Fear Not

After this, the word of the Lord came to Abram in a vision:

“Do not be afraid, Abram.

 I am your shield,

 your very great reward.”

Genesis 15:1

I've had it in my head to research all the "fear nots" in the Bible.  I hear there are 365 of them, one for each day of the year, but I don't know which version or who made that statement.  I want to write "fear not"  with a reference on smooth stones and instead of Worry Rocks, these will be No Worry Rocks.  I love the feel of stones in my fingers. Yep, I'm a weirdo but the statement stands for itself.

Photo Credit: Damian Gadal

From One Generation to Another

...the wind blows over it and it is gone,
    and its place remembers it no more.

But from everlasting to everlasting
    the Lord’s love is with those who fear him, and
     his righteousness with their children’s children--

with those who keep his covenant
    and remember to obey his precepts.

Psalm 103:16-18

Keep remembering to pass it on.

Photo Credit: Gido on Flickr

Lovely Surprise

...whatever is pure,

       whatever is lovely...

    think on these things.

Philippians 4:8

We took a walk yesterday and on our way back down the gravel path My Wonderful Husband

spotted these delights.

This wasn't a former home place and they weren't back in the woods.  They were right along the path.  He brought out his trusty knife, braved the nasty thorns and cut a few small lovelies for me...

and that's one of the million reasons I love this man.

Photo from personal files.

So Much To Enjoy

You rule over the surging sea;
    when its waves mount up, you still them.

The heavens are yours, and yours also the earth;
    you founded the world and all that is in it.

Psalm 89:9,11

You created it all, Lord.

You painted it with heavenly colors 

and allowed us to look and enjoy.

How great you are.

How mighty.

Thank you.

Photo Credit: Elne on Flickr

Streaming

But let justice roll on like a river, 

righteousness like a never-failing stream!

Amos 5:24

Truth is what is missing in this world to make it righteous and to allow justice to flow.

Jesus is Truth.  Roll with Him.

Photo Credit: Nicholas A. Tonelli

No Respect

For as high as the heavens are above the earth,
    so great is his love for those who fear him;

as far as the east is from the west,
    so far has he removed our transgressions from us.

Psalm 103:11-12

 The word "fear" used here is another word for "holy awe or reverence." (wikipedia.org) 

When one is in awe, reveres or venerates a person, he is said to have respect.  Respect is what is missing from the people of this world...respect for God and for each other.

One cannot begin to respect another unless he/she has discovered the act of respecting God.

Spread the Word.

Photo Credit: Sharon on Flickr

Strawberry Jam Day

Then God said, 

“Let the land produce vegetation: 

seed-bearing plants and trees on the land

 that bear fruit with seed in it,

 according to their various kinds.” 

And it was so.

Genesis 1:11

AND I'M SO GLAD!

Photo Credit: Abigail Batchelder

For the Beauty of the Earth

For the beauty of the earth

For the glory of the skies,

For the love which from our birth

Over and around us lies:

Lord of all to thee we raise

This our hymn of grateful praise.

  ...Folliott S. Pierpoint, 1835-1917

Photo Credit: Rachel Kramer

Savoury

You are the salt of the earth, 

but if salt has lost its taste (its strength, its quality),

 how can its saltiness be restored? 

It is not good for anything any longer 

but to be thrown out and trodden underfoot by men.

Matthew 5:13

Scripture quotation taken from the Amplified Bible.

We're hoping to be salty the next few days.

It's important for Christians to review this scripture on occasion just to test their "taste."  So many times I feel ineffective in my witness and the quality of my words and actions can be questioned as to whether I am actually His child or not.  I'm praying for strength to do and be what God expects.

Photo Credit: anurag agnihotri on Flickr

Perfect in Weakness

Three times I pleaded with the Lord to take it away from me.

 But he said to me, “My grace is sufficient for you, for my power is made perfect in weakness.”Therefore I will boast all the more gladly about my weaknesses, so that Christ’s power may rest on me.

That is why, for Christ’s sake, I delight in weaknesses, in insults, in hardships, in persecutions, in difficulties. For when I am weak, then I am strong.

1 Corinthians 12:8-10

Do you see any imperfection in this photo?

I didn't at first but as I looked at it, I saw something was missing...

So many times I destroy my effectiveness because I am bewailing my lot in life...whatever that may be on any given day.

Instead of praising God for another day and looking forward to what is coming, I either resent it or dread it.

I am a pessimist and a closet hermit.  There, I've said it.  I'm trying to change and am improving (somewhat) with age but my core still needs work.  I think my core is pure selfishness. 

Okay, here I go...I'm looking forward to this day and what it will bring.  It will be a great day.  It really will.  I'm planning to see family members, friends from afar, and go to a concert.  Why wouldn't this be a great day?

Why do I just want to stay home?

I'm so imperfect and am so looking forward to the power of God in my weaknesses.

Photo Credit: Louise Docker

Purple Mountain's Majesty

 He [Moses] got up early the next morning 

and built an altar at the foot of the mountain 

and set up twelve stone pillars

 representing the twelve tribes of Israel.

Exodus 24:4

While trying to find photos that I can legally use here on my blog I found this photographer.  This shot shows just one of the thousands of reasons one would worship God at the foot of a mountain.  It is an untouched photo taken at just the right time of morning.

Have a beautiful day.

Photo Credit: Kartik Ramanathan on flickr

Reflection

 For now we see only a reflection 

as in a mirror;

 then we shall see face to face.

 Now I know in part...

1 Corinthians 13:12

He lived a brief 5 months on this earth and all of it was a struggle.  He's now in the arms of Jesus.  Hallelujah!

That's the only way to look at this tragedy.  He's not hurting anymore 

but the family is.  

My prayers are with them as they continue to struggle in their own right.  May God give them comfort as they mourn.

Photo Credit: rogelio calamaya on flickr

Back To Basics

When I look at the sky, 

which you have made,
    at the moon and the stars, 

 which you set in their places—

what are human beings, 

that you think of them;

 mere mortals,

 that you care for them?

Psalm 8:3-4

...and yet, He does care.  He cared enough to give Himself in His Son.  Now we can be the dwelling place for God and we should care for each other like He cares for us.  It's a mind-boggling responsibility and so few do it.  There is a God-sized hole in everyone's heart and most are still looking to fill it with whatever comes their way.  What are we to do to help them find the God plug for their heart?  It's a question that needs to be sought after by all children of God.  Every day there is someone who needs Him, someone with whom only we can connect.  It's time to start looking and paying attention to those around us instead of ourselves and what we can get from God.

Photo Credit: Craig Deakin on Flickr

Far Away Hope

Hope deferred 

makes the heart sick,

 but a longing fulfilled 

is a tree of life.

Proverbs 13:12

He got a new heart and his body is rejecting it.  Now this little heart is sick.  He has struggled all of his five months on earth and his family is also heart sick at this point that the doctors say there is no hope. The family has exhibited an enormous amount of hope through this ordeal and have shown maturity way beyond their young years but the time has come.  They say that when God wants to take him, He will and they don't want to dictate when that will be but the doctors say that today is the day to remove life support.  

So...

their hope is ultimately in a life eternal and are ready for their child to personally meet the Lord either today or whenever He's ready to take him into His arms and eat from the tree found in heaven.

They wait.

Photo Credit: maurizio_sorvillo on flickr

Choosing Life

Now choose life, 

so that you and your children may live

 and that you may love the Lord your God,

 listen to his voice,

 and hold fast to him. 

For the Lord is your life...

Deuteronomy 30:19-20

New life is beautiful.

Choose to live and keep the life God gave you.

If life is difficult for you, choose to live and keep life anyway...

as mandated by God.

The Lord is our life.

Live it that way.

Photo Credit: Gerard Stolk on Flickr

Joyful, Patient, Faithful

Be joyful 

in hope, 

patient 

in affliction, 

faithful

 in prayer.

Romans 12:12

The Great North is just now experiencing Spring.  How patient and hopeful they've been...they didn't have a choice.  But God is faithful and promised us seasons of delight after those of darkness if WE stay faithful to Him.  May we take advantage of each and do His will in them.

Photo Credit: Rachel Kramer on Flickr

Whirlwind to Whisper

Then a great and powerful wind tore the mountains apart and shattered the rocks before the Lord, but the Lord was not in the wind. After the wind there was an earthquake, but the Lord was not in the earthquake.  After the earthquake came a fire, but the Lord was not in the fire. And after the fire came a gentle whisper. When Elijah heard it, he pulled his cloak over his face...

1 Kings 19:11-13

Sometimes it takes a lot of whirlwinds 

before we hear His whisper.

Photo Credit: Nonac_Digi on Flickr

Same Mind

 In your relationships with one another,

 have the same mindset as Christ Jesus...

Philippians 2:5

I'm praying today that I would have the mind of Christ...seeing the needs of others, meeting those needs with openness and selflessness, being kind in everything I do, acknowledging others' gifts and building them up instead of criticizing so they can see Christ in me

and

hoping the rippling waters won't mar 

my reflection of Him. 

Photo Credit: Nikos Koutoulas on Flickr