The Grand Canyon

A week ago I went to the Grand Canyon. It was my first time.  Words cannot adequately describe the grandeur, immense size, and shear beauty that is on display through His creation at the canyon.
The psalmist writes, "O Lord, our Lord, how majestic is your name in all the earth!" (Psalm 8:1).   After taking a half a day to see many views of the canyon, I leave in awe of an awesome God!

There is no way after going to the Grand Canyon that one can say, "There is no God."  "The heavens declare the glory of God; the skies proclaim the work of his hands.  Day after day they pour forth speech; night after night they display knowledge.  There is no speech or language  where their voice is not heard.  Their voice goes out into all the earth, their words to the ends of the world" (Psalm 19:1-4).    

Snow

Snow, we got a lot this year.  That may be an understatement.  We got a more snow than I have ever seen in my life!  Due to the severe cold and snow we received this winter, Chicago was renamed Chiberia (Chicago +Siberia = Chiberia).

Today we picked up another 3-5" depending where one lives in the Chicagoland area.  This snow fall was like no other one we have received this season. It was wet and clung to the trees.  As result, this snow was a beautifully, awesome display of God's glory.  Even these pictures cannot capture what the human eye could see today.

The word "snow"is used a lot in the Bible.  Here are some verses that throttle my heart.

"As the rain and the snow come down from heaven, and do not return to it without watering the earth and making it bud and flourish, so that it yields seed for the sower and bread for the eater, so is my word that goes out from my mouth: it will not return to me empty, but will accomplish what I desire and achieve the purpose for which I sent it."  Isaiah 55:12-13

"Come now, let us reason together," says the LORD.  "Though your sins are like scarlet, they shall be white as snow; though they are red like crimson, they shall be like wool." Isaiah 1:18

"Cleanse me with hyssop, and I will be clean;  wash me, and I will be whiter than snow." Psalm 51:7

"As I looked, "thrones were set in place, and the Ancient of Days took his seat.  His clothing was as white as snow; the hair of his head was white like wool."  Daniel 7:9

No Reserves. No Retreats. No Regrets.

What grips You at Christmas?

"The Word became flesh and made his dwelling among us.  We have seen his glory, the glory of the One and Only who came from the Father, full of grace and truth" (John 1:14).

Thankful for Grace

11-12-13

Today is almost over.  As I have been writing down the date numerous times at work during the day I was reminded there will only be one day in history with the date -- 11-12-13 -- being in consecutive order for the month, day, and year.   Similarly, I have been camping in the book of Philippians for part of this year as I study through it with a friend.  These verses in Paul's letter to the church of Philippi come to mind that have 11, 12, and 13 in them.

Philippians 1:11, "filled with the fruit of righteousness that comes through Jesus Christ -- to the glory and praise of God."


Philippians 2:12, "Therefore, my dear friends, as you have always obeyed, not only in my presence, but now much more in my absence, continue to work out your salvation with fear and trembling,"


Philippians 3:12, "Not that I have already obtained all this, or have already been made perfect, but I press on to take hold of that for which Christ Jesus took hold of me."

Fifty

Today my parents celebrated a milestone, 50 years of marriage.