Denali, Alaska - "The Year of the Lord's Favor"

 

The Spirit of the Sovereign Lord is on me, because the Lord has anointed me to proclaim good news to the poor.  He has sent me to bind up the brokenhearted, to proclaim freedom for the captives and release from darkness for the prisoners, to proclaim the year of the Lord's favor and the day of vengeance of our God, to comfort all who mourn and provide for those who grieve in Zion--to bestow on them a crown of beauty instead of ashes, the oil of joy instead of mourning, and a garment of praise instead of despair.  They will be called oaks of righteousness, a planting of the Lord for the display of his splendor.

Isaiah 61:1-3

Peggy's Cove, Nova Scotia - "A Contrite Spirit"

 

"Has not my hand made all these things, and so they came into being?"  declares the Lord.  These are the ones I look on with favor:  those who are humble and contrite in spirit, and who tremble at my word.

Isaiah 66:2

Raquette River - Adirondack Mountains

“Has not my hand made all these things, and so they came into being?”  Declares the Lord.  “ These are the ones I look on with favor:  those who are humble and contrite in spirit, and tremble at my word.”

Isaiah 66:2 

Matanzas River - Breaking Light

Then your light will break forth like the dawn,

and your healing will quickly appear;

Then your righteousness will go before you,

and the glory of the Lord will be your rear guard,

Then you will call, and the Lord will answer; 

you will cry for help, and He will say:  Here am I.

Isaiah 58:8-9

Blue Ridge Mountains - “A Voice Calling in the Wilderness”

 

In those days John the Baptist came, preaching in the wilderness of Judea and saying, "Repent, for the kingdom of heaven has come near."  This is he who was spoken of through the prophet Isaiah:

"A voice of one calling in the wilderness,
'Prepare the way for the Lord,
Make straight paths for him.'"

John's clothes were made of camel's hair, and he had a leather belt around his waist.  His food was locusts an wild honey.

Matthew 3:1-4

A voice of one calling:

"In the wilderness prepare

the way for the Lord;

make straight in the desert

a highway for our God.

Every valley shall be raised up,

every mountain and hill made low;

the rough ground shall become level,

the rugged places a plain,

And the glory of the Lord will be revealed,

and all people will see it together.

For the mouth of the Lord has spoken."

Isaiah 40:3-5

Cape Coral - Rising of the Sun

 

I am the Lord, and there is no other;
besides me there is no god.
I arm you, though you do not know me,
so that they may know, from the rising of the sun
and from the west, there is no one besides me;
I am the Lord, and there is no other.
I form light and create darkness,
I make weal and create woe;
I the Lord do all these things.

Isaiah 45:5-7 NRSV

Milford Sound - Treasures of Darkness

 

I will go before you and level the mountains,
I will break in pieces the doors of bronze
and cut through the bars of iron,
I will give you the treasures of darkness 
and riches hidden in secret places, 
so that you may know that it is I, the Lord, 
the God of Israel, who call you by your name.

Isaiah 45:2-3 NRSV

Yellowstone River - “The Wolf will Live with the Lamb”

 

The wolf will live with the lamb, the leopard will lie down with the goat, the calf and the lion and the yearling together; and a little child will lead them.

Isaiah 11:6 

Forest Canyon - The Lord is My Strength and My Song

 In that day you will say:

"I will praise you O LORD,

Although you were angry with me,

your anger has turned away 

and you have comforted me.

Surely God is my salvation;

I will trust and not be afraid.

The LORD, the LORD, is my

strength and my song;

he has become my salvation."

Isaiah 12:1-2

Garden of The Gods National Natural Landmark

 My sheep listen to my voice; I know them, and they follow me.

John 10:27 NIV

And your ears shall hear a word behind you, saying, "This is the way, walk in it." when you turn to the right or when you turn to the left.

Isaiah 30:21 ESV

Ask me, and I will tell you things that you don't know and can't find out.

Jeremiah 33:3 CEV

The Spirit shows what is true and will come and guide you into the full truth.  The Spirit doesn't speak on his own.  He will tell you only what he has heard from me, and he will let you know what is going to happen.

John 16:13 CEV

In the past, God spoke to our ancestors through the prophets of many times and in various ways, but in these days he has spoken to us by his Son, whom he appointed heir of all things, and through whom also he made the universe.  The Son is the radiance of God's glory and the exact representation of his being, sustaining all things by his powerful word.  After he had provided purification for sins, he sat down at the right hand of the Majesty in heaven.  So he became as much superior to the angels as the name he has inherited is superior to theirs.

Hebrews 1:1-5 NIV

Do Not Be Dismayed

 Do not fear, for I am with you; do not be dismayed, for I am your God.  I will strengthen you and help you; I will uphold you with my righteous right hand.

Isaiah 41:10 NIV

Unfailing Love

"Though the mountains be shaken and the hills be removed, yet my unfailing love for you will not be shaken nor my covenant of peace be removed,"  says the LORD, who has compassion on you.

Isaiah 54:10

The Lone Tree of Wanaka

When you pass through the waters, I will be with you; and when you pass through the rivers, they will not sweep over you.  When you walk through the fire, you will not be burned; the flames will not set you ablaze.  For I am the Lord your God, the Holy One of Israel, your Savior, I give Egypt for your ransom, Cush and Seba in your stead.

Isaiah 43:2-3 NIV

Huron Manistee Forest - He Gives Strength to the Weary

 Do you not know?  Have you not heard?  The Lord is the everlasting God, the Creator of the ends of the earth.  He will not grow tired or weary, and his understanding no one can fathom.  He gives strength to the weary and increases the power of the weak.

Isaiah 40:28-29 NIV

Passing through the Rivers

But now, this is what the Lord says--he who created you, O Jacob, he who formed you, O Israel; "Fear not, for I have redeemed you; I have summoned you by name; you are mine.   When you pass through the waters, I will be with you; and when you pass through the rivers, they will not sweep over you.  When you walk through the fire, you will not burned; the flames will not set you ablaze..."

Isaiah 43:1-2

The Highest of the Mountains

 

It shall come to pass in the latter days that the mountain of the house of the Lord shall be established as the highest of the mountains, and shall be lifted up above the hills; and all the nations shall flow to it.

Isaiah 2:2

From Heaven the Lord looks down

Blessed is the nation whose God is the Lord,
the people he chose for his inheritance.
From heaven the LORD looks down
and sees all mankind;
from his dwelling place he watches
all who live on earth--
he who forms the hearts of all,
who considers everything they do.

No king is saved by the size of his army;

no warrior escapes by his great strength.

A horse is a vain hope for deliverance;

despite all its great strength it cannot save.

But the eyes of the LORD are on those who fear him,

on those whose hope is in his unfailing love,

to deliver them from death

and keep them alive in famine.

We wait in hope for the LORD;

he is our help and our shield.

In him our hearts rejoice,

for we trust in his holy name.

My your unfailing love be with us, LORD,

even as we put our hope in you.

The Grass Withers, the flower fades

 

The Voice said, "Cry out!"  And he said, "What shall I cry?" 

"All flesh is grass,
And all its loveliness is like
the flower of the field.
The grass withers, the flower fades,
Because the breath of the 
Lord blows upon it;
Surely the people are grass.
The grass withers, the flower fades,
But the word of our God 
stands forever."

Isaiah 40:6-8

Do Not Fear, for I am with You

 So do not fear, for I am with you; do not be dismayed, for I am your God.  I will strengthen you and help you; I will uphold you with my righteous right hand.

Isaiah 41:10

Grass Withers and Flowers Fall

 

A voice says, "Cry out."  And I said, "What shall I cry?"  "All people are like grass, and all their faithfulness is like the flowers of the field.  The grass withers and the flowers fall, because the breath of the Lord blows on them.  Surely the people are grass.  The grass withers and the flowers fall, but the word of our God endures forever."  

~Isaiah 40:6-8 NIV