Lenten Devotionals: Wednesday, March 27, 2013

"The heavens declare the glory of God; the skies declare the work of His hands." Psalm 19:1
"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

In a recent Sunday school class, our teacher reviewed the five senses by which we humans discern and reason things. He further showed how even the most intelligent minds cannot apprehend and know God by human senses alone. We need a "sixth sense", if you will, the Holy Spirit whose enlightenment alone brings sinful man to a holy God.

When I look back on my life, I realize that I went through this process of discovery during my sophomore year of college. I was taking both Philosophy 101 and Religion 101 that semester. Thrown into the arena of the "great thinkers", I was struggling with that I believed. (Religion 101 was no help because the curriculum was based on liberal theology with no message to me of a personal God.)

I lapsed into a brief atheistic period during which I didn't attend church, but that was not satisfying, either. One day, during second semester, I was sitting outside enjoying the beauty of the campus in its spring wardrobe. I speculated on he rhythm and ordered regularity of the seasons and nature, and a Sixth Sense said to me, "Look around you, there must be a Creator God."

Immediately I was settled about the matter. It was quite a few more years before I personally "met" my Creator, but it was there on that campus that I discovered that He is there.

 God, You are there and You are not silent. Give us eyes to see, ears to hear, a mind to think and reason, a voice to tell, hands to help, and Your Holy spirit, who will guide u into all truth. For Jesus' sake, amen. 

-- Sally Privett (Submitted in 2011)


_____________________________
Spent my morning with Grandmama. We sat in her enclosed sun room, the tomatoes slowly growing beside a wicker couch, and it was there that we shared conversation and she invited Jasper to her lap and lovingly patted his head. Reading this devotional the night before our breakfast date, I was prepared to spend time with this woman, who I've only ever known as a musical artist, but now realize she is a poet as well. She speaks to my heart.

Let Freedom Ring!

For as long as I can remember, the fourth of July has been my favorite holiday.  Yes, while most kids preferred Christmas, I favored the day that was hot-as-balls, sticky and mosquito-ridden.  In elementary school I remember spending the night at our local mall and watching a great fireworks display.  One year my cousin was eaten alive by red ants, but still, we all had a terrific time sitting in the trees watching colors explode in the sky.  Later, the holiday became a time when I would go to North Carolina for the summer and camp during the holiday by a lake.  We would go to the pool, kayak, fish, and then again see those terrific fireworks. Soon, the holiday evolved into a day of spending time with close friends at the beach all day, playing in the sand and water.  Now the holiday holds an even more special place in my heart because four years ago, J. and I went on our first official date to the annual Peach Festival held in Gilbert, South Carolina.  While most people reflect on their independence, freedom, and the luxuries this country affords, I like to reflect on the blessings God graces me with -- husband, home, friends, family, the coast, and most importantly, salvation. Yes, this is what the holiday is for me. A celebration of those things most dear to me!

Here's a look at some of the previous years' celebrations!


4 July 2005 --







4 July 2007 --







4 July 2011 --














4 July 2012 --





How did you celebrate your Independence Day?

P.S. More Perdido Bay photos here

Cornus florida

While in California this past week, my husband called me for a quick conversation. He casually mentioned that the dogwood trees in our yard were blooming and that my car might be covered in yellow pollen. Still very much in the presence of gorgeous southern California, I could not help but become beyond ecstatic to get home so I could see these gorgeous trees on our property. (Truth be told, I was not completely aware that we even had dogwoods considering that we moved in during Fall and the trees were barren; now I feel blessed with these gorgeous white flowers I can see through both my front and back windows.)

My first memory of dogwood was at the age of thirteen during a northern Georgia family vacation. It's probably during these formative years that my love for nature cultivated. I remember reading a little placard that described the history of the tree/flower, its distribution and full illustrations.

Four years ago, my uncle passed away somewhat unexpectedly. His funeral service was to be in North Carolina, and on the way, my mother and I stopped in South Carolina to visit J. He was then still a bachelor, living with an entertaining co-worker, and we were just breezing by for lunch. Well, the Palmetto State was just alive with spring buds -- dogwood, crepe myrtles, azaleas, magnolias -- as far as the eye could see. My mother insisted on going on a photo rampage up and down Forest Drive, and though just silly and fun at the time, it was exactly what our souls needed. The healing touch of God's work was ever present through the beauty he supplied to us on that day. Around the same time my uncle passed, J.'s maternal grandfather did too. And in the same month, one year prior to my uncle, my very best friend's father also left this world. In a season of so much hurt, the Lord really demonstrated that death occurs so life can be created. I don't know if the dogwoods affected J. as much as they did me, but every time I look at them, I feel a culmination of sadness and joy.

Two years later, when J. proposed to me in the summer, we both knew we wanted a Spring wedding. I specifically wanted those southern blooms to be present during our celebration -- both an ode to those we have lost, and a way to glorify the Lord that creates them. After much searching and many frustrations, He did provide a wonderful space for us to marry. Given the late Spring that year, and the torrential downpours days before the date, we know that it was only through Him that he made the sun shine bright and those saucer magnolias, azaleas, lavender, and dogwood bloom on our special day.

After a long red-eye flight, I arrived home this morning, feeling wiped and jet-lagged. I stepped out to see the sun shining on our very own dogwood tree, in full bloom, at the corner of our lot. All of those open buds, waving hello to me in the wind. Windows open, my feet propped up, I write this with the white flowers in the corner of my eye.

What a grand creation He has made. I shall rejoice and be glad in it!