Look to the Stars

Dear Friends

I woke up early this morning, as I usually do, and walked outside with Ruby and stared up at the stars, like I usually do, and it suddenly made all my earthly wants and worries feel so small & insignificant in a way I've never felt before. 

Are the things that we think are important and valuable really worth the time we put into them? I mean when we're on our deathbed and think back on our lives, the last thought that we should have is "Did I live my life for Jesus with the best of my ability, or did I get caught up with earthly matters that now seem so worthless and trivial". 

 For me , it shouldn't be about working overtime so I can buy more and  it shouldn't be about worrying about what people think about me. It should be more about making it right with God. The times that we spend together, learning God's Word are part of making it right. Times like these are the essential moments in my life now. 

Anyway, that brings me closer to God and building a relationship with Him has to stay my number one priority.  

Lord, please never let me stray and thank you Jesus for letting your  special, loving children cross my path in life. 

Gino 

New Day

Sept 18, 2016

Experiencing a new day start 

Waking up and feeling refreshed. 

Stepping outside and seeing the sun slowly rising, shooting its rays through the woods on a cool misty morning. 

Watching the squirrels and listening to two mourning doves answering each other off in the distance. 

Smelling the grass that was cut the evening before, mixed with the steaming coffee I'm holding. 

Breathing in the brisk morning air that has laid a blanket of dew on the ground that will be getting my bare feet wet in a couple of minutes when I take Ruby back to do her thing. 

Thinking about what's on my agenda today.

This is my favorite time of day. 

This is when I relate with God. 

This is when my devotionals come naturally. 

This is when I take everything in.

What a wonderful way for someone to show you that they love you. 

Thank you Lord. 

I love you too! 

Experiencing a New Day Start

Sept 18, 2016

Waking up and feeling refreshed. 

Stepping outside and seeing the sun slowly rising, shooting its rays through the woods on a cool misty morning. 

Watching the squirrels and listening to two mourning doves answering each other off in the distance. 

Smelling the grass that was cut the evening before, mixed with the steaming coffee I'm holding. 

Breathing in the brisk morning air that has laid a blanket of dew on the ground that will be getting my bare feet wet in a couple of minutes when I take Ruby back to do her thing. 

Thinking about what's on my agenda today.

This is my favorite time of day. 

This is when I relate with God. 

This is when my devotionals come naturally. 

This is when I take everything in.

What a wonderful way for someone to show you that they love you. 

Thank you Lord. 

I love you too! 

Your Child in the Gardens

The Endless List

As I awoke this morning I just laid there and prayed to God while basking in His glory, thinking about all He has given us and I wanted to say a prayer of thanks to Him that might really mean something. But where and how does one even begin a prayer for all He has done in our lives? If I were to make a list of all His greatness, what would be number one on that list? Would it be waking up and looking outside at all the beauty he has created? The blue sky, the trees & flowers, the birds, the glorious mountains or just everything in nature that I gaze at Dear Lord . There are so many spectacular wonders that you give us , the list is endless. But you know, when I stop and think about it, maybe a vision really shouldn't be number one on this list because there are people born blind into this world everyday and will never be able to see your creation like I can. Their world is dark and I think number one should be something that everyone on earth can look at.

Let me think about this again. Maybe number one can be hearing your creation. The wind, the rain, birds chirping, children laughing and playing, and other people's voices, especially the ones who teach me your greatness and love. They tell me what I need to know to better understand you and follow your ways. I hear so many wonderful things Dear Lord, the list is endless. But, once again when I stop and think about this, maybe hearing really shouldn't be number one on this list either because there are so many people born deaf into this world everyday and will never be able to hear their surroundings as I can. Their world is silent and I think that number one on this list should be something that the whole world can listen to.

OK, let's see......How about if number one were tasting your great harvest and bounty? Tasting the fruits and grains, meats and fish that you gave us. Like the bread that you once broke with your apostles to ever remind us that you are the bread of life. You have given me so much Dear Lord to relieve my hunger, the list is endless. But again, as I rethink this, enjoying a meal really shouldn't be number one either because there are people born into a life of poverty everyday and will never be able to taste the goodness of the land like I do. Their tables are bare and I think that number one on this list should be something that everyone on earth can fill their stomachs with.

How about if number one were family? Your mother and father, brothers and sisters, aunts and uncles, or just about your whole family tree. There are so many people to mention Dear Lord , the list is endless. But I really don't think that this should be number one either because there are so many children born into this world today that are abandoned at birth, left on doorsteps and train stations, or are put into orphanages and shelters and will never be able to know the closeness of a family like I do. Their world is lonely and I think that number one on earth should be something that everyone on earth can experience.

Maybe number one can be our soul mate. The one you know you want to spend the rest of your life with. That person that gives you that feeling of real true love. The butterflies in your stomach love. Happy and care free, walking on clouds love. The person you want by your side as you go out and take on the world. There is nothing that two people in love can't accomplish Dear Lord, the list is endless. Even though this one might rate up there pretty high, I still don't think it should be number one because there are so many people in this world that have never felt the love that others have to give. Their world is without feelings. They are snubbed and pushed away when all they really deserve is to be shown love and affection with a tender hug. But they are afraid to open up their hearts to anyone because they have never known tender loving care like I have and I think that number one should be something the whole world can feel.

Number one might be these magnificent legs you gave us to walk on. Man, how I love to walk! Just to walk this vast land that you created is simply indescribable. To walk roads that lead everywhere and some that lead nowhere at all. To walk on the sand along the ocean and feel the invigorating power of the waves and the mist on my face and thinking how this water you put here cleanses us and keeps us alive to remind us that you truly are the living water. There are just so,so many places for me to walk to Dear Lord, the list is endless. But once again, this can't be number one either because there are so many people in this world that have been born with deformities or are crippled from a disease and will never be able to walk the paths that I can and I think that number one should be a hike that everyone on earth do together.

How about if number one were "free will" ? Now we're getting close I think. You gave us each a distinct brain to make our own decisions and choices. How great it is to be a unique individual and be our own person. Each of us different from anybody else in the whole entire world. To be the one and only is incredible.  We have the choice to ignore whatever we want or believe whatever we want, for whatever reasons we want. We have the choice to believe in God, and the choice not to believe in God , for whatever reasons we want. Reasons like "People just use religion because they are insecure and afraid of dying" , or "It doesn't make sense, no one can rise from the dead" or "Why doesn't he appear before us" ? or "If there is a God, why is the world a mess?" or "Science & evolution proves it wrong". There are so many reasons that people have for not believing in you Dear Lord, the list is endless. Free Will can't be number one on this list either because the world just cannot agree that Jesus is The Universal Savior and because of this there will always be war and attempts of genocide in this world. " I ask you, why does it have to be this way Lord???  There are just so many things that I don't understand but I know it's part of your perfect plan, so I'll just put my trust in you and leave things in your hands.

Number one ??? I know what number one is for me and what it should be for everybody on earth. It's so simple. It doesn't matter if your blind or can see, whether you can hear or are deaf, hungry or stuffed, married or alone, whether you can walk or crawl or if your rich or poor. The number one thing on this list that we should all be thankful for is that our Lord, Jesus Christ died on the cross for us so that we may have everlasting life. Many have given up on you God , but thank you for never giving up on us. There is just so much more that I have to thank you for 

Dear Lord. THE LIST IS ENDLESS !

This life you gave us is quite a challenge Dear God and this world that we live in is forever changing , but one thing is for certain, this prayer that I've written will always remain the same.
Gino