CREATOR PRECEDES CREATION!

HALLALUIAH! 

Yesterday's temps allowed for a bit of time enjoying sitting outside! Along with the lower temps and bit of a breeze, I "took in" the beauty of the gooseneck and the Tiger Swallowtail by my weathered fence.

It was a much needed time of being still. But God allowed it to become more than that. More than "beholding" creation, my heart began to "behold the Creator." "Beholding we become," as author Jackie Perry writes. 

If our hearts are beholding Christ, Christ will be mirrored and manifested on our hearts. (holier than thou, p. 149)

Think reflection. Our lives reflect what we behold. We live it out.

John Piper's book title, Seeing and Savoring, says much.....not just about the beauty I was beholding from God's creation but the Scripture I was led to which reminded me that I need to enjoy the Creator above all else, even his creation/creatures! (Romans 1:25, NLT)

Yesterday I was able to enjoy both in the correct order.

PREPOSITIONS!

Prepositions are very small, common words. We're all familiar with them as they point to or show direction.Think....by, for, to, through, in and of. My 4th grade teacher Mrs. Munday taught us not to end our sentences with a preposition but that rule seems to have vanished these days.

What hasn't changed: Prepositions all have an object. Prepositions precede said object. Objects of prepositions are nouns or pronouns, NEVER a verb. That's the "golden rule" of prepositions.

Yesterday's New Morning Mercies (July 11) was filled with prepositions pointing to the ONE who is always the answer!

For to us a child is born, (Isaiah 9:6)

For from him and through him, and to him were all things. (Romans 11:36)

For by him, all things were created in heaven and on earth, visible and invisible, (Colossians 1:16)

And he is before all things and in him all things hold together. (Colossians 1:17)

...by your will (all things) existed and were created. (Revelation 4:11)

BTW, regardless of the preceding preposition....The answer is JESUS! 

Stories of Hope

Cancer Survivors luncheon! What a privilege!
A celebration of life. A celebration of hope.
Many in attendance would say, "In Christ alone, my hope is found."

Dear, sweet, friend Pam is one of those. She delivered today's "keynote" message flawlessly and from the heart. Her story of hope in the midst of a shocking journey was one all could relate to in some way, especially the cancer survivors!
There's such a fellowship of folks on the same side of the struggle---and the fellowship of those who wear the pink ribbon is unbelievably strong!
Pam's message was a reminder of all of that.

Whether a surviver of more than 30 years.....or less than a year,
each wears a smile!

Pam's goal for her story of hope was for God to receive the glory! (Revelation 4:11)

Tears "rained" and hope flowed! Goal accomplished!