Wings Like Eagles

The sun was out in full force today luring me outdoors for some much-needed exercise.  The mixture of fresh air, sun, and movement really does a body and soul good!  The bright blue sky and the strong sunrays would’ve been gift enough for me, but I guess He knew I needed an extra boost.

I love to watch any birds that are about when I’m walking.  There hasn’t been much variety this winter.  I’ve noticed there seem to be a lot more crows hanging around.  But today there was one particular large brown bird that caught my eye as it circled high above the pines.  As usual, I automatically began to discern in my mind as to whether this was a Turkey Vulture or a Hawk–as is often the case.  The Turkey Vulture has a distinctive, somewhat tipsy flight with upturned wing tips, and where there is one vulture there are often more.  But today there was just the one and the flight was smooth; no upturned wings.  However, it also seemed rather large for a hawk.

It continued to glide in a wide circle, and as it curved around and flew in my direction, the late afternoon sunlight revealed a white head that could only be that of the American Bald Eagle.  This is actually the second Bald Eagle that we’ve seen flying high above near our home.  We live near a river where these birds often nest.  They sure have made a comeback after years of being on the endangered species list.  Last summer while kayaking down a river near my parents’ home in IL, we were priviledged to see one perched on an overhanging branch.  They are such regal birds and somehow they touch the human heart and seem to bring courage and inspiration.

I guess Isaiah felt the same way when he penned these words that have brought comfort, hope, and encouragement to me many times.   I think God knew I needed a fresh reminder of these words today.  Perhaps He knew you would too!

Have you not known?  Have you not heard?  The everlasting God, the LORD, the Creator of the ends of the earth, neither faints nor is weary.  His understanding is unsearchable.  He gives power to the weak, and to those who have no might He increases strength.  Even the youths shall faint and be weary.  And the young men shall utterly fall, but those who wait on the LORD shall renew their strength; they shall mount up with wings like eagles, they shall run and not be weary, they shall walk and not faint.  ~Isaiah 40:28-31

Cultivating the Eye

“I must try and cultivate an eye for life’s mercies… And life, while it has its ugly swamps, its vile weeds, and its sharp thorns, has always its fair flowers to charm the eye with their beauty, or to fill the air with their fragrance…” Rev. John Flowers Serjeant

I couldn’t resist borrowing this insightful quote from Pollywog Creek because it speaks to where I have been this long while that I have been absent from blogland.

Ugly swamps, thorns, weeds.  They’ve been all too present in my life recently.  So much so that I feared all I could share with you all would be far too dreary, and I didn’t think you’d be much interested in wading through with me.  But this murky swamp is where He has placed me for the time being.  And yet, I am learning to cultivate an eye for His mercies that are ever-present for the eye that has been trained to see them.

Sometimes, the training leaves my eyes far too strained to make out much of anything.  But on some days, when the tears have washed away the impurities, those mercies, daily mercies–new every morning mercies, shine forth and sparkle like so many beautiful gems, or colorful fragrant flowers.  They are like the fleeting rays of sun poking through the gray winter clouds inspiring courage and hope for fairer days to come.

The LORD is good to all, and His tender mercies are over all His works.  ~Psalm 145:9

Pondering…

Sorrow burns up a great amount of shallowness.  

~Oswald Chambers

 

My brothers and sisters, consider it nothing but joy when you fall into all sorts of trials, because you know that the testing of your faith produces endurance.  ~James 1:2-3

Simplicity and Routine

The past few weeks have been a whirlwind of holiday activity.  I love all that Christmas means and enjoy getting together with family and friends.  Yet, it always feels so good to get back into routine.  Somehow it helps to clear my mind and refocus on the all important essentials of life–that which is true, lovely, excellent, pure, praiseworthy, etc.  With soooo much going on, I tend to lose that focus and get to feeling sort of scattered. 

My parents were here visiting for a week.  We had fun eating yummy traditional meals and playing games.  I’m so grateful for the opportunity to spend time with them as one never knows how many more Christmases we’ll have together.  I certainly expect many more years.  However, I’m also realizing that time passes all too quickly and health issues or other things may interfere in days to come.

Yesterday, we made a quick trip up to Boston for a first time visit to the Boston Museum of Fine Arts.  We didn’t have a lot of time to take it all in since we had other obligations later in the day.  It didn’t help that we relied too heavily on our GPS which ended up taking us on a wild goose chase to another 465 Huntington Ave, Boston.  Why didn’t I realize that it may have been the wrong address when 3 different 465 Huntington Ave’s showed up on the screen after typing in the address.  Apparently it lumps all of the addresses under the city of Boston when in actuality they were in other towns!  Ms. Garmin can either be really helpful, or a big nuisance!  Of course it’s not the users…:)

Anyway….We enjoyed our rather quick tour of the museum.  It was very interesting to start off in the Ancient Egyptian display and move through Greece, Rome, Medieval, Renaissance European, and Early American…to finally end up in the modern art section.  Art really is a reflection of the people and the times–much of it influenced heavily by religion (or lack thereof).  I hope we’ll go back someday and spend more time using the self guided audio to enhance our experience.   It had just begun to flurry when we entered the museum.  By the time we left, the snow was really coming down. 

Today has been a tying up day…loose ends you know.   I’m enjoying the return to semi-normalcy.  I’ve just about gotten through the laundry that’s been piling up, and the sun has peaked out and brightened my mood considerably as it reflects off the fresh white snow. I’m feeling thankful for the simple pleasures that simplicity and routine can bring. 

Happy New Year to You! 

Welcome 2010!

And His name will be called Wonderful

Wonderful:  Capable of exciting wonder; astonishing!  (American Heritage Dictionary)

I think if I could return to any childlike behavior, it would be the ability to be easily astonished.  In this day and age of technological advancements and up-to-the minute news reports, it is so easy to become desensitized and pretty much numb so that just about everything that would have been considered “amazing” yesterday, has become rather ho-hum today. 

So, my prayer for today is, “Lord, help me to be astonished once again, for there is truly nothing more amazing than the incarnation of Your son–God made flesh who came to dwell among us.” 

As I was pondering on Christ and this term Wonderful, I wrote down a list of attributes that may “stoke up some wonder” in my oftentimes cold and stony heart. 

He is:

~a mighty Savior

~righteous

~wise

~powerful

~gentle

~kind

~merciful

~beautiful

~lovely

~full of grace and truth

~a faithful friend

~Light

~Life giver

~compassionate

~the Conquering King

~a humble servant

~forgiving

And oh, the list could go on!

Indeed, He is WONDERFUL!  This Savior, Redeemer, Immanuel–God with us!  He is (or should be) the very definition of the word. 

His Footsteps, Our Pathway

Righteousness will go before Him, and shall make His footsteps our pathway.  ~Ps 85:13

Following in His steps, going where He leads….a pathway..rather, our pathway. 

Thank you, Jesus!  Lead on!

Faithful Friend

…but there is a Friend who sticks closer than a brother.  ~Proverbs 18:24b

I slept later than usual this morning.  Often when I sleep later than normal, I wake up rather groggy.  As I lay there suspended in semiconsciousness, a verse of scripture kept drifting through my mind bringing great comfort and hope. 

It wasn’t a verse I have read lately, nor have I ever memorized it, nor is it a common one that most people know.  However, it was a verse that spoke clearly to my heart and mind addressing something that I have been quite troubled about for sometime now. 

I am in awe over this Faithful Friend who sticks closer than a brother.  What a precious gift to have Him close by my side, loving and caring for me with such tenderness.

This is not the first time this has happened.  Yet, it isn’t a daily thing for me.  Thinking back, I have to wonder if there isn’t a common thread between those times when it has happened.

I am hesitant to share what that “common thread” is because I don’t want to come across as spiritually prideful in any way.  To God goes ALL the glory.  None for me.

Yet, I do so for one reason–so that those of you who are going through a trial or just want to have more intimacy with Christ, more hope, strength, victory,  may share in my experience.

So, I had to ask myself the question this morning, was I able to hear His voice just a bit more clearly this morning because I spent the day fasting and praying yesterday? 

Let me just clarify, in case you have some false notion of me on my knees throughout the day and night.  Umm….no.  I spent my normal time in prayer in the morning.  Then, while the kids had their lunch, I spent some more time praying.  Other than that, I was pretty busy with the day’s activities, sending up short prayers as they came to mind.  And, the fast ended around supper time. 

It really doesn’t sound like much, and when I think about fasts that other men of great faith have endured for several days or weeks, my partial day fasts seem rather wimpy.  But, though my faith is small, He is attentive to whatever small offering I may bring to Him.  And, although I haven’t done an in-depth study about fasting, it seems at least one purpose may be to clear out the clutter in our minds and hearts so that we might better hear His voice.

He made that abundantly clear to me this morning.  And now, hopefully, I will be encouraged more often to lay aside small earthly comforts in exchange for such great heavenly comforts!

Oh, give thanks to the LORD, for He is good!  ~Psalm 136:1

Keep Building

God is watching! 

His lord said to him, ‘Well done, good and faithful servant; you have been faithful over a few things, I will make you ruler over many things.  Enter into the joy of your lord.’ ~Matthew 25:21

 

 

You will be blessed..

…when you stroll on over to Itinerant Idealist  and read Sarah’s poignant post about clearing out the clutter of heart and mind in preparation for this season of Advent.  Beautiful.  Inspiring.  Encouraging.

Thank you, Sarah!

Give Thanks to Him!

Enter into His gates with thanksgiving,

and into His courts with praise;

be thankful unto Him,

and bless His name.

For the Lord is good…

~Psalm 100:4-5a

I pray we all would be filled with such

an overwhelming sense of gratitude

towards the Giver of all good things.

He has blessed us with every spiritual blessing

in the heavenly realms.

We are rich indeed!

I wish you all a very blessed Thanksgiving!