Splenderiffic

Springing Up Everywhere!

2013-05-15T12:04:00.001-07:00

Spring has arrived and is in full bloom! These beauties were discovered on my morning walk today.

iPhone 4s/PS Express

I really like that single closed up one in the middle. Actually, it reminds me of my son... Kind of to itself in a world of color and commotion. I know that is reaching a bit for some, but Autism is what it made me think of. The world is is coming up all around him, and he has a hard time opening to it.

But look how beautiful it is anyway...

You are Not Your Own

2013-05-13T14:29:00.002-07:00

I'm getting back to caring. Getting back to wanting to be more healthy. Getting back to wanting to be the best me I can be...

Do you not know that your bodies are temples of the Holy Spirit, who is in you, whom you have received from God? You are not your own; you were bought at a price. Therefore honor God with your bodies.

1 Corinthians 6:19-20

This verse is the foundation of a class I am taking at my church. Most of the people in class were discussing the ways in which one could honor God with their body, but for me something else stood out...

you are not your own

I am not my own.

These bodies are not our own. Hear me out...

We are spiritual beings. We inhabit these bodies. But where did these bodies come from? They are a gift! They are a gift from the Most High God! They are a place for us to reside in until the day when we go Home to our Father.

So I had this sort of breakthrough when thinking about this and meditating a little on this verse. What hit me is that this body is a gift and if God were to come down from Heaven and hand me something wrapped up and tell me it was a gift from Him I would cherish it. I would do everything in my power to keep it free from harm. I would make doubly sure that it stayed just as amazing as when He gave it to me.

But I look in the mirror and there is reality - this body is a GIFT and I am not treating it as such.

Wow! Have you ever connected that before?

For me, it's life changing!

Thinking About Pastor Saeed...

2013-05-07T06:00:00.000-07:00

Today is Pastor Saeed Abedini's birthday. He remains imprisoned in Iran.

I can't imagine being in his shoes right now... Please continue praying. SaveSaeed.org

Beauty and the Beast

2013-05-06T09:35:00.000-07:00

These flowers are on a bush outside of my house. They are super wasp attractants, which isn't good, but they are also pretty, which is kind of nice.

iPhone 4s/PS Express/Snapseed

Quite a View!

2013-05-04T20:20:00.001-07:00

I snapped this while my family and I were out Geocaching today. It's not as fantastic as it is in person, but you get the idea - it was a beautiful day and the view was just gorgeous!

iPhone 4s/PS Express

A Walk Along the River

2013-05-01T06:00:00.000-07:00

The river near where I live can be so very pretty at times...

iPhone 4s/Snapseed

I'm not sure what I like more in these pictures, the river or the clouds...

iPhone 4s/Snapseed

The colors are so vivid, so bright, so fresh...

iPhone 4s/Snapseed

...Do not fear, for I have redeemed you; I have summoned you by name; you are mine. When you pass through the waters, I will be with you; and when you pass through the rivers, they will not sweep over you.

When you walk through the fire, you will not be burned; the flames will not set you ablaze. For I am the Lord your God, the Holy One of Israel, your Savior... Isaiah 43:1-3

Narrow is the Road that Leads to Life

2013-04-30T15:28:00.000-07:00

Walking along the path near my house today, I was reminded of a certain passage of Scripture...

iPhone 4s/PS Express

Enter through the narrow gate. For wide is the gate and broad is the road that leads to destruction, and many enter through it.

But small is the gate and narrow the road that leads to life, and only a few find it. Matthew 7:13-14

Even in the Weeds

2013-04-30T12:21:00.002-07:00

there is beauty...

iPhone 4s/PS Express

Washoe Valley from a Different Point of View

2013-04-29T16:20:00.000-07:00

I snapped this with my Instagram on my iPhone. I can't remember what setting I used to do it, but I just love how it looks like an old TV set - think Bonanza. It's grainy and raw - it just captures the old west spirit.

Washoe Valley is just beautiful this time of year. Everything is greening up and there are calves and lambs out in the fields. It just makes Nevada so nice for a season - usually it is just so brown here.

Brown. all. of. the. time.

I'm getting brown burn out!

The green of the valley is happiness for me.

Sun

2013-04-27T11:04:00.001-07:00

The sun was bright today...

iPhone 4s/Instagram/Amaro

Wisdom, like an inheritance, is a good thing and benefits those who see the sun. Ecclesiastes 7:11

Can You Handle It?

2013-04-25T12:57:00.000-07:00

I don't think one can really study wisdom out completely without jumping into the book of Ecclesiastes, and that is where I find myself today. It's amazing to me how you can read something once in the Bible and get one thing from it, then go back in another time in life and get something completely different. That is what happened to me as I was reading today. I've read Ecclesiastes many times before, but this sudden understanding I had is something new... I guess there is wisdom in studying the Word.

For with much wisdom comes much sorrow; the more knowledge, the more grief. Ecclesiastes 1:18

Just that verse really has me thinking today. That one verse says so much.

As you grow in your relationship with the Lord, and as He blesses you to grow in wisdom, you will change.

It is inevitable.

You will understand more about this life and what is going on around you and with that understanding, with that knowledge, you will begin to see things in a new way - you will see things more how God sees them.

Sorrow comes as you see the evil in the world. As you grow in the Lord and in wisdom, you can't help but see what is going on around you - and you start to see it very clearly. Grief is something you will experience as you begin to see just how troubled this life is.

So as you start to seek wisdom, as you grow in the Lord and begin asking Him to give you wisdom, I think it is only natural to ask yourself if you can handle it.

Can You Handle It?

I'm reminded of the words to a song by Casting Crowns (Jesus, Friend of Sinners) that says, "Break my heart for what breaks yours." That's a powerful prayer! A gigantic request!

To see the world as God sees it - are you ready for that? Because if you are asking God to give you wisdom - seeking Him and growing in that relationship - expectantly waiting for Him to bless you with wisdom, well, if you are doing that then you must expect to have the change in your life that goes with it.

You will see more of what God sees and you will ache.

You will ache for people and for circumstances.

You won't be able to help it!

As you grow in the Lord you have to be ready to grow in how you feel, how you experience, how you love, how you hurt, how you care, how you think, and how you respond to the world around you.

You have to be ready because wisdom and knowledge will change you.

The Beginning of Wisdom

2013-04-23T15:47:00.000-07:00

I've been thinking a lot on all of these verses I've been reading about wisdom...

The fear of the Lord is the beginning of wisdom,
and knowledge of the Holy One is understanding.

Proverbs 9:10

I don't know what I am concluding other than you have to be in the Word and in communication with God on a daily basis or your quest for wisdom is pointless.

The whole point is that you have to have a relationship with God.

It's not enough to just go to church or to just say you're a believer. It's not enough to say a prayer at dinner with your family. It's not enough to own a Bible.

You have to be in the Word. You have to know God. You have to have a relationship.

How can you have a righteous fear of the Lord if you don't even know Him?

You Have to Choose

2013-04-18T16:10:00.000-07:00

I think this verse is incredibly powerful...

This doesn't mean that Christians never mess up. We aren't perfect. We most certainly will mess up in life. But what I think about when I read this verse is that once you give your life to Jesus, once you are born again, the Holy Spirit then lives in you. It is because of the indwelling of the Spirit that a Christian shouldn't be a person who deliberately sins. As a Christian, one should read God's Word and see how they are to live and follow that Word.

The thing is, if you read the Bible and know what sin is and you see sin in your life and don't correct it, well, what I am reading in this verse is that you really don't know God. You haven't really come to that relationship, you haven't really... How do I say this? You aren't what you think you are..

You can't follow Christ and follow the world. You have to choose.

Hello, Lizard Friend

2013-04-18T13:08:00.000-07:00

I got home today, got out of the car, and this little dude was hanging out in my garage...

iPhone 4s/Instagram/Rise

I'm fascinated with his feet. Look how good they showed up! Amazing!

Encourage Pastor Saeed

2013-04-15T11:23:00.000-07:00

Is your faith so bold you would be able to endure what Pastor Saeed Abedini is enduring?

SaveSaeed.org

It only takes a minute to send an encouraging word and to sign the petition. And most importantly, it only takes a few moments a day to add him to your prayers.

Nothing Compares

2013-04-09T12:30:00.000-07:00

I'm still reading up on wisdom...

Choose my instruction instead of silver, knowledge rather than choice gold, for wisdom is more precious than rubies, and nothing you desire can compare with her. (Proverbs 8:10-11)

I am especially drawn to where the Bible says nothing - NOTHING - you desire can compare with her (wisdom). There is nothing we could want that is greater than wisdom. There is nothing we could ask God for that is more important than wisdom.

We could have every material thing on earth - all the money we ever wanted, the fancy house, the amazing cars, the jewelry, the fame - we could have it all, but NOTHING will ever compare to having wisdom.

Washoe Valley

2013-04-06T21:38:00.003-07:00

Driving home today...

iPhone 4s/Snapseed/Drama

The Spirit of the Lord is on Me...

2013-04-05T19:18:00.000-07:00

I was thinking about this today...

He went to Nazareth, where he had been brought up, and on the Sabbath day he went into the synagogue, as was his custom. He stood up to read, and the scroll of the prophet Isaiah was handed to him. Unrolling it, he found the place where it is written:

“The Spirit of the Lord is on me, because he has anointed me to proclaim good news to the poor. He has sent me to proclaim freedom for the prisoners and recovery of sight for the blind, to set the oppressed free, to proclaim the year of the Lord’s favor.”

Then he rolled up the scroll, gave it back to the attendant and sat down. The eyes of everyone in the synagogue were fastened on him. He began by saying to them, “Today this scripture is fulfilled in your hearing.” (Luke 4:16-21 emphasis added)

Could you imagine being there to witness this? How incredible it must have been!

Imagine having Jesus right in front of you, rolling out a scroll with the words of Isaiah on it (Isaiah 61:1-2), and reading it to you. Then He looks up and tells you that today the Scripture has been fulfilled. If only I could travel back in time...

Wisdom

2013-04-02T12:14:00.000-07:00

I thought I'd study a bit on wisdom this morning...

Proverbs 3:35/iPhone 4s/Instagram/My Bible

So what is wisdom? Well, in Proverbs 9:10 we are told that the fear of the Lord is the beginning of wisdom, and knowledge of the Holy One is understanding.

Seems to me that the only way to achieve any form of wisdom is to have a personal, intimate, relationship with God. You need to know Him.

Proverbs 2:1-6
My son, if you accept my words and store up my commands within you, turning your ear to wisdom and applying your heart to understanding - indeed, if you call out for insight and cry aloud for understanding, and if you look for it as for silver and search for it as for hidden treasure, then you will understand the fear of the Lord and find the knowledge of God. For the Lord gives wisdom; from his mouth come knowledge and understanding.

My Nevada

2013-04-01T23:12:00.002-07:00

I took these during a family walk this evening...

iPhone 4s/Instagram/Mayfair

It just amazes me how looking at one side of the street is so different from looking at the other. Just like all people are unique, so is nature. Sometimes I get bored of where I live, but then I go out for a walk and see this and realize just how amazing this place can be.

Without the Resurrection, What Would be the Point of it All?

2013-04-01T13:52:00.000-07:00

The Bible doesn't teach that only Christians will be judged. It doesn't teach that only non-believers will be judged. What it teaches is that everyone, whether Christian, Muslim, Hindu, Buddhist, Atheist, or whatever else, will stand before God and be judged according to what they have done. Everyone - you, me, the guy standing next to you in line at the store - everyone.

Then I saw a great white throne and him who was seated on it. The earth and the heavens fled from his presence, and there was no place for them. And I saw the dead, great and small, standing before the throne, and books were opened. Another book was opened, which is the book of life. The dead were judged according to what they had done as recorded in the books. The sea gave up the dead that were in it, and death and Hades gave up the dead that were in them, and each person was judged according to what they had done. Then death and Hades were thrown into the lake of fire. The lake of fire is the second death. Anyone whose name was not found written in the book of life was thrown into the lake of fire. (Revelation 20:11-15 emphasis added)

The question is, on what side of that judgment will you land?

Enter through the narrow gate. For wide is the gate and broad is the road that leads to destruction, and many enter through it. But small is the gate and narrow the road that leads to life, and only a few find it. (Matthew 7:13-14)

My Pastor talked about this yesterday. He talked about how eventually "all roads lead to God." Because eventually all of us will come to stand before Him, no matter what faith we proclaim to be a part of. And he said that what sets us, Christians, apart is that we believe in something so amazing, so wonderful, and so powerful, that our belief in it - our faith in it - points us through that narrow gate. And the narrow gate is the one we need to pass through in order to be on the correct side after judgment.

What sets us apart? What do we have that others don't?

We have Jesus, and He rose from the grave. He conquered death. And it is that belief in the resurrection that sets Christians apart.

Many faiths believe in Jesus as a prophet. Many faiths believe He was an important man.

But it is our faith - being a follower of Christ - that sets us apart because without that faith in the resurrection, it would all be pointless.

But if it is preached that Christ has been raised from the dead, how can some of you say that there is no resurrection of the dead? If there is no resurrection of the dead, then not even Christ has been raised. And if Christ has not been raised, our preaching is useless and so is your faith. (1 Corinthians 15:11-14 emphasis added)

Because really, without the resurrection what would it all mean?

And if Christ has not been raised, your faith is futile; you are still in your sins. (1 Corinthians 15:17)

He brought it down to the point of saying that you can't be a Christian if you don't believe in the resurrection. And I agree.

There was a lot more to the message, but this part just really stood out to me.

Merciful God

2013-03-29T12:28:00.000-07:00

Merciful means full of mercy or compassion. It means kind and forgiving. A merciful God is one who gives second chances. A merciful God forgives people when they mess up.

Our God is the God of second chances. Yes, I know that's a VeggieTales song.

I've been studying through the book of Nehemiah and chapter 9 just stopped me in my tracks. Have you read it? If not, you should.

The Israelites really messed up. Over and over and over again.

But God did not abandon them.

They refused to listen and failed to remember the miracles you performed among them. They became stiff-necked and in their rebellion appointed a leader in order to return to their slavery. But you are a forgiving God, gracious and compassionate, slow to anger and abounding in love. Therefore you did not desert them. (Nehemiah 9:17 NIV)

He never left them. He loved them over and over and over again. He loved them constantly. He loved them, He forgave them, and He showed them the way time and time again.

He had mercy on them.

Nehemiah 9:31/Instagram/YouVersion/iPhone 4s

When I think about the great mercy God showed to the Israelites I am just amazed. When I think about how we, in this present age, mess up in our lives repeatedly and God still loves us... I am amazed!

When I think about the mercy on our souls that God has shown in that He sent His Son to die for us - for you and for me - for lowly sinners - for people who constantly mess up - I am amazed!

Have you thanked God for His mercy lately? I am so thankful! Without His mercy where would we be? I don't even want to imagine it!

Feeling Defeated

2013-03-22T17:09:00.000-07:00

Sometimes I feel defeated in life. Do you ever get that way? It is like no matter what you do, it is never enough and things just constantly go backwards.

I'm having a day like that.

I realize that I am never truly defeated. God is always with me and He will not allow that to happen. Ever. But that internal voice of doubt, hurt, and failure just creeps up over and over again.

Sometimes I wonder if I am enough for my kids. Am I what they need, really? Am I doing a good enough job. It is really any form of success to be just doing "good enough" for them? I should be great!

And am I great enough?

Sometimes I wonder what God was thinking to give me the kids He gave me. I mean really, special needs, did He really think I could handle that? And why, why did He think I could handle it? What does God see in me that I am not seeing in myself?

I'm having a bad day. Can you tell?

Wonderfully Made

2013-03-19T14:57:00.000-07:00

I praise you because I am fearfully and wonderfully made; your works are wonderful, I know that full well. Psalm 139:14

Colors

2013-03-18T16:47:00.000-07:00

I love the colors in this picture...

iPhone 4s/PS Express/Vibrant

Last night's episode of The Bible on the History channel brought tears to my eyes. The scene with the fiery furnace is what I am talking about. Reading it always moves me, but having that visual... Wow. We serve a truly amazing God!