Ah! Time away from the normal routine. I traveled to my earthly “shelter” for a few days. Just spent time relaxing and thinking about the good things. The memories of faces so dear to my past, gone from me now. Spent time looking at the beauty of God’s handiwork. He has done such a spectacular job of it. Yet, we often let the busyness of life take our eyes away from His artwork.
My husband and I stopped in Cimarron Canyon State Park in New Mexico, and had a very simple picnic. We pulled off the road and had a simple sandwich, chips, cookie and a bottle of water. We sat quietly listening to the creek roll swiftly by, the birds singing and the wind moving through the aspen leaves. Amazing peace for a place where so many people pass through each day. Yet it remains a place of serenity and beauty.
God surely must have known what this imperfect world was going to be like. So, He created beautiful scenes and seasons to break up the monotony of difficult days, filled with difficult decisions and yes, maybe even, some difficult people along the way. The problem is we forget to stop and look away from the problems long enough, to see the beauty He has placed right in our midst.
~Thought For Today~
Try getting up just a bit earlier in the morning before you have to prepare to go out and meet the day. Get a cup of your favorite morning beverage. Sorry, I know this is probably not considered the best option, but my drink of choice? Coffee with hot cocoa mix, a touch of mudslide creamer, topped off with a shot of whipped cream on the top. I know! You are thinking, girlfriend that is a lot of sugar! It is decaf. That should count for something. I digress. Move outside and with your favorite devotional material check in with our Savior. Listen to the birds greeting the morning! They don’t know where they are going to find water or their next meal but they wake up singing a beautiful song. Why do they do that? Because they know that their creator will provide what they need for today. I have yet to hear a tree full of birds…crying or whining about the day ahead. In fact, they begin to sing before it is fully light.
Does God call us to come along with Him? Come see the beauty He has prepared for us? The gift of grace through His Son, Jesus? It seems He yearns to have our full attention. Winter is over, the season of new beginnings has arrived. Take a moment. Pause and listen. His voice is everywhere.
~Scripture For Today~
Song of Soloman 2:11-
11 ‘For behold, the winter is past, The rain is over and gone. 12 ‘The flowers have already appeared in the land; The time has arrived for pruning the vines, And the voice of the turtledove has been heard in our land. 13 ‘The fig tree has ripened its figs, And the vines in blossom have given forth their fragrance. Arise, my darling, my beautiful one, And come along!’” (NASB)
~Prayer For Today~
Hello Father! Our most Holy God! We thank You for Your attention to the details. The small things You place before us to make us happy. Just about the time we think we cannot go on, winter is over and Your grace abounds. Thank You for Your love for us. For the gifts You lay before us each day. We pray for eyes to see and ears to hear. Forgive us of our sins. In Jesus’ name. Amen.
©2015 Kathy Ledbetter. All Rights Reserved.