photogrpahy, random thoughts, ramblings
is the world so dark?
is there no beauty here we may enjoy?
do we live in a world so twisted and broken
that we are the only light remaining?
no.
for God called his world good.
we do not have the market on goodness cornered.
we do not possess the only earthly ability for good.
let us praise good – all good –
as all good
points to the maker of good –
God.
from keese, over at the afc blog…
this morning i spent several hours driving to and from this resort trying to claim a prize i had “already won.” it was one of those get a letter in the mail, show up at the right time, listen to their advertising presentation, say no, get your prize things. i knew it was too good to be true and i totally expected to get cheated, but i at least hoped to make it a little further into the game before i lost out. you see, i didn’t meet the qualifications because i don’t earn enough annual income (i guess it takes money to buy lake-side condominiums these days) to be worth their time or something. of course, it clearly stated this is the fine print but unfortunately for me, i never received the letter containting these stipulations. disappointing, but at least lauren and i got to spend some time driving through the texas countryside together.
so all this got me thinking about salvation. odd how seeing God’s creation through a car window will do that. in God’s eyes we’re all “instant winners.” we who call Jesus our Lord and Savior already are gauranteed to receive the promised reward. and the best part is that there’s no fine print that will take it all away from us. sure, a walk with God isn’t always a pleasant stroll, in fact it seems like a marathon at times, but at least our guide has been up-front and honest with us. we won’t arrive at our destination and discover that we’ve been disqualified for the prize. Jesus has said that if we confess Him as both master and friend, He will confess us before His father at the end of our road. and i am very glad it’s all laid out for us all in some very true fine print.
a winner tries to judge his own acts by their consequences, and other people’s acts by their intentions.
a loser gives himself all the best of it by judging his own acts by his intentions, and the acts of others by their consequences.
-sydney j. harris
enjoyed a bit more macro today. this time a nice butterfly and lizard. the gallery is, as before, here.
these small images don’t really do it justice – especially the lizard.
may you wait patiently for the Lord.
may you cry out to Him in times of trouble.
may you wait patiently for the Lord.
may he lift you out of the pit
out of the mire and clay.
may he place your feet on solid ground
and make your footsteps firm.
may you sing a new song –
a hymn of praise to our God.
and may many see what he has done
and put their trust in the Lord.
while waiting for will to get out of class today, i went out with the new sigma 150 macro to take some pictures. first general impressions – this is a fantastic lens. well built, fast focusing, sharp and with good color. good speed/length combination. i was able to shoot pics of the spider for a good 10 minutes without him ever really knowing that i was there. so far, i wish i’d had this lens years ago!
you can check out the rest of the pictures here.
may you walk in faith,
believing in a God
whose promise is true,
a good father
giving perfect gifts.
may you ask questions
content without quick answers;
may you seek
content without instantly finding.
may you believe
the covenant
of a faithful God
and rest secure
in the promise
of the provision
of the Lord.
may you be humble,
constantly aware of your relation
to a perfect God,
forgiven,
not because of good things you did,
but because of his mercy,
generously poured out
because of what
Jesus Christ
our Savior
did.
as you have been forgiven,
may you forgive.
as you have been declared guiltless,
may you free those who hae wronged you.
and may you stand
before the true and righteous judge,
cleansed in the blood
of the perfect sacrifice
of Jesus Christ.
our father,
we come before you
a hopeful people
a faithful people.
we come before you with worries and pain
joy and thanks
we come with a thousand
plans
desires
dreams
lives.
we come in this time asking
to be equal before you
not only in your eyes
but in our hearts
may our grace and mercy to each other
extend as far
as the grace and mercy of Christ.
may our hearts be filled with compassion and justice
may we know and believe
that each person
was created by you
is loved by you
is valued by you.
may our charity flow freely
to your creation.
may we be a blessing to your world –
giving more than we take
recognizing
that you love all you have made.
teach us,
God,
to desire to honor your creation –
all of your creation –
as much as we desire to honor
You.