Sorrows End

" And I heard a loud voice from the throne, saying, " Behold, the tabernacle of God is among men, and He will dwell among them, and they shall be His people, and God Himself will be among them, and He will wipe away every tear from their eyes: and there will no longer be any death: there will no longer by any mourning, or crying, or pain: the first things have passed away." And He who sits on the throne said, " Behold, I am making all things new." And He said, " Write, for these words are faithful and true." Revelation 21:3-5 (NASB)

Many tragedies have happened in recent weeks and months. We experienced tornadoes in our area in Raleigh. Violent tornadoes hit Joplin, MO and practically wiped out a whole town. We have seen on the news flooding in the mid-west, and wildfires in Texas and Arizona.

We are touched by tragedies in our own lives with family members receiving the bad news that they have the dreaded disease of cancer. Today I received news that a dear friend of mine lost a loved one. This brave young man died from his wounds he received on the battle field.

Sometimes it just seems so overwhelming to hear, much less to experience these sorrows. Recently I was reading a devotional written by Randy Alcorn and I thought it would be a good time to share this.

"God promises that one day there will be no more death or mourning or crying or pain. As we are acutely aware, that day has not yet come. But notice how Jesus caps off His promise to His disciple John: He says John should write the words down because they are "trustworthy and true." In other words, He is saying, " John, my beloved friend and servant, you can take these words to the bank: I'll stake my life on them, In fact, I already have."

Christ promises- in writing- a resurrected life on the New Earth, an eternal life without sorrow and pain in a glorious new world. Talk about light at the end of the tunnel!

Devastation and tragedy feel just as real for those with faith as they do for those who have none. But knowledge that others have suffered and learned to trust God anyway gives the faithful strength to keep going. Because they do not place their hope for health and abundance and secure relationships in this life but in an eternal life to come, believers' hope remains firm regardless of what happens.

And on the other side of earth, God promises that all who know him will experience acceptance into His holy, loving, and gracious arms- which is the greatest miracle, the answer to the problem of evil and suffering. He promises us an eternal kingdom on the New Earth, where he will wipe away every tear from the eyes of those who come to trust him in this present and temporary world of pain. "

( Devotion written by Randy Alcorn from the devotional book, " 90 Days of God's Goodness"

Ladybugs, a Gardeners best friend

Finished painted ladybug (Pots of mint and parsley)

Painteded ladybug

Finished painted fern frond

Painted fern frond

Pot before paint (Pot of basil)

I love ladybugs! (Just don't want them in my house). I decided to paint on some of my flower pots. Painted a lady bug on the double pot. I wondered about what the purpose of a ladybug was so I thought I would look it up. Here is what I found out. (Written from a ladybugs point of view.)

Did you know that I serve as the "Ultimate Gardener Helper?" Gardeners and farmers love to use me instead of pesticides, because I too can save plants from being destroyed, except I do it in a natural way! I like to eat aphids and other bugs that eat plants. By making them my dinner, I can protect crops from being eaten themselves!

Even my larvae eat aphids and other plant eating insects from birth. Did you know by the 6th week of life, we already consume 5,000 aphids?! It's a pretty cool method of pets control don't you think?!

My pretty Elytra (wings) is actually used to make me not looks so good to predators. My bright colors tell them that I am not so good to eat. I can actually secrete a foul tasting, orange, fluid from joints in my legs, and will even play dead, if I am threatened by a predator!

Did you know that I come in many different colors scuh as red, orange, pink, yellow, white or black?

Did you also know that not all species have spots, and those of us who do have spots, lose our spots as we get older?

My antennae have a special purpose as I use them for touch, smell, and taste! Which reminds me... Did you know that my feet also have a sense of smell?

Well that's about all the info I have for you today. So the next time you see a little ladybug, just marvel at God's creation, and know that I am there to help you! See you in the garden!

(gathered information from ladybuglady.com/science fair)

Home for flip flops

Home for the flip- flops

Finished product

Beginning picture

Have felt like doing a few little projects. Our family had flip-flops scattered all over the house, so I thought I would corral them into one place. Found this galvanized bucket at Carolina Pottery ( I love that store!) Then decided to paint "flip flops" on it. It's a little off center, but if it was perfect, it wouldn't be me! I think I will post some other projects I'm working on in the next few days. Maybe this will give some of you ideas for what to do with yours. Don't you just love this time of year when your main shoe choices are which color flip-flops to choose? I love my rainbows!!

It's Hot! Where Can I Find A Fountain?

Fontana dell' Ovato, Tivoli, Italy

It has been so hot here! It is only June 10th and the weather has been in the 90's this week. When the children were little we would let them run through the sprinkler on a day like today. The goal is just to stay cool.

I was reading this verse this morning and pondering on what it means. " The mouth of the righteous is a fountain of life..." Proverbs 10:11. I was looking up some famous fountains and reading the descriptions of them. One of them said it was "refreshing". Once, I saw a romantic movie where the couple jumped into the fountain. It looked refreshing, like it just invigorated them! In pondering this I was wondering how we as Christians, if we are righteous, can be a fountain of life?

The answer is found in Psalm 36:9 " For with You (God) is the fountain of life...". So if we stay close to the Lord, we seek Him, we get to know Him and ask for His wisdom, we will have the "fountain of life", and because of that we, in turn, can be a fountain of life to others.

Our joy will be bubbling over, and we will be so refreshing to be around. Like a fountain on a hot, sweltering day. Wish I could find one to jump into!