Monday, June 23, 2014

My View of the World

O Lord, our Lord, your majestic name fills the earth! 
 
Your glory is higher than the heavens.”

Psalm 8:1 NLT

I enjoy a new view in my world. My husband trimmed a huge, fifty-year-old cherry tree in our backyard. With the tree dramatically lowered, I now see blue-gray mountains covered with evergreen trees to the south. We planted so many trees on our two-acre property that we must look up to see into the distance. 

Looking up is good. As a little girl, I laid on my back on the front lawn, watched the clouds move across the sky, and looked for Jesus to appear as He promised. Now when I discover a beautiful cloud formation or an amazing rainbow, I still anticipate that glorious day.

The view from a 747 takes your breath away. One year, I enjoyed two worlds as we jetted to California, one view below the dark, stormy clouds and another above white, fluffy cotton balls. That inspiring scene at forty-one thousand feet elevation went on forever, or so it appeared.

Bill Anders, Jim Lovell and Frank Borman on the Apollo 8 mission to the moon in 1968 read the Scriptures in Genesis, chapter one, describing the events of creation. I wonder how Christian astronauts on their way to the moon contained their excitement as they saw what God created from their unusual vantage point.

I will never enjoy that particular view experienced as an astronaut, but the Lord has blessed us with many beautiful scenes, this side of the moon, of His magnificent earthly creation.

Our imagined views during eternity evoke another possible topic and another time.

Happy Birthday, Stacey
Happy Birthday, Corlyss
Happy Birthday, Roberta
Happy Birthday, Lynda

Happy 51st Anniversary - Barbara and Harold

Juanita

 

Saturday, June 7, 2014

Watch What You Say in Private

 
    Solomon, one of the world's wisest men said, “Never make light of the king, even in your thoughts. And don't make fun of the powerful, even in your own bedroom. For a little bird might deliver your message and tell them what you said.” 
 
This statement certainly applies to our day of wireless inventions. Solomon's little bird morphed into our big bird of a microphone left on when thought to be turned off, or a cell phone used to record a secret conversation or action.
Reading these words in Ecclesiastes, I thought of two recent examples. First, a whispered conversation into a hot mic between two world government leaders and second, a supposed private conversation with the owner of a professional basketball team.
Everyone is guilty of saying something we later wished we had not. Spoken or written words cannot be erased, but asking forgiveness is an important first step in reconciliation.
King David, another wise man prayed, “Take control of what I say, O Lord, and guard my lips.” This is an excellent prayer to begin each day before we say the wrong thing to the wrong person.

 Let the words of my mouth and the meditation of my heart 
 
be acceptable in Your sight, O Lord, my strength and my Redeemer.” 
 
Psalm 19:14 NKJV

Happy 46th Anniversary, John & Jean
Happy 80th Birthday, cousin Marlene

Juanita