Recently, I stood in this very spot and the Lord reminded me gently “I am with you.” After months of heartache, His tenderness brought tears to my eyes during a moment of solitude. In the frenzy of our responsibilities it’s so easy to forget to come away and rest. By the time we remember, we are dry and parched with nothing left to give. Solitude is sometimes the only place we can hear His still, soft voice and be filled.
Come away.
I will show wonders in the heavens above and signs on the earth below, blood and fire and billows of smoke. The sun will be turned to darkness and the moon to blood before the coming of the great and glorious day of the Lord. And everyone who calls on the name of the Lord will be saved. Acts 2:19-21 (NIV)
This photo reminds me of an apocalyptic movie so I went with an end-of-the-world scripture. I am always fascinated that as atheistic as Hollywood is, they churn out movie after movie depicting biblical-sized epics about the end of the world. And audiences eat them up. But I don’t consider that entertainment. There’s enough hardship and trauma in life as it is. When I go to the movies I want to see love or laughter. I do like a good Bruce Willis action flick though 🙂
Whatever difficult road you are walking down today, perhaps to an unknown or frightening looking destination, I pray that the Lord would touch your heart with His peace. Stay on the path, keep following Him. It is utterly amazing what unexpected miracles He can perform when you least expect it. He came through with an enormous one for me last week, when I thought all hope was lost. So…
Wait for the Lord; be strong and take heart and wait for the Lord.
Psalm 27:14 (NIV)
Submitted for the Photography 101 Challenge: Landscape
For now we see only a 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
It’s a wonderful thing to be known. It’s even more beautiful to be known by someone who loves, admires and respects what they see when they look at you. We crave intimacy and love…it’s a longing that hounds and haunts us if it’s unfulfilled. For the past three months, I have had the sweetest pleasure in being known and getting to know an amazing man. I have a love that brings me joys I never expected. I just wanted to take a moment to thank God for him and this incredible season in my life.
I pray that if you don’t have love in your life right now, that you will turn to our sweet Lord, who knows you better than you know yourself. He can fulfill those intimate longings, those groanings for love that stir so deeply down inside us. We were created to be known…let Him know you…let Him love you.
Photo Challenge: Reflections
Me and my brother at Persepolis, Iran circa 1978. Captured by my mother with a Minolta 35mm. Persepolis was built by Persian Kings Darius and Xerxes, friends to the Jewish people. King Darius ordered the continued restoration of the Jewish temple and Xerxes married Esther, who turned the tables on Haman and convinced Xerxes to save her people from destruction.
I hereby give official orders on how you are to help the leaders of the Jews in the rebuilding of that Temple of God:
1. All construction costs are to be paid to these men from the royal bank out of the taxes coming in from the land beyond the Euphrates. And pay them on time, without delays.
2. Whatever is required for their worship—young bulls, rams, and lambs for Whole-Burnt-Offerings to the God-of-Heaven; and whatever wheat, salt, wine, and anointing oil the priests of Jerusalem request—is to be given to them daily without delay so that they may make sacrifices to the God-of-Heaven and pray for the life of the king and his sons.I’ve issued an official decree that anyone who violates this order is to be impaled on a timber torn out of his own house, and the house itself made a manure pit. And may the God who put his Name on that place wipe out any king or people who dares to defy this decree and destroy The Temple of God at Jerusalem.
I, Darius, have issued an official decree. Carry it out precisely and promptly.
Ezra 6: 8-12
Infinite is this week’s challenge. One of the most infinite things I’ve seen is the sky in the western United States, particularly Wyoming and Colorado. This shot was taken near Windsor, Colorado, looking north to Wyoming.
It goes on and on forever…
Neither height nor depth, nor anything else in all creation, will be able to separate us from the love of God that is in Christ Jesus our Lord. Romans 8:39
More nuggets…
The clouds were so amazing today that I couldn’t resist doing another One Shot Two Ways photo challenge!
You will go out in joy
and be led forth in peace;
the mountains and hills
will burst into song before you,
and all the trees of the field
will clap their hands.
Isaiah 55:12
The Pixlr app is my new therapy. Have hope!
Colorado was named for its striking, dark, red soil. Colorado means “colored red” in Spanish. For the photo challenge this week, here is a shot of Colorado Color, taken just west of Loveland. It was an amazing day of beauty.
More Colorado mountain beauty…
Get involved in the WordPress Photo Challenge
Gleaning the Nuggets 