For this is God, our God forever and ever; He will be our Guide even to death.
Psalms 34:14
Sandhill crane’s have turned a snowy gray with feathers fluffed. It’s migration time. Skies are burden with dense, dark, dreary clouds. November is well on its way. Trees stand and sway in late autumn’s cold breeze. Crisp leaves tumble on hard ground. The air is brisk and chilled. Autumn is passing.
I trek down my empty country road hoping for the rising sun. Winter jacket, heavy boots and cozy hat are my accessories. Seasons are changing, once again, in my little area of the world. Things are different as winter sneaks in to begin the holidays.
It is here among the last oak leaves, that are still clinging to trees, I find solace. Sturdy trees which grasp long and tight to their leaves. Almost in slow motion while rapid changes occur. After a few months pass, they too will drop their leaves.
Am I like that? Like a mighty oak tree clinging to something. Am I grounded in rich earth? Or am I shaken by the struggles of life’s storms and changes?
I then remember, we only walk through this world for a little while. When frigid times come I want to be as those oak trees still holding on to what they believe is theirs. I want to remember, through all things, God is with me and I am His.
Now faith is the assurance of things hoped for, the conviction of things not seen. For by it the people of old received their commendation. By faith we understand that the universe was created by the word of God, so that what is seen was not made out of things that are visible.
Hebrews 11:1-3
Is my faith like hidden lilies? Buried deep beneath trials and sorrow’s sweet.
Is my faith like hidden lilies? Lofty stalks of blooms bowing deeply to greet.
Dense twined foliage laced with colors of faith, hope, charity; searching for undying love.
Hope like petals; are fragile things in need of nurturing. Abiding faith is from above.
I believe we are at a time of the year in which great expectations are stirred within our lives. Weather it’s the homecoming of loved ones or the excitement of a little more time at home; we wait in anticipation for the holidays.
As a child, the bubbly feelings of holidays started with Thanksgiving. Family gathered around a roasted turkey, children playing hide and seek, and grownups chatter around the table. Then, finally, a piece of homemade blueberry pie was dished out to top off the day. It was a time of celebration for my family.
Why do we embrace the expectation of change and gathering together for the holidays? Perhaps, day to day life becomes common place. When a celebration comes along things are shaken up, like a snow globe. Our environment it transformed. What may have been mundane is refreshed.
How can one capture this transformation on a regular basis? Or should one even try?
I think the answer lies in the Scriptures. Think of the multitude of decades the chosen people awaited their promised Messiah. Waited, waited, and waited.
More often, we remember Christ’s arrival and the celebration which surrounded His birth. Mother waiting for her Child to be born. Shepherds anticipating to see the great thing which the angles announced regarding the Savior’s birth. And the kings following a sign in the sky which would fulfill the old prophecies. That was the big event. Decades earlier, it must have been difficult for the people to remain excited about God’s promise.
That inner, deep feeling of expectation should fill our hearts daily. It needs to be nurtured. We need to remind each other of another great event. Christ promised to return and bring His own to Himself for eternity. This won’t be a fleeting celebration, but one that will last for infinity to those who have accepted Jesus as their Savior.
Let’s remember the greatest event of all is still waiting to happen.
… according to my earnest expectation and hope that in nothing I shall be ashamed, but with all boldness, as always, so now also Christ will be magnified in my body, whether by life or by death. For to me, to live is Christ, and to die is gain,
Therefore, laying aside all malice, all deceit, hypocrisy, envy, and all evil speaking, as newborn babes, desire the pure milk of the word, that you may grow thereby, if indeed you have tasted that the Lord is gracious.
I Peter 2:1-3
On my drive home from Slinger, a small town about ten minutes from my home, I drove through Pike Lake State Park. It was a gloomy Friday with a late fall chill in the air. I noticed the brilliant color of the forest and decided to meander through the area.
What I saw, as I moved in closer to the woods, was more than just golden mature trees. I stopped to study the forest floor. A multitude of new growth blanked the ground. Trees only a few feet tall swayed in the cool breeze.
Many of these young trees would not make it through the frigid winter. Others would be choked off by thorny weeds come spring. Still some may die in drought-like conditions when the heat of summer comes again. Only a few may survive to become sturdy maple trees.
Malice, deceit, hypocrisy, envy and slander are the thorny weeds in our lives. We should long for spiritual milk to counter the temptation of evil. God created us with a spiritual well-being along with our physical body.
I hope many saplings will grow within the forest of my family and friends. Winters are cold in Wisconsin. May you keep warm with the Word of God.
Behold, I stand at the door and knock. If anyone hears My voice and opens the door, I will come in to him and dine with him, and he with Me.
Revelation 3:20
I’ve been digging through the Old Testament for prophecies on the first coming of Messiah. Most of us know Him as Jesus. Think about it, those who had the opportunity to speak of the Messiah did not know who He was, yet they obediently shared the message God gave them.
These special messengers from God told of His birth, early life, ministries, betrayal, death and resurrection. We who have the whole story, the Bible, sometimes struggle with its truths. There are many people who even refuse to believe that anything in the Bible is true.
Now put yourself in the shoes, maybe sandals, of an Old Testament citizen. Some weary prophet is standing in the synagogue or street corner disrupting your day. He’s more of an annoyance than help. The women just want to get water from the well. Men are setting up market stands or chatting about their religious beliefs. Some of the children stop to listen, curious about the loud man standing alone. Everyone just wants to live their day out.
Obviously, there were those who stopped to listen. Some maybe even took to heart the message being sent. However, mankind has a tendency to live the now and just keep moving.
Who’s voice are we missing daily? What important message are we avoiding because we are just too busy?
When you view that next sunset remember, God has a bigger world for each of us.
Recently, my husband, two grandchildren and myself went on a mini vacation. The ride up was wonderful. We lingered at a park along Winnebago Lake, hiked rough paths at High Cliff Park and had a yummy lunch at, of course, D. Q. in a little town that claims to be “The Home of the Hamburger”!
A drive which should have taken two and a half hours turned into over five hours. My husband and I always say that it is the journey which is the best part of the trip. Our ride up was definitely promising us a great time away.
We had plans for the next several days. Visiting Eclair Falls, Shawano Beach or that HUGE candy store further north. Again it was the drive we were looking forward to. All the brilliant fall colors just waiting to be viewed.
Once we arrived at our first day’s location, it was obvious some of what we had hoped for wasn’t going to happen. Tree color had passed. The leaves had gathered on the wet ground. Yep, it had started to rain.
At least we had the next few days to visit the falls, beach shore and candy store! The second morning it was still raining, one of the grandkids came down with an aggressive cold and I had an allergy reaction which left me in a lot of pain.
We cut our time away to a few day. Instead of traveling more we now lingered at our home base. Worked, played, talked and listened to our grandkids. We shared how awesome God is despite disappointment. And how even though the physical world is damaged, we can still enjoy spiritual places with God.
My heart goes out to those who have needed to make difficult choices this past week regarding employment, due to the physical circumstances of our world. Especially, those in the medical field. Thank you for your service. May God direct your paths. May you find spiritual peace in a fallen world.
This world is also groaning for its new beginning. Even Creation knows there is a decline. Just ask my dog, who on the ride home ended up with his own allergic reaction which turned into a staff infection.
It has been an interesting few days. But you know what? God is still in control and just wants us to rely on Him despite out outward circumstances 💕
P. Wolf, author & poet
My flesh and my heart fail; But God is the strength of my heart and my portion forever.
