Monthly Archives: January 2019

Scenery

Perspective

This is another photo taken out the window of an airplane. I love the views that are only possible from such heights. This particular photo was taken on the way home from Jamaica. It is looking toward the Bahamas, shortly after passing over Cuba. The line between the light blue and dark blue is the margin of a trench between Cuba and the Bahamas.

A much deeper trench is The Cayman Trench which runs along the northern side of Jamaica between Jamaica and the Cayman Islands (and Cuba). It is up to 25,000 feet deep. We look out on this trench for much of the drive from the airport to the hotel where we stay in Jamaica. A very different view, to say the least.

Perspective- not something we always control.

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God in all things

Imperfections

As I was driving to work yesterday, this was one of the songs that was playing:

I’m just a beggar in the presence of a King

I wish I could bring so much more

But if it’s true You use broken things

Then here I am Lord, I’m all Yours

The pages of history they tell me it’s true

That it’s never the perfect;

it’s always the ones with the scars that You use

It’s the rebels and the prodigals;

it’s the humble and the weak

All the misfit heroes You chose

Tell me there’s hope for sinners like me

(Broken Things, Matthew West)

It made me think of this photo I took in Jamaica earlier his month. I had gone outside our room to take a picture of the sunrise. When I looked down at the railing, this gecko couldn’t have been more than a foot away from me. After my initial surprise at it’s closeness, the first thing I noticed was the tail. Not only was it red, the tip was missing.

Thank you God for using us despite our imperfections.

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Scenery

Getting Lost

With the higher than usual recent snowfall, my wife and I got out our old cross country skis and headed over to Sweet Arrow, a nearby park. Though I am not a fan of the cold, I love the snow. Especially getting out on trails in the snow.

Both of us commented that it was very disorienting to be out there when everything is covered by snow. Our usual route looks so different! More than once I thought we were lost.

Seems like a great analogy for for easily we can get “lost” in ours lives.

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God in all things

What do you call it?

The tree is this photo is native to Malaysia and Australia. It has been introduced throughout the tropics, and in Jamaica it is known simply as “Jamaican apple” or the more common Otaheite apple. There are a number of English common names – the Malay apple, Malay rose apple, mountain apple, rose apple, Otaheite apple, pink satin-ash and pommerac. In Jamaica, it is commonly eaten freshly picked from the tree. But it is often used to make a refreshing apple drink (often with ginger added). Other times the otaheite apple is stewed with brown sugar and ginger, which makes a very nice sauce that is sometime serve with ice cream as a dessert.

I call my reflections “Seeing God in All Things” and talk about experiencing God visually, but there are many other experiences that are God moments. Maybe you understand something clearly for the first time – an “aha” moment. Sometimes, they are experienced as an overwhelming sense of peace, awe, or joy. Whatever you call it, recognize it as God’s presence.

Reflection from seeinggodinallthings.com

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Scenery

Seek the Lord

The song “Seek the Lord, while He may be found” has been going through my head this morning. Probably because the daily reading for today (Mark 1:29-39) has the disciples searching for Jesus after he went off to a deserted place to pray.

This photo is from our flight to Jamaica last week. In the distance, you can just barely see the airport runway lying next to the sea. I continue to be amazed by the technology that allows us to find a dot on a map from thousands of miles away. Thankfully, we also have the tools we need to find God.

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God in all things

Winter storm

We just got back from Jamaica last night and were greeted with the winter storm that hit the area yesterday. I got up this morning to this scene in our backyard.

We like to believe we are providing for the birds, especially when the elements are unkind. We know that God provides for us, especially in difficult times.

Reflection from seeinggodinallthings.com

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Scenery

Light for the World

Another sunrise. This one is in Jamaica.

The beginning of the day. Light for the world.

In the beginning was the Word,

and the Word was with God,

and the Word was God.

He was in the beginning with God.

All things came to be through him,

and without him nothing came to be.

What came to be through him was life,

and this life was the light of the human race;

the light shines in the darkness,

and the darkness has not overcome it.

John 1:1-5

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Scenery

New Year

This is a photo of sunrise at Kiawah Island from a couple of years ago. Kiawah is a regular destination for Marylynn‘s family and there are many routines that a part of these trips. As you might guess, spending time on the beach is one of those routines. Another is getting together with the whole family (40+ and growing) for dinner most nights. There’s riding bikes, game nights, and scavenger hunts. These vacations are highly anticipated. And they are over before you know it.

The sunrise is a good analogy for the New Year. There is anticipation and expectations. Some things are easily predicted; some events will surprise. Despite the tendency to look ahead, it is important to savor the moment.

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