He Knows Every Bird

I know every bird in the mountains, and the creatures of the field are mine. Psalm 50: 11

The mountains are teeming with an abundance of birds, and our Heavenly Father knows them all. It's quite an amazing fact when you stop and reflect upon it considering how many mountains and birds are in the world, yet he knows every single one of them. He knows every winged creature that shows up at my feeders, even the tiny hummingbirds! How easily we forget just how awesome our Heavenly Father really is. How often do we stop and reflect on His greatness?

Life is hard and it's easy to get caught up in the "woe is me" syndrome that has spread like a contagious epidemic. Christians are not immune from this disease. It is so common in our churches that most of us don't even realize we are infected with it. At times it can become a competition to see whose life is worse. Grumbling and complaining is rampant in our society today among believers and non-believers, and I'm just as guilty of it as anyone else. How easy it is to complain about gas prices, the weather, and the high cost of living. How easy it is to join in and add our two cents when we hear others complaining. I'm saddened as I think about how much easier it is to complain than it is to be thankful and share something uplifting and positive. Do you ever stop and wonder how God feels when He hears our grumbling amidst all the blessings He has poured out upon us?

The "woe is me" syndrome is a product of self-focus rather than God-focus. The only cure for the disease is to focus on God and how awesome He truly is. Regardless of our life circumstances, we have so much to be thankful for. God has showered us with blessings too numerous to count. When we consider His ways and count all the ways He has blessed us, thankfulness will spring forth from our lips in praise of the One who knows every bird of the mountains.

Eagle Wings

But they that wait upon the LORD shall renew their strength; they shall mount up with wings as eagles; they shall run, and not be weary; and they shall walk, and not faint. (Isaiah 40:31)

I’ve been battling some health issues and personal struggles recently that often leave me feeling weak and weary. At times depression creeps in, hovering over me like a dark cloud. Feelings of hopelessness seem to besiege me, taking me captive in the dark pit of despair and the agony of worry. Rather than a soaring eagle, I often feel like a helpless bird, desperately flapping its wings in a frantic attempt to fly.

God’s word says if we wait upon Him our strength will be renewed. We will soar on wings like an eagle. I’ve found comfort in these words, but wondered what does it really mean to wait upon the Lord? What is the significance of soaring on wings like an eagle? Why the eagle imagery?

The eagle has superior aerial skills and has been seen as a symbol of strength and courage since ancient times. An eagle’s wingspan can reach up to eight feet across. Its feathers are designed to reduce turbulence. When its wings catch a thermal wind, it can soar for significant distances with minimal movement, making it possible for the eagle to conserve precious energy. Eagles don’t flap their wings frantically to stay aloft. Unlike other birds, they fly high above the lowlands making use of the wind currents to gain height almost effortlessly.

If we trust in our own strength, we will be like a helpless bird flapping its wings furiously; zapping our strength and resulting in weariness, depression, and despair. If we trust in the Lord we will soar on wings as a eagle. It doesn’t require great effort to soar like an eagle! God’s word tells us we simply must wait upon Him. To wait upon Him means keeping our thoughts and focus on Him in expectant anticipation of things to come. Our mind is fixed on Him and eternity rather than on our everyday problems. When we depend on the Lord’s strength, we can fly above the turbulence, rising above the challenges and difficulties of everyday life.

My Writing Nest

I've often been asked where I write and what my writing space looks like, and I've always enjoyed seeing the unique writing spaces of other writers. I decided I would share my little space for those who have asked. My writing room is humble, nothing fancy, but it is mine. I don't have to share it with anyone! It took me a long time to get a room of my own. While raising 4 children, finding any place to be alone was a rare luxury. When the children were little, I never dreamed I would have my own room one day. I thought it was only wishful thinking.

As we all know, time moves on and life changes. Children grow up and eventually move out and start lives of their own, ushering in new seasons and stages of life. When the children started moving out, I decided to convert one of the upstairs bedrooms into my home office. I could not believe I was finally going to have my own space to work and write in. I do medical transcription from home, so having an acutal room with a door that shuts is vital to my sanity. We didn't have a lot of money to spare, so I kept things simple. I finally had a place to put my bookshelves and the many books I had collected over the years. I plan to paint the walls a soft yellow this fall to add some warmth to the room. There is nothing like yellow to brighten up a room.

The room has a small offset at one end, which I turned into my quiet-time corner. It contains a rocking chair, small stand with a lamp, small bookcase to keep my CD player and devotional books within reach. A bouquet of my favorite silk flowers and a tea set add a "homey feeling." I'm quite content writing in my humble little nest and feel blessed to have a room to call my own.

Squawking Crows

While out on my morning walk this morning, the singing of the finches and cardinals seemed to be drowned out by the squawking and hollering of the crows. It brought to mind one of my favorite quotes:

"Use the talents you possess, for the woods would be a very silent place if no birds sang except for the best." Henry Van Dyke

How often do we feel inadequate and feel as if we will never measure up to others who seem to possess more talent than we do? God has given each of us unique gifts and talents to be used for His glory. We will each have to give an account one day for how we used our gifts. The parable of the talents in Matthew 25: 14-30 helps us to see why we need to use our talents wisely. Two of the servants in this passage of scripture invest their talents wisely and are rewarded, but the third servant hides his talent and is rebuked as lazy and wicked. He allowed fear to stop him. How often do we allow fear to keep us from using our talents and investing wisely into the kingdom of heaven? Just as the noisy crows squawk loudly amidst the pretty songs of the finches and cardinals, we also must step out of our comfort zones and use our talents for the glory of our Heavenly Father. We all have different "songs" to sing, and each one is unique and has a purpose. When use our talents wisely, we will one day here these wonderful words:

"Well done, good and faithful servant! You have been faithful with a few things; I will put you in charge of many things. Come and share your master's happiness!" Matthew 25: 23

Reflections From The Clothesline

Call me crazy, but I love hanging out laundry! There is just something therapeutic about being outside, surrounded by God's awesome creation. I woke up to beautiful weather complete with an abundance of sunshine, bright blue skies, and a warm breeze blowing; a perfect laundry day. I was treated to a beautiful symphony of bird songs as I hung out the wash. Did you ever notice how the birds seem to sing more on bright sunny days? Then again, perhaps it's just my imagination! Birds were everywhere this morning. God not only provided a beautiful day complete with a bird song symphony, he also provided my comedy for the day. I smiled as I watched two Pileated Woodpeckers busy at work. God does have a sense of humor! Every time I see one of these woodpeckers, I have to smile. What was God thinking when he created them? They are rather odd looking creatures. Talk about a bad hair day. They were born with one!

As I sat down at the picnic table after hanging out the laundry, I thought about all the things we miss when we toss a load of laundry in the dryer. This is something I find myself doing more often than usual since I'm working more. Modern appliances are great, but I wonder how much we are missing out on when we rely on them. Are we missing a blessing? The blessing of being surrounded by God's creation; seeing the flowers blooming, feeling the warmth of the sun on our backs, the caress of a soft breeze on our face, and the singing of the birds. I'm so thankful for clothesline therapy and for the blessings God provides in the simple things of life.

Blog Makeover, Fresh Start

Thanks to Trista from Pumkin Patch Creations, my blog has a new look. I'm very pleased with the outcome and highly recommend her services!

My blog sat idle for quite some time, partly because I am new to the blogging world and wasn't really sure what to do next. In addition, I was praying about what direction to go with blogging. I also wanted to have my blog designed by someone who actually knew what they were doing before I started sharing it with people.

Now that the design issue is resolved and I'm happy with the new look, I'm still not sure what direction God wants me to take with blogging. I've spent a lot of time looking at other people's blogs over the past few weeks, and I decided what I don't want my blog to become: an addiction! I don't want it to take over my life and take the place of actually living life. So with that being said, I am going to try to post on a regular basis, but not necessarily every day. More than anything, I want my words to bless others and glorify God. What I post here will be what I feel God placed on my heart to share. I've always enjoyed writing and feel I need to use my writing for God's glory, but yet I'm so fearful of putting stuff I write "out there." I've resided in my comfort zone for many years and have written a lot of things that I've never shared because of fear. I feel blogging is one way for me to step out of my comfort zone.

Please bear with me as I continue the learning process of blogging. I'm looking forward to the adventure!

Frazzled Nest

Some days I long for a simpler life. I long for more time to relax and sip a cup of steaming tea, to watch the birds outside my window, to take a long walk and soak up the beauty of God's amazing creation. I long for more time to "be still and know Him."

The morning has been filled with busyness again; laundry to wash, floors in desperate need of sweeping, trash to be taken out, thoughts of what to make for lunch and dinner, bills to pay, bank statements to balance, emails piling up that have gone unanswered for over a week, my usual work-at-home medical transcription job, among other things on my "to do" list that seems to grow longer rather than shrink. I glance at the clock, realize it's nearly noon, and wonder what I have accomplished this morning. Thoughts of things left undone cause me to ponder the idea of curling up on the couch for a quick power nap. I'm not certain whether it's my age or health issues that tend to slow me down, or could it be that I have taken on too many things? Have I caught the "too-much-on-my-plate" syndrome that many seem to be afflicted with in today's world?

How did life become so crazy and stress filled? Is it because we have too many things going on and too much stuff that we have to take care of? I thought when the children were grown life would be easier and I would have time to do all the things I had to put on hold during the baby and toddler years. Nobody prepared me for this new season of life. A season that I'm finding to be full and busy with new things. I can't quite put a finger on it. It's not as demanding and physically tiring as the baby and toddler years were. It's as though other things arrived, taking up the space that was once filled with feeding times and diaper changes. Time seems to go faster now and I get less accomplished.

We hear much in the news about terrorism and weapons of mass destruction. I often wonder if busyness is satans weapon of mass destruction against Christians today. If we are so consumed by things and activities, we will have less time to pray, less time to read scripture, less time to be still and know our Heavenly Father.

New Beginnings

Yesterday we kicked off a new session of our online First Place group. This ministry has blessed my socks off for the past 6 years. I've enjoyed leading various online First Place groups, and as a result I've been blessed with new friends from all over the world. Each session runs for 3 months and we complete a Bible study together during that time. First Place is not a diet, but a program that helps us make healthy lifestyle changes. Our new study is called Renewing Hope and looks great. I can't wait to dig into it further!

I love the title of the new study, because many of us have lost hope and we need to renew our hope. Our hope is in the Lord! I know many Christians who are struggling with issues and feeling discouraged. We often lose hope because our sights are fixed on the wrong things or people. I love the following quote from Beth Moore's study Stepping Up.

"If I have low expectations, skewed feelings, and impaired spiritual hearing, my eyes are either looking in at myself or out at people and circumstances. God wants our eyes fixed upward like someone down on her knees at His feet. We tend to focus on the most obvious. God wants to equip us with a vision that sees higher, deeper, and broader than our physical realities."

I've been memorizing Psalm 62:5 this week. I've been feeling frazzled and overwhelmed lately and seem to be bombarded with excessive busyness and things I need to do. This small and simple scripture has been blessing my heart.

Find rest, O my soul, in God alone;
My hope comes from Him.
Psalm 62:5

Joni

Homemaker Versus Working Woman

As I was taking a test this afternoon for a new transcription company I would like to work for, I wondered if this is truly where God would have me to be at this season of life. I enjoy my job in the medical field and the blessing of being able to work from home, but I often find myself still lacking the time to properly care for my home and family. It's so easy to be pulled into the world and the distractions it brings. I don't feel it's wrong to work, but at times I long for those days when I only had my home and family to focus on. Homemaking is where I feel most comfortable. I love doing all the domestic things like cooking and hanging laundry on the line to dry. I enjoy decorating my home; especially with homemade items, but I rarely find time for hobbies any longer. This is a subject I've pondered in my mind many times lately.

I was reflecting on the pros and cons of working.

Pros:
I enjoy working.
The extra income really helps out.
I'm able to work from home and my daughter schools at home, so I'm still here for her when she needs me.
My job is very flexible, so I can still take time off when I need to take my daughter to the doctor, etc.
By working and keeping my skills current, I would have a job if I ever needed to support our family should we ever lose my husband's income due to illness or job loss, etc. By keeping my foot in the door with this type of work, I wouldn't be forced to work outside my home if we were forced into needing the extra income.
Working from home is a luxury! No extra clothes to buy. No gas expense. No going out on cold and snowy mornings. No fighting traffic. Having my own home office decorated the way I want it, with the option of taking breaks when I like or even walking outside for some fresh air. I can play Christian music without offending anyone, and I'm not stuck in a tiny cubicle without windows all day like I would probably be if I worked in an office building. The benefits are great!

Cons:
I don't have as much time to spend with my grandchildren as I would like. This saddens me when I realize how quickly they are growing up.
My job takes away time that I could be using for ministry.
I can't help my oldest daughter or daughter-in-law with the grandchildren as often as I would like to.
Some days I miss just being a homemaker and having time to actually clean and cook without rushing.
My housework gets neglected often due to work.
I always felt God called me to write, and with my job consuming a lot of my time I rarely find time to write.
When I wasn't working I would often spend hours in the early morning just praying, reading my Bible, and journaling. I still try to have my quiet time each morning, but the urgency of work looming over me is a constant source of distraction. I often find myself rushing to finish my quiet time. I truly miss that extra time just to be still before God.

I wonder how many times we get caught up in worldly values and miss out on what we are called to be as women of God. This is something I really need to pray about.

Welcome to my mountaintop nesting place!

Hello! I'm new to the world of blogging, and I am looking forward to this new adventure. My desire is to have a place to share my thoughts along the journey of life, and to glorify my Heavenly Father through my writing. Writing is equal to therapy for me. I've always enjoyed reading books and writing stories and poems since I was a small child. I still love books and writing. I won't pretend to be an expert an anything, because that is God's department. I simply pray that in some tiny way, I might encourage the hearts of others on the journey of life.

I am an avid birdwatcher, so you will often find birds mentioned in my writing. One of my life goals is to write a devotional book for birdwatchers. I hope to learn more about photographing birds. Right now I'm just an amateur, but I do enjoy taking pictures of my feathered friends, though my attempts at photography are pretty humble at this point. I love birds period, whether just enjoying them outside my window, snapping a few pictures, or looking through my many birding books.

I work from home doing Medical Transcription. I love medicine and enjoy learning about new medical treatments, etc. My love of the English language and the written word make this job a perfect fit for me. Each day is interesting and I learn new things.

A new season of life is on the horizon for me. My baby is 17 years old and I can feel the empty nest looming nearer and nearer. After being a stay-at-home mother for over 30 years, I'm not sure I am prepared for this new season. Being a mother is what I know best. It's my comfort zone. It's the place where I know my role and what is expected of me. That is slowly changing as I watch my youngest child become more independent. At times I feel like a stranger in a foreign land where I don't know my way around. It's like learning a new language; at times confusing, and at times exciting. I know God prepares us for each new season and that He has a plan for my life. I simply must pray and trust in Him. I am learning more and more along the path of life that each season has it's moments of beauty and each season has moments not so beautiful. He has never failed to help me through each season of change in the past and He will help me through this one as well.

Joni