Merrillee Whren's Blog, page 13

A New View

Here’s my new view from my back yard. Whenever I look at the mountains, I can’t help recalling Psalm 121.

“1 I lift up my eyes to the mountains—
    where does my help come from?
2 My help comes from the Lord,
    the Maker of heaven and earth.

3 He will not let your foot slip—
    he who watches over you will not slumber;
4 indeed, he who watches over Israel
    will neither slumber nor sleep.

5 The Lord watches over you—
    the Lord is your shade at your right hand;
6 the sun will not harm you by day,
    nor the moon by night.

7 The Lord will keep you from all harm—
    he will watch over your life;
8 the Lord will watch over your coming and going
    both now and forevermore.”

What do you have near your home that reminds you of a scripture?

 

Election Day!

Today is election day in the United States. Many people have voted early or by mail, but I like to go to the polls on election day. I didn’t even have to stand in line. I have voted in every presidential election since I’ve been eligible to vote. I consider it a great privilege to be able to make my choice for the people I think will do the best job in leading our country. My candidate doesn’t always win, but I continue to participate in the political process. Some people believe that it doesn’t make any difference who gets into office, but I do.

As a Christian I know that I am called on to pray for the people in office whether we agree with their politics or not. 

1 Timothy 2:1-2 says, “I urge, then, first of all, that petitions, prayers, intercession and thanksgiving be made for all people— for kings and all those in authority, that we may live peaceful and quiet lives in all godliness and holiness.”

We don’t have the results of our election yet, but I will pray for whoever gets into office. I will pray that they help us live peaceful and Godly lives.

Did you exercise your right to vote?

Fall Back

In the spring I did a blog on springing forward when we turned out clocks ahead for daylight savings time. Today in the United States, we turned out clocks back and regained that hour we lost in the spring. We have to reset the time on the microwave, double oven, and two clock radios. All of them are easy to change. Even the clock in my car is easy to change. But we had an old Buick for which we had no manual, and we could never remember how to change the clock. We would just play with the buttons until we stumbled upon the solution. Since we could never document the steps, it was a guessing game twice a year when we had to reset the clock. The only clock in my house that requires some work to change is my grandfather clock pictured below.

 How many clock do you have to change? Are all of them easy?

 

Hurricanes

The photo above was taken at the beach near our home on a calm, peaceful day.   This photo shows the same beach with Hurricane Irene, which was well offshore, kicking up the surf.

Like the stormy weather, the storms of life can batter us. We can seek refuge with the Lord. Psalm 107:2-30 says, “The Lord can keep us safe in the storm. Then they cried out to the Lord in their trouble, and he brought them out of their distress. He stilled the storm to a whisper; the waves of the sea were hushed. They were glad when it grew calm, and he guided them to their desired haven.” (NIV)

Have you ever been in a hurricane or some other kind of storm?

 

Future Plans

Even though we should concentrate on today and not worry about tomorrow, we have to make some future plans. When we make plans, we need to keep this scripture in mind. James 4:13-16 “Now listen, you who say, ‘Today or tomorrow we will go to this or that city, spend a year there, carry on business and make money.’ Why, you do not even know what will happen tomorrow. What is your life? You are a mist that appears for a little while and then vanishes. Instead, you ought to say, ‘If it is the Lord’s will, we will live and do this or that.’ As it is, you boast in your arrogant schemes. All such boasting is evil. If anyone, then, knows the good they ought to do and doesn’t do it, it is sin for them.”

I have some plans for my writing future. I have books that I want to write, but I need to see them as part of God’s plan for my life. One of the things I hope to do is Indie publish the manuscript that won the Golden Heart Award given by Romance Writers of America. Here is the cover.

I hope to have the book ready to go sometime in the next few months. This will be a new experience for me, and I am looking for God’s leading. The story’s theme is forgiveness—a theme common to many of my books. I’ll keep you updated on my progress in this new venture.

What do you think? Do you have some exciting plans for the future?

FUTURE PLANS

Even though we should concentrate on today and not worry about tomorrow, we have to make some future plans. When we make plans, we need to keep this scripture in mind. James 4:13-16 “Now listen, you who say, ‘Today or tomorrow we will go to this or that city, spend a year there, carry on business and make money.’ Why, you do not even know what will happen tomorrow. What is your life? You are a mist that appears for a little while and then vanishes. Instead, you ought to say, ‘If it is the Lord’s will, we will live and do this or that.’ As it is, you boast in your arrogant schemes. All such boasting is evil. If anyone, then, knows the good they ought to do and doesn’t do it, it is sin for them.”

I have some plans for my writing future. I have books that I want to write, but I need to see them as part of God’s plan for my life. One of the things I hope to do is Indie publish the manuscript that won the Golden Heart Award given by Romance Writers of America. Here is the cover.

I hope to have the book ready to go sometime in the next few months. This will be a new experience for me, and I am looking for God’s leading. The story’s theme is forgiveness—a theme common to many of my books. I’ll keep you updated on my progress in this new venture.

What do you think? Do you have some exciting plans for the future?

Decisions

 What do you see in the photo? Three kinds of grocery bags. First is the reusable bag. Second is the plastic bag. Finally there is the paper bag. Years ago we had only one choice—the paper bag. Years later, you would often hear the question—paper or plastic? Now we have three choices. I carry reusable bags in my car, but more than fifty percent of the time I forget to take them into the store with me. I do recycle the plastic bags I get, and I also use them for trash or to carry things or wrap shoes when I pack a suitcase. These days I rarely get paper bags.

Which ones do you like to use? Why?

DECISIONS

 What do you see in the photo? Three kinds of grocery bags. First is the reusable bag. Second is the plastic bag. Finally there is the paper bag. Years ago we had only one choice—the paper bag. Years later, you would often hear the question—paper or plastic? Now we have three choices. I carry reusable bags in my car, but more than fifty percent of the time I forget to take them into the store with me. I do recycle the plastic bags I get, and I also use them for trash or to carry things or wrap shoes when I pack a suitcase. These days I rarely get paper bags.

Which ones do you like to use? Why?

Renewal

A few weeks ago, I posted a blog after I pruned the some bushes in my yard, and I talked about how God can prune our lives. He is the master gardener. I said I would post an update. Here are photos of my bushes before I pruned them, immediately after I pruned them and now—about six weeks after the pruning.

The photo above was taken from outside the pool enclosure back in the spring of this year.

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

I took the photo above from inside the pool enclosure after the severe pruning—not a pretty picture.

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

In this photo taken from inside the enclosure, you can see the new growth.

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

Here’s a view of the new growth from outside the pool enclosure.

The photos might depict different times in our lives. No matter what we go through, God can renew us.

“Therefore we do not lose heart. Though outwardly we are wasting away, yet inwardly we are being renewed day by day. For our light and momentary troubles are achieving for us an eternal glory that far outweighs them all.” 2 Corinthians 4:16-17

How have you been renewed?

 

 

RENEWAL

A few weeks ago, I posted a blog after I pruned the some bushes in my yard, and I talked about how God can prune our lives. He is the master gardener. I said I would post an update. Here are photos of my bushes before I pruned them, immediately after I pruned them and now—about six weeks after the pruning.

The photo above was taken from outside the pool enclosure back in the spring of this year.

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

I took the photo above from inside the pool enclosure after the severe pruning—not a pretty picture.

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

In this photo taken from inside the enclosure, you can see the new growth.

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

Here’s a view of the new growth from outside the pool enclosure.

The photos might depict different times in our lives. No matter what we go through, God can renew us.

“Therefore we do not lose heart. Though outwardly we are wasting away, yet inwardly we are being renewed day by day. For our light and momentary troubles are achieving for us an eternal glory that far outweighs them all.” 2 Corinthians 4:16-17

How have you been renewed?