Today is Sunday, August 4, 2024. Here in the state of Florida we are anticipating a tropical storm and/or Hurricane "Debby" to arrive later today. Where we live we will most likely get a good bit of rain, but I don't think this storm is expected to have very high winds. There is always the threat of tornadoes, however, so we must be on guard and prepared for anything. We are as ready as we can be.
I am thankful for this beautiful gift from God, sent to us the other evening after a quick rainstorm...this beautiful rainbow...to remind us of God's promise to us that He would never again destroy all flesh on the earth with a flood. Yes, there may be floods in various places, and some people here in Florida along the coast may experience some storm surge and high waters that bring floods to their neighborhoods and perhaps even their own homes. I hope and pray not, but it is a real possibility. But God has promised us that He will not destroy all flesh with floods ever again.
Genesis 9:13-17 New King James Version
13 I set My rainbow in the cloud, and it shall be for the sign of the covenant between Me and the earth. 14 It shall be, when I bring a cloud over the earth, that the rainbow shall be seen in the cloud; 15 and I will remember My covenant which is between Me and you and every living creature of all flesh; the waters shall never again become a flood to destroy all flesh. 16 The rainbow shall be in the cloud, and I will look on it to remember the everlasting covenant between God and every living creature of all flesh that is on the earth.” 17 And God said to Noah, “This is the sign of the covenant which I have established between Me and all flesh that is on the earth.”
We are so very thankful for God's promises to us, and for this beautiful reminder that He is with us through all of the storms of our lives.
The other morning we took a walk in our usual walking place, and this lovely Red Spotted Purple butterfly came flitting all around me. Yes, I know it looks blue to me too, certainly not purple, but that's its name none the less. It was so lovely, and as it flew from plant to plant, I asked it sweetly if it would please be still for a few moments so I could take some pictures.
And apparently he heard me and did exactly that! I thanked him, and I also thanked God, who is the Creator of all creatures big and small, and He sent this little beauty to me to bless me at that moment.
We know that butterflies are creatures who have gone through an amazing transformation before they become these beautifully colored butterflies that we enjoy watching. God's Word tells us that we too will all be changed one day as well..."in a moment, in the twinkling of an eye..."
1 Corinthians 15:51-55 New King James Version
51 Behold, I tell you a mystery: We shall not all sleep, but we shall all be changed— 52 in a moment, in the twinkling of an eye, at the last trumpet. For the trumpet will sound, and the dead will be raised incorruptible, and we shall be changed. 53 For this corruptible must put on incorruption, and this mortal must put on immortality. 54 So when this corruptible has put on incorruption, and this mortal has put on immortality, then shall be brought to pass the saying that is written: “Death is swallowed up in victory.”
55 “O Death, where is your sting?
O Hades, where is your victory?”
Did you know that a butterfly, once it reaches this state of the life cycle, will most likely only live about 2-4 weeks? Some may live longer, but seriously, they don't have a very long life span once they reach maturity. So they must live life to the fullest while they can...
And so must we as humans! None of us knows how long our life span may be. Some may reach the ripe old age of living into their 90's or even a few may reach 100. However the majority of us may find it a stretch to make it past our 80's. Sadly, there are many who never make it very far into adulthood before they are called home to heaven.
What we do with this life we've been given is for us to decide...but perhaps God has other plans for us that He is calling us to do, if we will just listen and heed His call.
Our choir sang a song about this a few months ago..."Jesus Calls Us"
(recording was actually from March, 2024, hence the long sleeves!)
Jesus calls us o’er the tumult of our life’s wild, restless sea;
Day by day His sweet voice soundeth, Saying, “Christian, follow Me.”
Jesus calls us from the worship of the vain world’s golden store
From each idol that would keep us, Saying “Christian, love Me more.”
In our joys and in our sorrows, days of toil and hours of ease,
Still He calls, in cares and pleasures, “Christian, love Me more than these.”
Jesus calls us by Thy mercies, Savior, may we hear Thy call
Give our hearts to Thine obedience, serve and love Thee best of all.
Today, being a Sunday, might be a good day to ask ourselves if we are listening for God's call and then if we are giving our "hearts to Thine obedience," and "serve(ing) and lov(ing) Thee best of all."
I actually am at home this morning instead of being at church, so perhaps this message is my little sermonette to take the place of being in church. I am not feeling well in my tummy and it would not be wise for me to be in a public meeting house under these conditions. Enough said. But still, I am here listening for God's voice as He calls me o'er the tumult of our life's wild, restless sea. I still want to follow Christ and love Him more than all of these things in the world. And I want to be ready when He calls me to come home to heaven. That could be at any moment..."in a twinkling of an eye". I believe I am ready. I hope all of my friends/family are ready as well.
Meanwhile, a little silly photo from this week that I posted on Facebook. I found these toadstools out in the yard, all kind of lined up together in a group. I asked if this is how the toads play leapfrog? Hopping from toadstool to toadstool? Perhaps they do...I mean, what else are toadstools for anyway? One of my friends said she used to think that the fairies lived under the toadstools. I asked her back, "You mean they don't???" LOL.
Nah, the fairies don't live under the toadstools...they live right here inside, and they are having a tea party right now:
And with that little bit of frivolity I will close this post. I do pray that you and yours are safe from whatever kind of storms may be coming your way. May you know that God is with you in all of life's trials and storms, and He will never leave us or forsake us. But He does want to have fellowship and communion with us on a daily basis. That's the key to living in peace no matter what storms befall us.
May God be with you and yours.
