Today We Remember

But you, be strong and do not lose courage,

for there is reward for your work.

2 Chronicles 15:7

 

 

 

Today please take the time to thank someone who has given of themselves so that you can enjoy the life that you have.

 

 

 

I am grateful for the service of my father, William H. Malone (WWII), my brother-in-law, Allen Hicks (Vietnam), and my son-in-law, Brian Clifton (Afghanistan).

 

 



A Grain of Sand

Have you ever tried to pick up a grain of sand?  Think carefully before you answer.  I said "A grain".  That's right, ONE grain of sand.  Unless you are very careful, and probably very fortunate, you cannot pick up one grain of sand without getting at least several more grains of sand at the same time.  One grain of sand is pretty small and pretty insignificant.

 

Have you ever faced a mountain in your life?  You know, one of those situations or decisions that just seems to overwhelm you.  A choice must be made, but there are no obvious good choices.  That kind of mountain!

Just remember, what seems like a mountain to you is but one grain of sand to God.  Let Him have it.  It's much better that way.

Cast your burden upon the Lord and he will sustain you;

Psalms 55:22

"Gloom, Despair, and Agony on Me!"

Why is it that some people seem to never be happy? According to what they share with others they walk through life all droopy and downtrodden.

If it's summer, it's "too hot!".  In winter, it's "too cold!"

 

 

TV shows, weathermen, grocery clerks, businesses, family - they all seem to get it wrong!  That is if you listen to the rants and posts on social media.

 

It really should not be that way.  The Word for the day is 1 Thessalonians 5:16 Rejoice always;

 

Let's share that message today with everyone we meet, not by speaking, but by being!



See the Goodness

 

 

Does the world ever get you down?  I have to answer yes.  Sometimes just the ordinary things of life seem to overwhelm.  I find myself asking "Why?"  

 

 

When that happens I always try to remember.  I remember all the goodness that I have experienced in my life. I remember who is in control!

 

 

In my mind I revisit some of the beautiful places God has created on this wonderful planet.

 

Today was such a day for me.  The scenes above are from Zion National Park.  I haven't visited all the National Parks, but so far I think Zion may be my favorite. And, I went there with strangers who are now some of my dearest friends.

 

 

I would have despaired unless I had believed

 that I would see the goodness of the Lord

in the land of the living.

Wait for the Lord;

Be strong and let your heart take courage;

Yes, wait for the Lord.

Psalms 27:13, 14

Who Lights Your Darkness?

 

For You light my lamp;

The Lord my God illumines my darkness.

Psalms 18:28

 

 

 



 Light is such a comfort.  It gives us security.  It reveals things to us.  I have never heard anyone say, "I'm afraid of the light!"

 

 

 

But, we must be careful which light to use as our lead.  The lights of the world can consume us and lead us in the wrong direction.

 

I am reminded of the sea turtles first journey.  A newly hatched sea turtle crawls out of the sand pit the mother dug on the beach and must find its way to the ocean if it is to survive.  How does a new born turtle know where the ocean is?  It follows the light.  The moon will reflect off of the water and create just enough light to lure the turtle to a safe haven. 

 

If the turtle is born in a developed area of the beach there is the danger that the lights of the buildings will be brighter than the light of the moon on the water.  When that happens the turtle is doomed.

 

Today, follow His light.

 



Stand on the Rock

I waited patiently for the Lord;

he turned and heard my cry.

He lifted me out of the slimy pit,

out of the mud and mire;

he set my feet on a rock

and gave me a firm place to stand.

Psalms 40:1, 2

 

 

Isn't it sadly funny that we, out of our impatience, get our life is such a mess.  Oh, if we could only learn to wait patiently!

 

 

Life will get better.  Those things with which we struggle will go away.  We will be placed on a solid rock.



 

As the scripture says, "Teach me Lord, to wait."

 





Joined Together

 

 

We spent some time recently with people who have been our dear friends for a very long time.  In fact, Linda and one of the friends have know each other since elementary school.

 

We had a great time visiting in their home, remembering all we have experienced together, sharing love with each other.

 



 

 

All the while I kept thinking about how those people have been such an important part of who we have become. They have laughed with us, cried with us, shared life with us in so many ways. 

 

There have been others who have also had a part is building our lives. If you ask any one friend, they could not tell you about all of our friends.  Some of them have never met each other. Some live close by, some live far away.  Some have been part of our circle of friends for years, some for only a short time. Yet they are all part of the same tapestry that is our life.

 



 



 

 

One of my favorite books of the Bible is Nehemiah.  It tells the story of Nehemiah leading the people to rebuild the city of Jerusalem.  When I read it I am always impressed with how many different groups of people each rebuilt part of the wall around the city.  None of them busied themselves with watching to see what their neighbors did. None of them spent time walking around the city to "inspect" or critique the others work.  Each just did his part.

 

Also, many of those who built were not construction experts. Uzziel son of Harhaiah, one of the goldsmith, repaired the next section; and Hananiah, one of the perfume-makers, made repairs next to that. They restored Jerusalem as far as the Broad Wall." Nehemiah 3:8

 

Like quilts, stained glass, and the walls of a house, those who have been part of our lives have joined together to become our lives by each doing their part.  I am so grateful. 

 

You too have been "built" by many.  Think about them today.  If you have opportunity, let them know you are grateful.

 



What? Me Worry!

 

 

 

We recently sold a home and are now in the process of buying a new home.  I spoke with the seller of our new home recently.  I was reminded of all the moments during the sale of our previous home when we didn't know if it was going to happen. 

 

Will someone make an offer? 

 

If someone makes an offer, will it be one we can accept?

 

If we accept an offer will the buyer get approved by the mortgage company?

 

If the buyer is approved by the mortgage company will the home inspection go okay?

 

If the home inspection is okay, will the appraisal be enough?

 

Will we ever close?

 

And on and on it goes.

 

 

 





Now we are on the other side of the deal.  And I see the seller having the same fears and anxious moments. 

We too, still wonder about all of those things.

Today God reminded me of a verse He has brought into my life before.  Today I remember that He is in control.  No matter the storms we face, the unknowns ahead of us, He will be there and He will see us through.

"Do not fear, for I am with you;

Do no anxiously look about you,

for I am your God.

I will strengthen you, surely I will help you,

Surely I will uphold you with My righteous right hand."

Isaiah 41:10

The Perfect . . .

I have seen a limit to all perfection;

Psalms 119:96a

 

 

Photographers are always seeking the perfect. We want the perfect light, the perfect wind conditions, the perfect subject.  Yet, rarely do we find any of those things in perfection.  I have never found all of them to be perfect at the same time. 

 

 

 

So, knowing that there is no perfection, what should I do?  Should I never go out to a location and take a photograph?  After all, something about that experience will be less than perfect!

 

 

 



 

Quite the opposite.  As I often tell myself, you have to make lemonade. The creative photographer will go to a location, assess the conditions, the light, the subject and then use their talents and skills to find and capture the best image possible.

 

Oh how I wish we would react to, and treat, people that way.  No person is perfect. No person is going to please us 100% of the time.  Why must we focus on the small percentage of imperfection and throw away the wonderful opportunity for fellowship the remainder of the time?

 

I sure am glad God does not do that to me!

True Fellowhsip

 

 

 

This past weekend there were many children playing in the neighborhood.  Some of them were brothers and sisters, some were next door neighbors, some were best friends.  But, some of them were visitors to the area.  They did not know the others in the group.  Yet, everyone was accepted, welcomed, to join in and play.  There was true fellowship among them all.  Like the flamingos above, everyone was accepted and included.

 

 

They were continually devoting themselves to the apostles' teaching

 and to fellowship, to the breaking of bread and to prayer.

Acts 2:42

 

 

 

Why can't people always do that? Why can't we remember to love one another?

 



Find your friends today.  Rekindle the fellowship. You won't regret it.

For Sue

The Lord's lovingkindnesses indeed never cease,

For His compassions never fail.

They are new every morning;

Great is Your faithfulness.

Lamentations 3:22,23

 

 

 

I had the joy of spending several minutes yesterday chatting with a dear friend, Jim Haverstock.  His wife, Sue, recently had surgery to repair a broken wrist.  At the time of the surgery the Doctor gave the surgery a 30% chance of being successful.

 



 

 

Sue is a wonderful photographer and she also paints.  Like me, Sue loves to make flowers the subject of her creative works.  If the surgery fails she will lose all mobility in her wrist.  It will be tough to photograph and even tougher to paint!

 

 

Sue had her first post op visit to the Doctor yesterday.  The news could not have been better!  The bones in her wrist are in perfect position.  Praise the Lord!

 

I ask you to pray for Sue. She still has several months of healing and another surgery before she can resume her normal activities.  But, with His hand on hers, healing is taking place and she will soon be back to her normal routines.

 

Sue, these iris are for you.  Get well soon!