"Be Led Out With Peace"

It's Sunday, and I think we all need a little bit of  "peace" today.

So I am going to share some pictures with you from my day yesterday, beginning with my early morning journey around "Still Waters Pond" in the kayak.

These pictures speak peace to me.

I hope they do to you as well.

As you can see, the lilies and the lily pads are very prolific here in our pond...

It was early, and the water lilies were just beginning to open their beautiful faces to the sun.

Isn't it interesting to see the veins of life on the undersides of these lily pads? From looking at the tops of the lily pads, one would never imagine that they have such intricate details underneath.

Kind of like us human beings! From looking at the outward appearance, 

one would never imagine just how intricate the details of our lives must be on the inside.

You know, God created each of us uniquely wonderful, with different talents, gifts, traits, abilities and purpose. Except for identical twins, none of us look exactly the same on the outside.

But on the inside we each have all the same parts that are necessary for life.

Heart, brain, skeleton, blood vessels, muscles, all other organs, and blood.

We may not all think the same or like the same things, but if you take away any of the above mentioned parts, we could not function properly and would most likely die.

And just as our body functions better when each part works the way it is supposed to,

our society also functions better when each one does his part as designed.

When people start pulling apart and fighting against one another, our society does not function well at all. And when our society is at odds with one another, our inward being also becomes dysfunctional and out of sorts.

Many of us are feeling that kind of dysfunction right now because of the state of our country.

We are struggling and hurting and grieving, and we need comfort and peace.

I hope you don't mind if I insert these pictures of this beautiful Red Shouldered Hawk right here. He was outside my window, doing what hawks do...looking for his next meal.

I think he spied something...

And then he spied me.   

After this photo he flew to the ground, snatched up his prey, (I think it was an unlucky lizard), and off he went. But he was doing what hawks do. Maintaining the balance of nature and the food chain...

So, what are we doing? Are we doing our part to help maintain peace in this time of turmoil and anxiety in our world?  I know at times we really don't know what our part is, except to "abide by all the rules" and live responsibly. But our inner peace is being eroded away and we are finding it more difficult each day to maintain our own balance, especially when we are seeing things coming apart at the seams. Many of us are being stirred up inwardly to do more and to take a stand for what we believe is right.

Yesterday, a dear friend of mine wrote about her feelings about this and looking for "signs" that God was listening and that He was there with her. (See "Signs" by my friend Susie at Walking Butterfly) .

As I was reading her beautifully written post and writing my comment at the end, God truly did provide a "sign" that He was listening...

Here is what I saw outside my window while I was writing to her--

This beautiful Mourning Dove sitting in the tree.

And here is what I wrote to Susie as I saw this dove sitting there:

"Oh, just as I am sitting here writing this to you, I am looking outside through the window that is right in front of me above my computer, and there is a Dove sitting in the pine tree out there, just sitting there in the tree, looking around without a care in the world it would seem. He is at peace…and he speaks peace to me. Doves are a sign from God of the Holy Spirit and of God’s peace. Also a sign from God to Noah when the flood waters were receding and it was safe to go out of the boat. What do I see in this “sign” just as I am sitting here writing to you? God says He is sending His peace to us through His Holy Spirit, and we will soon be able to go out from our “Ark” of protection and back into the world as the “waters” are receding…the waters of this virus…the waters of fear and doubt. "

As I wrote these words, I was praying in my own heart that it was really true...that God was indeed reminding us that He is still in control, and He wants us to be at peace in our inward being.  And He also gives us hope that there is an end in sight...the "waters" are receding, and we will soon be back on 

safe ground. 

We read this morning in our devotions from Isaiah 55.  Here are a few verses of hope and comfort:

1.  "Ho! Everyone who thirsts, 

come to the waters;

and you who have no money,

Come, buy and eat.

Yes, come, buy wine and milk without money and without price.

2.  Why do you spend money for what is not bread,

and your wages for what does not satisfy?

Listen carefully to Me, and eat what is good,

and let your soul delight itself in abundance..."

6.  "Seek the Lord while He may be found,

Call upon Him while He is near.

7.  Let the wicked forsake his way, 

and the unrighteous man his thoughts;

Let him return to the Lord,

and He will have mercy on him;

and to our God,

for He will abundantly pardon."

8.  "For My thoughts are not your thoughts,

Nor are your ways My ways," says the Lord.

9.  "For as the heavens are higher than the earth,

So are My ways higher than your ways,

and My thoughts than your thoughts.

10.  For as the rain comes down,

and the snow from heaven,

and do not return there,

but water the earth,

and make it bring forth and bud,

that I may give seed to the sower and bread to the eater,

11.  So shall My word be that goes forth from My mouth;

It shall not return to Me void,

but it shall accomplish what I please, 

and it shall prosper in the thing for which I sent it.

12.  For you shall go out with joy, and be led out with peace;

The mountains and the hills shall break forth into singing before you,

And all the trees of the field shall clap their hands.

13.  Instead of the thorn shall come up the cypress tree,

and instead of the brier shall come up the myrtle tree;

And it shall be to the Lord for a name,

For an everlasting sign that shall not be cut off."

 "For you shall go out with joy, and be led out with peace." 

Good night my friends.

May the Peace of the Lord be with you.

Amen.

Friday Foto Friends

I really don't have many new photos to share with you today as I shared them all yesterday. So I may have to go searching for something "new" or maybe something not so new. Let's see where this goes...

Yesterday morning I was enjoying the way the morning sunlight was filtering in through the blinds in the kitchen.  I know the pictures aren't very bright, but this is the view from my kitchen sink and it just made me smile.  There's those muffins I made the day before...yum.  

And that pillow on that stool says "Friends are the flowers in life's garden".  I have always loved that saying. We can never have too many flowers in our garden...just like we can never have too many friends.  Being so isolated these past months has made me really appreciate my friends here in blogland even more!! Thank you for being such a lovely bouquet!!

Just another view in my kitchen...there's the needlepoint that my paternal Grandmother made many years ago.  It says: "Come into my kitchen and chat with me while I prepare a pot of tea." Just let me know when you are coming, and I will put the kettle on! Or even if you just happen to drop by, I will be so happy to see you and will gladly put the tea kettle on...or the coffee pot if you prefer!

There are several places to sit and visit with me while we wait for the tea kettle to boil...

We can be like these two little old ladies, sitting with our crochet needles working while we visit. 

(sorry you can see the reflection of my cell phone over that sweet old lady's face. I'm sure she never dreamed of such a thing back in her day!)

Welcome to my kitchen.  You can see the tea things are already set out for us.

Again, I like the way the sunlight was shining on this favorite decorative plate that says:

"Cherish your family for they are your treasure.

A storehouse of riches...wealth beyond measure."

Yes, we treasure our families as well as our dear friends.  We are blessed if we are able to enjoy both!

A few thoughts for today from Proverbs:

Proverbs 24:3-4

3.  "Through wisdom a house is built,

and by understanding it is established;

4.  By knowledge the rooms are filled 

with all precious and pleasant riches."

Proverbs 31:25-30

25. "Strength and honor are her clothing;

She shall rejoice in time to come.

26.  She opens her mouth with wisdom,

and on her tongue is the law of kindness.

27.  She watches over the ways of her household,

and does not eat the bread of idleness.

28.  Her children rise up and call her blessed;

Her husband also, and he praises her:

29.  "Many daughters have done well,

But you excel them all."

30.  Charm is deceitful and beauty is passing,

but a woman who fears the Lord,

she shall be praised."

Still Small Voice

It's been a quiet week here at Still Waters Pond. I haven't been out much...no rides in the kayak yet this week...just keeping cool and calm and away from the noise of the world as much as possible. Probably a good thing for us all to do. The noise of the world is getting louder and louder, and it is becoming more difficult to hear that "still small voice" of God in the midst of the tumult. 

I Kings 19:11-12 "Then He said, “Go out, and stand on the mountain before the Lord.” And behold, the Lord passed by, and a great and strong wind tore into the mountains and broke the rocks in pieces before the Lord, but the Lord was not in the wind; and after the wind an earthquake, but the Lord was not in the earthquake; 12 and after the earthquake a fire, but the Lord was not in the fire; and after the fire a still small voice."

I stood out on the back deck early one morning and enjoyed this beautiful full moon reflecting on the pond. It was so peaceful there...just me and the frogs croaking and no other noise for a little while...a good time to pause and thank the Lord for His Presence in our lives and invite Him to be with us throughout the day.

And then another morning the sun was rising out in the east, as I stood on the front deck of the house and went through the morning ritual of putting out our flag and thanking the Lord for the blessing of living in a free country, and praying that it remains so forever.

Another morning I baked some more of those good Blueberry Bran Muffins (Recipe can be found HERE), and sat out on the back deck and enjoyed listening to the birds sing while I "Rejoice In Each New Day"  (my favorite morning tea mug).  and listened for that "still small voice" of God to begin my day.

Psalm 46:10

"Be still, and know that I am God;

I will be exalted among the nations,

I will be exalted in the earth!"

One other day I heard the very loud voice of this Red Shouldered Hawk in the top of this very tall dead pine tree...

He was declaring his sovereignty over the woods surrounding his perch above the tree tops...

and then again, this morning I heard the familiar loud call of this Red Bellied Woodpecker high up in that same tree, declaring it was time to rise and shine!

One day while we were walking I spied this very young little bunny, quietly nibbling on some grass alongside the road.  He was listening very attentively to the sounds around him as he ate his "salad", and as soon as he detected my presence he was off "quick like a bunny" back into the safety of the woods.

But the most wonderful experience of the this week happened this morning as we took our walk. I could hardly believe my eyes as I saw this gorgeous Eastern Tiger Swallowtail butterfly flitting about from bush to bush...

This lovely creature was at least as wide if not wider than the span of my hand, and just so graceful and beautiful as it fluttered from one place to another.  I tiptoed ever so quietly up behind it, hoping it would stay still long enough for me to capture a few good photographs.

And, thankfully it did oblige me. I whispered my thanks to this magnificent creature, and then gave thanks and praise to our Magnificent Creator, our Lord and God, who created all of the beauty that we see around us every day. 

I know the news has been disturbing to many of us, and I even had a dear friend ask me for prayer because she was becoming overcome with fear and anxiety and slipping into depression because of the current state of the world.  I can understand her feelings all too well.  If we didn't have the Lord with us and on our side, how would be be able to cope in this constant deluge of turbulence? 

That reminds me of Psalm 124, which says:

1.  "If it had not been the Lord who was on our side,"

Let Israel now say--

2.  "If it had not been the Lord who was on our side,

When men rose up against us,

3.  Then they would have swallowed us alive,

When their wrath was kindled against us;

4.  Then the waters would have overwhelmed us,

The stream would have gone over our soul;

5.  Then the swollen waters would have gone over our soul."

6.  Blessed be the Lord,

Who has not given us as prey to their teeth.

7.  Our soul has escaped as a bird from the snare of the fowlers;

The snare is broken, and we have escaped.

8.  Our help is in the name of the Lord,

who made heaven and earth."

Let us "Be Still and know that I Am God",

and listen for that 

"still small voice" as He whispers our name and reminds us that He is still on our side, and that He is our help and shield.  We need not fear what man may do to us.

Praise God!

Facing Our Battles With Eyes of Faith

I hope you all had a blessed and Happy 4th of July celebration at your home yesterday. We had a quiet day, but very meaningful.  Started out the morning putting the flag out on the front porch, with a beautiful sunny sky as a backdrop.  I always sing "The Star Spangled Banner" when I put the flag up. I just can't help it. I am thankful for our flag and all that it represents to our country.

I added a couple of other flags to the porch. They helped the porch to look a bit brighter and more festive. Sadly, my geraniums and other plants are suffering in the heat and not producing very well right now, so the flags made things better.

After breakfast I took a ride in the kayak around "Still Waters Pond".  

Not a lot different to see, so just enjoy the pictures of the water lilies with me...

Twins!! Double the beauty!

I discovered this different type of water lily in the shady area of the pond: It is a "Nuphar Lutea", or Yellow Pond Lily

There are very few of these on our pond, and I wish this picture was better, but the sun was so bright it was hard to get a truer picture of the bright yellow color.  But if you look at the link I posted above, it will give you a better picture of what it is supposed to look like. And guess what? They are edible!

However, I don't see myself trying to eat one anytime soon.

Okay, back to the ride around the pond...

This is on the other side of the island, in that little cove...

And here I am on the home stretch...

I think the underside of those lily pads is interesting too...(before they curl up and die).

I'm heading into shore...there is my "Secret Memorial Garden" up ahead...

So that's the tour.  Now on to today, Sunday. Yes! We finally went back to church!!!! What a beautiful day in the Lord's house!! I wish I had thought to take some pictures, but I did get one picture of our new pastor as he was speaking:

Here is a link to our church website and his sermon for today.  It was an excellent message and even better in person than the video, which was taped before this morning. We had a "full house", meaning with social distancing, every family group sitting six feet apart, wearing masks, no hugging...our fellowship hall was filled to capacity.  It is easier to meet there than in the sanctuary, as we cannot be quite as flexible in seating with pews, etc.  Hopefully this will only be temporary until this virus goes away or at least abates enough to  feel safe again.  Our pastor's message really gave us some very good ways to approach this situation we are facing.  His scripture was from II Chronicles 20:1-25.  The key verses were some that I already had underlined in my Bible from different situations throughout my life.

II Chronicles 20:12

"O our God, will You not judge them? 

For we have no power against this great multitude that is coming against us; 

nor do we know what to do, 

but our eyes are upon You."

And hear God's response through His servant Jahaziel:

15.  "...Thus says the Lord to you:

'Do not be afraid nor dismayed because of this great multitude, 

for the battle is not yours, but God's."

17.  "You will not need to fight in this battle. 

Position yourselves,

Stand still and see the salvation of the Lord, who is with you...

Do not fear or be dismayed; 

tomorrow go out against them, 

for the Lord is with you!"

Perhaps you will find these verses comforting and helpful to you in whatever battles you may be facing in your life.  Whether it be, as in verse 9, "If disaster comes upon us--sword, judgment, pestilence, or famine--we will stand before this temple and in Your presence (for Your name is in this temple), and cry out to You in our affliction, and You will hear and save."...whether it be our enemies in battle, or this current "pestilence", which is a plague, or even in famine...we can be assured that the Lord will hear us when we call out to Him in prayer.  We do not need to worry or fear...for "the battle is not yours, but God's"...and the Lord is with you!!  

I hope this is a comfort to you today, as it certainly was to me.  We are facing many kinds of enemies these days, and we need to know that we can rely on God to fight for us, and that He is with us no matter what the enemy may try to do.  Praise God!! What a blessing to know this...amen? 

Keep your eyes on 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

God bless you, and God bless America!

Freedom Isn't Free

"God Bless the U.S.A." by Lee Greenwood and the USAF

Some thoughts for the 4th of July. We have so much to be thankful for. We live in a free country, and we've been blessed beyond measure.

We have clothes on our backs, food in our stomachs, and a roof over our head...we have the freedom to stand and salute the flag, because so many fought and died for us so that we could live here in freedom. Or we have the freedom to kneel and not salute if that is what we think we should do, because we don't believe in what our flag represents. We have that right to make that choice because we live in freedom...because so many died so we could have that freedom...kind of ironic, isn't it?

We have the freedom to work, play, pray. Freedom to pursue our dreams, attend the colleges of our choice, freedom to worship, freedom to live in safety and peace. Or we have the freedom to protest when we don't like the way things are done so that we can make a point.

But all of our freedoms could so easily be lost if we don't realize the value of what we have.
On this 4th of July, Independence Day, May we take the time to be thankful for these freedoms and recognize what is at stake here. There is no greater country in the world than America. Even with all our problems, we still have the freedom to choose how and where we will live.

For those who don't appreciate what you have here, perhaps a trip to places around the world where others are wishing they could live in America would help. Go to Africa, Somalia, China, Venezuela, Iraq, Iran, Afghanistan, India, Pakistan, just to name a few.
Spend time in the jungles, deserts, war torn lands where thousands of people are starving and dying everyday from government imposed sanctions against their own people. Spend a day in an African village where children are dying for lack of water and food, living in a mud hut in the middle of the heat of the desert, naked and swollen from famine. Then come back here and tell us we shouldn't celebrate our freedoms or that America is not a good place to live.

But let me just make this one suggestion, until you have experienced what it would be like to live in a country where there are no such freedoms, and where people are dying for just a drink of water and would
gladly come and eat the crumbs from under your table just so they could survive, please don't put down our nation. Please don't bite the very hands that have been feeding you and taking care of you since the day you breathed your first breath.

Please don't be so ready to destroy what so many have fought long and hard to protect for the sake of millions who do appreciate it...Take a moment to be thankful you were born in America, where at least you are free.

It could so easily have been you who was born in that mud hut in Africa, or that jungle in Asia or South America. It could so easily have been you who was shot down in a war ravaged village in the middle of the desert.

I, for one, am extremely thankful to be an American. I pray we never lose these freedoms that we have taken for granted and taken advantage of. We are so blessed beyond measure...even the poorest people of America are better off than many people in this world.
So count your blessings and thank God that you live in the U.S.A.

Postscript: I wrote the above this afternoon on my Facebook page, after reading someone's tirade about how we should not celebrate the 4th of July, and how ashamed we should be of our country.  The worst part of this is that the person who wrote it is someone who has had a life of great "privilege" and has been blessed more than many...but that person does not attribute that blessing to God...no, that person doesn't believe in God. That person lives in a home that was literally a gift, paid for by the hard work of generations of people who did not take their freedom so much for granted. People who would always stand for the National Anthem, and were proud to be Americans.  But this person believes there are far better countries than America in which to live. However, that person has never, to my knowledge, traveled outside of the eastern seaboard of the United States. If they had, they never would say these things about America being so terrible a place to live in. They would be kissing the very ground they were given to live on, debt free and paid for. My heart breaks to read the kind of hatred and vitriol coming out of the mouth of one so blessed. But this person thinks we are the problem. We are the ones filled with hatred.  

What is really sad is this person is just an example of what so many of that generation seem to think and feel. They are blinded to the truth of what is truly an injustice in our society today. But I don't want to go there and cause further division.

I pray for healing of our nation, our people, our hearts.  However, as most of us here already know, there can be no healing in our nation until there is first repentance in our hearts.  I know we all have our own personal issues and feelings about what is right and what is wrong with our nation today. But God gave us a way to heal our land.  It is found in 

2 Chronicles 7:13-15

13 "When I shut up heaven and there is no rain, or command the locusts to devour the land, 

or send pestilence among My people, 

14 if My people who are called by My name will humble themselves, and pray and seek My face, 

and turn from their wicked ways, then I will hear from heaven, 

and will forgive their sin and heal their land. 

15 Now My eyes will be open and My ears attentive to prayer made in this place."

I know we've all read that verse many times, or have heard it preached upon often...but it is the only remedy for our current situation in our land. My prayer is that we will all think about these things during our Independence Day celebrations this weekend, and as we celebrate our freedom, let us humbly pray and seek God's face, repent of our own wrong-doings, and be a part of the healing and not a part of the division.  At least that's my prayer for me.  

Have a blessed and wonderful 4th of July weekend! Even if we can't be together with everyone we'd like to be with, try to do something special to celebrate our freedom!  

July Already? Wow!

This changing to the new month of July crept up on me! I didn't even turn the pages on my calendars until today...and here is what I am seeing now for July:

John Sloane 2020 Country Seasons calendar

I love this Red, White, and Blue garden and country front porch with it's American Flag waving in the breeze.  Love the dog too.  Just noticed the red, white and blue ball in the walkway...perhaps the doggy is waiting for his friend to come back and play with him.  What a good doggy.  

Here is my front porch and flag, waving in the morning breeze. Just don't have the doggy.  

Although a neighborhood dog did come through our yard this morning and even came up on our back deck. Not sure where it came from, but it soon moved on, after scaring the Great Blue Heron out of the pond and onto a post.

Speaking of "Still Waters Pond",

Look at this "bi-plane"...dragonfly. I spied him from a distance, and had to come and see him up close.

Isn't he neat?

I thought you'd like that. I love that he loves to eat mosquitoes, so he is welcome to stay as long as he wishes.

Back to changing the calendars, here is my TeaTime Calendar page for July.

"Crazy for Sea Shells" tea set.  

With our current restrictions in place due to Covid 19, sadly there won't be much seashell gathering this 4th of July weekend. All the beaches are closed again to keep people from spreading the virus.

Very sad indeed.

Do you have any particular plans to celebrate the 4th of July this weekend? I guess we won't be doing anything extra special this year. No one wants to travel or gather due to the current uptick in the "virus". Normally we would have a big family gathering and make home made ice cream and have a BBQ. Maybe we will just buy our ice cream this year and grill our own hamburgers just for us. Ann over at Cottage by the Sea suggested that we should read the Declaration of Independence.  (I am sorry I missed the weekly Tuesday 4 Meme this week. You can check it out Here. ) In light of our current nation's situation, that sounds like a very good idea. It is important to remember what this day is really all about.  Sadly our younger generations have no clue what this country has been through in the past 244 years. If we don't value our freedom, we are in great danger of losing it. 

As you prepare for the Independence Day celebration this weekend, I truly hope you will take time to pray for our country, for our President, and for all of our leaders.  Also let us remember to pray for those who are affected by the Covid 19 virus that seems to have made a comeback in activity.

We just came from a meeting at our church, where we are preparing to reopen this coming Sunday. However we will be taking all necessary precautions of social distancing and mask wearing, no congregational singing or choir. We will partake of The Lord's Supper, but again with safe procedures in place. May the Lord be honored and exalted by all that we do.

This will be a day celebration as we welcome our new pastor, and as we also welcome our members back who have missed being together for the past four months. Although we will not be doing any hugging, our spirits will be soaring and reaching up to the heavens together as we pray and worship the Lord with one voice.

 

"Blessed assurance, Jesus is mine

O what a foretaste of glory divine

Heir of salvation, purchase of God

Born of His Spirit, washed in His blood

Perfect submission, perfect delight,

Visions of rapture now burst on my sight;

Angels descending, bring from above

Echoes of mercy, whispers of love.

Perfect submission, all is at rest

I in my Savior am happy and blessed

Watching and waiting, looking above

Filled with His goodness, lost in His love

Chorus:

This is my story, this is my song

Praising my Savior all the day long

This is my story, this is my song

Praising my Savior all the day long"

On another thought:

The following picture doesn't do justice to what I was seeing in person, but the sun was shining on this little lake like sparkling stars.  This lovely view is actually beside our local grocery store.  

Here's a better view of that old oak tree. I don't mind going to the grocery store when we can park near this lovely tree and little lake.  I just had to stop and enjoy the moment and take its picture. 

We need to do more of that these days...look for the beauty around us and take a moment to appreciate what God has provided. 

I know this post has been kind of scrambled and jumbled. I've had lots of interruptions as I've tried to write, and keep losing my train of thought, so I hope it all makes sense somehow.

I will close with this verse, which I have claimed as a life verse because my mother shared it with me many many years ago and it has helped me many times to think before I speak. Sometimes I need an extra reminder:

"Let the words of my mouth and the meditation of my heart be acceptable in Your sight, 

O Lord, my strength and my Redeemer."  

Psalm 19:14

Amen.

Have a blessed and happy 4th of July weekend!

God Bless America!