Two Crape-Mrytle Trees

My focus this morning is upon our two crape-mrytle

bushes - beautiful red blossoms are opening up on

the taller bush and delicate pink blossoms can be seen

in clusters on the smaller bush. For days I have been

waiting for the buds on our bushes to blossom out

A few days ago the Lord gave us a good, soaking rain; the

very next day I noticed a few blossoms began opening up.

I move my lawn chair just far enough

away so that the entire tree could be seen. I am not

the only one who had been waiting for the blossoms

to open up. I am intrigued as I watch the little bees

come again and again to drink nectar from the center

of the blossoms.

I am reminded that God's Word is to us as the nectar is

to the bees. Psalm 19:9-10 says, "The judgments of the

Lord are righteous altogether. .....Sweeter also than honey

and the honeycomb." Psaknm 119:103 " How sweet

are Your words to my taste, Sweeter than honey to my

mouth". Psalm 34:8 " Oh taste and see that the Lord is good

Blessed is the man who trusts in Him". Have you tasted of

the Lord's goodness in your life? Is HIs Word so sweet

to your soul? He wants us to have an eager appetite for

His Word even as the bees have an eagerness for the

nectar in the blossoms...it is there very life. Even so

God's Word is life to us

The Unoccupied Chair

This mornng I took my place sitting in my usual
lawn chair, out in the sunlight. I felt the warmth
of the sun on my legs and arms, as it shone
brightly through the tall stately trees casting
shadows on the path. The sky was deep
blue with not a cloud in sight....Listening quietly
I heard the chirping of the birds happily praising
their Creator. But something was different...
Another lawn chair just like the one I was
sitting in had been placed adjacent to
my chair. That chair was unoccupied!

The two chairs spoke to me of fellowship.
I thought about various people whom I
would like to "occupy" that chair....
my mother, now gone on to glory,......
my husband who is helping a neighbor
today......my sister who is experiencing
physical trials and lives so far away.....my
chidren and grandchildren who are so
lively they can hardly take time to sit
dowm......my friends.who are precious
every one.

Then I thought about Jesus. Although I
do not see Him with my physical eyes,
I know that He is here. I can feel His
gentleness and kindness. I feel in
awe to thnk that the very Son of God
desires to occupy that empty chair.
I know He does because He fills that
place in my heart that no one else can
fill. Truely, He is even closer for He
lives with in my spirit....since I have
invited Him in and He has promised
never to leave.

Long ago, Mary sat at Jesus feet and
felt that fellowship of His presence; the
woman of Samaria found Jesus sitting
at the well. She too, found the true way
to have fellowship with the Living God.
Perhaps you are lonely today, Perhaps
their is an empty chair in your home.....
a husband or a wife has occupied that
chair ....a child has left this life or simply
grown up and moved away......I invite
you to take that unoccupied chair
and offer it to Jesus. You can pour
out your heart to Him and He will reveal
Himself to you in such mercy, forgiveness,
grace, healing .....whatever you need.
Jesus longs to occupy that "empty chair".

Deep With In My Heart

Deep with in my heart; deep with in my soul
I hear You calling, I hear You calling, Lord
Deep with in my heart , deep with in my soul
I hear You calling......come and worship me

Deep with in my heart, deep with in my soul
I have a longing, I have a longing
Deep with in my heart, deep with in my soul
I have a longing to worship You


Deep with in my heart, deep with in my soul
I feel the breeze of your Spirit flowiing
cleansing, healing, making me whole
Deep with in my heart , deep with in my soul

REFRESHING

This morning as I stepped outside I felt a refreshing light
breeze. The sun was peeping through the trees; the birds
were chirping joyful praises to their Creator. I placed my
lawn chair in the direct flow of sunlight to get the full
benefit of my "Vitamin D"; The golden haired kitty
immediately came over to my chair and began
rubbing against my legs showing her affection.

Then I ventured a little farther .......walking down the
old familiar path though the woods and out into
the open field, I noticed clusters of little pink
flowers along the road side. As I was picking
a bouquet the Lord reminded me that He has
a purpose in my writing..

This time outside was special this morning
because the past week has been very hot
and humid; therefore, I had not spent any
time out in my Heavenly Father's "Cathedral".
It was like a refreshing shower of rain to my soul.....
even though there was no actual rain from the clouds.

In Act 3:19 the Bible talks about a refreshing
sent from God... This is a refreshing in our spirit
when the Holy Spirit ccomes to fill us with His
presence. I pray that you will sense God's
presence in a special way today.

Is Your Cup Running Over?

Running over, running over, my cup is full and
running over; Since the Lord saved me..I'm as
happy as can be, My cup is full and running over".
I sang the words of this little chorus when I
was sitting in the lawn chair in my friend's
back yard. I sang it to her little daughter.
It was a chorus that I used to teach children
many years ago. It is a fun chorus for
children with actions to go with the words.

But as I was singing , I began to think about
the words..What do they really mean? Psalm
116:12 says,"I will take the cup of salvation
and call upon the name of the Lord". Jesus, when praying in the garden of Gethsemene said,
" Oh my Father, if it be possible let this
cup pass from me,..." Jesus took upon Himself
the wrath of God which we deserved for our
sins.. The cup of salvation is to receive the
gift of eternal salvation which Jesus purchased
for us when He died for us on the cross.

Along with the cup of salvation are countless
blessings such as healing,provision, protection,
wisdom etc, and all the spiritual blessings in
Christ Jesus. So certainly when the Lord saves
us we can be "happy as can be" because our
"cup" is running over with all that God has
to offer us.

The Bible also talks about the cup of the wrath
of God.in Isaiah 51:22 God says, "See, I have
taken out of your hand the cup of trembling, the
dregs of my cup of fury; You shall drink it no
more." Those who will not receive God's gift
of eternal life will have to taste of the cup
of the wrath of God. Revelation 14:9-10 says,
" If anyone worships the beast and his image,
and receives his mark on his forehead or on
his hand, he himself shall also drink of the
cup of the wine of the wrath of God which is
poured out full strength into the cup of His
indignation." It is my prayer that whoever
reads this writing will receive with joy the
cup of salvation and not the cup of the wrath
of God.

We may be called upon to take "the cup of
suffering" by partaking of persecution for
Jesus sake; however, He has promised to go
with us through the flame or flood and it
will be worth it all when we see Christ.

Jesus, You are All I Need

You are my victory , You are my song,
In You is forgiveness when I do wrong

You are my hope, You are my joy,
You are my peace that none can destroy

You are my purpose, You are my life
In You is no darkness, only pure light

You are my health, You are my strength
In You is found days of length

You are my glory, You are my King
All day long your praises I'll sing