A Calm and Quiet Soul

But I have calmed and quieted myself,  I am like a weaned child with its mother; like a weaned child I am content. (Psalm 131: 2)

Who doesn't desire to feel calm, quiet, and content? The above verse of scripture creates a beautiful image of one who is peaceful and content. An infant becomes distressed and restless when hungry, and is instantly quieted when placed to the breast for nourishment. Once a baby is weaned, he trusts that his mother will continue to feed him as she always has. He is content just to be near her without desiring the breast for sustenance. 

As we journey through life, many things will bring distress and restlessness to our souls--bad news from the test results at the doctors, a spouse who walks away unexpectedly, a rebellious child, chronic illness, job loss, or financial problems. In each of these situations, we can be like a weaned child--contented, trusting, assured that all will be well. 

Our Heavenly Father is right there by our side when we are faced with circumstances that shake our souls and fill us with fear and trembling. He will provide our needs. With childlike faith, we can rest in the One who never leaves our side.

No Excuse

For ever since the world was created, people have seen the earth and sky. Through everything God made, they can clearly see his invisible qualities—his eternal power and divine nature. So they have no excuse for not knowing God.  Romans 1: 20 (NLT)

Each time I look out over the mountains, I'm reminded of the God who created all things. It brings to mind Romans 1: 20. How can one not believe in God when they look at creation? Scripture says we have no excuse for not knowing God. From the majestic mountains to the vast oceans, we clearly see Him in the things He has made. Life itself is a miracle, and the complexity of the human body and how it works certainly did not happen by accident. All creation shouts the existence of a Divine Creator.

Autumn has arrived in all it's glory here in the mountains. What a treat it is! Each day when I look outside, the woods are bursting with marvelous colors. The orange, red, and yellow-hued leaves brighten even the dreariest rainy day.  The drive down the mountainside is breathtaking. Again, it serves as a reminder of the God of the universe. It just makes sense. All the theories that science has come up with to explain creation just don't make sense. Life is too intricate and fascinating to be accidental. It's mind boggling to think about how a baby forms into a beautiful human life practically from nothing. Again, we clearly see God at work. He is visible in the wildlife, plants, and flowers. We see His workmanship in the sun, moon, and stars. The skies proclaim His glory. 

As the beauty of the autumn season unfolds, I pray you will pause from the busyness of daily life and all the distractions it brings, and reflect on the marvelous creation outside your window. Take some time to be still and remember God, the Divine Creator, who made all things bright and beautiful, all creatures great and small.

The Flowers of the Field

   “And why do you worry about clothes? See how the flowers of the field grow. They do not labor or spin. Yet I tell you that not even Solomon in all his splendor was dressed like one of these." (Matthew 6: 28-29)

Remaining in the Vine

I am the vine; you are the branches. If a man remains in me and I in him, he will bear much fruit; apart from me you can do nothing. (John 15: 5)

I decided the housework and other things could wait this morning, and I savored a time of prayer, Bible reading, and Bible study here at home by the pond, my favorite place in the world to be.  A delicate breeze was blowing the sweet smell of honeysuckle through the air. As always, I was in awe of the beauty of the mountains, the warmth of the sunshine, the birds singing, and the sound of the creek trickling behind me. It never gets old, no matter how many times I experience it and I never get enough of it. It's about as close to heaven one can get here on earth.

It was a lovely time of quiet reflection on what matters most in my life. I cherish times of peace and serenity, because they are so few and far between. When I make time to be still, it keeps me focused and gives me the strength to keep going. 

God gives us what we need most exactly when we need it. It was no accident that my First Place 4 Health Bible study lesson today contained the following quote: 

"The branch of the vine does not worry, and toil, and rush here to seek for sunshine, or there to find rain. No; it rests in union and communion with the vine; and at the right time, in the right way, is the right fruit found on it. Let us so abide in the Lord Jesus." ~J. Hudson Taylor. 

Such a profound truth in a simple quote! I hope I never forget it. I often find myself worrying, working, rushing around trying to fix situations, trying to find answers to life's problems, and stressing myself out. It's usually during the times when I'm worrying and hurrying that I neglect my Bible reading and prayer time the most.

I need to remain in the vine, connected to Christ, who will provide all the nourishment I need to bear fruit in His perfect timing. I'm so thankful he is the Vine. Being a branch, I can abide peacefully in Him and wait; knowing and trusting that He will supply every need in every circumstance.

Flowers Appear on the Earth

"Arise my darling, my beautiful one, and come with me. See! The winter is past; the rains are over and gone. Flowers appear on the earth; the season of singing has come, the cooing of doves is heard in the land. The fig tree forms its early fruit; the  blossoming vines spread their fragrance. Arise, come, my darling; my beautiful one, come with me." (Song of Songs 2: 10-13)

The new leaves are forming on the trees and the flowers are blooming in abundance here in the mountain. Beauty, joy, and life seem to be bursting forth everywhere I look. On Easter morning I was greeted by the arrival of six new goslings by the pond. Life feels new and fresh again after the long cold Winter season.

The verses above from Song of Songs are some of my favorite passages of scripture. Life is hard and often filled with stress, pain, and suffering. My heart waits in expectation when I sense my Heavenly Father calling me to come away with him for a time of much-needed refreshment and renewal. I'm filled with delight as I step away from the busyness of daily life to marvel at the beautiful things He has created. As I breathe in the fragrance of the flowers, I feel the stress melt away. I sense His presence so clearly when I take time to be still before Him and bask in the wonder of His creation.

Our Heavenly Father desires us to seek Him and to love Him. He is there waiting. All we have to do is pray. We can talk to Him like we would a friend and simply tell him our struggles and our burdens. He will forgive our sins. We just need to ask Him for forgiveness. 

If we accept His invitation, He will infuse our exhausted and weary souls with tranquility, peace, and joy. He desires an intimate relationship with each of us, but we have to respond to His call to "come away" from the crazy pace of life and spend time with Him. 

Is He calling you today to "come away" and leave your worries behind? How will you respond?

My Help

I will lift my eyes to the hills-where does my help come from? My help comes from the Lord, the maker of heaven and earth. Psalm 121: 1-2

It's been a rough couple of weeks. I was hit hard by a nasty flu bug and was down for about 2 weeks. Winter has been long and I've often felt isolated and alone here in the mountains. It doesn't take long for discouragement to set in when you are sick and spending a lot of time by yourself.  

I was listening to music one night while I was laying in bed unable to sleep and Bebo Norman's song, I Will Lift my Eyes, came on. I love that song!  It was just what I needed. It reminded  me that my help is in the Lord, the maker of heaven and earth. I thought about how each time I look out my window I see hills and more hills. From that night on when depression loomed over me while I was sick, I would look out the window and look to the hills. I felt encouraged as I remembered where my help came from. 

I love living in the mountains. What a blessing to have a visual reminder each time I look outside and see the hills that God is my help. Life is hard and it's so easy to grow discouraged, but often just a simple verse of scripture is all we need to get our minds focused on God, the source of all our comfort and help.

 

A December Walk

He restores my soul...Psalm 23: 3

I was awake most of the night listening to the wind howling, thankful for a cozy comforter to wrap up in and a warm house. The older I get the less I like the winter months. I find myself staying inside most of the time, not brave enough to venture out in the harsh temperatures. I was grateful to have the day off of work and to snuggle under the covers a bit longer for some much-needed rest and relaxation following a busy couple of months filled with holiday preparations and activities, which left me feeling anxious and worn out.

When I finally coaxed myself out of bed, I looked out the window and the birds were already busy flitting about in a fury from tree branch to bird feeder. I look forward to the arrival of the winter birds. They make the bitter harshness more bearable. Red-bellied woodpeckers were furiously pecking away at the new suet cake I had put out a few days ago. Several cardinals brightened up the barren trees with their colorful attire. I paused and sat down to enjoy the birds. I've missed watching them at my feeders.

Since I had to return to the work force last spring, I don't have time to enjoy a lot of the simple pleasures in life. Last month, I realized fall had passed and I missed it. I was rushing back and forth to work, rarely pausing long enough to see what was going on outside my window. When I leave the house at 4:30 AM it's still dark, so I only see the deer that cross the road in front of my car as I drive down the mountain on my way to work.

I pray one day I will be able to work from home again and get back to my quiet mornings enjoying the beauty of God's creation. There's nothing like working in the comfort of your own home and being able to take a break and go for a walk in the woods. I am blessed though! Even though I work in an office building now, my desk sits in front of a window with a bush outside. I'm often treated to busy sparrows darting in and out of it while I work, and occasionally a blue jay or cardinal will make an appearance to brighten my day. It sure beats a stuffy cubicle, so I always try to remember that things could be much worse.

As I watched the birds outside this morning, I felt the urge to go outside and take a walk by the pond. Though I don't venture out too often in the winter months, I bundled up and braved the wind and cold. The frozen ground crunched under my feet and the wind was strangely refreshing as it stung my face. I noticed deer tracks on the frozen surface of the pond. The echo of crows squawking in the distance was carried along with the wind. Left-over fall leaves danced across the ground before they were caught up in the breeze and carried away. Squirrels scampered up and down trees. The sun sparkled like millions of diamonds across the icy pond, and the deep blue sky could be seen in all it's glory through the leafless trees. And, I didn't have to watch for snakes while I was walking. That is one thing I love about winter...no snakes!

Though winter is my least favorite season of the year, it still has a beauty of its own, and a short December walk was just what I needed for restoration and renewal today. It eased my weariness and replaced my anxious thoughts with peace, preparing me to cope with the start of another busy work week tomorrow.

Lord, 

 Thank you for the blessing of a quiet morning walk to enjoy the beauty of Your creation. Thank You for refreshing my spirit and giving me renewed strength for another week. When I get busy and distracted by everyday life, remind me to be still and know You, for You are the One who restores my soul and refreshes my weary spirit.

In Jesus' name, Amen.

When the Journey is too Much

Then he went on alone into the wilderness, traveling all day. He sat down under a solitary broom tree and prayed that he might die. "I have had enough, LORD," he said. I Kings 19:4

Do you ever feel as if you have had enough?  In the passage of scripture above the prophet Elijah had grown weary on his journey to the point he asked the Lord to take his life, then he laid down under a broom tree in the dessert and slept. He was awakened by an angel whom the Lord had sent to feed him and strengthen him. Elijah ate the food the Lord prepared to nourish his body and then he laid back down under the tree and rested some more. 

He looked around and there beside his head was some bread baked on hot stones and a jar of water. So he ate and drank and lay down again. I Kings 19:6

When we grow weary on our journey through life we usually don't think about resting and nourishing our bodies. We are often encouraged to rush off to our doctor who quickly writes out a prescription for anti-anxiety drugs or anti-depressants. Resting is seen as a sign of weakness in a performance-driven world where we are encouraged to keep pushing ourselves. Often what we need most is rest and nourishing food.  It's okay to rest when we grow tired, weary, anxious, or depressed.

Then the angel of the LORD came again and touched him and said, "Get up and eat some more, or the journey ahead will be too much for you." I Kings 19:7

I'm finding extra rest and eating healthy to be helpful to me as I go through a "wilderness" experience in my personal life. I  was feeling quite anxious and discouraged in recent weeks. I was pleasantly surprised that after just a few days of getting to bed earlier and taking a short nap after work how different I felt. The anxiety has lessened tremendously, and I feel as if I can cope much better with things. I've also let some things go. I'm not stressing myself out about the housework and yard work. When I feel up to it, it will get done. For now I need to curl up under the broom tree like Elijah did and rest and nourish my physical body so that I have the strength needed to continue on.

I type medical reports for my job, and the most common complaints people see their doctors for are exhaustion and depression. Even children are experiencing this at alarming rates. The outcome is always the same; usually a medication for depression and another for anxiety. Oddly, many of these patients return still exhausted and depressed, and the doctors add yet another medication on. I often wonder why these medications fail to help. Could it be possible that what is really lacking is rest combined with healthy nourishing food? 

When your walk through the wilderness seems long and tiring, and it feels as if the journey is too much to bear, remember it is okay to feel discouraged and in despair. These are normal emotions that all human beings experience at one time or another. Your journey through the wilderness won't last forever. It will pass. In the meantime, why not rest and nourish your weary body? Think about Elijah under the broom tree and let it be a reminder that when the journey becomes too much that God provides strengthening for our physical bodies through rest and nourishment. Rest is a God-given prescription that strengthens and refreshes weary travelers.

Only One Thing is Needed

"Martha, Martha," the Lord answered, "you are worried and upset about many things, but only one thing is needed. Mary has chosen what is better, and it will not be taken away from her. Luke 10: 41-42. 

The story of Martha and Mary was one I desperately needed to be reminded of during my morning devotional time. Too often I find myself rushing about worried and upset over many things. I'm not alone. Most of the women I know have Martha personalities. 

Martha had opened her home to Jesus and his disciples. She obviously had a servant's heart and the gift of hospitality, but she became so busy and distracted by all the preparations that had to be made that she grew irritable and resentful of her sister, Mary, who instead of helping her was sitting at the feet of Jesus listening to what he was saying. We see this clearly in the following passage of scripture: 

"But Martha was distracted by all the preparations that had to be made. She came to him and asked, "Lord, don't you care that my sister has left me to do the work by myself? Tell her to help me!" Luke 10: 40.

I find being distracted to be a huge problem for many women today, myself included. We get distracted by what seems so urgent but really isn't, and it's those things that keep us from doing what truly is important. We are admired if our days are full and busy. We are seen as strong women if we can multitask and juggle many roles. We tend to take on much more than we can handle, and then find ourselves stressed out and irritable. Like Martha, we become resentful when we feel overwhelmed and nobody is helping us. Often what we are stressed out about is the chaos that we created by taking on more than we can handle, and  never allowing ourselves any time to rest and sit and listen to what Jesus is saying to us. 

Schedules that are overflowing allow no time for what is truly important. We must remember that Jesus said only one thing is needed. What is that one thing? Time spent with Him. Time listening to Him speak to us through His word. Time to seek Him. When our life comes to an end here on this earth the only thing that will matter is our relationship with Jesus. Do we truly know Him? Are we taking time to listen to what He is teaching us? Do we apply His teaching to our everyday lives? Do our daily schedules reflect that He is first in our life, or do our schedules reveal days running over with a flurry of activity with no mention of Jesus? Are we allowing ourselves time to rest in His presence? When we find ourselves rushing about, distracted by many preparations, upset, and worried, I pray we will all remember clearly the words of Jesus: "only one thing is needed."

Shifting Seasons

 God is our refuge and our strength, an ever-present help in trouble. Therefore we will not fear, though the earth give way and the mountains fall into the heart of the sea, though its waters roar and foam and the mountains quake with their surging. Psalms 46: 1-3

How quickly seasons shift and change. It seems like yesterday I was surrounded by snow drifts wondering if Spring would ever arrive. Just weeks later I was greeted by the welcome sight of tulips poking their colorful heads out from the snow drenched ground. Soon the tranquil quietness of Winter's landscape was replaced with the sound of honking and squawking resounding through the woods as the geese arrived at the pond and once again began their seasonal ritual of mating and preparing  nesting sites. The transition was abrupt as Winter faded away and Spring slipped in to take its place.

As Spring arrived on the scene to replace Winter, a new season in my personal life slipped in to replace the previous season when I was least expecting it. I had finally grown accustomed to the empty nest when I was forced into yet another new season; my husband of 34 years has left and wants a divorce. I did not choose this season, but nonetheless it is one I must endure. I've also started a new job working outside the home. This is a huge change also since I've spent most of my married life raising the four children and working from home. I am thankful that God supplied the perfect job for me in His perfect timing, exactly when I needed it and with great health benefits to go with it. I'm truly blessed. I do not know what the future holds but I know who holds it. I have absolutely no doubt that God will supply every need that I have.  I will trust in his promises and provision. 

As I grow older I realize that one should never grow too comfortable in any season we are in, because we can be sure of one thing...seasons always change. In many ways this new season will be by far the most challenging one I have faced so far in my life, but I am thankful for my faith in God which has never once failed to sustain me through the storms of life. He is faithful. He will always be with me.

Just as certainly as Spring will soon fade away ushering in the sweltering days of the Summer season, I know my personal life will be filled with new seasons as well and that some seasons will be more welcome than others. Life truly is ever changing. In an uncertain world, we can rest assured that while seasons will continue to shift and change God will always be with us, and He never changes.

Longing for Spring

He will once again fill your mouth with laughter and your lips with shouts of joy. Job 8: 21

Winter has been long and harsh here in the mountains. Frigid temperatures and heavy snowfall have been unrelenting. I find myself longing for Spring, which seems like a distant dream when I look out the window and see nothing but huge mounds of snow and ice. Yet I know the promise of Spring awaits. The winter will pass and the earth will come alive with flowers, green grass, and budding trees, but it's hard to imagine the nearness of Spring when I look outside and see nothing but Winter.

Life is a lot like that. When going through a difficult "winter" season it can be hard to grasp the reality that "spring" will ever arrive again. Our trials and troubles won't last forever, but when we look at our situation we see nothing but the difficult winter season we are currently facing. It can be hard to see beyond it. The enemy of our souls would like us to feel hopeless in what feels like a never-ending season of sickness, financial woes, relationship issues, job stress, or depression. Perhaps we struggle with some form of addiction that seems to have taken over our life and we can't seem to break free no matter how hard we try. We begin to feel as if our situation is hopeless and that it will never change, but we can rest assured that our earthly problems will not last forever when we are followers of Jesus Christ. Spring is just around the corner, even though we may not see it now.We can trust in God's promises because not one of them has ever failed. We need not lose hope, for we know Spring always follows Winter, and for that we can rejoice and be glad!

Ode to Winter

Ode to Winter

Winter's breath harsh and shrill,

blankets the mountain with a blustery chill,

as snow cloaked trees dance to and fro,

their branches laden with heavy snow,

and moonlight glisten's on a February night,

sprinkling the woods with snowy light.

Outside my window I see once more,

Winter's attire serene and pure.

Beautiful Birds

Be exalted, O God, above the highest heavens. May your glory shine over all the earth.   Psalm 108: 5

I woke up to a lovely view outside my kitchen window this morning. This Cardinal and Tufted Titmouse were sitting together peacefully on the tree branch. Aren't they beautiful?

Be Still

Be still and know that I am God; I will be exalted among the nations, I will be exalted in the earth. Psalm 46: 10

A crippling snowstorm arrived this past weekend announcing the arrival of winter with a fury,  right in the midst of the hustle and bustle of the Christmas season. It's almost as if God was saying it was time to be still and focus on the true meaning of the season. As I looked outside wondering how much deeper the snow was going to get, I saw a Tufted Titmouse just sitting on the post. I felt a sense of calmness wash over me as I watched the snow falling. It had been quite some time since I just sat and watched the birds at the feeders. I had become too busy lately to focus on God's beautiful creation.

With Christmas only three days away, I realized I had once again allowed myself to get caught up in the busyness. Each year I think it's going to be different. I'm not going to get caught up in the hustle and bustle of the season. I'm going to take time to reflect on the true meaning of Christmas, and yet every year it happens. Somewhere between my good intentions and Christmas day, I once again get swept away into the vicious cycle of preparing for Christmas. And it's not just me. It seems as if every woman I know has the same problem. Rather than being a time of true celebration, the Christmas season has become of time of stress and exhaustion. It's also the time when what we should be reflecting on the most seems to be what is thought about the least. I was deeply saddened today when I realized Christmas was so close and I have yet to simply be still and reflect on the true meaning of it. How did celebrating the birth of Jesus become such a stressful and busy time?

It seems many have even grown to dislike Christmas. I've heard several women say they can't wait until it's over. Others say how much they dread this time of the year. How sad that the celebration of the birth of our Lord and Savior has become a time that's dreaded. How things have changed since the time when that sweet baby was placed in a manger! It seems now that Christmas is about bright lights, decorations, cookie baking, and buying gifts we can't afford. We attend church events that do focus on the true meaning of the season, but often we are too tired to enjoy them.  Instead of reflecting on Jesus, we rush right out the church door and off to the next event. How many of us truly keep Jesus at the center of our celebrations? If we figured up how much time we spent focusing on Him and serving him compared to how much time we spend on worldly traditions that have little spiritual significance, I think we would be surprised. 

I'm thankful for the weekend snowstorm and being snowed in for several days. It has forced me to slow down and look at the beauty around me. The beauty that is all too easily taken for granted. In the midst of preparing for Christmas, we need to take time to be still and know Him. We need to rejoice and celebrate the baby who was laid in a manager wrapped in swaddling clothes. May we never forget the most precious and wonderful gift of all, Jesus Christ!

Prelude to Winter

Purify me from my sins, and I will be clean; wash me, and I will be whiter than snow. Psalm 51: 7

It's been nearly a month since the curtain closed on the spectacular performance of autumn here in the woods, and I knew it would only be a matter of time before frigid temperatures, long dark nights, and bitter winds appeared on the scene.  One gets rather spoiled by the fall season and the colorful show of the leaves as they shower the mountains with extraordinary color. In comparison, winter often can seem drab and dreary, and I have to admit that it is my least favorite time of the year. 

Over the weekend, we woke up to our first snowfall of the season. The drab brown trees were beautifully dressed in coats of sparkling snow, and that which had become barren and lifeless once again became beautiful.  This prelude to the soon coming winter months was a reminder that winter truly does have a beauty of its own. God certainly takes that which is common and turns it into something beautiful!

This made me ponder how we often experience "winter" seasons in our life and how long, depressing, and hopeless they can seem when in the midst of them. The trials we face often seem as daunting as the frigid temperatures and as unwelcome as the howling bitter winds that are part of the winter season. These seasons of difficulty can seem very dark indeed. Yet, it is often during these seasons of "winter" that God makes us more beautiful, as we draw nearer to Him and cling to His promises. 

Like the brilliant snow falling softly over the mountains, God's love and grace falls upon us,  making us beautiful! And just like the once dreary woods draws attention to its beauty when covered with freshly fallen snow, others will see the beauty of Christ in our lives, as we draw closer to Him and are covered abundantly with His grace and love.

Happy Thanksgiving!

Shout with joy to the Lord, O earth! Worship the Lord with gladness. Come before him, singing with joy. Acknowledge that the Lord is God! He made us, and we are his. We are his people, the sheep of his pasture. Enter his gates with thanksgiving; go into his courts with praise. Give thanks to him and bless his name. For the Lord is good. His unfailing love continues forever, and his faithfulness continues to each generation.Psalm 100: 1-5

Life has been busy here in my mountain nest in recent months. I thought I would have more free time since I became an empty nester this past summer, but the spaces previously filled with motherhood quickly became filled with new adventures that God has placed in my path. God never allows us to sit around twiddling our thumbs wondering what to do, and for that I am so very thankful. Please accept my apology for not spending as much time writing for this blog recently, and I want to thank those of you who sent e-mails. I'm seriously going to try to write for the blog on a regular basis again. I've been co-authoring a book with Nancy, who is a very dear friend of mine, and whom God has brought into my life as an answer to prayer.  God has placed a book and women's ministry on our hearts, and it has become quite time consuming. Prayers would be appreciated as we continue to follow God's leading for our book and ministry:"A New Song in my Heart." We are excited about the things God is revealing to us as we write and where he is leading us with our ministry to women. It truly is God's project, as he has directed it every step of the way and things have fallen into place in His perfect timing.

Today, as we celebrate Thanksgiving, I pray we will all take time to stop amidst the busyness and reflect on our blessings. We have so much to be grateful for. God's free gift of salvation is what I am most thankful for. To know that I belong to Him just thrills my heart! And to think that he saved a wretch like me is overwhelming. He is so merciful, and His wonderful gift of salvation is available to all who accept it.  All we need to do is admit we are sinners, believe that He died for our sins, and ask him to come into our hearts. It really is that simple! 

Though we celebrate Thanksgiving only once a year, we should live each day giving thanks for the blessings in our life. Regardless of our circumstances, if we belong to God, we have much to celebrate daily. He is enough. If we have nothing else but Him, we are indeed very blessed. I've seen some miraculous answers to prayer in my own family in recent months, and I'm so thankful that God takes that which seems impossible to us and turns it into a miracle. I've found that when God answers prayers, he never just gives us what we prayed for. He goes all out! He gives us above and beyond what we desired.  Nothing is impossible for God. I pray we will all remember that He is the God who still performs miracles, and that we will ponder his greatness as we celebrate Thanksgiving today with family and friends.


Another one of the blessings I'm thankful for is the wildlife I see on a daily basis here in the mountains.  The two little deer in the photo above were drinking water in the creek by our house. I ran to get my camera. When I came back, they had made their way to the road in front of the house with their backs to me. I figured I had missed out on getting a picture of them, because they scare so easily. I opened the front door and said, "Hello, little deer." I was pleasantly surprised when, instead of running, they stopped and looked straight at me! Isn't God's creation beautiful? 

Have a wonderful Thanksgiving day!  

The Blessing of Autumn

To everything there is a season, a time for every purpose under heaven. Ecclesiastes 3:1

I love fall! It never fails to bring about a "nesting" instinct within me. After enjoying the sultry days of summer and time spent outdoors, autumn brings the refreshing arrival of cooler temperatures. The rapidly falling leaves foretell the near arrival of the next season to come, and remind me to savor the beauty of fall, because it will only be here for a brief time.

Since I was a young child, autumn was always a special time, and I can still vividly recall the scents of the old farmhouse kitchen where I grew up.  It instilled in me a desire to cook and bake at the first sign of changing leaves.  This year I've been blessed by a bounty of apples and pumpkins from the abundant gardens of friends and family. There is applesauce to be made and pumpkins to be pureed and frozen. It's the season of fat juicy apple dumplings, cinnamon laden apple pies, moist pumpkin bread, and spicy sweet pumpkin pies. It's the time of the year when pots of homemade soups show up on the menu more often along with freshly baked loaves of bread or rolls. I had to fire up the old black wood stove a few days ago, and although that is my least favorite thing about fall, I am thankful for a warm home to live in as the crisp fall wind splatters rain against my windows.

It's also the time of the year when I start to think about pulling out my latest quilting project that was sorely neglected over the busy summer months. Darkness settles in a little earlier each day, and longer evenings allow more time for sewing projects.  Fall brings with it a longing to curl up in a cozy blanket with a good book and a steaming mug of hot chocolate or tea.

I've been thinking about how blessed I am to live in an area where we experience a noticeable change of seasons. They each have a unique beauty of their own, and I'm so thankful for the change each one brings with it. Here in the mountains, autumn is indeed a beautiful season, a season filled with the rich abundance of God's blessings!

Lessons From The Leaves

 I was delighted to read this quote in our monthly church newsletter:

"The time of the falling leaves has come again...How beautifully the leaves grow old! How full of light and color are their last days!" ~John Burroughs

In recent days my mountain nest has come alive with new colors, and even on the most dreary and rainy days the woods are illuminated with sun-like splashes of yellow and orange. How beautifully the leaves do grow old! Perhaps we could take some lessons from the leaves.

We live in a culture that is very youth-oriented. Numerous products appear almost daily on the market claiming to make us look younger. Advertisements abound for anti-wrinkle creams, vitamin supplements, and pills that boast about their ability to prevent aging. Lets face it, we are growing older each day. That's a fact of life, and no matter how hard we try to avoid the aging process, it's going to happen. No lotion or cream can stop it. 

What a blessing it is to know God will sustain us even as we age! While our youth-focused culture may look past older people in favor of youth and physical attractiveness, God is always with us even as our gray hairs become more noticeable each day. He sees our inward beauty, not our outward appearance. And unlike the physical aging process, when we age spiritually, we only grow more beautiful in our faith. When we cultivate inward beauty, our faces will glow with the peace and contentment that comes only through having a personal relationship with our Heavenly Father. When we adorn ourselves with quiet and gentle spirits, that are of great worth to Him, we will be much more beautiful than any cream or lotion could make us at any season of life, and even more so as we grow older.  

As we enter the fall season of our lives and beyond, our faces will be radiant with His love, and our true beauty will shine as bright as the changing leaves in Autumn. 

Even to your old age and gray hairs I am he, I am he who will sustain you. I have made you and I will carry you; I will sustain you and I will rescue you. Isaiah 46: 4

The Old Quilt

While going through some things in my parent's old farmhouse last week, we came across this unfinished quilt top. We aren't sure who it belonged to or how old it is. It inspired me to write this poem.

The Old Quilt


As I admire the old quilt top I hold in my hands,

I wonder whose fingers stitched such intricate strands,

did it belong to my mother, grandmother, or to someone else,

this treasure unearthed in the old farmhouse,

These old worn fabrics from days gone by,

cause me to ponder and wonder why…

this quilt was never finished, why it lies undone,

did the cares of life take over the fun,

was this lady like me with projects galore,

too numerous to finish, yet always starting one more,

Was her life fraught with problems that I also share,

like me, did she stitch to forget her cares,

did she quietly reflect upon God’s amazing grace,

as she guided her needle at a steady pace,

Was this quilt pieced together to cover a bed,

or for the couch was it supposed to be a spread,

perhaps it was intended for a brand new bride,

or to keep legs warm on a winter's carriage ride,

Did her hands grow tired and weary with age,

did health issues afflict her and take center stage,

Did her life on earth end while in the midst of the task,

so many questions I wish I could ask…

of this unknown lady of generations past.

In Every Season

I officially became an empty nester last weekend when our youngest daughter got married, and I’m finding it much more difficult than I had anticipated. I feel as if I’ve been dropped in the middle of an island far away; a place where I don’t speak the language and don’t know the culture. An eerie quietness has settled over the house, and I find myself feeling empty and lost at times. Being a mother to four children over the past thirty-two years was my life. It was what took up most of my time and was the only lifestyle I’d known for over three decades.

I find myself wishing this summer could be like previous summers when days spent with my daughter seemed so carefree! Days when we would jump in the car and go to the store together, laugh about everyday things, and look at the fall dance catalog deciding what new dance apparel to order for the upcoming dance year. Now all that seems to lie ahead is loneliness and an empty calender. I find myself praying daily for God’s direction. I keep asking, “What now, Lord?”

As always, God’s perfect word spoke to my heart at just the right time. I was reading scripture this morning and came to this verse about Anna the prophetess:

Anna, a prophet, was also there in the Temple. She was the daughter of Phanuel from the tribe of Asher, and she was very old. Her husband died when they had been married only seven years. Then she lived as a widow to the age of eighty-four. She never left the temple but stayed there day and night, worshiping God with fasting and prayer. Luke 2: 36-37

Here was a woman who had been a widow for a very long time. She didn’t allow the circumstances of her life to get her down. She gave her life over to serving God day and night. What a beautiful example for all of us women regardless of the season of life we find ourselves in! We need to praise and worship God, accepting each new season with a heart dedicated to Him. Our life isn’t over just because the last child leaves home or we find ourselves alone. God still has a plan and a purpose for our life. Like Anna, we too can worship God day and night by devoting our lives to His service and joyfully accepting the calling He has for us in every new season.

I pray as I embark on this new season of life that I will have a heart like Anna. A heart fully devoted to worshiping and serving the God I love; the God who sustained me through thirty-two years of motherhood; the God who was there with me as I held each new baby for the first time; the same God who gave me courage to face each sleepless night; the God who sustained my strength through each challenging day while raising toddlers and teenagers; the God who never once failed to provide the strength I needed to carry on.

That same God is right here by my side in the empty nest. I need not fear; for just as He watched over me as a young new mother filled with fears and insecurities over three decades ago, He is watching over me now as a much older woman with new fears and insecurities, as I begin yet another new journey in life. Life is ever changing, but God is never changing! What a blessing it is to know He is by our side in all seasons!