Thursday, October 15, 2015

Green: Five Minute Friday

Another week, another chance to write on a one-word prompt for only five minutes. We set timers, type quickly, and let it flow without criticism. Then, we link-up our posts so we can read others' posts and they read ours and we have a community that grows from one word each week.
Five Minute Friday.

Go!

Green is my favorite color. I was so super excited when this became the prompt for our week! You see, for me, green represents life, strength, vigor, hope, energy, everything! Two of my three daughters have green birthstones, which makes my mother's jewelry absolutely delightful.

And writing to you on life? Well, where do we begin?
Let's begin at John 10:10. This was the immediate thought after green represents life.
"A thief comes only to steal and to kill and to destroy. I have come so that they may have life and have it in abundance."


I have come to give you life and that abundantly...even though I am truly a winter bird and love the beautiful snow, the green of spring is something to behold. Someday I'll visit Ireland. That is my long lost musical love. I'll quickly slip into a Celtic accent when I worship with Robin Mark on my CDs from the early turn of our century.

Recently I was transported to that moist but dewy glowing atmosphere while hiking some beautiful waterfalls. They're all on Highway 138 in Southwestern Oregon. There are more than we stopped to see, but I included some of my best photographs for you.

I imagine Heaven as green and luscious with beauty all over. Soft green grass under my feet and fresh mountain air as I stare out over the landscape. (I am Colorado-born, so there's a natural love for the peaks of mountains inside me.)

Sometimes we lack life. We lose luster. We become dull and dry and weary. Then our beautiful Savior leads us back to the Psalms. Since September, I've been journeying through the Psalms. First 121-150 in September. Now it's 1-31 this month. And in a week? Psalm 23 will be here.

He makes me lie down in green pastures; He leads me beside quiet waters. He restores my soul;





Does your soul need green, peaceful pastures? Empty of cares and full of life? Can you listen to the babbling brooks and restore your soul?
In our study through the book of Revelation right now, Jesus' voice is described as thundering waters. Waterfalls and oceans must be an earthly representation for us.


Praying that you can take a few minutes this week to allow Him to soothe you into a warm, sunny summer day where you lay on green grass and let the sun warm your very soul.
I keep this 40 second video on my phone for those moments I need to still myself. The water was so loud that I was not aware of anything but the water. It was so large I couldn't take it all in. God is like that. He's all around us and He's everywhere we're looking and He fills our senses in ways we cannot describe!

Find me on Facebook and you can join our journey through Psalms. :)
(and list your url or linkup number if you comment so I can visit you too)

~Tammy

 
"In The Beauty of Holiness" ~Robin Mark

 
 
"Jesus, All For Jesus" ~Robin Mark



14 comments:

  1. I love waterfalls! The photos are gorgeous :). I love the color green and I love that green represents hope. There is something so powerful and mighty large bodies of water that always make me ponder God, too. http://wp.me/p2UZoK-YC

    ReplyDelete
    Replies
    1. I love that green represents hope as well! (hence my blog name-"sincerity and hope")
      So blessed you came to visit me, Anita!
      Love,
      Tammy
      (let's plan an ocean trip, yes?? We'll ponder in blessed silence and listen to the surf together)

      Delete
  2. Thank you for sharing this beautiful post and such majestic pics. I love hiking and would love to come across these trails. Enjoy the scenery God has blessed you with

    ReplyDelete
    Replies
    1. Jennifer,
      well if you're ever in Oregon, I would happily take you on a tour! This was a day-trip for me.
      Thank you for your visit and your beautiful words!!
      ~Tammy

      Delete
  3. I love the waterfalls, and somehow cannot even remotely imagine you lacking life and luster. Sorry, but there it is. You are the go-to gal for shine, sparkle, and faith.

    #3 at FMF this week.

    http://blessed-are-the-pure-of-heart.blogspot.com/2015/10/your-dying-spouse-70-green-with-envy-fmf.html

    ReplyDelete
    Replies
    1. Andrew,
      and that is the beauty of the Internet. You have a false sense of sparkle. It's okay. I try to spread the joy of the Lord and not the flesh of my humanity as much.
      The more I become like Him, the more aware of the fact that I'm not Him I become. It makes me draw closer, excited for the day I cease to be anything but His.
      So thankful for your words and glad you could see the waterfalls!
      ~Tammy

      Delete
  4. Your image of heaven just made me sigh... so true that green really is the color of life to me too. And your photos are beautiful. Such lushness.

    ReplyDelete
    Replies
    1. Maria,
      thank you so much. I have a really nice camera on my cell phone, but also a nice camera. I tried to capture the falls with both, so it's a mix. It was a day of beauty! :)
      Thanks for the visit!!
      Love,
      Tammy

      Delete
  5. Beautiful! Love the pics. Colorado is one of my fave places in the world. Green is my fave fave fave color too! And Ireland..one of my dream trips. Sounds to me like we have a few things in common. Love ya sister!

    ReplyDelete
    Replies
    1. Tara,
      though I miss Colorado mountains and waterfalls, Oregon has a lot of beauty too.
      So we're green Irish want-to-be's?? Let's plan a trip! ;)
      Love you too!
      ~Tammy

      Delete
  6. Love your post- so full of joy and life (and music and waterfalls which I love). Your pictures are beautiful. I also hope heaven will have green grass and mountain air and waterfalls. Carly (#42)

    ReplyDelete
    Replies
    1. Sorry I'm actually #47.

      Delete
    2. Thanks so much Carly! :) I've had that linkup number jump for me too. I'll try to catch up on reading this evening (new job leaves me little time for reading).
      I'm so certain He would give us this and even better in Heaven! :)
      Love,
      Tammy

      Delete
  7. Your photos are beautiful! And you description of heaven reminds me of a story by CS Lewis. I can't remember what it's called. Anyway, just beautiful images. :)

    ReplyDelete