Plans for you

On November 24, 2012December 13, 2012 By Charis PsalloIn Mountains, Photography, Sky, Uncategorized10 Comments

For I know the plans I have for you, declares the LORD, plans for welfare and not for evil, to give you a future and a hope.

(Jeremiah 29:11)

I often wonder if many of the people who buy lovely posters and trinkets with this scripture verse printed on them are aware of the context. Jeremiah gives this message to a people who are in the midst of the worst possible calamity they could imagine. He writes quite clearly that they face a 70 year exile. He tells them to plant gardens, build houses and seek the welfare of the people who destroyed the Judean way of life.

God’s timetable can be so different from ours. We can be assured God is at work even we can’t see what he is up to.

One of the people who read Jeremiah’s letter was Daniel. Think of it, Daniel was in service to a man who destroyed or confiscated his family’s property, removed their rights and freedoms, probably killed many friends and relatives and to top it off turned him into a eunuch, which has got to qualify as traumatic sexual abuse.

And yet, and yet…

Daniel is a faithful and trusted civil servant. When he interprets the king’s dream, which he knows is bad news, he says that he wishes the dream was about the king’s enemies and not the king himself. In spite of severe persecution he is faithful to his God, and God allows him to see beyond his circumstances. God lets him in on his plans, even though Daniel doesn’t have a grid for what he sees.

I stopped for lunch near the Alberta border a couple of days ago and I read my Bible as I sipped a thermos of coffee. The passage for the day was about Jesus taking his closest friends up a mountain where they were allowed to see him transfigured into a brilliant figure talking with Moses and Elijah (the law-giver and the prophet). The guys were overwhelmed and didn’t know what to do with such an experience.

Then came the hard part, the part their Master told them about several times, the part where he was arrested, sentenced, and executed. In those dark days before his resurrection, they must have wondered what that mountaintop experience was all about. What power must have been at work beyond their valley experience! The fulfillment of God’s plans were already in motion as the promise of the ages was arising in that dark place.

As I meditated on this passage I glanced over to my left, towards Crowsnest Mountain. This is what I saw. It was a pay-attention moment.

(Click on photo for larger version)

Thank You!

On November 21, 2012 By Charis PsalloIn Art, Flowers, PhotographyLeave a comment

For even Solomon in all his glory was not arrayed as one of these

“Go your way.

Eat the fat and drink sweet wine

and send portions to anyone who has nothing ready,

for this day is holy to our Lord.

And do not be grieved,

for the joy of the Lord is your strength.”

(Nehemiah 8:10)

For my American friends, Happy Thanksgiving!

Lamb of God, who takes away the sin of the world

On November 19, 2012November 19, 2012 By Charis PsalloIn Music, Photography, WaterLeave a comment

Reflection on Mara

Lamb of God,
who takes away the sin of the world,
have mercy on us!
Grant us peace!

Effect and Result

On November 17, 2012November 25, 2013 By Charis PsalloIn Photography, Trees and forests, Water2 Comments

Photo: Planted by the water

And the effect of righteousness will be peace,
and the result of righteousness,
quietness and trust
forever.
(Isaiah 32:17)

Harbinger

On November 16, 2012November 25, 2013 By Charis PsalloIn Art2 Comments

Harbinger: Autumn Leaves and Stones

I remember the days of old;

I meditate on all that you have done;

I ponder the work of your hands.

(Psalm 143:5)

Prisoners of hope

On November 15, 2012November 25, 2013 By Charis PsalloIn Mountains, Sky4 Comments

Eastward from the Mission

Return to your stronghold, O prisoners of hope;
today I declare that I will restore to you double.

(Zechariah 9:12)

Value –added

On November 14, 2012November 25, 2013 By Charis PsalloIn Black and white, Man made, Mountains, Photography, Sky, Trees and forests, Uncategorized12 Comments

More black and white photos:

Deborah, the girl with the pen, commented on the first Value blog that black and white photos have a starvation feel. I do think they are bare bones kind of images with a “just the facts, ma`am“ kind of attitude.

Christianity is full of colourful variations in worship style but I feel John gave us a bare bones definition of worship right here:

By this we know that we abide in him and he in us, because he has given us of his Spirit. And we have seen and testify that the Father has sent his Son to be the Saviour of the world. Whoever confesses that Jesus is the Son of God, God abides in him, and he in God. So we have come to know and to believe the love that God has for us. God is love, and whoever abides in love abides in God, and God abides in him. (1 John 4:13-16)

Value

On November 13, 2012December 2, 2012 By Charis PsalloIn Black and white, Mountains, Photography, Sky, Trees and forests, Uncategorized2 Comments

Photos: November in black and white

One of my painting instructors used to get on my case about my tendency to allow colour to distract me from paying attention to value. Value, in art, is the arrangement of dark and light that gives depth and dimension to an image. She suggested I photocopy a painting or take a photo of it and remove all the colour on Photoshop to get down to basic values.

I’m enjoying the exercise of seeing things sans colour. I’m learning to see differently, to pay attention to texture, highlight and shadow.

November is a month that seems relatively colourless to me after the brilliant summer and autumn seasons. It’s so…so… ordinary.

Our Thanksgiving celebrations take place in early October in Canada when travel is usually easier, so there are no significant holidays until Christmas and ski season hasn’t started yet. The days tend to be overcast and the sun is early to bed and late to rise. It’s a time for home maintenance and personal maintenance. It’s a season for staying inside.

I find this season of black and white values a good time to assess personal values. When the distractions fade in our lives what are the values we hold dear? Where is the source of light? Where does the darkness linger? Is there depth and dimension in our spiritual lives when life is just ordinary?

When it’s all been said and done what does it all come down to? What do I truly value? I am reminded of the first question in the shorter Westminster Confession, which we taught our children as they jumped on the bed in their jammies at the end of the day.

What is the chief purpose of man?

Man’s chief end is to glorify God, and to enjoy Him for ever.