Inspiration from Petra Pierre - Robertson

God clearly shows and proves His own love for us, by the fact that while we were still sinners, Christ died for us. (Romans 5:8 AMP) "Come see this!" I raced to the back door. We stood looking at the tree in confusion. It was a sad, sorry, sight. A once sturdy and robust tree with rich foliage now stood stark, dry, and naked of leaves. Skeletal branches provided an almost grotesque sketch against the canvas of the sky. Abandoned The animals that once received food, shelter and even clothing had abandoned it for other trees. The large nest of a bird was visible in another tree just beyond its ghastly branches "Something seemed to have attacked the tree. It is all dried up." We stood silently for a few seconds looking at the sorry sight of the tree before he softly said "Perhaps the nails." Just three nails We had hammered three nails into the trunk to provide a sturdy prop for a place to wash. Just three nails poisoned and decimated a once green, ...

Proverbs 12:15 The way of fools seems right to them, but the wise listen to advice. Eager to explore They were recently born/ created and eager to explore. Developing senses provided awareness and mobility. This led to an eagerness to explore and experience the unknown and untasted. The creator/guardian knew well the dangers of unlimited freedom for innocent creatures who were unable to discern danger. An area was therefore created for them to play and function while they grew and developed. An area to play, grow and develop It was done to protect them while they were taught lessons in preparation for the controversy that raged outside of their 'safe haven'. "You can play with toys, watch the dvds, roll on the carpet, sit in the chairs run through the rooms. All these things you may do but: Don't put your fingers in plugs Don't go in the kitchen Don't touch the iron" Don't eat except what I provide and instruct you to.. The don'ts somehow seemed ...

“Forget the former things; do not dwell on the past. See, I am doing a new thing! Now it springs up; do you not perceive it? I am making a way in the wilderness and streams in the wasteland. Isaiah 43:18-19 Footprints in the sand We have come to the end of another year, and what a year it has been. For some there were victories, successes, accomplishments, and the like. For others 2022 left in its wake grief, regrets, unfulfilled dreams, betrayals, trauma and countless other footprints that made deep impressions on the sands of their souls. New Beginning A new year promises new beginnings. Your new beginning may be characterised by any or all of the following: Without a loved one Embracing dreams Charting paths Redirecting focus The turning of the calendar is like the curling of a wave over footprints The curling of a wave over footprints A new slate is before you Acknowledge God before stepping out and He will direct your path (Proverbs 3:6). God's grace can be compared to the ...

Let each esteem the other better than themselves (Philippians 2:3) Crab Holes I credit Irwin for the enlightening discourse which generated this blog. As we engaged in our morning exercise on the beach, I said to him, "the sea is just generating muses for my blogs. Do you have a muse to share?" I was rewarded with a grin as he responded "Crab Holes". My interest instantly peaked. Crab holes. I had seen the holes, wondered about them fleetingly and forgotten about them because of my fixation on the terrifying beauty of the ocean. Our discourse served as fodder for the following narrative. Meanwhile, amidst the vicious wind, raging sea and pouring rain, three crabholes were visible on ground. The crabs were together in their little holes covered safe and sound. Crab Holes Allow me to juxtapose this image of crabs in a hole safe and snug in the midst of a tempest, with the image of crabs in a barrel crawling on one another to get out. Video of Crabs in a Barrel The ...

For now we see through a glass, darkly... (1 Corinthians12:12 )  The sea raged The sea was rough. It was loud. The waves were roaring and soaring as they charged furiously into the shore, raking the sand like an excavator.  Yet It was beautiful To look at From a distance  Video of ferocious sea Have you ever had the shocking realization that things you thought were beautiful were not really that beautiful?   They caused you pain They were not good to be near They revealed darker sides the closer they came They consumed you in their clutches and destroyed you Some things were just better admired from a distance Admire from a distance Unfortunately, in the face of consuming beauty and treasured expectations, signs are sometimes ignored or overlooked. You hear the sound, you feel the blast, you taste the salt, you feel the ground being pulled from under your feet yet you remain thinking, I am secure where I am, I am only admiring it.   Dear reader, please note that all it takes is one con...

When you pass through the waters, I will be with you..." Isaiah 43:3 Video of Rough Sea We were warned. There was a yellow alert. The sea  was rough, angry, loud and raging. It whipped, uprooted, and took everything in its path including trees, and pillars It took trees and pillars! The waves crashed into the shore, depositing, eroding, and dragging resisting prey back into its depths before spitting some of them out on the sand; and the process was timelessly repeated. It spat out wood, shoes, shells, stone, glass and various other debris. It spat out various debris As I examined the deposits on the sand, it struck me that what it damaged was not destroyed, what it  destroyed was not anhilated, and what it anhilated was not forgotten.The things it appeared to damage, destroy or anhilate left beauty in the wake of the tough experiences encountered.   Dead mollusks left beautiful shells.  Eroded shells revealed intricate beautiful insides.  There was 'beauty in their brokenness...

In my blog of November 22, 2020, I promised a Part II of Bloom Where You are Planted to be entitled "Roots in the Rock".   Instead a different muse has superimposed itself – "All By Myself" I have learned to be content regardless of my circumstances (Phillipians 4:11) I almost mashed it. I did not see it. I didn’t expect it to be there. It was in the middle of the path, directly in front of a door. I stopped abruptly inches away from it.  It was in the middle of the path! The upside: “You and God are a majority.”  (Psalm 91:4). It showed resilience. It showed bravery. It showed tenacity. It was beautiful. It was blooming where it had been planted It was blooming where it had been planted The downside: "If one falls down, his friend can help him up. But pity the man who falls and has no one to help him up." Ecclesiastes 4:10.  But it was in a vulnerable place. And it was all by itself. Although I stopped short of mashing it, someone else may not. It was i...