over there to take some snaps and hold it. What fun!

Wrinkles of the Soul

 

It was early morning when I found these geese and gosling crossing the road. I was on my way to work and pulled off the road and took the picture. I was thankful that no other cars came by before they were on the other side. But the rest of my drive to work was filled with a giant smile!

 

 I love this title and the story where I got it from. It was the March 27th devotion in Streams in the Desert 2 by Mrs. Charles E. Cowman. I must admit I have gained more from the first Streams in the Desert, but every once in a while I'll read something in book 2 that teaches me a gold nugget.

This was another early morning scene as I drove to work. A newborn calf is too good to pass up. A nurse pulled up beside me to ask if I was okay. I told her, 'Yes! I am very okay! A newborn calf!

That's what this story does. Gives you a gold nugget to consider! Aside from  telling you how to get rid of the wrinkles!

"Tradition tells us that one day a hunter found the Apostle John seated on the ground playing with a tame quail. The hunter expressed his surprise that a man so earnest should be spending his time so profitlessly. John looked up and asked, ‘Why is the bow on your shoulder unstrung?’ To this the hunter replied, ‘If kept always taut, it would lose its spring.’ The kindly apostle said with a smile, “For the same reason I play with this bird . . . We must know how to put occupation aside. In an inaction which is meditative, the wrinkles of the soul are smoothed away . . . We are busy folk, and we must learn the blessed secret of resting just where we are.”   Mrs.  Charles E. Cowman, Streams in the Desert 2, March 27th

 

Rest. Meditation. Relax. Think. What do you do to obtain these life altering moments?

 

Do you rest? or are you always going, going, going. Do you meditate? or is your mind always on the go. Do you relax? or is your speed always 100 miles and hour. Do you think? or do you just go with the flow and action before you.

 

Always a joy to see a foal along the side of the road. 

 

These things come easy for me because I am in the slow group. But I know there are some who instinctly must be busy and always accomplishing something. It's part of their very being. My mother was like that. I never have had the energy she had. I am the contemplated type. I am slower. 

 

That doesn't mean I don't accomplish things. It just means I need rest to keep going. Wrinkles of the Soul. They can't be straightened out if a time hasn't been set aside to iron out the stress building up inside of you. We need rest. We need meditation. We need a time for our brain to slow down so we don't come apart. 

 

I was on my way home from work when I spotted this little fellow all by himself in the yard.

 

Maybe this little story describes you. Have you listened to the birds sing this spring? Did you hear beautiful music penetrate your soul and calm your spirit? Did you smile when you saw the newborn calf lying and spare a moment to watch?? 

 

Once again, on my way home from work I spotted this little one lying in the field. I'm sure mom was close by just inside the woods. I got to watch it for 5 minutes before it jumped up and ran to the woods. My first photo of a fawn lying down.

Is your bow unstrung? It may be time for those wrinkles in your soul to be smoothed. Fast paced or slow going, we all need rest and meditation. Why not start today. Iron those wrinkles in your soul. Resting is a blessed secret!

"There's something real inspiring about sharing one's heart with the Creator when surrounded by His creation."

Beverly Lewis

Wonderful May

 "The flowers appear on the earth; the time of the singing of birds is come, and the voice of the turtle is heard in our land . . ."

Song of Solomon 2:12

 

 

May. A wonderful month to look forward too! The Northern side of our country ushers in warm temperatures, blooming trees and flowers, special holidays and remembrance days. We relish its coming after the cold and bitter winter months. 

 

"Warped indeed must be the soul of the one who has no glad welcome for the magic month of May! What a marvelous transformations a few warm days made! One day Mother Nature appears very unattractive in her shabby winter garb of dull browns and grays. But, behold! the soft southwest wind stirs through her rags; the sun gazes at her with fiery ardor one moment, and the dripping shower refreshes her the next; suddenly she comes before our wondering eyes robed in garments of tenderest green and filling the air with langorous blossom scents. Ever new, ever delightful, is the gracious beauty, the revivifying influence of the early spring. The Giver of all good has indeed placed us in a most beautiful world.!                          Adelaide S. Seaverns, from Thoughts for the Thoughtful, 1893

 

 

I didn't decide to "play in dirt? until I retired at age 63. For the next 5 years I created 4 gardens with the help of my sister-in-law, Bobbie, and friend, Kathy. They helped me plan, dig and create, and I loved those gardens. It became a wonderful delight that I experienced.

That's my spring garden in the photos above and below. Since moving to NW PA I don't have the energy to create gardens, and Jerry doesn't either. So every spring I get out my Garden Book and leave it out in the living room through summer. That way I can enjoy the beauty of God's creation and the memories I have of my time "Playing in the dirt."

                                                                                    

Here In NW PA I've seen a few blooming tree, but not very many flowers blooming yet. The daffodils in our yard are about 3 weeks behind daffodils blooming around us. Magnolia Jane had many buds waiting to open, but the cold killed them. My pictures will just have to do! 

 

Mother's Day can be a very happy or very sad day. There are multitudes of mother's and children who have broken hearts. There are multitudes of children who've lost their mother and father, and mothers and fathers who have lost their children. If you are one of the fortunate ones who have been blessed with a wonderful mother (or father), I ask you to consider your friends who suffer great emotional heartache this day (and week before).

 

If you are one who of those who are heartbroken, try and look around to help someone else. It will refresh you and bring joy to you too as Proverbs 11:25 tells us.

 

 

Yes, May is a month of beauty that we look forward to each year. For me, it's leaving home at daybreak and driving through woods and dirt roads in search of fawn. I never tire of taking pictures of fawn, lamb, gosling, poult and calf..

We each have our own special activity that begins in warmer weather. May is a lovely month. Enjoy the beauty!

"All God's great works are silent. They are not done amid rattle of drums and flare of trumpets. Light as it travels makes no noise, utters no sound to the ear. Creation is a silent process; nature rose under the Almighty hand without clang or clamor, or noises that distract and disturb."

Andrew Martin Fairbairn, 1838-1912

It's a wonderful time of the year to sing "This is my Father's World! I especially like the second verse:

This is my Father's world--the birds their carols raise; the morning light,

the lily white, declare their Maker's praise.

This is my Father's world! He shines in all that's fair;

in the rustling grass I hear Him pass--He speaks to me ev'rywhere.

 

 https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=v2_dDe2qZNE