Saturday, October 1, 2022
Mountain Lore
Monday, November 1, 2021
Lakes & Rivers
Part "deux"
See, there is a river whose streams make glad the City of God, the dwelling places of the Most High. Psalm 46:4 |
Trees in Autumn
As mentioned in other postings from this date, we recently took a trip to the White Mountains, in the far eastern part of Arizona, near New Mexico. A different look for AZ, for those of you not familiar with the state, right? Here is some fall foliage on the trees, some with evergreen mixed in. The colorful trees are quaking aspens, so named because their leaves shimmer at the slightest gust of breeze. They are a poplar, related to cottonwoods and Eurasian poplars. Regarding evergreens, the elevation was high enough in spots to see Douglas-fir and true fir trees. I think there was some spruce around, but we didn't get photographs.
Saturday, May 1, 2021
"The Desert Shall Blossom"
In Isaiah 35:1, the Bible says:
"The wilderness and parched land will be glad:
And the desert-plain will rejoice and blossom."
These passages originally spoke of a spiritual blossoming with Messiah's coming. Secondarily, they hint at the perfection of the natural world in the recreation to come in heaven.
We are seeing a somewhat more literal version of this in our own backyard this spring. This is a mixture of area wildflowers and cultivars from elsewhere. Enjoy!
Common Poppy |
Shirley Poppy? |
African Daisies |
Phlox & Wood Sorrel (one of many things called "shamrock") |
Snap Dragons
|
Prickly Pear |
Drought Resistant Pine (Canary Island Pine?) |
Black eye Susan with Bachelor's Button
Black-eye Susans are my favorite flower. They are native to the Midwestern US. After many years of trying, I got them (with God's help!) to come up here last year. The above photo was about to open when I first posted. Now it has, with more to come. Below is a link to a poem I wrote about Black-eye Susans.
Tuesday, February 2, 2021
Moisture Comes to Arizona
Sunday, August 2, 2020
[Joy & Peace in Believing]
(from the Olney hymns)
Sometimes a light surprises
The Christian while he sings;
It is the Lord who rises
With healing on His wings;*
When comforts are declining,
He grants the soul again
A season of clear shining,
To cheer it after rain.
In holy contemplation
We sweetly then pursue
The theme of God's salvation,
And find it ever new;
Set free from present sorrow,
We cheerfully can say,
E'en let the unknown to-morrow
Bring with it what it may!
It can bring with it nothing,
But He will bear us through;
Who gives the lilies clothing,**
Will clothe His people too;
Beneath the spreading heavens
No creature but is fed;
And He who feeds the ravens
Will give His children bread.
Though vine nor fig tree neither***
Their wonted fruit shall bear,
Though all the field should wither,
Nor flocks nor herds be there:
Yet God the same abiding,
His praise shall tune my voice;
For, while in Him confiding,
I cannot but rejoice.
--William Cowper [pronounced "Cooper"], 1779; part of Olney
hymns, written alongside his friend, John Newton, author of
"Amazing Grace"
*Malchi 4:2-- the Sun of Righteousness [Christ] will rise with
healing in His wings. This idea is also found in a verse of "Hark
the Herald Angels Sing"
**Matthew 6 & Luke 12-- Jesus told His followers that God
clothes the grasses in beautiful lilies that outshine wealthy King
Solomon's best clothing. He feeds the birds, specifically ravens,
though they don't work and plan as the farmer does. Jesus tells His
followers that His Father will certainly take care of them, also, and
that they shouldn't worry.
***Habakkuk 3:17-19, a paraphrase. If all else goes badly, rejoice.
This is not idle, wishful thinking, nor pie in the sky optimism.
Cowper suffered from crippling, pitch black depression at a time
before there were psychiatric medications.
(Habakkuk is one of my favorite books of the Bible.)
Thursday, June 25, 2020
You Have Searched Me
(Psalm 139:1-10; 14. An original translation.)
Yahweh, You searched me;
Thus You know me.
My sitting down and my rising up You know.
My disposition You discern from a distance.
My path and lying down you sort out,
And my entire way You make useful.
A word is not yet formed on my tongue,
And, yet You, O Yahweh, already know it.
Behind me and in front of me You close me in,
And upon me have You placed the palm of Your Hand.
Too wonderful for me is this Knowledge!
She is high: I cannot reach her!
Where could I go from Your Spirit?
And where might I flee from Your Face?
Were I to ascend to the skies,
You would be there.
And were I to make my bed in the depths of the earth,
Indeed, You would be there.
Were I to rise on the wings of the dawn
And were I to dwell at the edge of the sea,
Even there your Hand would hold and guide me,
And your strength would sustain me. . .
I praise You,
For I am fearfully and wonderfully made;
Your works are wonderful,
How rightly I realize this!
Saturday, December 1, 2018
The Word
In the beginning,
All Nature resounded with THE joyous WORD.
THE WORD was recorded by the prophets,
God's Holy Men of old.
"In the beginning was THE WORD,
And THE WORD was with GOD,
and THE WORD was God.
This One was with God in the beginning." (John 1:1-2)
THE WORD was spoken to the Virgin Mary,
She conceived and bore a Son,
For in the fullness of time,
And laid Him in a feed trough,
For there was no place else for Him.
Shepherds heard THE WORD from Angels,
Wise men came to view THE WORD,
Led by their star's bright light.
THE WORD gives men wisdom,
For THE WORD is, itself, WISDOM. (Proverbs 8)
The Wise Men gave THE WORD gifts,
But THE WORD gave them greater gifts.
Though they left Bethlehem,
THE WORD never left them.
THE WORD has been handed down now
Through countless number of ages.
But THE WORD still stays among us,
Speaking as plainly to people as ever.
So, we, too, have seen His glory,
The glory of the One-and-Only-Begotten from the Father,
Full of grace and truth. . .
"Your WORD is TRUTH." (John 17:17)
As it has from time immemorial. . .
"Your WORD is a Lamp unto my feet
And a Light unto my path." (Psalm 119:105)
THE WORD brightens and cheers the walk
And leads us to Himself.
---C. Marie Byars, 1989
St. Louis, Graduate School
(original Bible Translations)