OUTDOOR WEDNESDAY - OUR PRETTY LAKE

Some views of the lake that we are fortunate to have in the middle of our little town. Taken in mid October and the colors were just coming out.

For more Outdoor Wednesday posts please visit Susan at A Southern Day Dreamer

SPIRITUAL SUNDAY

We will celebrate 220 years of continuous worship at Zion Church on Sunday, November 8th.
This is not the original building, however, as people began meeting at various parishioners homes in 1789. This building site was not used until 1814 when a meeting house was built here. Unfortunately, it burned down and the present church was built in 1822.

This is a view of our church from the cemetery across the street. It is not owned by Zion. Our much older cemetery (where several revolutionary soldiers are buried) is on either side and behind the church.

This is another angle of the front of the building.

Another front view from across the street.

This photo was taken from the parking lot of the Social Hall. When I walk into our sanctuary, I feel the presence of the many Saints who worshiped here before me. It sometimes is an overwhelming feeling. Love. I feel love here in this wonderful church family.

"But the fruit of the Spirit is love, joy, peace, longsuffering, kindness, goodness, faithfulness, gentleness, self-control. Against such there is no law."
Galatians 5:22-23 NKJV

Many, many thanks to Charlotte and Ginger who host this wonderful place called Spiritual Sunday for all of us to come together and share. If you would like to know more about Spiritual Sunday go HERE

OUTDOOR WEDNESDAY - BEACH ON A RAINY DAY

It was a balmy but rainy and windy day at the beach. The clouds were lowering across the sky and this little fir tree was being whipped by each wind blast.

There was a storm off the coast of NJ and it kicked up the waves - I love to see the waves break and hear the surf roar.

Here is a picture of an old fishing pier. I should have taken a picture of the sign above the door of the fishing clubhouse. It said the pier was 94 years old and in continuous use in all that time

For more Outdoor Wednesday posts, go to Susan at A Southern Day Dreamer

SPIRITUAL SUNDAY - PERSPECTIVE

My question for God:

How do I make sense of the seemingly random circumstances of my life? Is God really in charge, or do things happen by chance?

A Moment with God:

I am Joseph, your brother, whom you sold into slavery in Egypt. But don't be upset, and don't be angry with yourselves for selling me to this place. It was God who sent me here ahead of you to preserve your lives...So it was God who sent me here, not you! Genesis 45: 4-5, 8

The Lord will work out his plans for my life. Psalm 138: 8

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From a human perspective, the world and even our lives often seem to be random and unpredictable, but God is ultimately in control. In Joseph's story, God used even the cruel and unjust actions of Joseph's own brothers to fulfill his plan. People's sinful ways do not ruin God's sovereign plans. Your life is like a tapestry. Now you can see only small sections on the back, with all its knots and loose ends. Someday you will see the front in its entirety, the beautiful picture of world history and your personal story from God's perspective. If you can see unexpected and even unwelcome circumstances in this way, you can embrace both the good and the bad, knowing that God is weaving a beautiful picture with your life.

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Divine Promise

YOU SEE ME WHEN I TRAVEL AND WHEN I REST AT HOME. YOU KNOW EVERYTHING I DO. Psalm 139: 3

This lesson, again from "Divine Moments for Leaders, seemed so appropriate for today. The world sometimes feels so scarily out of control and this lesson puts everything into "God's Perspective!"

Many thanks to Charlotte and Ginger at Bloggerspirit.blogspot.com.

OUTDOOR WEDNESDAY

The pictures I have chosen for this Outdoor Wednesday are of my church looking from the field and small stream that runs through the back of the property. Where you see the birdhouse is a very small stream or as some would call it, a creek. In the far background is the Social Hall with offices and Sunday school rooms and auditorium. The church itself is to the left behind the trees.

The colors are just beautiful and I think this is the peak of the Fall season - the last week in October.

For more Outdoor Wednesday posts hosted by A Southern Day Dreamer go here

A PRAYER AT SUMMER'S END

For fruit warm ripe in summer's sun,

For love and work and wholesome fun,

For raindrops on the windowpanes,

For walks down grassy country lanes,

For sunshine bright, for moonlights glow,

For cornstalks marching, row on row,

For baby pigs, for laughter gay,

For fragrant smell of new mown hay,

For food...and music...birdsongs sweet,

For restful, healing nighttime sleep,

For home with its familiar joys,

For carefree shouts of girls and boys,

For safe returns, for loving care,

For all the bliss of answered prayer,

For dancing stars, for firelight's gleam,

Fulfillment of a cherished dream,

For books and friends, a faith that sings,

For happiness homecoming brings,

For hope renewed, for courage born,

For breathless hush of early morn,

For this -- a blessed interlude --

Dear God, accept my gratitude.

-Ruby A. Jones

A big thank you to Sister Charlotte and Sister Ginger for giving us a place to tell inspirational stories, share poems and scripture with all who come HERE

OUTDOOR WEDNESDAY

A friend and I went on a bus trip to Peddler's Village in LaHaska, Bucks County, PA yesterday. Below are some of the beautiful grounds around the assorted shops, cafes and restaurants located

in this picturesque area of Pennsylvania.

These pictures show some of the last "roses" of summer...still quite stunning.

Thank you to A Southern Day Dreamer and for more Outdoor Wednesday posts go HERE