Wednesday's Words

"Fall's Beginnings"
(C) Allen Pearson, All Rights Reserved

"If you think God is amazing, incredible, fabulous, awesome, 
and whatever other word you can think of to describe Him, 
you've only touched the surface. 

Hold onto Him, keeping learning about Him, seek His Face, 
a journey you will never regret."

 Allen

Photographing The Seasons: "Backwoods Walney"

"Backwoods Walney"
(C) Allen Pearson, All Rights Reserved

Sundays Thought

I grew up in a musical household.  My father having studied music in college and received a Music Education degree and my mother was a church organist during the early years of my life, it was a strong part of our family.  My father liked to say that I came into this world while Tchaikovsky's 1812 Overture was playing!

As I grew up, I got into music more and more.  I took piano and organ lessons but I played mostly by ear.  At some early young age in my teen years, I became a church organist.

Unfortunately, I didn't study music like I should have, mostly because I had such a strong talent for playing by ear and because I liked to be outside more than anything.  However, I practiced and practiced and practiced for the Worship Services for which I played.  I never went to a Worship Service without doing that and arriving around 30-45 minutes early to practice/prepare.

For some reason, lately, one particular hymn keeps going through my mind. It was necessarily one of my favorites to play on the organ or piano nor was it one that we sang frequently.

Maybe, it's because the news headlines are so dark, full of violence and hate, so much negative that I began thinking, "what's next?" As a Christian, my heart is comforted knowing God is in control, He will take care of me.  Though this doesn't mean I'll be perfect or live a perfectly happy life in a huge house with a white picket fence and a really nice car and all the things that I want in life, it does mean eternal life and peace beyond any understanding man could ever believe he could have.  While the world is falling apart and going crazy, I can know that He is my Savior and rest in His Care.

The hymn which keeps going through my mind is "When The Roll Is Called Up Yonder."  I'll be there!   Here's the lyrics:

Verse:

When the trumpet of the Lord shall sound, and time shall be no more,

And the morning breaks, eternal, bright and fair;

When the saved of earth shall gather over on the other shore,

And the roll is called up yonder, I’ll be there.

Refrain:

When the roll is called up yonder,

When the roll is called up yonder,

When the roll is called up yonder,

When the roll is called up yonder, I’ll be there.

Verse:

On that bright and cloudless morning when the dead in Christ shall rise, 

And the glory of His resurrection share;

When His chosen ones shall gather to their home beyond the skies,

And the roll is called up yonder, I’ll be there.

Verse:

Let us labor for the Master from the dawn till setting sun,

Let us talk of all His wondrous love and care;

Then when all of life is over, and our work on earth is done,

And the roll is called up yonder, I’ll be there.

When the roll is called up yonder, I will be there.  Will you be?  Here's how you can be sure, Peace With God.

Photographing The Seasons: Walney's Colours

"Walney's Colours"
(C) Allen Pearson, All Rights Reserved

Walney Nature Center in Centreville, VA is one of my favorite parks to go for a walk and find beautiful fall colors. 

The nature center has two or three trails which begin near the building and take you through the woods around it.  If you drive south from Walney Nature Center and turn left at the Cabells Mill stone house, there is a trail known as Big Rocky Run which will provide some great opportunities to capture fall color.

The "Big Rocky Run" trail is well used so prepare to photograph above the heads of people who will come around the bend at any moment.  Yes, from experience.

Wednesday's Words

"Red Leaf"
(C) Allen Pearson, All Rights Reserved

"The things which are impossible 

with men are possible with God."

- Luke 18:27

Sunday's Thought

The Gospel - God's Plan of Salvation - The Savior Is Waiting - The Whisnants

Sunday's Thought

Used by Permission, GraphicStock

A discussion this week about Christianity got me to thinking.  Having grown up in the church and gone to a Christian college, I am familiar with many of the theological terms and questions that people tend to ask.

Many of these questions are truly not answerable as there are many thoughts to the correct answer and, when you get down to it, only Christ would know the correct answer.  Some of the questions can lead to heavy theological debates among the highly educated and I have to wonder if even they would continue to have questions.

Used by Permission, GraphicStock

I am not going to mention these questions because I don't want to embarrass the people involved nor cause unwanted attention to them.  I will mention that last night I had the opportunity to discuss these questions with friends that I believe I can ask anything so I did.  Also, he has a talent of being able to explain things so everyone can understand.

Though their answers made sense and I followed what he and my wife said, still I didn't quite get it.  And, I could sit down and talk with my Pastor who would know the answers and be able to discuss it with me until I did get it.

However, I got to thinking. I know, "Uh Oh!"  These questions really don't make any difference whether I know the answer or not, whether I understand it or not.  What matters most is that I have to know the saving grace of Jesus Christ.

Years ago, I asked Jesus to forgive me of my sins and come into my heart- I accepted Him as my personal Savior.  That's what matters.  And, matters most.

Interested in learning more about God's Gift of Salvation?  Please visit, Peace With God.

A hymn comes to mind which says so many things related to my thoughts that I want to share it with you-

For I Know Whom I Have Believeth

 know not why God’s wondrous grace

  To me He hath made known,

Nor why, unworthy, Christ in love

  Redeemed me for His own.

But “I know Whom I have believed

And am persuaded that He is able

To keep that which I’ve committed

  Unto Him against that day.”

I know not how this saving faith

  To me He did impart,

Nor how believing in His word

  Wrought peace within my heart.

I know not how the Spirit moves,

  Convincing men of sin,

Revealing Jesus through the Word,

  Creating faith in Him.

I know not what of good or ill

  May be reserved for me,

Of weary ways or golden days,

  Before His face I see.

I know not when my Lord may come,

  At night or noon-day fair,

Nor if I’ll walk the vale with Him,

  Or “meet Him in the air.”

Lyrics: Daniel Webster Whittle (1840-1901)

Music: James McGranahan (1840-1907)

Public Domain.

I hope and pray that you know Jesus Christ and will accept Him today before it is too late.  A great source for learning more about Salvation is Peace With God.

Used by Permission, GraphicStock

Happy Labor Day!

Used by Permission, GraphicStock

"Come to Me all you who labor and I will give you rest."

Matthew 11:28  

Find your rest in the Lord

It's been a long hard day and you are tired, 

call upon the Lord and in His arms you will find rest.

When you have done all you can, 

rest in the knowledge that the Lord is still working on your behalf.

You feel unworthy, unloved and lost, 

turn to the Lord and rest in His love.

I've finished the race, my time here is done, 

call me home Lord and let me rest before your throne.

(C) 2015 Kim Kirby, Used by permission

Garden Perspectives - Splashes of Red

"Splashes of Red"
(C) Allen Pearson, All Rights Reserved

The fascination of this perennial is the splashes of red in the center of the flower.  Called "Tickseed," it is considered a native plant to the eastern United States.


A few years ago, I added it to my container garden where it grew beautifully. My container garden was a 10 foot by 10 foot area which featured a mix of containers and plants in the ground.  I planted this flower in a large pot to let it spread- a beautiful setting.