#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

#305

Spring snow...

'In my Father's house are many rooms...' (John 14.2a)

#304

Glorious sunrise (yesterday)...

#303

Silvery morning (from the weekend)

#302

Dawn breaking...

#301

Sky full of drama on a beautifully windy morning

#300

' [There are] three categories of men! In Egypt, in the wilderness, or in Canaan. I wonder - in which category are you?

Are you still in Egypt? Then trust Christ now as your Saviour! By faith, now, apply the precious blood that He shed upon the Cross, to the doorposts and lintel of your own heart, and thank Him like a child that you are redeemed!

Are you still in the wilderness? Then repudiate your unbelief! Start right now trusting the Lord Jesus for that for which His blood was shed - that He might live His resurrection life in and through you, even while you are still on earth in the body, and thank Him that He is your victory, that He is your strength, that He is your future, that He is all that you can ever need at any time, in any circumstances, for "in him dwelleth all the fulness of the Godhead bodily, and ye are complete in him." (Col. 2:9 - 10a)

Are you in the Promised Land? Then your portion is to reign in life! To reign by One, Christ Jesus, and to know joy unspeakable and full of glory, to know His peace that passeth all understanding, to know that every place that the sole of your foot shall tread upon has been given to you, that you may be strong and of a good courage, neither afraid nor dismayed, in the knolwedge that the Lord your God is with you withersoever you go, for this - this is your victory, even your faith (1 John 5:4)'
(Maj. Ian Thomas, The Saving Life of Christ)

#299

...the sun bursts out in full flame. (Note: It is not a good idea to stare directly at the sun, especially through a camera lens; never ever through a zoom lens. It can destroy both your eyes and camera.)

#298

Even on a frigid morning such as this...

#297

Curious about the moon, took another photo around the same time as yesterday. Sure enough, a slightly slimmer sliver of a moon was in the sky (which the photo hasn't captured) left of center in the Eastern sky...

#296

A sliver of a moon still high in the Eastern sky at 6.45am even as the sun colors the entire horizon... seems entirely comfortable being there, quietly bright, beautiful, maybe even vulnerable

#295

Snowy daybreak on MLK day...

#294

Icy waters reflecting the silhouette of Manhattan at sunrise...

#293

Clouds like strange creatures of the night scattering out to sea at sunrise...

Do I believe in the 'good will' of the Father...?

#292

A hushed, post-snow morning...

#291

A very still Saturday morning... seemingly hushed in anticipation of the coming snow.

#290

Gentle light of morning

#289

At dawn this morning...

#288

Burning sunrise (slightly more northerly -or straight east - view than usual)...