Here it is Sunday again and today starts my least favorite week of the year (more on that in another post).
Since the kingdom of God is within you, you are His ambassador. You represent the kingdom to everyone you meet.
If you and I remember, give thanks for and live out the kingdom being in us then maybe, just maybe we will thrive this week instead of just surviving.
In March when the starting gun sounded on the Tour de Parks, I felt frozen. For several weeks afterward Snow Miser kept it below 40 degrees and kept freezing the area during my weekend park walking time.
This past weekend Heat Mizer forced me to cancel the Tour as I was melting in his clutch. Temperatures were upper 80’s / lower 90’s with the heat index at least as high and maybe even 101 degrees. I barely got the backyard mowed Saturday morning.
So we will see what this weekend brings and hopefully I can safely resume my walking through one of Northeast Ohio’s lovely parks, photographing all God created.
Walking in the parks is fun and I encourage everyone to get out there and walk a park in your neighborhood. You never know what you will discover and the endorphins will help you beat up the grief miser, if you are grieving.
To get you in the walking mood, here is a picture I took yesterday of my lunchroom buddy.
Enjoy and get moving!
Today was the start of a new chapter in my life.
Instead of working with outdoor equipment, I am now in the executive relocation industry.
One of the biggest changes is the lunchroom. Instead of a lunchroom with cabinets, appliances, and vending machines, my lunchroom now looks like this…
because I am a short distance away from one of the Cleveland Metroparks.
Here are some of the scenic views I now have every day.
Red Frisbee Bend
After taking these pictures, I did something I have not done since childhood:
It felt wonderful to get out of the building and enjoy nature. I believe getting fresh air and some light exercise helped me retain at least some of what I learned yesterday morning.
New chapters in life are wonderful when you voluntarily choose the new chapter. This job opportunity was presented to me and I jumped at the chance to make a better life for Rommie and me.
Who knows what chapter will open next in my life – perhaps the dating chapter or the socializing with friends chapter.
My Wish For You
May you seize the new opportunities presented to you and may God bless you with a lunchroom just like mine.
Two mornings last week I looked out my kitchen window and saw deer. Even though I was sick, I grabbed my camera and shot these pictures. The first one I believe was on Tuesday and the others on Wednesday or Thursday.
I kept my mouth shut when I noticed the deer as Rommie would have started barking and chased the really big doggies away. 😉
Enjoy!
(All the framing was done using PicMonkey, a photo editing site I just started using.)
(Author’s Note: Starting today Weekend Wisdom will be from hymns. If you are unable to make it to church, stop on over for a hymn and remember to stay for coffee hour afterward. Enjoy! Thank you, God for creating this world.)
This Is My Father’s World
This is my Father’s world, and to my listening ears
All nature sings, and round me rings the music of the spheres.
This is my Father’s world: I rest me in the thought
Of rocks and trees, of skies and seas;
His hand the wonders wrought.
This is my Father’s world, the birds their carols raise,
The morning light, the lily white, declare their Maker’s praise.
This is my Father’s world: He shines in all that’s fair;
In the rustling grass I hear Him pass;
He speaks to me everywhere.
This is my Father’s world. O let me ne’er forget
That though the wrong seems oft so strong, God is the ruler yet.
This is my Father’s world: the battle is not done:
Jesus Who died shall be satisfied,
And earth and Heav’n be one.
This is my Father’s world, dreaming, I see His face.
I ope my eyes, and in glad surprise cry, “The Lord is in this place.”
This is my Father’s world, from the shining courts above,
The Beloved One, His Only Son,
Came—a pledge of deathless love.
This is my Father’s world, should my heart be ever sad?
The lord is King—let the heavens ring. God reigns—let the earth be glad.
This is my Father’s world. Now closer to Heaven bound,
For dear to God is the earth Christ trod.
No place but is holy ground.
This is my Father’s world. I walk a desert lone.
In a bush ablaze to my wondering gaze God makes His glory known.
This is my Father’s world, a wanderer I may roam
Whate’er my lot, it matters not,
My heart is still at home.
“Downstream From Soda Dam” – October 1992
Words: Maltbie D. Babcock,
Music: Terra Beata, traditional English melody,
arranged by Franklin L. Sheppard in his Alleluia, 1915
© Michele Kearns and JoyReturns.com, 2012-2015. Unauthorized use and/or duplication of this material without express and written permission from this blog’s author and/or owner is strictly prohibited. Excerpts and links may be used, provided that full and clear credit is given to Michele Kearns and JoyReturns.com with appropriate and specific direction to the original content.
Sunday I kicked off my Tour de Parks by walking .30 miles at North Park in Brunswick, Ohio. I choose North Park because of the flat, blacktop course around the lake. It was an easy walk part way around the lake. I did not make the whole loop because there is only so much cold (37 degrees) my sinus’ will handle.
The most of the lake was covered with ice and bread. The gulls and geese were fighting over the bread which is not a good thing to do at communion. 😉
The geese eventually did slip and slide across the ice to the unfrozen water for some fishing and a bath.
Selfie at North Park – Stop #1 on the Tour de Parks.
Here are some pictures I took as I strolled along the blacktop path at North Park. The purpose of bringing my camera on my walks is to slow my pace, be more mindful of my surroundings, thankful to God for this moment of enjoying His creation. I will also try to meditate on a Bible verse but Sunday I was just too frozen to keep my mind on any one verse.
You, my dear readers, get the benefit of enjoying the scenery without the exercise. Just click on the first picture and it will bring up a gallery of North Park pictures. Also, check out OgleOhio.com for a picture of the bridge then scroll down a little to see what it looked like a few months ago.
Hope you enjoyed the start of Tour de Parks. Check back next Wednesday for the next stop. As of this writing, I have not decided which park is next on my schedule. Now off to enjoy a hot cup of herbal mint tea.
My 48 hour work week is done. (cue Mr. Handel – Hal-le-lu-jah! Hal-le-lu-jah!)
I was outside watching the sun set through the trees in the woods behind my house. The sky is a beautiful shade of light blue with white and thin, dark grey clouds highlighted by the setting sun.
Then from out of the north comes this high-pitched chirping sound and a flock of little, black birds flying south. Not sure what type of birds they are – or are these speed racers of the sky vampire bats? Good thing I have a scarf around my neck. 😉
Now the clouds have turned a brilliant orange color. Must. grab. my. camera.
What a way to spend the end of a long work week – out on the deck enjoying a beautiful autumn sunset.
Thank you God for the energy to get through the week and for tonights colorful sunset.
Clouds At Sunset
