"Blessed are they which do hunger and thirst after righteousness." Matthew 5:6

"There is no way that any of us can talk ourselves into getting a "longing for God." Spiritual desire and hunger must come from God Himself! It cannot be whipped up."  Tozer

This was a quote from one of my daily devotions today that struck me. As I thought on this I became so aware of how blessed that I am to have that desire deep within my soul.  So often I have felt as that hart on the mountainside panting after the water brook, my soul has longed after Him.
I remember as a youth, before I would have been a professing Christian yet still knowing and fearing God, although in a different way... I had a longing for Him... I just didn't know how to get to Him.   I remember as a small child talking to Him in the storms. So childish was I when I would ask Him questions and ask Him to answer in one lightening and two claps of thunder... then I would know the deep secrets I was asking of Him... but He always seemed to answer.  He never dismisses a child... one looking to Him for reasurance.   I remember driving after my grandmother died and wondering why... I was angry with Him back then...
...but after a long journey He brought my soul home to Him...
Now my life is a training ground... one where there are valleys and plains along with the mountain tops...  It seems like it's been a long time since I drifted in the clouds... but I know they are there... waiting for me.

"But it is a different story when we consider the spiritual life. No one but God through His Spirit is able to stir up spiritual desire among us. Those who have accepted a common state of spiritual living and have no deep desire for Him will never be stirred by human means." Tozer

Until next time,
Jean

Bouquets...

So simple yet so elegant, isn't it.
... wild flowers, sweet pea blooms, cleome, queen Anne's lace... whatever you can find...
placed in old glass milk jars, wine bottles, mason jars... whatever you want... that's the charm of it!

Flowers are charming and add happiness and smiles where ever they are... I have met a few people in my day that have actually said they don't like flowers... and I might add, they are grumpy people... afterall anyone who can't find beauty in a flower has to be grumpy, wouldn't you think?

I think of Heaven when I am in my gardens... afterall, 'it all began in a garden'... yes I imagine how beautiful it must have been, and how beautiful it must be now... I believe with all my heart that Heaven will be one big beautiful garden.  God created the earth and all that is on and in it... have you ever looked inside a flower bloosom?  Those who believe in evolution must be so sad inside... to look at the beauty of nature and try to convince themselves that it just happened... it is just so silly to me. 

Yesterday Evan noticed a bumpy toad in the flower bed off the patio... I right quick got a clay pot and put it in there so it would have a home.  Evan, Aaron & I watched it as it backed itself into the dirt and used it's back legs to burrow itself in.  Today Ethan noticed the Baltimore Oriole's in the yard... the orange brightness of there beauty didn't just happen... Nature simply sings out of Gods glory... to hear and understand that song is a blessing and a gift.

Today I planted up a few more of my containers... I planted begonias in some of my pots for the porch tables and kitchen window sill.  Basils in pots on the front porch too... just gotta have basil everywhere.  I have several wheel barrows that I have always planted double petunias in. This year I am doing something different...   In one I decided to scatter zinnia seed... I love zinnias... they just smile at you! In another I planted several nasturtiums.  I am excited to see how they look all full and overflowing.  I have another that I am not sure what I am going to do yet... I am one of those gardeners that will just know when the time is right. 

Today was a great day... hope yours was too!
Until next time,
Jean

My Heart & Soul

The Lord's day is so special to me... it allows me time to reflect on things... the everyday things of life... what's important and what's not... my family and the time we spend together... where things are going and stalling... to just be...

Today's sermon talked a bit on the ark... the minister was comparing the raven and the dove... it was quite enlightening to me... I had never really thought about some things that he pointed out.

First Noah sent the raven and it just roamed to and fro but never returned to the ark for safty... 
Then Noah sent out the dove... it flew and found 'no rest for it's soles...' and it returned to the ark of safty...  then it was released again and this time it brought back an olive branch... life... but it still returned to the ark... then the third time it didn't come back... it was able to survive in the new life found on the earth...

In the New Testament satan is said to roam to and fro across the earth looking for what he can devour... a raven is a 'devouring' bird... it's hunts for carnage... dead things...
A dove is often a symbol of Christianity, peace and gentleness... like Jesus... the dove went out and sought life...

There is only true life in in living for Jesus and His salvation...

A hymn we sang at church...

Holy Jesus, lovely Lamb,

Thine and only Thine I am;

Take my body, spirit, soul,

Only Thou possess the whole.

Thou my dearest object be,

Let me ever cleave to Thee;

Let me choose the better part,

Let me give Thee all my heart.

Whom have I on earth below?

Only Thee I wish to know;

Whom have I in heaven but Thee?

Thou art all in all to me.

All my treasure is above,

My best portion is Thy love;

Who the worth of love can tell?

Infinite unsearchable!

Nothing else may I require;

Let me Thee alone desire;

Pleased with what Thy love provides,

Weaned from all the world besides.

Until next time,
Jean

Rest...

"Again and again, I've found Him faithful to respond, and the closer I move to Him,

 the safer I feel and the better I rest."

Patsy Clairmont

'The Lord is nigh unto them that are of a broken heart; and saveth such as be of a contrite spirit.'

Psalm 34:18 KJV

What comforting words as I sought Him... today was a bit of a difficult one... but as always, I asked and He answered...  The words above were given to me from Him.  As I prayed He showed me and led me to the words you see above.

HE is so faithful to me, even when I have not been to Him... my heart cries out to Him and He is instantly there... although He never left, He is always by my side guilding me through life... as I allow Him too that is.  It is my choice... I can turn away and get too busy and forget about Him, but He just stands back where I walked away... and waits for me to come back...

Have you ever just got down and prayed... I mean just prayed so hard the words weren't even there... groanings within that only He understands...

His touch upon my heart when it's breaking... His peace resting upon my soul when it is weary... His perfect love never failing, even when I fail... 

Until next time,
Jean

The Beauty Of Spring

"Biltmore Conservatory" in North Carolina April 2005, photo by Marilyn Lennis, used with permission.

Spring is forgiveness... spring is rebirth... spring is a new start... spring is beautiful!

Thursday it rained and rained... the boys noticed a full rainbow lighting the sky... they called us over to see it... such majesty in it... such a beautiful promise from Him in it...
and into the night it still rained... the rain descended steady and straight giving a refreshing drink to the world...

Friday morning I woke up... got a cup of coffee and sat on the porch... the sky was blue... the air was crisp and it smelled so clean... the robin was singing a song that just sounded victorious... praising God for the rain and the lush green world around us... the peepers were singing so loudly... it's not often you hear them in the day... they usually welcome in the evening to all the eager listeners...

I just sat... and breathed... and praised Him for the beauty... the earthy sounds... the refreshing smells of rain...

God is in Heaven... everything is alright...
Until next time,
Jean

He Is Faithful...



"Picket Fence" by, Jean Smith
I made this little picket fence using twine and small branches.  This was part of my front garden at one of our other homes.



Here is a poem that a dear friend gave to us...

When you are the neediest, He is the most sufficient.
When you are completely helpless, He is the most helpful.
When you feel totally dependent, He is absolutely dependable.
When you are the weakest, He is the most able.
Ween you are the most alone, He is intimately present.
When you feel the most useless, He is preparing you.
When it is the darkest, He is the only Light you need.
When you feel the least secure, He is your rock and fortress.
When you are the most humble, He is most gracious.
When you can't, He can.

 I can do all things through Christ which strengtheneth me.  Philippians 4:13 KJV

Until next time,
Jean

His Timing Is Never Wrong...

This is a poem that I just read off the cardboard insert from a calender that my daughter bought....

When the time was right,
the sea parted,
the walls fell down,
the lions went hungry,
the sun stood still,
the star appeared,
the waves were calmed,
the stone was rolled away,
the Lord ascended...

God is never early and He's never late-
He's always right on time and His plans for you are good.

"For I know the plans I have for you, declares the Lord,
plans to prosper you and not to harm you, plans to give you hope and a future." 
Jeremiah 29:11 NIV

Quoted from DaySpring.

Until next time,
Jean

The Beauty Of A Sunrise

Photograph by Daniel Miller, used with permission, Copyright 2006
"Sunrise at Oscoda, Michigan on the AuSable River"

Have you ever just sat totally still and quiet and watched a sunrise come up over the calm of the water...
It's almost reverant... it feels like a holy moment... God shining His light upon the day...
Gracing us with another moment in time that only He can give...
... the sounds of the morning birds calling out to any that will listen...
good morning they call


Life is so short and we don't know what the day will hold for any of us.
I heard a furneral sermon once where the minister pondered the question of..
"would I be ready when the head lights shine in front of my face?..."

will we?

Until next time,
Jean

Love Song...

Love Song...

How tedious and tasteless the hours,
When Jesus no longer I see!
Sweet prospects, sweet birds, and sweet flowers,
Have all lost their sweetness to me;
The midsummer sun shines but dim,
The fields strive in vain to look gay;
But when I am happy in Him,
December's as pleasant as May.

His name yields the richest perfume,
And sweeter than music His voice;
His presence disperses my gloom,
And makes all within me rejoice;
I should, were He always thus nigh,
Have nothing to wish or to fear,
No mortal so happy as I,
My summer would last all the year.

Content with beholding His face,
My all to His pleasure resigned;
No changes of season or place
would make any change in my mind;
While blest with a sense of His love,
A palace a toy would appear;
And prisons would palaces prove,
If Jesus would dwell with me there.

Dear Lord, if indeed I am Thine,
If Thou are my Sun and my Song,
Say, why do I languish and pine?
And why are my winters so long?
O drive these dark clouds from my sky;
The soul-cheering presence, restore;
Or take me to Thee up on high,
Where winter and clouds are no more.

Author Unknown

Until next time,
Jean

Today and every day...

Life on the farm holds it's challenges... but the joys that come with this life are far beyond words. We hold part of nature around us... we can hear the breeze as it lights softly through the trees lifting and teasing the leaves... the whizzing of the humming birds wings as he chases his female in and around the front porch.  Life is so good and is filled with such an incredible amount of fullness.

As each day draws longer, the sun seems warmer on my cheek, the air has that smell that only can be had in the earliest of spring... when the spring peepers in the pond start their song each evening... the bats swoop over head to gobble up all those pesky mosquitos... pulling over wintered onions, oh that earthy goodness!

I love my life on the farm...  I love the sky at night when all you can see is the apparently never ending stream of stars... then suddenly there is a falling star... quick make a wish...knowing and never doubting that God is in Heaven and that everything is all right...

I love watching my children climb trees, roll in the grass, chase butterflies, dig in the dirt, play sword fighting with branches, hear the crack of the ball when it hits the bat.  I love that my children can hear all the sounds without the distraction of traffic, television, radio and the like.  I love that they play and make believe... that they make snow forts and snow men... that they know the good morning song of the robin and the dee-dee of the little chickadee and the caw of the blue jay.... I love that my children can be children...

on the farm,
Jean