IN THE VALLEY...where moss grows

Elaine over the PEACE FOR THE JOURNEY asked us to elaborate on "how we know"  when God is fulfilling.    Here's an excerpt from her blog (or you can read the entire writing here.)  
My answer follows....join us, won't you?   
note:  The comments end up as blessings...believe me...you might want to continue asking this question on your blog and see the answers you receive.

"Hope deferred does, indeed, make the heart sick; but longing fulfilled is a tree of life."(Proverbs 13:12).

Deferred hope. Who of us hasn’t experienced this kind of heartache at least once, twice, or fifty times in our lifetimes?                                                                When this happens, even as it has happened for me this week, we must practice our faith despite worldly contradictions. We must speak it, rehearse it, pray it, and read it until we finally, again, rise to believe it. If we are to recover from the searing pain of hopelessness, then we must hit our knees to the floor and reach out for truth. God’s truth. Not truth as the world gives, but the truth that truly is and that lives in the heart and witness of Jesus Christ.  So, here is my question for you.  A fill-in-the-blank sort of pondering.                                                                                                    What answers would you provide to the following statement?: I know that God is ________________________, because ______________________ .

My answer to Elaine was:

I know God is PROVIDENT in those moments when we are unable to help ourselves, because when recuperating from major surgery and being overwhelmed wondering 'how' my family and household was going to run smoothly during recuperation, He sent his angels to me. 

Angels with food to revive and sustain, presence surrounding me with peace rather than lots of talking, and willing hands and feet to vacuum floors and put away dishes without saying a word. It was in those moments that I knew, that I knew, God was showing me his love, teaching me to open my heart and mind to 'receiving' in order for it to bless someone else. 

Receiving is hard when one is used to being in service...lessons from the valley become the BEST mountaintops. 


(p.s. at the end of this comment to Elaine, my WORD VERIFICATION was...get ready...I didn't make this up: 
'vallymen'


...God continued by showing me even MORE of His creativity ...even in the smallest 'word verifications'...oh, I could go on from there...

Now a 'lite' note:


What grows in the valley, under the northeast side of trees, where the afternoon sun doesn't do it's heat?


Moss...


beautiful moss...
I envision things like:



I must say, I never envisioned this...
                                     

There's NO WAY you'd ever catch 'this menopausal woman' getting in that suit...

or being accused of: "breaking into the Rice Northwest Museum of Rocks and Minerals"!  hahahahaha ;)  

Really!    (Associated Press article)

Blessings,

WHAT's ON YOUR NIGHT STAND?...Bible study material

 WHAT'S ON YOUR NIGHT STAND?  Joining Melissa at ADVENTUROO for Capture the Everyday : capturing everyday moments in your life. Each Thursday, she’ll issue a simple challenge to capture something that’s a part of your daily life. Post just a picture or add some words to go along with it. You’ll have a week to get it done and then she'll issue another. It’s a quick, easy way to start capturing those little parts of life we sometimes take for granted. (next week: your kid's fav toy).  My representative pic...a pic taken close to one of our local church's..their belfry
(let me explain: My Bible Study is on my night stand...)

Life is sometimes difficult, especially with humans.

Have you ever had instances of hurtful words being flung or feeling like you're not in the room?  When these happen, how are we called to react? 

Warnings from Timothy and again in 1 Peter  5:8-9, "Stay alert! Watch out for your great enemy, the devil." and "Stand firm against him, and be strong in your faith".  This passage might be misconstrued and some might interpret it to 'staying away' and preserving yourself against anyone who has 'flung' at you. 

2 Tim. 2:25-26 reminds 'who is in control' and how things should be ironed out:   "...Perhaps God will change those people’s hearts, and they will learn the truth.  Then they will come to their senses and escape from the devil’s trap.  For they have been held captive by him to do whatever he wants."   

Just as Timothy clarified God's opinion, Peter re-clarified God's expectations.  1 Peter 5:10, "In his kindness God called you to share in his eternal glory by means of Christ Jesus.  After you have suffered a little while, He will restore, support, and strengthen you, and he will place you on a firm foundation." 

Kindness AND restoration are Christ's call to us; not dismissal and self-centeredness.  By His grace and His power, relationships should be restored for HIS GLORY.  God never leaves us 'invisible'...even if people do. 

Blessings,

 

WORD-FILLED WEDNESDAY...DelightingOverYou

DRINKING UP Word-Filled Wednesday at Internet Cafe Devotionstoday...won't you join us? My sipping moments concern the following:

"For the Lord your God is living among you. He is a mighty savior. He will take delight in you with gladness. With his love, he will calm all your fears. he will rejoice over you with joyful songs." Zephaniah 3:17(NLT)

Tuesday night I talked with God about this verse. "

God's people were struggling when Zephaniah wrote God’s Words for them…they were away from their homeland' and 'learning to adapt'. I can't relate to that. I can relate to "those who live among us" facing major changes, learning to adapt (i.e. college) that could be "unknown land of change"). Change can bring uneasiness and worry to the forefront...emotions become tender.

He IS delighting in us. Christ is sitting at God's Right Hand...interceding for us. (Matthew 26:64 Jesus replied,” You have said it. And in the future you will see the Son of Man seated in the place of power at God’s right hand and coming on the clouds of heaven.) Yes, He IS delighting in us.

Was our Savior ‘delighting in us’ while suffering through all the taunting of the crucifixion crowds and Roman army? There are no words noting such feelings or understandings...He remained quiet. (Matthew 27:31"When they were finally tired of mocking him, they took off the robe and put his own clothes on him again. Then they led him away to be crucified."

He seeks relationship with us to renew our hearts; our purpose is to rejoice in Him. REJOICING over what He did, is doing, will be doing for us!, He continues wiping clean our chalkboards of life as we daily scribble on them with our dirty chalk.

He offered Himself; He believed, as did His Father, that we were worth it.(Isaiah 33:6 "In that day he will be your sure foundation, providing a rich store of salvation, wisdom, and knowledge.” The fear of the Lord will be your treasure.)

Imagine Him singing to His Father. (I wonder if He's a baritone or bass, I can imagine him a tenor. ) Don't ya know He'll still be singing when we get there!

"For the Lord your God is living among you. He is a mighty savior. He will take delight in you with gladness. With his love, he will calm all your fears. he will rejoice over you with joyful songs." Zephaniah 3:17(NLT)

RELATIONSHIP WITH CHRIST...seek and find

THIRSTY? delve in His Holy Word, drink in His Living Water

REJECTED? abide in His Peace surpassing all understanding

EXHAUSTED? rest in His loving arms as He speaks through His Word

BOMBARDED? cuddle into the palm of His hands, rest heads on the scars of His providence

SUFFOCATING? breathe in deeply His breath of Life

SURRENDERING? persevere; He'll crown us with eternal life through his love

INACCESSIBLE? open mind and heart; He is our God, we are His people

HOPELESS? look to His new heaven/earth; our eternal, righteous home

DENYING? know the Lord's Words will be accomplished

IGNORING? know, not one of the good promises He gave us has failed

REJECTED? His marked seal is upon us...the promised Holy Spirit

WITHERING? grow on His vine, heirs with Israel, one body sharing Christ's promises

NEGLECTED? let Him renew our 'inner'; He will show on our 'outer'

Blessings,

PHOTOSTORY FRIDAY: IT'S SIMPLY BLOOMIN' AROUND HERE!..

Hosted by Cecily and SueTo play PhotoStory Friday, check this.

My ANGEL TRUMPET BUSHES STARTED BLOOMING on November 6 and they're still blooming! We've had a pleasant lead into November and I'm amazed at the pretty blooms still on my bush in the front yard. One of my prayer partners gave me this bush a couple of years ago :D

IN ADDITION TO MY YARD HAVING COLOR,

my indoor CHRISTMAS CACTUS IS BLOOMING TOO...

IT WAS JUST LITTLE BUDS 13 DAYS AGO, and today it looks like this...

Go, God!!

It sits on my HUTCH JUST IN MY ENTRY WAY, UNDER THE STAIRCASE, so I'm getting to enjoy it each time I walk through the hallway...

Tonight I may move it to my breakfast room table to enjoy it while in the kitchen.

It is soon to be THE SEASON of HIS Birth and I'm enjoying getting to celebrate the entry into the SEASON with my beautiful cactus...

Acts 14:7 "He has shown kindness by giving you rain from heaven and crops in their seasons;

he provides you with plenty of food and fills your hearts with joy."

Blessings,

JOB'S FRIENDS LEARNED...(How is it speaking to me?)

Last night...

about 25 senior-hi students attended prayer share at our home, enjoying food, friends and Jesus...we also watched NOOMA-WHIRLWIND by Rob Bell, which reviews scripture from the Book of Job.

Life is sometimes hard...this video got me thinking about God's providence...when I might LIKE IT and when I MAY NOT.

My immediate reaction ...Psalm 46:10 "Be still, and know that I am God; I will be exalted among the nations, I will be exalted in the earth."

WE'RE created to worship Him... Colossians 1:16 "For by him ALL things were created...all things were created by him and for him." ...for His purpose and Glory!

But...Questions are difficult throughout life:

why is there suffering; why is does it seem evil prevails sometimes? Speaking of questioning...People AROUND Job were questioning God.

Job, himself though, was steadfast in God's providence and plans. Our youth pastor CHALLENGED US TO STUDY IT FURTHER THROUGH SOME OF THE ONLINE COMMENTARIES...so, today I followed up with Mathew Henry :)

Mathew Henry's commentary shares these snippets...my responses are in ORANGE.

Job's patience DURING troubles: A GREAT EXAMPLE TO FOLLOW

Satan's malice started it...God restrained him though: GOD's LOVING CARE REITERATED

Job's restoration began in God's mercy, when he was praying for his
friends: GOD HONORS SINCERE CONCERN NOT MEAN DISPUTES.

God doubled Job's possessions: PATIENT SUFFERING BLESSED

Job's friends wronged God: JOB SPOKE GOD'S TRUTH

Job prayed/offered sacrifice for persecutors: JOB'S RENEWAL BEGAN

Quarrels with God ALWAYS begin on our part: MAKING PEACE BEGINS ON God's PART

Our prayers/services should be acceptable by Lord's standards; not for
praise of men: STRIVE TO PLEASE GOD, HE BLESSES OBEDIENCE.

^{JOB 42:12,16,17} The LORD blessed the latter part of Job's life more than the first. ... After this, Job lived a hundred and forty years; he saw his children and their children to the fourth generation. And so he died, old and full of years.

Humble faith and sincere obedience see farthest and best into the will of the Lord.

"If you're reading this, Allen...thanks for challenging us to DIG DEEPER!" There was definitely MORE to the STORY and JOB was blessed in the end!

"LICHEN" 'EM, MORE AND MORE

Within the last week the word 'mushroom' has come out of my mouth much more than EVER expected...with all this deluge of rain, the little LICHENS are popping up with a vengeance.

My first uttering of this word was while we were playing golf last week...on almost every hole, along the fairways and even up on the greens,there were many of these botanical sprouts...coming up.

My second uttering came while walking down the sidewalk to the neighborhood gym at BS&K's...tall, short, skinny, fat, HUGE, tiny...greeting us each day ...shriveling toward the pine straw-laden ground for their eternal rest. Their existence is so limited...gone as quickly as they come. I'm rather scared of these little/big delectables due to this happening:

My first-ever, personally-purchased yorkie-poo was Nicholas (I called him Nikki)...he was an adorable little black-curly puff of a puppy...2 pounds wet.

I had bought him with my first paycheck after graduating college...and he spent days with "grandma" Mom while I worked. (She was always going outside to enter our basement to work on her 'sewing projects' and it was common for him to run and jump through the grass while walking with her.) Unfortunately, about two weeks after I got him, he took a curious side trip en route and chewed on a mushroom...

He was so tiny and the obviously poisonous one went straight to his nervous system and he didn't make it. (The vet said it was just too much for his little system.)

Sorry I got sidetracked...but you can now understand why I veer away from mushrooms in the wild but love to eat them in my food. Continuing on:

With all the sightings during our season of sogginess in Atlanta, I wondered how to tell the difference in these little unknown fungi...

There's a MUSHROOM CLUB OF GEORGIA...they have a written purpose and everything...

...an educational organization...to promote enjoyment*, study, and exchange of information about wild mushrooms. (I personally have never thought about 'enjoying a wild mushroom' especially after my incident.

This is SERIOUS STUFF, ya'll...their calendar has field trips with speakers even.

One presentation on their site noted one titled "Medicinal, Poisonous, and Hallucinogenic Properties of Fungi". (hhhhmmmmmm)

Then, there was ... interpretive mushroom farms and myco-gardening demonstration areas (and there's a national "MYCO" group even, who knew? ...I bet they're "myco-gardening experts...

As I read along I felt like someone from BIG BANG was going to pop up on my screen and ask me for a password or something.

This is BIG BRAIN stuff, ya'll...even GA TECH had a USDA grant --to study effects of mushroom mycelium (high-oil content algae for production of bio-fuels)? (GREEN TO THE CORE...that's a mouthful, isn't it?!)

While stumbling around on the site, I found out:

Shiitake mushrooms are the third most popular mushroom species in the U.S."

health benefits: Low in calories, glucose and sodium

high in potassium, phosphorus, copper, and zinc

help lower blood cholesterol

improve the immune system

I can't end this post on such a HIGH-BROW note, so I'll share a mushroom joke...get ready, this will REALLY get you rolling (and I claim no liability to those who may 'split a side' from this one):

Did you hear what the mushroom told the dead tree?

A lichen had developed between us. :p

What 'shroom stories' can share with us today?

BLESSINGS, Skoots1Mom

Psalm 3:1-4 "Enemies sprouting like mushrooms...But you, God, shield me on all sides; You ground my feet, you lift my head high; With all my might I shout up to God, His answers thunder from the holy mountain."

I GET IT, BUT HAVE TO THROW IT BACK...

Be Still and Know's post got me thinking

The marketing world THRIVES on voluminous change, every year, month, day and sometimes down to the minute...what's new, what's the latest 'gossip'...and sports doesn't fall far behind.

Sports being so 'fan' driven and 'sponsor' driven puts much light on things that sometimes should have NO light.

In regards to being a big sports fan, I am one, kinda. Kinda like I am a music fan, crossing many of the the lines and know a little about A LOT:

like me some college SEC football,

like me some professional baseball (even keeps stats on pre-printed scorer's cards for FUN)

like me some pro tennis (until someone puts their foot in their mouth and makes the game a momentary embarrassment)

like me LOTS of music types (classical to country, back across
contemporary christian and all the way to bluegrass)...but I surely cringe at outbursts by 'cool' types...the music varieties intrigue me, I listen to lots of them.

Thank you, Jesus, for giving me a 'like' for MANY things...

but only a LOVE for Your Word, Your presence,

the family You've given me

and a loving Christian family to corporately worship with as I walk this life.

I must limit myself though...being intentional to step away because I could find myself getting too deeply entrenched in any of the "seasons", "celebrities" or gossip.

When it gets crazy or ugly, shouldn't I TURN "it" OFF? Maybe I'll crochet.


WHAT do you do when your sports shows, movies or TV become offensive or derogatory?

What does Christ call us TO DO?

Blessings,

Jer. 33:3

"Call to me and I will answer you

and tell you great and unsearchable things you do not know."

AMOS...Have You Been There Recently?

Our Disciple class this week is reading and exhorting the Book of Amos, now if you've read this book in the Bible, you know this prophet doesn't hold back when it comes to sharing what God told him. Many allusions voiced, screamed, foretold to the people of his day yet somehow I feel Amos is here with us.

What do you think?

Amos

3:2

"Out of all the families on earth, I picked you. Therefore, because of your special calling, I'm holding you responsible for all your sins."

5:6

"So seek God and live! You don't want to end up with nothing to show for your life But a pile of ashes, a house burned to the ground. For God will send just such a fire, and the firefighters will show up too late. Raw Truth Is Never Popular."

5:14

Seek good and not evil - and live! You talk about God, the God-of-the-Angel-Armies, being your best friend. Well, live like it, and maybe it will happen.

9:8

But you can be sure that I, God, the Master, have my eye on the Kingdom of Sin. I'm going to wipe it off the face of the earth. Still, I won't totally destroy the family of Jacob." God's Decree.

WORDFUL & WORDLESS WEDNESDAY (sweet conversation)

Joining Angie @ 7ClownCircus...

and Janice & Susan @ 5 Minutes for Mom for WORDLESS WEDNESDAY

an 'almost wordless' video of

DD's "conversation" with one of His children...

I think she has "'BS&K's" gift of gab...hee hee!

Matt. 18:4

"Therefore, whoever humbles himself like this child

is the greatest in the kingdom of heaven."
Blessings,

VINTAGE THINGS THURSDAYS...

Participating in the different day themes is always fun,
and they certainly get your ideas flowing in ways you've never expected.

My idea for today was to start with probably two of the oldest things in my home......

but, yesterday we had a "double rainbow" late in the afternoon...

Having rained all day, the air was so humid, full of miniature raindrops, and as the sun slowing dipped into the southwestern sky, there came a wonderfully vibrant, double rainbow...


my hubby called me on his way home, amazed at its irredescence and array of colors.
my pic naturally doesn't do it justice...however, it's not too bad considering it was raining while i was shooting,

while holding an umbrella with one hand and the camera with the other...
trying to avoid cars that continued driving by

as I stood out in the street to get the best angle of the shot...
kids, don't do this at home on your own...

So, thinking back on my vintage day, this is one of God's oldest pieces of art for all of us to share,
for all of us to remember his covenant with Noah

to never again to cover the earth in water....

so, these are my first pics from our early-October gift from our Heavenly Father:


Now on to my "other" vintage prizes...
the two pictures below hang in our guest bedroom...given to us by my in-laws after my hubby's father passed and the house was being prepared to sell.

If I remember correctly, these used to hang in my hubby's maternal grandmother's home.






I haven't a clue how old they really are, and I need to research and find out who manufactured them, etc

The portrayals in the pictures are peaceful but emote far different emotions to me as I gaze at them...

The young woman on the left she gazes longingly, tired from a day's labor...or possibly looking ahead to another field's challenge with back-breaking swinging of the sickle, to and fro.


The little one to the right gazing sweetly in amazement at the birdy in the tree, wondering if it will be flying away with its next movement, wondering if it has a family to take food back to in its nest.
She looks to me as she is waiting for it to sing again....maybe she had heard it from her room and run out to see it while it sang.



When these were given to us, the frames were black, covered with old mold from having been kept in a very damp basement for many years. I cleaned them with warm water and wood cleaner, not knowing what was beneath the darkness.




Look what I found!





There is some damage...

cracking around some of the old edges....like me!! Yet, I think they are very pretty in their elderliness...
: )

For more vintage, go here:


http://anapronaday.blogspot.com/2008/10/mary-aldens-cookbook-for-children-1956.html

Psalm 5:3 In the morning, O LORD,

you hear my voice;

in the morning I lay my requests before you

and wait in expectation.

WFW - EVERLASTING DOMINION

My post is very late in the day...in fact, it is 15 minutes 'til midnight and I'm just now finishing this...so I guess I can still get it in.

Today in our Bible study we studied Daniel 4

WHICH reminded me of the picture I took below of the large white oak tree standing majestically in my backyard...swaying when the winds get heavy, losing its leaves very late in the winter and watching over my corner of the world like a tower.

When I was standing at the base of this tree, shooting with my camera up the trunk to get a new perspective, it gave me an awesome understanding of just how big it is and how little I am.

I couldn't begin to even climb this tree...the limbs are so far up from the ground. It's bark is rough and scaly like a really old alligator.

If someone was able to shinny up the base of this tree, one slip and you'd have a very uncomfortable slide down until you hit the ground...then you'd fall on top of all the acorns it drops--that wouldn't be comfortable either.

Anyway, in Daniel 4 the King had a dream about a tree--how wonderful it is, how protective, how provident, how great it was...never giving any of the glory of the tree to the One who made it.

Daniel shared his understanding of the dream...the king would lose his kingship, be abandoned to the fields to eat grass, until he came to acknowledge God's greatness...go read how long it took...it wasn't quick...the hair on his body became like feathers and his nails on his hands grew like claws.

Daniel's theme reiterates “The Most High (God) is sovereign over the kingdoms of men.” God IS triumphant (7:11,26–27; 8:25; 9:27).

The climax of his sovereign rule is described in Revelation: “The kingdom of the world has become the kingdom of our Lord and of his Christ [i.e., Messiah, ‘Anointed One’], and he will reign for ever and ever” (Rev 11:15; see Daniel 2:44; 7:27).

HOW ARE YOU ACKNOWLEDGING GOD'S TRIUMPH AND HIS POWER IN YOUR LIFE?

Daniel 4:34

And at the end of the days, I, Nebuchadnezzar, lifted up mine eyes unto heaven, and mine understanding returned unto me, ...I blessed the most High...I praised and honoured him that liveth for ever, whose dominion is an everlasting dominion, and his kingdom is from generation to generation.

For more Word Filled Wednesday, go to http://the160acrewoods.com/

COME SEE WHAT I'M SAYING....

So, Liddie, you're probably exhausted from checking out everyone's video ... mine has taken me longer than expected to get it onto the site...electronically challenged in my old age.

This was fun...the ones I've seen so far are

FAB-U -LOUS!!!!

Keep it up everyone!!

Lastly, a disclaimer...the woman on the following clip is under no special contract or legal obligation nor monetary remuneration, so therefore, you get no special wardrobe, makeup or soundtrack...just me, and I was NOT brave enough to sing or dance like some of my wonderfully talented blogging counterparts!

Blessings to all...

TO "SEE" MORE, GO VISIT "2nd CUP OF COFFEE" AT

http://2nd-cup-of-coffee.blogspot.com/2008/09/welcome-to-i-see-what-youre-saying.html

HOPE...MEETING GOD IN PRAYER...

Have you ever PRACTICED

"lectio divina"?

(pronounced lex-ee-oh dih-vee-nuh)

I find this to be a wonderful way to center into prayer time and "hear" differently...

(instructional words from theupperroom.com Daily Reflections, November 6, 2006)http://www.upperroom.org/daily/?page_id=9, )

A Latin phrase literally translated as "divine reading", it refers to the reading of sacred scriptures as practiced by the early Christian fathers and mothers. It is NOT a Bible study and involves NEITHER an analysis of a scripture passage NOR an emphasis on text information.

Lord, send your spirit to those seeking you in prayer,

listening for your special voice in their lives.

May practicing Lectio Divina grow

their prayer relationship with you

in ways they never expected.

Amen

CIELO http://houseinroses.blogspot.com/2008/09/hopeful-friday.html from "House In The Roses" is the Hostess of Hopeful Friday. Please visit her blog to not only read what she has posted for today...but to visit the blogs of everyone participating today.

WFW...persevere...persevere...

Why is it when I am so close to the end of even a simple project it seems harder to finish? Or am I one of the only ones who feels that way close to the end of a project? I've got another skein or so to go on my prayer shawl, and it will be completed.

Could my retisence to finish be my tiredness of what I'm doing, having grown bored with it in this "multi-tasking" lifestyle that whirls in my mind and in our society? My mind is already wanting to get going on the next project...

Why do I want to rush through my work...especially since this is a shawl that is being prayed over while I work...one day it will be wrapping someone's shoulders who may not be able to get out of bed...one day it may be wrapped around the dolly of a small child who is enduring cancer treatments at a local hospital...one day it may be comforting a grandmother who just lost her life-long partner. God has a plan for it, but at this point in time I do not know where or who it will be comforting.

Even though some days my crafty genes are healthier and eager to get about the business of crocheting there are days my hands are tired and hurt--and I want to be about other things. It is in those times I should place myself in the future of this shawl and pray for its new owner...for them to be able to persevere through whatever trial is meeting them during their days, their nights, their happy times and their sad times.

There are many scriptures giving guidance about perseverance and the fruits of the labor...especially in situations where we hear God's nudgings to our hearts or spirits about helping someone during difficulty. His Word guides us:

Hebrews 10:36You need to persevere so that when you have done the will of God, you will receive what he has promised.

James 1:12Blessed is the man who perseveres under trial, because when he has stood the test, he will receive the crown of life that God has promised to those who love him.

Revelation 2:3You have persevered and have endured hardships for my name, and have not grown weary.

Lord,

Let us drink in Your refreshing, living Word.

have it revive us to be about our commitments...

stir us with things You bring to our attention...

spontaneously, remind us to be diligent and bold for Your sake,

not for our glory or edification, or comfort

but to show love of neighbor, of friend, of needy.

Amen

For more WORD FILLED WEDNESDAY posts...

http://the160acrewoods.com/

TIME WILL STOP BEING

Our Bible study, Jesus in the Gospels, focuses around the word, FOREVER this week...while studying the various scriptures, my questions became more numerous--and so did my scripture look ups, trying to wrap my head around FOREVER.

God was the beginning…in a great void until he spoke time into existence…the sun, moon and the universes. Gees, try wrapping your head around His being in existence without the earth, the animals, and the people. (Genesis 1 “In the beginning God created the heavens and the earth”.)

The massiveness His creation overtakes my comprehension and I realize my “smallness”. That was “the beginning of ETERNITY”--God’s time frame--He was the beginning, the now and the end.

Maybe you’re able to wrap your head around His time frame better than me. When I got frustrated about it, I went to the Word for relief…and it did just that. It says in Ecclesiastes 3:11 “He has made everything beautiful in its time. He has also set eternity in the hearts of men; yet they cannot fathom what God has done from beginning to end.”

I get comfort in hearing that at the time Christ was walking this earth and preaching His Word, people couldn’t wrap their heads around it either. That links “us people of today” with “those people of yesterday” in a continuing way.

I continue searching individually, yet I have been given God’s wisdom through Jesus…about yesterday, today and tomorrow. 1 Corinthians 2:6-8 tells us, “We do, however, speak a message of wisdom among the mature, but not the wisdom of this age or of the rulers of this age, who are coming to nothing. No, we speak of God's secret wisdom, a wisdom that has been hidden and that God destined for our glory before time began. None of the rulers of this age understood it, for if they had, they would not have crucified the Lord of glory.”

Knowing this then, I should have a greater passion for wanting to share His wisdom with my loved ones and with my neighbors…so they’ll understand His message of wisdom and eternity. Yes, I want to dwell in Heaven with my family and wonderful friends He has given me throughout my years on earth. Try as we may to study and learn, we won’t fully understand it ALL until we reach FOREVER, as His HEAVENLY Bride. 1 Cor. 13:12 “…then we shall see face to face. Now I know in part; then I shall know fully, even as I am fully known.”

Sharing forever…eternity…it takes many words to try and fathom this, too…always, ceaselessly, constantly, continually, endless, eternally, everlasting, forever, incessantly, in perpetuity, interminably, limitless time, permanent, perpetual, without end!

I do believe His promises, do you?
An angel showed it to John in Revelation 21 "Now the dwelling of God is with men, and he will live with them. They will be his people, and God himself will be with them and be their God. He will wipe every tear from their eyes. There will be no more death or mourning or crying or pain, for the old order of things has passed away."

Time will stop being as it is today…there will be no death. We will BE…
BE WITH OUR CREATOR FOR ALL ETERNITY!
Praising Him for His creation of LOVE.

The purpose of Word filled Wednesday is to share God’s word (no famous quotes or other literature — only the beautiful word of our Father) through photo’s & a Bible verse! For more WFW posts, go to http://the160acrewoods.com/?p=1174#comment-2987