Friday Foto Friends and the Final Photo A Day Challenge for July

Happy Last Day of July!! Another Glorious way to start the day!!

 

When I see the sunbeams reaching out from the sun into the skies, I think of these verses from Psalm 19:

Psalm 19:1-6

1 The heavens declare the glory of God;

And the firmament shows His handiwork.

2 Day unto day utters speech,

And night unto night reveals knowledge.

3 There is no speech nor language

Where their voice is not heard.

4 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,

5 Which is like a bridegroom coming out of his chamber,

And rejoices like a strong man to run its race.

6 Its rising is from one end of heaven,

And its circuit to the other end;

And there is nothing hidden from its heat.

It's definitely going to be another hot day, but we were refreshed with some good rains yesterday evening, and there is the promise of more tonight and throughout next week. I sure hope they are right.

So I have come to the end of the July photo-a-day challenge, and today's challenge is to "choose your own theme."  That shouldn't be too difficult for me! I am always choosing my own theme even when I'm supposed to do other stuff. LOL.

I woke up with a few ideas in my head, and then some things got kind of rearranged as the morning progressed.  So now it is a kind of mixed bag of thoughts and ideas. So please come along for the ride and enjoy the journey through time and space with me, okay?

I think I'll start out with the most recent photos, just taken a few minutes ago after we took a little ride down a dirt road (no pictures of that), and after last night's rain, we ran through a few mud puddles, so we had to make a special detour on the way home...can you guess where?

Yes, if you guessed the car wash, you would be correct. I just thought the patterns of water on the windshield looked pretty cool. (And I am thankful my hubby can still steer the car into the carwash correctly so that I don't have to do that!!)

This made me think about this Bible verse... (1 Corinthians 13:12)

12 For now we see through a glass, darkly; but then face to face: now I know in part; but then shall I know even as also I am known.

Right now in our lives we can't really see very far beyond this moment. We think we know what's coming up, or we have plans for what we hope will happen, but we truly can't see beyond this very minute, and things could change "in a moment, in a twinkling of an eye..." (1 Corinthians 15:52). Therefore we should always be ready to meet Jesus at any moment.

That reminds me of these verses in the book of James:

James 4:13-15 NKJV

13 Come now, you who say, “Today or tomorrow we will go to such and such a city, spend a year there, buy and sell, and make a profit”; 14 whereas you do not know what will happen tomorrow. For what is your life? It is even a vapor that appears for a little time and then vanishes away. 15 Instead you ought to say, “If the Lord wills, we shall live and do this or that.”

One thing hubby and I did this week was practice a song that we are planning to sing  (Lord willing!!) this Sunday morning at church. Here's the song being sung by the man who actually wrote the song, Jim Hill. (although he didn't sing the first verse in this version, but we will sing the whole song on Sunday).

1. There is coming a day

When no heartaches shall come,

No more clouds in the sky,

No more tears to dim the eye;

All is peace forevermore

On that happy golden shore,

What a day, glorious day that will be.

Chorus

What a day that will be,

When my Jesus I shall see,

When I look upon His face,

The One who saved me by His grace;

Then He’ll take me by the hand,

And lead me through the Promised Land,

Oh, what a day, glorious day that will be.

2. There’ll be no sorrow there,

No more burdens to bear,

No more sickness, no pain,

No more parting over there;

And forever I will be

With the One who died for me,

Oh, what a day, glorious day that will be.

Chorus (Twice)

It's been a while since we have sung a duet in church, so I pray that God will be with us and help us both to have a strong voice to sing, and that this song will be a blessing to those who hear it, and that the Lord will be glorified with this music.

Now these next pictures have a story.  Those of you who know me know that I am not really a fan of roosters (or "free-range chickens" either, for that matter).  When I was about 4 years old and living on our farm in Pennsylvania, we had chickens and roosters. One day I wandered down to the 'corn crib' to get some corn to feed the cows. I don't know why I was out there by myself, but somehow I was. Anyway, when I got down there away from the house, all of a sudden this big old mean rooster came running out at me with his ugly and dangerous "spurs" and started to attack me.  I started screaming bloody murder, and I guess my mother heard me and came running with a broom and shooed that big old mean rooster away from me. I understand that we had stewed rooster for supper that night, but that he was rather tough. LOL.   Anyway, to this day I am not one to get very close to chickens and especially not roosters.  

So, the other day we were with our "kids", and we had a reason to visit this place, not knowing there would be free range chickens and roosters running around.  Thankfully they were "friendly" and did not attack us.  I am quite proud of myself for not going into a panic when I stepped out of the car and this fellow came running around the house to greet me.

There were actually two of them...double trouble!

I am thankful they had no interest in me whatsoever! Praise God!

I'm not going to say that now I am ready to go out and start raising chickens, but at least I survived that moment!

11 When I was a child, I spake as a child, I understood as a child, I thought as a child: but when I became a man, (or woman!) I put away childish things.  (1 Corinthians 13:11)

Well, friends, I think this is probably enough for today. I had some other ideas for pictures, but decided to wait for another time and not overburden you with too much stuff.  It's taken me all day just to get this done! LOL.  

Tomorrow begins a new month, and brings us closer to those blessed cooler autumn days, even though for us here in North Central Florida, it will be late October before we begin to really feel a bit cooler. Still, it's encouraging to know we are getting closer! 

 

I hope that you will have a blessed and wonderful weekend. 

Three Quarters of a Century!

 Wow! Today marks the day that I turned 3/4 of century old! I still can't believe that it could be possible that I've actually lived that long! They say time sure flies when you're having fun! Well, I can't truly say that all these years have always been that much "fun", but they have been certainly blessed.

(some of my birthday gifts!)

So  many lovely cards! 

And Yes! "There is always something to be thankful for!"

To finish up my birthday celebration today, we traveled an hour + to meet my hubby's brother Billy and wife Peggy and their son Nicholaus for lunch.

We arrived a little early, and parked under this beautiful old oak tree so our car would be in the shade. 

I had said on the way over as we drove through the Ocala National Forest that I hoped I would see a bear...Well, I did, but not exactly the kind I was looking for, but this one is much kinder and gentler...

He even let me stand next to him and "pet him".   Such a nice bear.

Anyway, that's how we "killed time" until our family arrived, and here we are actually after we were finished eating and ready to go back home:

Here's the "Steiner Bros"...

And our nephew Nicholaus finally gave me a wonderful smile for a picture. He said it was his birthday gift to me.  That earned him a big hug!!! He has such a great smile and is such a great guy.

On our way back home the clouds began to roll in as we traveled through the Ocala National Forest again.  

They actually were the beginnings of a bit of a rainstorm, for which we were most thankful!

I was hoping that the rain would follow us all the way back home...

But sadly by the time we got to our house, the rain had pretty much stopped and scooted around our neighborhood...again!!! Although, I must say that last night we did get a pretty good rainshower about the time we went to bed, so we are counting our blessings for that!

This was last night's sunset.  Sunshine came out to watch it with me. He seems to enjoy watching the sunset, maybe because his name is "Sunshine". But also last night he was lonely because his buddy Blackie had been AWOL again all day long and the night before..., but thankfully he showed up this afternoon at "supper time".  I don't know where he goes for his little jaunts, but he sure makes Sunshine and me a little sad while he's gone.   

I didn't get any pictures of Blackie tonight, but I gave him a good talking to about staying away so long and making me worry!  He basically just acted like nothing was wrong and headed straight for his food as if nothing had been amiss.  I'm now calling him "the little stinker!"

Anyway, as you can see by these photos, Still Waters Pond is VERY still indeed...no water at all practically!  If we don't get some rain soon it will be The Still Waters Desert!

However, you have to admit the sunset was glorious!

I did post these sunset pictures on Facebook last night, along with these verses. So some of you may have already seen these.  I love the autumn sunsets that we get here. I just miss the reflection on the waters of the pond.

Psalm 19:1-6 NKJV

"1 The heavens declare the glory of God;

And the firmament shows His handiwork.

2 Day unto day utters speech,

And night unto night reveals knowledge.

3 There is no speech nor language

Where their voice is not heard.

4 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,

5 Which is like a bridegroom coming out of his chamber,

And rejoices like a strong man to run its race.

6 Its rising is from one end of heaven,

And its circuit to the other end;

And there is nothing hidden from its heat."

Well, if you liked last night's sunset, God provided another one for us tonight!  I just love to see His glory in the heavens, don't you?  

Wow!!!  This is better than Fireworks on the 4th of July, if you ask me!

These are God's very own "fireworks display".  

And I appreciate that He put on this beautiful show for my 75th birthday!  It is a fitting ending to a wonderful birthday week!  I've been so blessed by family and friends and God Himself.  I just want to give Him thanks for all the things He has done!

Deuteronomy 4:39 

"Therefore know this day, and consider it in your heart, that the Lord Himself is God in heaven above and on the earth beneath; there is no other."

To sum up this big event called my 3/4 Century birthday, let me close by thanking God for His "part" in my creation...He IS my Creator God...there is no other! How I praise Him and thank Him for being with me from the very beginning...and He will be with me until the very end of this life, and then on into eternity!

Psalm 139: 13-18

"13 For you created my inmost being;

you knit me together in my mother’s womb.

14 I praise you because I am fearfully and wonderfully made;

your works are wonderful,

I know that full well.

15 My frame was not hidden from you

when I was made in the secret place,

when I was woven together in the depths of the earth.

16 Your eyes saw my unformed body;

all the days ordained for me were written in your book

before one of them came to be.

17 How precious to me are your thoughts, God!

How vast is the sum of them!

18 Were I to count them,

they would outnumber the grains of sand—

when I awake, I am still with you.

Then...

and Now...

Isaiah 46:4  NKJV

"4 Even to your old age, I am He,

And even to gray hairs I will carry you!

I have made, and I will bear;

Even I will carry, and will deliver you."

Praise God and Amen!!

Psalm 139:23-24

23 Search me, God, and know my heart;

test me and know my anxious thoughts.

24 See if there is any offensive way in me,

and lead me in the way everlasting.

Amen.

Thursday Thankfulness/Friday Foto Friends

 Here it is Thursday evening, and it's been a beautiful day! We had some wonderful rain showers earlier and it cooled things off a bit. I can't believe it's actually only 79 degrees at 6:00 p.m.  We haven't seen that in a while!  So hubby and I were able to take a much needed walk. It's been so hot and humid lately that we've had to forego our daily walks, except for a jaunt to Walmart to walk around where it is cool. (plus needed to buy a few things as well).  So #1, I am very thankful for this little bit of cooler weather while it lasts!

#2.  Actually, now that I think about it, it was quite lovely this morning when I first got up. So lovely, in fact, that I couldn't restrain myself from going outside and watching the "moonrise".  I know, you think the moon rises at night! Well, this morning it seemed like there was more of a "moonrise" than a sunrise. 

Psalm 19:1-6 is one of my favorite passages...Thought it would go along nicely with these pictures that I took while I was running around enjoying the morning "moonrise".

Here it is, in order of its appearance this morning:

1. The heavens declare the glory of God;

And the firmament shows His handiwork.

2. Day unto day utters speech,

And night unto night reveals knowledge.

3. There is no speech nor language

Where their voice is not heard.

4. 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,

5. Which is like a bridegroom coming out of his chamber,

And rejoices like a strong man to run its race.

6. Its rising is from one end of heaven,

In this photo if you look above the trees, you can actually see the sunrise in the east and the sunbeams rising up from behind the trees.

And its circuit to the other end;

And there is nothing hidden from its heat.

(And also from Psalm 19, my life verse:)

14. Let the words of my mouth and the meditation of my heart

Be acceptable in Your sight,

O Lord, my strength and my Redeemer.

What a beautiful way to start the day. I'm sorry I didn't get it posted until tonight, but it's also a good way to end the day, right?  God's beauty is everywhere around us if we just take the time to look and appreciate all that He has given us to enjoy.

#3. Thankfulness:  Yesterday afternoon I had the joy and privilege of spending some time with a young lady that I am pleased to know.  You'll never guess what we were doing!  

It has something to do with these pine needles:

Actually we were gathering them up and putting them into bags. Why? Well, because this dear lady does something very special with them. And she prefers to remain anonymous, so I will honor her wishes.

The hurricane a couple of weeks ago knocked down a lot of big pine branches on the lot next door, and these pine needles were just laying there waiting to be picked up.

And here's why she wanted them:

This very talented lady makes these baskets out of pine straw, to give as gifts to people. This one was for a dear friend, and I would say she must be very dear to her, to work this hard to make such an amazing gift!  But not only that, this sweet young woman also puts together special baskets (not the pine baskets) to give to people who are fighting cancer and are going through chemo. She puts things in the baskets that they can use for their comfort, along with little cards of encouragement.  I can only imagine what such a gift would mean to someone who is suffering the ravages of cancer and treatment. I know it would be a wonderful blessing to receive.  This young lady has lost a dear loved one to cancer, so she has a special reason for wanting to do something for others who are going through this.  I know I was blessed just hearing about it.  

#4.  Thankful for some unexpected gifts from unexpected sources. God always has ways of blessing us when we least expect it.

#5.  I heard from my brother (from North Carolina) recently. Sadly, his wife's brother just passed away, and he lived not too far away from where we live.  They will be coming down next weekend for a kind of celebration of his life with my sister in law's family, and then they hope to come visit with us on Saturday morning before they head back home to N.C.   Although I am sorry that it is under such sad circumstances, I am glad that I will be able to see my brother and his wife. We haven't seen them since last fall.  Clifford is my next to the oldest brother, but our oldest brother passed away several years ago, so now Cliff is my oldest sibling. Our sister Doris is next in line after him. (and then me, the baby).  Anyway, this has also encouraged me to get busy on some projects that need to be done around this house before "company comes".  

#6.  Just thankful to God for our health and for the ways God provides for us on a daily basis.  Each day is a gift from God, and that we are well aware of.  

Romans 11:33-36  NKJV

33 Oh, the depth of the riches both of the wisdom and knowledge of God! 

How unsearchable are His judgments and His ways past finding out!

34 “For who has known the mind of the Lord?

Or who has become His counselor?”

35 “Or who has first given to Him

And it shall be repaid to him?”

36 For of Him and through Him and to Him are all things,

to whom be glory forever. Amen.

And with that I will close this post for tonight.  I pray that your day has been blessed as well. Perhaps you can share something you are thankful for today.

Good Night dear friends!  

Wednesday Treasures: Thankfulness

Here it is Wednesday already!  "Hump Day" they call it.  When you get over the "hump" of Wednesday, you are on the way toward the weekend.  For working people, that is always a happy feeling. For retired people...well, one day is pretty much like the other, but yet we still look forward to the weekends, when routines change a little bit and there is always the possibility of something "fun" happening.

Last weekend was both fun and happy and I am so thankful.   Thankful for another year of life, thankful for family, friends, our home...and for the love of God in my life...

Thankful for a warm welcome whenever we return home from wherever we may roam...and there is always a warm welcome here for you as well...

Thankful for friends from near and far who took the time and energy to send me a birthday card...I was overwhelmed with the blessings of so many special cards from so many special people...and some of them might be reading this post right now.  Thank you for your thoughtfulness! You are each and every one a blessing to me.  Also thank you to the many who have commented on my posts the past few days...I've read every one but just haven't been able to comment on everyone because of all the activities going on...but I am trying to get around to visit each of you personally at your own posts, which I always look forward to reading as well.  Like daily letters or phone calls with "old friends". Treasures indeed.

I love this card from my sister...it reminds me of our childhood and the happy times we shared in a loving home.  We were blessed, and we are very very thankful for our family heritage.

The last couple of mornings we've had some interesting morning skies.  I always love to see the changes in the sunrise as it comes up over the horizon in the front of our house.  You have to keep watching to get the full glory of the gift of God of the beginning of another new day...

This morning (yesterday) started out kind of gray and cloudy, but within just a few minutes this same sky changed into a lovely blue, with the light of the sun brightening up the clouds and inviting us to rejoice in the beauty of another lovely autumn day...

Still Waters Pond is on the west side of our house, so we don't really have a sunrise over the pond, and yet the sun's rays reflect on the clouds and trees as it rises higher into the sky, and even the western skies begin to wake up and rejoice to see another new day:

Every moment is a little different...sometimes a bit better than the last...so don't quit watching. You might miss something!

Now today, the skies in the east were more subdued, and yet there is a lovely pastel glow growing in the sky as the sun rises more and more...

Each and every day has its own beauty...not like the day before, but new and fresh and full of promise...

Within five minutes the whole sky can change...and so can our lives...so we should always be watching, waiting, praying, and rejoicing in the blessings that God is bestowing upon us in every new moment.

Amazing! Just within the past few minutes while I've been writing this, the skies have changed again:

Each new picture has its own beauty and glory...

Psalm 19: 1-6....some verses I know I've shared many times before, but it always comes to mind when enjoying God's glories in the heavens:  (this is written in the Old King James version)

1 "The heavens declare the glory of God; and the firmament sheweth his handywork.

2 Day unto day uttereth speech, and night unto night sheweth knowledge.

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

4 Their line is gone out through all the earth, and their words to the end of the world. 

In them hath he set a tabernacle for the sun,

5 Which is as a bridegroom coming out of his chamber, 

and rejoiceth as a strong man to run a race.

6 His going forth is from the end of the heaven, and his circuit unto the ends of it: and there is nothing hid from the heat thereof."

Yes, Wednesday is a good day to rejoice in the glories and beauties of God's magnificent creation,

and to be thankful.

Those are my treasures for today.

I hope you enjoyed them with me.