Trail Ridge Road - The Heart of Man

 The LORD said to Samuel, "The LORD does not look at the things people look at.  People look at the outward appearance, but the LORD looks at the heart."

1 Samuel 16:7 NIV

Continental Divide - Broken Beauty

 

I praise you because I am fearfully and wonderfully made; your works are wonderful, I know that full well.

Psalm 139:14 NIV

When my daughter died, I feel my heart has been broken into a thousand pieces.  God's promise is that Jesus can take our broken pieces and heal our brokenness and give us purpose.  

Thought for today:  God can heal my brokenness and give me purpose.

The Transfiguration

Then he said to them all:  "If anyone would come after me, he must deny himself and take up his cross daily and follow me.  For whoever wants to save his life will lose it, but whoever loses his life for me will save it.  What good is it for a man to gain the whole world and yet lose or forfeit his very self?  If anyone is ashamed of me and my words, the Son of Man will be ashamed of him when he comes in his glory and in the glory of the Father and of the holy angels.  I tell you the truth, some who are standing here will not taste death before they see the kingdom of God."

About eight days after Jesus said this, he took Peter, John and James with him and went up onto a mountain to pray.  As he was praying, the appearance of his face changed, and his clothes became as bright as a flash of lightning.  Two men, Moses and Elijah, appeared in glorious splendor talking with Jesus.  They spoke about his departure, which he was about to bring to fulfillment at Jerusalem.  Peter and his companions were very sleepy, but when they became fully awake, they saw his glory and the tow men standing with him.  As the men were leaving Jesus Peter said to him, "Master, it is good for us to be here.  Let us put up three shelters--one for you, one for Moses and one for Elijah.  (He did not know what he was saying.)

While he was speaking, a cloud appeared and enveloped them, and they were afraid as they entered the cloud.  A voice came from the cloud, saying, "this is my Son whom I have chosen; listen to him."  When the voice had spoken, they found that Jesus was alone.  The disciples kept this to themselves, and told no one of that time what they had seen.

Luke 9:23-36 NIV 

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

Lake Irene - Living by Faith and not by Sight

For we know that if the earthly tent we live in is destroyed, we have a building from God, an eternal house in heaven, not built by human hands.  Meanwhile we groan, longing to be clothed instead with  our heavenly dwelling, because when we are clothed, we will not be found naked.  For while we are in this tent,  we groan and are burdened, because we do not wish to be unclothed but to be clothed instead with our heavenly dwelling, so that what is mortal may be swallowed up by life.  Now the one who has fashioned us for this very purpose is God, who has given us the Spirit as a deposit, guaranteeing what is to come.

Therefore we are always confident and know that as long as we are at home in the body we are away from the Lord.  For we live by faith, not by sight.  We are confident, I say, and would prefer to be away from the body and at home with the Lord.   So we make it our goal to please him, whether we are at home in the body or away from it.  For we must all appear before the judgment seat of Christ, so that each of us may receive what is due us for the things done while in the body, whether good or bad.

2 Corinthians 5:1-10

 

Rocky Mountains - The Chariots of God

 

The mountains of Bashan are majestic 

mountains; rugged are the mountains of 

Bashan.  

Why gaze in envy, O rugged 

mountains at the mountain where God

chooses to reign, where the LORD himself 

will dwell forever?

The chariots of God are tens of thousands

and thousands of thousands;  the LORD

has come from Sinai into his sanctuary.

When you ascended on high, you led

captives in your train; you received gifts 

from men, even from the rebellious--

that you, O LORD of God,

might dwell there.

Psalm 68:15-18 NIV

Matthew Henry said of this passage that "'Angels are the chariots of God; his chariots of war, which he makes use of against his enemies, his chariots of conveyance, which he sends for his friends as he did for Elijah...his chariots of state, in the midst of which he shows his glory and power.  they are vastly numerous:  "Twenty thousands; even thousands multiplied."

Rocky Mountains - Life is a Mist

 Why, you do not even know what will happen tomorrow. 

What is your life?  You are a mist that appears for a little while and then vanishes.

Instead, you ought to say, “If it is the Lord’s will, we will live and do this or that.”

James 4:14 NIV

Horseshoe Park

 

Even though I walk through the darkest valley, I will fear no evil, for you are with me; your rod and your staff, they comfort me.

Psalm 23:4 NIV

Always There - Forest Canyon

 Jesus said to [Thomas], "Have you believed because you have seen me?  Blessed are those who have not seen and yet have come to believe."

John 20:29 NRSV

Trail Ridge Road - Which Path?

 

Direct me in the path of your commands, for there I find delight.

Psalm 119:35 NIV

Trail Ridge Road - Rocky Mountains

 

May the God of peace...equip you with everything good for doing his will, and may he work in us what is pleasing to him.

Hebrews 13:20-21 NIV

Trail Ridge Road

 Highway to Heaven

Rocky Mountains Storm Clouds - Thunder, Lightning, Hail, Snow, and Sleet

 On Trail Ridge Road, we experience a hail storm with snow and gust winds .  

Nothing compares to the weather changes driving across the Rocky Mountains:  Thunderstorms with heavy rain and lightning; a hail storm and then snow and as we changed elevations sleet started falling and  then calm at the lower elevations.