"...God give thee of the dew of heaven, and the fatness of the earth..."  --Genesis 27:28  KJV

Beautiful Gift

My daughter blessed me by taking the time to make origami lilies to decorate a birthday gift to me... a beautiful compact mirror.   She's so creative and such a blessing!  She even made an asparagus, tomato omelet for breakfast and cake balls for a treat.  Tonight's dessert is going to be Curtis Stone's Cider Poached Pears with Yogurt and Toasted Almonds.  Thank you, Tiffany!

Chris gave me a 7-port USB extension, which I needed, as well as some very cool magnetic 'push pins' for our refrigerator.  They have earth magnets that can hold several sheets of paper!  Not only that, but he also bought birthday candles that glow with color.  Thank you, Chris!

And I've already received several birthday greetings from wonderful friends and family. Thank you so much!

What a nice way to begin a day.  :)

The Gift

I recently did a photo shoot for a brand new family for Christmas.  Little Annabelle is a precious and long awaited gift.  Thank you, Lord, for giving her life.





This was the last shot I took after the session was finished and I was ready to put my camera away.   Annabelle looked so peaceful and adorable in her little baby hammock, I just had to get that last shot in.

Gracie: Baby Dedication

Today, Max and Emily presented Gracie, as well as themselves, to the Lord in a dedication ceremony.







Pastor took Gracie in his arms and explained that dedicating one's baby to the Lord does not secure eternal salvation and an entrance into heaven for her, but it is a public display of the parents' decision to raise her in the nurture and admonition of the Lord.   (Ephesians 6:4) Gracie will one day have to seek the Lord herself and choose to trust Him as her Savior.

He also encouraged church members to support Max and Emily in their endeavor, and promised that as a church, he and the teachers would strive to teach her about God and His Word.





After saying a prayer and handing Gracie back over to her parents, Pastor presented Max and Emily with a little New Testament for Gracie.  It warms my heart to see the love Max and Emily have for her and the Lord, and the dedication our pastor has to being a good under-shepherd.

Why Be Nice?

“Love is always bestowed as a gift—freely, willingly, and without expectation. We don’t love to be loved; we love to love.”  --Leo F. Buscaglia

Why be nice? Why do you do the things you do?  This is something that has been on my mind for a while now, but a Facebook friend’s status caused me to revisit it.

How would you feel if you knew someone did nice things for you in order to get something back in return?   I know we usually do things for people to make them happy, to meet a need, to let them know they are loved and valued, and when they’re happy, we’re happy.  So, it’s true that we usually gain at least the benefit of happiness ourselves, even if being made happy is not our motivation.   But what if you knew that the person’s primary reason for doing nice things for you was to make themselves likable and happy and even to get something in return?  Would you feel loved... or would you feel used?

I think it’s somewhat natural for us to subconsciously hope for something in return, even if only for a response in kind expressing an acceptance of the thoughtfulness or friendship. But have you ever done something nice for someone in secret... anonymously, simply because you knew it was something they needed?   Usually, in those instances, because the person doesn’t know who to thank, they end up thanking God, and He gets the glory.  On the flip side, have you ever done things to make someone happy and then become hurt or even upset when they seemed to ignore you or take you for granted?   I confess that I have felt that before... even recently.  Why do we sometimes feel that way? The Bible reveals that we get upset when we don’t get what we want or expect.   (James 4:1-3)  Sometimes our expectations are realistic.   The greater the level of intimacy or connection in a relationship, the greater and more realistic the expectation.   Just be sure the feelings of connection and intimacy are mutual lest you become disappointed when your expectations are not met.  Sometimes our responses reveal that our expectations and motivations are more self-focused.   If we are truly doing something for someone else, then we should do so with an attitude of not expecting anything in return, else we are in essence doing it primarily for ourselves.

A good friend of mine has said that people, but especially children, want to know two basic things: 1) Who’s in charge? and 2) Am I loved?  We all want to be loved and valued.  John tells us that we love God, because He first loved us.  (1 John 4:19)  And Jesus said we are no different from others if we simply love those who love us.   So instead, we should be like God, our Father, and love and bless even those who hate us... and use us.   (Matthew 5:43-48)   So, why be nice even if it seems to get you no where?  Because it’s the right thing... the loving thing to do.

In the Quiet Misty Morning

I was so blessed to have the opportunity to do a little camping this past weekend.  It had been years!  Michael, a friend from church, organized a group to get together at a local campground.  Each of us had individual campsites, but we traveled back and forth to one another’s site.  We also went swimming together, went on a boat ride, and the guys played horseshoes.  The time was nicely spent.

During the night and the wee hours of the morning, I could hear loons calling out to each other.  The sound was hauntingly beautiful as it blended with the symphony of other creatures.  I got up to walk down to the lake in hopes of seeing a loon, taking some pictures and simply enjoying the beauty and tranquility of the morning.

Eli, an eleven-year-old young man, was already there.  He had caught a large bass the day before and had risen with the sun to catch another.  His father was not far behind me when I arrived, and we began to chat as Eli continued to fish.  It’s always nice sharing the beauty of God’s creation with another person.

The rising mist and the sun’s reflection upon the water was breathtaking.  A verse from the song Homeward Bound came to mind.  “In the quiet misty morning, when the moon has gone to bed, when the sparrows stop their singing, and the sky is clear and red...”  I had sung the song one summer on a town common with a church group.  It’s so beautiful and very fitting in a military tribute entitled Until Then... 

Blueberries and T

My daughter and I went to a pick-your-own organic blueberry farm today.  She plans to make blueberry cobbler with them.  Yum!

Afterward, we stopped by a natural food store and picked up some lunch from their little café.  Then, we drove down the road a ways, stopped at a river access, and ate while we watched some people jump off a large boulder and into the water.  What a blessing!  God has provided us with such natural beauty and wonderful resources.

FAIL'd... But Lesson Learned

 “For the poor shall never cease out of the land: therefore I command thee, saying, Thou shalt open thine hand wide unto thy brother, to thy poor, and to thy needy, in thy land.”  --Deuteronomy 15:11

Have you ever thought you’d learned something through reading or hearing, but when put to the test, you weren’t ready and wished God would give you another chance?  While in the area for a friend’s wedding, my family and I took a trip into Philadelphia to see the Liberty Bell and Independence Hall and possibly a museum or two.  We were ill-prepared in more ways than one.  Using our GPS, we tried to locate a parking garage close by, but we ended up parking ten blocks away.  Since it was such a beautiful day and we wanted to take some pictures of the amazing architecture we’d passed, we decided to walk.  Although ten city blocks was a greater distance than we’d anticipated in the hot blazing sun, I’m really glad we walked, because I learned a valuable lesson that day.

I had just finished the two books about homelessness by Ron Hall and Denver Moore, but it hadn’t even occurred to me that we might see homeless people on the streets of downtown Philadelphia.  Having been to Boston several times, despite seeing street musicians playing for money, I don’t remember seeing homeless people nor experiencing the pungent smells of urine and filth.  As we walked around the gorgeous City Hall building in Centre Square, I noticed a man several yards away sleeping atop cardboard on one of the benches under the shade of some trees.  We came to the corner of the building and saw a very thin, ragged-looking woman with hollow eyes sitting on some steps.  I wondered if she was homeless and wanted to give her some money or ask if she needed anything, but I didn’t quite know how to go about it, so we just passed by.  At the back of the building heading toward Market Street sat an older black woman asking for a match.  We apologized for not having a match to give her.  I wondered if I could perhaps buy some matches for her, but since I was with my family and didn’t know where to purchase any, I didn’t say anything.  As we kept walking, a young, strong-looking black man had just shoved a lighter into his pocket after lighting his cigarette.  I wanted to stop and ask him if he could offer the woman a light, but I was out of my element, and I was sure she’d ask him anyway when he passed by.  I turned to look and wish I’d turned sooner, prepared to capture the moment with my camera, but it blessed me to see a young man being kind to an old woman.

As we walked down Market Street, I saw another thin man sleeping on a covered bus bench with a shirt over his face, a young man sitting on the sidewalk against a brick wall with an open suitcase and a cardboard sign, and an overweight woman asking passersby to buy her something to eat.  We walked a little further, and I finally stopped, took out my wallet and shoved a bill into my pocket to be easily accessible.  “What is that for?” my daughter asked.

“For a homeless person,” I replied.

As we drew closer to Independence Park, we didn’t seem to encounter another homeless person.  After seeing the Liberty Bell and Independence Hall, we decided to utilize the transportation system so that we might have more time to visit a museum or the zoo.  But first, we stopped at a nearby Dairy Queen to use their facilities and get something cold to drink.  As we sat for a moment and I drank my ice cold raspberry lemonade, I thought about the homeless who must be hot and thirsty, so I bought a bottled water to go along with the money I had shoved in my pocket.  I prayed God would give me another chance... but... He didn’t.  As we walked the block toward a shuttle bus stop, I purposefully looked for a homeless person to bless.  I wish I had asked my family if we could have kept walking, but I thought surely, we could ride the bus to City Hall and encounter someone there.  We didn’t.  Why, I wondered, wasn’t God giving me another chance?

Remember the young man with the open suitcase?  I had wanted to take his picture, as well as others, and capture the plight of the homeless, but I also try to consider a person’s privacy and dignity.  I could’ve asked for permission or simply taken a picture of his suitcase and cardboard sign.  Did you wonder what the sign said?  It said something like, “Today is my 22nd birthday, and I have nothing...”  Despite what I thought I’d learned from Denver Moore’s admonition to not judge a person, I had judged the young man.  Although my heart went out to him, I had judged his sign to be merely a way of tugging at heartstrings to gain more sympathy and money.  Maybe it really was his 22nd birthday, but even if it wasn’t, he was obviously in some kind of need... and he was someone’s son.  If God had allowed me to give that bottle of water and money to someone else, it’s likely I would’ve felt good about myself and neglected to reflect on my failure to try to get to know a person, ask his name, and show the unconditional love of Christ.  I failed, but I truly hope the lesson was learned.

Just Ask

My daughter and I went on a road trip a few days ago to deliver a cheesecake to Sam, a nice young man in college.  I’d met him last year at a youth group all-nighter he’d attended as a friend of one of our group’s teens, and he is now one of my friends on Facebook.  A few months ago, Sam jokingly asked when I was going to make a cheesecake for him.  I told him he’d have to wait until his birthday.  He probably thought I was joking, too, because we’re really only acquaintances and he lives a distance away, but I was serious.

I like doing things for people, but I don’t always know what to do or for whom to do it, so it’s nice when people make their needs or desires known.  I’ve been reflecting, as I often do, on how some people often ask for things and get them and how others don’t and miss out.  Has that ever happened to you?  Or are you one of those people who is not afraid to ask?  A young girl in our church is very bold about asking for things, and she’s so cute she often gets what she asks for, but her older brother is a bit more reserved... and mature.  I think he has learned something from her though, because I’ve noticed that he has loosened up a bit and will sometimes sheepishly seek to obtain what he desires.  Jesus said, “Ask, and it shall be given you; seek, and ye shall find; knock, and it shall be opened unto you”  (Matthew 7:7; Luke 11:9).  And in James’ letter, as recorded in the Bible, James said, “...you have not, because you ask not”  (James 4:2).  Now, we know that we don’t always get everything we ask for.  James also said, “You ask and do not receive, because you ask with wrong motives...”  (James 4:3)  And just like any good parent, our Heavenly Father knows when to say, “No or not yet” for our good and for the good of others.  So knowing that God gives good things to those who ask, “let us therefore come boldly unto the throne of grace, that we may obtain mercy, and find grace to help in time of need”  (Hebrews 4:16).  Just ask!

Hugs and Kisses

“Greet one another with a kiss of love...”  --1 Peter 5:4

I am participating in a group on Flickr called “52 Weeks of Gratitude~”.  I love and am thankful for big, warm hugs and soft kisses.  During our Sunday morning worship services at church, we have a time of greeting one another.  While a few may greet a close relative or loved one with a kiss on the cheek, most simply shake hands, and some are like me, who love to give hugs.  I especially delight in the hugs and soft kisses of children, because they are genuine expressions of love and trust and not an attempt to get something more in return.  As a child of God, I sometimes wish I could give my heavenly Father a hug, but when I consider His awesome holiness, I think I would be more like the immoral woman who fell at Jesus feet.  She washed his feet with her tears and hair, anointed them with oil, and kissed them out of genuine love (Luke 7:36-50).

I also think of how Jesus must have been with all the little children who loved Him. When we read that Jesus "...blessed them", please don't think our Lord was somber and solemn! Can't you see Him sitting with little kids just crowded around laughing and giggling and Him laughing with them? And hugging them and they Him? How refreshing that must have looked and how surprising it would seem to some of us! Yet maybe that's a key? Didn't the Lord say we had to become like little children to receive the Kingdom?

Do you know someone who could use a big, warm hug... or a gentle kiss today?

The Spreading of the Clouds

 "And can any understand the spreadings of the clouds...?"  --Job 36:29a

On Friday, we drove to Lancaster, Pennsylvania to see the Sight & Sound production In the Beginning.  It was amazing!  The way the story was told and performed brought to life the events of the Creation and Fall to the death of Adam.  Tears streamed down my face, and I felt like weeping.

On the ride home, the play went through my head... the life of peace, fellowship, and blessing Adam and Eve enjoyed before the Fall, and the fear, isolation, and suffering they endured afterward.  I thought about my own struggles, and a song went through my head that had come to mind the day before on the ride up... Rejoice in the Lord  by Ron Hamilton.

God never moves without purpose or plan
When trying His servant and molding a man.
Give thanks to the LORD though your testing seems long;
In darkness He giveth a song.

I could not see through the shadows ahead;
So I looked at the cross of my Savior instead.
I bowed to the will of the Master that day;
Then peace came and tears fled away.

Now I can see testing comes from above;
God strengthens His children and purges in love.
My Father knows best, and I trust in His care;
Through purging more fruit I will bear.

O Rejoice in the LORD
He makes no mistake,
He knoweth the end of each path that I take,
For when I am tried
And purified,
I shall come forth as gold.

I had asked Max and Emily if they'd like to sing it together in light of the fact our church hasn't had choir since the change from an evening service to an afternoon one.  It's difficult to get everyone together to practice.  They agreed.

I was feeling so unworthy to serve the Lord, and as I prayed, I looked up into the blue sky to see a cloud with a void in the middle with the shape of the number 5.  Five... five what?  It was a distinct shape, and as I continued looking and wondering, a cloud formation beside it slowly formed the numbers 1 and 3 in the same manner... a void, and when I looked back at the 5, it had turned into a 6.  "What does it mean?" I wondered.  The numbers were too distinct to be a mere coincidence, but I told myself that we shouldn't trust in signs and seek to hear from the Lord that way.  I couldn't help praying to ask if it was significant, and as I did, a car passed by, and I just happened to notice the last three numbers of it's license plate... 613.  Another coincidence?  It was too much, so I asked what it meant, and a thought came to mind.  The 5 represented the fifth book of the Bible, and the 6 and 13 represented the chapter and verse.  I asked Matt, who was sitting across the aisle from me, if I could borrow his Bible for a minute.  This is what Deuteronomy 6:13 says, "Thou shalt fear the LORD thy God, and serve him, and shalt swear by his name."   Is it just a coincidence that it directed me to God's Word and fit the occasion of my prayer?  I don't think so.

God's Goodness

 

"He causeth the grass to grow for the cattle, and herb for the service of man: that he may bring forth food out of the earth."  --Psalm 104:4 

I milled some parsley from our garden this morning, and I have some dried oregano waiting to be milled.  Spices can be expensive, but God has blessed our garden this year, and it is so rewarding to enjoy the fruit of one's labor.  Isn't it?