Wednesday's Words! Encouragement from God's Word

(C) 2021, Allen Pearson Photography

"Another year of mercies,

of faithfulness and grace;

another year of gladness

in the shining of thy face;

another year of progress,

another year of praise,

another year of proving

thy presence all the days."

- Frances Ridley Havergal

Nature Photography! The Art of the Tree! A Tree Winters on the Farm D3856

"A Tree Winters on the Farm"
(C) 2021, Allen Pearson Photography

As I've mentioned a few posts ago, a friend shared with me about finding the beauty in the winter months. I am having quite a bit of fun doing just that.

During a railfan trip in Fauquier County, VA, I was driving from one location to another following one of those narrow back roads when I saw this tree. It was standing there, sharing its unique natural art in the winter. Its branches were going everywhere making it appear to have been around quite a long time, maybe back to the Civil War.

The tree's beauty stood out in the midst of the cold winter weather highlighting the season's effect on the natural surroundings.

 
My photography work is found at Allen Pearson Photography. Also, please visit Fine Art America - Allen-Pearson.

Sunday's Thought!

"A Christmas Nativity"

Photo by Jessica Lynn Lewis from Pexels

How Old Was Jesus When He Was Born?

By Adrian Rogers, Love Worth Finding

“And she brought forth her firstborn son, and wrapped him in swaddling clothes, 

and laid him in a manger …” 

- Luke 2:7

 “And great is the mystery of godliness, God was manifest in the flesh” 1 Timothy 3:16.

I love 1Timothy 3:16, “…God was manifest in the flesh.” You may not understand that. The apostle Paul said, “I don’t understand it.” Great is the mystery. God stepped out of Heaven and came to this earth through the portals of a virgin’s womb.

Jesus did not have His beginning at Bethlehem. When the Bible says, “In the beginning was the Word,” it’s not talking about a start but a state. There never was a time when Jesus was not. There never will be a time when Jesus is not. A billion years from now, He will still be God. He is God from everlasting to everlasting.

When Jesus was born, He was older than His mother and as old His Father because He was the Son from Heaven. Jesus did not begin in a manger. He came to earth and was manifest in a manger.

This little baby wrapped in swaddling clothes was the great, eternal, uncreated, self-existing Word made flesh. The little baby in Luke 2 is the mighty God of Genesis 1. He is the One who made it all. Before Him “there was nothing that is made.” That little baby lying in the straw with dimpled feet is the One who swung planets into space. The little baby boy playing with shavings in Joseph’s carpenter shop is God of very God. God manifested in the flesh.

Ponder this truth today: What good is it to know history and the events of history and not know Jesus? For it is in Him we live and move and have our being. He is fully God, forever God.

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.

Merry Christmas!

 

(C) 2021, Allen Pearson Photography

"Today in the town of David a Savior has been born to you; he is the Messiah, the Lord."

-Luke 2:11

May the Lord bless your Christmas Day with your family and friends!

Nature Photography! A Creek in the Great Smoky Mountains

"A Creek in the Great Smoky Mountains"
(C) 2021, Allen Pearson Photography

 

A few weeks or so ago, I read an article by Brian Solomon who writes several articles for Trains and Classic Trains magazines. In his article, he mentions going through old images which made me think about several files which I download from the digital card but did not go through. That, and the thought that my external drives where I store my photography were beginning to really fill up, reminded me to go through them. 

To my surprise, I found a file that I had completely forgotten about. The images were created in May 2015 on a trip to the Great Smoky Mountains in the Gatlinburg, Tennessee, area. These images reminded me of a favorite adventure of mine that I haven't done for a while.  I'll have to get back into nature hikes and trips through the mountains. 

Over the next few weeks, I'll share a few of the images I can across from that trip.

Please visit my photography work at Allen Pearson Photography. My work can be purchased by emailing me, allenpearsonphotography@gmail.com. Also, at Fine Art America - Allen Pearson.

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

(C) 2021, Allen Pearson Photography

"Silent night, holy night!

Wondrous star, lend thy light.

With the angels let us sing

'Alleluia' to our King,

'Christ the Savior is born,

Christ the Savior is born.'”

- Joseph Mohr, Franz Gruber

Sunday's Thought!

"O' Christmas Tree!"

Photo by Rodion Kutsaev on Unsplash

Christmas. One of my favorite times of the year especially when I was a young boy. Yes, I looked forward to Santa's visit and buying presents for my family and friends. The music and decorations were my favorite part of the season. The music was cheerful and it was fun to go out driving around the neighborhood to see how the neighbors decorated their homes. We had a Charlie Brown Christmas made of plywood by my father as our front yard decoration. It was fun to see people stop by the display to look at it. My father would take me to see the local Christmas Parade. It was the best and largest in the area through the years becoming one of the most popular. My Christmas memories of childhood, and even some in my adult life, could go on forever.

My parents had a great way of making certain I knew the true meaning of Christmas. Yes, I got to enjoy Santa's visit but he isn't the main reason for the season nor is all the gift-giving or receiving either. The Birth of Jesus Christ is the reason for the season and celebrations. This wasn't just a Christmas time thing either. It was throughout the year too. They practiced what they preached. And, trust me, I was paying attention to them too. 

Jesus was born on Christmas Day in Bethlehem a few thousand years ago. He came to earth as God's Son so we can have eternal life when we die. That is if we accept Him as our Savior and Believe in Him. It's a pretty simple Gift from God, meaning no oaths or complicated passages just believe and follow Him. To learn more, please visit Peace With God. 

Wednesday's Words! Encouragement from God's Word

(C) 2021, Allen Pearson Photography

"Alleluia! O how the angels sang.

Alleluia! How it rang!

And the sky was bright with a 

holy light,

'Twas the birthday of a King."

- William Harold Neidlinger

Sunday's Thought!

"A Christmas Nativity Scene"
Photo by Michael Payne on Unsplash

"And in the same region there were shepherds out in the field, keeping watch over their flock by night. And an angel of the Lord appeared to them, and the glory of the Lord shone around them, and they were filled with great fear." 

- Luke 2:8-9

The shepherds were out in the fields tending to their flocks. These humble, lowly men had jobs that kept them away from their families – nomads who followed their flocks day and night. It was a poor, lonely life – a humble audience for the very first Christmas carol ever sung.But when Jesus was born, the heavens opened wide and the sky was filled with angels singing with voices beyond imagination. These lonely men were the audience for this most beautiful of songs, accompanied by the sight of angels filling the sky.

As we look in the Bible at places where God touches Earth – where heavenly beings come into contact with people – we find that it very often happens in extremely humble circumstances. This becomes even clearer as we look at the story of Christmas.

This announcement wasn’t made at Caesar’s palace in Rome. It wasn’t at the high, holy Temple in Jerusalem. The first announcement was the small cry of the child in a stable, and the second announcement was by angels above a humble pasture with an audience of lowly shepherds.

No matter where you are in life, how you live, or what you have, God can meet you right there. Don’t think you have to clean yourself up first to connect with God. He’s available to you right now. Don’t wait to meet Him!

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.

Wedneday's Words! Encouragement from God's Word

(C) 2021, Allen Pearson Photography

"Let the earth now praise the Lord,

Who has truly kept His word

And at last to us did send

Christ, the sinner's help and friend."

- Heinrich Held (1643)

Translator: Catherine Winkworth

Sunday's Thought!

"Christmas Presents!"
Photo by freestocks on Unsplash

The constant and persistent emails began flooding my email inbox with Christmas sales and great deals that I had to take advantage of right then and there back in early November. It was a bit odd as some of them I wasn't used to receiving until at least "Black Friday." The television commercials began their usual timing of August it seems. Probably more likely in October, maybe September. I tend to ignore those as I don't watch television that much.

Ah, the commercialism of Christmas begins. This year, there's a strongly secular force behind much of this as it seems the shipping industry is having issues with getting products to their destinations so that customers can buy everything they absolutely must have or they will not have a Merry Christmas.

After all, if you were to buy the latest, greatest, and most popular new toys your children will be forever happy. If you buy your wife a new car or an incredibly beautiful piece of jewelry, everything will be perfect forever, you both will look incredibly awesome and all troubles disappear. While this may seem a bit exaggerated, maybe it is, but it is one of the points in marketing and advertising.

I have known a few people in my life who thought that obtaining material wealth would make them happy. A few of them lived their lives seeking fulfillment that only God can provide. However, all the material gains in the entire universe aren't going to make you truly content or even happy. Sure, these things can be fun bringing entertainment for a while but not true happiness. Only trusting in God will bring you contentment, peace, and happiness.

Give yourself a Christmas present this year, or better yet, let God give you His Gift, the Gift of Salvation. Celebrate this Christmas in a new way, a new spirit. To learn more, please visit Peace With God.

Nature Photography! The Mountain's Quilt

"The Mountain's Quilt"
(C) 2021, Allen Pearson Photography

A few months ago, my friend came to visit me at my new home and studio. This was a great opportunity for me to visit the Shenandoah National Park since he'd never been there before. 

When I was photographing this mountain, I couldn't help but think that God was creating a quilt over the mountain. The various color splotches across the mountain create a beautiful reminder of God's artistry.

Please visit my photography work at Allen Pearson Photography. Some of my images are available on products made at Fine Art America - Allen Pearson. 

Railroad Photography! Norfolk Southern Freight at Horseshoe Curve, Altoona, PA

"Norfolk Southern Freight at Horseshoe Curve, Altoona, PA"
(C) 2021, Allen Pearson Photography

 

Although this scene looks a bit like it could be taken in the fall, it was created in Spring 2017 on my first trip to Horseshoe Curve Historical Landmark, Altoona, PA.

My photography work can be found at www.allenpearsonphotography.com. 

Wednesday's Words! Encouragement from God's Word

(C) 2021, Allen Pearson Photography

"The First Noel

the angel did say

was to certain poor shepherds

in fields as they lay;

in fields where they lay

keeping their sheep,

on a cold winter's night 

that was so deep.

Noel, Noel, Noel, Noel, 

born is the King of Israel." 

- Anonymous (1833)