Author Archives: sagescenery

Unknown's avatar

About sagescenery

Christian, licensed minister, author, wife, mother, teacher, and drama team pastor who loves landscape photography and writing. Copyright 2012. All Rights Reserved. Photos and Text.

satan, I refuse…

Standard

I’m reading Kingdom Man:  Every Man’s Destiny, Every Woman’s Dream by Dr. Tony Evans…

What a powerful book!

Here’s what I learned from it…

satan I refuse…

To ever compare my life with anyone else’s…

To ever live beneath my purpose…

To ever think of my son as anything less than a Kingdom Man in the making…

To ever lower my standard of conduct to the world’s level..

To ever listen to enemy lies about me, or my family…

To ever let you have control of our thoughts, actions, or dreams…

To ever give up hope that my purpose is far greater than any pain to pursue it…

To ever let you convince me to give in to exhaustion…(Dr. Evans says, “Exhaustion is only a word!”)

To ever be swayed by the majority…If I’m in the minority on a matter, so be it!

To ever allow you to dethrone my ruler-JESUS!  He rules me, not you!

To ever teach “religion” without teaching about the divine authority of Christ…

To ever seek the world’s answer to problems…Only my God’s opinion matters to me…

To ever be governed by anything, or anyone…

To ever be only a fan of Jesus, but rather a devoted follower instead!

To ever be content to sit on the sidelines…but  rather, to always live to represent my King Jesus!

To ever allow anyone, or anything, to overrule God’s authority in my life…especially you!

To ever place myself under anyone’s rule, except for my Lord God’s absolute rule…

To ever lose sight of Jesus Christ’s absolute prototype for my life…I was made to reflect Him only!

To ever disobey God, my Father in any way…

To ever be out of alignment with God & His Kingdom commandments…

“Submit yourselves, then, to God.  Resist the devil, and he will flee from you.”

James 4:7

“Jesus turned and said to Peter, ‘Get behind me, satan! You are a stumbling block to me; you do not have in mind the things of God, but the things of men.'”

Matthew 16:23

I Can’t Complain!

Standard

This was my playmate today…

He spent the day watching and waiting…

For fish from all the fishermen (my husband included!)

The boats and jet skis didn’t deter him…

And he didn’t mind having his photo taken…

Although he did have some competition…

He’s well fed and now the day is ending…

We both had a great day!  And I feel blessed!  Thanks, Lord!

Ahhhh….

Standard

This is the only thing on my schedule for today…

To sit quietly and take in God’s Sunset…

To think about my day, and dream about tomorrow…

To feel so blessed to know the Creator of this beauty…

To realize the importance of getting quiet…

And to stand in awe…

Of simple pleasures…

And of Your Majesty…

Goodnight Lord, thank you for this beautiful day…

I Don’t Even Know What Day It Is!!!

Standard

And…I don’t even care…

I’m on my “So-I-Can-Write” Vacation!!

At the Beach…

Yippee!!

Thanks for coming along with me!

I’m enjoying my new friends…

The lively show in the water…

And playing in the surf…

We’re waiting for you to catch up and join us!

Drop all your cares and baggage…

Hurry, the sun is setting…

On another peaceful day…Amen!

God’s Sky-Painting In My Backyard!!

Standard

I live on a golf course…take a walk with me in the cool of the evening to see what God is up to…

He’s very busy painting in the sky…

The colors amaze me…

I love the Palm trees silhouetted against the backdrop of the sky…

My walk is so peaceful watching God’s creativity…

The trees seem to be reaching to touch the sky…

What do you see in the clouds?

As the night settles in…

All my cares seems to drift away…

A burst of color…

Seems to light my way…

The artistry of Creation…

In the Master’s hand…

Everything is still…

I notice the glow of His work reflected in the lake…

The world sleeps…

While God paints…

And signs His Name…

With Love…

And a kiss goodnight…

Promising sweet slumber…

And peaceful rest…Amen!

I Need A “So-I-Can-Write” Vacation!

Standard

And I’m bringing you all along with me!

Where I’ll  also have time to read all your amazing posts…

And make comments to everyone!

We’ll be at the beach…

My husband will be fishing…

My son will be on his computer…

 Playing games with his friends…

Or working on his graduate classes…

I’ll be sleeping late…

Ahhhhhh!

During my leisure breakfast…

I’ll get to think and write…

And think and read…

No laundry…

No cleaning the house…

No errands…

No business phone calls…

No trudging through the junk mail…

Or paying the bills…

My biggest decision will be which of the many Drafts I’ve started…

Would I like to finally finish and Publish!  Ha!

Then, I’ll take my Kindle, and read a bit on the beach…

Or take a leisure walk…

And think about where I’d like to go for dinner…

Now that I’m working part-time I’m going to savor this vacation…

And squeeze every ounce of rest and relaxation out of it I can find!!

Amen!

Collide With The Healer!

Standard

Are you hurting???

Listen to  “The Hurt & The Healer”

by MercyMe

Here are the lyrics…

“Why?
The question that is never far away…
The healing doesn’t come from the explained…
Jesus, please don’t let this go in vain…
You’re all I have…
All that remains…

So here I am…
What’s left of me…
Where glory meets my suffering…

I’m alive…
Even though a part of me has died…
You take my heart and breathe it back to life…
I’ve fallen into Your arms open wide…
When the hurt and the Healer collide…

Breathe…
Sometimes I feel it’s all that I can do…
Pain so deep that I can hardly move…
Just keep my eyes completely fixed on You…
Lord, take hold and pull me through…

So here I am…
What’s left of me…
Where glory meets my suffering…

I’m alive…
Even though a part of me has died…
You take my heart and breathe it back to life…
I’ve fallen into Your arms open wide…
When the hurt and the Healer collide…

It’s the moment when humanity…
Is overcome by majesty…
When grace is ushered in for good…
And all our scars are understood…
When mercy takes its rightful place…
And all these questions fade away…
When out of the weakness we must bow…
And hear You say ‘It’s over now!’

I’m alive…
Even though a part of me has died…
You take my heart and breathe it back to life…
I’ve fallen into Your arms open wide…
When the hurt and the Healer collide…

Jesus, come and break my fear…
Awake my heart and take my tears…
Find Your glory even here…
When the hurt and the Healer collide…”

Take your hurt…

and…

Collide with the Healer!  Amen!

My New Bank Is Stalking Me!

Standard

I feel the need to vent!!!

I have a new bank…

Well, an old bank with a new name…

And a new way of doing business…

I think they’re super sugary sweet…

And super annoying!!

Every time I go through the drive-thru window…

They want to chat, sell me some new services, or invite me to come in and talk with one of their helpful representatives…

Duh…if I wanted to “COME IN”…

I wouldn’t have driven up to the window!!

Or, they ask about my family members…

I call that preying…

I’m always in a hurry when I need to run to the bank…

Especially after work!

Hence, the name “Drive-Thru” window…

Not…”Come-In!  Sit-And-Chat-Awhile” window!!

You’re supposed to get your business taken care of quickly, and drive on thru!!!!

Ladies, you know this is true…

I’m thinking of other things!!

My next stop,

Drama choreography,

Things I need to do when I get  home,

What am I going to eat when I get there,

When am I going to finally get to collapse and get some sleep,

How to keep my “Siberian Craziness” dog from jumping on me when I walk through the door with all my packages from Wal-Mart?????

Now, these are important questions that I need to mull over while driving…

And while waiting at the drive-thru window at the bank…

I don’t need to have a long drawn out conversation with anyone!

A teller at one of the bank branches in my town is from NJ, like me…

So you can imagine how long that conversation was…

When I was already running late to unlock the door for drama practice after work!!

Last week, one of the tellers asked me how my husband was doing…

She called him by name!!

What does that mean…

I don’t even know her!

Should I say, “Well, we had a huge argument…”

And then, go on and on about the details, ’til she says, “I have another customer…”

Should I say, “He’s wonderful!  I love him!  He does so much for me!”

And risk nauseating her?

Should I tell her,  “He’s outside doing lawn work in our front yard and complaining because there’s so much work, and it’s hot and humid here in FL!”

I just don’t know the “Bank-Teller-Sharing-Confidential-Friends-Only-Information” Policy!!

I don’t even know if there is such a policy!

This is my first run-in with this!!

Also, my husband complains about them because he has to show his driver’s license at the window every time he drives thru…

I don’t know if they give him the 3rd degree about me when he’s there…

But, if they know him so well, why does he need to show his driver’s license????

Does anyone else out there in blogger’s land feel this way???

Before the “Take-Over,” and name change at my bank…

I loved my bank!

They were friendly, helpful, and knew their place in my life….

Now, I have a bank that wants to come right in, and dwell in my life…

Only Jesus gets to do that!!

Don’t get me wrong…

Before my wonderful bank changed its name…

And the bank with the new name started stalking me…

My husband and I had a great rapport with our banker!

He was young, knowledgeable, and spoke “banking” in a way we could understand!!

Amen and Hallelujah!!

We loved him, and still keep in contact with him…

He’s at another bank!

My son and husband even played golf with him, and his Dad!

Where they could talk all day if they wanted…

I might have to change banks!

Folks, is church the same way?

Sugary sweet for the purpose of selling people something?

Selling them our wonderful programs???

Selling them on Jesus?

He needs no selling…

Just let people  feel the moving of His Holy Spirit in their lives…

And God will take it from there…

Are we welcoming or pushy??

No stalking, please!

There’s a fine line, Church…

“Hi!  Welcome to our church…Thanks for visiting…We have church tonight, come on back…Monday night we’re off, so you can enjoy your family at home…Tuesday is game night…Wednesday is family night…Thursday is choir practice…Friday night is youth group…Saturday night is pot luck…Sign up for the Bible study…Men’s meeting…Ladies outreach…

And, Oh, yes, the missions trip to Haiti is in two weeks!!

Do all of your family members go to church?  We have  Kids church, a Toddler class, a Nursery, a media center, a playground……………..etc.

And also, a group for the senior citizens!!”

You get the point!

I love all these programs…

But, it’s not about them…

It’s about Jesus!

Be sincere!!

Show them God’s love…

Point them to Jesus…

Welcome them into the Family of God…

Not just into your church!

Love the people…

Care for their needs…

Not just inviting them to the great ministries you provide…

People can spot sugary sweet a mile away…

I know I can!

Yes, You Can Change!

Standard

I just heard a new contemporary Christian song…

“Who You Are” by Unspoken

Go…Listen to it!

It’s Awesome!

Here are the lyrics…

“I know that look you’re givin’ like you got something to prove…
‘Cause I have walked for miles and miles in that same pair of shoes…
You refuse forgiveness like it’s something to be earned…
But sometimes pain’s the only way that we can learn…

You can never fall too hard, so fast, so far…
That you can’t get back, when you’ve lost where you are…
It’s never too late, so bad
So much, that you can’t change who you are!

You can change who you are!

You believe in freedom, but you don’t know how to choose…
You gotta step out of your feelings that you’re so afraid to lose…
Everyday, yeah, you put your feet on the floor…
You gotta walk through the door, it’s never gonna be easy…
But it’s all worth fighting for…

You can never fall too hard, so fast, so far…
That you can’t get back when you’ve lost where you are
It’s never too late, so bad
So much, that you can’t change who you are...

You can change who you are!

So let the ashes fall wherever they land…
Come back from wherever you’ve been…
To the foot of the cross, to the feet of Jesus…
The feet of Jesus!

You can never fall too hard, so fast, so far…
That you can’t get back when you’ve lost where you are…
It’s never too late, so bad…
So much, that you can’t change who you are...

At the foot of the cross you change who you are!

You can change!”

I’ve Changed My Mind…

Standard

Again…

Yes, I have!

Many times over the  years!!

Like the time when, newly married in our first apartment in NJ, we bought a pine roll-top desk…

Had it stained a dark walnut…

Used it and loved it!

Then, some of my friends took me to an antique auction, and I saw my first antique oak roll top desk…

An “Ah-ha” moment, for sure…

I definitely changed my mind!

And fell in love with something new!

Or, when we moved to FL…

And finally got to buy furniture we loved…

Instead of family hand-me-downs…

We bought a master bedroom suite…

Loved it…

Then I saw on HGTV that “matchy, matchy” wasn’t IN anymore…

Uh-Oh!

Here we go again…

I’m not an overly fickle person, I only buy things I really, really, love…

So when we got to choose stuff for our house in FL…

I chose colors, textures, and patterns that I could love for a long time…

Like curtains, carpets, room colors, tile, light fixtures, pool tiles, lanai screen, etc.

I don’t want to keep changing my mind!!

It’s frustrating…

Well, we have a God that loves us!

Always!

God never changes His mind about us…ever!

He loved us yesterday…

He loves us today…

And, He’ll love us tomorrow!!

He’s not fickle at all!!

It keeps our  life and our heart so peaceful…

Have you changed your mind lately?

If you don’t know Jesus…

That’s the only change you need to make!

Change your mind and accept Him…

And then He’ll show you…

That He’ll never change His mind about you…

He’ll never want something new…

No “Ah-ha” moments…

No “Uh-Oh!”

Or, falling in love with something else…

He created you…

He loves you!!

That’s final!

No game change…

He will never change His mind about that!

Ahhhhh….peace!