Evening Song - Take Time to Be Holy

2 Peter 3:10-11  But the day of the Lord will come as a thief in the night; in the which the heavens shall pass away with a great noise, and the elements shall melt with fervent heat, the earth also and the works that are therein shall be burned up. Seeing then that all these things shall be dissolved, what manner of persons ought ye to be in all holy conversation and godliness,

Creatures Great and Small - Meet Some Neighbors

Both of these picture were taken in the shrubs by our front door.

Green Anole

Armadillo

Monthly Challenge - April 2016

Well, it's April already!  One quarter of the year is gone.  But, Spring has come or is coming is many places on the Northern Hemisphere, and in the Southern they are feeling autumn - at least where they have such a thing.

This month's challenge will be about nature and routines.

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Slow down and take the time to really look at nature.  Enjoy whatever is available where you live.

And/Or

Simplify your routine or schedule in some way.

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This challenge may be just a little harder than it sounds.

I was walking outside this last week, and by not going quite so fast I noticed that I could look around me more and enjoy the beauties of God's creation.  In most places these days there is something that can be enjoyed from nature, even if it's just the fruit and vegetable section of the local supermarket or a patch of sky. :-)  Genesis 1:31  And God saw every thing that he had made, and, behold, it was very good...

Simplifying our routines may prove somewhat challenging, but the point here is to remove the pointless. :-)  We all fall into habits that are not terribly useful, productive or restful which we could just stop if we're honest with ourselves.  I already deleted two game apps on my cell phone.  One I played quite a bit and the other almost never.  The one was taking up too much time and I thought I could re-appropriate those bits of time to something more beneficial in the long run - such as reading or even writing.  I have a theory that mindless games don't really help the brain in a positive way, even when problem solving is involved.  For my own part I have found myself being frustrated by the game and how does that make a positive contribution to my life?  It doesn't.  So.

(I did keep two games, which I play sometimes, because they are not of the addictive or demanding type and I get bored with them fairly quickly.  I consider these types to be "safer" for long term use. :-)  )

What  could you get rid of from your schedule?  There is a lot of scope for the imagination in this.  It could be something significant that you haven't wanted to acknowledge - the time hog of sports (adult or children's), the too-involved hair and makeup routine, the daily texting or chatting with "friends" who don't really care all that much, the "looking" at the grocery store that isn't actually part of the needed shopping, the piano lessons for the child that is totally not into it, etc.  Or it could be something fairly simple that you just realize is non-essential and dispensable - meticulously folding laundry that could be stored more simply, making complicated recipes, trying to keep alive a house plant that really doesn't want to live, etc.  The idea is to try to use that time for something of more value - realizing that more value may be a nap, pleasure reading, playing with the kids, or some other simple thing you "don't have time for" now. :-)  Maybe it would be a walk outside to enjoy nature.  Of course, if it's simply absorbed into your other usual things, that's fine too.  You've still simplified your life a little.

1 Corinthians 10:31  Whether therefore ye eat, or drink, or whatsoever ye do, do all to the glory of God.

Enjoy!

The Jesus Way - A Poem by Annie Johnson Flint

The Jesus Way

Oh, there's many a thorn on the Jesus-way,
Many a thorn, I know;
There is grief and loss and the pain of a cross
Wherever my feet may go.
But the Lord will heal all the wounds that I feel,
When the thorns have pricked me sore,
And He's planted a rose where the brier grows,
For He's walked this path before.

There is many a storm on the Jesus-way,
Many a storm I see,
When black is the cloud and the wind is loud
And the waves go over me.
But the Lord Himself is in my little ship
And the storm obeys His will;
At the word He hath said - "Be not afraid"
My heart and the sea grow still.

There is many a foe on the Jesus-way,
Many a foe to fight,
And all the day I must watch and pray
To keep my armour bright.
But the Lord is ever at my side
The tempter's wiles to meet;
Though the foe be strong and the strife be long,
[Jesus] never knows defeat.

Annie Johnson Flint
altered

Matthew 28:20  ...lo, I am with you alway, even unto the end of the world. Amen.

Hebrews 13:5  Let your conversation be without covetousness; and be content with such things as ye have: for he hath said, I will never leave thee, nor forsake thee.

Evening Song - 'Tis So Sweet to Trust In Jesus

Proverbs 3:5-7  Trust in the LORD with all thine heart; and lean not unto thine own understanding. In all thy ways acknowledge him, and he shall direct thy paths. Be not wise in thine own eyes: fear the LORD, and depart from evil.

Just for Fun - A Birthday Concert

Today is my birthday. :-)

True story - I was born during the worst snow storm of that winter (yes, April can be a winter month in Western Michigan).  My parents pulled onto the main highway into town right behind the snow plow and followed it to the city limits where it turned around and headed back the other way.  But the hospital was right there, so they could pull straight into the parking lot.  The Lord sent the snow plow through just at the perfect time! :-)

Just because...

From Mom's Collection - April by Naomi Loomis

I found this poem among Mom's saved collection.  It was written in my Gramma Hoover's handwriting.  :-)

Sweet memories.

April

April stood on tiptoe in the highest apple tree --
A most audacious little Redbird kept her company --
And, as she scrubbed the grimy sky, he chattered in her ear...

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