A Matter of Focus

The lazy waters take a right angled turn.  Branches of white ash bend gracefully toward the water.  A flash of brilliant red—a male cardinal flies, lighting on branches across the water.  He perches 15 feet above the water, secure on his leafy bench, trilling to attract his mate.  I sit on a stone bench nestled between the trees.  The natural beauty of the arboretum wraps me in a cocoon of peace.

To my right, I see the fence at the edge of the arboretum and hear the roar of cars as they rush past.  I return my focus to the still waters, the deep browns and greens of the forest.  I observe evidence of man at this place:  a small white gazebo with shake shingles, a garden of pink, purple and white tulips, their double blooms resembling peonies.

Across the park a mower drones, keeping the grass trim.   Between my stone bench and the water, 12 feet or so, the ground rushes down to meet the pond.  Soft with 100 years of leaves, bark and pine needles, the ground supports the green ground cover and provides a soft walkway. 

Greedily, I drink in the beauty and serenity of this place and ignore the traffic outside.  I choose to slow down for a few moments and ignore the calls of the world beckoning to me.  The more I drink in this beauty, the more I can recall and take home with me. When my world rushes around me, I can choose to look at God’s beauty all around and within me and focus on it, for it is all a matter of perspective, isn’t it?  I choose my focus.

Philippians 4:8 “Finally, brothers, whatever is true, whatever is noble, whatever is right, whatever is pure, whatever is lovely, whatever is admirable—if anything is excellent or praiseworthy—think about such things.”

Father, thank you for the beauty of Your creation.  Keep my mind focused on that beauty and on You.

Children of God

I John3:1

“How great is the love the Father has lavished on us, that we should be called children of God.“

Father God, thank you for adopting us as your children and for loving us so completely. Thank you for lavishing spiritual gifts on us and for teaching us to be more like your only begotten son, Jesus.

God’s Comfort

Father God, I pray for those who reach out with untiring hands. You know their distress, Lord. You alone know their needs. I pray that you will draw near to them, that they will feel your loving arms of comfort and experience your grace.

Growing Stronger

For years, I’ve had thinning bones. I faithfully take my calcium pills and make sure I get weight bearing exercise.

After a recent bone scan showed additional thinning, I really stepped up the exercise. In addition to tap dance classes and walks in the woods, made an effort to get up and walk every hour for at least 250 steps. For two years, I faithfully did my additional weight-bearing exercises.

Recently, I had another bone density scan. When I called for the results, the nurse said, “You have a statistically significant increase in bone density.” Wow! I was thrilled. While I was hoping to prevent bone loss, I had actually gained bone mass.

I was so excited that all my hard work made a difference. While I danced and walked, my body was growing new bone mass. With every step and every tap, unseen changes were happening deep inside my body, making me healthier. What wonderful news.

After the excitement died down, I thought about my soul. Just like my bones, it can weaken or grow stronger. No matter what I do, unseen changes are happening deep within my soul. When I become spiritually sedentary, neglecting time in the word or time with God, changes happen within my soul, and I become distant from God. I rely more on myself than on Him.

But just as my bone health improved, so my soul health can improve. When I spend time reading God’s word, praying, praising him and communing with Him, my soul changes. My relationship with God grows stronger, strengthening my soul.

I walk 250 steps every hour. I wonder what would happen if I took a minute to pray every hour of the day? How would that strengthen my soul?

We don’t have scans that can show these changes inside a soul. Nothing concrete measures improvements in love, peace, joy, or other fruits of the spirit, but we know faithfulness strengthens the soul. Even without a scan, we know that God enables our soul to grow and we become stronger and more Christ-like.

So, if you’ve neglected your soul, don’t be discouraged. Instead, rejoice. Seek God’s wisdom and let Him guide your soul growth. He will see the ways you are changing and growing, and will work deep within your soul to strengthen it.

Trusting God

“Trust Me, My child,” He says. “Trust me with a fuller abandon than you ever have before. “Trust Me, as minute succeeds minute, every day of your life, for as long as you live. And if you become conscious of anything hindering our relationship, do not hurt Me by turning away from Me. Draw all the closer to Me, come, run to Me. Allow Me to hide you, to protect you, even from yourself. Tell me your deepest cares, your every trouble. Trust Me to keep My hand upon you. I will never leave you. I will shape you, mold you, and perfect you. Do not fear, O child of My love, do not fear. I love you.”

Amy Carmichael

Father God, forgive me for not trusting you with abandon. Teach me to trust you as a child trusts her parent to throw her into the air and catch her, or as the climber trusts his rope. Too often, I want to see the end of the path instead of trusting you to guide me for each and every step.

Savoring the Small Beauties

In the rush of the day, I paused to look at the sky.

The bright blue drew me in, the white cotton clouds

Scattered throughout.

In a pause of busyness, I watched the children playing,

Their small bodies running and jumping,

I smiled at their laughter ringing in the air.

While hurrying to an appointment,

I saw the weeds on the side of the road.

Orange flowers on the stems waved a hello in the wind.

At the end of the day, I savored the taste

Of a bite of dark chocolate,

It’s gooey goodness melting in my mouth.

In a few small moments,

I absorbed the beauty around me

And touched the heart of God.

Creator God, keep my eyes open to the beauty you have created. I thank you for providing so many lovely ways to savor that beauty and honor and adore you.