Influence

This picture reminds me of the phrase that mothers often use: If your friends jump off a cliff, I suppose you would jump too. This is what they do; jump off cliffs and glide until they are near the bottom and then they pull their ripcords and rely on parachutes to arrrive safely on the ground. Pretty dangerous stuff! Listen to what the Almighty has to say about the influence of "friends".

Deuteronomy 13:6-9 WEB (R)
(6) If your brother, the son of your mother, or your son, or your daughter, or the wife of your bosom, or your friend, who is as your own soul, entice you secretly, saying, Let us go and serve other gods, which you have not known, you, nor your fathers;
(7) of the gods of the peoples who are around you, near to you, or far off from you, from the one end of the earth even to the other end of the earth;
(8) you shall not consent to him, nor listen to him; neither shall your eye pity him, neither shall you spare, neither shall you conceal him:
(9) but you shall surely kill him; your hand shall be first on him to put him to death, and afterwards the hand of all the people.

Israel was supposed to be different; holy to God. They were to have nothing to do with idols or the pagan gods of the people of Palestine. Some things you should never do, regardless of who tried to get you to them. I am quite sure that I will never be caught jumping off a cliff and I hope you wouldn't either. Besides, I don't look good in red.

Snow-angels, GOOD NEWS and me

For Bibi...

I know, its just snow; but snow has been on my mind lately. Think of it; snow in Florida?? Some of the locals tell me it has actually snowed here, but not for many years. What do you do with snow? Shovel it, blow it, mold it (snow balls, snowmen, etc.) or maybe even do what the picture shows; sculpt angels. The Bible has a lot to say about them and I know entire books have been written, but for today, just consider a couple of passages.

Luke 2:8-14 WEB (R)
(8) There were shepherds in the same country staying in the field, and keeping watch by night over their flock.
(9) Behold, an angel of the Lord stood by them, and the glory of the Lord shone around them, and they were terrified.
(10) The angel said to them, "Don't be afraid, for behold, I bring you good news of great joy which will be to all the people.
(11) For there is born to you, this day, in the city of David, a Savior, who is Christ the Lord.
(12) This is the sign to you: you will find a baby wrapped in strips of cloth, lying in a feeding trough."
(13) Suddenly, there was with the angel a multitude of the heavenly army praising God, and saying,
(14) "Glory to God in the highest, on earth peace, good will toward men."

Matthew 28:1-7 WEB (R)
(1) Now after the Sabbath, as it began to dawn on the first day of the week, Mary Magdalene and the other Mary came to see the tomb.
(2) Behold, there was a great earthquake, for an angel of the Lord descended from the sky, and came and rolled away the stone from the door, and sat on it.
(3) His appearance was like lightning, and his clothing white as snow.
(4) For fear of him, the guards shook, and became like dead men.
(5) The angel answered the women, "Don't be afraid, for I know that you seek Jesus, who has been crucified.
(6) He is not here, for he has risen, just like he said. Come, see the place where the Lord was lying.
(7) Go quickly and tell his disciples, 'He has risen from the dead, and behold, he goes before you into Galilee; there you will see him.' Behold, I have told you."


Angels have done a great many things, but these two passages illustrate what I like best about them; they bring news from God. The news may be good or not-so-good, but in these two instances, it was GREAT NEWS. Earth shaking, eternal news that never grows old, never will grow out of date as long as human being exist; God has come to Earth because he loves his creation and gave of himself to redeem that creation from sin. Boring news, I think NOT; because every single thing that I have ever done wrong has been made right through the blood of Jesus of Nazareth, who is called The Christ of God. Although the angel in the picture is beautiful (and it is BEAUTIFUL), nevertheless, the blessing of forgiveness of sin is far greater. Now, when did you say it was going to begin to snow; I have something to sculpt?

Dog eat dog world

Just a picture of dogs, isn't it? Yet, somehow I see a reflection of something more here. Humans act like this too, don't they? They force their will on one another, attempt (and sometimes succeed) to control one another and do all kinds of things that are less than wonderful. In short, sometimes humans act like animals. I like this passage of Scripture because it says something to me about control.


Galatians 5:1-18 WEB (R)
(1) Stand firm therefore in the liberty by which Christ has made us free, and don't be entangled again with a yoke of bondage.
(2) Behold, I, Paul, tell you that if you receive circumcision, Christ will profit you nothing.
(3) Yes, I testify again to every man who receives circumcision, that he is a debtor to do the whole law.
(4) You are alienated from Christ, you who desire to be justified by the law. You have fallen away from grace.
(5) For we, through the Spirit, by faith wait for the hope of righteousness.
(6) For in Christ Jesus neither circumcision amounts to anything, nor uncircumcision, but faith working through love.
(7) You were running well! Who interfered with you that you should not obey the truth?
(8) This persuasion is not from him who calls you.
(9) A little yeast grows through the whole lump.
(10) I have confidence toward you in the Lord that you will think no other way. But he who troubles you will bear his judgment, whoever he is.
(11) But I, brothers, if I still preach circumcision, why am I still persecuted? Then the stumbling block of the cross has been removed.
(12) I wish that those who disturb you would cut themselves off.
(13) For you, brothers, were called for freedom. Only don't use your freedom for gain to the flesh, but through love be servants to one another.
(14) For the whole law is fulfilled in one word, in this: "You shall love your neighbor as yourself."
(15) But if you bite and devour one another, be careful that you don't consume one another.(16) But I say, walk by the Spirit, and you won't fulfill the lust of the flesh.
(17) For the flesh lusts against the Spirit, and the Spirit against the flesh; and these are contrary to one another, that you may not do the things that you desire.
(18) But if you are led by the Spirit, you are not under the law.


Rules; nobody likes them, but they ARE NECESSARY! But what if they were NOT NECESSARY? With love, they are superfluous! Extra baggage to those who really love God; those who are led by the SPIRIT to do what is right, regardless of the circumstances. Law may rule, but LOVE CONQUERORS! As human beings, we break LAW, but with the LOVE OF GOD in our hearts, we overcome our natural tendencies and do HIS WILL without reference to LAW. It may be a "dog eat dog" world out there, but thanks to God; we have a helper to guide us from the path of sin. Something to think about on this cold January day....

Something to remember

Niagara Falls; now that is a place I will always remember! We went there on our honeymoon (several years after we were married) and this picture reminded me of its beauty at night. Funny how the mind works; sometimes a memory is triggered by a sound or a smell, but most ofter for me it is something beautiful. God gives us beautiful little signposts like a rainbow or a smile on a young child to bring joy into our lives. For the Jews, there were many of these and the following verses tell us of just one.


Numbers 15:37-41 WEB (R)
(37) Yahweh spoke to Moses, saying,
(38) Speak to the children of Israel, and tell them that they should make them fringes in the borders of their garments throughout their generations, and that they put on the fringe of each border a cord of blue:
(39) and it shall be to you for a fringe, that you may look on it, and remember all the commandments of Yahweh, and do them; and that you not follow after your own heart and your own eyes, after which you use to play the prostitute;
(40) that you may remember and do all my commandments, and be holy to your God.
(41) I am Yahweh your God, who brought you out of the land of Egypt, to be your God: I am Yahweh your God.

The law was given in order that God's nation Israel was to be pure and HOLY; every single one of them. To help them remember, a blue cord was to remind them what God had commanded them. Like the law, this cord was to be with them all the time, triggering obedience to the perfection within its precepts and the result; a HOLY LIFE! If a mere picture like the one above can evoke memories after only one look, imagine the power of the words of an Almighty God before you all of the time. Now, that is really something to remember!!

Hidden

This is a somewhat dark and imposing picture, but I like it anyway. Not because it is on the dark side, but because it reveals something within the darkness. If you look carefully at the picture, the pink (or Rosy Red if you will)in the clouds is not caused by shadows but by something within them; lightning.

John 3:1-9 WEB (R)
(1) Now there was a man of the Pharisees named Nicodemus, a ruler of the Jews.
(2) The same came to him by night, and said to him, "Rabbi, we know that you are a teacher come from God, for no one can do these signs that you do, unless God is with him."
(3) Jesus answered him, "Most certainly, I tell you, unless one is born anew, he can't see the Kingdom of God."
(4) Nicodemus said to him, "How can a man be born when he is old? Can he enter a second time into his mother's womb, and be born?"
(5) Jesus answered, "Most certainly I tell you, unless one is born of water and spirit, he can't enter into the Kingdom of God!
(6) That which is born of the flesh is flesh. That which is born of the Spirit is spirit.
(7) Don't marvel that I said to you, 'You must be born anew.'
(8) The wind blows where it wants to, and you hear its sound, but don't know where it comes from and where it is going. So is everyone who is born of the Spirit."
(9) Nicodemus answered him, "How can these things be?"

This paragraph is the stuff of faith. We can't know or understand everything. Even the most brilliant among us can't KNOW EVERYTHING! The world is too big and human knowledge is so monumental that omniscience is impossible (For human beings at least)! But, what we can know is that we can start our lives anew with God and even though we may not understand exactly HOW God does everything, we still can accept what he says and does by faith. So it is with this picture too; I can't see the lightning, but I know that its there; and I don't even need Rose colored glasses!

Go for it!!

Remember the Road Runner? ACME mean anything to you? These two things came to mind when I saw this picture. It seems bad weather is pointed right at this island and if the Road Runner is there; well, he is GOING TO GET IT!! The Road Runner may have been the eternal optimist, but he winds up slammed in the end. Elijah must have felt like the Road Runner after Jezebel threatened him. Read this passage from 1 Kings to find out more.

1 Kings 19:1-18 WEB (R)
(1) Ahab told Jezebel all that Elijah had done, and how he had killed all the prophets with the sword.
(2) Then Jezebel send a messenger to Elijah, saying, So let the gods do to me, and more also, if I don't make your life as the life of one of them by tomorrow about this time.
(3) When he saw that, he arose, and went for his life, and came to Beersheba, which belongs to Judah, and left his servant there.
(4) But he himself went a day's journey into the wilderness, and came and sat down under a juniper tree: and he requested for himself that he might die, and said, It is enough; now, O Yahweh, take away my life; for I am not better than my fathers.
(5) He lay down and slept under a juniper tree; and behold, an angel touched him, and said to him, Arise and eat.
(6) He looked, and behold, there was at his head a cake baked on the coals, and a jar of water. He ate and drank, and laid down again.
(7) The angel of Yahweh came again the second time, and touched him, and said, Arise and eat, because the journey is too great for you.
(8) He arose, and ate and drank, and went in the strength of that food forty days and forty nights to Horeb the Mount of God.
(9) He came there to a cave, and lodged there; and behold, the word of Yahweh came to him, and he said to him, What are you doing here, Elijah?
(10) He said, I have been very jealous for Yahweh, the God of Armies; for the children of Israel have forsaken your covenant, thrown down your altars, and slain your prophets with the sword: and I, even I only, am left; and they seek my life, to take it away.
(11) He said, Go forth, and stand on the mountain before Yahweh. Behold, Yahweh passed by, and a great and strong wind tore the mountains, and broke in pieces the rocks before Yahweh; but Yahweh was not in the wind: and after the wind an earthquake; but Yahweh was not in the earthquake:
(12) and after the earthquake a fire; but Yahweh was not in the fire: and after the fire a still small voice.
(13) It was so, when Elijah heard it, that he wrapped his face in his mantle, and went out, and stood in the entrance of the cave. Behold, there came a voice to him, and said, What are you doing here, Elijah?
(14) He said, I have been very jealous for Yahweh, the God of Armies; for the children of Israel have forsaken your covenant, thrown down your altars, and slain your prophets with the sword; and I, even I only, am left; and they seek my life, to take it away.
(15) Yahweh said to him, Go, return on your way to the wilderness of Damascus: and when you come, you shall anoint Hazael to be king over Syria;
(16) and you shall anoint Jehu the son of Nimshi to be king over Israel; and you shall anoint Elisha the son of Shaphat of Abel Meholah to be prophet in your place.
(17) It shall happen, that he who escapes from the sword of Hazael shall Jehu kill; and he who escapes from the sword of Jehu shall Elisha kill.
(18) Yet will I leave me seven thousand in Israel, all the knees which have not bowed to Baal, and every mouth which has not kissed him.


I like Elijah; a worker of miracles, a strong proponent of Yahweh and overall a real man's man. BUT, he had his limits; he was not without fear and doubt. In short, he was human! But God encouraged him, guided him and directed him. Elijah listened! No, the world is not out to get you; things happen, but with God on your side things happen! Wait, what's that noise? Sounded something like a beep, beep????? Go for it!!!!

'round the corner

This is a picture of Plumbago road. It is a dirt road (sand mostly)that exits onto old state road in Dade City. Since I can't see around the corner, I go very slow and continually look to the right to detect oncoming traffic. This road is a lot like life; you just have to be careful and watch where you are going. Consider this passage from the book of Matthew:


Matthew 6:31-34 WEB (R)
(31) "Therefore don't be anxious, saying, 'What will we eat?', 'What will we drink?' or, 'With what will we be clothed?'
(32) For the Gentiles seek after all these things, for your heavenly Father knows that you need all these things.
(33) But seek first God's Kingdom, and his righteousness; and all these things will be given to you as well.
(34) Therefore don't be anxious for tomorrow, for tomorrow will be anxious for itself. Each day's own evil is sufficient.


Every time this year there are those who make predictions about what will happen in the next twelve months. All sorts of wild speculations abound. Most do not come true; although a few may. I already know what is going to happen this upcoming year; God has told me in verse 33. I am going to be taken care of; if there is something I really NEED, like food and shelter, God has been and always will be there. Oh, I still will wonder how HE will do it, but I know that HE will. Eventually, the future that lies around the next corner will take me to HIM, but so what; I will go to someplace better. Don't get me wrong, I still will look around the corner, but I won't be worrying about what's on the other side.