Monday Morning Musings

 

I really don't have much to share today, but here it is Monday morning and it seems like that should be noteworthy somehow. We made it through another week and are very very thankful. We finally were able to go back to church yesterday, after missing for three weeks. There had been so many of us sick over the past three weeks that it seemed like a homecoming yesterday to see everyone back again! Praise God! And here is the pre-recorded message from yesterday if you would like to sing along and also enjoy an excellent message from our Pastor from Hebrews 4:12-16, "Let Us Come Boldly".  

The choir was singing "In My Heart There Rings a Melody", so perhaps you'd like to sing along:

"I have a song that Jesus gave me, it was sent from heaven above

There never was a sweeter melody, ‘Tis a melody of love

In my heart there rings a melody, there rings a melody with heaven’s harmony

In my heart there rings a melody, there rings a melody of love.

I love the Christ who died on Calv’ry, for he washed my sins away

He put within my heart a melody, and I know it’s there to stay.

In my heart there rings a melody, there rings a melody with heaven’s harmony

In my heart there rings a melody, there rings a melody of love.

‘Twill be my endless theme in glory, with the angels I will sing

‘Twill be a song with glorious harmony, when the courts of heaven ring

In my heart there rings a melody, there rings a melody with heaven’s harmony

In my heart there rings a melody, there rings a melody of love."

After church it was so nice to be able to go out to lunch with our church friends and family and enjoy a time of fellowship and laughter again. After being cooped up at home for the past three weeks it was surely a blessing.  

(7:00 a.m.) I don't have any new pictures of anything to share. What's up with that? Maybe I should go back in my archives and see if I can find anything worth sharing.  (Couldn't find anything that suited my mood for today...)

Well...three hours later...I decided I might as well just share some pictures of the way it looks outside on Still Waters Pond today.  It is another rather gray, chilly, "raw" day here in "sunny Florida".  46 degrees at 10:30 a.m., and no sunshine in sight.  But here is what I can see:

If you look really closely in those trees you might see two vultures sitting in the trees. They've been very active around the pond the past few days. Not too sure what they are watching or seeing...I hope it isn't me! LOL. I'm trying to look as lively as I can! LOL.

Here's a close up of one of the big old buzzards:

And there he is again in the background, and there is a lone Mockingbird sitting on a branch on this side of the pond, perhaps he is "mocking" the buzzard. LOL.

Whatever he's doing, he seems quite content to just sit there and watch the world go by. I haven't even heard him singing today.  But you know, you really don't have to sing everyday to be happy.  Sometimes you can just be content to be still and rest and take joy in just being still...

So that's what I'm doing...

"Be still, and know that I am God;

I will be exalted among the nations,

I will be exalted in the earth!"

Psalm 46:10

Psalm 23

1 "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."

So that's what I'm doing today...How about you? I hope you are having a peaceful and blessed Monday, whatever you are doing. I know this world is full of woe and stress and serious anxieties right now, but the 23rd Psalm is my prayer and statement to the world...no matter what this old world tries to throw at me or no matter how the news tries to keep me off guard and create anxiety, I will put my trust in the Lord...because He is with me...and He gives me comfort no matter what.  And that last verse above is so true..."Surely goodness and mercy shall follow me all the days of my life; and I will dwell in the house of the Lord FOREVER!"   The world cannot take that away from me...or you! Claim this peace of mind today through Christ Jesus.  It will carry you through any storm that may swirl around you...and there is no need to fear.  Amen!

Be Still and Know...

Yesterday afternoon was a gorgeous October afternoon here in Florida...low humidity, high in the very low 80's with a nice breeze...sunny skies...it just doesn't get much better than that, and so I spent some time sitting outside in the Secret Memorial Garden alongside Still Waters Pond...just being still and knowing that God was there with me...and that He was being exalted in the beauty of His creation all around...

No matter what the news may say or just how bad things are getting in the economy or in all of the horrific situations around the world...God's Word is still so true and appropriate:

"Be still, and know that I am God;

I will be exalted among the nations,

I will be exalted in the earth!"

Psalms 46:10

When I feel myself starting to panic over circumstances for which I have no control...it is important for me to find a place to just steal away and get recentered in my position in Christ...to know that He is God, and no matter what this world tries to do to steal my joy...I will put my faith in Him and keep my eyes focused on Christ, the "author and finisher of my faith"...

"looking unto Jesus, the author and finisher of our faith, who for the joy that was set before Him endured the cross, despising the shame, and has sat down at the right hand of the throne of God."

Hebrews 12:2

This morning we had an early ride into "town" for my husband to have some lab work done. Again, God's majesty and beauty was on display in the unfolding of the sunrise breaking through the clouds...

It was amazing all the way we traveled...

People who drive through life with blinders on miss so much of the glory of God's heavens on display for us every day.

Remember the hymn:

"Open my eyes that I may see

glimpses of truth thou hast for me.

Place in my hands the wonderful key

that shall unclasp and set me free.

Silently now I wait for thee,

ready, my God, thy will to see.

Open my eyes, illumine me,

Spirit divine!

2 Open my ears that I may hear

voices of truth thou sendest clear,

and while the wave notes fall on my ear,

ev’rything false will disappear.

Silently now I wait for thee,

ready, my God, thy will to see.

Open my ears, illumine me,

Spirit divine!

3 Open my mouth and let me bear

gladly the warm truth ev’rywhere.

Open my heart and let me prepare

love with thy children thus to share.

Silently now I wait for thee,

ready, my God, thy will to see.

Open my mouth, illumine me,

Spirit divine!"

I hope you enjoyed this little meditation time away from the noise of the world for a while. Whenever you find yourself getting stressed by the things swirling around you in your life...look for the places where God is sending His peace and comfort to you.  They are out there...maybe closer than you think.  

I had other things in mind for writing about today, but this is what came out...so apparently that's what I was supposed to share with you.  Someone out there needed this...I know I did. I can hear the news on the TV in the background while I write, and if I listen too closely I could find myself running and screaming to please "stop the world, I want to get off!"  But when I turn my eyes to Jesus, peace reigns and rules in my heart and mind once again.  I can get up and move forward without fear.  God is being exalted in the nations...and He is exalted in all the earth.  I need not fear. Amen.

Just Walk Away...Some Thoughts for Labor Day -Revisited Again

Originally posted for Labor Day weekend, 9/1/2014! Still some great thoughts for today, four    seven years later!  I still need to do some of the same things on my little checklist below....how about you?

Hope you and yours have a safe and happy Labor Day weekend!!   (9/6/2021 Note:  I am revisiting this on Labor Day evening, but this message is good for anytime!!)  

I absolutely love this jaunty little fox, trotting away after very efficiently darting into the woods, finding a tasty morsel of something to eat, rodent or reptile I do not know, finishing it off rapidly,

and continuing on his way back into the woods for the day.  This little fox has captured my imagination...and possibly a few others who have seen my post of these pictures on Facebook since yesterday. (in 2014)

Got me to thinking about the times that we need to do just like this fox...take care of the necessities of life, whatever they may be...work, food, shelter, and then just keep on going.  Don't get bogged down by things that distract us from our real purpose.

Things like:

• toxic relationships...people that drag us down, lead us astray, keep us from blossoming
• material attachments...more things...bigger, better, more expensive, prettier, or sentimental objects that weigh us down
• too many projects that really have no vital purpose and take up our time, money, and space
• social attachments that steal our time away from our loved ones...cell phones, social media, internet
• "Responsibilities"...duties we take on that perhaps aren't really our responsibilities but somehow we have allowed ourselves to become pressured into making them our own
• clutter...cluttered closets, garages, sheds, kitchen cupboards, shelves, desks, drawers, rooms, attics, basements, porches, cluttered minds...
• guilt trips...things I should have done, things I should not have done, things I want to do and can't, things I don't want to do but do anyway
• toxic memories...memories of sorrow, fear, anxieties about things that I need to forget...and perhaps forgive

I see myself in several of these...what do I need to walk away from today? How about you? Perhaps you see yourself here as well.  It's certainly easier said than done. But the first step is to identify the things that need to be eliminated from our lives.... 

1. The First Step is to PRAY.
2. Then go down the list above...make your own list and prioritize those things that need to go first.   
3. Work on one item at a time. 
4. PRAY again. Ask God for wisdom.
5. "Seek first the kingdom of God and His righteousness, and all these things shall be added to you." Matthew 6:33
6. If you need wisdom to carry out this process in your life, ask God.  "If any of you lacks wisdom, let him ask of God, who gives to all liberally and without reproach, and it will be given to him. But let him ask in faith, with no doubting, for he who doubts is like a wave of the sea driven and tossed by the wind."  James 1:5-6
7. Don't allow this process to further bind you in guilt and frustration. Take your time. Let God lead you. But DO listen to His prompting when He speaks to your heart. Don't turn away from the help He is sending your way.

I love this passage in the book of Philippians, chapter 4, verses 4-9:

"Rejoice in the Lord always. Again I say, rejoice!

Let your gentleness be known to all men.  The Lord is at hand.

Be anxious for nothing,  but in everything by prayer and supplication,

with thanksgiving, let your requests be made known to God;

And the PEACE OF GOD, which surpasses all understanding,

will guard your hearts and minds through Christ Jesus.

Finally, brethren, whatever things are true,

whatever things are noble, whatever things are just,

whatever things are pure,

whatever things are lovely, 

whatever things are of good report,

if there is any virtue and if there is anything praiseworthy,

MEDITATE ON THESE THINGS.

The things which you learned and received and heard 

and saw in me, these do, and the

God of Peace will be with you."

There is really nothing else for me to say.  I've got my own list to ponder...and some things to pray about on this Labor Day. Then I need to be on my way to a life free from the burden of things...

You might also like to read another story about some little foxes in our lives... Click on the blue.

Friday Foto Friends~"Word-Full Friday"

Let the Word of God speak for itself...and also for me.

"24 When you lie down, you will not be afraid;

Yes, you will lie down and your sleep will be sweet.

25 Do not be afraid of sudden terror,

Nor of trouble from the wicked when it comes;

26 For the Lord will be your confidence,

And will keep your foot from being caught."

Proverbs 3:24-26

"You will keep him in perfect peace,

Whose mind is stayed on You,

Because he trusts in You."

Isaiah 26:3

Good Night Friends.

Sleep in Peace.

God is still in control.

No. Matter. What.

 

Perfect Peace

A Sunday Meditation

Isaiah 26:3 NKJV

 "You will keep him in perfect peace,

Whose mind is stayed on You,

Because he trusts in You."

(This was the version of this song that I was familiar with. 

Apparently there are other versions that you may know better,

but this particular song has always given me a sense of peace and calm.

I hope you will enjoy it too.)

This video below has the lyrics written with the tune.

May the Lord give you inward peace today.

Rambling Thoughts

This will be kind of a rambling post of pictures, thoughts and concerns...

A Juvenile Cardinal enjoying his supper

I honestly don't know what to write these days.  Our country has gone crazy. And if you watch any news at all, you are already painfully aware of this. Our blogs are places where we can retreat away from the world for a little while, and enjoy some time among "friends", sharing things that we enjoy doing, places we've been, words of hope and encouragement that God has given us to pass on to others. 

Great Blue Heron, watching for his supper in Still Waters Pond

Right now the "news" is so dismal, there is only one thing I can do...and that is pray for our nation, our President, our government, our police officers and soldiers on the front line trying to maintain order in a world of chaos. Pray...and commit all of this to the Lord, for without Him we can do nothing. 

Marsh Pinks enjoying the afternoon sun along the shore of the pond

Here is one good piece of advice that we read this morning in our devotions...and it stuck with me.  It comes from 2 Peter 3: 15-18.

"15.  And consider that the longsuffering of our Lord is salvation--

as also our beloved brother Paul, according to the wisdom given to him, has written to you,

16.  as also in all his epistles, speaking in them of these things, 

in which are some things hard to understand,

which untaught and unstable people twist to their own destruction, 

as they do also the rest of the Scriptures.

17.  You therefore, beloved, since you know this beforehand,

beware lest you also fall from your own steadfastness, 

being led away with the error of the wicked;

18.  but grow in the grace and knowledge of our Lord and Savior Jesus Christ.

To Him be the glory both now and forever.  

Amen."

Neighborhood Kitty, watching the birds at the bird feeder, and thinking about "supper".  But not gonna happen on my watch!

Sometimes we get so caught up in the things that are happening around us that it is easy to lose sight of the real issue and the bigger picture of what God may be trying to teach us. If you hear something being said often enough from the media and from people in high places, it almost becomes  a "law" to us...even though it may be totally incorrect and against our beliefs. But if it is told to us often enough, we may begin to go along with the "crowd" and with popular thought, regardless of whether or not it is really true or in keeping with the truth of God's Word. 

Without intention, I believe I was just describing "propaganda"...here is the definition according to Wikipedia:

"Propaganda is communication that is used primarily to influence an audience and further an agenda, which may not be objective and may be presenting facts selectively to encourage a particular synthesis or perception, or using loaded language to produce an emotional rather than a rational response to the information that is presented.[2] Propaganda is often associated with material prepared by governments, but activist groups, companies, religious organizations, the media, and individuals can also produce propaganda.

In today's world, we are being bombarded with propaganda from every outlet.  Social media is one of the biggest methods being utilized to spread messages of hate and false information.  Therefore, it is even more important than ever that we stay in God's Word as much as possible...and pull away from the influence of the media and the world whenever we can.  Take a walk, read a good book, take a ride (but don't turn on the radio or read your cell phone). Turn off social media for a while and take a good break from it. Call a friend and be a good listener and encourager. I love reading what my friends write here in "blogland", and I look forward to your posts each day. 

I hope you've enjoyed these pictures from around my side of the pond that were interspersed among my rambling thoughts today.  

Gloxinia has two blooms!!

Friends, we just really need to pray for one another!  We are all hurting in one way or another...and we need each other! And as we see the day approaching for the return of the Lord, we are going to need each other's encouragement and prayers all the more. Thank you for being here. You are each a special part of my day...even if I don't always get around to reading everyone's posts until a day late...I look forward to catching up with you. May God bless you each and everyone, and give you peace. Amen.

Young Cardinal Says Good Night!

Little Brown Wren, My New Friend

It's Friday Foto day, and I've been away most of the morning, so I didn't have time to sit down and write a new post until now, which is probably best because I didn't have any new pictures to share until now.  I was sitting out in my little sanctuary beside Still Waters Pond, enjoying some fresh air and rest after my morning trip to the doctor to have my staples removed. However, the staples could not be removed because there is an infection in the incision, and so antibiotics were ordered and I was sent home, staples intact, and will go back in two weeks. I knew something wasn't right as I haven't felt very perky these past few days and the incision was showing signs of a problem. So I am glad to have the medicine and pray that it will soon be healed properly.

Now back to that lovely view by the pond...
Actually, it wasn't the pond that I was enjoying, but a little brown Wren, who was noisily making his way through the trees and landed in the birdbath right in front of me. I will warn you, there are many pictures, but he was so cute I couldn't resist:

Don't you agree that he is cute?

He went through great gyrations to reach around and under his wings and to his tail feathers, giving them a good shake and cleaning...

Gotta do this side too:

He's very thorough. We could learn how to wash our hands properly by watching how long he took to get every nook and cranny of this feathers cleaned:

Watch me, Mom! I'm diving in the pool! 

Shake shake shake your booty...LOL

Well, that's it. I'm all clean!  And so he flew away. 

Actually the birdbath wasn't very full of water, so I am surprised he spent as much time there as he did. I think he liked showing off for me.  After he left I went and got the hose and refilled the birdbath with fresh water, so it will be ready for the next bather who comes along.  On these warm, sunny, rainless days we've been having I am sure all the birds appreciate having a nice clean bath to get the bugs off...

Here's a few words from God's Word to encourage our hearts as we continue in this current world "crisis":

Psalm 36:5-9

5.  "Your mercy, O Lord, is in the heavens;

Your faithfulness reaches to the clouds.

6.  Your righteousness is like the great mountains;

Your judgments are a great deep;

O Lord, You preserve man and beast.

7.  How precious is Your lovingkindness, O God!

Therefore the children of men

put their trust under the shadow of Your wings.

8.  They are abundantly satisfied with the fullness of Your house,

and You give them drink from the river of Your pleasures.

9.  For with You is the fountain of life;

In Your light we see light."

Praying we will soon see the Light of God brightly shining through the darkness of the difficulties surrounding us.  So thankful that we can put our trust under the shadow of God's wings, knowing that He will abundantly satisfy us with the drink from the river of His pleasures, and give us overflowing joy and comfort from His fountain of life.   Our God is faithful, and He will preserve His children.  

Amen!!

Have a blessed and beautiful weekend, wherever you are. 

Happy First Day of Spring!

"Rise up, my love, my fair one,

and come away.

For lo, the winter is past,

the rain is over and gone.

The flowers appear on the earth;

The time of singing has come,

and the voice of the turtledove is heard in our land.

The fig tree puts forth her green figs, 

and the vines with the tender grapes give a good smell.

Rise up, my love, my fair one, and come away!"

Song of Solomon 2:11-13

I'm confused.  Google says today, March 19th, is the first day of Spring. My wall calendar says it isn't until tomorrow, March 20th.  So I had to look it up on the computer, HERE: https://www.farmersalmanac.com/spring-equinox-first-day-spring, and according to the Farmers' Almanac it is today, the earliest it has been in 124 years! Maybe because it's a Leap Year and we had that extra day in there...that could have thrown things off a bit too...but if you read the article, it explains it in more scientific terms.  So, after all that, I guess after 11:50 pm tonight we can officially say it is spring!

Well, no one had to tell these guys that it was spring! They've had it figured out all week long. Apparently it is "mating season" for the Canadian Geese, and we've actually had two couples vying for territory on our not so peaceful "Still Waters Pond".  If you are a Facebook friend, you can actually hear their frolicking on a couple of videos that I have posted.

In this picture below, that male goose is charging toward another male goose to tell him to stay out of his territory...

Their rituals involve much honking and challenging all night long as well as all day long....

And with two different couples going through this loving event at the same time, it can get quite noisy out there on the pond.

 Sometimes they just swim around like normal, enjoying the warm almost summer like days we have been having...

 But then pretty soon they start up their honking again just to let us know they are still there, and they are still "enjoying" each other's company!

As I've said on Facebook, they are definitely not  practicing "Social Distancing" like we've all been told to be doing during this current Coronavirus Pandemic!  Hopefully this virus has nothing to do with our wild kingdom, and life will go on as natural for them.  The upside to all of this noise and excitement is that I hope they will decide to make their nests here on our pond and that we will get to enjoy watching them raise their little goslings when the time comes.  Should make for some great entertainment.

So, switching stories here for a moment, how are all of you adapting to the current "Social Distancing" adventure in your neck of the woods, or corner of the pond? 

By now, it appears that just about everything is shutting down except for necessary services and thankfully not the grocery stores, although they have reduced their hours.  Our church has cancelled services and activities for the rest of March.  I was just looking at the calendar, and realizing that Easter will be coming up soon after that on April 12th.  I certainly hope and pray we will all be able to open our church doors wide to celebrate the Resurrection of our Lord...and the resurrection of healthy living again in our land. That would be a wonderful blessing for Easter!

In the meantime, we must each find ways to honor and worship our Lord in our homes and make this a special, personal time of communion with Christ.  I know many churches have ways of live streaming services to our homes, but our little church doesn't have any such modern technology, and besides, that would require our Pastor and leaders to still have to be there to "perform" this service, so quite frankly I think we should all just find ways to worship the Lord on a personal level and enjoy a time of being still before the Lord.

I find just taking time to find a quiet place, away from the distractions of the television and computer, and sit peacefully before the Lord, praying, reading His Word, writing in my journal, and perhaps even singing some spiritual songs, is a wonderful way to worship.

This is my little outdoors sanctuary, where I can spend time with the Lord, enjoying His beautiful creation around me.

 As I have been recuperating from my surgery, I have found this part of our back yard to be a cool respite from the "world"... a place to forget about the "news", and just enjoy being God's child.

I know for many of you it is still "winter", even though the calendar says it is now "Spring". But even if you can't go outside, I hope you can find a little secluded place in your home where you can "Be Still, and know that I Am God"  (Psalm 46:10) for a while. Don't just wait until Sunday morning...do it as often as you can. It is truly refreshing and comforting to spend that time alone with the Lord in prayer and meditating on His Word.

Okay, that's my thoughts for today.  Oh, tomorrow I go to get my staples out of my incision. I will be very happy to get those little metal things out of there. Day by day I am getting better, but still working towards getting back to some kind of "regularity" and normal. 'nuf said'. 

Have a blessed and beautiful day, and as you "shelter in place", make it a place of peace and joy and praise!! Amen!