by Brenda Flowers | Sep 20, 2016 | Inspiration
In August, my husband and I were blessed to have a week vacation near Destin, Florida. Vacations are special times to rejuvenate.
Each morning, I tried to start the day with a time to pray and write in my journal, spending quiet time, listening. Sometimes it can be challenging to carve out quiet alone times, even when on vacation.
Usually, I started my quiet time in this location, then I’d walk on the paved walkway which paralleled the beach.
Almost every morning, I was greeted by the sound of a dove. The dove usually was perched high on the rooftop of a nearby building.
Hearing the call of the dove each morning encouraged me.
One day, as I listened to its soft call, I thought of a key historic moment recorded in the Gospels. It was the time when the Holy Spirit descended as a dove upon Jesus.
When I returned to the condo, I looked up the Scripture in Matthew 3: 15-17 (NKJV) where Jesus is talking to John the Baptist:
“But Jesus answered and said, ‘Permit it to be so now, for thus it is fitting for us to fulfill all righteousness.’ Then Jesus allowed John to baptize Him.
When He had been baptized, Jesus came up immediately from the water; and behold, the heavens were opened to Him, and He saw the Spirit of God descending like a dove and alighting upon Him. And suddenly a voice came from heaven, saying, ‘This is My beloved Son, in whom I am well pleased.'”
These words spoke boldly to me. I noticed how God spoke from heaven. I thought about how important God’s proclamation was to the people at that time and how important it is to us today.
If we take these words to heart, we have the assurance that Jesus is God’s Son and our Promised Deliverer.
We, as followers of Christ, also can trust that if Holy Spirit came to be with Jesus, He also comes to be with us.
Several days after my vacation. I was inspired to write this poem. I am thankful for the way God speaks.
The Call of the Dove
It’s time to look closer,
Behind the veneer.
It’s time for us to listen.
Be quiet, so we hear.
Hearts are hidden near us
Behind walls of shame.
Lonely, longing, wailing hearts,
Needing love, no more blame.
Restore us, Oh God, to You.
Tear down and build back
Relationships, remaining
With You, there is no lack.
You gave us The Promise.
Jesus is His name.
When we ask Him in our hearts,
He takes away our shame.
Yet, action is needed.
Walk full of faith within.
Trust in Resurrection Life.
Transformed, released from sin.
Step out in confidence
Know deeply God’s love.
Thank Him for the hope that’s found
in the call of the dove.
In the Bible, turtle dove or dove is mentioned many times. Has there been a particular Scripture, with the mention of a dove, which has inspired you? Or have you been touched, as I have, by the call of the dove? If so, please share.
by Brenda Flowers | Aug 25, 2016 | Parents/Grandparents
I was going down memory lane today recalling a special time when my son and daughter were very young. My husband’s parents had been visiting and we had decided to tour the Hermitage near Nashville.
While waiting outside for our turn to tour the famous home, we searched for a way to keep our young ones entertained. It wasn’t long before we turned to our son’s favorite game of Hide and Seek, using the nearby majestic trees as hiding places.
Why this memory stands out was the way our young daughter “hid”.
I can still see in my mind’s eye, her little hands covering her eyes as she leaned against the trunk of a big tree nearby. She was standing in plain view announcing, “Come find me.” She thought by hiding her eyes, she was fully hidden. Of course, we played along, “Where’s Catherine? I don’t see her, Memaw, do you see her?” Even big brother, David, played along. Young Catherine’s precious little giggles brought our whole family such joy!
Fast forward in time.
One of our oldest grandson’s favorite games is Hide and Seek. We have played various versions of this game over his five years of life. When he was three, he loved to hide with me and have his granddaddy look for us. It was funny how even though I tried to show him how to be quiet and to get behind a piece of furniture or in a good hiding spot, he was determined not to go too long without being found.
Tavis’ eyes would widen with anticipation when his granddaddy came close to us.
Pretending not to see us, granddaddy would look in all the nearby hiding places as Tavis laughed with delight. Then Tavis would jump up or out and joyfully announce, “Here I am.”
I loved watching the expressions of both my husband and grandson as Eric acted surprised and Tavis grinned happily, jumping quickly in his granddaddy’s warm embrace. Treasured memories.
I’d love to hear about times you’ve played the game, Hide and Seek.
Let’s keep creating memories as we have fun playing with our children and grandchildren.
I’ve written another article on hiding and seeking for the Christian Writers Circle. Read it here.
by Brenda Flowers | Aug 25, 2016 | Inspiration
(My husband, Eric, and I standing in front of an oasis.)
At the end of June when my husband, Eric, daughter, Catherine, and I were on our westward drive to California, we veered off the main road to see the Joshua Trees at the Joshua Tree National Park. We arrived at the southern end of the park near dusk but were determined to see the unusual trees. After traveling several miles of windy roads over very parched land, we came to some interesting sites including a desert oasis and a grove of cacti. After many more miles of wandering in the wilderness, though, we never located even one Joshua tree.
It wasn’t until late that night, while my husband was driving and we were searching for a motel to stay in for the night, I read on the map about the town called Joshua Tree near the northwestern park of the national park. As I read more, I discovered the Joshua trees are only located in the northern part of the park. There are actually two desert climates which exist in the park. We had spent hours of our time that day searching for the trees not realizing at the time we had been looking in the wrong location.
Before going to sleep that night, I thought about how many people are searching for things which will bring them pleasure, fulfillment, and security. They may spend a lifetime looking only to realize at the end they had been looking in the wrong places.
I’m thankful, when we start to go down the wrong path of life, God gives us an opportunity to make a U-turn. He loves us so much, He has prepared the true roadmap to our happiness. When we read and trust His spoken and written words, and follow His directions, we discover amazing truths and experience the adventure of life as it is meant to be.
Happy discovering!
by Brenda Flowers | Aug 25, 2016 | Treasures of the Trade
(This photo was taken this summer at the Grand Canyon National Park).
When I was a special education teacher at a public elementary school, I loved the beginning of the school year! Even though it was a lot of work preparing my classroom and the activities for the first weeks of school, I enjoyed the creative experiences.
One year, I prepared a special bulletin board in one corner of my classroom.
I mounted a map of the United States on the bulletin board with a question for the title, “Where Did You Go this Summer?” This was an interactive bulletin board. Students added photos, hand drawn pictures and simple labels of places they had visited during the summer.
I used the map and a nearby compass rose to help the children locate their vacation sites and other famous sites on the map. We learned how to use reference books such as an atlas and encyclopedia.
I made a game with question cards so the children could interact with each other and the posted map. The children practiced their reading, expressive language and map skills as they took turns reading aloud the questions and answering them.
They also practiced asking and answering questions as they created riddles about places we had marked on the map. My students, who couldn’t talk and had mobility difficulties, could be helped to touch places on the map locating important locations like their home state.
The children also had opportunities to write about their vacations or about a favorite place in America in their writing journal. My students, who couldn’t write, drew pictures or pasted magazine pictures, printed pictures, or personal photos. My students had opportunities to choose activities using various art supplies.
The children who couldn’t write or talk also brought photos to share. I communicated with the parents ahead of time so the children would be prepared to share. This communication was intentional to help include all of my students. Creative preplanning was key to involve all the students in the activities.
Since August 25, 2016, is the 100th Anniversary of the National Park Service, a lot of basic skills could be taught around this theme. You could adapt the above activities around this theme.
My sister, Polly, who taught summer school in North Carolina and who is entering her thirtieth year of teaching recently shared how her team had planned summer school activities around this theme. Maybe she’ll post some of the activities which kept the children engaged.
Teachers, let’s use this blog to share treasures of the trade. I look forward to hearing from you.
by Brenda Flowers | Aug 25, 2016 | Children
(This is my daughter, Catherine, who traveled with us to see the Joshua Trees at the national park.)
Boys and Girls,
In my last blog post, I challenged you to discover the name of the place in the photo I posted. (Click here to read the last blog post). It’s okay if you didn’t get a chance to discover the answer.
I took the photo at the end of June when I traveled through several western states on a journey to the coast of California. The tree in the photo is a Joshua tree.
See if you can find on a map of the United States what the name of the place is. A good reference book to use is an atlas. If you don’t know what an atlas is, ask someone.
Hint: The place in the picture was taken in a national park. Which national park has the right climate for Joshua trees to grow?
Fun Facts about Joshua Trees
- The Joshua Tree isn’t actually a tree – it’s a species of Yucca
- It grows in the Mojave Desert area
- The National Park where you can find Joshua Trees is divided into 2 types of deserts
- The Joshua Tree cannot be found in the Colorado Desert part of the park
Did you know on August 25, 2016, it’s the 100th anniversary of the National Park Service?
