Even though I walk through the darkest valley, We knew the day was going to be stormy but we hadn’t been to the mountains in a long time. We went anyway. If the storms kept us from hiking we could drive to our favorite places. Having the safety of our car close by allowed me to see familiar places in a different light without fear.
Our world can be a fearful place. Evil is real and there are real dangers. How do you walk safely through stormy days? When our trust is in God and not in ourselves we can walk through the darkest valley without fear. We find safety and comfort in his presence. Prayer Lord of the Darkest Valley We put our trust in you and walk in your light knowing that in you we can fear no evil in your presence. Amen
0 Comments
Then the LORD said to Joshua, “See, I have delivered Jericho into your hands, along with its king and its fighting men. March around the city once with all the armed men. Do this for six days. Have seven priests carry trumpets of rams’ horns in front of the ark. On the seventh day, march around the city seven times, with the priests blowing the trumpets. When you hear them sound a long blast on the trumpets, have the whole army give a loud shout; then the wall of the city will collapse and the army will go up, everyone straight in. On our recent trip to the Dakotas I I learned that this part of Badlands National Park is called “The Wall.” You can follow it for 60 miles. Which each new view I saw more of its beauty and also its danger. At the beginning of each trail were prominent signs warning the hikers to beware of rattle snakes. It made me think of the story of Joshua facing the walls of Jericho. The people had just entered the promised land and the large walled city stood before them. The instructions God gave Joshua for how to face the walled city were downright strange. Who fights a military battle by only walking around the enemy in silence for a week? Joshua had a choice to trust God or fight the battle in his own military strength. When you read the rest of the story you will see that God did what he promised and the walls fell.
Prayer Lord God When we face walls in our life that seem overwhelming and dangerous, teach us to trust you and walk where you lead. Amen We are witnesses of everything he did in the country of the Jews and in Jerusalem. They killed him by hanging him on a cross, but God raised him from the dead on the third day and caused him to be seen. In the story of Peter and Cornelius in Acts we are told of how Peter told his story to a group of people different from himself. Cornelius was a Roman Centurion who had sent for Peter at the bidding of a messenger from God. When Peter arrived he found people eager and waiting to hear his story. He didn’t give a three point sermon or a detailed theology of Christ. He told them what he had witnessed as he walked with Christ and his resurrection. He simply told the story of his experience with Christ.
This photograph of a tree is part of my story. Even though I had driven past this tree for many years, I still remember the cold winter day when I first noticed its beauty. The tree isn’t in a park or a special place where people go to specifically to see the wonders of nature. It is just in a field along a heavily traveled road. I was struck by the beauty of the bare branches, their graceful lines and intricate patterns. This seeing, this noticing of the beauty of things all around me, was the beginning of my story of the impact of photography on my relationship with God. For a long time I just enjoyed the process of taking images and learning about my camera. I would share a few images with my family and friends. After a time, I developed a desire to do something with all the images and the stories that went with them. As a result I began this blog as a way to tell my story of how God has used photography to lead me to a deeper understanding of him. We all have stories. Those of us who are Christian have a story of how we witness God in our lives. It won’t be like Peter’s story; indeed it won’t be like anyone else’s story. But like Peter we are called to tell our story in whatever way God has given us. For me, right now, it with my camera and this blog. My blog is just one of many blogs on the Internet. It isn’t famous or spectacular and only has a handful of regular viewers, but still I know that it has impacted others. I encourage you to share your story in whatever way God has given you. There is someone who needs to hear the story that only you can tell. Prayer Lord God, Creator of Stories Thank you for the stories of you that we find in your Word and your world. Give us courage to share our stories so that others may learn of you. Our world so desperately needs to hear your story now. Amen View the post for February 17 for an explanation of my Lenten Project As he approached Jerusalem and saw the city, he wept over it and said, “If you, even you, had only known on this day what would bring you peace—but now it is hidden from your eyes. While the crowd of disciples joyfully sang praises, blessings, and hosannas as they entered Jerusalem, Jesus wept. He saw the storm that was coming. He grieved for those who had closed their eyes to him. He knew that even his disciples would all abandon him for a time before they would understand who he was. He grieved for the world lost in sin. We also need to grieve for the world. For only when we truly grieve like Jesus did we will have the courage to share the story of Jesus to those who need to know the way through their storm to the light of dawn.
Prayer Jesus Give us eyes to grieve as you did that day and the compassion to share your love with those who don’t know you. May our lives and our words show them the way through the storm to your peace. Amen View the post for February 27 for an explanation of my Lenten Project When I said, “My foot is slipping,” your unfailing love, Lord, supported me. While the tree’s branches are still bare the daffodils herald the coming of spring. They remind us that winter will soon be past and the summer is coming. As we look at the difficulties facing our world right now we can look to our God who brings the joy of a field of daffodils on a clear, spring day to our hearts. Remember God’s love and care. Sit in quietness in his presence, see his beauty, and find in his unfailing love a calmness and peace that will replace all anxiety.
Prayer Lord God Calm our fears. Help us to remember your love and bring joy into our lives this day. Help us become a calming force for those around us. Amen View the post for February 27 for an explanation of my Lenten Project Therefore, since we have been justified by faith, we have peace with God through our Lord Jesus Christ. Through him we have also obtained access by faith into this grace in which we stand, and we rejoice in hope of the glory of God. Not only that, but we rejoice in our sufferings, knowing that suffering produces endurance, and endurance produces character, and character produces hope, and hope does not put us to shame, because God's love has been poured into our hearts through the Holy Spirit who has been given to us. Standing out with its beautiful fall colors was this little tree growing between the rocks along the seashore of this sheltered cove. It can’t have been an easy place to grow with the salt water crashing on the rocks below and the tall evergreens that surround it. Yet it has endured and now it shares its beauty with all who drive by. You can’t help but notice it.
Paul wrote to the Romans to encourage them to stand and endure the hardships that they faced. He reminded them that because God’s love had been poured into their hearts their suffering would not be wasted. From their suffering would come endurance, from endurance character and from character would come hope. It wouldn’t be a surface hope easily worn away, but a deep hope based on dependence on Jesus. Today we face difficult times in our world. Only when we trust God to carry us through those times will our suffering produce endurance, endurance character, and character hope. It is this hope that runs deep in our lives that we can share with a fearful and hurting world. Prayer Lord Jesus Give us strength to endure the days ahead and show us ways to help those around us who are struggling in difficult times. Amen Wait for the Lord; be strong and take heart The sailboat waits at the dock for its owner to come and help it fulfill its purpose. The name, “Endurance,” made me wonder why the owner gave the boat this name. I wonder what he or she has had to endure in the past or is enduring now. When I think about endurance I think about waiting., which may be the hardest part of endurance. The sailboat cannot sail without its master so it must wait. We can endure because we wait for a Master who is faithful and true. In him we find the courage and strength to endure. When we wait for him we find our purpose.
Prayer Lord and Master We wait for you. Show us your purpose for you this day. Amen And of this gospel I was appointed a herald and an apostle and a teacher. That is why I am suffering as I am. Yet this is no cause for shame, because I know whom I have believed, and am convinced that he is able to guard what I have entrusted to him until that day. When I first started using a camera to do more than make a snapshot of a memory, I had no idea what aperture was or how it impacted a photograph. I was content to just put the controls on automatic and let the camera make the decisions. While this can make a good image, it takes away your freedom to create something that communicates what you feel. As I have spent lots of time taking pictures I have learned, along with other things, what an aperture is and have developed a confidence in my knowledge of the camera and photography editing software. This knowledge has allowed me to become freer when I take an image. Before I learned to use a camera I would have never even thought about taking an image on a rainy, dreary day like this one. But on this day, I saw this bright colored boat and I had the confidence to try to capture the feeling of seeing the boat; the juxtaposition of the dreary day and the single boat named “Morning Sun.” I hope my image makes you think about that for a while like it did me.
Paul wrote his second letter to Timothy while in prison, reflecting on his life as a way of encouraging Timothy to keep going. His words of encouragement explain why, even though he was in prison and probably facing his death very soon, he was able to offer those words. Over his life journey with Christ he had come to know him and was confident that Jesus would always guard him until he was safely with him, whenever that day was. His confidence gave him a freedom that transcended the bars of his prison cell - a freedom from fear and anxiety, a freedom to write these beautiful, encouraging words to Timothy. The more we know whom we have believed in, the more we develop a confidence that leads to freedom. Just like with Paul, it doesn’t happen instantly but instead over much time. The more we know him, like the more I know my camera, the more we can create lives that communicate the love of Christ. Prayer Loving God Walk with us today. Increase our confidence in You and make us free to share your love. Amen Therefore, since we are surrounded by such a great cloud of witnesses, let us throw off everything that hinders and the sin that so easily entangles. And let us run with perseverance the race marked out for us, fixing our eyes on Jesus, the pioneer and perfecter of faith. For the joy set before him he endured the cross, scorning its shame, and sat down at the right hand of the throne of God. Consider him who endured such opposition from sinners, so that you will not grow weary and lose heart. Recently I have been walking on the trails at the dam close to where I live every morning. Each day I walk I see the ‘regulars’; some of them I know by name and some only by seeing them everyday. We all walk different routes and at different speeds; some run; some walk slow; some walk alone; some walk with a partner; some walk in specialty running clothes; and some walk in an old T shirt and jeans. Sometimes I get discouraged when I am passed by the same person and wonder how they can walk that fast. Even in the early morning I get hot and tired and wonder if I am going to make it back to the car. There are times when I just think I am going to sleep late today; but then I get up and see the beautiful morning light and decide to make the effort to walk. There is a joy in my morning walk that I truly miss, even the 265 stairs to the top of the dam in the middle of my walk.
The writer of Hebrews wrote to encourage followers of Christ who were becoming discouraged. They were being ostracized by their community and maybe their family and some were facing persecution. To encourage them he tells them of the great cloud of witnesses that have come before. None of the heroes he described in the previous chapter were without fault. They all followed God at different speeds, some quickly, some slowly, some were important and some were unimportant, and some required signs of assurance from God. Their lives weren’t perfect like this picture I just snapped with my phone; but like my picture they saw a way marked out before them and they kept walking. They walked toward a God who loved them. Dear friends let me encourage you to keep walking when you are hot and tired and discouraged. Your walk doesn’t have to be perfect; you won’t always have get a good picture. Some will pass you and sometimes you will walk alone. Even in the hard times, the 265 steps straight up times, you will find joy when you fix your eyes on Jesus. Prayer Jesus, Who Endured All For Us, Thank you for all the strong witnesses that have surrounded me in my life. Forgive the sins I sometimes cling to and keep me walking toward the light and joy of Jesus who endured all for us. Amen As they were walking along and talking together, suddenly a chariot of fire and horses of fire appeared and separated the two of them, and Elijah went up to heaven in a whirlwind. Elisha saw this and cried out, “My father! My father! The chariots and horsemen of Israel!” And Elisha saw him no more. Then he took hold of his garment and tore it in two. Fall is a season of transition; the hot days of summer give way to the beginning days of winter. You can feel the change in the crisp air and beautiful blue skies. The leaves change their color from green to reds and golds, each tree at its own pace. Just as we feel the changing of the seasons, Elisha knew that day that change was coming for his mentor, Elijah. Somehow he knew that Elijah was leaving before the prophets of Jericho told him. He knew that it would be the last time that he would see his mentor. We know that Elisha felt deep grief because he tore his clothes in two places. And after he grieved he picked up the cloak of his master and walked into his new beginning as the prophet of God. We all have transitions in our lives; some are joyful and some are sorrowful. Like Elisha sometimes we will grieve. It isn’t easy to trust God when big changes come in our lives just like it wasn’t easy for Elisha. Still he walked forward. He knew that God had been faithful to Elijah and that God had promised to walk with him. We may not have the stunning experience of a cloak falling from a fiery chariot, but still God speaks to us through his word and through the encouragement of others.
Prayer Lord of Transitions Thank you for mentors and friends who have modeled for us what it is like to walk with you. Guide us through times of transition when we grieve over the ending of something we have loved and give us courage to walk forward to a new beginning. Amen |
Get In Touch
If you have something to share with everyone reading the blog, click on Comments to add your thoughts. Remember that your comments will be seen by anyone reading the post. If you want to just share your comments with me then click on the Contact link in the menu above. If you are looking for a particular scripture or post title then enter the word in the search box below. You can also find posts about specific topics in the Topics section.
Topics
All
Archives
March 2024
|
All the photographs in this site were taken by me. If you use or share anything from my website, please link back to this page. You are free to view and share this website by linking but I ask you not to download or redistribute anything from the site. Thanks.
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