Open my eyes...

Open my eyes....

I enjoy taking pictures...and with the newer cameras I can take lots of pictures...and then choosing the best and deleting the rest easily...not like the ones I grew up with where each took a picture, then you  had them processed and then choose...

I saved for my first camera with “green stamps” which were pre reward point basically ...various stores gave out stamps which we pasted diligently into little books, saving for a variety of products in gift books.  Our family took turns choosing their “gift”. Mine were the camera, bowls for my hope chest, a Cinderella watch and finally a whole set of stainless steel flatware.

But the camera was the first...I wanted to take pictures to record 

life events, trips which we took, family....so over the years I have collected bins and bins of pictures which my family will have the “privilege “ of tossing...oh well...and I still have my parents pictures as well!

Anyway, that said, today I am taking a one day class taught by a photographer who travels the world...he has published books, videos, teaches classes, takes students on photo trips...I want my eyes opened more to the marvelous creation given by an amazing Creator ...and of all the timing, this is three days before I leave to visit the country of  Israel.

So I am praying that God open my eyes to see, but also, my heart to respond to walking the paths, seeing the sights that our Savior saw...feeling  the culture of places we visit...seeing scripture with new eyes from years of reading the Bible to touching the area where it was written...thank YOU...

Open my eyes that I may see wonderful things in your law.

Psalm 119:18

Song 

“Open our eyes, Lord

We want to see Jesus

To reach out and touch Him

And say that we love Him

Open our ears, Lord

And help us to listen

Open our eyes, Lord

We want to see Jesus”

Or “Open the eyes of my heart Lord “ by Michael W Smith 

Life boats....

Life boats....

There are 18 large lifeboats which have a capacity of 370 each and a whole lot of inflatable rafts around one of the decks of this boat, plus life jackets for every person, whistles, lights....a whole lot of safety features which you hope you don’t have to use....but, they are there anyway...each well marked to find quickly....

Lots of safety features...to preserve the lives of so many people in this vast  mass of water...

I was thinking about the book of Judge in the Bible in  relation to these many life savers...it can be broken in to 7 cycles....the down turn of a nation 7 times, judgment and then redemption...over and over again, those “lifeboats” that God answered with...

Or even the wealthy  land owner in Matthew 21, who kept sending his servants to collect the fruit from the land...the tenants kept killing them and finally killed the son as well, in order to claim the land as theirs...

Lifeboats...to obedience and safety which were tossed over for something “bigger”...instead the landowner gave the land to someone else...not the Jews...

If we were going down in their big ship, I would take the life boat or some kind of saving device and throw over the ones at hand waiting for something “better”...

God sent prophet after prophet to show the way to Him...and finally sent his only Son for our salvation...there is no one else...the Messiah has come...the Christ, the Savior....He will come again and we need to be ready...waiting for His appearance...thank YOU...

33 “Listen to another parable: There was a landowner who planted a vineyard. He put a wall around it, dug a winepress in it and built a watchtower. Then he rented the vineyard to some farmers and moved to another place. 34 When the harvest time approached, he sent his servants to the tenants to collect his fruit. 35 “The tenants seized his servants; they beat one, killed another, and stoned a third. 36 Then he sent other servants to them, more than the first time, and the tenants treated them the same way. 37 Last of all, he sent his son to them. ‘They will respect my son,’ he said. 38 “But when the tenants saw the son, they said to each other, ‘This is the heir. Come, let’s kill him and take his inheritance.’ 39 So they took him and threw him out of the vineyard and killed him. 40 “Therefore, when the owner of the vineyard comes, what will he do to those tenants?” “He will bring those wretches to a wretched end,” they replied, “and he will rent the vineyard to other tenants, who will give him his share of the crop at harvest time.”

Matthew 21:33-41)

Let’s keep it clean....

“Let’s keep it clean”.....

Another sign posted onboard the ship and on the treading paths is “let’s keep int clean”...as well as trash receptacles placed placed for our convenience...

The ship is immaculate everywhere, so with 5000+ passengers and 1500+ crew it has managed to stay clean if we simply pickup our trash instead of discarding it anywhere we please...

I like an orderly home as well, but on a more personal level I want my words not to trash others as well...or my bad behavior to “trash” others...or my thoughts to be clean...

The crew is continually cleaning, repairing, picking up as well as most of the passengers...such a reminder to keep my life clean...no extra trash in my mind or behavior....keeping a clear mind, heart....

Thank YOU......for your cleansing....

Create in me a pure heart, O God, and renew a steadfast spirit within me.

Psalm 51:10

25 “Woe to you, teachers of the law and Pharisees, you hypocrites! You clean the outside of the cup and dish, but inside they are full of greed and self-indulgence. 

26 Blind Pharisee! First clean the inside of the cup and dish, and then the outside also will be clean.

Matthew 23:25-26

“I am the true vine, and my Father is the gardener. 

2 He cuts off every branch in me that bears no fruit, while every branch that does bear fruit he prunes so that it will be even more fruitful. 

3 You are already clean because of the word I have spoken to you. 4 Remain in me, as I also remain in you. No branch can bear fruit by itself; it must remain in the vine. Neither can you bear fruit unless you remain in me.

John 15:1-4

let us draw near to God with a sincere heart and with the full assurance that faith brings, having our hearts sprinkled to cleanse us from a guilty conscience and having our bodies washed with pure water.

Hebrews 10:22

If we confess our sins, he is faithful and just and will forgive us our sins and purify us from all unrighteousness.

1 John 1:9 

Back on the track....

 Back to the track....

Yesterday I wrote about the signs on the walking track around the ship...

This morning I was imagining them as part of our story...

There is the starting line/point...a place of beginning....our journey through life all the way through to the finishing line...

We move forward, rarely turning back, (we can’t really turn back time, as the ships beauty consultants would have us believe)...there are bends in the track, there are slow signs, even traffic areas( I thought of these as adding family members to the mix)...

Stretching places here and there...faith builders

Signs of warning...(fasten shoe laces, slow down for curves)events that slow us down on the track either by our own doing or outside influences...

There are encouraging signs...keep the pace...believe, breathe, you are almost there...

Places to sit and enjoy the views as others jog by...those times when we need the rest...

There are life boats signs and actual boats, ladders to the sea...hopefully to save us...God has given us the choice of taking that saving way...or if the boat was sinking we having the choice of not entering in...I think of the story of Noah...

Lifejackets signs and supplies...we each get one...

This morning after three nights and two days at sea, out of the pre-sunrise darkness, lights appeared, as we passed a tall island...the 

Lights going up and up the side of the mountain...either mph twin top surprises along the way...or challenges set in the path...

There is a captain on whom we rely to safely set the course...plus a multitude of workers to care for each along the way...

There are game rooms, views as well...pleasures to enjoy...

Family and Friends to add joy and stress...prayer opportunities...conversations....those to help carry the burdens, as I see people in wheel chairs enjoying the journey as well...

Windows and railings to keeps us from falling

I am sure if each of us walked this track we would see other pictures of life...

Thank YOU for that story pictures You give us...

You answer us with awesome and righteous deeds, God our Savior, the hope of all the ends of the earth and of the farthest seas, who formed the mountains by your power, having armed yourself with strength, who stilled the roaring of the seas, the roaring of their waves, and the turmoil of the nations. 

The whole earth is filled with awe at your wonders; where morning dawns, where evening fades, you call forth songs of joy.

Psalm 65:5-8 

Signs....

Signs....

I am treading on the walking/running path on the largest passenger boats in the world, the Royal Caribbean symphony of the Sea....it only takes 2.4 laps to make a mile...

Along they way they have start/finish signs, motivational signs, mile/kilometer signs, caution signs....

“Breathe”

“Inspire”

“Fasten shoe laces”

“Go man go, not too fast, spend it now, it may not last”

“The finish line is just around the bend”

“Keep your pace”

“Another lap or maybe three, tonight’s dessert can be guilt free”

“Slow, cross traffic ahead”

“One way”

(None tell about the spectacular sunrises/sunsets that may appear🌤

Or the stormy seas or the vast vistas of seas, cloud formations or amazingly blue skies or waters)...

The signs just really point to the things close at hand...like signs we have in everyday life....those stop and goes, those words of encouragement or warnings...

We have them in the Word as well...

“Press on.....”

“Finish well...”

“Be still....”

“Watch...”

“Believe....”

“Encourage....”

“Consider...”

“Pray....”

“Hope....”

And so many more....

These words along our paths in life, not just the track on a boat...

Thank YOU that we can see Your reminders wherever our paths take us...

Romans 15:13

May the God of hope fill you with all joy and peace as you trust in him, so that you may overflow with hope by the power of the Holy Spirit.

I press on toward the goal to win the prize for which God has called me heavenward in Christ Jesus.

Philippians 3:14

Rejoice always, pray continually, give thanks in all circumstances; for this is God’s will for you in Christ Jesus.

1 Thessalonians 5:16-18

Jesus answered, “I am the way and the truth and the life. No one comes to the Father except through me.

John 14:6 

A little picture says a lot...

I recently attended an event for women...

We were told to bring a picture of ourselves when we were children...

At our small table, we shared our pictures and told about them, age, event, a small part of our lives...

Then the “tables” turned....we were asked to write down negative “Self talk” that many of us do...or negative ideas we have about ourselves from others...

Next, we were asked to speak those negative words to that child in the picture....hard...but, oh so, enlightening...how we have down trodden that child or someone else has with words of abuse, negativity....

Finally, we were reminded of the Word and what it says about us...we can speak beauty, worth, love, acceptance, security, significance into that “child’s” life...and those around us as well instead of the negatives that we may have gotten through our life’s journey...or our children’s, grandchildren’s....

We cried and laughed with one another as some shared their life’s story’s of good times or abusive words/actions, the ramifications of each....

It was a reminder to speak good, truth into others lives, building them up instead of tearing them down...we can do that for ourselves and others so easily....

Thank YOU that You love us so deeply....

"
WHO I AM IN CHRIST 
ORIGINALLY COMPILED BY NEIL ANDERSON

 I AM ACCEPTED...John 1:12 I am God's child.
John 15:15 As a disciple, I am a friend of Jesus Christ.
 Romans 5:1 I have been justified (declared righteous).
 1 Corinthians 6:17I am united with the Lord, and I am one with Him in spirit. 
1 Corinthians 6:19-20I have been bought with a price and I belong to God. 
1 Corinthians 12:27 I am a member of Christ's body 
Ephesians 1:3-8 I have been chosen by God and adopted as His child.
Colossians 1:13-14 I have been redeemed and forgiven of all my sins. 
Colossians 2:9-10 I am complete in Christ.
Hebrews 4:14-16 I have direct access to the throne of grace through Jesus Christ.

 I AM SECURE...Romans 8:1-2 I am free from condemnation.
 Romans 8:28 I am assured that God works for my good in all circumstances.
 Romans 8:31-39 I am free from any condemnation brought against me and I cannot be separated from the love of God.
 2 Corinthians 1:21-22 I have been established, anointed and sealed by God.
 Colossians 3:1-4 I am hidden with Christ in God
.Philippians 1:6 I am confident that God will complete the good work He started in me.
 Philippians 3:20 I am a citizen of heaven.
 2 Timothy 1:7 I have not been given a spirit of fear but of power, love and a sound mind. 
1 John 5:18 I am born of God and the evil one cannot touch me.

 I AM SIGNIFICANT...John 15:5 I am a branch of Jesus Christ, the true vine, and a channel of His life.
 John 15:16 I have been chosen and appointed to bear fruit.
 1 Corinthians 3:16  I am God's temple.
 2 Corinthians 5:17-21 I am a minister of reconciliation for God
Ephesians 2:6 I am seated with Jesus Christ in the heavenly realm
Ephesians 2:10 I am God's workmanship
Ephesians 3:12 I may approach God with freedom and confidence.
 Philippians 4:13 I can do all things through Christ, who strengthens me...

  

Crowns...

Crowns...

The other night the small group leader had us look at a few verses in the New Testament about crowns...I have thought about it since and added a few more from the Old Testament...just to see the gifts that 

God bestows was so encouraging...will let the Word speak for itself to our souls...

Praise the Lord, my soul, and forget not all his benefits— who forgives all your sins and heals all your diseases, who redeems your life from the pit and crowns you with love and compassion, who satisfies your desires with good things so that your youth is renewed like the eagle’s.

Psalm 103:2-5 

I will clothe his enemies with shame, but his head will be adorned with a radiant crown.”

Psalm 132:18 

For the Lord takes delight in his people; he crowns the humble with victory.

Psalm 149:4 

She (wisdom) will give you a garland to grace your head and present you with a glorious crown. ”

Proverbs 4:9 

Blessings crown the head of the righteous, but violence overwhelms the mouth of the wicked.

Proverbs 10:6 

A wife of noble character is her husband’s crown, but a disgraceful wife is like decay in his bones.

Proverbs 12:4

The simple inherit folly, but the prudent are crowned with knowledge.

Proverbs 14:18 

 Gray hair is a crown of splendor; it is attained in the way of righteousness.

Proverbs 16:31 

Children’s children are a crown to the aged, and parents are the pride of their children.

Proverbs 17:6 

The Spirit of the Sovereign Lord is on me, because the Lord has anointed me to proclaim good news to the poor. He has sent me to bind up the brokenhearted, to proclaim freedom for the captives and release from darkness for the prisoners, to proclaim the year of the Lord’s favor and the day of vengeance of our God, to comfort all who mourn, and provide for those who grieve in Zion— to bestow on them a crown of beauty instead of ashes, the oil of joy instead of mourning, and a garment of praise instead of a spirit of despair. They will be called oaks of righteousness, a planting of the Lord for the display of his splendor.

Isaiah 61:1-3

Everlasting crown...

Everyone who competes in the games goes into strict training. They do it to get a crown that will not last, but we do it to get a crown that will last forever.

1 Corinthians 9:25

 Believers are a crown...

Therefore, my brothers and sisters, you whom I love and long for, my joy and crown, stand firm in the Lord in this way, dear friends!

Philippians 4:1

For what is our hope, our joy, or the crown in which we will glory in the presence of our Lord Jesus when he comes? Is it not you? Indeed, you are our glory and joy.

1 Thessalonians 2:19-20

Crown of perseverance ...

I have fought the good fight, I have finished the race, I have kept the faith. Now there is in store for me the crown of righteousness, which the Lord, the righteous Judge, will award to me on that day —and not only to me, but also to all who have longed for his appearing.

2 Timothy 4:7-8

Crown of life...victory...

10 Do not be afraid of what you are about to suffer. I tell you, the devil will put some of you in prison to test you, and you will suffer persecution for ten days. Be faithful, even to the point of death, and I will give you life as your victor’s crown.

Revelation 2:10 

Blessed is the one who perseveres under trial because, having stood the test, that person will receive the crown of life that the Lord has promised to those who love him.

James 1:12

Crown of glory...to faithful leaders..

And when the Chief Shepherd appears, you will receive the crown of glory that will never fade away.

1 Peter 5:4

Jesus’ crowns...

Jesus wore a crown of disgrace for us...pain...

They put a purple robe on him, then twisted together a crown of thorns and set it on him.

Mark 15:17 

But we do see Jesus, who was made lower than the angels for a little while, now crowned with glory and honor because he suffered death, so that by the grace of God he might taste death for everyone.

Hebrews 2:9

the twenty-four elders fall down before him who sits on the throne and worship him who lives for ever and ever. They lay their crowns before the throne and say: “You are worthy, our Lord and God, to receive glory and honor and power, for you created all things, and by your will they were created and have their being.”

Revelation 4:10-11