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!

Tuesday, February 20, 2018

Apple Blossom Time...


Good Evening Friends...

These pictures of apple blossoms really don't have anything to do with whatever I may say tonight...but I've been watching them develop throughout the past several days, and it is such a delight to see them breaking open and blossoming so beautifully that I thought I would share them with you.  These are on a little apple tree that we planted a couple of years ago in memory of our son Matthew. (Click HERE For that story)  Now that I think about it and make the connection...Matthew's birthday is coming up in a few days, February 25th...and it appears that this little tree is blossoming in honor and memory of him just in time.  The other apple tree that we planted at the same time is getting ready to bloom as well...but this one is really showing off for the first time since we planted it.  I don't know if we will ever get any apples on these trees, but the blossoms are sure sweet!!


  What a blessing and gift to honor our son for his birthday! Thank You, Lord.

I do have something else on my mind tonight that I've had swirling around all day, and perhaps it is time to just let it out and unburden myself...

When I woke up this morning I was faced with several disturbing messages from different friends in various parts of the country. The first message was from someone who "unfriended" me on Facebook because we had a difference of opinion on a subject.  At first I was a bit angry and frustrated, but the more I thought about it I realized that there was more to this than met the eye. There was a deeper need and hurt there, and instead of overreacting, God led me to pray for this person.  Long story short, my instincts in this were correct...and God is working behind the scenes. The other messages were similar to each other in that they were from friends who have each been suffering from the loss of a spouse for several years, and dealing with the overwhelming process of managing a house and other issues alone is taking its toll on their minds, hearts, and spirit. Again, I am incapable of meeting their needs, but what I can do is pray, and hopefully encourage them to look to the ONE Who can help them.



This morning I had to examine my own heart and seek the Lord's face and wisdom...because I felt inadequate to respond in the way my friends were perhaps hoping or needing at the moment.  I am not prone to depression, and I will admit it is difficult for me to totally relate and understand those who are suffering so deeply. I do understand grief, having lost my son four years ago after his four year battle with cancer, and also after the deaths of both of my parents within five years of each other.  But I've not felt the pain of being so alone. I am blessed to still have my spouse of almost 49 years by my side. I cannot begin to imagine what it would be like to come home to an empty house and an empty bed.  That would be horrible and I don't know how I would react. I pray it will be a long, long time before that happens...and perhaps it never will...I could be the one who goes first. But that is God's business...

The verses that we read in our devotions this morning brought comfort to me in these moments of anxiety and concern for my friends...and I pray they will bring comfort to anyone out there in need of solace at this moment:

Psalm 34:4-7
4.  "I sought the Lord, and He heard me,
and delivered me from all my fears.
5.  They looked to Him and were radiant,
and their faces where not ashamed.
6.  This poor man cried out, and the Lord heard him,
and saved him out of all his troubles.
7.  The angel of the Lord encamps all around 
those who fear Him, and delivers them."


Isaiah 55:10-11
10.  "For as the rain comes down, 
and the snow from heaven,
and do not return there,
but water the earth,
and make it bring forth and bud,

that it may give seed to the sower and bread to the eater.
11.  So shall My word be that goes forth
from My mouth;
It shall not return to Me void,
but it shall accomplish what I please,
and it shall prosper in the thing for which 
I sent it."

After re-reading what I wrote at the beginning of this post, I decided that the apple blossoms do have everything to do with what I had to say to you tonight. I love how God puts these things together, don't you?  I also hope that this post won't be confusing or burdensome to anyone.  It was a kind of therapy for me to work through a lot of feelings that were troubling me today.

The final verses of Isaiah 55 seem to fit here:

"12.  For you shall go out with joy, 
and be led out with peace;
The mountains and the hills shall break forth 
into singing before you,
A wild Redbud Tree is blooming in the neighborhood
and all the trees of the field shall clap their hands.

And the Dogwood trees are starting to bloom as well...

13.  Instead of the thorn shall come up the cypress tree,
and instead of the brier shall come up the myrtle tree;
and it shall be to the Lord for a name,
for an everlasting sign that shall not be cut off."

Thank you, dear friends, for bearing with me in this post tonight. Thank you also for your prayers for those who are suffering from depression, anxieties and fears. I know there are many who are...perhaps even some of you. May the Lord bring comfort to you tonight and give you the peace that only He can give.
Amen.

10 comments:

  1. When I was a young Christian a long-time believer told me that when you bless someone it really works. It was eye-opening! When you say, "God bless you," He does. The words you say here are important, Pamela, and what you say to your friends on Facebook. It works.

    God bless you!

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  2. Dear Pamela,
    Your post is lovely! I love your apple blossoms. They are such beautiful little fragrant blooms on the limbs of a tree and they bring such peace and joy to look at them. The promise of springtime! I'm glad they are blooming for your son's birthday.
    Sometimes the needs and trials of our friends can be overwhelming and I know I feel so very inadequate to help. But I can pray and I do. I don't battle depression either but I do feel deeply for those who do. I'm sure your post will be encouraging for anyone who reads it. Thank you for sharing and the Lord bless you!

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  3. We will be celebrating 46 years of marriage next month and I am like you, Pam, I can't imagine coming home to an empty house and empty bed. May God bring comfort to these friends through His Word. I love those verses from Isaiah 55...it was one of the Memory Challenges over at Do Not Depart. Your pictures are beautiful! I think that the loveliest of all fruit tree bloom is the apple blossom! Redbud is my very favorite of all other tree bloom. How fitting that the apple tree should bloom for Matthew's birthday and how special that must make it for you. My mother-in-law had a Christmas cactus that had not bloomed for years upon years, but the first Christmas after she passed away it bloomed! God is good to comfort us like that. xx

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  4. Thank you Pamela, for these inspiring and encouraging verses. They lifted me up!
    God is so awesome in that way, of bringing things together just when they're needed!

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  5. People can be going through some terrible times.
    I lost a number of Blogger friends because of my views on politics, which I hate. They unfriended me on twitter and instagram. There is a lot of that going around lately and people are becoming more strident in their intolerance of others.
    Yes, praying for others is so important as is asking God to show us where we are also in the wrong.
    Lovely blossoms. My apple tree is light years from blooming right now but it does produce apples when it does. It has a fungus on the tree though and needs some help.
    Happy Wednesday Pamela!

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  6. How wonderful that Matthew's tree is blooming just in time for his birthday. Praise God!! As you know, the power of prayer working in our lives is awesome and amazing. Your friends who are hurting right now will surely feel God's love through your prayers. Pam, you don't need to apologize for sharing your feelings here with your blogging friends. Love you!!

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  7. Yes, Pamela, we may not know how to comfort those who are suffering or who have hurt us in some way, but we can always, always pray for them. We do know that God hears and answers.
    And your photos of the apple blossoms worked like a balm on my heart. Gorgeous!
    Blessings!

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  8. Dear Pamela, your post was both a blessing and inspiring. Never apologize for putting your thoughts and feelings here on your blog. Your words have made many of us feel better for it. On the subject of apple blossoms here in New York State we are know as apple country. Every blossom bears fruit in time. Thank you for sharing dear friend. You are a blessing to me.

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  9. Dear Friends: Rather than answer each of you individually, let me just say that I am in awe of this overwhelming, comforting, strengthening response from you. You have blessed me today with your words of affirmation and peace. I honestly almost decided to delete this post after writing it last night...mostly out of fear that it might upset someone. So thankful that I did not give in to fear, but that God honored my thoughts and feelings and turned it into a blessing for others. That was my prayer, and He heard and answered. Thank you, dear friends. YOu are the best...always!!! I am so blessed to be a part of this beautiful big family. Love all of you!!

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  10. Pam, I know I'm a bit late reading this, however, I truly appreciate what you shared here. The apple blossoms are so beautiful and the timing is significant too! I, too, have experienced the rejection of a friend in a rather sudden and perplexing way--at the time (and even now) I'm certain there was more going on than I could know. Thank you for sharing your heart here!

    Blessings!

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