CONSIDER THE FIREFLY
by Julie Lavender

I love watching the fireflies this time of year! It’s fun to watch their twinkling lights at dusk. 

Fireflies, sometimes called ‘lightning bugs,’ are found on every continent except Antarctica. They like warm, humid places and only come out in the summertime.

GUEST BLOGGER

Few in the writing world have not heard of my guest blogger this week. Edie Melson is a writer's cheerleader and encourager and has such a wealth of knowledge about the writing and publishing world that practically anything she says or writes is a nugget of gold. 

Her recently-published goldmine is a book entitled, Soul Care for Writers, published by Bold Vision Books. Edie helps the reader find Soul Care solutions using devotions and prayers and opportunities for creative expression. As a result, the reader develops a deeper relationship with God and embraces rest for a weary soul. 

CONSIDER THE SUNDEW
by Julie Lavender

On my walk with God today, I almost missed the sparkling red sundews beneath my feet. Growing close to the ground, unless the flowering parts shoot up from the middle, the plant is easy to miss.

GUEST BLOGGER

I love meeting new friends, and when those friends are also writers, well, then that's an extra bonus. Janene Keeth is just such a friend! We met through other online writer friends, and I am thrilled to help her share info about her just-released book! 

On Bended Knee will give your prayer life a jolt of excitement and deepen your intimacy with God as you study the prayers of biblical prophets, warriors, and kings. 

Enjoy Cricket Keeth's post below that fits perfectly with my nature-themed blog, check out her website to find out how she got the nickname "Cricket," and then consider getting her new book, On Bended Knee. I know you'll enjoy it! 

GUEST BLOGGER
Meet another one of my writer friends, Carole Sparks, that has a heart for the Lord and enjoys writing about nature, like me. She also writes about other godly topics on her blog, Not About Me.
Please enjoy her words below, then click on her link at the bottom to go to her site and find other posts that I know you'll be interested in reading. 

Consider the Mountain Trail

by Carole Sparks

We went hiking in a nearby state park over Spring break. I like hiking—that sense of freedom, the cleanliness of the air, the views. 

Our hike was mostly safe, if a bit steeper than I anticipated. Hiking in the mountains can be scary, though. If a storm comes suddenly, or if you lose the path, or if the mountain drops off sharply right beside the trail, you can quickly start to long for your oh-so-safe couch and the convenience of your TV remote.

We didn’t need one for our 3-mile hike, but a more strenuous hike sometimes requires that you hire a guide. No one climbs Mt. Kilimanjaro without guides and a full support team, right? 

In our lives as Christ-followers, we hike a fresh section of trail every day. We’ve never been in this exact place before, and sometimes it looks treacherous. But we have a Guide who has already been here and a God who knows everything before and behind us. 

For we do not have a high priest who is unable to empathize with our weaknesses, but we have one who has been tempted in every way, just as we are—yet he did not sin.  -Hebrews 4:15 NIV

Like it makes sense to trust your mountain guide, it’s only reasonable that we trust and follow the One Who created the mountains long before there were trails.

 For more on this idea, click over to Carole’s post, Our Mountain Guide.

(All photo credits: Carole Sparks)

 What about you? Do you like to hike, like Carole and me? What lessons have you learned from God's magnificent hills and mountains and other outdoor pathways?

BIO: 

Despite living only minutes away, Carole Sparks doesn’t spend nearly enough time in the mountains these days. Instead, she writes about the Bible, works for a non-profit, and tries to breathe as much fresh air as she can. Sometime when you aren’t out in the woods, find Carole on Twitter, Facebook, or her blog, Not About Me.