Every leaf speaks bliss to me, fluttering from the autumn tree.
Emily BRONTE
Autumn, when it hits just right, can be the most glorious of seasons – and this year, due to a warm, dry summer, we’ve been treated to some pretty spectacular displays here in our little South-Eastern corner of England.
There is nothing quite like the pop of an ochre tree against a bright blue sky to lift the spirits of the beholder.
Amber and Honey being Fox Red Labs, look like they were made for autumn. Add myself into the mix, and we’ve been quite the merry band of red-heads, tromping through the coppery foliage!
And just to add to the fun, we’ve also had an extra dog in tow for a few days this month – Holly, another one of Amber’s pups. What a joy to witness these three ginger-nuts waltzing around the park amid the whirling, swirling leaves.
There have been times over the last few weeks where they have reminded me of Chameleons, blending brilliantly into their surroundings. Talk about a game of Spot the Dog!
THE CYCLE OF LIFE
Autumn is a great reminder of the continuous cycle of nature. Autumn always seems to signal: change is in the air. As Summer goes out in a blaze of glory, the air gets cooler, crisper. Darker mornings set in. The gradual shortening of days. The comings and goings of the geese, some honking hello, others honking goodbye. The big old saucer of a moon. The arrival of the Redwings and Fieldfares and other migratory birds which frequent our soils from late autumn, flying in from Scandinavia in the hope of finding berries. The earth yielding bountiful crops, which are harvested in a celebration of thanksgiving.
I love the first few lines of this beautiful autumn poem by Rachel Field:
Something told the wild geese It was time to go Though the fields lay golden Something whispered, "Snow!"
I too, often marvel at the way these things just seem to happen. Endlessly. Without fail. Year upon year.
Yet, the bible shows us clearly that these things are not merely coincidence, but part of God’s wise and intricate design.
As long as the earth endures, seedtime and harvest, cold and heat, summer and winter, day and night shall never cease.
Genesis 8:22
Right at the start, God established the seasons!
And God said, “Let there be lights in the expanse of the heavens to separate the day from the night. And let them be for signs and for seasons and for days and for years.
Genesis 1:14
The moon is specifically mentioned for the marking of the seasons, and the sun is noted for its regular setting time.
He made the moon to mark the seasons, the sun knows when to set.
Psalm 104:19
What an incredible God, who makes everything so beautifully and perfectly! In His infinite wisdom, He made all things so well, bringing rhythm and harmony and variety to His Creation.
shifting seasons
The natural order of things can serve as a mirror for our own lives too. The seasons can serve as a metaphor, reminding us of the ever changing landscape of our lives. For myself as a Mother, I’m constantly amazed at how quickly I’m passing through the seasons- from parenting sticky-faced toddlers, to wide-eyed adventurers, to turbulent teens, and suddenly to adult children all with their own experiences and seasons! My heart can barely keep up at times, and hold the weight of all my hopes and dreams for my precious four.
Our lives are subject to highs and lows and shifts and changes. Just like in nature, our lives have a rhythm. Periods of growth. Periods of rest. Just like the crops, sometimes abundant other times, fallow. Even our spiritual walk can be subject to mountain-top views and valleys-like depths, to uphill climbs and tummy-turning downhill rushes, to lush plains of plenty, and dry desert paths.
JESUS – THE CONSTANT ONE
Psalm 23 reminds us so well that Jesus is our Good Shepherd! He is our Immanuel! He’s constantly with us- whether we’re in green pastures or walking through the valley of the shadow of death.
What comfort there is in knowing His rod and staff to guide and protect us in all the seasons of our lives.
What peace there is in knowing that He is the God who watches over our coming in and going out- now and forevermore – Psalm 121:8
What joy in walking through all the seasons of life beside an ever-faithful God, whose love is as constant as the sun.
The steadfast love of the Lord never ceases, His mercies never come to an end, They are new every morning. Great is Your faithfulness.
This is the day that the Lord has made. Let us rejoice and be glad in it!
Psalm 118:24
Labradors always seem to be in a good mood! Apart from the rare occasion where they are perhaps sick or anxious, these cheerful creatures are renowned for being the most affectionate and exuberant of dogs. In fact, I’m pretty sure I’ve seen our dogs smile a time or two!
Amber, reunited with Holly, one of her pups
Every time they see us, whether it’s first thing in the morning, or when we return home from somewhere, we are greeted with a full on half-hour waggy-welcome party! You would think we’d been apart for decades.
Amber (far right) with Honey (far left) & Holly (middle) who came to visit recently
The girls just cannot contain their mirth, but rush around like spinning tops, grabbing the nearest ‘present’ they can hold in their soft jaws- usually a shoe, or a slipper or someone’s discarded sweater – then parade around the kitchen table as proud as punch, doing a kind of salsa-number with their rear-end.
Rejoice in the Lord always. And again I say, I rejoice!”
Philippians 4:4
These high-spirited dogs seem acutely attuned to even the slightest whiff of joy and celebration! I think they have a joy antenna fitted somewhere! If ever I sing or dance or laugh out loud, or get remotely happy, they quickly pick up on the atmosphere, wagging their tails ecstatically, and occasionally rearing up on their hind legs in a joyful jiggle.
Rejoice!
The bible is choc-full of scriptures telling us to rejoice! Some sources say that there are over 300 verses about gladness, joy and rejoicing. The word rejoice means to feel or show great joy or delight. Boy, do our dogs know how to rejoice!
Interestingly, the command to rejoice isn’t only reserved for times when everything is going our way.
1 Thessalonians 5:16 tells us to: ‘Rejoice at all times.” and James 1:2 says: “Consider it pure joy, my brothers and sisters when you face trials of many kinds…”
Biblical rejoicing is a command to find joy in God, regardless of our shifting circumstances. Biblical joy is rooted – not in fleeting feelings of happiness – but rather anchored in the knowledge of God’s presence, promises and faithfulness at all times. We can rejoice because we know that whatever life throws at us, we have an unshakable Rock that we can run to – Jesus, the Victor over sin and death and grave.
We rejoice because He is always worthy – no matter how hard life can get.
This joy and gladness can be expressed though worship, thankfulness and hope in the face of both blessings and suffering.
Unlike the Labrador, sometimes we need to stir ourselves to rejoice! Reminding ourselves of all that God has done is a great way to do this. Even if we’re struggling to find joy in our current situation, reflecting on God’s goodness, kindness and generosity in sending Jesus to die on the cross for our sins is a great catalyst for rejoicing:
I will rejoice greatly in the Lord, my soul shall rejoice in my God. For He has clothed me with garments of salvation and wrapped me in a robe of righteousness.”
Isaiah 61:10
God’s presence is the only place in which we can find real and lasting joy.
In your presence there is fullness of joy. At Your right hand there are pleasures forevermore.”
Psalm 16:10
If you’re not sure how to get into God’s presence, the bible has a great suggestion for the best route in!
Enter His gates with thanksgiving and His courts with praise! Give thanks to Him, bless His Name!”
Psalm 100:4
We get into God’s presence by thanking Him and praising Him. And if we linger long enough in this atmosphere, we will end up finding JOY.
Today, despite the instability of my feelings and shifting circumstances, I am choosing to REJOICE! Will you join me?
Ask and it will be given to you, seek and you will find, knock and it will be opened to you.
Matthew 7:7
Our eight month old Labrador pup has recently discovered something.
She’s a Retriever!
All of a sudden, it’s like a lightbulb has gone on and she’s worked out her life purpose.
The trouble is…she’s obsessed!
Every single morning now, without fail, she goes to her toy basket, grabs her ball in her mouth and drops it at the nearest person’s feet. Normally mine.
Whenever I have a few spare minutes, I indulge her. I throw. She fetches. That’s the game. That’s the pattern.
The speed with which she dashes after that ball is second to none. She’s in her element! She’s living her best life. Sometimes she leaps for a mid air catch! Other times the ball bounces and rebounds and she scuttles off to find it! But one thing’s for sure – she doesn’t come back without it.
And then, thud! That ball is immediately and unceremoniously dropped at my feet. Because she wants to do the whole thing again.
And again. And again.
In fact, I think she’d play this game literally all day long. I’m not even joking.
Typically, I tire of this game after around 10-15 minutes. I retreat inside and carry on with whatever it is I need to do.
Thud!
There she is again. I could be at the kitchen sink, washing up. Or upstairs making the bed. Or downstairs typing away at a story. Doesn’t matter to Honey.
She’s not finished yet. Not even close!
I try and ignore her. So she tilts her head from side to side, glancing between my face and the ball as if to say: “Pick it up and throw it! Come on! Why aren’t you playing anymore?“
“Oh Honey! Not now. I’m busy.”
Busy? Who cares. What could be more important than a game of fetch?
She’s not easily put off. She always looks hopeful. Why?
Well, I suppose because she knows I care for her and I’ve answered her requests before.
You can probably guess where I’m going with this.
If only I had the same persistence with my prayers! After all – I’m coming to a God who is never too busy to listen! A God who loves me with an everlasting love and tells me: “Cast your cares upon me, because I care for you! Yes, you can lay those heavy burdens down at my feet – with a thud!”
I’m coming to Jesus, the One who told a parable about a widow and an unrighteous judge in order to teach His disciples that they ought always to pray and never to lose heart!
Has he answered my prayers in the past? You bet ya!
Can He do it again? Absolutely!
Thanks to Honey, I’ve been reminded afresh this week that sometimes I don’t get because I just don’t ask!
The streets of the city were crowded that day, The Teacher was coming, He was headed this way, How my heart leapt within At the sound of His Name This man who healed lepers, the blind and the lame.
But the crowds all around me were blocking my view, And try as I might, I just couldn't push through, (There's not much to be said for my stature - it's true, So I ended up right at the back of the queue.)
Then ahead of the crowds in the distance, I see, Down the long, dusty road, There's a Sycamore tree I was desperate to see Him, It had to be done, So I kicked up the dust and I started to run!
My robe snagged on twigs As I scrambled up high But I hoped against hope That He'd not pass me by. Still, my heart skipped a beat, When He stopped by that tree, And He peered through the leaves, Looking right up at me.
What would He say to a man such as me? What was I doing there? How could it be - That this wonderful stranger Should call me by name? In that moment, I knew, I would not be the same.
The people were outraged - He was going to eat At the home of Zacchaeus, the swindler, the cheat! But whenever He spoke, all my pride fell apart, Until something was changed in the depths of my heart.
The tears started falling, my heart overflowed I would pay it all back, every penny I owed, I would give it all gladly, I'd do anything, For this wonderful Man For this beautiful King!
The love that He showed me The grace that He gave Swept over my being, Like wave upon wave! What joy filled my soul And what gladness within, When the Son of God cleansed me From all of my sin.
Come to me, all who labour and are heavy-laden and I will give your rest – Matt 11:28
I picked up my pen, But the words wouldn't come, My mind in a tangle, My brain feeling numb. I tried and I tried To keep doing my best, But the weight of my trials Crushed the hope in my chest. And grief stripped my song, To a desolate cry, My worship a whisper, My prayers just a sigh. Each step that I took Weighed with worrisome boulders, Until two big strong arms, Placed me up on His shoulders.
And He bandaged my wounds And He called me His daughter, And He led me through meadows, To quiet streams of water.
I said: "Lord I've failed You, I've not done enough!' And He sang to me softly, And hushed me with love.
Then He answered: 'Be still There is no need to hurry, Just rest in my goodness, Don't fret and don't worry.'
Those who wait on the Lord, Will find new strength to run, They'll rise up like eagles, With their wings in the sun, 'Just lean into me, Lay Your head on my chest, Cast your burdens upon Me, And I'll give you my rest'.
I have this scruffy old fence panel at the back of my garden that doesn’t match the rest. I’m so conscious of it sticking out like a sore thumb.
But recently, after moving some plants around in the garden, I discovered it makes the perfect backdrop for this orange rose. Something about that battered, weather-beaten wood only serves to highlight the beauty and perfection of the rose all the more.
It got me thinking about the verse in 2 Corinthians: “But we have this treasure in jars of clay, to show that the surpassing power belongs to God and not to us.’ (2 Cor 4:7)
I find it mind-blowing that God chooses to make His dwelling place in ordinary, broken, weather-beaten people like me.
He doesn’t choose the wise or the strong. He deliberately chooses the lowly and despised things of this world -and the things that are not – to nullify the things that are, so that no one may boast before Him. (1 Cor 1:27-29).
This is such good news! It means we don’t have to attain to a level of perfection in order to come before Him. No! We can come as we are! In fact, His power is made perfect in our weakness! (2 Cor 12:9)
I’m so grateful that God chose a ‘fixer-upper’ like me in order to display the riches of His glorious grace and mercy all the more!
An hour of toil in the garden,
Is always time well spent,
Tugging out those stubborn old weeds,
Which year upon year won't relent.
An hour spent tending the garden,
Is never wasted time,
Lungs full of wonderful, fresh Spring air,
Hands caked in dirt and grime.
It's hard to feel glum in the garden,
Birds chirping high in the trees,
Potting up Pansies so cheery and bright,
Hair tugged about on the breeze.
Cutting the deadwood and turning the earth,
Allowing the sun to get through,
Seems to clear my cluttered mind,
And lifts my spirits too.
Thank you Lord for my garden,
Humble and small though it be,
It's a place where so often I've felt You near,
And Your joy surrounding me.
Once You knelt down in a garden,
And in terrible anguish You cried,
Thy will, not mine be done, Oh Lord!
Abandoned. Betrayed. Denied.
One Sunday morn in a garden,
The Son of God rose from the grave,
Bringing salvation and mercy and grace,
To the ones He came to save.
Up until yesterday, my natural inclination would probably have been to fill in the blank with the word ‘FEAR’. But my Greek Bible taught me something which totally stopped me in my tracks. The most appropriate antonym for the word Faith, is not fear…
It’s SIGHT!
Now faith is the assurance of things hoped for, the conviction of things NOT SEEN
Hebrews 11:1
By faith, Noah, being warned by God about things NOT YET SEEN, in reverence, prepared an ark for the salvation of his household
Hebrews 11:7
For we walk by faith, NOT SIGHT – 2 Corinthians 5:7
2 Corinthians 5:7
In the absence of sight, faith gives me flight!
Seeing is NOT believing! Oh no my friend, it’s quite the other way around!
Image from Indiana Jones and the Last Crusade
Faith is going, not knowing. It steps out in the dark. It leaps into the unknown. It gets out of the boat and walks on water. It says yes when everyone else is saying no. It can part the red sea, it can move the mountains, it pleases God, it really, really pleases Him. It turns the worrier into a warrior, the barren into the fruitful, the weak into the strong! It’s the currency of heaven and it only operates in the absence of sight!
Then he said to Thomas, “reach here with your finger and see My hands, and reach here with your hand and put it into My side, and do not be unbelieving, but believing.”
Thomas answered and said to Him, “My Lord and my God!”
Jesus said to him, “Because you have SEEN me have you believed? Blessed are they who did not SEE, yet believed!”
EVERYDAY ENCOUNTERS 