I was seized by the beauty of the canopy in our back yard after yesterday’s rains. It brought joy to my heart.
The Walk to the Water Gardens
A few times a year I try to break away for a time of solitude and prayer. Such times help me to refocus and gain some much-needed perspective on life. Sort of like climbing to the top of a high hill and being able to see the lay of the land below.
The Rose Wall
A few weeks ago I had the chance to break away for a day a prayer at Longwood Gardens just outside of Chadds Ford PA.
My son and I arrived at Longwood after a late breakfast. We walked the gardens together through lunch time and then he headed off to work leaving me with a six-hour block of time to read the Bible and pray.
Joe at the waterfall
Lately I have felt a bit overwhelmed by the scope of work I see God opening up before me. I brought many of my concerns about my own ability to Him that day. In response He took me to the words of Hebrews Chapter 11
” Now faith is confidence in what we hope for and assurance about what we do not see. 2 This is what the ancients were commended for.”Heb. 11:1
The Webb House in the Meadow Garden
As I pondered how I should address my current responsibilities in faith I took a long walk through the meadow garden. During the course of that walk I stumbled upon this sign.
I realized then, that every time I begin to get a handle on the pace of life the pace of life seems to quicken. The answer I was left with was to rest in the flow. God also reminded that I am not alone in the boat. If the work is increasing then the labor force has to increase as well.
The night is coming on fast and there is still much to do. God showed me that while I might see a corner piece of some of that work even that much is not mine to do. I don’t have to do everything I see, only those things I see my Father doing.
When my son met me at 9 that evening I felt ready to take on these new challenges facing me in ministry.
When was the last time you took a day to pray and get your bearings? What has the Lord been telling you in your prayer time??
Happiness grows at our own firesides, and is not to be picked in strangers’ gardens
Douglas William Jerrold
I am so happy God gave us such a beautiful weekend and such a beautiful countryside to enjoy it in!
If you hope for happiness in the world, hope for it from God, and not from the world.
I am happy that in spite of the chilly weather (only in the 50’s) the summer flowers are beginning to bloom!
“Very little is needed to make a happy life; it is all within yourself in your way of thinking.”
― Marcus Aurelius, Meditations
The black locust is in bloom filling the evenings with the scent of jasmine and grapes. How could anyone not be happy with the scent of Heaven filling the yard?
This post was created in response to Cee’s challenge: Floral Macros
Check out other floral macros here:
http://ceenphotography.com/2014/06/03/cees-fun-foto-challenge-floral-macros/
This post was created for Cee’s Fun Fotot Challenge: LEAVES &TREES
http://ceenphotography.com/2014/05/06/cees-fun-foto-challenge-leaves-and-trees/
I found this tree in the Koog ZanDyke neighborhood just outside of Zandaam the Netherlands
I suppose it’s more of a giant pine cone than a leaf but I thought it was kind of cool.
“Mortal as I am, I know that I am born for a day. But when I follow at my pleasure the serried multitude of the stars in their circular course, my feet no longer touch the earth.”
― Ptolemy
This post was created for Cee’s black and white Challenge. When you are finished here take a peek at Cee’s other subscribers over at
http://ceenphotography.com/2014/03/12/cees-black-white-challenge-made-made-objects-2/
Here are my picks of the week.
“Those who contemplate the beauty of the earth find reserves of strength that will endure as long as life lasts. There is something infinitely healing in the repeated refrains of nature — the assurance that dawn comes after night, and spring after winter.”
― Rachel Carson, Silent Spring
“The tree which moves some to tears of joy is in the eyes of others only a green thing that stands in the way. Some see nature all ridicule and deformity… and some scarce see nature at all. But to the eyes of the man of imagination, nature is imagination itself.”
― William Blake
“There is a pleasure in the pathless woods,
There is a rapture on the lonely shore,
There is society, where none intrudes,
By the deep sea, and music in its roar:
I love not man the less, but Nature more”
― George Gordon Byron
Lillie-Put 