Wednesday Treasures All Around Us

It was a lovely morning, so we took a ride down to the Kenwood Recreational Park, a lovely park and boat ramp into the Rodman Resevoir and Lake Ocklawaha area. We try to go there several times throughout the year, to see it in different seasons and to just enjoy the beauty.  Today was no exception! Here are some pictures that I took...and I have coupled them with Psalm 1 for today's Scripture reading. I hope you will enjoy the beauty of both the pictures and the Word together...

Psalm 1

1 Blessed is the man

Who walks not in the counsel of the ungodly,

Nor stands in the path of sinners,

Nor sits in the seat of the scornful;

2 But his delight is in the law of the Lord,

And in His law he meditates day and night.

3 He shall be like a tree

Planted by the rivers of water,

That brings forth its fruit in its season,

Whose leaf also shall not wither;

And whatever he does shall prosper.

4 The ungodly are not so,

But are like the chaff which the wind drives away.

5 Therefore the ungodly shall not stand in the judgment,

Nor sinners in the congregation of the righteous.

6 For the Lord knows the way of the righteous,

But the way of the ungodly shall perish.

A fitting ending to this passage...

Don't be like the ungodly...instead be like the man (or woman!) 

whose "delight is in the law of the Lord,

And in His law he meditates day and night."

Sometimes it is good to get back to the basics, isn't it? In this world we are easily led astray by all the flashy things being offered on the internet or TV or in stores and places all around us.  But soon enough we discover that those things do not bring lasting peace or happiness. They might fill a void for a little while, but there is only one way to fill the empty places in our hearts and lives...

Jesus said in Matthew 11:28-29

  

"28 Come to Me, all you who labor and are heavy laden, 

and I will give you rest. 

29 Take My yoke upon you and learn from Me, 

for I am gentle and lowly in heart, 

and you will find rest for your souls."

He also said in Matthew 6:19-21 the following:

19 “Do not lay up for yourselves treasures on earth, 

where moth and rust destroy and where thieves break in and steal; 

20 but lay up for yourselves treasures in heaven, 

where neither moth nor rust destroys and where thieves do not break in and steal. 

21 For where your treasure is, there your heart will be also."

Today was a good day to be reminded of these words, and to spend some time alone with the Lord, enjoying His beautiful creation all around us.  Now that fall is on the way and the temperatures are hopefully going to begin to cool down a little bit at a time, it is a good time to get back outside and take advantage of all the beauty that He has provided for us to enjoy.  I'm so thankful we were able to take this little walk today. It was a soothing balm for my soul.

How about you? What wonders or beauties have you noticed in God's creation around you lately? I hope you will share them on your blog if you can, or tell us about them here. Let's focus on what is lovely and wholesome, and try to stay away from the negative influences around us. That's what I want to do...who will join me?

Thank you for your kind comments on my previous posts. It's always so good to hear from you and also to read your posts to see what's going on in your lives! You are all a part of my special "Wednesday Treasures" (and beyond). Have a lovely week.

Friday Foto Friends-The Week That Was

Our week started off with a clang, clang, clump....clankety clank clank ugh.....dead... This car below was being driven by our younger son when it just decided to die along the road. Thankfully not far from home...but it gave out a big sad sigh and just died...So we began the week making decisions...to repair or not to repair...to replace or not to replace. It is an old car that has been driven a LOT of miles by each member of the family at one time or another...and has stood well the test of time and speed and hard places...but perhaps now is the time to retire it and send it to the happy junk yard down the road...  

Then we began to look for a reasonable, affordable replacement...something cheap and yet still roadworthy...our son has been between jobs and just started a new one and money isn't readily available...so our options aren't that great for replacement vehicles.  After checking out a few duds and possible scams online, this old car started looking pretty good again...if the repairs can be done for less  than the cost of a "new" old car with who knows what could go wrong down the road...so finally we made the decision to have the car towed to a local garage for examination and possible repair if the price is right.  We should find out the prognosis soon...so stay tuned.  

Therefore, what started the week out as a frustration and lesson in patience actually has turned out to be a blessing in disguise in some ways.  In order for our son to get to work each day, we have had to get up and take him!  Fortunately, the place where he is currently working, assisting on a full house renovation, is not too far from our home, and gives us the opportunity to see some new scenery each morning.  Thus, I was able to capture a few good pictures to share with you for Friday Foto Friends Day! So here goes:

The house they are renovating happens to be sitting on the shore of one of our lovely forest lakes...rather secluded out in the woods...except for the happy people who happen to have lakefront lots overlooking this pristine little lake...so here are a few morning reflections...

I wanted to stand and salute and sing the Star Spangled Banner and Pledge my allegiance to the flag...

These Sand Hill Cranes seem to think they own the road out there...or maybe they are standing for the National Anthem too... (see the flag?) (oops, one seems to be taking a knee...bad bird!!)

Okay, the Anthem is over...now let's get a move on... (play ball!)  

Next day, Same crowd...They just don't learn... 

I think this old guy just wants to go fishing...or maybe he's had a few too many drinks...not too sure...but he's part of the local neighborhood there...

Now, on another morning I got up extra early, noticing the sun rising through the morning mist and fog...so I headed over to our local neighborhood pond to catch a few pictures... 

(internet photo)

One of my Facebook friends had put this picture and saying on my Facebook page on this same morning, and I must say it inspired me to get up and go take that early morning walk! Thank you, Joyce! (You know who you are!)

I'd say it was well worth the walk, wouldn't you?

And it was a "blessing for the whole day."

So those are the pictures from "the week that was"...

 Here is one of the scripture readings from our morning devotions this past week:

Psalm 1

1.  "Blessed is the man who walks not

in the counsel of the ungodly,

nor stands in the path of sinners,

nor sits in the seat of the scornful;

2.  But his delight is in the law of the Lord,

and in His law he meditates day and night.

3.  He shall be like a tree 

planted by the rivers of water,

that brings forth its fruit in its season,

Whose leaf also shall not wither;

And whatever he does shall prosper.

4.  The ungodly are not so,

but are like the chaff which the wind drives away.

5.  Therefore the ungodly shall not stand in the judgment,

nor sinners in the congregation of the righteous.

6.  For the Lord knows the way of the righteous,

But the way of the ungodly shall perish."

 I pray that your weekend will be filled with the joy of the Lord...and that whatever you do shall prosper!


Now, let's head on over to visit Deb at Breathing in Grace and see what our other Friday Foto Friends have been doing this week!!