Posted in Life Experiences, Nature, tagged God is in control. Where Did You FInd God Today?. Julie B Cosgrove, in God's hands, Proverbs 30:4 on March 26, 2015| 3 Comments »
This was taken as tornadic clouds formed recently over Oklahoma.
Who has gone up to heaven and come down? Whose hands have gathered up the wind? Who has wrapped up the waters in a cloak? Who has established all the ends of the earth? What is his name, and what is the name of his son? Surely you know! Proverbs 30:4
Posted in Nature, tagged clouds, God, God loves you, Julie B Cosgrove, seek God, Where did you find God today on March 18, 2015| 3 Comments »
Where do you find God in your day? I often find Him in the clouds. (Which is why clouds billow on this site.)
Perhaps it’s because my father was an amateur meteorologist and through him I came to love the amazing power and beauty of the atmosphere. God knows this, so it is one of the ways He touches me. I have collected “God pictures” over the years. I switch them out as wallpaper on my home computer and they always make me smile, even on the tough days when I feel in a fog or the dark clouds are hovering.
Here area few of them.
What are your hobbies, joys and passions? Look carefully. You may find God there trying to get your attention so He can tell you He loves you. Don’t let the daily busyness of your world cloud your vision.
Posted in Christian, Life Experiences, Nature, tagged blessings, Ephesians3:17-18, God's love, Julie Cosgrove, Where did you find God today on February 5, 2015| 4 Comments »
courtesy of Begin with Yes
This is a photo spreading around Facebook. Perfect for the month of February, right?
As a widow, I could get down about not having a valentine.. no anticipated candy or flowers at my door. But God loves on me every single day, and throughout the year He brings me such sweet and fragrant reminders of His inestimable and immeasurable love for me.
I have never canceled a lecture. Last week, I contracted pneumonia and had to. I felt as if I broke a promise…not to mention feeling a bit down about the stack of author copies in the box in the back of my car. But God sent love my way…three times. (He and I have a private joke about threes.)
First a dear friend, who is not a morning person, rose early and dressed to the nines to sit at the lecture site with copies of my books and explain to people.She actually sold several! I owe you big time, Karen.
Secondly, a younger, more techie friend taped the Sunday worship on her phone so I could participate without being there. I lifted me out of my slump. What a privilege to hear everyone else’s voices and recognize them as people I know and love. I found myself praying for each of them. When I am in church, I tend to focus in on me and God. Thanks, Kati.
Thirdly, God led me to an amazing woman, N.N. Light, who has an author’s blog. Her readership is vast, and her tweet stating I was on her blog has been re-tweeted 57 times in the last 24 hours, reaching a potential of over 100,000 followers. Even if 10% preview my book and then 10% of them buy it, my publisher will be dancing a jig!
…and here I wrung my hands, in between coughing spells, over a missing out on a crowd of 40-50.
Thanks, God. Your love shines through.
Where will you find His love-gift in your day? It just may be on the horizon.
...and I pray that you, being rooted and established in love, may have power, together with all the Lord’s holy people, to grasp how wide and long and high and deep is the love of Christ. Ephesians 3:17b-18
Posted in Christian, Devotional, Nature, tagged God knows, Julie B Cosgrove, Matthew 13, seeds, sowing, Where Did You Find God on October 3, 2014| 3 Comments »
As I walked along a shaded breezeway, I noticed a small plant peeking out of the concrete. Evidently the wind blew a tiny seed into the crack and perhaps, after a few rainstorms, enough water was captured to entice it to sprout. Now it is growing. Will it last? Grow little plant – thrive.
It made me think of the parable of the sower in Matthew 13. Jesus says some seeds are sown in rocky soil, but since they have no roots, they die off quickly. He explains to his disciples that these are the people who have an emotional conversion, but they are never grounded in the Truth or the Word. They lack commitment and trust. But, is that always so?
Roots can take hold, even in the most unlikely places.
When it comes to spreading the love of Christ, we are all to join in the seeding process. Some are to clear the rocks away, others to till the soil, some to sow the seeds. Others are called to nurture the newly sprouting seedlings, Still others are to keep watering it so it will grow. But we must remember that God’s Holy Spirit does the growing.. God knows what lies beneath the surface and the potential that seed has. He know what each needs to thrive.
I am not sure if this small plant has deep roots or not. I don’t know what soil lies under that concrete walkway and brick wall. But My Father in Heaven knows.
I cannot see into the future to witness which lives my writings and lectures will have touched, and what the outcome will be for each. However, I know I am called to sow the Truth of Christ anyway and let God take care of the rest — be it through fifty more people or just one.
The next time you feel as if your efforts to bring someone closer to Christ seem unproductive, think on this tiny plant. You may think their lives are rocky right now, but there just may be nice soil that was once deposited underneath. Or, there may be undercurrents feeding into the rock you cannot see. Miracles happen every day.
Posted in Christian, Devotional, Nature, tagged GOd will be htere, God will help in our struggles, Julie Cosgrove, pray for each other, upright, Where did you find God today on September 30, 2014| Leave a Comment »
Here in North Texas we are plagued with black beetles. Our cleaning crew at the Church can sweep diligently, and within hours, the sidewalks and floors are spotted with them again–all on their backs, wiggling their little six legged bodies. (Obviously the bug man’s spray works.)
When I first began to work here, my heart bled for these poor bugs who crawled over the invisible poison seeking water and shelter. I hated to see them suffer. So, I would diligently take a leaf or piece of paper and try to flip them over. Maybe if they had enough life left in them to keep flaying their legs, they’d be all right if they could just crawl away. Inevitably, the little guys would flip on their backs again and flay away.
I don’t know why God designed them to die on their backs, and I hope they are spared suffering- that it is just instinct to wiggle to the end since they have no emotions. But, it brought home a valuable lesson. Often, I see others suffering. Many are Christians. They seem to be flaying and are unable to right themselves, just like these beetles. No matter what I do– pray, help, talk– they seems to be stuck in that situation or slump.
I know now that God has placed them there for a reason even though I don’t know why. It may be to draw them to Him, to diminish their pride, to correct their path… that’s between them and God. But I ‘m confident He never takes His eyes off of them, because when I was flaying on my back, unable to upright myself, I felt my Lord’s presence hovering nearby. I heard His whisper, “Hang in there. I’m here.”
No matter how hard I try, I can’t turn my friends upright. But I know the One who can…and will in His own timing if they can just hang in there and keep having faith. It may happen on this earth or in Heaven. In the meantime, there is one thing I can do–pray them through it.
Like the beetles, we may not be able to flip over on our own, or even with the help of a well-meaning friend. Unlike the beetles, we have a choice of how we spend our time on our backs. Will we wiggle and squirm, or peacefully rest in the assurance that God has purposed our struggles? Our destiny, if we have accepted Jesus into our hearts, is not death. It is life beyond this world. That is the when all will be righted for good. We will never be flaying on our backs again.
Posted in Nature, tagged Julie B Cosgrove, Light of Christ, moon, reflecting God, Son, Where did you find God today on August 15, 2014| 7 Comments »
This is a photograph taken by The Blind Photographer, a Christian named Steve Rebus who has an amazing blog. I hope you check out his other photos and blog entries as well.
As I gazed at the moon through “his eyes”, I discovered I want to be more like that moon.
Created by God, the moon is dead until it reflects the sun’s light. Then, it shines into the darkness and often provides direction for people on earth. As Christians, do we not strive to do likewise? With the Light of Christ bringing us to life, we can deliver hope to a hurting world enveloped in the darkness of sin and strife.
When I was little and looked up at the moon, I saw the “man in the moon” smiling back down at me. My mother used to sing us a lullaby popularized by JAMES MERRILL BRICKMAN, –
“God bless the moon and God bless me. God bless the someone I long to see.”
As I grew into my teens, I visualized that man in the moon as my Heavenly Father looking down on me and smiling. He was who I longed to see. I’d sneak outside in the middle of the night and talk to Him, cry to Him, and at times just gaze at Him, filled with a peace that I was not alone. It comforted me through those tumultuous years. And to be honest, every now and then full moons still have that effect on me.
The man in the moon affect is of course shadows from the craters – bombardments of meteors which have scarred its surface. May even my scars from life’s battles reflect God’s image as well and may others be comforted when they see the Son of Man shining in me, knowing in their hearts that they are not alone.
In the same way, let your light shine before others, that they may see your good deeds and glorify your Father in heaven. Matthew 5:16
Posted in Nature, tagged cling, God calls, Julie Cosgrove, protection, shelter, Where Did You Find God, Wind on August 12, 2014| Leave a Comment »
It caught my eye as I rode shot-gun with my son. A tiny, almost translucent, spider clung to the windshield of the passenger side. Smaller than my pinkie nail. It hung on as we went over the speed bumps and through the security gate of the apartment complex. The little thing clung tightly as we turned the corner and picked up speed. Five blocks later, it still was hanging to the glass, spreading its minuscule legs as far as it could. Asking my son to pull over so I could rescue a spider when we were running late didn’t appear to be a viable option. I sucked in my breath as we accelerated up the ramp to the highway.
Surely the spider couldn’t have the strength to hold on at 60 mph. You may think it silly, but I whispered a prayer for God’s protection.
Sure enough, as my son’s foot pressed down on the gas, the spider inched its way up window into the area where the metal meets the glass – a minute strip protected from the wind. Two exits later, when we pulled into the parking lot, the spider hopped to scamper over the roof of the car- safe and sound. Quite a journey for such a tiny creature.
Where are you on your journey? Do you feel the wind force against you? Are you trying to cling with all your might but are getting weary? It might be the time to take a chance and move closer to the protection of God even when every fiber of your being says, “Don’t let go.” What may not seem like shelter may be just the place you need to be to withstand the trek until things slow down. But it takes faith to make that step.
Something called that tiny spider to take the chance, move its legs, and scoot up into the top of the car window even as it was accelerating faster. Where is God calling you?
I cling to you; your right hand upholds me. Psalm 63:8
Each one will be like a shelter from the wind and a refuge from the storm, Isaiah 32:2a
Posted in Christian, Nature, tagged broken, God's grace, hope, Julie Cosgrove, peace, sorrow, Where did you find God today on June 12, 2014| 1 Comment »
Along the river bank at my family place in the Texas Hill Country is an old cypress. Long before my birth, it’s trunk was bent in half by a raging flood. Yet, it’s not only lived but thrived. Its shady limbs continue to stretch out into the waters.Some reach high towards the sky. Each year it bears fragrant cypress balls, and is a celestial highway for squirrels. In times of flood and storms, it is a refuge for the birds.
Christians are not immune to tragedy in this broken world. But, as Rick Warren says, even then, we can still bear fruit because we are grafted into Christ’s loving strength and merciful grace.
“…do not consider yourself to be superior to those other branches. If you do, consider this: You do not support the root, but the root supports you. You will say then, “Branches were broken off so that I could be grafted in.” Romans 11:18-19
Others see there is hope in our eyes not washed away by our grief-stricken tears, Even in our deepest sorrow, there is a peace. And that, my friends, speaks volumes without one whispered word.
Posted in Life Experiences, Nature, tagged become who you are meant to be, grow in God, Julie Cosgrove, obstacles, overcome adversity, strength, tenacity, Where did you find God today on May 12, 2014| 1 Comment »
A friend posted this photo from knoxville.com on Facebook. It’s making the circuit, so maybe you’ve seen it. At first I laughed…then my mouth formed an “o.”
God spoke to me in volumes about tenacity, strength through adversity, and determination to become the beautiful creation He has in mind for you to be.
That car must have been there long before the tree was little more than a sapling. Yet, somehow, this tenacious little piece of bark pushed through metal, leather, springs and rust to stretch out into the sky.Year after year it struggled to grow, and eventually sprawled out beyond the boundaries that contained it. Limbs shot from its ever-increasing trunk until it overcame what had held it back.
The same God-given weather – rain, sun, cold and heat – that nourished the tree deteriorated it’s captor. Windows, once hardened by glass, shattered. Metal, once molded for strength, crumbled. What was once an obstacle became a pathway to the light, and a container to guide further growth.
If you are facing obstacles right now, I hope this picture of a tree sprouting healthy and strong from an old rusty car gives you hope. Through the struggle,no matter the diversity you face, you will become what God intended you to be if you don’t give up. Anything is possible if you rely on God. Keep stretching, keep reaching for Heaven’s goodness. God will provide.You will overcome any adversity if you turn to Him.
He gives strength to the weary and increases the power of the weak. Isaiah 40:29
Jesus looked at them and said, “With man this is impossible, but not with God; all things are possible with God.” Mark 10:27
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Posted in Christian, Nature, tagged bear our sins, crown of thorns, Crucifixion, Julie Cosgrove, Mary Hamilton, Where did you find God today on April 17, 2014| 1 Comment »
reblogged from tween author Mary Hamilton – http://www.maryhamiltonbooks.com/crown-of-thorns/
Mary found a message from God in this amazing plant —–
“Have you seen this plant? When I was growing up, I recall my parents having a gnarled old plant like this in a metal bucket. Most of the year, it looked thorny and ugly. But when it bloomed with small round flowers all over, it was beautiful.
The Crown of Thorns is associated with Passion Week. We don’t know whether this plant formed the crown thrust onto Jesus’ head by mocking soldiers. But the spiky stems certainly make it a strong candidate. And the red flowers symbolize the drops of blood that fell from Jesus’ head and wounds.
Last week, I studied Jesus’ prayer in Gethsemane, just before he was betrayed. The Bible tells us he was so greatly troubled that he sweat drops of blood. I’d always imagined he was grieved and anxious about the physical trial he was about to undergo. But this time, as I read of his anguish and sorrow, I saw a different reason. This time, I realized he was grieving about the weight of sin that would be put on him. About the burden he chose to carry that was my sin. And He grieved for the moment His Father would turn away. He who was one with the Father would soon bear the sins of the world. . .alone. No wonder our Savior cried out to let the cup pass from him. But in the end, He chose to drink it. All of it. Alone. For me. And you.
Little red flowers that look like drops of blood. That remind us there is no greater love.”
Thanks, Mary for this wonderful reminder of what our Savior did for us in the cross.
May each of you find God in new ways this Holy Week.
Where Did You Find God Today? 