Piriaka Lookout, Wanganui river, New Zealand - “The Happiness of Heaven”

But as it is written: “Eye has not seen, nor ear heard, Nor have entered into the heart of man The things which God has prepared for those who love Him.”

1 Corinthians 2:19

Milford Sound, New Zealand - “The Sun Has Long Been Set”

 Psalm 113:3

From the rising of the sun to its setting

The name of the Lord is to be praised.

“The Sun has Long been Set”

By William Wordsworth 

The sun has long been set,
  The stars are out by twos and threes,
The little birds are piping yet
  Among the bushes and trees;
There's a cuckoo, and one or two thrushes,
And a far-off wind that rushes,
And a sound of water that gushes,
And the cuckoo's sovereign cry
Fills all the hollow of the sky.
  Who would "go parading"
In London, "and masquerading,"
On such a night of June
With that beautiful soft half-moon, 
And all these innocent blisses?
On such a night as this is!

Paradise, New Zealand - “My Sheep Listen to My Voice”

 

The time came for the Festival of Dedication in Jerusalem. It was winter, and Jesus was in the temple, walking in the covered porch named for Solomon.  The Jewish opposition circled around him and asked, “How long will you test our patience?  If you are the Christ, tell us plainly.”  Jesus answered, “I have told you, but you don’t believe.  The works I do in my Father’s name testify about me, but you don’t believe because you don’t belong to my sheep.  My sheep listen to my voice. I know them and they follow me.  I give them eternal life. They will never die, and no one will snatch them from my hand.

John 10:22-28

Paradise, South Island, New Zealand - "He will swallow up death forever"

 And in this mountain
The LORD of hosts will make 

for all people

A feast of choice pieces,
A feast of wines on the lees,
Of fat things full of marrow,
Of well-refined wines on the lees.

And He will destroy on this mountain

The surface of the covering

cast over all people,

And the veil that is spread

over all nations.

He will swallow up death forever,

And the Lord God will wipe

away tears from all faces;

The rebuke of His people

He will take away from all the earth;

For the LORD has spoken.

Isaiah 25:6-8

Rahotu Lighthouse, Opunake Surf, New Zealand - "Lights My Darkness"

 

The LORD my God

Lights my darkness.

Psalm 18:28

Bay of Plenty, Mount Maunganui, New Zealand - "Abundant Life"

 The thief comes only 

to steal and kill and destroy. 

I came that they may have life 

and have it abundantly.

John 10:10

Lone Tree of Wanaka - "Sun and Shield"

 

For the Lord God is a sun and shield; 

The Lord will give grace and glory; 

No good thing will He withhold 

for those who walk uprightly.

Psalm 84:11 NKJV

Milford Sound, New Zealand - “Heaven of Heavens cannot contain you”

And now I pray, O God of Israel, let Your word come true, which You have spoken to Your servant David my father.  But will God indeed dwell on the earth?  Behold, heaven and the heaven of heavens cannot contain you.  How much less this temple which I have built!

Yet regard the prayer of Your servant and his duplication, O LORD my God, and listen to the cry and the prayer which Your servant is praying before You today:  

That Your eyes may be open toward this temple night and day, toward the place of which You said, My name shall be there, that You may hear the prayer which Your servant makes toward this place.

1 Kings 8:26-29

 

Milford Sound, New Zealand - “My Chains are gone, I’ve been set free”

 

Amazing Grace

Amazing grace how sweet the sound
That saved a wretch like me
I once was lost, but now I'm found
Was blind, but now I see

'Twas grace that taught my heart to fear
And grace my fears relieved
How precious did that grace appear
The hour I first believed

My chains are gone, I've been set free
My God, my Savior has ransomed me
And like a flood His mercy reigns
Unending love
Amazing grace

The Lord has promised good to me
His word my hope secures
He will my shield and portion be
As long as life endures

My chains are gone, I've been set free
My God, my Savior has ransomed me
And like a flood His mercy reigns
Unending love
Amazing grace

My chains are gone, I've been set free
My God, my Savior has ransomed me
And like a flood His mercy reigns
Unending love
Amazing grace

The earth shall soon dissolve like snow
The sun forbear to shine
But God, who called me here below
Will be forever mine, will be forever mine
You are forever mine

Songwriters: Chris Tomlin / Louie Giglio

Mt. Earnshaw, New Zealand - “The Word of the Lord Stands Forever”

 For you have been born again, not of perishable seed, but of imperishable, through the living and enduring word of God.  For,

All men are like grass,
And all their glory is like the
Flowers of the field;
The grass withers and the
Flowers fall,
But the word of the Lord
Stands forever.”

And this is the word that was preached to you.

1 Peter 1:23-24

Milford Sound, New Zealand - "King Over the Whole Earth"

 The LORD will be King over the whole earth.  On that day there will be one LORD, and his name the only name.

Zechariah 14:9

Matamata New Zealand - Peace of Mind and Heart

 

" I am leaving you with a gift--peace of mind and heart.  And the peace I give is a gift the world cannot give.  So don't be troubled or afraid."

John 14:27

Matamata, New Zealand - Sorrow turned into Joy

 

Most assuredly, I say to you that you will weep and lament, but the world will rejoice; and you will be sorrowful, but your sorrow will be turned into joy.

John 16:20

Mangaotaki Rocks, New Zealand

 Lead me to the rock that is higher than I.

Psalm 61:2-3

Through the Fog

The Lord came and stood there, calling as at the other times, “Samuel! Samuel!”  Then Samuel said, “Speak, for your servant is listening.”

1 Samuel 3:10-11 (NIV)

Milford Sound - Call To Me, And I Will Answer

 Call To Me, and I will Answer You, and show You great and mighty things, which You do not know.

Jeremiah 33:3 

Lake Taupe, New Zealand - In The Beginning

Iin the beginning, God created the heavens and the earth.  Now the earth was formless and empty, darkness was over the surface of the deep, and the Spirit of God was hovering over the waters.

Genesis 1:1-2

Lake Taupo - Gateway to Tongariro National Park and Rotorua

 

Bay of Plenty, Mount Maunganui, New Zealand,

 

Ask, Seek, Knock - Matamata, New Zealand

 

Ask and it will be given to you; seek and you will find; knock and the door will be opened to you.  For everyone who asks receives; the one who seeks finds; and to the one who knocks, the door will be opened.  Which of you, if your son asks for bread, will give him a stone?  Or if he asks for a fish, will give him a snake?  If you, then, though you are evil, know how to give good gifts to your children, how much more will your Father in heaven give good gifts to those who ask him?  So in everything, do to others what you would have them do to you, for this sums up the Law and the Prophets.

Matthew 7:7-12