Another peaceful and quiet morning. The birds are singing thanks, enjoying all the fresh sunflowers seeds in the feeders. A large pileated woodpecker is drumming on the old oak tree across the street, his staccato beat loud and clear. Oldest sister-in-law brought me three petit fours from Edgar’s bakery in Birmingham this morning. They are to die for!

My aunt, Margaret Shaffer, loved petit fours. If there’s room service in heaven, I bet she eats some every day. She used to hide her petit fours from Uncle Jim under her side of the bed. I’d go to Piggly Wiggly in Alexander City, they occasionally had some from their bakery catering. I’d take Aunt Margaret a box of them. She’d never share them but was so happy to have them. I’ve eaten one of mine. I’ve got two left. I’ll use them as bribes for myself for chores I don’t wanna do. Maybe I’ll ride another mile on my bicycle. Maybe I’ll just eat another one now! Welp, they gone now!!

I’ve been trying to learn to dictate my blogs. Just kills me to read back what the iPad thinks I said. I read, “My Aunt Margaret hides her pedophiles under her side of the bed.” Guess I need to work on my enunciation. Takes longer to correct what I dictate than to just type it. I’m giving up dictation! When my arthritis acts up I’ll just hunt and peck. I finger type in the swing just as fast as I type with both hands, anyway.

Well, the 21 one letters to Scout camp are written, sealed and addressed. My grandchildren are all going to camp, Handley for the first time, and they’ll all get a letter from Patty each day. Penelope and Kat wrote a letter, too. The campers love to get mail. The first year the boys went half their letters never arrived. My son is a Scoutmaster with them so he just puts the letters in the camp’s mail box each day. The camp is such a beautiful campus, I know they’ll have a grand time.

The earth is so pretty this morning dressed in green, highlighted by the sun. Genesis 8:22 states, “As long as the earth endures, seedtime and harvest, cold and heat, summer and winter, day and night will never cease.” I love that the Lord saw-fit to give us the four seasons. In Psalm 23:2-3 it states, “He makes me lie down in green pastures, he leads me beside quiet waters, he refreshes my soul.” I think this verse is speaking of summer. The Lord greens the grass, sends spring rains to water the earth, and wants us to soothe and refresh our souls as the earth awakens.

The summer often gives us opportunities to deepen our connection with God. The warmth of summer uplifts our spirits. We spend more time outside, feeling connected to nature, appreciating God’s glorious creation. Psalm 62:1 states, “Truly my soul finds rest in God; my salvation comes from him.” We have emotional peace and trust when we put our faith in God. We have a freedom in our faith. We’re assured of God’s presence in our lives and we depend on his love and strength. His Holy Spirit will guide us to eternity. 2 Corinthians 3:17-18 states, “Now the Lord is the Spirit, and where the Spirit of the Lord is, there is freedom. And we all, who with unveiled faces contemplate the Lord’s glory, are being transformed into his image with ever-increasing glory, which comes from the Lord, who is the Spirit.”

We all feel the Holy Spirit differently. When I sit perched in the porch swing early morning as the day wakes with bird songs or watch the sunset’s coloring at the day’s dusk, I can feel the Holy Spirit in the quietness of my faith. I sense God’s presence and feel his peace and comfort and I’m reminded of his promises. Second Corinthians 1:20 states, “For all the promises of God in Him are Yes, and in Him Amen.”

God gives us peace and comfort, guidance and wisdom. He forgives our sins and promises us eternal life. “All things are possible for one who believes,” — Mark 9:23.

“There is nothing God loves more than keeping promises, answering prayers, performing miracles, and fulfilling dreams. That is who he is. That is what he does.” — Mark Batterson