Gaining Strength

 Maybe I need to do a little check up on what's been happening in the past few days. Not really anything all that much, but then again, maybe it is a lot.

One thing we do every day, weather permitting, is take a little ride to a wooded area where we can take a walk. Now that the days are getting longer, we are trying to go twice a day, morning and evening. It really helps us to feel refreshed after being cooped up so much in the house these days.  And the exercise is especially good for us.  (especially me after my surgery...it is helping me to rebuild my strength and I can really tell the difference when we don't get out and walk)

Most every morning I hear a particular bird calling as we take our walks. I look and look up in the trees but I can never see the bird...until this morning:

It is a "Rufus Sided Towhee"  , and if you want to hear him, Listen HERE.

Also, the past few days we have been passing by this Mimosa tree that is in  full bloom alongside the road. This evening I talked my hubby into pulling off the road so I could go take a picture of it. He's a good sport (most of the time) when I say, "Please pull over so I can take a picture!" 

 These trees are another kind of wild tree, some call them a "weed tree" as they can be invasive, but they are so pretty in the spring when they are blooming.  I'm not so fond of their long seed pods that come later, however.

I also talked him into doing something else we haven't done in quite a while...we pulled into the McDonald's Drive-thru (all that is open), and I got a chocolate milkshake with whipped cream on top! The girl on the order speaker asked if I wanted the whipped cream...and of course I said yes!!! If you are going to have a milkshake might as well go whole hog! It was so good. I may talk him into stopping again and get some fries and a burger to go with that milkshake next time!!! That is the only drive-thru we have here in our little town, so you gotta get what you can while you can! (And all that walking is working up an appetite! Gotta keep my strength up, right??)

I just discovered that my blogging friend Gayle over at "Ventures in Photos"  posted a wonderful scripture verse, photograph, and a praise song that I've never heard before in all my years in ministry in churches... and I've never noticed this particular verse in Psalms before either:

Psalm 18:29 

"For by You I can run against a troop, 

By my God I can leap over a wall."

I highly recommend you go over to "Ventures in Photos" and check this out. I think you will enjoy the song as well as her post.

I love the imagery of that little verse...and I think we are all at that point in this social distancing/isolation/pandemic that we are about ready to go and "leap over a wall."   I probably skipped over that verse before because the ones after it are the more "popular verses" of this particular Psalm. But this just proves that we shouldn't skip around in our reading...we might miss a real gem in the process!

Psalm 18:30-33

30. "As for God, His way is perfect;

The word of the Lord is proven;

He is a shield to all who trust in Him.

31.  For who is God, except the Lord?

And who is a rock, except our God?

32.  It is God who arms me with strength,

and makes my way perfect.

33.  He makes my feet like the feet of deer,

and sets me on my high places."

We had not one but two little deer run along the shore of the pond this morning.
Only managed to get one in the picture.

Maybe we need to be reminded that it IS GOD who arms us with strength...and He does give us the strength to run against our enemies and even leap over a wall that is in our path...but we need the Lord to guide us and we need to remember that He is that shield of protection when we put our trust in Him. Don't go leaping over walls and running against the troops without God giving us the strength and power to do so. Don't try to fight our enemies in our own strength...trust in the Lord! 

And then, He will deliver us from our enemies and lift us up above those who may rise up against us. (Psalm 18:48).

Back to the beginning of Psalm 18:1-3

"I will love You, O Lord, my strength.

The Lord is my rock and my fortress and my deliverer;

My God, my strength, in whom I will trust.

My shield and the horn of my salvation, 

my stronghold.

I will call upon the Lord, Who is worthy to be praised;

So shall I be saved from my enemies."

Amen!

A Magical Golden Evening

"The heavens declare the glory of God; and the firmament shows His handiwork. 

 Day unto day utters speech, and night unto night reveals knowledge.  

There is no speech nor language where their voice is not heard. 

Their line has gone out through all the earth, 

and their words to the end of the world.

In them He has set a tabernacle for the sun, 

which is like a bridegroom coming out of his chamber, 

and rejoices like a strong man to run its race.  

Its rising is from one end of heaven, 

and its circuit to the other end; 

and there is nothing hidden from its heat."  

Psalm 19:1-6

There is something magical in this golden sky.

Mystical, mysterious, glorious, marvelous.

My sensors are tuned in to a sweet melody

heard among the swaying trees, whispering secrets in my ears.

"For You will light my lamp;

The Lord my God will enlighten my darkness.

For by You I can run against a troop,

By my God I can leap over a wall.

As for God, His way is perfect;

The word of the Lord is proven;

He is a shield to all who trust in Him.

For who is God, except the Lord?

And who is a rock, except our God?

It is God who arms me with strength,

and makes my way perfect.

He makes my feet like the feet of deer,

and sets me on my high places."

Psalm 18:28-33

"God is our refuge and strength,

A very present help in trouble.

Therefore we will not fear,

Even though the earth be removed,

and though the mountains be carried into the midst of the sea;

Though its waters roar and be troubled,

Though the mountains shake with its swelling."

Psalm 46:1-3

"Be still, and know that I am God;

I will be exalted among the nations,

I will be exalted in the earth!

The Lord of hosts is with us;

The God of Jacob is our refuge."

Psalm 46:10-11

These are just some of the thoughts that the Lord has shared with me tonight as I drank in the beauty of this magical golden evening. I thought perhaps you would enjoy them as well.  One more Psalm comes to my mind to share with you:

"I will lift up my eyes to the hills~

From whence comes my help?

My help comes from the Lord,

Who made heaven and earth.

He will not allow your foot be moved;

He who keeps you will not slumber.

Behold, He who keeps Israel

shall neither slumber nor sleep.

The Lord is your keeper;

The Lord is your shade at your right hand.

The sun shall not strike you by day,

nor the moon by night.

The Lord shall preserve you from all evil;

He shall preserve your soul.

The Lord shall preserve your going out and your coming in

From this time forth, and even forevermore."

Psalm 121:1-8

I hope that this will give you some comforting thoughts tonight as you go to sleep. 

I know it has soothed my mind and soul.

Good Night, my friend.

Peace and blessings

"Peace I leave with you,

My peace I give to you;

Not as the world gives do I give to you.

Let not your heart be troubled,

neither let it be afraid."

(Words of Jesus, found in John 14:27)