#312

Beautiful morning...and the sun does this every day...

#311

'We know that all things work together for good for those who love God, who are called according to his purpose.' (Rom 8.28)

#310

One solitary, but bold, bird chirping confidently like an opera singer doing voice exercises and testing out his voice...

'St. Paul calls his readers to take a sober look at themselves (Rom 12.3) and respond to the call of God according to who they are. Some are leaders; some are not. Some are teachers; some are not. Humility means recognizing both our limitations and our potential, recognizing where we need others and where we can make a contribution to meeting the needs of others. Humility graciously accepts both dimensions - our limitations and need for others and our potential, our ability to contribute to the well-being of others. The former does not diminish us; the latter does not inflate us. With sober judgment we simply accept who we are. And this humility is essential for effective discernment. Therefore, part of becoming a discerning person is to grow in knowledge of one's self.... Self-knowledge includes self-acceptance - honestly owning who we are. If we do not accept who we are, and more, actually like who we are, we will probably not be able to meet God freely and respond to that encounter. We will always be attempting to be someone other than who we are; we will be living a lie.' (pp 90-91 'Listening to God in Times of Choice: The Art of Discerning God's Will' Gordon Smith)

#309

'Desolation is any feeling of anger, depression, discouragement or inner turmoil. Sometimes it may be a feeling of malaise, not a specific feeling or reaction, just inner discomfort or dis-ease. ...there is no more significant counsel...than this: never make a decision or change a course of action when you are in desolation. Never. ...Desolation, in its various expressions, is never from God. God may permit it (as he did for Job and Jeremiah and others), but God never causes it. Therefore do not make a decision in desolation. Never resign from a position or organization when you are angry or afraid. Do not discontinue a program of study because of discouragement or abandon a time set aside for prayer because of restlessness. At such times we are not emotionally in a state when we can choose well. In desolation we should not change our course of action or make a decision. This does not mean that we will not feel disappointment in a decision. you may feel profound sadness in deciding to resign from a position or shed tears in making a decision that will cause pain to others but that you know is right. But the decision itself must be made in peace - not anger, not frustration, not in a state of discouragement.' (Gordon Smith, 'Listening to God in Times of Choice: The Art of Discerning God's Will' pp 52-55)

#308

The first blush of dawn reflected on the still, icy surface of the river...

'You have already been cleansed by the word that I have spoken to you. Abide in me as I abide in you. Just as the branch cannot bear fruit by itself unless it abides in the vine, neither can you unless you abide in me. I am the vine, you are the branches. Those who abide in me and I in them bear much fruit, because apart from me you can do nothing. Whoever does not abide in me is thrown away like a branch and withers; such branches are gathered, thrown into the fire, and burned. If you abide in me, and my words abide in you, ask for whatever you wish, and it will be done for you. My Father is glorified by this, that you bear much fruit and become my disciples. As the Father has loved me, so I have loved you; abide in my love. If you keep my commandments, you will abide in my love, just as I have kept my Father's commandments and abide in his love. I have said these things to you so that my joy may be in you, and that your joy may be complete.' (John 15.3-11)

#307

Clear Spring morning after snow...

#306

More snow... taken yesterday during a brief respite