SIMPLY SATURDAY TRIVIA: A Mixed Bag

Life's trail is not only filled with things that are sweet,

but mixed with things  hard, as well;

 

 

and the spilling out of a perfect blend produces a harvest

of righteousness and peace.

 

"They disciplined us for a little while as they thought best; but God disciplines us

for our good, in order that we may share in his holiness. No discipline seems pleasant at the time, but painful. Later on, however, it produces a harvest of righteousness

and peace for those who have been trained by it."

―Hebrews 12:10-11, NIV

 

Did you know today is Trail Mix Day?

(Who comes up with this stuff?)

 

Trail mix is designed to keep us alert and energized while participating in high energy activities. Celebrating Trail Mix Day is about creating good trail mix and testing it out on the road. It may be just the ticket for this Labor Day weekend.

 

Stay healthy and safe. Happy Labor Day!

 

 

Sting of Death

This Jellyfish―though dead, still has the capacity to sting.

 

But for mankind―those who have found new life in Christ,

death has lost its sting.

 

"Oh death, where is your victory? O death, where is your sting? For sin is the sting that results in death, and the law gives sin its power. But thank God! He gives us victory over sin and death through our Lord Jesus Christ."  ―1 Corinthians 15:55-57, KJV

A reason to ―REJOICE!

 

 

 

This photo was taken at Holden Beach, NC 2011

Which Way Is Up?

"Fools think their way is right, but the wise listen to others."

―Proverbs 12:15, NLT

We live in an upside down world and seldom notice.

Did you?

The above photo relays the way our eyes first see the world we live in―upside down.

Light enters the eye through the cornea and is refracted once it hits the lens. The lens then flips it upside down and projects the image onto the retina. The image remains inverted until it reaches the part of our brain called the visual cortex. Here, all that we see is processed and flipped rightside up.

God has equipped our brains with the amazing ability to process and see things correctly. He has also given us the same spiritual capacity. The Holy Spirit enables our minds to sort through information  and see things in proper perspective. Our world may appear upside down, but we can perceive it right side up.

Ask God to right your world today.

This photo was taken at Northmont Lake in Asheboro, NC

Cup O' Sunshine

Fill your cup with sunshine and laughter . . .  

then pour another for someone you love.

 

 "A merry heart doeth good like a medicine."

―Proverbs 17:22, KJV
 

   

 

 

No Revolving Doors

“I am the gate; whoever enters through me will be saved.
 They will come in and go out, and find pasture.”
―John 10:9, NIV

 

You have heard My call. Enter through the open gate. Fear not what lies within. I have the richest of fare laid up for you. No longer insist on living outside of My best. I want your undivided heart. 

You live like a nomad, pitching a movable tent somewhere between fellowship with Me and fellowship with the world. I have chosen you out of the world. It will not satisfy your soul. It is time to settle in. 

You invited Me―and I came. I entered into your abode; your earthly tent. I did not hesitate to come. I held nothing back and it is there that I remain. For Myself, I reserved a tent―for you, a mansion awaits. 

Come! Live in a house of strength and dignity; a place where you will remain in the company of the King. No longer separate yourself from Me. There is no revolving door within your Father’s house, just a simple gate―a gate that beckons, “Enter in!”

Enter in to My presence! Remain! Remain in My love!

Photo taken in Beaufort, South Carolina

H'art and Soul

"There is in every artist's studio a scrap heap of discarded works in which the artist's discipline prevailed against his imagination." 

~Robert Brault~

  

 "Being confident of this, that he who began a good work in you

will carry it on to completion until the day of Christ Jesus."

—Philippians 1:6, NIV

As an artist, I often approach the canvas with a preconceived idea of how I want my finished painting to look. I begin,  hopeful that this will be my greatest work. But with each deliberate brushstroke, I become increasingly discouraged. Sometimes I set the unfinished piece aside never to pick it up again.  The result is just not what I had in mind. What is in my mind's eye is always far greater. More times than not, my painting ends up tucked away in a dark corner of the attic never to grace the walls of a gallery or a home.

 

In view of my perpetual inner struggle, I am reminded of a quote by Isaac Bashevis Singer, “Every creator painfully experiences the chasm between his inner vision and its ultimate expression." 

 

Knowing I am not alone in my struggle brings some consolation, but I must ask myself: "Is there a chasm between the Master Creator's inner vision for my life and my life's ultimate expression?"

 

I am grateful the Master Creator never gives up on me.

 

Photo taken in Quebec City, Quebec, Canada 

Whither Thou Goest

And the two shall become one . . .

"By this we may know that we are in him:

whoever says he abides in him ought to walk in the same way in which he walked."

―1 John 2:5-6, ESV

Many Christians have what we might call a "cultural holiness". They adapt to the character and behavior pattern of Christians around them. As the Christian culture around them is more or less holy, so these Christians are more or less holy. But God has not called us to be like those around us. He has called us to be like himself. Holiness is nothing less than conformity to the character of God. ―Jerry Bridges

 "Those things, which ye have both learned, and received, and heard, and seen in me, do: and the God of peace shall be with you." ―Philippians 4:9, KJV

 Can you say, like Paul, "Follow my example"? Hold the bar high.
  

Photo taken at Moses Cone Mansion, Blowing Rock, NC

Letting Go of the Blues

The wings of hope carry us,

soaring high above the driving winds of life.

~ Ana Jacob ~

 

"When everything was hopeless, Abraham believed anyway, deciding to live not on the basis of what he saw he couldn't do but on what God said he would do.

And so he was made father of a multitude of peoples."

―Romans 4:18, MSG

Release your hope to the one who is able!

 

A Sea of Possibilities

"If your dreams don't scare you, they are not big enough."

 

 

"But Jesus beheld them, and said unto them,

With men this is impossible; but with God all things are possible."

―Matthew 19:26, KJV

 

GO AHEAD.  Step out.  Do it―AFRAID!

Photo taken at Holden Beach, NC

Bumper-to-Bumper

Following the crowd seemed like such a good idea.

 

 “Enter through the narrow gate. For wide is the gate and broad is the road that leads 

to destruction, and many enter through it. But small is the gate and
narrow the road that leads to life, and only a few find it."

―Matthew 7:13-14, NIV

 

How's the traffic?

 

Photo taken on Interstate 73/74, Asheboro, NC 

Face the Wind

A bird facing the wind doesn't get its feathers ruffled. The wind simply flows over the contour of its body. But if a bird is turned in the opposite direction with its tail facing the wind, the wind ruffles its feathers and the bird is thrown off balance.

 

"And it came to pass, when the time was come that he should be received up,
he steadfastly set his face to go to Jerusalem."  

―Luke 9:51, KJV

 

 

Don't let life ruffle your feathers. Set your face like flint and ride on the wings of the wind.

Photo taken at Beaufort, NC and Cape Lookout

Some Assembly Required

He makes the whole body fit together perfectly.

A missing piece could prove fatal.

 

 

"And let us consider how we may spur one another on toward love

and good deeds,  not giving up meeting together,

as some are in the habit of doing, but encouraging one another

—and all the more as you see the Day approaching."
—Hebrews 10: 24-25, NIV 

 

Join with others in worship today!


Photo taken at Randolph Mall, Asheboro, NC

Storm Coming

Faith bridges the chasm of uncertainty & doubt.

 

 "God is our refuge and strength, a very present help in trouble.
Therefore we will not fear."

― Psalm 46:1-2, NIV

 

Photo taken on Interstate 73/74 in Asheboro, NC

Strings of Praise

  The aim and final end of all music should be none

other than the glory of God and the refreshment of the soul.

~ Johann Sebastian Bach ~

 

 

"Praise him with the sounding of the trumpet,
praise him with the harp and the lyre,
praise him with the timbrel and dancing,
praise him with the strings and pipe,
praise him with the clash of cymbals,
praise him with the resounding cymbals."

"Let everything that has breath praise the Lord."

― Psalm 150:3-6, NIV

 

Photo taken at a Josh Groban concert.

Immeasurable Love

 He loves me. He loves me not.

 

 

He loves me!

 

 

"May you have the power to understand, as all God's

people should, how wide, how long, how high and how deep His love is." 

― Ephesians 3:18-19, NLT


 

Bringing Life Into Focus

My Swinger Years

 

I am a third generation artist, and for an artist a camera is an indispensable tool. I purchased my first camera in high school―a Polaroid Swinger which was manufactured in the late ‘60s and sold for $19.95.

The Swinger developed black and white photos on the spot and featured a display window that would read “YES” when the exposure was set correctly and “NO” when it was not.

Extremely cutting edge, don’t you think?

Advancing Into The Dark Ages

My introduction to serious photography was in college. Photography 101
 was a required freshman course at the Atlanta School of Art. It was time to leave my Swinger days behind and advance into the Dark Ages. Sporting a 120mm, Yashica D box camera, I learned the process of developing film and printing 8x10 black and white glossies in a studio darkroom. 

 

My Years of Digital Bliss 

I am not sure how many cameras I’ve owned since then, but I know I have driven my family senseless throughout the years snapping photographs. A generation later, my family is beginning to appreciate their well documented lives, but they still moan when asked to "cheese it up" for the camera.

Nevertheless, a phrase from a recent Nicholas Sparks’ movie, Safe Haven,  continues to resonate in my spirit.

"Take plenty of pictures. You’ll only regret the ones you didn't take."

Ah! My thoughts, exactly!

Finally, justification for my guilty pleasure.

 

Say, Cheese!  What was your first camera or earliest "Kodak Moment" memory? I'd love to hear.