Dear Ones,
We are home again and had a wonderful time celebrating Al’s big birthday. Thank you for your prayers as we just misssed hitting a deer and also a flock of turkeys. We had lots of sharing time together with Al’s sister, went out for steak dinner, visited friends in Escanaba etc. Now we are switching gears and getting ready for company, Bible Study here today, shopping etc. 
Devotions from Judy’s heart
The Lord has so much to teach and sometimes he uses creation to speak to our hearts. We just returned from the Upper Peninsula of Michigan where we again walked around Presque Isle. It is a place where God has spoken to us many times in years past, and especially when we had big decisions to make. As I walked it a couple days ago, it was a gorgeous sunny morning for the sun was coming up over Lake Superior. Sometimes there were dark woods on my left, and bright sun rays on my right. I had a choice if I would focus on the negative darkness or the sparking sun rays over the lake…I chose the bright beautiful sunshine. I found myself softly singing the song that came to mind, “This is my Father’s world, and to my listening ears, all nature sings and around 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”
As I walked the Isle, I wanted to listen what God would say to me through nature. First of all, the many trees reminded me of people in my life; some stand out as very precious and like a single tree pointing heavenward to the Lord. Many trees had fallen and reminded me of those who went before me and are now with the Lord. There were other weak trees leaning against other trees and soon would join the fallen; perhaps the Lord was getting ready to take them home as well.
At times the road was quite dark with shadows as it was so heavily wooded, but I knew it was only temporary. Soon, I would see the lake shimmering in the sun again, perhaps around the next bend. We all go through hard times but they don’t seem to last forever. We live in hope that the dark times will give way to the light.
At times the sun was so brilliant over the water that it was hard to tell where the water ended and the sky began. Isn’t it like when we are worshiping the Lord and feel like we are already experiencing glory and tasting a bit of heaven?
I saw many huge rocks and they were set there as a reminder to me of David’s words in Psalm 18:1-2 (ESV), “I love you, O Lord, my strength. The Lord is my rock, in whom I take refuge, my shield and the horn of my salvation, my stronghold.” The Lord is all we need; He is our rock, our solid place. Let us draw our strength from Him each day.
As we drove from Presque Isle, my heart was singing, for His presence was everywhere.
Challenge for today: Take a prayer walk and let God speak to you through nature.
Blessings on your day and prayers and love, Judy