I've opened up the shutters here in my room so that I can watch the birds this morning. It's daylight now as I write this, usually it is still dark. I hung up three hummingbird feeders the other day - and two are right where I can see from this window - and yes! there was just a hummingbird at the feeders. The light reflection nearly shows it is =empty - did it evaporate? I'll have to check this morning when I get dressed and moving about - and I found yet another hummingbird feeder I need to fill and put out. AND, I ordered two shepherd's crook yesterday and they have been delivered this morning. I got the double ones so that I can put the hummingbird feeder away from the tree which nearly hides them, and perhaps put a plant on one side and the feeder on the other. Surely the plant would draw the hummingbirds as well. I love watching them fly about. Last spring when we were sitting outside they would get just inches from our face and stay there. Scary at times for they are quick!
While I was out yesterday I decided to pick a few more lemons that were on our little tree in the courtyard. For two years we didn't even know what kind of tree it was. Then it produced one lemon or perhaps three. That told us that it was a lemon tree. This year it was abundant with lemons! There are still two-three (or more) lemons on it but too high for me to reach. But in pulling the lemons off yesterday, my skin was pricked in different spots on my hand and arm. I think I am allergic to lemon trees. Not the lemons, for I can eat those with no problem. But this is the second time I have picked lemons and my hand/arm has swollen up and is tender. What is really weird is that I don't remember hitting my right knuckle on anything and it is red and swollen as well. I can only blame it on the lemon tree - have no idea what could be causing the swelling and pain in the knuckle other than the tree itself.
It looks like it is going to be a beautiful sunny day today. The clouds have cleared; the storm is past, I am thinking. Are we due for more? I don't know. But it looks cool and nice out. Cool as in 46 degrees according to my computer. I enjoy the crisp cool mornings.... from my bedroom window. :-)
I don't have much on the agenda today. I would like to do a run over to Sam's Club, but it really isn't necessary. Other than that, I have yet another baby quilt to make and a couple baby blankets to finish up. I also have a couple books I'd like to focus on. And I'd like to........... yeah, I can do a list of the 'I'd like to' but never get around to it. I need to pop in and see Ms. Diane and Ms. Vicky too.
The verse I spoke about yesterday? I find it interesting that it was in another devotional I read this morning. Remember it?
Psalm 62:5 My soul, wait silently for God alone, for my expectation is from Him.
I'm trying to learn that I can sit and just be quiet, and (try) quiet my mind, and just 'be'. How many times do we try to just sit still for a few minutes and all these thoughts come to our mind that we need to be doing something. We need to read. We need to make a call. We need to go pee. We need to fix a meal. We need to write a note. We need to send a text. We need to.... you can fill in the blank. We fight with our mind to be silent. Even I find it hard to let my mind be quiet. (sometimes I fall asleep when I do that!)
When I try to quiet my mind, my thoughts always go to Sister Therese, who was the nun who ran The House of Solitude in Black Canyon City. It is no longer available for anyone to go up there. I so long to be able to stay in a hermitage and just be silent. I have great memories of great moments with God when I was able to go. Sister Therese died several years ago and when she did, the Catholics sold it to a Lutheran group I heard, and it was no longer available to the public. But back to Sister Therese.
I can remember being in the chapel alone. The chapel was a circular building. On one side it had huge windows that you could look out over the I17 and on to the valley and the mountains around. It was located, along with the hermitages, on top of the mountain that was there. I am sitting alone, quietly, in one of the chairs facing the windows, just looking out and praying. In comes Sister Therese. She says not a word, but sits next to me and looks out the window. She gives a big sigh, and a smile, as she looks out.... and without a word spoken.... I knew she was in tune with God Almighty. She was 'in another world', one that I longed to be in. I desired that deep communion with God.
And He did give it to me while I was there. And I have longed to get off by myself to where I could just look out in wonder at what He has created, and worship within my soul, my very being, of how awesome and how wonderful He is. Total abandonment in worship. That is what my heart longs for. There are too many distractions nowadays. Even here in my room I can not capture that abandonment. I may be alone, I may pray, but to feel that abandonment in wonder and worship of our King, sometimes that is hard to capture. This may not make sense to you, but I long for the times I have had, and because I have 'tasted' it, I long for more of it.
When was the last time you had alone time with God that was so enriching that you long for more of it? Perhaps you have never had it. Why not carve out some time today to just sit and be silent and tune your ears to Him, that just perhaps, you will hear His voice? It will be something you will never forget, and something that you will always long for. Don't let others take that away from you. Hide it deep in your heart, but share it, for it is your testimony of His faithfulness to you. Never forget how much our Heavenly Father loves you. He gave His one and only Son for you as a sacrifice. He forgives you, when you ask Him to. Why not do that today?
Blessings!
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