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The Heritage Of The Righteous

For evildoers shall be cut off; But those who wait on the Lord, they shall inherit the earth.  Psalms 37:9

Don’t worry about evil persons, or concern yourself when they seem to flourish all around you

For they will not continue for long and their path will soon be cut off

Don’t be envious of their ways, or, desire their lifestyle. 

For as sure as the night turns to day, they will be removed; and though you may look they will not be found

Instead, trust in all the ways of our Lord, and do good

Live according to His righteousness and He will give you the desires of your heart. He will make your life shine before all people, and you will inherit all the good things of God’s kingdom

Do not worry about those who do wrong. Or become overcome by fears, because the wicked are succeding

Don’t allow yourself to be consumed by anger when they carry our their schemes. Or, fret about all the evil they have done

For all of your worry and wrath will do you no good. It only brings harm

Instead, trust in God. Place all your cares upon Him and He will soon bring you peace

In a little while the wicked will be no more, for God will cut them off

If the way a person lives delights our God, He will make their steps sure

Even when they stumble, He will not allow them to fall. God will surely lift them up and uphold their life

He will not foresake those He loves, but ruthless schemers will only go so far. They may grow strong for a time, but suddenly they will be brought low; You will look, but they will not be found

It is better then, to make all your ways blameless before our God

Commit to His ways that demonstrate perfect justice and it will be as life for you

There is a future for all those who trust in the Lord. For He watches over the lives of all the faithful, to protect them from evil and injustice

Our God loves those who trust in Him, and these He will bless with an everlasting inheritence.

1/2/2011

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The Incredible Wanderer

The Wandering Glider (Pantala flavescens)

One morning a few weeks ago, I stepped out into my yard and entered a familiar place, my pollinator garden. Almost immediately I spotted a plain looking Dragonfly resting on a branch soaking up the early sunlight. It had large eyes, clear veined wings, and a body that was light green and dull yellow. I was lucky that I came out early and it was still at rest, for I was able to sneak up and snap a couple of pictures. Seconds later, it flew up and circled the garden in effortless flight.

I’ve learned something important in recent years. When we take the time and effort to look closer at the life that lives all around us, we see so much more that we ever thought possible. There are thousands of species living in the places near where we live that we regularly pass by and never learn anything about. Some of these are truly incredible creatures that inspire us, wow us with their beauty, or surprise us with a unique ability. Life on this planet is amazing, and a wonderful slice of it is happening every day just outside our doors. As I have looked closer at what lives in the world around me, it became obvious that God did not make a simple world for us to live in. It is truly astounding in its complexity and function, yet in equal measure, it is filled with beauty and life giving qualities. 

When I went back in to have a morning cup of coffee, I thought about the visitor I had just seen. It looked a little different than other dragonflies I had seen recently. So, I uploaded my pictures and used an app to help me identify it. It came up as a Wandering Glider. Hmm, something I had never seen before, and I felt honored that this new visitor felt inclined to stop by this tiny garden within God’s vast creation.

As I sipped my coffee, I began to read about this creature. There was a lot of information about this one, perhaps because it was an unusually widespread insect. Infact, the most widespread Dragonfly on the entire earth. But, even more surprising to me was its ability as a long distance traveler. This small bug is perhaps the most exceptional migrator and navigator I had ever heard of. Some populations of the Wandering Glider have multigenerational migrations that span over eleven thousand miles. They travel across continents, the worlds highest mountain ranges, even vast oceans to follow the wet warm seasons of winds and moisture such as the famous monsoons.

I read about a scientist who studied one of their most amazing journeys. He found that a very large population of these insects migrate across the entire Indian Ocean from East Africa to India, nearly two thousand miles. Out over the water, these Dragonflies cannot land, or eat, but somehow they have enough strength to cover this distance flying nonstop in about five days. They use an inate knowledge of the weather and seasons to follow the monsoons and weather patterns of this region. They ride on the winds of these storms at just the right times and altitudes like fine skilled sailors. Back and forth they fly from Africa to India and from India to Africa over and over, for multiple generations. It just so happens that these weather patterns bring rains which wet the land, allowing this dragonfly to successfully lay millions of eggs into puddles and ponds on both continents. Being the voracious preditor they are, their larva consume literally billions of mosquito larva in these pools of water, keeping the pest populations in check and reducing the spread of infectious diseases like Malaria and Dengue.

After a couple days, the Wandering Gliders who had visited my humble garden moved on, likely to the north to a place of there own knowing. But I have not forgotten them. Life is truly surprising, and I’m reminded what an incredible place this Earth is when I see something that may not appear that special, but really blows me away. It strengthens my belief in God to see these wonders in the world that He created. I believe we all benefit from eachother and that this place is not just for us, but for all the life that lives here. It strengthens my resolve that it is absolutely worth protecting, because all of God’s creatures and plants each can tell similarly amazing stories. How important then that we try to save this place and keep things intact as best we can. For God created all of this abundant creation for our benefit and also for the prosperity of the life that lives here. 

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Let All The Earth Praise Him

“Oh Lord, our Lord, How excellent is Your name in all the earth!” Psalm 8:9

Shout praises to the Lord of all creation. Give glory to Him who reigns

Sing songs of gratitude for His mercy and love; give thanks for the multitude of His blessings

Sing forth all you mountains. Bend low, every hillside. Tremble, before His power and majesty

Raise your branches, every tree. Reach them high towards the heavens. Dance as the wind of His Spirit rustles through your leaves that catch the sun’s glowing light

Give honor to Him, all you vineyards; and blessing you fertile fields. For He has given you richness in great abundance, so that you might bless all the earth with plenty

Call forth you songbirds. Cry out every Eagle on high. Give honor to Him, darting swallows, for He has given you the wind beneath your wings

In thanksgiving bow before Him. With gratitude give him praise. For He has fed you from His abundance and placed the miracle of life within your frame

Call out you azure heavens. Raise up you mighty thunder clouds. Give glory to Him who stands above you, and stirs you like dust beneath His feet

Shine forth, every golden sunbeam. Illuminate God’s good earth, whom He alone has made

Give light to all His children, so they might glory at the beauty of His creation

Whisper soft hymns, you quiet waters. Reflect forth images of His goodness and mercy. Give drink to all those who thirst, and life to all that lives and breathes

Give honor to the God of the heavens, sing praise to Him who made this Earth

Offer, each day, a sacrifice of grateful thanksgiving for all the good things He has done

Our God is higher than all of His creation. He is greater than anything known

Sing, for He is awesome

Raise you voices, because of the magnitude of His glory

Lift up His name, for He is more than worthy of all of our praise. 11/5/2006

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A Well Placed Bench

“Pray to your Father who is in the secret place, and your Father who sees you in secret will reward you openly” Matthew 6:6

In most every garden I have taken care of in my life I found a place where I could go to pray during my breaks. They were always in a quiet, out of the way area, where I could reliably find about fifteen minutes of undisturbed time. Often, I would just choose a spot and and then add a chair or small bench. It was somewhat important that these places be more comfortable in the cold of winter, or in the heat of summer. I found that nearly every garden has at least a place or two that are perfect for prayer. The main thing was to find a place that was condusive for spending some uninterupted time talking to God.

In one garden I recall, there was a well placed bench out in the back of the garden. It was found at the end of a path that looked out above the entire property, as well as the town beyond. Large trees surrounded and protected the bench from winds and provided nice shade in the summer and they also allowed sun to warm me on those cold winter mornings. Here there was often the fragrance of flowers in the air and the sounds of birds singing in the trees and down in the garden below. Even the subtle soundtrack of the city noise in the distance provided a valuable context for prayer. Most spots, of course, were not as idyllic as this one, but they each provided me an important place to conect with God each day.

There is truly no other way like prayer to draw near to God. When we step away from distraction and begin to talk and connect with our God truly amazing things can come about. Jesus himself told us to withdraw to our secret place and pray frequently. It is perhaps even more true in these days that we take time to do this most important activity. Think about how many times Christ withdrew from His busy schedule of teaching, healing, and dealing with all kinds of people each day. I’m sure He must have prayed to His Father every day, many times. I’m guessing some of us could do better that were currently doing. I know I could. From experience, I remember how my life has been transformed during the times and seasons when I made prayer a focus. Our lives are busy and full of things that occupy our attention, but we must set aside these things as best we can, and focus our attention upon the things that truly matter in our life within the Kingdom of God.

For some of you it may be a real challenge to find a place and time that is free from distraction and responsibility. But if you set your mind upon it, God will show you a way. Explore the possibilities you have before the day gets really started. How about fifteen minutes, a quiet room, a cup of coffee, and a Bible verse to get you started. Or, maybe you are as lucky as I was at work and you can find a quiet place at break or lunch. In truth, I have probably prayed the most in my car or truck when I had some time to spend with God wherever I was. God will provide a place, if you look for one. Perhaps there is a well placed bench somewhere near you. Or you might be able to place one in your very own garden. 

The most important thing to remember is that we have been instructed by God to make persistant effective prayer towards Him a priority in our lives. When we do, we will begin to see our faith life grow closer in His presence, which is filled with His Spirit, love, grace, wisdom and power.; and there, He will begin to transform our lives in many new and life filling ways.

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Renew Your Faith in God

“And do not be conformed this world, but be transformed by the renewing of your mind, that you might prove what is that good and acceptable and perfect will of God.” Romans 12:2

Be renewed in faith, and learn again to trust in God. For He is our hope and salvation. The one true and living God who watches over us

Remember

Rouse up your memory, so that you might be restored

Recall those days when He was alive in you, and your life was found in Him

Lift up your heart. Clear out the haze that has cloaked your mind

Purify yourself, so that you might know His fellowship again. Seek His forgiveness for sins with a spirit of repentance, so that the road ahead would be clear

Seek after your God!

Call out to Him. Spend time in prayer each day until the eyes of your heart sees Him, and your life is filled with His Spirit again

Don’t wait for another day, until it is convenient. Delay no more, for He is waiting besides you

Sing out to Him and lift up your praises unto Him

Give thanks for everything you can think of, for He has given it all to you, and more

Walk towards Him. Follow the one true path that leads to life

Hurry, if you have the strength

Rest upon His promises

Work towards His upward calling

Enjoy the peace of His love and salvation. The only sure thing that exists in this world

Stand upon the life of Jesus Christ, the one true savior of all mankind

Renew yourself

Cease from sin and from worthless distractions. Steer clear of the traps that are laid all around, and follow all the good ways of God

He is trustworthy

He is our strength

He loves us with a power that is beyond our understanding and rejoices over those who have faith

Be strong and don’t give up

For all those who seek to continually renew themselves in Him, each day, will surely taste the sweetness of His love and salvation. 12/23/2010

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Blessed Things

As I prayed this morning, my mind focused on a project I was in the middle of. The construction of a new shed. There was some details that had come up with the builder and my mind was awash with solutions and problems… all the what ifs. Then something interesting happened. Since I was in prayer and the moment should be more God focused, I turned the ownership of my shed around and decided to dedicate it to the Lord. I asked Him to bless it’s construction and its existence in this world, so that it might honor Him in any way it could. And this, made all the difference in my perspective.

I started thinking about when I had asked God to bless things of mine before in my life, There was a house, a property, and a truck that I needed to buy. There were gardens and jobs, trees that I had planted, and even the pages of words that I have written that were put into print. These became my blessed places after I had asked God to take them and use them through me for His Glory. It changed my whole attitude and the way that I valued these things and it stayed with me all the days that I ‘owned’ them.

It’s amazing how God can power us through a simple act as this. In truth, I should be placing everything in my life before God. Isn’t it amazing and humbling that all we have is His to begin with. Each thing that God brings into our lives are really just gifts that we can use to glorify Him in whatever way we can. He owns them all, but He has allowed us to own them for a time, a chunk of this and a part of that. Tools that I use, spaces He allows me to manage, even my friends, family, and the people I come into contact each day. These people whom He considers His most precious possesions. This is God’s intention of how we should conduct ourselves in this life.

Our loving God created us to live in this place, and He has given us all that we need. Indeed, we pass through this world in a blip of time within the span of a great eternity. And yet He made us, so that we might live before Him and enjoy the wonder and beauty of all His goodness. It is therefore, our duty to honor Him and live our lives according to His Will. So that we might consecrate our lives, and all the things He has given us, into honoring Him for all that He has done.

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Mercy’s Prayer

Lord God, help me always follow Your will and Your Way

Let me not to get too caught up in the ways of the world

Show me the right path, that You desire of me

By Your Spirit and through Your Word. Give me insight into Your truth. Mend my heart, and soften my tendency towards stubborness

Let me show mercy, goodness, and grace towards others, as You bring them before me each day

When I have been quick to judge and shown contempt for those I do not even know, help me not be too swayed by the rhetoric of these times. Which only works to consolidate power towards those who are already powerful, and shows contempt for the weak and lowly among us

Jesus Himself, once stood in a temple ruled by the religious authorities of that time, and behold, before Him stood a man who was both a cripple and poor

There, the leaders of the temple stood and watched Him. They positioned themselves as the ones who were holy and righteous above all others

In all power and authority they ruled over God’s people and they looked upon Jesus with great contempt

Jesus stood before them, full of the Spirit of the living God. He was the very incarnation of God Himself, filled with the supernatural beauty of His love and grace

Jesus looked upon the injured man, whose life had become such a struggle, and He desired to heal him and make His life complete again; To openly show the love of God for a man who had simply come in faith that day

In their selfish hearts, the temple leaders gazed at the very Son of God, waiting to see if He would sin against their man made rules 

They glared at Him in utter hatred, because He was not like them at all

In the rigidity of their own laws, they had neglected God’s mercy. Because of the hardness of their own hearts, they showed their own hatred, but not God’s grace

For when Jesus reached out and took hold of the poor man’s hand, and healed him. They reacted in anger, jeolousy, and hatred; seeking a quick way to destroy Jesus’ life

Oh, how can we get it wrong so often? Is it because we trust in our own ways and not in God’s?

What ugliness wells up from us, when we act out in pride and selfish ways. It obscures the beauty of God’s love that exists as His banner for all to see

The Word of God is clear

The Gospels of our Lord Jesus Christ show us without any doubt

That We need to live our lives before Him and renew our faith each day, so that we may show His mercy, goodness, and grace to all. So that we may express, as best we can, the essential nature of our Lord

My God and Savior, help me each day to not be led away with the doctrines of man

Show me the right path, as You lead me by Your Spirit and by Your Word

Help me see the love You have for Your people, so that I may not be quick to judge them

But that I might be willing to help them in any way that I can  3/26/2025

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Morning

I awoke earlier than I had expected this morning. Fumbling around in the dark to find my socks, my phone does a belly flop on the hardwood floor. Smack, my dog grumbles her disapproval. You see it was her doing that I had arose so early. Her mumbling growls awoke me from a deep slumber. Something was up outside that her keen ears had detected, some critter stirring, an unfamiliar sound… a distant bark from one of her buddies.

So it was out into the morning we went. The storm from the night before was long past. A few clouds remained and skidded low over the nearby hills. One, which appeared avian, like a Sparrow gazing out across the valley. Its hopeful eyes studied the new day to come. There was light off to the east, a general glow out towards the horizon. Venus was stationed there her white brightness shone like a small bright searchlight. Always preferring the beauty of twilight, she announced the coming of this new day.

There were stars up there, too, though they were finishing up their closing act from last nights show. I was surprised to see some familiar actors from other seasons up there. The stars from some of my favorite nights out. Oh those fond memories of a balmy late summer evening laying back on a flat slab of granite high in the Sierra. Looking up to see the sparkle of a thousand stars sprinkled across the heavens. Of course the glowing stream of the Milky Way must have been up there, too, adding both depth and grandeur to the wonder of those nights.

But now, the flow of sunlight rising up from just below the arc of our earth has outshone those billions of worlds that resided above me. Only the brightest stars remained. Finding the Big Dipper, I followed its two pointer stars to the north. Ah, there it was, the north star, slightly to the left of where my eyes had searched. Geographical orientation locked in, I studied the heavens anew. Ninety degrees right, looking due east, I stood firm riding this spinning earth directly towards the sun. Bonzai!

What wonders lie just outside our doors; Incredible sights and sublime beauty. It calms and heals my soul to look upon these things each day in wonder. With deep gratitude, I give thanks to the maker of all that this morning has given me. What a great God He is!

The Sparrow has disappeared, the glow in the east grows brighter. The air is crisp and still, yet there is the sound of things beginning to stir. Birds are chirping, a car rolls by on a distant road. Soon I will be moving out into this world, getting things done, pursuing the things that this world demands. But, I will remain grounded in the things I have seen early this day and be assured that all is well. Because our God and creator, the one who has made all this has shown me a greater perspective this morning. I know that He is greater that all the petty things we have dreamed up here and that He still reigns over all this earth and also, across the heavens above. 1/17/2024

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The Highest Thing We Can Know

'Such knowledge is too wonderful for me, too lofty for me to attain' Psalm 139:6
Such knowledge is too wonderful for me, too lofty for me to attain. Psalm 139:6

The eyes of the Lord watch over all the Earth. They see in varied and abundant ways

No one can hide themselves from Him. There is nowhere that He does not exist

Live in awe of our Creator, be amazed by the magnitude of His glorious ways

We see in three dimensions; our minds have conceived of four. Some, who are inclined to dwell upon these things believe there may be more. Only God knows how many may exist

He inhabits every part of all that is

The Lord, our God, is filled with love for His creation. He regards those who trust in Him

He gave us His Son, Jesus Christ, as a measure of His love, so that we might more fully know Him and that we might dwell with Him for all eternity

Blessed are we who trust in Him as our savior. His children, the ones whom He looks upon with love. He pours out the blessing of His Spirit upon us, so that we might more fully know and experience His presence

We are finite and incredibly small in comparison to the width and breath of this all. The gift of life is poured out to each of us, but in the end our light is extinguished in death

How great then, is this gift of God. What beauty is bestowed upon us that we can overcome this sentence and be given life forever more

Our God is an awesome presence that fills all the universe. He comes and dwells within us as we trust and believe in Him

God sees our form, the Spirit of Christ searches us out. He dwells within us so that we might know Him and more fully understand the riches of His goodness and grace

Our lives are a miracle

The Lord, our God, has made each one of us. This gift which we were given, is incredible, it is highest thing that we can know

As we acknowledge Him as our Savior, and lift up His name with our highest praise, we live out our purpose and fulfill the reason we are here

Glorious God and King we fix our eyes upon You and bend the entire focus of our life towards Your glory, so that we may glorify You in all that we do.   4/18/2022

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The Two Paths We Take

Therefore, since we have been justified through faith, we have peace with God through our Lord Jesus Christ, through whom we have gained access by faith into this grace in which we now stand. And we boast in the hope of the glory of God. Romans 5:8

All those who trust in the Lord shall find abundant help during their life

Our God will lift them up when they have fallen and comfort their every sorrow. He will direct their steps to safety and fill their lives with goodness and blessing

But to those who choose not to seek their God, He will continue to call out to them and not withhold any of the blessings common to life

In patience, He will place His message before them, even for as long as all the days of their life

The believer always has fellowship with God. They will be as close companions with Him each day. He will fill their lives with His presence and give to them His wisdom and mercy

But to those who choose not to believe and walk away from the path of God, they will draw near to perilous places, and there they will become easy prey

By their own choices, they will take dangerous paths as they seek their own glory. They will follow after empty pleasures and reap shallow rewards

The just in God will gladly accept the wisdom of His Word and learn great truths that will direct them.

They will find safety in the way that they go. Honor will find them, and hope, when there might not seem to be a way

But the person who shuns God, will not clearly see the dangers that surround them. They will be blinded by a false sense of security. Ultimately, it will be their ruin, and an end that will have no way to sustain them

In every place that the believer may go, God will call to them. He will not stop loving them even though they may feel like giving up

The wonder of the truth of God is before all people, but the faithless ignore Him each day. The evidence of His truth, power, goodness, and mercy is there before all our senses, but many will refuse to believe

In the end God will not force them, even though they will die without hope, separated from the only thing that could have saved them. 1/10/2010