Believe it or not, my two "senior" Italian Greyhounds do occasionally have a burst of energy. They will actually chase each other, chew on their toys (or try to gut them) and bark at each other while one is on the floor and one on the couch. These short energy spurts don't usually last very long but they are so much fun to watch. They are silly little dogs with quite the personalities. Now that they are 13 and 11 years old, they don't play as often as they used to but when they do - they make me laugh. Tiki (the white one) and Fancy (the black & white one) (they are mother and daughter) - bring laughter and love into my life and I thank God for giving them to me.
"ENTER THROUGH THE NARROW GATE.
FOR WIDE IS THE GATE AND BROAD
IS THE ROAD THAT LEADS TO
DESTRUCTION, AND MANY ENTER
THROUGH IT. BUT SMALL IS THE
GATE AND NARROW THE ROAD
THAT LEADS TO LIFE, AND ONLY
A FEW FIND IT."
Matthew 7:13-14
Have you ever looked down a country road like the one pictured and wondered, "I wonder where it goes?" You imagine what might be at the end of the road or even around a bend in the road. Will you find a young deer eating grass or maybe a beautiful garden of wildflowers planted there by God? Do you stop and try to decide whether to venture down that road or just stay where you are and "be safe".
Our walk with God is like that. We don't know what God has in store for us "around the bend". Will it be something difficult, beautiful or enlightening? We can always "be safe" and just stay where we are at. Or we can follow God's leading and venture down that road. God wants us to obey and follow Him. And even though sometimes it may be difficult, He always is there with us and gives us what we need to get through any difficult time. I pray I will always be willing to follow Him down whatever road he leads me. And no matter what is down that road, I know it is His will and He is in control. And at the end of the road of life - what a WONDERFUL sight we will see!!!
I call this picture "Serenity". I took this picture about 6 weeks ago. It is the lake at Bays Mountain State Park. Before I took the picture I remember thinking to myself - what a peaceful, serene sight - the blue still lake and the sun reflecting off the water looking like diamonds on the lake. I was hoping I could capture that in a picture. And I think I did because when I look at this picture, that is exactly what I see in the picture - Peace and Serenity. Kind of like the peace and serenity God gives us when we come to Him in prayer. He wants us to come to Him with everything and to rely on Him and to know that He is in control. Two of my favorite Scripture verses come to mind when I see this picture.
"BE STILL, AND KNOW THAT I AM GOD;"
Psalm 46:10
"HE HAS MADE EVERYTHING BEAUTIFUL
IN ITS TIME."
Ecclesiastes 3:11
Both of these verses fit this picture and the verses and the picture both remind me that I need to stop and be still and spend time praying and talking to God. I need to bring everything to Him in prayer and to continuously thank Him and praise Him for all He has done in my life. And then to thank Him for all the beautiful things He has given me and which surround me every day, in every little and big thing - from the smile on a friend's face to a dramatic sunrise or sunset; from the lovely song of a bird in the morning to the beautiful "peaceful and serene" lake. He truly has made everything beautiful!!!
"THE HEAVENS DECLARE THE
GLORY OF GOD;
THE SKIES PROCLAIM THE WORK
OF HIS HANDS.
Psalm 19:1
The work of God's hands are everywhere. It is brought to my attention in a big way this time of year. I love spring and I love this part of the country with all the flowering trees, bushes and all the flowers beginning to bloom. It makes me aware of how beautiful God has made this earth for us. He blesses us with beauty all around us. The green green grass, the beautiful blue sky, the white fluffy clouds and even the dark thunderstorm clouds. Then there are the birds that have started to appear. We have cardinals and robins all around our neighborhood right now and their songs are beautiful. And the way He has put all the colors together. Like the picture above - dark green leaves with a beautiful pink magnolia bloom with snowy white inside the bloom. It takes your breath away. The trees are just now starting to bud out with little green buds. Soon there will be leaves on all the trees. And I notice how everyone seems to be getting outside and doing things in their yards, their businesses, etc. Everything is awakening to spring!!! It's such a BEAUTIFUL time of year.
"Thank you Father for loving us so much that you have "painted" us a beautiful world. Only You could design the colors, the breathtaking beauty of all things in nature. I pray You will continue to bless us with this gift and I pray I will always be able to see YOU in everything around me and I give you glory and thanks for such beauty!!!
Isn't this so sweet?? What an adorable face!! This was Tiki yesterday. She had a tough day. With Terri and I busy all day working in the yard, she didn't get her usual ALL DAY NAP!!! She and Fancy followed us everywhere we went. If we went out in the backyard, they wanted out. If we came inside, they came inside. If we went out front, they stood by the door or on the chair looking out the window. They did not sleep at all. So by 4:30 pm, I sat down in the chair and Tiki jumped in my lap (as usual) and before I knew it, this is the face I saw. She just put her head on my knee and fell asleep. I could not resist taking her picture. She just makes me smile.
