Seasons

Seasons come and go. The same in our lives. As sure as the reality of the cold and wind is in winter the promise of summer soon follows as the first spring flowers start to show their splendor. As you stay committed to Jesus, His grace is sufficient. You can be assured, even though winter may come in our life , spring and summer will follow with the new life and beauty that it brings. Even if we are unfaithful and stray away He stays the same, waiting with open arms for our return.

The Splendor of a King....

JESUS, THE KING OF KINGS AND THE LORD OF LORDS

He made the stars to shine........

 When I look at these beautiful majestic mountains  I am reminded of the words of an old Sunday school song that I use to sing growing up."He made the stars to shine, He made the rolling see, He made the mountains high, and he made me."  The song goes on to say: " and this is why I love him for me he bled and died , the Lord of all creation, became the crucified."

The Lord of all creation became the crucified......

Willingly he did this for me and for you so that we can live in a relationship with Him and not only live the life that he intended for us here on earth but continue to be with Him for eternity to come

Matthew 6:26

Look at the birds of the air; they do not sow or reap or store away in barns, and yet your heavenly Father feeds them. Are you not much more valuable than they?

Sunrise

This is actually a very small photo taken with my cellphone as this was all I had with me at the time. But still I just love all the reflections in this photo and the bright shining sun coming up over the mountain tops. It speaks of so many things to me. A new day dawning has so much symbolism and reminds me of Gods promise that His mercies are new every morning. Each day holds so much potential and no matter how bad the previous day was or how tired you were you wake up with new strength and ability for the new day. A true gift from God. God promises that He will give us enough strength for each day. Just as His mercies is sufficient for each day so His grace is more than enough. As we trust in Him He will give us everything that we will need to live life to the full and to accomplish everything that He has for us.

Contentment

To me the story in this photo is all about contentment. Living in the moment. Being at rest with what has been and with what is to come. The next moment in time will take care of it self, but for now they can just rest and enjoy the here and now.

As I live day to day this gives me peace, knowing that God is faithful and that I can enjoy every moment of everyday with the knowledge that He will take care of the future.

Giant footprints in the sand

This weeks photo is a bit more on the lighter side. Giant footprints in the sand. Imagine that. Being at the right place, at the right time - for that specific moment in time rewarded me with these giant footprints in the sand. Not that it was really anything I did. We were just walking along the beach and there they were. I joked about it, we laughed and then we walked on. The next day when I walked past the same rocks the footprints were gone.

This makes me think of the importance of appreciating the little things in life. A pleasant moment often taken for granted and quickly forgotten. Yet it is often these little things that adds joy and colours in our life.

John 10:10 ".......I have come that they may have life, and have it to the full."

Hope paints a beautiful picture

Sometimes life can be complicated. Like a hosepipe , twisted and tangled just at that moment when it needs to be used. To then actually use it takes time and a lot of patience to  untie the knots. Complications and problems in life sometimes feels the same way. Trying to unravel these and get answers does not come quickly. I have found giving it to God is the only solution. After all He does invite us to cast all our anxieties on Him (1Pet 4:7). Trusting Him to bring the answer, clarity and peace.

As in this picture we sometimes feel that the sun is setting on my situation, there is no hope. The reality is He can make a beautiful picture out of our most difficult situations and bring solutions to our everyday challenges in life. 

River of life

The beautiful Breede river bringing life to the vegetation along its riverbank. Still so close to the river there is a tree trunk, lifeless, dried up and broken off from the parent tree. As I look at this picture I wonder how this tree could be so close to the river but yet die. Was the roots not deep enough? Maybe there was a strong wind during a storm that caused it do fall? Still it is surrounded by such beauty.

As I look at the scene before me I am reminded of the fact I should stay rooted in the fertile truths of God's Word while staying sensitive to the promptings of His Spirit. Is it possible that we can be so close to the Truth, even hear it, but yet not be rooted in and be nourished by it. Digging my roots deep down being grounded against the storms and onslaughts of life, this is where I long to be.

Still Waters

Psalm 23:2 "....He leads me beside the still and restful waters." (Amplified Bible). 

Walking on the clouds

Below this thick misty cloud lies the Breede river valley in all its splendour. Unseen until the moment that the mist disappears and the valley is revealed. The beautiful thick white clouds, deceptive to a certain degree to me, bringing one under the delusion that it is tangible and solid and that  I will actually be able to walk on it. Still I am mesmerised by the beauty of the picture and once again can only stand in awe of the beauty of Gods creation.

If the earth was a painting canvas.....

God can take his brush and start to paint and the colors that end up on the canvas is absolutely breathtaking. This is what I think of when I look at this picture. It is there for a moment for us to appreciate and then it is gone. The colors so bright but soft as the morning breaks and a new day begins.

This is God's desire, to paint a beautiful picture with our live's. This is what he longs to do. Jerm 29:11 Says: For I know the plans I have for you,” declares the LORD, “plans to prosper you and not to harm you, plans to give you hope and a future. May this be the start of a new day in your life where God can start to paint the picture that he has for you. 

Vineyards in the winter

Vineyards in the winter. What a beautiful picture. Who would think that beauty can be found in that which is dry and mostly lifeless.

Even in our season of unfruitfulness God see's beauty. I have found that in those times when things are difficult God is still  busy creating something beautiful and when I look back after passing through a winter valley time, I can see the beauty and value in the picture that was being created. Truths deposited that I will never forget.

Tossed like waves in the sea.

I love this photo of the waves crashing against the rocks on the shoreline at Hermanus. The power of the sea is so incredible. In the past month I saw the Tsunami in Japan wash away entire villages and yet we can look at a photo like this and see the beauty of a wave breaking with such power and majesty. How Amazing is that! God truly is an awesome artist.

The Bible talks about waves, it talks about double mindedness and compares the two to one another. Can you imagine this is what we are like when we are double minded. God spoke to me about setting my mind on His things and not wavering. Either you live and believe what He has said or you don't. You can't have both. God's Word is truth. Believe this truth, these principles and let everything else become faded and left behind as we make up our mind to do what He has said.

Panorama

This is a panoramic view from a beach house that we recently had the opportunity to visit. This made me think about the fact that our God also has a panoramic view. He has a panoramic view of many things but have you ever thought of the fact that he has a panoramic view of your life. He knows the beginning and he knows the end and then he knows everything in between. He knows everything about you. There is nothing that you can hide from him. The Amazing thing is that he knows everything about you and that he still loves you, he has always loved you.