“Let there be flowers...”

“Let there be flowers”....

Then God said, “Let the land produce vegetation: seed-bearing plants and trees on the land that bear fruit with seed in it, according to their various kinds. ” And it was so. The land produced vegetation: plants bearing seed according to their kinds and trees bearing fruit with seed in it according to their kinds. And God saw that it was good. And there was evening, and there was morning —the third day.

Genesis 1:11-13 

In the past three months, I have been to the Caribbean, Montana, Northern California, Israel, Washington DC and home....each place taking photos of various sights...but, as much as I love the buildings, landscapes, views, people who are there, I still fall back into my default of photos of flowers when they are available...

I just awoke this am, thinking surely there is a verse that starts with...”let there be flowers” ...in Genesis...knowing full well that there isn’t...and I don’t want to add anything to the Scriptures either...

But, thinking at all the places where colors are used or talked about...stones, weavings, clothing, designs...in the Bible...the creation of flowers fits well...where they added for our pleasure? Our senses of sight and smell? Medicinal uses? Dyes? Not sure...but I thank God for His  creativity...his color...

Thank YOU...

The Lord God made all kinds of trees grow out of the ground—trees that were pleasing to the eye and good for food. In the middle of the garden were the tree of life and the tree of the knowledge of good and evil.

Genesis 2:9 

Every good and perfect gift is from above, coming down from the Father of the heavenly lights, who does not change like shifting shadows.

James 1:17 

Photos to follow...

Not a scholar...Washington DC 8...

 Not a scholar....Washington DC 8....

I am not a scholar, in fact the longer I live, the less I know...plus, I have already forgotten soooo very much...

I am not a Biblical scholar, in fact the longer I live, I find there is so much more to learn...God is all knowing, a fact that is far above human understanding or knowledge....

Walking through many of the museums, reading, listening to the millions of ideas/facts that are here just in Washington DC, the immensity of knowledge can be a little overwhelming... not to even think about what we don’t know yet...AHHH...

Just going through the air and space museum...some of the “historical” displays have happened in my lifetime...that is a little “aging”....or the communications displays at another museum, reel to reel tape recorders used “in years past”...oh, no...that too?

Then, we went through the Museum of the Bible. I am just a “vapor in time”, hardly a blip...there is so much history, information, but the undertone is how it is important in history, through the ages, miracles that make it the most read book...make it the most important book, make it live...it has been saved and kept over the eons of time so that each generation has the opportunity to hear and read God’s...

God speaks to our heart through this Work, not caring if we are scholars, rich or poor, any particular culture or color, male or female, young or old...He is there to, knocking on our hearts, ready to come and dine with us...loving us, caring for us...

Thank YOU...

7 “Ask and it will be given to you; seek and you will find; knock and the door will be opened to you. 8 For everyone who asks receives; the one who seeks finds; and to the one who knocks, the door will be opened.

Matthew 7:7-8 

20 Here I am! I stand at the door and knock. If anyone hears my voice and opens the door, I will come in and eat with that person, and they with me.

Revelation 3:20

As for God, his way is perfect: The Lord’s word is flawless; he shields all who take refuge in him.

Psalm 18:30 

The unfolding of your words gives light; it gives understanding to the simple. Direct my footsteps according to your word; let no sin rule over me.

Psalm 119:130,133

All Scripture is God-breathed and is useful for teaching, rebuking, correcting and training in righteousness, so that the servant of God may be thoroughly equipped for every good work.

2 Timothy 3:16-17

Do you know a secret?...Washington DC 7....

Do you know a secret?....Washington DC 7...

Intrigue...secrets...danger...lies...truth...clues... undercover...international....next door...adventure...trust/distrust...life and death...codes...cloak and dagger...infiltration...torture...ingenious....past, present, future...darkness/light...

All this and more at the International Spy Museum....in Washington DC, a brand new museum which tells the history of intrigue, both in the US, internationally, from codes, hidden equipment...how the spy “game” is used for safety, for information...in war and peace...throughout the world...it was really interesting...I didn’t know what to expect, but it was a little mind boggling...exhibit after exhibit about this part of life...

I usually live in a very truthful world...no intrigue, day to day living while there are those out there are working to keep my life safe...secure...and they use means that for the most part I am not aware of...

Yet...

The secret things belong to the Lord our God, but the things revealed belong to us and to our children forever, that we may follow all the words of this law.

Deuteronomy 29:29 

Going through the Word, I find that everything has meaning...God has named people with names that have meaning, a code of sorts which may give us a hint of that person’s character...

Other places, something is done in secret...

Or spies were sent into the land to spy out its people, provision...

Sarah listened to the Angels talking to Abraham behind the walls...and laughed at the message...

Jesus spoke in parables...

Various secrets were discovered, people world in the night, armies fled at a sound..brothers told lies...

Paul was saved after overhearing words meant to be in secret...

Judas betrayed...

Joseph and Daniel wrestled with the meanings of dreams... 

On and on...

The Bible is filled with intrigue...mystery...for us to seek out...understand with the help of the Holy Spirit...who speaks truth...

We meditate on the Word, pray for clarity/wisdom and God shows us the way... the Truth...

I was reading Galatians 4...and realized there are codes there as well...(just a small portion of scripture)...as an example...

I do not want you to be ignorant of this mystery, brothers and sisters, so that you may not be conceited: Israel has experienced a hardening in part until the full number of the Gentiles has come in, and in this way all Israel will be saved. As it is written: “The deliverer will come from Zion; he will turn godlessness away from Jacob. And this is my covenant with them when I take away their sins.”

Romans 11:25-27 

No, we declare God’s wisdom, a mystery that has been hidden and that God destined for our glory before time began. these are the things God has revealed to us by his Spirit. The Spirit searches all things, even the deep things of God.

1 Corinthians 2:7,10  

the mystery that has been kept hidden for ages and generations, but is now disclosed to the Lord’s people. To them God has chosen to make known among the Gentiles the glorious riches of this mystery, which is Christ in you, the hope of glory. He is the one we proclaim, admonishing and teaching everyone with all wisdom, so that we may present everyone fully mature in Christ.

Colossians 1:26-28 

Thank YOU that you  make known Your mystery...that You are truth...nothing is hidden from You...

Gates 2...Israel 15....

Gates 2...Israel 15...

We visited many, many excavations of ancient cities in Israel...One building element they had in common was city gates...not necessarily an open door policy...

 A big stone entrance with gates... followed by a big rooms inside, then another gate or maybe, two...

Many times we were entering uphill into the ruins of the city..which in their time, the guards would have to advantage of looking  down on the newcomers/visitors...

The gates had to be massive to fill the present holes...

Some gates were smaller while others were huge enough to accept a large entourage...

One place stood out from the others as there were the remains of the spot for the leaders to sit “at the city gates”...

https://www.gotquestions.org/city-gate.html

I liked this article about gates...

Nehemiah had various families build or repair the gates as they were rebuilding the walls...with timber he brought with him from “the keeper of the royal park”...

Boaz visited the elders at the city gate to  talk about the land and Ruth...

Meanwhile Boaz went up to the town gate and sat down there just as the guardian-redeemer he had mentioned came along. Boaz said, “Come over here, my friend, and sit down.” So he went over and sat down. Boaz took ten of the elders of the town and said, “Sit here,” and they did so. Then he said to the guardian-redeemer, “Naomi, who has come back from Moab, is selling the piece of land that belonged to our relative Elimelek. I thought I should bring the matter to your attention and suggest that you buy it in the presence of these seated here and in the presence of the elders of my people. If you will redeem it, do so. But if you will not, tell me, so I will know. For no one has the right to do it except you, and I am next in line.” “I will redeem it,” he said.

Ruth 4:1-4

I rejoiced with those who said to me, “Let us go to the house of the Lord.” Our feet are standing in your gates, Jerusalem.

Psalm 122:1-2

https://www.raystedman.org/daily-devotions/nehemiah/broken-walls-broken-lives

It was just so interesting to see the actual places...picture the elders sitting in each, remember the Proverbs 31 woman’s respected husband...Jesus passing through heading from one place to another...or the Roman soldiers proudly parading through them...Wisdom calling to all who will listen ...

Her husband is respected at the city gate, where he takes his seat among the elders of the land.

Proverbs 31:23 

Out in the open wisdom calls aloud, she raises her voice in the public square; on top of the wall she cries out, at the city gate she makes her speech:

Proverbs 1:20-21

We still build “city” walls around our yards, souls, hearts...protection...from “invaders”...as we should in many cases...we need to be discerning about who and what...

Our adversary, Satan, wants our hearts and minds...we need the wisdom of the Father to help make sure our walls are solid, safe...the gates closed to his attacks...

Thank YOU....

Gates....Israel 14....Washington DC 6....

Gates....Israel 14...Washington DC 6...

Have been at a conference here in Washington DC...

Venue...the Museum of the Bible...sixth floor, with a fantastic view of the city from the capitol buildings to the Washington Monument...the Cathedral stands tall out at a distance ....beautiful views with a pictorial map identifying the buildings...

But, back to the subject...gates...

Wherever we go here in Washington DC, we go through security at each entrance except at the Botanical Gardens...police presence everywhere...

In Israel, we went through security as well in many  places...plus police presence everywhere...

Gates, doors once open,  unguarded have changed over the years with more and more threats to harm...

A subject talked about at this conference is “gateway” languages...large language groups all over the world which many people speak as a second language...which scriptures are being translated into or  have been and the smaller populations of heart languages which still need the Word...how would it be if you went to church only to open a Bible with empty pages??? Your language not yet having a written translation...or your leader had no scriptures to even study from or read to you....

This was illustrated in a huge room with copies of all the translated Bibles in one section, those with work in progress in another section and those with nothing in still yet another large section...

These three sections reminded me of gates...those having translations were wide open gates to the Scriptures...

Those partially translated were partially opened...people have portions of the Word to read... 

Finally, those blank books were closed gates...no written Word...

Gates have so many uses...they provide safety, care, watchfulness, security...just like the Word...Jesus...

We can be gates as well...opening our lives and hearts to others, providing an opening to those scriptures by our willingness to share the Word whether by financial support to missionaries, guiding those around us, supporting organizations which translate, speaking truth into lives...many, many opportunities....

Thank YOU for being our “Gate”...

Open for me the gates of the righteous; I will enter and give thanks to the Lord. This is the gate of the Lord through which the righteous may enter. I will give you thanks, for you answered me; you have become my salvation.

Psalm 118:19-21 

9 I am the gate; whoever enters through me will be saved. They will come in and go out, and find pasture.

John 10:9 

https://www.gotquestions.org/city-gate.html

https://www.thattheworldmayknow.com/city-gates-in-the-bible

https://www.unfoldingword.org/gateway/

Photos to follow...so much more about gates...

Engraved word....Israel 13...Washington DC 5....

Last night I had the privilege of “riding” in a virtual reality tour of Washington DC...not just a general tour, but a few of the sites on which Biblical references and scriptures are engraved...we “dove” in and out of buildings, around trees, up to the top of the Washington Monument, across the water to Lincoln Memorial...(people who experience motion sickness were urged to not participate)...what a “ride”!!!! But, what a great visual aide to show how scriptures have been engraveed into our lives if we look around...

https://www.allabouthistory.org/spiritual-heritage-and-government-monuments-faq.html

When our family visited Washington DC in the early 90’s, we were in awe of the huge buildings, the grandeur of the whole place...but one thing that continued to catch our eye was the engravings on the stones, the buildings...

Fast forward to now, I am still in awe...there are more buildings, more stones with engravings...

Having just returned from Jerusalem this last month, that awe has extended to that city as well...

Both beautiful cities display Biblical references for all the world to see...words written in stone, engraved into permanence....until such time as the world changes...

They touch my heart as they do millions who view them...or they fall on hard hearts of those who hold the Holy scriptures in distain...or they soften those who are searching for the real meaning of life...God in all of His glory...

Thank YOU for reminding all of your eternal Word...through the words engraved in stone...

But, knowing that this will all pass away, thank You for engraving believers names on the very palm of your hand....and that your Word stands ...

See, I have engraved you on the palms of my hands; your walls are ever before me.

Isaiah 49:16

Praise the Lord. Praise the Lord from the heavens; praise him in the heights above. Praise him, all his angels; praise him, all his heavenly hosts. Praise him, sun and moon; praise him, all you shining stars. Praise him, you highest heavens and you waters above the skies. Let them praise the name of the Lord, for at his command they were created, and he established them for ever and ever— he issued a decree that will never pass away.

Psalm 148:1-6 

35 Heaven and earth will pass away, but my words will never pass away.

Matthew 24:35

Sunrise again and again...Washington DC 4....

Sunrises again and again...Washington DC 4....

Each morning I workout on the top floor of the hotel where I am staying in Washington DC...the treadmills face the east...facing the legislative and judicial part of the nation’s capitol...

The sun, this time of year, from my morning perspective, comes up right behind the Capitol buildings, the Supreme Court buildings....

Beautiful and brilliant it rises majestically each day....it makes me think and hope that the leadership of this country would see the faithfulness of each new day, a gift given by the Creator of this universe....that each would seek His wisdom, guidance....would humble themselves before Him asking to guide this land.....advice on how to rule justly, wisely...

There is scripture engraved on marble walls, tombs, and grave stones all over the city...sayings to edify and encourage....to tell of people who have gone before having left their mark on the land...

Thank YOU that You are in control...

if my people, who are called by my name, will humble themselves and pray and seek my face and turn from their wicked ways, then I will hear from heaven, and I will forgive their sin and will heal their land.

2 Chronicles 7:14 

This tells, me, though, that it is not just the leaders who need wisdom and humble, but all of his people...”my people “...

“Praise be to the name of God for ever and ever; wisdom and power are his. He changes times and seasons; he deposes kings and raises up others. He gives wisdom to the wise and knowledge to the discerning.

Daniel 2:20-21 

Then Jesus came to them and said, “All authority in heaven and on earth has been given to me.

Matthew 28:18 

Let everyone be subject to the governing authorities, for there is no authority except that which God has established. The authorities that exist have been established by God. Consequently, whoever rebels against the authority is rebelling against what God has instituted, and those who do so will bring judgment on themselves. For rulers hold no terror for those who do right, but for those who do wrong. Do you want to be free from fear of the one in authority? Then do what is right and you will be commended. For the one in authority is God’s servant for your good. But if you do wrong, be afraid, for rulers do not bear the sword for no reason. They are God’s servants, agents of wrath to bring punishment on the wrongdoer. Therefore, it is necessary to submit to the authorities, not only because of possible punishment but also as a matter of conscience. This is also why you pay taxes, for the authorities are God’s servants, who give their full time to governing. Give to everyone what you owe them: If you owe taxes, pay taxes; if revenue, then revenue; if respect, then respect; if honor, then honor.

Romans 13:1-7 

Photos to come....