Thy word is a lamp unto my feet, and a light unto my path. (Psalm 119:105 KJV)
Autumn is approaching and my gardens are being guided by the shift. They know the seasons well here in Northern Virginia. After all, they come year after year.
My yearly calendar seems to know the day, date and time. It told me 2026 will be Autumn on, Tuesday, September 22, 2026, at 8:04 p.m. EDT!
I’ve started feeling a seasonal shift in my inner soul, like a fresh season is emerging. Do you?
King Solomon penned these words;
“To every thing there is a season, and a time to every purpose under the heaven:
A time to be born, and a time to die; a time to plant, and a time to pluck up that which is planted;…” (Eccles 3:1-3)
And, chapter 3 ends with these words, “Wherefore I perceive that there is nothing better, than that a man should rejoice in his own works; for that is his portion: for who shall bring him to see what shall be after him?”
Rejoice in your own works!
Galatians 6:4: Advises every person to test or examine their own work, leading to satisfaction in themselves rather than by comparing themselves to a neighbor. “But let every one prove his own work, and then shall he have rejoicing in himself alone, and not in another.”
What do you wish for in this changing of season from summer to Autumn?
Sara writes, “I’ve started feeling a seasonal shift in my inner soul, like a fresh season is emerging. Do you?”
It seems that when seasons change, I pick up a book that I love about an author that wrote and illustrated many beloved children’s books, “The Private World of Tasha Tudor”, by Tasha Tudor and Richard Brown. There are four chapters on the four seasons and it is filled with beautiful photos and illustrations about the seasons and activities of each. I usually read about the season that is coming up or that we are in. In her chapter, Winter, she writes, “Sometimes when I’ve been throwing hay around, it smells like summer in the barn, and the sun comes through the windows and the cracks in the boards and makes shafts of light in the dusty air. But I never long for summer in winter. What is that lovely quote from Shakespeare – “At Christmas I no more desire a rose/Than wish a snow in May’s newfangled mirth”. That’s the idea. For everything there is a season.”
The colors in Sara’s lamp photo remind me of autumn with its own special fall flowers, pumpkins, fall skies and shorter days with the need for evening lights and lamps.
“What do you wish for in this changing of season from summer to Autumn?”
As change is inevitable, sometimes welcome and sometimes difficult, I wish to keep focused on what God has to say. I am thankful that The Daily Lily is here throughout the changing seasons to remain an anchor and lighthouse. “Thy word is a lamp unto my feet, and a light unto my path. (Psalm 119:105 KJV)”
“The grass withers, the flowers fade, but the word of our God remains forever.”” Isaiah 40:8
The illustration of the bird and fish that says, “Comparison is the thief of Joy”, reminded me of one of Sara’s songs she wrote quite a few years ago, but whose truth remains relevant for anytime or season. For me it’s a song of Hope in the midst of change and explains how life can be Joy.
“The Glory of the King”
“It’s the glory of the Lord that has turned my life to joy. It’s the glory of the Lord! The Glory of the King.
It’s the glory of the Lord that has caused my heart to sing. It’s the Glory of the Lord, The Glory of the King.
It’s the Glory of the Lord that has made my mountains to peak, that has made my valleys to spring, The Glory of the King, The Glory of the King, The Glory of the King.
It’s the glory of the Lord that turns my clouds into rain, that turns my night into light, that makes my heart to bud.
It’s the Glory of the Lord! As I look I see His cross – It’s the Glory of the Lord! The Glory of the King!
It’s the Glory of the Lord! I have found the Way that leads me home. I must not look at my brother – For in God’s glory is the throne. For in His glory is the throne.”
”Comparison is the thief of Joy”…… boy is that truth! The bird wishing to swim and the fish wishing to fly😳 I can only imagine all the beautiful things a bird can see from up in the sky! And what about all the gorgeous things the fish can see under water! 🤔 The footnotes for Galatians 6:4 says: “When you do your very best, you feel good about the results. There is no need to compare yourself with others. People make comparisons for many reasons. Some point out others’ flaws in order to feel better about themselves. Others simply want reassurance that they are doing well. When you are tempted to compare, look at Jesus Christ. His example will inspire you to do your very best, and his loving acceptance will comfort you when you fall short of your expectations.”
Tammy, I don’t think you need any help in knowing how to follow Apostle Paul’s teaching in this setting. “But let every one prove his own work, and then shall he have rejoicing in himself alone, and not in another.” (Galatians 6:4)
You are truly an excellent example of understanding how to pray, study, understand and apply the teachings of Jesus to each day of your life.
And, you are in the “beauty of blooming” season where you are teaching others and helping them understand how to apply, ‘The living word of God’ to their lives in the difficult times as well as the easier times.
You understand “start with prayer” as the light to unlock the door.
I want to encourage you, the reason you are evaluating your work is so that you know and enjoy without a doubt the truth you are sharing with others is truth wrapped in love and compassion to all that you serve. May be a bedside in your vocation. May be a wife in supporting your husband! May be learning how to parent grown adults while singing or teaching Jesus in little ones that may just need a moment sitting on the knee of Jesus. Not just your own but all that God allows you time with.
May be the support of church, friends and extended family. Tammy, the part you are to know give yourself those smiley stickers. Rejoice in your good works! This is your time to rejoice in your works.
The connection to others is now that you recognize and find joy in being a part of the family of God there is always more to come! 👏👏👏
I was asked this? What do you call a 🐝 that can’t make up its mind?
Do you know? Check answer above in your list of praise?
Thank you for the above Sara. 😊 “What do you call a 🐝 that can’t make up its mind?” 🤔 indecisive????
What to call a Bee 🐝 that can’t make up its mind?
May-🐝
May- 🐝…….that’s cute 😂
Debi and Tammy, thanks for adding to and being a part of God’s master plan with your both being the persons that still help fuel the air flights over the oceans to neighbors afar.
The sky and the sea and then there is you and me and them to and what do we see?
A short example of 2 brothers that wanted to fly and they did in the sky like a bird right aroiund the ocean in Eastern NC! Wilbur and Orville!
“Wilbur was born in 1867 and Orville in 1871, growing up in a tight-knit family in Dayton, Ohio. In 1878, their father brought home a rubber-band-powered toy helicopter that sparked their lifelong fascination with flight. As adults, the mechanically inclined brothers opened the Wright Cycle Company to sell and repair bicycles. This successful business gave them the funds and free time during slow winter months to pursue their aviation dreams.
Testing at Kitty Hawk
Unlike other inventors who focused only on powerful engines, the brothers realized that mastering aircraft control was the true key to flying. They observed birds and invented “wing warping”—a system to flex the wings for steering. In 1900, they traveled to the windy dunes of Kitty Hawk, North Carolina, to test kites and gliders. After testing hundreds of wing designs in a custom wind tunnel, they built a reliable glider with a movable rudder by 1902.
First Flight and Legacy
The brothers added a lightweight gasoline engine and hand-carved wooden propellers to their new craft, the Wright Flyer. On December 17, 1903, at Kill Devil Hills near Kitty Hawk, Orville piloted the machine for 12 seconds over a distance of 120 feet. They made four successful flights that day, with the longest lasting 59 seconds. They later built fully practical airplanes in Dayton and gained worldwide fame, changing global travel forever.”
In this short Bio of their story we can see vast parts that many, many others played to get just this far of a few seconds in the sky after observing the flight of birds. They needed the ocean winds to partner with them. Wonder what the fish thought when the brothers had to partner with them?
Galatians 6:4: Advises every person to test or examine their own work, leading to satisfaction in themselves rather than by comparing themselves to others.
I’m still thinking how nice to be a “rubber band”! Without a rubber band would there be a jet for my European travels. A man on the moon or trips around the moon with eyes on Mars?
Tammy and Debi, what are some ways we can test and examine ourselves to see if our work is working and connecting to the whole?
I often test myself to check the temp on my imagination? I’m reminded the greatest portion of my work comes from what I call “a gift” of imagination.
To be continued in next comment…
Sara asks, “Tammy and Debi, what are some ways we can test and examine ourselves to see if our work is working and connecting to the whole? “
To help answer this, I head back to one of Sara’s retreat books, “The Four Bees, FINDING YOUR spiritual gifts”.
Here in the intro, Sara says:
“Find your gift and use it. Leave it hidden and lose it.”
“You are unique, there is not another you. “
“Your gifts live and die with you If you don’t develop them they will not be used.”
“You can accomplish mush more than you think if your reframe your thinking.”
I think Sara helps us keep our focus here when she writes, “Without a rubber band would there be a jet for my European travels. A man on the moon or trips around the moon with eyes on Mars? “ For a rubber band may seem small and insignificant to some, but look at the BIG part it played here.
Many years ago, Sara gave me a prophetic word that continues to be the ‘rubber band’ in my life to use and connect to the whole. The word from the Lord said that He had “called me into agriculture” and that when He did ,”it encompassed many things.” So, in the day to day, that remains my overall field which provides the boundaries, work and connections for doing my small part to help connect to the whole.
Thank you Debi, for reminding me of what Sara taught us at that retreat…”“Your gifts live and die with you If you don’t develop them they will not be used.”
“You can accomplish mush more than you think if your reframe your thinking.”
I have been blessed to be at the bedside of patients for many years now. It is a blessing to see their health improve after being treated at the hospital, for health issues. But Sara has asked, “Tammy and Debi, what are some ways we can test and examine ourselves to see if our work is working and connecting to the whole? “
I may need some help trying to answer this question? 🤔
Would it be correct to say, that I should first pray and ask God if I am obedient to Him, in my works?
Continue to part 2 of 2..
Recently, I have received a few text weekly from a Vietnam veteran. He served on a submarine. His correspondence to me is laced with politics mixed with religion, which seems to come from a heart that served proudly during a war. 🥲 And, where is the church in their pain?, That’s my thoughts from his text. And, it’s often not things I want to hear. I try to always respond with a simple teaching that I have gleaned from Jesus’ teaching, and, that’s because that is what I understand. I know absolutely nothing about the darkness of the Vietnam war. The very mention of it brings tears to my eyes because of what a few very valiant men have shared with me. One being a family member who served in the Green Beret. 🥲 This week the veteran sent me a photo of his bunk or one like it. I’m not sure. I glanced at it and basically said something with maybe an ✅ I guess. That visual tried to awaken the stories of their sufferings. My thought not theirs. Both sides for the people that are caught up in wars.
My response invited him to say I will try and send you a video of more bunks on the submarine. The video came but I didn’t see it and that prompted him to ask if I saw it? So I viewed still responded with few words. Why? Because I didn’t have any good words about those bunks. But, then I did! Humility, lack of pride was like gold to me at that moment, I felt the words, “you tell me what you think of your bunk now? You were there. You slept there. You suffered for our Nation of which I am a part. I thank you and honor you for serving. How grateful we are for you and other men that served with you.” 🙏
I honestly thought for a moment this is a test of my sharing the teachings of Jesus. What? When? And, how am I sharing? Are they words of love, healing, comfort and peace? Even warnings at times? Am I following the teachings of Jesus? Are the words and works I respond with from God’s book of guidance? And, more importantly do they come from within my well of thoughts and works? Maybe if I am as important as a rubber band I hold my ‘place in place’ and tightly if that be the need.
If I am a nurse that gives a shot well am I giving the right med for the need as directed by the physician.
If I am a teacher am I age appropriate in my teaching and up to date on the new and not lazily lacking and resting in the past?
Maybe like the Wright Brothers thought to study a bird flying I might take notice of an ant and flower. The Ant teaches us how to work—with purpose, discipline, and community. (Proverbs 6:6-11)The Flower teaches us how to be—with patience, beauty, and peace. (Reference Matthew 6:26)
Have mercy on us Oh Lord and grant us grace as we examine our works to see if you dwell within them each day and you shine into the hearts, minds and souls of others that glean from our works. I pray for each of us that desire to be in one with Our Father just as Jesus prayed for us in John. (found in John 17:20-23,)
Sara, thank you for Part 2 of 2 and sharing this story and your words, response and thoughts.
Another one of your gifts, being a wordsmith, is such a help and blessing and connects so many people, providing help, encouragement and healing via the “sharing the teachings of Jesus” as you wrote above.
“Because I didn’t have any good words about those bunks. But, then I did! Humility, lack of pride was like gold to me at that moment, I felt the words, “you tell me what you think of your bunk now? You were there. You slept there. You suffered for our Nation of which I am a part. I thank you and honor you for serving. How grateful we are for you and other men that served with you.”
These words express things most of us cannot, but when we read them, can appreciate and join in with the words of gratitude you wrote, “… You were there. You slept there. You suffered for our Nation of which I am a part. I thank you and honor you for serving. How grateful we are for you and other men that served with you.”