Wednesday's Words! Encouragement from God's Word

 

(C) 2020, Allen Pearson Photography

"Another year is dawning!

Dear Father, let it be,

In working or in waiting,

Another year with Thee;

Another year of leaning

Upon Thy loving breast;

Another year of trusting,

Of quiet, happy rest;"

- Another Year Is Dawning

Lyrics: Frances R. Havergal, 1836 -1879

Music: Samuel S. Wesley, 1810 - 1876

Sunday's Thought!

 

"Christmas" 
Photo by Artem Kniaz on Unsplash

The joys of Christmas. There are so many. As we celebrated Christmas on Friday, I found myself enjoying the company of a friend, my wife, and her father. We had a delicious meal together to celebrate Jesus's Birth, our friendship, and family together. Also, later in the day, I found myself thinking about past Christmases with family and friends as well as looking forward to next year. Who knows what next year will be like. Since my parents passed away, Christmases have been a challenging season because I miss them. This year, I made strides to going forward creating new memories. I think about this Christmas and what went well to repeat next year. It was a good season. 

When my Pastor asked, "what is my favorite Christmas memory?" I didn't have to think long about his question and I quickly realized that it had nothing to do with any gifts I'd been given over the years. I have quite a few great Christmas memories with my parents and my wife. I have to say I have two favorite memories. These were created when I was less than 7-years-old. My parents, brother, and I were running errands of some sort. At a traffic light, Santa Claus pulled up next to us in a station wagon. When he saw us, of course, we were so excited as he waved at us. The other favorite memory was when Santa Claus decided to stop by our house and ask what if my brother and I were still being good boys and what we wanted for Christmas. I still smile when I think of those memories. As I grew up, there were many other Christmas memories. One year, my wife snuck behind my back getting with the family about buying a set of Grove's Music Dictionary of Music and Musicians as my gift that year. 

I think my favorite memories are going to be changing though. This year was a very challenging year. Yes, COVID-19 and the political leadership were extremely annoying but my wife and I were given a blessing from God which cannot be matched, unless by Him. My wife fought some health battles this year. She faced some challenges which she handled very positively. During her challenges and many doctor's visits, she helped others by sharing her experiences when asked. Often, she told me that she felt calm and had peace in her heart. She knows it was God taking care of her. She has made it through and the doctor has said she is well. That is my Christmas present for 2020! For which I am thankful.  

The joys of Christmas aren't lost after all the presents are opened nor after the last bit of food is swallowed or the party is over. Jesus's Birth brings joy to our hearts and lives, contentment to our souls with a peace that truly passes all understanding. My wife and I experienced, once again, the peace within our hearts as she went through her challenges. It's not even the gifts and meals we have at Christmas which does any of that. Not at all. It is the Gift of Jesus's Birth and the acceptance of God's Gift of Salvation that does it.

Accepting God's Gift of Salvation doesn't mean that you will have a perfectly healthy life or you will be healed from any diseases. I wish that were true as I have several I would like to be gone! It doesn't mean, you will have riches or wealth or never go through any of life's tragedies. I share that first to say, that it does mean when those times of challenging life events, once you have learned to place your faith and trust in Jesus, you will notice how He gives you those calm and quiet or the peace that peaces understanding in your heart. 

This Christmas season, why don't you open the Best Christmas Present you could ever get from anyone anywhere anytime and begin celebrating life as a Christian?! Please visit Peace with God to learn more.

Wednesday's Words! Encouragement from God's Word!

(C) 2020, Allen Pearson Photography

"Thanks be to God for this gift 

too wonderful for words!"

- 2 Corinthians 9:15

Merry Christmas!

Sunday's Thought!

"The Nativity"

Photo by Dan Kiefer on Unsplash

Revealed to Shepherds, Hidden from Herod 

by Adrian Rogers, Love Worth Finding

“And it came to pass, 

as the angels were gone away from them into Heaven,

 the shepherds said one to another, 

Let us now go even unto Bethlehem, and see this thing which is come to pass, 

which the Lord hath made known unto us.” 

- Luke 2:15

What is the great need in the world today? Is it information? We’re drowning in a sea of information. If information is what we need, God would have sent an educator. Is it technology? If technology had been the need, God would have sent a scientist. Is it money? Do you think your problems would be solved if you had more money? If money were the need, God would have sent an economist. Is the need more leisure? Maybe God should have sent an entertainer.

No. Our great need is salvation. And so God sent a Savior.

I’m amazed (and blessed) that He sent the message to humble shepherds. Old Herod, the King, never did quite get it. He never did understand. But humble shepherds understood the message. Why? Because “God has hidden these things from the wise and the prudent and has revealed them unto babes.” (Luke 10:21)

Do you want to understand who Jesus Christ is today? Then lay your intellectual pride in the dust, come to Him and say, “Lord, reveal this truth to me.” Sing it and follow it: “O come let us adore Him, Christ the Lord.”

To learn about salvation and more from Love Worth Finding and Pastor Adrian Rogers, please visit Love Worth Finding - Assurance of Salvation. 

Devotion used by written permission of Love Worth Finding.

Wednesday's Words! Encouragement from God's Word

"Silent night! Holy night!

Son of God, love’s pure light

Radiant beams from thy holy face,

With the dawn of redeeming grace,

Jesus, Lord, at thy birth,

Jesus, Lord, at thy birth."

- Silent Night, Holy Night

Joseph Mohr, Franz Gruber, 1818

Sunday's Thought!

"Decorated for Christmas!"
(C) 2020, Allen Pearson Photography

It's beginning to look a lot like Christmas everywhere I drive... and is it ever! I have lived in my neighborhood for almost six years and have never seen so much decorating! There are inflatables of all shapes, sizes, and characters, like mine, Nativities, Christmas trees, snowmen, and of course, all Christmas lights of all colors! A drive through the neighborhood is a beautiful experience. You know Christmas is coming!

When I was a young boy, which seems like yesterday but in reality was a hundred years ago, my parents and I would start putting up our outdoor Christmas display right after Thanksgiving which included handmade wood figures of a scene from Charlie Brown Christmas and a Nativity. They were simply made but were built with love by my father. We place lights around this Spruce tree which would eventually get too large for us to place lights at the top.

Soon after, probably within the week, we would decorate the inside of the house. Sometimes we would start decorating the tree inside, and all the other things mother wanted to decorate, after we got home from a morning spent at the Christmas Parade. The parade seemed to kick off a joyful cheery season in the town with people rushing here and there to get things done.

For my family, Christmas meant music and, especially, church music. My father was the Minister of Music when I was growing up so Christmas was a challenging time. He always practiced his solos for the Christmas Cantata many times over. The music at church, especially the Sunday before Christmas, was always the best the church ever did. Looking back now, it's a great Christmas memory.

When I retired, I moved near the area where I grew up. Of course, there are many memories from my childhood during the Christmas season. My first December here, I was surprised by all the noise on the first and second Saturday mornings of the month. It was the start of the Christmas season with parades in two towns, fireworks at a local shopping center, and Santa Claus visiting the communities on a fire truck with sirens blaring. It was Christmas! These celebrations didn't happen in the area where I lived before retiring.

While government leaders might think they can cancel Christmas to prevent the spread of COVID-19, they cannot. Christmas isn't something you can just decide to cancel because it doesn't meet a political agenda. It is a celebration of Jesus's Birth. How it's celebrated is determined by each of us. It is memories of families, friends, and time together.

I keep hearing the phrase, "Wait until next Christmas to gather with family, sit this year out." A lot can happen between now and next Christmas. If I had a family still living, I would do my absolute best to gather with them this Christmas. Heaven forbid, I didn't and they aren't here next Christmas. If I had to "zoom" to see them, I would do my best to make that a special moment to never forget.

Christ is the center of Christmas. His Birth is celebrated by many throughout the world. Jesus came to earth at Christmas, lived a life of ministry, and died on a cross to save us from our sins. To learn more about Jesus and God's Plan of Salvation, please visit Peace With God.

Introducing Allen Pearson Photography and Noah's Paw of Railroad History!

"Norfolk Southern and Union Pacific Lead Mixed Freight"
(C) 2016, Allen Pearson Photography

I just missed the steam engine era when they ruled the railroad tracks roaring through the town where I grew up by being born in the early 1960s. I should have planned better, huh?! When I was growing up, I became interested in diesel locomotives which were becoming the source of power for the railroad.

As a child, I had a small HO scale model followed by an N scale railroad layout. I do not remember much about it as I got away from it as I grew up. Also, I remember not having much money to spend on models and using cardboard to create some buildings designed after those around town and my grandmother's house.

As I grew up, went to college, came back home, and started my career I got away from creating and enjoying my model railroad layouts. Also, I moved to an area where there weren't railroad tracks so I invariably got away from my love of trains. How could I let that happen, right?

When I retired, about 5  years ago now, as I was moving in my house, I heard the train horns in the distance. The horns seemed to be coming from 2 directions and they were blaring! Was I ever excited?! With my train interest re-ignited, I quickly found ways to enjoy watching trains.

My dog Noah and I began taking off at least once a month or so to watch trains at several locations between Virginia, West Virginia, and Maryland. My wife, Noah, and I began taking trips to Pennsylvania to watch trains at several locations. I was hooked again and loving every minute of it.

However, after a while of watching trains with a few buddies, I began noticing I needed to find my specific enjoyment of the hobby. I had become overwhelmed with the awesome wealth of information my buddies had but it was too much. I don't sleep, eat, drink, watch trains, repeat. I'm not sure that I absolutely need to know everything you could possibly ever know about trains or a train coming through. Where or what is my interest?

My interest is simply sitting trackside waiting for a train to come while reading my train magazines and learning about the history of the railroad and how it got here. The railroads have had a prominent place in the history and economic development of the United States of America.

With my developing an interest in the area of railroad history, I will start sharing a few blurbs of history along with the images I create while waiting trackside. Since Noah has been my railfan buddy for a few years, the posts will be called "Noah's Paw of Railroad History!" 

Noah's first paw-

(C) 2020, from The Dog's Paw!

"BARKS! In 1797, the steam locomotive is invented in England (Association of American Railroads)"

Of course, if you love dogs and cats, you can always follow Noah and Samson's, his cat brother, adventures at from The Dog's Paw!

Wednesday's Words! Encouragement from God's Word!

2020, Allen Pearson Photography

"She gave birth to a male child,

one who is to rule all the nations

with a rod of iron,

but her child was caught

up to God and to his throne."

- Revelation 12:5

Sunday's Thought!

"The Nativity"

Photo by Walter Chávez on Unsplash

Canceling Christmas…Says Who???

by Kim Kirby

Cancel Christmas? Never in my life would I have thought that could happen, but in this day and age of our government shutting down stores, restaurants, birthday parties, funerals, and the like, Christmas could certainly be next.

Christmas is a wonderful time of year, a time when people smile at each other as they stand in line waiting to pay for that last-minute gift for someone they had left off their list. A time when people look for the perfect tree whether it’s in the store with lights attached, or going to a tree farm to cut it down.

Christmas cheer, Christmas cookies, Christmas music, and Christmas memories, it’s a special time of year. Friends send family photo cards and everyone says, “my, how their kids have grown.” People reach out to loved ones they’ve missed seeing to wish them Merry Christmas. How we look forward to hearing that one special song that, for each one of us, says…“Christ is coming.”

Candles, wreaths, trees, mangers, music, presents, what says Christmas to you? Do you remember when you first heard about the birth of Jesus? Did you picture a baby smiling, wiggling, looking around as babies do? Or did you picture a baby that seemed to be quietly listening, waiting, knowing?

Did you know that shepherds were the first to hear of Jesus’ birth? They were in the fields with sheep, now being a shepherd was not the “go-to” job of the year. It was dirty, smelly, and you never knew what you might have to crawl over, crawl under, or fight to find a sheep that had wandered off. Imagine, in the middle of a dark sky, an angel appears lighting up the heavens. How frightened they must have been, but then the angel said, “Fear not.” It was probably their first encounter with an angel and I believe when they heard the words, “Fear not,” a peace like they had never known filled them and they were no longer afraid. How like God to announce the birth of His son, to everyday people, not to Kings or Princes, but shepherds, and how appropriate because the Son of God would become our Shepherd.

The joy of Christmas can’t be canceled, the passion of Christmas can’t be canceled, the hope of Christmas can’t be canceled, and most certainly Jesus' birth will never be canceled. For how can you cancel what has already taken place.

Canceling Christmas? No one can cancel the spirit or the heart of it, for it lives in you. Make a decision today to share the spirit of Christmas all year long with everyone you meet.

To learn about God's Gift of Good News, His Plan of Salvation for man, please visit Peace With God.

Railroad Photography! Railbox Cars Roll by Nokesville, VA, Art of the Freight Car, Rail Art Series

"Railbox Cars Roll by Nokesville, VA,
Art of the Freight Car, Rail Art Series"
(C) 2020, Allen Pearson Photography

My favorite aspect of railfanning is watching freight trains roar by! Over the years there have been many box cars to grab my attention. In the early days, it was the blue Chessie System, the  Chesapeake and Ohio Railway, and the Southern Railway boxcars. No, I'm not sure what it is that catches my attention about the freight boxcars but they do and have for some 50 years. It will probably continue for another 50 years! 

With my interest in freight boxcars, I've developed a series of photographic images that capture the art of the freight cars as they go roaring through. Some images have graffiti as this one does while others will have various artistic views. 

Please visit my photography gallery at Allen Pearson Photography, Art of the Freight Car, Rail Art Series. 

Wednesday's Words! Encouragement from God's Word!

(C) Allen Pearson Photography

"Angels from the realms of glory,

wing your flight o'er all the earth;

ye who sang creation's story

now proclaim Messiah's birth:

Come and worship, come and worship, 

worship Christ, the newborn king."

- Angels from the Realms of Glory

James Montgomery (1816)

To learn more about God's Plan for Man, the Good News, please visit Peace With God!

Sunday's Thought!

"A Colorful Nativity"

Photo by Debby Hudson on Unsplash

I have been reading in various news sources across the country interesting articles about canceling Christmas. My first response is "WHAT?" because you can't cancel Christmas. The articles went on to say that due to the "spikes" in the COVID-19 virus, several California cities and towns would be canceling their Christmas parades and celebrations. I read this back in September or October, and again this past week, so it made me wonder what all of the nonsense was really about. Is it an intent to cancel Christmas because someone in leadership doesn't like it and wants to push the envelope even further to do away with any acknowledgments of the Birth of Jesus Christ? Or, even get rid of Christianity entirely?

Whatever is going on, you cannot cancel Christmas. The "cancel culture" might think so but you cannot. No one can. While you might not be able to go shopping at the malls or department stores to buy gifts for your family and friends or have office parties, or parties in your home, or family dinners, but that's not what Christmas is all about anyway. Maybe it's time we quit focusing on all of that and discover the true meaning of Christmas. 

The true meaning of Christmas? Christmas is a day of celebration in the Christian life of the Birth of Jesus Christ. He was born of a virgin, lived a sinless life on earth, was crucified, and died on a cross to give us eternal life in heaven with Him. We do have to accept His forgiveness, despite what some may say, it's not an instant or automatic thing that we go directly to heaven at death, there are two options. You do or you don't. Pretty simple. To make a decision to ask Jesus into your heart and forgive you of your sins. To learn more, I recommend visiting Peace With God. 

Happy Thanksgiving!

(C) 2020, Allen Pearson Photography 

With all the craziness in the world these days, remember to focus on the positive in your life, love your friends and family, and enjoy your Thanksgiving Day!

Wednesday's Words! Encouragement from God's Word

"And let the peace of

Christ rule in your

hearts, to which indeed you

were called in one body.

And be thankful."

- Colossians 3:15

Sunday's Thought!

"Grateful, Thankful, Blessed!"

Photo by Ann on Unsplash

WOW! Once again another year has gone by really fast. Someone said, "As you get older the time flies by faster and faster!" I didn't believe it then but I sure do now. 

With all the chaos, COVID-19, and political nonsense going on in the world today, it is easy to forget to be thankful. Yes, thankful. There is quite a bit in this life for which to be thankful. I admit the blaring noise of the media will take the thought of being thankful away from you helping you to forget. 

For me, Thanksgiving isn't about the food. Though I have to admit, my mother and my wife have made delicious meals in celebration of the day. Don't misunderstand I love food too. I was taught to focus on why I am thankful. Turn off the TV, radio, devices, and take the time to be thankful. 

For me, I am very thankful for God, His Son Jesus, and God's Word, the Bible. I am very thankful Jesus died for me so that I can have eternal life in heaven after I die and leave this earth and how He has taken care of me throughout the years. I am very thankful for my wife who has put up with me for over 24 years and during COVID lockdowns has had the patience of an angel. I am thankful for my dog and cat who are great companions and have reminded me how to enjoy the simplest things in life, including the wonderment of falling leaves and raindrops. I am very thankful for my parents who not only gave me life, but taught me about God, Jesus, and the Bible and how to be a respectable member of society. I am thankful for my church family who are the kindest loving people. 

Sometimes it can be very difficult to find something for which to be thankful. However, if you look around and think about it, or pay attention to your life, you will probably come up with something. An example for me would be the year my mother had a stroke and ended up in the hospital. She was admitted to a nursing home during the Thanksgiving season. It was upsetting and disappointing. However, challenging as it may have been, I was thankful my mother was able to receive the care she needed. Also, I was thankful that my wife was there and able to assist her when she needed it as it would have been a whole lot worse without her love. I was thankful for the love and comfort God provided during the time too. 

As a Christian, I can say it isn't the easiest life to live. However, I find God's Love provides what I need to get through this life and He provides peace and contentment when there could, or should, be chaos and confusion. To learn more about the Christian life, please visit Peace With God!

A Photography Website with SmugMug!

(C) 2020, Smugmug, Inc.

 

A disclaimer: I am an affiliate of Smugmug, Inc. Therefore, I might earn a small payment if you purchase their products from links in this post. 

A few years ago now, I decided I wanted a new photography website. I wanted a brand new site with a brand new modern-looking design. Before deciding on a product, I compared many products. Being a small local photographer, I needed to pay close attention to expenses too. A product that would allow me to begin with a basic website and grow to offer e-commerce if I want to in the future would be great. 

I have to admit, I didn't immediately switch to Smugmug. I did an internet search and reviewed many products in-depth. After reviewing and testing products, I determined the Smugmug is a great product and my choice. Three considerations that weighed heavily in my decision were the ease of creating and personalizing a website, updating it, and uploading images. Smugmug won out.

Why do I like Smugmug? I decided to select the Power product. The Power product offers customization of the template so I can create a website that reflects me and my work. All for $85/yearly. If I decide that I want to add e-commerce, I can do it by easily upgrading. I find the customizing, including a custom URL and email address, to be very easy to do. 

Every once in a while, I want to refresh the website which is easy to do. A favorite feature is if I goof up, I can go back and start over. If I really screw it up? Smugmug has a great support team willing to help! The great part of this for me is I am using a template that Smugmug designs and did all of the techy work required for a website to work. I just customize!

Another feature I enjoy with Smugmug is the ease of uploading my images to selected galleries and creating descriptions with keywords that make it easier for people to find my work. Once I finish working with an image, the last thing I want to fool with is uploading it to my website. Smugmug seems to understand that. 

Curious? Visit Smugmug's 14-Day Free Trial and see for yourself. 

Garden Photography! Garden Perspectives: Honey Bee on a Daisy Flower

"Honey Bee on a Daisy Flower"

(C) 2020, Allen Pearson Photography

My interest in photographing bees on flowers continued this summer. Fortunately, I had a Shasta Daisy growing near my house and was able to capture a few images. 

Please visit my photography work at Allen Pearson Photography.

Wednesday's Words! Encouragement from God's Word!

(C) 2020, Allen Pearson Photography

"Is prayer your steering wheel

or your spare tire?"

- Corrie Ten Boom

Sunday's Thought!

"Studying the Bible"

Photo by Aaron Burden on Unsplash

Do you know Jesus—or are you just gathering facts??

by Adrian Rogers, Love Worth Finding Ministries

"For you know the grace of our Lord Jesus Christ, that, 

though He was rich, yet for your sakes He became poor,

that you through His poverty might be rich."

 2 Corinthians 8:9

Years ago my wife gave me a little card to carry in my billfold. On it she had written her dress size, shoe size, glove size and more. That was nice to have so I could know all about her when I went to do some shopping. But it didn’t provide much companionship or encouragement when I was away from her.

It’s one thing to have the facts about Jesus, it’s another thing to have a relationship with Jesus.

Do you know Jesus...really know Him? Or are you just gathering facts about Him?

For more from Love Worth Finding and Pastor Adrian Rogers and to learn about salvation, please visit Love Worth Finding - Assurance of Salvation

Devotion used by written permission of Love Worth Finding.

Tree Photography! Branches to the Skies! The Art of Trees

"Branches to the Skies! The Art of the Tree!"
(C) 2020, Allen Pearson Photography

The beauty of trees has been a fascination for me most of my life. There is something magnificently beautiful about a tree, even in the winter months when all the leaves are gone.

One of my favorite photography pastimes is to take my camera with me on a hike through the woods where there are quite a few trees. I let my imagination go wild with what I would see in the trees. It's a fun way to escape the silliness of the city and be creative. 

Please visit my Art of the Tree gallery at Allen Pearson Photography. 

Wednesday's Words! Encouragement from God's Word!

(C) Allen Pearson Photography

"Have I not commanded you? Be strong and of good courage; 

do not be afraid, nor be dismayed, 

for the Lord your God is with you

 wherever you go.”

 - Joshua 1:9

Today, Veteran's Day, I salute the Veterans of the US Military! 

Thank you for everything you do, or have done, to protect our freedoms. I salute your families too, who sacrificed over your time of service! I cannot thank you enough! 

Sunday's Thought!

"Splashes of Fall's Colors"
(C) Allen Pearson Photography

 

What a week! We should have known officially by now who won the Presidential election held on Tuesday. The results are typically decided and announced the next day. However, it seems that some fraud happening in various counties and states throughout the country may have put a stop to the finalizing of the election and resulting in some lawsuits.

It seems that Satan is on a full attack of the United States these days by interfering in many of the country's affairs including the election. These attacks are causing many people to become anxious, concerned, and even afraid of where our country is headed and who our President will be. Satan will use everything in his power to cause people to place their trust and attention in the wrong place. 

For me, I've noticed a remarkably calm peace within me about the election. I know things may be different if the wrong people are selected. However, I have no control over that. I have voted and done my part. That's not the only thing though nor is it most important. It is because I know within my heart and mind that God is in control. Regardless of the outcome, God is in control, He has always been in control, and will always be in control! Also, thankfully, as if I were to forget, a friend is always reminding me of that fact. What I do with that, is what really matters.

However, it is not just the knowledge of God being in control or my friend's constant reminder, it is my faith and trust in God which makes it true. It is time spent reading my Bible, praying, going to church to worship, and serving God how I can. Foremost, and most important, it is becoming a Christian and following what God Will is for me. 

To learn more about the Christian life, Jesus, the Bible, and eternal life, please visit Peace With God. 

Wednesday's Words! Encouragement from God's Word!

(C) 2020, Allen Pearson Photography

"Therefore don't worry about

tomorrow, because tomorrow will

worry about itself.

Each day has enough trouble

of its own."

- Matthew 6:34

Sunday's Thought!

 

"Voting!"

Photo by Element5 Digital on Unsplash

This election season has been the worst I have ever seen. While I typically, and will continue, stay away from sharing political thoughts, opinions, or who I will vote for, or who I think you should vote for, I feel like I have to share a few thoughts about this season. I believe everyone who is a citizen of the United States and voting age should and must take the time to vote. It is important for your voice to be heard through your vote.   

However, what I am seeing in TV and radio commercials and other forms of political ads are causing people to turn against each, dislike or hate one another or become violent because someone else has an opposite opinion than theirs. It's been strange to see one political party's ad change to an opposite opinion quicker than I change my socks. 

This election season has been a bit concerning to see these political ads tearing the United States apart and citizens against citizens. Not only that, I have to wonder how many people are living in fear. Fear that the other side will win the election, fear that things are going to get worse, fear that their going to lose their livelihood, or maybe even their lives if the wrong people are elected. 

For me, there have been more than a few times when I found myself afraid of the future. What's going to happen if the wrong people get in office? What I mean by wrong people are those who DO NOT have the American citizen's best interests at heart. I have even found myself a bit afraid of what's going to happen on Election Day. Will there be violence? Will there be chaos? 

Then it dawns on me! Almost like a lightning bolt or flash from heaven. God is in control. He knows what the outcome of the election will be. He knows the future. As God has always said, 

"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, ESV

“Fear not, for I am with you; be not dismayed, for I am your God; I will strengthen you, 

I will help you, I will uphold you with my righteous right hand.” - Isaiah 41:10, ESV

So why do I worry? Why do I allow myself to get scared or afraid? Especially of something like an election. However, remember, God taking care of me isn't just because He wants to. Although He does. BUT, I have to accept Him as Lord and Savior of my life, become a Christian. He wants nothing more than to have YOU accept Him and become a Christian. He doesn't want to see you living in fear or worry. 

How do you become a Christian? Visit Peace With God to learn how to make this important decision. 

Daylight Saving Time Ends, Sunday, November 1!

(C) Allen Pearson Photography

It happens every year, yet at 57-years-old, I still have not enjoyed the time change each fall. Not only that, it's my least favorite time of year. Why? I love all of the daylight I can get. I love the long days of summer. Though I have to admit, a friend taught me how to find beauty in the fall season colors found in nature.

This is your yearly reminder to set your clocks one hour BACK before you go to bed on Saturday night so you will be on time for your Sunday!

Railroad Photography! Norfolk Southern Locomotive 9770 - Helpers

 

"Norfolk Southern Locomotive 9770 - Helpers"
(C) 2020, Allen Pearson Photography

Every weekday it seems, there are Norfolk Southern Locomotives in the Culpeper to Manassas area which work as helpers. I see them quite often in different locations from Calverton to Nokesville which is where this I'm not sure what these two locomotives exactly do since there are not many hills, or mountains, in our immediate area though there are some in surrounding areas which is what I tend to consider helpers to do. There is a rock train that goes from Manassas around town to locations through Northern Virginia. These locomotives might help with that train too.  

Either way, regardless of the work they are doing, I enjoy seeing the locomotives go through town. 

Wednesday's Words! Encouragement from God's Word

 

(C) 2020, Allen Pearson Photography

"Do nothing from

selfish ambition

or conceit, but in 

humility count

others more

important than

yourselves."

- Philippians 2:3