THE VIEW FROM MY WINDOW

The glory of Fall has come and departed...

...for another glory, which is of Winter.

Today I am comforted by these words which

shall not fail while the earth's

clock ticks:

"While the earth remains,
Seedtime and harvest
Cold and heat,
Winter and summer,
And day and night
Shall not cease."
(Genesis 8:22)

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THANKSGIVING THEN AND NOW

Norman Rockwell

May this day be filled with family, friends,

good food and good cheer no matter where we gather--

with true thanksgiving in our hearts toward a God

who gives liberally to all out of His 

bountiful storehouse of love!

NOW THIS IS REAL EYE CANDY!

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HOLY BAPTISM

BAPTISM:

FROM THE SHALLOWS TO THE DEPTHS

For many years I felt my assignment from God

Had been to float in a birdbath,

Enjoying the beauty of the sky

But longing for a wider experience

And view of His creation.

He has now taken me and submerged my being

In His great and vast ocean

Where there is no bottom nor end.

I can swim freely and enjoy the beauty

Of creatures innumerable

Who seem to have anticipated my arrival.

The waters which receive me are warm and welcoming

And have an eternal quality;

They change me while remaining the same.

The rays from the Son shine to the depths

Giving Life to all they touch.

I have only begun to search these Life-giving waters,

But the more I embrace them

The more I find to explore and revel in.

The awareness has dawned that I have come Home

And the Giver of Life is at the center of this new world,

Holding it all together

With the Word of His mouth.

To my amazement

My tears of repentance yielding joy

Have mingled with the very waters I am being baptized in,

Producing life forevermore and endless praise

To the One who called me to Himself

And translated me

Into the depths of His love.

Christ of the Abyss

TOO BEAUTIFUL FOR WORDS: Exquisite Design Found in God's Creation

(Photos courtesy goonagoon groups)

REMEMBRANCE DAY IN CANADA: An Eyewitness Account

Lieut.-Col. John McCrae

The author of this poem, a member of the 

first Canadian contingent, died in France

on January 28, 1918, after four years

of service on the Western Front.

IN FLANDERS FIELDS

In Flanders fields the poppies blow

Between the crosses, row on row,

That mark our place; and in the sky

The larks, still bravely singing, fly

Scarce heard amid the guns below.

We are the Dead.  Short days ago

We lived, felt dawn, saw sunset glow,

Loved and were loved, and now we lie

In Flanders fields.

Take up our quarrel with the foe;

To you from failing hands we throw

The torch; be yours to hold it high.

If ye break faith with us who die

We shall not sleep, though poppies grow

In Flanders fields.

Precisely at the 11th hour of the 11th day of the 11th month, there are ceremonies all across the vast land of Canada where heads are bowed and many remember those who died in war.  This date and time mark the exact moment in 1918 when the First World War officially ended on the Western Front.  It is also on this date that we in America have Veterans' Day coinciding with Remembrance Day in Canada.

During our recent visit with our daughter and her family, we had the privilege of attending one of these ceremonies with her, held in London, Ontario.  We have thought of the country to our north, not just as one who has welcomed our daughter, but as a cousin of sorts due to our close geographic relationship, and today this especially holds true when we think of how often we have been allies in times of war.

I would certainly not be heralded as a "hawk" in matters pertaining to war and it's attendant violence, but I must acknowledge that Scripture does not hesitate to list historic wars through the ages that were fought for righteous purposes.  It is, at best, a mysterious topic, and I cannot deny that many of our present day freedoms were cemented for us by men who were willing to go off to war rather than have those God-given liberties and privileges removed.

Due to the present state of our country and the tug-and-pull of various factions attempting to remove freedoms that we have long taken for granted, I came to this ceremony of remembrance desiring to see if the purpose would be taken seriously in another land by those participating and those observing.  I was deeply moved and humbled by all that I saw and heard.  It was both solemn and lifting to see the serious faces of the men and women marching with a purpose, the skirl of the bagpipes making our hearts race.

Nearly everyone I saw that day was wearing the red poppy of remembrance, something that I do not see in my own country anymore.  I was actually flabbergasted to see people on foot streaming to the ceremony from all directions in a freezing rain-- the weather alone would have given them the perfect excuse not to attend!  As we gathered closely together there was such an atmosphere of comradeship and resolve; such respect for why we were there that, if anyone spoke, others around them would hold a finger to their lips.

After the marching, after the flag saluting, after the speeches, before the wreath-laying, came the part that caused tears to flow from my eyes:  in this socialized country, often criticized by their neighbors to the south, a man whom I presumed was a Pastor, sang nobly and out in the open "Abide With Me".  And if that weren't enough, we all bowed our heads and he led us in the most touching, God-honoring prayer imaginable.  Having lived previously in Canada for three years, we were able to join in and sing  with them their national anthem, "O Canada".

The words came to me, "How are the mighty fallen!", and I grieved for my own beloved country.  We have attempted to remove God from our schools, from our courtrooms, from the workplace, and even now we cannot mention God or recite scripture in a funeral or memorial service at a Veterans' cemetery.  We all have witnessed recently the shameful act of the World War II Memorial in Washington, DC, being barred with chains to keep out the very veterans it was built to honor.  These dear brave men would not take "No" for an answer, and broke through the barriers--after all, they were the generation of men who took Normandy!  And just yesterday, as we commemorated one of the most sublime speeches ever made in America, the 150th Anniversary of the Gettysburg Address by President Abraham Lincoln, our President quoted the speech leaving out the all-vital, all-powerful words, "under God".

groomerphoto

How we must pray for our country losing it's bearings, it's purpose and inception "under God", for we have become a people who "do not know our right hand from our left".  We know in our hearts that to whom much is given, much will be required.  I personally have seen and heard the longing of those in other countries desiring to come to America, "the land of the free, home of the brave".  I stood before God humbled, and thanked Him for helping me remember as I stood with these men and women in Canada, a people who had not failed to honor their dead who had paid the ultimate price for the precious and precarious gift of freedom.  Let us pray for our children and grandchildren who follow after us, that they will always have the desire to live free, "under God", whether they be slave or free while living in this world's momentary, fluctuating system of governments.

groomerphoto

TOO BEAUTIFUL FOR WORDS

monthofsundays

In memoriam of summer past.

THE CYCLE OF SEASONS: AUTUMN

Will you join me as we experience the end of Autumn days, so mellow, so beautiful in death; in giving thanks for the Creator-given cycle of birth, burgeoning life, and now, a return to the earth from whence it all sprang?

                                                                        dulcetly

The winds come and comb the leaves 

from the sap-spent trees;

jewel-like leaves falling through our fingers.

                                                                                                               ghostnights

 We take long walks, enjoying the crunch

of those multi-colored leaves underfoot.

                                                                                                            seasonal-love

 Then return home and rake them into

brittle piles for the children to run and

jump into!

                                                                                      soulemama

The last of the apples 

are gathered in

                                                                                         weheartit

                                         for cider, pies, and crisps...

                                                                                            pumpkinseason

 and lovely, plump pumpkins lying amongst

their withered life-giving leaves, to be 

placed in cold cellars.

                                                                                                             thewholehalf

 The golden honey is gathered from the

combs, largesse freely given by 

the busy bees of summer.

                                                                                                             vintagehome

And just in time, for the Fall rains have

begun to drive us inside again... 

                                             JohnGalboPhotography

And because we, like the bees, have not been lazy,

but have stock-piled logs from the surrounding trees,

just waiting for the lighted match...

                                                                                   indiandreams

We can snuggle up in front of a nice, warm and

crackling fire that pours out a welcome

to our cold and weary bones.

                                                                                           dearposy

And because the larder shelves are groaning

with "summer in a jar", to be savored throughout

the non-productive months, we thank God for all

the bounty and the strength to put them by.

                                                cotton-balls

The squirrels, too, hasten to seek and bury 

their bounty, buried treasure 

whose location is known only to them 

throughout the long winter months.

                                  anaisdaxphotography

And in the warmth and comfort of our home 

we turn our hands to other activities:

preserving the colors and textures of nature

through paint and brush...

                                                                                coastalcottage

seeking the long ignored knitting basket

I now pull it close and finger the soft and fine

wool, soon to be shaped into something utilitarian.

                                                                                       pinterest

Or I may just throw another log onto the low dying fire,

plop into my overstuffed chair, and read words

that transport me to a warmer, sunnier clime;

ever thankful even so for the advancing, 

changing seasons as dependable 

as the ticking of the wall clock

down the hall.

UN-STUFFED CABBAGE ROLLS: NON-FASTING

Do you find yourself looking for a quick and easy, yet nutritious, recipe that you can confidently go to again and again.  Well this one does it for me.  I tried it recently and my dear husband and I just LOVED IT!  Besides being ultra tasty, I have learned that cabbage is a superfood containing many nutrients:  it is known to heal stomach ulcers and preventing cancer--especially colon cancer; it is a very alkaline-forming food that we should feel confident in eating often.

Ingredients:  1 1/2 to 2 pounds lean ground beef or turkey (I really liked it with the turkey), 1 Tbsp oil, 1 large onion chopped, 1 clove garlic minced (I used more), 1 small head cabbage chopped, 2 cans (14.5 ounces each) or 1 quart home-canned tomatoes diced, 1 can (either 8 or 14.5 ounces) tomato sauce, 1/2 to 1 cup water, 1 tsp black pepper, 1 tsp sea salt.  Note:  I also add Herbes de Provence or something similar, to taste.  Basil is also nice.  Basil is always nice with any recipe containing tomatoes in my humble opinion.

Preparation:  In a large skillet, heat olive oil over medium heat. Add the ground beef and onion and cook, stirring, until meat is no longer pink and onion is tender/translucent.  Add the garlic and continue cooking for 1 minute.  Add the chopped cabbage, tomatoes, tomato sauce, pepper, and salt (and any well-loved herbs and spices).  Cover and simmer until cabbage is tender, about 20-30 minutes.  Keep an eye on it so you don't over-cook it.  Serves 6-8 depending on appetites!  Excellent as a leftover.  

Enjoy!

EYE CANDY: A Visual Vacation

This is what we were the last seven days
as we had a wonderful visit with our daughter
Stephanie and family in Canada.  We even did a 
1000-piece puzzle together and many other fun things.  How we will miss them, until the next
time, God willing!

TRIBUTE TO THE EAR

HIDDEN, YET REVEALED

A TRIBUTE TO A PART OF CHRIST'S BODY:  THE EAR,

AND TO THOSE WITH THE MODEST GIFT OF LISTENING

There are those who listen

While they in silence wait;

The outer and inner ear, as well as the heart

Are tuned to things not seen,

Self forgotten.

Just as the Master bends low,

His Fatherly ear always open,

Listening to the wounded creature who cries,

Uttered or hurting, muted;

Articulated or staunchly secluded.

It has been said, speech is 

"A faculty given to man to conceal his thoughts"

(Talleyrand).

But you look beyond, you always look deeper:

Things hidden, these also seen by the Master.

You seem to fish for hidden pearls,

Flashes of light long concealed,

The mirror of the soul now revealing; 

For a crusty exterior gently exposed

And pried open, reveals a treasure worth seeking.

Oh my friend, as I watch you today and I listen,

You show me the workings of mystery:

Love throws the net, patience the bait;

While you listen and wait,

Ear bending near, 

 Unknowing, you follow The Master.

     "And if the ear should say, 'Because I am not an eye, I am not of the

      body,' is it therefore not of the body?...But now God has set the

      members, each one of them, in the body just as He pleased."  

             (1 Corinthians 12:16,18)

EYE CANDY: A Visual Vacation

erikgroomerphotos

I think Erik has photographed a winner here,

captured while he and his family were in

Mexico.

EYE CANDY: A Visual Vacation

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PRAYER IN THE AIR: Figures of the True

Why is it that prayer comes easier at 25,000 feet?  Locked into an Airbus A320 and seated at a window one has a "front row seat" from which to view the airy, created glories of God unseen by those who are earthbound below.  Whether flung out onto the sea in ships, or up into the sky in a metal tube, there is a sharp separation from the everyday cares while flying in the moving upward to thinner, lighter, air; an allegorical leaving of the things which are passing away for the eternally holy and pure for which we have been destined by our Creator.  There is the feel of commonplace responsibilities falling away as the plane pulses and overcomes that which would hinder it's upward victory over gravity.

When I stepped onto the plane, I inherently gave permission to be taken from one sphere into another.  This turning from the known to the unknown required a measure of faith, which ultimately produced a remote destination at which I hoped to arrive safely. In the skies there are highways by which the aircraft is "vectored" to it's final landing spot; change the compass heading by as little as one degree on a long flight and you can miss your desired destination.

Even while considering the possibility of error in an earthly sense, one can take comfort in these ageless words:  "They that go down to the sea in ships [or up into the skies in planes]...These see the works of the LORD, and his wonders in the deep [or in the heavens]...", for there is no place where we can flee from His Presence.  God is our eternal point of reference, being "everywhere present and filling all things".  In His lovingkindness He has given us of His Holy Spirit, who keeps our inner compass set toward Heaven; who gently but firmly redirects us, when necessary, back to the narrow road leading Home.

I turned in my seat to get a better view of the spectacular show of solid cloud cover that billowed into various shapes of pure whipped white, forming columns of moist air.  The radiant sun seems to kiss the tops, casting shadows into the mysterious caverns below.  As usual, I felt all that I would need do was simply step off the wing and go for a cloud walk, traversing mile after mile of untrod, unchartered frontiers.

Worship before the Creator of such beauty became spontaneous, calming my fears that began to surface.  This flash of glory outside my window was a gift from the God who pities and protects, His hand under the belly of this polished shaft fashioned from men's minds, carrying it and those inside safely to our destination.

And then I received a deeper sense of Christ's presence, these truths echoing and underlining all that had come before:  shall He not also carry His own until that final day, when faith shall become sight, when cloud castles become a place prepared; when all that is encapsulated within time shall be shaken, folded up and be made new, dreams of distant cloudscapes evaporating in the light and loveliness of His face?  These "figures of the true" felt and glimpsed while speeding through space only hint at what is yet to come, for they are time-bound; but we are bound for eternal realms where worship and adoration will never cease, for we shall have reached our Destination, Christ Himself, and our Heavenly Father, who loves us and gave His Son for us.

             "If I ascend up into heaven, thou art there...if I take the wings of the 
           morning, and dwell in the uttermost parts of the sea; even there 
           shall thy hand lead and thy right hand shall hold me. " (Psalm 139:8-10)