|
Listen to this devotional: |
Listen while you read: "Only Trust Him"1 (Lyrics) |
Psalm 26:3 – For your love is ever before me, and I walk continually in your truth. (NIV)
As I step once again onto the beautiful trail to which God has directed me for my daily walks, my feet are cushioned by a glorious carpet of brilliant gold and vivid green. Droplets of dew, still clinging to the golden flowers, cause them to sparkle in the rays of bright sunlight streaming through the trees that line one side of The Trail. The golden carpet, bordered on the other side by a farmer's field of bright green soy plants, extends far up the gentle slope until it disappears from sight.
My heart rejoices once again at the ever-changing beauty that God blesses me with. Dandelions! Those golden flowers are the bane of many who see them as a pesky weed that destroys their lawn. I, on the other hand, see them as a cheery welcome to the winter-weary one, a reassuring sign that spring has finally returned.
It is said that beauty is in the eye of the beholder, and that expression causes me to wonder at the life experiences that cause us to form such wide and varied perceptions. These, in turn, affect our lives, because we make choices based upon these perceptions. We need to choose wisely, basing our decisions on God's leading, rather than on our own thought patterns.
We all journey on many different trails as we walk along the ones our feet have chosen. Yes, we all will encounter some brambles and rough terrain, which undoubtedly will affect our attitudes toward life. Let us be watchful of the thorns, but there will also be roses among them. Let us take time to look for them, smell them, and enjoy their beauty. Our life experiences can make us bitter or better.
As we keep our eyes on our Creator, may I leave you with these words to help you enjoy your journey:
- God has not promised skies always blue,
Flower-strewn pathways all our lives through;
God has not promised sun without rain,
Joy without sorrow, peace without pain.
But God has promised strength for the day,
Rest for the labour, light for the way,
Grace for the trials, help from above,
Unfailing sympathy, undying love.
– Annie Johnson Flint (1866-1932)
Prayer: Father, You teach us that our choices influence the outcome, for better or for worse. Help us to look to You for guidance and wisdom in all that we do, and to choose wisely. Help us to be encouraged by the beauty that You bless us with every day, and to remember that You are always there, no matter where our footsteps lead us. Amen.
Forward this devotional Share this devotional on Facebook Like PresbyCan on Facebook
Although PresbyCan doesn't have a mobile app, you can still have a PresbyCan icon on your mobile phone home screen. 
Beautifully written Sharon.
Thanks for the good word Sharon.
Sharon, yes May we always follow our Savior walking where He leads. Blessings.
Beautiful words. I really enjoyed this.
(B.C.)
Love this devotional, Sharon. I totally agree with your view on dandelions. I, too, see them as being cheerful welcomers of spring.
Hi Sharon;
Beautifully written. I was there on your walk with you and saw the beauty that you saw. Thank you for your descriptions.
Thank you for your message. I have copied that poem into my book to be remembered and read often. I have many such articles in this book of mine that have touch my life and heart and have used them to try to reach out to others when there is a need.
Thank you Sharon for the reminder that God is always there for me. The beautiful writing God has not promised has been put to music by one of your neighbors, Al Smith and is sung often at our men’s meeting.
Blessings.
Sharon: Simply put, I truly loved your descriptive content of this morning’s Devotion. Your contribution bears re-reading. To add more would only take away from my sincerely expressed accolade. May our God continue to bless you “real good”.
Dear Madam,
“God has not promised skies always blue”
Exactly and its been raining all day here in Ghana.
We bless Him for the showers.
Thank You,
(Ghana)
Hello Sharon, thank you for your message today. It really helped me! I have been going through a very difficult time over the past few weeks and am feeling more & more depressed. I truly believe that God has a plan for us and that things do happen for a reason but, sometimes it is so hard to understand what that reason is and sometimes I feel like God is punishing me. I continue to pray and carry on each day – keep busy etc; but sadness takes over and seems to win in the end. Reading the devotional you wrote has helped me this morning and I am going to copy out the poem and read it often.
Good Morning Sharon:
What a beautiful, beautiful devotional assuring us even though we will encounter rocky days of heartache and disappointment in our life time, God is always there to bless and guide us along the way. You advised us to be watchful of the thorns, and to take time to enjoy the roses we receive in life, realizing every little experience in life can make us a better person if we accept it and grow spiritually from each experience. Like you say, God does not promise skies always blue, but he does promise us the strength to endure the rough road if we lean on His everlasting arms.
I loved this message it gives us the assurance He will never leave nor forsake us.
Thank you for all your wonderful words of counseling through your messages.
Dear Sharon,
Love, and beauty of nature and of the poem; the glory of God with us.
Thanks Sharon.
Keep writing.