Sunday's Thought!

"The Storms of Life"
Photo by Johannes Plenio on Unsplash

Your Accuser Won’t Stop

By Adrian Rogers, Love Worth Finding Ministries

"Then he showed me Joshua the high priest standing before the Angel of the Lord,

and Satan standing at his right hand to oppose him."

- Zechariah 3:1

Do you like people talking behind your back? You have someone who not only talks behind your back, he'll also accuse you to your face. He’s constantly accusing you before God, pointing the finger of accusation. His name is Satan. He’s your adversary.

The very word Satan means “adversary.” Here he stands before the Lord like a prosecuting attorney. Revelation 12:10 makes it clear: Satan is our accuser.

Listen to me. Satan is constantly accusing you. He wants you to sin, encourages you to sin, then he wants you to suffer the consequences. He points out your sin so you’ll get into the guilt trap. He rejoices in your suffering. Satan wants to cripple you, and then blame you for limping! That's what he does!

Warren Wiersbe said, “Before you sin, Satan whispers, ‘You can get away with it.’ And after you sin, he shouts, 'You'll never get away with it.’” That's just the way he does.

Every soldier will tell you: you have to know your enemy. Satan, your adversary, accuses you to drive you to despair. Know your adversary. But the Holy Spirit, your Comforter, convicts you in order to draw you to Jesus Christ, to forgiveness, freedom, and liberty. Recognize the difference.

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

For more from Love Worth Finding and Pastor Adrian Rogers, please visit www.lwf.org.

Devotion used by written permission of Love Worth Finding.

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

(C) 2021, Allen Pearson Photography

 

"The Christian life is

not a constant high.

I have my moments

of deep discouragement.

I have to go to God in

prayer with tears in my 

eyes, and say,

'O God, forgive me,'

or 'help me.'"

- Billy Graham 

Sunday's Thought!

"Technology!"

Photo by Christopher Gower on Unsplash

As I age, I enjoy looking back at the way things used to be occasionally. So many times, things are better than the way they used to be, and sometimes they are easier. I can remember using encyclopedias and carrying quite a few books home from the library to research a topic for school research papers. Now, all I have to do is go online. After all, if it on the internet it's correct, right? I remember using pen and paper or typewriter to write the final paper to turn into the teacher or professor and now, it'd be done on a laptop or even a tablet. Probably one of my favorite changes of the years is accessibility to music. I remember listening to the radio and moving the antenna around to tune in to the station! Or, the worst was hearing a piece of music on the radio and trying to find the name of the song and the musical group. Now, I have plenty of resources such as Spotify, Pandora, and various websites to find whatever music information I want. One of the best websites allows me to explore composers that are unknown to me. Many, I can play their music too. Another exciting technological advance for Christians is the access to the Bible in various translations, Bible Commentaries, Bible Dictionaries, and many other great Bible reference books which help to learn and understand more about God's Word are now available digitally on every possible device. I enjoy my morning devotions on my tablet which is read to me by the ministry or I can read it myself. 

All of those examples are tasks or aspects of life that have become easier as time has gone by. In many cases, technology has truly advanced great changes in this life. However, despite all of those wonderful advances, the Bible - God's Word, God, and Jesus have stayed the same. If you take an in-depth look at the Scriptures, you will find that God's Word for us was important for us back in the day, today, and will be going forward. Yet, nothing has changed. It is the same God's Word that we always have had. Also, more than any technological advance or even any person, God's Love for us has never changed. His Love for us has been there since the beginning of time and will be for all eternity. Amazing isn't it? 

Though technologies have changed quite a bit of our lives, the fact that God wants you to be in heaven, not hell, after your death remains absolutely the same. He wants you there! However, you have to make the decision to follow Christ and become a Christian. Please visit Peace With God to learn more. 

Allen Pearson Photography at Fine Art America!

I am some exciting news to share with you. Recently, I decided to open an art shop at Fine Art America. For now, some of my images will be available for purchase on their products. Maybe eventually, I will have more of my work available at the site. 

Please visit my art shop at Fine Art America and let me know what you think!

Garden Photography: Garden Perspectives! Dahlia's Brilliant Red!

"Dahlia's Brilliant Red!" 
(C) 2021, Allen Pearson Photography

With all the recent ice and snowstorms in Virginia, especially the historic winter storms which hit Texas leaving many without heat, I decided to share this image of a brilliant red Dahlia bloom. I photographed the flower in late October 2020.

I love the Dahlia family of flowers. You can find a wide variety of colors to perk up your garden. I am looking forward to spring! Only a few weeks away!

Please visit my Garden Photography Gallery, "Garden Perspectives," at Allen Pearson Photography.

Also, I have opened an art shop at Fine Art America! The "Dahlia's Brilliant Red"is available for purchase on various products.

Railroad Photography! "Norfolk Southern Ballast Cars Rolling Through Belvoir, VA"

"Norfolk Southern Ballast Cars Rolling Through Belvoir, VA"
(C) 2021, Allen Pearson Photography

My interest in trains is in the area of railroad history and learning about the use of the different railroad cars I see and sometimes photograph along the way. Sometimes, it can be a challenging effort because the railroad cars can have very customized use.

The orange-pink-looking rolling stock is ballast cars. They probably used these cars to haul ballast for railroad track maintenance in the area. The train was heading east through Belvior, VA toward Manassas, VA. 

Please visit my work at Allen Pearson Photography.  When you get a chance, please visit my new art shop at Fine Art America/Allen Pearson where you can purchase some products with my images. 

Sunday's Thought!

"Happy Valentine's Day!"

Photo by Denis Agati on Unsplash

One of my younger friends mentioned he thought that Valentine's Day was silly. His reasoning was that we should express our love for someone every day or all the time not just once a year. He brings up a good point. I'd have to say I agree with him and have enjoyed showing my love for my wife and others throughout the year.However, Valentine's Day is a good day to remind someone who can get very busy to buy a greeting card or a gift to express their love for someone. Unfortunately, it is very easy to get involved in the busyness of life and have a holiday sneak up on you. Or, even to express to someone you love, "I love you!"

I have to admit, I haven't been perfect in remembering to buy cards or gifts for Valentine's Day. Unless that is, I was trying to impress a girl and you know how that goes. These days, due to the crowds in restaurants as well as other places, pre-COVID that is, my wife and I would go to her favorite restaurant some night before Valentine's Day to celebrate. It was the night to splurge on a meal like we wouldn't normally do. Neither of us needs any more stuff and since we usually commented how delicious the more expensive meals looked on the menu, that is our Valentine's Day treat together.

Valentine's Day following on a Sunday this year couldn't be better timing. Sunday is a day that many people attend church services where we hear about God and His Love for us.

Thankfully, actually very thankfully, Jesus doesn't need Valentine's Day to remind Him to love us. He does. Always. He has loved us from the beginning and will until the end. Jesus loved us enough to die on a cruel cross for us so that we may have eternal life in heaven with Him rather than going to hell. However, going to heaven isn't an automatic thing you do when you die. You don't just die and go straight to heaven. You must make the choice whether or not to become a Christian or not.

To learn about making a decision about heaven, the Christian life, and God's Plan of Salvation for man, please visit Peace With God.

Happy Valentine's Day!

Railroad Photography! At The End, Boyce, VA!

"At The End, Boyce, VA!"
(C) 2021, Allen Pearson Photography

Ever since I was a young boy, probably as young as 5-years-old maybe even younger, I have not liked it at all when a passing train went its way and was gone! Back in the days, the trains had a caboose at the end where I often saw a man working who would wave at me as he passed.

These days, trains no longer have cabooses at the end. So the end seems to come rather abruptly. And, then it's done. All the excitement I waited to enjoy, all the excitement of the locomotives, all the excitement of the various railroad cars, is gone. But, I seem to be fascinated by the "end of the train" these days. 

Please visit my photography gallery at Allen Pearson Photography to view more of my railroad photography work. 

Wednesday's Words! Encouragement from God's Word

 

"Jesus loves me...

this I know...

for the Bible...

tells me so!"

- Anna Bartlett Warner (1827–1915)

Sunday's Thought!

 

"New York, United States"

Photo by Srikanta H. U on Unsplash

“Come to Me, all you who are weary and burdened, and I will give you rest." 

- Matthew 11:28

My buddy reminds me more often than I can count that "God is in Control." I know that, I understand that, and have known it all fifty-seven years of my life. However, it is a good phrase to remember and repeat to yourself often, especially these days. 

As the world seems to be swirling out of control with protests, riots, bad news on every news broadcast which is often one-sided, and negative social media posts, it all appears to paint the world in a very hopeless state. All of this can berate on a person causing them to stress out, worry, and even to have mental problems. By that statement, I'm not criticizing anyone for going through these issues, as I have had to turn off the broadcast news and not pay as much attention to the posts on social media just to keep my sanity and nerves settled. 

I had the blessing of growing up in a local church. We went every time the church door was open. There were two services on Sundays, Sunday School classes, youth meetings, and revivals. Also, we went to the annual church camp meetings where there were Worship services every night for a week. I went to a Christian college for my education too. I have had the opportunity to hear a few sermons by some of the absolute best preachers, evangelists, theologians, and professors/teachers/educators of the Bible in the world. 

What amazes me about my friend's constant reminder, "God is in Control," is that he states four simple words which summarizes much of what many of the great speakers that I have heard have said except in much simpler phrasing. Which makes it a great reminder.

When you get anxious about the chaos in the world today, remember "God is in Control!" He was, He is, and He will always be.  The Scripture I noted above, Matthew 11:28 is one I meditate on when I am stressed. 

To learn how magnificently powerful the phrase "God is in Control," truly is, you need to become a Christian and live your life to Jesus Christ. Then you will see the wonders of God being in control.  To learn more about the blessings of God's Plan of Salvation, please visit Peace With God.

Garden Perspectives! A Honey Bee on a Daisy!

 

"A Honey Bee on a Daisy!"
(C) 2021, Allen Pearson Photography

A favorite subject of mine to photograph in the garden is the honey bee and black bumblebee with a macro lens. To me, it's fascinating to see the bees up close and watch them explore a flower before gathering nectar.

Garden Perspectives is my gallery of images where I share uniquely creative views of nature found in a backyard or formal garden using my macro lens. Exploring the world with a macro lens is a fascinating endeavor.

Please visit my Garden Perspectives Gallery at Allen Pearson Photography.

Railroad Video! Norfolk Southern Railway at Boyce Railway Station, Boyce, VA

(C) 2021, Allen Pearson Photography

During this past Christmas-New Year's Season, I was blessed with a visit from a friend who was my college roommate. It's funny, whenever we get together it's like we pick up where we left off last time. Those types of friends are rare. 

While he was here, we took a railfanning trip up Virginia Route 55 to a few other routes stopping at train watching locations until we reached Shenandoah Junction, WV. He hadn't been in West Virginia very much so for him the travel exploring was a treat. 

Our first stop was at the Boyce Railway Station, Boyce VA. I'd been trying for a while to capture a video and some images of trains rolling by the old station. This video is my first. I'll share a few photos soon. 

Please follow my videos at YouTube - Allen Pearson Photography. 

My railroad photography work can be found at Allen Pearson Photography. If you are interested in purchasing prints, please visit the Products, Prices, and Services page on this site.  

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

(C) 2020, Allen Pearson Photography

"When you pass through the waters,

I will be with you;

and through the rivers,

they shall not overwhelm you:

when you walk through fire

you shall not be burned,

and the flame shall not consume you."

- Isaiah 43:2