Sometimes life can leave one…
Dry
Dusty
Thirsty
Lonely
In disarray
Barren
Empty
A desert
Yet God provides…
A wellspring
Refreshing
Life-giving
Water
Living water
Sparkling
Light-of-the-World
Water
Just when it’s needed most.
An oasis
Walk as Children of Light
Usually These days Dark, cold, snow Accompany me on my morning walk
Not always
Usually These days There is something, someone I find of interest, delight on my morning walk
However
Always These days The dance of sun and earth Continues as I do my morning walk
And
These days I’m reminded the Sun Still rises while I do my morning walk
Today’s gift
From the trail…
“Morning by morning new mercies I see. “
Today’s gift
Here’s what I’ve been thinking about today…
As I walked around today, it has become more and more evident that winter has been pushed aside and spring is nudging its way forward. Spring greenery, flowers all around and welcome warmth provide the evidence. A welcome transition, indeed.
This morning brought another transition of sorts for me. It started with an invitation from my grandson to run an errand with him to the hardware store. He needed a part for something on his bike. “OK. Sounds good.”
So we piled in the van, him in the driver’s seat and me riding shotgun. At the store we found the part and he paid for it. At the gas station, he pumped and bought the gas and I sat and waited.
Not so long ago I would have been the driver, gas pumper and purchaser. Things have changed. My young grandson is moving from childhood into adulthood. A welcome transition, for sure.
Today was the funeral for my best high school friend. After a long illness the Lord took Tom to be with him and he is now with Jesus. His soul and Parkinson’s plagued body are made whole. Through it all, in his life and now in death, he belongs to his faithful Savior, Jesus.
For me, today has been a day to think about transitions. One season changing to the next. A grandson no longer a child but moving on into adulthood. A dear friend passing from a time of struggle and disease to eternal life. Blessings, indeed.
Today’s gift
But now, this is what the Lord says—… “Do not fear, for I have redeemed you; I have summoned you by name; you are mine. When you pass throught the waters, I will be with you…” Isaiah 43
The other day While I was away I walked alone
Until on the street
Me on one side Him on the other I met John
“Hi,” he said “Good morning,” I said. Together for just a moment
On we walked Alone and alone. But not really
The other day A different one While I was away I walked alone again
Until on the street
Me on one side Him on the other I met John
“Good morning,” I said. “Hi,” said John Together again, but this time More than a moment.
John wanted to talk.
We did We talked about this, that and the other Comfortable things, easy things
Except this Why John walks alone
In only a few words He told the simple sad truth A year ago, a profound loss A spouse, a walking partner gone
And again on we walked
Alone and alone
But not really
The other day I as walked alone I thought about John and me walking Accompanied by the risen Son It dawned on me... John and me, and you too
Never alone, never alone
Lots of stuff for which to be thankful…
Don’t you think?
(Fill in the blanks.) I’m thankful for ______ .
Today’s gift
*I was out weeding the flowers the other day. I took along my camera. Here are some ‘square inches’ of God’s creation that I found.
*****
Food (i)
We see leafy, green
We wonder what’s within
We have food for thought
Food (ii)
Carbon dioxide
Water, chlorophyll, sunlight
Photosynthesis
Food (iii)
Table of Plenty
Photosynthesis provides
Food for all
Take a Breath
Green, leafy gateway
C - Oh - two IN, Oh - two OUT
Needed breath of life
Water
Suspended, sparkling
Jewels dancing, delighting
Watering the earth
Today’s gifts
Through the Lord’s mercies we are not consumed,
Because his compassions fail not
They are new every morning;
Great is your faithfulness.
Lamentations 3: 22-23
Hope for the new year.
Today’s gift.
On Monday’s I mentor a student at a local elementary school through an organization called Kid’s Hope (https://kidshopeusa.org/). Mentors with Kid’s Hope spend an hour a week throughout the school year with one student that may have academic, social or behavioral needs. Among other things, my young student needs help with multiplication facts. Each Monday, we work a bit on multiplication facts as part of our early afternoon mentoring project.
What better way is there to practice multiplication facts than flashcards? You know, on one side of the card there is the problem, say 6 times 3. On the flip side is the answer 6X3 = 18! Success! You get the answer correct and there’s all kinds of wild celebration – high fives, fist bumps. Then you go on to the next one. By the end of the school year we both will know our multiplication facts from 0X0 to 12X12. Woo! Woo!
My problem was, I didn’t have any flashcards. I wanted to find some so we could start practicing those facts in earnest starting next Monday. Ah, but where to find them? The teacher store in town closed years ago and there are no ‘flash card’ stores that I know of. And, since I would like to have them right away, ordering online wouldn’t work.
I can remember days when I’d go with my dad to the lumber yard because we needed some lumber, of course. We’d need a 2×4 or two or some kind of tool to complete a project. Miller Lumber Company, Johnson Howard and South Side Lumber company were all places we might end up looking for … well, lumber or any kind of building supplies. You would never expect to find groceries, for example, at the lumber yard. Flashcards? That would be silly.
The other day, Friday, if you must know, I went to a ‘lumber yard’ looking for some lights to complete a project at home. This store, with its 11% rebate on everything, promised me that I could ‘save big money!’ So that’s where I went.
These days a lumber yard does not just deal in lumber. This place where I can ‘save big money’ sells all kinds of things, yes, even groceries. One week in the freezer section there might be salmon steaks the next week frozen pizza. And of course, you can still buy a hammer or 2X6 piece of select pine.
As I wandered about the store I wasn’t thinking about groceries, hammers or pine boards. I was focused on the lights I need. I knew where they were. I could be in and out of the store in just a few minutes.
And, then, on the bottom shelf of an aisle full of toys (yes, there are toys for sale at this ‘lumber yard’) I spied… yes, you knew this was coming… flashcards!
There they were! Just the tool I needed to help a kid learn his math facts! Excited, I picked them up and added them to my purchases. Excited not only that I ‘saved big money’ with an 11% rebate, but that I now have what I need for Monday’s mentoring session.
Hmmm… so what? Is this really a big deal? There’s really nothing profound here. Except, the ordinary events of a recent Friday is just another example of how the God that loves us takes care of us in all kinds of ways, little and big, every day. And that, more than ‘saving big money’, with an 11% rebate and even finding flashcards is today’s gift.
(I)
Aways arriving
Sneakily or boldly states
This is a new day
(II)
Each day, everywhere
A continued connection
A daily greeting
(III)
All times, all places
Every day, new beginnings
Something of eternity
Walk as Children of Light 