Tuesday, July 9, 2013

In (God) Dependence Day

First let me say that this blog is inspired by and in some cases quoted from our Pastor's Sunday sermon, including the title.  After reading this past week about a child in Uganda that needs sponsoring and Ann Voskamp's "Letter to North American Churches", this message went from my head to my heart.

I hope it blesses you with the very best kind of blessings - to hear God's voice, His child's heart listening.

Text:  Deuteronomy 8:10-20 from NIV Holy Bible:
When you have eaten and are satisfied, praise the Lord your God for the good land He has given you. Be careful that you do not forget the Lord your God, failing to observe his commands, his laws and His decrees that I am giving you this day. Otherwise, when you eat and are satisfied, when you build fine houses and settle down, and when your herds and flocks grow large and your silver and gold increase and all you have is multiplied, then your heart will become proud and you will forget the Lord your God, who brought you out of Egypt, out of the land of slavery. He led you through the vast and dreadful desert, that thirsty and waterless land, with its venomous snakes and scorpions. He brought you water out of hard rock. He gave you manna to eat in the desert, something your fathers had never known, to humble and to test you so that in the end it might go well with you. You may say to yourself, "My power and the strength of my hands have produced this wealth for me."  But remember the Lord your God, for it is He Who give you the ability to produce wealth, and so confirms His covenant, which He swore to your forefathers, as it is today.
If you ever forget the Lord your God and follow other gods and worship and bow down to them, I testify against you today that you will surely be destroyed. Like the nations the Lord destroyed before you, so you will be destroyed for not obeying the Lord your God.


"Under God" was added to the American Pledge of Allegiance in 1954, making the phrase "One Nation Under God".

As "ONE NATION UNDER GOD", let us be. . .

THANKFUL:  All good things come from God.  We in America have much to be thankful for.

CAREFUL:  Don't forget that God has given us these things. 

MINDFUL:  God gives us the ability to produce wealth. 


I like how this causes our focus to be on God - as Christians we know that "all things work together for good for those who love God and are called according to His purpose."  This means no matter where in the world we live.  What we have in America is so very precious, especially the gifts of time and spare cash that can be spent either futilely or fruitfully - our choice, at least for now.

I love the First Amendment of the Constitution of the United States where it says:  "Congress shall make no law respecting an establishment of religion, or prohibiting the free exercise thereof." 

Obviously, the writers did not intend for our nation to have independence from God.


FIVE FREEDOMS First Amendment Inspired Cross Stitch Chart
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Vintage Children's Book - "Where was Patrick Henry on the 29th of May"  1975 by Jean Fritz
https://www.etsy.com/listing/128090295/vintage-childrens-book-where-was-patrick
And the quote from Patrick Henry, one of the ratifiers of the US Constitution: "It cannot be emphasized too strongly or too often that this great nation was founded, not by religionists, but by Christians; not on religions, but on the gospel of Jesus Christ.  For this very reason peoples of other faiths have been afforded asylum, prosperity, and freedom of worship here."











I've read the Book, I know how it all ends - but in the meantime my heart cries out in utter thankfulness to God that I am blessed to live in the United States.  I pray I use my freedoms and gifts here and now, wisely and well.

Luella


Scripture art fall thanksgiving orange gray give thanks home decor
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We give thanks to you, O God, we give thanks, for your Name is near . .  Psalm 75:1
 
 
 

Monday, June 24, 2013

Sisters Travel to Yellowstone

A happy circumstance in my life is a family cabin near West Yellowstone, one of the entrances to Yellowstone National Park.  My husband's and my first trip there was in 1989, a year after the devastating fire that burned a reported 793,880 acres, a third of the park being affected.

In the many many trips there in intervening years we have seen this lovely park at many times of the year and seen many sites in outlying places in the area.  We have brought many guests to join us.

The trip this year was notable because it was with two of my sisters.  They have come with me and my husband once each before but never the three of us together.

Some of my favorite pictures from this wonderful time:



An evening walk with Elaine from the cabin to Lake Hebgen
 
 
 
 
Renee and Elaine - Firehole River


On our way at one of the major Geyser sites . . .


One of the luscious Midway Geyser sites - love that pale turquoise often with bright rust orange trim!




Hit the play button here if you would like to see what we saw at Old Faithful.
 
 
 
 

Waiting for Old Faithful to erupt . . .




The oldest lodge at Old Faithful, love the windows and siding.




Morning Glory pool . . . well worth the mile and quarter walk from Old Faithful.

 
 
 
View out the front of the cabin - Lake Hegben in the distance - only quarter mile actually.








Beautiful background for two beautiful sisters!!








at the Paint Pots

 
 
 
Sweet  . . . !
 
 
 
Did you say Rocky Mountains!?!   On the road to Mammoth Hot Springs.
 

Mammoth Hot Springs with its lovely backdrop.






Glorious shot looking down on Upper Falls of Yellowstone River.

 
 
 
Love the perspective the trees give this shot, the white is not snow but rock.
 
 
Osprey, female at nest, male came in landed and quickly took off again, - don't miss the fish he is carrying.
 
 
 
 
 
 
Lower falls of the Yellowstone River are as magnificent as ever.