Ok, Sisters, your replies to the previous post have inspired me to pen this one. As I read through your comments to our walk through the woods, I was stricken with a fresh sense of awe over the lovely grace of God to tie our lives together in Christ from so many different locations. We are a clickstream from a spider web in thousands of ways but this screen can also become a coloring book of connect-the-dots for people who love Jesus. Last night when I did Bibby’s Secret Closet with Annabeth and Jackson, I gave Annabeth one of those CraZArt Spiral Art sets. You know what I’m talking about:
Since I talked in the previous post about where I live, lots of your comments referenced your own surroundings. By the time I’d noted the locations of the first six, I practically had a lump in my throat. The gift I gave Annabeth last night popped right back into my mind. Your comments swirled the page like geographical Spiral Art, and of the sacred kind, bright and multicolored. Just take a look at a smattering of them and behold a glimpse of you. Each of these sentences are copied and pasted from comments to the last post that took us on a walk through the country.
I live in Guelph, Ontario, Canada and we are just waiting for Spring.
I’m here in the Mid Atlantic on the shores of the Delmarva Peninsula where the winter won’t loosen its grip and we still have snow on the ground when we should be about ready to cut grass for the first time this season.
Next time, let’s do a walk in New Zealand!!
I have been out enjoying our Spring weather too because before we know it we will be trapped indoors with the air conditioning here in Az. (Arizona)
We are still waiting for it here in Ohio—it snowed yesterday!
My family has the privilege of owning a cabin in the NC mountains and it’s a little slice of heaven on earth. (North Carolina)
Wave surges are shockingly high – my fair Island will be swallowed up in the storm surges. So thank you for the glimpse of Hope in Spring.. -6 C wind chill feels like -29 just in case we thought we might like to put our face outside tonight… (I loved this one because I don’t have a clue where it is but it’s a “fair island” and COLD. Thank you, Iris! You took me there through your words without my even knowing where I’d gone!)
I love long walks in the country, but being from Illinois, I don’t quite have the same scenery you have (and might I say in a whining voice…I also don’t have your TexMex), especially those slithering things (except the black snakes).
l appreciated, being a California girl, all the references to various snakes, and remember the “rattlers” we used to see all the time…now living in Costa Rica, snakes have taken on a whole new meaning: we have some deadly AND aggressive snakes here, not shy, like the rattlers, but snakes that will actually “hunt you down.”
Living on the Portage River for nine years in MI, I experienced lovely spiritual moments: our giant blue heron flying low down the river, a white mother swan swimming down stream with a baby swan on her back, a shy deer family eating apples from under our apple tree. precious moments I’ll treasure now that we are living in the desert in AZ. (She goes on to identify Fountain Hills, AZ)
Thanks for the refreshment…still feels like winter in PA…longest winter ever! (Pennsylvania)
Your back woods look alot like mine up here in Central Saskatchewan – except for the fact that we’re still layered in a few feet of snow.
Loved taking this walk with you! I love your wild woods! They remind me of the woods around here in TN. (Tennessee)
AHHH where were those boots last night? We had a black snake on our porch and here in my neck of the woods in Uganda…
Come on, somebody! Give the Lord some praise! Is that gorgeous, or what??
So here’s what I want you to do if you feel like participating. Leave a comment telling us where you live and, if you don’t mind, add a description heavy on adjectives so we can picture ourselves there with you. I am looking so forward to this!
I’m so blessed to serve you, Sisters. The beauty of sisterhood in Christ is a work of divine art. I kept thinking that last week at the Colour Conference in Sydney because my friend, Bobbie Houston, has been so phenomenally used by God to gather a sisterhood of servants around the world to aid the poor, the oppressed, and the abused. We are a part of the same sisterhood because we are also in Christ and called to do some good in this weary world.
What an honor to seek Him with you. Unity is not about lining up on 100 points of doctrine. It’s about faith in the Lord Jesus Christ, the holy Son of God, born of a virgin, crucified for our sins, raised from the dead, and returning to take His Throne. If that’s what you believe, you’re blood to me. I think sometimes the stuff of unity is all the sweeter to Christ – not when we already see eye-to-eye on all our doctrine but – when we don’t. Sometimes just agreeing that Jesus Christ is Lord is bond enough. When we only agree to love people and walk with people just like us, that’s tantamount to making our goal to become more like ourselves. Ick. Somebody else can have that. I’m trying to figure out how to forget myself, not make a mirror out of every woman of God I see. I want people to sharpen me, to cheer me onward when I’m discouraged or harassed, to make me think, and to keep me growing. A mirror can only make me more like me. Give this girl a seat by the window and let her capture the features of Christ gathered from the faces of many.
OK, rescue us all before I get sappier. Let’s hear about your locations!
My name is Debbie and I live in the southeast corner of the state of Kansas. Having been a pastor’s wife for 40 years, I have had the privilege of living not only in my homestate of Kansas, but in Missouri, Arkansas, and Texas and blessed to travel most of the USA and several countries overseas (I LOVE Israel!). However, what I love about Kansas is that I get to experience all 4 seasons to the fullest. We too had a hard winter here, but that just makes Springtime all the sweeter. So thankful for you, Beth and your ministry and all your studies. What a blessing to my life!
I live in Spring Hill, TN, a quaint little Civil War town south of Franklin in Williamson County where I can be at Super Target one minute and 5 minutes later I can be driving the backroads through beautiful rolling hills, gorgeous overlooks into deep valleys, admiring homes of the ridiculously rich and famous, then back at Kroger just in time to make dinner!
Blessings,
Dori
That’s amazing, Dori! I love it.
The snow is melting!! The glimpses of brown grass have never looked more appealing than after this winter in Rochester, MN. Back in January I began a counseling job in Winona, MN, taking an hour for the drive (or much longer, depending on the weather!). The bluffs going down into Winona have been gorgeously decorated with snow these past months, and now they have frozen waterfalls as the temps go up and down. I am looking forward to the gradual color changes as spring emerges. Thank God for the seasons! I really don’t want to live anywhere else 🙂
Portland, Oregon today is dark and really wet. Spring here is exceptionally beautiful on a sunny day but we appreciate those stunning days sandwiched between these typical gray ones. They’re what make it so green and lush. They’re what give the bright days such delight! We rejoice in rain knowing that rain produces green shoots and green shoots produce tulips and daffodils and hyacinth!
Thanks for encouraging me in the midst of a cold NYC winter, sweet Beth! What a blessing to walk in unity in Christ with you and so many others around the world!
Good morning. My family and I (and the previous 6 generations,live in the beautiful bluegrass state of Kentucky. We live in a rural area where the farmland is filled with crops of soybeans, hay, corn, wheat, and tobacco grown to supplement family incomes. It is a beautiful place. Lots of wooded areas and mountain ridges with so many varieties of wildflowers.Homes are mostly two story white weatherboard with large front porches where we sit in the evenings listening to the frogs and crickets and hear a howling coyote or two off in the woods. The sun lends its beautiful glow on the flowers and gardens and ponds and fishing holes. There is a feeling of family in this little area where neighbors are there to help one another when needed. Our church house is in the middle of this community and it is a most hallowed ground where generations before spent time on their knees praying for God’s protection and guidance for their families and their lives. This precious little community is where I met Jesus.
For that I am most thankful and that He has allowed our family to continue to live and serve here in this small community in the beautiful state of Kentucky.
Little Rock AFB…for now. Beth, I’ve studied along with you from Alaska to Ukraine and a lot of places in between. I’m happy to say that we saw very few snakes! 🙂
This is so fun!! I live in Mesa, Arizona where it is BEAUTIFUL in the Winter and Spring…. But WAY too hot in the Summer!! I went from growing up in one of the coldest places in Minnesota to now living in one of the hottest places on Earth! Don’t get me wrong… It can be beautiful in the Summer as long as you can stay in the pool all day! Air conditioning is a must!! We usually don’t really get Fall! So I am Thankful for growing up in Minnesota and experiencing the beautiful Fall leaves! Palm trees leaves don’t change color! I wonder why God didn’t have them change colors for us!! 🙂
Hi Collette! I grew up in Mesa, and graduated from Mesa High School. I live in TN now, and think it is hotter now in AZ than it was when I was growing up.
Blessings,
Adrienne
My name is Alice’ and I live right smack dab in the middle of Louisiana in a town called Pineville. Unlike others, we don’t experience 4 weather seasons, per say, but we do experience 4 cultural seasons:
1. Mardi Gras Season (KING CAKE!)
2. Crawfish Season (my least fav)
3. Hurricane Season (Scratch that, THIS is my least fav)
4. Football Season
I’m Selina and I live in the very top west corner of Washington state, a five minute drive from the Canadian border. I’m surrounded by dairy farms, corn fields and forests as well. To the east I see beautiful snow capped mountains, and to the west I see the the cold waters at the inlets from the Pacific. There are plenty of grey days, BUT I don’t mind because it means more vanilla latte’s from The Woods Coffee for me!! (Better than Starbucks) 🙂
Oh Selina, I moved from Bellingham down to Renton and then over here to the Spokane area. Oh man, Woods really is the best. I am not a coffee drinker, but their hot chocolate (with that yummy toasted marshmallow syrup) and a blueberry scone is pure magic. Whatcom County is a very special place indeed.
I live in gorgeous Scenery Hill (most aptly named place), PA. We are blessed to rent an incredibly old and charming farm house smack dab in the middle of 160 acres of rolling hills. Our house sits at the bottom, with hills behind and in front of us, and a creek with a bridge over it. We have to cross that bridge to get to our cars and I LOVE to look back at the house and try to take in God’s beauty. It doesn’t bother me that I can’t quite grasp it because it’s astounding. It’s silent here, with the exception of nature, and the skies are crisper, the colors brighter, and the glory of God obvious!
Oh my word, Lindsey, I want to visit. Sounds stunning!
I live in Kitchener, Ontario, Canada where it is grey, raining, and the piles of snow are oh-so-slowly melting today. Spots of brownish-greenish grass are just starting to peek out from under the snow but the sidewalks and roads are clear, so we celebrate that. It’s 8C (46F) here today and, for us, that feels like the height of warmth. We haven’t seen temperatures like this in months.
PS. I love that you mentioned Guelph, ON, New Zealand, and Saskatchewan in your post because I live not far from Guelph, grew up in Saskatchewan, and am headed to New Zealand on Wednesday for a vacation 🙂
I live in Wilmington, NC… it’s a charming Southern town wedged between the Cape Fear River and the Atlantic Ocean. Our home is about equidistant from both (10 minutes). The river side is home to old historic buildings, cobblestone streets, Spanish mossed live oak trees, and many local eateries. The beach side is also classy, but more palms than live oaks. We love it!
I’m from East Tennessee, right outside of Chattanooga (home of Moon Pies, a certain someone’s favorite, right?!). I’ve lived in Tennessee my whole life and, even though I’ve traveled to some pretty incredible places in the world, there’s nothing like coming home to our rivers and mountains (maybe I’m a bit biased).
Amy Beth, if you’re a little biased, it’s with GOOD reason lol. I lived in Cleveland, TN for a while and that entire region is one of the most gorgeous places I’ve ever seen. Love it!
I am Becky Jo and I am here in Michigan … just North of Detroit. We live in a close knit subdivision off of a road so small that the kids that go to our school ALL get bussed (or carpooled) there – even the kids that live across the street – no sidewalks to ensure their safety, so everyone of em gets a ride home. Today the sun is behind some clouds so it looks dreary, but we are all rejoicing that the temps are in the 40’s/low 50’s and we are finally seeing grass beneath the massive amounts of snow we received this winter – the second snowiest ever. There are even some who pray for 2.5 more inches so we can break that record. But, for now, my grass – brown though it may be – shines through and the trees are beginning to bud. YAY!
Magnolia, TX
Here in Glendora, CA, (near Pasadena) we have had the most amazing Winter (and I almost don’t want to mention it because of the Polar Vortex!) Gorgeous sunsets every night, the kind with the brilliant orange against the turquoise blue that we usually only get during October/November. We have had glorious beach days and clear skies for miles. The downside, of course, is the drought and fire danger to us in the coming years. Praising God for what we have and trusting Him for provision and protection.
I live in a cute (even if a little on the redneck side) area of Tennessee called Soddy Daisy! Doesn’t that just make you want to kick your shoes off and watch for deer on the two-lane roads late at night!? We might not have rattlers, but we do have some persistent little ladybugs and ants that want nothing more than to climb the shower walls or lounge on the window sill. Blech! Currently the weather is as fickle as a middle-schooler’s emotions but the Bartlett Pear tree blooms promise that Spring is coming despite the dead trees still covering the mountains of Chattanooga.
Um, that name sounds like the cutest little town ever. From a movie, nonetheless!
Hi, this is Barb, from Dallas, TX and the sun is trying to break through the clouds off and on so far today, and it’s humid. But the Lord is good and my coffee is hot…#blessed
Shoutout from the beautiful state of Wyoming where it’s a blizzard in the morning and 50 degrees in the afternoon in March. Can’t wait for true spring to kick in.
By way of introduction, my name is Michelle. I live in Orlando, Florida where it is warm and sunny with mild breeze today. I’m getting ready to go for a 4 mile run & then ride bicycles with my son. I’m so blessed! And, I just wanted to send some love your way:)
My name is Abbey and my husband and I recently moved to the unbelievably beautiful mountains of Bluefield, West Virginia where he serves as a youth pastor.
I’m from gorgeous Northern NJ, where spring is arriving slowly but surely. Recent spring-y spottings include a big black BEAR walking down our driveway pavers, red-breasted ROBINS in our blueberry trees, a brilliant BLUEJAY and flashy red CARDINAL in the woods behind our house. Praise God for His goodness, and thank you Beth for your books and studies! Just finished reading Believing God and currently attending Deuteronomy study. Mmmm…delicious.
I am praising God for a gorgeous morning in Tucson, Arizona. Spring is in the air! The sun is warming the air. Flowers are blooming and trees are budding. My allergies are raging. 🙂
I’m from Moncton, New Brunswick Canada. Here the snow is drifted all around the house, like frozen waves or wind-blown sand dunes. The sky is clear and the air is crisp, and as I wait for spring to come with it’s warmth and sunshine, the crocuses begin to poke out of the thinner spots of snow promising new life is on the way!
Staten Island…rainy day!
I’m Nightingale and I’m in Miami, FL where, today, it’s warm, the sun is shining, the breeze is just right and brings in the wonderful smell of the ocean, and I’m about to do my devo by the pool.
I live in Malvern, Arkansas, just up the road from your hometown. I enjoyed your walk through the woods narrative so much, and it provided me a welcome mid-day break. It truly seems all is right with the world when we step into God’s natural spa. Thank you for sharing!
My name is Pam and I live in Portales, New Mexico. Please pray for rain for us! Have a blessed day!
Athens,AL. The Bradford Pear trees are blooming…and now my husband’s allergies are killing him..Beautiful tulip trees are amazing. Things are slowly turning green, so thankful to see this harsh winter slowly turning loose of everything. It is all so beautiful to look at. Right now we are driving home in the pouring rain from Gulf Shores, AL. It was wonderful there this week even though it was a little cold. Pray for me as I have just finished 16 rounds of chemo for breast cancer and will be having surgery on Tuesday. God is good and everything will be fine.
Hi Beth! I live in rural central Missouri that can best be described as prairie land. My small town would bore most folks to pieces but its peaceful and calm and home to me. If you travel south for just a few miles the prairie gives way to livestock operations, pigs and dairy cows. Travel north and west a bit and come summer you’ll see acres and acres of beans, wheat and corn fields ( that should be knee high by the 4th of July if the good Lord sends rain. To my east is more farming but also a women’s prison that is home to 1600 woman who the Lord has called me to invest in recently. So I really am surrounded by harvest fields.
We’ve already been to the warm, sandy beach this spring down here in Seffner, FL. It’s baseball season, and the brisk, cool evenings have been amazing weather to watch my 11 year old play baseball in. So grateful for a healthy lefty who can swung a bat!!
My name is Amy I live in Rhinelander,WI ( northern WI) with my husband and daughter. We are dealing with a never ending winter, just got 5″ last night to go on top of the 2 ft still on the ground. We homeschool our daughter and I go to dialysis 3X a week, I’m currently in the transplant list so praying that it works so I don’t have to do dialysis anymore.
Beth,
Thanks for sharing your adventures! We too have recently become “country folks”. Moving from Arlington, TX to Brock, Tx! We absolutely love it! Raising three godly warriors! 15yr (Ethan Paul) & twin brothers (Luke & Jake) soon to be 13yr. Next week:))). Yes a house full of teenage sons!
I was born and have lived in Maine all my life. Looking out my office window right now, I see snow changing over to freezing rain, which is supposed to change over to just rain later, and then start all over again on Sunday. We have so much snow that it’s a tight squeeze for two vehicles to meet each other on our secondary roads, and the snow banks at my house are almost as high as the 10-foot basketball hoop — and that’s after some melt! It’s been a long, cold winter, and I’m looking forward to the sweet smell of lilacs and the chirping of crickets which I know will soon (I hope) be coming. 🙂
My name is Yvonne and I live in Alabama – otherwise known as the Promised Land, LOL! My hometown is the home to the Alabama Crimson Tide. Today is a rainy one, but stick around & you’ll experience 5-6 different weather patterns in a single week! Our city was devastated in the April 27 tornado almost 3 years ago, but we are coming back. My office was destroyed as was my inlaws’ family business. We’ve all relocated and scratched our way back.
Hope everyone has a very blessed day and enjoys their weekend! I’m looking forward to joining with my church family on Sunday in worshiping our Lord and Savior!!!
I live in a little town east of Seattle. If I look across Lake Washington, I can see the Seattle skyline below the constant hovering clouds. We’ve had a few bright days hinting at sunshine, but March and April here are still predominantly grey and blustery. Today, the branches sway in the wind, drops of rain pool underneath the new daffodils, and the air smells damp with the promise of spring.
Those of us in Spokane, Washington are emerging from a long winter like bears out of hibernation. A heavy comforter of snow remains on nearby Mt. Spokane reminding us we’re weeks away from safely planting. Blue skies and bird songs mercifully offer hope that Spring’s warmth and beauty will soon arrive.
Goeie middag! That is afrikaans for “Good afternoon!” I am privileged to live in a beautiful little town called Langebaan (pronouned lung-a-bun), situated on the West Coast of South Africa. We are a group of 60 ladies currently busy with Believing God – blue cord bracelets seen everywhere! One dear friend has a disability and can’t lift her arms but it is so beautiful to see how her sisters in Christ help her to raise her shield of faith when we shout out our 5 statement pledge. Blessings to you all!
Christa, know that I will be saying Langebaan all day long. (Lung-a-bun). LOVE it. Grin!
Here in Glenwood, IL, we are studying “To Live Is Christ” on Monday evenings at Living Spring Community Church. Wow! I’ve learned so much about Paul and about myself. Thanks, Beth, for your Holy Spirit inspired teaching!
Its a dreary, semi-cold, Spring day in New York City. The weather is as unpredictable and confusing as my emotions but I’m holding out for the hope of Spring arriving any day now and with it the gift of new life. I’m trusting in His promise that He makes all things beautiful in His time!
Hi y’all. Sandy here from Bryan, Ohio, home of the Etch-a-Sketch and Dum-Dum suckers! Although we haven’t had a stitch of Spring in these parts yet this year, and it is grey and chilly this morning, I know God is faithful and Spring will arrive at any time! We enjoy all four seasons in these parts: bright, beautiful, green springs; sometimes stiflingly hot summers; glorious, crisp, colorful autumns (my favorite); and normally subdued winters (this one was a doozy though & there are snowflakes in the forecast for tomorrow! Our kids missed 17 days of school so far this year!) I do love that we get to experience it all, and three of those seasons from the back deck! We moved out of the city a few years ago and so enjoy the trees, the squirrels and the sounds of nature….have noticed a few of our trees are budding now so I’m sure it won’t be long before those temperatures match the calendar! Thanks for the invitation to share…makes me remember how blessed I am! Love to all my Siestas!
What a fun fact, Sandy! Etch-a-Sketch and Dum-Dum’s. Perfect.
Hi! I live in North Mississippi right near the Alabama line. We have pretty rolling hills around here. I love a little change up in my topography. We’ve had a minor cold spell lately; however, our summers are very humid. Spring and fall are definitely my favorites; however, I have come to appreciate all the seasons. Our little town is getting ready for its spring pilgrimage. People come from all over to tour our antebellum houses and hear about life in the south. Some beautiful homes and some interesting history.
hi I am in witt il
I have lived in WV all of my life, I have the opportunity to work on top of a hill in a log home. Today it is a little gray outside and rain expected. Jackson co. is where I reside ,the animal to avoid here are skunks. It is a beautiful state with all seasons.
Come to Chesapeake, VA, and walk the footsteps of your Revolutionary fathers, wonder at the precious beauty of a family of ack bears in the Great Dismal Swamp, and hear the thunder of the power of the finest Navy on earth, as the jets soar overhead. So much more to offer here in Coastal Virginia.
Hello all from Angie in Liberty, Missouri (suburb of Kansas City, Missouri)!
I loved walking through the woods with you the other day Beth and can’t wait to be able to do the same here in my neck of the woods soon!
This has been THE longest winter I can remember! Currently we have gray skies and cool temps. Two days ago we had snow showers and this coming Sunday it’s going to be in the mid 70’s! Brown is the color of our landscape today but the trees are beginning to bud out and I’m expecting to get up to a green world any morning now!
I’m looking forward to picturing other parts of the world with you all! Have a great weekend!
I live in a little town 30 miles east of Atlanta in a lake & swim/tennis community with great neighbors! Oh how they have ministered to me in the two short years I have lived here. As I sit in my office, I am looking across at the lake, watching the rain fill it up. Yesterday it was sunny and warm and today its rainy & cool. That’s Atlanta, alright – all four seasons in a week! I’ve lived here all my life, but I am moving to your neck of the woods — Houston (Katy or Cypress)– in a few weeks after my oldest daughter graduates. My husband of 20 years died one year ago after a very short battle w cancer. Leaving my two oldest in Georgia in college and headed to Texas to start a new adventure with my 12 year daughter! Looking forward to visiting all the great churches & finding one where God can use me. (I hear there’s a good one out there-heehee). Pray for us:)
Here in North Carolina it’s technically spring, but it feels like the dead of winter!! Today it’s high 50’s but Tuesday we had snow! The trees are still bare and we’re all dreaming of summer. Thankful that Jesus is with us in every season- literally!
Sisters, you have already elated my soul and captivated my imagination with your locations and descriptions! As you well know, my boots were made for walking and I am a dyed-in-the-wool travel-freak. Today as I read your comments, I will visit every single place in my mind that you describe. I am wild about you. Thank you for participating! I love you so.