Lillies of the Field

Mat 6:28-30 And why are you anxious about clothing? Consider the lilies of the field, how they grow: they neither toil nor spin, (29) yet I tell you, even Solomon in all his glory was not arrayed like one of these. (30) But if God so clothes the grass of the field, which today is alive and tomorrow is thrown into the oven, will he not much more clothe you, O you of little faith?

I recently purchased a yellow lilly and put it on our deck. It was so amazing to watch it bloom and see the magificent color. It made me think of the Creator who has given us so much beauty in His work. I have found it is so easy to become lost in the beauty of man's creations and somehow lose sight of the pure simple beauty of a flower.
The news is full of the pain, the suffering, the ugliness which seems to surround us and at times maybe even overwhelm us, but is the bad so great because I have forgotten to take time to smell the roses. Have I missed out on the true beauty of the created order, and as a result lost sight of the fact that God's creation is His way to reminding me that I just need to walk by faith and keep sight of the signs of His beauty along the path?
Wanderer101

The Voices

I was wondering the other day what it meant when I noticed that I had stopped wondering. Where and when did I stop hearing the voices challenging my thoughts, my views, my way of thinking? I must admit I miss hearing them and I miss the wondering about the depth of what it means to be a child of my Abba Father God.
Maybe the relationship is similar to my relationship to God. My Father does not force me to hear the voice of His Spirit even as that inner voice does not force me to hear the questions, the wonder, the realization of the possibility of living the empty form of programs rather than the intimacy of a love relationship.
So, today, I will endeavor to be still and hear the voice again, to be still and know that He is God and I am His child.
Wanderer101