How do you like to go up in a swing,
Up in the air so blue?
Oh, I do think it the pleasantest thing
Ever a child can do!
Up in the air and over the wall,
Till I can see so wide,
Rivers and trees and cattle and all
Over the countryside-
Till I look down on the garden green,
Down on the roof so brown-
Up in the air I go flying again,
Up in the air and down!
by Robert Lovis Stevenson
I enjoyed a beautiful day with my camera and a nice hike along the country roadside. This time I didn’t see any wildlife, but the familiar springtime plants were blossoming out. I thought I would share them with you. The umbrella shaped plants are may apples, the tall yellow ones are called winter cress, the shiny yellow ones are buttercups and the lavender colored ones are wild geraniums. I hope you enjoy these pictures. A nice outing would be to get a flower identification book out from your local library and take a walk through the country and see how many flowers you can identify. Happy walking!
How do we keep thoughts of God ever before us?
For forty years Moses had been leading the people of Israel through the wilderness. Many times they had rebelled against his leadership, and against God. Moses had faithfully prayed for them and loved them in spite of their rebellion. His desire was to see them worship God with a pure heart. Toward the end of their wanderings, Moses was instructing the people to remember God. Lets see what God’s Word says.
Deuteronomy 6:4-9
Hear, O Israel: The LORD our God is one LORD:
And thou shalt love the LORD thy God with all thine heart, and with all thy soul, and with all thy might.
And these words, which I command thee this day, shall be in thine heart.
And Thou shalt teach them diligently unto thy children, and shalt talk of them when thou sittest in thine house, and when thou walkest by the way, and when thou liest down, and when thou risest up.
And thou shalt bind them for a sign upon thine hand, and they shall be as frontlets between thine eyes.
And thou shalt write them upon the posts of thy house, and on thy gates.
This would keep their minds on Him!
There’s some things we could do today to help us too.
Do you have any pictures or plaques on the wall with a verse on it? What about a bracelet or necklace with a verse on it? How about a cup with a verse printed on it. If you don’t have one, maybe you could paint a verse on a plain cup so every time you drink from it, you can read the verse. Have you ever written a verse or portion of Scripture you want to memorize or meditate on and put it in your pocket so you could pull it out and read it throughout the day?
Talk about God to other people, and remind them Who He is and some of the things He has done or said.
Here’s an observance and reminder game for you. When you see a tree, see if you can think of a verse or a Bible story that has a tree in it. Perhaps you can think of lots of them. Do the same with other common things, such as water, clouds, rocks, etc., there’s reminders all around you.
As God to help you see objects and think of Him. Don’t forget to thank Him for these reminders.
First thing in the morning ask God to make you aware and appreciative of His creation and His presence and His Word. Before going to sleep thank Him for what He showed you and reminded you throughout the day. It can be fun praising Him with a renewed awareness.
I saw you toss the kites on high
And blow the birds about the sky;
And all around AI heard you pass,
Like ladies’ skirts across the grass—
O wind, a-blowing all day long,
O wind, that sings so loud a song!
I saw the different things you did,
But always you yourself you hid.
I felt you push, I heard you call,
I could not see yourself at all—
O wind, a blowing all day long,
O wind, that sings so loud a song!
O you that are so strong and cold,
O blower, are you young or old?
Are you a beast of field and tree,
Or just a stronger child than me?
O wind , a-blowing all day long.
O wind, that sings so loud a song!
by Robert Lovis Stevenson
I took a nice long walk. The skunk cabbage now has big green leaves. Trees are leafing out. The weather is still chilly with the wind, but I know spring is here and summer is on the way.
I was on my way home, with nothing too exciting to report, but then I discovered a hole in the side of a bank by the river. At first I thought it was a washout, but after looking closer, I believe it to be a den of some sort because the ground angles up from the hole. I’m posting a picture hoping some of my readers will be able to identify it for me. I consider it a “treasure” whether I know what made it or not, for I do collect treasures to put in my book.
Thank you to anyone who can help me figure out what made this.
Judges 6-8
A soft answer turneth away wrath; but grievous words stir up anger. Prov. 15:1
The Israelites had been delivered over the the Midianites. They had turned from their God, their Provider, their Protector, and went their own way. Now they were living in dens and caves and trying to hide. When they planted crops, the Midianites and Amalekites destroyed the crops, they took their animals and destroyed the land.
When the Israelites cried unto God, once again, he reminded them of their disobedience—they were getting what they deserved and what God said they would get if they turned from Him.
In spite of all this, God once again extended His mercy to them. He came to a man named Gideon. We can read about it in chapter 6, v. 12 “the Lord is with thee, thou mighty man of valour.” v. 14 “Go in this thy might, and thou shalt save Israel from the hand of the Midianites: have not I sent thee?” v. 16 Surely I will be with thee, and thou shalt smite the Midianites as once man.”
Gideon was a humble man that lacked confidence and was unsure of the Lord’s leading him. After being reassured that God was with him, Gideon did the first thing that God asked of him. He broke down the altar of Baal and built an altar to God and sacrificed on it. This brought Gideon to the attention of the men of the city.
After that, Gideon had an army to fight with him against the Midianites and the Amalekites. Still Gideon was unsure and asked God for a sign. First he asked for a dry ground in the morning with fleece of wool that was wet with the dew. Next he asked for the reverse, a wet ground and dry fleece. God granted these requests to assure Gideon.
Gideon took his men to fight the Amalekites, but God first reduced his army to just 300 men. Now Gideon needed to trust God and act upon that faith.
Gideon and his 300 men saw God fight for them and scatter their enemy in fear. Gideon called for the men of Ephraim to come and help in the fight. The Ephraimites took and slew two of the princes of the Midianites, but they were not happy with Gideon. “And the men of Ephraim said unto him, Why hast thou served us thus, that thou calledst us not, when thou wentest to fight with the Midianites? And they did chide with him sharply.” Judges 8:1 They were angry that they weren’t called earlier.
Gideon could have become proud and started shouting that he did call them now. He could have justified himself and told them how God even reduced the army that he had with him. Instead Gideon remained humble and showed an example of the proverb we’re looking at today. He gave a soft answer. He gave them credit and glory for what they did. He said he had done nothing in comparison to them. Judges 8:3b says “then their anger was abated toward him, when he had said that.” Just like our Proverb tells us, his soft answer turned away their anger.
When their anger was turned away, they could join forces and continue their chase of the enemies.
After Israel was freed from the Midianites, they wanted to make Gideon their king, but he refused and said “The Lord shall rule over you.” Judges 8:23b
It usually takes a humble person to give a soft answer, but the Lord is pleased with a humble person.
Before Sunrise
Early one morning Brad and I took our flashlights and stealthily walked into the woods. We found a comfortable tree then sat and waited. It was so quiet and comfortable I almost fell asleep.
After waiting for awhile we heard the caw of the crow. The sky had gone from black to a pre-dawn gray. Next came the cheerful singing of the song birds. We waited a little longer and heard the gobble of the turkeys. Still we waited. Soon we heard fluttering and soft “plunks”. The turkeys were flying down from the trees they were roosting in and dropping to the ground to look for their morning breakfast.
The sky was now a rosy pink. A beautiful day was dawning, and I had a very special “treasure” to put in my memory box.
1 pkg. yeast 1 egg
1/4 c. warm water 3 T. butter
1/4 c. honey 1 T. cinnamon
1 1/2 t. salt 2 1/2 – 3 c. flour
3/4 c. scalded milk
Soften yeast in water. In bowl combine milk, honey, butter and salt. Cool to look warm. Stir in egg and yeast mixture. Add cinnamon. Gradually add flour to form soft dough. Knead on floured surface 5-8 minutes. Place in greased bowl, turning to grease all sides. Cover with towel and let rise till doubled, 1- 1/2 hours. Roll out and cut in shapes. Place shapes close together on greased cookie sheet to create bears, bunnies, flowers, etc. Let rise again till double. Bake 375 degrees for about 20 minutes, or till lightly browned. Frost and decorate as desired.
In the heart of a seed,
Buried deep, so deep,
A dear little plant
Lay fast asleep.
“Wake,” said the sunshine,
“And creep to the light.”
“Wake,” said the voice
of the raindrops bright.
The little plant heard;
And it rose to see,
What the wonderful
Outside world might be.
By Kate Brown
There was a little turtle.
He lived in a box.
He swam in a puddle.
He climbed on the rocks.
He snapped at a mosquito.
He snapped at a flea.
He snapped at a minnow.
And he snapped at me.
He caught the mosquito.
He caught the flea.
He caught the minnow.
But he didn’t catch me.
By Vachel Lindsay