March 25, 2011

The Little Things…

Sometimes it’s the little things in life that lift our spirits… And that dogged determination to do what we’ve committed to on days we’d rather not, that helps too.  So, did I say I was going to make a point to hike up Scout once a week?  That once-a-week stuff comes around awful quickly.  Anyway, there’s more than one way to get up Scout, so for variety I came up from another angle following the Sunshine Coast Trail…
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…and here’s what I found…

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...wild currant bushes creeping into bloom.

Catching some sun on a mossy (wet seat, oops!) clearing I had time not only to vent some frustrations to the Maker of Creation but to stop and look at His gifts to me this day…unseen gifts of continuing grace and faithfulness... and little tiny beautiful things with texture and color and life…

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(Doesn’t this drop look like a little earring?  My apologies for the lack of focus…)

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The Moss is all excited about spring—putting out bouquets underfoot…

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Surely God cares about the little things that seem so big to me for He makes even the tiny things beautiful. And here it is, beauty springing up underfoot when I take time to look.
 'He has made everything beautiful in its time.' Eccl.3:11


--LS


“Fear not, little flock; for it is your Father's good pleasure to give you the kingdom.”—Lk.12:28

March 18, 2011

Anticipation

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“I don’t think there’s any comparison between the present hard times and the coming good times.  The created world itself can hardly wait for what’s coming next.  Everything in creation is being more or less held back.  God reins it in until both creation and all the creatures are ready and can be released at the same moment into the glorious time ahead.  Meanwhile, the joyful anticipation deepens…”  —Eugene Peterson’s paraphrase of Rom.8:18-21
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And every springtime we get to practice the anticipation of life coming from death, beauty from drabness, warmth from chill…

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On rainy afternoons such as today’s it’s hard to imagine summer sun, but there are hints of spring underway all about the yard…

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In the coy beauty of a prim bud…


and the rain-drop ornaments of lupine leaf…
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Spring is on the way!  Resurrection life is no false hope. 

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So ‘we rejoice in hope of the glory of God!’ (Rom.5:2)


Here’s hoping you’re seeing hints of springtime’s promise in your days, whether through rain or shine.

--LS