Friday Photos

 

This is one of my favorite photos of all time. We had been kayaking along the eastern shore of Mobile Bay, and I took this picture from my kayak when we reached our put-in.

When I placed the trilogy of pictures at the top, I wanted to emphasize the change noted in the verse I used. All Christians are in a state of growth and change," from glory to glory."

"But we all, with open face beholding as in a glass the glory of the Lord; are changed into the same image from glory to glory, 

even as by the Spirit of the Lord."

2 Corinthians 3:18

Being Triggered

Many people today speak of being "triggered," which is usually a negative reaction to something that has occurred. I have moments of being "triggered" as well, but they are much different. 

I usually easily go to the Lord with thoughts of my own needs or those of my family, but I often need reminders to pray for the needs of others.

I was thinking of that today when I was cleaning the sink.  It reminded me to pray for a friend of mine who recently underwent a cardiac procedure.  You may wonder why my sink made me think to pray for her.  First of all, I am sure the Lord used the cleaning of my sink to prompt me to pray for my friend because one day, she and I had a conversation about cleaning the kitchen sink.  Not an earth-shaking topic nor an earth-shaking conversation, but the Lord used it to bring my thinking to her so I would pray for her.

I am a firm believer in what I call "prayer triggers." For example, the sound of a siren reminds me to pray for first responders. Seeing a school bus reminds me to pray for our friend who drove a school bus for several years. (I imagine she needed those prayers!) I have many such triggers, where everyday things remind me to pray for someone else. Now, I have a "kitchen sink" prayer trigger.

The wonderful thing about prayer is that we can do it anytime, anywhere, in any position.  Our prayers are not required to be long and flowery.  A simple lifting up of that person's name is sufficient; God knows the details.  However, if we do desire to pray about specifics, that is perfectly good as well.

If we had just a glimpse of how precious our prayers are to the Lord, we would find prayer to be one of the most delightful events of our day. Our prayers to the Lord are so precious to Him that we find this verse in the Old Testament: 

"...let me hear thy voice; for sweet is thy voice..." 

Song of Solomon 2:14.

If My Voice
If my voice is sweet to you, Lord,
As Your Word declares,
And if somehow you find delight in my prayers.
And if Your face You call me to seek, Lord,
Your face I will seek…
And my voice You will hear…

All Things Ellie Tuesday

Let me tell you a little about Ellie.

Ellie is a full-blooded beagle.  She is almost five years old. We got her from Jeffco Kennels in Livingston, LA, and she is the best beagle we have had.

Our previous beagle, Sparrow, was a sweet soul of a dog and lived to be over 13. When she died of congestive heart failure, we were brokenhearted and not sure if we wanted another dog.  We began seeking the Lord's will in that regard.  At the same time, I began looking at breeders on the internet to acquire information in case we decided to get another dog.

I found Mr. Jeff and Mrs. Lisa, who own and operate Jeffco Kennels and was very impressed with how they cared for and socialized their puppies. Shortly after Sparrow's death, one of the momma beagles at Jeffco became pregnant with a litter. Ellie was one of eight puppies in that litter. It was right around that time that we decided to get another dog—of course, it had to be a beagle. 

Ellie's first car ride

We picked Ellie up on May 1st. She weighed 3 lbs. 3 ozs. and was the cutest little bundle of puppy! When we picked her up, she was almost potty trained, and she settled into the rhythm of our family immediately. Everyone loved Ellie, and Elllie loved everyone. (Except for maybe this one woman who walks around the block, but that's another story for another day.) 

Unlike the stereotype, Ellie adores our mailman.  If we are outside when he comes by, she will pull me until I take her to see him.  And it isn't because she wants one of the dog treats he keeps in his truck.  She loves to see him, and he loves her back.

Ellie's favorite thing to do is eat. She loves chicken best. She also loves to take walks, especially when she can stop and smell as much as she likes.

Curious Ellie

Ellie is a great travel dog. She loves the car and sits contentedly in the back seat. She adapts to any situation, whether we stay in a hotel or with friends. She loves to go hiking with us, and we love exposing her to new things. 

We had one beagle who loved water, and I was curious to see how Ellie would respond to a river. She was not interested at all!

Ellie has been exposed to many other animals, including cats, dogs, turtles, cows, and horses. On subsequent Tuesdays, I will tell you about some of those encounters.

The most important thing to tell you about Ellie is that she is absolutely a gift and blessing from the Lord. Not a day goes by that I do not thank the Lord for bringing her into our lives and reminding us through her how much he loves us!

"Every good gift and every perfect gift is from above, and cometh down from the Father of lights, with whom is no variableness, neither shadow of turning."

James 1: 17

The Undead Snake

One of the 44 trestles on the VCT

 A couple years ago, Glen and I decided we would hike the Virginia Creeper Trail.  

This old railway trail has been converted into a biking and hiking trail.  It is 32 miles long, begins in Abingdon, VA, and ends in Whitetop, VA, close to the Virginia/North Carolina State Line.

We had been on this trail before when we were doing a section hike on the Appalachian Trail. For several miles, the VCT and the AT share the same path. This exposure to the VCT led us back in the summer of 2023.

The VCT has 44 trestles along the 32 miles of trail, which makes this trail special.  Some of these trestles cross creeks and rivers, and some cross ravines.  I love the fact that they are each numbered, so you can easily keep up with which ones you have crossed.

We were crossing one of these trestles when I noticed a black snake on one side. I observed the snake for a bit and ensured I was well out of its way, but the snake never moved. I did not see the slightest movement, and I remember telling Glen, "Look, this poor snake died up here on the trestle."

We continued our hike, which was to be an "out and back," which meant we would go out a particular distance and then turn around and retrace our steps to where we began.

I didn't want to see the snake again because I thought it was so sad.  Imagine my surprise when we reached that trestle and the snake was still there but in a different place!  The snake hadn't been dead, merely resting.  Or perhaps feigning death as a protection from predators.

When I remembered this the other day, it made me think that just because we think something is dead doesn't make it true. There are so many times in our lives when we think something is dead—some hope, dream, or prayer. But it isn't. God just isn't finished with it yet.

Because we live totally in the realm of time, we forget that the Lord is eternal. He had a plan for mankind before He created the world. His plan includes everything—me, you, and everything about us.  

"My times are in Thy hand: deliver me from the hand of mine enemies, and from them that persecute me." Psalm 31:15

One of my daughters frequently says, "Trust the process."  This is exactly what our attitude toward the Lord should be. Trust Him.  He knows everything about everything, and we do not.  Or, as our dear friend Wayne emphatically states, "God is God, and we ain't!"

"O give thanks unto the Lord; for He is good; 

for His mercy endureth for ever."

1 Chronicles 16:234