We have a very mild winter so far in the northwest. It seems all our snow and frigid weather has moved east. We have hardly had any snow at all in the month of January and that is quite rare. Some of our days this month have been spring-like, with only a bearable chill.
The leader at the Bible study I went to today was talking about some trees she noticed that were beginning to bud.
“Oh, no!” she said. “Don’t do that.” She got to talking about how this was the time the roots needed to grow deeper into the soil.
I got to thinking about how winter is a time for trees, shrubs, and most plants to recuperate from the hard work of bearing and growing fruit in the summer and fall months. Continue reading
Tag Archives: Unrest
Grieving Forefathers
This amazing image was captured by Amanda Ahren and Brian Husmann on their drive past Mount Rushmore the morning of the day it opened after being closed for two weeks due to government shut-down. It was posted on Megan Ahren’s facebook page. As of yesterday early evening, this post had gone viral with over 12,000 shares.
The symbolism is incredible considering what is going on with our nation and our government.
God Bless America. May He continue to shed His grace on this country!
Filed under Everydayliving, Life Lessons, The Impossible, The Miraculous
Growing Pains
You know that feeling of resistance we naturally get when we are required to step outside our zone of comfort, to push further, strive harder and move past stagnation?
Much like when the momma bird pushes her young to the edge of the nest. What is that youngling thinking?
“Momma’s off her rocker!”
“She’s trying to kill me!”
“How could she do this to me?”
That little one, paralyzed by fear, becomes frozen as momma gives the final shove.
Down, down it goes until finally it gets this crazy notion to flap its wings… flap, flap, flap… Continue reading
He Never Promised Us A Rose Garden
I have been a prodigal. Saved at the age of 19, but without further mentoring or Bible studies, I tried to be a follower of Christ on my own.
I continued recklessly living my life, making poor choices as I had before. On a rebound from a hurtful breakup, I became pregnant at 22. The responsibility of a baby, straightened my life, but I had a ways to go.
I did not want my daughter to grow up like me, never knowing what her father looked like, so I worked at keeping a relationship with her father. Apparently, I worked too hard, I became pregnant again when she was eight months old.
We got married, but deep in my heart I knew it was a mistake. I had the naïve notion everything would work out once he saw what a good wife I could be. Immediately after our marriage, my gut feelings were confirmed. I made a horrible mistake. Continue reading
Is That A Megaphone I Hear?
In my post yesterday, Why, Oh Why So Much Suffering, I wrote about the pain of suffering in our imperfect world.
I don’t think I will have too many disagree with me when I say,
“Pain and suffering is the pits!”
But there are good things that come from our suffering.
We tend to be selfish and stubborn, wanting our way. We think we need no one, we can do life on our own. We are wired for relationships, especially with God. God’s desire for a relationship with us often gets put off or ignored.
In The Problem of Pain, C.S. Lewis said, “God whispers to us in our pleasures, speaks to us in our conscience, but shouts in our pains. It is His megaphone to rouse a deaf world.” Continue reading
Will You Only Be Remembered By Your BIG BUT?
This gorgeous hunk of flower blossomed in my front yard, but I almost missed it. It was too heavy to support itself, and ended up faced down, nearly on the ground. The peony’s rich color seemed almost artificial, especially because of its size, nearly seven inches in diameter. Its wonderful fragrance was unbelievable.
I usually try not to bring garden flowers in the house. They just don’t last long. Earlier this spring, I made myself a beautiful bouquet of fragrant, purple lilacs. Within minutes, my counter top was crawling with tiny black bugs. Yikes! I wasted no time getting that bouquet out on the porch. I carefully examined the peony before I even thought of cutting it. Not a bug! The flower pedals felt soft, cool, and somewhat squishy; in a good sort of way. Continue reading
Is The Grass Really Greener On That Side?
Annie
I think half of every kid in America has had a grey bunny they named Thumper. My daughter Rachel wasn’t any different. Her Thumper was the sweetest bunny. With a little nudging, Rachel was good about keeping his food and water supply filled. She often gave him vegetable treats. Under her watchful eye, Thumper even got to run loose in a small section of our backyard sometimes. She cuddled him and dressed him in baby doll clothes. But Thumper wasn’t satisfied with what he had. He constantly scratched at the corners of his hutch, in a desperate effort to get out. I couldn’t blame him; he was confined to a small space.
Anxious Yorkie-Poo’s Sleep Restored
Himalayan salt-rock lamps are amazing. We own several and we love them. They give an amber- peachy-orangy glow to any room. Once warmed up, a lamp purifies the air and puts out negative ions that give you a sense of relaxation. Like the negative ions the ocean puts out, one reason why it feels so good to be at the beach. According to what I have read, Himalayan salt’s healing minerals also help with lung and bronchial conditions, asthma, allergies and other maladies. Really. No hocus-pocus stuff. It’s effective in that scientific sort of way.
A friend didn’t believe my rock salt lamp was really salt. “Can I lick it?”
Filed under Everydayliving
Give It A Rest Already
As the year 2012 closed, so did another chapter of our lives. Many of us
made New Year’s resolutions. Now that we are in March, have they been
forgotten? Don’t feel too bad if you they have, most of us forget them
before January is gone. We set goals with every intention of accomplishing
them, but then sidetracked with everyday stuff, our goals get lost or we
leave projects halfway finished.
But you know, sometimes things work the other way. Our desire to finish a
project can backfire and become an obsession, taking over our lives. Here is
an example.
Filed under Everydayliving
HIS EYE IS ON THIS SPARROW TOO Still Learning to Lean on God 