Sunrise, Sunset

Beginnings and endings.

Start and finish.

January and December.

Good Morning

Sunset and sunrise photographs many times are seen as overdone, or simply not interesting. However, I find neverending fascination with the skies in the early morning and at dusk. Weather varies so much and has its extremes which provide interest and wonder for my wandering heart.

Endless hues of yellows, oranges, pinks and reds erupt from the horizon, then spread out to catch the blues, blacks, and then strike out through clouds dragging them into blackness or light depending on the location of the sun.

As we finish 2022, and look toward to another year, it only seems fitting to examine the sunrises and sunsets in our lives. The comings and goings, the capturing and the letting go. Refractions and reflections of the light and the darkness.

Daybreak with fog groundcover

In the early hours of each day, we look to the East, searching for the light to lead us through the day. Many times the light splays out across the skies beckoning to us–a gentle palette of watercolors. Other times, the bright blue sky blinds us as it fights against the rising sun. Clouds give up their colors to a burning sun.

Winter Sunrise

Then at dusk, our eyes search out the last of the sun’s heat as it escapes our view, leaving behind sometimes flame, sometimes gold, pink of orange pastels–an artist’s kaleidoscope.

Dusk

Sunset over Kansas City

Then what about those foggy mornings that drown out the watercolors? When sunrises are beyond reach, beyond our imagination?

Morning Fog

Is there wonder to be found in the blue fog or the haze of an overcast sky?

I believe so for I am certain that wonder dwells in all of creation, from the microscopic water crystals suspended in the air to the majesty of an unforgettable sunset.

Evening

Beginnings and endings.

Start and finish.

January and December.

Anthem of the Wind

Photo by Shashank Kumawat on Pexels.com

The wind has a music all its own. A sound that plays upon the leaves, whistles over the water, and howls like a raging beast.

Have you seen the wind?

The wind conducts a symphony from the heights of the heavens to the tiniest blades of grass.

Have you seen the wind?

The wind moves and reverberates.

Have you seen the wind?

All he had to do was speak by his Spirit-Wind command, and God created the heavenlies. Filled with galaxies and stars, the vast cosmos he wonderfully made.

Psalms 33:6 (TPT)

The wind is color and sound; breath and soul.

Photo by Harrison Haines on Pexels.com

It is stillness; it is fury.

Wind is perpetual. Wind is eternal. Wind is spiritual.

He forms the misty clouds and creates thunder and lightning, bringing the wind and rain out of his heavenly storehouse.

Psalms 135:7 (TPT)

Yet, how do you capture the wind. It cannot be contained nor found in a photograph.

It is elusive.

Wind is mystery and power.

Have you seen the wind?

What’s In A Leaf?

Water, heart, veins—life.

Not so different from us.

Life–sacrifice, giving, teamwork, purpose.

Each one unique, vibrant, and significant. The beauty and diversity of leaves. A patchwork of textures, design and colors.

Not so different from us.

Carbon, nitrogen, carbohydrates, organic acids, mineral substances, and water—chemical makeup of a leaf.

Oxygen, hydrogen, nitrogen, carbon, and calcium—chemical makeup of us.

Sometimes despite the frost and dark and storms, the leaf shines brightly–clinging on to hope, keeping the faith, performing its duty to the very end.

Not so different from us.

Other times, the leaf instinctively knows when to take the fall. The second phase of its purpose is at hand–the sacrifice, the giving up to nourish and restore.

Are we so much different than the mighty leaf?

“So this is my command: Love each other deeply, as much as I have loved you. For the greatest love of all is a love that sacrifices all. And this great love is demonstrated when a person sacrifices his life for his friends.”

John 15:12-13

Be watchful, ever mindful of God’s very good work in this world that is woven through our lives and the life cycle of His creation like the leaf–intricate, intertwined, invested in a love so deep and great we will never truly comprehend it all.

Wisdom begins in wonder.

hoar frost–collision course

He blankets the earth with glistening snow, painting the landscape with frost. Sleet and hail fall from the sky, causing waters to freeze before winter’s icy blast.

Psalms 147:16-17 (TPT)

7:00 a.m.

Overnight the breath of God immersed the earth–vapor, smoke, then burdened airs birthed a rare sight–

peculiar prickly pear branches clothed in raucous razor ice

trees trimmed in barbed wire lace

spiky tendrils of prairie grass sentinels

teeth-like terror; cold and foreboding

dark yet dramatic; brilliant and breathtaking

10:00 a.m.

Mid-morning greets a world still shrouded in endless mist

otherworldly, yea… nearly heavenly

this mysterious collision of fog and frozen surfaces

rare and wondrous sightings in a winter landscape

overcast in grey woolens

weighty, dense in thought

12:00 p.m.

Noontide appears in light

greys give way to light and shadows

sunbeams burst forth in brilliance, dehydrating the air and telling a new story

sharing crystalline remnants of creations formed before time began

dreams of ancient ways brought forth by a benevolent creator

A day remembered.

A view cherished.

Wonders celebrated.

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hoarfrost – def. deposit of ice crystals on objects exposed to the free air, such as grass blades, tree branches, or leaves. It is formed by direct condensation of water vapour to ice at temperatures below freezing and occurs when air is brought to its frost point by cooling. Hoarfrost is formed by a process analogous to that by which dew is formed on similar objects, except that, in the case of dew, the saturation point of the air mass is above freezing. The occurrence of temperatures below 0° C (32° F) is not enough to guarantee the formation of hoarfrost. Additionally, the air must be initially damp enough so that when cooled it reaches saturation, and any additional cooling will cause condensation to occur. (brittanica.com)

On the Edge of Darkness

He then reached down from heaven, all the way from the sky to the sea. He reached down into my darkness to rescue me! He took me out of my calamity and chaos and drew me to himself, taking me from the depths of my despair!

Psalms 18:16 (TPT)

We all live on the edge of darkness.

Captured within the tangled webs of darkness and shadows. Many times, I feel like one of these brown leaves–dried, brittle–desperately clinging onto the life blood of my Vine through a dark winter. Struggling to survive, waiting out the winds of assault, seeking and straining for the Light.

Yet in that struggle and through the despair–Light shows up, Light shines through human frailties, Light blasts a trail through the shadows.

Now more than ever, this realization hit me last week with the treacherous acts that occurred as an angry mob assaulted our nation’s capitol building–the seat of America’s legislative branch of government. This wasn’t a simple protest–it had sharp teeth and claws aimed at destruction of an ideal–centuries old.

It was a dark assault on the light of liberty and freedom. Where was the Light in this terror?

And this Living Expression is the Light that bursts through gloom— the Light that darkness could not diminish!

John 1:5 (TPT)

And, this…is…where…we…live…at the juncture of light and darkness. Swirling within a spiritual battle for our very souls.

While political pundits and news commentators would have us believe that this chaos is a reflection of extremism, and the political straining and infighting between two warring parties and two political agendas, there is much more going on here than any of us care to admit or choose to believe.

This terror runs deep. It is divisive, deceitful and chaotic. It is the horror and anxiety that stands at the ready to shred hearts and minds if allowed to fester. And, it already has. A simple scan of the daily headlines provides all the proof we need.

This terror has a name, and I hesitate to utter its vileness upon this page. Yet, make no mistake–it exists, and it is a powerful force in this earthly world. It remains lurking in the shadows, seeking shelter in the darkness of the soul.

Yet now, this darkness has been awakened once more. It prowls the earth seeking those to devour.

Be well balanced and always alert, because your enemy, the devil, roams around incessantly, like a roaring lion looking for its prey to devour.

1 Peter 5:8 (TPT)

Something unspeakable has come forth into the light of day. And, as followers of Christ, how will we meet this darkness?

Call it out, followers of the Light!

Focus on what is good and true and right!

Deny its power, followers of the Light!

Serve and love your enemy with fierceness of heart!

Take up the armor of God, followers of the Light!

Those who walked in darkness have seen a radiant light shining upon them. They once lived in the shadows of death, but now a glorious light has dawned!

Isaiah 9:2 (TPT)

Remember–there is only one thing that can drive out darkness.

The Light and Love of Christ.

“Darkness cannot drive out darkness. Only Light can do that. Hate cannot drive out Hate. Only love can do that.”

Martin Luther King, Jr.

I want to be a sheep…yes, seriously

“I alone am the Good Shepherd, and I know those whose hearts are mine, for they recognize me and know me,  just as my Father knows my heart and I know my Father’s heart. I am ready to give my life for the sheep.”

John 10.14-15 (TPT)

When did our culture start degrading one another by calling them “sheep?” I have seen too many referring to one political party or another as “sheeple” or other such nonsense.

Personally, I’m rather glad to be called a “sheep” if I decide to wear a mask or if I live my life in a certain way that causes others to think of me in this way. I am proud to be known as a sheep. It makes no difference to me what someone thinks of me. There is only One whose opinion matters.

I want to live more humbly.

I want to be loved unconditionally.

I want to be protected.

I want to be sought after…pursued.

I want to recognize the voice of my Shepherd.

I want to know the truth, and live it.

I want to experience life in its fullness.

I want to listen more.

Photo by Quang Nguyen Vinh on Pexels.com

I want to be known in community with the sheep of His flock.

I want to love others more.

I want to be vulnerable.

I want to be obedient, and move through the one and only gate that gives me ultimate freedom, life and satisfaction.

Yes, I want to be a sheep…and ultimately have the heart of a sheep.

Photo by Paul Seling on Pexels.com

Gratitude–Day 8 (Light)

November 8–

Arise, shine, for your light has come, and the glory of the Lord has risen upon you. (Isaiah 60.1-2)

Darkness cannot drive out darkness–only light can do that. Hate cannot drive out hate–only love can do that.

Martin Luther King, Jr.

Thankful that even in this tumultuous and dark world there is hope and assurance of a shining light, a saving light, a hopeful light for the future, a light that burns through the darkness and the hate.

The Light of the World.

Gratitude–Day 7 (National Bison Day)

Okay, so it might seem strange to be offering thanks for bisons. However, if you know me even a little bit, you know I appreciate all things wild and natural. God’s creation in all it’s glorious forms and creative species are miraculous to me.

Bisons are no exception.

Indigenous to North America, the bison provided food, clothing, and other materials goods for the Native American population since pre-historic times. The symbiotic relationship between the bison and the prairie ecosystem was critical to the life of the prairie, and they numbered in the millions. However, by the late 1800s less than 1,000 bison remained.

In 1872, the U.S. Department of the Interior committed to protect the remaining 23 bison living in Yellowstone National Park. Today, 10,000 bison live on Department of Interior land, and the population of bison has now risen to 500,000 nationwide. A wonderful accomplishment. Working through Native tribes, the bison was designated the U.S. national mammal in 2016.

Thankful for the survival of a species that is so important to this land’s history, culture and ecosystem.

Photo by Pixabay on Pexels.com

Gratitude–Day 6 (Family)

November 6–

Gratitude for a family who loves and supports each other. Family means everything whether it’s our biological family or our spiritual family.

Honor, respect, devotion, unity.

Be devoted to tenderly loving your fellow believers as members of one family. Try to outdo yourselves in respect and honor of one another.

Romans 12.10 (TPT)

A faithful and loving husband.

Three daughters dear, who grow dearer every day. So very grateful for friendship and companionship.

Conversations with meaning. Hugs unending virtual and otherwise.

Prayers and tears make up a family.

Laughter and heartache make up a family.

Patience and perseverance make up a family.

Thankful for family.

Gratitude–Day 5 (Little Things)

November 5–

Thankful for the little things. The overlooked. The undervalued.

There is so much to experience in this world and beyond. And there is a lot to miss, right under our feet or right out our doors.

With work, obligations and busyness, it’s really easy to “forget to smell the roses.”

So don’t worry. For your Father cares deeply about even the smallest detail of your life.

Matthew 10.30-31

From tiny veined leaves to firework globes, God has placed wonders within reach every moment, right before our very eyes.

Thankful for details. Thankful for beauty. Thankful for mystery. Thankful for creation and the wonderful of all the little things.