Tuesday, April 19, 2016

Everlasting Covenant



Genesis 9:15-17
I will remember my covenant between me and you and all living creatures of every kind.  Never again will the waters become a flood to destroy all life.  Whenever the rainbow appears in the clouds, I will see it and remember the everlasting covenant between God and all living creatures of every kind on the earth.

My husband, Danny, and I can't get enough of our most recent cabin in the breathtaking Nantahala Mountains of North Carolina overlooking the majestic vistas of the Great Smokys.  The interior of the cabin offers all the comforts, and then some, of home.











The views from our windows are incomparable, ever changing, ever inspiring.









If you've followed Meditations of My Heart for any length of time, you already know that we are bi-annual visitors to these gracious, inviting mountains, which by their very presence, remind us of the God who created them and dwells among us.  We have witnessed, over the years, every imaginable cloud formation, stunning sunrises, and night skies that defy description.



But on this visit, we are graced with the one phenomenon we'd barely glimpsed before and never witnessed in full.  A rainbow!!!  And not just any rainbow; this one begins in the valley and arches onto the mountainside high above in a single, unbroken curve.



MAGNIFICENT!

We stand speechless, in awe yet again of the wonders in God's handiwork.  And we are gloriously reminded by this rainbow of His everlasting covenant.

~

Do you have a special memory of a rainbow?  Please share!

Prayer:  Father, we thank You for Your signs and wonders all around us that remind us of Your constant presence in our lives.  Help us to live humbly, giving You all the honor and the glory, each and every day.  In Jesus' name, we pray.  Amen.

20 comments:

  1. Gorgeous, Martha! I've never seen a rainbow in a valley. Must be radiating gold.

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    1. It sure felt as though it was radiating gold, Mary. I know our faces were shining with sheer delight.
      Love and blessings!

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  2. Martha, Your photos are simply breath-taking! Your vacation spot seems to invite reflection, meditation, worship, and so much more. It also looks like an amazing place to write or be creative in other ways. God's creation is AMAZING!

    Love and blessings!

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    1. Kim, we have to give Danny all the credit for the marvelous photos. I took my camera, but didn't use it much. I really need to get more serious about photography.
      And it was/is an amazing place to commune with the Lord and admire His creation.
      Love and blessings!

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  3. is this your cabin? Can you put me in touch with whomever it would be to rent it? I want to see what you two saw.

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    1. Yes, Bill, that's where we stayed. The company we rented from is www.watershedcabins.com. You can see all their cabins and get an idea of what kind of view each one has. We've never been disappointed in any cabin in which we've stayed.
      Love and blessings!

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  4. Hi Martha! I'm with Bill. Spectacular!! I'm going to write down the site and take a look. Really my friend, the cabin looks like something out of House Beautiful. And of course, nature is House Beautiful.
    Thank you for sharing!
    Ceil

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    1. Yes, Ceil, nature is the original House Beautiful, and God's willingness to show off His works is never ending. Whether we are in a cabin in the mountains or in our own backyard, He can reveal so much to us when we have eyes to see.
      Do look them up and decide it you can plan a vacation. They have many large cabins to incorporate family reunions if that's what you have in mind. I cannot recommend Watershed highly enough.
      Love and blessings!

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  5. What a beautiful cabin, so cozy. And the views are spectacular!

    My favorite rainbow happened when my husband and I were driving through Arches National Park in Utah. All of a sudden, a tremendous rainstorm hit. A torrential downpour. The rain was so heavy we had to stop the car - our windshield wipers could not keep up. But afterwards, we saw the most beautiful rainbow.

    God is a God of promises. And He is the ultimate Promise-Keeper.

    GOD BLESS!

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    1. The ultimate Promise-Keeper - I love that, Sharon! And I also love the memory you shared here with us. Sometimes, when the rains of life are falling hard, we become too frightened to even hold out hope for the rainbow, but it is there. All thanks be to God!
      Love and blessings!

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  6. Oh my these are beautiful - both inside and out. wow. I love seeing those tiny vertical rainbows - they give me hope and make me smile. It is like "look at me - I am standing on my head" type of joyful rainbow.

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    1. A joyful rainbow, indeed, Jean! Sure made us sit up and take notice; we were winding up a game of pool when I felt a nudge to go back downstairs. Danny agreed. The next thing I know, I'm looking out the window and calling him to get the camera. There it is!!! It's the photo I really wanted for the most recent book in Adventures in The Glade, so I joked with Danny - I guess I have to write another sequel just for the sake of this picture. :)
      Love and blessings!

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  7. What an awesome view you had, Martha! I love it, especially the rainbow. It must have been especially breathtaking the way it arched from the valley to the mountain. Thank you for telling me about this post when you visited my site. Blessings to you!

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    1. Thank you so much, Trudy, for visiting me at my invitation! Yes, this was most spectacular and unexpected, but isn't that exactly the way God works? Looking forward to following your posts, new friend.
      Love and blessings!

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  8. Wow, Martha! The beauty is truly breathtaking! What a marvelous cabin, as well! Thank you so much for sharing God's beauty which, in turn, powerfully infuses us with His hope!I'm so glad you linked up with me at #MomentsofHope!
    Blessings and smiles,
    Lori

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    1. I so glad I linked up with you, too, Lori! Glad you enjoyed this post. God's beauty never ceases to give us hope.
      Love and blessings!

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Christmas Joy!

  From our house to yours, Merry Christmas! And may joy, health and peace abound in the  New Year. Love and blessings, Martha and Danny