Serenity

And in the morning, rising up a great while before day, he went
out, and departed into a solitary place, and there prayed.-Mark 1:35

This place  would be a great to go talk and pray to the Lord early in the mornings. When taking this picture, all I heard was the lens of my camera snapping and one lady jogging pass. I think it is great to spend time with God, not worrying about anything around you, and enjoying the presence of the Lord Jesus Christ while being surrounded by beautiful things He has created. Even Jesus (like the verse says) , spent alone time with God to pray. So spend some time today, thanking, praising, and talking to the Lord , because He deserves it.

Come dance

Thou hast turned for me my mourning into dancing: thou hast put off
my sackcloth, and girded me with gladness; -Psalms 30:11

I thought, when taking this picture, how unique that this leaf was the only one "standing".  Someone said "It looks like it is dancing", and it really does! I was cleaning today in my room, with the blinds open and the sun shining through and dancing to worship music. No matter what the day brings, the Lord can turn it into dancing! Are you going to dance for the Lord today? Cause I know I am! 

*Here is a song by Omega Ministries Praise and Worship 

Webs in your Life?

Fight the good fight of faith, lay hold on eternal life,
whereunto thou art also called, and hast professed a good
profession before many witnesses. -1Timothy 6:12

And this I do for the gospel's sake, that I might be
partaker thereof with you.-1 Corinthians 9:23

Know ye not that they which run in a race run all, but one
receiveth the prize? So run, that ye may obtain. -1 Corinthians 9:24

When I look at spiderwebs it just amazes me! The unique details of the silk  is just jaw dropping. Who would have thought that the web was made by a spider. To me spiders are kind  of creepy, and look weird; but they do marvelous work! When you think of webs what do you think of? I think of a sticky trap for bugs to be caught. When I looked up the word spider web in the Webster dictionary, it had the definition of "the network of silken thread spun by most spiders and used as a resting place and as a trap for small prey". The devil can set these web like traps in our lives (figuratively).  He  can try to get you to go down the wrong paths/" different networks of silk". The devil will also try to set things in your life to get you stuck ( or caught in a web) in that one spot/situation; so that you will not focus on what God has planned for you despite the obstacle. Even though you might have some "webs" in your life, make sure you keep your eye on the prize which is the Lord Jesus Christ.

Light

For every one that doeth evil hateth the light, neither
cometh to the light, lest his deeds should be reproved.- John 3:20
But he that doeth truth cometh to the light, that his deeds
may be made manifest, that they are wrought in God.- John 3:21

In this picture, the sun is shining through the window making the room have light.  The more light there is in a place the more the darkness will go away. Those who do evil do not like the light because their sins would be revealed; and without the darkness they have know where to hide. Those who follow the Lord and do his will should have the kind of light that makes darkness diminish . We need to make sure that we have God shining through us, so that we might be a good example to those who are still in the darkness. Are you going to  let your light shine?

Waterproof Covering

Put on the whole armour of God, that ye may be able to stand
against the wiles of the devil.- Ephesians 6:11
For we wrestle not against flesh and blood, but against principalities, against powers, against the rulers of the darkness of this world, against spiritual wickedness in high places.  -Ephesians 6:12

Duck's feathers are waterproof, when water goes on top of the feathers it will just roll off. Christians need to make sure that we have our "waterproof" covering. This "waterproof" covering I am talking about is the armour of God. We as Christians have to make sure we have this to (just like the verse says) "to stand against the wiles of the devil". The definition of wiles  from dictionary.com is "a trick, artifice, or stratagem meant to fool, trap, or entice". This is a great definition for what the devil will try to do in your life. If you go look in your Bible and read in Ephesians it tells you the different parts of the armour of God.  Are you gonna put on the "waterproof" covering?

Change

Therefore if any man be in Christ, he is a new creature: old things 
are passed away; behold, all things are become new. - 2 Corinthians 5:17

A butterfly does not start off as a colorful creature, it goes through different stages to become the beautiful flying butterfly. Christians have to go through a change  to become new; we can not half change being for Christ at one second and in the world in the next ("So then because thou art lukewarm, and neither cold nor hot, I will spue thee out of my mouth."- Revelation 3:16). You can either completely change for the Lord or stay with the world guaranteeing yourself a spot in hell.


Just like a caterpillar changes into a completely new creature, so must we change completely inside and out. Of course none of us are perfect, but we must keep asking the Lord to change anything in ourselves that is not of Him. Will you chose to change completely?

Investment

Lay not up for yourselves treasures upon earth, where moth
and rust doth corrupt, and where thieves break through and steal:-Matthew 6:19 
For where your treasure is, there will your heart be also. Matthew 6:21

Thinking of moths reminds me of clothes having multiple holes in it. If we as Christians invest our life in the world, we will end up with raggedy clothes. But putting all your investment in the Lord will get you the better turn out. Matthew 6:20 says "But lay up for yourselves treasures in heaven, where neither moth nor rust doth corrupt, and where thieves do not break through nor steal: ". now the question is, "Where will you store your treasure, in heaven or in the world?"

Your Heart

Keep thy heart with all diligence; for out of it are the issues of life. -Proverbs 4:23

The quote inside the heart is my absolute favorite quote ever! It says: "A woman's heart should be so hidden in God that a man has to seek Him just to find her. -Maya Angelou". I believe this quote is very true. We need to guard our heart from evil and let God guide you.

(The cartoon below is from a Christian Cartoon website, http://www.joyfultoons.com/toons.html)

The Right Way

Enter ye in at the strait gate: for wide is the gate, and broad is the way,
that leadeth to destruction, and many there be which go in thereat:-  Matthew 7:13.
Because strait is the gate, and narrow is the way, which leadeth unto life,
 and few there be that find it.  -Matthew 7:14

In life you are going to have to pick the road you want to take. A person can follow the world and end up in hell, or follow the Lord and end up in heaven. Just like these verses say, a lot of people will choose to follow the ways of the devil. But the few that choose God will have life. I choose to follow the narrow way, which way will you choose?

Empty

Behold, the LORD maketh the earth empty, and maketh it waste, and turneth it upside
down, and scattereth abroad the inhabitants thereof. - Isaiah 24:1

Just like this nest is empty, this world is empty without God. We need to spread His Word with the people we know so that they may not end up in hell. You can not make somebody want the Lord, they will need to want Him for themselves. People that are all up in the world will continue to be empty, until they decide they need the Lord; because the Lord is the only one who can fill/satisfy us (Psalm 107:9).

In the Morning

    My voice shalt thou hear in the morning, O LORD; in the morning will I direct
my prayer unto thee, and will look up. -Psalms 5:3

I love how in this picture you can see the tree bark, the leaves, branches, and the sun all in one. I think this verse describes the picture perfectly. We need to praise the Lord for everything and pray unto Him. The prayers can not be empty, meaning do not pray just to pray. But pray with your whole heart, waiting on an answer from the Lord.

Growth

As newborn babes, desire the sincere milk of the word, that
ye may grow thereby: -1Peter 2:2

Well I decided to go check and see if the birds had hatched, and was very excited to see that they have. They look nothing like birds yet, but with some more growth and nutrition they will look more and more like a bird. We are like these birds, we need to get our nutrition to keep growing in the Lord. This nutrition comes from reading the Bible and spending time with the Lord.

River Flows

He that believeth on me, as the scripture hath said, out of his belly shall
flow rivers of living water. -John 7:38

When I was taking this picture it was very peaceful, you could hear the trickle of the water and birds in the trees. This picture reminds me of a song called "Let the River Flow", I love that song. We need to let the Holy Spirit flow through us like a river so that we might help others come to know the Lord more.

Bloom

I know thy works: behold, I have set before thee an open door, and no man can shut it: for thou hast a little strength, and hast kept my word, and hast not denied my name. -Revelation 3:8

I chose this verse because the flower reminded me of a quote from "Facing the Giants". They said until God shuts a door in your life, you need to bloom where you are planted. Even when we might not like where God has us, we have to realize that he has us in a place for a reason. Therefore, make the best of where you are because you do not know what God has in store.

God Provides

Behold the fowls of the air: for they sow not, neither do they reap, nor gather into barns; yet your heavenly Father feedeth them. Are ye not much better than they?- Matthew 6:26    

I love how birds sing in the morning and the chirping of baby birds in a tree. It is another thing that shows how great our God is. He takes care of a little thing like a bird, what would make us think that he can’t/ won’t take care of us. The Lord knows what we need even when we might not understand what He is doing in our life. Just like He knows what the bird needs to survive.

Search Us

Search me, O God, and know my heart: try me, and know my thoughts: -Pslam 139:23

 When I took this picture, the squirrel was searching the ground for nuts. The verse above reminds me of how we need to ask God to search our hearts, to show us anything that might not be of Him so that we can correct it. If we don’t ask God to search us, how else will we grow as a follower of the Lord?

Stand Out

Who will rise up for me against the evildoers? or who will
stand up for me against the workers of iniquity? -Psalms 94:16

The thing I love about this is how the picture is so unique. It reminds me that sometimes we are just going to have to stand on our own. There are gonna be alot of people who disagree with you, but you still have to stand for the Lord. This inch worm stands out in this picture, and that is how Christians should be compared to the world.

Clear

  And he shewed me a pure river of water of life, clear as crystal,
 proceeding out of the the throne of God and of the Lamb.-Revelation 22:1

When looking at this picture, the bubble looks so clear. It seems like for a second that this bubble was not a liquid, foggy form. This is how we as Christians need to be, we have to set a clear example in the way we live. We can not be "foggy" Christians, which simply means that when people look at us they can not tell if we are a follower of Christ. Those who are Christians should be clear on which way they are headed.

Purity

For I am jealous over you with godly jealousy: for I have espoused you to one
  husband, that I may present you as a chaste virgin to Christ. -2 Corinthians 11:2

This flower reminds of the word "purity" because of the flowers color. White is usually worn on a wedding day which is suppose to mean pure. The verse above is telling us that we are Christs' bride. Therefore, we need to make sure we give Him our all, not putting things or people in the world ahead of what He wants for your life.

Our Rock

He is the Rock, his work is perfect: for all his ways are judgment:
a God of truth and without iniquity, just and right is he.-Deuteronomy 32:4

When I look at this picture and the verse, it reminds me of how Christ is our firm foundation. This picture also reminds of Matthew 7 when it talks about the wise and foolish builders. We need to be like the wise man and build ourselves on God so that we will not waver.

Flowers

As for man, his days are as grass: as a flower of the field,
 so he flourisheth. -Psalms 103:15

The picture shows how bright flowers can really get when nourished with water. We need to be as this flower, being nourished by the Word.

For all flesh is as grass, and all the glory of man as the flower of grass.
The grass withereth,and the flower thereof falleth away: -1Peter 1:24

Without the water the flower degrades and dies. If we do not have the Word in us then we would become just like this flower colorless and useless.

Blue Skies

Then shall the righteous shine forth as the sun in the kingdom of their Father.

Who hath ears to hear, let him hear.-Matthew 13:43 

Looking at this cloud and the sun rays reminds me of how we need to be "shining" for God even when things might get in our way. Just like the cloud did not keep the sun from shining, we can't let people or things in the world keep us from living the way God intends for our life.

Dew drop

My doctrine shall drop as the rain, my speech shall distil as the dew, as the small rain
 upon the tender herb, and as the showers upon the grass: -Deueronomy 32:2

The drops of dew in the morning just give me a refreshing feeling. It just reminds me how great our God is that he can think of the smallest drop of a clear water, to fall from the sky in the morning sky.

The Lake

And he shall be like a tree planted by the rivers of water, that bringeth forth his fruit  in his season;his leaf also shall not wither; and whatsoever he doeth shall prosper.-Psalms 1:3

The thing I love about this picture is how the trees reflect in the water and how everything is quite peaceful. The verse that goes with this verse is perfect, because without the water source the trees will have a very few chance of living. Just like without Jesus we will not have a chance to experience true joy.