HE WILL CARRY YOU THROUGH

This is a picture I took from the same bird sanctuary I had talked about at last weeks post.  I love how the colors of spring come out gradually.  It is as if you are looking at a sepia picture; but, oh, there is a spot of red.  The grays and the brown's are even beautiful.

My hope with this blog is that you are inspired to take a moment and read the scriptures.  I am not a preacher.  I am a daughter of our Heavenly Father that endeavors to walk with Him. 

This verse is in a chapter of the Bible where the psalmist is being persecuted for living his life the best he knows how according to God's Word.  He knows he is not perfect, he knows at times he sins, but he knows his Heavenly Father is always there for him.  Even though God has forgiven him, the world wants to publicize his failures and even make up a few for good measure.  He finds his rest in keeping his eyes on the Creator and enjoys the comfort of praise.

In the midst of your troubles, praise Him.  You will be amazed how small troubles seem, when you keep your thoughts on Him.

PICNIC DELIGHT

I have been taking part in a study course on hospitality at

http://karenehman.com/home

We were asked to share our favorite recipe.  Since I have an inspirational nature photography blog, I thought I would be a little creative and share a recipe for the ultimate picnic spot.  Here it is.

PICNIC DELIGHT

1 blue sky with dash of white clouds

1 golden sun

1 bunny and her baby munching on the clover

1 red cardinal singing his love song

1 deer and her doe walking in the distance

A hand full of butterflies among the milkweed

A touch of breeze

Bake at a temperature of 74 degrees

Serve generously with breaking bread and good fellowship

My Song In the Night

I had posted this picture in March and had decided to post it again.  Tonight May 5th, the biggest full moon of the year will occur.  Say a prayer for your brethern while you enjoy God's creation and take some pictures while you are at it.

I love this picture and the verse!  How powerful!

I am sure there is not a man or woman on this earth that has not felt the way the psalmist felt when he wrote Psalm 77.  He wondered if his lot was to be that of Israel.  Will the Lord cast off forever and be favorable no more? 

But... wait!

Then he recalled the Lord's deeds and remembered His wonders that He performed for his fathers of old.

So....He took his eyes off himself,

and remembered how God does deliver.  He does not forget His own.

Look away from your problems,

and call to remembrance,

YOUR SONG IN THE NIGHT!

The Lord is Gracious and Full of Compassion

I wanted to title this post with the latter half of this verse.  We truly have a GREAT BIG WONDERFUL GOD!

Many times I hear people talking about God's wrath or judgment or testing.  Then I come across verses such as the one in this image. 

Sometimes, we forget His wonderful works and walk away from His banner, which is love.  When we walk out from under His banner, we get wet, and for what?  Something the world has to offer?  Does the world have anything that can compare with what our God has already given, and what He will give, as we walk with Him?

He hath made His wonderful works to be remembered!

He Has Made the Summer and Winter

  I thought I would post this for all of us that are missing the snow here in the Northeast and other places.  It seems a little backwards this year.  This weekend they had a nice snowstorm down south; we are still enjoying spring like weather. I love how my husband embellished this image that I took.  You can really feel the cold. 

I have learned in my days of walking with the Lord, there is always something that I can give our God praise and thanks for.  In times of turmoil in our country, I can still see God's goodness and hand of blessing.  I think sometimes we whine too much.  Some folks pray for snow because they love it.  Maybe they want to go skiing.  Others can't stand it.  Maybe one person is praying for snow and one person is praying for the snow to go away.  Are we asking amiss?  Perhaps we should stop trying to direct God and  enjoy more of what is around us.  There is no perfection in this world, but there is a lot of evidence of God's mighty hand at work.  

In chapter 74 of Psalms, the psalmist recognizes he and his brethren are in a dire state.  Yet, he does not let the situation dominate his soul.  He instead turns and remembers and reminds God (which He seems to really like), of His goodness and times of deliverance for His people.

Praise Him, He has made the summer and the winter, (even the mild ones).  

SIX JOYFUL ROSES

It was a beautiful morning, the sky was blue, the birds were singing.  I looked forward to the day we had planned.  We would be packing the cooler with goodies, lemonade for our daughters and coffee for me and my husband.  All four of us would be bringing our cameras, it was always a family event.

We arrived at the gardens before anyone else.  The sun peeking through the trees and the morning dew that lingered, made us feel like we walked into a story book scene.  We walked quietly through the garden, savoring the time, not speaking a word.

The six joyful roses, as I like to call them, was but a piece of the memory of that story book morning.

Take time to come to the garden alone while the dew is still on the roses.

WAITING CARDINAL

This beautiful cardinal has a sad story with a happy ending. He is sitting on a wire calling for his mate.  She never came. 

 HERE IS THE STORY AS I WITNESSED IT.

It pains me to tell it. 

Mrs. Cardinal was sitting on her nest.  I would see her sitting on her delicate nest waiting patiently for her brood to hatch. As I was tending my garden on a beautiful summer afternoon, I heard a horrible commotion.  I ran over to where the ruckus was and I saw a chipmunk dragging Mrs. Cardinal down into his hole.  It was horrifying to watch.   I had never seen or had known of a chipmunk to do such a thing.  Mr. Cardinal must have been out looking for food, for I know he would have fought gallantly for her.

  About 10 minutes later he came to the nest and found her missing.   He searched all over the bush and the ground calling for her.  He would sit on the wire calling for her all day.  He did this for a few days.   She never came.  My heart ached for the little guy.

I guess this would be a time of winter for him.  As painful as this was, I knew this time of sorrow would pass.

As spring approached, I listened for his beautiful song.  Early, one morning I heard him.  His song was light.  The frantic call of that horrible summer day was gone.  He sounded refreshed.  He sounded new. 

One day, as I looked towards Mr. Cardinal singing his heart song, there by his side was a new mate.  I thrilled to know he would have a new start.  He  and the new Mrs. Cardinal were much wiser in the placement of their nest.  They had a nice healthy bunch of baby birds.  I would say about three. 

I know this is a simple picture, but it's story is full.

I am thankful that God is so good.  He even gives a new start to a simple cardinal.

What about you and me. 

How has God given you a new beginning when it looked like it was the end of your world?