Monday: Abandoned

Trust in the Lord with all your heart, and lean not on your own understanding; in all your ways acknowledge Him, and He shall direct your paths.

Proverbs 3:5

For the last few months I, along with my walking buddies, have admired a pair of Canadian geese who reside next to our rural road. The pair of love birds took time preparing their nest. Even weeks to make sure everything was just so. Finally, in April we found her sitting. It was time to lay eggs and incubate them for about a month.

It’s an odd place to call home for a goose. Either side of our road there is a marshy area about a short, city block long. It’s not overly wide. Tuffs of marsh grass speckle the water. It’s not the best place to raise a family.

Yet, year-after-year a pair of geese come to call it ‘home’ for the spring. This pair may be together as long as 10-24 years. If my memory serves me correctly, this is the fourth year of their return.

Mr. Goose, let’s call him George, causes all sorts of problems as he stands-watch on the shoulder of the road. He’s a quiet guy, for a goose, never honks at anyone passing by. Spending most of his day marching up and down to protect his mate, Georgia, who sits diligently on her nest of twigs and pine needles. Sleet, rain or snow she endures it all waiting for hatching day.

As goslings have been hatched weeks ago, in other pond areas, George was still waiting for his new family to emerge. Just a few days ago, in my back pond, five little goslings waddled about. Momma at the front of the line and Papa bringing up the back. They are adorable to watch.

I’m sad to say George and Georgia left a full nest behind. Five large unhatched eggs lay mound in the same manner as the first day they had been laid. Were they not fertile, had they somehow spoiled or had they been disturbed by a predator?

For George and Georgia the path was clear, it was time to go.

God cares about even a pair of geese. Geese work from instinct. People, on the other hand, are able to make choices from the information they have retained. Or from their experience of having trusted God. People can decipher how to move forward. The best way I know how to emerge from a trial is to read the Word. Also, to spend time in prayer with God.

Trust in the Lord with all your heart.

P. Wolf

Sweet Aroma

And walk in love, as Christ also has loved us and given Himself for us, an offering and a sacrifice to God for a sweet-smelling aroma.

Ephesians 5:2

Clustered lilac blooms,
like luscious grapes,
hang filling spring air
with the sweetest scent;
rises on mild breeze.

It wharfs high above;
across open farm fields
dotted with dandelion,
over bulging river banks
and towering tree tops.

A sweeter scent, can
there be, than lilac?
Perhaps… love, hope and
charity reflected from
the heart of God to man.

P. Wolf

Monday: Speechless

Know therefore that the LORD your God is God, the faithful God who keeps His covenant of loving devotion for a thousand generations of those who love Him and keep His commandments.

Deuteronomy 7:9

Have you ever found yourself in a crowded room not knowing what to say or who to talk to? Perhaps, there was a time God intervened in a situation you thought had no possible positive outcome. Or maybe, a victory occurred in a way you never would have image would happen. There are times we are left speechless.

Whether we realize it, or not, God works in every facet of our lives. He cares about details. Just obverse the nature which coexists with us. However, there are times we may feel alone or abandoned and unable to view God in our lives. We’re back to that crowded room, for some reason we stand isolated and are afraid to engage. There could be several reasons for our reaction. Most of which, may be we refuse to move forward.

There’s a fine line of knowing when to take action and when to move out of God’s way. One way to solve the situation is to pray and wait on God. Knowing the will of God is no easy task. Yet, He reveals Himself through the Bible, during difficult circumstances and in the times we have victory over sin. Everything we do is better when we opened ourselves to the help of a loving God Who can be seen in the beauty around us.

P. Wolf

Mount Zion

Then the moon will be ashamed and the sun be put to shame, for the Lord of armies will reign on Mount Zion and in Jerusalem, and His glory will be before His elders.

Isaiah 24:23

I sit still…
Amidst hollow landscapes
the air breaths spring tunes,
as ancient from days.

I sit still…
Watching sun blushing early morn;
day passes beneath the moon settles,
as aged earth lingers and groans.

I sit still…
Exalting the King of Zion,
whose name is to be praised;
for He has done wonderful things.

Forever Faithful and True!

P. Wolf

Monday: Broken-hearted

I will lift up my eyes to the hills–

From whence comes my help?

My help comes from the LORD,

Who made heaven and earth.

Psalm 121:1-2

Spring is such a hopeful time of renewal. Daylight emerges early and lingers late. Fragrant blooms fill the air from blossoming trees. The staleness of winter has long gone.

Even the song bird’s tunes cheer the warm air and bing ease to the broken-heart. Everywhere we are reminded that God is renewing the earth, once again.

Yet, life continues to happen. Despite the gaiety of the joy that is around, sadness still lurks about. Illness comes, jobs are lost, finances dwindle, kids rebel, addiction prevail and death arrives into the lives of so many people.

It seems unfair that during such a great time of the year, “bad stuff” happens. Think about it. How can we be blessed by the miracle of spring and forget that God is there for us during all seasons of life? All one needs to do is lift their eyes to Him.

P. Wolf

A Thousand Spring Peepers

Shout joyfully to the Lord, all the earth;

Break forth in song, rejoice, and sing praises.

Psalm 98:5
free photo credit

My heart dances with
a thousand spring peepers,
as droplets settle deep
upon the skin of earth.

Their comforting tune
tells of no real words
or poetic expression;
just music to a mate.

A mirrored image of
tree and sky reflects off
weedy surface, hidden
thick beneath their call.

I cannot see, just hear,
their greedy plea as
sun warms water with
focus on spring peepers.

P. Wolf

Monday: Devotion

Love must be sincere. Hate what is evil; cling to what is good. Be devoted to one another in love. Honor one another above yourselves.

Romans 12:8-9

I’ve been researching my Polish heritage in order to write a book. I’m stuck in the 1950’s, a post war world era which was changing life in America rapidly. There was victory and rejoicing in the lives of many. Others dealt with the scars of war, even here in America. Life was slower after the war, but that was changing for both men and women.

My heart goes out to the men and women who placed the lives of others before themselves, as they sat in the trenches of many foreign places. The devotion of those who stayed stateside also amazes me. Women filing into the workplace, while men fought for freedom. Sixty percent of produce was grown in “Victory Gardens”. Many people purchased war bonds; money used to help war efforts. Rationing also controlled the distribution of scarce resources, goods, or services. Civilians also received rationing books. These were some of the rationed items in 1942: typewriters, gasoline, bicycles, shoes, rubber footwear, silk, nylon, fuel oil, and stoves. In 1943 other things were added: meat, lard, shortening and food oils, cheese, butter, margarine, processed foods (canned, bottled, and frozen), dried fruits, canned milk, firewood and coal, jams, jellies, and fruit butter. To think, we complain about gas prices going up!

Where’s the application in all my pondering! “Hate what is evil and cling to what is good.” That is what WWII was about; stopping evil and holding on to what was good. The same lesson also rings clear for today in everyday life. May your love for those around you always be sincere, as you serve in your families, churches, neighborhoods and communities.

P. Wolf

Simply, A Wren

And we desire that each one of you show the same diligence to the full assurance of hope until the end,

Hebrews 6:11

The wren is back, just a few days ago,
I’ve watched him/her build several nests
about the yard in hopes to find a niche.

The wren is a busy fellow, fluttering about
stopping often to twitter a long song.
It brings back memories of spring days.

The wren is ever so watchful wondering
what is happening in its surroundings;
people passing, predictor preying about.

The wren, whether working or nesting
sings the sweetest tune which fills
the balmy springtime air with great joy.

The wren is a perfect model of gladness:
in work, in caution, in diligence and in
responsibility of all which God has given.

P. Wolf

Monday: Hope

Be anxious for nothing, but in everything by prayer and supplication, with thanksgiving, let your requests be made known to God; and the peace of God, which surpasses all understanding, will guard your hearts and minds through Christ Jesus.

Philippians 4:6-7

Nature tells stories. I remember a few years ago, the frost came in May and destroyed many of the apple blossoms. Despite the loss, some blossoms remained. God’s great power was revealed. His mercy shown during times of difficulty.

The call came last week, of a reoccurring cancer. My family had almost forgotten, several decades ago, how the claw of cancer had affected us. But now, the shadow of gloom seems to be encompassing our lives again.

How will we handle it? What will become of things? Who will we look to?

I remembered I had prayed, years ago, asking God’s intervention to allow my sister to see her children grow. God honored that prayer request, and filled us with years of togetherness.

None of us know what the months ahead will carry. But we should know, who carries us through each day. It’s God Almighty!

P. Wolf

Planted

In the mountain of the height of Israel will I plant it: and it shall bring forth boughs, and bear fruit, and be a goodly cedar: and under it shall dwell all fowl of every wing; in the shadow of the branches thereof shall they dwell.

Ezekiel 17:23

Wind whistles through stately pines,
as a red-tailed hawk cautiously soars
spring gusts, blowing from south winds.

Whistles a distance train trailing country
rickety roads bound on souther paths;
as spring peepers day-in-and-out whistle.

Pines sway, swing, sweep; perched hawk
rest for a minuscule moment mesmerized
by shadow dancing in solemn, stately pines.

The wind will whistle through pines,
the mountain in Israel will bring forth
the throne of the anointed Son of God.

P. Wolf