The difference between Flowers and Stones

With camera in hand I watched Charity bounce from flower to flower drinking in the scent like there was no tomorrow.

“Take a picture of me smelling the flowers!” she suggested. I took one.

 “Take another picture…” I turned around to see her little noise buried in a cement slab.

I laughed. She laughed too and we walked on.

 A stone could never match a spring flowers fragrance, no matter how hard you sniff it.

Flowers are easily crushed and broken, stones are not…

 Flowers are fragrant, stones are not.

I would rather be fragile, easily broken, easily crushed but emitting fragrance for my Lord,

 than indestructible and safe from harm, with none of His glorious scent releasing from my life. 

The Power of the Eyes

On the 3^rd weekend of every March, the MWA holds their annual whitewater championships…out of all the state it happens to be 10 miles from our little town.  

I’ve been out to watch these championships many times, and it never gets old. As I sit on the rocks, only a few feet from the river, it’s like I am the one traveling down the rapids.

Along with the pictures I took today, I am including excerpts from an article of advice written to whitewater kayakers. It speaks so clearly to me of what the Father is calling me to do in this season of my life. 

The Power of Eyes

Use your eyes! They are the most powerful tool you have at your disposal for getting where you want to go in whitewater.

 Look where you want to go. It really is this simple. Let your eyes pull you where you want to go. 

However, the opposite is also true. If you look at the rock, guess what, chances are, you are going to hit it

Using your eyes effectively requires practice.

 The light of the body is the eye: if therefore thine eye be single, thy whole body shall be full of light. -Matt 6:22

The excepts were taken from MWA's website, here is a link to the article I quoted from: The Power of Eyes

Good Days

What makes a day a “good day”?

Does it have to do with how you are physically feeling or how the weather is outside?

No, not at all. A good day is one in which you start out with The Shepherd, and stay with Him all day long.

A good day is one spent grazing were He leads you…

even if that is in the valley… 

As you follow The Shepherd, the good days will follow you. 

“Surely goodness and mercy shall follow me all the days of my life…” Ps. 23:6

Humility

The spring rains transform our gentle flowing creek. As its banks overflow, spring after spring, the bends change and the banks erode.                                             

In some areas each year the creek takes on a new appearance as it changes to meet the waters shifting flow. 

I see the beauty of Humility in the creek bed.

To be humble means to surrender to the Spirit’s wearing away in your life and to take on the impression He leaves. 

                                                                                        

Today I invite Him to rearrange my life …and leave His impression on my heart.

 Humility is offering no resistance to the dealings of the Lord with us. --Chip Brogden

Count your blessings

When the Enemy begins to remind you of all the things left hanging in your life…all that you didn’t accomplish today, and probably won't tomorrow. The things that went wrong, and all the things that could…

One habit dissolves his efforts like the sun breaks up the clouds. 

The habit of giving thanks…the habit of counting your blessings.

Pick them up from around you and place them where your eyes can clearly see the beauty and smell the sweet fragrance of His love . 

Today I've counted mine...                                                                    

...and as always, I am overwhelmed by blessing instead of fretting. 

Count your blessings instead of your crosses;

Count your gains instead of your losses.

Count your joys instead of your woes;

Count your friends instead of your foes.

Count your smiles instead of your tears;

Count your courage instead of your fears.

Count your full years instead of your lean;

Count your health instead of your wealth;

Count on God instead of yourself.

Author Unknown

Sow to Grow

You have to PLANT seeds in order for

them to GROW.

God has given us ALL the seeds that produce righteousness…

It’s no use holding on to them and admiring the display on front.

 They will not bear fruit or generate any beauty tucked away in your pocket.

Be generous in your sowing! 

"Sow for yourselves righteousness, reap the fruit of unfailing love, and break up your unplowed ground; for it is time to seek the LORD, until he comes and showers righteousness on you."

Hos. 10 12

Promised Strength

God has promised strength to equal our days.

And yes, that includes strength to blow out all of  those seemingly numerous candles!

It includes strength to face every new morning with a smile and every night with a prayer of thanksgiving on our lips. 

When we were young we counted the days until our birthday arrived, now many of us have ‘graduated’ to dreading the fateful day when we will add yet another candle to the cake. 

Why dread what He has purposed? He meant for men to grow up…to become mature and wise-

years are good for that.

 With God lighting the candles and handing them to us, our flame becomes brighter and brighter...

and that's how He likes it! 

Embracing the Season

Today I was thinking about embracing the season that God has me in. So easily we start wishing for summer when spring has barely begun! 

If this discontentment is allowed in the heart we cheat ourselves out of the wonderful treasures that God has in store for this season.    

Our minds are constantly adrift to tomorrows...
while today is drifting by us. 

There is so much He can teach us...so much we can lay hold of  today. 

 I desire to so enjoy spring that when summer comes- it catches me by surprise!