I will Make you Fishers of Men

People are starting to bring their boats out of storage and down to the lake these days as we draw closer to spring. Most of them are sail boats, but if you look closely in the background in the last photo above, you will notice a speedboat jetting along. There is a boat rental at the end of our street, but I think they specialize in the un-motorized variety which means I should get my butt down to the gym before venturing out (even with my Numbers Man).

When I move the oars, love,

See how the stars are tossed,

Distorted, the brightest lost.

—So that bright one of yours, love.

~In A Boat by DH Lawrence

When Spring is Afraid to be Sprung

Further, our heavenly Father, we come before Thee now washed in the blood, wearing the snow-white robe of Christ's righteousness, and we ask Thee to remember Thy people. Some are sore burdened; lighten the burden or strengthen the shoulder. Some are bowed down with fear; peradventure they mistrust; forgive the mistrust and give a great increase of faith that they may trust Thee where they cannot trace Thee. The Lord remember any who bear the burden of others. Some cry to Thee day and night about the sins of the times, about the wanderings of Thy Church. Lord hear our prayers! We would bear this yoke for Thee, but help us to bear it without fearing so as to distrust Thee. May we know that Thou wilt take care of Thine own cause and preserve Thine own truth, and may we therefore be restful about it all.

~Under the Blood
A prayer of C. H. Spurgeon

Winter Hallelujah

When I'm feeling down,
Drooping - slightly rumpled
By a season of trouble,
And the wind delights
In testing my will to hold fast,
It is "by strength of hand the LORD"
Delivers me along unto His purpose
Until I quietly fall and rest
Upon the verdant fields
He grew for me because
I looked to him
Through clouds of grey
And uttered happy Hallelujahs.

- Inspired by Exodus 13:16

The Clouds Paint a Picture

I lift my eyes up

Up to the mountains

Where does my help come from?

My help comes from you

Maker of heaven

Creator of the earth

Growing up that was one of my favorite songs, and now I often sing it to myself when God reminds me of his majesty in the world that surrounds me. He blesses me in sunrises and sunsets, and shows me His power by clearing the sky and bringing forth a sky of peaches and blues; a landscape of heaven.

Spread a Little Sunshine Ev'ry Day

~*~Help someone along life's way

Spread a little sunshine ever day ~*~

The sky is absent of sun shining through today, just a sheet of dove gray cloud, covering what I know is up there hiding away. The birds are silent now, tucked into their gathered stick homes, and the only sound is the cacophony of splatters that turn into a soothing muffle when the windows are latched down for the day.

On days like these it is needful that we make our own sunshine. Help out a friend or a friendly stranger today and spread the warmth of the Son.

Romans 15:2 Each of us should please his neighbor for his good, to build him up.

My Lake Today

I will arise and go now, for always night and day

I hear lake water lapping with low sounds by the shore;

While I stand on the roadway, or on the pavements grey,

I hear it in the deep heart's core.

~From The Lake Isle of Innisfree , by William Butler Yeats