Let the message of Christ dwell among you richly as you teach and admonish one another with all wisdom through psalms, hymns, and songs from the Spirit, singing to God with gratitude in your hearts. They go by various names, "frost flowers"" ice flowers", but they really aren’t flowers at all. Instead they are small ice formations that happen under specific conditions: air temperature must be below freezing, ground temperature must be above freezing, ground must have moisture from recent precipitation, and there must be a plant with a hollow stem. As water is drawn up from the ground to the stem, the stem splits and is ice is formed in these unique shapes when the water hits the cold air.
These were the first frost flowers I had ever seen and I would not have seen them without a friend. She was the one who noticed them on the ground next to the trail. She had never heard of them but I knew what they were because I had read of them. We made this unique and beautiful discovery because we were together. I have come to see that understanding scripture is just like this. We need others who will commit to study diligently the scriptures with us. We need the wisdom of scholars who write commentaries to help us understand the meaning of words and customs from other languages and cultures. Paul knew the importance of studying together as he encouraged the Colossians to “let the message of Christ dwell among you richly.” In our individualistic culture we tend to read “you” as singular, applying to us individually. But in this passage the word "you" is plural. For the message of Christ to dwell richly we need each other. As a result we will sing to God songs of gratitude. Prayer Lord Jesus Open your message to us as we study and meditate on your word together. Give us wisdom to encourage each other with ideas and inspiration we learn from your word. With great gratitude, Amen.
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The LORD said to Aaron, “Go into the wilderness to meet Moses.” So he met Moses at the mountain of God and kissed him. Then Moses told Aaron everything the LORD had sent him to say, and also about all the signs he had commanded him to perform. The rock formations of the Badlands stand clear and distinct from the sky. Their cliffs are sharp and dangerous. The vegetation is sparse and water is hard to find. This is the wilderness - not a place we want to visit. That is what I thought until we took our last road trip to the Dakotas. Surprisingly, while the land was harsh I found beauty there. I also found quietness and time to think. In the scriptures the wilderness many times is a place of clarity, a place of finding a sense of mission and purpose.
Sometimes people found themselves in the wilderness not of their own doing; but other times we read God led people into the wilderness. Such is the story of Aaron and Moses. Moses had meet God in the wilderness and was on his way to fulfill the mission God set for him there. Now God was sending Aaron to meet his bother Moses in the wilderness to find the mission that God had for them. During this season of Lent I want to explore what it means to be in the wilderness. My posts during this season will include scripture about being in the wilderness and images of the wilderness I found in the Dakotas. I pray these images and scripture will help us see the beauty and clarity that can only be found in the wilderness. What does being in the wilderness mean to you? Prayer Lord God of the Wilderness Clarify our vision of you and the purpose you have for us this day. Amen Until I come, devote yourself to the public reading of Scripture, to preaching and to teaching. Do not neglect your gift, which was given you through prophecy when the body of elders laid their hands on you. The first time I ever saw an eagle in the wild was at Douglas Dam. While camping there I met a group of photographers that had gathered to take picture of birds. One of the photographers showed me where the group had seen eagles. The next morning, in the exact place he pointed out, I saw the eagles. Now I know where to look and because of what I have learned about eagles from that encounter I have seen eagles at other places, like this one at Cherokee Dam. Without that help from the other photographer I never would have taken this image.
Timothy was a young leader in need of help. Paul had sent him to Ephesus to deal with several issues that were dividing the church. One piece of advice he gave to the young Timothy in his letter was to read and teach the scriptures as a part of the church’s gatherings. Paul knew that it would take regular time in the scriptures to help the church work through the disagreements and resulting conflicts. Remember that at this time many of the Christians were gentiles and had no understanding of the Hebrew Scriptures. For them to understand who Jesus was it was important that Hebrews and gentiles read the scriptures together. Paul’s words of advice to Timothy are also important for us today. Sure we can read the Bible on our own, but we need the help of others to truly understand God’s word. I am so grateful for a group of friends from my church that gather regularly to read and study God’s word. We share questions that we have about difficult passages that we are reading and insights and things we have learned from commentaries and trusted teachers. Through our time together each of us has grown in our understanding of scripture. God created us to live and work in community and we need the fellowship we find in our church to see God’s mission for us in his word. How can you strengthen your study of God’s word in your community of believers? Prayer Great Teacher Thank you for my fellowship of friends who read scriptures with me, encourage me to walk closer to you, and teach me how to serve your world. Amen Blessed are those who find wisdom, those who gain understanding, for she is more profitable than silver and yields better returns than gold. She is more precious than rubies; nothing you desire can compare with her. Long life is in her right hand; in her left hand are riches and honor. Her ways are pleasant ways, and all her paths are peace. Our last hike on our last day in the north unit of Theodore Roosevelt National Park was on the Achenbach Trail through the open prairie to an overlook on the Little Missouri River. We didn’t see anyone on the whole three mile trail. I saw the shimmering gold leaves of this tree from a distance as the path kept drawing closer to it. When I got to the tree I gently touched the leaves and just stood there for a minute to take in its beauty. I love to find trees like this. They have a kind of intricate beauty that no human can make. While I love this image, it only captures fraction of the tree’s beauty that day. It was more than worth the three mile hike to see it.
Finding wisdom is like the tree and my hike that day. I didn’t make the tree or the peaceful path on which I walked. I didn't even expect to find a tree. Wisdom is not something that we can make on our own, it is a gift from God’s word. We do have to do the walking, but spending time in God’s word gradually transforms our lives. Wisdom grows in us a tree of life - steady, sure, and beautiful. How does God’s word give you wisdom? Prayer God of Wisdom Grant us wisdom in our walk with you this day. Transform us a little more today as we read your word and spend time with you. Amen Teach us to number our days, that we may gain a heart of wisdom. We oftentimes come to realize the value of something when it is taken away. I have learned this very recently after my hip surgery when I could no longer go for my early morning walks. After my surgery, I had to start over again building up my strength. Each day I would try to increase my step count. Counting and tracking my steps helped me to see progress and encouraged me to keep walking. Now that I am on the road to recovery, I still count my steps and I am grateful for each step. I can go on my early morning walks again and they are even more special to me. We gain wisdom in the same way; one step at a time. Wisdom comes when we take the time to be grateful for each day without worrying about tomorrow, taking each day one step at a time.
Prayer Wise God Develop in us a sense of gratitude for each day. Teach us to count our days and give us wisdom to make each day count. Amen Oh, how I love your law! I meditate on it all day long. New England is famous for its covered bridges; most built in the early 1800’s out of wooden trusses. Bridges were built to overcome the obstacle of crossing a river, connecting one side to the other. They were covered to protect the wooden trusses from the decay that comes from harsh weather. The covered bridges of New England were hard to build but once built they provided an easy way to face the obstacle of river crossing.
While river crossing is no longer an obstacle for most of us, we all face obstacles of different kinds. God’s word is the best way to face our obstacles. Like bridge building, understanding God’s word takes time and effort. The more we study it the more connections we will make not only between different passages but between God’s word and our lives. It becomes a part of us, of who we are. God’s word becomes a covering for us; protecting us from making poor decisions and giving us wisdom to face obstacles. Prayer Lord God, Give us insight from Your word. Help us make it a part of everything we do, of every connection that we make. Bring to mind the part of your word that we need to face the obstacles before us today. Amen How many are your works, Lord! In wisdom you made them all; The wood lily’s bloom is not just one but many small blooms. You don’t see this until you get up close and see that it is a flower made up of flowers. While each little flower is similar it is also unique in its coloring. And this is just one small part of God’s creation, a creation full of amazing diversity. When I see the wood lily, this small part of God’s creation, I can hardly fathom the wisdom of God that created this diverse, complex, and interrelated world. So I sing praise to him and I will sing to the Lord every time I step into his beautiful, amazing world.
Prayer Great Creator God May our praise be pleasing to you this day in your beautiful world. Amen Behold, you delight in truth in the inward being, and you teach me wisdom in the secret heart. Over the past couple of years I have learned many of the secret places where the daffodils bloom in great numbers in the cove. We headed out on this beautiful sunny day to find them again. They were still blooming even after the constant rain and freezing cold. But today I just happened to find the biggest stand of them that I have seen in a new place. This stand of daffodils will be my secret place. I hope you have a secret place where you like to go to see God’s beauty.
Like the secret places of the daffodils in the cove, we all have secret places in our hearts - places where we hide our greatest joys, our greatest hurts, and our greatest fears. Sometimes it is hard to see and hear truth in the inward places of our hearts. It takes great wisdom to truly search and grow here. We need to open the secret places of our heart and seek God’s wisdom, for out of the secret places of our hearts come our words and actions. Prayer Wise and Loving God Give me the courage to seek your truth in my inner being. Teach me wisdom in my secret heart so that I may live a life of integrity and service. Amen Blessed be the name of God forever and ever, to whom belong wisdom and might. In addition to their beauty the fall leaves signal that it is time for seasons to change. Winter is coming when all the leaves will be gone and there will be more dark hours than daylight. But I have come to see the beauty in winter when the branches of the trees become intricate sculptures against a foggy sky. I am grateful for a God who gives us seasons - not only seasons in the physical world but seasons in the times of our lives.
This is the 284th post that I have made on this blog that I began a year ago. At that time I had no idea how long it would last and what form it would take, and I still don’t know those things. I have been so surprised with the words that God has given me in this new season of my life. He has truly revealed deep and hidden things. As I have chased the light with my camera I hope that I have captured glimpses of the radiant and perfect light of God’s love in my images. I pray that these images and words of scripture have given you wisdom and light in whatever season of life you find yourself. I walk forward not knowing what will come next with my photography and writing but I know that I will always find light in him. Prayer God of All Seasons, We praise the God who controls all times and seasons, who gives wisdom and understanding and whose light illuminates the way through dark times. Amen For whatever was written in former days was written for our instruction, that through endurance and through the encouragement of the Scriptures we might have hope. This is the time of year when students of all ages are going back to school after summer vacation. New teachers, new schools, new learnings are ahead. In our culture we want quick answers, tips and tricks, but wisdom doesn’t come this way. True wisdom grows only from time spent being with God and studying his word. As we take time and develop the discipline of study, we find your wisdom. And in this wisdom do we find hope to walk in this world.
Prayer Great Teacher Be with all students as they return to their classrooms. Encourage us as we study your word and develop in us a discipline of study. Show us the encouragement and hope needed to live in our world that is only found when we study your word and learn to walk close to you. Amen And their eyes were opened, and they recognized him. And he vanished from their sight. They said to each other, “Did not our hearts burn within us while he talked to us on the road, while he opened to us the Scriptures?” And they rose that same hour and returned to Jerusalem. And they found the eleven and those who were with them gathered together, saying, “The Lord has risen indeed, and has appeared to Simon!” Then they told what had happened on the road, and how he was known to them in the breaking of the bread. Luke 24:31-35, ESV I have been on this road many times but would you know where I took this picture if you didn’t read the caption? Where does the road go? What is around the curve?
Cleopas and another unnamed follower of Jesus were on a familiar road that Sunday after Passover. It had been a difficult time seeing the one they thought was to be the Messiah crucified. Now on top of all the grief, they had heard stories of Jesus being risen from the dead. What were they to think? As they walked the 7 miles on the road to Emmaus, Jesus came beside them and opened their mind to understand the scriptures about him. He tells them that what was written about him has come true; things he had not taught them before. Jesus came to these two followers just when they needed him, just when they needed to understand who he was and the road ahead. They rushed back to Jerusalem to tell their story to the disciples in the upper room - another 7 miles and mostly in the dark. Here Jesus appeared to them along with the disciples and taught them the scriptures. This was just the beginning of their journey from doubt to understanding, from heart-broken followers of a crucified Christ to witnesses of the risen Christ. In a few weeks at Pentecost they would need to understand all these things as they proclaimed to the world who Jesus was. Look for Jesus to join you on the road you walk. And just like he did to the followers on the road to Emmaus, he will give you what you need for the journey he has planned for you. Know that he will teach you everything you need to share the Gospel with all those you meet on the road ahead. Prayer Risen Savior, Open our minds to understand who you are like you did for your followers on the road to Emmaus that day. Give us the knowledge and courage to share the wonderful joy we have in following a living Christ. Amen I have stored up your word in my heart, that I might not sin against you. In the days of the Missionary Baptist Church, printed bibles were a luxury, The way most people learned God’s word was from hearing it read in church. Today God’s word can come to us in many forms. We can read it on an iPad or listen to it read from apps on our phones. One of the forms of God’s word that I have come to love recently is really an old form, the Saint John’s Bible (Read more about it here). This wonderful work of art is a hand copied and illuminated Bible created the way the bibles 500 years ago were made. While I haven’t seen the original copy, I have seen a limited edition facsimile of the original. When I saw it for the first time, I cried at its beauty. My husband and family have given me several of the smaller printed volumes and I took one of them with me to Cades Cove. I wanted to see the beauty of God’s word in the beauty of his world. God’s word is both ancient and new. Every time we go to it with open hearts, God changes us. It is truly a treasure for us to store in our hearts.
Prayer, Great God of Ancient Words, We come to you with open hearts. Show us your beauty. Change us with your word. Amen Scripture:
Who is the man who fears the LORD? Him will he instruct in the way that he should choose. Psalm 25:12 About This Image: This little bridge in the Elkmont area of the Great Smoky Mountains National Park is a short way off the Little River Trail. Many people who love this area of the park affectionately call it the troll bridge. Since it isn't on the main trail you have to know where to find it. If you search blogs and facebook groups focused on this area of the park you will find instructions for how to find this little bridge. I was excited when I finally found it after looking for it several times. Now I can easily find it and stop by whenever we are in Elkmont. The longer I seek God and study his word the more I find instruction for the way I should go in life. Scripture:
Her [wisdom] ways are ways of pleasantness, and all her paths are peace. She is a tree of life to those who lay hold of her; those who hold her fast are called blessed. Proverbs 3:17-18 About This Image: There is just something about this old, strong oak tree in the field across from the Lawson place in Cades Cove. It draws me to it every time I visit the cove. In these verses wisdom is depicted as the tree of life. Tim Keller in is devotional book on the Proverbs, "God's Wisdom for Navigating Life," has these powerful words about these verses: "this proverb promises that when we walk in accordance with God's Word and wisdom we began to get a foretaste of the Tree of Life- the fullness of life that will be restored to us on the last day. And we may approach the Tree of Life only because Jesus hung on a tree of death." Scripture:
Therefore, as you received Christ Jesus the Lord, so walk in him, rooted and built up in him and established in the faith, just as you were taught, abounding in thanksgiving. Colossians 2:6-7 About This Image: Highway 11E goes right through our town and I drive on it almost every day. It wasn't until I started taking pictures that I noticed this tree in a field close to the road. I don't really know how old the tree is but I suspect many years. It has withstood many storms as it stands alone in the field, strong and tall. When you walk close to it you see many of its roots growing above ground. When we walk with Jesus along the ordinary roads of our life we will build our roots in him and we will grow strong and tall like this tree. Scripture:
The commands to fear the Lord are right and endure forever. The judgments given by the Lord are trustworthy and absolutely just. They are of greater value than gold, than even a great amount of pure gold; they bring greater delight than honey, than even the sweetest honey from a honeycomb. Psalm 19:9-10 About This Image: When the sun is low in the sky right after sunrise and right before sunset, the land is bathed in beautiful golden light. During this time of day ordinary things become beautiful. There isn't really a trail on the side of the lake at Fall Creek Falls where I took this image. About the only people who ever go down this way are fisherman. But when I saw this view during the the golden hour the beauty of this place was amazing. God's words are like the golden light at this time of day. They are more valuable and beautiful than gold. When you study them and make them a part of your life they will bring you great delight. Scripture:
If you seek it like silver and search for it as for hidden treasures, then you will understand the fear of the Lord and find the knowledge of God. For the Lord gives wisdom; from his mouth come knowledge and understanding; Proverbs 2:4-6 About This Image: I actually remember sitting in desks like these in the Cataloochee School in the Great Smoky Mountains National Park in my first years of school. For the children of the mountains, as with many children around the world today, going to school wasn't guaranteed. People who really wanted an education for themselves and their children had to work at it. So too it is for those who want to become wise; they must seek after it. As this verse tells us, though, true wisdom is also a gift from God. Seek God, stand in awe of God, and then you will find the gift of true wisdom which comes only from him. Scripture:
The precepts of the LORD are right, giving joy to the heart. The commands of the LORD are radiant, giving light to the eyes. Psalm 19:8 About This Image: This Bible was left in the Baptist church in Cades Cove. I don't know who left it there or how long it had been there. When I saw it I thought about all the many different Bibles that had been opened by people worshiping in the pews of this church throughout the years. So I opened it to the Psalms and took its picture on one of the pews. God's word has come in many forms throughout the ages - oral tradition, hand-written scrolls, illuminated manuscripts, printed books, and digital files. No matter what form I use to read God's radiant commands, it gives light to my eyes. And it is this light from God's word that helps me see God in his world. Scripture:
The heavens declare the glory of God, and the sky above proclaims his handiwork. Psalm 19:1 About This Image: I can't read this verse without hearing Hayden's chorus "The Heavens are Telling," from his oratorio, The Creation. God's world has always inspired great music and art. When we look at the world, really look and study it, we can only stand in awe of its beauty. In the words of Timothy Keller in his book "The Songs of Jesus," we marvel at creation as great art because it is great art. On the day that I took this image from the Cold Mountain pull out on the Blue Ridge Parkway the conditions for a beautiful sunset were perfect- easy access to a vantage point so no walking back in the dark, a good foreground, and just the right amount of clouds in the right place. But as beautiful as the heavens were that day, seeing beauty in the world is only the beginning place to knowing the Great Creator. Read his word and learn of Jesus through which all things are made (John 1) and you will find a love that is more beautiful than any created thing. Scripture:
The fear of the LORD is the beginning of wisdom; all those who practice it have a good understanding. His praise endures forever! Psalm 111:10 About This Image: Everyday begins with a sunrise, even on days when we can't see the sun rise because it lies behind a bank of clouds. The conditions must be just right for a beautiful sunrise like this one on the lake at Fall Creek Falls State Park. For true wisdom, just like a beautiful sunrise, the conditions must be right. Wisdom begins when we revere the all-knowing God. As we follow his laws we develop an understanding and insight that is more than knowledge. Our only response become praise. |
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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