Considerable Thoughts: Pictures of the Week: A Blogging "Assignment"

As a special education paramour, I assist a deaf student mainstreamed in high school. Attending each class he is assigned to; this year my last class of the day is an elective, photography. On Fridays, the class is assigned to write in a "word doc", thoughts and feelings provoked by "Pictures of the Week" at the site: http://www.time.com/time/potw.

So, I thought I would give it a try myself, only with spiritual thoughts if possible. Last night, I viewed each picture, picked out the ones (10) that gave me reason to pause and now I will post a blog-- "assignment."

Picture 1

Standing behind the construction zone of the memorial being built at Ground Zero, this woman takes in the progress, though for many New Yorkers, their own personal memorial is etched forever upon their hearts.

Joshua built a memorial for his people, the Israelites, to remember all God had brought them through:

Joshua 4:8 So the Israelites did as Joshua commanded them. They took twelve stones from the middle of the Jordan, according to the number of the tribes of the Israelites, as the LORD had told Joshua; and they carried them over with them to their camp, where they put them down.

A physical memorial is important for those who are left. It helps us to be active in our grief and move forward ourselves as we honor our loved ones.

Picture 2

Adorned with beautiful artistic scrolls in one-toned tattoos and bold jewelery, these hands remain empty. I glance down at my own worn hands, one nail black and blue from a garden hoe that missed the weed, age spots freckling the tops and my skin lose and wrinkly. Short nails and dry patches of eczema that I consistently need to attend to,...well, I really do not like my hands much these days. . Yet God has seen fit to use my hands and I am thankful to offer them.
.

Psalm 90:17

May the favor of the Lord our God rest on us;
establish the work of our hands for us—
yes, establish the work of our hands

Picture 3

A plane crashes in the wilderness. A search party backpacks in. Supplies parachute down for the recovery.

Phil. 4:19 And my God shall supply every need of yours according to his riches in glory in Christ Jesus.

Psalm 46:1 God is our refuge and strength, an ever-present help in trouble.

Picture 4

Ecclesiastes 3:8

A time to love and a time to hate;
A time for war and a time for peace.

Picture 5

A motor race as seen by air, the participants move across the landscape leaving a wake of dust behind them.

Hebrews 12:1 Therefore, since we are surrounded by such a great cloud of witnesses, let us throw off everything that hinders and the sin that so easily entangles. And let us run with perseverance the race marked out for us.

Picture 6

The orange line is the border between India and Pakistan, strung with lights and visible from the International Space Station.

Psalm 147:12-14

Extol the LORD, Jerusalem;
   praise your God, Zion.
He strengthens the bars of your gates
   and blesses your people within you.
He grants peace to your borders
   and satisfies you with the finest of wheat.

Picture 7

Texas ablaze with the long-suffering drought.

Isaiah 43

Israel’s Only Savior

¹ But now, this is what the LORD says—
   he who created you, Jacob,
   he who formed you, Israel:
“Do not fear, for I have redeemed you;
   I have summoned you by name; you are mine.
² When you pass through the waters,
   I will be with you;
and when you pass through the rivers,
   they will not sweep over you.
When you walk through the fire,
   you will not be burned;
   the flames will not set you ablaze.
³ For I am the LORD your God,
   the Holy One of Israel, your Savior;
I give Egypt for your ransom,
   Cush and Seba in your stead.
⁴ Since you are precious and honored in my sight,
   and because I love you,
I will give people in exchange for you,
   nations in exchange for your life.
⁵ Do not be afraid, for I am with you;
   I will bring your children from the east
   and gather you from the west.
⁶ I will say to the north, ‘Give them up!’
   and to the south, ‘Do not hold them back.’
Bring my sons from afar
   and my daughters from the ends of the earth—
⁷ everyone who is called by my name,
   whom I created for my glory,
   whom I formed and made.”

Picture 8 This is Bastrop, Texas. Our friends Steve and Debbie live here. They were evacuated all week, but today we found out that their house is OK. Thank You Lord. (Do you see the cross?)

Isaiah 61

The Year of the LORD’s Favor

¹ The Spirit of the Sovereign LORD is on me,
   because the LORD has anointed me
   to proclaim good news to the poor.
He has sent me to bind up the brokenhearted,
   to proclaim freedom for the captives
   and release from darkness for the prisoners,
² to proclaim the year of the LORD’s favor
   and the day of vengeance of our God,
to comfort all who mourn,
³ and provide for those who grieve in Zion—
to bestow on them a crown of beauty
   instead of ashes,
the oil of joy
   instead of mourning,
and a garment of praise
   instead of a spirit of despair.
They will be called oaks of righteousness,
   a planting of the LORD
   for the display of his splendor.

Picture 9


When we catch the "wind" of the Holy Spirit, and we abide in His will, sometimes we' re not to sure where He is leading us. Some of us wobble side to side, trying to do our own thing, some wait forever to pull their chute while others stretch their feet out, ready to hit the ground running. Where ever you are in your "jump", aren't you glad God is patient and guides you over the right landing spot? I hope you listened to all the right directions! John 3:8 The wind blows wherever it pleases. You hear its sound, but you cannot tell where it comes from or where it is going. So it is with everyone born of the Spirit."