Tag Archives: snow

Christmas Joy

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But the angel said to them, “Do not be afraid! For behold, I bring you good news of great joy that will be for all the people: Today in the city of David a Savior has been born to you. He is Christ the Lord!” Luke 2:10-11 NIV

Joy is the Lord’s Christmas gift.
created by His amazing grace.
Clothed in righteousness
we enter heaven’s holiest place—
the joy of our redeemer.

To him who is able to keep you from stumbling and to present you before his glorious presence without fault and with great joy— Jude 1:24 NIV

Let us fix our eyes on Jesus, the author and perfecter of our faith, who for the joy set before Him endured the cross, scorning its shame, and sat down at the right hand of the throne of God. Hebrews 12:2 BSB

A Little Peace and Quiet

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Ouiet has a voice,
Stronger than the guns of war,
Louder than the wail of grief.
Calling us out of our anxiety.
“Be still and know that I am God.”

Merry Christmas

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Peace in the Valley

And the peace of God, which transcends all understanding, will guard your hearts and your minds in Christ Jesus. Philippians 4:7 NIV

Once you were like sheep who wandered away. But now you have turned to your Shepherd, the Guardian of your souls. 1 Peter 2:25 NLT

Jesus is my savior,
Jesus is my shepherd,
Jesus is my Lord,
Jesus is my guardian,
Jesus is the gift of grace.

Merry Christmas from God

Feeling Lost?

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Don’t let your feelings guide you,
Don’t listen to what they say.
For feelings abhor discomfort,
trading future goodness for ease today.

God’s help comes through faith in Him,
and does not depend on how I feel.
Emotions gyrate up and down
causing life to sway and reel.

I’m learning to trust in God alone,
He is faithful in all His ways.
My rock and my salvation,
My shepherd for all my days.

When I stumble in the dark.
Anxious thoughts begin to bound.
God wants my faith to lead the way,
till my feelings come around.

Quiet Speaks

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Snow quiet

Quiet has a voice.
Stronger than the guns of war.
Louder than the shriek of grief.
Calling us out of our anxiety.
“Be still and know that I am God.”

(Psalm 46:10)

Glorious Light

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The sun breaking into the darkness

An angel of the Lord appeared to them, and the glory of the Lord shone around them, and they were terrified. But the angel said to them, “do not be afraid. I bring you good news of great joy that will be for all people. Today in the town of David a Savior has been born to you; He is Christ the Lord.” Luke 2:8-11

Merry Christmas

Scaling the Mountains

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Peaks still to conquer

It is God who arms me with strength and makes my way perfect. He makes my feet like the feet of a deer; He enables me to stand on the heights. He trains my hands for battle; my arms can bend a bow of bronze. You give me Your shield of victory, and Your right hand sustains me; You stoop down to make me great. Psalms 18:32-35

I struggle with writing. Even basic grammar is hard for me. Sometimes I get discouraged and want to give up. That is where Psalm 18 helps. God stoops down to enable me to stand on the heights to serve Him.

If any good comes from my writing and photography, it is by the grace of God. That same grace and strength is there for all who will humbly ask.

Delightful Inheritance

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Icicle Ridge from East Leavenworth Road

Lord, you alone are my portion and my cup;
you make my lot secure.
The boundary lines have fallen for me in pleasant places;
surely I have a delightful inheritance. Psalm 16:5-6

“I have a delightful inheritance.”
One guaranteed by God’s strength,
not mine.
In that assurance,
I rejoice.
Through His grace I know I’ll partake in it.
By His grace I am brought close to Him.
Jesus will never leave me.
This knowledge is too wonderful for me.
From His grace God fills my day with His goodness.
The promise of His grace imbues my tomorrows,
with His love and mercy.
The joy of my salvation spreads out to eternity.
I rest in His peace.
What a delightful inheritance.

Praying Through the Pain

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Hope in the dead of Winter

I find it hard to pray without my mind wandering in the best of times. But, when I am hurting and in pain, then I find it difficult to put two words together in prayer. So what are we to do when our prayers are moans and groans… rasping laments beginning and ending with two feeble words—O God!

How does God expect us to pray in pain?

We know that the whole creation has been groaning as in the pains of childbirth right up to the present time. Not only so, but we ourselves, who have the firstfruits of the Spirit, groan inwardly as we wait eagerly for our adoption as sons, the redemption of our bodies.  Romans 8:23-24

I have attended many deliveries in my career and for most anesthesia was not available. I would often hear screams during labor—“O God help me!” or “Lordy, Lordy!” Were these words of anguish really prayers? The one thing that kept these mothers praying through the pain was the thought of new life coming.

Pain, or grief, or a deep hurt from our point of view seems to interfere with our prayers to God. But like a woman in labor who cries out to God—keep praying for our groans are not lost upon God. There is new life coming.

In the same way, the Spirit helps us in our weakness. We do not know what we ought to pray for, but the Spirit himself intercedes for us with groans that words cannot express. And he who searches our hearts knows the mind of the Spirit, because the Spirit intercedes for the saints in accordance with God’s will. Romans 8:26-27

White-Gloved Hands of Praise

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Ponderosa Pines lifting white-gloved hands in praise.

I can read Isaiah 12 over and over and it never loses its power, or joy, or wonder. I can dwell on each verse and my song of praise and thanksgiving keeps building with in me for I know it is just the beginning.