VIEW

This post was written for Five Minute Friday

Word prompt--VIEW 

Five minutes to free write about it

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One of the things I'm most grateful for about my apartment is the view. Without going any further than my balcony, I get to see the majesty of God's creation displayed right before my eyes. I have been regaled with rainbows, full moons, sunrises, sunsets, and the changing colors of the trees in spring and fall, as well as by a variety of birds and wildlife. 

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I have placed my rainbow in the clouds. It is the sign of my covenant with you and with all the earth. -- Genesis 9:13, NLT

The heavens proclaim the glory of God. The skies display his craftsmanship. -- Psalm 19:1, NLT

For ever since the world was created, people have seen the earth and sky. Through everything God made, they can clearly see his invisible qualities--his eternal power and divine nature. So they have no excuse for not knowing God. -- Romans 1:20, NLT

BUTTERFLIES, ALPACAS, AND A COLORFUL GARDEN

Saturday was a perfect day to be out and about. Blue sky, temperature in the 80s, and best of all, no humidity, so I agreed to go on a little photo expedition with my daughter.

We went to Butterfly Hill Farm Store in Waterford, Virginia, a quaint little country store that sells alpaca wool products (made from the wool of their own alpacas), items made by local craftspeople, and some antiques. 

On weekends, the owner brings over some of her alpacas and puts out alpaca feed that visitors can feed them.

This one has quite an underbite. 

There is also a colorful butterfly garden on one side of the property, which was our main reasons for the visit. Unfortunately, the large butterflies such as monarchs must have been on a break, because we didn't see any. That was disappointing. However, there were many small orange, yellow, and white ones flitting around.

LEST WE FORGET

This post was written for Five Minute Friday

Word prompt--FORGET  

Five minutes to free write about it

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The first thought that came to mind was the phrase, "lest we forget." That seems to be something we humans are prone to do--or at least this human (me) is. 

As I pondered the phrase during my quiet time this morning, I thought to leaf through an old tabbed notebook/journal of sorts in which I used to record ways the Lord had revealed Himself to me. Each incident was listed under the tab that best illustrated that particular facet of His nature--Jehovah Jireh, Jehovah Rapha, El Shaddai, etc. 

My notebook has other tabs as well, such as God's Grace, Pursued by God, Thus Saith the Lord, and Lessons Learned (some of which seem to have been forgotten over the years). 

It was not by chance the prompt to look for the notebook came to me at this moment in time when I've been feeling discouraged by what seems like a never ending stream of challenges and frustrations. Reminiscing over the memories provided me with some much needed encouragement, as well as a reminder that God never changes. What He did for me in the past, He is more than able to do again.  I can trust that He is in control, and though I may not know what tomorrow will bring, He does, and He holds tomorrow in His hand.

You saw me before I was born. Every 

day of my life was recorded in your 

book. Every moment was laid out 

before a single day had passed. 

(Psalm 139:16, NLT)