You're By My Side-Updated

9/17/2016: I like to go back and read what I was writing this time last year and before, and see just where I was in my journey. This time last year I was contemplating and preparing to retire in a couple of months, and there was a lot going on in my mind and life. I remember this day so vividly. God sent His special messenger to cheer me onward and lift my spirits just when I needed it most. Perhaps that is where you are today. Maybe this message is meant for you. Read on and be blessed, my friend!

Original Post 9/8/15:
This afternoon on my way home from work I was blessed by the sight of a beautiful Bald Eagle alongside the road, eating his dinner. As I slowed down the car to get a better look, he began to fly right beside my car, low to the ground, slowly gaining altitude and eventually crossing in front of me and flying up into a tree on the other side of the road. Sadly, I did not have my camera with me (and my cell phone is ancient), so this picture is from last Thanksgiving when we were visited by this beautiful eagle...(Click HERE for that amazing story)

Anyway, as today's glorious eagle flew alongside my car for a short distance, this song came on the radio by Rend Collective : You Will Never Run Away - Rend Collective   (click the link for the song and sing along while you read the lyrics below)

Rend Collective 

From the album As Family We Go

You will never run away

You're forever mine

You will never run away

You're by my side

Love wide as galaxies

Love deeper than the sea

Countless as all infinity

Love like a shooting star

Tearing apart the dark

Shining for all eternity

Shining for all eternity

You will never run away

You're forever mine

You will never run away

You're by my side

You will never run away

You forever shine

You will never run away

You're by my side

Love stronger than the grave

Love rolled the stone away

Rising with endless majesty

Love takes us by the hand

Love is the wildest dance

You are the joy and fight in me

You are the joy and fight in me

You will never run away

You're forever mine

You will never run away

You're by my side

You will never run away

You forever shine

You will never run away

You're by my side

Hearts open wide

Hands lifted high

Over the clouds up into the blue sky

Hearts open wide

Hands lifted high

Over the clouds up into the blue sky

You will never run away

You're forever mine

You will never run away

You're by my side

You will never run away

You forever shine

You will never run away

You're by my side!!!

Publishing: © 2015 Thankyou Music (PRS/SESAC) (admin. worldwide at 

CapitolCMGPublishing.com, excluding Europe, which is admin. by IntegrityMusic.com)

Writer(s): Rend Collective

I wonder if you can grasp why this seemed so significant to me...I mean, have you ever been feeling a little down and unsure of God's plan and direction for your life...and you just needed a little burst of encouragement to help you recognize that God was there for you...that He hadn't forgotten you...and that He was actually right there beside you...always by your side????  Well...that's where I was today...and then God literally came alongside me and reassured me of His constant care and love...always by my side!!!  

I want you to know that after this obvious message from the Lord this afternoon I smiled and sang all the rest of the way home.  I could NOT stop smiling!  Actually a few tears rolled down my cheeks at the same time as the smile refused to give way to sorrow again.  They were tears of joy...God certainly got my attention this time!

You will never run away

You forever shine

You will never run away

You're by my side!!!

I hope you will be encouraged by this message today as well.  

"Be strong and of good courage, 

Do not fear nor be afraid of them;

for the Lord your God,

He IS the ONE who goes with you. 

He will not leave you nor forsake you."

Deuteronomy 31:6

Pics of the Week

Pics of the Week

The Geico Gecko doing some pole dancing on my hummingbird feeder this week!

I already did my post for Friday Foto Friends this week, but after I thought about it, I wished I could do something else. However, not wanting to be hoggish, it didn't seem appropriate to post two different posts on the group's blog link up for today, so I'll just post these favorite pics of the week here...and if you happen to check in and notice, I hope you'll enjoy them with me.  My Facebook friends may have already seen most of these pictures, but some of you in the blogging world aren't on my Facebook, so these will be new to you.  Enjoy!  

Our Apple Tree has decided to start blooming in September! I guess all the rain woke it back up after a hot, dry summer. I wonder if we'll get apples?  This tree was just planted this past year as a part of our annual memorial for our son. Click HERE for that story.

I was surprised this morning to discover one of our neighborhood fawns, resting in the shade of someone's lawn in the heat of the day! So this is what they do during the day!

Our neighborhood triplet fawns, foraging for their supper! This is how I usually see them, in the early morning or evening.

Earlier in the week we had a storm rolling in, and I asked my hubby to take me to the lake so I could see how the sky looked over the water.  These are the pictures I was able to capture as the wind blew the storm across the water:

Psalm 93:1-2, 5 says:

"The Lord reigns. 
He is clothed with majesty;
The Lord is clothed,
He has girded Himself with strength.
Surely the world is established, so that it cannot be moved.
Your throne is established from of old;
You are from everlasting.

Your testimonies are very sure;
Holiness adorns Your house,
O Lord, forever."

Amen.

I hope this has been a pleasant interlude to your day today.   Be blessed, my friends!

Finding Your Voice - Part Two - Friday Foto Friends #45

Yesterday I wrote this post, "Finding Your Voice - Part Two", and then somehow I accidentally deleted it! I guess you could say I "lost my voice"...well, temporarily.  Not too sure that the same post can be totally reproduced, but maybe that was God's way of saying that perhaps something else ought to be said instead.

This post was to be a follow-up to the one written a few days ago, "Finding Your Voice" (Click HERE for that post).  After publishing that particular blog, I was surprised to see that the Christian contemporary singer Natalie Grant had written a new book with the exact same title!  Click HERE for more about that!

So it seems as though this is a message that God is trying to get across to us...and to each individual it may be a little bit different approach, but the idea is still the same..."Find Your Voice" and use it for the glory of God.  Whether it be a voice of ministry, teaching, singing, writing, creativity (crafts, art, photography, quilting, ceramics-many voices there)...a voice of kindness, encouragement, compassion, exhortation, counseling... Whatever your voice...speak boldly and with confidence!

In thinking more about this topic I was led to the following scriptures regarding voices with a message for all of us during these days of decision, confusion, and concern regarding the future of our nation and world...

Isaiah 40:6-8

"The voice said, 

'Cry out!'

And he said, 'What shall I cry?'

'All flesh is grass,

And all its loveliness is like the flower of the field.

The grass withers, 

The flower fades,

Because the breath of the Lord blows upon it;

Surely the people are grass.

The grass withers,

the flower fades,

But the word of our God stands forever!

Behold your God!

To sum up these thoughts...we have a message to give to the nations...and to the people around us. Whatever God is placing upon your heart...do not be afraid to speak out. 

Pray first, seek His voice most of all...and then, as the Lord leads you, do your part to be a messenger for God's glory here on earth.  Nothing is too small or insignificant when God is in it. Your voice matters. Our days here on earth may be numbered...and the message we have to share needs to be heard.  There may be someone right around you just waiting to hear what you have to say! 

P.S.:  I almost forgot that in my original post that got deleted I had included this song, "O Zion, Haste".  This is an old hymn that I am sure many of you will remember.  Put on your sound and enjoy singing this beautiful hymn with me...and pay attention to the words as you sing.  Such a message here!

O Zion, Haste - You Tube Video


I am linking up with Deb at Friday Foto Friends today.  I hope you will join in and see what others are sharing as well. 

Finding Your Voice

Finding Your Voice

I don't know what this little deer was trying to say to me, but it appears that she's definitely trying to find her voice and tell me something important!

This past Sunday in our Bible Study time we were challenged to think about different people in the Bible who found their voice.  Our main study was in the book of Amos...the prophet who said

"I was no prophet, nor was I a son of a prophet, 

but I was a sheepbreeder and a tender of sycamore fruit.

Then the Lord took me as I followed the flock, 

and the Lord said to me,

'Go, prophesy to My people Israel.'"  Amos 7:14-15

And so he did!  Read the book of Amos for the powerful message he gave to Israel, as per the Lord's instruction.

Think about some others in the Bible who "found their voice"...Moses, when he told Pharoah to "let my people go" (Read the book of Exodus for this story). There was the Apostle Peter, a fisherman who left all to follow Christ and became a great leader in the establishment of the Christian church, (see the book of Acts),   Queen Esther (click on the link for another post about what she had to say), and certainly King David as he wrote most all of the Psalms, and don't forget all of the prophets, both major and minor...the apostles who wrote the Gospels, Paul who found his voice after he was struck blind on the road to Damascus, (see Acts 9), The Apostle John, who wrote the Gospel of John, I, II, & III John as well as the Book of Revelation...and the list goes on and on.

But what about you and me?  In what ways have you or I found our voices?  And what is our message?

I can honestly say that when I discovered the way to write this blog, God helped me to find my voice. And then, when I received probably one of the very best gifts ever...my camera... that opened my voice even further...to be able to share pictures of God's beautiful creation with the world...and to have the opportunity to express the messages that God impresses upon my heart through His creation by sharing them with you here...Wow! What a blessed way to "find my voice".  

Perhaps some of you have found your voice through the gift of singing, or teaching, or praying.  There are many of you who have the gift of counseling and sharing God's love and compassion through your messages of hope and encouragement.  Maybe even some have found their voice in the ability to bring healing through God's healing hands in the application of medicine and care-giving.

You may have found your voice by being a testimony of Christ's love and saving grace to those around you, whether in the work-place, community, church or home.  Finding your voice in your home to share love and hope and encouragement with your children and your spouse is a wonderful gift.

I know that there are some who are just getting the courage to speak up about injustice, abuse, and the lies of the enemies of our souls.  It takes a lot of courage to speak out against the darkness...but fear not, God is with you, and He will give you the words to speak when it is the time to speak. 

"But when they deliver you up, do not worry about how or what you should speak.

For it will be given to you in that hour what you should speak;

for it is not you who speak, but the Spirit of your Father who speaks in you."

Matthew 10: 19-20

You know, if you are a believer in Christ, you have much good news to proclaim! In whatever way you are led to do so, find your voice and proclaim the Good News!

"How beautiful upon the mountains 

are the feet of him who brings good news,

Who proclaims peace,

Who brings glad tidings of good things,

Who proclaims salvation,

Who says to Zion,

'Your God reigns!"

Isaiah 52:7

Mt. Washington, NH, photo taken in 2013

Click HERE for a continuation of this topic- "Finding Your Voice-Part Two"

Friday Foto Friends - "Longing For God"

"As the deer pants for the water brooks,

So pants my soul for You, O God.

My soul thirsts for God, for the living God.

When shall I come and appear before God?"

My tears have been my food day and night,

While they continually say to me, 

'Where is your God?"

Psalm 42:1-3 NKJV

As I was taking my evening walk I happened upon this young deer, who was obviously separated from his Mama.  As the pictures progress, little deer is actively moving back toward safety with the mother deer.  He did not stop to eat or smell the flowers until he was back within close range of her.  Once they were reunited...and the mother felt that I was no threat to them, they both were able to relax and eat a bite together.

Isn't that a lot like us when we get too far away from the safety net of the Throne of God? We sometimes have a tendency to wander away from the protection of His mercy and grace, thinking we are smart enough and big enough to take care of ourselves. Suddenly we find ourselves lost and alone, while the enemies of our soul gather around and threaten our peace of mind and sense of security, taunting us with their jibes and laughter at our confusion, saying, "Where is your God?"

When we wake up from our wanderings and realize our danger, isn't it wonderful to race back into the welcoming arms of our heavenly Father, knowing that He will never turn us away...and that He will stare down the face of the enemy and stand guard while we rest in the security of His love? 

"Why are you cast down, O my soul?

And why are you disquieted within me?

Hope in God, for I shall yet praise Him 

for the help of His countenance!"

Psalm 42:5

"The Lord will command His lovingkindness in the daytime,

and in the night His song shall be with me..

A prayer to the God of my life."

Psalm 42:8

Joining today with Deb and friends over at Friday Foto Friends.  Hop on over to see what others are sharing today.  It will bless your heart!  Happy Friday Everyone!

 

Friday Foto Friends: "I Will Send Hornets Before You..."

Hello Friends! Today is Friday Foto Friends day, and I'm a little late in getting on here. 

Hornet's Nest...story to follow

 Fridays are busy for me.  We leave early in the morning to go meet my brother-in-law about an hour + drive away to pick up my mother-in-law for the weekend.  She stays with us Friday-Monday, and then we do the same trip again.  My mother-in-law is 93 years old, and has dementia. Some days are good, but most days are not so good nowadays.  Our weekends are very challenging...but we are glad that we are able to help and are thankful that so far we are able to keep her with us at home.  Not sure how much longer that will last with the way the dementia is progressing here lately...so we take it one day at a time and thank the Lord for the strength He gives us to keep going.

Last night "Hurricane Hermine" passed through our state, and we heard it come roaring through around 3:00 a.m., with lots of rain and wind.  We weren't too sure what to expect when we woke up this morning, but thankfully there was NO significant damage around us.  A few trees down here and there, and lots of puddles, but we are far enough inland that we were pretty well protected from this particular storm.  Thank you, Lord!

So, this afternoon, in between the little "feeder-bands" of fast moving rain-showers that kept popping up when you'd least expect it, even when the sun was shining...I grabbed my camera and attempted to take a quick walk around our neighborhood....and just as I got far enough away to be too far to run back, it started raining again...so my walk-about was short lived and wet.

However, as the rain started to fall I was startled to notice this huge Hornet nest hanging from a tree nearby that I've never noticed before, even though I walk past that spot almost every day!

Yikes! I'm sure glad I didn't run right into this thing!!!!!! Here's a close up showing one of its inhabitants:

Amazing!!! Isn't God's creation always awesome? Even though this would be a rude awakening if I accidentally bumped into it...it is still an outstanding work of art, designed by our Master Designer Himself! This got me to wondering if hornets are ever mentioned in the Bible.  In checking the references for hornets I was surprised to discover that there are three scripture references that talk about the hornet!  For your information they are: Exodus 23:28, Deuteronomy 7:20, and Joshua 24:12.  They all are speaking of the same event from different perspectives, and this time the hornet is actually being used as a tool of God to help the children of Israel to go in and possess the Promised Land.  I recommend that you read these chapters to get the whole story, but listen to this narrative from Deuteronomy 7 regarding God's great love for His chosen people: Deuteronomy 7:8   "But because the Lord loves you,  and because He would keep the oath which He swore to your fathers,  the Lord has brought you out with a mighty hand,  and redeemed you from the house of bondage,  from the land of Pharaoh king of Egypt... And then read on down to verses 17-20, where they are told the following: "If you should say in your heart,  'These nations are greater than I;  how can I dispossess them?'   You shall not be afraid of them,  but you shall remember well what the Lord your God did to Pharaoh and to all Egypt:  the great trials which your eyes saw, the signs and the wonders,  the mighty hand and the outstretched arm, by which the Lord your God brought you out.   So shall the Lord your God do to all the peoples of whom who are afraid.  Moreover the Lord your God will send the HORNET among them until those  who are left, who hide themselves from you, are destroyed." Wow!!! God actually used the hornet to drive out the Hivite, Canaanites, and the Hittites  as well as several other enemy groups of people from before the children of Israel (see Exodus 23:28, Joshua 23:11-12) so that they could enter in and possess the promised land! Are there times in your life that you wonder if God is aware of your need or your fears?  Do you ever doubt that He could have any possible way to knock down your enemies and open the path before you so that you can move ahead in your life to victory?  I know I've often questioned how God could ever solve my problems and make a way out of what appeared to be no way.  And yet, here today, we see that God can use even a little hornet...a feisty and fierce insect, to drive away whole nations of enemies and "deliver their kings into your hand..." (Deuteronomy 7:24).   Imagine that!!!  If God can do that, and He DID do that, then why should we doubt that He will take care of our needs??? Praise God for His marvelous ways He takes care of His children every day!! Now, fly on over to see what my other friends are sharing today on Friday Foto Friends #43.

I'm Counting My Gifts---Things for Which I am Thankful in 2012 This is a work in progress. UPDATED 9-1-16

Hello Friends...Today is September 1, 2016...And I was just enjoying the fact that this is the first day of September, and wanted to write something in honor of this day...and then I found this post that I had written back in 2012 on Sept. 6th.  

I can't believe all the wonderful thoughts and memories that are included in this post...some now a little bittersweet since the passing of our wonderful #2 son in May of 2014.  And some other changes also...my grandson is now almost 17 years old and about 6'3" tall...

Our grandson and his mother in 2016

 (see picture below)...




And some things never change,
like the fact that I baked lasagna for my #1 son a few days late for his birthday again THIS year. (We did celebrate his birthday on the right day, but had ribs that day...and lasagna later in the week, just so you know we didn't forget his birthday.  LOL)

#1 Son Lasagna birthday dinner

   





And now I am retired along with my hubby, so he doesn't have to cook dinner anymore (although I sometimes wish he would!)  But we enjoy spending every day together...and every day is a holiday from work for me now!

Me with My Hubby, now both happily retired

Yes, reading back through this thankfulness journey makes me think perhaps it would be a good thing to do again this year.  Perhaps today would be a good day to start.  How about you? What things are YOU thankful for?  Why don't we start counting them together?   Sounds like a plan!

Here's a good verse for today:

"The Lord will give strength to His people;

The Lord will bless His people with peace."

Psalm 29:11

Now THAT's something to be thankful for!!  Who couldn't use a little more strength and peace?

Okay...read on and see what I was thinking about four years ago...and have a blessed and thankful day.


ORIGINAL POST 9/6/2012:
I have decided to follow Ann Voskamp's writing prompts for September, to 'Count 1000 Gifts in 2012".  This is my first attempt at this, and I am enjoying the process.   I will be adding to this post daily throughout September...and who knows? Maybe I'll have to do one for October, Nov., Dec. too!  I don't know if I will make it to 1000 gifts in 2012 since I started so late, but the important thing is to try!  Developing an "attitude of gratitude" is always beneficial to oneself and to everyone around as well!  We all love a grateful, thankful person, right?    Well, here goes:

Go to www.annvoskamp.com for more information about how you can participate in

Count 1000 Gifts in 2012.

#1 Son Benton on his birthday

Sept. 1:  (Three Gifts Summer) 

1.  Thankful for the energy to bake lasagna for my son's 41st birthday belated dinner.

Our home in the forest

2.  Thankful for our home in the forest...a blessing we never expected to have. 

3.  Thankful that my #2 son in Maine got through his week after starting a new chemo for DSRCT.

Our  #2 Son Matthew

#2 Son Matt and wife Nicole

Our Grandson Noah

Sept. 2: 1.  This is my birth month! Thankful to be alive!  2.  Thankful for a holiday weekend-rest from my "labors". 

 3.  Thankful for my husband and my 3 sons, 1 daughter in law, and 1 grandson

Me, relaxing on Labor Day

Oops! I was supposed to be following a prompt: Sept. 1: 3 Gifts of Summer ( I will leave my "gifts" as they were written originally).  and for Sept. 2: 3 gifts "cut":  1.  The golden marigolds I cut and put on the windowsill. 

2. "Cut" from my labors at work for a long holiday weekend. 

3.:  62 years ago this month I was "cut" from the cord and started my life as a baby on this earth!

My Hubby and 2 of our sons,  #3 son Scott (on roof) and Benton
painting the trim over our new porch roof.

 

‎Sept. 3:  3 Yellow Gifts:  1. Yellow sunflower plates to start our day with sunshine 2. Fresh light yellow paint trim on house...painted by my sons on Labor Day 3.Yellow wildflowers alongside the road...planted by God's seed sowers, the birds of the air...



Wild Goldenrod...beautiful yellow wildflowers....as long as
they don't make me sneeze!



Sept. 4: 3 gifts today: Cool: A breeze wafting through just in time for our evening walk.

Me and My Hubby John - He's a "keeper!"

Warm: The delicious meatloaf cooked by my "retired" husband and ready to eat when I walked in the door from work.



Sun-soaked: my youngest son after a day of hard work at a job that was a God-send at just the right time. (Of course!)

"Sun Soaked"  #3 Son Scott



Me on my birthday a couple of years
ago with the apple pie baked by
my sister. 

My 3 gifts for Sept. 5: (Count 1000 gifts in 2012 at http://www.Annvoskamp.com/) Today's Prompt: 3 gifts Autumn:1. Hot Home-made Apple Pie on my birthday, baked with love by my sister.

Oct. 2009- Fall Trip to Maine, with our grandson
I hope to update this picture in a few weeks when we
travel back to Maine for Noah's 13th birthday!

 She took over this "gift" when our mother passed away. My mother had always baked an apple pie for me for my birthday.  (my birthday isn't until later this month...I'm just counting my "gifts" of autumn...those I've had in past autumns, and those I'd like to have during this autumn as well!)

2. A brisk walk in the woods on a fall day, enjoying the colorful leaves and the scent of woodsmoke in the air.

3. A High School Football Game on a chilly Friday night, with hot chocolate and marshmallows to warm my hands. (and a winning team!)   (no picture of this scene yet...maybe we'll go to my high school homecoming game this year...that would be fun! Perhaps some of my "old" friends will be there as well!)

Sept. 6th: 3 Gifts Growing:
1.  The flowers and trees that I planted in my yard this year.
2.   The joy of friendships old and new that continue to grow and flourish.
3.  My relationship with the Lord...and His relationship with me!