As sweet as the Lilac

To you its probably just a Lilac, but to me it is a fond memory. I was in the third grade and my teacher was Mrs. Door. She was a very large woman by any standard, but she did something that made her memory stay with me for many, many years; she showed me kindness and went out of her way to help me. In our yard was a large Lilac bush and one day I took a few blossoms to her. She was surprised, but put them in a vase that she kept on her desk the entire week. I was in heaven because I had a schoolboy crush on her. When I think of gifts, the book of John comes to mind. Read on....

Joh 16:13 When the Spirit of truth comes, he will guide you into all the truth, for he will not speak on his own authority, but whatever he hears he will speak, and he will declare to you the things that are to come.
Joh 16:14 He will glorify me, for he will take what is mine and declare it to you.
Joh 16:15 All that the Father has is mine; therefore I said that he will take what is mine and declare it to you.

English Standard Version

God has given us a gift that keeps on giving. The Spirit guided the apostles and today the words that HE inspired to them guide us still. Think of all the good that The Word of God has done and will continue to do. My elementary teacher has undoubtedly been dead for many years, but her gift to me continues to this day. Her kindnesses were many and as sweet as the Lilac to me, but the kindness God has shown me seems overwheming to even try to take in. Today would be a good day to try to thank HIM for what he has done for me, but I don't think he accepts Lilacs, so I will just have to give myself instead. By the way, somehow Mrs. Door became my fourth grade teacher and the day I knew about that was a very good day indeed!

One beautiful boat

Crystal aquamarine water, pleasant surroundings and even a friendly sky. When I lived in Jamesburg, this was all my neighbor two doors down could talk about. Both Harold and Delores had bought a boat and planned to live on it in their retirement. When they left for their dream in the Florida keys, they were excited beyond belief. I never did know the outcome, but I wish them every happiness. What a person wishes for says a great deal about them. Read this passage from the book of Second Timothy to see what the Apostle Paul looked forward to:

2Ti 4:7 I have fought the good fight, I have finished the race, I have kept the faith.
2Ti 4:8 Henceforth there is laid up for me the crown of righteousness, which the Lord, the righteous judge, will award to me on that Day, and not only to me but also to all who have loved his appearing.

English Standard Version

Boats sink, Hurricanes destroy and rain can do a lot of damage. The things of this world may seem wonderful, but what about their lasting value? Paul had the right idea; think about eternity! The picture above is of one beautiful boat, but can it compare with the victors crown of righteousness awarded by God himself? Retire in style, with Jesus your captain and sail on forever, not for just a retirement that lasts a few years.

The presence of greatness

Most of us are familiar with the Eiffel tower, but probably not from this perspective. It looks gigantic and seems to reach up to heaven itself! When I first saw this my jaw dropped a little and I just stared in amazement for sometime and was almost speechless (if you can imagine that)! It made me think of an incident in the New Testament where Peter must have done the same thing. Read the following passage from the book of Matthew and see if you don't agree with me......

Mat 17:1 And after six days Jesus takes with him Peter, and James, and John his brother, and brings them up into a high mountain apart.
Mat 17:2 And he was transfigured before them. And his face shone as the sun, and his garments became white as the light;
Mat 17:3 and lo, Moses and Elias appeared to them talking with him.
Mat 17:4 And Peter answering said to Jesus, Lord, it is good we should be here. If thou wilt, let us make here three tabernacles: for thee one, and for Moses one, and one for Elias.
Mat 17:5 While he was still speaking, behold, a bright cloud overshadowed them, and lo, a voice out of the cloud, saying, *This* is my beloved Son, in whom I have found my delight: hear him.
Mat 17:6 And the disciples hearing it fell upon their faces, and were greatly terrified.
Mat 17:7 And Jesus coming to them touched them, and said, Rise up, and be not terrified.
Mat 17:8 And lifting up their eyes, they saw no one but Jesus alone.

Darby Bible

OK, I didn't tell you everything; I am afraid of heights! So, you can imagine how I would feel even THINKING ABOUT GOING TO THE TOP OF THIS BABY! Some things just hit you and this picture stunned me. Peter was stunned too, when God politely told him to be quiet. There is a good lesson here: When in the presence of greatness be quiet and learn. You just might find out something to overcome your fears.

The two fold wonder

Oh, that someone would have told me about HDR photography sooner! This picture not only has great color contrasts, but a little surprise as well. How often do you see a sunset AND a rainbow at the same time; I never have! Two beautiful things at once is a rare thing indeed and yet this is exactly what we see in this passage from the book of Romans:

Rom 3:20 Because by the works of the law, no flesh will be justified in his sight. For through the law comes the knowledge of sin.
Rom 3:21 But now apart from the law, a righteousness of God has been revealed, being testified by the law and the prophets;
Rom 3:22 even the righteousness of God through faith in Jesus Christ to all and on all those who believe. For there is no distinction,
Rom 3:23 for all have sinned, and fall short of the glory of God;
Rom 3:24 being justified freely by his grace through the redemption that is in Christ Jesus;
Rom 3:25 whom God set forth to be an atoning sacrifice, through faith in his blood, for a demonstration of his righteousness through the passing over of prior sins, in God's forbearance;
Rom 3:26 to demonstrate his righteousness at this present time; that he might himself be just, and the justifier of him who has faith in Jesus.
Rom 3:27 Where then is the boasting? It is excluded. By what manner of law? Of works? No, but by a law of faith.
Rom 3:28 We maintain therefore that a man is justified by faith apart from the works of the law.
Rom 3:29 Or is God the God of Jews only? Isn't he the God of Gentiles also? Yes, of Gentiles also,
Rom 3:30 since indeed there is one God who will justify the circumcised by faith, and the uncircumcised through faith.
Rom 3:31 Do we then nullify the law through faith? May it never be! No, we establish the law.

World English Bible

The Law given to Moses was wonderful, but humans slip up... face it, that is what we do. So, within the Law was unspoken faith. If you doubt this, think of Abraham, the father of the faithful, who lived many, many, many years before Moses. So within the Law there was faith and once the New Testament covenant was inaugurated by the blood of Jesus there was a wonderful new way without Law. Both beautiful, both effective--through faith. Like a rainbow and a sunset they compliment one another so our lives can be full of the two fold wonder of God.

The Mom's Song

There are three names that probably don't mean a great deal to you, but they do to me : Darlene, Melissa and Rebecca. I gave them their names, but they owe their successful lives to their mother, who was constantly guiding them. I think the following passage from the book of Proverbs says it all:

Pro 29:15 The rod of correction gives wisdom, but a child left to himself causes shame to his mother.

My wife did a good job with them, but I really wish she could sing this song; I know I can't!

A beautiful sunset

I love sunsets! The more colorful, the better! The beauty of this particular one is amazing. Could anyone even dream of creating a painting so beautiful? As spectacular as this is, mankind is a far, far greater creation. Not only in beauty, but in the depth of creativity, emotion and imagination. Human beings were designed to interact with God; think of it, the creator of the entire universe wants to fellowship us so much that he suffered to accomplish it! Once again my mind is drawn to the Psalms, read it and realize how very, very special we are!

Psa 139:1 Yahweh, you have searched me, and you know me.
Psa 139:2 You know my sitting down and my rising up. You perceive my thoughts from afar.
Psa 139:3 You search out my path and my lying down, and are acquainted with all my ways.
Psa 139:4 For there is not a word on my tongue, but, behold, Yahweh, you know it altogether.
Psa 139:5 You hem me in behind and before. You laid your hand on me.
Psa 139:6 This knowledge is beyond me. It's lofty. I can't attain it.
Psa 139:7 Where could I go from your Spirit? Or where could I flee from your presence?
Psa 139:8 If I ascend up into heaven, you are there. If I make my bed in Sheol, behold, you are there!
Psa 139:9 If I take the wings of the dawn, and settle in the uttermost parts of the sea;
Psa 139:10 Even there your hand will lead me, and your right hand will hold me.
Psa 139:11 If I say, "Surely the darkness will overwhelm me; the light around me will be night;"
Psa 139:12 even the darkness doesn't hide from you, but the night shines as the day. The darkness is like light to you.
Psa 139:13 For you formed my inmost being. You knit me together in my mother's womb.
Psa 139:14 I will give thanks to you, for I am fearfully and wonderfully made. Your works are wonderful. My soul knows that very well.
Psa 139:15 My frame wasn't hidden from you, when I was made in secret, woven together in the depths of the earth.
Psa 139:16 Your eyes saw my body. In your book they were all written, the days that were ordained for me, when as yet there were none of them. World English Bible

OK, right about this time some of you are thinking about your faults and frankly, if I were to be honest and list all my shortcomings, well, this would be one LONG post. However, God doesn't make junk and that means ME! He has cared for me before there even was a me and has not left my side at any time, even when I think he should have. So, the next time you look at a beautiful sunset I hope you will think of God and remember how important you are to him.

Grey skies to blue

This HDR photo is interesting, not only because of its quality, but also because the way in which it was manipulated. Maybe its just me, but does the sky look just a tad too grey? Which reminds me of a great sermon I heard at the Piscataway church of Christ about a decade ago. Gary Eubanks was refuting the concept of viewing everything on the "Sunny Side of Life". This made a lot of sense to me then and now even more so. Everything is not always positive, sometimes you have to have a lot of rainy days to appreciate the sunshine. Consider the problems Job had and the ultimate realization he arrived at:

Job 42:1 Then Job answered Yahweh,
Job 42:2 "I know that you can do all things, and that no purpose of yours can be restrained.
Job 42:3 You asked, 'Who is this who hides counsel without knowledge?' therefore I have uttered that which I did not understand, things too wonderful for me, which I didn't know.
Job 42:4 You said, 'Listen, now, and I will speak; I will question you, and you will answer me.'
Job 42:5 I had heard of you by the hearing of the ear, but now my eye sees you.
Job 42:6 Therefore I abhor myself, and repent in dust and ashes."
Job 42:7 It was so, that after Yahweh had spoken these words to Job, Yahweh said to Eliphaz the Temanite, "My wrath is kindled against you, and against your two friends; for you have not spoken of me the thing that is right, as my servant Job has.

World English Bible

Job went through a lot of physical discomfort and emotional stress; more than I would ever be able to withstand! His life was in ruin and his wife and "friends" turned against him. He questioned everything, including God. But God's questions made him think and all the problems he had led to a greater understanding of the Almighty. He went through hard times and ultimately grew closed to God as a result. God turned his grey skies to blue ones and restored those things taken away and then some. Times are tough right now, but think; people actually did live through the great depression and those people had a dramatic effect upon this country. Our grey skies can change if we have the proper attitude and that begins with making sure our relationship with the God of Heaven is as it should be! So, bring on the grey skies, just help me to see God between the clouds.

Are you listening?

He doesn't look crazy, does he? Yet his sign would certainly make some people upset. I wonder if anyone would think about the sign and change their ways? Seems unlikely, doesn't it? Yet it has worked in the past; check out this passage from the book of Jonah:

Jon 3:1 The word of Yahweh came to Jonah the second time, saying,
Jon 3:2 "Arise, go to Nineveh, that great city, and preach to it the message that I give you."
Jon 3:3 So Jonah arose, and went to Nineveh, according to the word of Yahweh. Now Nineveh was an exceedingly great city, three days' journey across.
Jon 3:4 Jonah began to enter into the city a day's journey, and he cried out, and said, "Yet forty days, and Nineveh shall be overthrown!"
Jon 3:5 The people of Nineveh believed God; and they proclaimed a fast, and put on sackcloth, from the greatest of them even to the least of them.
Jon 3:6 The news reached the king of Nineveh, and he arose from his throne, and took off his royal robe, covered himself with sackcloth, and sat in ashes.
Jon 3:7 He made a proclamation and published through Nineveh by the decree of the king and his nobles, saying, "Let neither man nor animal, herd nor flock, taste anything; let them not feed, nor drink water;
Jon 3:8 but let them be covered with sackcloth, both man and animal, and let them cry mightily to God. Yes, let them turn everyone from his evil way, and from the violence that is in his hands. Jon 3:9 Who knows whether God will not turn and relent, and turn away from his fierce anger, so that we might not perish?"
Jon 3:10 God saw their works, that they turned from their evil way. God relented of the disaster which he said he would do to them, and he didn't do it.

World English Bible

Today, our government is trying to solve its problems by using money. Wrong! Its not stimulation our nation needs, its reformation! Sin manifested in all sorts of ways has brought us to where we are and I think it will get worse before it gets better. The king of Nineveh proclaimed a day of prayer and fasting and that is exactly what we need today. President Obama, are you listening?

Watch out!

There seems to be a small patch of black ice on the left side of this picture and I can tell you from experience that stuff is very dangerous. On a winter day about ten years ago I was going out to my car to go to the store and I didn't see a patch of ice and wham, I went flying. When I came down I twisted my back and the pain stayed for many months no matter what I did. Sin is a lot like that patch of ice; you don't watch where you are going and then wham! Jesus warned his disciples that after his betrayal they would desert him, but do you think Peter listened; not a chance! Read these two passages from the Gospel of Matthew and see the outcome:

Mat 26:31 Then Jesus said to them, "You will all fall away because of me this night. For it is written, 'I will strike the shepherd, and the sheep of the flock will be scattered.'
Mat 26:32 But after I am raised up, I will go before you to Galilee."
Mat 26:33 Peter answered him, "Though they all fall away because of you, I will never fall away."
Mat 26:34 Jesus said to him, "Truly, I tell you, this very night, before the rooster crows, you will deny me three times."
Mat 26:35 Peter said to him, "Even if I must die with you, I will not deny you!" And all the disciples said the same.

Mat 26:69 Now Peter was sitting outside in the courtyard. And a servant girl came up to him and said, "You also were with Jesus the Galilean."
Mat 26:70 But he denied it before them all, saying, "I do not know what you mean."
Mat 26:71 And when he went out to the entrance, another servant girl saw him, and she said to the bystanders, "This man was with Jesus of Nazareth."
Mat 26:72 And again he denied it with an oath: "I do not know the man."
Mat 26:73 After a little while the bystanders came up and said to Peter, "Certainly you too are one of them, for your accent betrays you."
Mat 26:74 Then he began to invoke a curse on himself and to swear, "I do not know the man." And immediately the rooster crowed.
Mat 26:75 And Peter remembered the saying of Jesus, "Before the rooster crows, you will deny me three times." And he went out and wept bitterly.

English Standard Version

I have always liked Peter because he seems to think more with his heart than his head, but the second passage certainly doesn't paint a glowing picture of him does it? He fell away just like Jesus said he would and Peter wept bitterly over it. Sin hurts, so watch out! Pay attention to your life and don't slip up or you may fall into sin just like Peter did. And don't boast that it won't happen to you because it probably will. The good news is that Jesus will help you no matter how bad you mess up and that is really something to crow about!

Only royalty

I wonder what it would be like to actually live in this? Can you imagine cleaning the roof in the winter; and all those steps, WOW? Castles look wonderful, but I bet they are hard to clean! Only royalty live in such places, Right? Read this familiar passage from the book of John and see.

Joh 14:1 Let not your heart be troubled: ye believe in God, believe also in me.
Joh 14:2 In my Father's house are many mansions: if it were not so, I would have told you. I go to prepare a place for you.
Joh 14:3 And if I go and prepare a place for you, I will come again, and receive you unto myself; that where I am, there ye may be also.
Joh 14:4 And whither I go ye know, and the way ye know.
Joh 14:5 Thomas saith unto him, Lord, we know not whither thou goest; and how can we know the way?
Joh 14:6 Jesus saith unto him, I am the way, the truth, and the life: no man cometh unto the Father, but by me.

King James Version

If only royalty live in mansions, guess what... you were just crowned! How, through Jesus, of course. I don't know if mansions (or castles) like this really exist, but I do know that Jesus said he would prepare one for me if I follow him (verse 6). I only hope the angels will do the maintenance because I am not very fond of heights!