Like A Tree

Blessed is the man
       who does not walk in the counsel of the wicked
       or stand in the way of sinners
       or sit in the seat of mockers.  

But his delight is in the law of the LORD,
       and on his law he meditates day and night.  

He is like a tree planted by streams of water,
       which yields its fruit in season
       and whose leaf does not wither.
       Whatever he does prospers. –Psalm 1:1-3      
      

They will be called oaks of righteousness,
       a planting of the LORD
       for the display of his splendor.      

They will rebuild the ancient ruins
       and restore the places long devastated;
       they will renew the ruined cities
       that have been devastated for generations. –Isaiah 61: 3,4

December 31, 2007December 31, 2007 by ryanmthurman Categories: Christianity, God's Beauty, Inspiration, Life, Photography 2 Comments

Simple Ministry Of Presence

More and more, the desire grows in me simply to walk around, greet people, enter their homes, sit on their doorsteps, play ball, throw water, and be known as someone who wants to live with them.  It is a privilege to have the time to practice this simple ministry of presence.  Still, it is not as simple as it seems.  My own desire to be useful, to do something significant, or to be part of some impressive project is so strong that soon my time is taken up by meetings, conferences, study groups, and workshops that prevent me from walking the streets.  It is difficult not to have plans, not to organize people around an urgent cause, and not to feel that you are working directly for social progress.  But I wonder more and more if the first thing shouldn’t be to know people by name, to eat and drink with them, to listen to their stories and tell your own and to let them know with words, handshakes, and hugs that you do not simply like them, but you truly love them.”  -Henri Nouwen

December 29, 2007 by ryanmthurman Categories: Life, love, ministry, People, Photography, Quotations, spiritual Leave a comment

Christ Holds It All Together

 We look at Jesus and see the God who cannot be seen. We look at Jesus and see God’s original purpose in everything created. For everything, absolutely everything, above and below, visible and invisible, rank after rank after rank of angels—everything got started in him and finds its purpose in him. He was there before any of it came into existence and holds it all together right up to this moment. And when it comes to the church, he organizes and holds it together, like a head does a body.  

He was supreme in the beginning and—leading the resurrection parade—he is supreme in the end.  Not only that, but all the broken and dislocated pieces of the universe—people and things, animals and atoms—get properly fixed and fit together in vibrant harmonies, all because of his death, his blood that poured down from the cross. –Colossians 1:18-20 The MSG

Not only do we not know God save through Jesus Christ, but we do not know ourselves save through Jesus Christ.  Apart from Jesus Christ we know not what our life is, nor our death, nor God, nor ourselves. –Blaise Pascal

December 28, 2007December 28, 2007 by ryanmthurman Categories: Art Photography, Christianity, Church, Encouragement, Jesus, Life, Photography, Quotations, spiritual 1 Comment

Righteousness And Peace Will Kiss

Steadfast love and faithfulness will meet;
righteousness and peace will kiss each other.
Faithfulness will spring up from the ground,
and righteousness will look down from the sky…
righteousness will go before him,
and will make a path for his steps.  –Psalm 85:10-11,13

December 26, 2007December 26, 2007 by ryanmthurman Categories: Art Photography, Encouragement, Life, love, People, Photography, Scritpure Leave a comment

Like Treasure Hidden In A Field

 “The kingdom of God is like a treasure

hidden in the field, which a man found and hid again;

and from joy over it he goes and sells all

that he has and buys that field.” –Matthew 13:44 

“Jesus’ good news, then, was that the Kingdom of God

had come, and that he, Jesus, was its herald

and expounder to men.  More than that, in some special,

mysterious way, he was the kingdom.” –Malcolm Muggeridge

December 22, 2007December 22, 2007 by ryanmthurman Categories: Jesus, Kingdom of God, People, Photography, Quotations, Thoughts Leave a comment

Our Future Must Make Sense To Us

To live strongly and creatively in the kingdom of God, we need to have firmly fixed in our minds what our future is to be like.  We want to live fully in the Kingdom now, and for that purpose our future must make sense to us” –Dallas Willard  

When Christ, who is our life shall appear then you will be revealed with Him as glorious. –Colossians 3:4

 How great a love the Father has lavished upon us, that we should be described as children of God!  But it has not yet been shown what we shall be.  We only know that when He appears we shall be as He is. –I John 3:1-2 

He will transform our lowly body to be like his glory body, using the power He has over everything. –Philippians 3:20

December 21, 2007October 13, 2008 by ryanmthurman Categories: Art Photography, Cyprus, Dallas Willard, Encouragement, Inspiration, Life, Photography, Quotations Leave a comment

The Original Purpose Of Our Lives

The LORD is righteous in all his ways and loving toward all he has made.  –Psalm 145:17  

It is I who made the earth
       and created mankind upon it.
       My own hands stretched out the heavens;
       I marshaled their starry hosts. –Isaiah 45:12  

The deepest desire of our heart is for union with God.  God created us for union with himself.  This is the original purpose of our lives.-Brennan Manning

December 20, 2007 by ryanmthurman Categories: Christianity, Life, People, Photography, Quotations, spiritual Leave a comment

The Exultation Of My Heart

Ah, Lord God, you holy Lover of my soul, when you come into my soul, all that is within me shall rejoice. You are my Glory and the exultation of my heart; you are my Hope and Refuge in the day of my trouble. Set me free from all evil passions, and heal my heart of all inordinate affections; that, being inwardly cured and thoroughly cleansed, I may be made fit to love, courageous to suffer, steady to persevere. Nothing is sweeter than Love, nothing more courageous, nothing fuller nor better in heaven and earth; because Love is born of God, and cannot rest but in God, above all created things. Let me love you more than myself, nor love myself but for you. Amen.—Thomas a Kempis

December 17, 2007 by ryanmthurman Categories: Art Photography, Christianity, Church, God's Beauty, Life, Photography Leave a comment

Where It Is Divided Reunite It

Gracious Father, we pray for thy holy catholic (universal) Church. 
Fill it with all truth, in all truth with all peace.
Where it is corrupt, purify it;
Where it is in error, direct it;
Where in any thing it is amiss, reform it.
Where it is right, strengthen it;
Where it is in want, provide for it;
Where it is divided, reunite it;
For the sake of Jesus Christ thy Son our Savior.   Amen
-Book of Common Prayer-page 816

God, hear our cries,
bend an ear to our prayers. –Psalm 61:2 (adapted)

December 16, 2007December 16, 2007 by ryanmthurman Categories: Church, Life, Photography, Quotations, Religion, spiritual, unity Leave a comment

This Is The Day

This is the day the LORD has made;

let us rejoice and be glad in it.-Psalm 118-24

Life is short, full of beauty and pain;

tears and laughter. 

Cherish the moments of joy,

be grateful for the now

and treasure the delight of a child

and remember your Maker.

-Ryan Thurman

December 15, 2007December 15, 2007 by ryanmthurman Categories: Art Photography, Life, love, Photography, spiritual, Thoughts Leave a comment