Wednesday's Words! Encouragement from God's Word

(C) 2022, Allen Pearson Photography

"From of old no one has heard

or perceived by the ear,

no eye has seen a God besides you,

who acts for those who wait for him."

- Isaiah 64:4

Sunday's Thought!

"A Foggy Morning"
Photo by Ivars from Pexels

God isn't one of those supernatural beings whose every single wish of mine is His every desire to fulfill. Nor is He like a genie in a bottle which all you have to do is rub the bottle and make a wish, and it comes true. For me, I don't like calling God "supernatural" because the term has always had a flare of evil attached to it that isn't what God is about. I have to say, God is this Power of the Universe that He created for us to enjoy. He wants you to love Him so that He can help you through life, often in ways you do not even know.

In my life, I was brought up in a legalistic church with strict parents. I am grateful, very thankful actually, for the way God had my parents raise me. However, legalism caused confusion for me because it was instructing me in ways that I didn't understand why it was important. And, truthfully, there isn't. Then there was the Doctrine and Theology which was challenging for me to understand. Even in college, many friends, Pastors, teachers, and professors couldn't completely explain stuff, so my simple mind would comprehend. It almost seemed that God wasn't for me, and He was for someone smarter and better-looking. 

Fortunately for me, I didn't believe that lie for very long. Yes, I didn't understand some of the deep workings of God or the complicated (to me) Doctrines and Theologies of the church, but I knew God loved me somehow. He cared about what happened to me. He definitely did not want to see me turn away from Him and go in a different direction. 

What about the Doctrines and Theologies? Over the years, I managed to meet some great men of the church who answered my questions about those teachings. They weren't as complicated as I thought, it just took someone who could "teach" and listen to my questions. 

Another important point I learned is that you don't have to understand every bit of Doctrines or Theology to love God, serve Him, or become a Christian. You just have to be willing to turn your life over to Him and follow Him from there. Doing so, will take you on an incredibly awesome life journey. 

To learn more, please visit Peace With God. 

Nature Photography! A Snowstorm's Sunset

"A Snowstorm's Sunset"
(C) 2022, Allen Pearson Photography

It's been years since I was able to get outside and photograph the beauty of snow until the storms of this season. This image was created at the end of the day of the January 3, 2022, storm. The sun was about gone over the mountains when the sky illuminated with orange colors. 

Please visit my photography work at Allen Pearson Photography. My work is available on notecards, traditional paper prints suitable for you to frame, gallery wraps (canvas), metal, and standouts. Also, my work is available at Fine Art America. Contact me for more information at allenpearsonphotography@gmail.com.  

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

 

(C) 2022, Allen Pearson Photography

"One is nearer to

God's Heart in a

garden than

anywhere else

on earth."

- Anonymous

Sunday's Thought!

"A Path Through the Woods"
Photo by Tyler Lastovich from Pexels

Are You Walking a Thorny Pathway?

by Adrian Rogers 

Then to Adam He said, “Because you have heeded the voice of your wife, 

and have eaten from the tree of which I commanded you, saying, 

‘You shall not eat of it,’ cursed is the ground for your sake. 

In toil you shall eat of it all the days of your life.” Genesis 3:17

When God created mankind, He put him in a garden. In the Garden of Eden, there were no thorns. A curse came upon Adam and Eve because they disobeyed God. The thorn symbolizes the curse upon humanity (on you, on me, on all of us) because of sin.

Jesus took upon Himself our curse—the hardship, sorrow, and death that came with sin—and bore it for our sakes.

Do you have heartache? Sorrow? Sickness? Can I tell you the thorny pathway we walk is because of sin? The bed of briars we sleep on is because of sin.

When in sorrow and trials you praise and glorify the Lord, saying with Job, “Though He slay me, yet will I trust Him,” the world will know there’s a quality of life about you that is different. Paul learned that and was able to say, “Your grace is sufficient for me.”

That great hymn “How Firm a Foundation” quotes both God’s Word to Paul in 2 Corinthians 12:9 and Isaiah 41:10—

“When through fiery trials thy pathway shall lie, My grace, all-sufficient, shall be thy supply. I’ll strengthen thee, help thee, and cause thee to stand, upheld by My righteous, omnipotent hand” and “Fear not, I am with thee, O be not dismayed…”

Memorize Isaiah 41:10 today: “Fear not, for I am with you; Be not dismayed, for I am your God. I will strengthen you, Yes, I will help you, I will uphold you with My righteous right hand.’”

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.

Wednesday's Words! Encouragement from God's Word

(C) 2022, Allen Pearson Photography

"We destroy arguments and

every lofty opinion raised

against the knowledge of God,

and take every thought captive

to obey Christ,"

- 2 Corinthians 10:5

Sunday's Thought!

"The Workplace!"

Photo by Arlington Research on Unsplash

The Faithfulness of God

TGIF Today God Is First Volume 1

by Os Hillman

"The Lord is faithful to all His promises and loving toward all He has made. 

The Lord upholds all those who fall and lifts up all who are bowed down." Psalm 145:13b-14

Have you ever had a relationship with someone who was faithful? You knew you could depend on that person to do what he said. You learned that his word was completely trustworthy. If he said he would call you, he would. If he said he'd be somewhere at a certain time, he'd be there. In fact, if he was late, you began to wonder if he had an accident because it was so contrary to his nature. It's great to have friends who are faithful.

God is faithful. He is faithful to fulfill every promise in His Word. Sometimes we think God isn't faithful because it appears He has not fulfilled a desire that we have. Sometimes we think He is not faithful because of a crisis event that seems to say God isn't faithful. We must remember that God is more concerned about accomplishing His ultimate purpose in the life of every believer than giving us the desires of our heart. Sometimes this results in hardship.

The Bible is full of accounts of God's faithfulness that was often accompanied by hardship. He brought Joseph out of slavery to be greatly used in a nation. He delivered the people from Egypt and brought them into the Promised Land. He gave Abraham the son of promise late in his life. He delivered David from his enemies and made him a king. In story upon story, we learn of God's faithfulness. Are you a faithful man or woman? The workplace needs faithful men and women. Take an inventory of your life today and ask God if you have been faithful with what He has entrusted to you.

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 Saving Time Begins Tomorrow!

(C) 2022, Allen Pearson Photography

Don't forget! Change your clocks forward by one hour before bedtime. Daylight Saving Time begins at 3 a.m. Sunday, March 13!

Wednesday's Words! Encouragement from God's Word

(C) 2022, Allen Pearson Photography

"For I will satisfy the

weary soul,

and every languishing

soul I will replenish."

- Jeremiah 31:25

Sunday's Thought!

"Man Reading the News on a Tablet"
Photo by Kaboompics .com from Pexels

The days we are living in seem to be getting more stressful as each one arrives. Every morning, you have to wonder what happened during the night and what will happen today. The economy with inflation numbers setting records, gas prices are outrageously high along with food prices. All the government wants to do is impose more regulation or control which just sends prices higher and higher. As we saw last week, a war began in Ukraine.

All of this can be very upsetting, depressing, or worrisome. I have found myself worrying about being able to afford gas and food. The beginning of the war was concerning too. However, as I felt myself getting concerned, I remembered, "God is in control!" He knows why all of this is happening and will care for His Children, Christians.

A friend of mine repeats the "God is in control" repeatedly. It's a good thing as it helps to remind me that "God is in control." Sometimes, it seems like a cliche that one learns in Sunday School or wears on a lapel. However, it is a confidence, one which you keep in your heart clinging onto when you are in situations you don't understand like our current times. It is more than a cliche if, and only if, you truly believe it with all your heart, mind, soul, and being. Otherwise, it is just fours words.

The peace that passes understanding and the comfort in the phrase "God is in control" can only be found when you give your life to Jesus Christ and become a Christian. You can learn more about it at Peace With God.

Garden Photogrpahy: Garden Perspectives, Raindrops on Hostas

"Garden Perspectives, Raindrops on Hostas"
(C) 2022, Allen Pearson Photography

Please visit my photography work at Allen Pearson Photography.

Railroad Photography! Spring at Horseshoe Curve with Norfolk Southern 1, Noah's Paw of Railroad History

 

"Spring at Horseshoe Curve with Norfolk Southern 1"
(C) 2022, Allen Pearson Photography

Spring at Horseshoe Curve with Norfolk Southern 1 was created in early Spring 2017. It was my first trip there to see the area with trains rolling through seemingly every five minutes. 

Noah's Paw of Railroad History- The Horseshoe Curve, Altoona, PA, was completed in 1854 as a way for trains to navigate the steep banks of the Allegheny Mountains. The project opened up Pennsylvania's discovery of the west for transportation by trains. 

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

(C) 2022, Allen Pearson Photography

 

"Arise, shine,

for your light has come,

and the glory of the Lord

has risen upon you."

- Isaiah 60:1