Sunday, December 6, 2009

What Changes?

I stood on my patio the other day looking at the valley view.
The valley, with its farms against the backdrop of the surrounding mountains, never changes but how many times I run for my camera to catch yet another photo of how drastically the weather can change the view from my patio.

As I stood and gazed, I thought about how my patio view portrayed how this worlds 'weather' changes the way we view God.

When our skies are tinted with the pink of evening and peace settles over our world, we find it easy to find God and thankfulness arises in our hearts.
Psa 72:3 "The mountains will bring peace to the people, And the little hills, by righteousness. "
But sometimes darkness settles over our life. We question, we struggle, bad things happen. We cannot see where we are going. And yet even then there are lights in the darkness, a friend... a song... a comforting scripture....we know God is there.
Psa 18:28 "For You will light my lamp; The LORD my God will enlighten my darkness. "

The summer days of our life are good. We enjoy the richness of God's blessings, our future looks bright and promising . It is easy to trust that God's love covers us.
Psa 21:3 "For You meet him with the blessings of goodness; You set a crown of pure gold upon his head. "

I love the 'snow' that covers... how often we need to be forgiven, to be given a fresh start.
Psa 51:7b "Wash me, and I shall be whiter than snow. "

At times our emotions are lifted to heavenly places and we taste of things to come. Our hearts respond with praise and worship as we gaze upon His beauty.
Psa 29:2 "Give unto the LORD the glory due to His name; Worship the LORD in the beauty of holiness."
At times we know that we know that God is true, but at other times fog of doubt or fear or worry cover up the very things we take for granted, the things that feed our faith and we feel God is hidden from our sight.
Pro 1:33 "But whoever listens to me will dwell safely, And will be secure, without fear of evil."
Sometimes the clouds of life roll in and the mountains of our faith are shrouded. Are you still there, God? But yes, even when we cannot see Him, He is there.
Heb 13:5b "He Himself has said, "I WILL NEVER LEAVE YOU NOR FORSAKE YOU."
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"Dear Lord, may we not be disturbed by the 'weather' that brings changes to our life's landscape, but may we keep our eyes on you. You never change and if we put our trust unwaveringly in You, we will never falter."
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5 comments:

Elsie said...

I love all the different views of the landscape! The valley covered with fog looks like a lake. Once again you've given us a really neat object lesson.

Marg said...

What a practical description of life, it's challenges and it's highlights...and the journey carries on. I love your insight.

Anonymous said...

I love the second last picture!! Beautiful colors in it.

Betty said...

Thank you Julie for those wonderful photos, scripture verses and your thoughts. Always look forward to your lessons..

Sara at Come Away With Me said...

Hi Julie! Your niece with her new camera will make a good blogger one day!

I enjoy all of your views...both those of the mountains and the insights about God.