After last night's post, I wasn't sure if I'd have anything new to share with you today...but it was such a beautiful day we decided to take a little ride this morning and get out and enjoy the fresh air and sunshine.
We rode up to one of our favorite places to visit, Lake Swan Camp. I've shared stories from there before, as we have a history with this place that goes way back to our children's first summer camp experience, and you can read about that and other visits again if you wish at the links down below the pictures at the end of this post.
As you can see, it was a glorious day...look at that lake...and that sky! Wow! Absolutely stunning and perfect! The temperature was about 65 degrees, with the sun shining and low humidity...the days we wish would last all spring and summer long!
These birds will dive down under the water and come up some where else. They also love to sit in the sun and spread out their wings to dry in the sunshine.
Oh, lookie what I found!
Who remembers this poem?
The Swing
How do you like to go up in a swing,
Up in the air so blue?
Oh, I do think it the pleasantest thing
Ever a child can do!
Up in the air and over the wall,
Till I can see so wide,
Rivers and trees and cattle and all
Over the countryside—
Till I look down on the garden green,
Down on the roof so brown—
Up in the air I go flying again,
Up in the air and down!
Source: A Child's Garden of Verses
It was a little low to the ground and tended to go cockeyed, but other than that, it was perfect!
Doesn't take much to make me happy! LOL.
This also makes me happy:
Now that's what I call a beautiful sight!
Next we walked over to the fire pit/devotional area...a place where I'm sure testimonies are shared around the campfire...Oh, how I'd love to be there when that's happening...I can just sense the Presence of the Lord in this place...
Such a beautiful, prayerful setting...
I kind of wandered off into the woods by myself while hubby went to check out the "facilities"...
Found this lovely clearing with some more benches...and I can just imagine sitting there to pray and meditate on God's Word...just me and God in His woods...I really could have stayed here all day and have been perfectly happy...
Oh, look at those beautiful azaleas blooming off in the distance, so of course I had to go check them out:
Oh my, aren't they gorgeous? Right out here blooming in the woods for the glory of God!
Really perfect!
Then I made my way back to the cross...really, life begins at the cross...and it ends at the cross...in a sense. While I was writing this post I was listening to our Easter Cantata so I can get more familiar with it. And one of the songs in the cantata is "It Is Finished"...an arrangement of the original song by Bill and Gloria Gaither. (Actually, that's the title of the whole cantata, come to think of it!) When I came back to this picture at the end of the post, that song was playing..."It is Finished..." and even though that may seem "coincidental", it really isn't.
As I said in the beginning, the cross is the place where lives have been changed, people have been saved...where God tells His children, "It is finished! The Battle is over! It is finished! There'll be no more war...It is finished, the end of the conflict;
It is finished and Jesus is Lord"
It Is Finished
The Gaither Vocal Band
"There's a line that is drawn through the ages
On that line stands an old rugged cross
On that cross, a battle is raging
Or the gain a man's soul or it's loss
On one side, march the forces of evil
All the demons, and all the devils of hell
On the other, the angels of glory
And they meet on Golgotha's hill
The earth shakes with the force of the conflict
And the sun refuses to shine
There hangs God's son, in the balance
And then through the darkness he cries:
"It is finished, the battle is over
It is finished, there'll be no more war
It is finished, the end of the conflict
It is finished and Jesus is Lord"
Yet in my heart, the battle was raging
Not all prisoners of war had come home
These were battlefields of my own making
I didn't know that the war had been won.
Then I heard the king of the ages
Had fought all the battles for me
And that victory was mine for the claiming
And now praise his name, I am free!
It is finished, the battle is over
It is finished, there'll be no more war
It is finished, the end of the conflict
It is finished and, Jesus is Lord"
Source: LyricFind
Songwriters: Gloria Gaither / William J. Gaither
It Is Finished lyrics © Capitol CMG Publishing
Final thought...Is it finished for you? Is the battle really over? Is Jesus your Lord? There's no time like the present to accept the free gift that Jesus is offering you...let Him fight your battles for you, and let Him be Lord, both now and forever. Amen.
Matthew 11:28-30
"28 Come unto me, all ye that labour and are heavy laden, and I will give you rest.
29 Take my yoke upon you, and learn of me; for I am meek and lowly in heart:
and ye shall find rest unto your souls.
30 For my yoke is easy, and my burden is light."
Oh, what a beautiful day, indeed!!! So happy you had such a great time! And thank you for sharing it with us!
ReplyDeleteLinda C
It looks like a lovely camp. There really is no place like church camp and I'm glad you had such a great visit there.
ReplyDeleteThat is one of my favorite Gaither songs. (I have a lot of them.) Ha! Have a great Saturday.
Blessings,
Betsy
It looks like a glorious day and a beautiful place. I especially love the first photo. It looks like a tropical island. Have a lovely weekend. xx
ReplyDeleteOur lives truly do begin and end at the foot of the cross. Thanks, Pamela, for sharing such beautiful photos of God's creation and that special place where you can actually feel His presence. Have a blessed weekend!
ReplyDeleteWhat a lovely place to spend a day! And so wonderful to see the cross displayed. I remember that verse by Robert Lewis Stevenson and that book - Child's Garden of Verses. I had it when I was a child - one of those Golden Books. Have a lovely weekend.
ReplyDeleteWhat a beautiful and contemplative camp!
ReplyDeleteOh Pamela, what beautiful photos of the Camp the lake and the Cross. I have so many memories of church camp too. Lives definitely have been changed there.
ReplyDeleteThank you for sharing the song with us. The Gaithers are my absolute favorite group and have a lot of the videos and albums. This song is one of my favorites. It gives me chills when I listen to it. What a testimony of the Work of the Cross.
Also thank you so much for your very kind words on my last post. Life is Bittersweet but I really am at peace with my decision. Friendships don't stop because I'm not over there every Friday and I'm still "2nd Mom to Karen" That will never change.
Sue
Beautiful place, Pam, and beautiful post! I'm still waiting on the Carolina Jessamine and the azaleas here!--- no sign yet. MANY years the azaleas were in full bloom on valentine's day, so this year they are late. Did yall get Matthew's hibiscus planted yet. It sure is pretty. Love this peaceful woods camp, our kids went too. Beautiful sunny 🌞 days here too, clear and about 80 yesterday, we sure got OUTSIDE. I like swings too, I grew up with one just like that In our big tree, many hours spent in that as a little girl, just a swinging away! 😊 I recited the Swing poem in first grade and my teacher was surprised I knew it, LOL. So that one is special to me and I was pleasantly surprised to see it here---- debbi at debbisfrontporch . Hugs!!! PS--- No fairy flowers here yet either
ReplyDeleteWhat a beautiful post, Pamela 🌿✨ I always love how you take us along on your walks and little trips—it feels like stepping into a peaceful retreat for a moment. That lake, the cross, the quietness of nature… so special. And those azaleas—what a gift to find such beauty tucked away in the woods! 🌸
ReplyDeleteYour words about It Is Finished really touched me. Such a powerful reminder of the victory already won. 🙏 Thank you for sharing these glimpses of faith and beauty—I truly enjoyed reading! 💛
Aritha xxx
these last two weeks have been so beautiful and its why I call this paradise.. from Nov-May is perfect, even to cold winter days are full of sunshine and beauty. the camp is beautiful and that is some wow of a fire pit.. love the palms and cross together . We have a cross in Desoto Monument Park, about 8 miles from us, but its closed due to hurricane damage or I would go tet a photo for you. glad you went out and enjoyed the perfect weather
ReplyDeletetotally forgot my favorite part, you in the swing and the big silly green on your hubbies face.. the swing is my only thing in a park that I will ride on, no slides or jungle gyms, I did at one time love the old merry go rounds. I have never seen a swing made from a log. I want one
ReplyDeleteI do remember that poem. Swinging on the swing was one of my favorite things to do in a park when I was a kid; maybe it still is.
ReplyDeleteThat camp is a lovely place.
I loved this post, Pam, and the photos of you in the swing are so fun!! That is such a beautiful place and your memories make it even more beautiful. Thanks for sharing!! xo
ReplyDeleteWhat a lovely day you had. The pictures are wonderful. I wish I was there swinging on the swing. Looks like fun.
ReplyDelete