It Is Finished

This is a place on the side of the highway that makes storage sheds and Adirondack chairs. And they have this big giant chair out front as an advertisement, along with other chairs and sheds. We went there with our granddaughter awhile back. You can see her looking up at Phil as if to say, "What are my crazy grandparents doing now, making us sit in this giant chair and pose?" But she was very happy to try out this little one just her size! The bible tells us that Jesus sits in heaven. And this is simply because he is done. In the old testament, the priests work was never done, it was a never ending cycle. Jesus took care of that by being our once and for all sacrifice, nothing else needed. And when he was done, he sat. As he said "It is finished".


"That power is like the working of his mighty strength, which he exerted in Christ when he raised him from the dead and seated him at his right hand in the heavenly realms, far above all rule and authority, power and dominion, and every title that can be given, not only in the present age but also in the one to come. And God placed all things under his feet and appointed him to be head over everything in the church..."
Ephesians 1:20

Please Be Seated

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Here are some photos of chairs I snapped that are either pretty or unusual, most of them Adirondack Chairs. The Adirondack Chair was first created in 1903 by Thomas Lee for his summer home in the Adirondack Mountains. He needed a chair that was very sturdy and stable on the mountainous ground. Although they are now a classic, If I were to sit in one of these, I would never be able to rise out of it! Tomorrow I'll tell you why Jesus is sitting in Heaven after he rose..


"If then you were raised with Christ, seek those things which are above, where Christ is sitting at the right hand of God. Set your mind on things above, not on things on the earth. For you died, and your life is hidden with Christ in God. When Christ who is our life appears, then you also will appear with Him in glory."
Colossians 3:1,4

In It's Time

I took all these pictures today, driving around and in the grocery store. Houses have fall decorations out, and the store is full of different candy corns and fall decorations and magazines. It's still only August! Time goes so fast, why rush it even more? I, for one, will be sad to see summer leave and the days get dark so early. But every season has it's beauty, and I love seeing them all.


"He has made everything beautiful in it's time. He has also set eternity in the hearts of men; yet they cannot fathom what God has done from beginning to end."
Ecc.3:11

Where Is The Sting?

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What's up with people naming things after a scary flying insect? I would not want to live on Hornet Road, and would never get my car washed at the Hornet Car Wash. The name makes me NOT want to go there! There are about 20 species of hornets, and they are a type of wasp. Their stings are less toxic than bees, though the venom has chemicals in it that tell other hornets to attack.  They were probably the world's first papermakers. The paper they make is such high quality that it can be written and even typed on! The wasp pictured is one I took with a macro setting, right up on it! I couldn't see in the sun and didn't know what it was. Phil thought I was out of my mind, and I was lucky not to be stung. See you on Tuesday!


"Death has been swallowed up in victory. Where, O death, is your victory? Where, O death, is your sting?...But thanks be to God! He gives us the victory through our Lord Jesus Christ."
1 Cor. 15

Beguiling Beauty

"All the other colors are just colors, but purple seems to have a soul."
Uniek Swain


You may remember about a year ago I went to court, and I was horrified to find the deadly poisonous castor bean plant growing all over the front of the courthouse. That is my first two pictures. This is where the poison ricin comes from, and just one pretty bean from this plant will kill a child. Here is a link back to that post. I told the clerks of the court what it was, and this spring I was delighted to find that they had taken it all out and replaced it with these pretty stripe flowers, petunias I think. The poisonous plant was beautiful, but it's beauty was beguiling and I'm glad it's gone.


"My purpose is that they may be encouraged in heart and united in love, so that they may have the full riches of complete understanding, in order that they may know the mystery of God, namely, Christ, in whom are hidden all the treasures of wisdom and knowledge. I tell you this so that no one may beguile you with enticing words."
Colossians 2

The Church

 

 ""And I tell you that you are Peter, and on this rock I will build my church, and the gates of Hades will not overcome it."
Matthew 16:18

Welcome to St. Andrews Church in Roanoke, Virginia, a national and state historic landmark. Come along with Phil and I as we take a short tour. It was finished being built and was dedicated in 1902, and amazingly at that time only cost $108,000! That is the price of a small house today! Over 1,600 families attend this church. O.K., I know I know I posted too many pictures, but these aren't even half of what I took! Personally, I am rather uncomfortable with such a large and ornate structure, I just can't quite feel at home in it. But this is truly beautiful.


"Now to him who is able to do immeasurably more than all we ask or imagine, according to his power that is at work within us, to him be glory in the church and in Christ Jesus throughout all generations, for ever and ever!"
Ephesians 3:20,21

How Sweet The Smell

"In childhood, we press our nose to the pane, looking out. In memories of childhood, we press our nose to the pane, looking in."
Robert Brault

These pictures of our son and granddaughter were taken three years ago. The header was taken by me, and the two pictures were taken by our daughter-in-law. Remember to take time to stop and smell the flowers. And inhale REALLY deep.


"Apart from God, every activity is merely a passing whiff of insignificance."
Alfred North Whitehead


"For we are to God the aroma of Christ among those who are being saved and those who are perishing."
2 Corinthians 2:15

All Shook Up

 

Notice the house in the last three pictures, it is not far from us. They have it really bad in both the front and back. They sit right on the road and a guardrail had to be put up on their porch! And there is a railroad in their backyard. They have lots of kids and often their toys are just a foot or so from the tracks. Today I felt like I was living in this house. As I was sitting on the couch, a large roar started, sounding like a train. Then the whole house shook and trembled. Then I shook and trembled. It was an earthquake, and we live almost right at the epi-center. The sound I heard was literally the earth giving way. But our mountains did not fall, and I hear that they protected us by deflecting some of the shock waves.

"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...

The Lord almighty is with us;

the God of Jacob is our fortress."

Psalm 46