Complete Rainbow

How often do you see a rainbow? Normally, I don't see them that often, I'm thinking normally... maybe one or two per year....? but.... in the past month I have seen at least 5 rainbows (possibly 6?), with 4 of them being full rainbows stretching from horizon to horizon!! They seemed enormous and beautiful; they absorbed my attention. I've only ever seen a complete full rainbow once before in my life, so seeing 4 of them this past month has been quite surprising! And each time I have seen these rainbows, it has been very grey, cloudy, and rainy outside in all directions.... I can't really tell where the sunlight is coming from to make the rainbow. It has been a surprise blessing every time. I take it as a comfort and a reminder of God's promises, nearness, and faithfulness to us. I didn't take the pictures above, but when I searched online it was the closest thing I could find to what I've been seeing because it looks kind of cloudy. I saw the fourth full rainbow tonight on the way home from work, so I decided maybe it was time to post about it....

Here's a devotional from Rebecca Barlow Jordan:
COVENANT MAKER
"I have set my rainbow in the clouds,and it will be the sign of the covenant between me and the earth." Genesis 9:13

FROM THE FATHER'S HEART
My child, I am in the promise-making business. You need never wonder about whether I will keep My word. Just like the visual reminder, a rainbow, that I gave to let you know the world would never again be destroyed by flood, I have given you countless promises in My Word. Test them, and see if I will not pour out on you immeasurable blessings when you seek to know Me intimately and trust in Me. My covenant with you is sealed in blood forever.

A GRATEFUL RESPONSE
Your rainbow was only the beginning of covenant signs between You and Your people, Lord. You are the covenant maker, the originator of all blessings and promises. Your Word has never lost its power. Each day is a rainbow, a personal promise from You, Lord. --(by Rebecca Barlow Jordan)
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Psalm 89:5
The heavens praise your wonders, O Lord, your faithfulness too, in the assembly of the holy ones.
Deuteronomy 7:9
Know therefore that the Lord your God is God; he is the faithful God, keeping his covenant of love to a thousand generations of those who love him and keep his commands.
I Cor. 1:9
God, who has called you into fellowship with his Son Jesus Christ our Lord, is faithful.
I Chr. 16:1
Let the heavens be glad, and let the earth rejoice,and let them say among the nations, The Lord reigns!
Psalm 8:1
O Lord, our Lord,how majestic is your name in all the earth!You have set your glory above the heavens.
Psalm 19:1
The heavens declare the glory of God,and the sky above proclaims his handiwork
Psalm 36:5
Your steadfast love, O Lord, extends to the heavens,your faithfulness to the clouds
Ephesians 3:17-19
so that Christ may dwell in your hearts through faith. And I pray that you, being rooted and established in love, may have power, together with all the saints, to grasp how wide and long and high and deep is the love of Christ, and to know this love that surpasses knowledge--that you may be filled to the measure of all the fullness of God.

blessings :)

5:18

A friend of mine named Lisa (or zeph317) shared my birthday verse with me on my birthday a few days ago (May 18th.) from birthverse.com ...give thanks in all circumstances, for this is God’s will for you in Christ Jesus.1 Thessalonians 5:18 NIV

It got me to thinking about 518...
I used to travel like 60% for work and there were some years everything seemed so rushed. One week I was working at a business in PA. Now when you were sent out to do training like this, they could basically determine your schedule, most places would have you teaching class from 8 am-10 pm. But this PA bank, they were all about going home on time- they didnt have me scheduled past 430 and the place was deserted at by 445. I mean empty. It was wierd but I thought, ok...huh, great, an easy week, write this one down for the memory books....I'll actually go relax a bit and eat dinner at a decent hour. So I left, got lost on the way back to the hotel - because none of the streets there were in anything close to a grid- they were twisty, windy, one-way funky streets. Well I finally found my hotel and went into my hotel room. Now this hotel had the weirdest alarm clocks I've ever seen. All I can say is they were for the sight challenged. I mean the red numbers were literally like 3-4 inches high- just huge red numbers and when I walked in, there it was staring me in the face and it was 5:18. I thought, huh, that's interesting, 518, my birthday.

The second night it was much the same except I got lost going on other streets and had to find a different way to the hotel. Let me mention there was tons of traffic each night. When I walked into the room that second night, there again was the clock with 5:18 right in front of me. I thought - man that's wierd, what are odds of that? ... Then I changed into some jeans and left for dinner.

The third night some people stayed asking questions and I again took quite by accident a third route to the hotel. This night I walked into the room and there was that clock again saying 5:18 --
ok now I knew this what not a coincidence.
I'm a little slow but you can get through to me eventually, if you just keep trying.... I said Lord... what is going on.... with the 5:18's? I very strongly felt His presence and felt Him say I've been trying to get your attention....because I've been wanting to remind you how much I love you.... Wow, that brought me to my knees. I was suddenly ashamed to wonder- how long had it been since I'd actually told God that I loved Him? oh my gosh... way too long. Things were just moving so fast at that time....I was even in the job I believed God wanted me in. I was on the road a lot but I went to church whenever I was home...I loved the Lord, I was a Christian, I tried to read something out of my Bible most every day, said a few quick prayers every morning and evening, I thought I was doing fine in my Christian walk.....and yet I had to suddenly realize it had been quite some time since I had truly connected with God in a real, an intimate, and loving way. I did love Him but my busyness was getting in the way of spending real quality time with Him.

That week was a wake up call to not let myself just go through the motions of living the Christian life (doing the right things) and miss the whole point - an intimate relationship with God. Honestly, I still find myself blind-sided by busyness at times, but... I'd like to think I've learned to recognize God's coincidences more and ...I like to think I hear His whispers more readily now...and that He doesnt have to use a 4 inch tall red glowing numbered alarm clock saying 518 to get my attention ;) That was many years ago and there have been several times since then when I've been having a hard day and God will start popping 518s into my day. I dont wonder at the coincidence anymore... I recognize it, thank Him, and tell Him I love Him too. Well there you have it... my 518 story. in a nutshell, love Him... and dont let life's busyness keep you from spending quality time with Him :)

blessings ~

Memories of Casey

I had to put my dog Casey to sleep last week.
It was so hard... she was 15 and I knew her health was declining for the past year...I thought I was kind of prepared... but when it came right down to it, I guess I really wasn't. But there really wasnt any other choice given the circumstances. There are things I don't want to forget about her... She was very smart, she had a great sense of humor and she was very ornery....
-- I love how she wanted to play a game of bark every night when got home (and always had to have the last bark!.... even if I'd wait a few minutes and bark a soft one, she'd bark right back ;)
-- I loved to play hide and seek with her. sometimes I'd hide behind the door or the bed - she loved it if you jumped out and scared her! she'd bark and wag her tail and chase you around the house :)
--I still find it a mystery how she knew if a tear fell from my eye. How can a dog in the other part of the house know these things? Do they smell the salt in tears? Is there some noise silent to the human ear that is heard when a silent tear rolls down the cheek? and yet if a tear fell from my eye, suddenly there she would be snuggling up to me. I never understood how she knew, but it was very sweet.
-- I thought it was hilarious the way she delighted in taking her paw and knocking over the statue on my deck of a little boy holding a bunny. She'd always do it, wait until I looked and then bark and run as if to say-- "haha-- I can take on that statue!" ;)
-- I loved taking her outside at night in the summer, and sitting on the driveway... feeling the warmth of the concrete and looking up at the stars, while she wandered or sat contentedly nearby.
-- I didn't know it until now, but I even liked the noise her little toenails made as she walked in the kitchen.
-- I loved how if I left the room for over a minute she'd come looking for me, just to see what I was doing.
-- I loved petting the fluffy fur on her back and when she wanted a hug
-- I loved how after I'd come home or after she ate dinner, she'd do her 'happy dance' by rolling over on her back and wiggling all her feet in the air (those were usually the only times she'd do that)
-- I loved how if I played 'peek a boo' with her from across the room she'd come tearing around the table or the couch and jump on me with her tail wagging!
-- she was so smart - can you believe she figured out how to open a pedistal trash can by watching people use it and then actaully mastered the art of opening it herself by jumping with all her weight and hitting the pedal with her front feet? I couldnt figure out how she was getting in that trash can until I heard a bunch of racket one night and caught her in the act one time! boy did she ever have the --oopps --hand caught in the cookie jar look on her face. oh my gosh it was too funny ;)
-- I loved how many lessons God taught me with her. They were right on target and usually funny, and much to long to go into here.
She wasn't always perfectly behaved, but she was great little friend, a kindred spirit, and a blessing. I will miss her greatly but I am thankful to God for letting me care for her for so many years. Often if she was doing something cute or sleeping I'd find myself praying, "Lord.... don't You just love her?" ...and I know He smiled... and I know He said yes...

Thank you for Casey Lord~