Lo! How a Rose E're Blooming

This year the rose blooms remain far into December, 

velvety petals still opening to the sun’s strong rays. 

Hardy shrubs retaining foliage,  

bursting with color beneath towering trees 

that have shed all their splendor and stand bare in contrast, 

spindly against the horizon. 

Tender blossoms, uncommon, out of season. 

Just as the birth of the holy babe was uncommon. 

Not explicable in the timing, the mother, or the place. 

Tender buds opening still, precious babe, coming still; 

despite the certain cold that lies ahead. 

Lo! How a Rose E’er Blooming

16th century German hymn, author unknown

Lo! How a rose e'er blooming

From tender stem hath sprung

Of Jesse's lineage coming,

As those of old have sung.

It came a flower bright

Amid the cold of winter

When half-spent was the night.

Isaiah 'twas foretold it,

The Rose I have in mind;

And so then we behold it,

The Virgin Mother kind.

To show God's love aright

She bore to us a Savior

When half-spent was the night. 

~

May unexpected mercies bless you in this holy season!

Lisa

Christmas Gifts

Gifts counted, 
some small and quiet, 
others hard and tear stained. 

These few rise to the surface to share for your eyes too. Numbered past 1400 and even then I know hundreds were offered but escaped my inked list! Blessed, so blessed.

~ sharing cake, coffee, and faith blessed friendship in front of the Christmas tree

~ silver strands at greying temples, ribbons of tribute to long life

~ winter moonlight glitters silver on water's dark surface

~ Earth's global lights become a beacon in the universe

~ women's bonds and Bible searching in covenant relationship

~ crimson and indigo berries winter's suspended beauty, nature's chilled sustenance

~ hours  of quiet

~ women's charity that empowers independence


~ the wisps of dreams, bits of soul tales lingering into waking moments

~ memories of the silver cross suspended at mama's heart

~ voices, cards, posts sending faith filled Christmas joy

~ "Come thou font of every blessing, tune my heart to sing thy grace; streams of mercy, never ceasing, call for songs of loudest praise." Nettleton

Merry Christmas!

Jeweled Leaves

The jeweled leaves scattered like gems spilling from a chest of treasure, reflected the setting rays of light. How does one see that and not be drawn to kneel low to view so much momentary beauty.

Crawling low to frame the image and catch the light’s stream across the park’s wide yard, clicking repeatedly as the sun slid steadily beyond the horizon. Leaves casting transparent color and curving form against emerald grasses.

In the grass, seated on that carpet of verdant green; how long had it been since I last felt the surface of soft living turf… countless times; walking by this miniature world raising spires of green praise to the sun, to Creator God… me, passing it by without a thought. 

Barbara Brown Taylor writes in An Altar in the World, of Jesus’ walking into the countryside, by the sea, into the desert, and from town to town. This gave Him time to move slowly, to notice the vineyards, to look up into the sycamores, to see the people, the sparrows, the lilies of the field, the bushes seeming to burn brightly, and to hear God’s voice. 

A slower pace can become an act of reverence.

An appreciation of minute details heightens a sense of sacred design and holy presence.

“Remove the sandals from your feet, 

for the place you are standing is holy ground.” 

Exodus 3:5 

Linking with Weekend Whispers, Monday's Musings, and Coffee for Your Heart.

November: An Invitation to Gratitude Series {Celebration in Gold}

Subtle hues and neutrals rest calmly in the rooms of our living.

Celebration merits a touch of gold to herald our gratitude.

The dinner table festive in glided pumpkins amid hydrangea past its season.

Around the house, dry arrangements in appreciation of stems gone to seed.

Gathered pinecones, some whitewashed for contrast.

In a few hours aromas will be heavy, candles will be lit, and heart felt prayers will rise.

May your Thanksgiving be blessed.

“From the Fulness of His grace we have all received one blessing after another.” 

John 1:16 

“Thanks is the highest form of thought 

and gratitude is happiness doubled by wonder.”

C.K. Chesterton

*   *   *

Additional Posts in An Invitation to Gratitude Series:

Day 1 Attentive Listening

Day 2 Boundless love

Day 3 Time Away

Day 4 New Roads

Day 5 Legacy

Day 6 Indian Summer

Day 7 Transforming Power of Gratitude

Day 8 Home Fires

Day 9 Between Times

Day 10 Sacred Wait

Day 11 Celebration in Gold

Sharing this post with communities at Still Saturday, Weekend Whispers, Tell His Story, and Coffee for Your Heart. Click those buttons below to read other writers of faith.

November: An Invitation to Gratitude {Sacred Waiting}

Photograph by Lisa Moreland

November: An Invitation to Thanksgiving {Sacred Waiting}

Cloudy November days, the ones that hint at rain and blow chilly against the window panes. Soft grey skies a stark contrast to the brilliance in the leaves that toss and tumble across the patio. 

Gazing out across the the woods, mind pondering the brief days left in November, musing on to Christmas. 

The thought arrives... of the young woman two millennia ago waiting, already. 
Many months she has already carried her child. 
Carried sacred knowledge silent in her heart through the passing of three seasons. 
Her whispered thanksgiving already keen for long, long months. 
Her Christmas already a living truth, a swollen heaviness, a beating heart, a mother's patient wait. 

Humbled. 
Grateful.

The trappings of my times fade in importance as I imagine her. 

Two millennia ago she continued the waiting 
with thanksgiving and silent hope. 

*   *   *

Listen to her story as it is sung in this stunning version of Hallelujah.

Additional Posts in An Invitation to Gratitude Series:

Day 1 Attentive Listening
Day 2 Boundless love
Day 3 Time Away
Day 4 New Roads
Day 5 Legacy
Day 6 Indian Summer
Day 7 Transforming Power of Gratitude

Day 8 Homefires
Day 9 Between Times

Linking with the Weekend Whispers, Still Saturday, Coffee for the Heart, and Tell His Story. 

Click on the buttons below to read posts by these communities of faith filled writers.
Click here to link with Share Your Cup Thursday.

November: An Invitation to gratitude {Between Times}

November: An Invitation to gratitude {Between Times}

Autumn hoovers gently as the early morning mist between the exuberance of summer and winter's crisply chilled grip.  Shade loving foliage spread wide, florals risk one last burst of blooms. Spear shaped Elm seeds and tiny Live Oak acorns cast wide for the sake of another generation.

Between times offer grace, holding a place for the promise to come.

Monarch's flit enroute for the tropics. Canadian Geese and pristinely elegant swans glide onto the ponds. Continuous flocks of song birds darken the sky, settling in unison to fill power lines and  treetops. Winged migratory guests taking a brief layover, build reserve until the morning they're gone.

Between times offer grace, holding a place for the promise to come.

Families gather goods for holiday seasons rapidly advancing on calendars. Households harvest the last cool weather produce from the garden, sweep the chimney, stack the wood pile, then walk lazily down leaf strewn paths. New life beats steady and ever so small, cradles deep in mother's precious darkness as a family prepares in patience, prays for the promise, waits in love. 

Between times offer grace, holding a place for the promise to come.

A world revolving on its ancient orbit, turning until it is made new. 
An ancient people humbled by resurrection, living in grace and abundance until the return.

Gratitude for the between times bursting with grace, 
holding a place for the promise to come.

*   *   *

Additional Posts in An Invitation to Gratitude Series:

Day 1 Attentive Listening
Day 2 Boundless love
Day 3 Time Away
Day 4 New Roads
Day 5 Legacy
Day 6 Indian Summer
Day 7 Transforming Power of Gratitude
Day 8 Homefires

Linking with the Weekend Whispers, Still Saturday, Coffee for the Heart, and Tell His Story. 

Click on the buttons below to read posts by these communities of faith filled writers.

November: An Invitation to Gratitude {Homefires}

Mom on her own during Dad's 1958 tour of duty in Korea.

November 11: An Invitation to Gratitude {Homefires}

“Keep the homefires burning” historically meant

women tasked with keeping the embers hot and the pot cooking until the men return.

Military families blow kisses and wave final good-byes.

Then, tears still falling, with all the strength they can muster,

gather up the children to return home 

to an all too quiet house, to a table with an empty place,

to the chair vacant of its usual lounger, 

to the bed missing the other half,

to the closet partially empty, 

to singlehandedly keep life going 

for long months or years.

They keep the heat on, the bills paid, the lawn mowed, the larder filled, food on the stove, give every bath and read books followed by bedtime prayers, every night. No one comes home at the end of the day, or on the weekend or the holidays, to offer a hand or a cherished word.

In my childhood a world map hung over the stereo in our home and we learned the geography of far east nations, the distant locals of our father and his fellow pilots and soldiers. 

Mom was a petite girl, a provincial small town girl of her era, yet as an officer’s wife she grew to become the gale force, the CEO and master organizer with steely strength born of necessity that singlehandedly kept six kids feed, clothed, carpooled, and motivated on their individual paths while maintaining a household, continuously writing letters overseas, all under the constant filmed coverage of war on the evening news. 

Extend gratitude to the nation’s military families. 

Our nation is protected from the creeping tide of war

by their loved ones,

and their lives are forever changed.

*   *   *

Additional Posts in An Invitation to Gratitude Series:

Day 1 Attentive Listening
Day 2 Boundless love
Day 3 Time Away
Day 4 New Roads
Day 5 Legacy
Day 6 Indian Summer
Day 7 Transforming Power of Gratitude

Linking with the Weekend Whispers, Still Saturday, Coffee for the Heart, and Tell His Story. 

Click on the buttons below to read posts by these communities of faith filled writers.