Hawks Flying

A few years ago, I began to get spiritual insights from hawks.  It seemed God wanted me to start paying attention to how many hawks I would see, and from that He would give me hope and encouragement, from the things that would say to me.

You probably wonder what sort of things?  Well, to begin with, how many would I see along the way?  If I saw one, that would remind me God was watching out for me.  If I saw another one, then that would represent Christ, and if I saw a third, it would remind me of the Holy Spirit.  If I saw five, that would mean to expect God's grace to be apparent in my life.   Seven would represent God's wholeness, ten completion of something, and so on.   Now, were they sitting on a fence post?  On a tree?  On a telephone wire?  On a power line?  Each of these also represented something, too.  Like sitting on a post.  Rest in the Lord.  Sitting in a tree?  We are called trees of righteousness, so it would remind me of my spiritual walk.  Telephone line?  That would be to communicate.  Power?  God is my source of strength.

This brings me to why I brought this subject up today.  Today, Isolino wanted to go to the new Lowe's in Sonora.  That is about a half hour drive.  Going there, a hawk swooped right over our car.  Coming home, another hawk going over us.  This reminded me of what flying hawks mean to me.  It is a reminder to me, that I need to fly on the wings of God's Spirit.  I need to rely on His Supernatural Strength.  I need to remember that the battle is His.  It is His way of telling me that I need to be flying in His Realm, and not this worldly one.

You see, hawks look for that strong airflow, so that they can glide through the air.  They don't have to use their wings as much.  They just soar over things with little effort, and they have a much better view of what they want to see.  So, for us, it means looking for where the Holy Spirit is moving, getting into the flow of that wind, letting go and letting God take over, and then we will save our strength, see more clearly, and have a much easier time of it.

I pray you will all soar this weekend and this coming week.  I pray that this helps you to look and rely more on God.  God bless you all.

A Bit Frosted

The temperatures have been really cold this week.  Not only cold, but with heavy fog, which is very unusual for our part of California.  Yesterday the fog was on our hills, just before our town, and then all of a sudden, we were swamped in a foggy mist, and looked like we were on the moors of Scotland (or that is what I imagine that they'd look like).

Today, again the fog rolled in.  Well, because of that heavy fog, the cold has been very biting.  So frosty in the mornings, that I had to take a shot of this lovely rose, covered with the melting frost.

Sometimes I feel like that.  Like I am numb from the situations around me, that make me feel cold and alone.  But, suddenly, there is a warmth that breezes through, and I realize that God has been there all along, just waiting to warm me up with His wonderful Presence.  So, today (tonight, really), I would encourage you with this thought.  You are not alone, it just feels like it.  If you can hang on, sooner or later, you'll begin to feel God's Presence helping you to warm up to life again, and you'll be so blessed with what He does for you.

Sometimes, it is a beautiful flower, a gorgeous sunset, a sunrainbow (actually called sundogs, but I call them sunrainbows), uplifting music, a hug, a smile, or someone just calling or writing to say, "I love you."  Truly what can really lift you up, is having God highlight a verse of Scripture to your mind or heart, and you get to meditate on it all day long.  Get encouraged all day long, because it feeds your spirit and soul. So, I leave you with this verse, "Taste and see, that the Lord is good."  God bless you all.

When The Storms Roll In

When the storms roll in your life, it is time to fluff up your wings of faith.  Like the eagle that looks forward to the storm, so he can fly higher and longer.

Don't look around you at the problems, but look for the glimmer of God's Presence in the midst of your storm, ready to take you on a flying lesson, like you've never had before.  Think of how those storms are an opportunity for you to rise to new heights, to enlarge your territory.

We see through a glass darkly, because we don't have heaven's eyes to see with.  We see all the problems, but God sees the solution.  He is never surprised.  He knows what it is going to take to get us to the next level.  So, as the waves crash around you, look up, for your redemption draweth nigh.  Your hope is not in the arm of flesh, but God's strong and amazing arms.  He carries those burdens for us, so we are free to explore and learn and grow.

My dear ones, be encouraged today.  As that storm brews around you, think of Philippians 4:8 "For the rest, brethren, whatever is true, whatever is worthy of reverence and is honorable and seemly, whatever is just, whatever is pure, whatever is lovely and lovable, whatever is kind and winsome and gracious, if there is any virtue and excellence, if there is anything worthy of praise, think on and weigh and take account of these things [fix your minds on them]".  Take your thoughts captive, and Philippians 4:8 them.  God bless you.

Swans and Pawns

On our recent trip, we saw these swans in a huge pond area.  I have only seen swans one other time here in California, so this was a complete surprise and wonderful treat.

You may wonder why I called the title "Swans and Pawns".  Well, I am not quite sure myself.  The swans part is easy, but, pawns?  Hmm, what was I thinking?  I think it has to do with what I was sharing with a friend today.  Our choices make a difference, and we are either going in the direction of our destinies, or, we are heading in a totally wrong direction, and become pawns in a war we are ignorant about.  When we get beat up, we don't understand what happened.  But God's Word says "We wrestle not with flesh and blood, but against principalities, rulers, and spiritual forces of darkness."  When we choose to trust God, "He works all things to our good", and Praise Him "Rejoice in the Lord always, and again I say , rejoice."  Then we will see things more clearly.  When we murmur and complain, we are in dire circumstances, for that is what the children of Israel did in the desert and it displeased God.  It is one of the things He hates.  So, our choices make a difference.

So, a swan reminds us of royalty.  That is what God has called you to.  When you accept Christ as your Savior, you are adopted into God's family and become a prince or princess of the Kingdom of God.  You begin to walk into the destiny God called you to.  When you become a pawn, you lose the pathway to your calling.  You begin to open yourself up to the curses of this world, whatever they are.  You become blinded to what is really happening in the spiritual realm.

The truth is we are meant to live in heavenly places.  Supernatural is a God thing, not a spooky scary thing.  Think about it.  Adam and Eve were supposed to live eternally, but because of their choices, they lost that privilege.  Noah saw animals live in harmony on the ark.  Moses saw God part the Red Sea.  David slew giants.  People saw angels on a regular basis.  They were an expected sight.  Peter walked on water, Saul and Silas saw the jail doors open through praise.  We are asked to believe for the impossible, so why don't we?

So, my question to you is, "What will you choose?"  Swan or pawn?  I want to encourage you to think on what I have said.  To believe for better things in your life this year.  To "enlarge your tent", to "believe that God is for you, and not against you.".  You have a beautiful destiny.  You are important.  Your life has meaning.  God bless you with insight and "eyes to see, ears to hear, and a heart to understand.".

Surprising Gifts

You may be wondering what this picture is of.  Well, for the New Years weekend, Isolino, Kaylee, and I went camping at Bodega Bay.  On our way to the campground, we stopped at the viewpoint for the whales.

We were blessed to get to see this whale very close to shore.  So many people were as excited as I was, and I wouldn't even have seen it, if Isolino hadn't pointed it out to me.

We had been here so many times before, and I always thought I might have seen a whale, way out in the distance, but you could never be sure.  This time, as you can see, it is more clear that there is definitely something big there in the water.  We could see them blowing through their spouts and spraying water in the air.  Isolino and Jolynn had come here in August to go deep sea fishing and they were blessed to see some whales that trip too, but further out.  I was so excited that God had allowed me to see these wonderful creatures.

This trip was about a lot of surprises.  I was able to get a woodpecker up close, I saw some swans, I was able to get some sheep, a beautiful hawk, seagulls, waves, whales, cranes, blue herons, egrets, and the most wonderful of all, we had a quiet campground, so our New Years was blessed.

I pray that you, too, get to see God giving you special surprises this year.  I have a dear friend who when she went to Hawaii, said, "God let me see everything I was desiring to see.  It was like He was giving me gifts all during my trip."  That is how I felt on this trip, and I pray you feel that same wonderful feeling of getting gifts wrapped up in God's Love and Care, saying to you, "I love you so much, I want to bless you with the answer to this desire."  If an \earthly father can give good gifts, how much more does our heavenly Father want to give us good things?  A lot more!  He is good.  Believe He has good things in store for you my dear friends.  God bless you!

First Monday of the New Year

This Monday started like most Mondays, with a situation.  I was choosing today not to let anything phase me, and so with each step, just went forward with a laugh on my lips and a joyful heart.

Car situations, late starts, gas crises', and time allotments being challenged, didn't mean a thing.  What was important was to enjoy this day and bring joy to whoever I was with.

I had many nice things happen today.  I saw a lot of hawks, which have a big spiritual significance for me.  I enjoyed the clouds and the sky and the wonder of God's handiwork.  I enjoyed being with my middle daughter and her boyfriend, which I don't get to do very often, and mostly, I was grateful for another day to be here on earth, to have my family be in my life, and to have an understanding husband.

I have many things to share, of this weekend and what God blessed me with, but until I get my pictures done, I have to wait for all of that.  So, Mondays being what they are, this one was neither the best or the worst, but one where I saw my choice of attitude make a huge difference for me.

I received more card orders from one of my sisters, which blessed and surprised me, I received a call from a dear friend of ours wishing us a joyous New Year, and I had a wonderful dinner cooked up by my precious husband.  Our youngest daughter had a good first day back to school with her new teacher and our close friend, Mrs. Garcia.  Then to top the day and night off, our oldest daughter came by and we got to enjoy a long time of sharing together.  My son even blessed me with his "Hey".  God is good, all the time, and all the time, God is good.  God's blessings to all of you.

Happy New Year!

Happy New Year, everyone.  I have been gone a few days and just got back tonight.  I will be posting more than this later on, but just wanted to touch base with you all on this beginning year.

How quickly 2010 passed by.  I am still a bit turned around with this being 2011 already.  Now we are two days, almost three, into the month of January and the new year as well.

Many are probably starting out with new goals in mind, new opportunities to think about, new attitudes to work on, and physical agendas to accomplish.  Let us not forget to work on our spiritual lives as well.  Give it a good shaking out and a look over and an opportunity to praise more, complain less, and strengthen our arms and legs for doing God's work.

You have each been gifted with a talent or a gift as the Holy Spirit has given them out.  Work with what you have.  I am working on artwork this year.  God has encouraged my heart with His Words of "Just do it".  I may not draw or write as well as someone else, but all He has asked me to do, is just use what He has given me.  So, this year that is what I will be doing.  Working with what He has given me and seeing what He will do with it.

God bless you all, and may you find the adventure of using your gifts, a new way of doing all that you can, for Him.