The Lamp

I grew up in the country and as kids we all had our share of chores to do. From the youngest to the oldest, we all did our share.

My brother and cousins helped milk cows for a farmer up the road from us. They milked every morning before school and every day after school. Nothing stopped the cows from being milked, not weather, or sickness or weekends, or holidays.

The road that led to that barn seemed at least a mile away and on nights when it was so dark you could not see your hand in front of your face it seemed even farther.

Each evening we younger children loved to run and meet our brothers coming down that road and they loved to tease and scare us senseless all the way home.

Our Uncle always kept an old kerosene lamp burning and hanging on his porch to light our way. He told us it was there to keep the "boogers" away.

Walking to and from that old barn each night , we hoped he was telling the truth, as our imaginations created many a scary thought. Wind and shadows and sounds played tricks on our minds.

However, we could see that light and it kept us focused on our destination.
Our steps were true and full of confidence as that old lantern swayed on its hook spreading it's light in front of us.
Guiding our footsteps, lighting the way. It assured us we were okay, headed in the right direction, on the right path and close to the safety of home.

Now, as when I was a child God's Word and love are still doing for me what that old lamp did for me so long ago. Guiding, directing, encouraging and keeping me on the way that is the straight path, lighting the path that always leads to the safety of home.

Psalms 119: 105
Your Word is a Lamp unto my feet, and a Light unto my path

Kaleidoscope

As I look around, I see a kaleidoscope of colors.

Pale gold flakes spun intricately into bright red leaves.

Crisscross patterns of yellow and orange swirl through the air and spin to the ground.

Rust colored flags blow in the breeze then slowly cascade to the autumn carpet below.

Snug nests built and designed to prepare for the coming months ahead are under construction.

Bare branches with almond colored bark now show through the leafless trees.

Grandmothers’ quilt of colors covers the landscape as autumns beauty slips into place.

To everything there is a season, A time for every purpose under heaven: Ecclesiastes 3:1(NKJV)

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

Strong Winds

There are three huge pecan trees in my yard;
they are so beautiful.

I wish I knew how old they are and how long
they have stood sentry over my yard.

I am thankful for the cool canopy they
provide for our house in the summer, and
I love the bare beauty of them in winter.

They supply a bounty of nuts for me and all
the birds and animals in my yard. We all collect
our share and squirrel them away for future use.

I worry all season about those trees,
are they getting enough water?
Are they getting too much water?

Will the storms and winds break their delicate branches?
I have seen them bent almost to the ground from fierce winter winds and violent summer storms.

Battered by wind, hail, lightning, and rain, yet they stand!
They have persevered and become grounded, their roots have become soundly planted and with each passing year they dig deeper, mature, and grow stronger.

I think about our lives compared to those trees.
Throughout the storms of our life do we grow our roots stronger, do we become soundly planted or do we allow ourselves to be battered and beaten to the ground.

Unlike those trees, we have a Savior, who faced the ultimate trials and storms to save us all.
He catches the wind in his fists, and calms the waters and waves and rebukes the storms that come to destroy His children..

When we face wind and rain and hail, all we need do is look to the Cross and Stand!


Ephesians 3:17 That Christ may dwell in your hearts by Faith; that you , being rooted and grounded in love