Welcome to Day 31 of #write31days. Rest is the prompt word for Five Minute Friday Free Writes. How fitting that the word rest is the prompt here at the end of this challenge to write for 31 days.
I’m certainly ready for a break, though I have enjoyed taking photos and writing poems.
Rest By the Stream
By the woodland stream
Sit and watch the water flow
Take some time to rest
One of my favorite places to take a break and rest is… you guessed it – out in nature. Today I was able to walk for a few minutes at Jones Gap State Park here in South Carolina.
Watching the stream and the rushing water, I just had to take a few pictures.
Being near water is relaxing to me. “]
I love to hear the sound and to watch it tumbling over the rocks. It’s also a lovely drive on the road to the park, especially now that the leaves are changing colors.
And, of course, I love the view from my porch. It’s much the same every day, but the cloud patterns are always changing. Sometimes the wind blows gently, making the chimes ring. Other times it’s strong, forcing the trees to bend.
Today was very sunny and bright with wispy clouds.Â
Find Time to Rest
I hope you find time to rest in your busy schedules.
Try to get outside to breathe fresh air.
Study the sky, watch the trees.
Be still and listen. You will be refreshed.
Blessed is the one
who does not walk in step with the wicked
or stand in the way that sinners take
or sit in the company of mockers,
but whose delight is in the law of the Lord,
and who meditates on his law day and night.
That person is like a tree planted by streams of water,
which yields its fruit in season
and whose leaf does not wither—
whatever they do prospers.
To find other posts in this series click HERE.
I’m linking up with: #CoffeeforYourHeart, #porchstories, #HeartEncouragement , #TuneInThursday
So lovely, and I’ve always said that if I lived near water I’d never accomplish anything because I’d be so busy listening to it and looking at it.
Congratulations on 31 days of faithful writing! You deserve a rest now!
Thank you, Michele! Yes, when we were on the lake those two weeks in Sept. all I wanted to do was sit out there and watch the lake. 🙂 But, of course, that’s not all I did.
Thanks for your encouragement and support. Many blessings to you! xo
Dear Gayl,
Yay!! You made it, my friend! Congratulations on following through with the Write31Days challenge! I have loved all of your nature photos and words here. But I think today might be my favorite. I’m with Michele–living just a few blocks away from the water always presented a temptation to me to keep lingering there, when I knew that I needed to get back to work. But now that it’s not as easy to just “pick up & go” I am so thankful for all the memories of those sweet times beside the refreshing waters that the Lord gave me! He gives us such blessings all around us, doesn’t He? Praying for rest & refreshing for you now too! xoxo
Thank you! Yes, I actually made it!!!! I’m so glad you’ve enjoyed my words and photos. Memories are wonderful, esp. those that refresh us. 🙂 Yes, He gives us many blessings all the time. Thank you for your prayers and encouragement. Many blessings to you with hugs and much love! xoxo
Refreshing! Yes! The cloud patterns are changing. Doesn’t it feel like they come closer, like a blanket to wrap around us, reminding me to pull out the blankets – which makes me want to hibernate! I’m so glad you found rest in nature and on your porch! Beautiful meeting places with our Father!
So many times, the clouds do look like a fluffy, warm blanket, don’t they?! 🙂 Yes, being out in nature and just resting on the porch are perfect for bringing me close to God. Blessings to you! Thanks for visiting!
I love listening to water flowing in a stream, over the rocks etc.
It’s a comforting sound isn’t it, Tara? Blessings to you!
Gayle, I’m a BIG fan of finding God in nature as well! We are surrounded by some of God’s finest craftsmanship! It’s hard not to give Him glory. 🙂
So glad to know you love nature, too! Yes, when we stop to pause and survey His handiwork, how can we not give Him glory! 🙂 Blessings to you, Rachel! Thanks for visiting.
Gayl, I can hear the sound of that stream smoothing those rocks like He does our lives, and your cloud looks like an angel,tilt to the right a little, the outline of a dove. I will have to back and see what you did for 31 Days, I finished that too.
I love seeing patterns in the clouds and the sound of rushing streams. Thanks so much for stopping by. Feel free to peruse the other posts and I’ll pay you a visit, too, and see what you did for the challenge. Congratulations for finishing! 🙂
Blessings to you!
Hello! Stopping by today from #heartencouragement. Gorgeous photos! Makes me want to be right there!!
Thanks so much, Danielle! It’s definitely a beautiful place. There are so many such places not to far from me and I should go visit them more. 🙂
Blessings to you! Thanks for visiting!
I enjoyed your series Gayl. Blessings Diana
Thank you, Diana! I’m glad you’ve enjoyed them. Blessings to you!
Such a great series. It often refreshed me.
Thanks, Debbie! I’m so glad to hear you were refreshed. That makes me happy.
Blessings to you!
I love your photos of the woodland stream with the beautiful cascades! (I wish I could hear the sound, too!)
Your poem is a perfect compliment to these photos! Great job completing a full month of writing!
Bless you. May your rest be sweet.
Thank you, Ruth! I’m glad you enjoyed the poem and photos! I had a lot of fun doing them.
Blessings to you! Have a great week!
Hi Gayl! I just got back from a girls-reunion weekend with my sisters in North Carolina. We were in the Asheville area, and it was just gorgeous. We had time to visit, tour the colors of fall, drive in the mountains, hop in the hot tub. Oh man, this was good time of relaxation and family love. What gift that was…
Rest is so important, but I know I’ll push it off my agenda if I fell pressured. But that’s when I need it most!
Blessings,
Ceil
Hi Ceil! So glad you stopped by! 🙂 Sounds like you had a wonderful weekend in lovely Asheville. The colors seemed late this year, but they are looking gorgeous now here in SC.
Yes, sometimes it’s so hard to stop and rest, but we are always better for it. 🙂
Blessings to you, dear Ceil!