Fungus Among Us

Even a rainy hike yields beauty and photographic opportunities. I had to catch up with my companions several times after pausing to capture these huge fungal growths along the path. Some expert can tell me whether they should be called mushrooms.

Light

At a recent meeting, it was observed how beneficial it is to bring things to light. Out in the open. Where Satan's lies can be exposed. Where shared understanding can grow.

And most of all, where God's Word can illuminate the scene.

"The entrance of thy words giveth light;" (Psalm 119:130).

The Road Ahead

Though the way seems dark and dreary.
The view obstructed by today.
Its cares.
Concerns.
Up ahead 'tis brighter.
Press on.


Psalm 119:105

Spring is Coming!

It must be, right? We're still under a fair amount of snow with the possibility of more coming today. But as March came in like a lion, surely it will go out like a lamb!

"Who hath divided a watercourse for the overflowing of waters...to cause the bud of the tender herb to spring forth?" (Job 38:25, 27).

Self-Correcting Tree

So reads the sign along the trail by this interesting specimen. I suppose it's true as far as it goes but I suspect the location of the sun was more than a little influential in the so called 'correcting'.  This is probably similar to the "train" in "train up a child" (Prov. 22:6).  Herein is great hope for we who start out parallel to the ground, seemingly making no progress. Then the strong influence of the source of light and growth reveals that the Master was there all along, drawing unto Himself.

"No man can come to me, except the Father which hath sent me draw him:" (John 6:44).

How shall we sing?

See them, who their harps suspending
On the weeping willow tree,
Lacking zeal Thy pardon spurning,
They could not rejoice in Thee.

But we are in Thee confiding,
Freed from Babylon and sin;
Even tho' our life they threaten,
Thou, O Lord, wilt help us win!
--Zion's Harp #214

"How shall we sing the LORD’S song in a strange land? If I forget thee, O Jerusalem, let my right hand forget her cunning." (Psalm 137:4-5)

What a sad scene it must have been "by the rivers of Babylon"!  Looking back with hopes dashed, the realization of warnings spurned and pardon missed because of disobedience.  No song would come, no mirth from their grieving and regret-filled hearts.  Yet, at end, a resolve to never forget Jerusalem; the city of David, the embodiment of the once and future time when obedience would flourish again,  accompanied with promise fulfilled of the Lord's blessing.

Thou, O Lord, wilt help us win!

Amazing Grace

I pray the glory of God and the startling nature of His mercy and grace is never far from my mind. 

An interesting blog post informed me that my favorite verse, the seventh, was actually not penned by John Newton. I agree that it was a fitting conclusion to this beautiful hymn, don't you?

Amazing grace! How sweet the sound
That saved a wretch like me!
I once was lost, but now am found;
Was blind, but now I see.

’Twas grace that taught my heart to fear,
And grace my fears relieved;
How precious did that grace appear
The hour I first believed!

Through many dangers, toils and snares,
I have already come;
’Tis grace hath brought me safe thus far,
And grace will lead me home.

The Lord has promised good to me,
His Word my hope secures;
He will my shield and portion be,
As long as life endures.

Yea, when this flesh and heart shall fail,
And mortal life shall cease,
I shall possess, within the veil,
A life of joy and peace.

The earth shall soon dissolve like snow,
The sun forbear to shine;
But God, who called me here below,
Will be forever mine.

When we’ve been there ten thousand years,
Bright shining as the sun,
We’ve no less days to sing God’s praise
Than when we’d first begun.

--John Newton, 1779.

How Great

When through the woods, and forest glades I wander
And hear the birds sing sweetly in the trees
When I look down from lofty mountain grandeur
And hear the brook and feel the gentle breeze
Then sings my soul my Savior God to Thee
How great Thou art...

How great, indeed.

"How Great Thou Art" -- by Stuart K. Hine

DC

I guess it's no secret that I love visiting our nation's capital.  This past weekend we had the opportunity to take our turn there for minister rotation at our DC church.  We had heard that the mild winter might have moved up the cherry blossom schedule but that didn't quite pan out.  The magnolias were a pretty good stand-in, don't you think?

In the Shadow

"Let your light so shine before men, that they may see your good works, and glorify your Father which is in heaven." (Matt. 5:16)

In my simple thinking, it seems fairly straight forward.  We are saved by grace through faith, not of works because we would boast.  Getting "works" ahead of faith has troubled many a soul in meaningless religion, spiritual pride, anxious striving, depression, and fearfulness.

Yet shouting "legalism" anytime mention is made of sanctified living and good works is as grievous an error in my view -- the strident language itself seems to take on a "legalistic" tone as angry exchanges about theological purity and smug certainty pollute the very cause they espouse.

Paul simply asks, shall we continue in sin that grace may abound?  I love how this flower just blooms for its Makers glory in the shadow of the Cross.  Can there be any other response than fruitfulness to the great and complete sacrifice made there for you and me?

(Image taken in Itea, Greece -- Oct. 2011)

Think Spring II

It's coming!  This year we could hardly complain about winter.  Yet the anticipation of springtime is tangible as we experience more and more warm and sunny days.

"While the earth remaineth, seedtime and harvest, and cold and heat, and summer and winter, and day and night shall not cease." (Gen. 8:22)

Happy Thanksgiving!

"So the children went in and possessed the land...and they took strong cities, and a fat land, and possessed houses full of all goods, wells digged, vineyards, and oliveyards, and fruit trees in abundance: so they did eat, and were filled, and became fat, and delighted themselves in thy great goodness." (Neh. 9:24-25)

Sound familiar?  We are blessed.  Happy Thanksgiving!  And watch out for v. 26.

God bless each of you.  Among my many blessings are those of you who take the time to drop by and read these musings...or just look at the pix...that's OK too!  :)

Autumn Postcard

I hesitated in posting this one knowing that my friends in Connecticut had their Fall cut short by a crippling snowstorm.  But maybe they can get some vicarious enjoyment from the reflective interlude of a little "New England" postcard from the Midwest.

Fall has that same sense of beauty tinged by angst that I feel in viewing a full moon.  The greatest explosion of color coincides with the begin of the fading glory, however slight.  Yet what a deception the Spoiler offers in the accompanying lure to avoid beauty, love, warmth just because it might fade or diminish.  And even in earth's disappointments lie the seed of hope that God's love never wanes nor fades away.

And we are going to a city where the roses never fade!

Rose of Sharon

Jesus, Rose of Sharon, bloom within my heart;
Beauties of Thy truth and holiness impart,
That where’er I go my life may shed abroad
Fragrance of the knowledge of the love of God.
(Ida A. Guirey)

Geraniums

I hear that red attracts hummingbirds.  I suppose that's why all the feeders have a large splotch of red on them.  But there's no red like a geranium.  Now we need to find a feeder that doesn't leak so our hummingbirds hang around for a drink.  Then maybe I'll capture an image of one of them to share someday.

Burst

This is mostly about keeping a promise from a previous post.

These beautiful Asiatic Lilies grow just a few feet from my perch on our front porch, a favorite summer Saturday morning refuge.  God is infinitely creative and it's a never ending challenge to find ways to capture images that reflect just a glimpse of that creativity.

"Consider the lilies how they grow:" (Luke 12:27)

Till the Ground

Therefore the LORD God sent him forth from the garden of Eden, to till the ground from whence he was taken." (Gen. 3:23)

From the earliest days, man has tilled the ground, by the sweat of his brow, in hopes of a crop.  I've been blessed to know many farmers, indeed am descended from a long line of them.  It's honorable work and a wonderful heritage.

This little guy in the farmer cap was a gift in memory of Cindy's dad -- the quintessential farmer and "red tractor" man. Tomorrow would have been his 80th birthday.

By Any Name

I think it was Shakespeare who commented that a rose would smell as sweet by "any other name".  Yet words (and names) mean things.  We attach meaning and significance to people, experiences, locations, even pets, by the names we give them.

"A good name is rather to be chosen than great riches;"  (Prov. 22:1)

Bursting

The first word that came to mind when I shot this image of an "expectant" pod of soon to be glorious blooming Asiatic Lily didn't seem appropriate as the title for a blog.  I hope you enjoy the thrill of beholding the potential represented in this shot.  Stay tuned for the "birth"!

In Memory

We're all missing Dad Herrmann this Father's Day.  This little angel was given in his memory by our Chicago Church family.