The Official Writing Challenge
BACK TO
CHALLENGE
MAIN
INSTRUCTIONS
how it works
submission rules
guidelines for
choosing a level
ENTRIES
submit your entry
read current entries
read past entries
challenge winners
Our Daily Devotional HERE
Place it on your site or
receive it daily by email.


TRUST JESUS TODAY

  • Share
  • how it works
  • Submit
Previous Challenge Entry (Level 1 – Beginner)
Topic: Blessed (10/11/12)
Sometimes we need to be reminded of how blessed we are. To my delight I have been renewed in my awareness of the blessedness of nature. In these tough times it is easy to become focused on day to day struggles rather than on the blessings that surround us.

After losing my job several months ago I began taking a daily walk in a nearby park.

“Maybe a walk will lift my spirits.” I heard myself saying aloud when I set out on the first day.

Through spring, summer and now into fall I’ve continued this daily respite – one that does indeed lift my spirits.

I’ve taken in the beauty of God’s green cathedral and decided that only God knows how many shades of green embellish the beauty in His trees. I revel as I gaze at the sparkling leaves – perhaps really seeing for the first time the gem-like effect that the gorgeous early morning sun provides.

As the fall season transitions the reflection of the trees on the lake forms a kaleidoscope of color that changes from day to day.

Allowing myself to take advantage of the opportunity to sit and do nothing I notice the chip monks scampering back and forth. “Oops,” their hesitation almost seems to say, “there’s someone else here today.”

The clamor overhead shifts my attention upward and I can’t help but notice the V-formation flight of the geese and I’m reminded of the lesson they teach – when the lead bird tires, it moves out of the lead position, falls back into one of the lines of the V and another assumes the lead position.

Rounding a bend on my walk path I’ve heard myself laugh out loud at the ducks swimming in the lake in a bobbing-for-apples position - dunking so far down in the water that only their tail feathers are visible.


The most remarkable event – the most uplifting of all occurs on sunny days when a breeze blows through the water that gushes from a fountain mid-point in the lake causing a many-hued rainbow to form. This truly reminds me that despite its struggles and strife life has rainbow moments and that I must continue to seek them out.

The blessedness of nature reminds me to take comfort as well in the words of Scripture particularly the words of Jesus recorded in the Gospel of Matthew. Mt 6:25-27 (New American Bible):


“Therefore I tell you, do not worry about your life, what you will eat [or drink], or about your body, what you will wear. Is not life more than food and the body more than clothing? Look at the birds in the sky; they do not sow or reap, they gather nothing into barns, yet your heavenly Father feeds them. Are not you more important than they? Can any of you by worrying add a single moment to your life-span?
The opinions expressed by authors may not necessarily reflect the opinion of FaithWriters.com.
If you died today, are you absolutely certain that you would go to heaven? You can be right now. CLICK HERE

JOIN US at FaithWriters for Free. Grow as a Writer and Spread the Gospel.
This article has been read 1173 times
Member Comments
Member
Date
Colin Swann
10/19/12
Really enjoyed this one - I love nature and revel in God's creative work. Really good! Thanks!

Colin (Gold Member)
Shann Hall-LochmannVanBennekom 
10/20/12
This is a delightful devotion. I really liked how you shared a personal experience and then related that to the Word of God.

I noticed some tiny errors like some missing commas and that you put a space in between the em dash but it should look like this--really a little thing and chipmunk is one word.

I could almost feel the sun on my face and my hands trembled at the picture of the geese you painted for me. I've started walking lately. I've never been much of an outside person but I'm being blessed over and over in my daily walks from the beautiful red, pink and purple hues in the leaves of the trees this year. The drought has been hard and harvests are meager but in exchange God painted the world these amazing colors different from any year I can remember. You did a nice job on this piece.
Janice Wappel
10/21/12
I liked the following paragraph...very descriptive,

"Rounding a bend on my walk path I’ve heard myself laugh out loud at the ducks swimming in the lake in a bobbing-for-apples position - dunking so far down in the water that only their tail feathers are visible."

God Bless
Bryan Rudolph
10/22/12
Oh, my, my, my. The wealth of God’s ways filled what loss of work emptied. Would you have appreciated God’s natural abundance, as completely, otherwise? Maybe, still, with your heartfelt rendition, I know you have led me to more fully do so.
Charla Diehl
10/22/12
This dedication to God's earthly beauty is wonderfully descriptive and full of "aha" moments. I'm an avid walker and never tire of His creation--it's where I feel closest to God.
Great job with this piece.
C D Swanson 
10/25/12
Descriptive, reverent, and just an oveall beautiful devotional. Thank you.

God Bless~
Shann Hall-LochmannVanBennekom 
10/25/12
Congratulations for placing first in level one and 14 overall!
Bea Edwards 
10/27/12
Congratulations on your winning entry with this beautiful devotional about God showing Himself through His creation and reminding us to be grateful during the experience.
Jeanette Oestermyer
10/29/12
Hi Barbara,

I enjoyed reading your article and much of it hit me, the fall preeze telling me to look God's green carpet and enjoy the seasons as they each bring beauty to our world.

Good artle and keep on writing.