There is one glory of the sun, and other glory of the moon, and another glory of the stars; for one star differs from another star in glory. 1 Corinthians 15:41
I dashed outside tonight to do some clean up and see and admire the lovely sunset. Suddenly, the brightness of the moon caused me to pause and look up. I wonder how often we don’t look up, and then miss seeing something lovely. We spend time looking down as we walk, checking for some obstacle that might be in our path, and we spend time looking forward, and to the sides, barely registering the mundane things, although usually they are tucked away in some hidden fold of our intricate brains.
So when I looked up, because I was drawn by the brightness, I got to enjoy the beauty of tonight’s moon. It is not full. Today is April 17, and it is due to be full on April 19. And in this area of eastern NC, the weather is predicted to be lovely. I love to see the moon over the ocean, and am always humbled by God’s creations. The moon, the stars, the ocean and all its fish and mammals living within. I feel so humble, so grateful, and I know the power of God’s love, his forgiveness of my sins, and his enduring graciousness.
When I remember to look up, I see the stars, the clouds, the moon, the sky, the birds in flight and know a peacefulness deep in my soul. God controls the rising of the stars, moon and so much more, and I am blessed to know he guides my paths also.
Here’s the sunset which first attracted me out. 
I don’t know of anyone who would not be impressed with that lovely sight.
Here’s the April 17, 2019 moon with a jaunty, bright star beside it. This picture is not the best quality. You should probably go outside and check out the real thing for yourself. It’s one of God’s blessings.
So I felt compelled to sit and write this in appreciation of some of the blessings I get when I look up, the “mybellaviews” I am blessed to see.
Mark 15: 44-46 Pilate was surprised to hear that he was already dead. Summoning the centurion, he asked him if Jesus had already died. When he learned from the centurion that it was so, he gave the body to Joseph. so Joseph bought some linen cloth, took down the body, wrapped it in the linen,and placed it in a tomb cut out of rock. Then he rolled a stone against the entrance of the tomb.
Luke 24:1-7 On the first day of the week, very early in the morning, the women took spices they had prepared and went to the tomb. They found the stone rolled away from the tomb, but when they entered, they did not find the body of the Lord Jesus. While they were wondering about this, suddenly two men in clothes that gleamed like lightning stood beside them. In their fright the women bowed down with their faces to the ground, but the men said to them, ” Why do you look for the living among the dead? He is not here; He is risen! Remember how he told you, while he was still with you in Galilee; “the Son of Man must be delivered over to the hands of sinners, be crucified and on the third day be raised again.'”
John 20:13-17 They asked her, “Woman, why are you crying?” “They have taken my Lord away,” she said, and I don’t know where they have put him.” At this, she turned around and saw Jesus standing there, but she did not realize it was Jesus.
He asked her, “Woman, why are you crying? Who is it you are looking for?”
Thinking he was the gardener, she said, “Sir, if you have carried hi away, tell me where you have put him, and I will get him.”
Jesus said to her, “Mary.”
She turned toward him and cried out, “Rabboni!” (which means “Teacher” in Aramaic).
Jesus said, “Do not hold on to me, for I have not yet ascended to the Father. Go instead to my brothers and tell them, ‘I am ascending to my Father and your Father, to my God and your God.'”
I have talked frequently lately about how the most magnificent animal, the last God our Creator created, was man. And yet, this most supreme animal, the one over all the creatures in the seas and oceans, and ones over the birds of the air and all the animals that move on the earth; yet we are also the cruelest and most vile. Most animals kill to eat. they may chase down, run with wonderful and impressive speeds to attack its prey, but the kill is quick; they try to grab the neck and puncture the many arteries which travel through the area of necks. They do not sit there, and conquer the animal and let it lay there suffering while they gnaw on a foot, or bite huge hunks of flesh and muscle and organs from its stomach. The creature is dead when the predator then begins to nourish its body. And it was quick, the only torture the fear, terror of trying to escape, not abuse, scourging, and torturing to make it a vile, miserable and prolonged death.
Only humans do that.
But that was NOT the way of our Lord Jesus Christ’s death. He knew long before John the Baptist baptized him in the river Jordan what His future was. And long before He made his speaking public, and gathered common men — fisherman, tax collectors, other men who were not so well educated, and chose them to be His closest followers, His disciples.
So He taught them, showed them miracles, and still had to tolerate their doubt at times. (And in all honesty, my travels with Him, have shown their own doubt, fears, and impatience). So He shared His last meal with them, then they went to the garden to pray, to share this last evening. but none of His friends could stay awake and join Him in prayer. Peter had already stated, “No, Lord, let it not be, that You would die.” And Jesus had to scold him and let him know that it WAS certainly necessary, so that all could be saved through His sacrifice. But none of His disciples totally understood.
Even Judas the deceiver did not realize his actions of betrayal would result in the death of Jesus. NOT death. After all, Jesus was a good man. Perhaps he would be ridiculed and taunted, but certainly not scourged, beaten, ‘crowned with a crown of thorns’ and then led to His death, carrying his own cross, His own placement and manner of death.
But these men, created in the image of God, became the most vile of animals. They lied, tortured, scourged, humiliated, and put our Lord to death on the cross. How vile we human animals can be.
There was so much grief that Friday. Many of His friends had scattered and hid, afraid, ashamed, appalled at the actions that had happened since enjoying dinner. How, truly could this be happening? Jesus, this man was the Messiah. He was supposed to have saved them, and yet here He suffered on this cross where other men — the Roman soldiers, had nailed his hands and feet to heavy timbers.
Those Roman soldiers and others taunted, laughed, gambled for his clothing, and waited on duty until the men, Jesus and two thieves, were all dead so they could be finished with their jobs for the day.
And don’t you know Satan was hissing and giggling, chortling with his glee. He truly believed, I think, that he had won. The world, the kingdom was his. How could he believe such fallacy?
BECAUSE THE REST OF THE BOOK HAD NOT BEEN WRITTEN!
Satan loses.
Jesus OVERCOMES WHEN HE COMES AGAIN, and the beast is captured
There was fear, despair, shame and such grief in the hearts of the apostles. After all, the soldiers might come for them next. They had been close to Jesus. They might be caught and undergo a “fake” court, persecution and sentencing. I am sure the idea of seeing the torture of Jesus, and wondering if they might be next sickened them? I’m sure it did.
I remember as a child and going to services and learning about this time in early Christian church, and being appalled at the cruelty, the finality of all of this. It sickened me.
But three days later, when women went to care for His body, to prepare it for burial, they found the tomb with the rock rolled away, and his laying place empty except for the shroud which had covered them. They did not totally understand then. But Hallelujah! CHRIST IS ALIVE! HE HAS SET US FREE!
I am so thankful and joy filled on Easter. Atrocious acts happened to my Lord, but that willing sacrifice, that abuse, torture, and final physical horrific death “that saved a wretch like me!” Praise You always.
Thank You for all You have done for me, and “mybellaviews.”
Song of Solomon 2:11-12 See! The winter is past; the rains are over and gone. Flowers appear on the earth; the season of singing has come, the cooing of doves is heard in our land
Zechariah 10:1 Ask the Lord for rain in the springtime; it is the Lord who sends the thunderstorms. He gives showers of rain to all people and plants of the field to everyone.
I love the Spring. I love the newness, the new green leaves of plants peeking from the earth, how the brown, dingy grass, sprouts green the day after one has raked it a bit, and I especially love the wonderful, joy-filled songs of the birds. The singing, twitters, and calls are loud and boisterous, and all I can think is that they are TRULY raising their voices in thanksgiving and praise. ‘ Yes! We made it through a cold winter, the worms and bugs are waking up and days are getting warmer. It is mating season, and we have so much to be thankful for.’ At least I guess that is what they are saying.
This past weekend, there was a mockingbird singing a full, lovely, cheerful song. I kept going outside to watch him. He would sit on either the electric wire outside my house, or at the top of the roof of the neighbor’s across the street. As I watched and listened, every few minutes, he (an assumption) leapt straight up about 36”, landed on the roof or the wire, and then would begin the song again. His song was so distinctive and happy. I even took a few moments worth of video on my phone since this was the first time I ever witnessed a bird jumping for joy!
God, this is a praise and thankful blog. I am so enriched with the coming of Spring.
I love the fact you have given me healthy eyes to see your lovely flowers, azaleas, forsythia, roses, hibiscus, lobelia, and on and on. Hummingbirds have started returning to my feeders. I am blessed to watch the gracefulness f the huge pelicans as they drift, almost glide their bellies across the rooftops, to see the blue skies and bright sun, and the waves as they repeatedly go back and forth to shore.
I have ears to hear the ocean lapping at the shore, the birds singing and twittering whether on wires or rooftops, or at my feeders, and of course living close to military, we hear the sounds of freedom—the practice runs of different planes, helicopters, the occasional sound of bombing, and I can send another prayer forth in thankful remembrance of their service and a prayer to keep them safe.
So thank You, God, for a wonderful Spring, for the joy of seeing that mockingbird demonstrate his song and his joie de vivre!
You have so abundantly blessed me and “mybellaviews.”
Deuteronomy 4:29 But from there you will seek the Lord your God, and you will find Him if you seek Him with all your heart and with all your soul.’
Matthew 7:7-8 Ask, and it will be given to you; seek, and you will find; knock, and it will be opened to you. For everyone who asks, receives, and he who seeks, finds, and to him who knocks it will be opened
We’re all been created to want more. Often folks do not realize the more they seek to fill that emptiness that lurks within, this is really seeking a closer relationship with God. The yearning for more, maybe manifests as working more, buying more, earning more, getting THINGS…and yet we are never satisfied. We continue to feel edgy, empty, for….something. But the more is a relationship with God. We are created to seek Him–He made us that way. But instead we run about, searching for things, experiences, finishing tasks, being with others, playing with electronics….SOMETHING. Yet find that we still feel an emptiness, a lack of whatever, yet we frequently don’t reach out to God. Maybe it is not cool, maybe we have decided there is no such entity, maybe we are just without hope that “something” truly exists.
God’s love and mercy does not necessarily improve your finances, immediately fix your stressful family relationships, or give you all the answers. And yet the closer you come to Him, the more you seek Him, the clearer, (not always easier) your path becomes. He supplies us with the Holy Spirit who will guide us when we are overwhelmed with confusion; and studying His words reminds us the stress can be eased if we trust in the guidance He has given.
We live in a country of expecting ‘immediate gratification’ for all our wants and needs. This has become what we rely on. We have television 24/7/365, we have cell phones, and all sorts of gadgets to find information, to connect us with folks on the other side of the world, and more. And we are dumbfounded and anxious if the electricity goes for for a while. We try to oftentimes, bury ourselves in the nonsense on television, get into silly debates on social media, live our lives oftentimes in the headlines of others. And although those activities may take up a part of your day, you are still left with a longing and emptiness.
I’m suggesting you try God. He gives us free choice. But He is there if you want to see if your emptiness will be filled and you will feel different by asking Him to show Himself to you. Read His word. Be amazed at the number of times the “same” things are said by people hundreds of years apart. I’ll give you several phrases you can look up and read in a Bible and see how similar they are. They are similar or the same, because they are GOD’S words; He told these folks what to say. I’ve read the Word several times, and am still amazed to see the number of times the same thing is said by many different authors.
Or I read something that never registered with me before and now it is glaringly apparent, and answers an issue. It’s because I did not need it then, or it was too deep for me, but the Holy Spirit pointed it out at the right time. It was not just added…… it is that it is relevant to me now.
That is one of the wonderful things about learning more of God. The answers are there and they fill a void, and they change one. Maybe if you give it a chance and seek Him through His words, you’ll be changed, that void will be less and you’ll find a true comfort.
Read verses on waiting–Psalm 27:14, Psalm 37:7, 9, 34 and there are many, many more; check out verses on rest–Psalm 37:7 (yes, again) Proverbs 14:33, Matthew 11:28, Here are some on courage Deuteronomy 31:6, 1 Chronicles 28:20, Isaiah 41:13, Matthew 10:28
Feel free to let me know what you think and find. I know it’s changed “mybellaviews.”
Genesis 2:8-10 The Lord God planted a garden eastward in Eden, and there He put the man whom He had formed. And out of the ground the Lord made every tree grow that is pleasant to the sight and good for food. The tree of life was also in the midst of the garden, and the tree of the knowledge of good and evil. Now a river went out of Eden to water the garden and from there it parted and became four river heads.
I was blessed with good eyesight, hearing and a fair mental capability (which many have questioned!), and a profound appreciation of things I see in nature.
I have been fortunate enough to enjoy the Spring and all the renewal that comes then. Dormant flowers slowly poke their heads up, usually the first being crocuses and narcissus’s. Then the naked trees start slowly redressing with early leaves budding in a pale green and then burst forth in full form; the maples, the oaks, the elms, the so forth. Dogwoods here in the south, blossom with their lovely white blooms, short-lived, then turning all to green. Shrubs and bushes begin to also share their colors. The azaleas, the lilacs, and forsythia all show off in their beautiful hues.
Then you have the birds which chatter excitedly at the warmer weather. They still visit the bird feeders you may have placed about your yard, but they are also on the damp and melting ground, which is softened enough to have worms snatched as they are preyed on. Robins with their brown bodies and their orange chests bob and bop along, occasionally chirping out songs. Blue birds, if you are lucky enough to have some, start hunting for a home to “rent.” It’s the male who comes and checks out my two houses. Diligently, he checks the outside, then the doorway, then jumps inside for a few minutes. He hops back out and looks around, then flies back to my fence and sits and looks at it from a distance. He then checks out the second house. (I don’t know what the difference is between the two, but the second one has never been “rented”). He’ll then fly off and returns with his mate.
He chats and chirps, and goes to the entrance, looks in while she sits on the roof. They then switch places, and seemingly reluctantly, she enters. She seems to spend more time than he did in there, and eventually she comes out and they both fly to the fence and look back at it. Most often, she’ll go back for another look, and he’ll fly to the roof and wait. That first day, I may not see them again. But they return the second day, check it out, and then get busy bringing pine straw, sticks, and whatever they find most productive in this home. I am blessed to watch this couple grow into a family.
The oceans, seas, lakes and rivers also are blessings. Such beauty sits within them. And they are full of lovely critters that swim and feed. I am blessed to live at the ocean and get the privilege of seeing pods, and sometimes, a lone, single dolphin swimming, surfing the waves, and feeding, occasionally leaping out of the water snatching their prey. Once I was blessed to see a large gray whale, (gray in color, not species) as it meandered from the northern aspects of the ocean moving south. Every twenty seconds, it would come up, blow water and air out, while taking in a breath and re-submerging. So cool!
But I’ve been fortunate to travel some and have seen and enjoyed awesome sights there also–the Alps, the vibrant colors and flowers of the fields and homes nestled in the mountains, the waterfalls gushing out of the rocks, and the same waterfalls apparently frozen in time, suspended in ice. Mountain tops with craggy rock cliffs will frequently hold a cross, indicating someone made it to there, and perhaps fell, maybe just claimed the area with pride. And skies are so blue and seemingly endless, sometimes with clouds, soft and wispy and at others with thicker, fluffier white cottony mounds and then still at others, gathering in a gray and angry mass as preparations are made to send cleansing rains to water flowers, grass, and send more water to lakes, oceans and so on.
There are so many blessings if you take the time to pause and take stock. Take that time for you and your mind’s and body’s busyness.
Here are a couple of my Bellaviews. Blessings
Hi, I'm Kathy. Welcome to my website!