Late Summer Reflections

It is mid August and the air is hot and breezy. As we sat, sipping coffee on the porch, we listened to the call of the locusts and wondered whether it was due to size or species, that their tones were so varied. Monarchs flitted by; arial artists on the wind. First upside down, then sideways; stopping on the goldenrod which is in full bloom now. Their red clover has passed by and only brown heads remain. They will be missed as the pinks lent their color to fields which will be covered with only golds and browns soon. I almost hate to think of this as late-summer but one must look reality in the face and see that even the maples are beginning to tell us so.

Autumn is truly my favorite time of year, but the passing of Summer is still a sad thing. It is like when someone dies. This particular Summer will never return again but will be buried beneath the leaves and eventually a heavy blanket of white snow. Yes, a new one will spring up, as beautiful as this one was but we will all be a year older; so perhaps we should say, a year wiser, to enjoy it even more!

We walk down the long drive and see the blackberries growing in the tangle of shrubs and brush. They are certainly huge this year. As I enjoy the sweet, juicy fruit I thank the Lord for making such a wonderful treat; and all wrapped up in a clean, edible package!

When we neared my brother's cabin, Mom and I parted ways. Ruger went on his coveted walk with "Grammy" while Coco and I continued on down the hill to start supper and pick a few things from the garden. Coco is just too little to keep track of and, anyway, Ruger loves his alone-time with Mom.

I expect we have a beautiful late-Summer evening to look forward to. I hope you enjoy it. Thanks for taking part in our afternoon here on the hill.

Troubles Without

Though it appeared that all was quiet on the hill at 6:00 this morning, something troubling obviously lurked outside. Ruger became very edgy; barking and pacing in the driveway. I tend not to let him carry on and bark too much in the yard, especially at this hour, so I let him in where he continued the behavior; pacing to the door and up onto the stair landing, which acts as his perch while he watches through the window for any outdoor activity. I could see nothing; nothing in the yard; nothing in the field above; nothing in the hedgerow across the road; but there was something out there. When I got him through the full-bark stage, he was told to lay down and there he continued to grunt, half-bark, groan and quietly "woof". He's a great watchdog and I am thankful that this scene does not happen very often.

Little Coco is visiting this week and had never heard Ruger bark in the house. She decided that tight to my lap was the safest place to be, and that's the position she assumed.

It is hard to concentrate on reading anything when you are constantly reminding someone to, "shhh", "lie down" and "okay, that's enough". I am studying from John 15 about Abiding in Christ. This study has been so good. Small phrases and words that I needed refreshing on, or had not seen before keep popping up; "clean through the Word", "and I in you", "my words abide". The Bible is truly a Living book. We can never come to the end of what God can teach us through it. I love to talk to elderly saints who are still learning and growing through God's Word.

The episode with the dog this morning made me think of some of the verses in the epistles. In II Corinthians, Paul related that when they were come into Macedonia they had no rest. It said, "we were troubled on every side; without were fightings, within were fears. Nevertheless God, that comforteth those that are cast down comforted us..." In Galatians, Paul writes that "there be some that trouble you and would pervert the gospel of Christ." In chapter five he refers to one who troubled the believers, that he would "bear his judgement".

There will be those things or people who will trouble us from without and perhaps even cause fears to arise within. Whether this person or circumstance is troubling us physically or spiritually, we have a God who comforts us!

It's 7:22 and the trouble on the hill seems to have passed. Only an occasional half grunt is heard now. No doubt, later today I will hear from a neighbor that a bear was out on their back lawn or a coyote was in the other neighbor's yard eyeing her chickens. The last two times that Ruger acted this way these were the causes. Coco has moved back to her spot, nestled into the blankets on the couch. All is quiet here again.

Now may be just the time to be able to concentrate on reading again. I hope you have a quiet morning, wherever you are.

The Waters Gushed Forth!

My hubby rented a backhoe this past weekend. He dug a trench that led from our house, down into the edge of the woods where the promised waters lay beneath the ground. We were told that two branches of water came together in this spot. As Syd neared the dig-site, he was praying that he truly would make a strike, especially since we are in a dry spell at this time. I relate this story as it was told to me. Once the trench was completed Syd positioned the backhoe and planted its feet in the rich, black earth. When he was about 3 foot down he began to hit dry, sandy soil. That was not a good sign, he thought. Down about another foot or two it was a bit wetter and he started to see seepage. Within another foot he had seen a trickle of water coming through the walls; then with his next scoop the waters came gushing in! He figured the scoop to be about 20 gallons, as it appeared to be four 5-gallon pails of dirt lying there. By the time he swung the bucket back around, the hole was FULL of water! He dug the hole down to solid ledge. We now have an 8 X 4 foot hole with about 5 feet of water standing in it. Next come the well tiles, etc. (which I say because I don't know the details of all that comes next).

I do know that I am looking forward to water running right into the house, though I've been getting used to the hauling and heating. Oh yes, did I mention, it will be cold AND HOT water? We have a brand new water heater waiting to be fired up!

The Lord blessed us with water even during a dry time. He so often does this spiritually also. There are times when I seem to be spiritually dry; not of the Lord's will, but because of my own inner struggles. Even during these times when He does not seem so near, He is there holding me up; "And underneath are the everlasting arms". I am so thankful that the Lord is always faithful even when we may not be. He brought the Israelites water in a dry and thirsty land, "where no water is". There was the Rock from which water gushed forth to sustain that entire nation.

We are thanking Him for bringing us water; both physical and spiritual!

The Breeze Through White Curtains

Through the cotton curtains blows a breeze that can only be described as "delicious".

A dry, Summer day; sun and breeze;

The claw foot tub full of warm soapy water;
Cowboy boots lay askew near the closet and denim hangs over the chair.

As the warm water washes over the troubles of the day,
Cool, delicious breezes blow through white cafe curtains.

Relaxed, with a book laying nearby;
while a lavender candle wafts its scent through the tiny room.
Bubbles pop and gather round, drinking in the added spice of rosemary and tea tree.

With head rested on a towel and eyes drooping,
sleep comes softly, then weighs heavily over the body.

Waking to the sound of a robin beneath the window,
The cooling water calls, "warm me!"
With the flip of a lever the tub begins to drain, then--
"why not?"

On comes the faucet, refilling the bath with its hot, liquid rest.
Another hour, just one more;
While the cool, delicious breezes blow through white cafe curtains.

I wish this was a description of my afternoon, but it's simply something that I dreamed up while in my mother's bathroom the other day. We have been experiencing some dry, sunny and cool days here, and truly the breeze was "delicious" on Thursday and Friday.

Thoughts with my Popcorn

Why is it, when you make pocorn, you must eat the whole bag? At least I do. Don't I think that it will taste good a little later? I'll admit, it's not very good the next day, as it coats my tongue with lard. I do so enjoy those little half-popped kernels at the bottom of the bag and I like cracking them open between my teeth! It doesn't take alot to make me happy. Someone called me "high-maintenance" once and my husband and brother in law laughed out loud!

Lord willing, Syd is renting a backhoe this weekend and will start digging our well. I told him a few weeks ago that I didn't think I could handle things being any better in my life, as I couldn't get any happier. I must admit, running water will greatly add to my present bliss. Don't get me wrong, I go through times when I'm downright unhappy to heat that water and do a mound of dishes. My answer? "Don't let the dishes mount up so much!" I talk to myself alot and often scold when I'm in this frame of mind. This may be why the Lord never gave me children (I speak in jest) because I am not very sympathetic. "So what if you fell down, jump up and brush yourself off!" My mother used to say, "PRESS on it!" about our bruises and bleeding wounds. She was a GREAT Mom! and still is! I think I get my practicality from her.

Recently I found myself in the midst of being misunderstood again. Often when we are with people who know us pretty well we can still feel like we're lost and don't fit in. It was after one of these times that I found myself asking the Lord, "what is wrong with me? How do I make others feel, really?" Unfortunately we can't step out of ourselves and see who and how we REALLY are with others. In reading the Scriptures that particular day I was reminded that the Lord knows ALL about me, as it says in Psalm chapter 139. I cannot hide anything from Him and He sees me from the inside and knows even my motives. It is such a comfort to remember this. The Lord has got me figured out! even though I don't. He knew me before I was conceived, therefore didn't have to "figure", of course. It is a comfort to remember that He is forming my character and conforming me to His image, though I don't always see progress.

The Lord continues to use I Corinthians chapter 13 to remind me of what true love is and how I need to view and treat others, whether fellow-believers or people I have little in common with. With all our little "quirks" we live among and relate to one another on this earthly plain. Every so often I like to take each phrase of I Cor. 13 and say, "Do I love like that? Do I love without thinking evil? without being easily provoked? Do I bear, hope, believe and endure all things?" etc.

I am at the end of my popcorn bag now and have just finished cracking open that half-popped kernel. It's time to go into the evening, this time, thankfully, to just a few dishes that I could not get to this morning.

A Guard at the Door

This title came to me before the words to today's post, which is unusual. I always wait to title each writing until after I am finished. When I was stepping out the door to say goodbye to Syd this morning, I saw this HUGE spider hanging up near the top of the doorframe. I knew at that moment that I would simply stand in the window and wave my farewell from inside. I am not afraid of spiders, but the sheer size of this one did scare me a bit.

Just how does one relocate a big barn spider like this? I have considered trying to get it on the end of my broom and taking it quickly out to the garden. I would rather not have it crawl upon my arm when picking tomatoes either though. Of course I thought about killing it but then I think of all those little baby spiders. I wish I had never seen Charlotte's Web! Perhaps this is a male!

The web, which I could not get in a picture this morning, is lovely. I am sure that he is catching many moths and flies that would potentially be flying around in our house; but at this point all he would have to do is drop to the floor and waltz right in when the door is open for a few seconds! At this very moment he may be weaving a new web across the portal's opening.

I hardly have time to reflect upon and write about how this guard at the door reminds me of two particular verses in scripture. Proverbs 4:23 says, "Keep thy heart with all diligence; for out of it are the issues of life." and Psalms 141:3, "Set a watch, O Lord before my mouth; keep the door of my lips." The latter verse is the first one which popped into my mind upon seeing this guard at the door. The word, "keep", means "garrison about". Perhaps it was the sheer size of this spider, but he definately reminds me of a guard. As a believer, by the power the Lord gives, I have the ability and the responsibility to diligently keep my heart. Within our hearts are the issues of life. What we are "made up of" is revealed by what we say and do, but it comes from what lies within our hearts and minds. Our character is formed in our heart, the core of our being. I pray that the Lord will keep me diligent to keep OUT those things that should not slip in through the door. We are bombarded with the world on every side.

Lord help me to so fill my mind with good, namely the Word of God, that a web will be woven, acting as a shield to keep these things from entering my heart.

This brings my thoughts back to our newest resident. I guess it's the broom for him. I will attempt to persuade him to move further under the eaves down at the end of the house. Tonight I'm quite sure that I will see at least one moth flying around my kitchen light though!

Building A Wall

I sat with a sweet christian friend today. Among believers there is always a kindred Spirit because it is the Holy Spirit living in each of us. As we talked I realized just how blessed I am to have her. We have only known each other for one year but we share many similarities and much the same background. With her "story" she encouraged me and I did the same to her. We both thanked each other and the Lord for the "iron sharpening" that was going on. Proverbs 27:17 says, "Iron sharpeneth iron; so a man sharpeneth the countenance of his friend."

One other thing that came to mind while we talked is just how strong and faithful the Lord is to keep his Word. We both reveled in the fact that we could run to Him with any problem that we had had to face through the years. She has been married one-and-a-half years, I have been for 31 years, but some of the struggles she is now facing were the same that I had faced, and sometimes still do. We were glad to hear that the solution for each of us is the same - RUN to the Lord with the problem, and to no one else! We don't need human beings to solve our "issues", as the world would like us to think. We only need the Lord Jesus Christ. He keeps His Word and rewards those who are faithful to Him. It is certainly nothing within ourselves that makes us stronger, and yet it is the Lord who is building our character.

For the past 15+ years my brother has been working on a rock wall which runs alongside our lane. He started at the bottom of the hill and at each stage the wall has become taller, wider and stronger. That is so much like our faith. At its beginning it may be quite small, but as we proceed "up the hill" the Lord allows more "rocks" to be piled on. As we yield to Him He makes us grow ever stronger and we become one who is covering more area, reaching out wider at our base and able to carry a heavier burden. The wall that the Lord builds can withstand the storms of any adversity that may come upon it.

I see this in the life of this special friend whom I was with today, as well as in the lives of many others around me. There is a strength that presses me on to allow the Lord to build my life to His specifications.