Wednesday Treasures...Little Things

 This morning my thought was that I would blog about something called "it's the little things...",  and it was prompted by this:

We had stopped by our community grocery store on our way home from our morning walk.  Just wanted to pick up a few things like some fresh produce and milk.  Not everyone likes our community grocery store...they say it's too expensive or that too often things just aren't that "fresh".  True, their prices can be more than what I might pay at a store in the city 15 miles away or at Walmart, but when I don't want to travel 15 miles to buy groceries it is worth it to me to shop local. And I know what to look for and what actually is sometimes a better price than what I can get in town...and then there's the fact that today, Wednesday, is also Senior Discount Day...and if you are "old enough", you get a 5% discount on all your groceries...which is a nice perk.  And then recently they started doing this...

Free bag of popcorn, one per customer!

It was just the right amount to make me smile all the way home as I munched on it and felt like I was a kid at the movies or somewhere else fun!  It's the "little things" that make me smile.

After our last post about rainy days, etc., I was saying how much we needed rain, and another nice little surprise was a thunderstorm this evening...

These were the clouds just prior to the heavens opening up and pouring down on us with wild abandon!

I stepped out on the back porch to enjoy the sights and sounds of the rain pounding on the metal roof...

Still Waters Pond was singing in the rain...I am quite sure I heard it saying "Thank You, Lord, for this wonderful storm!"

However, just about this time I saw lightning and then heard the thunder pretty close after, so I jumped back inside just in time!

The only thing I don't like about this storm was that it was much too short, but we will be thankful for what we got and pray that the drought is broken and perhaps now we will get back into our normal summer afternoon rainstorm pattern.

I was hoping to see those Black Bellied Whistling Ducks come back with the rain, but so far no sign of them. I still haven't heard them whistle. I do hope they will come back so I can listen for them. 

We did see this what I think must be a young Great Blue Heron...why? because it just seems so much smaller than what we usually have, but anyway, it flew in for a while looking for food yesterday.  The pond is getting so dry that it had to land further out to get where there was more water and fish. Hopefully today's rain will help bring the pond back up to a better level.

This Red Shouldered Hawk continues his watchful vigil for any available prey out there on Still Waters Pond or in the surrounding trees.  He still makes his presence known when any human steps out and invades his territory.  

Hello!!! I see you looking at me!

However, I do have some sad news to report.  Lately we have noticed that our Sand Hill Crane family seems to be missing one of the colts.  At first I thought and hoped that maybe it was just slow about keeping up with the family and would soon show up in the yard with them, but it's been a few days now and they are definitely just a family of three...

This is the one remaining Colt, either George or Abe, I don't know which.

Normally the family sticks together for about 10 months, and the colts don't usually start flying until they are 3 months old, which won't be until later this month.

One of the parents.

Mother and Colt...I'll say it is Abe. It makes me really sad. The only thing we can figure is that the colt may have been hit by a car, as they often are seen crossing the roads rather slowly, and sadly they blend in too much with the background and motorists often cannot see them until it is too late to stop.  Yes, it makes me sad, but I have to accept the fact that it is nature, and life can be pretty dangerous for our "wild kingdom" here amongst the human kingdom. They have passed the age of being so vulnerable to other "wild predators", at least here where we live.  So most likely it was a road accident.

Anyway, life goes on and the family continues their daily routine of foraging for food all around the neighborhood and then often settling in for the night out here on the little marsh island of the pond, where they feel safest.

Psalm 4:8 NKJV

8 "I will both lie down in peace, and sleep;

For You alone, O Lord, make me dwell in safety."

Here is something special...the song we sang Sunday Morning, 

Isaiah 6:8 KJV

8 Also I heard the voice of the Lord, saying, Whom shall I send, and who will go for us? 

Then said I, Here am I; send me.

(just a note, the song was recorded last week at our rehearsal. The song is at the very beginning of the video. The sermon is actually from 2023. The Pastor had been unable to record a new message last week due to illness, so that is why he says it is 2023 when he starts his message. Didn't want to confuse anyone!)

Here I am, Lord, Is it I, Lord?

Lyrics

I, the Lord of sea and sky,

I have heard my people cry.

All who dwell in dark and sin

My hand will save.

I, who made the stars of night,

I will make their darkness bright.

Who will bear my light to them?

Whom shall I send?

Here I am, Lord.

Is it I, Lord?

I have heard you calling in the night.

I will go, Lord,

if you lead me.

I will hold your people in my heart.

I, the Lord of snow and rain,

I have borne my people's pain.

I have wept for love of them.

They turn away.

I will break their hearts of stone,

Give them hearts for love alone.

I will speak my word to them.

Whom shall I send?

Here I am, Lord.

Is it I, Lord?

I have heard you calling in the night.

I will go, Lord,

if you lead me.

I will hold your people in my heart.

I, the Lord of wind and flame,

I will tend the poor and lame.

I will set a feast for them.

My hand will save.

Finest bread I will provide

Till their hearts be satisfied.

I will give my life to them.

Whom shall I send?

Here I am, Lord.

Is it I, Lord?

I have heard you calling in the night.

I will go, Lord,

if you lead me.

I will hold your people in my heart.

Source: LyricFind

Songwriters: Dan Schutte

Here I Am, Lord lyrics © Sony/ATV Music Publishing LLC

I don't know about you, but I cannot sing a song like this, and particularly this song, without almost breaking down in tears.  Throughout our years of serving the Lord in the ministry, there would often be a time when God would speak to me through such a song of commitment, and it often seemed as though it was not long before He would be giving us a new assignment or asking us to take a bigger step of faith.  Now we are retired, and we thought we were settled down for the duration...but once you have made a commitment to take up the cross of Christ and follow Him, anything can happen at any time. We just always need to be ready for whatever "orders" He may give.  Sometimes I've found it is just a test to see if we are serious about our calling...and once God sees that we are still willing to follow Him, He often says "thank you, but just be faithful right where you are."  The title of my blog, Closed Doors, Open Windows, was born out of just that kind of life's mission.  Sometimes God closes doors, and sometimes He opens another window of opportunity.  The main thing is to be ready, no matter what our age or station in life.  Until He calls us home to heaven, we are still His servants to do as He commands.

Here I am, Lord.

Is it I, Lord?

I have heard you calling in the night.

I will go, Lord,

if you lead me.

I will hold your people in my heart.

Just some food for thought tonight.  Perhaps God is calling you in the night as well...will you go, if He leads you?  

Good night my friends...keep your ears open and your heart ready for action.  

SONday Musings, Here I Am, Lord.

 Good SONday morning, Friends.  I hope you are having a blessed and beautiful day of worship and rest.  I am doing both.  Listening to the following song and message for today, as I am at home instead of at church.  I've been battling a sinus/allergy/laryngitis issue all week long.  It's been rather "quiet" here at home as a result.  But you know I chose the word "Listen" for my "One Word" for 2023, or rather I believe the Lord chose that word for me...either way, I believe it is a word that God wanted me to pay attention to at this time in my life.  Listen...

Here I Am, Lord

I, the Lord of sea and sky

I have heard my people cry

All who dwell in dark and sin

My hand will save

I have made the stars of night

I will make their darkness bright

Who will bear my light to them?

Whom shall I send?

Here I am, Lord

Is it I, Lord?

I have heard You calling in the night

I will go, Lord

If You lead me

I will hold Your people in my heart

I, the Lord of wind and flame

I will tend the poor and lame

I will set a feast for them

My hand will save

Finest bread I will provide

'Til their hearts be satisfied

I will give my life to them

Whom shall I send?

Here I am, Lord

Is it I, Lord?

I have heard You calling in the night

I will go, Lord

If You lead me

I will hold Your people in my heart

I will hold Your people in my heart

Source: LyricFind

Songwriters: Dan Schutte

Here I Am, Lord lyrics © Sony/ATV Music Publishing LLC

Isaiah 6:8 

8 Also I heard the voice of the Lord, saying:

“Whom shall I send,

And who will go for Us?”

Then I said, “Here am I! Send me.”

God also speaks these words back to us through His Word again in Isaiah 58...read on:

Isaiah 58:6-9

“Is this not the fast that I have chosen:

To loose the bonds of wickedness,

To undo the heavy burdens,

To let the oppressed go free,

And that you break every yoke?

7 Is it not to share your bread with the hungry,

And that you bring to your house the poor who are cast out;

When you see the naked, that you cover him,

And not hide yourself from your own flesh?

8 Then your light shall break forth like the morning,

Your healing shall spring forth speedily,

And your righteousness shall go before you;

The glory of the Lord shall be your rear guard.

9 Then you shall call, and the Lord will answer;

You shall cry, and He will say, ‘Here I am.’

As we listen to God's voice and obey His Word, He will reveal Himself to us and say, "Here I am..."

It's a two way street...we listen and call out to God, and He hears us and responds.  What a Mighty God we serve!  As we listen to Him, He listens to us...as we respond to His call, He responds to our call. 

If you continue listening to the video above, the pastor's sermon is from Matthew 11, entitled, "Don't Doubt in the Darkness What God Has Shown You in the Light".   It really seems to go along with this this same theme...as we listen to God's Word, we are to believe His Word and trust Him to do exactly as He has promised.  Don't doubt what His Word has revealed to you...walk in faith believing...answer His call on your life..."Here I am, Lord...send me."

I'm not entirely sure where all of this will lead me...I know in the past, when I've truly surrendered my will to God's will and humbly said, "Here I am, Lord...send me..." , we've ended up being sent to some pretty interesting places.  We are at an age now where I don't expect God will be "sending" us anywhere new or different...but then again, one never knows.  One thing I have learned in life, 'never say never'.  As long as we have breath in our bodies we have life and purpose, and God may have some new challenge for us to accept.  But today I can't imagine what it could be.  Right now I just want to feel better...I've got this shoulder/arm issue that I 'm dealing with as well as the sinus/laryngitis issue. These are minor things compared to what many others are going through, and I am thankful for that, but nonetheless they are issues that need to be healed before I can move on to the next part of this journey.  One day at a time...with God, All things are possible...

Okay, that's all for today folks. I don't have any new pictures to speak of. Well, maybe one or two.  Last night our "kids" came over for some homemade beef vegetable soup that I made yesterday. I've been craving it and finally, with the weather cold and windy again and me not feeling quite up to par, I sent hubby to the store to buy some stew beef so I could make the soup. I made such a big pot of it that we invited the kids over to share it with us. I meant to take some pictures of the soup, but forgot.  But I did take some pictures of our grandpuppies, "Sugar and Spice", as they were watching out the glass doors toward Still Waters Pond to see what they could see...

They were watching for squirrels, cats, birds and geese.  They may have seen some or all of the above, but thankfully they were safe inside and unable to go chasing after them.

And with this sweet picture I will say good bye for now. Going to drink another cup of hot tea and maybe take a nap before hubby gets home from church

"Here I am, Lord...

Is it I, Lord?

I have heard You calling in the night..."

What's Next?

Yesterday I was surprised to see this Sand Hill Crane standing all alone in our Still Waters Pond.

It is very unusual to see one alone. They are usually seen with their mate close by. This one kept looking back toward the shore, as if he was listening and watching for someone to join him.

But the longer he stood there, the more apparent it became that there was no one else coming.

Finally he started moving on across the pond, as if he was in a hurry to go somewhere.

As he reached the other end of the shore, he stopped and stood at attention, again listening and watching and waiting. I wondered if he was listening for a call from his mate, telling him where she was or that she was waiting for him on the other side. I didn't hear any sound...and if there had been any it would have been quite distinct....if you've ever heard their call, you would know what I mean. 

But he stood there listening intently, as if he could hear something that I could not. And then, suddenly (before I could get my camera focused of course), he flapped his mighty wings and lifted himself up and flew away in a hurry.

Today, being another Sunday that we cannot join together in person with our dear church family, my heart and mind is tuned in to worship.  I was thinking about this Sand Hill Crane standing there alone on the shore, waiting and listening for a call from his mate...and I thought about the church...and about myself personally.  It is as if we are all standing and waiting, listening for God's voice to give us directions for our next step.  We've been set apart for a little while, and we are getting anxious to get back into action together as The Body of Christ.

But before we can come back together, my heart tells me we need to be listening for God's voice in our own personal lives.  

We need to be seeking His direction, and preparing our hearts for the "what's next". 

I was reading in Isaiah 6, and the verse that stood out in particular for me this morning is

Isaiah 6:8

"Also I heard the voice of the Lord, saying:

"Whom shall I send,

and who will go for Us?"

Then I said, "Here am I! Send me." 

Also I was reading in the Gospel of John 20:19-23, when Jesus appeared to His disciples after His resurrection, and in verse 19 it tells us that "the doors were shut where the disciples were assembled, for fear of the Jews, and Jesus came and stood in the midst, and said to them, 

"Peace be with you."

And then in verse 21, Jesus said to them again:

"Peace to you! As the Father has sent Me, I also send you."

22. "And when He had said this, He breathed on them, and said to them, 

"Receive the Holy Spirit."

Jesus gave the disciples a command in Matthew 28:19-20 to:

"Go therefore, and make disciples of all the nations, baptizing them in the name of the Father and of the Son 

and of the Holy Spirit,

teaching them to observe all things that I have commanded you;

and lo, 

I am with you always, even to the end of the age." 

Amen.

We have this commission to go.  We've been resting and waiting and hopefully preparing our hearts for the "what's next".  God has work for us to do when we come back together. The way things are going in this world, we may not have much time left to keep sharing the Gospel freely.

  

This little song came to mind this morning as I was sitting here thinking about these things, and this is the prayer of my heart today.  What about you?  It may help us to figure out the "What's Next?" question as we ponder and pray and LISTEN for God's voice.  

Here I Am, Lord, Is It I, Lord?

Praying you have a blessed and beautiful SONday. Let us not forget Whose day this is.

It is the Lord's Day.

Amen.

Sermon Notes: Here I Am, Lord

Isaiah 6:8

"Also I heard the voice of the Lord, saying:

"Whom shall I send,

and who will go for Us?"

Then I said, "Here am I! Send me."

We sang the following song as a hymn today at church, and it was all I could do to get through the whole song without choking up and crying...

"Here I am Lord"

I, the Lord of sea and sky, I have heard My people cry. All who dwell in dark and sin, My hand will save. I who made the stars of night, I will make their darkness bright. Who will bear My light to them? Whom shall I send? Here I am Lord, Is it I Lord? I have heard You calling in the night. I will go Lord, if You lead me. I will hold Your people in my heart. I, the Lord of wind and flame, I will tend the poor and lame. I will set a feast for them, My hand will save Finest bread I will provide, Till their hearts be satisfied. I will give My life to them, Whom shall I send? Here I am Lord, Is it I Lord? I have heard You calling in the night. I will go Lord, if You lead me. I will hold Your people in my heart.

The disciples were crouched in fear in the upper room...waiting for whatever would come next...fearful that they would soon be the ones to be killed for their relationship with Christ...and then...

A sealed tomb could not hold Jesus in...a locked door could not keep Jesus out...Suddenly everything changed...Jesus appeared in the locked room after His crucifixion and resurrection...He said to them, "Peace be with you." (John 20:19)  Jesus Christ had conquered death...He conquered their fear...and He gave them a job to do...and He gave us, His followers a job to do as well...

John 20:21

"So Jesus said to them again,

"Peace to you!

As the Father has sent Me,

I also send you."

But we are not expected to follow Jesus alone...

John 20:22

"And when He had said this, 

He breathed on them, and said to them,

"Receive the Holy Spirit."

Jesus breathed the Holy Spirit onto the disciples that day...equipping them for service and for all of the things that were yet to come...and Jesus Christ has also breathed His Holy Spirit upon us, filling us with His very Presence...giving us all of the gifts and tools that we need to go forward into the world in His Name...He goes with us...we are not alone.

So, what's next, Lord?  I've been at this place before...many times...and whenever I (we...hubby and I are a team, but You know this already, Lord) heard You calling "in the night", I/we responded, "Here I am, Lord."  And You always took me/(us) at my word, and there was always "a plan"... so, again, here we are, Lord...You know we are retired, right? I have a feeling that is something that is an advantage for You, Lord...not a disadvantage...so...what's next, Lord? 

"Here I am Lord, Is it I Lord? I have heard You calling in the night. I will go Lord, if You lead me. I will hold Your people in my heart."

Stay tuned for further developments...

God always has a plan...

Sermon notes from FUMC Interlachen, April 22, 2018, Pastor A.C. Myers