The Nature of God: The Color of Mercy
Dear Friends,
Looking at the garden, a sunset or into the eyes of a child I see God's creation painted in many colors.
My Bible has beautiful, intricate, nature and garden themed pictures to color. Adding color to images calms my heart and helps me focus on His Word.
I was meditating on and adding color to a picture of flowers surrounding the words of Lamentations 3:22,"The faithful love of the Lord never ends! His mercies never cease." This is a powerful verse that describes God's character.
I realized that His mercy has many colors. In a sunset you might see shades of white and gray in the clouds. Their edges often outlined in shades of yellow, orange, pink and red as the sun's light glimmers from behind them! All around us we can see His mercy displayed.
His love is faithful and steadfast. It continues on! He is always ready to embrace the fallen and lost.
Saul (Paul) was persecuting followers of Jesus when he heard the voice of God calling to him. He believed that he was obeying God's laws all while he was out of God's will. His transformation is a magnificent example of God's mercy.
Titus 3:5
"He saved us not because of the righteous things we had done, but because of His mercy."
Hebrews 4:16
"So let us come boldly to the throne of our gracious God. There we will find mercy and we will find grace to help when we need it most."
Flowers For Mom
Dear Friends,
Today I'm thinking about Mother's Day and remembering some special times with my mom. I'm feeling thankful for those memories. She has been gone for quite a few years and I still wish I could call her or go for a visit. Sometimes I would take some plants to her and dig up an area around the clothesline pole and plant them for her. She gave me an orange begonia to plant when I got home. Sometimes she would suggest that I dig up some things growing around her house so that I could enjoy them at my home.
A passion fruit vine grew on the railing of the front porch and a row of peonies with big, fragrant pink blossoms bloomed every year.
As Mother's Day draws near the memories flood into my mind along with the tears of missing mom.
I am so thankful that I have been given the opportunity to be a mother, grandmother and a mother-in-law. A mother has many joys and also many challenges as we tend to try to heal all the hurts, both physical and emotional. God has shown me that He desires us to carry one another's burdens to Him in prayer. As a mother I have prayed as I bandaged a wounded knee, and while I listened to a child's questions, sorrows and joys.
If someone were to ask me how to be a mother I would say that it is only to be done with much prayer.
Galatians 6:2
"Share each other's burdens, and in this way obey the law of Christ."
Meditations On His Mercy
Dear Friends,
It is a beautiful, sunny day today after many days that were dark and stormy. Many areas are suffering from flooding that has resulted from so much rain. I get greatly affected emotionally by long periods of time without sunshine and time outdoors. I start feeling dark and teary like the sky.
Going to God in prayer and His Word has sustained me. Now the sun is bright and everything is bright green with springtime freshness!
During the dark, stormy days I focused on creating a giant dragonfly garden project. It's made with the fan blades of a broken ceiling fan for wings and a baseball bat for the body. To get my eyes and mind off the weather I painted it a bright paisley design. When the paint is dry I will find the perfect place for it surrounded by my flowers.
As I was working I had music playing and heard the song "East To West" by Casting Crowns. The words, "In the arms of His mercy I find rest," caught my attention and I have been meditating on His mercy for a few days. In Ephesians 2 verses 4-5 we read that, "God is so rich in mercy, and He loved us so much, that even though we were dead because of our sins, He gave us life when He raised Christ from the dead."
In the very desolate words of Lamentations we can find a nugget of gold. Read Lamentations 3 verses 21-23. "The faithful love of the Lord never ends! His mercies never cease. Great is His faithfulness; His mercies begin afresh each morning."
God is not restricted by the weather or by our emotions. He is faithful and loves us so much.
