June Caedmon's Blog, page 48

Women with Intention Wednesdays, Word Filled Wednesday,

Nature Notes, Sweet Shot Tuesday, Through My Lens, Little Things Thursdays,

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Published on December 03, 2015 05:00

Inspired by . . . framed in glass

We just spent a cold, wet, blustery weekend in north Texas. The weather was perfect for one thing . . .

. . . getting us into the Christmas spirit!

The town squares were dressed in twinkling lights and the shops were filled with all things merry and bright. Lovely things, cozy and warm, just what you’d expect to see this time of year.

Snowmen and Santas are icons of the season, but there is one, little red bundle of feathers that makes me think Christmas all the year through.

I’m blessed to have several pairs of cardinals that have made their home near mine here in south Texas. Of course, I have a gazillion pictures of them, but being south Texas, not one of those pictures includes snow!

I thought it would be fun to do a little creative texturing over the next four weeks leading up to Christmas, and share with you some before and after images of these beautiful red birds. Enjoy!

Before:

After:

Framed in Glass

Starburst crystals cling to the window pane

Lavish mounting for a frame

Cardinals in the snow

Blessings,

Sharing inspiration here:

Bird D’pot, Saturday’s Critters, Life thru the Lens, Wild Bird Wednesday,

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Published on December 01, 2015 05:00

Inspired by . . . a month in photos: November

November? what? where?

Gone.

Yup.

That was November.

{I think the elves were conspiring against the turkeys . . . or something}

My images are not nearly as November-ish as the lovely Mona’s. Please click over and give her some love. You won’t be sorry.

Favorite photo:

Favorite quote:

To live content with small means;

to seek elegance rather than luxury,
and refinement rather than fashion;
to be worthy, not respectable, wealthy, not rich;
to listen to stars and birds, babes and sages, with open heart;
to study hard; to think quietly, act frankly, talk gently,
await occasions, hurry never;
in a word to let the spiritual, unbidden and unconscious,

grow up through the common-
this is my symphony.

~ William Henry Channing

May it be our guide into this season of Advent . . .

When you look back at November,

what do you see?

Blessings,

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Published on November 30, 2015 19:50

Inspired by . . . Advent: the Word became flesh

And the Word became flesh and dwelt among us, and we have seen his glory, glory as of the only Son from the Father, full of grace and truth.
Joh 1:14

Advent: arrival

The season of Advent, the four weeks preceding Christmas, celebrates our anticipation of Christ’s arrival into the world!

For to us a child is born, to us a son is given; and the government shall be upon His shoulder, and His name shall be called Wonderful, Counselor, Mighty God, Everlasting Father, Prince of Peace. Isaiah 9:6

After sharing

Playdates with God, Testimony Tuesday, #TellHisStory,

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Published on November 29, 2015 05:00

Inspired by . . . Grateful Series IV: Every Blessing Turned to Praise

So I will bless You as long as I live; in Your name I will lift up my hands. Psa 63:4

Being able to praise God in both trial and blessing is evidence of a grateful heart.

In moments of difficulty, when He is all we have, hopefully we come to realize that He is all we need.

Failure to give praise can open the door to pride and feelings of entitlement. We can start thinking that we deserve, or have earned our blessings on our own merit.

This is a dangerous path, my friend.

Instead, when we give praise to God, and acknowledge Him as the Giver of all good gifts, we open the door wide for Him to do abundantly more than we could ever ask or imagine!

Now to Him who is able to do far more abundantly than all that we ask or think, according to the power at work within us, to Him be glory in the church and in Christ Jesus throughout all generations, forever and ever. Amen. Eph 3:20-21

Wishing you and your

family a blessed Thanksgiving!

Sharing inspiration here:

Thought Provoking Thursday, Grace & Truth, Weekend Whispers,

Inspire Me Monday, RaRa Link Up, Intentional Tuesday,

#WordswithWinter, Titus 2 Tuesday, Thoughtful Thursdays,

Women with Intention Wednesdays, Word Filled Wednesday,

Playdates with God, Testimony Tuesday, #TellHisStory,

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Published on November 25, 2015 05:00

Inspired by . . . serial novels

Hello, friends, Jonathan Graham here, stepping in for June today.

It seems it happens every year, the holidays are upon us before we’ve fully recovered from summer. Pilgrims and pumpkins are whisked off the shelves, replaced with Rudolph the reindeer and laughing Santas before we’ve even had the chance to honor the meaning of the moment.

My thoughts always turn to Dickens this time of year. I’ve watched A Christmas Carol every year since as long as I can remember. And every time I see it, I’m encouraged to honor the spirit of Christmas throughout the year.

Those of you familiar with Dickens probably know that every one of his novels was published serially--that is, the novels appeared not all at once, but in parts or installments, over a space of time. There were various reasons for this, one of them being that the cost to purchase a complete novel was well above what most people could afford in those days, while each installment cost only a shilling. Much as changed in the literary world over the last 150 years.

With the invention of electronic readers the cost of the texts has gone down, and with it the need for large spaces in which to house the books that fulfill {some of} our insatiable appetite for the written word. Personally, there are still some texts that I want, no need, to hold in my hands and smell the ink, but I also have a vast electronic library that continues to grow.

There is no shortage of books, even good books. What I find to be in short supply of, as I’m sure most of you do as well . . .

. . . is time.

It is with all this in mind that we have decided to release June’s next book as a serial novel.

No Tomorrow will be released in six, time-manageable installments, over the course of the next four to six months. The first installment is available now for pre-order , and releases this Sunday! Just in time to wrap up your holiday weekend with cup of tea and a new book!

With Thanksgiving upon us, June and I are counting our blessings. I know I speak for her when I say, one of our biggest blessings is all of YOU! Your readership and support is of great encouragement and inspiration.

Thank you!

Jonathan

Sharing inspiration here:

Thought Provoking Thursday, Grace & Truth, Weekend Whispers,

Inspire Me Monday, RaRa Link Up, Intentional Tuesday,

#WordswithWinter, Titus 2 Tuesday, Thoughtful Thursdays,

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Published on November 23, 2015 05:00

Inspired by . . . as the deer

As the deer panteth for the water

So my soul longeth after Thee

You alone are my heart's desire

And I long to worship Thee

You alone are my strength, my shield

To You alone may my spirit yield

You alone are my heart's desire

And I long to worship Thee

You're my friend and You are my brother

Even though You are a king

I love You more than any other

So much more than anything

You alone are my strength, my shield

To You alone may my spirit yield

You alone are my heart's desire

And I long to worship Thee

I want You more than gold or silver

Only You can satisfy

You alone are the real joy giver

And the apple of my eye

In the stillness,

Playdates with God, Testimony Tuesday, #TellHisStory,

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Published on November 21, 2015 05:00

Inspired by . . . Grateful Series III: “more please!”

I’ve been pondering how often I receive a blessing from God, thank Him for it, and then immediately move on wondering, what’s next?

Like the child who says “thank you” out of obedience and then immediately asks “more please.”

Always looking to the next or bigger blessing reveals a dissatisfied spirit.

Not that I am speaking of being in need, for I have learned in whatever situation I am to be content. I know how to be brought low, and I know how to abound. In any and every circumstance, I have learned the secret of facing plenty and hunger, abundance and need. I can do all things through him who strengthens me. Php 4:11-13

Certainly I can be grateful without always being content, but for my gratitude to be truly pleasing to God, I believe it should walk hand-in-hand with a spirit of contentment.

A grateful perspective realizes God gave us the good we have, responds with praise, and then believes His good is enough.

Cultivating a spirit of gratitude laced with contentment is as easy as looking at your life.

Every day, take time to look around you and thank God for what you see.

But don’t stop there . . .

. . . tell Him it’s enough.

Blessings,

*Thoughts inspired by the I’m Grateful reading plan at Bible.com

Sharing inspiration here:

Thought Provoking Thursday, Grace & Truth, Weekend Whispers,

Inspire Me Monday, RaRa Link Up, Intentional Tuesday,

#WordswithWinter, Titus 2 Tuesday, Thoughtful Thursdays,

Women with Intention Wednesdays, Word Filled Wednesday,

Playdates with God, Testimony Tuesday, #TellHisStory,

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Published on November 20, 2015 06:33

Inspired by . . . brown-eyed visitors

They eat my blooms and knock over the birdbath, yet they have a gentleness and grace that quiets my irritation.

They have a light in their eye that touches my soul. And I know I would have to be suffering a great hunger before being willing to snuff it out.

They came this day to quench their thirst.

The earth, after drinking in nearly a year’s worth of rain one weekend in May, was once again dry and cracked. The summer had dragged on . . . cloudless.

It’s been a year of feast or famine.

Highs and lows.

Mountain tops and valleys.

My spiritual life is like that sometimes. One moment a bubbling brook of Living water, resting in calm, deep pools of faith. Or running merrily over jagged rocks without a care. Then, suddenly, the riverbed is dry and cracked. I find myself tired and weary, wondering where God is in this barren wilderness.

If I’m honest, I’ll tell you the riverbed didn’t dry up overnight. It happened gradually, just as the moisture moves deep with the earth to fill it’s cavernous depths. It happened as I put one more thing ahead of time with Him, time in His word, time in worship and in prayer.

The deer know when they can’t find water anywhere else, they’ll find my birdbath full. It’s a risk, they have to come near the house to take a drink. But the water quenches their raging thirst.

In the same way, I know that Jesus is the Living water. Only by abiding in Him will I have life. Drawing near to God has its own risks. God accepts us as we are, but He doesn’t leave us that way. When we come into His presence we are changed. Change can hurt. But the kind of change that God brings births freedom, and peace.

The deer come in the early morning light to drink, just as I should come each morning to Him.

The deer will be thirsty again.

In fact, this big guy visited me this morning.

But Jesus promised that when we drink of Him, our thirst will be eternally quenched.

In Him we are satisfied. The deep pools of our soul’s deepest longings are filled, and our faith once again bubbles merrily along the way.

Shalom,

Sharing inspiration here:

Thought Provoking Thursday, Grace & Truth, Weekend Whispers,

Inspire Me Monday, RaRa Link Up, Intentional Tuesday,

#WordswithWinter, Titus 2 Tuesday, Thoughtful Thursdays,

Women with Intention Wednesdays, Word Filled Wednesday,

Nature Notes, Sweet Shot Tuesday, Through My Lens, Little Things Thursdays,

Saturday’s Critters, Life thru the Lens,

Our World Tuesday, Community Global