HARMONY

 The church I claim here in Fort Worth had their annual Christmas Cantata recently.  It is quite the production which comes with being a mega church.  They have the funds and talent to put together quite a worship service.  There is a full orchestra--including a stringed orchestra, a hand bell choir, two children's choirs, and a large choir filled with great talent.  If this does not get you into the Christmas spirit---nothing will!  A variety of music is performed including the familiar and well loved carols.  Perhaps my favorite part this year was an African Carol sung in the original language with a percussion band adding to the depth entitled "In Bethlehem".  If you care to hear, go HERE.  

My very favorite choral songs involve a great depth of instruments and voices.  While I love a talented soloist, perhaps harmony is my favorite.  If you think it over, harmony is a great explanation of working together.  There is something about the full rich sound which strikes a chord deep within.  Exactly what is harmony?  There are voices which sing the melody line of the piece which most of us would recognize and can sing.  Perhaps this is the easiest part to sing--since it follows along with the melody.  We have a natural tendency to sing the main melody of a song.  The harmony is added when we sing a third or fifth above or below the melody.  These harmony notes compliment the main tune without clashing.  The notes of harmony blend well with the melody usually following the chords of the song. (I know just enough about music theory to quality as a beginner at best.  What I do know and love is it is all based upon math.)

Is it not wonderful that someone can sing---not the melody---but different notes which give the song a rich fullness pleasing to the ear?  If all the notes were sung as melody--sure it would be enjoyable, but the completeness of singing harmony adds a new dimension to any piece.  The true beauty of any piece comes with all voices melody and harmony performing as one.  It is an offering of fullness and great beauty.

Music gives us a glimpse of the creation of mankind.  We are not all going to be considered walking the middle of the road.  There are those who walk "off path", but what an interesting and divergent world we live in because of our differences.  Those who are inclined to walk through life a bit off the path---are not wrong---they are instead adding depth to our journey.  We all have friends who do not walk the straight path--might even be considered a bubble off center---but OH---the depth they add to our lives.  God, The Creator, the composer of a Great Masterpiece.

"For we are God's masterpiece.

He has created us anew in Christ Jesus,

so we can do the good things

He planned for us long ago."

Ephesians 2:10

YOU ARE WORTHY

 This is one of three large beds of Turk's Cap I have in my new to me back yard.  (Please ignore the lack of grass---that is a next spring project)  If you zoom in---you will see there are SO MANY small blooms all over the plants.  It has been a field day to watch the hummingbirds and butterflies feasting on all the little cap blooms.  What is amazing- in my eyes---I have cut this back twice since I moved in June and yet the largest bloom show is now---just as the hummers are getting ready for their LONG journey.  Why its as if the plant knows in its DNA that those little beauties are in their greatest need for fuel as October ends (I wrote this 2 weeks ago)  Most of the hummers have left with only the stragglers left behind since we have had a couple of cool snaps.  (Literally a snap since summer keeps returning after a day or two of cool)  BUT in the grand scheme---the design plan seems to be--the most blooms are produced at the most dire time of need.  WOW---what a chance coincidence---NOT!  God our Creator God---had the perfect plan for each and every living thing.  

"Worthy are you,

our Lord and God,

to receive glory and honor and power,

for You created all things,

and by Your will they existed 

and were created."

Revelation 4:11

THE NOSE KNOWS

 My daily walk with Hero always allows time for thought since he has to stop and smell every interesting smell  we walk by.  Some days it can be an exercise in frustration and my patience can be stretched thin.  Today----he caused me to ponder that body part---which I spend a great deal of time blowing this time of the year.  I really do not realize I have gone through a faze of LESS allergies until the real full blown season is upon me.  I am back to carrying a Kleenex everywhere I go and having to deal with occasionally forgetting to get them out of my pocket when washing clothes.  THAT IS ANNOYING!

Today as we walked and I watched him grab on to a scent and literally sniff the green off the grass, I began to think about smells and our noses.  Obviously, I cannot smell the scents Hero does with his super power of smell.  I do have a fairly sensitive sense of smell.  Nothing can send me out of a room faster than something stinky.  You have to admit---our noses garner much attention.  Think of all the nose phrases~

Nose First, Nose Dive, Up to My Nose, Keep Your Nose Clean, No Skin Off My Nose, Rub Your Nose In It, A Nose For Something, Nose In The Air, Look Down Your Nose, Nose Out of Joint, Nose To The Grindstone, On The Nose, Pay Through The Nose, Right Under Your Nose,  Lead By The Nose, Not See Beyond Your Nose, Powder Your Nose, Stick Your Nose In, Turn Up Your Nose  and on and on

Obviously we hold noses in high regard.  I come from a long line of people with BIG noses.  Does this mean we smell things better?  Does it make us more prone to nose problems?  Do we follow our nose into the room?  There was even a "nose sock" we created and gifted and re-gifted over the years.  Why we have even made an effort to measure noses to see who won the Big Nose Contest.  Obviously our noses are the center of the face---and some of you have tiny noses which are barely noticed.  I really do not understand how you get a good breath.  Others have "classic noses"----What is a classic nose anyway?  If I had my preference---I would like a nose that worked well, but did not create any problems and, preferably, was not noticed when you gazed at me.  OBVIOUSLY, I do not get my preferences----Thanks to Daddy.  We all inherited Daddy's nose.  

Then there are the smells our nose allows us to enjoy---I think of the smell after a rain shower, the beach and the ocean, a garden filled with blooms, freshly mowed grass, a pot of chili on the stove, a cup of freshly brewed coffee, cookies baking in the oven, a steak on the grill (how I miss that smell!--no red meat--cholesterol raiser), a real wood fire burning, a sweet baby's head, a dirty little boy (girls do no have the same smell), and on and on.  I can get a whiff of one of the familiar smells I associate with good memories and my mind is off to the races with reminiscing.  What a gift our noses are---what a gift to have a sense of smell---what a miracle of creation.  AND you tell me there is NO GOD---the God of Creation---the Master Architect of our world---Who gave us a beautiful gift in the Creation and the senses within us to enjoy His creation .  I AM SO THANKFUL!

"If our bodies were only an eye,

we couldn't hear a thing.

And if they were only an ear,

we couldn't smell a thing.

But God has put all parts of our body together

in the way that He decided is best."

I Corinthians 12:17-18

THE WONDERS OF CREATION

Yesterday we talked of the lilies and how they propagate by growing additional bulbs~ which a new lily will sprout from.  These bulbs are not all connected, but instead break off to form individual plants.  Thus I will have a lily sprout up a foot from the bed of lilies---probably starting from a bulb which was inadvertently thrown by the mower or my spade.  A genius plan of nature to insure the continuation of the species.

Vail, Colorado at a Sweet Friend's Wedding

The photo above was taken in October at the peak of the Aspen turning season when attending a destination wedding.  It was quite the sight to behold!  "Most aspens grow in large clonal colonies, derived from a single seedling, and spread by means of root suckers."  We see the same thing here in the deep south in a much smaller version with crepe myrtle trees.  These trees are all connected to the primary source of one tree.  An interesting fact for you is that you can tell by the color of the turning leaf which colony they belong to.  They are not really very hardy trees (Interestingly enough--neither are crepe myrtles), but ensure the continuation of the colony by continuing to put off shoots for new trees.  You normally find them in the same area as coniferous trees as evidenced by all the green in the above photo.  They are able to survive in the cold harsh climate because their bark is photosynthetic which allows growth after the leaves have dropped (thus the light colored bark). " The colony is made up of trees with a life span of 40-150 years, but the root system is long lived--in some cases for thousands of years."  Another marvel of creation----with such a beautiful master plan for survival.  Who could ever doubt there is a Master Gardener looking at the complexity of nature.

Once again---we are shown how God created with an attention to detail.  Could we ever doubt He has a plan when we take the time to look around us and study the details?  God not only created it all---but He declared it GOOD.  It is good--until man comes along and messes it up.  Think that over today as you notice the world around you.  We were given a beautiful world to live in---and what did we do?

"It is time to destroy everyone

who has destroyed the earth."

Revelations 11:18

IN THE COOING OF THE DOVE

 I have a pair of mourning doves who spend a great deal of time in my backyard.  There is a water source there, it has sun and shade, and the bird feeder is always full.  They greatly entertain and amuse me.  Hero, on the other hand is not a fan and if I dare let him out the door--he chases them off.  They are almost as big as he is, so I am not certain what he thinks he could do---but he is always game to try and catch them.

Here is a sample of the coos I hear daily

Why are they called mourning doves? Dr. Google led me to this information~

"The mourning dove is considered by many to be a sign of hope, love and freedom.  Doves are also a universal symbol of peace and often associated with the holiday season.  Some bird lovers report experiencing a feeling of comfort when a mourning dove visits.  Others believe that it is a message from a loved one or a reminder of someone who is no longer present in your life, but is missed and remembered."

Perhaps this is why I love seeing my pair (they mate for life) and hearing their sweet coo's.  I always enjoy comfort and peace while watching them.

I am reminded of the beauty of all God created for us to enjoy as I ponder the gift of the backyard doves.   Nature, in itself, is a constant and faithful reminder of Who God is.  He is a God who is in the details---every last one of them.  AND the cooing of the dove--is a song unto my soul.

"In the beginning was the Word,

and the Word was with God,

and the Word was God.

He was in the beginning with God.

All things were made through Him,

and without Him was not any thing made that was made.

In Him was life,

the life was the light of men."

John 1:1-4

UNDERBELLY

 Hero led me to today's topic.  When Hero first came to live with me, he had a back injury, so I was very careful with him and did not play with him much.  After he healed (to a point-once you injure your back it is forever weakened to a degree --personal lesson),  we began to play some, but he especially enjoyed a good belly rub.  BUT he was very reluctant to allow me to put him on his back and rub that belly.  Our belly is a vulnerable spot and unless you have conditioned it---there is a reason it is called our soft underbelly.  NOW--God gave us a magnificent set of muscles to protect ourselves in this soft spot of our anatomy--the abdominal muscles.  The one set of muscles it is not only fine to exercise every day--but it is advisable.  Most muscles need a day of recovery between exercise, not so with the abs.  In fact---considering the fact those muscles help us stay upright and walking on two feet instead of four---they are truly an amazing creation.  

If you have back problems, one of the prescribed treatments is to strengthen the abs to take the pressure off the back.  STOP and think about it---our mid sections---back and bellies are responsible for keeping us upright when we have gravity doing its best to push us down.  The same force that can cause apples to fall from trees and great building to collapse in a heap of dust is pushing on us---day in--day out.  It is a miracle of creation that we learn to stay upright and walk around on two feet.  Without those abdominal  muscles to keep the starch in our back, we would be forever on our hands and knees.  God KNEW we would require these muscles to keep us upright--and He provided.  What a marvelous creation we are and what a magnificent Creator who came up with a plan to put us on two feet.  Think about that today as you walk through your day---think about it and praise Him for His provision. 

"I praise you, for I am fearfully and wonderfully made.

Wonderful are your works;

my soul knows it very well. 

My frame was not hidden from You,

when I was being made in secret,

intricately woven in the depths of the earth."

Psalm 139: 14-15

COMINGS AND GOINGS

 The birds' nest on my balcony is a flurry of activity.  The birds spent days and days building that nest (it was blown away in a storm in the early days and they started over), it would seem they are now sitting on eggs.  I did a little research and the birds sit on those eggs for 10-14 days before they hatch.  NOW here is the catch---they built that nest in the dryer vent which is in the ceiling of the second story balcony.  I assume they have enough head room to allow the vent to still function, BUT the question has become do I not use the dryer until they fly?  I air dry almost all of my clothes that I wear, but towels and sheets are both done once a week and dried in the dryer.  I may have to borrow one of the dryers of my offspring for the next little while since they stay in the nest 16-17 days after hatching.  

In the meantime, while sitting on the nest, the mother and father take turns being the sitter.  There is always someone on the nest.  I am truly enjoying watching the process.  The one who has been away will come and sit on the railing and call to the other.  Immediately upon one parent leaving the nest the other takes their place.  The eggs are kept constantly warm, and nothing is left to chance when it comes to raising the birds' family.  Just as great care was taken building that nest--with only the choicest pieces used; the same level of care is now being used in keeping those eggs warm.  Next will come the feeding which I KNOW I will enjoy watching.  The work keeps growing ---but the birds are faithful in their caretaking.

When I think of the Creator God putting all this world into motion, I am reminded of how like His care of us is the care He instilled in His Creation in caring for their offspring.  What a beautiful analogy of Who God Is.  Our Creator---Our Protector---Our Provider---the Faithful Father of us all.  So much to be said for the beauty of the world---and the Wonder of The Creator.

"All things were made through Him,

and without Him was not any thing made that was made."

John 1:3

JUST BREATHE

 HOW MANY TIMES have I told my self to take a deep breath and keep moving.  When talking with Dr. Wonderful during my physical we discussed my being winded occasionally.  My theory is it comes with age and not being in the great shape I once upon a time was.  She agreed that could be the culprit, but said it could also mean I need to get on the tread mill and do a cardio stress test.  LET ME SEE HOW I CAN GET OUT OF THAT!  

Have you ever stopped to consider the act of getting oxygen into your internal system?  It is a wonder in itself---a flipping miracle of creation if I EVER knew one.  By the act of expanding our diagram we inhale the air around us.  It travels to our lungs after being filtered by our bronchia.  The lungs then extract the needed oxygen---mix it into our blood---and the heart pumps it all over our body.  Oxygen is a fundamental need of the human body.  Each and every cell needs oxygen.  Without it the part deprived of the oxygen will die--PERIOD.  It is a marvel--pure genius----what a Creator we have!

I learned the Lamaze breathing techniques decades ago to help bear pain.  It did help during child birth, but I have used it so many times since then when in intense pain.  By slowing down our breathing and concentrating on the action of our breathing---our mind is taken off the pain, our muscles unclench, and we are helped with getting past the pain.  It works--I promise!

The Word is full of references to breath.  We are told in Genesis the very breath of God is in us ~

"And the Lord God formed man of the dust of the ground,

and breathed into his nostrils the breath of life; and

man was a living soul."

Genesis 2:7

In one book, Job, I found 11 verses referencing breath.  There are countless times in the Old Testament it is used.  And then there is the Holy Spirit--the very breath of God . The breath of life that sustains all living beings.    God and breath---so closely intertwined --both so very necessary for life. 

SO the next time you are stressed, in pain, hurt, or in distress---just breathe--and know that God Himself enters you and courses through you with the very act of taking a breath we acknowledge Who He is ~

"Who among all these does not know

that the hand of the Lord has done this?

In His hand is the life of every living thing

and the breath of all mankind."

Job 12:9-10

SUMMER SESSION #16- NOT A DRY THREAD

 I have been battling an episode of the blues.  Who KNOWS where this comes from--something in my inner workings has gone haywire.  I know you remember, I come from a long line of depressed people.  Those of us who are blessed with the down gene battle it in a number of ways.  My personal solution has always been increased exercise.

It is a proven fact that if you get busy and exercise the endorphins you produce will lift your mood.  I call that getting the joy juices flowing.  Depression left untreated does not normally cure itself.  You have to push the reset button to get that new lease on life.

With my increased exercise, I have also cleaned out my sweat glands.  For you see, there is never a dry thread on me when I exercise in the summer.  One thing my body does and does well is sweat.  The James's have a predominate sweat gene.   No matter what time I get up or how late I stay up---exercise in the summer is conducive to sweat.  That old saying, 

(I am not certain I agree with the last phrase, but we will leave that for another day) does not apply to perspiring during exercise.   You cannot even walk out the door without breaking a sweat here in the deep South in the middle of summer.   It is not just hot--it is stifling.  YET--life goes on and we must continue with our daily routines.  We learn to grin and bear it  or smile and sweat through it.  Sweating is God's gift to help cool our bodies.  As long as we are sweating, we are okay.  It is when something goes wrong and we quit sweating during the hot-humid Louisiana summers that we are in trouble.  A heat stroke is just around the bend.

So circle back--my remedy for being down is more exercise.  Exercise produces sweat.  The Great Physician not only gives me a remedy for being down--He also provides the cooling agent to keep me from overheating while pursuing a cure.  What a magnificent God---our Creator---our Great Physician---our provider.  He is AMAZING!

"I praise you, for I am fearfully and wonderfully made.

Wonderful are your works;

my soul knows it very well."

Psalm 139:14

SUMMER SESSION #11- LIGHTING THE WAY

 Here we are smack dab in the middle of the long hot summer here in the deep South.  I seem to be stuck on my memories of the past. " It was the best of times , the worst of times."  Charles Dickens.  As I thought this over I realized though I write mostly about the best of times, there were really hard times growing up also.  It seemed I lived in Mayberry, but there was loss, pain, and stress even in my youth.

Growing up in a small rural town, we were surrounded by woods and fields.  The parish I grew up in was known for its crops and trees.  Many of my childhood friends had gardens in their families.  Many of the families grew most of what they ate.  Canning and freezing were a summer activity for many of the women.  It was a classic example of rural South living.

Having already confessed to being easily entertained, the summer lightning bugs were a favorite evening entertainment.  Remember we might of had a television, but we only received the signal from one station and the offerings were slim.  Thus we often played until Momma finally called us in.  As long as we were out of her hair and not killing each other, we were left to entertain ourselves.  I have sat and watched and even chased lightning bugs many a summer evening.  Catching a jar full to take inside to light up my room was great fun--poor bugs.  They usually were tossed out the back door with the arrival of daylight.  

During those years--in the 50's and 60's there were lightning bugs galore.  I see a handful occasionally today.  It seems the heavy use of pesticides, light pollution and loss of habitat has led to a worldwide decline.  Our march toward the great civilization has robbed us of one of the wonders of my youth.  This is only one example of one of God's creations sadly becoming extinct.

I am showing my age by mourning the simplicity and beauty of my youth.  Yes, life was harder, but the reward of our labors was a simpler life filled with the beauty of God's creations.  Where are we headed?

"And God saw everything that he had made,

 and behold, it was very good.

 And there was evening and there was morning, the sixth day."

Genesis 1:31

REFLECTION

I just finished a book about lighthouse keepers.  An entertaining story which I reviewed this past Saturday.  An unexpected addition to enjoying the book was being reminded of a principle of physics which I have not thought about in a long time.  Side note---physics was the science I loved most---combined science with loads of math.

 OH LOOK--GEOMTRY!  The principle of how a light house works is ~

The Angle of Incidence is equal to

the angle of reflection.

NOW--even if you hated math and abhorred science--this HAS to make sense to you--SURELY?  The days of man operated lighthouses are long gone, but the science behind the technology has not changed.  The rule of reflection remains the same.  NOW---if your mirror is NOT a flat plane---is curved or concave--anything but flat it changes the reflection.  That HAS to make sense to you!

As I thought over this principle I had two take aways~

1.  Our universe was created by God Almighty and the laws of science he used to make are still true today---they have not changed.  Gravity, energy, optics, sound ~ all of the scientific principles used to govern the universe are unchanging.  Do you not take great comfort in knowing the Master Architect knew exactly what He was doing?  What is more difficult for me to believe that God created all of this, or that it all happened quite by accident.

2.  As we absorb what God is teaching us---it is reflected.  There is a direct correlation between how intensely we seek God and how bright our light of reflection is.  Think that over!

I am always amazed at God teaching me in the most unusual ways.  Yes, I read my Bible daily--but there are big lessons which come from His creation, those I interact with, and the subtleties of life.  Who knew reading a book for entertainment could create a storm of pondering?  He is very inventive in His methods and uses all things  for His good purpose.  What an amazing God we serve.

"I praise You

because I am fearfully and wonderfully made,

Your works are wonderful,

I know that full well."

Psalms 139:14

AN ANGEL IN DISGUISE

BEFORE READING--DISABLE THE MUSIC BY CLICKING ON THE DOUBLE BARS ON THE BOTTOM OF THIS PAGE ON THE LEFT SIDE

My grands have unusual and eclectic taste in music.  I listened to their latest favorite song recently and had to share it with you.  Top-tapping--hip-swinging-funny and fun--the song talks about one of my favorite of God's creatures, Mr. Fox.  If you do not remember my love affair with Mr. Fox--click here.

This cute little ditty is all about "What does the fox say?"---What is the voice of the fox?  An illusive-secretive creature--not known for showing their face--they stay secreted in the woods hidden and thus the mystery. God was showing me favor during the season that I watched my two foxes.   I looked up the "Real" sounds of a fox and found this video:



 I was pleasantly surprised to find I had heard of a couple of these in my lifetime.  It would seem the fox has several voices--and yet because he stays secreted away--we do not recognize or know his voice .

Have your found your voice of God?  Do you stay secreted away--so that no one really knows your God voice?  Are you bold and courageous and use that God voice so that all recognize You are His?  We are all guilty at times of hiding that voice and staying back hidden in the shadows--but how is the world to know if we do not come out in the open and share our call?  I am thankful today for the joy in the lessons of God's creation all around us.

FOR FUN---When you click the arrow-you must again click to go to Youtube. 

" But ask the animals, and they will teach you, or the birds of the air, and they will tell you; or speak to the earth, and it will teach you, or let the fish of the sea inform you.  Which of all these does not know that the hand of the LORD has done this?"

Paperback book is here:

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