Morning Praises

We were on the road by seven, heading out of Stanley. The morning light was beautiful, and we had already seen a couple of deer. As we passed this huge grassy field, I thought I saw some movement. We turned around and spotted these two cranes. They were so big that I thought they might be emu or ostrich.

As we got closer I began to mimic their chatter. Let me tell you they were having some joyful conversation. I thought they might take flight and I would get a great wingspan picture, considering how big they were. Instead, they seemed to welcome my input into their conversation. I don't know what I was saying, but they seemed to be encouraged as we continued the responsive adoration to our Creator. I chattered with them for quite awhile, delighted that they included me in their morning praises. My husband looked at me after a few minutes of totally making a fool of myself, and asked me if I was done. I answered, "I guess not. They still have something to say!"
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This particular morning in Idaho was a favorite because the birds drew me into their morning song. I heard them and wanted to sing along! They were some of the best Praise and Worship leaders I have ever witnessed!

The Lord is my strength and my song; he has become my salvation. He is my God, and I will praise him."
Exodus 15:2

Moments of Knowing

I have been so blessed to be able to travel to many beautiful places. At times I have had a sort of immersion experience that is hard to explain. I would find myself in a place of 'knowing' that seemed almost out of this world as I photographed such beauty in front of me. It is as if God had overpowered my 'GO' button and drenched me with a loving command:

"BE STILL, AND KNOW THAT I AM GOD."

In each one of these places in Idaho, I could not move for a few minutes as I tried to take in the beauty in front of me. I thank Him for getting me to stop DOING so He can shower me with a moment of KNOWING. He opens my eyes to wonder, majesty, and splendor in a way that lets me know the Author of all I see. This communion with my Creator is a time when all my thoughts fade and I steal away into His love.

An unveiled face

Well, I am back in Idaho in my mind's eye looking at the reflections of awesome majesty. I am humbled and impressed with the words of
2 Corinthians 3:18 that tell us we are constantly being transfigured into
HIS VERY OWN IMAGE in our INCREASING SPLENDOR and from
ONE DEGREE OF GLORY TO ANOTHER.

How do those words make you feel? Even increasing one degree of glory to look more like Christ just simply thrills me. That transfiguring is increasing splendor in us. Give you an idea of how God feels about us? Next time you see a reflection as in a mirror, remember to thank God that he is changing us to look like him. Look back at my first sentence...WE are reflections of awesome majesty. God says so in His word.

The kind of facelift I want? The glory of the Lord shining on an unveiled face.

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And all of us, as with an unveiled face, continued to behold as in a mirror the glory of the Lord, are constantly being transfigured into His very own image in our increasing splendor and from one degree of glory to another.
2 Cor. 3:18

First and Last Love

This formation my uncle calls "The Kissing Rock." He doesn't know if it is officially named as such; only that it looks like a kiss is being given. I thought so as well, and it was one of my favorites in the Superstition Mountains.

It brought to mind the empty place inside of me that can only be satisfied by seeking God's face. He is my Maker, and loved me into being. He loved me before I knew him. He gave life, and will hold me in his arms again as I leave this body. He is my first and last love.

Truly, how can we love another without first knowing a flicker of his love? After all, his two great commandments that cover all others are to love him and love one another. His banner over us is love and he delights in our seeking his face and listening for his voice.
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My dove in the clefts of the rock,
in the hiding places on the mountainside,
show me your face,
let me hear your voice;
for your voice is sweet,
and your face is lovely.
Song of Songs 2:14
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Hear my voice when I call, O LORD;
be merciful to me and answer me.
My heart says of you,
"Seek his face!"
Your face, LORD, I will seek.

God Shines Forth

I had the house to myself tonight and decided to try out one of my recipes from the Cast Iron Skillet cooking class I took a few weeks ago. I got everything put together and in the oven, then went to check e-mail. The computer screen is in front of the west sky and I became aware of the wonderful sunset beginning to form.

I grabbed the camera and ran down to some open space to get a look. The clouds were in wonderful, puffy layers and changing faster than my granddaughter does outfits! At times the sky looked like it was on fire. I was having so much fun looking at the quick changes in color and shape, when I remembered I had a cake in the oven and nobody home to take it out.

Well, sometimes you can have your sunset and your cake, too. Friend, Jim, called me about the sunset and I told him I nearly forgot the cake while I was out taking pictures. Well, he is no dummy...he is on the way over to try out the Pineapple Upside Down Cake cooked in the cast iron skillet and check out the pictures. Isn't God good!!!
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The Mighty One, God, the LORD,
speaks and summons the earth
from the rising of the sun
to the place where it sets.
From Zion, perfect in beauty,
God shines forth.
Our God comes
and will not be silent;
a fire devours before him,
and around him a tempest rages.
Psalm 50:1-3