Old Barns

My pastor's message this morning reminded me of the posting I wanted to do concerning old barns and homesteads I saw in Idaho. As you can see, there were many literally falling down. Each one evoked in me a yearning to know the stories of the families who lived in them, even including the animals that were part of the barn and family life. Where did they come from? What did they eat? What games did they play when they could take a break from the hard work of survival? I could almost hear the games the children played and the simple clothing they wore as they ran outside. Certainly, each person had to do his part to stay alive in those terrains and weather systems.

Each weathered structure had seen much life under its roof. Yet, as the field flower, each was passing away at the end of its season. It reminded me:

You hem me in~~
behind and before;
you have laid your hand upon me.
Such knowledge is too wonderful for me,
too lofty for me to attain.
Psalm 139:5-6

Our lives are not unlike the span of the old homesteads and barns. Our frames become strong as we grow into adults. We are wonderfully made; each uniquely created. Some of us are beginning to look a little weathered and perhaps not so steady on our feet. Perhaps our days on earth are limited. But we do not need to be anxious...God is, was, and always will be in control. We cannot add one day to our lives by worry.
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For you created my inmost being;
you knit me together in my mother's womb.
I praise you because I am fearfully
and wonderfully made;
your works are wonderful,
I know that full well.
My frame was not hidden from you
when I was made
in the secret place.
When I was woven together
in the depths of the earth,
your eyes saw my unformed body.

All the days ordained for me
were written in your book
before one of them came to be.
Psalm 139:13-16

Hidden Treasure

A friend sent me a link to read stories about the Superstition Mountains. It seems there are legends and accounts galore concerning hidden gold and lost treasure. There are reports of hidden tunnels and caves, strange sightings, and many lost and presumed dead after going out to find gold and never returning. I found myself, looking over these vistas in the Superstition Mountains, being drawn to go off and wander through them to take pictures and see what I could find. But I must admit the prudent common sense of knowing I might find a rattlesnake kept me pretty close to the road and away from the underbrush.
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Christ himself spoke of heaven as being a hidden treasure. It is worth more than any fortune of silver or gold, or earthly possessions.

"The kingdom of heaven is like treasure hidden in a field. When a man found it, he hid it again, and then in his joy went and sold all he had and bought that field."
Matthew 13:44

Cry Out

Crying out to the LORD in our weakness is a habit, with we self-sufficient types, that is hard to establish. But many who accomplished great supernatural things did so because they realized they needed help and could not prevail without the gracious intervention of our precious LORD. He will collect our tears and strengthen us for the journey. He is the refuge and rock our soul yearns for through every kind of battle. Yes, he is our rock.

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Out of the depths I cry to you, O LORD.
Psalm 130:1

My soul finds rest in God alone; my salvation comes from him. He alone is my rock and my salvation; he is my fortress, I will never be shaken"
Psalm 62:1-2

Words of Promise

This is the view of Superstition Mountain at sunrise from my uncle's backyard. It brought to mind these wonderful words of promise from Isaiah:

The sun will no more be your light by day,
nor will the brightness of the moon shine on you
for the Lord will be your everlasting light,
and your God will be your glory.
Your sun will never set again,
and your moon will wane no more;
and your days of sorrow will end.
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Arise, shine, for the light has come,
and the glory of the LORD is risen upon thee.

Gladness in the Desert

Sorry to be away for so long, but a trip with my mother to visit her brother in Arizona unconnected me from the blog. While visiting my uncle, I got a new view of the beauty of the desert. We had a wonderful joy-filled time, in spite of the circumstances of his illness. There was such beauty, blessing, laughter, and celebration in our reunion. I saw amazing strength, courage, perseverance, and generosity come from my uncle. I am very proud of him. God kept reminding me of many verses from Isaiah:

The desert and the parched land will be glad;
the wilderness will rejoice and blossom.

Strengthen the feeble hands,
steady the knees that give way;
say to those with fearful hearts,
"Be strong, do not fear;
your God will come."

Grass and reeds and papyrus will grow...
And a highway will be there;
it will be called the Way of Holiness.

Gladness and joy will overtake them,
and sorrow and sighing will flee away.

He has sent me to bind up the brokenhearted,
to proclaim freedom for the captives...

to comfort all who mourn...

to bestow on them a crown of beauty
instead of ashes,
the oil of gladness
instead of mourning,
and a garment of praise
instead of a spirit of despair.