Knowing God....

I have many Bibles. I have a chronological Bible, a Thomas Chain Reference, a David Jeremiah, a Journaling Bible, a Philips Translation, my Granny's Bible, YouVersion on my Phone, and many more. In the mornings, when I wake up, I read a passage from Proverbs that corresponds to the day of the month. If you don't do this I suggest you try it. There are 31 chapters in Proverbs so plenty to read one a day, I see new things every time I read and things I need get reinforced, it is a good way to start the day. I have been doing this for at least 10 years and I love it.

I also try to read the Bible through every year. My church uses Daily Walk, there is a calendar on the site also, so you don't need the magazine. So, when I sit to have my coffee in the morning (I even did this when I was still working) I would read the passages for the day. I have been using my Jeremiah Study Bible for this since I have had it (about 3 or 4 years).  I make notes and ask questions in the margins quite often.

Today, was no different really except that a note in the margin caught my eye and made me want to write about it. You probably can not see it but I will post the scripture and note after the photo.

The Verse:

"Indeed these are the mere edges of His ways,
And how small a whisper we hear of Him!
But the thunder of His power who can understand?” Job 26:14

The Note:

"He is so much more than we know. Knowing Him is like reading the first chapter of a book and never reading any more yet saying we understand it all"  

Now, I am sure that I didn't come up with that on my own, I am just not that smart. So, I am not sure where it came from.... I do know I thought it was important enough to state with this verse. I believe with all my heart it is true. Until we meet God face to face we can never begin to know who He is. I also believe that it will take an eternity to know Him fully.

All we know about God comes from the Bible, and it is a living thing. That means that every time we read it we find something new. I believe that is what God wanted by having the scripture put together the way it was. It changes, it "evolves", we get what we need when He knows we need it. One day a verse will stand out to me and I try to go back and find it a few days later and can't...

We have words that tell us who God is, His attributes... yet all of those are nothing compared to who He truly is. I could never portray my God with mere words or art. We can never know Him completely.

It is my hope and prayer that everyone who reads this believes me when I say I love you! I want all people great and small, young and old, rich or poor, to come to know, love, worship, and serve God. It is my prayer that in some small way God uses this blog to further His kingdom in which I am a tiny, insignificant speck. I pray that everyone who reads this will at least take up the challenge to read a chapter of Proverbs everyday, it is really a good thing to do!

Thanks for reading, God bless you all.... Enjoy the video!

As Promised

I really don't have anything to write about at this time. I did promise more photos. My daughter and I took a lot of pictures and video during our trip. But since Movie Maker is no longer free and I haven't find a program I like better, yet! This link will have to do for now... 2018 Trip

I hope you enjoy the photos and that God blesses each of you!

My Jesus

I do not have any photos or drawings again today, sorry. I have some thoughts running through my mind that I want to share. There is a song that I want to share at the end of this too!

When did Christianity become like it is today? When did we become so much better than the world and the people that Jesus tried so hard to include in His circle? None of us came into this world perfect and we sure won't leave it perfect either. Jesus loved everyone, why can't we.

I heard a statement today that I was take back by and it had to do with churches having a rainbow flag hanging by their sign... This means that lesbians and gays are welcome there. There should not have to be a flag, there should not be any churches that would put someone out for any reason like that. I have seen in my time on earth, people of color escorted out of "white" churches. I have seen scantly dressed women escorted out and I say this is WRONG!!!!

Jesus took in all people, He didn't look on the outside of a person (their sin) but on the inside (their heart, their soul). He wanted everyone to come to Him; young, old, thin, fat, fisherman, lawyers, prostitutes, thieves, the crazy, the remarkable, and everyone in between. Jesus loved all people. When did Christianity forget this? When did we be come so intolerant?

James, Jesus' brother put it this way....

My brethren, do not hold the faith of our Lord Jesus Christ, the Lord of glory, with partiality. For if there should come into your assembly a man with gold rings, in fine apparel, and there should also come in a poor man in filthy clothes, and you pay attention to the one wearing the fine clothes and say to him, “You sit here in a good place,” and say to the poor man, “You stand there,” or, “Sit here at my footstool,” have you not shown partiality among yourselves, and become judges with evil thoughts?

Listen, my beloved brethren: Has God not chosen the poor of this world to be rich in faith and heirs of the kingdom which He promised to those who love Him? But you have dishonored the poor man. Do not the rich oppress you and drag you into the courts? Do they not blaspheme that noble name by which you are called?

If you really fulfill the royal law according to the Scripture, “You shall love your neighbor as yourself,” you do well; but if you show partiality, you commit sin, and are convicted by the law as transgressors. For whoever shall keep the whole law, and yet stumble in one point, he is guilty of all. For He who said, “Do not commit adultery,” also said, “Do not murder.” Now if you do not commit adultery, but you do murder, you have become a transgressor of the law.  So speak and so do as those who will be judged by the law of liberty. For judgment is without mercy to the one who has shown no mercy. Mercy triumphs over judgment. James 2: 1-13

We are to love others first and foremost, and lead them to Christ. Yes, they maybe living a life that is less than perfect in your eyes but, we are no better. We lead them to Christ by loving them, then Christ will change them into the person He wishes them to be. It is not your place to judge their lives. You don't have to like how someone lives or what they do, but you also should not shun them. We are to love.

Maybe I am wrong, and I know there are people who disagree with me, yet I stand by my beliefs... the Bible teaches us to LOVE! And when we shun others because they are not like us we are not showing love. 

Now, just so you understand, I am not for "marriages" outside of what God set forth.... But I still believe we should not turn our backs on people who believe differently. That also doesn't mean that churches have to give up the right not to perform marriages outside of the way God set forth... they also have the right to believe the way they believe. There is a way to LOVE and still be strong in the FAITH... Jesus did it everyday He was on the earth.

Thanks for reading and God Bless you all! Here is the song I promised....

Abstract

One more day and I will be home, I hope.... Today was a 10 hour driving day, tomorrow will be also. Those are long days and hard on this old woman. So, when I got to this hotel room I kind of wanted to just sit and draw.... really I wanted to zentangle (doodle) but that didn't happen.... I kept seeing cubistic type art in my head so....

So, today when driving I got to listen to my music on my phone. I have not found Air 1 or K-love long enough to listen since leaving the south and it has been sad traveling. I have a lot of older contemporary Christian music. I had a wonderful time worshiping God as drove, not sure my daughter did.... oh well.

Then, as He was now drawing near the descent of the Mount of Olives, the whole multitude of the disciples began to rejoice and praise God with a loud voice for all the mighty works they had seen, saying:

“ ‘Blessed is the King who comes in the name of the Lord!’[d]
Peace in heaven and glory in the highest!”

And some of the Pharisees called to Him from the crowd, “Teacher, rebuke Your disciples.” But He answered and said to them, “I tell you that if these should keep silent, the stones would immediately cry out.” Luke 19:37-40

The Pharisees really didn't like the fact that people would worship this carpenter from from Galilee. They could not believe that this guy was the Savior that the scriptures, that they memorized, was speaking of. The King would not be someone who loved all people, he would be handsome, he would not hang out with fishermen, tax collectors, and other sorts of lowly people. Boy, did they have a rude awakening....

These lowly people were loved and loved this man the Pharisees hated. They cried out with praise at His appearance and His mighty works, they knew He was the Lord that they had been waiting for all their lives. 

Jesus humbly told these Pharisees... I can't stop this praise because even the rocks will cry out if these don't. He was saying every creature on earth knows who I am and even if you silly men will not praise me, they will.... 

I love to praise and worship, I don't do it very well, but I try. We all should praise God with what ever voice we have been given because if you don't the rocks will and why should they have all the fun!

Thanks for reading. God bless you all!

Sharing

So, there are no drawing or pictures today. I will be home on Monday, I hope and will share some of the other photos very soon.

Every so often I feel like I need to say some things and share some thoughts that are not hard to share but I just can't always speak out loud. I am not a person who can share things easily. Even though and probably because I am an emotional person, I just don't openly share things usually.

I have something I want to share, and I hope if you are reading this you will share also... you don't have to but it would be nice to get some feed back on the things I write.

For God so loved the world that He gave His only begotten Son, that whoever believes in Him should not perish but have everlasting life. For God did not send His Son into the world to condemn the world, but that the world through Him might be saved. “He who believes in Him is not condemned; but he who does not believe is condemned already, because he has not believed in the name of the only begotten Son of God. John 3:16-18

Moreover, brethren, I declare to you the gospel which I preached to you, which also you received and in which you stand,  by which also you are saved, if you hold fast that word which I preached to you—unless you believed in vain. For I delivered to you first of all that which I also received: that Christ died for our sins according to the Scriptures, and that He was buried, and that He rose again the third day according to the Scriptures, I Corinthians 15:1-4

I do not think I have mentioned in this blog about how I came to worship the way I do.... although I have many times given my beliefs in this blog.

When I was young my family went to church together.... somewhere around kindergarten that changed. I liked going to church so when I was in 1st or 2nd grade I started going to church with an employee of the school I attended. I did that until I was in 5th grade and we moved across town. It was hard for her to come and get me for church. But there was a church that had buses that would pick children up and take them to church. I went to that church through College... All this time I loved to go to church and was not a happy camper if I couldn't.  I learned a lot through out this time, then I realized when I was 12 I needed to let Jesus be the Lord of my life. I have not always lived a life that has been pleasing to God... I don't even today... the good that I do is like filthy rags.

But we are all like an unclean thing, And all our righteousnesses are like filthy rags; We all fade as a leaf, And our iniquities, like the wind, Have taken us away. Isaiah 64:6

So I said all that to be able to share this....

I believe that to get to heaven the is only one thing you have to do and that is believe.... The first verses above tell us exactly what we need to believe.

First, that God sent His only Son, to live a perfect life on earth.
Second, that Christ died for our sins according to the scriptures.
Third, that He was buried and that He rose again on the third day, according to the scriptures.

That is it.... if I believe these things the Bible, God's Word says we will have everlasting life, that we are saved. God's mercy is imparted to us so that we can live eternally with Him.

Jesus didn't come to condemn us to an eternity of torment, He came to give us life.... abundant life!

There are people who think.... You can not tell someone all they have to do is believe because that is like giving them a license to sin.... it doesn't because even though we have believed and have eternal life we will be held accountable for the lives we live after salvation. There will still be a judgment!

So this is what I wanted to share... do I have an agenda with sharing this... yes and no... I want everyone to go to heaven, I want everyone to be my brothers and sisters in Christ. Do I have specific people I want to make sure are there, well YES!!! Don't you? I know God also wants everyone in heaven...

The Lord is not slack concerning His promise, as some count slackness, but is longsuffering toward us, not willing that any should perish but that all should come to repentance. 2 Peter 3:9

So, if God doesn't want any to perish, neither do I.... If you need to hear more about this I am willing to talk, or I can have someone a little more expert contact you. Just let me know in the comments. 

Thanks for reading, God bless you all!

Friends

Yesterday, we left Cody, Wyoming and traveled to Crawford, Nebraska. It was a little more than a 6 hour drive. On the way out of Cody I saw this "hill" that I wanted a picture of, just because I wanted to try and draw it.... here it is the picture and the drawing....

Now that we are in Nebraska we are visiting friends. I have really missed my friend. Her children are very close to me and the last one is graduating on Saturday from High School. Makes me feel really old. It has been 5 years since I was here last and that was for another graduation. I do not get to see this friend as often as I would like. We used to spend so much time together when we both lived in the same place.

There is a song that I learned in Girl Scouts although we usually only sang the first verse in a round....

Make new friends,

but keep the old.

One is silver,

the other is gold.

A circle is round,

it has no end.

That's how long,

I will be your friend.

A fire burns bright,

it warms the heart.

We've been friends,

from the very start.

You have one hand,

I have the other.

Put them together,

We have each other.

Silver is precious,

Gold is too.

I am precious,

and so are you.

You help me,

and I'll help you

and together

we will see it through.

The sky is blue

The Earth is green

I can help

to keep it clean.

Across the land

Across the sea

Friends forever

We will always be.

The friends and family I have visited on this trip are special to me for many different reasons. I met them during different seasons of my life and have kept them close to my heart even while apart.

We have faced trials and hardships together side by side and over the distances. We have had our share of disagreements and our total agreements. We have laughed, cried, screamed and been quiet with each other together and across the miles. Yet, through it all we have loved and that is the most important thing.

Here are some verses that the Bible uses to describe friendship....

The righteous should choose his friends carefully, For the way of the wicked leads them astray. Proverbs 12:26

A friend loves at all times, And a brother is born for adversity.  Proverbs 17:17

A man who has friends must himself be friendly, But there is a friend who sticks closer than a brother.  Proverbs 18:24

He who loves purity of heart And has grace on his lips, The king will be his friend.  Proverbs 22:11

He who loves purity of heart And has grace on his lips, The king will be his friend.  Proverbs 27:6

Ointment and perfume delight the heart, And the sweetness of a man’s friend gives delight by hearty counsel. Proverbs 27:9

Do not forsake your own friend or your father’s friend, Nor go to your brother’s house in the day of your calamity; Better is a neighbor nearby than a brother far away.  Proverbs 27:10

As iron sharpens iron, So a man sharpens the countenance of his friend.  Proverbs 27:17

Greater love has no one than this, than to lay down one’s life for his friends. John 15:13 

The Bible has a lot to say about friendship,

Two are better than one, Because they have a good reward for their labor.

For if they fall, one will lift up his companion. But woe to him who is alone when he falls, For he has no one to help him up.

Again, if two lie down together, they will keep warm; But how can one be warm alone?

Though one may be overpowered by another, two can withstand him. And a threefold cord is not quickly broken. Ecclesiastes 4:9-12

God created the ultimate relationship in the garden when he created man to be His friend. He then created woman to be a companion to man, because it wasn't good for him to be alone. He created children from the union of man and woman, which created a third relationship between parents and offspring. The fourth relationship being between siblings, which started out rock way back then and still proves to be tumultuous today. So, as a result of this and because people multiplied on the face of the earth He created the relationship known as friendship.... What a wonderful thing it can be, and I cherish everyone I have no matter how close we are physically, or in what stage that relationship is (acquaintance or best).

So, as I am here visiting one of my friend.... one that is like a sister to me, I want to say thanks to all the friends I have past, present, and future. Those from long ago that I remember but haven't seen in years and those I only met yesterday... I love you all and wish you the very best life has to offer. Thanks for being part of my life.

Thanks for reading and God bless all of you!

Advice from a ....

I have not been working on this blog because our days on this journey have been filled with visiting, seeing sights, and driving. Today is a "rest" day... we will see some things here in Cody, Wyoming, but we will not be going far. So I will try to give a synopsis of our trip since the last post and trying to honor God in the process. As a consequence this will be a photo intense and long blog post.

May 5th, on this journey of ours, we visited the Great Sand Dunes National Park. It was awesome to walk in this sand... it didn't feel like the sand you see at the beach or a sand box. It was almost soft.... it was smooth. Even the sand getting in your shoe was not as annoying as other kinds of sand... We also visited a water fall that was close to the Sand Dunes. The trek to the falls was a 1/2 mile hike up a mountain, then we had to walk through a stream...

Great Sand Dunes National Park
Zapata Falls

May 6th, we drove from Alamosa, Colorado to Cody, Wyoming, the driving time was just over 10 hours but we took a few detours. I wanted to see "Chimney Rock" so I turned on this very curvy and rather scary dirt road.... we got to a section that was covered in mud and snow and could go no farther. I had to turn the car around... it wasn't an easy feat.

May 7th we went to Yellowstone. We saw many awesome things. The snow was still holding on so everything was not open, so we saw everything we could see in one day. We saw a mother bear and her cubs, lots of Buffalo, a lone wolf, some moose, deer, and a mountain goat. The scenery was wonderfully majestic. We saw the Grand Canyon of Yellowstone, and the Prismatic Pools, and of course Old Faithful. The lake there is massive. You can smell the sulfur through the park, and steam rises endlessly from the hot and acidy pools.

Driving to Cody, WY
Yellowstone

I didn't get a picture of the bears on my phone. They were far away. I have so many photos on my "good" camera... and I have videos to edit also.... when I get home there will probably be a "movie" made. 

The title of this post, came from some bookmarks I bought that I thought were cool. Here is a photo of them....

I decided to try to find verses to go with these statements and I may or may not comment to them... so here goes

Advice from a Sand Dune:

Soak up the Sunshine: Philippians 4:8 

Finally, brethren, whatever things are true, whatever things are noble, whatever things are just, whatever things are pure, whatever things are lovely, whatever things are of good report, if there is any virtue and if there is anything praiseworthy—meditate on these things.

Stay Loose: Philippians 4:11-13

Not that I speak in regard to need, for I have learned in whatever state I am, to be content: I know how to be abased, and I know how to abound. Everywhere and in all things I have learned both to be full and to be hungry, both to abound and to suffer need. I can do all things through Christ who strengthens me. 

This one might need a little explanation. We as Christians need to be able to fit in to whatever situation arises. That doesn't mean we give into sin but we adapt to the situations we are in so that we can be a better witness for the Lord.

Keep Moving: Philippians 3:12-14

Not that I have already attained, or am already perfected; but I press on, that I may lay hold of that for which Christ Jesus has also laid hold of me. Brethren, I do not count myself to have apprehended; but one thing I do, forgetting those things which are behind and reaching forward to those things which are ahead, I press toward the goal for the prize of the upward call of God in Christ Jesus.

Embrace Winds of Change: John 14:27

Peace I leave with you, My peace I give to you; not as the world gives do I give to you. Let not your heart be troubled, neither let it be afraid.

Don't be afraid of what is to come.... embrace all that comes your way, have peace, trust God, and keep moving forward.

Make Positive Ripples: I Timothy 4:12

Let no one despise your youth, but be an example to the believers in word, in conduct, in love, in spirit, in faith, in purity.

Don't Get Carried Away: Hebrews 13:9

Do not be carried about with various and strange doctrines. For it isgood that the heart be established by grace, not with foods which have not profited those who have been occupied with them. 

Show Your True Grit: I Corinthians 15:58

Therefore, my beloved brethren, be steadfast, immovable, always abounding in the work of the Lord, knowing that your labor is not in vain in the Lord.

Advice from a Bison:
Stand Your Ground: I Corinthians 16:13

Watch, stand fast in the faith, be brave, be strong. 

Have a Tough Hide: Romans 13:12

The night is far spent, the day is at hand. Therefore let us cast off the works of darkness, and let us put on the armor of light.

I don't know what tougher skin we could have as Children of God than His armor.... whether it is this armor mentioned here or the armor mentioned in Ephesians 6:10-18

Keep Moving On: II Peter 3:14

Therefore, beloved, looking forward to these things, be diligent to be found by Him in peace, without spot and blameless;

Cherish the Wide Open Spaces: Psalm 118:19

Open to me the gates of righteousness; I will go through them and I will praise the Lord.

There were not any verse other than this one that I thought was appropriate for this. God opens the doors or gates to His plan for us (the gates of righteousness) and we have a world or wonder at our disposal... wide open for us to do as He wants us to do...

Have a Strong Spirit: Romans 8:27

Now He who searches the hearts knows what the mind of the Spirit is, because He makes intercession for the saints according to the will of God.

The Holy Spirit stands before God strongly on our behalf making intercession for us.... if we allow the Spirit to move in us our spirit can be strong like the Holy Spirit... 

Roam Wild and Free: 2 Samuel 6:16b

looked through a window and saw King David leaping and whirling before the Lord; 

David loved and worshipped the Lord with all his heart, soul, body, and mind... as a result he was wild and free enough to dance unabandoned before his God. He did not care who saw him, or what they thought. Maybe we should become more like David.

Let the Chips Fall Where They May: Psalm 37:8

Cease from anger, and forsake wrath; Don't fret -- it only causes harm.

Advice from a Geyser:
Rise to the Occasion: II Timothy 4:2

Preach the word! Be ready in season and out of season. Convince, rebuke, exhort, with all longsuffering and teaching.

Stay Active: Colossians 1:29

To this end I also labor, striving according to His working which works in me mightily.

Find Your Inner Strength: Ephesians 6:10

Finally, my brethren, be strong in the Lord and in the power of His might.

Vent When You Need To: Psalm 34:17

The righteous cry out, and the Lord hears, And delivers them out of all their troubles.

God is a God of understanding and mercy... He already knows what is in our hearts, the good, the bad, and the ugly.... He wants to hear us voice it... to cry out loud... Believe me He can take it!

Enjoy the Quiet Moments: I Thessalonians 4:11

hat you also aspire to lead a quiet life, to mind your own business, and to work with your own hands, as we commanded you,

Be Faithful: Matthew 6:24

 “No one can serve two masters; for either he will hate the one and love the other, or else he will be loyal to the one and despise the other. You cannot serve God and mammon.

Let Off a Little Steam: Psalm 84:2

My soul longs, yes, even faints for the courts of the Lord; My heart and my flesh cry out for the living God.

Again cry out to God... he can take it and He wants to hear it...

So, I told you this would be a long blog. It has taken me most of the day to write. I loved every minute! Isn't our God an awesome God who can teach us through His word and through the simple examples of His creations. I love my Lord so much, I need to show it more!

Thanks for reading and God Bless all of you!