WINTER'S GIFT

 Winter’s Gift

One by one they float

like large white dust motes

from up high

in the sky

tumbling down

like soft down.

Though silent

they come, wet,

cold and

frozen -

this white

delight.

One by one they pile

mile after mile

upon the frozen ground

creating a carpet found.

Soon mounds

abound.

Children take delight

in this playground white

for they can’t wait to create

from these white frozen flakes.

Soon they put on mittens and boots,

bundled up snug in their snowsuits.

Snow angels are made

or snowmen parade

in many back yards,

like a stiff frozen guard.

Children now cold and wet

come in for hot chocolate.

Winter’s gift

now adrift

as wind blows

the cold snow.

Others plow

this snow now.

Another day the sun will come out to shine.

The snowmen will disappear over time.

Winter’s gift will be gone

except for memories fond

and pictures taken

of snowflakes falling.

* * * * *

These flakes, a gift,

through the air drifts

fluttering,

tumbling.

Piling high,

then still and lies

in quiet quest

and final rest.

A winter wonderland

perhaps was God’s plan

for snow is a wonder.

Something to ponder.

“Marvelous” and “great”

is what the Bible states

when it talks about snowflakes,

though, for some, that’s up for debate.

Dependent on what part of the country you reside in, I suppose,

is this gift of snow that causes extra employment and cold noses.

Those who see this gift infrequently are delighted.

Those who see this gift daily are wearied.

A gift is what it is and does remain

as long as the temperature refrains.

Do look for the delight found in this gift,

even if it means a day to stay home adrift.

Winter’s gift doesn’t last long

for when sunbeams finally dawn

these flakes are long gone

as if had never come.

God’s voice thunders in marvelous ways;

he does great things beyond our understanding.

He says to the snow, ‘Fall on the earth,’

and to the rain shower, ‘Be a mighty downpour.’

Job 37:5-6

He sends his command to the earth;

his word runs swiftly.

He spreads the snow like wool and scatters the frost like ashes.

Psalm 147:15-16

Note: Snow is beneficial to gardeners as it provides needed nitrogen for the soil. 

Always look for the positive

in whatever life has to give.

Life Is a Garden Party

is available via Amazon.

JANUARY SATURDAY

 January Saturday

Haven’t seen the sun in a while.

Seeing it today brings a smile

and causes yesterday’s snowfall to glisten

this morning as daybreak has risen

over the hill

where sunlight spills.

The snow sparkles

like a twinkle

as the sun shines upon

this fluffy white down,

though too cold to be out and about.

The sun, though, erases any pout.

The sky is blue today,

instead of laden gray,

as the bright sun shines

upon the evergreen pines

where cold snow drapes

and decorates.

Today a bird chirps a melody.

It’s a cardinal in the magnolia tree.

Like the sun, he too was missed

this month after Christmas.

Just three weeks ago Christmas was

as time quickly ticks away, it does.

Soon the sun will be overhead.

It will be noontime instead

for the morning has quickly passed

for, you see, time doesn’t last

and neither will the sun.

Soon it will be gone.

It will slip down over the western hill

where a sunset might beautifully thrill

in pink and rose and orange hues -

a breathtaking view.

Be sure to enjoy one late winter afternoon

for the sun will continue on its circular path soon.

* * * * *

Jesus said, “Each day has enough trouble of its own.”

Each day also has many delights for us to own.

Take a minute right now to enjoy

whatever it is that brings you joy.

Don’t concentrate on what bothers,

but focus on and savor

something that brings delight:

like sunshine shining bright...

or the cold, sparkling snow,

or the grass beneath your toes,

the rainbow after the summer storm,

or talking to a loved one on the phone.

In truth, there are more delights to be had

than troubles that might make you feel bad.

Don’t be sad.

Be glad.

There’s much to be thankful for.

God has many good things in store.

Start today. Learn to look,

then write your blessings in a book.

A diary of God’s many blessings,

instead of daily worry and stressing,

will change your countenance and outlook.

You’ll be smiling. Now go look.

Therefore do not worry about tomorrow

for tomorrow will worry about itself.

Each day has enough trouble of its own.”

Matthew 6:34

An anxious heart weighs a man down,

but a kind word cheers him up.

Proverbs 12:25

God keeps him occupied with gladness of heart.

Ecclesiastes 5:20

Rejoice in everything you have put your hand to,

because the Lord your God has blessed you.

Deuteronomy 12:7

Life Is a Garden Party

is available via Amazon.

ICING FROSTER

 For those buried in snow, a different way to look at it:

Icing Froster

The icing froster came last night

covering everything in white.

This morning a very pretty sight

in which photographers delight

as this black and white

freshly frosted site

glistens with diamonds bright

when the sun shines through clouds white...

...of which this poet writes

before day turns to night

of sights

that delight

as thoughts come to light

with words on paper white...

...in which children bundle up then delight

to create snow creatures cold and white -

perhaps a snow dragon to protect a knight,

or snow people, round in width while tall in height,

then take off on toboggans in flight

while loudly squealing with much delight.

Sparkles from sunlight bright

decorate this frosting white

like diamonds glittering in its light

enhancing the icing froster's site.

Yes, this icing froster brings us sweet delight

if one takes time to delight in this gift of white.

You'll see crows had stopped in flight

leaving footprints impressed in white,

adding decorations that look quite

whimsical this morn, yet oh so right,

before the wind comes from out of sight

to rearrange the icing froster's site.

The icing froster's work last night

leaves behind a sweet delight -

in photos, in words, in memories that delight

while one continues to enjoy this white sight

perhaps in front of the firelight

safe and secure this cold winter's night.

* * * * *

This icing froster

is the Creator.

Look what God

says in His Word

printed here below

about the snow:

He says to the snow, 'Fall on the earth.'

The breath of God produces ice,

and the broad waters become frozen.

Job 37:6, 10

...the storehouses of the snow...

Job 38:22

The rain and the snow come down from heaven,

and do not return to it without watering the earth

and making it bud and flourish...

Isaiah 55:10

He sends his command to the earth;

his word runs swiftly.

He spreads the snow like wool

and scatters the frost like ashes.

He hurls down his hail like pebbles.

Who can withstand his icy blast?

He sends his word and melts them;

he stirs up his breezes,

and the waters flow.

Psalm 147:15-18

...lightning and hail, snow and clouds,

stormy winds that do his bidding...

Psalm 148:8

Looks like this bird was doing a waltz around the ballroom.

Life Is a Garden Party

is available via Amazon.

DIAMONDS

 It's happening here now in upstate New York.

Diamonds

Silently falling glitter

sparkles as they float nearer

like sequins

or diamonds.

Effervescent,

almost transparent

these white orbs

from heaven poured.

Weightless, one-by-one

they quickly adorn

everything they happen to touch,

though sometimes turning into mush.

Floating, like feathers in one's hand,

like a twinkle from a fairy's wand,

lasting for a second unless

the surface is coldly dressed.

If the surface is frozen

then these diamonds have chosen

to stay for a while.

Some will smile.

Others will frown

for that means towns

are covered with snow

to plow or to blow.

Do be sure to look for

diamonds in the snow are

like glitter that sparkles

and sequins that twinkle.

Jewels from on high

these gems from the sky

adorning the earth

when diamonds drop forth.

* * * * *

Like diamonds in the snow

you are precious, you know.

Like a jewel in a crown glows

your life does adorn and grow

although sometimes life's hard blows

will cause you sorrow and woe.

Those tears you sow

will later grow

into a glow

as you help others who are low

in their own sorrows and woes.

You'll sparkle from head to toe.

So though sorrows that bestow

grief and heartaches of "oh no"

that one often undergoes

have a purpose, although

we'd prefer not to undergo,

in the end there's a glow that grows.

Like the sparkle of a diamond glows

our sorrows are someday meant to show

that God is faithful and will bestow

His beauty on everything below.

A diamond in the rough from head to toe

is being chiseled from sorrows and woes.

The Lord their God will save them on that day

as the flock of his people.

They will sparkle in his land

like jewels in a crown.

How attractive and beautiful they will be!

Zechariah 9:16-17

Choose my instruction instead of silver,

knowledge rather than choice gold,

for wisdom is more precious than rubies,

and nothing you desire can compare with her.

Proverbs 10:11

Life Is a Garden Party

is available via Amazon.

Legacy

Thinking about legacies.  

Job was accredited for being blameless, upright, God fearing, and shunning evil.

This is what Job's friend, Eliphaz, said to Job after Job had a moment of depression (I have no peace, no quietness.  I have no rest, but only turmoil.  Job 3:26).  [Have you ever experienced?]

Then Job's friend Eliphaz attempted to lift Job's spirits:

    Think how you have instructed many,

    how you have strengthened feeble hands.

    Your words have supported those who stumbled;

    you have strengthened faltering knees.

    Job 4:3-4

Job was known for his righteousness, for being a prayer warrior, mentioned for his perseverance in the New Testament, but Job was also well-known as being an encourager in his neighborhood!

What an example:  righteous, prayer warrior, perseveerer, encourager.

* * * 

This week I read about Noah's father, Lamech.  Lamech pronounced a blessing on Noah when Noah was born:  "He will comfort us in the labor and painful toil of our hands caused by the ground the Lord has cursed."  Genesis 5:28  (Obviously Lamech was a farmer - a man of the soil.)

As an aside, the thumb doctor is going to fix my thumbs this January and next January due to no cartilidge - from "labor and painful toil of our hands caused by the ground the Lord has cursed."  The Lord will comfort me during the healing process.  Yes, the Bible is relevant to all generations!

Many Biblical fathers pronounced blessings over their sons.  What an example to emulate!

Lamech didn't know at that time there would be The Great Flood, yet his blessing, perhaps, referred to it.

As Noah matured in faith, definitely influenced by his father, "Noah found favor in the eyes of the Lord."  Genesis 6:8.  Noah was also "righteous and blameless and walked with God" (Genesis 6:9), as Job was accredited for.  And "Noah did everything just as God commended him." (Geneis 6:22)  He was obedient.

What an example:  favored, righteous, blameless, walked with God, obedient.

* * *

It has been said that fires or floods cleanse and enrich the soil.  When civilization was destroyed, as God predicted, the land/soil provided a fresh start as well.  The Bible does state that Noah planted a vineyard. Soil conditions for producing grape harvest include an ecosystem of fertile loam which includes silt.  Silt is what is left on top when flood waters recede.  One of the Great Flood's purposes was to restore the goodness of Creation.  What the land produces.

There may be something in your life that seems to be a "great flood" and you're drowning - in debt, in dissatisfaction, in depression, in d...  (I've written about the host of destructive d's.)

But, you know, the Bible shares examples of those who experienced these AND we get to read about how it turned out in the end.  How God worked it out - in His time.  

Decades ago I was diagnosed with a disability.  God gave me hope with the story in II Kings about the widowed lady who had creditors knocking.  (Thankfully I have not.)  God provided for her via jars of oil.  My "jars of oil" was in the form of decorated cakes and cookies.  Yes, there were lean times, i.e. collecting discarded cans to purchase stamps; but, there were also abundant times when orders allowed me to pay for unexpected expenses.  I became known as the cookie/cake lady.  People still say that when they see me.

I didn't know that would become a legacy.  The below photo is a 9x13 cake I made cut to make a butterfly shape.  Butterflies cause me to think of transformation.

How is God transforming your life, your purpose, your faith through struggles?  Transformation is a process.  It's a struggle for a butterfly to be born into a new life of freedom.  Its life then enhances creation through pollination, and those who view one are enchanted.  

Transformation is a learning process, for sure.  Growing in faith, trust, grace...

What will your legacy be?

Opportunity/Adventure

 Another "new year" post reminded me of something I wrote:

Do you feel empty, void, useless?

Do you feel you've lost your purpose?

A job ended unexpectedly.

Maybe illness came suddenly.

Perhaps the loss of your beloved spouse

leading to foreclosure on your house.

Life the way you know it has changed.

Your time is now rearranged.

Sometimes this rearranging

is God's way of arranging -

opening the door for a new opportunity,

turning a dream into a possibility.

Instead of dwelling on the past

get busy and have a blast.

Turn your negatives

into positives.

An adventure awaits.

You won't want to be late.

From the day of your birth

God assigned a purpose on earth

for you

to do

that will assist in God’s plan

designed from creation.

All the ups and down of life

shape your character in spite

of your good attempts

as life contains bumps.

Those bumps may lead you to your optimum occupation.

You may learn empathy is part of your disposition.

So many avenues to discover

as you mature and recover.

Throughout life there will be many opportunities posed.

Some you may have never imagined or supposed.

Consider, life is an adventure

just waiting to be discovered.

Many, O Lord my God,

are the wonders you have done.

The things you planned for us no one can recount to you,

were I to speak and tell of them,

they would be too many to declare.

Psalm 40:5

How precious to me are your thoughts, O God!

How vast is the sum of them!

Were I to count them,

they would outnumber the grains of sand.

Psalm 139:17-18

How great is the love the Father has lavished on us,

that we should be called children of God!

And that is what we are!

I John 3:1

Life Is a Garden Party

is available via Amazon.