Fellowship

This past weekend I spent several days in the Great Smoky Mountains with about 200 other photographers.  We went to classes together, went out taking photographs together, ate together and talked a lot about photography.  It was good to spend time with those who share an interest in photography. I enjoyed the fellowship.

Our life in Christ should be like that.  We should spend time each week with other believers.  It is good to be in fellowship with those who share your faith. It encourages us in times when we are wandering. It invigorates us when we are filled with lethargy. It comforts us when we are experiencing a time of distress. And, it can lovingly admonish us when we stray.

but if we walk in the Light as He Himself is in the Light,

we have fellowship with one another,

and the blood of Jesus His Son cleanses us form all sin.

1 John 1:7

#GreatSmokySummit

Keep the Mind Focused

The steadfast of mind You will keep in perfect peace,

Because he trusts in You.

Isaiah 26: 3

I have found that if I keep my mind focused on good things I have a much better day.  When I let myself get caught up in the distractions, delays, and diversions of the world I am a lot less content.

I pray that I, and you, can keep our minds steadfast today.  

I Know Who Can Do All Things

I know that You can do all things,

And that no purpose of Yours can be thwarted.

'Who is this that hides counsel without knowledge?'

Therefore I have declared that which I did not understand,

Things too wonderful for me, which I did not know.

Job 42: 2-3

At the end of the book, Job makes the declaration above.  Even after all he had suffered he recognized and honored who God is.  

Regardless of our pain, our struggles, our tough times, we must recognize and proclaim who God is!

May your day be filled with peace, joy, comfort, and the full knowledge that He is in control.

Know Where Your Strength Lies

How blessed is the man whose strength is in You,

In whose heart are the highways to Zion!

Psalms 84: 5

We took a road trip yesterday.  Drove a backroad to somewhere we had never been before.  We went to see if there was any color in the trees. There is something exciting about exploring new roads, new towns, new places.  You see new things.  Sometimes they are things which are totally unexpected.  We didn't see much color but we did see a bobcat!

There is also something in a new adventure that makes you just a little uneasy.  "Road Closed Ahead".  All kinds of questions whirl through your head when you are in the middle of nowhere and see that sign.  Is there an alternate route? Should we turn around? Is it our road that is closed?

Life can be like that.  That's why it is best to know where your strength lies.

It's Time for an Examination

Let us examine and probe our ways,

And let us return to the Lord.

Lamentations 3: 40

Any good landscape photographer knows that there is usually more than one photograph to be taken at any designated location. You are taught early on to look around, move left and right, forward and back, higher and lower.  Take your time and examine all the possibilities. Then when you find the subject you wish to photograph, you always should take more than one image of that subject.  

Take a wide angle shot.

Photograph it vertically and horizontally. 

Zoom in a little closer. 

Even closer.

From time to time everything needs to be examined closely.  We examine our appearance before we go to an important meeting.  We examine our finances before we make a large purchase. We examine food to make sure it is not spoiled. We have our health examined.

So it is with our relationship with God. If we do not examine our connection to Him, we wander.  We let other things replace Him.

Today is good day for an examination.

It Is Good to Reflect

Sometimes we just need to stop, look back at our lives, and realize that there has been a lot of good going on!

Take time today to reflect on just what good things have come your way recently.  It will encourage us all to do that.

God saw all that He had made, and behold, it was very good.

Genesis 1:31a

Remembering Can Bring Comfort

Remember His covenant forever,

The word which He commanded to a thousand generations,

1 Chronicles 16: 15

I was recently reminded by a Facebook post of a wonderful time I spent in Ohio a few years ago with my son. I went back in my files and looked at the photographs from that time and remembered!  It was refreshing and encouraging.

I thought of friends who are in the midst of struggles and pain right now.  I hope they can remember and be comforted by those memories. And, I know they find comfort in the promise above.