Falling Gold

Remember the beautiful sheltering tree across the street from us? It held back its fall colors longer than most in the neighborhood, but I've been enjoying it's golden display this past week. Soon the gold clinging to its branches will all fall to the ground, joining the rest of autumn's foliage now carpeting the earth.

Fall has painted quite the wonderland around here this year. I know we usually think of winter when we think of a wonderland, but I've thrilled to autumn's wonderland time and again over the past few weeks.

Just think of it. What other time of the year do we find gold drifting through the air? As I witness these bits of falling gold, my spirit swells with contentment and with worship for their Creator as they remind me of other gold He drops into my life. Blessings given from the fullness of His grace, blessings hoped for as well as the unexpected. Blessings that make my life a wonderland when I take the time to look.

What blessings has God dropped into your life lately? I got to spend the day with my two best friends on Friday -- and that's no small feat considering Jeneal now lives over 7 hours away. And a totally unexpected treat that day? Jeneal's son and daughter, both busy with wedding tasks, joined us for lunch before heading about their business. Got me some extra hugs out of that deal :)

So what about you? What bits of falling gold have made your life a wonderland recently? Let's take time to thank the Giver of all good gifts!

"I will praise you, O Lord, with all my heart; I will tell of all your wonders." Psalm 9:1

**Current and new subscribers to Life Notes, my free quarterly inspirational newsletter, will be included in a drawing for a $25 gift card to Barnes & Noble. Sign up by noon (CST) Nov. 22 on the sidebar to the right for a chance to win! (See Nov. 1st post for details.)

Empty Calories

After a ridiculous start to our weekend (a car breakdown and a break in our waterline under the house), we finally whisked ourselves away from the homestead and celebrated Halloween by going to a movie, a tradition we started several years ago.

No, we didn't go to an AMC like the picture above suggests -- we went to a Cinemark (our favorite theater, by the way). But we did, however, partake in movie snacks. For us, that's just part of the fun of going to the movies. Plus it helps keep Don awake :)

We ate lunch on the run because of all the earlier insanity, and by the time we made it to the late afternoon showing of Amelia, we barely made it through the previews before digging into our popcorn. Of course, I had to have some Peanut M&Ms to add some chocolate to the whole affair, but notice how I went the healthy route by eating the peanut variety :)

Since this was our supper, we ate quite a lot -- got the popcorn and drink with refills. Not the most nutritious meal but fun to do every now and then. At least at first. After some speed shopping after the movie, I realized I was still hungry as we began our drive back home. The junk food just hadn't satisfied.

So what did we do? Stop and get something healthy, something that would stick to our ribs? No, we were running late and wanted something quick. We stopped at Braum's for chocolate shakes. No, I'm not kidding. I hate to admit it, but it's true.

By the time we got home over an hour later, I felt -- how shall I say it? -- yucky. I had the jitters from all the sugar and chocolate, plus my stomach felt gross, but at the same time, still kind of hungry. All those empty calories had not met the need. After a short while, I was hungry for more.

Sometimes we do the same thing where our spirits are concerned. Our spirits get hungry and thirsty for something that will fill our need, something that will satisfy, but instead we fill them with things that just bring a temporary lift -- shopping, food, relationships, recreation, alcohol or whatever our drug of choice. The list goes on. Call them empty calories that leave us hungry for more.

Many of these temporary lifts are good and meant to be enjoyed in moderation, but only one thing will satisfy that deepest part of us -- a relationship with Jesus. He said, "'I am the bread of life. He who comes to me will never go hungry, and he who believes in me will never be thirsty.'" (John 6:35)

Let's turn to Him and His Word when our spirits are hungry and thirsty. Let's go to the One who satisfies. What He gives will fill our need. No empty calories from Him.

Flickr photo by naydeeyah

**Current and new subscribers to Life Notes, my free quarterly inspirational newsletter, will be included in a drawing for a $25 gift card to Barnes & Noble. Sign up by noon (CST) Nov. 22 on the sidebar to the right for a chance to win! (See Nov. 1st post for details.)

Life Notes Subscriber Appreciation Giveaway -- Thank You!

Happy November! To kick off this month of Thanksgiving, how about a Life Notes Subscriber Appreciation Giveaway? Life Notes is my free quarterly inspirational newsletter, and the November issue that's coming out this week marks the beginning of my second year of publishing it.

So to celebrate that anniversary and to say "thank you" to all those who have subscribed, one lucky subscriber will win a $25 gift card to Barnes & Noble! (Hey, a writer has to support a bookstore!) I wish everyone could win, but alas, I'm living in the real world here :)

This is how it will work -- all those who are currently subscribed to Life Notes will automatically be entered in the giveaway, and any new subscriber who signs up by noon (CST) Nov. 22nd will be entered automatically as well. Sign up is to the right on the blog sidebar.

So...happy month of thanks to you and welcome to the easiest giveaway ever! You don't even have to leave a comment on this post -- just make sure you're signed up for the newsletter. Easy as that.

Who do you need to thank this month? Why not have your own little appreciation giveaway and give the gift of thanks to someone in your life during the coming days. And remember -- I appreciate each and every one of you!

"...I thank my God through Jesus Christ for all of you..." Romans 1:8a

Flickr photo by Fern R

Making Herself Ready

After four bridal gown shopping trips, the dress is ordered! As you may remember, our daughter Kelli got engaged in August, and since then she and I have been buzzing with all things bridal.

The dress, in fact, was the first thing we buzzed off to find, searching high and low, near and far. The shot above is from a Tulsa trip in August, and Tulsa was where we found ourselves again this past weekend. Kelli tried on her dream gown one more time just to be sure, and with oohs and ahhs echoing from all standing nearby, she made her final decision. Moments later, I handed over my credit card, making my little girl's dream come true. Being mother of the bride definitely has its perks :)

I hope I don't sound like I'm bragging, but Kelli is going to be a beautiful bride. I can't wait to see Jake's face when he sees her coming down the aisle on their wedding day. For you see, she's making herself ready for him. I've seen and heard it time and again the past couple of months -- she has him in mind.

I'm thinking today of another bride as well. The bride of Christ -- the church. If we are believers, that includes you and me. To what lengths are we willing to go to make ourselves ready for Him? Are we buzzing with all things eternal as we await the day He comes for us? Do we have Him in mind?

I don't know about you, but I can't wait to see His face...

"Let us rejoice and be glad and give him glory! For the wedding of the Lamb has come, and his bride has made herself ready." Revelation 19:7

**The next issue of Life Notes, my free quarterly inspirational newsletter, will be coming out next week. There's a special giveaway coming for all subscribers, current and new. Don't miss out -- sign up for it on the sidebar!

Hanging on His Every Word

For the past few months, I've been slowly reading through the gospels (Matthew, Mark, Luke, and John in the Bible), trying to notice as much as I can about Jesus and the things He said. Most of it is familiar to me, but it's amazing how much seems fresh and new as I read with a miner's eyes -- eyes looking for treasure.

I happened upon one nugget in Luke 19 after the passage about Jesus's triumphal entry into Jerusalem just days before His crucifixion. Luke tells us He spent the next few days teaching in the temple while, at the same time, some of his enemies -- the chief priests, the teachers of the law, and the leaders among the people -- were looking for an opportunity to kill Him. They couldn't find a way to do it, however, because "all the people hung on his words." (v. 48)

What an image that phrase creates... Do you see the crowds gathered round, pressing in, trying to get as close to Jesus as they could? Do you see them straining to hear, shushing those who might cause them to miss something He said? Do you see the few who came prepared with writing materials taking notes with urgency as Jesus spoke? Do you see them all hanging on His every word?

Whose words are we hanging on to? To whom do we pay close attention? For some, it might be a famous teacher or pastor, and for others it could be a celebrity therapist or talk show host. Some may even drink in every word uttered by their favorite sports star, musician, or movie star.

I've mentioned here on the blog about some of the times I've had opportunity to sit under the teaching of published authors such as Cec Murphey, Suzie Eller, Jan Dargatz, Deborah Vogts, and Therese Stenzel. Each time I listened with rapt attention, interest gleaming in my eyes, and pen ready to capture the insight and wisdom they chose to share that hour. Yes, I hung on their words. I knew they could nourish, encourage, challenge, or train me, and I didn't want to miss any of it.

How much more should I hang on to the words of my Creator and Sustainer, my Savior and my Lord? I know He can nourish, encourage, challenge, and train me -- and I don't want to miss any of it. How about you? I say let's turn to His Word with fresh fervor!

"When your words came, I ate them; they were my joy and my heart's delight, for I bear your name, O Lord God Almighty." Jeremiah 15:16

Flickr photo by Iangatos

**The next issue of Life Notes, my free quarterly inspirational newsletter, will be coming out next week. There's a special giveaway coming for all subscribers, current and new. Don't miss out -- sign up for it on the sidebar!

Show Off Season

Someone's showing off in our neighborhood -- and from what I hear, He may be showing off in yours, too. The landscape around here is changing daily, with colors popping overnight. Yesterday's trees have donned new clothes, and tomorrow's will wear an even different shade. October's work is underway.

Many talented artists, craftsmen, and designers populate our world, but can any match God's artistry? Their representations of His original work are most times beautiful indeed, but can they even touch the magnificence God gives us by allowing us to be right out in the work itself?

God graces each season with its own unique beauties, but for a couple of weeks in October, He just plain shows off, doesn't He? We're hard pressed to keep up with the changes occurring daily around us, and if we're not careful -- if we're too busy or stressed or even just caught up in our daily routines -- we'll miss the changing feast surrounding us. And it's a feast not to be missed.

God's show off season won't last long so let's do what we must to enjoy it. Let's take a few extra seconds as we rush from door to door and let our eyes linger on the beauties of fall. Let's drive out of our way from time to time to see what we can spy or take a leisurely walk and fully experience God's masterpiece with all our senses at once. Let's take it in -- and then thank Him for showing off yet again.

"How many are your works, O Lord! In wisdom you made them all..." Psalm 104:24a

**We're lucky to have more than one beautiful tree in our neighborhood. Remember the one across the street from us? (The leaves haven't changed colors on it yet.) The one pictured above is just a couple of houses away, and I look forward to it's glorious colors every fall.

From Ashes to Praise

Since this has been one crazy-busy week for me, I thought I'd post a powerful quote I came across this past week in Journey, a women's devotional magazine from LifeWay. Elisabeth Elliot had this to say in her book These Strange Ashes:

"To be a follower of the Crucified means, sooner or later, a personal encounter with the cross. And the cross always entails loss, but loss and death are only the preludes to gain and life...to God nothing is finally lost. Faith, prayer, and obedience are our requirements. We are not offered in exchange immunity and exemption from the world's woes. What we are offered has to do with another world altogether. God's story never ends with ashes".

"The Spirit of the Sovereign Lord is on me, because the Lord has anointed me to preach good news to the poor...to comfort all who mourn and provide for those who grieve in Zion -- to bestow on them a crown of beauty instead of ashes, the oil of gladness instead of mourning, and a garment of praise instead of a spirit of despair." Isaiah 61:1a, 2b-3a

What a precious, lifegiving promise. Praise Him with me, won't you? And share if you will -- how has God brought about beauty from ashes in your life?

*Flickr photo by eyspahn