Wednesday's Words! Encouragement from God's Word

 

(C) 2021, Allen Pearson Photography

"He is not here,

for he has risen,

as he said. Come,

see the place where he lay."

- Matthew 28:6

Sunday's Thought!

"Black-Eyed Susans in Bloom"
(C) 2021, Allen Pearson Photography

Over the past years of my life, I have dealt with several health issues. One of them is ongoing and challenging. It is always changing and not something the doctors know about it nor understand. One of my frustrations has been that many opposites in the workings or understandings of the human body, are true for me, while not for others. For example, feeling cold and hot at the same time happens. Air-conditioning is a terrible challenge for me setting my nerves off making me instantly feeling bad while cold  However, cold weather isn't a problem like that. 

As my health challenges happen, one thing I am VERY thankful for is God's Love and His Care for me. Once I accepted Him as my Savior, became a Christian, He has always taken great care of me. I have to admit, sometimes the care isn't instantly or easy. Sometimes I need to learn something that God wants to teach me and I'll go through something. Not too long back I found myself almost at my wit's end! I told God about it and talked to Him several times throughout the challenges. At the time, I really had a hard time holding onto my faith that He cares for me. The situation proved to be a great lesson for me to learn in faith and trust, a great reminder. Over the years, God has used my situation to help others. While I knew a few times about it, other times I haven't but understood the possibility is always there that He is using me to help someone else. I trust that! God's Love and Care for me is always there. 

As a Christian, I do not love or serve God for what He will do for me. That's too much like, "I will do this, if you will do that!" That's kinda childish and very simple-minded in my mind. I love God and serve Him for what He has done for me- He gave His Life through His Son Jesus on a cruel cross so I could have eternal life in heaven- forever with Him. In this life, there are many challenges, tragedies, sickness, and pain, but as a Christian, I know God is there. He is ALWAYS there! All I have to do is pray to Him. 

To learn more about God, Jesus, the Bible, the Christian Life, and heaven, please visit Peace With God!

Garden Perspectives! A Toad in the Yard

"A Toad in the Yard!"
(C) 2021, Allen Pearson Photography

The sure signs or I should say "sounds," that Spring is in the air are the sounds from all the frogs looking for their mates! A few weeks ago, the field behind my house came alive with the sounds of a bazillion or so frogs! What a delightful sound it was and continues to be.

Please visit my Garden Perspectives Photography Gallery at Allen Pearson Photography!

Wednesday's Words! Encouragement from God's Word

(C) 2021, Allen Pearson Photography

 

"For Christ also hath once 

suffered for sins, 

the just for the unjust, 

that he might bring us to God, 

being put to death in the flesh, 

but quickened by the Spirit:"

- 1 Peter 3:18, KJV

Sunday's Thought!

"Chess!"

Photo by Hassan Pasha on Unsplash

 The Devil’s Gambit

by Jack Graham, PowerPoint Ministries

"Submit yourselves therefore to God. Resist the devil, and he will flee from you."

--James 4:7

There is a famous painting I’ve seen, done by an artist named Moritz Retzsch, of a chess match between the devil and a young man. In the painting of the chess game, the devil appears to have the young man in a checkmate. So, the young man is sweating profusely and trying to figure out if he can move.

Years ago, a master in the game of chess was invited to look at the picture and see if there was any possible move that the young man could make to get out of checkmate with the devil. So that master chessman stared and searched the board for a possible way out for three hours.

After three hours, he finally saw one move the man could make… one way out from defeat. When he saw it, they said he shouted out loud to the painting, “Young man, make that move! Make that move!”

The truth is that victory over the devil really does take just one move: trusting in Christ. You can sit for hours and try to figure it out, but only one move will do. Yes, you can beat him, but you have to make the move to Jesus first!

SO OFTEN IT CAN SEEM LIKE THE DEVIL HAS YOU CORNERED. BUT IF YOU WANT TO HAVE VICTORY OVER HIM, TRUSTING IN CHRIST IS THE ONLY WAY!

To make a move to Jesus, and beat the devil, please visit PowerPoint Ministries with Jack Graham, New Life in Christ.

Devotion used by written permission of PowerPoint Ministries with Jack Graham.

Garden Perspectives! Happy Vernal Equinox!

 

"Happy Vernal Equinox!"
(C) 2021, Allen Pearson Photography

Ahhh SPRING! One of my favorite seasons! Summer being my favorite. Followed by Fall and Winter. Anyway, I'm glad Spring is here as it means there probably will not be another snow or ice storm until late fall or winter! Also, it means that warmer weather is on the way! The primary reason I like Spring! 

"Happy Vernal Equinox" was photographed in a neighbors garden. He had several beautiful Dahlia's blooming and allowed me to photograph. Of course, I couldn't resist so I grabbed my macro lens and photographed. This image is part of my on-going series, Garden Perspectives, where I share a unique perspective of nature found in the garden, backyard, or formal. 

Please visit my photography work at Allen Pearson Photography. My images are available on products found at Fine Art America. 

Railroad Photography! "Boxcars Rolling Through Boyce, VA"

"Boxcars Rolling Through Boyce, VA"
(C) 2021, Allen Pearson Photography

Near the end of December during the Christmas and New Year's holidays, I had the blessing of a friend I made in college visiting for the week. Since he hadn't been to West Virginia very much and enjoys exploring, we took off toward Shenandoah Junction making a few stops along the way.

My favorite trains to watch are freight and coal trains, which goes back to my days at my grandmother's house in West Virginia. 

This image was created at Boyce Railway Station in Boyce, VA. 

My railroad photography can be found at www.allenpearsonsphotography.com. A few of my images are available on products at Fine Art America/profiles/1-Allen-Pearson. If you see an image with which you would product(s) created with it, please inquire at allenpearsonphotography@gmail.com.

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

(C) 2021, Allen Pearson Photography

"When I am afraid, 

I will put my trust in you."

- Psalm 56:3

Sunday's Thought!

"Disappointment"
Photo by Kyle Glenn on Unsplash

Disappointments

By Os Hillman, TGIF Today God Is First, Volume 1

"Hope deferred makes the heart sick, but a longing fulfilled is a tree of life."

 - Proverbs 13:12

Life is filled with disappointments. Many of God's greatest servants experienced deep disappointment in their journeys of faithfulness to God. Joseph, after spending years as a slave and in jail for crimes that he did not commit, revealed deep disappointment when he was forgotten another two years in prison. John the Baptist, when awaiting execution, doubted whether Jesus was, in fact, the Christ because he was sitting there awaiting his death. Elijah, losing all hope and despondent to the point of death, asked God to take his life in the desert; and Peter, who left his fishing business and invested three years of his life only to watch his Savior crucified, wondered whether the purpose of those three years could be justified.

When life doesn't add up, it leaves the heart sick. When we have done all we know to do and the formula has not worked, it leaves us questioning. These are times that try the very souls of men. There is no human sense to be made of it. We are left with a choice: to cling or not to cling. There are times when holding on to our Master's robe is all that we can do. It is all that He wants us to do.

"The heights by great men reached and kept

Were not obtained by sudden flight;

But they, while their companions slept,

Were toiling upward in the night.

Standing on what too long we bore,

With shoulders bent and downcast eyes,

We may discern-unseen before-

A path to higher destinies!"

~Longfellow

There is only one answer to life's disappointments. Like the psalmist, we must "Find rest, O my soul, in God alone; my hope comes from Him. He alone is my rock and my salvation; He is my fortress, I will not be shaken" (Ps. 62:5-6).

Devotion used by written permission of TGIF Today God is First, Marketplace Leaders.

To place your trust in God, learn more about God's Plan of Salvation and repentance, please visit Peace With God!

Daylight Savings Time Returns Sunday, March 14, 2021, at 2 a.m.!

 

(C) 2021, Allen Pearson Photography

I love Daylight Saving Time! Especially back in the years of my career, I loved it. It meant that I had time after work to get outside and enjoy the weather! Also, I could do my yard work   After being stuck in an office all day long, and after a long winter, the was a huge blessing to me.

Not to mention, the indication it brings that warm weather is on the way! Though we have gotten several huge snowstorms in the month of March, though will melt quickly and not be around all season as the winter storms will often do. The season's temperatures usually start moderating to warmer in the day and not usually as cold at night. Not too much longer, spring will be here, within the week! 

Don't forget - Turn your clocks forward one hour! SPRING FORWARD!

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

 

(C) 2021, Allen Pearson Photography

"Be not wise in your

own eyes;

fear the Lord,

and turn away

from evil."

- Proverbs 3:7

Sunday's Thought!

"Ponderings of Life!"

Photo by Joshua Earle on Unsplash

You Were Made Different For A Reason

by Jack Graham, PowerPoint Ministries

"And God said, 'Behold, I have given you every plant yielding seed that is on the face of all the earth, and every tree with seed in its fruit. You shall have them for food.'”

-Genesis 1:29

Even though some people try to deny and ignore it, deep within every person is a craving to seek and to know God. We were given a God-consciousness at our creation; God implanted some of Himself in each and every one of us. That’s why humans are the only creation of God that seeks Him and has an inner need for Him.

For example, one way we are like God is that we are called to reflect His dominion over the earth. God has all power over creation. He can tell lightning when and where to strike and command the seas to do His will. We have a small part of this power that God gave us to subdue and rule the earth.

Another way we are like God is that we have the capacity to make choices. Unfortunately, because we’re all sinful we have made wrong choices, but sin has not canceled out our capacity to accept or reject God’s commands.

Giving us the gift of choice was a risky and costly decision for God, because it cost Christ His life. But it was worthwhile for God because He wants us to choose Him, not be programmed by Him. He loved us, chose us, and saved us, and He wants us to love and choose Him.

He wants us to make the choice to accept His Son as our Savior so that we will be with Him forever. If you haven’t done so already, I challenge you to do that today.

THE BOTTOM LINE IS YOU AND I WERE MADE FOR GOD.

To learn more about God's Plan for your life, please visit PowerPoint Ministries with Jack Graham, New Life in Christ.

Devotion used by written permission of PowerPoint Ministries with Jack Graham.

Railroad Video! "A Norfolk Southern Railway Intermodal from the Setting Sun" at Nokesville, VA

(C) 2021, Allen Pearson Photography

A Norfolk Southern Railway Intermodal from the Setting Sun" at Nokesville, VA, was created during my new dog's first railfanning trip with just me! She went on a trip a few months ago with a friend and me. She seemed to enjoy it but my attention wasn't completely on her that day- except for the usual safety restrictions which are always at my attention. Also, she wasn't as close to the trains as she might be on future travels so I wanted to provide the learning experience. 

I was more interested in getting Abby out on a railfanning trip than paying close attention to all the rules and details in photography and videography. The major problem with the location I used was that I'd be shooting into the setting sun. However, another thought crossed my mind was the rules are sometimes meant to be broken to get a shot from a different angle. I am experimenting with the video, and new at it, so I thought I'd try it. This turns about to be my first artistic video of a train.

As the train approached, I began shooting, video and photography. I quickly noticed that the sun was causing quite a glare. Maybe even capturing some sunspots! After reviewing the video on my computer, I think it turned out to be a good capture of an evening train as the sun was setting. 

Please share your comments about the video. I am interested in learning from your opinions.

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

(C) 2021, Allen Pearson Photography

 

To God Be The Glory!

"Praise the Lord, praise the Lord,

let the earth hear his voice!

Praise the Lord, praise the Lord,

let the people rejoice!

O Come to the Father, through Jesus the Son, 

and give him the glory, great things

he hath done."

- Fanny J. Cosby (1875)

- William H. Doane (1875)