The Gardener

As we continued our journey out of Marble and over to the Carbondale area we pulled off at Paonia to visit a roadside market and vineyard. The swan gourds were beautiful, the Merlot grapes bountiful, and the Honey Crisp apples lip-smacking good! Come to find out, the owner knows my husband's cousin who is also growing vines for the wine up at Grand Junction.

Lee, the owner, welcomed me to take pictures of the the Merlot grapes. He explained that even though the top grape leaves were wrinkled and brown, the harvest would not take place until the lower leaves had given all their goodness to the ripening of the grapes. The grapes were draped with netting to keep the birds from destroying the crop. It was an enchanted time being able to see the work of the fields yield this beautiful harvest.

~~~~

I am the true vine, and my Father is the gardener. John 15:1

I am the vine; you are the branches. If a man remains in me and I in him, he will bear much fruit; apart from me you can do nothing. If anyone does not remain in me, he is like a branch that is thrown away and withers...

This is to my Father's glory, that you bear much fruit, showing yourselves to be my disciples.
John 15:5,6,8

There is a Season

One of the scariest drives on our Colorado trip was the mountain road between Silverton and Ouray. We entered low fog and sleet as the altitude rose. The turns along the canyons and gorges would have been difficult in good weather conditions, but this mix was terrifying. However, as we proceeded into some visibility the aspens with snow-covered evergreens popping through seemed to shout the changing of the season from autumn to winter. The snow on golden aspen reminded me of one of my favorite scriptures and songs:

To everything there is a season and a time to every purpose under heaven.

~~~~~~

In our family lately there have been hardships and joys. But God goes with us always. Here is some of our list:

Having a baby,
getting the swine flu,
starting a dream,
losing a job,
seeing a moose,
bugling elk downtown Evergreen,
seeing snow and ice on golden aspen leaves,
precious hugs from kids and their kids,
a friend failing with serious illness,
a new cabin home for Colorado friends,
a wonderful husband that still adores me,
and me him...
knowing that God never leaves us,
no matter what season we are in!

Let the Good Times Roll

I got to revisit one of my favorite places on our recent trip to Colorado: The Great Sand Dunes National Monument. The dunes cover 39 square miles and raise to 700 feet at the base of the towering Sangre de Cristos. They seem to be out of place, more likely to be seen on a seashore or desert. The geological explanation is that the wind carries sand worn down from rock to the Cristos. Their height acts as a barrier and the wind's continued pattern of dropping sand forms the dunes.

Something about seeing footprints and sledding stripes as well as persons walking the crests looking like small dots shouted an invitation to interact with these stunning hills of sand. The unexpected glorious landscape excited the center of spiritual pleasure that calls for relationship with the creation. I found that playful tickle in my spirit leading me to roll down one of the dunes. I knew the pictures would make my grandkids giggle. I was elated with joy.

As I get older I find myself doing things that I would have thought improper, embarrassing, dangerous, not age appropriate or frowned on by someone else's standards. I am interested these days in following my joy. I want to be able to encourage others to follow their joy. THE JOY OF THE LORD IS OUR STRENGTH.

Don't we need to see and have good and happy hearts? Believe me, there is plenty of stuff in our family right now that invites fear and discouragement. Depression, doom and gloom, and fears can all be spread easily. Not that we don't need to talk about things we are going through or walk through some pits. But what are we doing, thinking, speaking that brings us and others more JOY??? Do something today for someone else in secret. Smile at strangers. Tell the checker to have a good day. Run with your pet. Snuggle or hug. Lots of ways to practice JOY! I think a gratitude list and a thanksgiving prayer are always a good jumping off place to develop an attitude of joyfulness. A relationship with the Lord encourages joy and hope.

So make a gratitude list,
walk out some JOY,
and LET THE GOOD TIMES ROLL.

Rays of Light

Our journey on the Durango & Silverton Narrow Gauge Railroad had be be on the top of our list for vacation experiences in Colorado last week. We stopped at this location for the steam engine to take on water and felt like we had stepped into a place out of time. The light rays coming through the trees gave an ethereal feeling to the river and its banks. It seemed like we were in a Thomas Kincaid painting of light.

Sometimes we passed on the same road different times of the day and the light reflected in water or coming onto the mountainsides made the very same place seem like two different locations. It reminded me of how we are different when we submit ourselves to reflecting God's love or are self-involved and seem disconnected and perhaps rude to those around us. He says as his children that we are the Light of the world; the Salt of the earth.

Wouldn't it be great if we could aspire to be Light to those around us? Like when coming around the corner on the train to confront this beautiful display of light, those in our presence would want to stay awhile to experience the peace and grace that radiate from us as a result of our relationship with Jesus?

~~~~~~~~

Arise and shine, for the Light has come;
the Glory of the Lord is risen upon thee!
Isaiah 60:1

Cathedrals

I am back from Colorado and think I have not spent so much time in church in just a week. After all, aren't these all 'Cathedrals' in a way? When God's creation calls forth praise, we are in word and deed a precious place where we know we are part of the Body and overcome with the standing we have in our God's heart. When you look at these beautiful scenes it is quite overwhelming to know He counts us more precious than anything else on the earth. He made it all for us. Not a mistake, not an accident; but a gift to His children. Praise Him!