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

Blue Ridge Mountains - He will wipe every tear from their eyes...

He will wipe every tear from their eyes.  There will be no more death or mournings or crying or pain, for the old order of things has passed away.

Revelations 21:4

Chasm Falls - A New Heaven and a New Earth

Then I saw a new heaven and a new earth, for the first heaven and the first earth had passed away, and there was no longer any sea.  I saw the Holy City, the new Jerusalem,  coming down out of Heaven from God, prepared as a bride beautiful dressed for her husband.  And I heard a loud voice from the throne saying, “Look!  God’s dwelling place is now among the people, and he will dwell with them.  They will be his people, and God himself will be with them and be their God.”

Revelations 21:1-3

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

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

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.

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

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

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

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.  

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

Hobbiton in Matamata

 Memories of visiting the Hobbiton movie set in New Zealand.  

Lake Wanaka - Sun Greets the Mountains

"How glorious a greeting the sun gives the mountains."

John Muir

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

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