November Day

Scribblings by Bev

Lake reflecting a clear blue sky

Wind moving the waves gently to the South

Sun giving me warmth and light through my window

Eagle appeared soaring above this creation

Continued flashing his wings until I acknowledged his presence...then

Off to share with another human.

Made me think of a Psalm:

"The Lord --------satisfies you with good as long as you live, So that your youth is renewed like the eagle's."

A Favorite Among Tiny Angels

Deep in the month of May,

I put on my gardening jacket.

It hadn't been used since last Spring

The pockets still held my gloves.

I pulled them on,

and clinging to them - a few Marigold seeds.

About to shake them off, I remembered,

"In May we always plant Marigolds."

I scratched the soil in the old wash tub.

With a thought and a gardener's prayer

they were placed for new life and growth.

They slowly began to poke through the dead earth.

Now in Mid-August, they are tall and green.....and beautiful.

Once again the reminder comes, "In May we always plant Marigolds....for Her."

Rainy Afternoon Thoughts ~ by Bev

She said,"C'mon let's go down to the beach!"

(Their property abutted the ocean.)

It was a strong descent, but we enjoyed the time~

We reached the beach and started our trek.

What delight ~ ~ the sun ~ ~ sand ~ ~ and ocean!

We laughed and shared ~ ~ two sisters gone off by themselves.

We talked of our childhood together~ ~ not aware of time or space.

Suddenly ~ ~ she screamed, "the tide is coming in ~ ~ run ~ ~ fast ~ ~ we must get back to our beach!"

The tide wouldn't wait.

We arrived back at our 'starting gate' ~ ~ wet~ ~ worn ~ ~ and safe.

We threw ourselves down on their hillside beach and laughed, screamed and hugged in thankfulness.

So...our lives:
Youth ~ ~ less concern over time or space.
Old age ~ ~ screaming thankfulness to God who brings us safely home.

Grandmother Petra's Lamp...by Bev

I light her lamp, as the daylight fades.

This pioneer woman ~~ ~widowed young.

Her funeral was typical of "those days,"

children were spared the grief.

I entered her parlor but once.

The lamp illumined the room with charm.

To me, it seemed grand in it's glow.

Now at Vesper-time I light her lamp with a prayer

that we who follow, may also draw strength from God,

who was her peace...and her light...and her strength.

Afterglow

Sunday.........by bev

The clouds seemed to own the day

~ ~ by late afternoon, the sun broke through.

It possessed the sky and the lake responded.

The brief colors were magnificent, a promise of tomorrow.

Such is our life ~ ~

"A day is as 1000 years and 1000 years but a day"

At the sunset of life, enjoy the afterglow.

A Winter Walk

Today's blog is another from my wife.
I think she paints a picture so well with her words.

I watched as he moved down our road,

this large framed man of mine.

It was near 40 degrees ~ ~ ~thawing ~ ~

melting the mountain of snow.

I put on my boots and coat to go along ~ ~ ~

then decided~ ~

This man who loves nature,

should have his solitude.

Another day~ ~ ~ I'll run to catch up ~~~

and we'll plod along together.

Do Angels Walk Among Us?

Today's blog comes to you from my wife. She was inspired today during our winter storm here in rural Minnesota. I thought I'd share her inspiration with all of you. + peace!


Some of our precious little ones have wondered about REAL angels.

Well ~ ~ a REAL angel came to our house today.

The weather had been so bad that the old grampa & old gramma couldn't go outside. There was so much snow and wind and they couldn't get to their car because they were old and weak and not strong anymore. The old gramma needed some pills, and they didn't have much milk ~ ~ just one more cup ~ ~ so they planned to share that for their evening meal.

The winter storm still kept blowing and snowing. Then the old gramma looked out the window and saw an angel coming wearing a parka, a scarf, mittens and boots, she was carrying a jug of milk. She came to the door. The old grampa welcomed her and the old gramma joyously laughed and said, "We are so happy to see you, thank you!" The angel drew from the pocket of her parka, the pills that the old gramma needed. The old gramma and old grampa rejoiced and thanked God.

Yes, this is a true story! The angel was welcomed in and sat in our home and warmed up with hot coffee and strawberry jam on toast. We visited and thanked the Lord for her. The angel then said, "I must go on my way to do some more angel work. I will be driving my angel truck...so I can get through the snow if I go carefully."

We thanked her and hugged, and said "God Bless you on your way." She put on her boots, parka, scarf, mittens and trudged off in the deep snow to her waiting angel truck.

~ ~ And the old grandpa & old grandma said, "Amen!"

Focusing on the Cross

I've shared with many my thoughts on how we must center our lives. If we focus on Christ, we discover the redeeming love and the transforming power of a Holy God. This is the only way I know to solve the problems and the struggles that I face every day.

But, there are many distractions in this world...many ways to lose our focus.

There are those who believe that money can solve problems. They believe that money brings success and joy to life, and they are driven to get more and more of it. They look at life through the dollar $ign. They think that they can buy anything with money -- friends, love, respect, confidence, peace and courage. These people are 'money-eyed' people.

Some think life is worth living only when they are high on mood-altering drugs. They live for drugs. They will kill for drugs. And sometimes, they are even willing to die for drugs. These are 'drug-eyed' people.

There are those who think only of themselves. No one else counts. They will slander anyone, even family and friends, to get what they want. Their thinking revolves around three things, "me, myself and I." Their focus is internal. I call them 'me-eyed' people.

But, I also know people who look to the Heavenly Father and His love to find meaning in life. They study Jesus beneath His cross and learn of God's love. If you are a person whose focus is on the things of God, you are what I call 'cross-eyed.'

I encourage you to examine all things from God's point of view. Think 'cross-eyed' in order to be a complete person. Do not settle for less. Lives are not held together by mere intellect and human reason...it's our Father's love that completes us. In God's love, we can believe the eternal value of His presence. Trust Him with your life....believe!