An Autumn Rainbow

Lift up your hands in the sanctuary, and bless the Lord. Psalms 134:2

The Great Smoky Mountains National Park has over 9 million visitors each year. I think all 9 million of us must choose the same weekend to visit. The views are amazing and no picture can ever capture the feeling of actually being there. The sound of the last cicada trying to whir, the crickets in the leafy sides, the caw of the crows, all added to the peace and drama of the real scene. Yes, there are oodles of people, but for the most part, quiet people releasing the things of this world and absorbing the beauty of God's creation. 

In autumn the true beauty of a leaf shines forth. All the green of spring and summer cover up the real color of a leaf as it tries to create the food necessary to maintain the life of the tree. Green is the color of chlorophyll. As a leaf finishes its job, the chlorophyll no longer controls the leaf and the true color is the beauty we see in fall. 

I got to thinking, people are a lot like leaves. We put on a front while we date or at our jobs or wherever we think it will benefit our lifestyles, but our true colors will eventually shine through. Most of the pictures were taken as we caught our breath on our way up Clingman's Dome. As we rested again at the base of the tower, a young father came up and addressed my husband who was wearing a Christian t-shirt. The father said, " I like your shirt. You must know the Lord." My husband and I affirmed his assumption. "We are to lift His name on high. We're high!" the father said as we shook hands and began our assent up the tower. 

We often feel alone in our walk with the Lord, but when, like the leaves, we let our true colors show, we find there are lots of others around us who want to join us in lifting the name of the Lord on high. The cool autumn air, the quiet of the forest, and the meeting of a brother and his family, felt really good after a long hard week of work. 

Friday night as we sat out on our balcony, a falling star graced the sky. 

Great and marvelous are Your works,

Lord God Almighty!
Just and true are Your ways,
O King of the saints! 

Revelations 15:3b NKJV

May you find rest in His marvelous works this week. 

Gail

Hey Kids!

Have you tried nature art?

As the leaves change, have you noticed what a rainbow of color you can find?

My kids began picking up leaves on the playground and arranging them by color. It was not my idea, but kids in play came up with an amazing piece of nature art. They chose:

• Maples for red
• Poplar for yellow
• Sassafras for orange
• Pine for green
• Blue spruce for blue
• Maple again for purple

What types of trees are showing their colors in your neighborhood? 

I wish I had taken a picture of the leaf rainbow my kids made.

Perhaps you could share a picture of your nature art.

What are your thoughts of God's amazing creation? Perhaps you would like to  share those with your pictures.

Bless the Lord

Bless the Lord, O my soul: and all that is within me, bless his holy name.

Bless the Lord, O my soul, and forget not all his benefits: Psalms 103:1,2

This was a weekend of delights and blessings. Camping, playing in the water and tubing, Deep Creek was a refreshing and delightful trip with the grand kids. It was also a place where blessings were frequent. 

I sat in the truck resting after two exhausting trips down Deep Creek. It was beginning to drizzle rain. A young African American couple came down off the trails to their car parked beside us. I heard the young man say, "I just want to thank you, Lord." His wife then sang, "I just want to thank you, Lord." They cranked the car and drove off unaware of how their thankfulness had blessed me. The trails they had just finished were short, but steep with waterfalls. I knew what they were thankful for. God's creation is not only beautiful, but quieting and restoring. 

I got out of the car and crossed the road to watch the tubers on the creek. A little fellow about 2 walked holding his daddy's hand. His little life vest was almost bigger than him. Daddy was carrying their tube. 

"Daddy, I love you," the boy said.

"I love you too, Little Buddy," his dad replied as they walked on toward the waterfall to put in. 

Just a quiet moment between father and son, but so powerful. 

What powerful, quiet moments has God given you this week? We'd love for you to share in blessing the Lord. 

Hey Kids: 

It's almost school time again. What blessings has God given you this summer?

Can you use those times to bless the Lord in your conversations and writings about your summer. 

You might want to keep a small pocket size notebook to jot down great memories, so when the time comes and you just can't think of anything to write about, you will have a pocket full of blessings. 

One last quote from Saturday night around the campfire. 

Papa: "If y'all would just throw a quilt over me, I'd just sleep here tonight."

Chandler, he's nine: "The raccoons would pick food out of your teeth all night." 

It had nothing to do with blessing the Lord, but laughter is a gift from God that blesses. 

Bless the Lord, O my soul,

Gail