Tag: nature

  • Eye Catching – Whatever is…

    Red Maple tree - whatever is beautiful

    I snapped this pic of a Japanese maple tree one day late this past fall. Everything around it was green, and the brilliant reds jwere eye catching. They seemed to pop out against the background foliage.

    The image isn’t quite centred properly, but the tree was far from symmetrical and defied my efforts to frame it better in the few moments I had to snap the shot.

    There are many things in the world that stand out for whatever reason and grab our attention. It could be something that grabs our eyes, a sound that catches us, or a concept that intrigues us. 

    It’s one thing to appreciate a moment of beauty; it’s quite another to be constantly distracted. Our thoughts are often easily diverted from thinking about or seeing the things of God.

    It’s why Job made a covenant with his eyes not to look lustfully at women. The eyes can trap our minds into thoughts they should not have. It isn’t just lust that is a problem.  Many forms of distraction can draw us from God, sometimes even to good things, yet still leave us not focused on the Lord.

    That tendency battles our desire to become more Christlike. It’s part of why Paul wrote to the church in Philippi.

    Rejoice in the Lord always; again I will say, rejoice. Let your reasonableness be known to everyone. The Lord is at hand; do not be anxious about anything, but in everything by prayer and supplication with thanksgiving let your requests be made known to God. And the peace of God, which surpasses all understanding, will guard your hearts and your minds in Christ Jesus. Finally, brothers, whatever is true, whatever is honorable, whatever is just, whatever is pure, whatever is lovely, whatever is commendable, if there is any excellence, if there is anything worthy of praise, think about these things. What you have learned and received and heard and seen in me—practice these things, and the God of peace will be with you. Philippians 4:4-9

    The maple prompted Kathy and me to remark on God’s incredible artistic skill. But distractions often pull us away from Him.

    I love Paul’s words, “What you have learned[and received and heard and seen in me—practice these things, and the God of peace will be with you.”

    I don’t know about you, but the thought of God and His peace being with me is very appealing and comforting. It’s something I want more of in my life all the time. I want to rejoice, and with Him, I have plenty to be joyful about.

    Just a quick prayer on the subject to close. I pray it mirrors your heart’s desires as well as my own.

    Lord, help keep me from being distracted. Teach me to keep my eyes, ears, mind, and heart aimed towards you. Be glorified in me. May I be pleasing to you. Amen.

    Be blessed

    Kevin

    Right belief or Right Living – which is more important?

    Some thoughts on finding a good church

    Find a good church

    Live in Abbotsford? There are many good churches. This is where I attend.

  • Surprise Encounter – God’s Whispers

    The afternoon was shifting towards evening, one fall afternoon, as I took a shortcut through the woods on the way home and had a surprise encounter. That sounds like the beginning of a classic fairy tale, but it isn’t. I rounded a bend in the trail and came face to face with a large, healthy-looking male coyote. Not the one in the image; this was long before cell phones were invented. I was in my mid-teens.

    I’m not sure which of us was the most surprised. We stood, perhaps 10 feet apart, looking directly at one another, each with a stunned expression on our faces. I’m sure we were both thinking, “Oops. What now?’

    Before I could move, he turned and took off through the brush at a dead run. I stood there still trying to get my head around the encounter. The whole thing lasted perhaps a few seconds, but it felt like we had faced each other for a long time. I felt thoroughly blessed.

    Sometimes, God works in our lives to give us a chance to see the beauty of His love. We can miss them easily if we are not looking.

    Recently, I was chatting with a young couple at our local assembly. Their toddler came up, and when I said hello, she told me, “My tummy is empty.” While we chatted about that and possible remedies, an elementary school student I had just been chatting with interjected and told her there were some snacks in the kids’ ministry area.

    The parents politely thanked her and declined as they were about to head home for lunch. The toddler again rubbed her tummy and reminded us it was empty. The elementary school student then asked for permission and then shared the small bag of snacks she was munching on.

    A few seconds of interaction, but the beauty of the one child attempting to compassionately meet the needs of the other, even sharing her own snack, was a moment of pure and simple love, a moment of seeing God in action.

    People complain that the world is ugly, and they never see God’s hands at work. It’s true we live in a fallen, sin-filled world that can be ugly indeed. The total depravity of humankind and the results of it all stare us in the face.

    Yet. If we look around, He is there in billions of small ways, choosing to speak in whispers. He spoke to Elijah in a still small voice.

    There he came to a cave and lodged in it. And behold, the word of the Lord came to him, and he said to him, “What are you doing here, Elijah?” He said, “I have been very jealous for the Lord, the God of hosts. For the people of Israel have forsaken your covenant, thrown down your altars, and killed your prophets with the sword, and I, even I only, am left, and they seek my life, to take it away.” And he said, “Go out and stand on the mount before the Lord.” And behold, the Lord passed by, and a great and strong wind tore the mountains and broke in pieces the rocks before the Lord, but the Lord was not in the wind. And after the wind an earthquake, but the Lord was not in the earthquake.  And after the earthquake a fire, but the Lord was not in the fire. And after the fire the sound of a low whisper. And when Elijah heard it, he wrapped his face in his cloak and went out and stood at the entrance of the cave. And behold, there came a voice to him and said, “What are you doing here, Elijah?” 1 Kings 19:9-13

    Why whispers? I can only speculate it’s because when he shows up and does the big things, we want more of the show, and not more Jesus. When he fed the crowds by the sea, most of them wanted more free meals, not their savior. When God fed the wandering Israelites in the desert, they wanted a broader menu. And so, it goes.

    Or maybe because when someone whispers, we lean in closer to hear. That act creates an intimacy of sorts. When we lean into God to hear His voice we are being drawn closer.

    God is speaking, and in the seemingly surprise encounters, we get a glimpse of how good He is and the way He is working in people’s lives. He whispers to us as well in His word as we read, illuminating Scriptures in new ways for us.

    Keep those eyes and ears open, my friends. He is whispering to you.

    Be blessed

    Kevin

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