Butterflies are one of the most beautiful creations that God made. I especially love Monarch butterflies. As my husband and I were returning home from a quick trip to the grocery store, I glimpsed my first Monarch butterflies of the season. What a beautiful sight. This reminded me of our trip to Pensacola in the fall.

We were eating in an outdoor restaurant and there were Monarch butterflies everywhere we looked. As we returned to our car, there were Monarchs nestled together on shrubbery and trees. They were huddled in groups. I had never seen so many Monarchs. On the news that evening, they spoke of the Monarch migration. It made sense as to why we were seeing so many Monarchs.

Those tiny butterflies were traveling to Mexico. Many had already come long distances. Some had flown all the way from Canada. How do they know where to go? There are only a few mountains in central Mexico where Monarchs migrate for the winter. The oyamel fir trees provide the perfect place for them to survive. These butterflies will never return to the beaches of Pensacola because when it is time to migrate back to the summer places, they lay eggs and those little caterpillars grow and then form their chrysalis where they blossom into a beautiful Monarch butterfly. It can take 4 or 5 generations of Monarchs to get back to their summer breading ground. How do they know where to go?

While the Monarch Butterfly only lives 15 to 50 days, something amazing happens when the butterfly starts to migrate to Mexico. The Monarch becomes a super butterfly that will live around eight months. This butterfly has the strength to travel between 2000 to 3000 miles to get to its migration destination. It lives through the winter and then starts the process all over again by laying eggs on the milkweed for the next generation of butterflies.

God our Creator made them with the ability to know where to go in the summer and where to go for the winter. Even though many generations have passed and the butterfly has never been to where it is going, it knows where to go. It is inborn. When it needs the strength to fly over vast amounts of space, God has given the strength and ability to accomplish its task.

We are made by our creator with certain intuitions and abilities. God creates us to be who he wants us to be. Then it is up to us to become who he designed us to be. God also gives us strength and determination to accomplish the tasks that seem more than we can fathom. He gives us the strength to go through more than we think we can handle. We become more than we think we are because of the strength God gives us in times of need. Like the tiny butterfly that can travel 2000 to 3000 miles, we can accomplish amazing things for the Kingdom of God. What is inside of you that you need to let out? What is God trying to do through you? What is your super power for God’s use? If God took such care to design a butterfly with such detail, how much more does God our Father, design us to be His and do His work?

The scripture tells us:

I can do all things through Christ who strengthens me. Philippians 4:13

Do not be conformed to this world, but be transformed by the renewal of your mind, that by testing you may discern what is the will of God, what is good and acceptable and perfect. Romans 12:2

Therefore, if anyone is in Christ, he is a new creation. The old has passed away; behold, the new has come. 2 Corinthians 5:17 ESV

https://www.monarch-butterfly.com/monarch-butterflies-facts.html

Not too long ago, my family began to get my Daddy’s house ready to sell. My Daddy had lived a life with rich blessings from the Lord and had made his way to heaven to join my Mother. The house had been their home for almost 30 years. With the help of my brother, my husband, and our family we began the task to get the house ready for sell. My family had already tagged some of the items to go to their own homes, but we were trying to go through closets and boxes to see what needed to be kept and what needed to be thrown away.

Then the time came for the house to go on the market. What a blessing it was when the house sold. The realtor told us that when the young couple walked in the door of the house, they looked at each other and said that this was the one. They had not even seen it yet. They said they felt the Lord there. What a legacy.

If that house could talk, it would tell you of the conversations people had there and how much the Lord was loved and worshipped. I remember leaving the house for the last time with mixed feelings of never returning but thankful for the young couple who bought the house to start their life together. When the last of the papers were signed and the house was officially theirs, I told them about my Daddy and how he was a man of prayer. I told them of the tremendous number of hours that he had spent in prayer for his family, his pastor, his church, his Sunday School class, and the list went on. He had two particular places that he prayed. He loved to pray at the dining room table because he could spread out his Bible that had his prayer list inside. He sometimes journaled his prayers and that gave him room to write. He would also pray in his chair in the corner of the den. He always met the Lord there and they had long conversations in these two locations. I told them that these were places that the Lord met with him daily. If they needed to make an important decision or had a need, these were the two places in the house that had been prayed over the most. 

Where do you pray? Where do you meet God each day? Do you have a particular place that has everything you need to pray and worship the Lord? Where would your family say your praying place is?

The scripture says,

“But when you pray go into your room, close the door and pray to your Father, who is unseen. Then your Father, who sees what is done in secret, will reward you”. Matthew 6:6 NIV

“Very early in the morning, while it was still dark, Jesus got up, left the house and went off to a solitary place, where he prayed. Mark 1:35 NIV

“On the next day, as thy were on their way and approaching the city, Peter went up on the housetop about the sixth hour to pray”. Acts 16:13

My daughter and her family recently went on a vacation. We had met them at the airport  when they left to get their car so they did not have to pay parking. As they were returning, we made signs with the names of our two little granddaughters. As we waited at the bottom of the escalator, I could hear the anticipation of families waiting for their family member to arrive. One little boy just couldn’t wait for Granny to get here. Others were waiting for grandchildren to arrive. Two children couldn’t wait to get off the escalator to get to their grandparents. Then a young man in a military uniform came down the escalator. His mother was calling to him and a big smile burst on his face when he saw her. Another family had a sign for their military daughter.

At last our family was coming down the escalator. Our oldest little granddaughter called out to us. You would think it had been longer than the week that they had been gone. She ran around me to get to her PawPaw. That’s ok. I grabbed for the baby. I was thankful that they arrived home safely.

As I watched more people emerge from the escalator, I had a beautiful picture come across my mind. I began to think of the ultimate Welcome Home. How beautiful heaven must be when loved ones emerge into view. Some separations have been a long while but others, only a short time. No matter the amount of time, this joyous reunion is forever. Parents seeing their children. A husband seeing his beautiful wife. A Mother seeing her precious child lost far too soon. No more goodbyes. This is the Eternal Hello!

Heaven is a place for Jesus to Welcome Home those who belong to him. How beautiful are the ones who come to Him because they have believed in him. How blessed is the Salvation he has offered as a gift. Jesus has a special place for each one in heaven. 

Jesus said “In my Father’s house are many rooms. If it were not so, would I have told you that I go to prepare a place for you?” – John 14:2 ESV

Heaven is a place of worship. 

“…so that at the name of Jesus every knee will bow, of those who are in heaven and on earth and under the earth, and that every tongue will confess that Jesus Christ is Lord, to the glory of God the Father.” Philippians 2:10-11

“And to Him was given dominion, Glory and a kingdom. That all the peoples, nations and men of every language might serve him His dominion is an everlasting dominion which will not pass away; And his kingdom is one which will not be destroyed.” Daniel 7:14

Heaven is a place of unending happiness.  

“So the ransomed of the LORD will return And come with joyful shouting to Zion,
And everlasting joy will be on their heads
They will obtain gladness and joy,
And sorrow and sighing will flee away. Isaiah 51:11

 “But you are A chosen Race, A royal Priesthood, A Holy Nation, A people for God’s own possession, so that you may proclaim the excellencies of Him who has called you out of darkness into His marvelous light. 1 Peter 2:9

When Jesus says, “Welcome Home” it is forever. 

Welcome Home!

I have loved red clover since I was very young. I can remember going for rides in the car on Sunday afternoons during the spring to look at the red clover that was planted on the side of the road or in fields to hold the soil in place while the ground was resting. My daddy would always be on the lookout for areas of red clover so he could take me to see them.

My daughter lives in a new housing development that has areas that are not yet under construction. On a recent visit to her home I saw large areas of beautiful red clover that were planted to keep the ground from washing away. Red clover is so beautiful because it is so bright in color. I thought it would make a beautiful setting for a picture of my two granddaughters. What could possibly go wrong?

I spoke to my daughter about what she would want them to wear in the picture and we chose matching Easter Bunny tops and pink and white shorts. The clover was not very far away but we chose to drive so we could do this quickly. As we pulled up next to the field, the 4-year-old started squealing with excitement over all the butterflies she could see in the clover. They were so beautiful.

As we were getting the baby out of the car, I began to see that there were not only butterflies sipping the nectar from the clover but bees. We picked a spot for the picture and laid down a little blanket and placed the girls on the blanket hoping they would ignore the bees that were not too far away. I began snapping pictures but was only able to get 4 pictures before a bee flew by and the 4-year-old was done. The beauty of the clover was over for her. She no longer remembered the butterflies. The beautiful red of the clover and the green of the leaves were history as far as she was concerned. 

Beauty comes in many shapes, sizes, and colors. Beauty can be interrupted very easily. Sin, like bumblebees, can cause a beautiful situation to lack its luster or cause fear. Sometimes sin jumps in with no notice and everything is ruined. While from a distance the red clover could only be seen for its amazing beauty, on closer inspection we found bees. We must be watchful for these interruptions and recognize them for what they are. We should not let them ruin the beauty and joy that we are experiencing.  

“Consider how the wild flowers grow. They do not labor or spin. Yet I tell you, not even Solomon in all his splendor was dressed like one of these.”  Luke 12:27

They surround me like bees. Psalm 118:12a

Flowers appear on the earth; the season of singing has come, the cooing of doves is heard in our land. Song of Solomon 2:12

Recently a family friend went to be with the Lord. She had been a friend of my family for 25 years or so. She had been a friend to both of my parents and to me. One of her hobbies was to make crochet dish cloths.

The summer before my mother died, Mother had asked our friend to make some dish cloths for my brothers and me for Christmas. My Mother could no longer crochet because of her arthritis. Not too long after my mother died, our friend called my Daddy to let him know about my Mother’s request and that the dish cloths were ready. He stopped by to pick them up and noticed that she had a Scrabble game set up where she had played with family the day before. He sat down and played a game with her. That was the beginning of a Scrabble friendship that lasted until he died. If it was Tuesday, it was Scrabble day. It was something my Daddy looked forward to. What a precious friendship between two people just wanting to play Scrabble. She had a Scrabble dictionary that my Daddy called the King James of Scrabble. I think she knew most every word in there. My Daddy didn’t challenge her very often. When she died, I began to wonder if she was in heaven playing Scrabble. Jesus told us:

“I go to prepare a place for you.” John 14:2b 

I just have to believe that her place has a Scrabble board. She and her husband had played at least 3 games a day for many, many years. When he died, there was a space of time that was empty. I am so thankful for the friendship that my Daddy and our friend had around a Scrabble board. They both looked forward to the game but also the friendship. I miss knowing that she is no longer here on this earth, but I know where she is and that I will see her again.

So many of the people that I love are in Heaven. I am so thankful for the Salvation we have through Jesus Christ and the knowledge that Heaven awaits believers after our last breath on this earth. 

I have no way of knowing if there is Scrabble in heaven, but if there is, I hope that my friend will always have a place to play her 7 letter words. I also hope that she has a triple letter square to play her Q and Z.  Maybe my Daddy could beat her in a game once or twice in Heaven. Probably not. That’s ok. He learned how to lose gracefully over the years. 

“We are confident, I say, and willing rather to be absent from the body, and to be present with the LORD.” 2 Corinthians 5:8 KJV

What causes you to have the best sleep? There is nothing better than having nice, soft, clean sheets to help me sleep. The last time I changed the sheets, I must have pulled out a set of sheets that we had not used for a long time. They were stained and had a few holes in them. They didn’t have that soft, silky feel that I like. My husband commented on the sheets and I told him that I would retire them when I took them off the next time. When I changed the sheets again, I folded the old sheets and sent them on their way to where sheets go when they retire.

I had placed the clean sheets on the bed but had not gotten back to put them on the bed when my husband said he was going to go relax and read. I said I needed to put the sheets on the bed so he helped me. It is always funny for him to help with the sheets. First of all, this bottom sheet has elastic all the way around so it is hard to tell which way it goes. We got tickled as we readjusted the sheet for the proper fit and finally got it on. Then it was time for the top sheet. We have always placed the sheet on the bed and then said, “I have this much. How much do you have?” Then we will readjust so the top sheet and then the quilt start out even.

It really doesn’t matter how much my husband starts with on his side of the bed because I usually end up with the sheet and the blanket. When you have a husband who travels as much as mine has over the years, you get used to wrapping up in the covers and then having to readjust when he comes home. There was all the difference in the world in the feel of the new set of sheets. Rest came easily that night.

Ah! Peaceful sleep. 

Jesus said, “Come to me, all who are weary and heavy laden, and I will give you rest.” Matthew 11:28 NAS

“Truly my soul finds rest in God; my salvation comes from him.” Psalm 4:8 NIV

“Take my yoke upon you and learn from me, for I am gentle and humble in heart, and you will find rest for your souls.” Matthew 11:29-30 NIV

What wonderful rest that must be. Jesus’ rest. I have heard of Beauty Rest mattresses and Egyptian cotton sheets, but just imagine Jesus Rest. How amazing is that. 

Th next time you change your sheets, remember to ask Jesus for that Perfect rest that only he can give. 

One of my favorite Christmas memories was really an unusual Christmas.

The year was 1989. My husband and I decided that we would like to have our own Christmas celebration instead of going to either of our parent’s houses on Christmas Day. This was not a popular decision in our family, but we thought the time was right to start our own traditions. Our son was 9 years old and our baby girl was 16 months old.

I had purchased a turkey and the trimmings to make our own small Christmas dinner. I had decorated the table and was ready to cook on Christmas morning. The temperatures for Birmingham, Alabama, were unusually cold that year. It was called the Siberian Express. From December 23^rd – December 25^th, the temperatures did not get above freezing. The temperatures were between 1 degree to 15 degrees. This is extremely cold for Alabama any time of the winter.

As I was about to put the turkey in the oven, my father in law called and said that the pond was frozen. My husband told me to put the turkey back in the refrigerator and we would cook it later. We needed to go see the pond. We bundled everyone up with extra socks and lots of layers and ran across the street to go behind their house, down the hill, and then down the bank to see such an amazing sight. The pond was indeed frozen all the way across and back in the trees further than we could see.

We knew the water was not deep under the ice so if the ice broke, there would not be danger of not being able to get out of the water. My husband went out on the ice first. He would walk a few steps and then slide a few. He was having so much fun. My sister-in-law and her husband went out on the ice. They were having a great time.

We had a sled from years past that was rarely used. We put our two children and our two nieces on the sled and pushed them out just a few feet to get their picture. We figured this would never happen again in their lifetime. The children were 9, 5, 16 months, and 12 months. What a picture and what a memory.

We were concerned about the younger children getting too cold so we took them inside my in-law’s house and started taking off all the layers we had them bundled up in. The fire was so inviting. We started hanging wet socks and gloves up in front of the fire. My mother-in-law made hot chocolate and we all got warm inside. She always made the best hot chocolate.

After I got warm, I went back out to the pond. It was amazing and beautiful at the same time. My sister-in-law and her husband started walking on the ice again and it started cracking. My sister-in-law started going toward her husband and he told her to move away. There was too much weight in that area. We laughed and laughed. It was such a fun morning.

The next thing I knew, it was lunch time. My turkey was still in the refrigerator. My mother-in-law knew everyone would be cold and hungry so she was making chili. Chili for Christmas dinner? Yes!!! It was wonderful. Everyone was tired and cold and wet from playing on the ice. What an amazing day.

Later that afternoon a neighbor came over with his tractor with the wagon hitched up to it. We all piled in and had quilts under us as well as on top of us. He drove us back out into the pasture land behind the pond and then around the surrounding area to see all of the neighbors’ ponds. We sang Christmas carols and had a wonderful time. 

By the breath of God ice is given, and the broad waters are frozen fast. Job 37:10 ESV

There was a magic about that Christmas Day. Even though we did not have our turkey dinner, it is a day that we will never forget. God’s handiwork was so beautiful   He forms each ice crystal and makes them unique. He protects the fish under the ice. He is such a gracious God. He gave us his one and only son as a gift of salvation so that we would be able to spend eternity with Him in Heaven. I will never forget this day. There was fun. There was family. And there was faith. What more could a person need on Christmas.

For God so loved the world, that he gave his only Son, that whoever believes in him should not perish but have eternal life. John 3:16 ESV