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
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.
This photo was taken on our last morning in Jamaica. This spot is one of my favorites at Galina Breeze, especially to watch the sunrise. We had a couple of days with beautiful sunrises, then 3 or 4 in a row that were very cloudy (ie, you couldn’t even see the sun rise). On our last day, I remember looking out our window and commenting to my wife that it should be a good sunrise because there were no clouds overhead. When we got down to the “beach”, there was this dense haze on the horizon. I can’t remember ever seeing so much haze there before.
After we got home, I began wondering if the haziness had anything to do with the winds. Every morning, it had been unusually windy. So much, that it was actually comfortable (whereas I usually sweat through breakfast). A quick internet search found that the source of the haze was …(dramatic pause)… dust from Africa. Blowing across the Atlantic sea into the Caribbean.
I certainly didn’t need a reminder of the power of the wind, but it was a nice reminder of the positive effects of the wind. God’s spirit is described as wind many times in the Bible. I like to think of the Holy Spirit as a cooling breeze. Refreshing.
The sun comes up, it’s a new day dawning
It’s time to sing Your song again
Whatever may pass, and whatever lies before me
Let me be singing when the evening comes
Bless the Lord, O my soul
O my soul, Worship His holy name
Matt Redman 10,000 Reasons (Bless the Lord)
Heaven and Earth are singing
Glory, hallelujah, let the whole world see
The greatness of our God
In awesome wonder, He reigns forever
We know the greatness of our God
His pow’r is endless, He lives within us
(Greatness of Our God, Newsboys)
I’ve written before about the times and ways God surprises us. This photo actually represents two surprises for me.
We had just taken enough from the Cincinnati airport; I looked out the window and saw this strange white stuff on the ground. It took me a moment to realize it was dense fog over the Ohio River. Surprise 1. Of course I had to take a picture!
The second surprise came when I finished editing the photo – adjusting the light/contrast and color. I hadn’t even noticed the colors in the sky until I was actually cropping the photo.
I took this photo yesterday morning, as I was leaving our neighborhood. Shortly after I took the photo, this song came on the radio:
You’re closer than you think you are
Only moments from the break of dawn
All His promises are just up ahead
Maybe you just haven’t seen it, just haven’t seen it yet.
(Danny Gokey, Haven’t Seen It Yet)
