What Do You See Outside YOUR Open Window Today?

What Do You See Outside YOUR Open Window Today?
Remember: "When God closes a door, He always opens a window!" You never know what might be out there waiting for you!

Wednesday, March 25, 2020

The Quiet Place.... Another of "Toni's Creative Adventures" UPDATED

This post was originally written on 1/18/2018, and is another of our dear friend Toni Taddeo's "Toni's Creative Adventures".  As I shared another of these creative adventures with you here last week, I did so in loving memory of our friend Toni, who very sadly passed away a few months ago after a fierce battle with breast cancer.  I wish that I had participated in more of her creative adventure memes because they always were fun and entertaining as well as mind challenging.  Those that I have participated with I will share with you a little at a time over the next few weeks.  Perhaps it will stir up some creative ideas in your own mind. I am certain that Toni would be pleased and honored if anyone wanted to use these same prompts to create your own stories and share them here in memory of Toni as well.

So, without further ado, here is what I wrote on January 18, 2018:



Here is my "Creative Adventure" based on Toni's meme for this past week:


The Quiet Place

1.  While looking for a quiet place to rest my tired body after a bad day at work I stumbled on a: path through the woods that I had never noticed before in my usual wanderings.  The sunlight was shining through the trees, filtering through the branches, beckoning me to follow the light...like a shimmering, glistening angel, smiling down and reaching deep into my weary soul..."Come, follow me..."


And so I did...and as I followed that glorious light into the depths of the woods,


my path diverted and began a descent down through the trees...and there suddenly appeared a body of water...and it seemed as though the woods whispered to me...


I was stunned!  How could this lovely place have been there all along and I'd never known it?


As I stumbled further down the path I gasped at what was there before me...


   2.  It was the most beautiful place that I ever could have imagined!



So peaceful, serene, calm...exactly what I needed...


3.  I turned and spotted what, to me, was the perfect place to just sit and marvel at the works of God...



And as I sat there along the shore of this quiet, peaceful little lake, I felt the cares of the world just slipping off of my shoulders and gliding down into the water, washed away and carried off into the depths of the "sea"....It was as if I could hear Jesus, as He walked along the shore of Galilee...that place where He called His disciples to Him, saying, "Follow Me, and I will make you fishers of men..." (Mark 1:17)...and where He healed so many of their diseases and afflictions...(Mark 3:10)...
I know I heard Him say, "Come to Me, all you who labor and are heavy laden, and I will give you rest..." (Matthew 11:28)

4.  After a long quiet while I knew I had to get up and head back home...and as I began my ascent back up the little hill through the woods to the dirt road that led back to the pathway home I discovered something I had failed to notice ever before.  There was a little sign saying "Lake Galilee Shore Road"...



I turned and looked back down the slope toward the water and wondered..."Could it be?"


I declare I could hear Him calling to me..."Daughter, your faith has made you well.  Go in peace..." (Mark 5:34)

What do you think?

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Although the story may be a bit altered by creative license, the pictures are of a real place along the shores of Lake Galilee...not in Israel, but right here in Florida, not very far away...

"Go in peace..."

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Back to the present (3/25/2020), I would like to give you a little history on the pictures above of "Lake Galilee Shores"...Yes, that is a real place, located not far from where we are currently living.  When I took these pictures a couple of years ago, we had just begun our search for a potential location for our new home. We had decided that we truly wanted to relocate to this area, and we also knew that we wanted to look for property that was on the water in one way or another.  We came across this piece of property, and it was for sale. We fell in love with it immediately, and thought seriously about purchasing the lot with the intention of eventually building our home there.  However, it just wasn't in God's timing. The more we checked into the reality of building on that property, the more we knew it would quickly get beyond our ability to afford it, and so reluctantly we had to give it up.  But it was a struggle. I loved the idea of living on the "shores of Lake Galilee".  I could envision writing a book of devotions with that theme, and I thought for sure it was where God was leading us.  But God had another plan.  It would take another 18 months before His plan was revealed and brought to fruition, and now we sit here on the shores of "Still Waters Pond".



And even though it isn't on the shores of Lake Galilee, Jesus is still calling us to "Follow Me, and I will make you fishers of men..."

So my little creative adventure really did come true after all!  I love it when God's plans come together, don't you?

I hope you enjoyed this brief interlude from your "captivity at home" with this little creative adventure and also "the rest of the story", as our old friend Paul Harvey used to say.  

Have a blessed day my friends, and stay healthy and safe! And "Go in Peace"....

20 comments:

  1. Pamela, what a beautiful creative adventure you made of the meme. Thank you so much for participating. I'm not dropping the website and will in time add more adventures. But right now I need a break. You can always go back to past adventures :) Have a day of blessings my friend.

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    1. Oh, I am so happy to hear that you won't drop the website totally. I do hope to go back and try my hand at some of the past adventures in the near future. Part of my One Word "Renewal" of my brain cells for the new year!! Thank you, Toni.

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  2. I enjoyed your story. I've not participated in Tony's meme either, mainly because I'm not a writer. I am sorry to hear she is discontinuing because it's a great meme for those who have participated.

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    1. She may come back with it later...she says just taking a break. I am going to try a few to challenge myself into more creative thinking and writing. Trying to keep those brain cells healthy! LOL.

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  3. Now this is what I am talking about! Great ideas here, inspiration, lovely photos and a lovely woman telling us her feelings. I love this!
    I just got done ranting about this on my blog tonight lol.
    Yes, Toni has given us a great way to use our imaginations and share with others.
    I truly enjoyed this!

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    1. You have inspired me to try this by your own creative adventures. I haven't paid enough attention to them in the past, and I apologize. Lately I haven't been very attentive to anything...and today I dumped a cup of water on my computer keyboard...which made me very unhappy. I also dumped the water on my little box of all my flash drives, which contain all my writings and pictures. With the help of my son we rescued them...he put them in dry rice to soak up the water, and it seems to have worked. They are fine...but we had to buy a new "spill proof" keyboard. I will be more careful in the future, I promise.

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  4. That is just beautiful---pictures and writing. I hope she will continue for those that want to participate. xo Diana

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    1. I think we are starting a revival. LOL. Thank you for stopping by!!

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  5. What you did with the prompts and photos is amazing, Pamela! So restful, peaceful, and full of God's glory in creation.
    Blessings!

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  6. What a wonderful creative adventure you created, Pam. Thank you so much for sharing it with us. I felt as if I was right there beside you. xx

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  7. You did an amazing creative job with the prompts Pamela! I simply love how you wove truth into your story! And how amazing that there is a Lake Galilee not far from you. Such a beautifully serene and quiet place, I could almost hear the birds singing, frogs croaking, and the trees waving quietly on the sidelines. Beautiful read today! Blessings and hugs to you dear friend!

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  8. Oh, Pam, this is simply beautiful! As I read your words, I thought about a Robert Frost poem, "The Road Not Taken". Your free write on the prompt is simply amazing. God's creation is so amazing, relaxing, and healing.

    Blessings!

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  9. It's been a few weeks since I've visited. I was having computer issues for awhile, and pictures weren't loading. It was frustrating, so I just stepped back from blogs for awhile. But things have gotten straightened out, and here I am again.

    Your blog is still a place of quiet, peaceful beauty. Your photos are stunning. And your faith-filled stories are inspiring.

    Blessings,
    Patti

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    1. Thank you, Patti. It is good to hear from you. I was wondering what happened to you as I hadn't seen a new post from you in a while. Glad you are back and that things are good! I am so glad you could visit here with me today! Blessings to you and your family.

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  10. "Lake Gallilee" -- I think I saw it on the map during our many trips last year between Jacksonville and Ocala.

    Love the very first picture the most with the sun streaming in through the trees. What a great shot!

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    1. Yes, you probably did pass the road and the lake if you were on route 20 headed west toward Hawthorne. It is on the west side of Interlachen. That first picture was taken actually in Salt Springs, on our road near our house there. I have that picture framed and hanging in my bathroom. I have named it "The Angel of the Woods", because when I first took that picture and posted it on Facebook many years ago, everyone who looked at it remarked that they could see an angel in the light. I often felt while we lived there and endured several bad storms/hurricanes, that God had sent His angel of the woods to protect our home from serious harm. It was very comforting to feel like I had actually seen this angel shining in our woods. What a joy and privilege! :)

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  11. I love it, Pam. God calls us wherever we are. I haven't visited here in quite some time, but see you on Facebook and love your photos and your thoughts so much. You are an inspiration.

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    1. I miss seeing you here, Nonnie, but I do see the good and positive things you are posting on Facebook, and I pray for you and feel like God is working in your life, comforting and keeping you in His tender care. Thank you for stopping by today. I am glad that this was an inspiring post for you. Blessings to you...and stay safe from this current 'crisis' we are all enduring.

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  12. Beautiful story indeed, Pamela, I have found in my life that God's timing is perfect, your beautiful Still Waters Pond sounds like a great devotional title to me.
    Your photos are all so beautiful, thank you for sharing, thank you for visiting me and for your sweet comment.
    Blessings,
    Sue

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Thank you for visiting here today. I would love for you to sign my guestbook and let me know you stopped by. I always enjoy reading your comments and words of encouragement! May you be blessed as you go on your way. Please come back and visit again soon.