Joy in the Valley, by Mary Reneau

At last we had reached the peak! The long struggle to reach the top was over and a breath taking view spread out before us.
As we stood there breathing the fresh mountain air, we could see for miles in every direction. 

We looked to the sea on the right, with it's rolling surf 

and to the snow capped mountains on the left.

The view was worth all the effort it took to reach the top. Here on the peak where we stood, was sunshine and a warm breeze.

After a few minutes rest and a refreshing snack,we picked up our packs and started down into the valley.

As we wended our way down through the trees, we were leaving the sunshine, and the breeze was much cooler.
Our minds were still on the beautiful sights from the mountain top. We wished we could have stayed the whole day up there in the sunshine. What could we see on the downward trek that could surpass the beauty of what we had just experienced?

Suddenly we came out of the trees and there we were at the head of the valley.

                           Spread out before us like a carpet, were thousands of flowers of every shape and color. 

Again we were in the sunlight and were in sight of the cabin we had been traveling 
toward all afternoon.


Already it seemed we could smell the bacon cooking and the aroma of coffee boiling on the fire. We had been in this valley before and knew how beautiful it was. Why did we always forget as we came down  through the shadow of the trees and keep wishing we were back on the mountain top?

I think we do this often in our Christian life. Sometimes it seems like God is blessing us more than we can contain. Our hearts are over flowing with joy and our lips are filled with His praises.

Then the shadows of trouble come and we are soon caught in the web of discouragement and depression. We forget that Jesus said, "Lo, I am with you always." and before we know it, we have lost our joy and our lips are hushed from His praises.

Just when we think we can go no farther, through some small way, God reveals His presence to us. We realize He has been there all the time. The joy we feel of knowing God is with us in time of trouble is greater than the joy on the mountain top. 
Then we can say, "Truly, there is Joy in the Valley, because God is with us."

End

(photos by Sharon Hegwood)

A Peaceful Noise, by Mary Reneau

A peaceful noise? 

No way can we imagine such a thing. 
Our whole effort seems to be directed to escaping
the noise of everyday living. 

We go to the hills, or... 

we seek the seclusion of a quiet lake. 





There we can relax and be free from noise and strife.
Noise and strife; the two seem to go together. How then can there be a peaceful noise?
One long weekend recently my husband, Richard, and I decided to seek peace and quiet in the hills. We loaded our back packs with enough food for two days and packed into Wilderness Falls. 

After three hours of hard hiking and setting up camp near the falls, I was ready to rest, but not Richard. Off he went with his fishing gear after the elusive trout.

I spread out my sleeping bag and lay down for a short nap. At first all I could hear was the roar of the falls, but slowly I began to hear other sounds. 

There was a musical tinkling sound as a small stream made its way over the rocks to the river.

A soft whistling sound of the wind high in the trees was added to the blend of sounds.

 A peaceful noise? Yes, it was like a lullaby and soon I was asleep. 

It was not the noise of the falls that put me to sleep, but the undertones of the stream and the wind.
Afterwards as I thought about it, I realized there was a lesson in this.
There are times when we cannot take to the hills and the noise and strife seems to be getting the best of us. What can we do?
 God tells us in His Word, "The work of righteousness shall be peace; and the effect of righteousness;quietness and assurance forever. And my people shall dwell...in quiet resting places." ( Isaiah 32:17,18) 

He doesn't tell us to take to the hills. He wants us to listen to the undertones of His voice, through His Word. He tells us,"to study to be quiet"(I Thessalonians 4:11) 
Yes, the noise and strife are still there, but we can be quiet inside and dwell continually in a quiet place. The blending of strife and God's Word can be a peaceful noise.

END

(photos by Sharon Hegwood)

It has been a long time since Mom wrote this story, but I remember watching her as she rested in the Lord during the hard times in her life. No matter the circumstances, she always trusted Him
and claimed His peace, because she was His child. She taught her children to do the same, by her words and by the life she lived.
If you do not know Christ as you Savior, you cannot have that peace. You may "take to the hills,"
but you will not find peace unless you are seeking God. He wants everyone to have that quiet resting place, but you cannot find it until you seek Him with your whole heart. He is waiting for you now.

What a wonder wildflowers are!

This week I have been wandering the woods and forests of Northern Michigan, snapping photos right and left, and I would like to share a few of the amazing wonders I have found. 

 I hope you will be filled with worship for our Almighty Creator and grateful for the beauty He has placed all around us.

To think God took the time(and all within 6 days) to create the millions of different flowers.

 

Reds

Purples

 "Then God said, "Let the earth sprout vegetation, plants yielding seed....

Whites

Yellows

 ...and fruit trees bearing fruit after their kind, with seed in them, on the earth;

Unusual

 ...and it was so.

Striking

and the earth brought forth vegetation, plants yielding seed after their kind ...and God saw that it was good." 
 Genesis 1:11-12

So far, we have only seen a few of the wonders that I have found.
As I observed the sheer variety of colors, shapes and sizes of wildflowers, I am ashamed to say,  there have been times,  since my husband went home to be with the Lord and I was left to raise two children on my own, that I sometimes wondered if I would be able to pay the bills, keep our home, feed us that day, or tomorrow.
 

 "Do not be anxious for your life, as to
what you shall eat, or what you shall drink;

 ...nor for your body, as to what you shall put on.

Look at the birds of the air...your heavenly Father feeds them.  Are you not worth much more than they?

 and why are you anxious about clothing?

Observe how the lilies of the field grow;they do not toil nor do they spin,
yet I say to your that even Solomon  in all his glory did not clothe himself like one of these."  Matthew 6:25-29

So, as I wander the forested paths and marvel at the beauty of God's creation, I am reminded how God has taken care of me through these past years. My children have not gone hungry, or naked. I am living in the home Jim bought for me. Not a bill has gone unpaid. All  because of God's wonderful care and unfailing love for me.

 " But I have trusted in Thy lovingkindness;





                                                                        My heart shall rejoice in Thy salvation.

I will sing to the LORD, because He has dealt 
bountifully with me." Psalm 13:5-6

If you ever get the chance to wander in
the woods, or just sit quietly in your backyard, take a moment to rejoice in all that God has made for us to enjoy. It will refresh your soul and make you truly grateful.

Grace Upon Grace

I have been going through some old photos from my trips to California, and noticed how many I have of the ocean. 
I have always loved the ocean, having grown up on the Pacific coast, and never tire of taking photos of it's ever changing moods.
As I looked at them, I  couldn't help but think about God's grace as seen in the constancy of the ocean waves. 
They continue to roll in upon the sand no matter the weather. 
On quiet windless days, they roll softly onto the beach,

but on stormy days,
they crash down in thunderous waves. 

God's grace is like that too. On our quiet, uneventful days, His grace continues to softly roll, perhaps unnoticed, through our lives. 
On stormy days, when we are overwhelmed by our circumstances, His grace crashes into our hearts and minds, reminding us of His power to bring us through this storm.
As these thoughts ran through my mind, I was reminded of a song a missionary friend wrote and shared with our church several years ago. I asked and got permission from her to use her song along with my photos. I have sung it often and am always blessed by the beautiful message. 
Thank you Annette, for allowing me to share it with others.

Grace upon grace, like the waves of the sea.

Every day, carrying me. 

Whatever my place, whatever my need,

For all that I face,  there is grace.

Grace upon grace,like the

waves of the sea.

Unending grace,poured

out on me.

a deep tide of grace,

to cleanse and to free,

I'm held and embraced

by God's grace.

Grace upon grace, like the
waves of the sea.
All to God's praise,
grace will not cease.
An ocean of grace; Eternity,
to gaze on Your face,
God of grace.
Words and music by 
Annette Shiley

God is faithful

                      by: Mary Reneau

Where am I, oh Lord, where am I?  My mind was filled with questions as the lights kept circling overhead.  Gradually my eyes began to focus on the people around me.  Men and women in white uniforms.  I must be in a hospital.  How did I get here and when?  My mind kept repeating the question, “Where am I?” 

                   

As the confusion lessened, I began to remember how I had arrived at this place.  It had all happened so quickly.  A burning, stabbing pain and within a few minutes I was in the hospital with a heart attack.  I had truly believed that nothing could come into the lives of God’s children without His permission.  Could this heart attack be His will for my life?

My husband, Richard, and I had been living in Trinidad, California, for a year.  Our children were all grown and we were beginning to relax and enjoy just being together.  We were both in good health and spent most of our spare time hiking on the beach or backpacking in the back country of Northern California.

While Richard worked, I kept myself busy working with children through Child Evangelism Fellowship.  Richard had a ministry on Sundays in the county jail.  We were contented with our service to God and our position in the world.  Maybe we were too contented.  Could this be why God had let me have this heart attack?

When the doctor had said, “ Your heart is dying for lack of oxygen, you must have surgery”, my life became filled with uncertainty.  Where was the peace and security I had felt in the Lord all these years?  I had searched my memory for something in God’s word to hold me steady.  In counseling with young people I had often used I Corinthians 10:13, 

“There hath no testing taken you but such as is common to man, but God is faithful, who will not let you be tested above that you are able; but will with the testing also make a way of escape, that you may be able to bear it”. 

With this verse God gave me peace.  I had no fear, even when the doctor told me some of the tests could be dangerous.  Hadn’t God promised that there would be nothing that I could not bear?  He would make a way for me to escape the dangers involved.

I quoted this verse to my family and friends to ease their fears for me.  I said it over and over to myself when I was alone.  The tests showed that I needed three coronary artery by-passes.  I hadn’t expected this, but I clung to my verse and flew to Eugene, Oregon for my surgery without fear.

Now what had happened?  Why was I here in this place where I kept going from light to darkness?  Had I had my surgery?  Was I dying?  Where was the verse that I needed?  My mind could not bring back the words that would save me from this engulfing panic.

In the midst of all the noise and confusion three small words came to my mind:  God is faithful.  I wanted to shout, “Yes, yes! That’s part of it”.  I needed to know the rest of the verse.  “Oh Lord, help me.” I prayed.  Immediately my fear left me.  Why did I need to know more?  God is faithful. This was His promise.  It did not matter where I was or what was happening to me.  God is faithful.  With these thoughts came peace and I fell asleep.

The next time I awoke, Richard was sitting by my bed.  I knew the operation was over and I would soon be going home.  I have never been able to explain to any one what happened to me from that experience.  When friends say,”What a terrible experience you had,” I can say, “No, it was wonderful.  God taught me something special.”

It is not the promise we need to remember, it is God’s faithfulness. 

I know nothing can harm me as long as I believe God is faithful.

M R Ducks

My mom used to make up funny little stories and sayings to make her grandchildren laugh. Invariably they made us all laugh too, and when we get together someone always brings up some of her stories, songs or sayings.
This is one that I think of often when I am out birding along the rivers and waterways in my travels.
This is what she used to say, "

"C M ducks?  M R'nt ducks! S M R. C M Wangs?"

You may have to read it over a time or two, but keep at it, you'll get it.

Anyway, this leads me to my photo theme today....ducks, ducks and more ducks.  Before I began birding with my son, Matt, I did not know how many different species of ducks there were.  Still don't know for sure, but I know there are a lot more than just  Mallards.                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                             

                                                Red-Breasted Merganser(female)

                                                                                    Red-Breasted Merganser(male)

I have often told my children that I know God has a sense of humor because of all the unusual looking animals He created. That is certainly true in the Merganser family, with their matching 'brush cuts'.'

Muscovy

                                                                                                             
                                                                         Wood Duck (male and female)

The Muscovy Duck is very large and wary. To me he looks almost prehistoric. 

Most found in North America are escapees from a domestic flock. In fact, we had two of them on the farm when I was growing up.

The male and female Wood Duck do not look at all alike. He is decked out in brilliant greens,oranges and browns for most of the year. The female is a unremarkable grayish brown with a white eye ring. This is true of most bird species, and I have often wondered

why that is. I like to think God created them this way to protect the females. The brighter the color, the more likely they can be spotted by their predators. So, the male, in a sense, protects the female with his bright colors. Just my personal theory.

I have shown you only a very few of the variety of ducks I have seen, but I would like to share something my birding travels have taught me.

"Look at the birds of the air, that they do not sow, neither do they reap, nor gather into barns, and yet your heavenly Father feeds them. Are yo not worth much more than they?"

Matthew 6:26

Our heavenly Father loves us more than the "birds of the air", and He will take care of us.

I never tire of seeing God's messages to us in the beautiful creation around us. I hope you 

take the time to look around you, and see God's hand in everything. This is His creation, made just for us.

A Peaceful Noise by Mary Reneau

A peaceful Noise?  No way can we imagine such a thing! Our whole effort seems to be directed to escaping the noise of everyday living. We go to the hills or we seek the seclusion of a quiet lake. There we can relax and be free from noise and strife. Noise and strife,the two words seem to go together. How then can there be a peaceful noise?

One long weekend recently, my husband Richard
and I,decided to seek peace and quiet in the hills. We loaded our backpacks with enough food for two days and packed into Wilderness Falls. After three hours of hard hiking and setting up camp near the falls, I was ready for a rest, but not Richard. Off he went with his fishing gear after the elusive trout.

I spread out my sleeping bag and settled down for a short nap. At first all I could hear was the roar of the falls, but slowly, I began to hear other sounds. There was a soft musical sound as a small stream made its way over the rocks to the river. A soft whistling of the wind in the trees was added to the blend. A peaceful noise? Yes, it was like a lullaby and soon I was asleep.

Afterwards, as I thought about it, I realized there was a lesson in this. There are times when we cannot take to the hills and the noise and strife seem to be getting the best of us. What are we to do? God tells us in His Word, 

“The work of righteousness shall be peace; and the effect of righteousness, quietness and assurance forever. And my people shall dwell…in quiet places.” (Isaiah 32:17, 18)

He doesn’t tell us to take to the hills. He wants us to listen to the undertones of His voice through His Word. He tells us,”…to study to be quiet.”(I Thess4:11) Yes, the noise and strife are still there, but we can be quiet inside and dwell continually in a quiet place. The blending of strife and God’s Word can be a peaceful noise.

Published in The Highway Evangelist,

A Christian Truckers magazine.