Lead me to the rock that is higher than I...

Vacationing along the coast of Maine is breathtakingly beautiful. We took so many photos and were inspired by the natural beauty and rugged coastal landscape. I could spend a summer there; walking along the shores and visiting with the many interesting people and their unique culture.The history itself is fascinating

How many times have I been in this spiritual place? If the little boat can make it to this rock, a store of food and water is kept in the tower for any who are lost at sea or for the weary who need to rest

God will bring us safely to the other shore

Unless Thy goodness opens paths for me through the consuming vastness of the sea;

Thy winds, O God, so strong, So slight my meager sail.
How could I pass over the long and salty trail,
Unless Thy love were mightier than the wrath of all the tempests that beset my path?

Thy world, O God, so fierce, And I so frail.
Yet, cities of refuge arise for me and dangers cease,
Sweet peace abounds, and all is calm and rest.

For more of my Maine photos, check this link:

 

http://ruthellinger.blogspot.com/p/around-my-house.html

The Word of God is...

 

This photo of this powerful Bible verse in Hebrews is from my paternal grandmother’s Bible, a book well-worn with time and use. In the Wildrose book series, one theme is woven like a continuous thread throughout the inspirational stories and is the predominant key scripture used in “Sword of the Wild Rose.”   

Elizabeth's Bible is a treasure, very presious to me. It has notes in her own hand and little keepsakes between the pages. I thought once to have it re-bound, but then...part of her story would be lost. This photo tells a story. What could you write about it?

The two swords...both were used by my patriot ancestors. Sword of the Wild Rose is now available in an audio format from AUDIBLE and performed by Mike Ortego. A book trailer will soon be available to readers

 

Audio version of SWORD of the WILD ROSE just released to AUDIBLE.com, iTUNES.com & AMAZON

Leave a review on the above mentioned sites to receive a free text copy signed by the author

When his young wife is murdered in a senseless raid, Derick Davidson, son of a Scottish chieftain seeks revenge. Suspected by English authorities, he flees Scotland, arriving in Boston as the American Patriots rally for independence.

Daniel Morgan, frontiersman and Patriot, befriends Derick and takes him to Virginia where he meets the winsome and beautiful Kearan Mackenzies. He teaches her to sword fight and she learns the secrets of his troubled past.

Inside Derick’s heart, a war rages—a deadly conflict that challenges the very core of his political and spiritual beliefs. He follows one burning desire—to be free.

Filled with danger, intrigue, and unconditional love, Sword of the Wild Rose is the story of one man’s spiritual journey from the depths of heartbreak to the liberating experience of divine forgiveness, a liberty greater than King or country has to offer.

In the search for the perfect voice for this audio production, Mike Ortego auditioned and was the perfect voice, the one I heard in my head. I was so pleased with Mike's ability to portray each character, each with their unique personality traits and Mike used just the right amount of Scottish accent to make the reading palatable to the reader. I highly recommend Mike Ortego Productions for any audio project.

Audio Links:

iTunes link for Sword of the Wild Rose https://itunes.apple.com/us/book/sword-of-the-wild-rose/id595467275?mt=11

Audible link for Sword of the Wild Rose http://www.audible.com/pd/ref=sr_1_1?asin=B00DP5F6P6&qid=1373560078&sr=1-1

Summertime...

View from Spyglass Mountain, near Katherine's home

I have taken a hiatus from blogging for some weeks to spend time vacationing and traveling. We visited our daughter Katherine and her family who lives in the northern panhandle of Idaho. The scenery there is breathtakingly beautiful but the winters are long and often dreary to us sun lovers. Katherine’s husband was building her a greenhouse so tomatoes and other vegetables requiring a longer growing season other than what nature provides, could mature and ripen.

Their farm is complete with chickens, horses, cats and dogs, a barn for hay, a chicken house and even an outside privy for when you don’t want to trek to the house. A stream empties into a pond with trails backed up against national forest lands. They make the trip to town about once a week on church days (Wed) to buy groceries and other necessities and on Sundays for worship services. Other than that, life is busy with home schooling, cooking and preparing meals, and caring for the animals.

We took one day to go to the Kootenay Falls area and enjoy the natural scenery and share time with our grandchildren. Time flew by so quickly. I didn't try this. We did hike some distance before it began to rain

 

 The Kootenay River

Chapel in the Woods

 

One of my favorite places is “the chapel in the woods” that secret place of meditation and prayer that Katherine created to meet with the Lord. It seems rather majestic nestled against the drooping branches of the cedars, a quiet and charming forest room that offers natural solitude and peace. You must go...

   

Angel in the chapel

The rustic seats in the chapel

 I took this photo from the deck one early morning in winter

HAPPY BIRTHDAY...

This month is my husband’s birthday and I wanted to do something very special for him…but my plan fell apart and I have nothing even close to adequate to express my love and thankfulness to God for giving me such a wonderful husband. Through the years of his selfless service, I have been by his side as he ministered God’s word, facing every difficulty with courage and hope. Opposition and misunderstanding are part of this work and the journey is fraught with tears, joys and losses, but the gains far outweigh the losses.

I came to realize how much he had sacrificed when I asked him to read aloud a story slated for a July deadline. As he read, I followed on the computer screen until suddenly, the words stopped. I turned to see tears in his eyes and a look of infinite sadness on his features. Tears of empathy rose in my own eyes. In my story, I was describing the fragrant fields of the farm where he grew up, a home he had loved. The story spoke of many things dear to him, but now a bittersweet memory. I am reminded of the song lyrics that relate so personally to his life of service and I know he feels the sacrifice has not been too much and his joy is knowing that through it all, there has been One who has loved him.

Happy Birthday, my love…

Your Shepherdess

"In This Life"

Let the world stop turning,
let the sun stop burning.
Let them tell me love's not worth going through.
If it all falls apart, I will know deep in my heart
the only dream that matters has come true;
in this life, I was loved by you.

For every mountain I have climbed,
every raging river crossed,
You were the treasure that I longed to find.
Without your love, I would be lost.
In this life, I was loved by You.