Hope of harvest...

Hope of harvest..

As I walked a path again, I found “fruits of the forest”...salal blooms-the beginnings of wonderful salal berries, thimble berries, huckleberries, salmon berries, unripened black berries as well as blueberries and grapes on the vine at the house...such abundance...

I witnessed a robin finding its meal, by tugging a poor worm from the ground and a rabbit quietly nibbling on grasses under a tree...food for a variety of living creatures...these animals living day to day on the bounty....

But,  back to the berries....I saw hope...some berries were ripe for the immediate picking and eating... others gave a future hope for harvest...provisions for various times...

It reminded me that God provides for the now and the later on...as we need it, whether for our souls or our bodies...He Provides...and we have to be ready...

I get letters of solicitation all the time for immediate help and planning help, for future projects concerning the  giving out of physical supplies as well as sharing the Word in various countries and languages...hope and food for the body and soul...the work is ongoing and will not end until the Lord’s returns...

 In looking around both in the physical and spiritual realms, there is hope for the harvest...we need to be watching, seeing the opportunities...whether in berry picking or soul care...hope of harvest...thank YOU for hope, harvest...provision...

The land yields its harvest; God, our God, blesses us.

Psalm 67:6 

Faithfulness springs forth from the earth, and righteousness looks down from heaven. The Lord will indeed give what is good, and our land will yield its harvest.

Psalm 85:11-12

Then he said to his disciples, “The harvest is plentiful but the workers are few. 38 Ask the Lord of the harvest, therefore, to send out workers into his harvest field.”

Matthew 9:37-38

Now he who supplies seed to the sower and bread for food will also supply and increase your store of seed and will enlarge the harvest of your righteousness. You will be enriched in every way so that you can be generous on every occasion, and through us your generosity will result in thanksgiving to God.

2 Corinthians 9:10-11

Let us not become weary in doing good, for at the proper time we will reap a harvest if we do not give up.

Galatians 6:9

More and more...closer and closer...

More and more...closer and closer...

I am staying at the same place for a week...so besides the treadmill, there is only one walking trail, about 1/2 mile long...

Yesterday, after the treadmill, I walked the road taking pictures of the beautiful wild flowers along the way...as well as creek and huge evergreens...

Today, I focused on the edible berries...not sure what tomorrow’s focus will be...when examined, there is a lot to see in this 1/2 mile...it would take a team of specialists to complete the study of the area...birdwatchers, insect specialists, arborists, soil and rock guys, hydrological experts, horticulturists, etc., to really “see” everything on this route...and with the changing of the seasons, there would be more...

My comparison would be...as I read the Word...one pass through just doesn’t cut it...one time I find one thing, another time something else...not that is is changing , it is living...

God is speaking...

The big picture of the themes, as in the forest by a wide angle lens...as you get closer and closer to each, studiously checking out each detail, each word...you find more and more to learn, comprehend...ever nearing the foundation...the miracles, the nuances, the details, the Creator...

Thank YOU...

By the word of the Lord the heavens were made, their starry host by the breath of his mouth. He gathers the waters of the sea into jars; he puts the deep into storehouses. Let all the earth fear the Lord; let all the people of the world revere him. For he spoke, and it came to be; he commanded, and it stood firm.

Psalm 33:6-9 

Praise be to you, Lord; teach me your decrees. 

Open my eyes that I may see wonderful things in your law. 

Teach me,  Lord, the way of your decrees, that I may follow it to the end. Give me understanding, so that I may keep your law and obey it with all my heart. 

The unfolding of your words gives light; it gives understanding to the simple.

Psalm 119:12,18,33-34,13

You study the Scriptures diligently because you think that in them you have eternal life. These are the very Scriptures that testify about me,

John 5:39

Do your best to present yourself to God as one approved, a worker who does not need to be ashamed and who correctly handles the word of truth.

2 Timothy 2:15 

Found this little booklet to share....

https://media.swncdn.com/promotions/salem-marketing/hope-in-the-storm.pdf

Found treasures....

Found treasures....

For you are a people holy to the Lord your God. The Lord your God has chosen you out of all the peoples on the face of the earth to be his people, his treasured possession.

Deuteronomy 7:6

Several women I know are participating in a “secret sister” event for a year...it just started and I have been contemplating how to go about it...I want to do more than just cards...my creative juices are flowing...I find if I create something then I can pray for that person as I am creating...have done that over quilts, painting projects, meals, sewing for someone, whatever...

This event is not to be  expensive as to exclude some...but thoughtful...

I decided my theme would be “found treasures”...it has opened my eyes even more to seeing treasures in much more items, from grains growing along the roads, cones fallen from the evergreen trees which I took for granted, gifts of abundant harvest....treasures given by a Creative God...how can I use them...to show what a treasure this person is....what each of us is...

Reminded me of Hawaiian hike up a muddy trail...huge avocado laying in trail, fallen from nearby tree...picked it up for fresh sliced avocado and guacamole later...or fresh veggies or fruit from yard or farm stands... onions/potatoes gleaned from freshly harvested fields....seashells washed ashore from storm driven waves...water washed heart shaped stones in the river...a multitude of treasures...can be found everywhere...

We are treasures to God...chosen...found...known...created...knit together...transformed...loved...sacrificed for...pulled from the depths at times...delighted in...planned for...etc...

But, He is our treasure...as well...

Thank YOU...

The house of the righteous contains great treasure,....

Proverbs 15:6a

He will be the sure foundation for your times, a rich store of salvation and wisdom and knowledge; the fear of the Lord is the key to this treasure.

Isaiah 33:6 

I will give you hidden treasures, riches stored in secret places, so that you may know that I am the Lord, the God of Israel, who summons you by name.

Isaiah 45:3

Then those who feared the Lord talked with each other, and the Lord listened and heard. 

A scroll of remembrance was written in his presence concerning those who feared the Lord and honored his name. 

“On the day when I act,” says the Lord Almighty, “they will be my treasured possession. I will spare them, just as a father has compassion and spares his son who serves him. 

And you will again see the distinction between the righteous and the wicked, between those who serve God and those who do not.

Malachi 3:16-18

21 For where your treasure is, there your heart will be also.

Matthew 6:21

But we have this treasure in jars of clay to show that this all-surpassing power is from God and not from us.

2 Corinthians 4:7 

Not just a bunch of stories...

 Not just a bunch of stories....

The pastor shared yesterday about the truth of the Word...was so uplifting...and my heart and soul was so refreshed...

There are times when our faith is tested...cancer, strokes, family, aging bodies, tragedies all around...waking up with consuming pain, baggage that comes in all shapes and sizes, world news, the “out there” or it happens to “others” striking us...the downfall of earthly events...the pains of living in a fallen world...

We want things to get better...sometimes they do and sometimes they don’t...and the news can be pretty depressing....

We have skeptics, cynics, nay-sayers, truth bearers, encouragers, realists, optimists...but we have Truth in the form of the Word...and it is not just a bunch of stories...

 His divine power has given us everything we need for a godly life through our knowledge of him who called us by his own glory and goodness. 

Through these he has given us his very great and precious promises, so that through them you may participate in the divine nature, having escaped the corruption in the world caused by evil desires. 

For this very reason, make every effort to add to your faith goodness; and to goodness, knowledge; and to knowledge, self-control; and to self-control, perseverance; and to perseverance, godliness; and to godliness, mutual affection; and to mutual affection, love. 

For if you possess these qualities in increasing measure, they will keep you from being ineffective and unproductive in your knowledge of our Lord Jesus Christ. 

But whoever does not have them is nearsighted and blind, forgetting that they have been cleansed from their past sins. 

Therefore, my brothers and sisters, make every effort to confirm your calling and election. 

For if you do these things, you will never stumble, and you will receive a rich welcome into the eternal kingdom of our Lord and Savior Jesus Christ. 

So I will always remind you of these things, even though you know them and are firmly established in the truth you now have. 

I think it is right to refresh your memory as long as I live in the tent of this body, because I know that I will soon put it aside, as our Lord Jesus Christ has made clear to me. 

And I will make every effort to see that after my departure you will always be able to remember these things. 

For we did not follow cleverly devised stories when we told you about the coming of our Lord Jesus Christ in power, but we were eyewitnesses of his majesty. 

He received honor and glory from God the Father when the voice came to him from the Majestic Glory, saying, “This is my Son, whom I love; with him I am well pleased.” 

We ourselves heard this voice that came from heaven when we were with him on the sacred mountain. 

We also have the prophetic message as something completely reliable, and you will do well to pay attention to it, as to a light shining in a dark place, until the day dawns and the morning star rises in your hearts. Above all, you must understand that no prophecy of Scripture came about by the prophet’s own interpretation of things. 

For prophecy never had its origin in the human will, but prophets, though human, spoke from God as they were carried along by the Holy Spirit.

2 Peter 1:3-21 

Peter was an eye witness to Christ’s ministry...he wrote down things he saw, experienced...not here-say..he was there with him...he knew first hand the highs and lows, the miracles, the calling, the feeding of thousands, the parables, the denial, the compassion, the forgiveness, the death and resurrection, the ascension...the glory...

He wanted followers, believers...you and me, to realize that we have “everything we need for life” through Christ, the Word...

John spoke of this as well...

That which was from the beginning, which we have heard, which we have seen with our eyes, which we have looked at and our hands have touched —this we proclaim concerning the Word of life. The life appeared; we have seen it and testify to it, and we proclaim to you the eternal life, which was with the Father and has appeared to us. We proclaim to you what we have seen and heard, so that you also may have fellowship with us. And our fellowship is with the Father and with his Son, Jesus Christ. We write this to make our joy complete. 

1 John 1:1-4

Joy in writing, sharing the Word...truth...

I found I could look at statistics of where this blog is opened...Ukraine, Czech, South America, United States, China, Russia...I don’t know if someone is trolling or what...but my desire is that truth is spread...there is joy in the passing on of truth...whether to my family, friends, those unknown to me...God is God...not a myth or made up stories ...

Thank YOU...

17 Sanctify them by the truth; your word is truth.

John 17:17 

23 But the seed falling on good soil refers to someone who hears the word and understands it. This is the one who produces a crop, yielding a hundred, sixty or thirty times what was sown.”

Matthew 13:23 

Stench...

Stench....

6 days a week walking in the early morning, the smells are pleasant...new mown lawns, flower scents, clean air....

But, on the seventh day, there is a decided stench....garbage collection day...

Walking by each can along my various walking routes is not so great...but, I was reminded of times in other places I have traveled the stench and garbage was an “all the time” occurrence...so thankful for this one-day event here...

Anyway, ideas and thoughts popped into my mind about what garbage I might carry that causes a stench around me that people “smell” or that God wants to get rid of.. “truck  away” ...

Wanting that sweet smell of forgiveness instead,  drawing in and not turning away with upturned noses..or quickly passing by ...

The Word does speak of garbage heaps...smells...fragrance...

 Persecution...

We work hard with our own hands. When we are cursed, we bless; when we are persecuted, we endure it; when we are slandered, we answer kindly. We have become the scum of the earth, the garbage of the world—right up to this moment.

1 Corinthians 4:12-13 

Worldly gain...versus gaining Christ...

But whatever were gains to me I now consider loss for the sake of Christ. What is more, I consider everything a loss because of the surpassing worth of knowing Christ Jesus my Lord, for whose sake I have lost all things. I consider them garbage, that I may gain Christ

Philippians 3:7-8 

Bad smells...

As dead flies give perfume a bad smell, so a little folly outweighs wisdom and honor.

Ecclesiastes 10:1 

Judgment....

Instead of fragrance there will be a stench;....

Isaiah 3:24a

Love...

Then Mary took about a pint of pure nard, an expensive perfume; she poured it on Jesus’ feet and wiped his feet with her hair. And the house was filled with the fragrance of the perfume.

John 12:3 

Thank YOU that everyday occurrences draw us back to You...your sweet smell...love for us all...

Riddles and parables....

Riddles and parables...

I was watching a cute video of a child asking her father a riddle over and over again, until at last he just gave up, frustrated not understanding the riddle...she was giggling the whole way through at his half hearted tries the get it....

“Stacey’s mom had four children. The first was named April, the second was named May, the third one was named June...what was the fourth ones name?”

It made me wonder if people walked away from Jesus’ parables frustrated, shaking their heads, wondering what in the world was this guy talking about...

The disciples came to him and asked, “Why do you speak to the people in parables?” He replied, “Because the knowledge of the secrets of the kingdom of heaven has been given to you, but not to them. 

12 Whoever has will be given more, and they will have an abundance. Whoever does not have, even what they have will be taken from them. 13 This is why I speak to them in parables: “Though seeing, they do not see; though hearing, they do not hear or understand. 

14 In them is fulfilled the prophecy of Isaiah: “‘You will be ever hearing but never understanding; you will be ever seeing but never perceiving. 15 For this people’s heart has become calloused; they hardly hear with their ears, and they have closed their eyes. Otherwise they might see with their eyes, hear with their ears, understand with their hearts and turn, and I would heal them.’ 

16 But blessed are your eyes because they see, and your ears because they hear. 

17 For truly I tell you, many prophets and righteous people longed to see what you see but did not see it, and to hear what you hear but did not hear it.

Matthew 13:10-17 

How Jesus must have rejoiced when he saw “lightbulbs” of understanding in people who understood what he was teaching with his various parables....and on the other hand was saddened by hardened hearts of those who refused to listen  or take heart in what he was teaching...

When His ultimate desire was that none should perish but have everlasting life...

Thank YOU....help us seek your face...wisdom that comes from You...understanding of Your Word...that we don’t walk away, giving up on living/learning your Word...