October’s Final Day

Autumn's Bountiful Colors-10-31-11

This is such a beautiful day I thought as I drove towards home after dropping my grandson off at school. 

The sun was shining brightly. The clouds were putting on a wondrous display in the blue sky and the vibrant colors of fall shone all around me  What a wonderful day to be alive!  

It’s the last day of October I thought. Yes, most call this day Halloween but it is more than that.  This is a day the Lord has made.  The world has labeled it “Halloween” but the Lord has given it to be so much more than just a day for tricks or treats.  He has set before me a day full of beauty and color.  What shall I do with it?  I must make a choice I thought, for October 31, 2011 will never be again after today.

My homework is done, I have no immediate plans, the day is laid out before me, a canvas of color to make mine.           I can’t help myself–I decide to enjoy it!  

 As each fall scene came across my path on the drive home,  I stopped to take a photograph of it.  Then, once home I chose to take a walk to further enjoy the day.  This created an opportunity to take some more photographs of colorful displays in my neighborhood.  

The experience was rewarding.  The crunch of colorful leaves under my shoes, the sound of birds chattering in the trees, a leaf covered with dew on the green grass, a bee enjoying his day visiting a lonely dandelion, mushrooms hidden beneath the stairs, summer’s colorful flowers slowly submitting to fall, and colorful fall yard displays all made for a delightful walk.  All this, I thought in one tiny area of my small part of this wide world.  What a treasure I would have missed had I chosen not to participate in all this day beheld.   I didn’t want it to end, but as the sun went into hiding and the clouds turned gray, I realized the time had come to head for home and record the memories.  

The sunshine, marshmallow clouds and trees dressed in their colors of fall on October 31, 2011 may not come again, but the photos I took will  preserve this day for me and others to enjoy whenever we might choose to do so.

If you were not able for some reason to be outside to enjoy this day or if you chose to but didn’t have a camera with you to record it, I hope you will take the time to enjoy my day with me.

Just sit back and take a moment to view the slideshow  Autumn’s Bountiful Colors Web Gallery that captures the wondrous works of God. 

Push the pause button to read the inspirational quotes if you need to.  Take your time and enjoy!  The works of His hands are on display!  Rejoice  and be glad !

This is the day the LORD has made; let us rejoice and be glad in it.  Psalm 118:24 (NIV)

Excited about Creation!

I held the book in my hands.  There it was, my creation in print!  Two years ago it was just a thought.  Now, after many days and nights of hard work it was a reality.  I was excited.!          
I wanted to show and tell everyone.   I emailed  my closest friends.  “It’s here !  The book arrived today!” I said.  ” I want to show it to you!  When can we get together so you can see it?”   They shared in my excitement.   “You sound as if you just had a baby!”  one of them replied.  

Actually, the whole process seemed to be quite similar as it is a process of creation.  So much is put into writing a book that it becomes a part of you.  You spend many days thinking, researching, writing and putting it all together. Editing, rewriting, editing until you think you can’t bear to do it anymore.  Then it’s sent to the publisher and you wait and wait for the proof to come which you have to read over and edit again.  Finally that day comes,that it’s done!  The birthing process is over!  Your creation is complete and ready to be shared with the world!

As I thought about this, I wondered if that might be how God feels about each thing He has created.  People, animals, birds, trees, oceans, flowers, etc. they are all the work of His hands.  How pleased He must be when a baby is born or a flower grows and blooms.  I imagine He wants all creation to rejoice.  It’s here!  He shouts when a baby bird is hatched.  Look!  Mama kitty just had her kittens, aren’t they beautiful creations?  Come and see the my power in the ocean I created, listen to it roar, feel its strength.  Aren’t you excited!   Don’t you just love my beautiful trees and majestic mountains?   Look at everything I created !   It is all the work of My hands and wonderfully made.  I want to share it all with you!   

I would think maybe God could feel that way don’t you?  And, probably most especially about His human creations, for He said He created us in His image and that means we are surely even more special. to Him   Yes, each one of us are His workmanship and I am sure He is very pleased with what He created and He wants us to be also.  So, next time you look at yourself in the mirror think upon that.  Or next time you meet another person, look at them as a creation of God and rejoice over His workmanship.  Share in His excitement everyday by taking time to notice and enjoy all of His creation and then praise Him for the great works He has done.  I am sure He will be so glad to have you do that.  Just try it and see! 

Then God looked over all he had made, and He saw that it was very good!  Genesis 1:31 [NLT]

(My devotional book titled “54 Spiritual Blessings in Christ”  will be available soon. )