Be Thou My Vision: Finding The Treasure

Be Thou My Vision:

Finding The Treasure 

Dear Friends,
     More and more I am finding treasures in my garden.   I meditate on His Word or a song or devotional as I work with the earth.  While digging, weeding and planting, God ministers to me.  
     I had heard  "Be Thou My Vision" sung by Audrey Assad and her  voice echos in my mind, the phrases of the song taking root like a plant.  
"Be Thou my Vision, Oh Lord of my heart
Naught be all else to me, save that Thou art
Thou my best Thought, by day or by night
Waking or sleeping, Thy presence my light...."
    The seed for a blog was planted in my mind.  This is the Treasure that we seek.  That He be in our thoughts throughout each day in all we do.  The Light dispels the darkness.   
     Each day is like a fresh, blank artist's canvas. We choose the colors from a palette of rainbow colors to use just like we choose what to focus on.  Yes, we do have a choice.  We can mix some blue with purple and have black, dark depressing thoughts, or we can use red and yellow for brilliant orange, Light filled thoughts. 
     I can be honest with you and let you know that life is hard and the choice to focus on the treasure can become blurred by troubles.  I can become swallowed up by the cares in life and in the world.
"Thou and Thou only, first in my heart,
High king of Heaven, my Treasure Thou art
High King of Heaven my Victory won." 

Luke 12:34
"Wherever your treasure is, there the desires of your heart will also be."

The Nature of God: The Color of Mercy

   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

                    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

              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.   

A Jar of Buttons: Each One a Life

A Jar Of Buttons: Each One a Life

In Memory Of Those Who Died In The Holocaust

Dear Friends,

     Today is Holocaust Remembrance Day.   I dedicate this blog to remember.  

    I have a jar of buttons in my sewing room that is full of an assortment of different colored and sizes of buttons.  I hope that this blog will cause people to look at buttons in a different way, to help us remember.

    The Peoria Riverfront Museum is the location for the "Button Project" Holocaust Memorial.  Each button in the memorial is unique.  They each represent one of the six million Jews and five million others who died in the concentration camps.  Eleven million is a lot of buttons.  Eleven million is a lot of lives.  

     I got the idea for this blog when I saw an article titled, "Each One a Life... The Rebirth Of The Peoria Holocaust Memorial" in Art & Society magazine.   I want to give Monica Vest Wheeler credit where it is due.  It's a beautiful article!  If you want to read about the memorial you can find the article online. 

     It's important that the events that happened and the lives that were lost not be forgotten.

     Each life is important to God.  

Genesis 1:26

"Then God said,"Let us make human beings in our image, to be like us...."

Ephesians 2:10

"For we are His masterpiece.  He has created us anew in Christ Jesus, so we can do the good things He planned for us long ago." 

     

     

     

Spring, a Sting and a Lesson

           Spring, a Sting and a Lesson
Dear Friends,
     Spring weather was here in all it's beauty for one day last week. I looked at the garden that is covered with brown leaves and fallen branches.  A lot of the plants from last year were still there in a dry, leaning over, not lovely way.  
     My little wren friend was singing her greeting!            
     I knew from looking at the weather forecast that the sunshine was going to only last for a day, then we were going to have a string of cloudy, rainy days.  So I got the rake and clippers out and got started clearing the dried up debris from my flower beds.  It felt so good to be out in the warm sunshine.  I hung a bird house and wind chimes.  I uncovered some new flowers with the rake!  I had made a good start on cleaning things up, then a wasp flew up at me and stung my elbow! 
     Now I had to stop, take care of my wound, put the rake away.  It hurt and I was upset that my plans were spoiled.  The beauty of the day was gone as the sting distracted me.  Now I would have to wait for who knows how long until I got another perfect day.
     So today  I sit in the house and watch the rain fall.  I see the totally gray sky.  
     I continue looking out the window.  The trees with their dark, leafless branches are  reaching up to heaven in thankful worship as the sky drips tears.  Thankfulness returns.  How many things am I thankful for?  Gratitude pours in and the debris washes away with the rain.
     Jesus was able to give thanks on the eve of His betrayal and crucifixion.  How much more should I be able to give thanks?  I will give thanks though the sky is gray and the rain is falling.  Wasps sting and sorrows exist.  Even still, I will be thankful.
Luke 22:17
"Then He took a cup of wine and gave thanks to God for it. Then He said, "Take this and share it among yourselves."

The Frayed Hem: Transformation

       The Frayed Hem: Transformation
Dear Friends,
    The hem of the robe brushed against the stony road and the edges of the fabric snagged on the sharp rocks.  A sick woman who was desperate for healing hurried through the crowd and touched the hem of His robe with her fingertips.  This robe was dusty and dirty, ragged and worn, the garment of the Son of God.  It was fashioned from a single piece of  fabric and had no seams. 
     This tunic type garment was so  desired by the soldiers at the scene of the crucifixion that the played a game to attempt to win the prize fulfilling the prophecy in Psalms 22:18. 
     Artists have made paintings of  the men gambling for the robe of Jesus.  Artists have also painted scenes of a sick woman who was desperate for healing.  She was considered an outcast because of her sickness.  She hurried through the crowd after Jesus and touched the hem of this robe with her fingertips.  In that instant He knew that the woman's faith had brought her to Him.  Because of her faith she was made well.  
   Tears come to my eyes as I think of the compassionate Savior.  Even though He was interrupted, He cared and met the need that she had. 
   She had such faith and knew that Jesus was the Messiah, the living Word of God.  She is an example to all of us to go to Him, to find shelter in His presence daily.
Psalms 22:18
"They divide my garments among themselves and throw dice for my clothing."
John 19:23-24
"...They also took His robe, but it was seamless, woven in one piece from top to bottom.  So they said,"Rather than tearing it apart, let's throw dice for it."
Matthew 9:22
"Jesus turned around, and when He saw her He said,"Daughter, be encouraged!  Your faith has made you well."  And the woman was healed at that moment."