But wait; there's more!

Catching the fabulous moon this morning was enough in itself. But the deal was sweetened with an amazing sunrise. I was enticed out by an announcement on early news television about a predawn meteor shower for the next few days. It got me outside to watch for streaks of light in the sky. Just to wrap one's mind around such an event is a stretch. But I was also treated to interesting clouds, a round moon, and a ring of light surrounding it. The feeling was sort of like watching an infomercial. I laughed and imagined God saying, "Stick around kid! The deal gets sweeter. Stay out here and spend some time with me before I sweeten the pot with a stunning sunrise!"

If I didn't have time to run in and tell friends about the sweet deal, at least I took pictures to pass it on. Great things are happening in the sky while I am still sleeping! The cool, quiet time this morning with God started my day out with a two-for-one. Thought I was getting moon shots and got sunrise as well. God is good!

~~~~~

Shout for joy, O heavens!
Isaiah 49:13

Set Up

I woke up early this morning to be reminded that there would be a meteor shower from Haley's Comet today and tomorrow. I put on a robe and slippers and put my camera around my neck. I was greeted at the front door with an extraordinary moon and clouds. I used the moon to figure out where the southeast sky would be. I caught a few streaks in the sky, but returned to the moon. A beautiful golden ring had started to form around the moon. The clouds danced across the moon's face as the ring became solid for a few minutes before the moon disappeared behind thick cloud cover. I played with color with the red and blue versions.

This type of thing happens to me all the time. I think I have gone to photograph a particular thing and end up getting something completely different because I was 'set up' to be in place to receive something else incredible from God. This 'set up' factor delights me. I pay attention especially when I think I have a specific agenda. God has positioned me to see something spectacular by getting me on a path and then showing me something I was not expecting. It is like being surprised on Christmas morning with tons of prezzies. I get something wonderful and then something so surprises me because it goes way over the top and was something so grand that I hadn't even asked for! God gives abundantly. I have great expectancy for the 'set ups' to come!

I want to be like Jesus as Proverbs 8 reports...

I was there when he set the heavens in place, when he marked out the horizons on the face of the deep, when he established the clouds above...then I was the craftsman at his side. I WAS FILLED WITH DELIGHT DAY AFTER DAY, REJOICING ALWAYS IN HIS PRESENCE. (emphasis mine)

In the Garden Alone

This past Saturday a committee of friends organized a Celebration of Life for Jim Durkin. We arrived early to set up and decorate the room and halls provided for us at the church for the gathering. As things began to take shape I took my camera and walked into the garden that was right off our room. The words of IN THE GARDEN, or I COME TO THE GARDEN ALONE began to stir my soul.
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I come to the garden alone
While the dew
Is still on the roses
And the voices I hear
Falling on my ear
The son of God discloses.

And he walks with me
And he talks with me
And he tells me I am his own
And the joy we share
As we tarry there
None other has ever known.

He speaks
And the sound
Of his voice
Is so sweet the birds
Hush their singin'
And the melody
That He gave to me
Within my hearts is ringing.

And he walks with me
And he talks with me
And he tells me I am his own
And the joy we share
As we tarry there
None other has ever known.

And the joy we share
As we tarry there
None other has ever known...

~~~~~

As I walked through the doors to the prayer and meditation garden I was immediately struck with the reality of teeming life. Bees and butterflies were everywhere. The sun was bright and the garden was overgrown and full of hiding places for busy harvesters of nectar. I even spied a hummingbird moth as my eye caught the characteristic movement amid some blooms.

God was telling me that it was going to be an amazing afternoon of love and sharing. It was indeed, a celebration of life. At the end of the celebration we had a dove release that was also significant as the doves flew off from the garden. That story to be continued in the next blog entry.

A Tent for the Sun

In the heavens He has pitched a tent for the sun, which is like a bridegroom coming forth from his pavilion. Ps. 19:4-5
~~~~~

I love this verse from Psalms! It literally gives me shivers. I sometimes think a sunrise is so stunning that it must be the assigned day the chariot will come bursting through and He will be riding on the clouds.

I have turned my attention again to remembering a time to catch each day's sunrise and sunset. My friend Jim often called to remind me to look outside in the evening at a particularly stunning sunset. He would give it a rating and we would sometimes argue over the number given, as if we should be bold enough to judge God's painting of a sky. Pretty funny when I think of it that way!

I thought this morning that the jet flying through the sky was sort of a nuisance that broke up the pristine panorama. But God reminded me that He put the intelligence in us to create a jet plane that could carry us through the firmaments and look at the earth below. Those times during a flight when I have been able to see a mountain range from above or a large body of water meandering through hundreds of miles of forest or canyon only increase my amazement, love for, and belief in our mighty Creator.