The Beauty of Winter

Winter is my least favorite season, usually because of how cold it is outside. This winter though, I've noticed a particular beauty in winter. It is a season that God created, and with each season, I've come to appreciate God's gifts and blessings in that season, even winter. 

The pictures I've taken this winter seemed too beautiful to keep hidden inside my phone. Allow me to share, in pictures, some things I've enjoyed this winter. 

The beauty of winter includes things like... 

Beautiful sunsets! I think winter sunsets are some of the most beautiful sunsets we see where I live.

This was taken during a brief walk at a nearby park.

I loved the various shades of blue, pink, and yellow in the sky that evening!

This one was taken in our neighborhood one afternoon. To me, it looked like God spread out a big, cozy blanket across the sky with sunlight peaking through the edges! I love it when our sky looks like this!

I quickly snapped this picture at a nearby grocery store! That sunset was spectacular! I loved the golden yellow colors, almost like heaven peaking through!

Another sunset with a clear, serene mountain view, silhouetted by bare trees on both sides of our street.

A sunset with hues of blue, pink, and yellow taken from my bedroom window.

Another picture taken from my bedroom window after we got a recent, lovely snowfall.

The beauty of winter also includes things like warm, delicious foods... 

I love hot cereal, especially cream of wheat with honey on top! Mmm... so delicious on cold, winter mornings! 

I love hot, herbal tea like this one on winter evenings! 

The beauty of winter also gives extra time for enjoyable, inside projects... 

Such as crocheting. I love to crochet! 

I have four blankets that I've been crocheting "by faith" for any future children. Two of them are blue (light and dark) and the other two are maroon (light and dark) alternating with cream. I plan to finish them with a scalloped edge once they are large enough to fit on twin size beds.

Sewing is something else I enjoy, especially in the winter time. 

I recently made these baby dresses "by faith" for any future daughters. The colors are similar to our winter sunsets: blue, pink, and yellow.

Last, but most certainly not least, the beauty of winter is that it usually allows more time for reading, especially things like God's Word...

This beautiful Bible was given to me as a gift after having surgery a year ago. I treasure it so much and look forward to reading it more this winter.

I also look forward to coloring in this Bible with all of its many, beautiful illustrations! 

I purchased some colored pencils and a pencil sharpener at Walmart, and I've colored some of the inside cover, but it's still not finished yet. I'm nearly certain the tree on the inside cover is a fig tree, hence my reason for choosing to color the fruit purple instead of red like apples.

Yes, indeed, winter is a very special season from God with a beauty all its own! God's gifts to us are everywhere and in every season!

Thy Kingdom Come

My country, the United States of America, had an election two months ago to elect a new President. This is something my country does every four years. 

Four years ago, in November of 2016, Donald Trump was elected by the people of the United States to become our President for the next four years. He was inaugurated two months later in January of 2017. 

President Trump ran again for President last year, but according to many sources, he lost to Joseph Biden. Since November, many Americans, including our President, have questioned those voting results because something seemed off. 

Like anything we might question in life, something has to be rightfully proven in order to set it right. Since November, our President has been working hard to set things right if indeed something was not right in regards to our recent elections. 

This past Wednesday, January 6th, massive crowds of people congregated in our capitol city, Washington D.C., to listen to our President address our nation about this very thing. Major events took place later on that day within our government. Sadly, one of those things included a group of not so good people getting inside our capitol building.   

Since then, that particular event has been all over our news and social media sites. It's extremely sad, and a tremendous embarrassment for my country. 

Many people in my country have been confused by it all, and sadly, people are becoming at odds with each other. That makes my heart even more sad. We should respect others, even if we disagree.  

White flower called a "Jerusalem Anemone" 

As a Christian, my ultimate citizenship is in heaven; I am a citizen of God's Kingdom. I do not support either political party in my country; both political parties in my country have problems. 

However, I do rejoice when God gives my nation a President that supports freedom and Biblical values.

God's Word says: 

"When the righteous are in authority, the people rejoice: but when the wicked beareth rule, the people mourn." Proverbs 29:2

Our current President supports freedom and Christians along with many other wonderful things! For that, I have been incredibly thankful to God for! The Bible says: 

"...that the most high God ruled in the kingdom of men, and that he appointeth over it whomsoever he will." Daniel 5:19-21 

"The king's heart is in the hand of the LORD, as the rivers of water: he turneth it whithersoever he will." Proverbs 21:1 

Although our President has faults, he has been a tremendous blessing to my country! God has used him mightily! I've thanked the Lord so many times for our President, and I've prayed for him as God's Word tells us to do: 

 

"I exhort therefore, that, first of all, supplications, prayers, intercessions, and giving of thanks, be made for all men; For kings, and for all that are in authority; that we may lead a quiet and peaceable life in all godliness and honesty. For this is good and acceptable in the sight of God our Saviour." 1 Timothy 2:1-3 

For the past several months, I've prayed, very specifically, for truth, righteousness, and justice to prevail in my country! 

As a young girl, I was taught about our wonderful, American history in my school books, and I fondly remember learning to memorize the names of the Presidents in a song in either 4th or 5th grade. Although I learned a little bit about our government when I was in school, that wasn't something I thought much about. I remember praying for our current President when I was growing up, and any government news I heard was usually through my Dad. I lived a happy, quiet life as a girl, and I was so thankful for our wonderful country and the freedoms we enjoy! 

Our recent events, including the riots this past year, are something I've never seen before in my country. It makes me so sad to see this in our news.

Now, as an adult woman, feeling a little overwhelmed at times by recent events within our government, it made me think of these comforting verses in the Bible:

"For unto us a child is born, unto us a son is given: and the government shall be upon his shoulder: and his name shall be called Wonderful, Counseller, The mighty God, The everlasting Father, The Prince of Peace.

Of the increase of his government and peace there shall be no end, upon the throne of David, and upon his kingdom, to order it, and to establish it with judgment and with justice from henceforth even for ever. The zeal of the LORD of hosts will perform this." Isaiah 9:6-7 

"He shall be great, and shall be called the Son of the Highest: and the Lord God shall give unto him the throne of his father David: And he shall reign over the house of Jacob for ever; and of his kingdom there shall be no end." Luke 1:32-33 

God's Kingdom is not an earthly kingdom; it is a heavenly kingdom, a spiritual one. Jesus referred to it as "The Kingdom of Heaven". Those who have been born again, given their life to God, and have been washed in the blood of the Lamb are citizens of this heavenly Kingdom!  

However, according to these verses, along with many other verses in Scripture, there is coming a day when the Kingdom of Heaven will, literally, come to earth! Jesus will reign as King of Kings and Lord of Lords over all nations on earth from His throne in Jerusalem! What a glorious time that will be! This is known as the 1,000 year reign of Christ on earth. This is a fact; it will happen!

Revelation 11:15 says: "The kingdoms of this world are become the kingdoms of our Lord, and of his Christ; and he shall reign for ever and ever." 

I don't understand why Christians don't talk about this much. The Bible says that the government shall be on His shoulder, and that Christ's Kingdom will never end!  That thought brings such hope, such joy, and such comfort to my heart to think of Christ ruling over the entire earth, especially during these unsettling times in my country! 

I recently came across this beautiful poem that echoes this truth from the Bible. 

When Jesus is King 

Praise to our King Who is coming to reign,

Glory to Jesus the Lamb that was slain:

Life and salvation, His empire shall bring,

Joy to the nations - when Jesus is King.

Men shall learn right in His Kingdom of Peace,

Freedom shall flourish and wisdom increase.

Foe shall be friend when His triumph we sing, 

Sword shall be sickle - when Jesus is King. 

All shall come back who have lived long ago, 

Love like a banner shall over them flow;

Sin shall be conquered as light shines within, 

O hail happy day - when Jesus is King. 

All men shall dwell in His marvelous light, 

Races long severed His love shall unite,

Justice and truth from His scepter shall spring.

Wrong will be ended - when Jesus is King. 

~ author unknown 

"Thy kingdom come. Thy will be done in earth, as it is in heaven." Matthew 6:10  

Another Year Is Dawning

There is a song I always enjoy sharing at the beginning of a new year. The words to this song point to what is most important in life. This song also echoes the prayer of my heart. 

What is the meaning of life? 

We were created by God and for God. Living for God is the only thing that truly matters; it's the only thing that brings true fulfillment and purpose in life.  

Another Year Is Dawning

Another year is dawning, dear Father, let it be

In working or in waiting, another year with Thee;

Another year of progress, another year of praise,

Another year of proving Thy presence all the days.

Another year of mercies, of faithfulness and grace,

Another year of gladness in the shining of Thy face;

Another year of leaning upon Thy loving breast;

Another year of trusting, of quiet, happy rest.

Another year of service, of witness for Thy love,

Another year of training for holier work above;

Another year is dawning, dear Father, let it be

On earth, or else in Heaven, another year for Thee.

~ Frances R. Havergal 

For those who are familiar with many hymns like I am, this song is sung to the tune of The Church's One Foundation. If I had a family of my own, I'd enjoy singing this song around our supper table on New Years Eve as a way to begin the new year!

This song reminds me of a wonderful quote from a longer poem that echoes this same sentiment:  

“Only one life, ’twill soon be past, Only what’s done for Christ will last.”

The final stanza of this poem finishes with: 

“And when I am dying, how happy I'll be if the lamp of my life has been burned out for Thee.” 

~ C.T. Studd 

My family doesn't do much on New Years Eve. We enjoy special treats and sometimes pull out games to play as a family, but that's about it. Last night, my sister Cheri made us homemade, cherry crisp for dessert after we ate sandwiches for supper. We enjoyed the dessert along with sparkling cherry and cranberry juices. Sure enough, a board game came out later, and I watched my sister Cheri win the game as she slid her final game piece into home base.   

It's also rare that my family stays up until midnight to watch our clocks change to the date of the new year. I've done it on occasion, and I usually regret it the next day when I'm so tired from going to bed so late. I like to pray as I drift off to sleep, so I usually greet the new year in the morning. 

Last night though, I felt inspired to stay up until midnight. This year, I wanted to pray while entering the new year. (in reality, the Biblical new year is not until spring time, but since the date changes on our calendar, there is some significance to ours.) 

With a lovely candle glowing in the darkness, I prayed for myself, my family, and our nation. I also prayed very specifically about certain things, and committed those things into God's Hands. 

While still wrapped in my linen prayer shawl, I decided to spend some time worshipping the Lord. I played a small harp of mine and sang a few songs with it, one of them being the original melody of the “Aaronic Blessing” from Numbers 6 in the Bible. 

“The LORD bless thee, and keep thee: The LORD make his face shine upon thee, and be gracious unto thee: The LORD lift up his countenance upon thee, and give thee peace.” 

Numbers 6:24-26 

I felt the Presence of God in a very special way last night as I entered the new year. 

I ended by singing and playing the hymn, “The Light of the World is Jesus” after writing a blog post about that on my other blog last night. (click here to read) 

I don't know what this new year holds, but I know the One Who holds the whole world in His loving Hands. I look forward to this new year of 2021 with much anticipation!