Outer Banks Adventure

 

OUTER BANKS ADVENTURE

    We spent a week in Southern Shores in mid-April and I wanted to share some of the beauties of that special place with you.  The picture above shows Larry and I with five of our six wonderful grandchildren.  We all enjoyed a nice walk on the boardwalk over the sound in Duck.

    Swimming in the nice, warm pool at the Salt House was one of the kids favorite pastimes.  We had two warm days and the rest were either cool or a bit cold.  The cool days didn't stop the water babies from enjoying the pool.  For me, being on the oceanfront was a dream come true!

   The ocean is always beautiful and majestic, but seeing a rainbow above the horizon (from our back windows) is very special to me.  I love rainbows and the wonderful promise from God that they represent.  God made a promise to Noah, saying, "I set My rainbow in the cloud, and it shall be for the sign of the covenant between Me and the earth...never again shall there be a flood to destroy the earth," Genesis 9:11 & 13.

    Jockey's Ridge is the largest sand dune on the east coast and the family enjoyed climbing the hill, jumping down, and playing in this giant sand box.  You'll note that I'm taking the picture from a distance, because I didn't climb.  After watching them ascend the hill, I went back to the car and read a book.  I have a good excuse - I sprained my ankle in mid-February and I'm still not back to normal.

    The Wright Brothers Memorial offers an interesting experience.  It's always a wonder and amazement to me that it was only 118 years ago (December 17, 1903) that Wilbur and Orville got the aircraft industry off the ground -- and right here on the Outer Banks!  Thanks boys!

I have to include this funny picture of me pretending to eat vast amounts of pop corn at Scarborough Fair in Duck.  We did have some wonderful food along with our wonderful time together.  We'll end this brief adventure with a colorful painting by God Himself as He brings the sun near the horizon at the end of another lovely day upon His Earth  (sorry for the electric lines).  Thank you God for your beautiful creation, and for safety and fun times!

JOY

 

JOY

A few weeks ago, Parade magazine had a picture of actress Sharon Stone on the cover with her quote, “I just want to be happy.”     

            We all want to be happy, don’t we?  The pictures of my two daughters and grandson (above and below) are the best photo examples of happiness I could find.  Their laughing smiles seem to be a picture of pure joy.

What makes you happy?  Each of you is probably thinking of something – the smile of a beloved child, an unexpected check in the mail, a visit from a friend, the words, “your cancer is gone – you’re cured!” 

            Many large and small things can make us happy.  Happiness tends to be externally triggered and is based on other people, things, places, thoughts and events – our circumstances.

While happiness is a wonderful thing, JOY goes deeper.  It doesn’t depend on circumstances and it’s something that can last through both thick and thin.  JOY comes when you make peace with who you are, why you are and how you are, based on your relationship with Jesus Christ.  The Holy Bible says, "The joy of the Lord is your strength"

              JOY is the main ingredient that makes all other parts of your life the best they can be.  How do we find joy in a world that’s turned upside down in so many ways?  You’re looking up at me, thinking….  You have no idea what I have to deal with each day.  No, I don’t – and some people have a very difficult path to travel. But, does that mean you can’t experience joy?  Not at all.

The Psalmist writes:  “You [meaning God] will show me the path of life; in Your presence is fullness of joy; at Your right hand are pleasures forevermore,” (16:11).

We find joy, not by looking at the difficulties that surround us, but by lifting our eyes to the One who can put all these things into perspective, and help us live above our circumstances.  There’s a wonderful old hymn with these words: “Turn your eyes upon Jesus, look full in His wonderful face – and the things of earth will grow strangely dim in the light of His glory and grace.”

When Jesus was on earth and gave His message of hope, He said, “These things I have spoken to you, that My joy may remain in you, and that your joy may be full,” John 15:11.

             Ah, wouldn’t we all love to have full joy in our lives.

 Here are six practical steps that can lead to a more joyful life:

1. Spend time with the Lord more regularly. Remind yourself of the words of the Psalmist: “This is a day the Lord has made, I will be glad and rejoice in it,” 118:24.

2. Remember who is Lord over your life. Remember who is in control of every drop of rain and every ray of sunshine.  Don't let your circumstances dictate who you are or how you feel. 

      3. Read your Bible. “Your word is a light to my feet and a lamp to my path” – God’s Word will help us know the way we should go

      4.  Listen to uplifting worship music.  The Psalmist says, “Make a joyful shout to God, all the earth, sing out the honor of His name; make His praise glorious,” 66:1-2.

      5.  Watch out for negative thoughts.  A verse in Philippians reminds us what we should think about: “Whatever things are true, whatever things are noble, whatever things are just, whatever things are pure, whatever things are lovely, whatever things are of good report…meditate on these things ” 4:8.

      6.  Pray this prayer to the Lord: “Restore to me the joy of Your salvation, and uphold me by Your generous Spirit,” Psalm 31:12.

 I’d like to end with these encouraging words from the apostle Paul: “May the God of hope fill you with all joy and peace in believing, that you may abound in hope by the power of the Holy Spirit,” Romans 15:13.

 

New Growth

 

NEW GROWTH

The end of March, I noticed fresh pale green new growth popping up on each stem of the aucuba bush in my backyard.  I watched as week by week tiny leaves unfurled and poked their way further out of the stem - until they became the fresh young leaves pictured below -

There's something about fresh leaves that are so tender, beautiful and exciting.  They hold the promise of spring and new life.  As soon as I saw the first pop of new growth appear, I thought -- I want new growth in my life as well.  When the Japanese Aucuba puts out its new leaves, it grows in circumference.  That's definitely not what I'm seeking.  I've had far too much of that sort of growth in the past couple years!

Of course, I'm referring to spiritual growth. When Paul wrote to the Thessalonians, he said, "We are bound to thank God always for you, brethren, as it is fitting, because your faith grows exceedingly, and the love of every one of you all abounds toward each other," 1:3.  Now, that's the kind of growth I'm talking about!

The writer of Hebrews says it well, pointing out the importance of growth in the life of a Christian -- and he warns that some Christians never grow.  "For though by this time you ought to be teachers, you need someone to teach you again the first principles of the oracles of God; and you have come to need milk and not solid food.  For everyone who partakes only of milk is unskilled in the word of righteousness, for he is a babe.  But solid food belongs to those who are of full age, that is, those who by reason of use have their senses exercised to discern both good and evil," 5:12-14.

We all know new Christians need to grow by studying God's Word, listening to good teachers, pondering and praying, but what about those who have been saved for years and decades?  How many are still being bottle-fed?  If my aucuba bush did not put out a new growth of leaves each spring, the bush would become tired, losing old leaves and eventually shrinking in size.  

Remember what we said about new growth?  It's beautiful and exciting!  A life that's growing in the knowledge of the Lord and in relationship with the Almighty Creator of us all -- now that is beautiful and exciting!  Paul wrote to Timothy, telling him:  "Be diligent to present yourself approved to God, a worker who does not need to be ashamed, rightly dividing the word of truth," 2:15.  

I have a dear friend named Myrtle.  She is 92 years old and continues to grow in the Lord every year of her life.  She gets excited when she learns new things about the Lord and His creation, and the work she continues to do for the Lord is fresh and beautiful to see.  She is an inspiration!  I want to continue growing - putting out those fresh young tender leaves of new growth until the day I die or fly up to heaven in the Rapture.  There is still so much wonder of God to learn about!  How exciting!

"But grow in the grace and knowledge of our Lord and Savior Jesus Christ.  To Him be the glory both now and forever.  Amen," 2 Peter 3:18.

Doors

 DOORS

       I love this view - looking through a curved doorway at another door in the distance.  This was in Rhonda, Spain, a country with many exotic Moroccan elements in their architecture.  I've always found  doors to be intriguing.  In Revelation, Jesus calls Himself, "He who has the key of David. He who opens and no one shuts, and shuts and no one opens," 3:7.  

       When faced with a decision in life, we need to always ask God whether we should do a thing, or not do it.  I always like to ask God to open the door if He wants me to do it, or shut the door if He doesn't want me to go through it.

         With that in mind, here are a few more interesting doors to imagine going through -

All the houses in the English countryside seem to have their own name.

This one is "The Cottage" in the charming village of Chipping-Camden

This is one of those exotic Moroccan-inspired doors in Barcelona, 

Spain, taken more than a few years ago. Paul wrote, "Praying

 also for us, that God would open a door for the word, to speak

the mystery of Christ," Colossians 4:3

This is one of my favorites -- a yellow door set in a blue painted

house on a hilly part of town in Kinsale, Ireland. I think it's

cute that this modest little house is named "Mansion House"

We're back in Barcelona for this badly mistreated door full 

of grafitti.  Paul said, "For a great and effective door has opened

to me, and there are many adversaries," 1 Corinthians 16:9

 

I'll end our glimpse of various doors with a picture of a stain glass in Vancouver, Canada.  Jesus is  standing at our heart's door, saying, "Behold, I stand at the door and knock.  If anyone hears My voice and opens the door, I will come in to him and dine with him, and he with Me," Revelation 3:20.

Amazing Grace

 

Amazing Grace

This picture of an empty cross anchored in solid rock is a lovely symbol of God's amazing grace.  Jesus, the spotless Lamb of God gave His life on a rough wooden cross to save all people of the earth.  His sacrifice paid the price for your sin and mine.  We only have to accept that gift of salvation and we become children of God.  That is Amazing Grace!

The fact that the cross is anchored in the rock represents the Rock that is Jesus, immovable, solid and totally trustworthy.  "For they drank of that spiritual Rock that followed them, and that Rock was Christ," 1 Corinthians 10:4.  Another verse says, "The stone which the builders rejected has become the chief cornerstone," Psalm 118:22.

The empty tomb is a beautiful symbol of, not only the blessed resurrection of Jesus, but also the promise of resurrection for each of us who call Him Lord and Savior.  Let's be thrilled with the wonder of it all as we celebrate another Easter of remembrance and thanksgiving.  

"Amazing Grace, how sweet the sound, that saved 

a wretch like me.  I once was lost, but now 

am found, was blind, but now I see."

--Photos

The first picture shows the Church of the Holy Cross in Sedona, Arizona

The second picture was taken at the Holy Land Experience, Orlando, Florida