Thursday Thankfulness

 Happy Thursday Thankfulness day!  I don't follow any meme or questionnaire for this...just sharing things that make me smile or that have especially blessed me this week...

I just saw this picture and the post beneath it on Facebook, and it really spoke to me, so I shared it there and of course I wanted to share it here with you, my very special friends in Blogland:

From the Circle of Women on Facebook: 

"You may not always see it, but your presence in this world has left ripples far beyond what you know.
Someone still smiles at a memory you created together, still feels comforted by the kindness you once showed, and still finds courage in the words you spoke.
Someone hums a song that reminds them of you, sees beauty in the world because you pointed it out, and carries your wisdom in their heart.
Someone stands a little taller because you believed in them, walks a little lighter because you were there, and dreams bigger because you told them they could.
You matter more than you realize .. "
( Writer’s Blossoms )
Art : Irene Marino

Here's what I wrote on Facebook after reading that above:

"Oh, I love this, and I hope it is true. I know it is true to me about some other strong and beautiful Christian women that I have known throughout the years. I am so thankful for those who were role models for me when I truly needed them as a young wife, mother, and a Pastor's Wife. Most have already gone on to glory and have by now received their heavenly reward. I hope to see them again someday and tell them how much their lives and witness meant to me."

I thought you would all appreciate these sentiments, as I am certain we each have had those special women in our lives who have been more to us than just a good friend or family member...they are the ones who went out of their way to encourage us when we needed it most,  to lift us up when we had fallen in despair and sorrow, to pick us up and dust us off and help us get back on our feet when we would rather have just given up.  Women who either wrote something beautiful, or sang a song with such depth of spirit and meaning, or spoke in a special women's conference or Bible Study or luncheon...anywhere that women have gathered to be ministered unto...someone who came when the baby just would not stop crying and you were exhausted for lack of sleep and early motherhood blues and not knowing how or what to do to help your baby feel better, a total stranger who came and brought you and your family food and words of encouragement and hope when your child was going through serious illness or surgery, someone who believed in you when everyone else was turning away or pointing their fingers or whispering behind your back because something had gone wrong in your family or life...The one who said, "Just you never mind what those busy bodies are saying...you hold your head up high and keep moving forward, one step at a time. With God, all things are possible."  

Yeah, those special women...or maybe even a parent or Pastor or husband...but primarily I am speaking of women today.  

I'm sure we all have them, and we should thank God for them. I certainly do. And so today I dedicate this post to all those dear women in my life who've been there when I needed them most. They may not even know who they are...they were just doing what they felt led to do at the moment, not knowing they were sent by God to rescue someone who was hurting so much she wished she could just die.  Yep..those women. They are the ones that are wearing a beautiful crown today in heaven. Some may still be here on earth, but the day will come when Jesus will say to them "come forward and receive your crown of righteousness.."

(Click Here for a description of the five heavenly crowns described in the Bible

I guess that picture/post really spoke to me today! I hope it also has blessed you in some way and has got you thinking about who those special people are in your life.  I'm not going to list them because then I'd have to tell a much longer story...but they are in my heart and God knows who they are as well. That's all that matters.

Now, to share a couple of other things I am thankful for today...The last few days I haven't really felt all that well. I have some chronic issues that tend to plague me and keep me from feeling 100% great all the time...mostly having to do with "gut" issues, if you get my drift.  And so the last couple of days were some of those days.  But today I have felt much much better, so good that we went out to lunch with our dear sweet kids, Benton and Rose, to a new restaurant in the city next to us. It is a Mexican Seafood place, and probably you would say why would I go there if I have gut issues? Good question. But their food is not spicy, and it is actually very very good and reasonably priced, (so we had heard, and wanted to try it), and were were not disappointed.

Here's the kids:

And here we are:

and here's the food: Mine: two burritos (one chicken and one beef), rice, and one beef taco:

Theirs:

Hubby's:

It was all very good, and yes, we would go back there again!

This was the sunrise this morning! I am thankful that we didn't have to go anywhere that early!

I posted this on Facebook this morning and said, "Oh Say, can you see, by the dawn's early light, what so proudly we hailed at the twilight's last gleaming?"   

Here's how it looked out over Still Waters Pond:

Psalm 57:9-11

9 "I will give thanks to thee, O Lord, among the peoples;

I will sing praises to thee among the nations.

10 For thy steadfast love is great to the heavens,

thy faithfulness to the clouds.

11 Be exalted, O God, above the heavens!

Let thy glory be over all the earth!"

Busy Days

I've been so busy I forgot to post a post today! Been getting ready for Christmas, shopping, practicing for our Christmas cantata...

I'll let you figure out which one is me.

My son is one of the narrators...he did a great job! These pictures were from our Dress Rehearsal Thursday night. Our performance will be Sunday morning at church.

Also been watching the birds in "Still Waters Pond", when I can sit still long enough to relax and enjoy them...

 This white egret has been coming back quite often to pat the water with her foot and stir up the minnows or whatever it is she is fishing around for...

 I think she got a leaf here...probably not what she wanted...unless it has some tasty bugs on it...

 And these two are still hanging around...looking quite proud of themselves...

 Maybe we need a caption contest for them...

And even though this is a bit blurry, it shows that there are two male Wood Ducks and two females...so they must be traveling together...

So, what do YOU do to relax in between all the Christmas activities that are going on?  I know that in the New Year I am going to be more intentional about spending more time with the Lord, hopefully outdoors as weather permits...I'd like to get back to writing like the "Secret Garden Chronicles" I used to do again.  This time it will be from a new perspective...I really haven't established the "secret garden" yet here in this new home...but there are plenty of places to sit and meditate on God's Word and spend time in prayer and pondering what the Lord is speaking to me at that moment.  

That's my goal for the New Year...I know I need to get back to that "place" in my walk with the Lord. This past year has been just too busy to concentrate for any length of time, and I miss that daily communion with the Lord. 

How about you? Perhaps you can also be looking for that special spot where you can spend time alone with the Lord and be more intentional about what His message is for you each day. Maybe we can encourage one another in our pursuit of being still before the Lord... and then perhaps we can each write about our experiences...just a thought.  I know that with all that is going on in our world and nation today, we need to spend more and more time in prayer and in reading God's Word and spending time with the Lord. We need to strengthen our armor  (Ephesians 6:10-18) as the battles are getting harder.

Be still, and know that I am God;

I will be exalted among the nations,

I will be exalted in the earth!"

Psalm 46:10

Ephesians 6:10-18 (NIV)

The Armor of God

10 "Finally, be strong in the Lord and in his mighty power. 11 Put on the full armor of God, so that you can take your stand against the devil’s schemes. 12 For our struggle is not against flesh and blood, but against the rulers, against the authorities, against the powers of this dark world and against the spiritual forces of evil in the heavenly realms. 13 Therefore put on the full armor of God, so that when the day of evil comes, you may be able to stand your ground, and after you have done everything, to stand. 14 Stand firm then, with the belt of truth buckled around your waist, with the breastplate of righteousness in place, 15 and with your feet fitted with the readiness that comes from the gospel of peace. 16 In addition to all this, take up the shield of faith, with which you can extinguish all the flaming arrows of the evil one. 17 Take the helmet of salvation and the sword of the Spirit, which is the word of God.

18 And pray in the Spirit on all occasions with all kinds of prayers and requests. With this in mind, be alert and always keep on praying for all the Lord’s people."

Yes, this is what I know I need.  I hope you will join with me in this pursuit of growing in Christ in the New Year.  Maybe we can remind each other to keep looking up!

In the meantime, enjoy your Christmas with your loved ones and family...and keep Christ is Christmas in every way that you can.  I may not have too much time to write over the next week, so just be safe and be blessed!

It's the Little Things that Bring a Smile

Oftentimes in the midst of winter we begin to look for the signs of spring...hoping that it won't be a long winter and that soon we will see the flowers blooming again and the trees budding and returning back to their lush green hue...but, alas! It is only the end of January...for those of you living up north, spring is still a ways off.  For us here in Florida...spring could still be a long way off as well...but probably not as long as for you.  Actually, today it was quite warm and sunny...but cooler temperatures will be back for the weekend...so I shouldn't put away my flannels just yet...

   For those of you who read my update on the Secret Garden the other day HERE, you saw that the freezing temperatures had pretty well killed off the lovely ferns of the Secret Garden.  So today I took advantage of the warmer weather to get outside and rake the dead leaves and debris and generally spruce up the area so that the new ferns will have room to grow...(I didn't take any picture of that)...it was hard work, but it felt good to be doing something productive.  After I finished raking I just took some time to walk around and enjoy the day...looking for those "little things that bring a smile."

Here's a few:

This bird bath is in a corner of the Secret Garden, right outside my bedroom window so I can often watch the birds bathing without them being disturbed by my presence.  It's a lovely little spot that brings a smile to my face every time I look out the window. 

Today something new was added to this spot...this delightful little lawn ornament made from vintage glass dishes.  There is a woman at the local flea market who makes these, and they make such nice gifts for friends....I gave a couple of them to dear friends for Christmas this year, and at the same time I purchased this little one, but never gave it away. I kept holding on to it thinking I would need it for a special gift for someone, and today I felt a little nudge from the Lord, Who seemed to be saying..."It's for you...for the Secret Garden...go get it and put it there and enjoy it, My daughter."  I don't know why I should feel guilty when God blesses me that way. Perhaps because it was originally intended to be a gift for someone else...but God wanted to bless me today...and I want to thank Him.

Thank You, Lord, for making me feel special. I am humbled and blessed.

Same thing with this camellia bush...when I bought it before Christmas I thought for sure it was meant to be given away as a gift...but when all the gifts were given, this one plant remained...and it just seemed to belong here...and so it is budding and blooming and making me smile...

Many more buds waiting to open!! 

Back inside the sun porch I couldn't help but notice these violets are blooming profusely!  They need to be repotted into larger pots...which is on my list to to as soon as I can get some potting soil...but in the meantime they just bloom away and bring joy to all...

Now, this might not make everyone smile, but we find it interesting...This pole in our front yard has long been the "scratching pole" for the neighborhood bears...apparently a place to mark their territory...and we noticed these new scratches this morning at the bottom of the pole. There was also a very large pile of bear scat nearby, but no picture for you. I know you are thankful....!

 So I checked our outdoor wildlife camera to see if we've had any recent visitors...and here is one of the 'big boys'...

I'm not sure if the scratching on the pole signifies the beginning of mating season or just what...but it seems to happen every year...so it must have some significance.

Now on a tamer note:

I spent some time just relaxing and reading this afternoon in the memorial garden.  The birds were flying to and fro from the bird feeders to the trees and back...and keeping a wary eye on me.  There were a lot of other birds besides these cardinals, like Tufted Titmouse, Chickadees and wrens and little sparrows or finches of some kind...but they were all too quick to get a picture.  Their singing was glorious, however.  Very enjoyable...made it difficult for me to concentrate on reading...but that's okay.

Psalm 57:7-11

7.  "My heart is steadfast, O God,

my heart is steadfast;

I will sing and give praise.

8.  Awake, my glory!

Awake, lute and harp!

I will awaken the dawn.

9.  I will praise You, O Lord,

among the peoples;

I will sing to You among the nations.

10.  For Your mercy reaches unto the heavens,

and Your truth unto the clouds.

11.  Be exalted, O God, above the heavens;

Let Your glory be above all the earth."

Amen.

Why not sing along with me on this psalm of praise?