Joseph’s 2020 Home Photo Challenge
All your works praise you, Lord;
your faithful people extol you.
Psalm 145: 10
August’s Last Magnolia
Month: August 2020
Share Your World 8-31-2020
Monday Sunny Side Up
How wonderful yellow is.
It stands for the sun.
Vincent van Gogh (1853-1890)
See more at Cee's Flower of the Day Challenge.
Creaturely Rumination
Jude’s Saturday Symphony #8 in which Jude poses the following question: What animal do you most relate to or admire, and why? Fandango’s #FOWC: “covered”
Creaturely Rumination
So you want to know what animal I admire?
This of my ponderous thoughts you require
And, my friend, I’ll acquiesce to your request,
I’ve got you covered! My answer, no jest,
Thus plainly is: the creature meriting such love
Must be as wise as a snake and harmless as a dove.
Aha, you say! That’s two creatures, not one!
But appearances deceive, especially those human,
And under one skin can reside two creatures:
Two snakes, two doves, doubles in their features
Twice wise and as deadly or twice haplessly unwary
Equally alarming as their fortunes they miscarry.
Think now of a creature, a lamb or a dove, so harmless, so mild
But wise, like a snake, and knowing, a man, woman, or child;
One creature who is heeding the law of love from its Author
And the same creature undeceived by the world’s favor or disfavor.
Such a God-fearing creature – oh, could it be you? Could it be me? –
Is the freest of the free, at peace, my friend, with God eternally.
“Behold, I am sending you out as sheep in the midst of wolves, so be wise as serpents and innocent as doves.” (Matt. 10: 16, ESV)
Joyful Dependance on God
Some of you have noticed the tagline to my site title “This Jolly Beggar”: “In Absolute Joyful, Dependance on the Grace and Love of God.” The story behind that is on my “C. S. Lewis on Jolly Beggars” page.
So when I saw these tiny sparkling blue flowers in an out-of-the-way patch of dirt down an alley, I recognized in them this quality of joyful dependance on God. Nothing dimmed their sparkle. And eyes that were open to their presence were blessed beyond all reason. Why? Because languishing here in this little patch where no one noticed them, these little stalks of blue stars, these jolly beggars boldly testified to God’s faithfulness.
Today I read of another “jolly beggar,” Rika Theron, who lives in South Africa. As the author of the article on Rika writes:
This. This is a life of suffering. And this is a life of breathtaking beauty. . . . .
In a world that worships fame and productivity, indulgences and self-sufficiency, Rika’s life may seem unbearably difficult. She has not enjoyed the fleeting pleasures afforded to most people and has spent her life in relative seclusion, in pain and dependent on others. Yet watching Rika live in joyful dependence on God, touching the seen and unseen world, I realize she’s changing the universe as she fights her daily battles – perhaps having a greater impact on the kingdom of God than celebrities with large ministries. In heaven, the people who have suffered alone, in a small corner of the world, will shine more brightly than we can imagine.
Vaneetha Risner, “A Remarkable Life”
Rika knows that she is seen and known and loved by God. Do you have this same knowledge and joyful dependance on the God who suffered and has offered Himself for you?
Bear pain for one moment at a time; there is patience enough in Jesus for the next moment. You cannot exhaust God; and your work is to be, not in your might or power, but by his Spirit. — F. B. Meyer
For “everyone who calls on the name of the Lord will be saved.”
Romans 10: 13
Photo for Cee's Flower of the Day (FOTD) Challenge. Be sure to visit Cee's Photo Challenges for amazing photography and fun photo challenges.
Endless Day
Night brought Fear
Stayed you nearby.
Dawn emblazoned Hope
Your Voice to hear
Calling down an endless Day.
Dora A. K.
Fandango's Dog Days of August #FDDA "time of day"
Sammi's Weekend Writing Prompt #172 "endless"
Creekside Reflections
Taking time out to reflect on the natural beauty around us is a gift that photography, if it’s done right (like Cee’s) gets you up out of your chair and outdoors exploring. Hope this weekend there are colorful spots like this in the woods or fields or gardens around you and moments of pleasant reflection.
"I took a walk in the woods and came out taller than the trees." -- Henry David Thoreau
For Cee's Flower of the Day (FOTD) Challenge. Be sure to visit Cee's Photo Challenges for amazing photography and fun challenges.
Blooms by Water
Cee’s FOTD Challenge
These were growing by a deer trail underneath a bridge. The trembling water and pale orange blooms just made for a magical discovery. No trolls here.
For Cee's Flower of the Day Challenge. Be sure to visit Cee's Photo Challenges for amazing photography and fun challenges.
Dance Convergence
Immense and free
The wind beneath me
Jouissance of gravity
A new life convergence
Soaring with the water
An overflowing hope
To carry the air
Unbounded by fear
Released by Your grace
Breathing eternity
Love's radiant beauty
Dancing in me.
Photo by Joel Valve (Unsplash) for Sadje's What Do you See (For the visually challenged reader,the image shows a girl dancing under the jets of water of a fountain, which are meeting above her in an arc.)
Green is the Color of My Stonecrop’s Leaves
Cee’s FOTD Challenge & Jude’s Saturday Symphony #7
Green is the color of my stonecrop’s leaves
And leaves are the petals of its flowers.
The sun on my stonecrop shines fairest
Whilst summer roses fall by and by;
Its rose-bloom leaves gleam like emeralds
With a fire that will never die.
If I give you an emerald rose, dear,
As a promise my love will stay green,
Tell me weathered years will never dim
The love light in your eyes;
Else I shall be like a twice-doomed rose
That falls to the ground and dies.
Dora A. K.
This Jolly Beggar 