Hide and Seek

(North Carolina)

I have been impressed these days (actually, years!) with the fact that we cannot hide from God. So often we, as humans, attempt to hide. Sometimes it's for a good reason as we hide from someone or something that is dangerous. Sometimes we hide to have more privacy and solitude. But more often than not we hide when we are doing something wrong or are in a place that we should not be. Our conscience tells us we are wrong...and so we hide.

But how often do we forget or ignore the fact that the Lord sees us? And that He sometimes has a way of revealing our whereabouts to others? How silly (to not say stupid) of us to think that we can hide from God! He knows and sees all. Everywhere, all the time.

(Oregon)

"Thou, God, seest me." Those were the words of Hagar in Genesis 6:13 as she attempted to flee and hide. God saw her in her hiding place and spoke to her. He saw, He knew, He cared. That is why He sought her out. And that is why He still seeks us out today.

The other day I read one author's description of this. He said "I play a lot of hide-and-seek. But I do all the hiding and God does all the seeking." How very true!

I like the following version of the psalter (Psalms in metre form) taken from Psalm 139: 9-12.

    If I the morning's wings could gain,
      and fly beyond the western main,
    Thy swifter hand would first arrive,
      and there arrest thy fugitive.

    Or should I try to shun thy light
      beneath the sable wings of night;
      One glance from thee, one piercing ray,
      would kindle darkness into day.

    The veil of night is no disguise,
      no screen from thy all-searching eyes;
      Thru' midnight shades thou find'st thy way,
      as in the blazing noon of day.

I end this post with this beautiful song, Wings of the Dawn, taken from the same Psalm...

 

God Of Variety

I love the varieties of this coleus decorative leaf plant. I realize that there can be many varieties of one plant but I never saw this many originate from just one plant. One site shows 570 varieties! It just makes me love, admire and praise my wonderful Creator even more!

This coleus was obtained from a missionary colleague and I don't even remember what the original one looked like, perhaps more like the middle one on the right. After awhile they started popping up in other places in the yard, even between cracks in the concrete, so you know it is a very resistant plant! And sometimes when I would take a piece to start it somewhere else it would "evolve" into a different color pattern. LOVE IT!

In my search for more information about this plant, I came across this interesting devotional article. Indeed God takes great pleasure in His wonderful and varied creation. He is more than worthy of our love and worship!

"The glory of the Lord shall endure forever,

The Lord shall rejoice in His works."

                                              Psalm 104:31

A Christmas Album

No explanation needed for these photos which I took during the past couple of weeks. Just pictures of Christmas or Christmasy sights that I saw here and there but mostly in our house. No, no Christmas tree. I haven't done that for a few years now. Too much stress for this old girl. *smile*

So...
MERRY CHRISTMAS    EVERYONE!

                                                                   6 lb fruitcake!! 😋

                                                                        😍My favorite!☝

                                                                                    😊

 Thanks be unto god

for his 

unspeakable gift.

II Corinthians 9:15

A Centennial Celebration

Dad. Today is your 100th birthday! You have been with the Lord for over eleven years. For sure, you aren't celebrating the life you had on earth but rather the glorious life you now have with Him. But I, I'm still here on this old planet earth, doing earthly, human things. And so I celebrate this centennial year since your birth.

You were SO blessed! God rescued you from a hopeless, miserable life to one of purpose and joy in serving Him. I am so thankful for your life, your example, your faithfulness. You were a wonderful father. In fact you still are! Hardly a day goes by that I am not reminded of you and I wish you were here so that I could garner more wisdom. 

My celebration is really to the Lord, the One who gave you to me...and to all of us, your children. I am positive that they, too, are thankful for your life and example. You gave us such fantastic memories and an amazing heritage that will always be with us and with the generations to come.

I love you, Dad.

 The father of the righteous shall greatly rejoice: and he that begetteth a wise child shall have joy of him. (Proverbs 23:24)