Special post from Guideposts.org, Part 3

Many of you know that I was blessed to be chosen as one of eleven winners of the Guideposts Writing Contest in 2014. That blessing took me to Rye, New York for a week-long class to learn how to write for Guideposts Publications. We had lengthy, intense sessions with many of the New York Guideposts editors, and we became part of the Guideposts family during that precious week. It was truly a blessing and dream-come-true to learn how to write inspirational stories for a magazine that I've enjoyed for years.

I enjoyed sharing some of my nature pictures recently at https://www.guideposts.org. I'd like to share a couple of those shots and thoughts below, and I'll share more on another day. I would be honored if you check out the entire slideshow here. 

Please enjoy a couple of God's masterpieces below and thanks in advance for visiting the Guideposts website to see the others in my collection. 

Life Lessons Learned from Nature (Part 3)

by Julie Lavender

Five-lined Skink

A skink has the capability to ‘drop,’ or break off part of its tail when attacked by predators. The still-wiggling tail distracts the predator and the tail-less skink escapes. Eventually, the skink’s tail grows back, though it sometimes struggles with balance issues while tail-less.

The skink teaches me that troubles that wound me in life don’t have to get the better of me. I can cast that off, rejuvenate, and move on to bigger and better things….leaving my tormentors staring at my tail in confusion!

CONSIDER THE POINSETTIA 
by Julie Lavender

Though it’s not native to the United States and serves as a Christmas-season décor, the poinsettia is the spotlight of my blog this week. 

I noticed my first of the season in my neighbor’s wooden nativity scene while on my morning walk.

GUEST BLOGGER

My guest today is Carla Pollard. Carla and I were online writer-friends for several months before we had the opportunity to meet in person. She traveled a wee bit south and I traveled about the same amount of time north to meet in Buford, Georgia for the inaugural Enrich Writers Conference in mid-fall. I was charmed by her sweet, gentle spirit and her love for the Lord. I think you'll enjoy her inspiration below as much as I did, and I know you'll love other writings on her site. Visit her at www.carlagpollard.com.  

The Lord is Still There

By Carla G. Pollard

“The Lord himself goes before you and will be with you; he will never leave

 you nor forsake you. Do not be afraid; do not be discouraged” Deut. 31:8 NIV.

Special post from Guideposts.org, Part 2

Many of you know that I was blessed to be chosen as one of eleven winners of the Guideposts Writing Contest in 2014. That blessing took me to Rye, New York for a week-long class to learn how to write for Guideposts Publications. We had lengthy, intense sessions with many of the New York Guideposts editors, and we became part of the Guideposts family during that precious week. It was truly a blessing and dream-come-true to learn how to write inspirational stories for a magazine that I've enjoyed for years.

I enjoyed sharing some of my nature pictures recently at https://www.guideposts.org. I'd like to share a couple of those shots and thoughts below, and I'll share more on another day. I would be honored if you check out the entire slideshow here. 

Please enjoy a couple of God's masterpieces below and thanks in advance for visiting the Guideposts website to see the others in my collection. 

Life Lessons Learned from Nature (Part 2)

by Julie Lavender

Painted Lady Butterfly

The painted lady butterfly has one of the longest known butterfly migrations, according to sciencenews.org. Found in many locations around the world, the painted lady butterflies that live in southern Europe migrate all the way to Africa in the fall, a distance of almost seven thousand, five hundred miles!

The painted lady butterfly reminds me that every journey begins with a flap of the wings, that first step. It may be a long journey, but with determination, I’ll get there.