"Be still and Know that I am God."

The lake was so clear today, and gorgeous!

And a lovely sky too...

I was thinking today about habits. It dawned on me how habits are the important thing. It's what you do every day that counts, not what you do once in a while.

If I eat junk food every day, my body is not going to survive very well. If I eat it once in a while, well, it probably won't matter much.

If I eat healthy all the time, my body will be happier. If I eat mostly bad food and once in a while eat healthy, it won't make much difference.

If I exercise every day/week, I will be stronger, more capable, healthier.

If I just do it once in a while, my body won't see much change.

If I remember the Lord once in a while, talk to Him every now and then, it won't help me know Him.

If I talk to Him every day and look for Him working in my life every day and focus my eyes on Him EVERY DAY, my life will be different, and I will know Him.

And as a friend put it very well the other day: Eternal life = knowing Jesus. (John 17:3 - "And this is life eternal, that they might know thee the only true God, and Jesus Christ, whom thou hast sent.")

It's what you do all the time that matters, not what you do once in a while.

(if you water your plants regularly, they grow. If you don't... well... you know... )

~ Ashley L.

This Winter has been... well... hiding. It seems to snow and stick just once a month - as if trying to remind us it truly is Winter without actually having to do its job.

I sort of miss the snow. Clinging delicately to leaves and doors.

We haven't even had the adventure of getting snowed in! Or even close to approached such a condition. 

It's been cold, but rarely below 30, and almost never below 20. I'm lovin' the warmer weather, but I sort of feel like I won't appreciate Spring nearly as much this year. Things won't really change much.

There's already no snow. 

Our few light snows have melted into puddles that fill our driveway and lawn.

Just like without sorrows we wouldn't appreciate the joys nearly as much. Without snow, I don't believe we will appreciate Spring so much. (although I can't wait to see some flowers blooming to brighten the landscape! )

I often ask myself why there has to be pain in this world. Why we get sick, hurt (inside and out), betrayed.

Part of the answer seems to be, without it we wouldn't know joy, peace, health (or realize what it is anyway), loyalty... and the list goes on. The hard truth is, without these troubles, I just wouldn't enjoy life as much. And I certainly wouldn't look for someone to walk through that life with me and be strong for me. Namely, our Lord Jesus. So in the end, I'm grateful. Because I just can't imagine not knowing Jesus and the in-explainable peace and closeness He brings.

Winter is serene and breathtakingly beautiful.

Cold is invigorating.

Spring is new and radiant.

That Springtime moisture in the air is refreshing.

Summer is glowing.

Warmth is healing and ensconcing.

Fall is glorious in its burst of color.

Crispness in the air is rejuvenating.

I must remember, just as all seasons are good in their own way, so all seasons in life are too. (even if it doesn't feel like it at the moment)

And I must also remember that Winter will not last forever. Spring is always coming. And so is Summer.  

This happens to be one of the moments that feels like Spring. And I'm going to cherish it all I can.

~ Ashley L.

Last night, the wind went crazy... it's still going crazy.

Jogging to the mail box (we have a loooong driveway) I suddenly found myself barely able to even walk forward as the wind gusted at me. It was kinda cool! Reminded me of when I was a kid and loved holding an open umbrella to the wind and letting it pull me along.

When we got up this morning, we found this on our back deck... we have no idea where it came from! I'm just glad it wasn't bigger!

... or could it have been a hint from the neighbors... we should paint our house?

.....Today in our devotions we learned about keeping our eyes on the Lord. It really spoke to me. "Look unto me, and be saved."

"Many of us have a mental conception of what a Christian should be, and the lives of the saints beocme a hidnrance to your concnetration on God. There is no salvation in this way, it is not simple enough. "Look unto Me, and be saved."

The very thing we look for, we shall find if we will concentrate on Him. We get preoccupied and sulky with God, while all the time He is saying, "Look up and be saved."

The difficulties and trials-- the casting about in our minds as to what we shall do this summer, or tomorrow, all vanish when we look to God.

Rouse yourself up and look to God. Build your hope on Him. No matter if there are a hundered and one things that press, resolutely exclude them all and look to Him. "Look unto Me" and salvation is, the moment you look." ~ Oswald Chambers - My Utmost for His Highest

~ Ashley L.