The Irony of Death

This past week I experienced three deaths. The first being a stranger and the other two friends. I've had a really hard time pulling this together... When it came to me I was driving and I had the whole thing in my mind... I wish I had had a notebook. Often writings here are happy and jovial... maybe that's why this is so hard for me... I have something to say... but it's too close... the pain that is.

The first death was the one earlier in the week... it was an unexpected tragedy that this mans friends and family members were all of a sudden handed to deal with. Friday morning I got a message that a friend who had been battling cancer passed away the day before... then Saturday morning a message of yet another. The two latter were anticipated to some degree. Yes, hope was there for healing and for a time there was... but this monster defeated these two dear ladies in the end.  Although my friends loved ones were able to say good bye, there is still the pain that they are left to deal with. 

There is not just physical death though... there are deaths of relationships as well. I would venture to say that many of us have in one way or another experienced at least one.  These too can be sudden or long and drawn out...  and just as painful...

Relationships like healing take work, hard work.  They take the efforts of all involved...kindness, love, patience and long suffering need to be in place.  Sometimes those hurts have been buried for a long time, festering underneath causing disturbances along life's path. Having never been properly dealt with they seem to continually creep into our lives.  Then there are those sudden loses that leave you wondering what happened.  Either way, pain is involved.

As those deaths rise up in my life, whether physical or relational, I must keep my focus on a higher calling... a calling that when life ends I will hear those blessed words, 'Well done my faithful servant, enter thou into the joys of the Lord..."

Until next time,
Jean

   

Tomorrow...

The other night when I was tucking Evan into bed he asked another one of his so sweet & innocent questions... "Mommy, is it tomorrow?"... I smile and put my hand on his cheek and tell him, "No Ev an, it's today, but when you wake up in the morning it will be tomorrow."  "Oh! Good, I can't wait then!"  And that was that and he snuggled in close and fell asleep. I just had to think, "I wonder if he'll ask me in the morning if it's tomorrow!"  At the ripe ole age of five, Evan has no concept that tomorrow will be today tomorrow and today will be yesterday tomorrow.

Isn't that the way it is though? Time ticks on day after day and where are we going? Evan had big plans for 'tomorrow' as he drifted off to sleep... dreams of setting up his play farm in his make believe pasture... dreams of building a snowman with big brother Kyle... dreams of spaghetti for lunch... We all have dreams and hopes... not only for ourselves but for our children. What are we doing to make those dreams come to fruition... hopes, dreams, inspirations... they are the well spring of our lives... they keep us looking into tomorrow with that continual 'hope'. That's what it really boils down to... hope which in turn needs faith...

"Life is a highway on which the years go by, sometimes the road is level, sometimes the hills are high. But as we travel onward to a future that's unkonw, we can make each mile we travel a heavenly stepping stone!"  Helen Steiner Rice

Until next time,
Jean

Relationships, Obedience and Faith...

"Faith lays hold upon the Lord Jesus with a firm and determined grasp. She knows his excellence and worth, and no temptation can induce her to repose her trust elsewhere; and Christ Jesus is so delighted with this heavenly grace, that he never ceases to strengthen and sustain her by the loving embrace and all-sufficient support of his eternal arms."  Charles Spurgeon
As I turn to the Lord for strength, He is always right there to lead me along the still waters of His truth and faithfulness.  As of late the Lord has been leading me and showing me my need to act in intercessory prayer... I believe so strongly in this... I know the Lord uses those that are willing to be used.  It is difficult sometimes... scary... but His grace is sufficient.  As I turn to Him, He is there waiting with that loving embrace, ready to support me through the trials I face... knowing He will never give me more than I can bear, I go in faith and trust... yet I fail... I fear sometimes... questioning and reasoning with myself... human I am...  But then He sends me a message from above through devotions... friends... As I put forth my full trust in Him, He is faithful, oh how faith grows when fed.

"Here, then, is established a living, sensible, and delightful union which casts forth streams of love, confidence, sympathy, complacency, and joy, whereof both the bride and bridegroom love to drink. When the soul can evidently perceive this oneness between itself and Christ, the pulse may be felt as beating for both, and the one blood as flowing through the veins of each. Then is the heart as near heaven as it can be on earth, and is prepared for the enjoyment of the most sublime and spiritual kind of fellowship." Charles Spurgeon

This fellowship, this union cannot be had by one... it takes both... more so on my own part. Christ is ever by my side... it is I that get busy and veer off the path. He never left, He never looked away... ever watching and guarding His child... Yes relationships take effort, not just the ones we have here in our daily life, but most importantly our relationship with Him. It is a continual building, striving, delighting oneself in His love...  His love can be compared to nothing we have here in this world... and the joys that will abound to those of us that are faithful in this life are unimaginable to the joys that we will have in Heaven...with Him...

Oh to grow in faith, love and peace... may that be our goal in this life...
Until next time,
Jean


     

Winter... it's here.

"He Is Always By My Side", Photo by Jean Smith

"People don't notice whether it's winter or summer when they're happy." Anton Chekov

"Sun In The Sky", Photo by Jean Smith

Wow... that hit's close to the core for me.  I have a few books that I like to look in for quotes that fit with my writing for the day... and this is the one that stuck out to me! God works through anything when allowed!  Well, I am happy... it's the first day of winter, and as you all know my saying, this is my personal count down to Spring... that's how I make this a happy day for me.

"Peony", Photo by Jean Smith

There is a covering of soft, wet glistening snow on the ground this morning.... I guess that's appropriate for today with it being the first day of winter. The wind is howling and whipping and I guess that fits too.. We'll have the shortest amount of sunshine today, but from here on in, the days will grow longer, the sun will move closer and each day it will feel warmer on our faces... until all too soon, my Spring will come. 

"Spring Beauty", Photo by Jean Smith

 Happiness... what makes you happy?  Of course flowers for me... among other things... but today I am focusing on flowers.  I guess I am going to do something a bit different with Wren again... a photo essay of flowers... I hope you enjoy all the magnification photo's I took this past summer in my gardens... and to see how the Son makes me happy...

"Perfection Didn't Just Happen", Photo by Jean Smith
 

Come winter, I'll still have my sunshine!  It doesn't really matter if the sun is shining outside if we have the Son shining on the inside... but today, I still want to focus on flowers... He gave those to me!

"His Heart Bleeds", Photo by Jean Smith
 

Until next time
Jean

"Simple Beauty", Photo by Jean Smith
 

 

But the greatest of these is love...

First Corinthians 13 is affectionately called The Love Chapter by all those that love our Lord & Maker.  Our message at church this morning was on this chapter... it gave me lots to glean from and much to work on in my life...

But what is love we may ask?

Though we may be treated unfairly and even cruelly, Charity suffereth long and is kind in return.
Though all evil may abound around us, Charity envieth not after the things of the world.
Though we do our share and yet stand in the back corner to not be seen, Charity vaunteth not itself, is not puffed up and looking for self glory.
Though our angers rage within because of hurts and mistreating's, Charity doth not behave itself unseemly and hurt in return.
Though there may be exclaims for others over what we have done, Charity seeketh not her own but rejoices for those praised.
Though the devil himself may seek whom he can devour, Charity is not easily provoked and does not repay evil for evil.
Though we may be misjudged and misused, Charity thinketh no evil on those accusers.
Charity rejoiceth not in iniquity, but rejoiceth in the truth because the truth shall make us free.
Charity beareth all things when things seem unbearable.
Charity believeth all things because His word is true and we can do all things through Christ which strengthenth us.
Charity hopeth all things when all seems hopeless.
Charity endureth all things because of He who died on the cross for us.
Charity never faileth...  because God Is Love!

quiet reflections from my heart,
Until next time,
Jean

     

Forgiveness is a beautiful thing...

"As far as the east is from the west, so far hath he removed our transgressions from us." Psalm 103:12

Forgiveness is a beautiful thing... it is freeing and gives a peace within the heart and mind that no words can truly express. 

When our children, spouse or a friend ask for forgiveness for a wrong done, are we quick to cast it away, leave it behind and move on to pleasant pastures... or do we forgive in word only while deep within their is still a bit of that hurt being held onto...  As humans with a very Adamic nature it can be difficult to 'just let go'... but with Christ's love with in the heart it can be much easier. When we can focus on what He has done for us and have the faith to know and truly understand the depth of His great love, it should be easier.

I often watch our two littlest ones, Evan & Aaron and think how cute & funny they can be. Aaron has a few words yet Evan seems always to understand his jibber-jabber... This morning they were playing in the sandbox under their climber and Aaron was wanting something... Evan quick got it for him and then all was well again.  I told Evan that was very nice of him to make Aaron happy... big smiles from both.  Not too much later the shrills began... now it was a different story... Evan wanted something and Aaron did not want to 'give it up' shall we say.  A few words and all was well again... I am sorry, big hugs & mushy kisses and off they went.  I beleive this is what Jesus meant when he said as Christians we are to be as little children... They are easily entreated, quick to forgive and forget, they have an incredible amount of trust and faith... Children set good examples for us adults in some situations...

Let us forgive and love as Christ, for He gave through death on the cross the perfect example...
Until next time,
Jean

Life's Battles...

This was my devotion yesterday morning... I felt a prick in my soul to share... when we are weary He is strong... We heard in church yesterday that His strength is made perfect in our (my) weakness... I know this is true...

“Tell me I pray thee wherein thy great strength lieth.”  - Jdg_16:6

"Where lies the secret strength of faith? It lies in the food it feeds on; for faith studies what the promise is-an emanation of divine grace, an overflowing of the great heart of God; and faith says, “My God could not have given this promise, except from love and grace; therefore it is quite certain his Word will be fulfilled.”

"Then faith thinketh, “Who gave this promise?” It considereth not so much its greatness, as, “Who is the author of it?” She remembers that it is God who cannot lie-God omnipotent, God immutable; and therefore concludeth that the promise must be fulfilled; and forward she advances in this firm conviction. She remembereth, why the promise was given,-namely, for God’s glory, and she feels perfectly sure that God’s glory is safe, that he will never stain his own escutcheon, nor mar the lustre of his own crown; and therefore the promise must and will stand.

"Then faith also considereth the amazing work of Christ as being a clear proof of the Father’s intention to fulfill his word. “He that spared not his own Son, but freely delivered him up for us all, how shall he not with him also freely give us all things?”

"Moreover faith looks back upon the past, for her battles have strengthened her, and her victories have given her courage. She remembers that God never has failed her; nay, that he never did once fail any of his children. She recollecteth times of great peril, when deliverance came; hours of awful need, when as her day her strength was found, and she cries, “No, I never will be led to think that he can change and leave his servant now. Hitherto the Lord hath helped me, and he will help me still.” Thus faith views each promise in its connection with the promise-giver, and, because she does so, can with assurance say, “Surely goodness and mercy shall follow me all the days of my life!” "  Charles Speurgeon

Until next time,
Jean
   

Trust in the Lord with all thine Heart

"Trust in the Lord with all thine Heart; and lean not unto thine own understanding." Proverbs 3:5

This was the Bible verse in one of my daily devotions today... I love this verse... it gives strength to the weary... faith in times of needless worry... peace when the storms are raging...

Children don't seem to let life's situations get to them too much, especially when they are little... dad and mom will take care of it.  Why can't I say, 'Dad, (God) WILL take care of it?'... I know He will, He always has.  Human nature is so much against faith, don't you think?  We always want to take care of things on our own in our own way in our own time.  But we are told that His ways are not our ways, and our thoughts are not His thoughts... I know this is true.  I am so human and proned to fail, but I know that I can keep pressing on because He is by my side.  When all my friends fail me... when the world around is cold... when family is against me... I have Him always, for if He is for me who can be against me?

We as parents always try to do our very best for our children and sometimes doing our best is letting them fall off that bike a few times till they get the hang of it... because we know they will... just keep trying.  We trust that our children will someday understand why we said 'no' to so many things... because we do know better, despite what they think.  We let them try their wings as they grow older and have faith that they will come back home safely... because they know we care.  This is the way it is with our Heavenly Father as well... we are babes in the beginning and the trials are small and easy... we grow into our spiritual youth and the tests become a bit more trying... but He knows what we can bear... we come into our mature years and the trials of life become larger... because He knows they will help us grow... yet a bit longer and into our later years we arrive, when the challenges we faced in this life will give us the words to encourage others...

He knows and He cares,
Until next time,
Jean




         

Dragonflies and my little boys...

So we're at market today and it's about 12:30ish... all of a sudden I see a dragonfly... I can't believe it... right there in the middle of the market!  Then as it got closer I noticed it was a mating pair, the smaller male was riding on her back as they fluttered and hovered about... but that wasn't all, suddenly I see another and another... seven pairs in all!  I love dragonflies and I always tell the children when I see one in an unusual spot I know the Lord sent it for me to admire and think about Him... His wonderful handiwork in nature... perfection in the smallest and intricate details.  They hovered over the green area until we left at about three o'clock... so peaceful and beautiful...

Last night as I lay sandwiched between Evan and Aaron, I was laying them down for bed, Aaron is all cuddled in and stroking my cheek... Evan is 'nuggled in behind me holding on tight... by the way I am very claustrophobic... it is getting a little to 'nuggly for mom... Evan usually dozes off first and then Aaron is not to far behind... they are so sweet.  As I lay there looking into Aaron's big blue eyes I remember when I was expecting him and remember looking at Evan in what is now Aaron's 'spot'... I remember thinking as I looked at him, 'how could I love another child as much as loved this little one?... I was fortyish and feeling it.  Now I look at him and can't believe I ever wondered... I look at him and the love I feel is sometimes overwhelming to tears... it's that way with each of them... especially when they are sleeping <smile>... They each have a heart string that tugs... so many mother heart prayers sent up for these children...

"There seemed to be something huge and important to say; But somehow, then, we could never think of the words.  Anyway, they would keep, so it did not matter, And there would be time and time enough to remember; so we laughed as the years flew over our heads like birds.  And then, one day, we remembered them; ran all the way, breathless came running, and beat and called at your door; at the door of a house whose silence and emptiness mocked us, for you had slipped out the back way, quite quietly, leaving "I love, and thank you," unneeded, unsaid, ever more." Margaret Willy

Love is a wonderful to have and to give... share it as often as you can... some day they will be gone...
Until next time,
Jean

The Courage of Faith

"Be still, and know that I am God... " Psalm 46:10a

"The Courage of Faith is consistent with Commonsense. Even though Paul had God's assurance, he felt that he must do what he could, as though all depended on his sagacity. Faith ought not to make us act presumptuously or foolishly. Holy calm and stillness rule in the heart of him whose mind is stayed on God.  We are likely to encounter many storms in our life before we anchor in the Fair Haven of Eternity, but in the heart of every cyclone there is a point of rest; and in the fiercest storm that sweeps our world, we may hide in the secret place of the Most High, and sing Psalm 46:1-11."*

Some days it takes a lot of faith to endure the storms of life... When I was reading this it just reached down into the depth of my soul and filled me with a peace that can't be described in words.  He is ever faithful as we allow Him to be in our lives.  We are so human and we fail so easily, but if we allow Him, He will catch us before we fall.  The flesh is quite willing to stray, but our souls long for that intimacy with Him... our souls came down from Heaven and long to return home with our Saviour.
 
What do we do when we come to a cross road in life? Do we take the narrow or the wide way... Only the narrow way will lead to life everlasting... look up and believe... have faith... trust...

"By day and by night, in life and in death, may I ever be true to Thee, O Lover of my Soul, my ceaseless Friend, my unchangeable Saviour. Into Thy hands I commit my spirit! AMEN."*

*Taken from e-sword Daily Devotionals, Meyer, June 17th, 2012

Until next time,
Jean

    

Expectations and Thankfulness...

Life is filled with expectations that don't always pan out...

When we experience tribulations and trials what do we do?  Do we turn to the Lord, but when He doesn't answer us as quickly as we think He should or not quite how we wanted to we turn to ourselves... the world around.... God says in Isaiah that His ways are not our ways, and our time is not His... can we trust in that?  

When a child is born it is a demanding creature... it needs to be... it is totally dependent upon the caregiver for food, warmth and all of it's basic human needs.  It has to be able to let us know when it needs changed and is hungry... Children as they grow older still can be demanding and they still  have expectations.  They expect that when they wake up in the morning they are going to have clean clothes to put on, toothpaste to brush their teeth, warm water and soap to take a shower and a nice fuzzy towel to dry off with... then they will expect to have a nice breakfast waiting for them and of course a cheery 'good morning!'  Their lives are filled with expectations that are more than likely fulfilled  by their parents.  Younger children have no concept of how any of these things get there, they simply trust that they will be.  As they grow older they start to understand that dad and/or mom 'work' for all this stuff and hopefully are learning to not so much expect, but more appreciate and be thankful that the stuff is always there....

The teaching of this thankfulness can be the real job at hand... teaching children to understand how things are acquired needs to be shown through both example as well as practice on the parents part. 

It is like that as well with our Heavenly Father... in the beginning of our christian walk things are a bit easier and things come a bit more quickly. As we mature and we are not such babes in Christ, the trials become a bit more... this is to help us grow in trust and faith...  growing pains can be difficult, but we must believe 'that He will never give us anymore than we can bear and He will always make a way of escape for us...' 

Trust builds faith, faith builds trust,
Until next time,
Jean
     

"We make a living by what we get. We make a life by what we give" Winston Churchill

Boy time has a way of ticking on by... I can't believe I haven't been here in several days... I absolutely love my blogging but I love being outside even more... strolling through the gardens, picking a weed here & there... walking hand in hand with little Evan and Aaron and smelling the flowers.  The other day I was watering the porch pots and Aaron wandered over to the front garden where I have a row of peonies... there he was very carefully clutching each bloom, which by the way were almost the size of his precious little head, and sticking his wee little noes way in to take a big whiff... so innocent & sweet. 

On Sunday at church the minister gave this quote:  "Satan would rather have us to do good things and not be good people.  God would have us to be good people so we do good things."  I thought that was interesting... and then the above quote by Churchill was on the bottom of my journal page... how fitting I thought, and very true indeed.  We are always on the way to do this or that and life has a way of getting ahead of us... then all of a sudden we realize that we missed some important stuff along the way.  Our children won't always be little and we always won't be young...

Today was our second child, first son, Kyle's first day of driver's training... wow, how time flies.  I can still see him taking his first steps and toddling about in a diaper... now he is behind the wheel of our truck... they don't stay little long.  I want to take the time to be what they need... what my husband needs... what God want's me to be... I want my family and friends to remember me for what I gave in the way of my time and love, not what I accomplished in life.

Take time and smell the roses... the blooms fade fast.
Until next time,
Jean

Sorrow Upon Sorrow...

"Wealth... good health, good humor, and good sense, no one is poor with this defense."
                                              Helen Steiner Rice

I often think of the life of Job... he was a man that was tried to the depth of his soul, yet he never forsook God and never charged Him as doing anything wrong... that is faith.  There have been many Job's since him and I think that the Lord allowed his story to be told in His book so that all of us may look to it as an example as to how we should behave during the trials in our life.  Faith and trust... the two go hand in hand... and when we have the Lord Jesus dwelling in our hearts and active in our lives, we need not worry for tomorrow... He takes care of the sparrow and He will surely take care of me.

The above quote states that good health is part of wealth, and I do believe that this is true, but I believe that poverty and illness can also we wealth in a life devoted to Him... most of us reading this probably don't know what 'true' poverty is... folks who went through the depression would have a pretty good idea I do believe... but for the most part we all have it pretty good.  Yes we may run late on some bills occasionally and can't do a vacation every year or get the latest and greatest... but we are far from living in an ally in a cardboard box.  Illness too, if allowed will draw us closer to Him... it can bring a peace knowing He is in control of it all, and will do what he knows is best...

...what is wealth...Wealth to me is a life that is filled with the Holy Spirit dwelling within... a life devoted to serving Jesus in all I do... a walk that is so close to the Father that I can feel His protecting arms... wealth has nothing to do with the checkbook, it has everything to do with the soul...
Life is filled with both sorrow's and joy's and we are taught that 'in all things give Him praise'...  What more can we want when He is filling our everyday with love.

Until next time,
Jean
     

My Heart and Soul...

The Lord's day is so special to me... it allows me time to reflect on things... the everyday things of life... what's important and what's not... my family and the time we spend together... where things are going and stalling... to just be...
The other Sunday's sermon talked a bit on the ark... the minister was comparing the raven and the dove... it was quite enlightening to me... I had never really thought about some things that he pointed out.
First Noah sent the raven and it just roamed to and fro but never returned to the ark for safety... Then Noah sent out the dove... it flew and found 'no rest for it's soles...' and it returned to the ark of safety...  then it was released again and this time it brought back an olive branch... life... but it still returned to the ark... then the third time it didn't come back... it was able to survive in the new life found on the earth...

In the New Testament satan is said to roam to and fro across the earth looking for what he can devour... a raven is a 'devouring' bird... it hunts for carnage... dead things. A dove is often a symbol of Christianity, peace and gentleness... like Jesus... the dove went out and sought life.
There is only true life in in living for Jesus and His salvation...
A hymn we sang at church...

Holy Jesus, lovely Lamb,
Thine and only Thine I am;
Take my body, spirit, soul,
Only Thou possess the whole.

Thou my dearest object be,
Let me ever cleave to Thee;
Let me choose the better part,
Let me give Thee all my heart.

Whom have I on earth below?
Only Thee I wish to know;
Whom have I in heaven but Thee?
Thou art all in all to me.

All my treasure is above,
My best portion is Thy love;
Who the worth of love can tell?
Infinite unsearchable!

Nothing else may I require;
Let me Thee alone desire;
Pleased with what Thy love provides,
Weaned from all the world besides.

Until next time,
Jean