FEELING ‘HIS’ PLEASURE

Hello there!

It has been a while since I’ve posted anything.  We moved from Arizona to British Columbia 9 months ago, and I’m still “adjusting!”  You’d think that by the frequency of our God-orchestrated “moving adventures,” I’d have this in the bag…. but I don’t.

Like any outdoor plant that is transplanted, it feels weak, floppy in places, root ball out of sorts, and a sense of awkwardness in its new location. 

Years ago, a friend came for a week’s visit.  She’s my kind of friend…. she enjoys gardening and it’s reflected in her attire.  To expound on that statement, we both were covered with dirt from “neck to knees” as a result of the enjoyment we were having transplanting several shrubs.

It’s been stated that men perspire, and women glow.  Well, we were in “high-voltage” on steroids as we glowed that day.

A week had passed since our “removal & re-arranging” effort took place.  I was decking my body out in a comfy chair on our little porch with a cuppa tea, enjoying the fresh air, and admiring the newly-arranged plants in the front yard. 

There was one plant however that needed a closer look and an additional touch of tenderness to it.  As I was fiddling around with some branches, a person approached me from the side and delivered their reported observations.    

Your plant looks sick!  The facial expression didn’t require any additional words.  “Well, thank you for your keen observation” said under my breath.

The person seemed friendly enough, so I engaged them in conversation as well as providing him with an explanation about the “tired and floppy-looking plant.  

Going right to the point, I shared how it had just been transplanted and that’s why it looked so saggy, a bit disheveled, and clearly just tired!

This plant was in a new location, with new dirt, new neighboring plants, a new outlook, a new comfort zone, and it was ADJUSTING!

Perhaps this will explain why I haven’t had the momentum to write.  So, with anticipating your grace and understanding, I’ll try and begin again with a post now and then.  Sound good?  And while I’m at it, if you’d like to communicate your thoughts, please just email me.

In our little community, I’ve been introduced to a few new “feathered friends,” Mallard Ducks!  We’ve become friends through a non-traditional “dining experience” each afternoon.  I give them a special nutritious food which is calibrated and mixed especially for ducks.  No bread, which is bad for wildlife.  They feed from the grass in the park and their other natural duck habitat delights, and I just share just a dietary ingredient to top off their foraging….as they need to remain wild and obtain food on their own.

As I studied their behavior in their natural habitat over the weeks, I found that their presence brought me a great deal of joy.  I’d daily walk away from them with a big smile on my face.

Observing these little wild critters, I realized they were gifts from God, for they were His creation too. 

Do you remember the movie, Chariots of Fire?  The young Christian athlete, Eric Liddell, wouldn’t run in the Olympics on Sunday as he wanted to honor the Lord Jesus.  If you’ve seen the movie, no doubt you’ll remember his comment:

“When I run, I feel His pleasure.”

God designed this young man to be a fast runner.   His “gifting” in this area of sport brought glory and honor to God.   But the delight was not only to His Lord.  Eric too, shared in the experience by “living out God’s plan and purposes” in his own life; and when he lived out what God had in mind……………. HE FELT GOD’S PLEASURE in doing so.

God designed me to enjoy wildlife.  Over the years and our many moves and adventures, God has had plans beyond what we could ever have imagined.   In every place we’ve lived, I’ve been introduced to a wide variety of “wildlife.”

God has “gifted” every one of His kids while here on earth for heavenly purposes! 

Are you living out God’s plans and purposes in your life, your neighborhood, your job, your circle of friends, your homelife?

Our abilities or giftedness from our Creator God is designed to “bring glory to God,” or the term “making God look good” is what I enjoy.

Do you feel His pleasure when you live out by serving or loving others in practical ways?

What a “souvenir of grace” for God to desire that we “enjoy expressing Him” as He orchestrates our moment-by-moment, hour-by-hour, and day-by-day steps.

What is it that you do, and by that, YOU FEEL HIS PLEASURE when you do it??