A Refreshed Soul

This morning I woke up to 6 of my 7 humming bird feeders

lying open~empty~and some broken

on our front and back decks.

The evidence was quite clear as to WHO was responsible!

No, it was not Boo boo or Yogi. :)

Little raccoon paw prints were everywhere

as he/she had tracked sugar water all over the deck.

I would be willing to say that this little guy

must have had quite the tummy ache today.

Serves him right!

This was such a surprise

as we have not had a problem all spring and summer,

but now...that little guy has tasted the goods

and I'm sure he'll be back for more.

~*~

We are blessed in deed with the surrounding beauty

of God's marvelous creation.

"Blessed be the Lord, who daily loadeth us with benefits,

even the God of our salvation".

While I sit...listening to the creek which is right beside our home

the many humming birds are feeding and chasing

one another having a delightful time.

Our flock of humming birds consists of at least 30 birds.

amazing isn't it?!

We have the perfect spot for them,

and keeping their feeders full is sure to keep them around.

We are nearing 150 pounds of sugar so far

and still have two months to go.

Our home is nestled around many matured trees,

so these hummers live in a rather safe zone.

They are beautiful and bring us great joy.

~*~

Not only did I wake up to the empty feeders,

but one of my window boxes had been knocked 

to the ground leaving my beautiful flowers scattered.

We have a mischievous little guy!

I have one window box that a particular chipmunk

loves to eat out of.

He/she nips the buds before I ever see the blooms.

Why couldn't it have been that window box

that was dumped to the ground?

Wild life... they do as they please.

But such a delight to have around.

~*~

Today was a day of peace and tranquility for me.

A much needed day.

After enjoying time in my kitchen canning peaches

I sat outside...breathed in the fresh air...

and just relaxed in the beauty of God which surrounds me.
My friend, the chipmunk, kept coming around
and seemed quite surprised that I was home.
I believe I upset his routine of visiting my flower box
as well as my husbands garden.
I haven't been home much these days,
and, as the saying goes
"while the cats away the mice will play".
~*~
The Lord refreshes our weary souls doesn't He?
Today was a day of refreshment for me
and I give thanks to the Lord.
God loves and cares for our every need,
He can use even His beautiful creation through nature
to encourage, uplift, strengthen  and refresh us.
"The Lord will give strength unto His people,
the Lord will bless His people with peace".
Many times we just need to stop and allow God to meet
us right where we are.
When we do~He will never fail us.
~*~
The hand of God Is Everywhere

It's true we have never looked on His face,
But His likeness shines forth from every place,
For the hand of God is everywhere
Along life's busy thoroughfare,
And His presence can be felt and seen
Right in the midst of our daily routine.
Things we touch and see and feel
Are what make God so very real.

~Helen Steiner Rice~ 

Thank you precious Heavenly Father,
for Your goodness to us.
Some times the days seem long
but we can find rest for our weary souls
in You alone.
Amen

~Be Blessed~
Debbie

Rest in the Lord

"Rest in the Lord,

and wait patiently for him;

fret not thyself."

(Psalm 37:7a)

~

This is a well known Bible verse to me,

and I find great comfort in this promise from my Lord.
as I ponder and quote it often in my heart and mind.

We are told in God's Word to

"Hide His Word in our hearts"
 (Psalm 119:11)
 and
"Delight in the law of the Lord,
and meditate on it day and night."
(Psalm 1:2)

  ~

For the past few weeks I have been dealing with a situation

where I have found myself quoting this very verse,

but, not necessarily claiming the promise.

As I was asking God for His direction in the matter

and waiting for Him to hear me,

this is the verse He placed upon my heart:

"Therefore I will look unto the Lord;

I will wait for the God of my salvation:

my God will hear me."

(Micah 7:7) 

Yet,

I found myself not trusting completely even when He had clearly shown me the way,

 to the point of giving me peace within my heart,

that peace that passes all understanding,

you know that wonderful peace?  

As I bowed my heart and knee to God in prayer

asking for answers, trusting in the fact that He knows best,

 in His goodness to me, He placed this promise upon my heart:

"Trust in him at all times; ye people,

pour out your heart before him:

God is a refuge for us. Selah." (think on that)

(Psalm 62:8)

~

God in His goodness and grace hears my cry,

comforts my soul,

answers my prayer,

gives me His peace...

Yet still...

In my human frailties I choose to fret and worry,

become irritated and troubled

when it is not necessary.

~

Choices ~  throughout our lives we will have choices that we have to make.

God gives us free wills, but we must learn to make wise choices.

Thankfully, we have His Word to guide us,

to help us and to show us the way in which we should go.

Life is so much sweeter when we just trust and obey!

Many times we bring upon ourselves undue worry,

and in my particular situation,

I was doing just that, and what a waste of energy!

~

As I was meditating on Psalm 37:7

taking it piece by  piece and desiring to apply it to my life situation,

I decided to look up every important word in the Webster's Dictionary,

WOW! It sure made a difference in how I then,

meditated and applied the verse.

~

I just have to share this with you!
Dictionary work has always been one of my favorite's. :)
~
Definition of
 "Rest"
Peace of mind or spirit.
To be fixed or be fixed in trust or confidence.
<she rested her hopes in his promise>
So, if we are to "rest" in the Lord,
all we need to do is place our confidence, our hope in trusting God.
That crosses worry out, doesn't it?
~
"Wait Patiently"
A state or attitude of watchfulness and expectancy,
not hasty or impetuous.
Steadfast despite opposition, difficulty or adversity.
So, if we are to "wait patiently for Him"
then all we need to do is have the attitude of
watching and expecting in the goodness of the Lord.
Also, we will not be hasty or impetuous in our decisions and choices that we make.
We will be steadfast no matter what is going on in our lives.
We will be firmly fixed and not subject to change.
We will be firm in our belief that God is True to His Word.
~
"Fret"
To suffer or cause to suffer emotional strain:
become irritated (not us ladies?)worry, vex.
<Fretted over petty problems>
To be troubled.
So, if we "fret" we bring upon ourselves suffering ~ undo suffering
and emotional strain ~ we become irritated
and worry over petty problems ~ small minor problems
that we create into BIG problems,
all through fretting,
which God's Word tells us NOT to do.
~
My situation was minor, "petty"actually.
I allowed myself to get worked up over something
that God already had in control.
Something He had already given me peace about.
Yet
So often we think our way would be better,
so we try and bulldoze our way right through God's ways,
and there we find no peace.
What joy to my heart when I threw in the towel
and "rested" in God's ways.
I was so ashamed before my God,
for my lack of trust and obedience.
But the wonderful grace of God... He restoreth my soul!
 ~
This was the promise I claimed;
"The Lord is my strength, and my shield,
my heart trusted in him, and I am helped;
therefore my heart greatly rejoiceth;
and with my song will I praise him."
(Psalm 28:7) 
~
Everything worked out perfectly in my situation,
because God is a Perfect, Holy and Righteous God,
who wants nothing but our best!
Are you claiming God's promises in every area of your life?
For when we do, our hearts will greatly rejoice,
with peace, singing praises to our God!
~
Our Precious Heavenly Father.
Cause us to seek Your promises for every area of our lives.
Help us to rest in You, as Your Word encourages us to do.
May we not become anxious or hasty,
but trust in the confidence and hope
that we have in You.
Forgive us for our lack of trust at times
and with hearts full of joy we will greatly rejoice
and sing praises to Your Holy name.
Amen.

~ Be Lovely ~
Debbie