Welcome Fall 2018

I can't believe it's fall already; the days are so busy and go by so fast I hardly noticed summer ending. The stifling dampness of June passed me by, as did the sunny days of July. Only when a chilly wind sliced through the humid days of August did I realize that a new season was coming.

Fall. That wonderful time of year where everything is nippy but not quite frigid. When you have to wear a jacket but not gloves. When you have an excuse to pull out your throw blankets and whip up some steaming apple cider. I've always loved fall for all those reasons and more, so I am super exited now that the season is official. In honor of September 22, I thought I would give autumn a proper welcome.

Welcome, Fall.
It's been a while. You went away last year when winter blew in. You've waited for spring to sprinkle its flowers and birds everywhere, and stood quietly as summer sweated and humidified the air. But now you're back, with your chilly breeze and colorful landscapes and I can't wait to see the season unfold. Fall, you always bring the most beautiful changes. What other season perfectly mixes bright golden leaves with deep red ones, or expertly pairs round pumpkins with dry spiky corn stalks. It's such a nice diversion from the stickiness of summer or the dampness of spring that I always look forward to it. I can't wait for you, Fall. I've always enjoyed walking outdoors when all the leaves are changing or picking apples that you've ripened them to a crispy red or even sitting inside watching the season roll past my window as I sip hot cider. There is nothing better than the first deep breath of Autumn air; it seeps into the lungs and leaves a refreshing chill that has the slightest hit of cinnamon. That first breath smells like dry leaves and pumpkin pie, like apples and honey. And sometimes it even smells like Thanksgiving turkey. This is why I look forward to your return every year, Fall; you're a special season unlike any other and you bring with you comfort, joy, and family. So welcome back, Fall. Let's enjoy this season and all the wonderful things it has to offer.

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Photo Credit: MTL Blog

Bird Song

I can hear the birds singing outside my window; their soft melody drifts over the warm breeze like the notes of a single flute in an orchestra. The notes are clear and piercing and sweet to be heard. They sing the song that no human knows, the quiet melody of nature. There are many different bird calls, as many different notes. The soft chirp, the whistle, the rapping sound of the quick beat. I can hear each note in the birds' songs, each little bird has its own tune, soft and small. It's hard to hear the different notes; the birds carry their song with them as they flit over the tree branches and far away through the sky. The sound grows ever fainter till it can hardly be heard at all. Only the faintest fluted note over a mile away, carried over the land by the faithful wind, bring the birds' song back to me. The music of the birds is the music of the earth; it feeds the soul.

See the birds of the sky, that they don't sow, neither do they reap, nor gather into barns; your heavenly Father feeds them. Aren't you of much more value than they?   Matthew 6:26


Photo Credit: Ric McArthur

Wind Unseen - A Poem

Wind unseen it blows along,
Dancing weaving with a song.
A song of summer and of spring,
A song of little brown birds taking wing.

Wind unseen is chilly and cool,
Wind unseen throws dust up minuscule.
A breeze that takes the breath away,
It blows the sand of beaches into the bay.

Wind unseen is quite quite strange,
Sudden it whips up and causes abrupt change.
It's violent and fast,
It changes what was past.

And yet the wind is also calm,
It brings to ear a faraway song.
And song of love and of the spring,
Time long past the wind does bring.

Wind unseen blows away,
It takes with it memories that cannot stay.
It goes away forevermore,
Wind unseen will be heard no more.


Photo Credit: 204 best Crush

Prayer Blog - People of the World

What an amazing world we live in; what a great beauty it holds. Not only in the many varying landscapes but also in the people who inhabit this land. We often forget how many different people there are in the world; you can look at your neighbors and the people in your city and forget that there are people not at all far away who look, act, and even sound completely different. How beautiful a world of diversity is! How gorgeous the contrast of the world's people is! It truly gives testimony to a glorious and creative God, who had the wisdom to see that our world would be awfully boring if we all looked the same.

Look on his creation today. See how wonderful his people are - how beautiful they were created, no matter their skin color, heights, weights, eye color, or background. They were all created specially by a caring God who loves each and everyone of them.

Pray -

Dear Lord,
What an amazing world you have created and what beautiful people you have filled it with. We thank you that you love us so, and we celebrate what you have done for us. We desire to be like you, so please give us hearts to love those you love. Give us opportunities to demonstrate your love through works, and be glorified through it all.

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If you want a better look at just how different and special the people of this world are, check out PRAYERCAST, a free website with prayer videos for every country under the sun.