Pikes Peak

Pikes Peak
"Spacious Skies"

Thursday, August 19, 2021

Lake Irene trail - Eternity in the Hearts of Man



 He has made everything beautiful in it’s time.  He has also set eternity in the human heart; yet no one can fathom what God has done from beginning to end.  I know that there is nothing better for people than to be happy and to do good while they live.  That each of them may eat and drink, and find satisfaction in all their toil—this is the gift of God.  I know that everything God does will endure forever; nothing can be added to it and nothing taken from it.  God does it so people will fear him. 

Ecclesiastes 3:11-14

Monday, August 16, 2021

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


Sunday, August 15, 2021

Colorado River - "The Lord Make His Face Shine Upon You"


The Priestly Blessing

"The LORD bless you and keep you;
the LORD make his face shine upon you
and be gracious to you;
the LORD turn his face toward you
and give you peace."
 
Numbers 6:24-26 NIV

In the Silence - Arapaho Forest Fires

 



As far as the eye could see, everything was burned; No wildlife, no birds for miles.  Not a tree standing without scorched limbs and blacken trunks.  Over 300,000 acres of National Forest System lands on the Arapaho and Roosevelt National Forest in 2020.  As we drove though the forests, flowers and plants appeared everywhere.  Beautiful pink and yellow flowers decorating the ground at the feet of the ravage burnt trees.

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

Thought for the Day:  Sometimes God speaks most powerfully through silence.




Thursday, August 12, 2021

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

Tuesday, August 10, 2021

Dusk and River Clouds over the Colorado River


Genesis  15:17 
And after the sun had gone down and it [was] dusk, behold, a smoking firepot and a flaming torch passed between those half pieces.

Rocky Mountains Majestic


 The mountains quake before him
    and the hills melt away.
The earth trembles at his presence,
    the world and all who live in it.

Nahum 1:5 NIV

Sunday, August 8, 2021

A Time for Fishing



 
“Once again, the kingdom of Heaven is like a net let down into the lake and caught all kinds of fish.”
Matthew 13:47

Saturday, August 7, 2021

Lake Columbine - Fire and Ice


Fire and Ice

Some say the world will end in fire,
Some say in ice.
From what I’ve tasted of desire
I hold with those who favor fire.
But if it had to perish twice,
I think I know enough of hate
To say that for destruction ice
Is also great
And would suffice.

By Robert Frost

Trail Ridge Road


 Highway to Heaven

Adams Falls at Grand Lake




 It was a mile hike with a lot of rocks.   A beautiful waterfall with hazy skies due to the smoke from wild fires in Nevada.  



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.  

Friday, August 6, 2021

Horsetooth Park - Fort Collins


 Very hot and dry like a desert but the lake looks cool and refreshing.

“The horse is made ready for the day of battle, but the victory belongs to the LORD.”

Proverbs 21:31 ESV


Monday, August 2, 2021

Fort Matanzas Beach - Flower Vines




When Solomon had finished all these prayers and supplications to the LORD, he rose from before the altar of the LORD, where he had been kneeling with his hands spread out toward heaven.  He stood and blessed the whole assembly of Israel in a loud voice, saying:

"Praise be to the LORD, who has given rest to his people Israel just as he promised.  Not one word has failed of all the good promises he gave through his servant Moses.  May the LORD our God be with us as he was with our ancestors; may he never leave us or forsake us.  May he turn our hearts to him, to walk in obedience to him and keep the commands, decrees and laws he gave our ancestors

1 Kings 8:54-58 NIV

Fort Matanzas Beach:  Hurricane winds and waves washed away the sand dunes and destroyed the vegetation.  Nature is coming back; the flowers, shrubbery, vines, wildlife are thriving once again.   

Fort Matanzas Sunrise


 Suddenly a furious storm came up on the lake, so that the waves swept over the boat.  But Jesus was sleeping.  The disciples went and woke him, saying,  "Lord, save us!  We're going to drown!"

He replied, "You of little faith, why are you so afraid?"  Then he got up and revoked the winds and the waves, and it was completely calm.

The men were amazed and asked, "What kind of man is this?  Even the winds and the waves obey him!"

Matthew 8:24-27 NIV

Sunday, August 1, 2021

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

Saturday, July 31, 2021

Book of Jeremiah - Crumbling Empires






The LORD proclaims:  Cursed are those who trust in mere humans, who depend on human strength and turn their hearts from the LORD...Happy are those who trust in the LORD, who rely on the LORD.

Jeremiah 17:5,7 CEB

Thursday, July 29, 2021

Shores Park - Matanzas River

 


Do not be deceased:  God cannot be mocked.  A man reaps what he sows.  The one who sows to please his sinful nature, from that nature will reap destruction; the one who sows to please the Spirit, from the Spirit will reap eternal life.  Let us not become weary in doing good, for at the proper time we will reap a harvest if we do not give up.  Therefore, as we have opportunity, let us do good to all people, especially to those who belong to the family of believers.

Galatians 6:7-10 NIV


Don't Look Back!


 With the coming of dawn, the angels urged Lot, saying 'Hurry!  Take your wife and your two daughters who are here, or you will be swept away when the city is punished."

When he hesitated, the men grasped his hand and the hands of his wife and of his two daughters and led them safely out of the city, for the LORD was merciful to them.  As soon as they had brought them out one of them said, "Flee for your lives!  Don't look back, and don't stop anywhere in the plain!  Flee to the mountains or you will be swept away!"

But Lot said to them, "No, my lords, please!  Your servant has found favor in your eyes, and you have shown great kindness to me in sparing my life.  But I can't flee to the mountains; this disaster will overtake me, and I'll die.   Look, here is a town near enough to run to, and it is small.  Le me flee to it--it is very small, isn't it?  then my life will be spared."

He said to him, "Very well, I will grant this request too; I will not overthrow the town you speak of.  But flee there quickly, because I cannot do anything until you reach it."  (that is why the town was called Zoar.)

By the tie Lot reached Zoar, the sun had risen over the land.  then the Lord rained down burning sulfur on Sodom and Gomorrah--from the LORD out of heavens.  Thus he overthrew those cities and the entire plain, including all those living in the cities--and also the vegetation in the land.  But Lot's wife looked back, and she became a pillar of salt.

Genesis 19:15-22 NIV

Wednesday, July 28, 2021

He Who Turns Dawn to Darkness


He who forms the mountains,
creates the wind,
and reveals his thoughts to man,
he who turns dawn to darkness,
and treads the high places of the earth--
the Lord God Almighty is his name.

Amos 4:13

Shores Drive Park Intracoastal - Worth More then Sparrows




"Are not two sparrows sold for a penny?  Yet not one of them will fall to the ground apart from the will of your Father.  And even the very hairs of your head are all numbered.  So don't be afraid, you are worth more than many sparrows.  

Whoever acknowledges me before men, I will also acknowledge him before my Father in Heaven.  But whoever disowns me before men, I will disown him before my Father in heaven.

Do not suppose that I have come to bring peace to the earth.  I did not come to bring peace, but a sword."

Matthew 10:29-34 NIV

Tuesday, July 27, 2021

Lake Wanaka, South Island - "And the Mountains fall into the Heart of the Sea..."

 




God is our refuge and strength,
an ever present help in trouble,
Therefore we will not fear,
though the earth give way
and the mountains fall into
the heart of the sea,
though its waters roar and foam
and the mountains quake
with their surging.

Psalm 46:1-3 NIV