Mounted up as on eagles wings,
I soar above the trials life brings.
Flying beyond all worry and care,
I sense God’s presence everywhere.
His love so real, his love so true,
His mercies each morning fresh and new.
Beneath His wings I safely reside,
sheltered from harm on every side.
Abiding in Him I’ll never be weak,
for His strength and power I daily seek.
On His word and promises I firmly stand,
knowing nothing can snatch me from His hand.
I don’t deserve His amazing grace,
or to rest eternally in His heavenly place.
But still he chose me and set me apart,
to grasp the thought just thrills my heart.
Come, let us worship and bow down; let us kneel before the Lord our Maker. For he is our God, and we are the people of his pasture, the sheep under his care. Psalm 95: 6-7
The sun filtering through my home office windows this morning was a huge distraction. After enduring overcast and dreary weather for the past week, the sunshine was a welcome change that I couldn’t resist. I knew I wasn’t going to get much writing done until I went outside and soaked up some sun.
I grabbed my bottle of water and headed off on a morning adventure. I made my way to the pond and sat by the pier overlooking the water. The beauty of nature never lets me down, and I certainly wasn’t disappointed on this beautiful fall morning.
Though the air was a little nippy, I enjoyed the breeze as it caressed my face. I inhaled the fresh mountain air, exhaling my cares into the wind. Woodpeckers were busy drilling away at a tree nearby, and a large flock of crows were busy flitting from treetop to treetop carrying on a noisy conversation in the distance. Finches and sparrows could be heard singing their own unique tunes.
The reflection of the autumn trees danced on the surface of the rippling water, their red, orange, and yellow hues casting a kaleidoscope of colors across the pond. The sky was a brilliant blue with cotton-like clouds making an appearance from time to time, as they drifted overhead without a care. Once again, I was amused by the lessons I learn just from observing the world around me.
As I gazed at the towering trees swaying above me, I was reminded of God’s power and that I never need to fear I will be too weak to accomplish anything when I depend on God’s strength to guide me. As the morning breeze kissed my face, I was reassured that God is always with me, and even though I can’t see him physically, I can feel his presence surrounding me.
The reflection of the trees on the surface of the pond was a reminder that Christ is to reflected in my life, so that others may come to know Him. The song of the birds was a reminder that I have a reason to sing, regardless of my circumstances, because Jesus died on the cross for me. And like the birds, I must boldly sing my Heavenly Father’s praises each day, so that others will see His joy resounding through my life – a true and lasting joy that only comes from knowing Him.
I’m so thankful I can enjoy the beauty of nature right outside my door, and I am always grateful for the privilege of working from home and being my own boss. I would not trade it for the most elaborate job in the world that required me to clock in and remain in an office building for eight or more hours a day. Not a single day goes by that I don’t thank God for allowing me to work from home, and I never take it for granted.
No matter where we are, the world around us is filled with lessons of faith if we take the time to see them. What is God showing you today through the world around you?
“For I know the plans I have for you,” declares the Lord, “plans to prosper you and not to harm you, plans to give you hope and a future.” Jeremiah 29: 11
As an avid watcher of birds, one of my favorite things to do in the fall is look for abandoned bird nests. I often find them in leafless bushes near the pond, and they can be spotted high in the treetops as the trees shed their golden leaves. I’m always amazed at how many birds were nesting near my mountain home – their nests securely hidden in the dense vegetation.
As a seasoned empty nester, I still recall how emotional I felt the first fall, more than eight years ago, after my youngest daughter had married. After raising four children, and dedicating more than 32 years of my life to full-time motherhood, it was a huge adjustment. Seeing the empty bird nests each fall always reminds me of God’s faithfulness to me in a season I thought I would never survive.
I still remember my first night at home with an empty nest. My daughter’s wedding was over, and the wedding guests had gone home. My husband pulled out in his 18-wheeler to start his usual work week. For the first time in decades, the silence in the house was deafening. I walked aimlessly from room to room feeling like I was dropped in the middle of a foreign island where I didn’t know the language, and I didn’t have a map to guide me in the right direction.
The loneliness suffocated me, and my mind raced with thoughts about what I was going to do to fill up the time. I thought maybe I would get a job or maybe two or even three jobs – anything to avoid the dreaded empty nest season.
In God’s perfect timing, a dear friend of mine reached out to me through an email. She was nearing the empty nest, and her words of wisdom were crucial to my survival at the time. Kathy lived in Alabama. I never met her in person. We knew each other from when we participated in a First Place 4 Health group online. I led one of the online groups, and Kathy was a member of my group.
Her email, which I share below, was a turning point in my empty nest journey.
Dear Joni, I know you and I share a common bond, because I’m spending a good deal of time alone too in this season of life. My son is working at the Y and is a senior in high school, so he always has something going on. My husband works long hours at the store, so I’m learning to spend my afternoons sitting on the deck watching the hummingbirds and squirrels. It has been a HUGE change for me, but the Lord has reminded me that, “I’m all you need, Kathy.” So, instead of fighting my loneliness with busyness, I have finally said, “Okay, Lord, here I am!” I’m trying to spend time with Him during my new alone time.
I was encouraged by how she simply chose to surrender her new season of life to God rather than trying to fill it with more stuff and activities. Our natural inclination is to rush from one season right into another. We try to fill up any empty spots in our lives with new activities, many of which we don’t even pray about. Our culture teaches us to be doers rather than waiters. We are quick to act without seeking God’s wisdom.
I took Kathy’s wisdom to heart, and I started to say, “Here I am, Lord!” What a difference it made in my attitude. I’m not saying it was easy, but as I learned to sit quietly and wait for the Lord to show me where to go next, I found a new peace about the empty nest. Was it still difficult to adjust? Yes. Did I still have days I doubted I would survive? Of course I did.
However, as I made it my goal to wait on the Lord, and to simply spend time in his presence daily, He spoke to me through his word. He revealed to me that he was the same God who sustained me through the days of being a brand new mother at the young age of 17 when I didn’t have a clue about motherhood. He was the same God who gave me the courage to make it through the grocery store with sticky-fingered toddlers fighting. He was the same God who was there for me as I sat by the hospital bed of a sick child and who strengthened me during sleepless nights with teething babies. He was the same God who comforted me when children were afflicted with middle-of-the-night croup and asthma attacks. He was the same God who gave me the strength to make one more peanut butter and jelly sandwich or clean up one more mess on the floor. He was the same God who sustained me during the teenage years when puberty brought new challenges with hormones, alcohol, and peer pressure. He was the God who helped me to let go, as each child left the nest and ventured out to start their life as an adult.
As I sat at his feet, consistently, in those early days of the empty nest, God revealed to me that he was always by my side, and the season of the empty nest would be no different, because he is a God of all seasons. And you know something? He was there for me. I survived the empty nest with a new appreciation for life and a stronger faith in my Heavenly Father.
In time, God filled my days with new adventures. I was able to spend more time with my elderly dad. I took several writing courses and started my writing career. I was blessed with grandchildren to love and cherish. My days are full, and I’m filled with contentment. There really is life after the empty nest!
Now, I watch other mothers entering into this unknown empty nest season with many of the same concerns. They are worrying about what they will do now. They are rushing to fill their hours with as many activities as they can fit in. They feel as if they won’t survive, but I always try to assure them that God is faithful in all seasons.
If you are facing an empty nest, know that you are never alone. Don’t try to fight the loneliness or fill your days with busyness. Be still. Get to know God. Seek Him diligently, and allow Him to work in your life. Be patient. In His timing, new doors will open. God has a plan for each season of our lives.
As I looked across the mountain landscape this morning, I spotted several empty nests high in the treetops, and I smiled. What a great reminder of a God who is faithful- a God who carries us mothers through every season of motherhood – even the empty nest.
Blessed is the man who does not walk in the counsel of the wicked or stand in the way of sinners or sit in the seat of mockers. But his delight is in the law of the Lord, and on his law he meditates day and night. He is like a tree planted by streams of water, which yields its fruit in season and whose leaf does not wither. Whatever he does prospers. Not so the wicked! They are like chaff that the wind blows away. (Psalm 1: 1-4)
When we meditate on the truth in the Bible and delight in it, we will be like a tree planted by streams of water. We will yield fruit in season and not wither. Whatever we do will prosper. What an encouraging promise from God!
I don’t know about you, but I don’t always feel strong and healthy. I am easily uprooted when the storms of life arrive, and many times I don’t feel very prosperous. I often feel like a tree with withered leaves instead of flourishing leaves, and I fail to bear fruit at times.
When I don’t feel like I’m flourishing, it’s usually because I’m not rooted deep enough in Scripture. I allow the cares of life to distract me from drawing adequate sustenance from God’s word. I’m sure most of us want to flourish and bear fruit, so what do we need to do and where do we start?
First, we don’t seek our guidance from the wicked or ungodly. The world is full of those who are against God. We must make the choice to obey God’s word and not be influenced by everything we see or read on social media or on TV.
I believe we live in a time where it’s easier than ever before to be misled. Many of the things women are passing along and sharing on social media sites is far from biblical truth. It’s easy to click and share without even discerning if what we are sharing is true or beneficial for encouraging others.
I’ve seen everything from fake articles about celebrities dying, who are still alive, as well as ridiculous political news articles that are far from the truth. One of the funniest articles I’ve seen going around social media sites is an announcement that Reese’s Peanut Butter cups are no longer going to be made. It caused quite an uproar on Facebook. As Christian women, we need to be meditating on God’s truth instead of things that have no purpose or eternal value.
We are supposed to delight in God’s law, but we can’t delight in something we have no clue about. By reading the Bible and studying it, we learn to discern truth. We learn to trust God’s promises. Meditating on God’s word day and night doesn’t mean we have to carry our Bibles around and do nothing else but read them. It means we have a constant regard for the word of God. As we go about our daily routine, we strive to live according to God’s principles. We desire to live in a manner that pleases him, no matter how ungodly the culture around us is. We know his word and strive to apply it to our daily lives.
What can we learn from God using the metaphor of a tree? A healthy tree is one that has deep roots that feed and stabilize it. Its branches supply shade and shelter. A sturdy tree with solid roots can withstand storms. The leaves of certain trees contain healing properties. Fruit trees supply nourishment, vitamins, and minerals in the fruit they bear. A healthy tree has leaves that do not wither because they receive nourishment from being connected to the tree.
In scripture, Jesus is called the living water. When we allow him to saturate our parched and weary roots, we gain renewed strength and hope. When our spiritual roots remain in him, we are able to endure difficult circumstances. When we are strong and grounded in our faith, we can be a shelter for others who are facing challenging times. In time, we will bear fruit if we stay rooted firmly in Christ. This may require several seasons of being dormant and allowing God to prune us at times, but in God’s perfect timing we will bear fruit if we remain connected to him.
Prospering in all we do does not mean prosperity as the world views it. It does not always mean we will become rich or famous. God does bless his people with wealth at times, but he is more concerned about our soul prosperity. We have eternal life when we are believers. Nothing we have on earth will ever compare to what awaits us when we get to heaven. Now, that is true prosperity!
As believers, we can rejoice because we have a prosperous future ahead. The wicked have nothing to look forward to. They are referred to as chaff blown away by the wind, which is why we should never be seeking their counsel and should be delighting ourselves in the law of the Lord.