Love Series: Day 1

"Love is not only something you feel. It is something you do." ~Dave Wilkerson

What would life be without love? Lonely...lost...and completely empty. There is a special love that everyone can receive. And it all starts with God's love. His love is unfailing, forgiving, merciful, and forever. God's love strengthens us. It allows us to have the ability to love others. Love is a truly unique and special gift. "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." (John 3:16)

Today begins a series of images and thoughts that illustrate the beauty of love through nature and life.

Weed Watching

Sure enough...Wait around long enough and the weather changes. Yesterday the air conditioner today sweaters and hats. There are two seasons in Texas...winter and summer. Most of the time summer. So I have been doing a little weed watching. This this thistle was a pretty dandelion flower yesterday afternoon. My nephew thought that was cool. It is the first one I have seen in the yard so guess spring is most definitely knocking on the door. Weeds are very photogenic. I hate to begin mowing the yard again when they start popping up. Some may think they are a nuisance, but I actually think they are pretty and unique. I can never look at these little thistles and not see Flick from A Bug's Life floating across the "canyon". Ah, the tiny little world that exists beneath our feet is extraordinarily beautiful. And as with every change of the season..."Truly, you will weep and mourn over what is going to happen to me, but the world will rejoice. You will grieve, but your grief will suddenly turn to wonderful joy when you see me again" (John 16:20). We will rejoice.

"I was a dandelion puff...Some saw the beauty in me and stooped quietly to admire my innocence. Others saw the potential of what I could do for them, so they uprooted me, seeking to shape me around their needs. They blew at my head, scattering my hair from the roots, changing me to suit them. Yet still others saw me as something that was unworthy and needed to be erased." ~Nicole Bailey-Williams

Beautiful Weeds

Cannot believe that January is almost over. Of course you also cannot tell that it is winter around here anymore. And just as I say that the weather will change once again. It feels more like late spring here. The weeds are beginning to sprout, and I have actually seen little flowers blooming already. I was hoping for some more cold weather. At least a chill or frost in the air would be nice.


"Don't get tired of doing what is good. Don't get discouraged and give up, for we will reap a harvest of blessing at the appropriate time." Galatians 6:9

Nature looks dead in winter because her 

life is gathered into her heart. 

She withers the plant down to the root 

that she may grow it up again fairer and stronger. 

She calls her family together 

within her inmost home to prepare them 

for being scattered abroad 

upon the face of the earth. 

~Hugh Macmillan

Citrus Sun

Tiny little orange globes dangle in the trees. They appear beautiful and they smell heavenly. Too bad they don't taste as good as they look. My neighbor's orange trees are full of these fragrant fruits. Filling up a basket full and placing them around the house makes every room smell delicious. A little citrus sun to bring indoors...

Renew your mind...a spiritual renewal of your thoughts and attitudes. "But let God transform you into a new person by changing the way you think." Romans 12:2

"A man ought to carry himself in the world as an orange tree would if it could walk up 

and down in the garden, swinging perfume from 

every little censer it 

holds up to the air." 

Henry Ward Beecher

Listen

An important part of communication is listening. I have been trying to teach this to my nephew for 10 years...Listen first, then talk. He seems to understand for a while, and just when I think he has got it...well, he falls right back in to the same old habits. It is a pattern of talk about everything and not listen to anything. Sometimes I think we all fall back into those old patterns. The only way to learn something is to listen. 

"Be quick to listen, slow to speak, and slow to get angry." ~James 1:19

Maybe we should all listen little bit more and hear...truly hear what is going on around us. There are so many things to listen to. What is important? The sounds of the birds singing in the morning...children laughing in the park...squirrels chattering in the tree...crickets chirping in the dark... 




All these sounds with their rhythm, cadence and heartbeat whisper to us. 
We should listen.

Bird Watching

Not sure who is doing the watching here... 

"Have faith in God....All that's required is that you really 

believe and do not doubt in your heart." 

Mark 11:22-23

It was a glorious morning of beautiful sounds. 

Chirping... 
         tweeting... 
                    singing...
                             and squawking... 
                                                              filled the air. 






A cacophony rang throughout the trees from one limb to another. The branches seemed to be littered with hundreds of different species. So grateful for a day when I can sit outside and just observe all of nature's wonders.

A bird is three things:

Feathers, flight and song,

And feathers are the least of these.

~Marjorie Allen Seiffert

Frost

Some more photographs from last week. The early morning frost just sparkled. It looked like a blanket of tiny prisms across the ground and on the rooftops. Nature and weather offer such wonderful images. If only I could spend hours out in the field capturing them all. But I will opt to just sit still and listen.

"Be silent, and know that I am God!" Psalm 46:10 

"All that is gold does not glitter,

Not all those who wander are lost;

The old that is strong does not wither,

Deep roots are not reached by frost.

From the ashes a fire shall be woken,

A light from the shadows shall spring;

Renewed shall be blade that was broken,

The crownless again shall be king."

~J.R.R. Tolkien