A Morning of Hope

 "Behind the cloud the starlight lurks,

Through showers the sunbeams fall;

For God, who loveth all his works

Has left his hope with all!"

John Greenleaf Whittier, 1807-1892

 

This morning I'm sharing a little hope from my collection of summer snaps through the years.

 

A lovely bloom from my garden in MD.

"Hope, the balm and lifeblood of the soul."

John Armstrong, 1709-1779

 

 

One August night.
 

"For everything that was written in the past was written to teach us, so that through endurance and the encouragement of the Scriptures we might have hope."

Romans 15:4

 

Sunrise at Chincoteaque in VA.

 

"The word hope I take for faith; and indeed hope is nothing else but the constancy of faith."

John Calvin, 1509-1564

Fawn spotting.

 

"For everything that was written in the past was written to teach us, so that through endurance and the encouragement of the Scriptures we might have hope."

Romans 15:4

 

Sunrise in VA.
 

 "Hope is grief's best music."

Henry George Bohn, 1796, 1884

A summer afternoon drive delight.

"May our Lord Jesus Christ himself and God our Father, who loved us and by his grace gave us eternal encouragement and good hope, encourage your hearts and strengthen you in every good deed and word."

2 Thessalonians 2:16-17

Ocean City, MD

"The resurrection of Jesus Christ is our hope today. It is our assurance that we have a living Savior to help us live as we should now, and that when, in the end, we set forth on that last great journey, we have not travel an uncharted course, but rather we shall go on a planned voyage--life to death to eternal living."

Ralph MacKendree

My herd of buck one summer in MD from July through October morning and evening.

"But Christ is faithful as a son over God's house. And we are his house, if we hold on to our courage and the hope of which we boast."

Hebrews 3:6

A happy face!

"The word hope I take for faith; and indeed hope is nothing else but  the constancy of faith."

John Calvin, 1509-1564

Dirt road in Oklahoma visiting my sister.

 

"Let us hold unswervingly to the hope we profess, for he who promised is faithful."

Hebrews 10:23

 

A lovely lightpost.
 

 Hope is faith holding out it's hands in the dark."

George Iles

 

Delightful bloom!

 

"But In your hearts set apart Christ as Lord. Always be prepared to give an answer to everyone who asks you to give the reason for the hope that you have."

1 Peter 3:15

 

Happy scene in my backyard in MD.

“Hope is the thing with feathers
That perches in the soul
And sings the tune without the words
And never stops at all.”
― Emily Dickinson

  

I have this verse on my computer and it encourages me each morning:"But as for me, I will always have hope; I will praise you more and more." Psalm 21:14  It reminds me of my commitment to God and His control over my life.

Reflection

 

 

Now that I'm just sitting around waiting for my ankle to heal, I picked up my current journal to glance through. My journals consist of quotes that I've read, either a sentence or paragraph, that spoke to me. 

 

My current journal began in my 70th year, and on the first page I wrote: "I now begin the journey that will lead me into the sunset of my life." Ronald Reagan, November 1994.  I also wrote "Lord, teach me to number my days, that I may gain a heart of wisdom." Psalm 90:12

 

 

And thus began another journal. I hand write short sentences or type the quote if it is long. This one is from Elisabeth Elliott: "A Christian who is saturated with the Lord, my father wrote, is likely to have a calm, wholesome outlook on life; to be kept steady in the path of God's will in either joy or sorrow, wealth or poverty; he is likely to be a pleasant companion, not voluble in aimless talk; and he will not be overly disturbed by world conditions."

 

I keep quotes that encourage me, inspire me, motivate me and or cheer me. Whether it was written a thousand years ago or this year, I receive the perspective of a man or woman of God. It fills me up. It assures me that those who came before me can teach me as I walk my life.

 

F. B. Meyer said: "I used to think that God's gifts were on the shelves one above the other; and that the taller we grew in Christian character the easier we could reach them. I now find that God's gifts are on shelves one beneath the other, and that it is not a question of growing taller but of stooping lower, and that we have to go down always to get His best gift."

 

Words can make us think and learn. That's why it's so important to stay well grounded in God's Word. And each quote I find that makes me think and desire to draw closer to God is worth reading.

 

 

 

In earlier years I purchased the book Draper's Book of Quotations for the Christian World. I learned of this book when I was just starting out writing and knew it would be a book I use often in my writing. I love to peruse through it and consider words written that will help me.

In yesterdays devotion from Strength for Today, David Jeremiah said: "God allows disruptive moments in our life that we almost always question or resist because they are painful, unanticipated, misunderstood, and often not optional. Yet in hindsight, they are always embraced for the good or blessing which results . . . If God has allowed a disruptive moment in your life, walk through it by faith rather than by sight--and be prepared to say, 'Now I understand.'"

 

Well, my broken ankle was certainly disruptive so I'll try and embrace it for good and wait for God's results. It made me pick up my journal, and I am rewarded each time I go back and read words that touched me. I definitely have the time to do it right now!

Now that's a big bouquet! Wish I was behind it.

Facebook page of South Africa Flower Union

Designed by Anja Ersing

Dogs Days or Refreshing Days

 "Gratitude is a seasoning for all seasons."

Unknown

 

 

 I've seen some stunning sunrises. This one was on Pine Run Road in Clear Creek. It was truly this magnificent.

I admit, July and August are my least favorite months of the year. Now, if your birthday is in one of those months, just let me finish.

It's the heat. Only the invention of air condition makes it bearable. We can thank Willis Haviland Carrier for this. The Apparatus for Treating Air (U.S. Pat# 808897) was granted in 1906 and the rest is history.

One of the joys of the "dog days of summer" is the refreshment we receive from the beauty of flowers. 

Photo by my friend, Kathy K

The "dog days of summer" is so named after a star, Sirius, the dog star. The name "dog star" came from the ancient Egyptians who called Sirius the dog star after their god Osirus, whose head in pictograms resembled that of a dog. The star was in conjunction with the Sun in the summer and ancient Egyptians and Romans argued that it was responsible for the summer heat by adding its heat to the heat from the Sun.

 

Well, for whatever reason, dog days of summer are hot! When our dog, Emma (above), was alive, she would lay down on the blacktop driveway just a huffing and puffing. I'd say, "Emma, get in the shade, and you'll be cooler."

Then it dawned on me that God tells me to stop huffing and puffing too: "Carol, get in the shade of my wings and be refreshed by My Word. My breath will flow through you and calm your temperature!

I listened! Emma, though, still stayed in the sun.

 

Enjoyed seeing this eagle on Caldwell Corner.

I've found several things to do in the dog days of summer which make these two hot months refreshing: of course, as everyone knows, I go fawn spotting; I sit on the porch before sun up and enjoy the birth of a new day (can only do that in these summer months, and even then, sometimes I have to wear my heavy jacket!); stay refreshed in God's Word so my mind is open to all the joy and love available to me; when I had my gardens I would walk through them in the early morning and feel God's presence. Now I enjoy my gardens through the Shutterfly books I created and remember the beauty.

 

Fixing "picnic" meals brings refreshing memories of earlier times. Hamburgers, hot dogs, fried chicken, potato salad, baked beans, corn on the cob. It's another gesture I can do to help be refreshed in the summer.
 

A number of my friends have birthdays during this time. Thinking about them, setting a date with them or calling for a sweet conversation also refreshes my summer days.

What do you do to make your summer refreshing? 

Saw this bear my first summer here in Clear Creek.

July and August are refreshing days as I concentrate on those things that make me happy.

Yes, it's the dog days of summer as we move into August, but there is refreshment out there! I guarantee it! 

"The more I study nature, the more I am amazed at the Creator."

Louis Pasteur, 1822-1895