Category: Winter

When the Howling Storms of Doubt and Fear Assail

On By Charis PsalloIn Mountains, Winter3 Comments

winter storm

 

Standing on the promises of Christ my King,

Through eternal ages let His praises ring,

Glory in the highest, I will shout and sing,

Standing on the promises of God.

 

 

Standing, standing,

Standing on the promises of God my Savior;

Standing, standing,

I’m standing on the promises of God.

 

Standing on the promises that cannot fail,

When the howling storms of doubt and fear assail,

By the living Word of God I shall prevail,

Standing on the promises of God.

 

 

Standing on the promises I now can see

Perfect, present cleansing in the blood for me;

Standing in the liberty where Christ makes free,

 

 

Standing on the promises of Christ the Lord,

Bound to Him eternally by love’s strong cord,

Overcoming daily with the Spirit’s sword,

Standing on the promises of God.

 

 

Standing on the promises I cannot fall,

Listening every moment to the Spirit’s call

Resting in my Savior as my all in all,

Standing on the promises of God.

 

-R. Kelso Carter

Indeed Everything

On By Charis PsalloIn Mountains, Photography, Winter4 Comments

Steeples gap IMG_7163

All that is great and powerful and glorious and victorious and majestic

 is Yours, O Eternal One.

 Indeed everything that is in the heavens and the earth belongs to You.

 The kingdom belongs to You, O Eternal One, and You are the head of it all.

 Wealth and glory come from You,

 and You rule over them all.

 In Your hand is power and strength,

 and You use them to make great and strengthen everyone.

 Because of your greatness, our God,

 we testify about Your greatness and praise Your glorious name.

 (2 Chronicles 29:11-13 The Voice)

Steeples peaks 3 IMG_7165

Streams of Hope

On By Charis PsalloIn Photography, Water, Winter1 Comment

Ice on creek IMG_6270

With this news, strengthen those who have tired hands,

and encourage those who have weak knees.

Say to those with fearful hearts,

“Be strong, and do not fear,

for your God is coming to destroy your enemies.

He is coming to save you.”

And when he comes, he will open the eyes of the blind

and unplug the ears of the deaf.

The lame will leap like a deer,

and those who cannot speak will sing for joy!

Springs will gush forth in the wilderness,

and streams will water the wasteland.

The parched ground will become a pool,

and springs of water will satisfy the thirsty land.

Marsh grass and reeds and rushes will flourish

where desert jackals once lived.

 

And a great road will go through that once deserted land.

It will be named the Highway of Holiness.

(Isaiah 35:3-8)

Speaking of Unfailing Love…

On By Charis PsalloIn Mountains, Sky, Uncategorized, Winter7 Comments

alpenglow Steeples

How good it is to give thanks to the Eternal

and to praise Your name with song, O Most High;

to speak of Your unfailing love in the morning

and rehearse Your faithfulness as night begins to fall.

How good it is to praise to the sound of strings—lute and harp—

the stirring melodies of the lyre.

Because You, O Eternal One,

thrill me with the things You have done,

I will sing with joy in light of Your deeds.

(Psalm 92:1-4)

Pressing On

On By Charis PsalloIn Photography, WinterLeave a comment

 higher ground

I’m pressing on the upward way,

New heights I’m gaining every day;

Still praying as I’m onward bound,

“Lord, plant my feet on higher ground.”

 

Lord, lift me up and let me stand,

By faith, on Heaven’s tableland,

A higher plane than I have found;

Lord, plant my feet on higher ground.

My heart has no desire to stay

Where doubts arise and fears dismay;

Though some may dwell where those abound,

My prayer, my aim, is higher ground.

I want to live above the world,

Though Satan’s darts at me are hurled;

For faith has caught the joyful sound,

The song of saints on higher ground.

I want to scale the utmost height

And catch a gleam of glory bright;

But still I’ll pray till heaven I’ve found,

“Lord, plant my feet on higher ground.”

Lord, lift me up and let me stand,

By faith, on Heaven’s tableland,

A higher plane than I have found;

Lord, plant my feet on higher ground.

-Johnson Oatman

For the Joy Set Before Him

On By Charis PsalloIn Mountains, Photography, Uncategorized, Winter6 Comments

blue field white mountains IMG_6368

Obstacles are those frightful things you see when you take your eyes off the goal.

– Hannah More

Note to self: And let us run with perseverance the race marked out for us, fixing our eyes on Jesus, the pioneer and perfecter of faith. For the joy set before him he endured the cross, scorning its shame, and sat down at the right hand of the throne of God. Consider him who endured such opposition from sinners, so that you will not grow weary and lose heart. (Hebrews 12:2,3)

Walk with Me

On By Charis PsalloIn Music, Photography, Trees and forests, Winter5 Comments

Elizabeth Lake white tree

As I went for a walk on a frosty afternoon yesterday the song “A Resting Place” by Paul Wilbur was running through my head. The air was calm and peaceful and Holy Spirit’s presence so gentle and warm that I forgot the cold weather. Can I share some photos from that walk with you?

cem leaf frost IMG_6731

My soul finds rest in God alone

My peace depends on Him

Elizabeth Lake trail 2 IMG_6907

In that place of quiet rest

He fills me from within

cem pine needles IMG_6749

He pours on me His holy oil

The Spirit of the Living God

Elizabeth Lake 2 trees IMG_6834

Then He takes me by the hand

And comforts me with His love

Comfort me with Your love

cem pine frost IMG_6721

Those who wait upon the Lord

New strength He gives to them

frost row IMG_6763

He gives them wings like the eagle

That they might soar with Him

Elizabeth Lake bird IMG_6877

He weaves His strength into their lives

The Spirit of Adonai

blue pine frost IMG_6754

Then He gives then all of His peace

To guard their hearts and their minds

Elizabeth Lake aspen frost IMG_6828

Guarding our hearts and minds

wall IMG_6790

So come my soul now take your rest

Find your peace in Him

Elizabeth lake island IMG_6893

The Holy presence of the Lord

That fills you from within

cme birch frost IMG_6735

O pour on me Your holy oil

The Spirit of the Living God

Elizabeth Lake rosehips

Fill my cup Lord I lift it up

Until I overflow

Elizabeth Lake January 2

He comforted me with His love.

Your faithfulness reaches to the clouds

On By Charis PsalloIn Mountains, Photography, Sky, Winter8 Comments
Be exalted, Oh God!
Be exalted, Oh God!

 

My heart is confident in you, O God;

no wonder I can sing your praises with all my heart!

Wake up, lyre and harp!

I will wake the dawn with my song.

I will thank you, Lord, among all the people.

I will sing your praises among the nations.

For your unfailing love is higher than the heavens.

Your faithfulness reaches to the clouds.

Be exalted, O God, above the highest heavens.

May your glory shine over all the earth.

(Psalm 108: 1-5  NLT)

Toward the Bright Mountains

On By Charis PsalloIn Black and white, Photography, Winter7 Comments

IMG_6354

 

Sometimes I feel like a Hobbit -and not a young Hobbit. I like the Shire; it’s cozy. But one day a tall man talked to me about going on an adventure. Then dwarves showed up and ate everything in the pantry.

“Where are we going?” I asked.

“Toward the bright mountains… but first we turn left and go through some valleys and forests and meet beings you are not familiar with.  Some good, some not. But you won’t be alone. ”

“And how will this turn out?”

“Here’s the Book. Read it yourself.”

 

Goodness

On By Charis PsalloIn Mountains, Photography, Winter10 Comments

alpine glow square MG_6434

Your overflowing goodness

You have kept for those who live in awe of You,

And You share Your goodness with those who make You their sanctuary.

(Psalm 31:19)