Inspirational Weekend - "Faith" (Famous Quotes, Kutless Video and More)

"I do not want merely to possess a faith, I want a faith that possesses me."  - Charles Kingsley

A very happy weekend to you !  You may not be lying under a palm tree in Waikiki, relaxing and watching the surf, but you don't have to be in order to have a fantastic weekend.  It is all in the attitude, friends.   You can live in a palace and still be miserable if you have a bad attitude.  Most of you already know this.   But I am speaking of more than having a positive attitude; I am speaking of true faith and the peace that that can give you.  And if you have a peaceful mind and a peaceful heart, then you will also find happiness, even in the midst of trials.

I was around 5 years old when I had my first encounter with faith and answered prayer.   I had left church services and my cousin, who was suppose to walk me back home, was no where to be found.  I waited and waited, and I got scared.   I did not know how to walk home....to find my way.  I don't remember if I cried or not,  but I do remember I prayed to God to help me.   And right after that, my cousin showed up with her friend, saying they had forgotten about me.    But the good Lord taught me the power of prayer and of faith that Sunday morning.   Some will want to call it all just coincidence, but I know in my heart that God heard me then.  I will not now mention all my prayers that the good Lord has answered during my lifetime, because this post is not about me, but about faith.

"Talk what we will of faith, if we do not trust and rely upon Him, we do not believe in Him."  -  

Anthony Farindon  

"The Bible recognizes no faith that does not lead to obedience, nor does it recognize any obedience that does not spring from faith.  The two are at opposite sides of the same coin." -  A. W. Tozer

"Faith, mighty faith, the promise sees, And looks to God alone; Laughs at impossibilities, And cries it shall be done."  -  Charles Wesley

In my photograph above that is one determined tree and, I might add, it obviously has endurance to grow so precariously on the hillside and still survive .... upright and strong.

And so it is with people.   If you have a strong faith rooted in the love of God and belief in His promises, you can survive anything with the Lord's help and much prayer.   You can "grow" upright and strong in your Christian walk.   One way to strong faith is to endure many trials, some severe.  To wait on the Lord in these times is a sign of true and enduring faith.

Besides faith making you strong and giving you endurance to face life's trials, faith can also be a healing balm to the soul.  It gives you hope, for without hope your existence is meaningless and all doom and gloom to your mind.   

And Jesus said to him, "Go your way, your faith has made you well."  And immediately he recovered his sight and followed Him on the way. -  Mark 10:52

Jesus said unto her, "I am the resurrection and the life: he that believeth in Me, though he were dead, yet shall he live:  And whosoever liveth and believeth in Me shall never die.  Believest thou this?" - John 11: 25-26 .

The bottom line is, have faith in God and Jesus; pray without ceasing for in prayer you draw closer to God and it will happen that He will answer your prayers, if it agrees with His will for you.   You need a close, personal relationship with God and Jesus and that can only happen through reading His Holy Word to get to know His great love and all of His qualities and attributes and character; and also much prayer will draw you closer to Him.  

Remember what Hebrews 11:6 says, "But without faith it is impossible to please Him: for he that cometh to God must believe that He is, and that He is a rewarder of them that diligently seek Him."

Following is a video by Kutless with lyrics about faith.  

"Now faith is the substance of things hoped for, the evidence of things not seen." - Hebrews 11:1

Inspirational Weekend - Fear and Anxiety or Faith and Courage? (Bible Prophecy, Gog of Magog, and More) Photographs and Video

"I sought the LORD, and He heard me, and delivered me from all my fears." - Psalm 34:4

This photograph of mine was taken from an overlook which looks out over Hanalei Valley on the island of Kauai, showing the taro fields.   Hawaii is often called Paradise, and indeed it is very beautiful here and if you are spiritually sensitive, it does cause you to dwell on the awesomeness of God and His power and might - and love - to create such beauty.   Areas such as the one shown above give you a sense of peace and faith in a good God.   

But when we feel threatened by anything, our sense of security is shattered and we can give way to fear and anxiety, which is normal and healthy when in danger.   But things such as wars -- like what is going on in the Middle-East right now and Russia increasing troops and cruise missiles and fighter jets and other build up in Syria can make people fear it is leading up to another World War -- and it might be.   In Ezekiel 38 and 39 the Bible speaks of Gog of Magog (which most scholars agree is referring to Russia) and it is a good description of what is beginning to happen right now.   Another related note,  Isaiah 17:1 says, "The burden of Damascus.  Behold, Damascus is taken away from being a city, and it shall be a ruinous heap."   In other words, Damascus will be completely destroyed, and all indications are that that could happen soon.   Russia is helping Syria and they are close to the Israeli border now.    Isaiah 17:9 tells us that Israel will be the one who destroys Damascus :  "In that day shall his strong cities be as a forsaken bough, and an uppermost branch, which they left because of the children of Israel: and there shall be desolation."

Some may feel that what is going on in the Middle-East doesn't concern them, perhaps because they are caught up in the struggle of everyday living and everyday problems and don't see beyond their own immediate needs.   What happens in Israel and the other countries in that area will affect us.  

"And there shall be signs in the sun, and in the moon, and in the stars: and upon the earth distress of nations, with perplexity; the sea and the waves roaring.  Men's hearts failing them for fear, and for looking after those things which are coming on the earth: for the powers of heaven shall be shaken.  And then shall they see the Son of man coming in a cloud with power and great glory.  And when these things begin to come to pass, then look up, and lift up your heads, for your redemption draweth nigh. "   - Luke 21:25-28

Everyone will be affected.  Unbelievers should tremble at the thought of what is in store for them if they do not turn to Jesus.   Believers should not be afraid, but realize their hope and their Savior will soon take them home to heaven.   Lift up your heads and keep looking up !

I had intended to write more about prophecy in this post....like about the war in Psalm 83 which many believe will occur before the Gog of Magog war ("They have said, Come, and let us cut them (Israel) off from being a nation; that the name of Israel may be no more in remembrance."  - Psalm 83:4).

Psalm 83 goes on to list the nations that will come against Israel, and some of these nations are not mentioned in the Ezekiel 38 and 39 war, meaning they were no doubt destroyed first in the Psalm 83 war.  God is going to protect and deliver Israel.  I am sure most readers are familiar with how the Arab nations want to destroy Israel .."wipe them off the map"...because to them Israel is the "Little Satan" and America is the "Great Satan".

It is clear to me that I will have to touch on these subjects separately in future posts.  Not only about Bible prophecy, but about fear and anxiety, and faith and courage.  Below are some Scriptures to take into consideration ...and into your heart:

"The fear of man bringeth a snare: but whoso putteth his trust in the LORD shall be safe." - 

- Proverbs 29:25

"It is the LORD who goes before you.  He will be with you; He will not leave you or forsake you.  Do not fear or be dismayed." - Deuteronomy 31:8

"For God hath not given us the spirit of fear; but of power, and of love, and of a sound mind."

- 2 Timothy 1:7

Following is a video (not mine) of some beautiful landscapes to keep your weekend happy !

You gotta love this happy enthusiasm in the photograph below!   (Internet photo)

May your weekend be a happy one !  Think good thoughts and delight in the Lord!

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"Peace I leave with you; my peace I give to you.  Not as the world gives do I give to you.   Let not your hearts be troubled, neither let them be afraid. "  - John 14:27

Inspirational Weekend - "Waiting Can Be A Good Thing" (Photographs of Flowers, Animals, and Relaxing Video)

A very happy weekend to you !  Enjoy the photographs and video that follow.

The photograph above is my cat Lika admiring a christmas cactus my son and daughter-in-law gave me about three years ago.    You can see the small pot and the plant was not very large.   Below is how it looked this year when it bloomed in April.

Waiting for it to grow and bloom again took patience....and lots of care and fertilizing.   It bloomed other years as well, but this past Spring was its best show yet.   This is rather like life itself:  waiting teaches you patience and, if you take care and nurture your soul and the souls of others, it will blossom into a thing of great beauty.    Peter Marshall has said,  "Teach us, O Lord, the disciplines of patience, for to wait is often harder than to work."   

I used to be very impatient and when I wanted something, I wanted it NOW.   That is pretty typical of people today.   The good Lord has taught me to have patience by allowing circumstances to get pretty dire at times;  I have learned to wait on the Lord and to look to Him for guidance and direction.   

Psalm 27:14 ...... Wait on the LORD:  be of good courage, and He shall strengthen thine heart:  wait, I say, on the LORD.

Milt. Lennart Karl Gottling  "Hula Skirt"

Milt. Andrea West "Hop"

I remember several years ago I had over 50 rose bushes and I would wait patiently for the buds to open to view the beauty of the fully opened blossoms.   Only thing is, I lived in an area where there were many deer that would roam the suburb and it didn't take them too long to discover my tasty rose buds.   What a disappointment to wake up to after they feasted on them overnight.   I did not know when I planted the roses that deer took a fancy to them.      So sometimes waiting can be full of frustrations in this imperfect world.   Of course,  I have been struck by much more serious circumstances than this about the roses, but I do not want to comment right now about the hard times.  Isaac Newton said, "Trials are medicines which our gracious and wise Physician prescribes because we need them, and He proportions the frequency and weight of them to what the case requires.  Let us trust His skill and thank Him for His prescription."

"If the Lord Jehovah makes us wait, let us do so with our whole hearts; for blessed are all they that wait for Him.  He is worth waiting for.  The waiting itself is beneficial to us:  it tries faith, exercises patience, trains submission, and endears the blessing when it comes.  The Lord's people have always been a waiting people."   - Charles Spurgeon

"Biblically, waiting is not just something we have to do until we get what we want.  Waiting is part of the process of becoming what God wants us to be."  - John Ortberg

True believers have also waited expectantly for the Lord's return and now more than ever, it will be soon.    Hurts and heartaches are easier to bear on this earth when you realize soon there will be no more sorrow and God will wipe away our tears when we arrive in heaven.  Now is the time to get right with the Lord.   That is one thing you do not want to wait for.   Accept Jesus as your Savior now before it is too late.  

Below is a nature video (not mine) to relax you this weekend, and it is complete with soft music.

 

Here is a photograph (not mine) guaranteed to make you smile this wonderful weekend.

Psalm 130:5-6  ....I wait for the LORD, my soul waits, and in His Word I hope;  my soul waits for the LORD more than watchmen for the morning, more than watchmen for the morning.

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Inspirational Weekend - Where Your Treasure Is

"For where your treasure is there will your heart be also." - Matthew 6:21

The treasure hunter above was up at sunrise at Waikiki, searching tirelessly on the beach for what he could find to claim as his own.   So many people search in vain for material things to bring them happiness; a fleeting happiness that, as time goes on, needs to be replaced by something newer, shinier, fancier, to fill a void they find in their soul.  It reminds me of that hymn by Marty Haugen, "Where Your Treasure Is".....where it says, "All that you possess will never set you free. Seek the things that last; come and learn from me."   There is nothing wrong with nice possessions, just don't let them possess you.   

There are many things that I have treasured over the years.   Of course we all treasure our children and grandchildren, and that is well and good.   But I went to the excess to find something fulfilling to fill the void .....at one point I had over 100 African Violets, not to mention over 50 rose bushes and several persian cats.   I had a full time job and also painted every spare minute and attended various art shows.  All of this going on at the same time.  I get tired now just thinking about all that !

Let me share with you some things I still treasure, but now in moderation.

Frosty Cherry Russian African Violet

Orchids

Fall Foliage

Sunsets and the ocean

Wildlife and beautiful birds

Beautiful Scenery

This is Hanalei Valley on Kauai, Hawaii

We all treasure things such as these.   I am drawn to beautiful things found in nature.  And of course I derive much pleasure from photography and my painting.   But these things do not have control of me like they used to.    I have found not just the temporary happiness through material things or selfish pursuits, but true joy and peace and contentment from the good Lord.   Isaiah 33:6b says "....the fear of the LORD is his treasure."

I say all of that because this world we live in is not the same as it was even 20 years ago.  There is uncertainty about the future and fear in people's hearts.   We need something true to hang on to; something - Someone- we can trust and rely upon.    Let's keep looking up !  

Below is a photograph (not mine) for humor :

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Inspirational Weekend - Photos and Videos to Soothe the Spirit (Flowers, Scenery and More)

"Beauty is everywhere a welcome guest." - Johann Wolfgang Von Goethe


Here is wishing you a very happy weekend !  I have been very busy painting lately, among other things; rather like the busy bee below: (Yes, I meant to repeat the word "busy" for emphasis!)

I took this photograph here in Hawaii of this bee inside a Cereus flower, otherwise known as the night blooming cactus.  All of the photos on this post were taken by me;  the videos are from other sources.  If you are a flower lover you will enjoy the following video of time-lapses of flowers blooming.   

This was taken from the Makapu'u Lighthouse on the Windward side of Oahu, Hawaii.  It is looking towards Sea Life Park area and Makapu'u Beach and other beaches.

A waterfall at Descanso Gardens outside of Los Angeles, California.    Below is a video of tranquil streams with relaxing music to calm and soothe you.

A beautiful nature video follows which includes soft music.

Sometimes we just need to stop, drop everything, and spend time away from our hectic schedules doing whatever it takes to relax and unwind.   I hope the above photos and videos helped accomplish that with you.  The funny animal video below will make you laugh out loud.  We need lots of laughter in our lives to be healthy.

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Inspirational Weekend - Photos and Videos to Inspire - Michigan Fall Foliage and More

"Lift up your eyes on high.  And behold Who hath created these things......"  - Isaiah 40:26

My intentions for this blog was for it to be inspirational and primarily about nature.   Perhaps some posts were more inspirational than others.   I am going to begin, as of now, to have a special post on weekends to soothe and calm the spirit  that will hopefully inspire you and also to include something to make you smile as well.   The above photograph was taken not far from Jackson, Michigan, and the same is true of  my other photographs shown here.

Even these fall flowers, some of which are fading and dying, can have a special beauty to them in this time of transition for them.   Oh, how people ought to be the same way !  That they, when in times of stress and hardships, let the peace of God dominate their inner being and thereby reflect their Creator in what they say and do and in their calmness of spirit.

Below is a short video showcasing Fall color in Michigan.

Below are more of my photographs:

Have a happy weekend, everyone !   Below is a video that many of you may have already viewed, but I wanted to save it here so here goes...... This is guaranteed to make you smile, even laugh out loud. And a merry heart is medicine to the soul.

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