On cool spring mornings when the sun parts the dark sky, waving pink scarves over the horizon, and the dew beads on the grass as sparkling diamonds, I think of the lyrics to "Morning Like This" as Mary Magdalene discovered the empty tomb. How jubilant the creation must have been because the Creator had risen!
Did the grass sing?
Did the earth rejoice
To feel you again?...
Over and over like a Trumpet underground,
Did the earth seem to pound: “He is risen.”
Over and over in a never ending round
“He is risen, alleluia, alleluia!”
Sunday, August 9, 2009
Saturday, August 8, 2009
Silver
Tonight the moon is a beauty, reminding me of a favorite poem:
Silver
Walter de la Mare
Slowly, silently, now the moon
Walks the night in her silver shoon;
This way, and that, she peers, and sees
Silver fruit upon silver trees;
One by one the casements catch
Her beams beneath the silvery thatch;
Couched in his kennel, like a log,
With paws of silver sleeps the dog;
From their shadowy cote the white breasts peep
Of doves in silver feathered sleep
A harvest mouse goes scampering by,
With silver claws, and silver eye;
And moveless fish in the water gleam,
By silver reeds in a silver stream.
Silver
Walter de la Mare
Slowly, silently, now the moon
Walks the night in her silver shoon;
This way, and that, she peers, and sees
Silver fruit upon silver trees;
One by one the casements catch
Her beams beneath the silvery thatch;
Couched in his kennel, like a log,
With paws of silver sleeps the dog;
From their shadowy cote the white breasts peep
Of doves in silver feathered sleep
A harvest mouse goes scampering by,
With silver claws, and silver eye;
And moveless fish in the water gleam,
By silver reeds in a silver stream.
Saturday, August 1, 2009
Knowing How*
Have you ever tossed and turned through the night, unable to sleep, trying to figure out how your circumstances are going to be resolved?
Good news! We do not have to know the how's in our time of need. 2 Peter 2:9 says "The Lord knows how to rescue the godly from trials." We do not have to have all the answers, we just need to take care of the what's.
But what if we don't even know what to do? Then do what you know: read the Bible, pray, worship, praise, seek wise counsel. These are the things all believers are called to do -- in seasons of trial and in seasons of calm.
God will take care of the rest. Determine to trust Him.
*This insight is from Beth Moore's study Esther: It's Tough Being a Woman.
Good news! We do not have to know the how's in our time of need. 2 Peter 2:9 says "The Lord knows how to rescue the godly from trials." We do not have to have all the answers, we just need to take care of the what's.
But what if we don't even know what to do? Then do what you know: read the Bible, pray, worship, praise, seek wise counsel. These are the things all believers are called to do -- in seasons of trial and in seasons of calm.
God will take care of the rest. Determine to trust Him.
*This insight is from Beth Moore's study Esther: It's Tough Being a Woman.
Friday, July 24, 2009
Students
The year before I retired from public school teaching, God and I had a lot of talks. While I was eager to leave the bureaucracy and politics that have encroached on the creativity of both students and teachers, leaving my students was another matter.
I loved them like they were my own children, and I was going to miss interacting with them. God assured me there would be other students, and there have been. I taught summer school in 2005, thoroughly enjoying the 12 juniors who were in that class. I've been able to catch up with many former students on Facebook, and it has been so fun to learn what they are doing now.
Having spent my career at the middle and high school levels, I never thought that my heart would be captured by kindergartners, but that is exactly what happened during VBS. The week was a hectic one, but all I remember is five sweet smiles and eager faces filled with the wonder of exploring and learning. They love God, and I pray that faith will deepen as they mature, that they will walk with Jesus all the days of their lives.
God keeps His promises, and I am blessed!
I loved them like they were my own children, and I was going to miss interacting with them. God assured me there would be other students, and there have been. I taught summer school in 2005, thoroughly enjoying the 12 juniors who were in that class. I've been able to catch up with many former students on Facebook, and it has been so fun to learn what they are doing now.
Having spent my career at the middle and high school levels, I never thought that my heart would be captured by kindergartners, but that is exactly what happened during VBS. The week was a hectic one, but all I remember is five sweet smiles and eager faces filled with the wonder of exploring and learning. They love God, and I pray that faith will deepen as they mature, that they will walk with Jesus all the days of their lives.
God keeps His promises, and I am blessed!
Wednesday, July 22, 2009
Children and Kids
Sunday's vacation Bible school memory verse was 1 John 3:1 "God loves us and calls us His children."
D., one of the kindergarteners, memorized it this way: "God loves us and calls us His kids."
There is something warmly familiar in that translation, something comfortable and confident. As a little child trusts that his daddy will spend time with him, teach him, and provide for him, we, too, can place in our faith and trust in our Heavenly Daddy -- Abba Father.
D., one of the kindergarteners, memorized it this way: "God loves us and calls us His kids."
There is something warmly familiar in that translation, something comfortable and confident. As a little child trusts that his daddy will spend time with him, teach him, and provide for him, we, too, can place in our faith and trust in our Heavenly Daddy -- Abba Father.
Tuesday, July 21, 2009
Waiting
We are often reminded to "wait upon the Lord." But do we ever think about God waiting upon us?
Isaiah 30:18a says, "The Lord will wait that he may be gracious to you, and therefore he will be exalted that he may have mercy upon you. . ."
Today's devotion in the wonderful Streams in the Desert states: "God is a wise gardener 'who waits for the precious fruit of the earth and has long patience for it.' He can not gather fruit until it is ripe. He knows when we are spiritually ready to receive the blessing to our profit and His glory."
God created time, and God uses time. While He waits for us, may we also wait for Him in the blessings and trials of our lives.
Isaiah 30:18a says, "The Lord will wait that he may be gracious to you, and therefore he will be exalted that he may have mercy upon you. . ."
Today's devotion in the wonderful Streams in the Desert states: "God is a wise gardener 'who waits for the precious fruit of the earth and has long patience for it.' He can not gather fruit until it is ripe. He knows when we are spiritually ready to receive the blessing to our profit and His glory."
God created time, and God uses time. While He waits for us, may we also wait for Him in the blessings and trials of our lives.
Friday, March 13, 2009
Catching Up
Where have I been for the last two months? What have I been doing?
January 18-31 finished the GKCWP newsletter, took it to the printer, picked it up, affixed address labels and mailing tabs -- my dear husband took all 100+ of them to the post office.
February 10 awoke with a strange pinching in my neck that traveled to my elbow A chiropractic adjustment and massage seemed to solve the problem.
February 12 flew to Chicago to meet some Literary Mamas and attend the American Writers and Poets conference, after which I planned on spending a few days with my sister who lives north of the Windy City.
February 13 awoke in tremendous pain -- spent the morning rearranging my flight, beseeching the hotel staff not to charge me for another night, spending an agonizing morning at the airport, wishing someone would tranquilize me during the flight home
February 14- 25 Lay in bed, on my back, studying the patterns in the textured ceiling of my bedroom.
February 26 an MRI reveals dengenerative problems in my neck. Sigh!
March 13 two cervical epidural steroid injections later, I am typing this, counting my blessings.
January 18-31 finished the GKCWP newsletter, took it to the printer, picked it up, affixed address labels and mailing tabs -- my dear husband took all 100+ of them to the post office.
February 10 awoke with a strange pinching in my neck that traveled to my elbow A chiropractic adjustment and massage seemed to solve the problem.
February 12 flew to Chicago to meet some Literary Mamas and attend the American Writers and Poets conference, after which I planned on spending a few days with my sister who lives north of the Windy City.
February 13 awoke in tremendous pain -- spent the morning rearranging my flight, beseeching the hotel staff not to charge me for another night, spending an agonizing morning at the airport, wishing someone would tranquilize me during the flight home
February 14- 25 Lay in bed, on my back, studying the patterns in the textured ceiling of my bedroom.
February 26 an MRI reveals dengenerative problems in my neck. Sigh!
March 13 two cervical epidural steroid injections later, I am typing this, counting my blessings.
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