Category Archives: Photography

I Feel Small

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Looking up

Trees sometimes make me feel small. Especially, when I look up and and see them pointing at the sky.

In a similar way, Ephesians 3:17-19 fills me wonder at the immensity of God’s love, and the smallness of my understanding.

And I pray that you, being rooted and established in love, may have power, together with all the saints, to grasp how wide and long and high and deep is the love of Christ, and to know this love that surpasses knowledge—that you may be filled to the measure of all the fullness of God.

“Amazing love! how can it be
That Thou, my God, should die for me!”
Refrain from “And Can It Be, That I Should Gain?” by Charles Wesley

A Place Called “Better is”

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morning-mist

Above the fog

“Better is…” a place where we do not see clearly. A place we must rely on God’s Word.

Better is one day in your courts
than a thousand elsewhere;
I would rather be a doorkeeper in the house of my God
than dwell in the tents of the wicked.  Psalm 84:10

Better to have nothing and see God’s glory,
Than to have everything in darkness.

Better to be last with Jesus,
Than to be alone at the top.

Better to mourn and receive comfort from Jesus,
Than a thousand days of laughter without hope.

Better to be merciful and receive mercy,
Than trying to justify yourself before God.

Better is to humbly follow Jesus,
Than pursue all the wisdom of this world.

What good is it for a man to gain the whole world, yet forfeit his soul?  Mark 8:36

Trust in the Lord with all your heart
and lean not on your own understanding;
in all your ways acknowledge him,
and he will make your paths straight.
Do not be wise in your own eyes;
fear the Lord and shun evil.  Proverbs 3:5-7

A Place Where Heaven Touches Earth

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Cascades

Where earth and sky meet

“Do not let your hearts be troubled. Trust in God; trust also in me. In my Father’s house are many rooms; if it were not so, I would have told you. I am going there to prepare a place for you. And if I go and prepare a place for you, I will come back and take you to be with me that you also may be where I am. You know the way to the place where I am going.”
Thomas said to him, “Lord, we don’t know where you are going, so how can we know the way?”
Jesus answered, “I am the way and the truth and the life. No one comes to the Father except through me.” John 14:1-6

And we can touch Heaven.

Before the Sunrise

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When the earth is still dark look up and take heart.

Courage and strength that comes from God, does not come in large reassuring scoops.  Usually, the Lord doles it out in little wisps, as we stick our foot out for the next step. I guess, that is because having it in large amounts would direct our attention to ourselves, instead of constantly having to rely on God.

I am still confident of this:
I will see the goodness of the Lord
in the land of the living.
Wait for the Lord;
be strong and take heart
and wait for the Lord.  Psalm 27:13-14

A Prayer and an Amazing Response

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Lost Sheep

We are like sheep who have gone astray. Isaiah 53:6

To you I call, O Lord my Rock;
do not turn a deaf ear to me.
For if you remain silent,
I will be like those who have gone down to the pit.
Hear my cry for mercy
as I call to you for help,
as I lift up my hands
toward your Most Holy Place
Do not drag me away with the wicked,
With those who do evil,…
Psalm 28:1-3

This is a most amazing prayer God gives us to pray when all seems lost. Even more amazing, He gives us a wonderful answer––Jesus our shepherd, not only to save us, but to carry us forever.

Praise be to the LORD,
For he has heard my cry for mercy…
Save your people and bless your inheritance;
be their shepherd and carry them forever.
Psalm 28:6,9

Creation Speaks

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In the refuge of the Almighty

Your love, O Lord, reaches to the heavens,
your faithfulness to the skies.
Your righteousness is like the mighty mountains,
your justice like the great deep.
O Lord, you preserve both man and beast.
How priceless is your unfailing love!
Both high and low among men
find refuge in the shadow of your wings.  Psalm 36:5-7

All of creation is a metaphor proclaiming the attributes of God. It is for us to see and take joy in them.

On This Brand New Day

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Brand New Day

A brand new day in the Icicle Canyon

On this brand new day what do I most need?

I need to reaffirm my hope is in the Lord and not myself. With His help I can scale the wall before me.

You, O Lord, keep my lamp burning;
my God turns my darkness into light.
With your help I can advance against a troop;
with my God I can scale a wall. Psalm 18:28-29

Along with hope, I need remind myself of God’s faithfulness to His promises (His Word). I can trust in Him.

As the rain and the snow
come down from heaven,
and do not return to it
without watering the earth
and making it bud and flourish,
so that it yields seed for the sower and bread for the eater,
so is my word that goes out from my mouth:
It will not return to me empty,
but will accomplish what I desire
and achieve the purpose for which I sent it. Isaiah 55:10-11

And most of all, I need to rest in His love for me.

For God so loved the world that he gave his one and only Son, that whoever believes in him shall not perish but have eternal life. John 3:16

This is what I need. This is what we are given in Jesus. Take a long deep drink of this “Living Water” on this new day.

Hope in Midwinter

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morning mist

Morning light on a cold day

In the dead of winter, it is the hope of Spring that keeps us going. In the same way, knowing the promises of God, and leaning upon them in our struggles gives us hope, that provides strength to go on.

Remember Your word to Your servant,
for You have given me hope.
My comfort in my suffering is this:
Your promise preserves my life. Psalm 119:49-50

The Miracle of Snowflakes

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Snowflakes

Snowflakes frozen in pond ice

Each snow flake is a unique wonder of God’s creation, no two are alike. Yet, often when we see them float down it starts us thinking about having to shovel snow, or worry about icy roads. Life is like that, we receive many blessings each day, yet our minds are preoccupied by problems and struggles. It is not to say we should not think about difficult issues, it’s just we should not let them be all we think about. For when we fail to praise God for His “snowflakes,” we miss the beauty and wonder in each day.

Praise the Lord.
How good it is to sing praises to our God,
how pleasant and fitting to praise him! Psalm 147:1

He determines the number of the stars
and calls them each by name.
Great is our Lord and mighty in power;
his understanding has no limit. Psalm 147:4-5

If you like me have difficulty getting past the troubles of each day, then let Psalm 145 through Psalm 150 guide you in praise.

Shadows in the Sky

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Shadows in the Sky

Shadows light up the sky

The shadow of pine trees cast upon the clouds is fascinating to me. Who would have imagined casting shadows in the sky, yet here is this wonder, lasting but a moment then gone. God does this all the time, sometimes we see it and give Him glory, and sometimes we miss it leaving the heavens to declare the glory of God, Thankfully, He does not hold back His glory waiting for an audience.