The Significance of Light

Recently, I've been thinking about the importance of light to every living thing. All of life depends upon light! Light is essential to life. Even the creatures that are hidden in the deepest recesses of the earth depend upon the life that exists above ground; life that could not be a source of life to other living things if light were hidden from view.

Light illumines. On a dark night, one can't see the colors in the landscape. All is clothed in shades of blackness. Even a small light on a dark night can give enough illumination so as to be a guide to one who needs to see.

The watercolor above was painted last December at Christmastime. It is a time of the year when we celebrate the "One true light that came to give light to all men". Without Him there is no real "life." He is my light and my salvation. He is the One who illumines my darkness. His word guides me. All that is good and lovely and right is dependent upon His light!

There are close to 150 passages in the Bible that refer to light as something that illumines, guides, gives truth, is connected to righteous and to God the Father and Jesus Christ, His only Son. On the very 1st day of creation, the 1st thing that God created was light. Light would be necessary for the living things that were soon to be created. Light is Significant to your very being! It is essential to your spiritual health and eternal life. Without the One true light, there is only death and darkness. As you go through this season, call on the One who gives light. Seek Him! Ask Him to show His light and His truth to you.

There are several great carols that we sing this time of the year which remind us of that great light. I would urge you to ponder on the meaning of the words to some of those carols as you sing them this season.

Hark, the Herald Angels Sing (verse 3)

Hail the heave'n born Prince of Peace!
Hail the SUN of Righteousness!
Light and life to all He brings,
Ris'n with healinbg in His wings.
Mild He lays His glory by,
Born that man no more may die,
Born to raise the sons of earth,
Born to give them second birth.... (text by C. Wesley - tune by Mendelssohn)

O Little Town of Bethlehem (verse 1)

O little town of Bethlehem,
How still we see thee lie!
Above thy deep and dreamless sleep
The silent stars go by.
Yet in thy dark streets shineth
The EVERLASTING LIGHT:
The hopes and fears of all the years
Are met in thee tonight.... (text by Phillips Brooks)

May His light be yours!
Merry Christmas!
~Ruth

Glorious Colors

One of the most colorful times of the year is autumn. Color everywhere! Vibrant colors! Warm, earthy colors! All shades of orange, red and yellow! Autumn sunsets are amazing! The crimson, orange sky puts off such a glow that one might almost believe that the landscape has been magically turned to gold. It's hard to imagine that anything could be more lovely.... and yet, heaven will be... And there will be no autumn in heaven! The autumn colors that we see are a reminder of the death that is soon to come! The shorter days, and colder weather cause the leaves to change color just before falling from the tree. Then comes winter. In heaven, there will be no death! There will be no winter... no more night....

From Revelation 21 and 22 "Then I saw a new heaven and a new earth; for the first heaven and the first earth passed away, and there is no longer any sea. And I saw the holy city, new Jerusalem, coming down out of heaven from God, made ready as a bride adorned for her husband. And I heard a loud voice from the throne, saying, 'Behold, the tabernacle of God is among men, and He will dwell among them, and they shall be His people, and God Himself will be among them, and He will wipe away every tear from their eyes; and there will no longer be any death; there will no longer be any mourning, or crying, or pain; the first things have passed away.' And He who sits on the throne said, 'Behold, I am making all things new.' And He said, 'Write, for these words are faithful and true.' Then He said to me, 'It is done, I am the Alpha and the Omega, the beginning and the end. I will give to the one who thirsts from the spring of the water of life without cost.' 'He who overcomes will inherit these things, and I will be his God and he will be My son.....
... then one of the seven angels said, 'Come here, I will show you the bride, the wife of the Lamb.' And he carried me away in the Spirit to a great and high mountain, and showed me the holy city, Jerusalem, coming down out of heaven from God, having the glory of God. Her brilliance was like a very costly stone, as a stone of crystal-clear jasper. It had a great and high wall, with twelve gates, and at the gates twelve angels....
.... the material of the wall was jasper; and the city was pure gold, like clear glass, the foundation stones of the city wall were adorned with every kind of precious stone. The first foundation stone was jasper; the second, sapphire; the third, chalcedony; the fourth, emerald; the fifth, sardonyx; the sixth, sardius; the seventh, chrysolite; the eighth, beryl; the ninth, topaz; the tenth, chrysolprase; the eleventh, jacinth; the twelfth, amethyst. And the twelve gates were twelve pearls; each one of the gates was a single pearl. And the street of the city was pure gold, like transparent glass.
I saw no temple in it, for the Lord God the Almighty and the Lamb are its temple. And the city has no need of the sun or of the moon to shine on it, for the glory of God has illumined it, and its lamp is the Lamb.... Then he (the angel) showed me a river of the water of life, clear as crystal, coming from the throne of God and of the Lamb, in the middle of its street. On either side of the river was the tree of life, bearing twelve kinds of fruit, yielding its fruit every month; and the leaves of the tree were for the healing of the nations. There will no longer be any curse; and the throne of God and of the Lamb will be in it, and His bond-servants will serve Him: they will see His face, and His name will be on their foreheads. And there will no longer be any night; and they will not have need of the light of a lamp nor the light of the sun, because the Lord God will illumine them; and they will reign forever and ever.... The Spirit and the bride say, 'Come.' And let the one who hears say, 'Come.' And let the one who is thirsty come; let the one who wishes take the water of life without cost."

Our finite, human minds simply aren't capable of imagining heaven the way it really will be. We've never seen anything like it. Heaven will be far more glorious than the most beautiful autumn day. We won't miss what we have seen on this earth. Heaven will FAR surpass any earthly splendor. What we see and enjoy here on earth should draw us to the One who is the creator and sustainer of all things! He is the the faithful One who promises to meet all of our needs. He loves us more than any human being ever could. He will never betray, abandon or forsake His dear children. The glorious colors of autumn remind me that my God takes delight in His creation. His amazing creativity fills me with awe and wonder! That He would love me and take care of me is truly humbling.

"O Lord, You are my God; I will exalt You, I will give thanks to Your name; for You have worked wonders, plans formed long ago, with perfect faithfulness." Isaiah 25:1

"I will bless the Lord at all times; His praise shall continually be in my mouth. My soul shall make its boast in the Lord; the humble shall hear it and rejoice. O magnify the Lord with me, and let us exalt His name together." Psalm 34:1-3

A hymn text written just a few years ago by the late James Montgomery Boice....

Come to the waters, whoever is thirsty;
drink from the Fountain that never runs dry.
Jesus, the Living One, offers you mercy,
life more abundant in boundless supply.

Come to the River that flows through the city,
forth from the throne of the Father and Son.
Jesus the Savior says, "Come and drink deeply."
Drink from the pure, inexhaustible One.

Come to the Fountain, without any money;
buy what is given without any cost.
Jesus, the gracious One, welcomes the weary;
Jesus, the selfless One, died for the lost.

Come to the Well of unmerited favor;
stretch out your hand; fill your cup to the brim.
Jesus is such a compassionate Savior.
Draw from the grace that flows freely from him.

Come to the Savior, the God of salvation.
God has provided an end to sin's strife.
Why will you suffer the Law's condemnation?
Take the free gift of the water of life.

Don't let the things of this life bog you down and distract you from knowing the only One who can satisfy your deepest longings and needs. This life is temporary! I was recently commissioned to paint a plaque with an old familiar saying... "Only one life, twill soon be past. Only what's done for Christ will last." What profound words. I couldn't help but ponder on the meaning of them. Oh, that we might live each day with eternity in mind! Oh, that we might drink from the "Fountain that never runs dry."

blessings,
~Ruth

Still Life

My reading this morning from Joy and Strength was so right for me today that I have to write about it.
Invincible Patience by Mary Wilder Tileston-
"Commit thy way unto the Lord; trust also in Him, and He shall bring it to pass." Psalm 37:5

"Plan not, nor scheme, --but calmly wait;
His choice is best.
While blind and erring is thy sight,
His wisdom sees and judges right,
So trust and rest."
Adelaide A Proctor

" 'GREAT peace have they which love My law.' They see that from ME, the sovereign Ruler of the world, who governeth all things with infinite wisdom, order, and love, nothing but good can spring; and that I can take care of them and their affairs far better and more successfully than they could of themselves.
Thus, considering that all that happens to them comes from Me, they are strong with an invincible patience, and bear all things, not only with resignation, but with cheerfulness and joy, tasting in all things that befall them externally or internally the sweetness of My ineffable love. And this is to believe, and meditate with a cheerful and grateful spirit, even in the midst of tribulations and difficulties, that it is I who sweetly dispose all things, and that whatever happens springs from the inexhaustible fountain of My goodness." --St. Catharine of Siena

My immediate response to the reading was, "YES, I know this!" Then, why do I at times wiggle and squirm when I can't see the road ahead or when things are unbearably difficult? Psalm 46:10 reminds me to "Be still, (cease striving) and KNOW that I AM GOD." Ruth 3:18 says "Sit still, my daughter and wait and see how the matter will be settled." The sovereign God of the universe, the One who loves His children with an everlasting love has everything under control! Underneath are His everlasting arms!
"Surely my soul remembers and is bowed down within me. This I recall to my mind, therefore I have hope. The Lord's lovingkindnesses indeed NEVER cease, for His compassions NEVER fail. They are new every morning; great is Your faithfulness. The Lord IS my portion, says my soul, therefore I have HOPE in Him. The Lord is good to those who wait for Him, to the person who seeks Him. It is good that he waits silently for the salvation of the Lord." (Lamentations 3:20-26)
How do I wait? Psalm 5:3 reminds me that I can wait expectantly. Psalm 27:14 commands me to wait, to be strong and courageous. Psalm 33:20 reminds me that I can wait, hoping in the Lord because He is my strength and shield. Psalm 37:7 commands me to "Be STILL and WAIT patiently. And then there is the well known verse in Isaiah 40 that promises that those who wait for the Lord "will gain new strength; they will mount up with wings like eagles, they will run and not get tired, they will walk and not become weary." There are numerous verses in the Bible that refer to waiting. It is worth the effort to look them all up and write them out. I keep a spiritual journal. It is filled with verses, prayers, devotional words and the words to hymns and choruses. It is within the pages of my journal that I often find strength and encouragement when I am weak.

What is a still life? In art, it is generally a composition of inanimate objects that are placed in such a way as to draw the viewer in and communicate something to them. It can be something of great beauty. For a child of the King, a still life - is a life of resting in the Lord, of trusting Him because He is in absolute control of everything. It is a life that doesn't try to manipulate or orchestrate circumstances for the benefit of achieving one's desires. It is a life that waits for the Lord and stays busy doing the work that He has given to be done. It is a life of continuous surrender to daily circumstances.... a life of contentment which allows no room for complaining about anything - not even the weather. It is a life of great beauty and one which draws the viewer to Christ.

Jesus I am Resting, Resting

Jesus, I am resting, resting in the joy of what Thou art;
I am finding out the greatness of thy loving heart.
Thou hast bid me gaze upon Thee,
and Thy beauty fills my soul,
For by thy transforming power,
Thou hast made me whole.

O, how great Thy loving kindness,
Vaster, broader than the sea!
O, how marvelous Thy goodness,
lavished all on me!
Yes, I rest in Thee, Beloved,
Know what wealth of grace is Thine,
Know Thy certainty of promise,
and have made it mine.

Simply trusting Thee, Lord Jesus,
I behold Thee as Thou art,
And Thy love, so pure, so changeless,
satisfies my heart;
Satisfies its deepest longings,
Meets, supplies its every need,
Compasseth me round with blessings;
Thine is love indeed!

Ever lift Thy face upon me as I work and wait for Thee;
Resting 'neath Thy smile, Lord Jesus
Earth's dark shadows flee.
Brightness of my Father's glory,
Sunshine of my Father's face,
Keep me ever trusting, resting,
Fill me with Thy grace.

Refrain:
Jesus, I am resting, resting
In the joy of what Thou art;
I am finding out the greatness
Of Thy loving heart. Hymn text by Jean S Pigott

blessings,
~Ruth

Comfortable Places

The painting on the left is of an 18th century inn which is nestled against a hill and surrounded by woods. It sits on a bridle trail that follows a winding creek. I've spent many hours on that trail and the surrounding trails. One of my favorite times of the year to visit this hideaway place is the autumn. Imagine the smell of woodsmoke in the air, vibrant colors all around, crispy leaves crunching beneath the feet on the gravely trail and birds singing their farewell songs. The ducks in the creek are generally making their racket, too. Excitement is in the air. The heat of summer has gone! Time to move on! It is a comfortable place to be. When I am there, I savor every moment. I want time to stop. Everything that is stressful or distracting flees for those seconds and life feels wonderful.
But, that isn't life, is it? Most of us can recall moments in time that are absolutely glorious! Moments in which we are bursting from the emotional swells that we feel. Human nature so longs to be in the "Garden of Eden" every day. We often seek things that make us feel comfortable and avoid things that bring discomfort. That is because we can't imagine the end result of going through "uncomfortable" circumstances. Isn't it a blessing that our loving, heavenly Father is busy molding and making us more like His Son, our Savior? That process isn't a lifelong vacation in the Garden of Eden. It is a steady journey that has an earthly beginning and end. It is a journey that winds through the valleys, up to the mountain peaks, along great stretches of sameness and through some very difficult terrain. Often that journey is exhausting! But we are not journeying alone. Jesus Christ, our Savior is right there with us! He said, "Come to Me, all who are weary and heavy-laden, and I will give you rest. Take My yoke upon you and learn from Me, for I am gentle and humble in heart, and you will find rest for your souls. For my yoke is easy and My burden is light."
So, maybe right now you are not in the most comfortable place. Maybe God has pushed you into a place where necessary growth can take place. Submit to His plan! Trust Him! Lean on Him! Be grateful for the blessings that He has given to you.
Not far from the idyllic scene in the painting is a busy metropolis. The scenes that might portray that place might be ones of stress, crime, busyness, overcrowding, sadness, etc. Isn't is amazing that in the midst of all of that, one can retreat to a place of quiet and peace? Likewise for God's children - even in times of difficulty, peace can be found. Isaiah 26:3,4 "The steadfast of mind You will keep in perfect peace, because he trusts in You. Trust in the Lord forever, for in God the Lord, we have an everlasting Rock." That is the most comfortable place to be.
Another favorite hymn.... words which have ministered to me during times of great difficulty and worth memorizing...

Like A River Glorious

Like a river glorious is God's perfect peace,
Over all victorious in it's bright increase;
Perfect, yet it floweth, fuller every day,
Perfect, yet it groweth deeper all the way.

Refrain:
Stayed upon Jehovah,
Hearts are fully blest-
Finding as He promised,
Perfect peace and rest.

Hidden in the hollow of His blessed hand,
Never foe can follow,
Never traitor stand;
Not a surge of worry,
Not a shade of care,
Not a blast of hurry touch the spirit there.

Every joy or trial falleth from above,
Traced upon our dial by the sun of love;
We may trust Him fully all for us to do-
They who trust Him wholly find Him wholly true. (Frances Ridley Havergal)

Blessings and peace,
~Ruth

Soil

The hydrangea is a beautiful plant. I have more than a few on my property because their beauty is so captivating. I nearly bought another one this year. It was a color that I don't yet have. The interesting thing about the hydrangea plant is that the color of the flower can be changed dramatically by changing the pH of the soil. A lower pH will result in more blue and a higher pH will result in more pink. I've used fertilizer sticks that are either acid or alkaline to assist in the color changes that I've desired.

How interesting that a plants' color can be controlled by the environment of the soil that it is planted in. Isn't it often the same with us human beings? The soil, or environment that a person lives in has quite an impact on their behavior and choices. Children can not control their environment. It is a great sadness that many innocent children are raised in environments that are detrimental to their well being. Those of us who are adults can make choices. If we are parents, we can strive to maintain an environment that is warm, loving and nurturing for our children. For ourselves, we can choose the kinds of influences that we want to have in our lives. Choices might involve the type of literature that we read, music that we listen to, movies that we watch, places that we go and the kinds of friends that we keep.

On a deeper level, those who are part of the body of Christ, chosen by God before the foundation of the world to be His children and to represent Him in this fallen world that we live in, there are choices to be made which will determine how much one will actually reflect Christ. There are several New Testament passages that instruct us to "walk in a manner worthy of the calling with which you have been called, with all humility and gentleness, with patience, showing tolerance for one another in love, being diligent to preserve the unity of the Spirit in the bond of peace." (Eph.4:2,3) We are instructed to be people who reflect the Lord Jesus Christ. Let us be mindful of this command and consider how we might cultivate a life that will truly reflect Christ. A wonderful prayer....attributed to St. Francis of Assisi follows...

Lord, make me an instrument of Thy peace;
where there is hatred, let me sow love;
where there is injury, pardon;
where there is doubt, faith;
where there is despair, hope;
where there is darkness, light;
and where there is sadness, joy.

O Divine Master,
grant that I may not so much seek to be consoled as to console;
to be understood, as to understand;
to be loved, as to love;
for it is in giving that we receive,
it is in pardoning that we are pardoned,
and it is in dying that we are born to Eternal Life.
Amen

A hymn which is also a prayer.....

Jesus, keep me near the cross
There a precious fountain,
Free to all, a healing stream,
Flows from Calvary's mountain.

Refrain...
In the cross, in the cross
Be my glory ever
Till my raptured soul shall find
Rest, beyond the river.

Near the cross, a trembling soul,
Love and mercy found me;
There the Bright and Morning Star
Sheds its beams around me.

Near the cross! O Lamb of God,
Bring its scenes before me
Help my walk from day to day
With its shadows o'er me.

Near the cross i'll watch and wait,
Hoping, trusting ever,
Till I reach the golden strand
Just beyond the river.

I believe that when we ask for anything that is according to God's will, He will grant it. It is His will that we reflect Christ, so let us ask Him to enable us to do so. Watch expectantly for His answer!
Blessings dear friends,
~Ruth

If All Else Fails, Read the Directions.... or NOT

About a year ago I was given a nice little Sony digital camera. Although curious about the technology, it isn't likely that I would have purchased a digital camera any time soon because I have been content with my old-fashioned Minolta. The digital camera came with a detailed book of instructions. Now, you would think that I would begin by reading the book. I opened it! But, way too many words faced me, so I closed it and put the camera back in the box. Spring 2009 rolled around and I decided to learn how to use my camera. For me, that meant just using it. I still haven't read the directions. Josiah, (my son) helped me load my 1st bunch of pictures onto my computer and then I figured out how to export them to other places. I am hooked! Good-bye Minolta!

One morning I shot a picture of the magnolia blossom in the photo. For some reason, this year my Southern Magnolia tree has had more blooms than ever before. I wish that you could smell the delicious fragrance! Nothing, other than the rose even comes close to its wonderful perfume. As you can see, the insects like it, too.

If all else fails... read the directions is not an approach that I would recommend for most things. I certainly didn't learn cooking, drawing & painting, piano, gardening and numerous other things that way. In fact, when I am interested in learning something new, I can spend hours researching. I am currently in that process with learning how to groom my Shih Tzu dog, Max. I may even invest in a DVD that takes me step by step through the process. I am determined to learn!

Sometimes in our walk with the Lord, it is easy to regard His Word as one of those guides that we take a look at when all else fails, or NOT! Maybe we are too tired to read, or too overwhelmed by all of the words, or we run to our friends and loved ones to find solutions or consolation. How determined are we to learn God's ways? How determined are we to know the One who loved us so much that He gave up 100% of Himself so that we could have redemption? Are we determined enough to spend hours reading and searching His Word so that we can live life right? It probably doesn't matter much if I learn to use my digital camera by trial and error. It does matter if I live my life that way! Wrong choices, no matter if intended or not can result in a lifetime of heartache. We only get one chance at life. To live life right, one needs direction. God has given us all the directions that we need for living this life in His Word. Psalm 119 clearly expresses that concept. What a great gift His Word is to us! Let us read it and reap the blessings that He has promised!

O Word of God incarnate, O wisdom from on high,
O Truth unchanged, unchanging, O Light of our dark sky;
We praise You for the radiance that from the hallowed page,
A lantern to our footsteps, shines on from age to age.

The Church from You, our Savior, received the Gift divine,
And still that Light is lifted over all the earth to shine.
It is the sacred Vessel where gems of truth are stored;
It is the heaven drawn picture of CHrist, the living Word.

The Scripture is a banner before God's host unfurled;
It is a shining Beacon above the darkling world.
It is the Chart and Compass that over life's surging tide,
Mid mists and rocks and quicksands, to You, O Christ, will guide.

O make your Church, dear Savior, a lamp of purest gold,
To bear before the nations Your true light as of old.
O teach your wandering pilgrims by this their path to trace,
Till, clouds and darkness ended, they see you face to face. (words by William How)

Images

I recently had the opportunity to attend a wonderful performance of Debussy’s Images done by one of the world’s finest orchestras. The music painted pictures of images that the composer had in his mind and wished to communicate to an audience of listeners. The watercolor on the left is a picture of a village lane. My love of the quaint and nostalgic as well as my longing for tranquility motivates me to paint such scenes. They are merely images of what I perceive will communicate those ideas. Images are simply that! They are not reality!

What is reality? Truth is reality! But, what is truth? Psalm 119:160 says, “The sum of Your word is truth, and every one of Your righteous ordinances is everlasting.” In John chapter 8, Jesus said, “If you abide in My word, then you are truly disciples of Mine; and you will know the truth, and the truth will make you free.” And again in John 14, “I am the way, and the truth and the life; no one comes to the Father but through Me.”

God’s Word is full of images… images that are based on truth. One of my favorite Psalms is Psalm 1. “How blessed is the man who does not walk in the counsel of the wicked, nor stand in the path of sinners, nor sit in the seat of scoffers! But his delight is in the law of the Lord, and in His law he meditates day and night. He will be like a tree firmly planted by streams of water, which yields its fruit in its season and its leaf does not wither; and in whatever he does, he prospers…” What an image of strength, health and success! In the New Testament book of John, Jesus paints a vivid picture – “I am the vine, you are the branches; he who abides in Me and I in him, he bears much fruit, for apart from Me you can do nothing.”

How can we obtain a reality that is filled with blessings and peace? Psalm 37:4 says, “Delight yourself in the Lord and He will give you the desires of your heart.” This does not mean that worldly desires are going to be granted. When we truly delight ourselves in the Lord, our hearts are changed. Our longings and desires become transformed to that which pleases God and brings us great peace and joy. Sometimes the most abundant peace and joy comes in midst of trials and suffering. The book of Job paints an amazing picture of a man who suffered greatly but remained faithful to God. Job said, “But He (God) knows the way I take; when He has tried me, I shall come forth as gold.” I believe that some of the most exemplary saints are those who have gone through the refining fires of trial and suffering and have come forth shining like gold. Their lives are a picture of strength, health and success! Their joy is indescribable! Peace and tranquility belong to them because they trust in God’s sovereign plan. They know that He is good and that He is accomplishing His purposes through their circumstances.

Ron Hamilton, a contemporary hymn writer wrote the following hymn after going through an intense trial. This hymn has often been a source of comfort and encouragement to me and I hope that you will be blessed by the words. You can hear it sung by Ron Hamilton at this link.

http://www.majestymusic.com/p-165-rejoice-in-the-lord-cd.aspx

O REJOICE IN THE LORD

God never moves without purpose or plan

When trying His servant and molding a man.

Give thanks to the LORD though your testing seems long;

In darkness He giveth a song.

I could not see through the shadows ahead;

So I looked at the cross of my Savior instead

I bowed to the will of the Master that day;

Then peace came and tears fled away.

Now I can see testing comes from above;

God strengthens His children and purges in love.

My Father knows best, and I trust in His care;

Through purging more fruit I will bear.

Chorus:

O Rejoice in the LORD

He makes no mistake,

He knoweth the end of each path that I take,

For when I am tried

And purified,

I shall come forth as gold.

Weeds

The flowers in the photo on the left grew in my garden one summer. What a vibrant contrast the gaillardia blanket flower is to the purple lavender. What beauty can be cultivated into a backyard garden! Unfortunately, it doesn’t last unless one is diligent in keeping the weeds out. I am not a true gardener. I do not enjoy spending hours in my gardens. I am an artist and I love beauty. I especially love to photograph and paint flowers. I am fascinated by the variety that God has created. So, in a sense my desire for the end result is what motivates me to pull out the weeds. What an abundance of weeds, especially this spring when we’ve had more rain than usual. Some of the weeds grow and spread quite rapidly. Some look like the plants that are growing in my garden. Some are rather persistent and hard to get rid of and then there is a particular weed that is rooted so deep that I can pull with all my strength, but I can’t get it out. I am pretty sure that its roots go all the way to China and are someone’s bonsai plant on that side of the world. I usually hack it off at the base, but the roots are still there and the plant comes back.

So many things in the natural world point to things in the spiritual world or at least remind me of my walk with Jesus Christ. Often, as I am weeding in my garden I am reminded of how sin can be like weeds. It is ugly. It can be invasive. It is destructive. It is also deceptive. If it is not properly dealt with, it will come back. Most definitely, it is NEVER worth it to sin. Just as you wouldn’t plant the seeds of weeds in your garden because of the problem it would produce, we should never willingly go ahead and sin. If you have trusted in Christ and are His child, then the Holy Spirit lives within you. As you submit to the process of sanctification you will look more and more like Christ. Paul implored the Christians in Ephesians chapter 4 to “walk in a manner worthy of the calling with which you have been called, with all humility and gentleness, with patience, showing tolerance for one another in love, being diligent to preserve the unity of the Spirit in the bond of peace.” In 1 Peter chapter 3, true beauty is referred to as, “the hidden person of the heart, with the imperishable quality of a gentle and quiet spirit, which is precious in the sight of God.” 2 Peter, chapter 1 tells us -“His divine power has granted to us everything pertaining to life and godliness.” We are partakers of the “divine nature.” Doesn’t that mean that we have power to overcome! With Jesus Christ living within, we can truly say, “I can do all things through Him who gives me strength.”

We can live godly lives! If you are struggling with sin, repent! Ask God to grant you the grace to overcome. Submit to whatever He allows to touch your life. He is good! His purposes are always for good and not for evil. “For I know the plans I have for you," declares the LORD, "plans to prosper you and not to harm you, plans to give you hope and a future.” Jeremiah 29:11. Don’t let the weeds of sin spoil the garden of your soul. Enjoy the blessings of God. Live for Him! Submit to Him!

My Jesus, I love Thee, I know Thou art mine;
For Thee all the follies of sin I resign.
My gracious Redeemer, my Savior art Thou;
If ever I loved Thee, my Jesus, ’tis now.

I love Thee because Thou has first loved me,
And purchased my pardon on Calvary’s tree.
I love Thee for wearing the thorns on Thy brow;
If ever I loved Thee, my Jesus, ’tis now.

I’ll love Thee in life, I will love Thee in death,
And praise Thee as long as Thou lendest me breath;
And say when the death dew lies cold on my brow,
If ever I loved Thee, my Jesus, ’tis now.

In mansions of glory and endless delight,
I’ll ever adore Thee in heaven so bright;
I’ll sing with the glittering crown on my brow;
If ever I loved Thee, my Jesus, ’tis now. (Words by William Featherston)

Waiting

Life is filled with times of waiting. In fact, I think that we do more waiting than we realize. Waiting in traffic, in lines, on the phone, for important events, and the list goes on. The painting on the left is a watercolor of a gladiola plant that once bloomed in my garden. That particular summer, I decided to plant gladiola bulbs. Then came the waiting! There wasn't much that I could do to speed up the process. It was worth the wait! I had never planted gladiolas before and wasn't prepared for the beauty and elegance of the flowering plant. So it is in life! Waiting has purpose and can be a time of great spiritual growth. The end result for the one who submits to the waiting and trusts in the Lord is that of greater refinement and beauty. Patience is learned through waiting! Patience is a fruit of the spirit and should be greatly desired by those who are chosen of God to be His people and who represent Him in this world.

Waiting is NOT easy! It can be painful. Often I've cried out the words of the Psalmist (39:7), "And now, Lord, for what do I wait? My hope is in You." Psalm 27:14 says, "Wait for the Lord; Be strong and LET your heart take courage: Yes, wait for the Lord." Psalm 25: 3 says, "Indeed, none of those who wait for You will be ashamed...." and Isaiah 40:31 has given me courage many times while waiting to see the outcome of a difficult situation. "Yet those who wait for the Lord will gain new strength; they will mount up with wings like eagles, they will run and not get tired, they will walk and not become weary."
So, friend, if you are in a difficult waiting time, what can you do? You can rest in the Lord and keep His ways (Psa. 37:34). God will enable you to do so, if you ask Him? What a blessing that God has chosen to work in your life through a time of waiting. Be thankful that He is at work in your life. "He who began a good work in you, will complete it." (Phil. 1:6) "We are His workmanship." (Ephesians 2:10) God doesn't do shoddy work and those who "put their trust in Him will not be disappointed." (Isaiah 49:23) Offer praise and thanksgiving to God. Think of all the blessings that He has bestowed upon you! Remember that He will keep His promises! He has to because He is faithful and He does not lie. His Word clearly says that "He will lead and guide you for His name's sake". It also promises that "He will never leave or forsake you." It's so important to read God's Word! It is a living WORD! Psalm 1 promises that those who meditate on God's Word day and night will be "like a tree firmly planted by the streams of water, which yields its fruit in its season and its leaf does not wither; and in whatever he does, he prospers."
I would encourage you to cultivate your relationship your heavenly Father! He loves you far more than any person on this earth ever could. He has your best interest at heart! He wants you to succeed in your walk with Him! Trust Him! Praise Him! Study His Word and obey Him and you will bloom like a flower in the garden of life!

Another hymn.... (words by Anna Waring)

Father, I know that all my life
Is portioned out for me,
And the changes that are sure to come
I do not fear to see;
But I ask Thee for a present mind
Intent on pleasing Thee.

I ask Thee for a thoughtful love,
Through constant watching wise,
To meet the glad with joyful smiles,
And to wipe the weeping eyes;
And a heart at leisure from itself,
To soothe and sympathize.

I would not have the restless will
That hurries to and fro,
Seeking for some great thing to do
Or secret thing to know;
I would be treated as a child,
And guided where I go.

Wherever in the world I am,
In whatsoe’er estate,
I have a fellowship with hearts
To keep and cultivate;
And a work of lowly love to do
For the Lord on Whom I wait.

So I ask Thee for daily strength,
To none that ask denied,
And a mind to blend with outward life
While keeping at Thy side;
Content to fill a little space,
If Thou be glorified.

And if some things I do not ask
In my cup of blessing be,
I would have my spirit filled the more
With grateful love to Thee,
More careful, not to serve Thee much,
But to please Thee perfectly.

There are briers besetting every path
That call for patient care;
There is a cross in every lot,
And an earnest need for prayer;
But a lowly heart that leans on Thee
Is happy anywhere.

In a service which Thy will appoints
There are no bonds for me;
For my inmost heart is taught “the truth”
That makes Thy children “free.”
And a life of self renouncing love
Is a life of liberty.

May you be blessed as you submit to God during your times of waiting!

~Ruth

The Rose

Soon my roses will be blooming! Every year, I grab my Minolta 35 mm camera and start shooting. The pictures are nearly the same! Why do I feel such an incessant need to keep photographing the same flowers? Perhaps because they are so beautiful and I just want to capture and keep the memory.
Roses certainly are beautiful flowers and the fragrant ones are delightfully fragrant! Some might say that they are one of the most desirable flowers. Lovers throughout the ages have sent roses to their beloved, so they are at least a symbol of love and devotion.
In Morning and Evening by Spurgeon, the writing for May 1st evening is as follows....
"Whatever there may be of beauty in the material world, Jesus Christ possesses all that in the spiritual world in tenfold degree. Among flowers the rose is deemed the sweetest, but Jesus is infinitely more beautiful in the garden of the soul than the rose can be in the gardens of the earth. He takes the first place as the fairest among ten thousand. He is the sun, and all others are the stars; the heavens and the day are dark in comparison with Him, for the King in His beauty transcends all. "I am the rose of Sharon." This was the best and rarest of roses. Jesus is not "the rose" alone, He is " the rose of Sharon." just as He calls His righteousness "gold", and then adds, "the gold of Ophir" - the best of the best! He is positively lovely, and superlatively the loveliest. There is variety in His charms. The rose is delightful to the eye, and its scent is pleasant and refreshing: so each of the senses of the soul, whether it be the taste or feeling, the hearing, the sight, or the spiritual smell, finds appropriate gratification in Jesus. Even the recollection of His love is sweet. Take the rose of Sharon, and pull it leaf from leaf, and lay by the leaves in the jar of memory, and you shall find each leaf fragrant long afterward, filling the house with perfume. Christ satisfies the highest taste of the most educated spirit to the very full. The greatest amateur in perfumes is quite satisfied with the rose: and when the soul has arrived at her highest pitch of true taste, it will still be content with Christ, nay, it will be better able to appreciate Him. Heaven itself possesses nothing that excels the rose of Sharon. What emblem can fully set forth His beauty? Human speech and earth-born things fail to tell of Him. Earth's choicest charms commingled feebly picture His abounding preciousness. Blessed rose, bloom in my heart for ever!"
Wonderful words written by Spurgeon!! They paint a lovely picture of Jesus Christ! But, do I live it? Is He truly the rose that blooms in my heart? Does His fragrance fill my life? When others look at me, do they see Christ reflected in my life? True beauty is the beauty that radiates from within. True beauty should be characteristic of all who are children of the Heavenly King because Jesus, the Rose of Sharon lives within them. My prayer is that of David as written in Psalm 63..... (NASB)
¹O God,You are my God; I shall seek You earnestly;
My soul thirsts for You, my flesh yearns for You,
In a dry and weary land where there is no water.
²Thus I have seen You in the sanctuary,
To see Your power and Your glory.
³Because Your lovingkindness is better than life,
My lips will praise You.
⁴So I will bless You as long as I live;
I will lift up my hands in Your name.
⁵My soul is satisfied as with marrow and fatness,
And my mouth offers praises with joyful lips.
⁶When I remember You on my bed,
I meditate on You in the night watches,
⁷For You have been my help,
And in the shadow of Your wings I sing for joy.
⁸My soul clings to You;
Your right hand upholds me.
⁹But those who seek my life to destroy it,
Will go into the depths of the earth.
¹⁰They will be delivered over to the power of the sword;
They will be a prey for foxes.
¹¹But the king will rejoice in God;
Everyone who swears by Him will glory,
For the mouths of those who speak lies will be stopped.
The next time you view a rose, stop for a minute and think about THE ROSE... the ONE who is more lovely than the loveliest thing you've ever set your eyes on. Think of what He has done for you! Think of what He offers you! A beautiful hymn that is one of many of my favorites is written below..... (words written by Kate Wilkinson)

May the mind of Christ, my Savior,
Live in me from day to day,
By His love and power controlling
All I do and say.

May the Word of God dwell richly
In my heart from hour to hour,
So that all may see I triumph
Only through His power.

May the peace of God my Father
Rule my life in everything,
That I may be calm to comfort
Sick and sorrowing.

May the love of Jesus fill me
As the waters fill the sea;
Him exalting, self abasing,
This is victory.

May I run the race before me,
Strong and brave to face the foe,
Looking only unto Jesus
As I onward go.

May His beauty rest upon me,
As I seek the lost to win,
And may they forget the channel,
Seeing only Him.

Blessings,
~Ruth

Humility of Spirit

What a beautiful time of the year here in my little part of the world. Lawns are ablaze with flowering trees, tulips, daffodils, hyacinths, to mention a few. The birds are singing at the top of their tiny bird-sized lungs.... Artists of all types must find this time of the year most inspiring. I certainly do. The painting on the left is one that I painted a few springs ago. I intend to paint some more at some point in my life but am more focused right now on developing better musical technique on the piano to assist me in my current profession.

This past month, I've reflected on a number of things. In Spurgeon's Devotional, Morning and Evening, I am continuously challenged to think about heart issues. One reading (April 5th- evening) led me to thinking more about what it means to have true humility of spirit. That's so hard for most of us. My worst enemy is often myself, who I tend to think about far more than I should! When I read Psalm 17:15 "As for me, I shall "behold Your face in righteousness; I will be satisfied with Your likeness when I awake." I have to pray, "God, help me to be satisfied with Your likeness when I awake." How many of us wake up thinking about our Savior and Redeemer who paid a tremendous price for our Salvation? How many of us go through each day with such gratitude for what we have in Christ that all of the discomforts of this life fade into the background? I do believe that true humility of spirit can be gained, but not without eyes fixed on Jesus Christ and the cross that He bore. True humility of spirit is a spirit of contentment. That means never complaining about anything. Being willing to accept that all that comes my way is part of the plan that my loving, heavenly Father has for me. True humility of spirit is a spirit that offers grace to others. It accepts their weaknesses and differences patiently. How dare we, who caused our Savior's pain, live lives that are prideful and arrogant. We should be the most humble of all people, knowing that our eternal riches were gained at great cost by our Savior.
Blessings,
~Ruth

And can it be that I should gain
An interest in the Savior’s blood?
Died He for me, who caused His pain—
For me, who Him to death pursued?
Amazing love! How can it be,
That Thou, my God, shouldst die for me?
Amazing love! How can it be,
That Thou, my God, shouldst die for me?

’Tis mystery all: th’Immortal dies:
Who can explore His strange design?
In vain the firstborn seraph tries
To sound the depths of love divine.
’Tis mercy all! Let earth adore,
Let angel minds inquire no more.
’Tis mercy all! Let earth adore;
Let angel minds inquire no more.

He left His Father’s throne above
So free, so infinite His grace—
Emptied Himself of all but love,
And bled for Adam’s helpless race:
’Tis mercy all, immense and free,
For O my God, it found out me!
’Tis mercy all, immense and free,
For O my God, it found out me!

Long my imprisoned spirit lay,
Fast bound in sin and nature’s night;
Thine eye diffused a quickening ray—
I woke, the dungeon flamed with light;
My chains fell off, my heart was free,
I rose, went forth, and followed Thee.
My chains fell off, my heart was free,
I rose, went forth, and followed Thee.

Still the small inward voice I hear,
That whispers all my sins forgiven;
Still the atoning blood is near,
That quenched the wrath of hostile Heaven.
I feel the life His wounds impart;
I feel the Savior in my heart.
I feel the life His wounds impart;
I feel the Savior in my heart.

No condemnation now I dread;
Jesus, and all in Him, is mine;
Alive in Him, my living Head,
And clothed in righteousness divine,
Bold I approach th’eternal throne,
And claim the crown, through Christ my own.
Bold I approach th’eternal throne,
And claim the crown, through Christ my own. (WORDS BY WESLEY)