Friday Foto Friends ~ A Place of Peace and Deliverance

A few weeks ago I shared with you a place that was special to us, Lake Swan Camp.  Well, this morning I didn't have any pictures to share with you for Friday Foto Friends, so we decided we needed to take a little ride anyway and get away from the TV for a while.  Sometimes you just need to have a change of perspective in your view so you can see things more clearly, or at least see things that are more pleasant and positive.  Therefore, I will share the pictures I took this morning at Lake Swan Camp.

The lake was very calm and peaceful, soothing to my spirit.

If I'd brought my paddle, I might have been tempted to go for a canoe ride:

They have a very interesting Miniature Golf game there:

A fun way to learn some key scripture verses as you play your way through the golf course.

Then I was intrigued by this wonderful firepit, with all the benches around it. I can just imagine campers singing "Kum By Ya, My Lord, Kum By Ya".... and

 "Pass It On" 

(By Kurt Kaiser)

It only takes a spark to get a fire going,

And soon all those around can warm up in its glowing;

That's how it is with God's Love,

Once you've experienced it,

Your spread the love to everyone

You want to pass it on.

What a wondrous time is spring,

When all the tress are budding

The birds begin to sing, the flowers start their blooming;

That's how it is with God's love,

Once you've experienced it.

You want to sing, it's fresh like spring,

You want to pass it on.

I wish for you my friend

This happiness that I've found;

You can depend on God

It matters not where you're bound,

I'll shout it from the mountain top - PRAISE GOD!

I want the world to know

The Lord of love has come to me

I want to pass it on.

I'll shout it from the mountain top - PRAISE GOD!

I want the world to know

The Lord of love has come to me

I want to pass it on.

https://lyricstranslate.com/en/kurt-kaiser-pass-it-lyrics.html

Then roast some marshmallows and make some s'mores, share testimonies around the firepit, pray for one another...makes me want to go to camp...how about you?

As I left that comforting spot I walked through the gorgeous old live oak trees and came to a sunken place where there was an old pond with a kind of marshy area in the middle.  Of course I had to move in a bit closer to check it out.

I could just barely see something hiding in the middle of the bushes...

A beautiful white egret, who I am certain was hoping I wouldn't discover her hiding place.

Reminded me of another song that you may have heard or sung at camp or at church:

"You are my hiding place

You always fill my heart

With songs of deliverance

Whenever I am afraid

I will trust in You

I will trust in You

Let the weak say I am strong

In the strength of the Lord

You are my hiding place

You always fill my heart

With songs of deliverance

Whenever I am afraid

I will trust in You

I will trust in You

You are my hiding place (I will trust in You)

You always fill my heart (Let the weak say I am strong)

With songs of deliverance (In the strength of the Lord)

Whenever I am afraid

I will trust in You"

Source: LyricFind

Songwriters: Michael James Ledner

You Are My Hiding Place lyrics © Universal Music Publishing Group

This song comes from Psalm 32:7

"You are my hiding place; You shall preserve me from trouble; 

You shall surround me with songs of deliverance. Selah"

From there we drove past the chapel and dining hall, nestled in among the lovely old oak trees...

After spending some time walking about these beautiful grounds and soaking in the comforting warmth of the Holy Spirit's Presence into our souls, we felt refreshed and ready to head back home and face whatever the future may hold.

During these days of uncertainty, I believe we each have to seek our own place of peace. 

No matter what lies ahead, we know that we are safe in the protection and strength of the Lord.

He will never leave us nor forsake us, and 

God is STILL in control, no matter what!

I hope you are also able to find this kind of peace of mind.

It's taken me all day to get this post written as there have been several interruptions...

had to get my hair cut, had to tend to some other business matters...and now I must tell you that we are going to be away for a few days, on a little getaway trip to the "mountains" with our kids.

They were sweet enough to invite us "old folks" to go along with them as they head for the hills of Georgia to celebrate their upcoming 3rd anniversary next week. So I may be offline for a few days, but you can be sure I will be taking plenty of pictures and will have plenty to share with you when we get back. And if you are a friend of ours who lives in Ga., please don't be offended that we aren't able to stop and visit on this trip. Since we are traveling with our kids we are on their schedule and are kind of along for the ride.  There are several dear ones we know whom we would love to visit, but that will have to be at some other time when we are traveling on our own.

Have a blessed and beautiful weekend everyone.

Keep praying for our country!

And look for ways to find some peace.

 

Friday Foto Friends on Still Waters Pond

Howdy Friends! It's Friday...and I didn't have any new photos to share with you, so that is why I'm a little late to the party! I stepped outside and realized it was a very pretty day...not too hot, not too cold, but just right! And I also noticed that there seems to be a break in the lily pads on Still Waters Pond, so I decided today would be a good day to take out the kayak! 

"A lake is the landscape's most beautiful and expressive feature.  

It is earth's eye; looking into which the beholder measures the depth of his own nature."

Henry David Thoreau

I haven't been out since last spring because it was just too hot and the lily pads were so thick I couldn't paddle through. But now they are dying back for the winter and sadly there are no more lilies blooming either, but it sure made for easier travel.

What is interesting, however, is there appears to be a new "island" floating in the middle of the pond. I've been noticing this dark stretch of what looks like dead lily pads forming a kind of floating island, and I wanted to check it out.

Most recently I watched  a pair of Sand Hill Cranes walking around on this little island, so I knew it must have some substance to it.

(These pictures of the cranes were taken a few days ago from watching them from our porch...they weren't out there this morning, or I assure you they would have flown away at the sight of me!)

 Here you can see both of them as they were squawking back and forth at each other. I posted a video of them making noise on my Facebook page this week. 

So anyway as I passed by this little floating island I realized it was made up of dirt and dead lily pads and new little plants popping up on it.  We shall see what becomes of it as the days go by. It's interesting to see how these things develop and come and go.

There wasn't much activity on the pond this morning in the way of wildlife, but it was very peaceful and calming to paddle around and enjoy the freedom of exploring new "lands" and "seas" once again!

As I came around one of the bigger islands I approached this old dock that once spanned the waters to the smaller island from the shore.

As you can see, this dock has seen better days. I don't believe any sane human has tried to cross it in many years...

Could be a few "insane" humans may have tried, but I assure you it wasn't me! I was not too sure about even passing under this dock safely...

Coming up to this reminded me of the old song we learned in elementary school:

The Erie Canal Song

"Low bridge, everybody down

Low bridge, yeah we're coming to a town

And you'll always know your neighbor

And you'll always know your pal

If ya ever navigated on the Erie Canal"

So I ducked and paddled under the "low bridge" and navigated on through the Still Waters Pond, not quite the same as "The Erie Canal"...but it was fun remembering that old song, wasn't it?

"First keep the peace within yourself, then you can also bring peace to others."  

Thomas A Kempis

Oh yes, "peace"... something we are all in need of these days, right?

On around the island you can see the remnants of what was that same dock, which led from the smaller island to the bigger island. Long gone now. But's that's okay with me...keeps people from intruding on our little private pond.

"You are my hiding place;

You will protect me from trouble

and surround me with songs of deliverance." 

Psalm 32:7

As I came around the island I did see this lovely dragonfly perched on some grasses, waiting for me to take it's picture.

Thank you, Dragon Fly! Now you may fly away...and he did.

Meanwhile, I've been noticing the red holly berries in the tree tops on the island...funny I never noticed there was a holly tree on the island last year...I don't believe the holly trees had nearly as many berries last year as they do this year. The old timers will tell you that an abundance of berries and acorns (which we also have) is a sure sign of a hard winter...yes, even here in Florida. We need lots of food for the many birds who will be traveling through to even warmer climes south as they escape the bitter cold winter up north.  Sorry folks, but that's what the old timers say...I should know...I'm getting to be an old timer myself. LOL.

Just passing around by the island and then looking back at the shore on the "mainland" here below:

The yellow wildflowers are starting to really bloom along the shores of the pond now too. So beautiful to see in the autumn...

Oh, looky there! There is someone sitting on that porch waiting for me. Can you see his nice legs? That's about all you can see.  Yes, that's my hubby, watching for me to come around the bend and into shore so he can come down and pull me in.  Getting off of this kayak is the hardest part of all (next to getting into the kayak)  There is no graceful way to do it, trust me!

Oh wait! As I am paddling and struggling to get up to the shore, this young fella is right smack dab in my face.  So I figured I might as well take his picture before I knock him out of my way.  I mean, would you want him right where he could jump right in your face or wherever else he might jump? I don't think so...especially when one is already unbalanced, sitting in water with no other way of escape. So I just nicely bent over his branch and he jumped the other direction, thankfully!!

Okay, here's a sweet little purple aster looking flower along the shore. Had to get some kind of flower picture to show you.

And then back on shore, standing in my Secret Memorial Garden, looking back out at Still Waters Pond. Actually, I took this picture before I decided to take the kayak out. As I stood there, I knew I just had to get out there and enjoy this morning.  I hope you enjoyed it with me.  Wasn't it pleasant? Could you almost feel the gentle breeze and feel the warmth of the morning sun as we paddled about? I hope so...because it was very delightful, and even better because I shared it with you.

"This is the meeting place where God has set His bounds.

Here is enough, at last, for eye and thought,

restful and satisfying and illimitable.

Here rest is sweet, and the picture of it goes with us on our homeward way,

more lasting in memory than the sunset on the meadows or the lingering light across the silent stream."

Isaac Ogden Rankin

Sunset on Still Waters Pond

Psalm 23:1-3

 1.  The Lord is my shepherd; I shall not want.

2.  He maketh me to lie down in green pastures: 

He leadeth me beside the still waters.

3. He restoreth my soul..."

Amen.