This is my Father’s world,
and to my listening ears
all nature sings,
and round me rings
the music of the spheres. (‘This is my Father’s World’, words by Maltbie D. Babcock, 1901)
There’s a deep feeling of comfort when I’m in my garden. I find it peaceful and relaxing and soothing and calming. While resting on my bench, I enjoy the scents of flowers around me, the sounds of birds singing, the brilliant colors around me, the splash of goldfish in the pond, the amazing sky above, and the quiet, gentle breezes.
The sun warms and refreshes my soul, and in these precious moments, all is right with the world.
In the beginning God created the heavens and the earth.
Genesis 1:1 NAS
God saw all that He had made, and behold, it was very good.
For I am convinced that neither death, nor life, nor angels, nor principalities, nor things present, nor things to come, nor powers, nor height, nor depth, nor any other created thing, will be able to separate us from the love of God, which is in Christ Jesus our Lord.
(Romans 8:38-39 NAS)
This is a favorite verse of mine. As a Christian, it’s a comfort to know that God’s love is within me for eternity. I’m secure (and totally convinced) in the knowledge of His wondrous, mighty, and unconditional love. I do not, and I can not, envision my life separated from God. I pray that others would accept and believe in Jesus Christ, and experience the eternal love of God.
Considering how great the universe is, and how tiny and insufficient I am, there is no way I can begin to comprehend how much God loves me. He created every thing and every one that has been, that is, and that will be. I don’t have to, nor need to understand the vastness of God’s love. I just know that He does - He does love me.
Everything I Need To Know In Life, I Learned From My Cat
1. Life is hard, and then you nap.
2. Curiosity never killed anything, except maybe a few hours.
3. When in doubt, cop an attitude.
4. Variety is the spice of life: one day ignore people, the next day annoy them.
5. Climb your way to the top - that's why drapes are there.
6. Find your place in the sun - especially if it happens to be on that nice pile of warm, clean laundry.
7. When you go out into the world, remember: being placed on a pedestal is a right, not a privilege.
Our character is what God and cats know of us.
Thomas Paine
There is something about the presence of a cat...that seems to take the bite out of being alone.
Dr Louis Camuti
No matter what my circumstances are, can I truthfully say ‘it is well with my soul’?
No matter how terrible it may be, no matter how miserable it may be, no matter how difficult it may be, no matter how terrifying it may be, no matter how lonesome it may be, no matter how unbearable it may be, can I truthfully say ‘it is well with my soul’? Even thru sorrows and troubles and trials and...
Yes, even so, it is well with my soul!
‘It Is Well With My Soul’ is an old hymn that has great meaning to me. Its name may seem impossible to truthfully say, but with the peace of Jesus in my heart, it is.
The words of the first verse and refrain are:
When peace, like a river, attendeth my way,
When sorrows like sea billows roll;
Whatever my lot, Thou has taught me to say,
It is well, it is well, with my soul.
It is well, with my soul,
It is well, with my soul,
It is well, it is well, with my soul.
Only thru Jesus can I honestly say it is well with my soul!
Rejoice in the Lord always; again I will say, rejoice! Let your gentle spirit be known to all men. The Lord is near. Be anxious for nothing, but in everything by prayer and supplication with thanksgiving let your requests be made known to God. And the peace of God, which surpasses all comprehension, will guard your hearts and your minds in Christ Jesus.
Philippians 4:4-7 NAS
Consider Jesus.
Know Jesus.
Learn what kind of Person it is you say you trust and love and worship.
Soak in the shadow of Jesus.
Saturate your soul with the ways of Jesus.
Watch Him.
Listen to Him.
Stand in awe of Him.
Let Him overwhelm you with the way He is.
I love my hubby. He still opens the car door for me.
At this specific time, it has been...
938,908,800 seconds or 15,648,480 minutes or 260,808 hours or 1552 weeks or 10,867 days or 29 years, 9 months, 2 days since we’ve been married! (give or take a few hours)
During my recent visit with the ‘kids’ and ‘grandkids’, I tried to sharpen my story telling ‘skills’. The first couple of stories weren't great, but I think I improved along the way.
I told these stories to the little lady. Each one began with “There once was a little girl (or princess or snuggle bug or little lady or doodle bug or... ) named (insert her name) who......... My imagination just wouldn’t flow unless she was in my lap with me holding her close. (Gotta love it!)
I made up adventures as I went, tying to be creative, and loving every minute! The little lady listened intently, sometimes widening her eyes with surprise, sometimes giggling, sometimes looking deep in thought, sometimes smiling, sometimes looking with a question.
Holding her close, with my love over flowing, these moments I’ll cherish forever.
And yes, we live happily every after, safe in the arms of Jesus...
While visiting my ‘kids’ and ‘grandkids’ recently, one night, the little fellow didn’t want to go to bed. In the darkish bedroom, I held him close, and softly sang. It was a moment I’ll cherish forever.
First of all, I’m not a good singer. However, the little fellow cuddled up and listened as I softly sang. He relaxed and snuggled with his Nana (a precious moment indeed!). Of course, ‘Jesus Loves Me’ was one of the songs. I’ve sung it at least a kazillion times. But, this time I really, really listened to the words.
I thought about how deeply and completely I love this little fellow. My grandchildren opened my heart with a new love I can’t explain, one I had never experienced before. Considering how much I love my grandchildren, to how much Jesus loves us, well, there is no comparison. His love is complete and perfect and true and accepting and amazing and genuine and enduring and everlasting and abundant and unconditional.
In the same way, any of you who does not give up everything he has cannot be my disciple. Luke 14:33 NIV
“God had hidden a song in my heart. And touching a tender chord, He caused me to sing."
Judson W Van DeVenter (1896) was struggling between his dream of becoming an outstanding and famous artist, and fully committing his life as an evangelist. A moment in his life came, and he surrendered completely to God’s will. “At last the time came when I could hold out no longer and I surrendered my all-my time and my talents. It was then that a new day was ushered into my life. I wrote I Surrender All in memory of the time when, after the long struggle, I had surrendered and dedicated my life to active Christian service for the Lord.”
This hymn is a reminder to totally surrender your life to God’s will. And, that said, when I sing this song, do I really mean what I’m singing???
All to Jesus I Surrender
All to Jesus I surrender,
All to Him I freely give;
I will ever love and trust Him,
In His presence daily live.
Refrain
I surrender all, I surrender all.
All to Thee, my blessed Savior,
I surrender all.
All to Jesus I surrender,
Humbly at His feet I bow,
Worldly pleasures all forsaken;
Take me, Jesus, take me now.
All to Jesus I surrender,
Make me, Savior, wholly Thine;
Let me feel Thy Holy Spirit,
Truly know that Thou art mine.
All to Jesus I surrender,
Lord, I give myself to Thee;
Fill me with Thy love and power,
Let Thy blessing fall on me.
All to Jesus I surrender,
Now I feel the sacred flame.
Oh, the joy of full salvation!
Glory, glory to His name!
On the purpose of mankind: "What were we made for? To know God. What aim should we set ourselves in life? To know God. What is the eternal life that Jesus gives? Knowledge of God....What is the best thing in life, bringing more joy, delight, and contentment, than anything else? Knowledge of God....Once you become aware that the main business that you are here for is to know God, most of life's problems fall into place of their own accord." ~ J I Packer – ‘Knowing God’, pg 29
The Goodness of God: “The psalmist’s point [from Psalm 145:9, 15-16) is that, since God controls all that happens in his world, every meal, every pleasure, every possession, every bit of sun, every nights sleep, every moment of health and safety, everything else that sustains and enriches life, is a divine gift.”
What hope means
Hope is bright shining light which keeps darkness at the bay
Hope is gentle cold breeze on a hot summer day
Hope is to remain positive when going gets tough
hope is seeking more when others think u had enough
What hope means
Hope is dreaming of tomorrow
Hope is simmering under sorrow
Hope is sparkles when tears in our eyes
Hope is a beautiful thing & beautiful things never dies
What hope means
Hope is as light as a feather
Hope keeps all of us together
Hope is ubiquitous and free of cost
hope is the last thing ever lost.....
The truth of God's love is not that he allows bad things to happen. It's His promise that He'll be here with us when they do. ~Clark Davis, Love Comes Softly
Pain insists upon being attended to. God whispers to us in our pleasures, speaks in our consciences, but shouts in our pains. It is his megaphone to rouse a deaf world.
~C S Lewis
All of history is moving toward one great goal, the white-hot worship of God and his Son among all the peoples of the earth.
We all need to be broken, because we are all born unbroken.
The more wounded we are, the more unbroken we become.
Anne Murchison
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Just what is ‘brokenness’? One definition is an acute and constant awareness of God’s presence, and devastation from the presence of my sin.
The way I see it, brokenness is a good thing. To completely and entirely and fully and totally surrender my heart to Jesus, then, and only then, will I be broken before God. And, I have to be broken hearted for God to use me. So, brokenness really is a good thing.
This is something I struggle with. Every step and every day. But I know God is with me every step that I take. Now, that is awesome!
Then, and only then, God can use me according to His will.
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Brokenness and freedom go together, in that order;
first suffering, then comfort;
first trouble, then joy;
first felt unworthiness, then felt love;
first death to the self, then resurrection of the soul.
The light of heaven is the face of Jesus Christ; the joy of heaven is the presence of the Lord Jesus Christ; the melody of heaven is the name of Jesus Christ. The theme of heaven is the work of Jesus Christ. The employment of heaven is the work of Jesus Christ. The fullness of heaven is the Lord Jesus Christ, Himself.
I have to be disciplined before I can be used. I can’t be prideful or arrogant or rebellious or stubborn or resistant or selfish. I must have humility and be obedient and be repentant and to grow and become equipped for His service. I have to totally yield and surrender my life to Him, or He can’t use me.
There are many pathways to brokenness. It may be because of sickness, it may be because of sin, it may be because of death, it may be because of sorrow, it may be because of poverty, it may be because of a strong self-will, it may be because of anger, it may be because of trials, it may be because of difficulties, it may be because of hard circumstances.
Just what’s it going to take to break me before the Lord? I must bow humbly and broken before God. Yes, the Lord blesses broken things!
God is most glorified in us when we are most broken before Him.
The sacrifices of God are a broken spirit; a broken and contrite heart, O God, you will not despise. Psalm 51:17 NIV
The Lord is close to the broken-hearted and saves those who are crushed in spirit. Psalm 34:18 NIV
Lately, I haven’t taken much time to be silent before God. It’s hard to hear Him speak when I’m not still before Him. There’s not a single reason or any sorry excuse or anything else to blame why I haven’t. When I get caught up in day-to-day things... yes, things. Is there anything or anyone or anywhere that is more important? Nope.
And, Jesus died for my sins and He knows my name and He cares about me and He is my salvation and He loves me and He blesses me and He hears my prayers and...
When I read these words today, I felt a warm and comforting embrace. My Father welcomes me into His arms and covers me with His love. For these precious moments, I sit by my Father and rest at His feet.
Let Your God Love You
Be silent.
Be still. Alone,
Empty
Before your God.
Say nothing.
Be silent.
Be still.
Let your God
Look upon you.
That is all.
God knows,
Understands,
Loves you with
An enormous love.
God only wants to
Look upon you
With Love.
Quiet.
Still.
Be.
Let your God –
Love you.
by Edwina Gately (from There Was No Path but I Trod One)
This is my Father’s world,
