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.

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.".