Friday Foto Friends: Spring Time and Thirsting for God - A Time for Renewal

What a week!  I think we are all still reeling over the passing of Billy Graham...those of us who grew up during the 50's-60's remember all of the crusades on TV throughout those years, and they would televise them every night...and everyone watched.  Only Jesus knows how many people truly gave their hearts to Him during those years of Billy Graham's ministry.  I can only imagine the excitement in heaven this week...would have loved to have been there.

This week has been rather low-key otherwise...mostly catching up from last week's busy time...birthday party for hubby, etc.  I've been resting, reading, and praying.  It seems like our prayer list for friends and loved ones keeps growing. So many going through difficult times these days. Keeps us on our knees.

But I've been enjoying the beauty of the beginnings of springtime here, so I thought I would share a few special moments and views with you for Friday Foto Friends:

This was the view on the pond early this morning when I went to check on our Sand Hill Crane mother in waiting...  she is over there, but you can't see her in this picture.

See that white lump in the middle? That is her...

This was taken this evening (Thursday)...no, she hasn't had her baby yet...and she faithfully sits day after day...I will definitely let you know when the blessed event occurs.

This tree is covered with Carolina Jessamine...it looks so pretty in the morning sunlight

 A closer look at the flowers.

Azaleas and camellias are blooming in the Secret Garden...I planted the azaleas last year and they are just starting to really bloom...

 Also the ferns that were killed by the frost/freeze are starting to come back in the Secret Garden.

This is the Memorial Garden, where I also planted some azaleas last year:

And this picture is especially for my friend Deb at Breathing in Grace, our hostess for Friday Foto Friends.  I know that Deb is particularly fond of owls, and a friend of mine gave me another little owl mug (front and center) this past week, so I decided to have a little tea time with the owlies one afternoon.  Debbie, I was definitely thinking about you when I did this. Wish you weren't so far away...wouldn't we have had fun? Thank you for being our hostess here each week.

And speaking of tea parties, earlier this month I found this lovely little February tea cup and saucer at our local flea market.  I bought it to give to a friend for her birthday, which is later  this month. However, we won't be getting together to celebrate her birthday until March 2nd, so I thought I should at least christen this cup with a little tea party while it is still February....I know she wouldn't mind my using it....and perhaps she and I will have a tea party when she does receive this gift....(I hope she isn't reading this...she'll know what she's getting for her birthday! )

So I set up this little tea time on the front porch this afternoon, however, the sun was really too bright to get very good pictures. It was also a little too hot to sit out there and drink hot tea!

So I moved the tea party to the Secret Garden, which is in the back yard, and much shadier.    I took a big risk in carrying this tray laden with china tea cups and tea pot and hot tea all around and through the house and yard...opening doors with one hand and holding the tray in the other...it's a miracle nothing was broken...and my friend's birthday gift is still intact!

By the way, the little book I was reading is entitled "Gifts from my Front Porch", "Inspirational Thoughts, Insights, & Reflections" ...no particular author, published by Popular Publishing Co.  I mention this little book because my friend who is having the birthday next week gave this little book to me for Christmas a few years ago.  I wonder if she will be reading this post...I hope not until after her birthday...I wouldn't want to spoil her surprise gift (the tea cup). Shhhh, don't tell her, okay?

After all of that activity...I should just go sit in my rocking chair and relax...

Someone needs to move those pansies first...

On second thought, I think I'll just go back inside where it is cool and write this post while it is fresh on my mind...it was 86 degrees on that porch!! And it isn't even officially spring yet!!!

A Psalm for this beautiful  (albeit, warm) day:

Psalm 63: 1-5

1.  "O God, You are my God;

Early will I seek You;

My soul thirsts for You; 

My flesh longs for You

in a dry and thirsty land where there is no water.

2.  So I have looked for You in the sanctuary,

To see Your power and Your glory.

3.  Because Your lovingkindness is better than life,

My lips shall praise You.

4.  Thus I will bless You while I live;

I will lift up my hands in Your name.

5.  My soul shall be satisfied as with marrow and fatness,

and my mouth shall praise You with joyful lips."

I hope you will have a blessed and glorious day and time of seeking and thirsting for God each day. 

What a joyous way to find renewal for our souls!

Now let's all run over to Deb's place at Breathing in Grace and check out what our other Friday Foto Friends are talking about!

Examine Yourself

Some notes I took from Sunday's sermon:

The 40 Days of Lent-does not include Sundays because they are days of celebrating the Resurrection of Christ.

II Corinthians 13:5~ 

"Examine yourselves as to whether you are in the faith. Test yourselves. Do you not know yourselves, that Jesus Christ is in you?...unless indeed you are disqualified."

Examine yourself...what is in your heart?
Jesus did not open soup kitchens or feed the homeless, but He fed the multitude...He denied Himself and sacrificed of Himself...He fasted and prayed...and we should also spend time in "self-examination".
"Jesus isn't concerned about what we are giving up...but what is going on in our hearts"...
"Lent is a call from God to look at what is important in your life...and what are you going to do about it?"
Reflect on the suffering of Jesus in light of our own personal sinfulness...give up our sinful attitudes...
Lent is an attitude of honesty, humility, before God.

Matthew 15:8 

"These people draw near to Me with their mouth, 

and honor Me with their lips,

but their heart is far from Me."

What is your heart saying to you today?

Will you stand firm on what Jesus has taught you?

Can you get excited about Jesus?

(Sermon notes from First United Methodist Church, Interlachen, FL, Pastor A.C. Myers, 2/18/2018)

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I started writing this post early this morning before I heard the news about Rev. Billy Graham's passing into heaven today.  My first thought was what a celebration must be going on in heaven today...I told my husband that I wished I could have been there to witness the excitement when Billy Graham entered heaven's gates! And do you know what my hubby told me?  He said that there will be just as much excitement in heaven on the day that I enter those gates as well...I told him I didn't think so.  Not me...my life is no comparison to Billy Graham's life. I haven't led thousands and thousands of people to Jesus over more than seventy years of faithful service to the Lord...

but the Bible says in Psalm 116:15

"Precious in the sight of the Lord is the death of His saints"...

We are all precious in His sight...

and when we repented of our sins and accepted Jesus as our Savior, the Bible says there was much rejoicing in heaven...

"I say to you that likewise there will be more joy in heaven over one sinner who repents than over ninety-nine just persons who need no repentance."

Luke 15:7

Can you imagine how many people are in heaven today because of the faithful witness of one man, Billy Graham?  Imagine how much rejoicing there has been in heaven throughout the years when those thousands of people repented of their sins and believed in Jesus Christ as their Savior!  So, I guess the celebration has been going on for years and years and years...and it isn't over yet.  Because of his faithful witness, that message continues on through the lives of many people who are still sharing the Gospel with others...it will go on for generation after generation. 

"Likewise, I say to you, there is joy in the presence of the angels of God over one sinner who repents..."  Luke 15:10

Back to the original thought of this post:

Examine Yourself...

II Corinthians 13:5~ 

"Examine yourselves as to whether you are in the faith. Test yourselves. Do you not know yourselves, that Jesus Christ is in you?...unless indeed you are disqualified."

Be sure you are in the faith...have you truly repented and accepted God's free gift of salvation through faith in His Son Jesus Christ?

II Corinthians 6:2

"For He says:

In an acceptable time I have heard you,

and in the day of salvation I have helped you."  

"Behold, Now is the accepted time; behold, now is the day of salvation."

None of us knows how long we may have on this earth. Billy Graham had almost 100 years and he lived the majority of those years serving God and winning lost souls to Christ. 

We need to examine ourselves while there is yet time and be sure of our own salvation...it's not too late to cause a little rejoicing in heaven...

https://billygraham.org/video/billy-graham/

LEGACY - Updated

This was originally posted just before our last election,  11/4/2012. Although some of the issues are vastly different in this current 2016 election, the underlying foundation is still the same.  We still need to vote based on biblical principles...what do the candidates actually represent...what is their agenda...what do they stand for?  Do they stand for biblical principles...the sanctity of life, our freedoms of religion, speech, right to protect ourselves...or do they represent ideals that will continue to erode away at our priceless freedoms and godly principles?  What kind of legacy will we be leaving for our children and grandchildren if our nation continues on its current path?  Please PRAY about these things and let God guide you as you cast your ballot.  There is so much at stake here, people.

Here is my original post from 2012.  Billy Graham is still a highly respected and revered man of God. His legacy is the kind I want to leave for my family.
Nov. 4, 2012 :

I was so pleased and proud to see this advertisement in our local newspaper today, the "Ocala-Star Banner". Praise God for Billy Graham remaining true to his life-long beliefs. Billy Graham is THE most respected evangelist our nation has ever known. Thank you, Rev. Billy Graham, for standing up for Biblical Values. Regardless of what people may think because of the constant barage of secular-humanistic teaching of our public schools and current governmental trends, it is Biblical Values that has made our nation strong for the first two centuries of its existence. If we turn our backs on our Judeo-Christian heritage, we will suffer the consequences of our own folly. But "If My people, who are called by My name, will humble themselves, and pray and seek MY face, and turn from their wicked ways, then I (GOD) will hear from heaven, and will forgive their sin and heal their land." II Chronicles 7:14. I have refrained from making too many statements during this election season, primarily because I felt that too many statements were being made already and mine would be lost in the shuffle or ridiculed by many (even some "friends"). But seeing this statement today in our newspaper has encouraged me and given me the courage to speak up. I was admonished by a person indirectly when I made the statement that we need to all pray for our nation. That person was offended by that, thinking that I was suggesting that people in America should be forced to pray. No, no one can force another to pray against their will. All I can say is if you really care about your country, if you really care about your family, if you really care about your freedom...even your freedom to pray or not to pray, then you need to most definitely PRAY for this country and this election. We take our freedoms for granted...but we dare not toy with something so precious. We do not realize what a thin line exists between the free America we know and love and a nation that is no longer the "home of the brave and the land of the free." If you haven't already done so, please take the time to PRAY FIRST, AND THEN VOTE ACCORDING TO THE CONVICTIONS GOD PLACES ON YOUR HEART. I hope and pray you will consider this message by Billy Graham when you make your choice. Thank you for giving me the opportunity to express my opinion. I've listened to many of you over the past months, and have respected your right to express yourself without belittling you. I trust that you will grant me the same respect. "God bless America...Land that I love!"