:) Thanks for the smile, LUV W.

You Always Find the Cutest Graphics, Dear Meg!
(((((Thank you, and Hugs!)))))

Thank you, Dear FRiends, for the Daily Pings & Posts.
(((((Love, and God Bless)))))

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A Piercing Thorn

October 18, 2018

But he was pierced for our transgressions . . . and by his wounds we are healed. Isaiah 53:5

The thorn pricked my index finger, drawing blood. I hollered and then groaned, drawing back my hand instinctively. But I shouldn’t have been surprised: trying to prune a thorny bush without gardening gloves was a recipe for exactly what just happened.

The pain throbbing in my finger—and the blood flowing from it—demanded attention. And as I searched for a bandage, I found myself unexpectedly thinking about my Savior. After all, soldiers forced Jesus to don an entire crown of thorns (John 19:1–3). If one thorn hurt this much, I thought, how much agony would an entire crown of them inflict? And that’s just a small portion of the physical pain He suffered. A whip flogged His back. Nails penetrated His wrists and ankles.

But Jesus endured spiritual pain too. Verse 5 of Isaiah 53 tells us, “But he was pierced for our transgressions, he was crushed for our iniquities; the punishment that brought us peace was on him.” The “peace” Isaiah talks about here is another way of talking about forgiveness. Jesus allowed Himself to be pierced—by nails, by a crown of thorns—to bring us spiritual peace with God. His sacrifice, His willingness to die on our behalf, paved the way to make a relationship with the Father possible. And He did it, Scripture tells us, for me, for you.

Father, I can’t imagine the pain Your Son endured to wash away my sin. Thank You for sending Him for me, to be pierced for my sins that I might have a relationship with You.

Jesus allowed Himself to be pierced to bring us spiritual peace with God.

INSIGHT

Isaiah 53:1–6 is part of a section of the book known as the Servant Songs. There are four Servant Songs in Isaiah that describe the service, suffering, and triumph of the servant of the Lord—Jesus the Messiah. These songs are found in Isaiah 42:1–9, 49:1–13, 50:4–11, and 52:13–53:12.

This last servant song describes the suffering and triumph of the servant. Though He is pierced, crushed, punished, and wounded, it’s His suffering that brings us peace and healing (53:5). The ultimate purpose for this suffering is outlined in verse 10—His life is an offering for sin. The servant takes our place—suffering for us and bearing our sins. And by His suffering and death, we are given life and peace. But death is not the end for the servant: “After he has suffered, he will see the light of life” (v. 11). In His suffering and resurrection, Jesus reconciles humanity to God (see Matthew 8:17; Acts 8:30–35; Romans 10:15–17; 15:21).

How can you celebrate the life that Jesus died to give you?

For more on the book of Isaiah, see Old Testament Survey: Ecclesiastes–Isaiah at christianuniversity.org/OT224.

Autumn Broke Today

I turned today and Autumn broke
Before my eyes on fields of gold.
Whispered low-key on each haystack
And curled itself through bonfire smoke.
Summer's colour starts unfolding
In cool mists, pales and loses track.

I felt today that Autumn showed
Its hold. Summer, palling, flutters
To the ground. Cracking sound of twigs
Snapping from each tree, as slowly
East wind saps them, then it mutters
Warnings round the wires of riggings.

I sensed today, as Autumn fell
Into hedgerow's berry harvest
Time now to measure well ripe juice,
As chance of losing who can tell?
Nights wrapped in chill will do their best
To blight it, - with Autumn as excuse.

Fay Slimm

Have a wonderful thankful Thursday, everyone!

Good morning Trisham! Cold here, in the 20s last night. Nice and sunny this morning.

Planning on planting 3 pine trees before the ground freezes. The house we moved to is near a diciduous forest but there are no pines anywhere. I miss the many spruce and pines I planted at the old house, so I called diggers hotline and am good to go on planting a trio of pines in the front yard. Pines grow faster than spruce so I’ll get those.

I have many birds here from the forest. They are happy at my feeders. Want to get a few more feeders for the blue jays I see flying in the woods.

Saw 4 eagles last weekend at my parents farm which is 15 miles from here. A rare sight. Usually seeing one is a treat, 4 was a blessing!

Thankful for God's Beauty.
Happy Thankful Thursday!

Saw an American Bald Eagle fly over my field this morning! First time I saw one here. Woot! 🦅

Love the dog warning us about the cat meme. Funny!

Looks like a passion flower. Haven’t seen a picture of one of those for a long time. Rare and intricate beauty.

Happy Thankful Thursday!

And yes, I am Thankful that winter doesn't happen till we've enjoyed Autumn. (I don't call it "Fall" because falling just isn't as much fun as Autumning.

((((HUGS))))

ML/LTOS

Handsome boy!

Those Internet Puppies are gorgeous! :-)

This is my youngest :)

Bongo Fury.

It sure is a beautiful flower. There was a bush or vine of them at the cottages where we stayed for the TexasCowboy Memorial Shoot two weekends ago at Lake Whitney in Texas. I’d never seen a Passion Flower before.

I have seen very few in person. They are amazing.

Awwwww...such a cutie!

They were indeed beautiful. I wish I had thought to get more pictures. I was just so thrilled to get that bee flying over it. LOL!

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Bring Your Boats

October 19, 2018

Do not withhold good from those to whom it is due, when it is in your power to act. Proverbs 3:27

Hurricane Harvey brought catastrophic flooding to eastern Texas in 2017. The onslaught of rain stranded thousands of people in their homes, unable to escape the floodwaters. In what was dubbed the “Texas Navy,” many private citizens brought boats from other parts of the state and nation to help evacuate stranded people.

The actions of these valiant, generous men and women call to mind the encouragement of Proverbs 3:27, which instructs us to help others whenever we are able. They had the power to act on behalf of those in need by bringing their boats. And so they did. Their actions demonstrate a willingness to use whatever resources they had at their disposal for the benefit of others.

We may not always feel adequate for the task at hand; often we become paralyzed by thinking we don’t have the skills, experience, resources, or time to help others. In such instances, we’re quick to sideline ourselves, discounting what we do have that might be of assistance to someone else. The Texas Navy couldn’t stop the floodwaters from rising, nor could they legislate government aid. But they used what they had within their power—their boats—to come alongside the deep needs of their fellow man. May we all bring our “boats”—whatever they may be—to take the people in our paths to higher ground.

Lord, all that I have is from You. Help me to always use what You’ve given me to help others.

God provides for His people through His people.

INSIGHT

Helping others by doing good when it’s in our power to act (Proverbs 3:27–28) is also the focus of Paul’s instructions to believers. Encouraging us to live meaningful and purposeful lives before a watching, non-believing world, Paul tells us to “be very careful, then, how [we] live—not as unwise but as wise, making the most of every opportunity” (Ephesians 5:15–16). Careful living means we are to live godly lives as “children of light” pleasing to the Lord (vv. 8, 10). Paul expects “those who have trusted in God [to] devote themselves to doing what is good” (Titus 3:8). We are to adopt a never-give-up attitude when it comes to serving others: “Let us not become weary in doing good . . . . As we have opportunity, let us do good to all people, especially to those who belong to the family of believers” (Galatians 6:9–10).

What can you do this week to serve someone?

The bee was a nice touch!

Aw, one of Spuds MacKenzie’s relatives? Showing my age by remembering Spuds!
My guess..American Staffordshire Terrier ?