AUTUMN

We walk paths every day of our life. Some come in the brightness of light, like the summer sun. 

Some come in the rainy times of spring with puddles to jump in!  

Some come in the cold harshness of winter.  

 

                                           And, then there are paths that bring forth the bright beautiful colors of Autumn.

These colors of Autumn bring forth the beauty of God's creation, the reds, golds, oranges, deep green, no matter what color, shape or texture of the leaf, the grass, the pasture, we will walk this path of life with great joy.  

 

Genesis 1:11  "Then God said, “Let the land sprout with vegetation—every sort of seed-bearing plant, and trees that grow seed-bearing fruit." (NLT)

 

Each season brings forth it's own beauty and challenges, yet God walks with us!

 

Luke 24:11 "That same day two of Jesus’ followers were walking to the village of Emmaus, seven miles from Jerusalem." (NLT)

As we walk this season of Autumn together, let us looks to the great beauty that surrounds us, knowing God is with us!

 

Romans 8:39 "No power in the sky above or in the earth below—indeed, nothing in all creation will ever be able to separate us from the love of God that is revealed in Christ Jesus our Lord." (NLT)

WAVES

             Waves are something of beauty. They can be gentle and soft or they can be rough, loud, and dangerous!  

            There is just something about waves that can make a heart beat softly and bring calming to an anxious soul 

                                                    OR 

 

waves can create tension, anxiety and fear!

                        Whatever way you experience waves, 

always remember they were created by God. Genesis tells us:  

¹⁰ "God called the dry ground “land” and the waters “seas.” And God saw that it was good." (NLT)

No matter what you experience when you see waves, God is always present with us, to give joy to a peaceful heart or a calming presence in the midst of strife or anguish.

God told us through the prophet Isaiah:

                                    Chapter 41:10 

                "Fear not, for I am with you; be not dismayed, for I am your God; I will strengthen you, I will help you, I will uphold you with my righteous right hand."

 

        Today, let us ponder the waves in our lives, will they bring calmness or fear?

 

 

         Ask God to reveal Himself to you as you reflect on the waves in your life!

 

THOUGHTS!

As I sit on my porch and contemplate the beginning of hurricane season here in the southeast, I am consumed with thoughts of the chaos and pain in our country these past few weeks. 

Pain and suffering from senseless acts of harm towards others; adults, children, people from all walks of life!

I think about the chaos that is happening around the world; death, illness, disease, war, crimes against humanity.

My thoughts bring me to contemplation about what is happening to my denomination that I came to call home. Such pain and hurt happening amongst people that call themselves brother and sister.

These thoughts take me back to the time of Jesus and the chaos and pain that existed at the hands of the Roman government against the people of other countries. Countries that were overrun by a leader that wanted ultimate power and control.

Today I am thankful that in the midst of chaos, I can turn to the ONE that has brought HOPE. Hope only found in the ONE who brings PEACE, the Eternal One! Let us take time as we sit on our PORCHES to talk to the ONE who brings us comfort, JESUS, the Son of the ONE who breathed life into darkness at the beginning of time!

 

Words, what are in words? Each day a person speaks 1,000's of words. The question is, what do these words mean? What do they carry for the person speaking and for those listening?  Today we are so busy with life that we loose the meaning of the words spoken.  

We are now completed 2 years of a world pandemic. We were forced to recluse into our homes, away from the world. Away from others words, only to listen to the ones who lived in the same physical structure.  We were forced to only listen to words that came through electronic means. The cold computer was not able to reflect back to us the warmth of words spoken by other human beings.

Now where do we go, do we go back to the way it has always been? Not growing with what we have learned these past 2 years, or do we grow forward, take what we learned and make life better. 

One final question, did we use this quiet time to hear God's voice in the midst of panic, or did we get mad, sad, and lonely?  That is the question each one of has to ask and answer!

Let us not forget the quietness of a walk in the forest on a snow covered path, or the soft babble of a brook through the land that takes us to a place of washing away the old and refreshing our soul!

                     Sometimes words are not verbal, but found in the 

                                                            quietness 

                                              of the heart and soul!

MY NEW PORCH

 I have had the privilege of having another new porch. As we have moved to a part of the country that is warm and generally no snow. I had been able to redecorate!

Many times in our lives we have made decisions to redecorate a room or two.  Have you ever thought of the need to redecorate our heart and soul? Many have, many have not!  I always like to redecorate and rearrange. For me this pattern of decisions has allowed me to experience things in a new way. Could use the same furniture or basics; but movement of things gives a different perspective. 

So then, How about taking some time to redecorate and renew our soul. Take time to move that negative thinking in our lives to a place of no return. That place is at the foot of the cross. A place of forgiveness where we find grace!

For I am about to do something new.
    See, I have already begun! Do you not see it? Isaiah 43: 19a (NLT).

Now go start redecorating!!!

A New Calendar

 A new year means we flip the calendar and begin a new time.  Have you thought about your calendar for this new yer of 2022.  Some people check their calendar more than one time a day because the days activity could change often.  Some people use a calendar to remember birthdays and holidays. I remember my mom used a pocket calendar to write each January everyone's birthday, so she would send them a card. This task was very important to her every January. It could be considered a ritual. 

Are our rituals as important as writing important things to remember?

Some people use this new calendar to begin a new journal or maybe a new book list of reading ideas and accomplishments to be completed.

For me, it is a time of remembering what occurred the previous year and what I look forward to in the freshness of a new calendar. 

So let's get a new calendar, fill in the important dates to remember and believe that God will take care of the rest.

“So don’t be anxious about tomorrow. God will take care of your tomorrow too. Live one day at a time." Mark 6:34 ( The Living Bible)