Photo: Toward the Gap
All your works shall give thanks to you, O Lord,
and all your saints shall bless you!
They shall speak of the glory of your kingdom
and tell of your power,
to make known to the children of man your mighty deeds,
and the glorious splendor of your kingdom.
Your kingdom is an everlasting kingdom,
and your dominion endures throughout all generations.
(psalm 145:10-13)
Phlox
May the God of endurance and encouragement
grant you to live in such harmony with one another,
in accord with Christ Jesus,
that together you may with one voice glorify
the God and Father of our Lord Jesus Christ.
Therefore welcome one another as Christ has welcomed you,
for the glory of God.
(Romans 15:5-7)
Photos: The park
Return to your rest, my soul, for the Lord has been good to you.
For you, Lord, have delivered me from death, my eyes from tears, my feet from stumbling, that I may walk before the Lord in the land of the living.
(Psalm 116:7-9)
Photo: Trio con brio
Those who look to him are radiant; their faces are never covered with shame.
( Psalm 34:5)
Guilt = I did something wrong.
Shame = I am something wrong.
Jesus Christ cleanses us from guilt and removes our shame. Innocence may not be regained. Once innocence is lost we become resigned to the reality of sin, whether it was our own or someone elses choice.
Purity can be regained. He purifies us and sanctifies us and calls us his beloved.
Yeshua: my glory and the lifter of my head.
Mountains, Valleys and Forest
“Surely his salvation is near to those who fear him,
that glory may dwell in our land.”
(Psalm 85:9)
“Fear not, O land;
be glad and rejoice,
for the Lord has done great things!
Fear not, you beasts of the field,
for the pastures of the wilderness are green;
the tree bears its fruit;
the fig tree and vine give their full yield.”
(Joel 2:20-22)
Photos: Green Pastures along the Burmis Road
I happened to have this song playing in the car as I drove the Burmis Road to Castle Mountain the other day. It reminds me of The Vicar of Dibley re-runs (which I love) and the beautiful green fields of the UK (which I also love), so it seemed entirely appropriate. I rolled down the windows and sang along.
Phto: Turtle Mountain, east of Frank Slide
“I love you, God— you make me strong.
God is bedrock under my feet,
the castle in which I live,
my rescuing knight.
My God—the high crag
where I run for dear life,
hiding behind the boulders,
safe in the granite hideout.
I sing to God, the Praise-Lofty,
and find myself safe and saved.
The hangman’s noose was tight at my throat;
devil waters rushed over me.
Hell’s ropes cinched me tight;
death traps barred every exit.
A hostile world! I call to God,
I cry to God to help me.
From his palace he hears my call;
my cry brings me right into his presence—
a private audience!
Earth wobbles and lurches;
huge mountains shake like leaves,
Quake like aspen leaves
because of his rage.
His nostrils flare, bellowing smoke;
his mouth spits fire.
Tongues of fire dart in and out;
he lowers the sky.
He steps down;
under his feet an abyss opens up.
He’s riding a winged creature,
swift on wind-wings.
Now he’s wrapped himself
in a trenchcoat of black-cloud darkness.
But his cloud-brightness bursts through,
spraying hailstones and fireballs.
Then God thundered out of heaven;
the High God gave a great shout,
spraying hailstones and fireballs.
God shoots his arrows—pandemonium!
He hurls his lightnings—a rout!
The secret sources of ocean are exposed,
the hidden depths of earth lie uncovered
The moment you roar in protest,
let loose your hurricane anger.
But me he caught—reached all the way
from sky to sea; he pulled me out
Of that ocean of hate, that enemy chaos,
the void in which I was drowning.
They hit me when I was down,
but God stuck by me.
He stood me up on a wide-open field;
I stood there saved—surprised to be loved!
God made my life complete
when I placed all the pieces before him.
When I got my act together,
he gave me a fresh start.
Now I’m alert to God’s ways;
I don’t take God for granted.
Every day I review the ways he works;
I try not to miss a trick.
I feel put back together,
and I’m watching my step.
God rewrote the text of my life
when I opened the book of my heart to his eyes.”
(Psalm 18:1-24 The Message paraphrase)
Charis: Subject to Change 