the intention of flowers...

Flowers seem intended

for the solace

of ordinary humanity.

~John Ruskin

cattle on a thousand hills...

Seems like it's almost every conversation these days where someone mentions "the economy." I know it's a big deal, and a very difficult reality for many people. Or for most people. (I'm no stranger to financial difficulties myself!) But, as for me and my house (that would be me and...me!), we are choosing to serve the Lord.

Oh, I don't mean that in any self-righteous or trite way. It's just that, for me, I have to keep my focus on where my food, my finances, my car--my everything, really--come from. It is not by the strength of my own hands or the great abilities of my own mind/talents. I only have those because they were given to me in the first place. As for my job, that is also by the grace of God and His providence.

You may say to yourself, "My power and the strength of my hands have produced this wealth for me." But remember the LORD your God, for it is he who gives you the ability to produce wealth, ~Deuteronomy 8:17-18

I have to daily remind myself NOT to be anxious, NOT to fret, NOT to worry... about my life, my needs, my country, the economy, the world... it is far too big for me to think that one bit of my anxiety will change any of it. My anxiety will only change ME. But not in any way that I want to be changed.

When I start to worry about finances, I remind myself that my Father is a universe-class rancher! He owns the cattle on a thousand hills (and so much more)! (And every now and then, I ask Him to kick one of those 'cash cows' down the hill to me... so far, He hasn't, but it doesn't hurt to ask!)

"...for every animal of the forest is mine, and the cattle on a thousand hills." ~Psalm 50:10

( Wait a minute! What kind of crazy cows are those striped ones?!?! What....??? Wait a ... hey! THOSE AREN'T COWS!!! They're...are they...?.... they're zebras!!)

(yes, that's really what they are! I couldn't resist throwing these photos into the mix for a smile or two... I'll tell you about them another time, if you're interested in knowing why the zebras are hobnobbin' with the cows!)

Anyway... as I was saying... I must fix my eyes on the Giver of all good gifts so I do not become discouraged by the seemingly dismal circumstances in which we seem to find ourselves as a nation and as individuals. I have to trust that God--Jehovah Jireh--is my Provider. He knows my needs and will take care of me. I long to be like Paul and say I have learned to trust Him in plenty and in want.

I know what it is to be in need, and I know what it is to have plenty. I have learned the secret of being content in any and every situation, whether well fed or hungry, whether living in plenty or in want. ~ Philippians 4:12

I know I'm not there yet, but I am working on it. On a daily basis. Hourly. Minute by minute.

For I know that is the kind of contentment I desire. That is the kind of peace which I must pursue.

And the best part about it is that God does not withhold good things from us. He does not keep us on the outside of where the "good stuff" is. He invites us into His presence...to drink of Him...to taste and see that He is good.

"...Test me in this," says the LORD Almighty, "and see if I will not throw open the floodgates of heaven and pour out so much blessing that you will not have room enough for it. ~Malachi 3:10

I Need A Silent Night...Amy Grant

I thought some of you may be able to relate to this song right about now in the season. I've heard it on the radio for the first time this year, and I really like it. (I'd put the audio on my post, but I haven't yet figured out quite how to do that yet!)

I Need A Silent Night
by Amy Grant

I've made the same mistake before
Too many malls, too many stores
December traffic, Christmas rush
It breaks me till I push and shove
Children are crying while mothers are trying
To photograph Santa and sleigh
The shopping and buying and standing forever in line

What can I say?

*

I need a silent night, a holy night

To hear an angel voice through the chaos and the noise

I need a midnight clear, a little peace right here

To end this crazy day with a silent night

*

December comes then disappears

Faster and faster every year
Did my own mother keep this pace
Or was the world a different place?
Where people stayed home wishing for snow
Watching three channels on their TV
Look at us now rushing around
Trying to buy Christmas peace
*
I need a silent night, a holy night
To hear an angel voice through the chaos and the noise
I need a midnight clear, a little peace right here
To end this crazy day with a silent night
*
What was it like back there in Bethlehem
With peace on earth, good will toward men?
Every shepherd's out in the field
Keeping watch over their clock by night
And the glory of the Lord shone around them
And they were so afraid
And the angels said fear not for behold
I bring you good news of a great joy

that shall be for all people
For unto you is born this day

a Savior, who is Christ the Lord
And his name shall be called

Wonderful Counselor, Prince of Peace
*
I need a silent night, a holy night
To hear an angel voice through the chaos and the noise
I need a midnight clear, a little peace right here
To end this crazy day with a silent night

Don't forget to take time out for a silent night, a holy night, so you may hear those angels' voices as they proclaim good news of great JOY... He is here... the Prince of peace... let us welcome Him...

God grant me the serenity...

Most of us have heard the very famous "Serenity Prayer"...

God grant me the serenity
To accept the things I cannot change;
Courage to change the things I can;
And wisdom to know the difference.

It has been used as the key motto of Alcoholics Anonymous and other 12-Step programs. Today, however, a friend gave me some quotes to read which she had collected. Amongst those quotes was the Serenity Prayer, but in an expanded version I had never before seen. I thought I would do a little research to see what the original quote actually was, and I found the following, attributed to Reinhold Niebuhr:

"God, give us grace to accept with serenity the things that cannot be changed, courage to change the things that should be changed, and the wisdom to distinguish the one from the other."

I like the way the original read, as it included the concept of God's grace. It is by grace, and by God's strength, we can live with this attitude and perspective. Not 'God give us serenity' but 'God give us GRACE to accept with serenity' the things of this life. It puts a different spin on it, don't you think? It is far more rich and God-focused...

I also really like the expanded version (though there seems to be some question about who actually wrote the extra portions):

God grant me the serenity
To accept the things I cannot change;
Courage to change the things I can;
And wisdom to know the difference.
Living one day at a time;
Enjoying one moment at a time;
Accepting hardships as the pathway to peace;
Taking, as He did, this sinful world
As it is, not as I would have it;
Trusting that He will make all things right
If I surrender to His Will;
So that I may be reasonably happy in this life
And supremely happy with Him
Forever and ever in the next.

Wow. So very rich. So very focused on God. So very focused on how it is that we should walk as He did -- accepting hardships as the pathway to peace, taking this world as it is not as we would have it, trusting that He will make all things right IF we surrender to His will... and with the ultimate goal in sight not being happiness here on earth but SUPREME happiness with Him in the life to come! I must ponder this... Lord, grant me this grace...

...think on these things...

celebrate the Sabbath... with rest

Life and blessing will attend

the man who observes the Sabbath.

The Sabbath of rest

is a continual lesson to him

to turn his eye from all created objects,

and look to that heavenly rest

into which God is entered,

and which is promised to man.

~James Milner

created for God...

Thou hast created us for Thyself,

and our heart is not quiet

until it rests in Thee.

~Saint Augustine

living in the now...

Neither go back in fear and misgiving to the past,

nor in anxiety and forecasting to the future,

but lie quiet under His hand, having no will but His.

~ H. E. Manning

A fellow blogger had posted this quote on her blog today, and I thought I would also share it. (I hope you don't mind, Robin!) It seems to perfectly address where I, and I'm sure many others as well, am at emotionally and mentally the past couple of weeks.

So much of the time, we struggle with living in the here and now. Many times we think about what "was"--whether it was good or bad. Regrets for mistakes or poor choices. Sadness over loss. Wishing for circumstances to be as they were "back when." Or, on the other end of the pendulum swing, we focus on what is to come. Anxiety over the 'what ifs' and uncertainty of the future. Worrying about what may or may not happen. Waiting for some elusive day in the future when it will be the time for this or that.

I don't think it is only I...but I know I do have to battle to stay "in the now." To focus on the present...on each day while it is here. I believe that is what God has called us to do. He tells us not to worry about the future: "Therefore do not worry about tomorrow, for tomorrow will worry about itself. Each day has enough trouble of its own." (Matthew 6:24) He tells us to stay in the moment, to focus on today. He tells us to trust in His care (Matthew 6:29-32); He knows our needs and will provide.

Though you may have heard it said before, it is worth repeating: God does not call Himself "I WAS," nor does He call Himself "I WILL BE." God says His name is "I AM"...the God of now, of the present, forever. And that is where He calls us to live... in the now, where He is. May this be the prayer of our hearts today--that we would not look at the past or the future but rest ourselves quietly in the I AM...

...and as I promised yesterday, the answers to the curiosity questions:

• a - the sand 'stood up' like that because the morning was very cold on the MI beach, and there was ice around the little formations which had melted by the time we saw it!!
• b - oh my, yes! this little plant is as soft and fuzzy as a kitten's tummy fur!
• c - those are the 'skeletons' of a wonderful sea creature called a "By The Wind Sailor" which 'sails' on top of the ocean in groups... not common to see but beautiful (Google them if you get the chance! they're a marvelous blue color under their sails)
• d - the tree bark was wonderfully rough and scratchy mixed with smooth silky spots
• e - there was nothing up those hidden stairs...not any longer, anyway. they were part of an old home foundation.
• f - it was a jellyfish of sorts (no tentacles), and it was extremely firm and rubbery to the touch (heavy, too).
• g - that sea creature is an anemone out of the water. it holds bits of stones and shells to its body as a sort of camoflage. it is extremely squishy if you poke it! : )
• h - the thistle was prickly but also soft if brushed in the direction of the pokey bits.
• i - I don't know who set the chair up there in the first place, but I did take my turn sitting in it to gaze out to the ocean!
• j - we are not sure what these are! I asked a marine biologist friend of mine, and he believes them to be the eggs of some sort of mollusk or octopus. they're very, very small and amazing in color and shape! (look like Christmas lights to me!) if you know what they are, please, by all means, let me know!!
• k - I'm really not sure why sometimes we can see the moon so perfectly in the day time! I really need to research that... but I do find it fascinating!

celebrate the Sabbath...in song...

The Solid Rock

My hope is built on nothing less
Than Jesus’ blood and righteousness
I dare not trust the sweetest frame
But wholly lean on Jesus’ name

When darkness veils his lovely face
I rest on his unchanging grace
In every high and stormy gale
My anchor holds within the veil

On Christ the solid rock I stand
All other ground is sinking sand
All other ground is sinking sand

His oath, his covenant, his blood
Supports me in the whelming flood
When all around my soul gives way
He then is all my hope and stay

When he shall come with trumpet sound
Oh may I then in him be found
Dressed in his rightousness alone
Faultless to stand before the throne

* * * * * * *
The song was written in 1832 by Edward Mote,
and the tune in 1863 by William B. Badbury.

...written so long ago and yet, like God Himself,

because of His unchanging nature,

it still holds so true today.

in pursuit of peace...

A bit of true confession today... I'm not feeling very positive or peaceful this day. And so, rather than any of my own 'words of wisdom' or pointless random thoughts, I shall post from God's Word intead...for He is Wisdom itself. And Truth. And Peace. And when we look at our world from His perspective, it just seems so different...

(further away?

smaller, perhaps, in the greater scheme of things?

more orderly?)

"Rejoice in the Lord always. I will say it again: Rejoice!

Let your gentleness be evident to all.

The Lord is near.

Do not be anxious about anything, but in everything,

by prayer and petition, with thanksgiving,

present your requests to God.

And the peace of God,

which transcends all understanding,

will guard your hearts and your minds in Christ Jesus.

Finally, brothers, whatever is true, whatever is noble,

whatever is right, whatever is pure,

whatever is lovely, whatever is admirable

—if anything is excellent or praiseworthy—

think about such things.

Whatever you have learned or received

or heard from me, or seen in me

—put it into practice.

And the God of peace will be with you."

~ Philippians 4:4-9

What must I do in this pursuit of peace?

• Rejoice! in all things, rejoice!
• Be gentle.
• Know and remember that God is near!
• Do not be anxious.
• Pray! Talk to God about everything.
• Think on the things which are true, noble, right, pure, lovely, admirable, excellent, and praiseworthy.
• Put all these things into practice!

And, in return, the peace of God--peace beyond my limited capacity for understanding!--will be with me. This is my task for today.