National Lighthouse Day

Today is National Lighthouse Day~
It was on this day in 1789, that Congress approved an Act for the establishment and support of lighthouse, beacons, buoys and public piers. In Celebration of the 200th Anniversary of the signing of the Act and the commissioning of the first Federal lighthouse, Congress passed a resolution which designated August 7, 1989 as National Lighthouse Day.
For me, lighthouses are a symbol of hope and remind me of the beacon of light I follow in Jesus.

Once in a Blue Moon

Magic Lilies

These beautiful pink flowers are in bloom. They sprout their green leaves in the spring. The leaves die, then months later a slender green stem shoots up overnight. rich pink blooms open into lovely pale pink blossoms. 
I caught them just after the rain. 

Children's Book Review: Noah's Voyage Illustrated by David Miles

At a time when the people God created were disobedient, God called upon the one good man he could find, Noah. God asked Noah to build an ark because he planned to send rain and flood the earth to destroy the bad and start over with people who loved him. He not only wanted to save Noah and his family, he wanted Noah to load animals onto the ark. Following God's perfect instructions, Noah and his sons built the giant boat to the Father's exact dimensions. When the rains came they climbed in.

The story of Noah's ark has been told time and time again. But instead of listening to a storyteller, now young readers, age 5-7, can pick up a copy and read this I Can Read! copy with a little help. David Miles has painted colorful and expressive pictures that will capture the reader's attention and add to their imagination. The animals are delightful and Noah and his family appear as loving individuals. I especially like the illustration of the inside of the ark. I'm sure most children are curious about how the animals may have lived on the three level ark. I recommend this version of Noah and the ark to be read with a child or to a class. You'll have much to talk about.

I received this book from Zonderkidz in exchange for a fair review. 

What Do Ants, Hyraxes, Locusts, and Lizards Have in Common?

Proverbs 30:24-38
Four things on earth are small,
    yet they are extremely wise:
Ants are creatures of little strength,
    yet they store up their food in the summer;
hyraxes are creatures of little power,
    yet they make their home in the crags;
locusts have no king,
    yet they advance together in ranks;
a lizard can be caught with the hand,
    yet it is found in kings’ palaces.

Summer-- a time for picnics. Grilled hot dogs and burgers, corn-on-the-cob, watermelon, baked beans, and chips laid out on a red-checkered table cloth. Sounds ideal. I enjoy delicious food at an outdoor event and so do ants. If left to their own accord, the little creatures, one by one, carry crumbs off to their hills and pack the goodies away for mealtime. They're smart.

I'd never heard of the hyrax until I read this verse. They're a chubby guinea pig like mammal with the ability to dig a home in the rocks they live near. Despite their short legs, they can hollow out a hole to live in. They know how to meet a challenge.

Locust organize themselves without a leader and lizards find a way to slink into royal palaces. They're determined.

All of the creatures mentioned in Proverbs 30 are considered wise. They use the gifts God's given them to survive day-to-day. Our Father has given each of us gifts. Not just artistic abilities, but life skills. If a little ant can feed an army and a hyrax can dig a cave in the rock, I can face each day with Jesus by my side and overcome difficulties and temptations and use the abilities God's given me to bless others. So often I sell myself short and forget I'm not in this alone. I'm in it with the creator of life. Praise God for his gifts and his beautiful creation.

One Benefit of Summer

Work with all Your Heart

1 Thessalonians 1:3
We remember before our God and Father your work produced by faith, your labor prompted by love, and your endurance inspired by hope in our Lord Jesus Christ.

Colossians 3:23
Whatever you do, work at it with all your heart, as working for the Lord, not for human masters...

In Bible college we learned about working in ministry. Many of my classmates went on to be pastors, children's ministers, and youth leaders. But most of us have worked in secular jobs. Teachers, carpenters, office managers, and librarians. I'd been home with my children for years before I worked in public. Raising kids had been my ministry and I enjoyed it. I loved encouraging and shaping their lives and ministering to their friends.

Dad was a cook in the service.

When I entered the workforce, I struggled to figure out how I was to minister when I wasn't in a ministry position. I wasn't prepared. I had days where I thought what's the point. Sure, I earned money and liked what I was doing. But, how was I to show people Jesus. When I read Colossians 3:23 it started to make sense. Whatever I do, I do for God. It's all for him. I needed to be a faithful employee, honest, encouraging and serving. So whoever I worked with or met saw Jesus in me. I have a confession. I still have days when I get down and wonder what I'm doing. Just last week I felt that way. My friend posted Col. 3:23 on Facebook, and  there it was-- the verse I needed. As a believer, no matter what I'm doing each day as long as I'm obedient and faithful to God, my work is valuable to him. He sets my path, as long as I work with all my heart and with faith, I know I'm fulfilling his purpose.