Sunrises are always serendipities -- not that we don't expect them and not that they don't always come, but we never know what we will get. Each one is different, and each one is a gift from the hand of our Creator! Maybe the gift part is more true than we realize, because each sunrise signals a new day. And really, none of us is promised that day ahead of time...pure grace when it comes!
Read MoreWe are remaining in OHIO this summer…canceling our upcoming week on Long Beach Island at the Jersey Shore because of a 14 day mandated quarantine. So I’m revisiting my many ocean sunrise posts.
Join me as I reminisce and experience the immensity and beauty of our ever fresh and new God of Creation:
Read MoreOne year, I celebrated my June birthday with my daughter and family in California. To my delight, Beth took me to my vineyard for lunch at the lovely restaurant there.
On the way to the Temecula vineyard area, I was amazed to see how the former ruthlessly pruned vines were now covered with lush green leaves. You may remember those stark vines from a previous post.
Read MoreMy grandson Kaden just received his first smart phone. He is so excited! And so we have been having some fun texting back and forth. One of the topics that has come up is memes and how much he loves memes. What is a meme, you might ask? (I had to look it up myself). My original impression was that it was a visual with a superimposed verbal message. However, it turned out to be a too limiting definition.
Read More
The heavens proclaim the glory of God. The skies display his craftsmanship.Day after day they continue to speak; night after night they make him known.They speak without a sound or word; their voice is never heard.Yet their message has gone throughout the earth, and their words to all the world.God has made a home in the heavens for the sun.It bursts forth like a radiant bridegroom after his wedding. It rejoices like a great athlete eager to run the race.The sun rises at one end of the heavens and follows its course to the other end. Nothing can hide from its heat.Psalm 19:1-6 NLT
...your life is now hidden with Christ in God. When Christ, who is your life, appears, then you also will appear with him in glory. Colossians 3:3-4 NIV
And we all, with unveiled face, beholding the glory of the Lord, are being transformed into the same image from one degree of glory to another. For this comes from the Lord who is the Spirit. 2 Corinthians 3:18 ESV
For God, who said, “Let light shine out of darkness,” has shone in our hearts to give the light of the knowledge of the glory of God in the face of Jesus Christ.But we have this treasure in jars of clay, to show that the surpassing power belongs to God and not to us. 2 Corinthians 4:6-7 ESV
So we do not lose heart. Though our outer self is wasting away, our inner self is being renewed day by day.For this light momentary affliction is preparing for us an eternal weight of glory beyond all comparison, as we look not to the things that are seen but to the things that are unseen. For the things that are seen are transient, but the things that are unseen are eternal. 2 Corinthians 4:16-18 ESV
I consider that our present sufferings are not worth comparing with the glory that will be revealed in us. Romans 8:18 NIV
For the creation waits in eager expectation for the children of God to be revealed. For the creation was subjected to frustration, not by its own choice, but by the will of the one who subjected it, in hope that the creation itself will be liberated from its bondage to decay and brought into the freedom and glory of the children of God. Romans 8:19-21 NIV
Sunrises are always serendipities -- not that we don't expect them and not that they don't always come, but we never know what we will get. Each one is different, and each one is a gift from the hand of our Creator! Maybe the gift part is more true than we realize, because each sunrise signals a new day. And really, none of us is promised that day ahead of time...pure grace when it comes!
silvery sunrise
Sometimes, even what each day contains reveals itself as pure serendipitous gift. And that was true last year in my sunrises in New Jersey on the coast. From icy beaches and silvery skies in December to a school of dolphins close to the beach in August; from loyal Sunrise Club members, such as my brother Conrad & grandson Kaden renewing their membership to a brand new member, my cousin Peggy; from connecting to my fisherman brother Billy, fishing in the surf to being reunited to my sweet Dunkin' Donuts manager lady Diana...and everything in between -- all serendipitous delights straight from the heart of my Abba Father God.
But as if that weren't enough, a grand finale -- a surprise and pure delight! Let me tell you about it...
On my last morning in NJ, Kaden and I got up early for my last sunrise of the trip. We made our necessary stop at Dunkin Donuts for our morning essentials: coffee for me and hot chocolate and donut for Kaden. As we climbed the boardwalk to make our way down onto the beach near the water, we were almost blown away by the wind. Seeing a lifeguard stand & boat overturned right near my usual spot, we made our way there to see if we could find shelter from the wind. No such luck! The wind was coming directly off the ocean.
But in the process, we met a photographer on the beach trying to catch the sunrise too. We exchanged pleasantries, and he asked to take a picture of Kaden and me together viewing the rising sun. Since he knew my brother and was a local photographer, I consented. Little did I know what a gift this encounter really was. Here is the finished product:
sunrise, bill McKim 8-23-14
I am so grateful that Bill McKim of McKim Photography noticed a grandma and her precious grandson early that windy Saturday morning on the beach in Belmar, New Jersey. Little did he know how special this encounter would be to this sunrise-loving "Babci" and her grandson Kaden.
Thank you, Bill, for your kindness in sharing your awesome expertise.*
And ultimately, thank you, Lord, for the sweetness of your gracious gift to me, your friend, who so loves to see YOU and Your presence in every good and perfect gift!
Whatever is good and perfect comes down to us from God our Father, who created all the lights in the heavens. He never changes or casts a shifting shadow. James 1 :17 NLT
My Redeemer
Who taught the sun where to stand in the morning Who told the ocean you an only come this far? Who showed the moon where to hide 'til evening Whose words alone can catch a falling star?
Well I know my Redeemer lives I know my Redeemer lives All of creation testify This life within me cries I know my Redeemer lives
The very same God that spins things in orbit He runs to the weary, the worn and the weak And the same gentle hands that hold me when I'm broken They conquered death to bring me victory
Now I know my Redeemer lives I know my Redemer lives Let all creation testify Let this life wihtin me cry I know my Redeemer, He lives
To take away my shame And He lives forever I'll proclaim That the payment for my sin Was the precious life He gave But now He's alive And there's an empty grave.
And I know my Redeemer, He lives I know my Redeemer lives Let all creation testify This life within me cries I know my Redeemer lives
[youtube]http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=9p4G2GbPYQA[/youtube]
Kaden watching sunrise
You might also like:
*You can visit McKim Photography at mckimphotography.com or on facebook
138_6105
One year, I celebrated my June birthday with my daughter and family in California. To my delight, Beth took me to my vineyard for lunch at the lovely restaurant there.
On the way to the Temecula vineyard area, I was amazed to see how the former ruthlessly pruned vines were now covered with lush green leaves. You may remember those stark vines in a former post.
A Pruned Branch 138_5713
That was just a little over 3 months before!
I wondered about the fruit though, because I do know that usually harvest season is in the fall. So after lunch, we went to see if we could find my vine. Beth lifted some leaves, and we saw a bunch of beautifully formed green (not ripe) grapes.
138_6101
I was amazed at the transformation in such a short time. However, the growth wasn't complete yet. The promise of a harvest was evident, but it wasn't yet a harvest.
Those green grapes set my mind and heart thinking about growth and maturity and waiting on God, the Master Vinedresser who knows the process from the beginning to end. He has promised,
He who began a good work in you will perfect it till the day of Christ Jesus. Phil 1:6
So often, I'm impatient with myself and others, wanting instant maturity or expecting "fruitfulness" before its time.
I think of Moses as a young man in Egypt. The book of Acts says that he knew about his call to deliver Israel from Egyptian bondage and actually tried to do so before God's time.
When he was forty years old, it came into his heart to visit his brothers, the children of Israel. And seeing one of them being wronged, he defended the oppressed man and avenged him by striking down the Egyptian. He supposed that his brothers would understand that God was giving them salvation by his hand, but they did not understand. Acts 7:23-25 ESV
God still had work to do in Moses life to bring him to the end of himself. Then he would be ready for the mature "fruit" of being God's instrument of deliverance.
It's the same way with us. God the Father, our Gardener, promises that as we abide in Christ His True Vine, we will bear fruit in increasing measure:
...fruit,...more fruit,... much fruit. John 15:2,5.
He has us in His process! The Father does whatever is necessary to bring our lives to fruition.
Every branch in me that does not bear fruit he lifts up [alternate translation], and every branch that does bear fruit he prunes, that it may bear more fruit.John 15:2
Our job is not perfection, but abiding. But rather we are impatient and really...immature. We want to experience mature fruit before God's time.
This reminds me of when we were kids in the 1950's.
Janet, Linda, and Nancy in Az next to cactus in 1954?
Linda, Janet, & Nancy in Arizona circa 1954
In the 1950's, my family lived on the edge of a desert in Tucson, Arizona in a new housing area consisting of cinder block duplexes, but little else. Not much grew out there. But one thing that did grow was melon. The way I know that is when we kids would eat watermelon, we would spit our seeds to one side of our front porch. After a time, a watermelon vine would grow carrying a beautiful new melon.
Would we wait till the melon ripened to open it up? Oh no! We impatiently and prematurely cracked open that baby, only to see white hard flesh where juicy sweet redness should be. What a disappointment!
And maybe that's why we are disappointed with our own lives and the lives of our children and others close to us!
There's an interesting verse in the New Testament addressed to fathers, but it could very well be addressed to mothers, daughters, sons, brothers, sisters, other relatives, friends, co-workers, neighbors, etc. Just substitute alternate relationships for the underlined words:
Fathers, do not exasperate your children, so that they will not lose heart. Col 3:21
How do we exasperate and frustrate our children and others?
By unrealistic expectations of perfection?
By building walls instead of choosing love in difficult situations with others?
By giving up and not counting on God's working?
In reality, full maturity will will not be reached on this earth. Rather it will come when we meet Christ face-to-face.
So in the meantime, dear brothers & sisters, let us abide in Him, keep on growing, and extend to each other (and to ourselves) God's grace:
And now, little children, abide in him... Beloved, we are God’s children now, and what we will be has not yet appeared; but we know that when he appears we shall be like him, because we shall see him as he is. 1 John 2:28; 3:2
But grow in grace and knowledge of our Lord and Savior Jesus Christ. To Him be the glory both now and to the day of eternity. Amen. 2 Peter 3:18
The heavens proclaim the glory of God. The skies display his craftsmanship. Day after day they continue to speak; night after night they make him known. They speak without a sound or word; their voice is never heard. Yet their message has gone throughout the earth, and their words to all the world. God has made a home in the heavens for the sun. It bursts forth like a radiant bridegroom after his wedding. It rejoices like a great athlete eager to run the race. The sun rises at one end of the heavens and follows its course to the other end. Nothing can hide from its heat. Psalm 19:1-6 NLT
Sunrises are always serendipities -- not that we don't expect them and not that they don't always come, but we never know what we will get. Each one is different, and each one is a gift from the hand of our Creator! Maybe the gift part is more true than we realize, because each sunrise signals a new day. And really, none of us is promised that day ahead of time...pure grace when it comes!
silvery sunrise
Sometimes, even what each day contains reveals itself as pure serendipitous gift. And that was true this year in my sunrises in New Jersey on the coast. From icy beaches and silvery skies in December to a school of dolphins close to the beach in August; from loyal Sunrise Club members, such as my brother Conrad & grandson Kaden renewing their membership to a brand new member, my cousin Peggy; from connecting to my fisherman brother Billy, fishing in the surf to being reunited to my sweet Dunkin' Donuts manager lady Diana...and everything in between -- all serendipitous delights straight from the heart of my Abba Father God.
But as if that weren't enough, a grand finale -- a surprise and pure delight! Let me tell you about it...
On my last morning in NJ, Kaden and I got up early for my last sunrise of the trip. We made our necessary stop at Dunkin Donuts for our morning essentials: coffee for me and hot chocolate and donut for Kaden. As we climbed the boardwalk to make our way down onto the beach near the water, we were almost blown away by the wind. Seeing a lifeguard stand & boat overturned right near my usual spot, we made our way there to see if we could find shelter from the wind. No such luck! The wind was coming directly off the ocean.
But in the process, we met a photographer on the beach trying to catch the sunrise too. We exchanged pleasantries, and he asked to take a picture of Kaden and me together viewing the rising sun. Since he knew my brother and was a local photographer, I consented. Little did I know what a gift this encounter really was. Here is the finished product:
sunrise, bill McKim 8-23-14
I am so grateful that Bill McKim of McKim Photography noticed a grandma and her precious grandson early that windy Saturday morning on the beach in Belmar, New Jersey. Little did he know how special this encounter would be to this sunrise-loving "Babci" and her grandson Kaden.
Thank you, Bill, for your kindness in sharing your awesome expertise.*
And ultimately, thank you, Lord, for the sweetness of your gracious gift to me, your friend, who so loves to see YOU and Your presence in every good and perfect gift!
Whatever is good and perfect comes down to us from God our Father, who created all the lights in the heavens. He never changes or casts a shifting shadow. James 1 :17 NLT
My Redeemer
Who taught the sun where to stand in the morning Who told the ocean you an only come this far? Who showed the moon where to hide 'til evening Whose words alone can catch a falling star?
Well I know my Redeemer lives I know my Redeemer lives All of creation testify This life within me cries I know my Redeemer lives
The very same God that spins things in orbit He runs to the weary, the worn and the weak And the same gentle hands that hold me when I'm broken They conquered death to bring me victory
Now I know my Redeemer lives I know my Redemer lives Let all creation testify Let this life wihtin me cry I know my Redeemer, He lives
To take away my shame And He lives forever I'll proclaim That the payment for my sin Was the precious life He gave But now He's alive And there's an empty grave.
And I know my Redeemer, He lives I know my Redeemer lives Let all creation testify This life within me cries I know my Redeemer lives
Kaden watching sunrise
You might also like:
*You can visit McKim Photography at mckimphotography.com or on facebook
138_6105
A Pruned Branch 138_5713
I just returned from two weeks in Southern California visiting my daughter and family. During that time, I celebrated another birthday...and to my delight Beth took me to "my vineyard" for lunch at the lovely restaurant there. On the way to the Temecula vineyard area, I was amazed to see how the former ruthlessly pruned vines were now covered with lush green leaves. You may remember those stark vines in a former post. That was just a little over 3 months ago!
138_6101
I wondered about the fruit though, because I do know that usually harvest season is in the fall. So after lunch, we went to see if we could find "my vine". Beth lifted some leaves, and we saw a bunch of beautifully formed green (not ripe) grapes.
That has set my mind and heart thinking about growth and maturity and waiting on God, the Master Vinedresser who knows the process from the beginning to end. He has promised,
He who began a good work in you will perfect it till the day of Christ Jesus. Phil 1:6
So often, I'm impatient with myself and others wanting instant maturity or expecting "fruitfulness" before its time. I think of Moses as a young man in Egypt. The book of Acts says that he knew about his call to deliver Israel from Egyptian bondage and actually tried to do so before God's time.
When he was forty years old, it came into his heart to visit his brothers, the children of Israel. And seeing one of them being wronged, he defended the oppressed man and avenged him by striking down the Egyptian. He supposed that his brothers would understand that God was giving them salvation by his hand, but they did not understand. Acts 7:23-25 ESV
God still had work to do in Moses life to bring him to the end of himself. Then he would be ready for the mature "fruit" of being God's instrument of deliverance.
It's the same way with us. God the Father, our Gardener, promises that as we abide in Christ His True Vine we will produce fruit in increasing measure:
...fruit,...more fruit,... much fruit. John 15:2,5.
He has us in His process! The Father does whatever is necessary to bring our lives to fruition.
Every branch in me that does not bear fruit he lifts up[alternate translation], and every branch that does bear fruit he prunes, that it may bear more fruit.John 15:2
Our job is not perfection, but abiding. But rather we are impatient and really...immature. We want to experience mature fruit before God's time.
It reminds me of when we were kids in the 1950's.
Janet, Linda, and Nancy in Az next to cactus in 1954?
My family lived on the edge of a desert in Tucson, Arizona in a new housing area consisting of cinder block duplexes, but little else. Not much grew out there. But one thing that did grow was melon. The way I know that is when we kids would eat watermelon, we would spit our seeds to one side of our front porch. After a time, a watermelon vine would grow carrying a beautiful new melon. Would we wait till the melon ripened to open it up? Oh no! We would impatiently and prematurely crack open that baby, only to see white hard flesh where juicy sweet redness should be. What a disappointment!
And maybe that's why we are disappointed with our own lives and the lives of our children and others close to us. There's an interesting verse in the New Testament addressed to fathers, but it could very well be addressed to mothers, daughters, sons, brothers, sisters, other relatives, friends, co-workers, neighbors, etc. Just substitute alternate relationships for the underlined words:
Fathers, do not exasperate your children, so that they will not lose heart. Col 3:21
How do we exasperate and frustrate our children and others? By unrealistic expectations of perfection? By building walls instead of choosing love in difficult situations with others? By giving up and not counting on God's working?
In reality, full maturity will will not be reached on this earth. Rather it will come when we meet Christ face-to-face. So in the meantime, dear brothers & sisters, let us abide in Him, keep on growing, and extend to each other (and to ourselves) God's grace:
And now, little children, abide in him... Beloved, we are God’s children now, and what we will be has not yet appeared; but we know that when he appears we shall be like him, because we shall see him as he is. 1John 2:28; 3:2
But grow in grace and knowledge of our Lord and Savior Jesus Christ. To Him be the glory both now and to the day of eternity. Amen. 2Peter 3:18
138_6097
Janet Renner Loyd has been a disciple of the Lord Jesus Christ most of her life. Her formal education includes a degree in education from the University of Arizona and also a degree in Bible & Theology from Moody Bible Institute. For more than thirty years, she has been involved in teaching and leading women’s Bible studies, retreats, and meetings…most notably Precept upon Precept and various studies that she has personally developed. Professionally, Jan recently retired from teaching language and writing to GED and adult ESOL students.
About her life, Jan says, “The most important thing about me is my relationship with my Father God through my Lord Jesus Christ. I am forever grateful to Him for His love, mercy, and grace to me and my family and friends...and the world.”
Jan has been happily married to John Loyd for more than forty years. They have two adult, married children and five lively young grandsons.
