Scripture:
One thing have I asked of the LORD, that will I seek after: that I may dwell in the house of the LORD all the days of my life, to gaze upon the beauty of the LORD and to inquire in his temple. Psalm 27:4 About This Image: Since I have become a photographer, this has become one of my favorite verses and every time I come to it I see something new. Before picking up my camera I don't think that I appreciated the need for beauty in our lives. God gives us so much beauty in the world, like this rhododendron bloom that I took this year at Roan Mountain State Park. We will see the beauty of the Lord when we gaze on him. The word translated gaze means to look intently, to do more than just give a passing glance but to work at it. On this cold day, the last day of the year that just happens to be a Sunday, look for God's beauty and you will see it - in nature, in the people around you, in your church.
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Scripture:
As a deer pants for flowing streams, so pants my soul for you, O God. My soul thirsts for God, for the living God. When shall I come and appear before God? Psalm 42:1-2 About This Image: I live in the Smoky Mountains where streams like this one on the Gabes Mountain Trail in Cosby abound. The streams and waterfalls are one of the things that make this land so beautiful. Water is essential for life and we all get physically thirsty. I want to also always be thirsty for God, for just like water he sustains my life. And like I go to the mountains to see the streams, I want to seek God, knowing that He will always welcome me and quench my thirst. Scripture:
For you are my lamp, O Lord, and my God lightens my darkness. 2 Samuel 22:29 About This Image: This image was taken at the Christmas Eve candlelight service at my church. Many churches have candlelight services for Christmas Eve. We celebrate Christmas at the darkest time of the year - when there are more hours of darkness during the day than daylight. We all have dark times in our lives. This verse came from a song of David after he was delivered from all his enemies including Saul. It is interesting to me that David, in this passage, called God his lamp, not his bright and strong torch. If we let God be our lamp he will lighten our darkness, giving us enough light to see our way through the night. Scripture:
Every good gift and every perfect gift is from above, coming down from the Father of lights, with whom there is no variation or shadow due to change. James 1:17 About the Image: My Christmas tree surrounded by gifts, I am sure many of you have the same sight. We all give and receive gifts at Christmas - some good and some bad. We want to find the perfect gift for those we love, but we don't always accomplish this. Our Heavenly Father always does - His gifts are always perfect. Enjoy His gifts today, Merry Christmas. Scripture:
For God so loved the world, that he gave his only Son, that whoever believes in him should not perish but have eternal life. For God did not send his Son into the world to condemn the world, but in order that the world might be saved through him. John 3:16-17 About This Image: To take this image I sat our creche on the table so that the cross ornament on our tree was in the background. For we must understand the nativity in light of the cross. In these very familiar, oft-quoted and memorized verses we hear the simple words that God loved us so much that he gave up his Son to save us. While the words are simple, the idea that we are loved so much is beyond our understanding. - to be loved so much that the creator of the world would give up everything for us brings us to our knees. Like the figurines in this creche, bow before him and accept his gift of love. Scripture:
And in the same region there were shepherds out in the field, keeping watch over their flock by night. And an angel of the Lord appeared to them, and the glory of the Lord shone around them, and they were filled with great fear. And the angel said to them, “Fear not, for behold, I bring you good news of great joy that will be for all the people. Luke 2:8-10 About This Image: This is one of the angel ornaments on my tree. I have several angel ornaments on my tree, for angels have been an important part of Christmas from the time they appeared to the shepherds. Shepherds were not important people, matter of fact they were kind of outcasts, but they were the first people to get this amazing announcement. The good news of Jesus birth will bring joy to all people, even lowly shepherds doing their job. The good news of Jesus still brings great joy to us today and we must, like the shepherds did, share that joy with all people. Scripture:
And while they were there, the time came for her to give birth. And she gave birth to her firstborn son and wrapped him in swaddling cloths and laid him in a manger, because there was no place for them in the inn. Luke 2:6-7 About This Image: This is a picture of my son holding his first born son - so tiny and helpless. A baby - Jesus came as a baby to a first time mother - the creator of the world as a tiny baby. Jesus, fully human and fully God, Savior of the world. Sit in awe and wonder. Merry Christmas. Scripture:
Glory to God in the highest, and on earth peace among those with whom he is pleased!” Luke 2:14 About This Image: Fireworks are used to celebrate all kinds of things - this one happened to be the Fourth of July. You might think this is an unusual picture to choose for Christmas Eve, but when you think about this verse it is a celebration. That first Christmas night, the angels were celebrating God's plan to send a Savior to the earth in the form of a baby. Next time you go to a fireworks show, listen to the crowd. They ooh and ah and tell each other to look at the amazing spectacle of light. We all celebrate Christmas in different ways; but on these days of Christmas may we also remember to celebrate and be amazed at the birth of Jesus. Scripture:
I was glad when they said to me, Let us go to the house of the Lord. Psalm 122:1 About This Image: This was one of the first verses that I rmemorized as a child in Sunday School. I am so grateful that church has always been somewhere that I wanted to be. This is the Smokemont Baptist Church in the Great Smoky Mountains National Park. At one time there were many churches in the park, but when the park took over the land and moved people out of the park only a few of those church buildings remain. While there isn't an active community of believers at this church anymore, I like to think about all the people who have walked up the hill and the joy that was theirs when they walked into the House of the Lord. Sure, you can worship God anywhere - and I do often worship him when I am in nature - but there is a special kind of joy when we worship with others in the House of the Lord. Scripture:
Abide in me, and I in you. As the branch cannot bear fruit by itself, unless it abides in the vine, neither can you, unless you abide in me. I am the vine; you are the branches. Whoever abides in me and I in him, he it is that bears much fruit, for apart from me you can do nothing. John 15:4-5 About this Image: This is the oak tree that stands alone in the meadow across from the Lawson place in Cades Cove. It is a "famous" tree, if a tree can be famous. Just Google "The Tree Cades Cove" and search in images and you will see many pictures of this tree. I took this picture last winter. I had taken many pictures of this tree in the summer and fall but had never climbed the fence and walked through the meadow to the tree. This time the grass was short and there wasn't anyone around so I climbed over the fence and walked all the way to the tree and touched the trunk. There were so many branches, all different shapes and sizes. I can't really explain why, but this was just a special privilege to touch the trunk of this tree, so strong and old and beautiful. As I look at the branches, I remember the words of Jesus in John 15. Jesus bids us to abide in him like the many branches of this tree - and he is strong enough to hold many branches of all shapes and sizes. Abide in Jesus, take your sustenance from him, and you will bear much fruit. Scripture:
He has made everything beautiful in its time. Also, he has put eternity into man's heart, yet so that he cannot find out what God has done from the beginning to the end. Ecclesiastes 3:11 About This Image: I took this picture of a speckled wood lily on the Schoolhouse Gap trail, a very popular wildflower trail, in the Great Smoky Mountains National Park. One of the most important things about finding wildflowers is timing. No one can predict exactly when flowers will bloom, but there will come a time when they will be in beautiful full bloom. You have to go again and again, along with the many other wildflower seekers, in order to find the flower you seek in full bloom. I believe that God is also making us beautiful for He is beautiful and we are made in his image. We don't know when or how he will accomplish this and we won't reach full bloom until we are with Jesus. While we are here still growing, seek the beauty of people you see and rest in this promise that He is making you beautiful, even when you don't feel so pretty. Scripture:
The Lord is my strength and my shield; in him my heart trusts, and I am helped; my heart exults, and with my song I give thanks to him. Psalm 28:7 About this Image: I took this at one of my favorite places - Buzzard's Roost at Fall Creek Falls State Park. Whenever we camp there we try to get to this place to watch the sunset at least once on the trip. You have to climb a few rocks but looking over the cliff is this single pine tree. It stands as a sentinel looking over the gulf below - strong and sure. You can tell it has been blown by the winds and it seems to just grow out of the rock instead of soil. Only those whose hearts do trust in the Lord receive his help and with gratitude stand strong like this gnarly, wind-blown tree. Scripture:
Blessed are the pure in heart, for they shall see God. Matthew 5:8, ESV You're blessed when you get your inside world - your mind and your heart- put right. Then you can see God in the outside world. Matthew 5:8, The Message About this Image: It is hard to take pictures of flowers in nature; you have to find one with few imperfections, you have to be able to set up your tripod in a place where you can keep your camera perfectly still, and there has to be no wind. It would be easier to purchase flowers that have been selected for their perfection and take a picture of them in a studio with controlled lighting and no wind and get amazingly clear and sharp images. But I enjoy the search and the challenge of finding them on hikes. I took this image along the Chestnut Top trail last spring. I honestly don't know what kind of flower it is. It is a very small flower with pure white petals. I saw this small flower because the purpose of my hike that day was to see wildflowers, so I saw many more then other people who were hiking for a different purpose. Jesus taught us in his Sermon on the Mount that when we seek purity it affects every area of our lives, and allows us to see God. The more we have this single goal a heart pure of any other motive except seeking God, the more we see God. We are blessed when we have an integrity of heart and purpose set on seeking God - and then we see him in even the smallest white flower. Scripture:
Let us know; let us press on to know the Lord; his going out is sure as the dawn; he will come to us as the showers, as the spring rains that water the earth. Hosea 6: 3 About this Image: I think this is a Kousa or Japanese dogwood. It was different then any other dogwood that I had seen when I took this image at Hungry Mother State Park. It was after a rain and there were still a few raindrops on the petals. The petals were in perfect condition - pure and white. As we press on to know the Lord he will be there to refresh us just as the rain made these petals so beautiful. Scripture:
He will wipe away every tear from their eyes, and death shall be no more, neither shall there be mourning, nor crying, nor pain anymore, for the former things have passed away.” And he who was seated on the throne said, “Behold, I am making all things new.” Revelation 21:4-5a About This Image: I took this picture early one morning at Seven Islands State Birding Park. If you have never seen a field of sunflowers, then you may not know that these bright, beautiful flowers really do follow the sun, like the flowers in this image. Sunflowers are often associated with happy times. They bring joy. Today is the third Sunday of Advent, the Sunday of Joy. We celebrate the joy that the incarnation of Jesus brings to us - the promise of being made new in him, of the former things being passed away. Like these flowers, follow the Son and rejoice. Scripture:
Everyone who comes to me and hears my words and does them, I will show you what he is like: he is like a man building a house, who dug deep and laid the foundation on the rock. And when a flood arose, the stream broke against that house and could not shake it, because it had been well built. Luke 6:47-48 About the Image: This is the Alfred Reagan house on the Roaring Fork Motor Nature Trail in the Great Smoky Mountains National Park. Before this area was part of the national park, there were many houses and farms here. This is one of the homes that was not torn down after the land was taken over by the park. In its day it was a fine house - upgraded with a second story added. Today it still stands. There is a children's song based on the parable of Jesus in today's scripture, which I am sure that many of you know the words and motions by heart. I am grateful that I lived in a house built on the strong and deep foundation of God's word. I am grateful for my husband and my church family who helped us build a strong foundation for our children. Scripture:
Blessed are the peacemakers, for they will be called children of God. Matthew 5:9 TNIV You're blessed when you can show people how to cooperate instead of compete or fight. That's when you discover who you really are, and your place in God's family. Matthew 5:9 The Message About the Image: People use bridges to overcome barriers. I took this picture at Hungry Mother State Park in Marion, Va. I walked over it every day to get to the other side of the lake. Peacemakers are people who build bridges between people. I included the scripture about peacemakers from Jesus' sermon on the mount from two different versions of the Bible. They give me great insight into what it means to be a peacemaker. Timothy Keller in his book Hidden Christmas, describes how we can become peacemakers, "Christmas means that, through the grace of God and the incarnation, peace with God is available; and if you make peace with God, then you can go out and make peace with everybody else." Peacemakers are people who are able to unselfishly build bridges because they accept the kingship of God in their lives. I pray that during this hectic holiday season, which can sometimes lead to unpeaceful situations, that we may be peacemakers. Scripture:
For neither circumcision counts for anything, nor uncircumcision, but a new creation. And as for all who walk by this rule, peace and mercy be upon them, and upon the Israel of God. Galatians 6:15-16 About this Image: I took this picture at the Moses Cone Memorial Park on the Blue Ridge Parkway. This is the estate of the wealthy Mr. Cone and he liked to build roads so he built lots of carriage roads on his property. We had spent several days hiking in the mountains and it was so peaceful just to walk in the cool shade on these beautiful flat roads along the little lake. In his letter to the Galatians, Paul had been trying to help them understand they can't be their own Savior by following a set of rules, trying to control God rather than trust him. Instead he teaches, we have a new way to walk, we are a new creation. The result of walking in God's rule, of trusting God rather than trying to be our own Savior, is walking in peace and mercy. May you find peace this Christmas as you walk with Christ along the path where he leads you. Scripture:
The Lord is my shepherd; I shall not want. He makes me lie down in green pastures. He leads me beside still waters. Psalm 23: 1-2 About the Image: When I see this image a feeling of peace comes over me. I took it early one morning on a walk while we were camping at Hungry Mother State Park in Marion, VA. It was just so quiet and still that morning and there was no one else around. The fog made everything just seem quiet. In our world today that seems to glorify making your own way and following your own dreams, we need to learn that we will only find peace when we trust God with our wants and dreams. This often-quoted twenty-third Psalm promises that he will always lead us beside peaceful, still waters if we will just follow. Scripture:
Great peace have those who love your law: nothing can make them stumble. Psalm 119:165 About this Image: I took this image one fall morning on the trail from the dam to the big falls at Fall Creek Falls State Park. This is a very easy, short, paved trail. There are no roots or rocks on which to stumble. Someone before me built this trail that makes it easy to enjoy the peace of walking in the woods without fear. God gave us his word in the scriptures. Loving and knowing God's word makes it possible to enjoy great peace as we walk through this world filled with many things on which to stumble. |
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Soli Deo Gloria,
1 Corinthians 10:31
© 2018, 2019, 2020, 2021, 2022, 2023, 2024 Karen Milligan
1 Corinthians 10:31
© 2018, 2019, 2020, 2021, 2022, 2023, 2024 Karen Milligan