In the Details

On a walk this week, I noticed how pretty the maple tree seeds 

(we always called them helicopters) appeared. 

When the leaves bud and begin to grow, the tree releases the

helicopters, and they twirl to the ground.

Does anyone else remember trying to catch them?

God's handiwork never ceases to amaze me.

When those seeds fall to the forest floor, more trees grow.

When they fall into the hands of a child, they entertain their imagination.

What small detail of God's creation have you noticed this week?

 

Imagine the Garden

Genesis 1:11-13
Then God said, “Let the land produce vegetation: seed-bearing plants and trees on the land that bear fruit with seed in it, according to their various kinds.” And it was so. The land produced vegetation: plants bearing seed according to their kinds and trees bearing fruit with seed in it according to their kinds. And God saw that it was good. And there was evening, and there was morning—the third day.

Spring’s first heartbeat honors winter’s last breath. -Angie Weiland Crosby

Tim and I have been walking Rosie at the local park. As we hike along the trail, I’ve spotted a variety of flowers blooming. The yellow celandine blankets the forest floor, Dutchman’s breeches wave their miniature pantaloon shaped petals, and Virginia bluebell leaves are sprouting. Green has popped all over and the robins are tweeting a welcome to spring.

When I witness the change from winter to warmer weather and the brown shifting to shades of green, I’m reminded of the creation story. When God made the world, He added plants. He knew we’d need not only the produce from the vegetation, but the beauty of the flowers.

As we walked this morning, I considered the Garden of Eden and the glorious place it must have been. All the amazing plants in God’s original creation must have looked and smelled incredible. Imagine the perfection.

I’m thankful He blesses me with the beauty of nature in our little corner. No, we don’t experience a land without scars or blemishes, but we do have a hint of the place Adam and Eve left behind. The hint of the possible beauty of heaven fills my heart with hope. As I spy a hyacinth’s fresh bloom or the brilliant color of a tulip, I’m reminded of how much God loves me. He cares for the flowers and loves His people even more.

Enjoy spring and appreciate God’s gift of beauty on earth and the ultimate glory of heaven.

Beauty

I was delighted to find my miniature tulips in bloom this week. 

The lovely purplish-pink color stirs joy in my soul.

The contrast with the green is simply gorgeous.

I hope this photo brings you hope 

and reminds you of the beauty of God's creation.

Happy Spring!

 

Joy in Creation

Psalm 65:8
The whole earth is filled with awe at your wonders;
   where morning dawns, where evening fades,
   you call forth songs of joy.

My zinnias are blooming.

This time of year, as I'm driving through the country toward my hometown to visit family, I roll past fields of soybeans and signs with sweet corn for sale. Abundant gardens filled with tomatoes, green beans, and cucumbers catch my eye, and one home offers pick your own flowers. The cosmos and zinnias dance in the breeze, inviting people to stop by and cut a bouquet.

My daughter, Maggie, and her husband, Michael, grew a lovely garden this year. From their abundance, she gave us green beans and zucchini, and I can't wait to see her blue pumpkins. As I sat in my chair and snapped the beans, I considered how amazing it is that God gave us so many incredible plants. He offers a variety for us to eat and a multitude to enjoy.

The zinnias I planted from seed have sprouted and bloomed. Their rainbow of color welcomes people to our door and brings joy to my day.

I am in awe of all God created. From the tiny pea to the giant redwood, the woods to the rainforest, the ocean to the mountains, everything He made He gave us to explore, discover, use, and enjoy. God also gave us responsibility to take care of the earth and the natural resources He provided. As I soak in the beauty, I long for us to appreciate and care for the environment we live in.

The whole earth is filled with wonder and I rejoice in God, the Creator of everything. Even as I love all the plants and animals, I adore and worship the One who made them, and I'm thankful for the bounty of summer and the beauty of the season.

Thank God for His gift of creation and rejoice in Him.

 

Natural Beauty

This eastern tiger swallowtail swooped
around the purple coneflowers,
when I was watering plants the other day.

Imagine, the same God who created people, 
crafted this beautiful creature
who floats from flower to flower
and provides a way for pollen to move
where it needs to,
and we get to enjoy the show.

Thank you God for the beauty you've given us.

What natural beauty have you spotted lately?

Allow Color to Bless You

God created the world as a colorful place. 

Look around and see the greens, blues, pinks, and purples. 

Red, yellow and orange, black and white and even brown 

add amazing variety and contrast. 

My favorite color, pink, pours joy into my soul. 

That may sound silly, but I believe God gave us color 

to help us understand and appreciate the world we live in. 

On a gray day, a splash of color adds inspiration.

Take a moment to admire the colors and allow God to bless you.

 

He Made Summer and Winter

I want to challenge you in this new year of 2023 

to slow down and observe God's creation.

He's given us a beautiful natural world as a resource, 

but also as a reminder of His magnificence and power.

Whatever the season, appreciate His creation.

 

Rest

In my years of life experience, I think I've finally figured out--

It's okay to rest.

Rather than give up on something--stop--take a break--rest.

Rather than run myself into the ground--stop--take a break--rest.

No matter where you may be in life, it's okay to rest--

to take that fifteen minute or two hour break--

or how about a whole day and rest.

God rested on the seventh day after creation. It's okay for us too.

 By the seventh day God had finished the work he had been doing; so on the seventh day he rested from all his work. Then God blessed the seventh day and made it holy, because on it he rested from all the work of creating that he had done.

Genesis 2:2-3

Hope of Spring!

One of my favorite signs of spring blooms in early May.

The dogwood offers her showy blossoms in white and pink. 

If you know me, you know I love pink.

God has given us so many beautiful plants, 

and they bring joy to my heart and hope to my soul.

As the creator of all things, He gave us beauty to encourage and lift our hearts.

When you see the glory of spring, have hope!

 

And There Was Light

Genesis 1:3-5

And God said, “Let there be light,” and there was light. God saw that the light was good, and he separated the light from the darkness. God called the light “day,” and the darkness he called “night.” And there was evening, and there was morning—the first day.

Such a simple yet powerful word—light.

Try to imagine a universe void of anything except the power of God. A vast nothingness until the Creator put everything in place. He made night and day. Can you even comprehend the largeness of that statement? God called into the void and said, "Let there be light." And the light appeared. The brightness projected from the sun creates an intense contrast from the night. Even though we see stars and the moon, those don't compare to the brightness of day.

I'm not a night owl, I'm not really a morning person either. I joke that I'm the tired pigeon in the middle of the day. Seriously, I am more productive in the daytime, when the light shines through my window, or I'm out working in my tiny flower garden. My plants reach their little leaves up and soak in the sunlight and work through photosynthesis in order to grow. As I work in the sunshine, vitamin D gives me much needed energy.

Aside from the great purpose of the sun, God gave us another light, His Son. Jesus is the light of the world. Sometimes the night falls and with it come fear, anxiety, and depression. Instead of leaning into the darkness and letting the negative suck me in, I want to bask in the light of the Lord and have hope, peace, and truth.

Jesus' light shines this truth on a weary world. "For God so loved the world that he gave his one and only Son, that whoever believes in him shall not perish but have eternal life...  But whoever lives by the truth comes into the light, so that it may be seen plainly that what they have done has been done in the sight of God." John 3:16 & 21

Living a life for Jesus draws me into His light where I find help in troubled times, forgiveness and grace, and lots of love from the One who created me.

Walk in Jesus' light.

Who God Created Me To Be

Growing up in the seventies, I read books like I'm Okay, You're Okay 

and took personality tests in magazines to try to

 figure out who I was supposed to be. 

It took me a long time to realize God 

had made me with a distinct personality and a purpose.

Once I started to understand who God created me to be, 

I was relieved that I didn't have to keep searching. 

Instead, I learned to trust Him.

 

Consider the Creator

Job 37:5-7

God’s voice thunders in marvelous ways;
    he does great things beyond our understanding.
He says to the snow, ‘Fall on the earth,’
    and to the rain shower, ‘Be a mighty downpour.’
So that everyone he has made may know his work,
    he stops all people from their labor.

Snow sprinkled the ground like powdered sugar.

Winter arrived in southwest Ohio in the form of an ice and snow storm. For three days moisture froze and covered our little corner of the world. Rain moistened the ground, sleet piled on sidewalks and streets, ice pinged the windows and coated the tree limbs, then the snow fell. Flake after flake tumbled from the sky and a beautiful white wonderland stopped everyday life. Schools closed, businesses shut their doors early, and the roads turned dicey. For a moment in time life slowed down.

On those days, as I walked Rosey and Olive over the frozen tundra, I stood in awe at the wonder of God's artistry. If you don't know, I'm a winter person. I love to walk in the snow and see the earth coated in pure white. As I trekked along the snowy street, I thanked God for the beauty.

The snow will melt in a few days as the temperature rises, but the wonder I experienced will stay with me. This morning I picked up my Bible and read from the book of Job. The seventh verse struck me as one I need to remember. When the weather changes, a downpour opens from the clouds, a snowstorm hits the area, or the humidity hits an all time high, God wants us to stop and consider Him.

Not too long ago, we all had to stay at home due to the pandemic. Perhaps that time, when we were all stopped in our tracks, was a time to better know God and His work. A time to ponder God's power and glory.

Even as I walked in the snow and gazed in awe at His works, I knew God gave me the time to recognize Him as the Creator.

Take time to see God's creation and the power of His mighty hand.

The Power of God

This is how powerful our God is.

His very breath freezes moisture into ice.

Weather fascinates me—thunderstorms, snow, ice, sleet, sunshine, clouds.

And God is in them all.

His power covers the earth in all creation.

 

Discover Who God Meant You to Be

In the 70s, it was all about figuring out who you were.

I remember reading a book called I'm Okay, You're Okay. 

I honestly don't remember much about the book.

But one thing I know now, none of us are okay without Jesus.

Instead of finding yourself, 

seek the gifts and desires God has placed on your heart.

Long for his input and guidance. 

Discover who God intends you to be.

 

You Are Special

You may not know or dare to believe, 

but you are special to the Father who made you.

In this world, we tend to compare ourselves to each other.

Maybe we think we don't have enough money or talent, 

we aren't as good looking as the people we meet. 

Maybe we wonder why we are even here.

Let me tell you--You Are Special! 

God loves you more than you can imagine 

and he's made you and me unique for a reason. 

If you doubt what I'm saying, talk to God and ask him to reveal his love for you.

 

Look in God's Mirror

Ephesians 4:29
Do not let any unwholesome talk come out of your mouths, but only what is helpful for building others up according to their needs, that it may benefit those who listen.

As a writer, I think about words a lot.

When I was a teenager, I spent too much time in front of the mirror. I didn't wear makeup, but I brushed my long straight hair for hours. I checked my outfits to make sure I conformed to strict school rules. And I talked to myself. The words weren't positive. I didn't like my ears or nose. I wasn't as pretty as my friends. The lies I told myself hurt and beat up any confidence I had. Unfortunately, this is typical behavior for many teenagers and adults.

I still talk to myself but not in the same demeaning way I did as a young person. Over the years my attitude changed, one of the benefits of growing older and wiser. I learned to listen to the words of God, my husband, my family, and my friends. You see—they value me as a person. Oh, I'm not perfect and I make plenty of mistakes, yet I'm a useful and unique person who loves God and seeks his purpose.

God created me, not to knock myself down, but to soar.

I love Psalm 139:13-14
For you created my inmost being;
    you knit me together in my mother’s womb.
I praise you because I am fearfully and wonderfully made;
    your works are wonderful,
 I know that full well.

If my words are negative, self-talk is unwholesome and detrimental. Our minister said, "Stop beating yourself up with self-talk." He instructed us to "Look in the mirror of God's truth." God made you and me as a wonderful work of his creation. He made us on purpose. Look in the mirror and see the potential God sees. Ephesians 4:29 tells us to build each other up, not to let negative talk pour from our mouths. That applies to talking to ourselves too. Spill out the positive on others and yourself.

Whether you've been treasured by family and friends or sent into a tailspin of abuse. God sees your value. He cherishes you. Change self-talk from negative to positive and know God created you as a beautiful person with joy and hope in His heart.

 

And God Created Egrets

On one of our trips to Lake Erie, we stopped by the Port Clinton Lighthouse. 

We walked along the beach and searched for lake glass,

 then sat on a bench and watched the waves.

We were preparing to leave when I turned and 

looked toward the two ponds that sit in front of the lighthouse. 

A speck of white caught my attention. 

As I moved closer to the water, an egret stood. 

What a beauty. I am partial to these remarkable birds, with their graceful movements. 

As with any of God's creation, I love to watch them and learn their ways. 

Fun fact: they build their stick nests near the water, but high in the trees. 

Fortunately, this bird was photogenic!  

Let Joy Overflow

Psalm 28:6-7

Praise be to the Lord,
    for he has heard my cry for mercy.
The Lord is my strength and my shield;
    my heart trusts in him, and he helps me.
My heart leaps for joy,
    and with my song I praise him.

Since I've been sheltering-in-place, I've invited a few friends to visit.

A couple of years ago, my daughter gave me net bags filled with Niger seeds (sometimes called thistle) to hang by my back porch. I'd sit outside and watch the gold finches and house finches play and eat. Those little birds brought joy to my heart. When the bags wore out, I purchased a fancier feeder. But there was a problem. When rain poured the feed mildewed. I gave up and tossed the contraption. Then I went a year without seeing those sweet little birds.

After the verdict came in March for folks to stay home, I ordered new finch food bags. I hung one by the porch. But I wanted to watch the flit and flutter of yellow and brownish-red birds more often. So I hung one outside our living room window; where I could see them from my chair. They are a riot. Some days I see as many as five beauties perched on the bag. Sometimes they run each other off, even though there is plenty for everyone. In this time of isolation the finches stir the joy within me. I'm so glad I invited them over.

When life seems crazy, different, even unpredictable Satan tries to steal our joy. He pokes and prods until he deflates our hope. Don't let him. Choose to seek Jesus as the hope and joy of your heart. Trust God for your strength. His joy runs deep and bubbles up inside. As much as I love my little visitors, I know the joy they bring comes from the love I have for their Creator, the God who loves me.

What makes your joy bubble over? Music? Nature? Talking to a friend? Creating something by hand? Hugging your spouse? Loving your kids and grandkids?

Grab that bit of joy and let it overflow.

Tweetable
Seek Jesus' hope and joy. (click to tweet) 

God's Incredible Creation

We'd walked around the park's path a couple of times. Wanting to reach the two mile mark, we needed more steps. Across from the play area, a hiking trail wound up the hill. Other than a bit of mud, we enjoyed trekking along the small rise. As we tromped the path, we listened to the river rush and the birds sing.

As with any hike in the woods, I'm always searching for flowers and plants, particularly in the spring. I thought I'd missed discovering one of my favorite wildflowers. We hadn't visited the park where I usually see them. As we hiked along, I watched the floor of the woods. Along the edge, I spied not one, but many of the wildflowers I had hoped to see.

White Nodding Trillium

Red Trillium

Several red trillium squatted together along the edge of the woods. Only one white nodding trillium rested among them. Being a bit of a nerd, my excitement rose and I felt blessed to see these beauties of spring.

Anytime I am in the woods, I am recharged by God's incredible creation. His artwork revives my soul and increases my hope. If you can, visit a wooded area and take in God's beauty. Or step outside and listen to the birds' songs. Refresh your soul through his creation.

A little trivia—Ohio's official wildflower is the white trillium.

So Will I

Psalm 96:11-13

Let the heavens rejoice, let the earth be glad;
    let the sea resound, and all that is in it.
Let the fields be jubilant, and everything in them;
    let all the trees of the forest sing for joy.
Let all creation rejoice before the Lord, for he comes,
    he comes to judge the earth.
He will judge the world in righteousness
    and the peoples in his faithfulness.

Autumn, like spring, reminds me that nature calls to those who enjoy the beauty of the earth. This week I was privileged to hang out with grandkids on two different field trips. Two of my grandsons, both in fourth grade, went to a nature center in southwest Ohio. The instructors led them through activities focused on fossils. We hiked to a creek and searched for rocks with impressions left, from years ago. The kids learned about erosion and discovered crawdads and plant life in the water. We went home dirty, tired and happy to have been outside all day. The next day I joined my granddaughter, along with her mommy and daddy, on the preschool trip to the pumpkin farm. She played on the straw castle, we rode on a hayride and picked out pumpkins.

All this outdoor time speaks to my heart about the joy I find in God's creation.

When I am out tromping in the woods or walking in a pumpkin patch, I am amazed once again at all that God gifted us with. I stroll out my door to be greeted by zinnias and maple trees. We ambled by a field yesterday, and heard the killdeer's call and the cardinal's song. In the woods, a deer might peek out or a squirrel scamper. Even as I write these words, I feel excited about not just the beauty of the earth, but the resources. Our Father provides for us and all he asks is for us to be faithful. He hopes his children will join him in taking care of the gifts he's given and use them to his glory.

I've been called a tree-hugger before. That's not really accurate. I'm just somebody who appreciates the natural gifts God supplies. I'm thankful for all he provides and want to do what I can in my little corner of the world, to show appreciation. I thank God for all He gives.

This song says what I feel!