Monthly Archives: July 2019

Scenery

No One Like Our God

This photo was taken 2 years ago at Canyonlands NP. I remember hiking through one of the small canyons and climbing up on the ridge where I took this picture. Such a contrast between the vegetation in the canyons and along the trails above.

I heard this song as I was driving to work this morning and thought it fit well with this scene.

Who hung the stars upon the night

And showed the sun how bright to shine

Who shaped the world within his hands?

Who set the sky upon the hills

And told the waters to be still

Who spoke to form the universe

Only you, only you, only you

There is no one like our God

(No one like our God, Lincoln Brewster)

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Scenery

Blessings

This a photo of Virginia Falls, also from Glacier NP 2 years ago. I’m not sure why, but waterfalls make me think of God’s blessings. I guess because we sometimes speak of God’s blessings being poured out for us.

I found many definitions for “blessing,” but the ones I have in mind are “God’s favor” and “something that brings well-being.” Blessings impact our lives, in a positive way. Just as waterfalls can be dramatic or more subtle and inconspicuous, so can blessings. Waterfalls change the terrain (over a long period of time); blessings change our lives, sometimes it takes a long time to recognize these changes.

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Scenery

Mountains

I am surprised that I had not previously shared this photo. It was taken 2 years ago in Glacier NP on our hike to Siyeh Pass. There are so many things I like in this view. The wild flowers in the foreground. The spindly pine trees on the right. The creek running through the middle. But what really draws my attention is the mountain in the distance.

Mountains are a symbol of strength. We talk about “mountaintop” experiences. God spoke to Moses on a mountain. Jesus gave the Sermon on the Mount.

Thankfully, we do not have to climb a mountain to encounter God.

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Scenery

Roads

This photo was on a flight to Utah. That squiggly line near the middle of the bottom of the photo is a road. Seeing a road from this high up gives you a very different perspective of where the road is headed as compared to being on that road, I’m sure.

In life, we don’t usually get a “big picture view“ of where our “road” is headed. However, with regular reflection, it is certainly possible to see more of the road we are following.

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Scenery

Diversity

Kiawah Island

There are many things that I really enjoy taking pictures of, and birds would certainly be on that list. I’m not certain why birds fascinate me but two obvious things come to mind. One is their ability to fly and the beauty of flight. The other is the amazing diversity of birds.

There is also an amazing diversity among people. We are experiencing a time when this is a source of much pain. Let us pray that it would rather be a cause for celebration.

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Scenery

Peace

This is another photo from this week at Kiawah. When I look at it, the word that comes to my mind is “peace.” Certainly, this is a peaceful scene but it goes beyond that for me. It connects me with many happy memories from past vacations here.

Peace is so much more than the absence of conflict. It is more like an experience of true contentment.

“Peace I leave with you; my peace I give to you. Not as the world gives do I give it to you. Do not let your hearts be troubled or afraid.”

John 14:27

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Scenery

Calling

This photo was taken earlier this week at Kiawah. It was not the first time I had seen so many birds gathered at this particular spot. There is nothing obviously different about this spot, as far as I can tell. Which makes me wonder why all these birds have gather here. Something must be attracting them.

In our lives, there is something similar which I would label a “calling.” God often leads us by placing desires in our hearts. These desires may make no “sense” from a worldly perspective. But they lead to fulfillment as we recognize the unique set of gifts/talents we have been given.

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God in all things

Focus

This photo was taken using one of the features on newer iPhones. In Portrait mode, you are able to create an image with an object (or person) in focus and the background blurred. In this case, I wanted to highlight the berries. The restaurant we had just eaten at in the background.

While I like visual effect created, it implies the berries (not edible I was told) are more important that the restaurant. In life, we often choose to focus on things that are not of value.

“Whatever is true, whatever is honorable, whatever is just, whatever is pure, whatever is lovely, whatever is gracious, if there is any excellence and if there is anything worthy of praise, think about these things.”

Philippians 4:8

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Scenery

Perspective

This photo of Landscape Arch was taken a couple of years ago at Arches National Park. It is a good example of how perceptions depend on your perspective. I think it is hard to get any real idea of just how high and long this Arch is. There is no real sense of depth/distance and nothing in the photo gives a sense of size.

Landscape Arch has the longest span of any natural Arch in the US (290 feet) and is 77 feet high. Amazingly, at the thinnest point, it is only 6 feet thick. You can no longer walk under the Arch because some large chunks (over 30 feet long) fell off in the 1990s.

It is also hard to gain perspective on the problems and challenges that people face in their lives. It’s easy to assume that someone “has it made.” Little do we know the difficulties they may be facing. Thankfully, God not only knows the challenges each of us face, God provides what we need to face them.

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