Watching for the Morning Candace D

Standing on a Promise . . . Fulfilled!

September 13th, 2009

standing_promise-2

Yesterday was moving day for my dear friends, the Earwood family.  I was blessed to go and help. I didn’t help that much with the move itself, as there were several fellows to take care of that, but it was a joy for me to prepare some things for lunch for everyone. We had a delightful picnic under their big, beautiful trees in the back yard. Harold called everyone over and spoke the Scripture through tears, “Delight yourself in the Lord and He will give you the desires of your heart.” He went on to talk of how incredibly faithful God had been to work out every detail and provide every need, down to the brothers and sisters there to help at moving day.  It was a powerful and exciting day and as soon as I stepped out of the car in their new driveway, I could have cried happy tears. I knew my feet were standing on a promise fulfilled by our faithful God.  For years, Harold and Kathy have wanted and prayed for a home for them and their now 5 children, but the doors just didn’t seem to open.  Her story on how God brought this about is amazing. They knew that God was going to bring the house to them, and they wouldn’t have to even pursue it. And He did.  I marvel at His faithfulness. Though I have seen it over and over and over again, I am still surprised and get excited every time. 

Seeing the children’s faces light up when they walked in the front door was a real treat. They couldn’t wait to begin arranging their things in their new house. As I stood in one of the bedrooms, making a bed, I peeked out the window and watched bicycles riding up and down a seemingly endless driveway, the Body of Christ working together, little boys running through the “forest” that is their new backyard, little girls giggling, sweet Tabitha walking her beagle for the first time in the new yard, a Mommy or two gathered at the little school house (a smaller house that is also a part of their land that will be used for home-schooling.). It was a day to remember, a day to give God glory in the highest because He is so, so good! I remember once when Kathy mentioned that this may not be their dream home.  I told her that sometimes God changes our dreams into His, and all that matters is that we are living HIS dream for our lives.  I only know that because the Lord has spent years teaching that truth to me.  When we embrace HIS dreams, we live in perfect peace.

On the drive home, I found myself thanking God aloud for all He had done this day, for working out the teeny, tiny details of this big step in their lives and making His will clear to them.  I also realized that the literal happenings of the day only painted a more beautiful picture, an eternal one.

Though we are to be content on the earth while we are here, our hearts should be longing more each day for the day when Jesus returns. We should daydream of looking upon His beautiful face and bowing at His precious feet.  Though we are to be good stewards with what He has given us down here, be responsible, and enjoy all His tender mercies and gifts of His hands, we should never get too comfy with this life. Our gaze should be fixed upward and our hearts on the day that the trumpet sounds and the Bridegroom comes forth from His chamber to receive us unto Himself! It is a process and our flesh is something we must “kill” every day in order to keep an eternal perspective. We all struggle and fall and we can be assured that He is faithful to pick us up and help us get back on track. But our ultimate goal should be JESUS- seeing Him, worshipping Him face to face, seeing His Kingdom come, and working in the fields, white for harvest to advance the Kingdom in the mean time.

I thought about the precious Earwood family and how they’ve delighted themselves in the Lord even through years of waiting for a house of God’s choice. I thought of  their tiny little yard, yet the children played so happily around and around in it.  Now, they have a HUGE yard to run and play all day! They have all waited for this day and GOD has proven Himself faithful once again. But, even more, I know they wait for His return because they know that the things on earth are temporal. They know that their children and the love in their family and the “Christ in them” is what is lasting, not the house. Because of this, they will be able to enjoy what God has blessed them with to the fullest!

Dreams can be beautiful things when they are God’s dreams, dreamed in us.  I got to see a God-dream come to pass yesterday in front of a beautiful new home with children playing,  Daddies laughing, Mommies talking, babies nursing and grinning toothless smiles :) , the Body serving. I am confident that if HE tarries, I will see my own GOD-dreams fulfilled. I have no doubt, but I remember years ago when certain dreams were like the “coda” of my life and I stopped dreaming there. How sad! God, by His grace has grown me and now I am able to desire the eternal things even more. I could have never done this on my own. It is HIM. I would encourage you, dear sisters, to embrace your ”God-dreams”, expect them, prepare for them, do not ever lose heart and doubt that you will see them even if there is no “activity” from your view point. But even moreso, remember that there is coming a day when the greatest dreams in all the world will be captured with one look into the firey, passionate eyes of your Groom, Jesus.  Your mind cannot even begin to imagine what it will be like to see Him…your King….finally….face to face.  What a day that will be!

So dear sisters, make it your passion to seek long and hard after your GOD. Do not relent until HE is your ALL in ALL, until you find yourself longing for HIM more than any other person or thing, until HE alone satisfies you completely.  He is the only One who will ever satisfy, but we so often search down other avenues for satisfaction.  I can assure you, you will not find it in any of them. The only way to LIFE is through Jesus Christ. Be refreshed and revived today, dear ones!

Looking unto Jesus the author and finisher of our faith; who for the joy that was set before him endured the cross, despising the shame, and is set down at the right hand of the throne of God.

Hebrews 12:2

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Butterfly Project

September 8th, 2009

monarch butterfly

Dear readers,

I have an exciting project for you if you can find a few moments. The reward will leave you speechless. :) As late summer winds down, it’s time for the last generation of Monarch butterflies of the year to lay their eggs on milkweed. I decided to go hunting for eggs and/or caterpillars one evening this week to show some of the children I see regularly. I think I was more excited than they were when I found him! After an hour of walking the mountains, the cleared meadowy area above our home, I finally resorted to taking a stroll down the road. Finally, when I nearly gave up, I found the long-awaited milkweed- the only plant the Monarchs will lay their eggs on. I was so excited! But I didn’t find any life right away. I had to keep looking, searching, on the side of the road. I finally decided to take 3 large stalks with me and look at home since cars were now darting by! When I got home, I searched for eggs. I thought I spied one, but right beside it was a pesky little worm that I almost brushed off outside. When suddenly it dawned on me! This “worm” is a teeny, tiny, just-hatched caterpillar!! Under the magnifying glass, I could see his darling little stripes, and his itty, bitty little black face. He was the size of a chocolate sprinkle! I placed him in his new home, a nice large jar with plenty of air holes in the top with milkweed leaves to eat and a branch to climb to the top when its time for him to spin his cocoon. He is changing every day! A couple of days after I had him, his antennas emerged and today his colors came..yellow, white, and black! Today, he is eating leaves like crazy and is about 5 times his original size! I named him Jireh because when I went out with my jar, bag, and all tools required along with faith, God provided what I asked of Him! Sadly, though, all the children couldn’t pronounce that name, so we are calling him Hermie instead after Max Lucado’s children’s book, “Hermie the Ordinary Caterpillar”. :) I wanted to share this because there is a GREAT spiritual lesson in watching this magnificent transformation take place before your eyes. Just as this tiny caterpillar changes, so do we, from one degree of glory to another in the Potter’s hand. As this creature is now a worm, but will soon be a breath-taking butterfly FREE to fly to Mexico for the winter, so were we all such a mess before Jesus found us! We were truly just worms, the lowest of creatures, yet so loved by Him. Now, He has TRANSFORMED us by the renewing of our mind and continues to daily as we allow Him. He has given us wings to fly into the plans He has for us, and where the Spirit of the Lord is, there is freedom! I truly marvel at this little miracle. Our great big God is so awesome and He cares so sweetly for the tiniest, most delicate members of His creation. He is “too lofty for me to attain”. He is fathomless! Mother has laughed at me continuously as I carry little Hermie around in his jar and encourage him to eat his leaves so he can grow and live and be transformed just as God ordained him too! :)

So…. if you can find the time, don’t let this amazing opportunity pass you by. In SW Virginia, the eggs have hatched and the caterpillars are crawling around on the milkweed plants. Everyone should experience this transformation at least once in their lifetime.

*How to:

1. Search for milkweed. You’ll find it growing near the road. It may have white or pinkish blooms or may not, depending on the area you are in. When you break the leaves or stem, “milk” will ooze out of the plant. When you find it, begin to carefully search for tiny pale yellow eggs or a tiny caterpillar. The babies will be green. Caution: Do not leave milkweed leaves in small children’s reach. some species can be toxic.

2. Once you find it, transfer the caterpillar and the leaf it is on (don’t touch the caterpillar. It is very fragile.) into a large jar. Add a branch for him to climb to the top when it is time. Add several more leaves. Poke about 10 small holes, or 5-6 larger slits (sharp parts pointing out on top of lid) in the lid.

3. You will have to prepare for his future feedings by collecting lots of the leaves. Milkweed is the only thing it will feed on. Bring them home, wrap in damp papaer towels and place in freezer bag and keep in the fridge. When the leaves in the jar begin to wither or dry, you’ll need to replace with fresh leaves.

4. Watch him every day, and record how he is changing. Take pictures if you’d like. Marvel at your Creator and rejoice in the fact that you too are being changed day by day to look more like Christ!

5. When he stops eating a lot, and journeys near the top of the jar, he is getting ready to spin his cocoon. Many changes will take place during this time and you will want to watch carefully. When he emerges out of the cocoon, his wings will be wet and you will need to allow them to dry and watch to see if he seems able to fly inside the jar before letting him go. It is usually in October that they migrate to Mexico. So, when he seems ready to fly, you can release him near the same place you found him as a caterpillar. Supposedly, it will remember where it grew and changed and learned to fly. They will return next Spring to lay eggs where you released them. Isn’t that precious?! :) Also, this generation of Monarchs, available as larvae right now, are the ones that have the longest life span- up to 8 or 9 months, while the earlier ones only live a few weeks.

This is an excellent home-school project if you have not tried it before, or even if you have. LIFE simply never grows old or boring. Monarch larvae that is raised in captivity also has a 90% survival rate, much higher than those left in the wild, so you could be saving it’s life as well. Have fun and enjoy and please post your comments on your experience here. I’d love to hear all about it!

Delighting in the work of His hands,

Candace :)

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