This Book...reveals the mind of God, the state of man, the way of salvation, the doom of sinners, and the happiness of believers. Its doctrines are holy, its precepts binding, its histories are true and its decisions are immutable. Read it to be wise; believe it to be safe; and practice it to be holy. It contains light to direct you, food to sustain you, and comfort to cheer you. It is the traveler's map, the pilgrim's staff, the pilot's compass, the soldier's sword, and the Christian's charter.

Here, too, heaven is opened and the gates of hell disclosed. Jesus Christ is the grand subject; our good its design; and the glory of God, its end. It should fill the memory, rule the heart, and guide the feet.

Read it slowly, frequently, prayerfully. It is a mine of wealth, a paradise of glory, and a river of pleasure. It is given you in life, will be opened at the judgment, and be remembered forever! It involves highest responsibility; will reward willing labors and condemn all who trifle with its sacred contents.

Owned, it is riches; studied, it is wisdom; trusted, it is salvation; loved, it is character; and obeyed it is power.

...I'm sorry that I don't know whom to credit for this incredibly well-crafted observation.

Hideaway

This has been our hiding place the past 5 days.

YOU are my hiding place and my shield; I hope in your word
(Psalm 119:114).
Tomorrow we emerge. Yet I will continue to hide. In Him.
My hope is in His word.

Of Photographers and Theologians

Everywhere we travel, photographers dot the roadsides and trails. Professional and amateur alike! (Then there is me with my trusty cellphone/camera!) From the smallest blossom to the rustic homestead of Noah "Bud" Ogle, we attempt to capture something up close and personal to accompany us back into everyday life or to communicate something of the journey to others.

In many ways, photography and theology are not so different--for no matter how large or how small the "picture", it is but a miniscule glimpse into the vast expanse that is caled "Great Smoky Mountain National Park" which in turn is but a miniscule part of the Creator we know as God. Is it possible that the most trained and knowledgeable theologian has at best captured only miniscule portions of the character, mind, power and personhood of God?

My thoughts run much deeper than these brief words, but trying to capture them all is a little like using my cellphone camera while standing beside a professional with tripod and other expensive equipment.....

Fire Pinks?

We took a walk uphill last night before going to bed. I couldn't resist the picture of these wildflowers that also bloom near the Hideaway. While at Pigeon Forge Public Library this afternoon, a block from a quilt of wildflowers hanging on the wall just MAY have helped me identify them!

We never DID figure out how to get into the WiFi at the beautiful library at P.F. so we traveled a few miles down to road to the now-familiar Sevierville Library.

"Spread love everywhere you go: first of all in your own house. Give love to your children, to your wife or husband, to a next door neighbor...Let no one every come to you without leaving better and happier. Be the living expression of God's kindness; kindness in your face, kindness in your eyes, kindness in your smile, kindness in your warm greeting." (Mother Teresa)

Tennessee Tuesday

Another BEAUTIFUL Tennessee morning! This is the view off the deck of Pigeon River Hideaway--the ever bubbly Little Pigeon River. A big boulder sits in the river directly behind our cabin.


While Gary golfs with friends near Jefferson City, I have returned to Sevierville. Already I've discovered a "new" (to me) thrift shop.

Scenes along the Road to Nowhere

A look down at a part of Lake Fontana and a unique winding vine seen along cemetery route.

Though I walk through the valley of the shadow of death, I will fear no evil....

OK. Maybe the title is a little melodramatic, but after church Sunday, my brother drove us down the Road to Nowhere. The National Park opens one of the paths off of it to traffic twice a year to allow families to take vehicles up the trail to visit cemeteries that lie along the route. It was quite a trek (for me) once we abandoned the 4-wheel-drive van and began to walk the foot path.
I was still in my Sunday clothes so I took off my shoes and hiked barefoot. I faced and overcame a major fear walking this footbridge! "Fear not, for I am with you; be not dismayed, for I am your God; I will strengthen you, I will help you, I will uphold you with my righteous right hand." Isaiah 41:10. After all this work, we missed the turn off for this particular cemetery! We even tried to locate another one on the way back to the Road to Nowhere! My brother was the only one of the three of us to actually see it. Gary and I had to stop half way there. He said none of the tombstones were carved, but there was an upright stone at the head and one at the feet of each of the few graves at that spot. It was a MOST interesting adventure!

The Marianna Black Library

A beautiful courtyard is situated at the entrance of this library. The fountain sings a delightful accompaniment to the blossoming bushes. The bench in the background bears a plaque indicating that my brother and sister-in-law donated it to the scene. Much to my relief, I found free wi-fi here!

A Saturday Walk in the Park

One couldn't ask for a better day to walk in the Great Smoky Mountains National Park! With walking sticks in hand, we chose an easy trail...strolling at a pace that allowed us to enjoy the wildflowers (trillium seen here)and occasional wildLIFE (see The Gates' Post blog!)

The Lord God Made Them All

From boisterous waterfalls to demure trillium...the Lord God made them all.













Each little flower that opens, Each little bird that sings,
He made their glowing colors, He made their tiny wings.

The purple-headed mountain, The river running by,
The sunset and the morning That brightens up the sky.

The cold wind in the winter,The pleasant summer sun,
The ripe fruits in the garden,He made them every one.

The tall trees in the greenwood, The meadows where we play,
The rushes by the water, We gather every day,

He gave us eyes to see them, And lips that we might tell
How great is God Almighty, Who has made all things well.

All things bright and beautiful, All creatures great and small,
All things wise and wonderful, The Lord God made them all.
(Cecil F. Alexander)

Bloggers Beware!

I just read a powerful perspective about the subtle and potential downsides to blogging. If you (like me)are feeling a little overwhelmed by the whole experience, I suggest going to rocksinmydryer.typepad.com. Maybe you've already seen it..."No, Really, I'm Fine"

As I observed several days ago, I think we must all go through stages in our blogging experience. Hopefully we'll all come out with balance and the maturity shown in Shannon's thoughtful treatment of the subject. She obviously struck a chord! Over 92 comments followed her posting.

More Coffee Shops

Franklin, NC and Cookesville, TN

DEFINING MOMENTS....

Woke up to Carolina skies. Travel through the Smoky Mountains left me speechless. Again. We picked up two hitchhikers who were walking the Appalachian Trail. Their commentary on the mountain trail added an unexpected dimension and grace to our travel. They were the Father's "trail guides" for a part of our mountain sojourn.

I couldn't help but extract this quote from the "Motivation for Living Well" 4/24/09 widget in the side column.

Live not in what has happened, or fear of what may come tomorrow. Live well in the here and now, and treat this as your defining moment.

Today IS my defining moment. I want to establish a good definition, by God's grace.

A Sojourner....A Guest

"My" Psalm this morning is the 39th. Verse 12 ends: For I am a sojourner with you, a guest...What a way to begin our travel today! I travel with God....a guest in His creation. And what a creation we will pass through in the next few hours!

Thrift Store Finds - Surprise & Simplicity

We have squeezed 5 (or was it 6) thrift stores into our travels thus far! In Lebanon, IN, I found a very unique piece of pottery. I was elated! Later we found two games - Take Off (a geography game that was fun, too) and Swipe (played with dice and chips). We played both of them SEVERAL times with our grandchildren and then left them there! Not bad for a total under $1. I'm sure they will be played time and time again. I shall label my thrift entries "simplicity", for that is what thrifting is to me. I'm very thankful God has given me the joys of simplicity and surprise that come with one of my favorite activities - thrift store shopping!

A better coffee shop you couldn't find! Mika's in Eureka, IL. Our son and two grandsons took us here before school. We had good, dark coffee and played a game of Uno. What IS it about coffee??? What makes coffee shops so intriguing???

Food for Thought

My renewed commitment to health and healthy eating is off to a great start! Our first meal on the road was a stop at Wendy's. There I ordered a small chili. I believe Wendy's chili just may be on of the best I've tasted. It is advertised as "low fat" and is very filling. While finishing our meal, we read the paper. Guess what the headline was on the Living Section? I couldn't resist taking this picture which I put on the front of my cell phone as a reminder of my determination to be healthy.

Anne Ortlund, Gracious Woman

“But remember, for all your adult life you’ll be a woman. And how you live your life as a woman, all by yourself before God, is what makes the real you. Nothing on the exterior can touch or change that precious inner sanctuary -- your heart, His dwelling place -- unless you let it. And God, who loves you very much, has tailor made all your outer life -- your circumstances, your relationships -- to pressure you into becoming that beautiful woman He’s planned for you to be.” Anne Ortlund, from her book, Disciplines of the Beautiful Woman

I read this book and several others of Anne when I was just a “young pup”. They were and ARE just what I needed/need. Her life and and ministry complemented that of her husband, Ray, who went to be with Jesus in 2007. She is still involved with their ministry, Renewal Ministries. You can read more about Anne, their precious family, and a letter that Ray wrote a few years before he died to be read to his family upon his death at www.ortlund.org. It is moving! I’ve warned you.

Their son, Ray, is a pastor and continues to have a significant ministry and a challenging blog: Christ is Deeper Still. I highly recommend it and thank God for the life, insight, writings, and family of this gracious woman.

I was honored when Victor Books published a Bible study of mine some years ago and titled it The Beauty of a Disciplined Life. Somehow the similarity in title made me feel closer to Anne.

Thank you, Heavenly Father, for this gracious woman of faith. Please make me gracious, too. Amen.

Keeping up with Suzie

I enjoyed a pleasant walk with my sister who lives near me. We met at a park and took the path that you can see in the background. I had a better picture, but in my impatience I deleted it instead of downloading it! In addition to working on my capacity for patience, I hope to increase my capacity for exercise bit by bit during my two weeks of vacation. Maybe I'll come home better able to keep up with Suzie.
Rebecca

Sun and Gardening

I know it must appear that all I do is sit at the computer! But I took advantage of the sunny weather late this morning and divided many hosta and sedum (and a mum or two) and planted them in the new bed my hard-working husband had turned over and raked. I'm very excited to see the results when we return from vacation in a couple of weeks. I put three more pictures in the lower left-hand column of this page, if you're curious.

A Clear Path in the Living Room

While jogging through blogs last night
I came across this self-description:
"Just a child of God
trying to keep a clear path in the living room
in case Jesus comes to the front door."
I smiled as I realized that's a pretty good description of ME!

Then I realized Jesus won't be coming to my front door! He's a resident. He's HELPING me keep that "clear path"!

"...so that Christ may dwell in your hearts through faith..." Ephesians 3:17
.

Walking towards a simple life

This is my husband, walking a path at one of our favorite "destinations" - our County Extension Gardens....I'm not sure all the protocol involved in linking to another site...but if you are interested in simplicity (as I am), you may be blessed by her perspective on the subject. Just click on the following link and scroll up when you get to her page. It is worth it! MorningRamble: A Repost...."Walking Towards A Simple Life"

From a recent stroll at County Extension Gardens

"Far more abundantly than all we ask or think...."

Ephesians 3:20. I stumbled into more technology yesterday! A little disk to put inside another to put inside another that would transfer pictures from our inexpensive cell phone to my laptop! And voile! A new profile picture!

My world is enlarging by leaps and bounds! And to think.....God exceeds ALL! And, according to Ephesians 3:20, His power is at work within US. Within ME! To HIM be glory in the church and in Christ Jesus throughout all generations, forever and ever. Amen.

"What I am gradually discovering is that in the writing I come in touch with the Spirit of God." ~ Nouwen

The Blogger's Prayer

If you haven't already seen it, you really ought to take a look at THE BLOGGER'S PRAYER in my right hand column. I "lifted it" from another site.....This is definitely MY present prayer!

Welcome to our Christmas Cabin

Being quite fresh to blogging, I've learned a lot by trying to capture the interior of our Christmas cabin! I know that I can improve on laying out the pictures and script, but I was anxious to get these posted and see how they turned out.

Inside...A shelf full of Christmas trees and Christmas houses....

 

Simple comforts all wrapped in Christmas! No running water....but heat and an old-fashioned potty. Click on the pictures to see details.

The cabin is full of books with a Christmas theme....

I've had a good time stocking the tabletops and drawers with Christmas books for adults and children alike. Thrift stores have provided me with some great treasures!

A useful desk in the corner....

A fine place to study, blog, write letters or Christmas cards, or color pictures in Christmas coloring books!

A simple (some say "naive") oil painting inside the cabin

 

Click on the picture to see more detail.

More Christmas trees (with a few watermelon thrown in)

Comfortable Chair