Weekly Photo Challenge: Horizon ~ What Lies Ahead

On the horizon ~ shoreline in California

None of us know what’s on the horizon in life.  Only God knows what lies ahead.  Trust in Him.

“And the LORD, He is the One who goes before you. He will be with you, He will not leave you nor forsake you; do not fear nor be dismayed.“
Deuteronomy 31:8
NKJV

For similar posts, see Weekly Photo Challenge

From The Daily Post

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The Particulars of Persuasion, Part 2 ~ Casting Cares Proves Commitment

A quick photo of birds in flight ended up looking very peaceful ~ free of cares

Casting all your care upon Him, for He cares for you.
1 Peter 5:7

What do you think of when you hear the word casting? 

My first response is to think of casting for fish with a rod and reel.  One of the reasons that I am no good at fishing is that I stink at casting.  The same goes for casting my burdens.

In my last post, I mentioned that I struggle with consistency in my commitment to trust the Lord with my problems.  I tend to give Him my cares, but then break my promise to trust by worrying.  It is due to my problem with casting them, and then leaving them with Him.

The Process of Casting

Committing to trust God requires an all in approach, but casting our cares requires a hands-off approach.  Otherwise, the problems for which we so desperately need help stay with us and not in His care.

A friend once told me about a process for casting cares.  She said to imagine putting my problems into a balloon filled with helium, and then letting go, allowing them to soar upward into heaven for God to take over.  I liked that imagery.  I thought that it would help solve my difficulties with casting; however, what I found was that although I am great at putting problems into the balloon and letting go, I tend to reach up and grab hold of the string before it gets away. 

Casting is the opposite of keeping, though.  It means to throw or place upon. 

In that sense, the balloon imagery will never work.  We can never cast our cares into a balloon and expect them to ever land upon heaven’s shores.  The journey is too far, and the temptation to grab them back too great.  We need to get rid of them quickly.  To Someone nearby.

God is that near One.  Our Savior cares deeply for what bothers us, and longs for us to release our burdens to Him.  He is ready, with arms open wide to handle them.

Why then do we insult Jesus by taking them back by worrying?  Do we really believe in His power to handle them?  Are we persuaded?

With our words, we may tell God that we trust Him, but when we take them back by fretting our actions speak differently.  They declare a lack of persuasion in His powerful capabilities, and we must stop doing this.

Proving Our Commitment by Casting

Any parent will agree with me that when a child says he is going to do something, but does not follow through, it is very upsetting.  All talk, but no action renders their word meaningless. 

The same is true when we disobey in the area of casting our cares.

I am someone who values commitment, but my inconsistency in trusting God with my burdens breaks my vow to Him.  Since I am imperfect, I will likely continue to struggle from time to time.  However, knowing how offensive this is to Him makes me more determined than ever to prove my commitment, by casting my cares upon the Lord and leaving them there.  To be persuaded that He is able.

Amazingly, when we surrender our problems to Christ, they transfer instantly to the throne room in heaven, without us having to do anything but hand them over!  He takes care of what concerns us, because He cares so deeply for us. 

 CARES WERE NEVER MEANT FOR US TO CARRY
THEY ARE MEANT FOR CASTING INTO NAIL-SCARRED HANDS

Sue Nash/2013

To see Part 1, follow this link to Trusting God is a Commitment

The Particulars of Persuasion ~ Trusting God is a Commitment

We never know what’s around the bend, so it is best to put our trust in God. To see this photo with Scripture, go to Heavenly Raindrops Images

For I know whom I have believed, and am persuaded that he is able to keep that which I have committed unto him against that day.
II Timothy 1:12
KJV

I have read this verse many times, and had always thought that the persuasion mentioned refers mostly to our salvation.  When we come to know Christ by believing in Him, our persuasion comes from knowing that He is able to keep watch over that commitment until we get to heaven, because the Holy Spirit seals us.  In keeping with the old hymn associated, I always thought this verse referred only to our assurance of salvation.

Keela, from Testimonies of His Goodness, got me to thinking about it differently, though.  In a post last month, Real Talk – Commitment Brings Control, Keela discusses this verse from the angle of whether we are committing our problems into God’s care, fully persuaded He is able, thereby allowing Him to keep them. 

I am a person who values commitment.  I generally take my time before making one, because when I commit to something, I am all in.  I want others to trust my word.  When I commit, I commit.

If I am so good at committing, though, why does this not translate into my commitment to trust God fully with all of my problems?  To having a persuasion that He will keep, by watching over, burdens that I give to Him.  Why do I say that I commit things into His capable hands, if I am only going to turn around and take them back by worrying or trying to solve things on my own?

Yet committing, in the sense of trusting God, must be an all in matter, through a relinquishing of the burdens.  If I take back my cares, I break my vow to trust. 

God wants us all in when it comes to our commitment to trust Him.  He wants us persuaded.  Jesus is our model for commitment by being faithful to us.  He is all in, and has nail-scarred hands to prove it.

I only thought that I was good at keeping my word with commitments; in fact, when it comes to fully entrusting my problems to the Lord, I waiver.  My difficulty in doing so involves a problem I have with casting, and I will discuss this in my next post.

Sue Nash/2013

Heed God’s Warnings to Avoid Sin

Goldenrod ~ taken with a zoom so I didn’t have to get too close!

Enter not into the path of the wicked, and go not in the way of evil men. Avoid it, pass not by it, turn from it, and pass away. 
Proverbs 4:14, 15

For the past week, my blogging has been sporadic.  It has not been due to a lack of ideas or interest; instead, I have been a little under the weather with a sinus infection.  My seasonal allergies flare up mostly in the spring and fall, but it is usually the fall when I experience the crud.  I am not sure, but I think that Goldenrod is one of my culprits.

In Mississippi, Goldenrod blooms prolifically in fall.  Their stark flowers brighten fields and landscapes with splashes of gold, but I try to avoid close exposure.  If I stay outdoors near their vicinity, I get a golden headache!

The Need to Avoid the Temptation to Sin

From a spiritual standpoint, there are things or situations that we should avoid, too.  Of course, we should keep clear of overt sins, but what about those little ways in which we set ourselves up for straying.  The danger signs are often as visible as Goldenrod, and we know we could get into trouble spiritually, but instead of shunning them, we draw near.

We each have our particular areas of temptation.  One I struggle with is gossip.  A conversation about someone can start benign, but then rapidly deteriorate into bad-mouthing.  What begins as simply discussing how a person is faring turns into an opportunity to criticize shortcomings.

God’s Warnings Help Us Avoid Sin

Before I succumb, the Holy Spirit always gives me a gentle nudge as a sign to refrain.  He draws a subtle line to warn me to stop before crossing over into gossip.  Sadly, I do not always obey.

I am doing better, though, as God teaches me how to avoid this detestable sin.  By heeding His clear warning signs, if conversations turn toward gossip, I either change the subject or walk away.  And I try to not be the instigator!

Since sin is so damaging to us spiritually, God lovingly places roadblocks to keep us out of harm’s way.  He always offers us an avenue of escape.

When I stay clear of allergy triggers, my sinuses are happy.  When we heed God’s warning signs and avoid stumbling into sin, it pleases Him.

Sue Nash/2013

Before the Sun Rises ~ I Will Seek You

Up early, before the dawn ~ To see this photo with Scripture added, go to Heavenly Raindrops Images

Before the sun rises
Before awakes the dawn
I will find You
I will join Creation’s song

Before the noise begins
Before life’s clamor rings
I will hear You
I will listen to what Truth brings

Before the demands start
Before busy challenges arise
I will seek You
I will absorb all Love supplies

“I love them that love me; and those that seek me early shall find me.”
Proverbs 8:17

Sue Nash/2013

For more of my poetry, see Poetry Corner

Weekly Photo Challenge: The Hue of You ~ Covered

Cross necklace given to me by a friend

The challenge this week is to “share a photograph with a prominent color (or assortment of colors) that reveals more about you.”

Red describes me perfectly.  My sins are covered by the shed blood of Jesus Christ. 

“Blessed are those whose iniquities are forgiven, and whose sins are covered.”
Romans 4:7
KJV

For similar posts, see Weekly Photo Challenge

From The Daily Post

Fireworks Explosion ~ Open My Eyes

Open my eyes, that I may behold wondrous things out of Your law.  Psalm 119:18

This photo is very special because one of my grandsons sat on my lap to look into the camera’s viewfinder, then after I adjusted the settings, he snapped the picture.  Click on photo to enlarge.

For similar posts, follow this link to Fireworks Explosion.

Sue Nash/2013

Friday Feature ~ Flicker

For today’s feature, I decided to revisit one of my poems that I posted not long after starting my blog.  Originally written several years ago, the premise is for our self-life to diminish, or flicker, and allow Christ to shine instead.

We tend to want center stage, and feel rather insignificant if our efforts for God go unnoticed.  However, the moment we reach the end of ourselves is the very place He wants.  It is where the light of Christ can shine brightly through us for others to see.

I hope you enjoy this Friday of looking back to an old poem called:

Flicker

I captured this shot to show the candle just blown out, with not a flicker of the self-life left

My life feels like a flicker,
But what I really want to be
Is a bright, shining star
Shining bright for all to see.

Feeling tired and getting weaker,
And rather insignificant.
To do more for You, I long;
And to gain more strength is what I want.

I love the vertical stream of smoke ~ I picture the surrendering of self, thereby allowing God to infuse us from on high with His light

But what I consider flicker,
Your eyes see so much differently.
It’s exactly what You want,
And have waited for patiently.

For when my self-life grows dim,
You can finally shine Your light.
Morning Star, all then will see
Your brilliant flame through my life.

“He must become greater and greater,
and I must become less and less.“
John 3:30
NLT

Photos and poem by Sue Nash/2013

Like a Willow Tree ~ Trusting in the Lord

Taken one foggy morning recently

Blessed is the man who trusts in the Lord, and whose hope is in the Lord.  For he shall be like a tree planted by the waters…
Jeremiah 17:7, 8
NKJV

God promises that when we put our trust in Him, we will resemble trees planted by the waters.

I am most certain that the tree He has in mind for me is a weeping willow.  Rather than maintaining a constant plateau of rejoicing, I often find myself allowing my joy to weep out when encountering sad or disappointing circumstances.

It is not as though I go around depressed all the time; I think others would attest to the fact that I try to live life upbeat and encouraging.  There are just those moments when I cave towards despondency.  During those hard times, I’m as weepy as a willow.

However, an interesting fact about weeping willows is that although their branches do seem to weep, by cascading down, they are nevertheless remarkable for their toughness and tenacity to life.

God understands our human frailty.  Despite my tendency to weep when life gets rough, He uses each season of sorrow to grow me nearer to Him.  Along the way, He strengthens my faith and toughens me for the next time hardship hits.  He builds in me tenacity for the storms.

Do you ever grow despondent during of the trials of life?  God created us with emotions, and He understands there will be seasons of weeping.  Rather than beat yourself up because you sometimes let things get you down, rejoice knowing that God can use your sorrow to strengthen your dependency upon Him.

God can turn a weeping heart into a steadfast willow of trust.

Sue Nash/2013

The Loving Eyes of My Grace

I am your God;
I am with you.
I have not left you to flounder on your own.

I am here;
I am always for you.
I am ever by your side.

Trust in My presence.
Keep your eyes on Me.
Look fully into the loving eyes of My grace.

The grace of the Lord Jesus Christ and the love of God and the fellowship of the Holy Spirit be with you all.
2 Corinthians 13:14
ESV