His Freshest of Air

Beautiful afternoon, Sunday. We indulged ourselvesin a rambling drive along Deerfield Road.After a few miles,we passed a stretch of greening slopes.I glanced over just in timeto see several clusters of WILD CROCUSES!!Yaaay!I nearly jumped out of the car (wanting to take pictures)but Sam was driving too fastand couldn't stop right away.I was sure we would see more up the road,so I urged him on.
Alas, miles and miles of no crocuses. :-(Beautiful scenery, but no crocuses.
Later, as we were returning(driving a loop known to locals),Sam expressed an interest intaking our walk-of-the-dayalong a forest road popular with both of us.He was about to pull in to park,but we saw someone else already driving the road.I used that as an excuse to not walk there...
- true confession - my real reason was...I was SURE there were no crocuses on this road(having walked it other springswith no satisfaction in the search).
Sensing, however, that Sam really wantedto walk on this particular road(his hopes being to possibly spot an elk herdthe like of which we had sitedseveral times, previously),I became ok with this walk, this place.
He turned in and pulled up to park...and right there, directly in my line of vision— a beautiful clump of crocuses!The late afternoon sun was shining on themand this gave me some very pretty pictures.
At the height of our serene walk,Sam pointed out another pasque flowerwhich led me to yet anotherclump of the fuzzy little beauties.As you can perhaps imagine,the happiest part of it all was...
GOD had provided where I least expected.
Although we didn't see any actual elk this time,we did see plenty of sign of them,including a nice rubwhich Sam wanted to be photographed by,so he could email the fun to a Florida friend.Sam also found a shed (antler),and was thrilled for it.I halfway tripped,in my vain effort to see the shed (building).
We did, too, see a shed of sorts,an old abandoned miner's cabincrumpled up on the ground (second pic).
The Lord blessed both of uswhile filling our lungs with His freshest of air.

Below is how the cabin may have appearedin its glory days.This cute thing is along a secondary road.It has a name-sign which reads...
Dear LodgeAs a fitting followup to our adventure,here is an expression by an unknown authorof the generosity of God...
We are profoundly impressed with the unlimited resources of the God of the Bible. He never does anything small, When He makes an ocean He makes it so deep that no man can fathom it. When He makes a mountain he makes it so large that no one can measure or weigh it. When He makes flowers, He scatters multiplied millions of them where there is no one to admire them but Himself. When He makes grace, He makes it without sides or bottom and leaves the top off. Instead of giving salvation with a medicine dropper, He pours it forth like a river.
When God sets out to do a thing for us, He does it with a prodigality of love-prompted abundance that fairly staggers one who reckons things by the coldly calculating standards of earth.
Whatever blessing is in our cup it is sure to run over. With Him the calf is always the fatted calf; the robe is always the best robe; the joy is unspeakable; the peace passeth understanding; the grace is so abundant that the recipient has all-sufficiency for all things, and abounds to every good work.
There is no grudging in God's benevolence; He does not measure out His goodness as the apothecary counts his drops and measures his drams, slowly and exactly, drop by drop. God's way is always characterized by multitudinous and overflowing bounty, like that in nature which is so profuse in beauty and life that every drop of the ocean, every square inch of the forest glade, every molecule of water, teems with marvels and defies the research and investigation of man. Well may we cry with the Apostle,"I have all and abound."
GENESIS 15:5


Visit the BIBLE VERSE of the Day; In Touch Daily by Charles Stanley;Today's Reading in My Utmost For His Highest by Oswald Chambers

In mystery our soul abides...

We cannot kindle when we will

The fire which in the heart resides;

The spirit bloweth and is still,

In mystery our soul abides.

But tasks in hours of insight will'd

Can be through hours of gloom fulfill'd.

(from Morality by Matthew Arnold, 1822-1888)

Therefore we ought to give the more earnest heed

to the things which we have heard,

lest at any time we should let them slip.

-Hebrews 2:1 KJV

God is never in a hurry

but spends years with those He expects to greatly use.

He never thinks the days of preparation

too long or too dull.

The hardest ingredient in suffering is often time. A short, sharp pang is easily borne, but when a sorrow drags its weary way through long, monotonous years, and day after day returns with the same dull routine of hopeless agony, the heart loses its strength, and without the grace of God, is sure to sink into the very sullenness of despair. ... We may not see now the outcome of the beautiful plan which God is hiding in the shadow of His hand; it yet may be long concealed; but faith may be sure that He is sitting on the throne, calmly waiting the hour when, with adoring rapture, we shall say, "All things have worked together for good." Like Joseph, let us be more careful to learn all the lessons in the school of sorrow than we are anxious for the hour of deliverance. There is a "need-be" for every lesson, and when we are ready, our deliverance will surely come, and we shall find that we could not have stood in our place of higher service without the very things that were taught us in the ordeal. God is educating us for the future, for higher service and nobler blessings; and if we have the qualities that fit us for a throne, nothing can keep us from it when God's time has come. Don't steal tomorrow out of God's hands. Give God time to speak to you and reveal His will. He is never too late; learn to wait. -selected

May we be willing, now, to do the (good) thing that lies nearest, in the love and grace and strength and power provided by God - being in His life (see Colossians 3:3) - and not even attempting it on our own, but depending upon Him for whatever we need to accomplish what He wants, the thing that lies nearest. May we not make this complicated. May we simply want what He wants and proceed on that basis alone; wanting the heart of Christ (for blessed are the poor in spirit), seeking to understand what is the mind of Christ (for those who seek will find Him who rewards them who seek Him diligently), and offering our bodies as living sacrifices...that every part of our physical being may be dedicated and devoted to the expression of His purpose for it.

For instance, what is His purpose for your eyes? Just now, you are reading these thoughts. In five minutes what will you do with your eyes? The thing nearest may be a child - whether naughty or nice - whose gaze connected to your gaze may receive the vision of Christ's love, which is certainly not found in many other places where the eyes of children may connect.

May our eyes convey that we consider how to encourage one another to love and good deeds, as Hebrews 10:24 instructs us to do. Open His book and see what is in it...absorb what is in it, for you, then be willing via your unique self to somehow communicate what you see, what you hear, on behalf of the One who loves you infinitely most. He will prompt you, in His time...He may surprise you. Be willing, be always ready. In the meantime, there is the thing that lies nearest - perhaps some duty of the day - and there is His immediate purpose for you. But be aware that this very thing may be interrupted by another thing or person. Now what is important to you? Do you love Him above and beyond your feelings, your busy-ness, your urgency? See your priorities continually in the light of discerning whether they are His, and keep your inner ear alert.

Jesus is the beloved risen Son of God...listen to Him. Begin with Him. Rest with Him, arise with Him, walk with Him, run with Him, connect with Him, keep on going with Him. With Him abide. In all things, even the little things, cause it to be about Him; be conscious of Him in your thoughts, words, actions, disposition. And be thankful to Him. If you practice Him, these things become like breathing. If your lungs are not used to Him, practice some deep breaths...hold...exhale. This expansion may even hurt a little (...perhaps your lungs are a bit crusty). But, persevere, His immensely great and healing love is in the air for you. Freely you receive, freely give.

Help Us, God

Help us, God,to breath Your air,to know whensomeone's there,to care, O God,to shareYour giftslike You were there,to lifta chinto see Your sun,Your Son to seeand watch withprayer,to rest,to waitwith silencewith You theretil every thingappears in seasonclear and fairand we are with Youthere,teach us to pray,our Father dearWho art in heav'n...hereand there.Amen
Copyright (c) 11.19.09 - Linda L. Brown

Visit the BIBLE VERSE of the Day; In Touch Daily by Charles Stanley;Today's Reading in My Utmost For His Highest by Oswald Chambers

On Quiet Time

(click link to read the verse - Ezek. 1:25)

   What is the letting down of the wings? People so often say, “How do you get the voice of the Lord?” Here is the secret. They heard the voice when they stood and let down their wings.

   We have seen a bird with fluttering wings; though standing still, its wings are fluttering. But here we are told they heard the voice when they stood and had let down their wings.

   Do we not sometimes kneel or sit before the Lord and yet feel conscious of a fluttering of our spirits? Not a real stillness in His presence.

   A dear one told me ... of a certain thing she prayed about, “But,” said she, 

“I did not wait until the answer came.”

   She did not get still enough to hear Him speak, but went away and followed her own thought in the matter. And the result proved disastrous and she had to retrace her steps.

   Oh, how much energy is wasted! How much time is lost by not letting down the wings of our spirit and getting very quiet before Him! Oh, the calm, the rest, the peace which come as we wait in His presence until we hear from Him!

- Unknown Author

Visit the BIBLE VERSE of the Day; In Touch Daily by Charles Stanley;Today's Reading in My Utmost For His Highest by Oswald Chambers

Sweet Fragrant Aroma

But thanks be to God,

who always leads us in His triumph in Christ,

and manifests through us the 

sweet aroma

of the knowledge of Him in every place.

For we are a fragrance of Christ to God

among those who are being saved

and among those who are perishing;

2 Corinthians 2:14,15 NASB

The love of God is expressedon the merits of His own nature,by what He has done;apart from our vain efforts to impressor to earn His favor.
Be thankful in His lovefreely given.Be led in His triumphby obedience.
...a fragrance of Christ to God!
This way His love is recognized
through you by others in distress,who will receive Him as you did,drawn by knowledge wafting highand low, where Jesus went.
The breath of rest by grace to savorwonder knows as peace and truth—In every place, the Savior's scent!Forgive, as you were.Give, as you were given to.
poem: Copyright (c) 05.31.09 - Linda L. Brown



Visit the BIBLE VERSE of the Day; In Touch Daily by Charles Stanley;Today's Reading in My Utmost For His Highest by Oswald Chambers

Natural Sleep Remedies

Sleep is imperative,and we are aware of it;but when we think, there it is... it leaves us right where it is.
I think, thinking is not of it(though dreaming is part of it);so, try listening to other thingsand think nothing of the narrative ...
Soon slumber comes, settling.Or, begin a poem like this one is,at four a.m.—too hard to think.Now, here's a remedy! ... riddling.
Or, this is comparative:Sense fingers, toes and eyelashes—one at a time ... and think of it.... When you can't, you'll sleep instead.
But, best of all is when He singswithin your heart a precious hymnor gives a verse on which to thinkand folds His peace beneath your chin.
Copyright (c) 04.16,20.09 - Linda L. Brown
Visit the BIBLE VERSE of the Day; In Touch Daily by Charles Stanley;
Today's Reading in My Utmost For His Highest by Oswald Chambers