“When I consider your heavens,
the work of your fingers,
the moon and the stars,
which you have set in place,
what is mankind that you are mindful of them,
human beings that you care for them?” Psalm 8:3-4 NIV
With Love, Cindy
Click this link to learn more about Jesus: Who Is Jesus?
Photo by Juri Noga on Unsplash
realchristianwomen.blog
“For since the creation of the world God’s invisible qualities—his eternal power and divine nature—have been clearly seen, being understood from what has been made, so that people are without excuse.” Romans 1:20 NIV
With Love, Cindy
Click this link to learn more about Jesus: Who Is Jesus?
Photo by Pascal Müller on Unsplash
realchristianwomen.blog
I’m a To-Do List, planner, scheduled-day kind of person. I didn’t realize how much until recently.
It was early in the morning, about 6:00, when I let my dog, Bella, out the back door. Sunny skies, a gentle breeze, and the sweet sound of birds singing greeted me. I sat down on my little black bench to enjoy it for a minute.
I already had coffee in hand, so I drank it outside instead of hurrying into my office. Suddenly, a hummingbird darted past and paused to drink from the bright pink Hibiscus bloom peaking out from my neighbor’s balcony.
A baby bunny hopped out of the cornfield and looked around. A striking red cardinal flew to my bird feeder and looked me right in the eye. “Are you going to put any seed in this feeder or what?” he seemed to say.
A bright yellow Monarch fluttered by. It was like God had orchestrated his creation to entertain me. I couldn’t leave my seat.
After a while, this Scripture came to me, “Be still, and know that I am God.” (Psalm 46:10)
I sat peacefully, obediently, enjoying the beauty right outside my door. My brain stopped buzzing around like it was on fire.
Then, God reminded me that His plan is never what a person thinks it will be. Abraham didn’t know that Sarah would give him a son in her old age. Jacob didn’t know he would have to work twenty years for Laban before he could leave with Rachel. And Joseph could never imagined that God’s plan would land him in prison. But all these things were part of God’s plan!
If these men of God were like me, they would have been thinking that it was all their fault that things were working out so badly. But God’s will was being accomplished through ordinary, imperfect men – in spite of their flaws.
I learned something important that day. Sometimes I just need to slow down, quiet my brain, and observe God’s creation. It reminds me that He is God. And I might hear that still, small voice.
“And behold, the Lord passed by, and a great and strong wind tore into the mountains and broke the rocks in pieces before the Lord, but the Lord was not in the wind; and after the wind an earthquake, but the Lord was not in the earthquake; 12 and after the earthquake a fire, but the Lord was not in the fire; and after the fire a still small voice.” 1 Kings 19:11-12
With Love,
Cindy
This Is My Journey Unscripted.
(Re-posted from July, 2018)
Do you want to become a Christian? Click this link to learn more: Who Is Jesus?
realchristianwomen.blog
reblogged from archives
Photo by David Clode on Unsplash
I’m a To-Do List, planner, scheduled-day kind of person. I didn’t realize how much until recently.
It was early in the morning, about 6:00, when I let my dog, Bella, out the back door. Sunny skies, a gentle breeze, and the sweet sound of birds singing greeted me. I sat down on my little black bench to enjoy it for a minute.
I already had coffee in hand, so I drank it outside instead of hurrying into my office. Suddenly, a hummingbird darted past and paused to drink from the bright pink Hibiscus bloom peaking out from my neighbor’s balcony.
A baby bunny hopped out of the cornfield and looked around. A striking red cardinal flew to my bird feeder and looked me right in the eye. “Are you going to put any seed in this feeder or what?” he seemed to say.
A bright yellow Monarch fluttered by. It was like God had orchestrated his creation to entertain me. I couldn’t leave my seat.
After a while, this Scripture came to me, “Be still, and know that I am God.” (Psalm 46:10)
I sat peacefully, obediently, enjoying the beauty right outside my door. My brain stopped buzzing around like it was on fire.
Then, God reminded me that His plan is never what a person thinks it will be. Abraham didn’t know that Sarah would give him a son in her old age. Jacob didn’t know he would have to work twenty years for Laban before he could leave with Rachel. And Joseph could never imagined that God’s plan would land him in prison. But all these things were part of God’s plan!
If these men of God were like me, they would have been thinking that it was all their fault that things were working out so badly. But God’s will was being accomplished through ordinary, imperfect men – in spite of their flaws.
I learned something important that day. Sometimes I just need to slow down, quiet my brain, and observe God’s creation. It reminds me that He is God. And I might hear that still, small voice.
“And behold, the Lord passed by, and a great and strong wind tore into the mountains and broke the rocks in pieces before the Lord, but the Lord was not in the wind; and after the wind an earthquake, but the Lord was not in the earthquake; 12 and after the earthquake a fire, but the Lord was not in the fire; and after the fire a still small voice.” 1 Kings 19:11-12
With Love,
Cindy
This Is My Journey Unscripted.
(Re-posted from July, 2018)
Do you want to become a Christian? Click this link to learn more: Who Is Jesus?
realchristianwomen.blog
Photo by David Clode on Unsplash
In the beginning was the Word, and the Word was with God, and the Word was God. He was with God in the beginning. Through him all things were made; without him nothing was made that has been made. John 1:1-3 NIV
With Love,
This Is My Journey Unscripted.
Do you want to become a Christian? Click this link to learn more: Who Is Jesus?
realchristianwomen.blog
Many thanks to Jan Trabue for Photos!
“But ask the animals, and they will teach you, or the birds in the sky, and they will tell you . . . Which of all these does not know that the hand of the Lord has done this?” Job 12:7-9
Watching the birds from my porch always brings me closer to God. I wrote a poem this morning based on what I saw.
Lord, Thank you for my birds so sweet. Thank you for the food they eat.
Thank you that she has a mate. A lovely male to share her plate.
Thank you for the songs they sing – praises to our Lord and King.
Doves pick up the seed below. Your plan, O God, that all will grow.
The Crows, they are so very smart. They make a tool to get all parts.
Purple Martins dart about. Eating insects – without a doubt.
I say, my birds – but they are yours. Shared with me, all doubts to cure.
With Love,
This Is My Journey Unscripted.
Click this link to learn more about Jesus: Who Is Jesus?
Photos from Unsplash
*Birds of Kentucky Field Guide by Stan Tekiela
**The Genius of Birds by Jennifer Ackerman
realchristianwomen.blog
(Although it didn’t make my Top Ten, this is one of my favorite blogs from last year. I hope you like it, too!)
I’m a To-Do List, planner, scheduled-day kind of person. I didn’t realize how much until recently.
It was early in the morning, about 6:00, when I let my dog, Bella, out the back door. Sunny skies, a gentle breeze, and the sweet sound of birds singing greeted me. I sat down on my little black bench to enjoy it for a minute.
I already had coffee in hand, so I drank it outside instead of hurrying into my office. Suddenly, a hummingbird darted past and paused to drink from the bright pink Hibiscus bloom peaking out from my neighbor’s balcony.
A baby bunny hopped out of the cornfield and looked around. A striking red cardinal flew to my bird feeder and looked me right in the eye. “Are you going to put any seed in this feeder or what?” he seemed to say.
A bright yellow Monarch fluttered by. It was like God had orchestrated his creation to entertain me. I couldn’t leave my seat.
After a while, this Scripture came to me, “Be still, and know that I am God.” (Psalm 46:10)
I sat peacefully, obediently, enjoying the beauty right outside my door. My brain stopped buzzing around like it was on fire.
Then, God reminded me that His plan is never what a person thinks it will be. Abraham didn’t know that Sarah would give him a son in her old age. Jacob didn’t know he would have to work twenty years for Laban before he could leave with Rachel. And Joseph could never imagined that God’s plan would land him in prison. But all these things were part of God’s plan!
If these men of God were like me, they would have been thinking that it was all their fault that things were working out so badly. But God’s will was being accomplished through ordinary, imperfect men – in spite of their flaws.
I learned something important that day. Sometimes I just need to slow down, quiet my brain, and observe God’s creation. It reminds me that He is God. And I might hear that still, small voice.
“And, behold, the Lord passed by, and a great and strong wind rent the mountains, and brake in pieces the rocks before the Lord; but the Lord was not in the wind: and after the wind an earthquake; but the Lord was not in the earthquake: And after the earthquake a fire; but the Lord was not in the fire: and after the fire a still small voice.” 1 Kings 19: 11-12 KJV
With Love,
Cindy
Click this link to learn more about Jesus: Who Is Jesus?
realchristianwomen.blog
Did you know that every star you see in the night sky is bigger and brighter than the Sun? The Sun is a dwarf star, but it’s much closer to us than the stars we see at night. In fact, the bright star Deneb, which is prominent in the evening skies of Fall and Winter, is 19 quadrillion miles away.¹
If we will take the time to contemplate God’s creation – watch it and think about it, His majesty and power will astound us.
You will see things you never noticed before. And that, will bring you closer to the heart of God. So let’s all slow down and take a closer look at what God has made. It’s pretty amazing.
God spoke: “Lights! Come out!
Shine in Heaven’s sky!”²
To see what happened next, watch this dramatic time-lapse video of the night sky.
CAUTION: WATCHING THIS VIDEO CAN MAKE YOU WANT TO QUIT YOUR JOB AND BECOME AN ASTRONOMER!
SCRIPTURE REFERENCES
“I sing for joy at the works of your hands.” Psalm 92:4 NIV
“Lord, our Lord,
how majestic is your name in all the earth!
You have set your glory
in the heavens…
3 When I consider your heavens,
the work of your fingers,
the moon and the stars,
which you have set in place,
4 what is mankind that you are mindful of them,
human beings that you care for them?” Psalm 8:1,3,4 NIV
What did you think of the video? Are you ready to quit your job?
With Love,
Click this link to learn more about Jesus: Who Is Jesus?
realchristianwomen.blog
¹http://earthsky.org/space/ten-things-you-may-not-know-about-stars
²Genesis 1:14 MSG
Photo Credit: Ryan Hutton, Unsplash
In a busy, loud, and stressful world, where we live by notes and to-do lists, phone messages and electronic calendars, and where racing thoughts are accepted as normal, God wants us to stop and take time to listen to His voice.
For me, that has meant quieting my mind, and that’s not easy to do. I am learning to do this by observing nature (especially birds) and listening to the sounds from my porch (pictured above).
God is teaching me to listen to Him. He is doing this by taking me outside to watch the display of His creation. He is speaking to me there as I focus on the wonder of what I see.
It was hard at first because, you know, I had so much to do. But it is getting easier as I realize the rewards.
Something special happened this morning. The Purple Martins darted about excitedly, swooping and turning on a dime. I wrote a thank-you for the “bird show” in my prayer notebook.
I got up and moved the small bird bath I had set out. The birds refuse to drink out of it, so sometimes I move it, hoping they will accept it in a different location. But after two years, I haven’t seen a bird drink out of it one time.
At my previous home I had so many birds drinking from my bird bath that I didn’t even need to put out seed. I considered praying for the birds to drink from the little bird bath here. I picked by my prayer notebook to write this down, but I didn’t. I thought, “This isn’t important enough to write in my prayer notebook.”
A few minutes later, a tiny wren flew to the bird bath and drank! I couldn’t believe it! God spoke to my heart, “Even when you don’t ask, I know what you desire.”
Am I special to God? Yes! Are you special to God? Yes, you are! He will speak to us if we will listen.
It will still be difficult for me to take time out of my morning to sit and listen, but God has shown me that He will meet me there. In fact, I’m already looking forward to what I will see and hear as fall and winter approaches!
I’m not going to lie. When school starts back on August 6, it will be much harder to start the day like this. I’ll let you know how it goes.
“Be still, and know that I am God.” Psalm 46:10
“You have searched me, Lord,
and you know me.
You know when I sit and when I rise;
you perceive my thoughts from afar.
You discern my going out and my lying down;”
you are familiar with all my ways.
Before a word is on my tongue
you, Lord, know it completely.
Psalm 139:1-4
How have you learned to hear God? Have you found it difficult, like I have, to stop and be still? Any suggestions? Please share. I would love to hear from you.
With Love,
Click this link to learn more about Jesus: Who Is Jesus?
realchristianwomen.blog
I’m a To-Do List, planner, scheduled-day kind of person. I didn’t realize how much until recently.
It was early in the morning, about 6:00, when I let my dog, Bella, out the back door. Sunny skies, a gentle breeze, and the sweet sound of birds singing greeted me. I sat down on my little black bench to enjoy it for a minute.
I already had coffee in hand, so I drank it outside instead of hurrying into my office. Suddenly, a hummingbird darted past and paused to drink from the bright pink Hibiscus bloom peaking out from my neighbor’s balcony.
A baby bunny hopped out of the cornfield and looked around. A striking red cardinal flew to my bird feeder and looked me right in the eye. “Are you going to put any seed in this feeder or what?” he seemed to say.
A bright yellow Monarch fluttered by. It was like God had orchestrated his creation to entertain me. I couldn’t leave my seat.
After a while, this Scripture came to me, “Be still, and know that I am God.” (Psalm 46:10)
I sat peacefully, obediently, enjoying the beauty right outside my door. My brain stopped buzzing around like it was on fire.
Then, God reminded me that His plan is never what a person thinks it will be. Abraham didn’t know that Sarah would give him a son in her old age. Jacob didn’t know he would have to work twenty years for Laban before he could leave with Rachel. And Joseph could never imagined that God’s plan would land him in prison. But all these things were part of God’s plan!
If these men of God were like me, they would have been thinking that it was all their fault that things were working out so badly. But God’s will was being accomplished through ordinary, imperfect men – in spite of their flaws.
I learned something important that day. Sometimes I just need to slow down, quiet my brain, and observe God’s creation. It reminds me that He is God. And I might hear that still, small voice.
“And behold, the Lord passed by, and a great and strong wind tore into the mountains and broke the rocks in pieces before the Lord, but the Lord was not in the wind; and after the wind an earthquake, but the Lord was not in the earthquake; 12 and after the earthquake a fire, but the Lord was not in the fire; and after the fire a still small voice.” 1 Kings 19:11-12
With Love,
Cindy
This Is My Journey Unscripted.
(Re-posted from July, 2018)
Do you want to become a Christian? Click this link to learn more: Who Is Jesus?
realchristianwomen.blog
Photo by David Clode on Unsplash
