This photo was taken in late April during a hike at the Arc of Appalachia. We had gone there to see the spring flowers in bloom. The colors were not only in the flowers; the trees and even the rock was colorful!
God’s gifts are “pressed down and running over” (Luke 6:38)
This photo was taken at Spring Lake Park near Bellbrook in mid-winter. You can see some ice on the water in the distance. The birds seem quite oblivious to the cold. A few of the have their heads in the water – fishing, I guess.
How many people do you know that are filled with joy no matter what happens in their life? Lord, help me to be like that.
Bless the Lord, O my soul; and all that is within me, bless God’s holy name! Bless the Lord, O my soul, and forget not all God’s benefits. For as the heavens are high above the earth, so great is God’s steadfast love toward those who fear God; as far as the east is from the west, so far does God remove our transgressions from us. Psalms 103
This photo was taken at the Sandstone Falls overlook (New River). I must admit I was a little disappointed. The falls looked more dramatic in the pictures I had seen so I was expecting something more dramatic. It’s likely the water was higher than usual due to the recent rain and maybe this had an effect on the appearance of the falls. On the other hand, I was thankful that it had stopped raining so that we could at least see the falls.
How often in our lives do we view something as a “mixed blessing”? I guess in every situation, it possible to see something good and/or something bad. At the same time, all blessings are blessings!
This photo was taken during our February trip to the New River National Park. We like taking a trip in February to celebrate our anniversary. In recent years, it has been a long weekend hiking. Unfortunately, travel in the Midwest during February leaves the potential for snow/ice. The day before this photo, we got rain, freezing rain, then snow at the end of our hike. This ice was from a winter storm days earlier, and made this section of trail somewhat treacherous – both the footing and the falling ice. We like to think of ourselves as adventurous but definitely not risk takers.
It is interesting how often in the Bible God calls individuals to be leaders when they do not think of themselves as adventurous or risk takers (or leaders).
This photo was taken during our visit to New River National Park this February. It was a rainy weekend and the creeks were definitely swollen. This is a view of Pinch Creek (on the left) feeding into Glade Creek as it makes it’s way down to the New River.
I am struck by the contrast in the color of the water between the two creeks. And the line in the water dividing them. With a recently married son, I can’t help but think of how a husband and wife bring differences to their marriage but create something new.
It’s not easily seen, but there is a single bird flying just at the edge of the clouds in the upper left. And several more birds near the center of the photo. I remember taking this picture when I saw the birds flying by. The sunrise was spectacular, but I love getting photos with birds in them. Sort of like the cherry on top of the sundae.
The parable of the prodigal son is really as much about the father, who Is also prodigal. Prodigal can mean to be wasteful or to give lavishly. God gives to us lavishly, like birds flying across the sky during a beautiful sunrise.
These photos of the New River were taken at Grandview Lookout a mere 2 hours apart. We got up in the morning expecting clouds and rain, so we were pleasantly surprised that the rain let up enough to go hiking in the late morning. We were also happy that the River was visible when we got to Grandview Lookout. That didn’t last long though and the gorge was completely obscured by low clouds before we finished the hike.
We all experience “clouds” in our lives that block us from seeing what is in front of us. Thankfully, God blesses us with times that we can see clearly, if only briefly. That is what discernment is about.
This is a photo of the New River Gorge which recently became a National Park. The name for this River is somewhat ironic because the New River is considered by some geologists to be one of the oldest rivers in the world.
In the Bible, there is a New Testament but there isn’t anything new about it other than the name. If fact, it is a story as old as God’s love for else. Timeless/eternal.
Signs Along the Way 