For the Lord is Good!

For the Lord is good; His mercy and loving-kindness are everlasting, His faithfulness and truth endure to all generations.
Psalm 100:5 AMP
http://bible.com/8/psa.100.5.AMP

Meditation has been sold as a mindless mantra, a zoning achieved by repeating over and over a word or sound that will open the soul to a higher level of knowledge or peace. This perception of meditation is a 180 from God’s definition found in Joshua 1:8. The term meditate is all about chewing and digesting like a cow chewing on her cud. Meditation is meant to transform and open your spirit to God’s wisdom and leading. As you read the Bible God speaks. When something pops out to you STOP! Mull it over. Think about what is being said. Ask God to explain it to you. Go back to it throughout the day. Ask God what He wants you to do with this information. Talk about it to the people you meet. Chew on it. Change.

Consider the flowers of the field: God loves me!

In the sermon on the Mount in Matthew’s gospel chapters 5-7 Jesus used illustration after illustration to send home the message of how profoundly God loves and cares about us. “Oh yeah, Oh yeah, I know that”, says you, “but it is a message with a price tag that I don’t hear anymore.” You might not even be sure it matters because, perhaps, you are in a world of hurt and nothing seems to be getting better. But I am here to tell you God is not a cosmic killjoy or some lawgiver that is ready to rap your knuckles if you don’t toe the line. I am here not to defend God because God is God and doesn’t need me to stick up for Him. But I want you to take a close look and what I saw yesterday in His garden. I saw life. He is the Giver of Life. I saw beauty. He created it all and said it was VERY good! Look closer. Really look. God is an artist. He is a scientist. He is a chemist. He is a poet. For He inspires songs and poems and dance and joy with all He puts His hands to. We love our gardens. We look out for pest and weeds and promptly dispose of them. We love our gardens for their fruit. We love their fragrance. We love their looks and how they transport us to our happy place when we are there. We love their shade. We love and tenderly feed and water them. We watch them grow and agonize when they fail to thrive. Jesus said if God cares so much for His garden that is so temporary: gorgeous today and withered tomorrow, how much more does He care about your needs?! Cheer up! You are vastly more important and treasured in God’s thinking. With each picture will you please say out loud: God loves me more than this! God loves ME more than this! GOD LOVES ME! Take a deep breath a begin the tour! Enjoy!

Rivers and trails, flowers and fields

Yesterday we went out on the Truckee bike trail that passes meadows, bridges, creeks and the Truckee river headed to Lake Tahoe. Ken trains for half marathons so, because he would run ahead, double back behind me to pick me up he probably ran 7or 8 miles to my 6. Yes, I’m rather surprised and delighted I went the distance with hilly terrain at 7,000 foot elevation. But I did a run/walk and stopped often to the snap these shots.

Wasn’t that an awesome trail?!!! The air so clean and clear and fragrant you want to drink it!

Bless the Lord O my soul

And forget none if His benefits.

Who crowns each moment of my life with something of sweetness and love to remind me that He is good. As the water reflects the sky and hills, may my thoughts not become dull or weary with Your faithfulness O my God.

You have planted so many abilities and unique talents in each one of us. All of creation speaks to your heart to bless and see us thrive where we are planted. Give me eyes and heart to recognize and affirm the giftings I see in myself and others.

I see flowers filled with busy bees gathering pollen to mix it up with other plants bearing flowers. Without this interchange where would be the fruit? Where would be the honey? What is it that is helping my life accept and gain blessings and sweetness from others? Could it be the activity of the Holy Spirit? Yes.

You lead me beside quiet waters to restore my soul. I am grateful for times less busy, less demanding yet I haven’t appreciated when those times have been forced on me from illness or when my abilities are no longer needed. I have felt sad, frustrated, sidelined, useless. I forget you are not a silent observer. You wept at Lazarus’ funeral even though you knew all along you would be calling him back to life from his tomb. Easter is coming. I need to daily rise from the ashes of my disappointments. I know because You live, Jesus, I also live. I live. You came to turn my chaos onto order; my self pity into purpose. You are my Good Shepherd.

As flowers strain to catch the sun rays and thrive when basking fully in its light, I ask for a constant infusion of Your Light in my thinking, my heart, my choices. King David said “Better is one day in your courts than thousands elsewhere. My heart and soul cries out for You, the Living God. Your words are water to my soul.”

Life with you is like a day at the beach and a walk in the park: Praise to the Giver of every good gift!

I woke up this morning at Laguna Sea Cliff Marriott on a hill overlooking Dana Point Harbor.

My sweet best friend and husband included me as his guest at his company conference at this lovely Cape Coddish resort. I feel so loved and pampered.

We have a third floor room with a balcony. Nice. The first thing I did after showering is grab
my camera and launched out on a quiet ocean shimmering adventure to discover and capture what I could.

There is an awesome park out front with grassy knolls, gorgeous pines, shady paths, peeks at the harbor, hilly neighborhoods, and flora and fauna to dazzle and make you smile.

The most riveting and awesome of discoveries was found as I entered the voluminous cathedral of living ancient pines. I felt hushed awe as if approaching the throne room of God.

What is it about the light?

I have been fascinated with light and shadows for as long as I can remember.

I often well up with tears at the beauty of light shining on surfaces or transforming objects by shining through from one side to the other.
This collection of photos were taken from my Droid cell phone after my 2 mile run through
the neighborhood. The first pic is actually a smoke plume from a large fire in the Angeles National Forest raging in the distance. Its been a very hot and windy past 2 weeks here in Southern California.

Rose and Poppy

Lovely! Is that a baby snail?! Hmmmmmm.

The fruit of labor!

Yummmmmm!

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Rose necter

Captured a bowl of water.

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More gifts from the Father’s hand: Enchanting Lake Arrowhead: dock, beach, castle

More gifts from The Father’s hand: lovely, kind, generous. To Whom be all praise, honor and adoration! The Giver of every good and perfect gift. Who causes His sun to rise on the just and unjust. He alone empowers us to make money and prosper with the faculties of health, strength, mind, body and will. Shout for joy! Run your race! Display His might, sweetness, and wisdom in all you do and know without a shadow of doubt that the One who deserves all thanks values you above His comforts even to leave His throne to rescue you. To fight for you. He is true Hero and Avenger. What king does that?!