The God Who is Faithful

Father,

You are the God who is faithful. Every move I make I make in You. Every good and perfect gift comes from You. You are the God who is faithful even when my faith is shaken and lifeless. There is none like You.

I love all that I have made. I wanted a people of My possession.

Evidence of Your loving faithfulness is all around me. The lilacs and dogwoods in lush bloom, the aromatic herbs on my patio, the bluebirds in my Redbud tree all draw my eyes to You.

Oh, that I would please You with my faithfulness, Father! Refine me until I am what You had in mind when You created me. I am Yours, Lord.

Draw near to Me and I will draw near to you. Delight in Me and I will give you the desires of Your heart.

My desire is to be known as Yours, Father. There is no greater thing than knowing You. Give me one pure and holy passion, one magnificent obsession: to know and follow hard after You. Teach me to love and be faithful, to be kind and patient. Refine me from the inside out.

If you love me, keep my commandments. I am the Author and the Finisher of your faith. Keep in step with My Spirit. The fruit of the Spirit is love, joy, peace, patience, kindness, goodness, faithfulness, gentleness and self-control.

You are the God who is faithful. You will do what You say You will do. From the rising of the sun to the going down of the same, Your Name is to be praised. You love like a hurricane and I am a tree, bending beneath the weight of Your grace and mercy!

I am jealous for you, My child. You are the apple of My eye. Follow Me.

You are the God who is faithful. Anywhere. I will follow You.

Come. Let us away.

Something Told the Wild Geese

Something told the wild geese
It was time to go.
Though the fields lay golden
Something whispered, "Snow."
Leaves were green and stirring,
Berries, luster-glossed,
But beneath warm feathers
Something cautioned, "Frost."

All the sagging orchards
Steamed with amber spice,
But each wild breast stiffened
At remembered ice.

Something told the wild geese
It was time to fly -
Summer sun was on their wings,
Winter in their cry.
~Rachel Field

Geese in the Corners

Yesterday, as though Robert McCloskey's picture book, "Make Way for Ducklings", had come to life, traffic stalled. Two adult geese and five little goslings toddled across the road and went merrily on their way toward home.

I like living in a world where we still pause life long enough to be delighted by the surprises God tucks into the corners of every day. This morning I took a walk, hoping for sunshine to meet me on my way. I usually see geese on the pond or in the yards and they often make me laugh. I didn't get far before the heavy rain returned and I splashed through puddles all the way back home.

Standing at my window, sipping coffee, I watched geese standing still as the rain showers pelted down on them like blessings from Heaven. Reminded once again of the beauty God has placed in nature to draw our eyes toward Him, I pulled the warm quilt around me and sat down before the crackling fire to enjoy a book of poetry. I found this treasure tucked into the corner of my day:

Spring Rain
The storm came up so very quick.
It couldn't have been quicker.
I should have brought my hat along.
I should have brought my slicker.
My hair is wet, my feet are wet,I couldn't be much wetter.
I fell into a river once
But this is even better!

~Marchette Chute

Castles in the Sky

I am building a castle.

Before spring break I had never heard of Whimzy Pets. Now I have ten of the 3-inch high colorful, cuddly stuffed animals. They are tagging along with me as I imagine their blossoming personalities and listen to their secrets while building their home. I left behind spring painting projects and garden preparation to create a cardboard Wonderland.

The little women in my life are about to discover something new to do, something new to think about, and hopefully, something new to love. I can hardly wait to hear the stories that await me once we're together!

My large desk, heaped with old calendars, brightly colored paper, scraps of stickers and vintage valentines filled me with eagerness and creative thought. Blankets have been made from lace handkerchiefs. Rugs have been formed from old countercross stitchings and a boat has been formed from an egg carton. It's quite a lovely and charming place to my way of thinking!

Building a castle from scraps has reminded me of the value of a home. A home takes a lifetime to build from a little bit of this and a little bit of that, precious scraps of our lives. Those crayon drawings, the encouraging quotes, that silly squirrel you watch every morning, lullabies sung slightly off key are the scraps that make up the castle of your life.

I live in a modest dwelling by some standards, a castle by others. It's quite a lovely and charming place to my way of thinking. It's my home and it's filled with memories that comfort and cheer me. Oh, others may not see the beauty in the fingerprints on my stairway or the torn quilt on the sofa, my worn out Bible or the Raggedy Ann doll atop the shelf, but they are precious to me beyond words because they tell the story of my life.

Heaven is a real place, a land with golden streets and grand jewels, mansions of glory. There is a castle prepared for me by God's own hands, the one made just for me from the bits and pieces of my lifesong. The closer I get to the end of my journey, the more precious my heavenly home becomes to me. Oh, the people I shall meet and the stories we shall share!

"In My Father's house are many mansions. If it were not so, I would have told you. I go to prepare a place for you and, if I go, I will come back again." ~Jesus

Of Redbuds and Bluebirds

They moved silently into the neighborhood, setting up temporary camp in my garden. Then, to herald their arrival, the two bluebirds sang with glee all morning in my redbud tree. I stood at my window marveling at their beauty. Though I found it a challenge to sing along with a bluebird's song, I welcomed kindred spirits to share my joy. Lo, the winter is over and spring has arrived on the earth!

Day by day I have watched them flitting about, taking a restful break, viewing the neighborhood or singing a song. They played tag in the tree branches. They navigated sprouting bushes and flowers, searching for hidden dangers and secret passages. Such busyness! What delight in life!

This morning as they were discussing nest locations, I was amazed to discover that the redbud tree was covered with beautiful, stately buds. When had this happened? Only the week before I had thanked God for the gorgeous snow covered branches. I had been watching the bluebirds in that tree multiple times daily. Yet, charmed by the busy, fascinating bluebirds, I had forgotten the steadfast strength and beauty of my comforting favorite tree, missing the loveliness simply because I was distracted.

"For lack of attention, a thousand forms of loveliness elude us every day." ~Evelyn Underhill