A Pair of Bartletts

Prayer For Evening

A quiet prayer of reflection after a very long day. I still need reminding that my cup truly does run over.

~~Wife of Rob

Journeying Into Fall

I love it when my kitchen is filled with the warm candle scent of an inviting Fall filled with warm peaches, apples and berries mixed with yummy spices.  And even better, on a day that is finally letting a cooler spell of weather take it's place over the hot and sticky summer that is finally coming to a close.  This has to be one of the most favorites times of year for me.  I love the rainbows of changing leaves, my front yard littered with pecans from the 100 year old pecan tree and watching the squirrels run around with sheer glee as they scramble for all of the plump pecans...as many as their cute little paws can hold.  And I can't be upset at them in their gathering.....there is plenty for them and for us.   In fact, there are more than enough to serve us humans and as many of the little scampering squirrels as possible.  I have the best time watching those little guys.  Some days they run around as if they can't believe their little eyes.  They almost don't know where to start with their harvest!  God was so generous to us when He created all of the beauty that He did for our sheer enjoyment!  He could have easily made this a black and white dull place to be.  He could have created it any way that He wanted to create it.  But, in His infinite wisdom and because of His great love for his finest creation (that's us!), He created a place that could be enjoyed and treasured by us humans.  I am so thankful that when He created our surroundings that He did give us things like this that could bring such great pleasure.....be it the scents from a simple candle or the squirrel army in my front yard!

As I was sitting here reading and studying, I came across another of the Puritan prayers in The Valley of Vision; Puritan Prayers and Devotions that I enjoyed reading today.  So, I'll leave you with this from The Valley of Vision; Puritan Prayers and Devotions--

JOURNEYING ON

LORD OF THE CLOUD AND FIRE,

I am a stranger, with a stranger's indifference;

   My hands hold a pilgrim's staff,

   My march is Zionward,

   My Eyes are toward the coming of the Lord,

   My heart is in thy hands without reserve.

Thou has created it,

    redeemed it,

    renewed it,

    captured it,

    conquered it.

Keep from it every opposing foe,

     crush it in every rebel lust,

     mortify every treacherous passion,

     annihilate every earthborn desire,

All faculties of my being vibrate to thy touch;

I love thee with soul, mind, body, strength,

     might, spirit, affection, will,

      desire, intellect, understanding.

Thou art the very perfection of all perfections;

All intellect is derived from thee;

My scanty rivulets flow from they unfathomable 

       fountain.

Compared with thee the sun is darkness,

       all beauty deformity,

       all wisdom folly,

       the best goodness faulty.

Thou art worthy of an adoration greater than

        my dull heart can yield;

Invigorate my love that it may rise worthily 

          to thee,

   tightly entwine itself round thee,

   be allured by thee.

Then shall my walk be endless praise.