Friday Foto Friends: December Already!

Well, and just like that, here it is December already!

I know some of us are still scratching our heads and wondering how that happened so quickly?

I know for some it may have seemed like a really long year, and for others...well, perhaps we'd just wish for a little more time.  But I have found that no matter how much time I have, there just never seems to be enough time to do all the things I wish I could do. 

So, anyway, as we turn the pages of our calendars over to December, this is the first one I see:

And I am awestruck by this painting by John Sloane on his Country Seasons calendar. Do you see what the caption says?  "Waiting for the Shepherd".  John Sloane's paintings don't usually have any kind of religious theme, and perhaps I am reading more into this one than was intended. But this speaks volumes to me. It is significant that,  especially at Christmas, the sheep are waiting and watching for the "Shepherd" to appear, outside of a church...Now many folks see the Pastor of the church as a shepherd for his flock of parishioners, and that would be an accurate description.  But in this case, I believe the sheep are waiting for the TRUE Shepherd, Jesus Christ, to appear.  

This is just one passage in the Bible about Jesus, the "Good Shepherd",  There are many others, but we'll stick with this one for now:

John 10:11-18 NKJV

11 “I am the good shepherd. The good shepherd gives His life for the sheep. 

12 But a hireling, he who is not the shepherd, one who does not own the sheep, sees the wolf coming and leaves the sheep and flees; and the wolf catches the sheep and scatters them. 

13 The hireling flees because he is a hireling and does not care about the sheep. 

14 I am the good shepherd; and I know My sheep, and am known by My own. 

15 As the Father knows Me, even so I know the Father; and I lay down My life for the sheep. 

16 And other sheep I have which are not of this fold; them also I must bring, and they will hear My voice; and there will be one flock and one shepherd.

17 “Therefore My Father loves Me, because I lay down My life that I may take it again. 18 No one takes it from Me, but I lay it down of Myself. I have power to lay it down, and I have power to take it again. This command I have received from My Father.”

Yes, as we await the Shepherd this Christmas, we are watching for the true Shepherd, Jesus Christ, Who came to save us all from sin and death and all of the enemies of our soul.  May we truly be waiting and watching for our Shepherd to appear this Christmas....

So moving along...I really haven't taken any real photos this week. I haven't been anywhere but here at home and, oh, I went back to the Doctor the other morning since I was still battling a cough and then the sinuses were getting worse instead of better. Again, of course, they have to give you a Covid test before they will let you inside the door of the Dr.'s office...you have to wait outside in your car and they will come and test you and then you have to wait until it's clear and then you can come inside. Thankfully my test was negative again, but the nurse said it was positive for the flu. And so the Dr. gave me a round of antibiotics, said I have a sinus infection, told me to keep taking the mucinex stuff, and come back in a week if I'm not better.  And so little by little I am getting better. I do intend to go into Dixie Cottage this morning and try again. Hopefully I can make it today.

I'm drinking a big cup of hot tea now. This time of year I like to use my Thomas Kinkade mugs, especially the one with the church on it. I guess I am just partial to churches, especially at Christmas time...

Oh, and little by little different scenes are popping out around the house. Still waiting for the weekend to put up our tree, etc., but I had this stuff packed away inside the house so out it came...

Back to the calendars:

This lovely teapot has a painting of Venus and Cupid! Really? For Christmas? Well, anyway...

I do like what this quote says:

And then we move on to the Thomas Kinkade calendar, which has chosen verses that sum up what Christmas is really all about very nicely, with his painting of the Holiday at Central Park:

Amen! Jesus, that Babe in the Manger is not only the Good Shepherd, but He is our Wonderful Counsellor, The Mighty God, The Everlasting Father, and the Prince of Peace!!

Yes, He is the Good Shepherd that we should be waiting and watching for every day...because He is coming again...and it may be sooner than we think!

Oh, before I go, if you were reading my last post HERE the other day, you will have noticed a picture of my husband's cousin who passed away last weekend, and also a picture of his lovely wife Joy.  Well, if you ever follow along and read any of the comments from other blogging readers, you might have read a string of conversation between me and one of our blogging friends, Debby, from her blog, "From My House".  Debby, who lives way out in northern California, thought that our cousin's wife Joy looked like someone she'd known many years ago in Texas, whose name was also Joy.  I wrote back and told her that this Joy used to live in Texas many years ago, before she married our cousin. I told her Joy's previous name, and it turns out she is the same person that Debby knew and actually worked with so many years ago! It's a small world out here in blogland!! Well, Debby doesn't know this yet, but I did send Joy a message and told her about Debby recognizing her from so many years ago, and Joy said that she also remembers Debby, and that she was, and I quote: "such a sweet smart lady and a great business woman. That is amazing! What a coincidence! I read her blog that you sent."  And so there you see, you just never know who you will discover or rediscover here in blogland! This was so cool. I live in Florida, Debby lives in CA., and Joy now lives in Georgia, but used to live in Texas and then moved to Mississippi when she married our cousin, and then they retired to GA.  I'd say it's definitely "A Small World After All!"  

Okay, I think that's all I have to say today. Thank you for your kind words of condolence on the passing of our cousin "Sonny".  We do plan to go up to GA. in January for the Celebration of his life.  Our kids Benton and Rose also plan to go with us, which means someone will have to mind the store for a few days, but that is already being worked out, so we are very thankful for that. God works everything together for our good when we put our trust in Him...

Have a blessed and wonderful December/Advent weekend.

Remember to keep watching and waiting for our Good Shepherd to appear!

Beside the Still Waters

This was the scene on Still Waters Pond early this morning, when it was about 36 degrees here in Florida. The steam was rising off of the water, and the geese were swimming to the shore where the water was probably a little bit warmer.

The photos don't do it justice, but the steam on the water was magical and mystical.

The sun was rising in the eastern sky, and there was frost on the ground around us.

What a beautiful way to start our SONday morning!

Psalm 23

The Lord is my shepherd;

I shall not want.

2 He makes me to lie down in green pastures;

He leads me beside the still waters.

3 He restores my soul;

He leads me in the paths of righteousness

For His name’s sake.

4 Yea, though I walk through the valley of the shadow of death,

I will fear no evil;

For You are with me;

Your rod and Your staff, they comfort me.

5 You prepare a table before me in the presence of my enemies;

You anoint my head with oil;

My cup runs over.

6 Surely goodness and mercy shall follow me

All the days of my life;

And I will dwell in the house of the Lord

Forever.

And then to go to church and find out that the pastor was preaching from the 23rd Psalm in addition to John 10:11-21, "The Good Shepherd"

In addition, our choir was singing one of my favorite hymns..."How Great Thou Art".  You may want to sing along: (If you click on the video above, the song is in the very beginning)

How Great Thou Art

O LORD my God! When I in awesome wonder

Consider all the works Thy hand hath made;

I see the stars, I hear the mighty thunder,

Thy power throughout the universe displayed.

Then sings my soul, my Saviour God, to Thee,

How great Thou art! How great Thou art!

Then sings my soul, my Saviour God, to Thee,

How great Thou art! How great Thou art! 

When through the woods and forest glades I wander

And hear the birds sing sweetly in the trees;

When I look down from lofty mountain grandeur,

And hear the brook, and feel the gentle breeze: 

Then sings my soul, my Saviour God, to Thee,

How great Thou art! How great Thou art!

Then sings my soul, my Saviour God, to Thee,

How great Thou art! How great Thou art! 

And when I think that God, His Son not sparing,

Sent Him to die - I scarce can take it in:

That on the Cross, my burden gladly bearing,

He bled and died to take away my sin: 

Then sings my soul, my Saviour God, to Thee,

How great Thou art! How great Thou art!

Then sings my soul, my Saviour God, to Thee,

How great Thou art! How great Thou art! 

When Christ shall come with shout of acclamation

And take me home - what joy shall fill my heart!

Then shall I bow in humble adoration,

And there proclaim, my God how great Thou art!

Then sings my soul, my Saviour God, to Thee,

How great Thou art! How great Thou art!

Then sings my soul, my Saviour God, to Thee,

How great Thou art! How great Thou art! 

What a perfect way to start the day. By the time you are reading this it will be afternoon or evening at least, since I am not writing this until afternoon.  But I trust that you are having a peaceful and comforting day today.  If not, perhaps a little visit "Beside the Still Waters" might be in order for you. You don't need a physical pond or lake or stream to draw close to the Lord...especially for those of you who are in our colder climates...your ponds and lakes may be frozen over by now.  Perhaps you can find a quiet place in your home or beside a window that looks out upon a pretty view...or take a walk along a serene path through the woods or a park...wherever you can go to draw close to the Lord and just spend some time alone with Him, try to do it as often as you can. Turn off the TV, the cell phones and computers, and spend time alone with God and away from the "world" every opportunity you can. 

Especially this week, when things are likely to get difficult at best, it might be a good idea to plan ahead to spend some special times away from social media and alone with the Good Shepherd.  Maybe take your Bible or a hymnal and sing some favorite hymns of praise to the Lord. Maybe we each need to set aside some specific time early this week, to pray for our nation and our government, and pray for a "peaceful transition", regardless of whatever side of the political aisle we may be on. More than ever we need to draw close to the Lord and spend time alone with Him to help us through these turbulent times.

"Surely goodness and mercy shall follow me

All the days of my life;

And I will dwell in the house of the Lord

Forever."

Amen.