First Harvest

Let us not become weary in doing good, for at the proper time we will reap a harvest if we do not give up.

-- Galations 6:9 (NIV)

 Amish farm in Waterford, Ohio in Knox County.

Tall Ships

Or think of a ship: big as it is and driven by such strong winds, it can be steered by a very small rudder, and it goes wherever the pilot wants it to go. So it is with the tongue: small as it is, it can boast about great things...

-- James 3:4-5a (GNT)

Just as the rudder is a small part of the ship, it is able to steer and turn the ship as the pilot directs; In the same way the tongue is a small part of the body and can govern the whole man. Learn to manage the tongue because it is capable of a great deal of good as well as a great deal of harm. 

Morning Dew

Let my teaching fall like rain and my words descend like dew, like showers on new grass, like abundant rain on tender plants. I will proclaim the name of the LORD. Oh, praise the greatness of our God!

-- Deuteronomy 3:2-3 (NIV)

How To Be Happy

Blessed is the man who does not walk in the counsel of the wicked or stand in the way of sinners or sit in the seat of mockers. But his delight is in the law of the LORD, and on his law he meditates day and night. He is like a tree planted by streams of water, which yields its fruit in season and whose leaf does not wither. Whatever he does prospers.

-- Psalm 1:1-3 (NIV)

On June 8th, 2010 I visited the Honey Run Waterfall in Knox County, Ohio. We just came off a week of rain so I figured the water would be flowing pretty good.   It was a beautiful day with barely a breeze, perfect for leaving the shutter open a couple seconds to capture the water flowing. A couple of locals stopped by with some of their friends visiting from out of town. One said he grew up in the area and used to walk the nearby road with his brother every day for 15 years, never knowing the falls were here. They heard the sound of water but never thought to open their eyes to it. Kind of brings a couple of verses to mind...

Psalm 119:18 (NIV) - Open my eyes that I may see wonderful things in your law.

Ephesians 1:18-23 (NIV) - I pray also that the eyes of your heart may be enlightened in order that you may know the hope to which he has called you, the riches of his glorious inheritance in the saints, and his incomparably great power for us who believe. That power is like the working of his mighty strength, which he exerted in Christ when he raised him from the dead and seated him at his right hand in the heavenly realms, far above all rule and authority, power and dominion, and every title that can be given, not only in the present age but also in the one to come. And God placed all things under his feet and appointed him to be head over everything for the church, which is his body, the fullness of him who fills everything in every way.

The Word Of God Stands Forever

The grass withers and the flowers fade, but the word of our God stands forever.

-- Isaiah 40:8  (NLT)

I took this photo of wild geraniums on the morning of May 17th, 2010 at the Stratford Ecological Center in Delaware, OH. It was a really crummy, wet and dreary day, plus I found out that the fields of wild hyacinth had bloomed early this year, I missed them by a week. It was my first visit there and since I was the only one around I decided to walk the muddy trail in the rain anyway. I received some great information on things to look for along the way from Jane, one of the volunteers there.  It kind of reminded me of the rainforests along the coast of Oregon.  I uploaded the images to the computer when I returned home and was surprised to find things I didn't even see when I took the photos, like these slugs by the fungus.   I was really glad I decided to walk the trail regardless of the weather, and even happier that I had thought ahead to bring an extra pair of shoes and socks because by the time I was ready to leave my feet were completely soaked.

Bow Down And Worship

Today is May 6, 2010, The National Day Of Prayer. Be encouraged today to spend some time in prayer and bible reading, it can change your life. Today millions of prayers will be raised for our country, our government, our state and local leadership and our families. The theme for this years celebration is "Prayer, for such a time as this". It's based on the verse from Nahum 1:7, The LORD is good, a refuge in times of trouble. He cares for those who trust in him, (NIV).

-- Psalm 5:7 (CEV)

I took this photo on the morning of April 15th, 2010 at Inniswood Metro Gardens in Westerville, OH. It was a beautiful sunny day with everything in bloom.  I was walking past a cluster of daffodils and thought about how the blooms tilt downward, it was like they were bowing down and reminded me of the verse where Jesus was entering Jerusalem and told the pharisees that the stones would praise God if the people didn't;

Jesus came near the place where the road goes down the Mount of Olives. There the whole crowd of disciples began to praise God with joy. In loud voices they praised him for all the miracles they had seen. They shouted, "Blessed is the king who comes in the name of the Lord!" - (Psalm 118:26) "May there be peace and glory in the highest heaven!" Some of the Pharisees in the crowd spoke to Jesus. "Teacher," they said, "tell your disciples to stop!" "I tell you," he replied, "if they keep quiet, the stones will cry out."  -- Luke 19:37-40 (NIRV)

Most of the daffodils were a few days past their peek so I was a little disappointed because I wanted to capture the photo. Then I came across this group of tiny flowers along the path, they are called Leucojum Aestivum, (summer snowflake), and they too were all bowing down. I was fascinated by the delicate details and pattern. Another reminder of how God is involved in every detail of our lives as well.

Seagull On A Rock

For the earth will be filled with the knowledge of the glory of the LORD, as the waters cover the sea, they cannot fathom what God has done from beginning to end.

-- Habakkuk 2:14 (NIV)

I took this photo on our first trip to Pacific Grove, California in March 2006. Pacific Grove is a small community located right on the peninsula near Monterey.  It was about 7:30 pm with the sun getting ready to set.  I'm not sure what it is about the sights and sounds of waves crashing on the rocks, but I can spend hours doing it, especially when the sun is rising or setting. I guess it gives you a sense of how small we are in the world, how insignificant we are in the universe. I like what James said in 4:14 - You don't even know what your life tomorrow will be! You are like a puff of smoke, which appears for a moment and then disappears.  (GNT)   Wow! a puff of smoke and then gone. So what do I take from that? Make your life count, make it count for the kingdom of God.