Rusted and Restored


My rusted old watering can has sprung a leak. Over the years we’ve nurtured and raised many summers of vibrant flowerbeds together.

Having attained an advanced state of maturity???😊, and a tad rusted out myself, I’m not a big throw-away fan. I can remember my grandfather having me straighten out used nails . . . frugality on steroids! Sooooo, replacing my old watering with a new, rust-proof, sleek plastic model isn’t an option  . . . Flex-seal to the rescue! Successfully patched, we’re back watering flowerbeds again.

My restoration project reminded me of a story I reflect on for encouragement during times when past regrets threaten to crowd out present joys, pondering if my life’s purpose is to merely serve as a good bad example😊

During those less than a ‘10’, discouraging detours along life’s journey, here it is for encouragement, believing that He who brings “…beauty for ashes…” created you on purpose for a purpose.

  The Cracked Pot

A water-bearer had two pots, each hung on opposite ends of a pole he carried across his neck.  One of the pots had a crack in it. The other was perfect, always delivering a full portion of water at the end of a long walk from the stream to the Master’s house. The cracked pot always arrived half-full. Each day for two years, at the end of the long journey from the stream to the master’s house, the water-bearer delivered only one and a half pots of water.

The perfect pot was proud of its accomplishment to fulfill the purpose for which it had been made. The poor cracked pot was ashamed of its imperfection, miserable that it had only been able to accomplish half of what it had been made to do.

After two years of what was perceived as a bitter failure, the unhappy, broken pot spoke to the water-bearer at the stream.

I am ashamed of myself, and I want to apologize to you.”, the pot said.

Why?”, asked the water-bearer. “What are you ashamed of?

For the past two years I have been able to deliver only half my load because the crack in my side causes the water to leak out all the way back to your Master’s house. Because of my flaws, you have to do all this work and don’t get full value from your efforts,” the broken pot said.

The water-bearer felt sorry for the old, cracked pot, and in his compassion said, “As we return to the Master’s house today, I want you to notice the beautiful flowers along the path.

As they went back up the path, the broken pot cheered up a bit observing the lovely flowers blooming in the sunlight along the path’s side. However, upon reaching the Master’s house, realizing it had leaked out half its load once again, the broken pot’s despondency returned, and so it apologized again to the water-bearer for its failure.

The water-bearer said to pot, “Did you notice that there were flowers only on your side of the path, not on the other pot’s side? That’s because I have always known about your flaw, and I have taken advantage of it. I planted flower seeds on your side of the path, and every day, as we have walked back from the stream to the Master’s house, you have watered them. For two years I have been able to pick these beautiful flowers to decorate my Master’s table. Without you being just the way you are, He would not have this beauty to grace His house with.

Keep Looking Up . . . His Best is Yet to Come!

Sunset Promise


Life’s storms are inevitable. Watching our Creator brush His sunset masterpiece across the heavens nurtured the thought . . . magnificent sunsets are cast on cloudy skies.

Ralph Waldo Emerson’s poetic words sealed my peace . . . “Every sunset brings the promise of a new dawn.”

The heavens declare the glory of God; and the firmament showeth His handywork. – Psalm 19:1

New Year Resolutions


After nearly 8 decades of failed New year resolutions, I’ve finally arrived at one that works for me . . .

Leave the past in the past . . . the future in the future . . . and live life one-day-at-a-time today holding tightly the hand of the only One who knows all three, and needs make no resolutions.

Be Blessed!

The Gift of the One


From our Smoky Mountain home up on the mountain – down in the ‘holler – by the ‘crick’ . . . to wherever you and yours may be this Christmas . . . we wish you the Gift of the One who left Heaven for earth 2,000 years ago to bring “Peace on earth, good will to men” to everyone who chooses to accept the only eternal promise of hope and joy this world has.

Merry Christmas !

Peace . . . Hope . . . Joy . . . Love


Clouds abated today and sunshine peeked through, a welcome respite from a lengthy stretch of stormy weather . . . and I heard the mountains calling.

John Muir once said, “You are not in the mountains. The mountains are in you” . . . and today they moved in.

High among mountain cathedrals’ majesty, blanketed in pristine virgin white, He silently whispered to my soul in the solitude . . . Peace, Hope, Joy and Love . . . so thirsted for in the world below me.

Scripture tells us that faith can move mountains . . . climbing mountains always moves my faith to greater heights, wishing I could linger longer.

I will lift mine eyes unto the hills, from whence cometh my help. My help cometh from the Lord, which made heaven and earth.

Psalm 121:1-2

Chugach Vista
Contented Footprints
Talkeetna Vista

Waters


Calm/Swift . . . Clear/Muddy . . . Turbulent/Tranquil . . . water is a metaphor of life.

Such were where my thoughts drifted on today’s wilderness wander pondering the day when, with those gone before me, I will forever contentedly wander beside the river of pure . . . clear as crystal “ waters. – Revelation 22:1

Sunshine, Rapids, Shoulders


The photograph was taken the on a wilderness-wander the other day portraying the ambivalence of life’s journey . . . there will always be sunshine above, and tumultuous rapids below. The picture depicts sunshine’s Hope.

A recent totally unexpected, upsetting event threatened capsizing in discouragement’s rapids, but Grace kept me upright.  A quote came to mind reminding me not allow yesterday’s failures to destroy today’s joys;

To live above with the folks we love, that will be glory. To live below with the folks we know, that’s another story.”

Years ago, lamenting to a pastor friend how my life’s foremost, self-imposed failure had affected others and Christianity’s name, he compassionately, but candidly told me,

It’s not about you Fred. You’re not that important. God and others will survive your failure”.

His words uncovered the root of all sins I’ve struggled with throughout my life . . . ‘I’m important’ self-pride.

Watching the rising sun evaporate clouds off the mountains this morning, a subtle, Divine duality of pride stuck me . . . in my own and the world’s perspective, I’m truly “not that important”. But I . . . the one who wandered away . . . God has undeservedly and sacrificially deemed “most important”, leaving the 99 to carry me back to the flock on His shoulders.

While we proudly take pride celebrating our country’s precious independence and freedom this 4th of July, may we ever remember it’s Him who has been carrying our nation on His shoulders, and endeavor to continue let Him do so in His way, not ours.

Happy 4th of July!                                 
                                            
Keep Looking Up . . . His best is yet to come!

Black Sheep Shepherd

Teardrops and Raindrops


Creation’s Tears

Tears of joy, and those of sorrow

We know not which will fall tomorrow

Raindrops upon a flower’s bloom

Prompts dismissing teardrops’ gloom

Our tears of grief, and those of loss

Were all once shed upon a Cross

He knows our grief, our pain and sorrow

And saves each one to dry tomorrow

You know how troubled I am; You have kept a record of my tears” – Ps.56:8 GNB

He will wipe away all tears from their eyes. There will be no more death, no more grief or cry or pain”.  – Rev. 21:4 GNB

Last Words


Having the last word may be of benefit in a discussion, but of what benefit will your last words be?

As though it was yesterday, the last words my mother spoke to me before going Home at 93 still echo in my heart . . . “Later Freddy”. Those two words spoke, and continue to speak, the confident hope of eternal reunion someday.

Four words, cried out in inconceivable anguish, sealed that reunion on a cross 2,000 years ago . . . Eli, Eli, lama sabachthani?  . . . My God, my God, why hast thou  forsaken me?” – Matthew 27:46

In the words of Pastor John Ortberg:

The cross is the ultimate paradox: God experiencing the absence of God so that He can draw closest to us in our loss and grief. Jesus was in a sense never closer to us than when He was furthest from the Father”.

Wherever this Easter may find you, be it in trail or triumph, my prayer is you will find the confident hope of reunion in knowing the One whose last four words uttered in death, conquered it, and loved you into eternal life.

Forgiven- Thomas Blackshear II

This picture sits on my desk reminding me how totally forgiven and loved I am, and the reunion that awaits