Word-Filled Wednesday

"Therefore do not let anyone judge you by what you eat or drink, or with regard to a religious festival, a New Moon celebration or a Sabbath day. These are a shadow of the things that were to come; the reality, however, is found in Christ." (Colossians 2: 16&17)

A couple of days ago when I was taking pictures of my yard, I saw the shadow of this forsythia against the house. I immediately thought about this passage. Our minister has been going through Colossians at church and covered this passage on Sunday. I was really struck by this visual image of the shadow—because I focused in on the shadow, and not at the plant itself.

It is so very easy for me to get distracted by the shadows of life: the pettiness, the fleeting aggravations. We love to smirk at the Pharisees and Sadduccees, but we carry our own gavels, gloating while we stand on shifting shadows.

(See more Word-filled Wednesday posts at the 160-Acre Wood.)

Word-Filled Wednesday

I've noticed the past week or so that the spiders are starting their autumn spinning. I almost walked through one like this a few days ago, but this is a photo I took last September. The spider's intricate web is one of those things that just makes me say, "Wow."


"O Lord, what a variety of things you have made! In wisdom you have made them all. The earth is full of your creatures. ... Every one of these depends on you to give them their food as they need it. When you supply it, they gather it. You open your hand to feed them, and they are satisfied." (Psalm 24, 27&28)


(For more World-Filled Wednesday posts or to submit your own, visit The 160-Acre Woods.)

Word-Filled Wednesday

We began our ninth year of homeschooling today. I've never agreed with those "experts" who insist that each family must have a written vision statement, but if I were tied down and forced to pick a family vision statement, it would be these verses from Ephesisans 3:16-21. The first one is from the NIV; I've included the verses from The Message as well, because I like the different perspective.

"I pray that out of his glorious riches he may strengthen you with power through his Spirit in your inner being, 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. Now to him who is able to do immeasurably more than all we ask or imagine, according to his power that is at work within us, to him be glory in the church and in Christ Jesus throughout all generations, for ever and ever! Amen."

(From The Message):
"My response is to get down on my knees before the Father, this magnificent Father who parcels out all heaven and earth. I ask him to strengthen you by his Spirit—not a brute strength but a glorious inner strength—that Christ will live in you as you open the door and invite him in. And I ask him that with both feet planted firmly on love, you'll be able to take in with all followers of Jesus the extravagant dimensions of Christ's love. Reach out and experience the breadth! Test its length! Plumb the depths! Rise to the heights! Live full lives, full in the fullness of God. God can do anything, you know—far more than you could ever imagine or guess or request in your wildest dreams! He does it not by pushing us around but by working within us, his Spirit deeply and gently within us."

I really can't imagine a better blessing for my children as we begin this new year.

(For more World-Filled Wednesday posts or to submit your own, visit The 160-Acre Woods.)

Word-Filled Wednesday

I saw the 160 Acre Wood's Word-Filled Wednesday a week or so ago over at Diary of 1 and thought it was a fantastic idea. I love the idea of combining a simple scripture with photos of every day life. Having just spent 10 days with my parents in my hometown, my thoughts are naturally with my wonderful parents. I took this photo of my mom on our last night there; somehow I captured the expression on her face I love the most.

Good friend, follow your father's good advice; don't wander off from your mother's teachings. Wrap yourself in them from head to foot; wear them like a scarf around your neck. Wherever you walk, they'll guide you; whenever you rest, they'll guard you; when you wake up, they'll tell you what's next. For sound advice is a beacon, good teaching is a light, moral discipline is a life path. (Proverbs 6:20-23)

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