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!

Sunday, June 28, 2020

Sunday Contemplations and Exaltations

Psalm 89:1
"I will sing of the mercies of the Lord forever;
With my mouth will I make known your faithfulness to all generations."

It is Sunday...the Lord's Day. A day set aside from the beginning of time for rest, worship, and praise to God, our Savior, Lord, and Coming King!

Since the onset of the Covid 19 (I strongly dislike that name/word/and all that it implies), we have not been able to gather together for Sunday worship.  I know many churches have had "drive-in services", and online/streamlined services. Our church has had online services...and as much as we appreciate all the effort put forth by our Pastor and other church leaders to make that happen each week, it still does not take the place of gathering together for worship and fellowship with our fellow believers and friends in Christ. 

The following verses are an encouragement and exhortation to believers to not neglect the gathering together , so that we can encourage and teach one another from God's Word how we should be living during these difficult times:

Hebrews 10:24-25 (NKJV)

24 And let us consider one another in order to stir up love and good works, 25 not forsaking the assembling of ourselves together, as is the manner of some, but exhorting one another, and so much the more as you see the Day approaching. 

Since we have not been able to assemble together at our church all these weeks and now months, several of us have gathered together for a Sunday morning "brunch" at our local restaurant (once it opened again for service), just so we could be together and spend some time enjoying the presence of our beloved friends and encourage one another that way.  But then this week the restaurant had to close again because an employee was showing some symptoms that could be "the virus", and so they were being tested and the restaurant shut down until further notice. Of course that leaves us all wondering if we were also exposed, but until that person receives the test results no one knows. And so today we did not gather together as usual.  Our church is scheduled to reopen next Sunday, but with the current uptick in virus cases here in our state recently, we are not sure if that is going to happen or not. And so we retreat back into our homes and await the verdict.

However, I am not going to just sit here idly waiting. No, I am going to bake blueberry bran muffins for breakfast.  They looked and smelled so good as they came out of the oven I just had to take their picture! Then I ate a couple while they were still warm.


Then I told hubby I was not going to sit around all day and do nothing. Since it was a perfectly beautiful morning for a kayak ride around Still Waters Pond, that is what I did. Here I am, ready to go!

As I paddled around the pond of course I paused to enjoy the scenery along the way. There weren't any birds to startle away this morning...I think they got scared off by this "Loch Ness Monster" that showed up in their pond this past week! LOL.

The cattails remind me of roasting a hot dog over a campfire. Hmmm, something I love to do, but when it is a bit cooler so we can have a fire.

The pond is so covered with lily pads it looks like you could walk right across the tops of them. They are pretty hard to paddle through too, as the stems go down to the bottom of the pond and they are quite thick under the surface. I am getting a good workout paddling through these things!

I love this little sanctuary from the rest of the world. But if you look through those trees, you can see the sign for a handy store across the highway that is just on the other side of those trees.  But, except for the constant noise of traffic, you'd never know it was there...However, I have learned to tune out that noise and enjoy the peace and solitude of my special refuge from the turmoil outside my little sanctuary.

See what I mean about lily pads so thick you could walk across them?
Don't think I'd try it, however.

The morning sun was a bit bright so the pictures are not quite as pretty as before, but you still get the idea.


There's one of those bees I've told you about!  That lily pad looks like "pac-man" coming to eat him  up!

I finally made it all the way around the pond and back home. I always try to bring back at least one lily as a souvenir of my trip. If you notice the long stem in my hand, that tells you how deep the water was where I picked this flower. I measured the stem and it was 4'3" long! So that is how deep the pond is in the place where I picked the lily. There may be deeper spots, but I haven't discovered them yet.

I know I look kind of goofy here. I had taken my hat off so I could pull my camera over my head and hand it to my hubby so he could take this picture. I didn't realize the hat strap was covering my face! LOL.  You should have seen me getting out of the kayak, if you really want to see something goofy! LOL.

As I was writing this just now I looked out my window and saw this Great Blue Heron land out there in the pond. I am glad to see him come back as I thought I had scared him away for good!

He must be eating pretty good because it sure looks like he's getting bigger!

To finish with a few more verses from our morning Psalm 89

Psalm 89:13-16

13.  "You have a mighty arm; Strong is Your hand, 
and high is Your right hand.
14.  Righteousness and justice are the foundation of Your throne;
Mercy and truth go before Your face.
15.  Blessed are the people who know the joyful sound!
They walk, O Lord, in the light of Your countenance.
16.  In Your name they rejoice all day long,
and in Your righteousness they are exalted."

I hope you have found a place to have peace and rest and a refuge from the noise and strife of the world around us. God truly knew what we would need when He created a day of rest for His children. 
Until next time, have a blessed day, my friends!!

26 comments:

  1. I enjoyed the verses you shared and the "ride" around Still Waters Pond. I hate to hear that the restaurant where you had met with friends is now closed. I do hope the employee will be negative for the virus. So many pretty lilies on your pond! And, I'm glad the blue heron is doing well. We've had a very hot week and I've been walking around 6 or 6:30 a.m. - it is such a peaceful time of day. I enjoy the beauty and solitude. I hope you have a pleasant evening.

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    1. Thank you, Mildred. Yes, we are praying the employee is not truly sick, and that no one else gets it either. That is more important than our weekly brunch. Praying we can start our church back next week, but that is still kind of up in the air. I am glad you are able to get out and walk early. I love to walk in the early morning also. We usually don't go until around 8:30 as we have to drive to the location where we walk and so we go after breakfast, etc. But it is still peaceful and cool that early. I hope you & hubby are doing well, and that his foot is healing. Take care and God bless you my friend.

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  2. I love the picture of you with your lily. I know what you mean about getting out and it not being too graceful. I am sure I look quite funny getting around on my paddle board which I use half the time as a canoe, but I enjoy being outside and finding the birds and the quiet too.
    We are supposed to start back to church in a limited capacity July 12 and then back full steam on August 9. We just found out a staff member is awaiting a test result for the dreaded Big C tomorrow. I am sure it will affect the rest of the staff as well and may push back things a week. I am so ready for this to just Go Away.

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    1. I wonder how a paddle board works...is that like a surf board? No sides? yikes! I'd be afraid a snake or something would get me if I couldn't keep my feet in the kayak. I guess I need to look that up and see what you mean. Probably wouldn't work in our pond with all these lilies. I hope you can start your church back on time. Praying we can too. We are really missing it, but so many elderly are probably not going to be able to come. Yes, I agree, I want this to just Go Away NOW!! (((hugs)))

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  3. Those lilies are so pretty and you do not look goofy!! I think it is so fun that you are paddling around your sweet pond and having such a good time! I'm not sure I could get into a kayak, let alone get out of it!! Sorry to hear your restaurant was closed and hope you and your group of friends can get back together soon!

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    1. Thank you, Terri, for not thinking I look goofy. You probably need your eyes examined, but I'll accept that compliment anyway! LOL. Just teasing you. This getting in and out of the kayak is really hilarious. We need to build some kind of platform with pull up bars or something. If John wasn't there to help me I could not get out of it. As it is, I still get kind of wet as water splashes in the kayak while I rock back and forth to get my footing, etc. So I have to take a shower after my ride to wash all the pond water off! LOL. But it is still fun. Pray that we can start our church back next Sunday. I am afraid this uptick in cases in FL. is going to put a stop to it. What about your church? Praying you can keep going strong!!

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  4. I didn't realize that the lillies had such long and heavy stems. I don't think I thought about that before. I am sorry to hear that your 'brunch' had to get canceled. We have had church for three Sundays. Next week we get to sing. (HOORAY) Our sanctuary will be set up for 3/4 capacity. We will get to have communion. Our church newsletter included a list of the six phases we will be going through.

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    1. I am happy your church has been able to be together these weeks. I am amazed that you will even get to sing! Wow, and 3/4 capacity. I may have to come join your church! LOL. It would be a long drive, however!Praying your people will stay healthy and that there will be no setbacks. Praying we will still be able to reopen this coming Sunday. It's starting to look doubtful as Florida is having such an "uptick" in cases. I am really sad about this. Praying too.

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  5. Your muffins look delicious, Pam, but I'm so sorry your brunch had to be cancelled. Praying that restaurant employee did not pass the virus on to any of you! With these recent spikes in cases, Danny and I are more reluctant than ever to get out of the Orlando Compound. Oh, how I pray this will be over soon!!!
    The lilies are so lovely, and you are lovely, too, in that photo showing you holding one. Never knew the roots were so long, but it makes sense.
    Blessings to you and John!

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    1. Yes, we are praying the employed does not really have "the virus" and that he/she will be ok. That is more important than our being able to join there for brunch. Yes, we are praying this will be over soon as well. We are all growing very weary of this virus and all that goes along with it. I know I am learning more about these lilies too. They are truly beautiful. They don't have much scent, but what little is there is sweet. The bees sure like them. Hope you are able to get out soon and see those precious girls. (((hugs)))

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  6. I love all those lily pads and flowers. My church is supposed to open next Sunday, but they are encouraging those who are currently in a small Home Church group to keep on gathering that way. It does help to be able to share with others.

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    1. We are still planning to open Sunday, even if only a few come. We need to start sometime. We also have a new Pastor starting Sunday, so we are excited to welcome him. I am glad you have a Home Church group to gather with. That is really special and very meaningful.

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  7. I love all the photos. I especially love all the lily pads on the water now that they are blossoming though I can imagine it is very difficult to paddle through all that growth! The heron that arrived is a very lovely capture also. Last but not least your delicious looking muffins made me want one. I don't have any berries on hand as I buy them frozen for baking and my small freezer is too full. Perhaps later this week I can buy some. Have a wonderful week.

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    1. Thank you! I often bake these muffins with small chunks of apple in them when I don't have blueberries. Just cut them really small and fine and they make a wonderful muffin too! I have also used canned peaches cut really small and/or pears. I just love muffins, and the bran is something my diet needs! I am not a cereal eater because I don't like milk, so this is one way to get the cereal in me! Thank you for visiting with me today!! You are always most welcome!

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  9. Sorry you guys aren't having church yet. Hope you will get to meet this coming Sunday. Love those lily pads and also the blue heron.

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    1. I think we are going to go ahead and meet even if it is only just a few. We need to start sometime!! And we will be practicing safe distancing, etc., so we should be fine. Thank you for visiting!!

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  10. Beautiful psalm!

    This looks like fun, but I'd be watching out for snakes & gators. 😳

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    1. Haven't seen or heard any gators in this pond. Praying we don't. Snakes may be there but I haven't seen or heard them either. I am staying away from their nesting areas. And trying very hard not to fall out of the kayak! LOL!!

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  11. Your pond is going to bring you such pleasure year round! I hope it's just a little cooler by the water too. It sure has been HOT these past few days. I'm glad I have lots to do inside. Your muffins look so good. I baked chocolate chip cookies for hubby and the workers today. Enjoy your afternoon! Hugs!

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    1. It is very pleasant out on the water. I try to go early in the morning before the sun is too hot. I spend the rest of the day inside. Oh, I am sure the men appreciated those good home baked cookies!! That was really nice!! Are they finished with the roof yet? I know you are anxious to have it done, especially before the next rain storm!!

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  12. You look like a real adventurer in your hat in the Kayak! Still Waters Pond is a real source of blessing and entertainment for you, as well as some fantastic "blog fodder"!!

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    1. Don't you just love how God puts these things together? Who would have thought a year ago that I would be sitting here beside "Still Waters Pond" and actually traversing it in my little water craft? God is SO good, He's so good to me! Amen!!!

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  13. I love your trips around the pond, so much beauty to enjoy. Thanks for sharing the pictures with us, kinda makes me feel like I'm there with you!!

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  14. Beautiful photos. It's so good to gather with God's people. We need each other; isolation is going to cause so much damage.

    Love and blessings!

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