Luke 21:25-28 (ESV)
“And there will be signs in sun and moon and stars, and on the earth distress of nations in perplexity because of the roaring of the sea and the waves, people fainting with fear and with foreboding of what is coming on the world. For the powers of the heavens will be shaken. And then they will see the Son of Man coming in a cloud with power and great glory. Now when these things begin to take place, straighten up and raise your heads, because your redemption is drawing near.”
I will love the light for it shows me the way; yet I will love the darkness for it shows me the stars.
—Og Mandino, The Greatest Secret in the World
“perfect love casts out fear” (1 John 4:18) “suggests that experiencing God’s perfect love eliminates fear. This love, often associated with God’s unconditional love for humanity, creates a sense of security and trust that counteracts the effects of fear. It’s not just any love, but a love that is complete, perfect, and transformative.”
My golden doodle, Peaches, often teaches me many things. One very important lesson she has taught me slow down, stop and smell the new summer flowers.
“…straighten up and raise your heads, because your redemption is drawing near.”
thedailylily.com 
Thank you for sharing all this, Sara, and for the prophetic exhortation that our “redemption is drawing near.” It is very encouraging to read that in the midst of stress and fears, we are not told to look inward or around us but to ‘raise our heads” and look up for Him.
I was reminded of a song that you wrote many years ago, Sara, titled, “Jesus is Waiting There”. I think this last verse reflects what you wrote in this blog.
“Look up, Look up past the days of gloom,
And let My Mourning Dove arise in your heart.
You’ll find I’m there and waiting for your call
Saying, O, Jesus, saying O Jesus, saying O Jesus, I want to come home.”
And what a perfectly lovely photo that brings beauty right to our devices so we, too, can “slow down, stop and smell the new summer flowers.”
Thanks Debi for reminding us to always study the word. Your song reminder of the “Mourning Dove” caused me to search how many times we find a symbolic meaning of the “Mourning Dove” in God’s Word. To mentioned two among others, Noah’s ark to Jesus’ Baptism.
“the mourning dove, is a rich symbol encompassing peace, the Holy Spirit, new beginnings, grief, and even love and devotion. It serves as a powerful reminder of God’s presence and promises.”
You are so right how this song has beautiful notes to guide our hearts to respond to the scripture warning of things to come and has come to us. Yet, the reminder of the peace for us as we receive Christ in our hearts and lift up our heads and rejoice because our “redemption draws near.”
Seeing the above photo of your peaches reminded me of the sermon I heard at my church has past Sunday. It was titled “Be still and know”, from Psalm 46. One of the notes I took said, “We have got to STOP, be still and know that God has it, so we must trust Him.” I remember a few years back at a retreat Sara telling me and us there this very thing…”Be still and know that I am God”. 🙏
So love the scripture be still…I like your lesson notes from Sunday sermon. “Stop, be still and KNOW…tie a note on our finger that reminds us to think and meditate on the KNOW…” to perceive or understand as fact or truth; to apprehend clearly and with certainty:”
I remember vividly the retreat where you, Tammy, did a skit on “Be Still and Know”…it was a spiritually broadway hit. Who there could forget your disturbing the whole retreat with your forgetting that Gid was in control in your moment of frustration with a thought of what you may have forgot to do! A great retreat!
Coming back to this blog many times over the past days and reading and looking at the photo, I find this part you wrote, Sara, particularly assuring to focus on: “perfect love casts out fear” (1 John 4:18) “suggests that experiencing God’s perfect love eliminates fear. This love, often associated with God’s unconditional love for humanity, creates a sense of security and trust that counteracts the effects of fear. It’s not just any love, but a love that is complete, perfect, and transformative.”
Just observing the flowers and plants in the photo, designed, created and maintained by God, “creates a sense of security”. They are living and thriving without worries (“Look at the lilies of the field and how they grow. They don’t work or make their clothing, yet Solomon in all his glory was not dressed as beautifully as they are.” Matt 6:28-29).
God seems to show in this one way His perfect love for His creation and for us. I was reminded of this scripture from Jeremiah 17:8: “He is like a tree planted by water, that sends out its roots by the stream, and does not fear when heat comes, for its leaves remain green, and is not anxious in the year of drought, for it does not cease to bear fruit.”
Debi, and, bear fruit in its own season.
Psalm 1:3 compares a person who delights in God’s law to a tree planted by streams of water, which yields its fruit in season.