"Beauty"

This is a word I am hesitant to define. I see beauty in all things. The poets say beauty is beyond description. The bible says beauty of humans is fleeting. I personally see enormous beauty in wood. I just love how each piece is unique and has its own particular beauty.

Even in the movie" Beauty and the Beast" who is more beautiful? Sunrises and sunsets are both at times beautiful. Mountains and streams and lakes and oceans are all beautiful.

The best description of beauty though is in each and every one of us. To God, all his children are beautiful. Pablo Casals puts it this way: "You are are marvel! You are unique and one of a kind"!! How beautiful is that!

Beauty from within is more precious than anything else we possess. Others can sense it and be lifted up and encouraged by that inner beauty.

Pray, God: Thank you for making us all beautiful and allow us to share and acknowledge all the beauty you have created. Verses: 1 Peter 3: 2-7 Prov 31: 30 Isaiah 52: 7

"Quiet"

Why are we so afraid of quiet? With cell phones beeping,ear buds in our ears, traffic, tv's going, it's a pretty noisy world! Just stop what you're doing and listen, maybe where you are is quiet? Maybe it's noisy like so many others?

My job is in a shop where it is usually noisy. Yet when I first get to work it is quiet. The first thing I do is turn on the radio's. I can't always hear the songs over all the other noises. I still for some reason need that noise playing all day.

I was all alone sitting at 14000 feet on top of a mountain. Usually it is pretty windy and cold there. This particular day it was beautiful, sunny, windless, and so quiet!! I didn't want to leave!

Later two other hikers came up by me and asked how it was up there. I could only comment: "Absolutely Serene".

Quiet does seem to allow more of God into our lives. Quiet is where God can find us and be with us alone. Take some quiet time and spend it with God. Verses: 1 Thess 4: 11 Zep 3: 17 Psalm 23(all)

"Mountain Tops" Still all Gods'" (mostly)

I guess I am obsessed by mountains! It seems everywhere I turn there they are. Maybe it is because I live so close to them? Maybe they call out to me to come and explore?

More likely I just am challenged to climb them and awed to be on top! I guess I could say I never met a mountain I didn't like! There is insight into why I love mountains. Each one is as unique and special as the next. Even seemingly lesser ones still have great character. The overall elevation is not a definition of splendor!!

The best part is the untouched by man factor. Other than a trail and maybe a few cairns to guide the way, it is all Gods design. Mountains are still just as God made them. Man has respectfully left the majority of mountains alone. I am completely convinced that God hangs out on mountain tops! After all it gives him a broad and all encompassing view of all he has created!!

Verses: Isaiah 52: 7 Isaiah 55: 12 Phil 4: 8

"Uphills Hard, Downhills Harder"

I think I know this fact? I think I remember writing about it before? Oh well, must be important to come up again? Runners will tell you that their bodies suffer more going down hill than up. Kind of seems backwards, to climb a hill your heart and lungs are in full force. To come down would seem that gravity would take over.

The issue is the body. The impact and stress of downhill is more than uphill. Even though the energy needed may be less it tends to be more pain full.

In other areas of life this can also be true. Hard work and perseverance can propel us up and to seemingly high point in life. What happens when that changes? Layoffs, illness, bad choices, fate, all can change our position on the hill!

Now coming back down can be extremely hard. We need God and prayer and a new sense of who and what our lives are about. Probably like the runner we may need to slow down and avoid some of the pain! The hill will end and we will be running along easily again!

Verses: Psalm 42(all) 2 Cor 7: 6 Heb 12: 1-13

"Please People Don't"

I guess we could call this" Soap-box time"! Maybe we need more people to get up on their soap boxes and address real problems in this world.

Nothing seems to bother me as much as what some people do!!! Please people don't, leave your discards behind. I am so often aware of other peoples' trash and left over containers and such, everywhere I go. Please people don't, abuse this great land for what it is! Disrespect and no regard for nature and the land we live on is disheartening and discouraging. It really is not that difficult to take care of our own messes. Some larger ones may require a group effort.( Gulf oil Spill). Generally if we all are conscious and concerned we can reduce our impact on the Earth.

Lastly, Please people don't, take advantage of, abuse, or hurt one another! Treat all of mankind with love and respect, just as God would have us do!!

Verses: Lev 19 (all) 1 Peter 2: 17 1 Peter 3: 7

"Refuel"

Maybe our lives eventually need some pick-up. We just feel a desire to be alone and closer to God. Maybe for some it is easier than others? Maybe our stages of life will determine how much fuel we have? God may just want us to stop and listen with more clarity.

Any way it may be it still is important to when we need "refueled". I have an opportunity to be away and alone for the balance of the week, and look forward to hanging out with God!! Inspiration, reflection, and all kinds of possibilities exist. My experience can only broaden my outlook and mission in life. Pray: God wherever you lead us, we will find new growth. God, fuel each of us with Holy Spirit power and desire. God, hear our prayers and fill our hearts with you!! Verses: Luke 4: 1-14 Phil 1: 19-30 Phil 2: 1-18

"Change of Plans"

When we think we have it all figured out we may be in for a surprise. I am recently amazed at how many people I have met that, that is the case. From my blind friends to deaf ones, disabled ones, recovering from XYZ friends. Their lives are in a new mode. They may or may not be responsible for what happened but all definitely are getting their plans changed!!

Planning for the future has always been encouraged by many. We will all need provisions for retirement. We all can benefit from being prepared for aging bodies and shrinking income. The big picture is for God to know and us to see as it happens. But there are no guarantees of any kind. The only guarantee is to know God and have faith God will lead us home!!!

Pray: God, Life is precious and we all want to live well. God, we trust that no matter what plans are altered over the course of time, your plan stands firm!!!

Verses: Job 42: 1-3 Eph 1: 11-14 Hebrews 4 (all)