Starry, Starry Night

The sky is sooooooooo beautiful tonight! I just couldn't pull myself away to come inside. It is literally a blanket of stars! While I was sitting out on my back steps tonight, these words came to my mind.

Sky of beauty, my blanket of stars

Hovers above, betwixt Earth and Mars

Millions of lights glowing tonight,

Too many to count -- oh my, what a sight!

My God has placed them, each one in it's spot

A thoughtful design, by accident it's not.

They glisten and sparkle, to my eyes a delight!

I could lie here and stare 'til morning's first light.

There's a chill in the air, a sign of soon Fall

Yet I must remain here for a moment, that's all.

To take it all in, my eyes gaze and stare

A sweet reminder of my God, Who is always there.

Why did He give me this feast for my eyes?

Just to tell me He loves me, and remind me He's mine.

What a Master Designer we serve and adore,

His hands alone created all I see and more!

I want to go in, it's getting quite cold,

Yet my heart is so warmed, I could stay 'til I'm old!

How I love the night sky and the God alone who made it

A picture like this, no other artist could create it.

Creation speaks of the One who ordered

each star and planet and galaxies unbordered

Though vast and unmeasured, they span Heaven above

Only to speak of His unending love

To me His dear child, to all here on earth

The stars all declare my God who is worth

All the praise I can speak, all the thanks I can give

For a Father above, who gives me reason to live!

Thank you God for each star in the sky

A lovely reminder of each daily "Why?"

Just because you chose, from your heart of love

to offer forgiveness and a home above

to all who receive your gift eternal

A Savior to all, and grace supernal.

My heart is grateful for all You have done,

For daily blessings and for sending your Son.

When I look at the stars You've generously scattered,

I am reminded from You of what really matters.

To acknowledge You in all that I do

To be mindful in all, that I reflect You.

Please guide me and lead me in the way I should go,

To walk in your ways, Lord, help me to know!

How I love the night sky, a million sparkles to remind me

Of a God who is faithful, and treats me so kindly!

God Loves Emily

Tonight my Emily came running in the house, excitedly calling me..."Mama, mama, come see! It's a miracle, it's a miracle! Get your camera! Oh, Mama, you just won't believe it!"

I grabbed my camera and followed her outside, asking "What? What is it????"

"Look at the sky Mama! See how much God loves me?"

I looked up and saw big puffy clouds swirling and blowing over-head, pre-thunderstorm-ish....

"Mama, remember last year at the ladies conference? Remember we all picked something to remind us of how much God loves us? Remember, Mommy, how I picked the wind? Every time I see the wind blow, it is God reminding me of how much He loves me! Remember that Mama?"

Then she stretched out her arms and closed her eyes and let the wind blow over her as she said "Oh look Mama! God loves me so much He is blowing the whole sky around! Not just the trees and the grass -- but the WHOLE SKY! Mama, it's the hand of God!!!"

Then I snapped this picture, gave her a big hug and told her that she was right, God sure does love her ALOT!

Then I walked inside with tears of joy in my eyes and gratitude in my heart for the wonderful God we have, who takes the time to swirl the wind around just to remind a little girl of how very much He loves her!

That picture is worth a thousand words to me. I printed it out and put it on my desk as a reminder of the goodness of God, and of the special faith of a child, who freely opens up her heart, shuts her eyes tightly and just lets the love of God blow over her. Daily, I need to be reminded to do the same!

Bound In The Bundle

After I got the kids going with school work this morning, I took my Bible and went outside to sit in the sun on my porch steps. I had already done our daily reading earlier in the morning, but it just seemed like God was saying in my heart to go and read some more. There is a chapter in I Samuel that I read often, it is one of my favorite Bible stories, and I have literally read it hundreds of times over the years, and a bunch of times in the last few weeks -- but today I found something in there that I never noticed before.

I came to I Samuel 25: 29 and saw the words "...bound in the bundle of life with the Lord thy God..."

I'm not exactly sure why, but those words really touched my heart in a special way today! Maybe it's because of recent events, or concern over upcoming surgery, or who knows why...but I thought it was such a wonderful statement from God! I realized that when our life is held in God's hands, we really have no reason to fear or worry. We each have a "bundle of life" that God has given to us, and it is a bundle that He carefully holds.

I had a number of thoughts go through my mind...we use the phrase "bundle" when referring to a new baby, a bundle of joy, or we bundle up a baby in a blanket. Doesn't the word "bundle" just make you feel secure when you think about it? Or sometimes I have taken a gift, or a treat for someone, and I will bundle it up and carefully wrap it so that nothing will fall out and nothing will be damaged or lost. How wonderful to think that God does the same with our bundle of life!

Last year my children spent a few days at Pastor and Miss Julie's house. When they returned, Emily asked me at bedtime "Mama, can you bundle me up tight in the blanket like Pastor did when me and Chris went to sleep at their house?" And every night since then, she asks me to bundle her up in her blanket tightly like Pastor did -- Just that kind gesture of being bundled up to sleep gave my Emily comfort and security -- and it seems like I can never get the blankets "as tight as Pastor does"... But I try! That reminds me of how we are "bound in the bundle of life with the Lord".

I have read this chapter so often that I almost have it memorized, and yet -- God can still give me something fresh and new and heart-changing from those verses. God knew I needed to be reminded of His security and protection and care. Isn't it great to know that when we belong to God, we are bound in the bundle of life with Him. Even the word "bound" implies that we are wrapped up tightly, and tied securely. What a wonderful bundle God has given me! I am so glad that He knows my bundle from start to finish...He knows where I began and He knows where I will finish, and He knows every single step along the way -- and He has it all bundled up safely with Him. He is not going to lose my bundle, or drop it somewhere, or misplace it. He is not going to ask someone else to take care of it for a while, He is not going to set it down and forget about it. He is not going to place it in storage, or put it out with the trash. He keeps it with Him, bound and bundled. Safe and Secure.

"Bound in the Bundle of Life

with the Lord thy God"

What a glorious thought!