Thursday Morning Sky Photos

It was cloudy when I first went out with my camera this morning, but as time went by, the sun came out, and the clouds turned white and fluffy.  I took lots of photos of some of my favorite subjects against the sky for SkyWatch Friday.  To see skies from all over the world, or find out how to post yours, click on the link in my sidebar.

The middle flower buds are rough goldenrod.  Baptisia and false sunflowers are on the other side of the fence.

This light pole is not so pretty, and it doesn't even work, but it stays up, because my father-in-law put it up, and it reminds us of him.  The morning glories are on their march to the top.

There are all kinds of obstacles to a clear view from my yard.  The birds sure love to perch on the wires.

If I look straight up, I can see unobstructed clouds.

The tree across the street, on the right, is almost finished blooming.

I went out later in the morning to take closer photos so the blooms would show, but they are still hard to see.

I used my zoom to get a better view of something pretty in the sky.

While out, I thought this hibiscus looked nice with the sky in the background.

This posts at 1:30 my time, and somewhere in the world, it's Friday.  Have a great weekend!

Verses I've Marked

I read Matthew 14 today.  There were several passages I'd marked in the past, but didn't date.  I have always identified with the actions and heart of Peter.  In the passage I'd marked, Jesus had sent his disciples ahead of him in a boat while he went to pray.  He walked on the water to meet up with them, and the disciples were afraid he was a ghost when they saw him.  He told them to take courage, that it was he, and they shouldn't be afraid.  Verses 28-33 say:

"Lord, is its you", Peter replied, "tell me to come to you on the water." "Come," he said.  Then Peter got down out of the boat, walked on the water and came toward Jesus.  But when he saw the wind, he was afraid and beginning to sink, cried out, "Lord, save me!"  Immediately, Jesus reached out his hand and caught him.  "You of little faith," he said, "Why did you doubt?"  And when they climbed into the boat the wind died down.  Then, those who were in the boat worshiped him, saying, "Truly you are the son of God."

In my daily living, I have stress from time to time.  Cleaning the clutter out of a room was very stressful for me this summer.  I am now experiencing pain in my jaw, due to the grinding of my jaw in the night.  I am realizing I've also done it during the day.  It's looking like I have TMJ.  I am praying for healing.  I am also praying that I keep up this wonderful Bible reading I've started.

When I first became a Christian, I was like Peter, ready to jump right in to whatever I felt God would have for me to do.  I am thankful that God is who He is, and even when I'm not living through faith, He'll reach down and pull me back up when I ask Him to.

Lord, please help me keep my focus on you, and your love for me.  Help me to show that love to others, as you desire.  Help me to remember to have a heart of worship toward you.

Something Different

I've mentioned how into the Word I was the first few years of becoming a Christian July of 1994.  Here is a link to my testimony.  I thought about editing it, but decided not to.  I am still inconsistent in my Bible reading, yet I pray every day, multiple times a day, keeping my connection to God.  I need to be nourishing my soul more.  I have been in the process of reading Matthew over the last few months.  I just finished chapter 12.  I intend with the help of prayer, to be more consistent. 

I had the idea to post something I got from the Bible reading I do as often as I can.  Then, as I was reading, and wondering what to post about, I had the idea to share what verses I had marked the most over the years.  Usually, I write the date when I underline, circle, or star verses, assuming I'll remember why I marked them.  I'll see if I really do remember.

In 1988, I was attending our university.  A man and his family were on campus, yelling at people that they were bad, and were going to hell.  I stopped and talked to the wife, telling her something like, I was a Christian, and how could they know anyone's heart?  I don't remember the conversation, but it was short.  They also interrupted a church picnic, but I didn't interact with them at that time, but he was mean!   I underlined Jesus' words in Matthew 12:7-8, and wrote the words, "shouting 'preacher' needs this."

"If you had known what these words mean, 'I desire mercy not sacrifice,' you would not have condemned the innocent.  For the Son of Man is Lord of the Sabbath."

This was when Jesus was telling the Pharisees it was lawful to do good on the Sabbath.  I don't remember what all the "preacher" on campus was saying, but he was pretty much preaching law.  So, I think this would apply in this situation.  Oh, and I did say something to someone at the university, and was told they are there once a year.  I wonder what has become of them.

I am thankful my sins are forgiven, and that there isn't a way to earn favor with God.  I was just telling my story to a friend from church, and said that while I did have a born again experience, I would rather have had that faith as a child and young adult, like many do.  Come to find out, he had had one, too.

Thank you God, for reaching me with the gift of faith 26 years ago.  I pray for others to receive it, as well.

I wanted to add a photo, because I am so used to putting photos in posts.  I am also thankful for having a yard to garden in.

SkyWatch Friday

I started out thinking I'd just find one or two sky photos for today's SkyWatch Friday post, but then couldn't decide, so I included more than 2.

We've had lots of rain this month, and lots of different kinds of clouds.  These photos are all from Tuesday, the 20th.

The skies always look better in person than photos I take.  I loved these puffy clouds that looked like a whole bunch of cotton balls.

Even with all the rain, we've had some pretty blue with the clouds.

I've mentioned this light pole was put up by my father-in-law when he was still alive, and lived here.

The morning glories are on their way up.

I adjusted the next photo so the sunflower plant on the right could be seen more clearly.  I love the weather vane on the garage my mother-in-law bought.   (The house is on the left, the vegetable garden on the right.) 

This is the same sunflower plant that's in the previous photo.

I hope you have a great weekend, and are able to visit some skies from around the world.  The link is in my sidebar.

SkyWatch Friday

We've had lots of pretty clouds in the sky.   I've not been out as much as I like, because I'm trying to get rid of the clutter in a room in our house.  I have been able to take a few photos of the sky.

The first photo was taken July 4th at our son's and daughter-in-law's house.

These 2 were taken the same day, some time after the 4th.

To see skies from all over the world, or to see how to post yours, click on the SkyWatch link in the sidebar.  Thanks SWF team!