Category Archives: beach sunsets

Faith illuminations

30 Monday Jul 2012

Posted by in armor of God, beach sunsets, crafts, faith, Fun stuff for kids, peace, wisdom and understanding, worry

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“Be very careful, then, how you live – not as unwise but as wise, making the most of every opportunity, because the days are evil.”   Ephesians 5:15, 16

Have you ever felt like you were under attack?  It happened to me this morning while I was trying to think about how I should do this post.  I couldn’t concentrate and I felt like the devil was aiming one fiery arrow after another at me.  Arrows of doubt, worry and anxiety about finances, health concerns and other problems like a swarm of hornets kept stinging my mind.  In a previous post I had talked about how to push the delete button when these worry thoughts enter your mind, but truthfully it’s just not always that easy.  Certainly replacing them with positive thoughts helps but the devil is very cunning about the ways he tries to get control of our mind and render us useless to God.  The devil always finds our weakness and takes advantage of it.

“So if you think you are standing firm, be careful that you don’t fall.”                     I Corinthians 10:12  

Then it hit me that in truth, my faith was being attacked.  What I needed to do was put on the armor of God.  I imagined that I was taking up “the shield of faith, with which I would extinguish all the flaming arrows of the evil one” just as it says in Ephesians 6:16.  I also imagined putting on the helmet of salvation to protect my mind and thoughts.  I wanted only God’s wisdom to enter my mind.  I also carefully placed over my shoulders the breastplate of righteousness to protect my heart and emotions which seem so fragile and easily wounded.  But I remembered there was more and each piece of armor was important.

“Therefore put on the full armor of God, so that when the day of evil comes, you may be able to stand your ground, and after you have done everything, to stand.”   Ephesians 6:13   

Ah yes, when the devil attacks he often knocks us off our feet and I want to be ready. So we must “stand firm with our feet fitted with the readiness that comes from the gospel of peace.”  I’m still pondering what this readiness means.  Perhaps it is to be ready to help when we see the need of a neighbor or to be ready to speak out about injustice or just to blog about whatever the Holy Spirit lays on our hearts.

The next verse states the importance of putting the belt of truth around your waist.  The devil hates truth and is the author of all lies.  And so when your armor is in place take up the sword of the Spirit, which is the word of God and pray.  You will always stand firm if you are securely anchored to the rock of God’s promises.

“Be self-controlled and alert.  Your enemy the devil prowls around like a roaring lion looking for someone to devour.”   I Peter 5:8


Fun Stuff For Kids:  Suit of Armor

I made the suit of armor for our grandson out of a heat shield that blocks the sun coming in the windshield of your car.  I also made shields and swords with a bible verse from Ephesians 6:10 attached to each for the 2nd grade Sunday school class that my husband and I taught.  I always teach the children that “Our God is bigger than any problem.”  Our God is awesome!

“Finally, be strong in the Lord and in His mighty power.”   Ephesians 6:10

You may have noticed that these are “bubble wand” swords.  I like to think that the devil’s lies can be popped just like bubbles by the sword of the Spirit.  But if you are not familiar with the word of God you won’t be able to stand on His promises and recognize the devil’s lies.  Teach your children those promises so that they will be prepared when the need arises.

“But the LORD is faithful, and He will strengthen and protect you from the evil one.”   II Thessalonians 3:3  

“And the peace of God, which transcends all understanding, will guard your hearts and your minds in Christ Jesus.”    Philippians4:7

 

Unfailing Love illuminations

09 Monday Jul 2012

Posted by in beach sunsets, Christianity, depression, wing like clouds, wisdom and understanding, worry

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“How priceless is your unfailing love!  Both high and low among men find refuge in the shadow of your wings.”         Psalm 36:7   

“Praise the LORD, O my soul, and forget not all his benefits- who forgives all your sins and heals all your diseases, who redeems your life from the pit and crowns you with love and compassion.”   Psalm 103:2-4

Do you feel like your life is in a pit and you can’t crawl out?  Or maybe you’re just caught in a rut and can’t seem to change your direction to a more satisfying path.  Perhaps you were pushed into the pit by someone else and you’re suffering from a divorce, financial problems or have lost your job.  Or maybe you have been digging your own pit with bad health habits, drugs or alcohol.  Possibly the pit is so deep that you don’t see any way out.  But the good news is that there is a Friend who can help you climb up and out.  

Only Jesus can give you the strength to quit bad habits and forgive those who have wronged you.

Only Jesus can heal you of your diseases and forgive your sins.

Only Jesus will take compassion on you and redeem your life with His love.

Only Jesus can renew your life and give you a fresh beginning.

“Why are you downcast, O my soul?  Why so disturbed within me?  Put your hope in God, for I will yet praise him my Savior and my God.”  Psalm 43:3

Take hold of His hand and trust Him.  He will help you.  His love never fails.

Jesus replied, “What is impossible with men is possible with God.”   Luke 18:27

4th of July Fun and Fireworks

25 Monday Jun 2012

Posted by in beach sunsets, beauty, faith, fireworks shows, fun stuff for grandparents, Fun stuff for kids, Hearts Filled With Joy, parade floats, sandcastles, thunder storms and lighning, wisdom and understanding

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The heavens declare the glory of God; the skies proclaim the work of his hands.  Psalm 19:1

The fireworks displays on the 4th of July have always been for me the most beautiful and exciting part of each celebration.  A few years ago I was very disappointed that the sky was cloudy and rainy and we were not planing to go see the fireworks.  As the sky grew darker and darker, a great thunderstorm rolled in and we could see flashes of light and hear rumbles of thunder in the distance.  As I watched out my window I saw one of the  best fireworks shows I had ever seen with  bolts of lightning zigzagging across the sky and huge crashes of thunder. I shall always remember it as the year that God provided the fireworks and it was awesomely magnificent!

Fun Stuff For Kids  

In our small town when I was growing up, the 4th of July  celebration began with a parade.  When I was very small I was allowed to ride on the vintage firetruck   at the front of the parade.  It was a little scary when they blew the siren but I was reassured when I saw my father walking along beside the firetruck  and my mother waving in the crowd.  When I was a little older we decorated my doll carriage and I felt very grown up walking my baby doll in the parade.  I always wanted to be a part of the parade and often decorated my bike spending hours using colored crepe paper and winding it in between  the spokes on the tires.

Following the parade the town put on a small carnival in the park and I remember riding a little train and playing carnival games in hopes of winning a stuffed animal.  I don’t think I ever won but it was fun trying.

We always had a wonderful picnic dinner that Mother prepared when I arrived home.  Roast beef on homemade rolls with chips and icy cold deviled eggs and marshmallow fruit salad.  Dessert was strawberry shortcake on made from scratch muffin cakes, divided in half and covered with big scoops of vanilla ice cream, fresh strawberries and a dab of whip cream.    Yum, it was delicious!  This was always followed by the town putting on a fantastic fireworks show about dusk.  We would take a large blanket to the park and lie down snuggling up to each other and ooh and ah after each one went off.  Those sure were fun times

Float Building for the Parade  

After I was married, we moved to a small town that also had a wonderful 4th of July  parade and fireworks. Each year we had so much fun dreaming up and putting together a float that consisted of a wagon and some big boxes.  It was usually pulled by our oldest son on his  tricycle or bike.  One year we did, “You’ve Come A Long Way Baby” with a covered wagon and a rocket ship.

                 Our daughter rode in the rocket ship and her baby brother in the covered wagon and they were quite content with lollypops to stay put.  Our oldest son pulled it on his bicycle and he deserves the award because it was quite a load!

Another year we built a train which we named “The Liberty Belle.”  Our son the engineer pulled his baby sister who rode quite happily in the caboose. 

One of the most fun floats we ever built was when my sister, her husband and son came down to visit and we designed the Pollution Plucker.  It had multiple arms and legs made out of bathroom and  kitchen utensils.  It was a very funny looking contraption and had all the parade viewers laughing as the kids rode by pulling it on their trikes.  It was designed to be a litter picker upper and the two boys were dressed like litter bugs with bits of paper glued to their outfits.  The idea was to harness your litterbugs.  Our daughter dressed in her best white dress was happy to ride inside it.  Needless to say it won first prize which thrilled the kids.  I think every town needs a Pollution Plucker!

Sand Castle Fireworks  

Now that we have grand kids, we have discovered that one of the best fireworks shows is on the beach.  The excitement begins early in the day.            We set up our lounge chairs and watch a beautiful sunset going down over               the ocean.  The children wade in the reflected light along the beach searching   for shells.

Then the Uncles and Dads provide an early display of Roman Candles shot from a large sand castle that they have worked on with the kids throughout the day.  As it grows darker we can see beautiful fireworks being shot off all all along the beach.  Seeing all these beautiful star-bursts in so many colors and listening to the laughter of the grand kids with their faces lit up with light from their sparklers fills my heart with joy. And so I look up and whisper a prayer of thankfulness to my Savior that we live in freedom and I pray that God will continue to bless America and enable all the people of the world to live in freedom. 

My Blessing List illuminations

14 Monday May 2012

Posted by in beach sunsets, Hearts Filled With Joy, horses, mountains, wisdom and understanding

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“Many, O LORD my God are the wonders you have done.  The things you planned for us no one can recount to you; were I to speak and tell of them, they would be too many to declare.”     Psalm 40:5  When life deals you a bitter blow and you can’t sleep because your mind is filled with worries and whys that whirl around in your head like a swarm of gnats that won’t let you rest then deliberately change your focus from the present to the blessings from God in the past.  A few years ago I decided to make a list of some of the best blessings that I have known and am thankful for.  Yet each time I would try to make a list I found like David said in his psalm that “they would be too many to declare.”  Now when I feel stressed and anxious about the future just reading my list relaxes me and fills me with peace knowing that my God is a great and awesome God whose love never fails.

At the top of my list of blessings would have to be my personal relationship with Jesus who is my Best Friend and Savior.  I am also so very blessed to have 4 children and 8 grandchildren which my dear husband and I get to enjoy most every week.  And now to the list I would like to include some of the precious memories of times I have spent with them.

1.  When my daughter was only four, I helped her plant a tiny twig of a pine tree. When she turned seven, she helped me plant more than 200 tiny pine tree twigs and together we loved and cared for them through flood and drought.  It doesn’t seem so long ago and yet now they have become a fragrant forest and she is a beautiful young woman with little children of her own.

2.  I have watched my grandchildren sleep snuggled close to me and listened to them giggle when they’re tickled.  And I have heard them pray and talk to God with childlike  faith knowing that their heavenly Father will care for them just like a loving Daddy. 

3.  I’ve seen the beauty of a deer followed by her fawn crossing our back yard and once my grandchildren found a baby fawn.  In springtime tiny waterfalls bring music to my secret garden in the woods and I have listened to the crickets sing and watched the evening fireflies rise up spreading over meadow mists like a million tiny Christmas lights.  And with my children I have  watched the stars come out while making wishes and hoping for a shooting star.

4.  I’ve pulled the sack from a newborn pup and watched its mother lick and warm it into life.  And I have seen a newborn colt stand up on wobbly legs and later  dance across the grass to the music of the wind. 

5.  I found a Sea Horse near the shore and I carried it out to the deep and watched it swim away and I’ve rescued many starfish stranded on the beach.  I’ve seen a double rainbow and the unfailing love of God in wing like clouds that overshadow me as I travel down life’s way.  6.  At midnight I have rafted down a river in Alaska and seen a glorious sunset reflected in my true love’s eyes as we watched eagles flying home.  And I have seen the majesty and splendor of the snow capped mountains and heard the mighty roar of giant waterfalls.  I have watched as storms rolled in across the  ocean and felt the gale force winds and heard the  crash of giant waves.  And I have also listened for the still small voice of God and been rewarded in the silence.

7.  I have felt the power of the Holy Spirit in my life and praying for a miracle discovered that what seems to be impossible is possible with God.  And I have seen the glory of God from sunrise to sunset and felt the joy of His Presence deep within my heart and soul and know that I’ve been blessed. 

“If I rise on the wings of the dawn, if I settle on the far side of the sea, even there your hand will guide me, your right hand will hold me fast.”                            Psalm 139:9,10

A few weeks ago I was honored by being nominated for the Versatile Blogger award and I first of all want to thank my friend at newviewfromhere.wordpress.com for his kind words and nomination.  In receiving this award, I have been asked to: (and the same goes for you)

  • In a post on your blog, nominate up to 15 more fellow bloggers for The Versatile Blogger Award.
  • In the same post, add the Versatile Blogger Award.
  • Thank the blogger who nominated you and link back to them in this post.
  • Share 7 things about yourself that most people don’t know.
  • In the same post, include this set of rules.
  • Inform each nominated blogger of their nomination by posting a comment on each of their blogs.

I have decided to nominate 7 blogs for the Versatile Blogger Award because each of these 8 have blessed my heart over and over again with their posts.  There are many other blogs that I love reading as well, but I think most of them have already received this award or do not have the time to follow the list of instructions that go with it.  I have included a list of blogs that I follow at the top of this post.

Here is a list of my nominees: 

  1. altarofheaven.wordpress.com
  2. charinabrooks.wordpress.com
  3. godthang.wordpress.com
  4. jadedbygrace.wordpress.com
  5. mychainsrgone.wordpress.com
  6. malouprestado.com
  7. onemoremorning.wordpress.com

And what about you dear reader.  Have you made a blessing list?  I would love to hear about it.

Wise and Foolish illuminations

24 Tuesday Apr 2012

Posted by in beach sunsets, beauty, Christianity, Fun stuff for kids, Hearts Filled With Joy, lakes, mountains, streams, wisdom and understanding

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“Where then does wisdom come from?

Where does understanding dwell?”  Job 28:20 

“God understands the way to it and he alone knows where it dwells, for he views the ends of the earth

and sees everything under the heavens.”  Job 28:23 

“But it is the spirit in a man, the breath of the Almighty, that gives him understanding.”  Job 32:8  ‘”Has not my hand made all these things, and so they came into being?”  declares the LORD.’  Isaiah 66:2a 

“This is the one I esteem:  he who is humble and contrite in spirit, and trembles at my word.”  Isaiah 66:2b

“But every one who hears these words of mine and does not put them into practice is like a foolish man who built his house on sand.”  Matthew 7:26

“The rain came down, the streams rose and the winds blew and beat against that house, and it fell with a great crash.”  Matthew 7:27

“And he said to man, ‘The fear of the Lord-that is wisdom, and to shun evil is understanding.'”  Job 28:28 

Hearts Filled With Joy

09 Monday Apr 2012

Posted by in Amazing Grace, beach sunsets, beauty, Christianity, Easter, favorite songs, Hearts Filled With Joy

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“Jesus answered, ‘I am the way, the truth and the life.  No one comes to the Father except through me. ‘”

Last night we were so blessed as we listened to “Amazing Grace” played on bag pipes as the sun went down by a man standing out in the ocean on the sandbar.  Adults as well as children all along the beach stopped what they were doing and stood still, listening until the last note was played and the sun dipped into the water and disappeared.  Then everyone began clapping many with tears in their eyes.  It was the perfect ending to a beautiful Easter Sunday.

“AMAZING GRACE”

“Amazing Grace.”  This hymn has touched people’s lives for close to 250 years, yet it is as fresh and meaningful today as the day it was first written.  We hear it everywhere…in church services, radio, movies and television.  It always evokes the deepest personal emotions.

 But, who wrote it?  And, under what circumstances?  It is truly astonishing that it was written by John Newton, a self-confessed sinner with no equal in debauchery and blasphemy.

 John’s life was cruelly changed with the loss of his loving and religious mother at age six.  His father, a famous sea captain, ignored him then left him with a substitute mother who hated him.  She put him away in a boarding school where he was mistreated and abused.

 Captain Newton took John to sea as a common sailor when John was only eleven years old.  He was forced to live with the sailors in the hold of the ship who taught him every vice known to man.  John reveled in it and quickly lost the religious qualities his mother had tried so hard to instill in him.

 His life took another turn when he was introduced into the family life of the Cattletts, dear friends of his late mother.  There he met Polly, who was destined to become the love of his life.  She was only fourteen and John had not secured any position worthy of asking for a young girl’s hand in marriage.  He was rebuffed by Polly and her parents.

 On a return trip to visit Polly, he was pressed into the British Navy and was forced to fight in naval battles.

 John’s conduct worsened.  In his journal he wrote, “I was the chief of all sinners and if I had my way, I would have taken the whole human race to hell with me!”  He deserted the ship only to be caught and returned.  He was punished severely by the whip and keelhauling.  Eventually the Captain tired of his conduct and traded him off to a slave ship on its way to Africa.  There he was enslaved by slave traders who treated him the same as their African slaves.  He remained a slave for two years until he was rescued by a friend of his father.

 On the return trip to England, which took 4 months, the ship was caught in a terrible storm and the ship was in grave danger of sinking.  John, on deck, was swept toward the sea and realizing that his life was at an end, cried out to God, “Lord save me!!”  Miraculously a huge wave knocked him back into the ship and he was saved.  The ship limped back into Ireland with John a completely changed man.

 He married Polly and became a minister.  He was asked to speak to Parliament by Prime Minister Wilberforce against slavery.  It was his influence that resulted in England outlawing slavery over a hundred years before it was outlawed in the United States.  He wrote over 300 hymns and was one of the first ministers in England to make hymn singing a part of regular worship.  His most famous was…”Amazing Grace.”

 At one of his last sermons in his old age he stated…

 “They tell me I’m getting old and perhaps I am.  But the one true thing that I know is that I’m a great sinner and God is a great Savior.”

        Amazing Grace

“Amazing Grace, how sweet the sound,
That saved a wretch like me….
I once was lost but now am found,
Was blind, but now, I see.

T’was Grace that taught…
my heart to fear.
And Grace, my fears relieved.
How precious did that Grace appear…
the hour I first believed.

Through many dangers, toils and snares…
we have already come.
T’was Grace that brought us safe thus far…
and Grace will lead us home.

The Lord has promised good to me…
His word my hope secures.
He will my shield and portion be…
as long as life endures.

Yea, when this flesh and heart shall fail,
and mortal life shall cease,
I shall possess within the veil,
a life of joy and peace.

When we’ve been there ten thousand years…
bright shining as the sun.
We’ve no less days to sing God’s praise…
than when we first begun.

And our hearts were filled with joy!

Glorious illuminations part I

26 Monday Mar 2012

Posted by in beach sunsets, crafts, fun stuff for grandparents, Fun stuff for kids, Hearts Filled With Joy

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“For God, who said, “Let light shine out of darkness,” made his light shine in our hearts to give us the light of the knowledge of the glory of God in the face of Christ.  II Corinthians 4:6

I love to go shell hunting with my grandchildren.  The tiny little Coquina butterfly shells that come in so many beautiful colors are among our favorites to collect and admire.  But finding sand dollars are the best of all because they tell the story of Christ.  They are imprinted with a flower-like design on the top of the dollar that resembles the Easter Lily and on the back of the shell is a Poinsettia- the Christmas flower.

The five holes represent the five wounds borne by Christ when He hung on the cross.  The five pointed star in the center represents the star of Bethlehem that guided the Wise Men.

When the sand dollar shell is broken open five tiny white doves are found- the Doves of Peace which represent the hope of eternal life that Christ, God’s beloved and only Son gives to each of us who believe.

Fun Stuff For Kids and Grandparents

One week around Thanksgiving I found so many sand dollars on the beach that I decided to turn them into Christmas ornaments by mixing two parts Elmer’s glue and one part water together and carefully brushing about three coats on each side of the sand dollar, letting it dry between each coat.  Then I tied a pretty red Christmas ribbon on each and included the story of Christ that the sand dollar represents.  A friend of mine later told me that her daughter after seeing the sand dollar ornament on her tree decided to give sand dollars away to all the guests at her wedding.  Isn’t it amazing what God can do if we will just listen to him and find out his plan for our life and follow it.

Our beach neighbor loves to make a shell garden each year for his grand kids.  Our grandchildren like to see and admire the many wonderful varieties of shells that Bob finds on the beach and displays in his garden.

More Fun Stuff For Kids or Adults

I decided to make a shell covered treasure box with some of the shells I have collected on the beach.  I bought peel and stick, glitter foam that comes in 10 assorted colors and only costs about $5.00 at Walmart.  I cut out pieces from one of the sheets to cover a tiny treasure box that I bought from a beach gift shop for only $2.99.

Next I glued an assortment of small shells to the lid with Elmer’s glue.  The glue took quite a while to dry but it did stick the small shells to the top of the box.  A hot glue gun might have been faster, but I wanted to see if I could use this craft later with the grand kids.

The box was already lined with a black velvet material, but if it hadn’t been I would have cut more glitter foam in a contrasting color to line it with.  It is always fun to find a useful way to use our collections.  Enjoy!

Beach Friends

This morning I met up with two of my sweet beach friends as I was out walking.  Louise was in a terrible auto accident months ago and now is overjoyed to be able to be back walking the beach again.  Her friend Dino came to the hospital and stayed with her night and day the first couple of days after the accident.  That kind of friendship is very special.  It reminds me of the verse in Proverbs 17:17:  “A friend loves at all times…”

Jesus asks us to leave all and follow Him.  But what those who refuse never find out is that by leaving those things we think will give happiness, we discover the delights that God offers and which bring lasting joy.  As we walk out of the darkness and gloom into the light of His presence, he places a new song in our heart.  That song is a song of joy that only the love of Christ can give.

No matter how tired and exhausted we feel when facing great difficulties, by coming to the LORD and crying out to Him, we discover that our strength is renewed like the eagle who is lifted by the wind currents.  And there in His Presence , as we place our trust in Him the joy of the LORD becomes our strength.

When my mother died, after suffering with Alzheimer’s disease for 3 years followed by a stroke that took away her ability to walk and talk, my spirit was weary and downcast and I felt very sad.  But as always my wonderful Savior gave me words of comfort in my devotions and bible reading.   The following morning I read:

“But those who hope in the LORD will renew their strength.  They will soar on wings like eagles; they will run and not grow weary, they will walk and not be faint.”  Isaiah 40:31

I began to visualize my mother happily walking the beach with her beloved Savior singing hymns of praise the way she always did.  She looked just like Helen Hayes with her lovely white hair and she was always out on the beach before dawn so she could watch the sunrise.  She had a soft, sweet voice and people called her the singing beach lady. I am confident that if God can create such beauty in our world here on earth with gardens of flowers and birds, sunsets and beaches, mountains and forests;  then heaven must be all that and even more glorious.

“Blessed are those who have learned to acclaim you, who walk in the light of your presence, O LORD.”  Psalm 89:15

Each evening after dinner we all go out to the beach to watch the sunset.  Often the beach is very wide and it is possible to walk along the sandbar and discover many sand dollars and other treasures.  Children develop a real sense of appreciation for beauty at the beach.  Shepherd, our two year old grandson, will sit spellbound beside us in the sand watching the big red ball of the sun go down and dip into the ocean.  God in His wisdom has planned so many beautiful things for us to enjoy!  How important it is for us to keep our spirit alive and see His creation with the eyes of our heart as we teach our children and grandchildren to know Him and develop a close relationship with Him.