Tag Archives: landscape photo

Spring Cascade of Color

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Spring Bouquet

Balsamroot spill over from the heights

This picture, from above my home, shows the Spring cascade of color.

The desert and the parched land will be glad;
the wilderness will rejoice and blossom… But only the redeemed will walk there,
and the ransomed of the Lord will return.
They will enter Zion with singing;
everlasting joy will crown their heads.
Gladness and joy will overtake them,
and sorrow and sighing will flee away. Isaiah 35:1, 9-10

My hope is not in the beauty of this world, but in Jesus my creator, my redeemer, my shepherd, my king. Only in Him do gladness and joy reside forever. Only in Him will sorrow and sighing be excluded from spoiling eternity.

Grace Like Falling Snow

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skier sleeping lady

Snow flake upon snow flake bringing winter joy.

For of His fullness we have all received, and grace upon grace. John 1:16

Thank you Lord, that Your grace is not a one time gift, for I would have used it up long ago.

Thank you Lord, that Your grace goes beyond the forgiveness of my past sins to include my future.

Thank you Lord, that grace is also about the assurance of Your presence in my life, that You will be with me in all that takes place (O Immanuel).

Thank you Lord, that by Your grace, You want to change me from what I am, to what You want me to be.

I praise You that this miraculous transformation happens by Your strength not mine.

Thank you Lord, that Your grace soaks up what I have spilled, not just in my life, but also in the lives of those I have hurt.

Thank you Lord, that grace will never lose its power with use, or become dull with time.

Grace upon grace springing up eternally from Your fullness to my wholeness.

Light of Life

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morning light
The right light makes this photograph beautiful. It is the same for our life.

“I am the light of the world. Whoever follows me will never walk in darkness, but will have the light of life.” John 8:12

Later in the chapter Jesus explains what He means by, “I am the light of the world.”

“Even if I testify on my own behalf, my testimony is valid, for I know where I came from and where I am going. But you have no idea where I come from or where I am going. John 8:14

I struggle with that fact all the time. When traveling I hate to ask for directions, because then I have to admit I do not know what way is right. It is the same for the right way to go in life.

With all the debate about how to stop the mass killings, how to deal with immigration, what to do with millions of refugees, we need to admit we don’t know where we are going, and follow the light of the world.

He has showed you, O man, what is good.
And what does the Lord require of you?
To act justly and to love mercy
and to walk humbly with your God. Micah 6:8

Alone?

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The Barn

I felt so alone.

Then I noticed the wheat fields below,

The pattern of Your touch,

You hold me in your hand.

Then I noticed the beautiful clouds above,

Floating in blue.

You lift me up to draw me near.

____________

You have enclosed me behind and before, And laid Your hand upon me. Such knowledge is too wonderful for me; It is too high, I cannot attain to it.  Psalm 139:5-6

Storm Moving In

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The storms of life produce fury up close but by the grace of God and distance are beautiful to behold

The storms of life produce fury up close, but by the grace of God and distance are beautiful to behold.

 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

The Eyes of God

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On a medical mission to Mariupol, Ukraine our host church took us to the Sea of Azov for a relaxing picnic. A little ways up the coast stood the towering smoke stacks of a steel mill. The small public picnic area had no caretaker so litter covered the grounds. Our hosts apologized for the mess but in this industrial city it was all they had. We then stood in a large circle holding hands seeking God’s blessing on the food. After the prayer, I opened my eyes, the sun filtered through the trees giving a golden glow to everything and I took this picture. Some of the people by me asked why I wasted time taking a picture of a trash strewn scene. But that is not what I saw, for a moment it sparkled with light. An epiphany of how God saw the people of Mariupol, how He saw me. Not with all the trash we have carelessly littered throughout our lives, but with the light of Jesus transforming us into beauty beyond our wildest dreams.

1 Corinthians 13:12-27

Mariupol, Ukraine

Mariupol currently is caught in conflict. Pray for the church in Eastern Ukraine.

Winter Vision

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Looking out over the Upper Valley

From the end of earth I call to You when my heart is faint; lead me to the rock that is higher than I. (Psalm 61:2)

Down below I could not see, being covered in the shroud of fog, but when I climbed to a higher place … My Lord what a view.

Stand Back and See

Image

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Beauty where least expected.

Beauty where least expected.

What do you see in this picture? A dead gnarled tree? When placed on a cliff overlooking the Grand Canyon surrounded by other life just holding on, it becomes a beautiful wonder. Sometimes in life we cannot see the beauty of what God is doing, We just have to trust him until that day when we will see clearly.

Now we see but a poor reflection as in a mirror; then we shall see face to face. Now I know in part; then I shall know fully, even as I am fully known. (1 Corinthians 13:12)