Celebrating

Brian and I recently celebrated 17 years of marriage. The week before our actual anniversary, we took a trip to northern Minnesota. What a wonderful few days! Even though it was rainy and misty most of the time, we still got out an enjoyed the scenery. It was also a time to reflect and reset. Both of us learned lessons and were reminded of wonderful Truths of the Gospel as we were out and about. 

Harebells grow and bloom in adverse circumstances. There is a huge lesson there.
More on that in a different post. 

Yarrow growing in a crevasse at Cascade Falls.

Yet another plant, blooming where you would least expect it.

We were amazed at this old, gnarly tree. Roots straight in the rock.
Hmm. Another lesson right there; Our roots needing to be in the Solid Rock.

Celebrating 17 years of marriage. We hiked up Look Out Mountain,
and were rewarded with a misty view. What you would see on a clear day
is Lake Superior to one side, and the Superior National Forest on the other. 

When we returned to church on the 24th (the actual day of our anniversary), our pastor, Dr. Jeff Rich, preached on Genesis 1, and the crowning glory of God's creation. It was riveting. We had just been surrounded by the glory of God's creation, and to hear that even more glorious than all of that, is man! Man is created in God's image, we know this. Yet, how often do we elevate the beauty and majesty of the oceans, or of the mountains, or a waterfall, above man? I learned that as glorious as all of that may be, and is, that my husband and I reflect God's glory even more. He has created us in His image. When we were in sin, He called us out of the darkness and into His glorious light.  He has redeemed us. He has made us His own, through the precious blood of His Son, Jesus Christ. What could be more glorious than that?

Simple Delights

In the midst of the hard of this world, there are simple delights...simple joys. Today, i need to share some of those simple joys. some of the simple delights.

~ Brian's hand to hold and arm around my shoulder when the going gets tough.
~ walking through the neighborhood at dusk with Brian.

Daisies in our garden

~ warm coffee early in the morning.
~ a room that faces the sunrise, to be alone with God in the early morning.
~ holding a book in my hand. especially my Bible.
~ butterflies flitting through our gardens.
~ roses and daisies.
~ Bluebirds and Goldfinches.
~ Cardinals and Barn Swallows.
~ Dragonflies and Hummingbirds.
~ our children's laughter filling the halls.
~ nerf wars on the staircase.
~ music. hymns. worship.
~ a small gathering on Wednesday night to sing incredible truths and hear God's Word preached.
~ friendship.
~ dishes in the sink, which means we have food on the table, which means we have a table and a home to have that table in.
~ dinners around that table. communion.
~ the beauty of the wind through the tall trees.

There are times when we just need to remember all of the seemingly simple gifts we have been given. Yet, if we really think about it, none of these gifts are simple! They move to the profound, when we look to the One who is the Creator and the Giver of each of these things. We are so undeserving, yet our gracious Lord showers us with grace and mercy every.single.day.

THAT, my friends, is truly amazing.

Bluebird

 

photo credit

To say that i like watching birds would be an understatement. I have the Birds of Minnesota book and faithfully check off each new type of bird i see. The book (and accompanying cd's of bird calls) are on top of a hutch in our kitchen for quick and easy access. Unfortunately the book was missing for a good year, but i found it this Spring in our front closet, right under my nose the whole time. It was a happy day when that book was found! The funny thing about me getting into watching birds, is that my husband has too. Last summer he was the one to spot the Scarlet Tanager that came by! I finally was privileged to see it, but he had the first couple sightings.

We have lived in our house for over 5 years now. I start to think that maybe we won't see any new types of birds, but.... WE DO!

 Last summer was the S. Tanager, this summer it was the  Eastern Bluebird. Many people in our area see them; i happen to be the one who doesn't. In June, i spotted one on a fort wall at Fort Snelling. I was so thrilled! Then, a couple of days ago, Brian and i were sitting on the back deck. He says, "What kind is that?" At first i didn't know what he was talking about, but his eyes were on a branch close by, so i assumed it must be a bird. All off a sudden, a flash of blue wings took off and flew across the yard! An Eastern Bluebird!

My jaw dropped.

This is the branch where the bird landed.
It's a dead branch i put in a container with
zinnias and morning glories. 

I couldn't speak.
I was so stunned and elated!

I ran inside and grabbed the bird book to show him. It was just the coolest thing to see that bird, the bird i have wanted to see close up for so long, right there on the branch on our porch, not five feet from us!

Seeing that bird was a sweet gift from my Father. He knew that something so simple would fill me with great joy. Brian said that it was like i had won the lottery, my reaction to seeing the bird was so big :). Though the moment was short, the sight of that bird helped me. It brought joy to a world-weary heart. It reminded me of the amazing Creator God that i serve. It reminded me that moments of absolute beauty pop up when i am least expecting them.

And...

It filled my heart with a deep gratitude.
Gratitude for simple joys. For beautiful nights. For time on the deck with my husband. For Eastern Bluebirds that will sit and rest for a moment on a branch nearby. For the One who created all things, and who does all things well - our great God!

Guess who visited the branch last night? A Hummingbird! The little thing came and took a sip of nectar from a flower, and then perched right there on the branch while we were eating our dinner. You should have seen all 6 of us just stop and stare and wonder! So tiny, so beautiful. 

Counting it ALL Joy

James 1:2-4 (NASB) states this:

Consider it all joy, my brethren, when you encounter various trials, knowing that the testing of your faith produces endurance. And let endurance have its perfect result, so that you may be perfect and complete, lacking in nothing. 

I have been working on memorizing this, and practicing it. Author and speaker Elizabeth George wrote a book titled Finding God's Path Through Your Trials. In the first number of chapters, she goes through the verses in James bit by bit. It has been very challenging to read. For instance, when she was simply talking about how we are to count it all joy (deliberate, act of the will, NOT based on feelings of the moment) when we encounter trials, i wanted to throw the book across the room! I thought, "Has this woman ever known trouble, trial, pain?" To my embarrassment, that was my thought. I know that she has endured heartache, trial, trouble and pain. That is why she can write the book! She has lived it, and has learned to be a woman of God with staying power in the midst of challenging circumstances.


Over the past year and a half i have had my fair share of trials. My Dad passed away in January of 2013. Family relationships changed dramatically after that, bringing much heartache. Weekly, i have fairly intense trials to deal with. One person even asked me, "When is it going to stop? Do you even see an end to it all?" I choose to not discuss my circumstances much anymore, unless things grow more intense and i need help. God has shown Himself faithful in every trial, every pain, every time i feel alone.

Enter James 1:2-4.

Little did i know just how much i would need the sound teaching of those verses! The past week brought about a very difficult trial and testing. When it was over, i was able to ask God to help me see how to count it joy. I needed His help to do it, because i just couldn't see it. Then i remembered that He is teaching me. He is training me. He is producing perseverance and endurance in me, so that the next time a trial comes my way, i can stand stronger in Him.  I need staying power. I need His Spirit to continue to show me how to please Him in how i handle the trials that come my way.

One thing i think we get hung up on is the word "joy". It doesn't mean that we are laughing or pretending to be happy when our hearts are breaking. There is pain in joy. There is pain in hope. Yet, we hope. Yet, we have joy... joy that is a deep peace and delight in knowing that God is working ALL things for the good of those who love Him:

Romans 8:28-30: And we know that [a]God causes all things to work together for good to those who love God, to those who are called according to His purpose. 29 For those whom Heforeknew, He also predestined to become conformed to the image of His Son, so that He would be the firstborn among many brethren; 30 and these whom He predestined, He also called; and these whom He called, He also justified; and these whom He justified, He also glorified.

And if the end result, if the reason that i am tested, is simply to bring Him glory, okay. If the end result is that i am more conformed to the image of Christ, okay. He IS worthy of all the praise and all the glory, no matter what the situation is.

The other morning i woke up and this song came on... timing? PERFECT! Nothing is wasted in the hands of our loving Redeemer!

May you be blessed by our great God as you press on in the face of various trials, counting it all joy, and remembering that NOTHING is wasted.