Looking Up

Lately I have become absolutely fascinated with clouds. Not like when I was little, trying to find animal shapes in every one I saw, but in the simple beauty of each one. Like snowflakes each one is unique. I first began really paying attention when I was leaving church one evening & the clouds over the steeple were breath-taking. 

So began my real love for God's day 2 creation, "And God called the firmament Heaven." Genesis 1:8a. I began taking pictures of anything interesting I saw in the sky. Sometimes I look at the sky and I can almost hear the trumpet call. "For the Lord himself shall descend from heaven with a shout, with the voice of the archangel, and with the trump of God; and the dead in Christ shall rise first: Then we which are alive and remain shall be caught up together with them in the clouds, to meet the Lord in the air: and so shall we ever be with the Lord." I Thessalonians 4:16, 17.

Not all clouds are fair & peaceful. Some are dark and angry. My mind's eye goes to God's judgment, for I Thessalonians 4:16, 17 speaks of the redeemed of the Lord. What of those who are not caught up with Him in the air at the trumpet's call? Do not be deceived into the mindset that a God of love would never bring His wrath on those He created. He is the God of love, but also the God of righteous judgment. "And the seventh angel poured out his vial into the air; and there came a great voice out of the temple of heaven, from the throne, saying, It is done. And there were voices, and thunders, and lightnings;" Revelation 16:17, 18a

                                                                                                          

But I am secure in the promise of Jesus, "In my Father's house are many mansions: if it were not so, I would have told you. I go to prepare a place for you. And if I go and prepare a place for you I will come again, and receive you unto myself; that where I am, there ye may be also." John 14:2,3

   

So I will keep looking up, anticipating. I think I am beginning to long for home.

                                              WHEN A CLOUD VANISHES IT IS GONE

                                                      MUCH LIKE THE LIFE OF MAN

                                         THE CLOUD MOVED BY THE BREATH OF GOD

                                                 LIFE GUIDED BY HIS UNSEEN HAND

                                                                                                   Shirley S. Jerome

                                                                                                   Copyright 2011

In The Trash Bag

Didn't realize it had been so long since I posted on my blog. Just haven't been in the blogging mode, I guess. Now that I'm here?????

Took a week off from work to do some much needed craft clean out, throw out, pass on to others. Was quite proud of myself that I was really able to let go of so much, but still more to do.

Funny what you learn about people by what they save. What do you hang onto? I hear people say they never keep anything they don't use all the time. I can't imagine that. I'm one of those mothers/grandmothers that still has the kindergarten announcements for each child & grandchild. I know one day they, too, will go in the trash bag. But not now. Not yet. It makes me smile to read the little stories and poems, even though the thoughts were all jumbled together. I touch the locks of hair from each of my children & see their little faces before the locks were cut. I run my hand across the leather cover of my daddy's Bible and remember when we gave it to him. I read the handwritten poems in my mother's notebook and long to talk to her. I hold my granddaddy's wire rim glasses & picture his children gathered around him while he reads the Bible. These little things have made me who I am. They will be handed down to those I leave behind. Then it will be up to them to decide which memories go in the trash bag. I can imagine the roll of the eyes & the "Gee, thanks Mom."  I think God will let me look down on that, and with a little chuckle I'll say. "Oh, you're sooo welcome."

A Peaceful Place

With all the stress and tension that life seems to produce these days, a peaceful place is a priceless treasure. When I was a teen there was a river about 2 blocks from my house. There was a boat landing there but it was used mostly on Saturdays. So many times I would go there just to sit and think, to let the cares of teen life float away with the twig I tossed into the water. I miss that little place by the river. The boat landing is no longer there.

Last fall, at a neighborhood reunion, I took this picture at a park near our old neighborhood. 

We all long for a place of solitude. I wonder why I haven't been back with my chair and a book. I keep telling myself when I retire, I will. Why do I put off the things that offer me a time when the Lord can speak to me? My days are filled with rushing, my ears filled with the noise of confusion, and all the time this place of quiet rest awaits. I knew when I stood there taking this picture, I was looking at God's Word.

"Fore thus saith the Lord, Behold, I will extend peace to her like a river...." Isaiah 66:12a KJV

Words That Will Bless

Not my words, although I would like to think that God uses my words to bless someone else. I'm referring to an old hymn. If you have seen My Favorite Songs list, you've seen the first one is Come Thou Fount (of Every Blessing). This is a beautiful old hymn, and I do mean old. It was written in 1758 in Norfolk, England by a 23 year old preacher  (although some sources give the date of 1757 and his age as 22). His name was Robert Robinson. He wrote the song to use with his sermon on Pentecost Sunday. It has blessed hearts for over 250 years. I love the melody written by John Wyeth, although I prefer it slower than it's 3/4 timing. I like it slower because the words really sink in when it's done that way. Have you ever heard this song? If so, have you taken the time to really read the words? Not only is it poetic in its old English style, it is a song of praise, thanksgiving, and surrender to God. There are many, many beautiful songs echoing throughout the earth in praise to God, but none that can compare with this old hymn. Next time when you are at a church service, providing they have the old hymnals, look up Come Thou Fount, and you will find words that bless.
 You can find many versions on You Tube, but Fernando Ortega does one of the best. He's added some bridges of his own, but the integrity of the song remains.

 

Time Is Flying

Saturday, March 12, 2011. Boy, how time flies! Did your mother tell you that the older you got the faster time went? You thought she was crazy, didn't you? I did when mine said that. How can time go faster? The earth is turning at the same rate; be serious!  Well, here I am now watching time fly.
My oldest daughter is the age I should be and my youngest granddaughter is the age my son should be. Instead my son is getting married in 3 weeks and I'm thinking about retiring. Mama was sooo right.


Still there are things I want to do, places I want to go, people I want to help, Christ's love I want to share, grandchildren I want to love. God lets me know every day, He's not through with me yet. He puts people in my path (or on my computer) that need someone to love them & care what happens to them. Sometimes just a word can make all the difference in a life.


So time moves on - swiftly - and I'm running (limping, dragging, gasping) to keep up till God is through with me.  A little more time, please Lord.

NATURE SINGS HIS MAJESTY

                    Nature sings His majesty
                    From snow laden trees
                    To pastures green
                    To crashing waves of foamy seas

                    Nature sings His majesty
                    From skies of brightest blue
                    To darkness of moonless night
                    To freshness of morning dew

                   Nature sings His majesty

                   From endless grains of sand

                   To mountains regal heights

                   To canyons carved through land

                   Nature sings His majesty

                   From babbling brooks

                   To rock strewn hills

                   To forest paths of innate crooks

                   From shifting desert floors

                   To river, ocean, sea

                   All creation joins as

                   Nature sings His majesty

                                       Shirley S. Jerome

                                       Copyright 2011

                 

To Transcend Time And Choose

Have you ever taken your status in life and transcended time to walk the streets of Jerusalem when Jesus was there? Just as you are today, what would you have been then?

I've thought about that many times. As I am considered middle class American, what position in society would I have held at the time? I see myself as a simple peasant, one of the multitude who sat listening to His teachings. As I had a hunger for God even as a child, I would not have been able to resist hearing what this Man had to say. Being the mother of three, I would have taken my children with me ( which would have proven a challenge with the third, a rambunctious little boy). Would Jesus have noticed that my little one was becoming a distraction? Surely the disciples would have noticed. Would Jesus have taken my child upon His knee & kissed his auburn hair? Would He have drawn my girls to His side to look lovingly in their faces? This is the dream I have if I could walk those streets when Jesus was there. For I know this would have changed not only my life, but the lives of my children.

But there is also another choice I would have had. As a wife & mother, I would have had no time for storytellers. I would have thought it foolish to expect three young children to sit for such a period of time. Although there may have been some interest kindled within me about this Man & the claim that He was the Messiah, I would have pushed it aside and went on with my daily chores. Forever missing the blessing of hearing & believing.

It's a sobering thought. To choose to let Him change you or to remain as you are. Either way will have an impact on the lives of your children. Either way will mean death. Yes, that's right. To choose to follow Him condemns you as it did Him, but with the promise of eternal life. To choose to remain as you are, insures your death & condemnation for eternity.

Transcend time & make your choice.