Sunset Hours

Overall, I have not wrote this summer. Journaling, blogging, letters, and even e-mails have been very scarce. Perhaps writer's block is not the right term. Over the past few months, I've sensed God drawing me into a season of listening rather than much speaking. There have been many times when God has spoken so clearly and beautifully, I can hardly help but climb to the nearest mountain and shout it to the world. Then there are other times, when I am drawn into a deep realization of how much there is to know of God, how little I have actually experienced, and a feeling as if a hand is being put over my mouth as I try to grasp the immensity of what God is trying to say. I think that season can be aptly described as one of simply being still, and learning to know God through a quiet, listening heart.

I can't say exactly when this blog is going to be picked up again. This winter is going to take me out of the country again where internet access is not going to be available but every once in a while. Perhaps by Spring there will be some more activity on here.

I do hope to keep up my photography blog. Obviously there won't be anything new when I'm gone, but until then, I hope to get up regular posts there.

Until next time!

Due to frequent inquiry by many of you, I thought I would publicly mention that our family music CD is *finally* finished and available for purchase. :-) We don't have a web-store set up yet, but purchase details can be worked out by contacting us through our web page.

I'm hoping to get back into blogging one of these days. Our music and family schedule has been very full, and doesn't leave me much time for thoughtful writing. :-) Fall is around the corner though, and I'm looking forward to laptop time around the fire with a mug of cocoa, tea, or coffee that will hopefully bring back some writing spark. :-)

-Carolyn Mahaney quoting Charles Spurgeon in

"Thus saith the LORD of hosts,

'Hearken not unto the words of the prophets that prophesy unto you: they make you vain: they speak a vision of their own heart, and not out of the mouth of the Lord'

'...they say unto every one that walketh after the imagination of his own heart, No evil shall come upon you.'

-Jer. 23:16-18

Most of us have no ear for anything but ourselves; anything that is not "me" we cannot hear. We are dead to, and without interest in the finest music; we can yawn in a picture gallery, and be uninspired by a sunrise or a sunset. That is true not only of the soul's denseness to natural beauties, or to music, and art and literature, but true with regard to the awakening of the soul to the call of God.

-Oswald Chambers

How often we underestimate the vital importance of hearing the voice of God and of discerning between the pulls of this world and of our own heart, and the soft, quiet voice of His Spirit speaking when we take time to listen....

Family reunions and summer activities...

Church camp-outs...

Wedding bells and blushing brides....

Long road trips....

...and many other things I won't mention!!

I am leaving for a dear friend's wedding tomorrow, and will not be back for awhile. Due to an intensely full schedule, posting has been sporadic anyway, but will become even more scare in the next little while. Once my feet hit the ground again from all this crazy busyness, maybe I will have the rest of mind to put to words the thoughts that have been swimming around in my head.

Hope you all are having a blessed summer!!