Taking a Walk

As we walk through life we always leave footprints.  We leave footprints in the environment and we leave footprints in the lives of those with whom we come in contact.

We also leave footprints in our own lives.  They may be footprints of joy or despair, peace or discontentment, triumph or tragedy.  I am not talking about the things that life throws at us. I am talking about our reaction to those things.  We have to make a choice about how we walk through the ups and downs of life. Those are the footprints we leave.

What kind of footprints are you leaving in your life and the lives of those around you?

in that I command you today to love the Lord you God,

to walk in His ways and to keep His commandments

and His statutes and His judgments,

that you may live and multiply,

and that the Lord your God may bless you

in the land where you are entering to posses it.

Deuteronomy 30:16

 

The pictures today are from Zion National Park in Utah.

On Getting Better

 

 

 

Photographers are always seeking to get better and better at the craft of photography.  There are several ways that they do that.  Some attend workshops, some read books, some practice every day, and some even try to get better by buying the latest and greatest pieces of gear.  You can even learn by examining the work of others. I think all of those except one can make a difference. 

 

Having the most expensive, latest, technologically advanced gear will not make one a better photographer.  In fact, it may slow you down.  If the gear is so advanced that you can't figure it out, you will miss many picture opportunities fiddling with the gear.

 

 

 

 



 

In photography, just like in all aspects of life, one must study, practice, and prepare if they are to increase in skill and knowledge.

 

Study to show thyself approved unto God,

a workman that need no be ashamed,

rightly dividing the word of truth.

2 Timothy 2:15





Seeing the Glory

Yosemite Valley viewed from Glacier Point, Yosemite National Park, CA

There is much grandeur in our nation.  Majestic mountains, lush valleys, sweeping plains, bustling cities, small towns, and farmlands all meld together to create this land.  I love to travel and see them all. It's fun, it's exciting, it's fulfilling.

Totems, Monument Valley, Navajo Tribal Lands, UT

Photographers talk a lot about "seeing".  When they are out in this land taking photographs they try to see the beauty, the unusualness, the uniqueness of where they are.  Then they try to capture that in their photographs.  Pursuing the craft of photography has helped me to see the world differently, even when I don't have a camera in my hands.  I have come to realize that every place, every moment, every day is filled with glorious beauty.  I just have to "see" it.

If you've had a bad day, or even a bad week, try seeing it differently.  Look for the glory that God has placed before you.  It may be a place, it may be a moment, it may be a smile from someone.  It is there. We just have to "see" it.

Canola Field, Adairsville, GA

I hope you find the glory in this day and every day to come.

 

Be exalted above the heavens, O God;

Let Your glory be above all the earth.

Psalms 57:11

The Right Tool

 

 

My father-in-law was a carpenter, a real craftsman.  He could do amazing things with wood, brick, and mortar. I am grateful for the skills he taught me. His teaching equipped me for many DYI projects through the years.

 



But, he was only able to do those things if he had the right tools. And he not only chose those tools with care, he also protected those tools. He kept them clean and safe. He respected them.

You and I may not be craftsmen in the same way that my father-in-law was, but we are still building something.  Whatever we do, in our career, in our family, in our community, we are building. 

How are you equipping yourself for that?  Are you doing the job with the proper tools? Have you equipped yourself?

so that the man of God may be adequate,

equipped for every good work.

2 Timothy 3:17

Who Will Show Us Any Good?

 

 

Meditate in your heart upon your bed, and be still. Selah.

Offer the sacrifices of righteousness, And trust in the Lord.

Many are saying, "Who will show us any good?"

Lift up the light of Your countenance upon us, O Lord!

You have put gladness in my heart,

More than when their grain and new wine abound.

In peace I will both lie down and sleep,

For You alone, O Lord make me to dwell in safety.

Psalms 4:4a-8

 
 

 

 

The news is always full of the bad happening in our world.  It can make for restless nights!  I had one of those last night.  But, the words of the Psalms above gave me comfort and reassurance this morning.

 

If we put our trust in the right One we can have gladness in or hearts.  We can sleep in peace.



 

Walk through this day knowing that no matter what you are hearing, no matter what you are seeing, and no matte what you are facing, He will walk you through it.

Who is Leading?

The Lord is my shepherd,

I shall not want.

He makes me lie down in green pastures;

He leads me beside quiet waters.

He restores my soul;

Psalm 23:1-3a

 

 

Horse Farm near Lexington, KY

 

 

Each and every day we must choose. Who is leading?

 



El Capitan reflected in the Merced River, Yosemite National Park, CA



Goats and Sheep

All the nations will be gathered before Him;

and he will separate them from one another,

as the shepherd separates the sheep from the goats;

Matthew 25:32

 

 

How quickly things happen! One moment Malcolm Butler, a player for the New England Patriots, is a goat because a ball bounces in the air and into the hands of a Seattle receiver.  A few seconds later Butler is forgiven because he makes an interception that seals the game for New England. 

 

 

 

But wait! Now who is our goat?  Oh yeah, we can put that on the Seattle coach. 

 

We can make statements like Dwight Clark, former San Francisco 49'er receiver, "Dumbest play call in the HISTORY of NFL football,".

 

Or NFL career rushing leader Emmitt Smith: "Worst play call I've seen in the history of football." 

 

Both great players and both expressing sentiments that many had.  Even the announcer, Chris Collingsworth was critical of the play call.

 

Atlanta Falcons fans were noting that they were glad the Falcons were hiring the Defensive Coordinator, not the Offensive Coordinator, of the Seattle Seahawks. Maybe he was the goat.

 

For the record, I wanted Seattle to win. And, if you like pro football, that was as good a game as you could probably ever watch.  Congratulations to the Patriots.  And, a thought for all of us.

 

 

 

 

One day we will be deemed goat or sheep.  Are we in the position we need to be in for that to be a desired outcome?  Have we given, and are we giving, our life to Christ?  There will come a day for us to be separated.