The Secret Garden Chronicles-Thankful Thursday

Today is Thursday...and I am thankful for so many things...

1.  This may seem trivial, but I am thankful that the only flowers that appear to have been hurt by last night's freeze were my lovely wisteria blossoms:

This is how they looked yesterday afternoon:

And here is how they look today...so sad

I hope the new buds will still have a chance to bloom...but if this is all that was damaged, I will not complain.  We are very thankful for the sunshine this afternoon and hopefully warmer temperatures tonight...and praying for all of our northern friends who are still shoveling out of a big blizzard. Praying they have power restored and that they are safe and warm.

That is much more important than my wisteria blossoms!

2.  I had a good report at the doctor this week...all my labs look good and I am very thankful for good health and renewed strength.  Praise God!

3.  Thankful for answers to prayer for several others who have had serious health issues...and progress is now being made in the right direction.

4.  I am thankful that I got our taxes done this week...and we are getting an unexpected wonderful refund!!! Praising the Lord for that bonus we never knew was coming!!!  Much needed and appreciated!!

I am also thankful to see these little bear footprints that apparently walked across our yard last night. There was no picture on our night camera, but at least we know they are still "out there!"

(Pardon the BIG FOOT on the left...just trying to give you a comparison of size...)

These are rather small bear prints, so that means there may be a young bear cub out here....Gotta watch out for mama bear, if that is the case!

These are the most recent bear pictures on our night camera, and that was over a week ago, so I 

don't know if this is the same bear as last night's foot prints or not.  He does look kind of small, but not really a cub.

Now, back to more pertinent thoughts:

One of my goals for this season of Lent was to reach out more to our neighbors.  We have lived in this neighborhood for five years, and because I was working for most of those years I really didn't get around to get acquainted with many of my neighbors.  We actually don't have very many neighbors because this is primarily a vacation/snowbird community, and many of the homes near us are just that...seasonal/vacation homes...and many of the owners have not been back to "vacation" very often at all.  And then our neighbors directly behind us moved back up north last year due to health reasons, and only recently has that home been sold and a new neighbor moved in.  I have been praying about a way to welcome him to our neighborhood and include others nearby as well.   So next week we are having a neighborhood cookout here before some of the snowbirds on the street head back home for the summer.  I am praying it will be a time of blessing for all who participate...and especially praying for our new neighbor, as he seems very lonely and was most appreciative of the invitation. We asked him if he attended church anywhere, and he replied, "No, I like to go fishing...and that's my church."  So, my prayer is that somehow we will be able to find a way to encourage him in his spiritual walk as well.  

This little "prayer-chorus" came to mind as I was thinking about this: (Click on the video for the music and other verses that I didn't have printed)

"Let the beauty of Jesus be seen in me,

All His wonderful passion and purity;

O Thou Spirit divine,

All my nature refine

Till the beauty of Jesus be seen in me."

Then that led me to the following scriptures:

Colossians 1:27

"Christ in you,

the hope of glory."

Galatians 2:20

"I have been crucified with Christ,

it is no longer I who live,

but Christ lives in me; 

and the life I now live in the flesh 

I live by faith in the Son of God,

Who loved me and gave Himself for me."

Galatians 6:7

"Do not be deceived,

God is not mocked;

for whatever a man sows, 

that he will also reap."

Galatians 6:8

"For he who sows to his flesh will of the flesh reap corruption,

but he who sows to the Spirit will of the Spirit reap 

everlasting life."

Galatians 6:9

"And let us not grow weary while doing good,

for in due season we shall reap if we do not lose heart."

Lord Jesus, I pray that Your beauty will be seen in me...and that anything I do will be a reflection of You.  Help me to stay focused on YOU and You alone, that You may be glorified in all that I say and do, both here, and in our neighborhood and community. And help us not to lose heart as we seek to do Your will in reaching out to others. This I pray in Jesus' Name, Amen.

A Benediction of Grace:

"Brethren, the grace of our Lord Jesus Christ

be with your spirit.

Amen."

Galatians 6:18