Hello Friends, I know that this week I am changing it up a bit from my usual Video Blog If Oak Trees Could Talk. The reason is simply because I live in a virtual golden and russet forest this time of year and I love it! I’ve included a video of this rainy autumn morning in Georgia and I hope a little inspiration for you today!
It is a rainy Monday morning in Georgia as I am writing this! I simply love my times out on my front porch, in my wooded jungle of sorts, sipping my morning coffee and simply listening and watching as I spend time in His presence!
Autumn leaves are swirling around in the current of the wind until they slowly make their way to the ground! However, I’ve noticed one leaf this morning that seems to be rebellious, out into a current of its own, golden in color, swirling and dancing in the wind! It seemed that it too would hit the ground as it came swirling downward. Then suddenly it would catch another current and soar up into the air again! I couldn’t take my eyes off of that leaf until finally after what seemed like the longest while of it dancing and prancing through the air, it finally swirled down and around and around until it lay down so ever gently on the only bear place on the ground!
I thought how weird that leaf was but then I felt as though the Lord was speaking to me in what I had just witnessed. He has made us as unique as this beautiful swirling leaf. He has called us to come out from among the crowd and do something uniquely designed for us to do, that we alone have been created to do! What I thought was rebellion, was simply obedience, one seemingly out on its own dancing and catching the wind of His breath and Spirit as He directed the current! It was a precious moment for me this morning as I seem to struggle sometimes with the fact that I’m out here feeling very alone sometimes with my hopes and dreams. It’s not like I do not have supporters and those that cheer me or encourage me, but what the Lord puts in your heart of hearts sometimes seems allusive at times and the self-doubt as to whether you’re chasing a pipe dream kicks in!
Ah…… I breathe in a peaceful sigh as the Lord always sends the little assurances like only He can to encourage me! This morning was a great pick me up as I am soaring high under the power of His breath!
Thank you for spending this time with me! Be encouraged that you’re always under the watchful eye of the One who created you! Blessings to you my dear friends! As always I would love to hear from you! If you have recently began reading along or have found my video blogs and would want to hear more please Subscribe to my Youtube Video Blogs!
Welcome back to my Video Blog! I have been so thrilled with the response that I am receiving as I am attempting to do something new or at least new for me! My hope is to truly Inspire One Dreamer at a time! I hope that you are that dreamer! This past week was Father’s Day! Even though my characters are fictional in my books I always model them after people that have impacted my life!
In the main character is Henry William Tyler, I wrote this character based on my Precious Dad! My Dad was a loving, passionate, larger than life man that I loved with all of my heart! As I wrote the characters of Henry and Helen, it was my hope and desire to honor my wonderful parents! So again I thank you for taking the time to “Tune in” or to read along as I continue to read today If Oak Trees Could Talkbeginning in Chapter Three entitled Henry’s Homework!
Chapter 3
Henry’s Homework
The morning light came in unusually bright and Henry found himself awakened early and alone. His precious Helen had awakened even earlier and went back to her room before the nurses came to their rooms. Henry squinted for a moment until his eyes adjusted themselves to the light. As he sat on his bed, he remembered some of what the Oak tree helped him to remember, but he really did not know if he had actually remembered it or if he had only dreamed about it. Regardless, Henry decided to take action and regain some of his life. He rang the on-call button frantically and impatiently for a nurse to come to him.
“Well, aren’t you up early and raring to go this find and glorious morning? What’s your big emergency that you hit that button a dozen times or more?”
At first Henry did not recognize Nurse Wanda, but then he answered her.
“Pencil and paper, I want pencil and paper please.”
“Now why do you want a pencil and paper Mr. Tyler? Are you fixing to write yourself a letter?”
“Yes, a letter sounds good.” Henry answered with an urgent plea in his voice.
“Okay, Mr. Tyler, if you want a pencil and paper, then a pencil and paper you’re going to get!” Nurse Wanda said as she was glad that Henry seemed to want to do something besides sit and stare.
It wasn’t long until Nurse Wanda returned to Henry’s room with his medicine, breakfast tray, and of course, a pencil and paper.
“What’s this for?” Henry asked. “You want me to do homework or something?”
“It’s for your letter that you were going to write. Do you not remember asking me for a pencil and paper so that you could write a letter?” Nurse Wanda probed.
“Yes, Mrs. Stone, I’ll take them home so that Mom can help me with my homework.”
“Yes Sir, Mr. Tyler, you just let your Momma help you okay?”
As Nurse Wanda left Henry alone once again, he stared at the blank piece of paper. He thought as he looked upon it, that this is how his life had been, just a blank space that he couldn’t remember. What kind of homework was he supposed to do? Henry wondered. Before long, he found himself with pencil in hand. He put the pencil on the paper and even to his amazement he began drawing a picture of his dearest friend. As he drew, he drew branches extended wide and a huge trunk to an old tree. He thought of how his friend towered above the others and so he drew it the entire length of the sheet of notebook paper. As quick as a bolt of lightning, the memories from the night before came flooding back to him. Henry began writing what he had remembered. As he penned the events of the night before, more and more thoughts kept coming into his mind. He wrote as fast as his stiff hands and fingers would allow him. He wanted to capture every memory before they vanished away, possibly for forever.
At first the memories came just as a flash of something that seemed to be real. However, then another image would come and still yet another one until finally Henry once again had enough of the pieces to realize that he had real memories of a whole event. Every one of them always involved his old friend. He frantically wrote down what he could see in his mind’s eyes. He tried to pen down all the emotions as he experienced the events again, so that when Helen and dear Amelia read his letters, they would know why what they were reading was important to Henry. Henry felt hope for the first time in months. He felt as though he was reclaiming some resemblance of his life. He knew that in his memory bank was a treasure chest of precious hidden treasures. For whatever reason, the old Oak tree was serving as a key to help him open his treasures to share with others.
Thank you once again for either Listening or Reading along with my Video Blogs on Youtube! I hope that you will subscribe to my Video channelso as not to miss any!
Below is an excerpt out of my book “Tell the Enemy to Scat!”
Please note that I am not trying to promote my books. My desire is to use this excerpt to encourage those of you that may need to be encouraged today!
Proverbs 13:12 Hope deferred maketh the heart sick : but when the desire cometh, it is a tree of life.
I believe the number one reason that many Christians do not see God’s word being fulfilled in their lives is discouragement. If the enemy can get you discouraged and cause you to stay there, you will think that God has denied you your promise and give up. Sometimes we have to look for encouragement. Sometimes encouragement comes in ways that you’ve never imagined the Lord would send it. God will send encouragement to you and show you little rays of hope along faith’s journey to help you if you truly believe him. I must also say that sometimes, God expects us like David to encourage ourselves as well, but either way, God wants us to receive his promises and not draw back in our faith.
I remember one morning very distinctively as I had awakened early. I always loved to either sit at my kitchen table so that I could stare out through my kitchen windows or I would usually sit on my front porch to pray and worship the Lord. This particular morning I was sitting on my front porch. I was really feeling very discouraged. I remember simply reminding the Lord what I had been believing him for and how long I had stood in faith, as if he were not already aware of it. I specifically asked him that morning for two babies, after all he had promised me children and I desired them so very much. After I had prayed that prayer I then began worshipping the Lord and thanking Him for the answer as I went inside the house for a moment to refill my coffee cup. As I was pouring my coffee into my cup, I glanced out of my front bay windows in my kitchen and noticed something very strange. A huge clump of brown leaves had fallen down out of a large hickory tree into the driveway. I thought to myself that it was really early for the leaves to be that brown as it was very early into fall. I proceeded to pour my coffee and I was still looking at the leaves when all of a sudden a cat appeared and was at the clump of leaves. She was wiggling her tail and hopping from side to side and suddenly, it dawned on me. All of the leaves must have been a nest of some kind, so I ran outside to scat the cat away. I looked inside the leaves to see two tiny baby squirrels. They were only about an inch and half long and were the cutest little things. I picked them up and took them to the vet to make for sure that they were not hurt from falling such a high distance. The vet was a sweet little old man and he said something I will always remember.
“Well, It looks like you have you two little babies!” he said as he smiled at me.
Then suddenly, I remembered my prayer to Father God that very morning about wanting him to give me two babies. He knows how to encourage us and to let us know that he hears our prayers. He also knows that when we stand in faith for a long period of time that we can become very discouraged, but do not give up, his answer to you is on the way or perhaps at least a little encouragement to let you know that he hears your hearts cry and has not forgotten you.
That was many years ago. My husband and I were married twenty years before I had I my first child. Four years later I had my second one. These are my two children, (pictured). These are the two babies that I’ve asked the Lord for. As I’ve waited upon the Lord it wasn’t always easy and sometimes I became very impatient. However, The Lord is so faithful and His word is always true. I hope, like I did, that you find the Lord has a sense of humor and that just when you are at a point of possibly giving up on your promise, that He will send you encouragement. He may not send you two baby squirrels, but rest assured if you will honestly look, He will send you something to cause you to hold on tighter until His promises manifest in your life!
While sitting out on my porch sipping my morning cup of coffee and listening to the birds sing their beautiful little songs, I was just rejoicing that it had warmed up enough to sit out there without freezing. Even though there was still a chill in the air, the aroma of some of the blooms from the Pear trees rode the gentle breezes and brought a smile to my face. I thought about how some of the simplest things are what pleases me the most. I was noticing some small little daisies growing wild and was thinking about the little game that we use to play with the daisy petals. Have you ever pulled the petals off of a daisy and played the game “He loves me, He loves me not?”
One day not long ago when I was sitting outside enjoying myself, my children came running outside and grabbed me by the arm and began pulling me inside. They were obviously so excited to show me something. Anyway, I didn’t want to burst their little bubble so I followed in anticipation as to what they wanted me to see. They lead me into my bedroom where they had cleared an area that I kept pretty cluttered with books etc and had made a nice little seating area for me to enjoy. They knew what I liked and so they arranged some of my favorite things around this little area. I was so surprised and just extremely overwhelmed that my boys wanted to show me how much they loved me by doing something so special.
As I thought about how much they wanted to bless me and please me, I thought about how that I could possibly be pleasing to others. Without trying to be preachy or too corny, the best way I know is to simply let the love of our Father God show through me. I hope this blog is one of those little ways! As I pour my heart into what I feel the Lord would have me to write today, it is simply that He loves you. He cares about every concern that you may have today, whether it is small or huge!
(KJV) Psalm 138:8 The Lord will perfect that which concerneth me: thy mercy, O Lord, endureth for ever: forsake not the works of thine own hands.
It doesn’t matter to Him what you do, or do not do. You are a beautiful work of his hand! He chose to love you. You can’t pull petals off of His daisy and ever find one that says “He loves me not!” You can’t earn his love! He just lavishes it upon you freely every day. You might be saying “Hey lady, I don’t know what you’re talking about? My life is in the dumps right now! How could anyone possibly love me when I am like this?” I would say to you, that you’re the very one he wanted to speak to today, “I love you with an everlasting love, even when you think you are unlovable!” He says.
(KJV)3:16 For God so loved the world, that he gave his only begotten Son, that whosoever believeth in him should not perish, but have everlasting life.
One of the greatest things that I found about the love of God is that he purposely came for those who didn’t have their acts together! There are days when my life is just out of control and I am very unlovely in my behavior, but I have found that I have a place to run to! I run to my Father, His arms are always open. His arms are safe and they feel wonderful! His love is inexhaustible Will you just fall back into his loving arms and let him love you today? I hope that you will! As you tear the petals off of your daisy today, all you will ever hear Him say, “I love you and always will, I love you and always will!”
Have you ever noticed that when good things start happening to you that others will gather around and cheer and celebrate? But, how many of them stick around when you are going through struggle? Isn’t it amazing that many times the people who you thought would celebrate with you suddenly disappear. Well, friend this is the time that you have to learn to encourage yourself. Yes it is great to have cheerleaders to cheer you on, and I thank God I actually have a few sincere cheerleaders, however, more times than not, the cheerleaders are nowhere to be found or heard. Then what do you do? This is when you must learn how to encourage yourself in the Lord. You must learn how to be your own cheerleader and to throw your own pep rally!
David had to encourage himself in the Lord and dance his own dance, shout his own cheers and rejoice even when others were not to be found. I have been there many times it seems. Not that there were not people who I could confide in, but sometimes I had places to walk in my journey that I feel I’ve had to walk by myself. How else do you learn the Lord’s voice and know his leading. I found it is just the nature of people sometimes to jump on board the ship when they can go with you, but the moment you cross over into a place that is unfamiliar and uncomfortable to them, they abandon the ship in a quick hurry! When this happens, I know that the enemy will come immediately and try to convince you that you’ve missed GOD. He lies to you by telling you that you should just quit and do what everyone else is doing. He tells you that you’re too radical and that no one understands you. This is where you have to make a choice. You either, decide to take a stand, set your face like a flint, and say to yourself and to the enemy of your soul, though none go with me, I’M GOING! Or….You may listen to the lie and give up and go back to the familiar and to the crowd. Matthew 14: 28-“Lord if it’s you,” Peter replied, “tell me to come to you on the water.” 29 “Come,” he said. Then Peter got down out of the boat, walked on the water and came toward Jesus 30. But when he saw the wind, he was afraid and, beginning to sink, cried out, “Lord, save me!”
The Lord never intended for us to stay in the boat with the crowd. Frankly, He doesn’t want us to be crowd pleaser either! He intended for us to walk on the water and step out into the deep things of GOD. I refuse to stay in the boat and go through the motions of “acting like a Christian.” No, I may be out here at times by myself in a place that’s unfamiliar but this is where life is. This is what makes it exciting to be a Christian! This is also where I learn who the Lord is and how he wants to direct me and use me. I may even began to sink , as Peter did, when I get out of the boat, but I’ll get out again and again until I don’t sink and the water is solid under my feet. There may be those who are laughing at me, just like I am sure the other disciples who stayed in the boat laughed at Silly Peter, but which of them got to stare into the gaze of the Master and have Him to stretch out his hands to them? Only Peter got to have that experience while the others sat in the boat! Yes some may call me radical but I long to see the Lord’s gaze and have Him to reach for me and bid me to come! I want to be brave and get out of the boat, even if I have no supporters in the boat to cheer me… I will say to the Lord, “I’m coming Lord, I’m coming!
I write this blog today to cheer you! Come on you can do it! Whatever the Lord is asking you to do; He is extending his hand to you and saying “Come trust me!” He will never let you sink! Although Peter may have taken his eyes off Jesus for a brief moment, notice that the in Matt. 14:30 Peter was only beginning to sink when the Lord saved him….Be encouraged, He will not let you sink either, go for it! I would rather get out of the boat and try then to sit in the boat and always wonder if I could have done something differently!
Isaiah 64:8 But now, O Lord, thou art our father; we are the clay, and thou our potter; and we all are the work of thy hand.
Can you guess what kind of bird this is? Below are several hints:
It is the official bird of at least 7 states.
These birds do not migrate, but have adapted to northern and southern climates.
They frequent birdfeeders
Unlike some birds both female and male birds sing.
The male bird has a brilliant red color and the female is an attractive brown
A baseball team has been named after them!
They usually have three eggs at a time.
The male often feeds the female especially when she is on the nest.
Have you had enough hints to guess the type of bird? If you guessed the Cardinal you are correct. I wanted to put this little homely looking bird up as a visual lesson, because all too many times we look on the outside of a thing and judge it before we even know what is on the inside. While looking at this little gray mass of feathers with its little pump knot, it is hard to believe how something so unattractive could become something so beautiful! This bird in my opinion is one of the most brilliant and beautiful birds. When it comes to my birdfeeder or sets in a blooming dogwood tree, my breath catches in my throat for a second because it is so exquisitely gorgeous! When it sings its song, I have to stop and think about the many songs that the Lord gave his creatures to sing his praise!
I know that when people look at me, they may not see beauty, but please don’t judge me yet! God is not finished with me. Like this little bird, I may not be the most attractive thing, but what the Lord is making me into is breathtakingly beautiful! You may say, “well that is a very conceited thing to say!” But I say unto you, I am on the Potter’s wheel, I am being made into his image and his image is indeed perfect and beautiful! You too are on His wheel!
7.Jeremiah (KJV) 18:2 Arise, and go down to the potter’s house, and there I will cause thee to hear my words.
8.Jeremiah 18:3 Then I went down to the potter’s house, and, behold, he wrought a work on the wheels.
9.Jeremiah 18:4 And the vessel that he made of clay was marred in the hand of the potter: so he made it again another vessel, as seemed good to the potter to make it.
6.Isaiah 64:8 (KJV) But now, O Lord, thou art our father; we are the clay, and thou our potter; and we all are the work of thy hand.
We all have our flaws and according to the scripture we are made to be marred in the Potter’s hand! Why? I think we all have flaws so that we will not be judged by others! This truth puts us all in the same boat if you will! We all have need of the Perfect One Jesus! If we find out whom we are in Him and that we are made in His image and began walking in that calling or purpose, we are just like these gorgeous Cardinals. Our life becomes a song of praise to the Master! So don’t judge me yet! God’s not through with me! I am spinning on the wheel being made into another vessel that will hold His glory!
I hope that the next time you see a beautiful Cardinal or hear its song of praise to the Master that you will realize that you are a precious vessel of clay in the Potter’s hand and that regardless of what you are going through, that you are valuable. You’re his greatest creation created in His image! You are being changed from faith to faith and from glory to glory!
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