Far away
And
Right near by...
Just the other day, my youngest daughter and her daughter, Elizabeth (Lizzy) came over for a visit and a walk. Lizzy brought her new camera with her and took some pictures as she ventured of the beaten path. These are the same flowers (I think), one shot far away and the other right near by. I thought about it a little and then did a small search and found this passage in the Psalms, which caused me to remember the passage from 1st Corinthians...
Psalms, Chapter 65
To you shall vows be performed.
2 You who hear prayer,
to you all men will come.
3 Sins overwhelmed me,
but you atoned for our transgressions.
4 Blessed is one whom you choose, and cause to come near, that he may live in your courts.
We will be filled with the goodness of your house, your holy temple.
5 By awesome deeds of righteousness, you answer us,
God of our salvation.
You who are the hope of all the ends of the earth,
of those who are far away on the sea;
6 Who by his power forms the mountains,
having armed yourself with strength;
7 who stills the roaring of the seas,
the roaring of their waves,
and the turmoil of the nations.
8 They also who dwell in faraway places are afraid at your wonders. You call the morning’s dawn and the evening with songs of joy.
And
1 Corinthians, Chapter 6
19 Or don’t you know that your body is a temple of the Holy Spirit which is in you, which you have from God? You are not your own, 20 for you were bought with a price. Therefore glorify God in your body and in your spirit, which are God’s.
Max T. Neel, the preacher who baptized Linda and I, used to say that for a Christian, God was nearer than hands or feet and closer than breathing. He was right!!! For those who don't believe, God is far away, like the top photo. He is just one of many "flowers" in a vast field of "options"; one of the many paths to the goodness in life that we all seek. But, for those who have earnestly sought HIM, HE becomes more beautiful than anything anyone could ever imagine. I know that some people will read this and say "just flowers in a field, so what?" Well, they are just flowers, but they do represent something beautiful and if you will let God into your life, that beauty will be in you as well. Think about it; which view are you thinking about and have you ever thought about beauty residing in you - if not, why not?