Thoughts by the Sea (or Lake Michigan)

In the contemplation of Christ, we linger on the shore of a love that is measureless.

We endeavor to tell of this love, and language fails us.

We consider His life on earth, His sacrifice for us, His work in heaven as our advocate, and the mansions He is preparing for those who love Him, and we can only exclaim, O the height and depth of the love of Christ!



Herein is love, not that we loved God, but that He loved us, and sent His Son to be the propitiation for our sins.




Behold, what manner of love the Father hath bestowed upon us, that we should be called the sons of God.




In every true disciple, this love, like sacred fire, burns on the alter of the heart.




It was on the earth that the love of God was revealed through Christ. It is on the earth that His children are to reflect this love through blameless lives. Thus sinners will be led to the cross, to behold the Lamb of God.




(White, Ellen G. The Acts of the Aposltes. p. 334.)

Autumn Sabbath

After a wonderful lunch (how bountifully the Lord provides!) and far, far away from our families, my husband and I thought we would take some pictures of our Michigan autumn for show and tell. And what a beautiful Sabbath day we had for the venture! Well over 70 degrees, the weather gave us the perfect excuse to be out and about.

For us, Sabbath is a wonderful reminder of our Creator, and spending time outside in the fresh air among the beauties He has given reminds us how much He cares for our every need and plans for our happiness things we can hardly imagine. "The eyes of all wait upon Thee," writes the Psalmist, "and Thou givest them their meat in due season."

I hate spiders. But my husband thinks the pattern on this one was beautiful.

Last week, the gulls were all afloat on the water in the cold. Why they decided to absent themselves on this glorious day (which I thought would be far better for a bath), we don't know.

A favorite park swing overlooking the river, from which we can see (kind of) the shores of our favorite mission organization across the water. It's romantic, it's peaceful, it's a wonderful place to pray and meditate--and it's far enough away from the {amazing} children's play area to be satisfactorily solitary.



This little fellow kindly posed long enough near his nut bank for us to take several portraits. He's such an avid climber--fearfully and wonderfully made.


Our river. Ours because it runs very near where we live, and we have the privilege of seeing it every day.


"This is the day that the Lord has made. Let us rejoice and be glad in it!"