God’s Beauty – Capturing Moments

Constancy

: Constancy

Constancy: The state or quality of being constant or steadfast; freedom from change; stability; fixedness; immutability; as, the constancy of God in his nature and attributes.

We are facing difficult days, many we know and love suffer and there is much darkness and despair around us. We must fight the temptation to leave the path of truth for the sake of some prospect of hope of our own. It is not our understanding of the situation which can show us what is wise, but only the truth of the Word of God.

I will remember the deeds of the LORD;
yes, I will remember your wonders of old.
I will ponder all your work,
and meditate on your mighty deeds.

-Psalm 77:11,12

It is easy to focus on the hardship and difficulties that fill our headlines and our hearts. But we do well to take to heart God’s command to reflect and remember all He has done for His people all that He has done for you and me. Find comfort that constancy, stability, and faithfulness are found alone in Him.

Want of trust is at the root of almost all our sins and all our weaknesses. How shall we escape it but by looking to him and observing his faithfulness? The man who holds God’s faithfulness will not be foolhardy or reckless, but he will be ready for every emergency. Abraham held God’s faithfulness and offered up Isaac, “accounting that God was able to raise him…from the dead” (Hebrews 11:19, KJV) Moses held God’s faithfulness and led the millions of Israel into the howling wilderness. “and what shall I more say?” for the time would fail me to tell” of those who, holding God’s faithfulness, had faith and by it “subdued kingdoms, wrought righteousness, obtained promises…out of weakness were made strong. -Hudson Taylor

Lord, lifter of our heads and hearts help us to gaze upon your beauty and reflect on your faithfulness. Give us grateful hearts full of praise and thanksgiving. Amen

October 7, 2008October 7, 2008 by ryanmthurman Categories: Art Photography, Encouragement, God's Beauty, Life, Photography, prayer, Quotations 1 Comment

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

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

A Simple Prayer

Thank you for hearing my prayer, O God;
and listening to the words of my mouth—Psalm 54:2

I am, O God, a jumbled mass of motives.
One moment I am adoring you, and the next I am shaking my fist at you.
I vacillate between mounting hope, and deepening despair.
I am full of faith, and full of doubt.I want the best for others,
and am jealous when they get it.
Even so, God, I will not run from your presence.
Nor will I pretend to be what I am not.
Thank you for accepting me with all my contradictions. Amen.
-Richard Foster

December 5, 2007December 5, 2007 by ryanmthurman Categories: Art Photography, God's Beauty, Inspiration, Photography, prayer, Quotations Leave a comment

Advent: He Will Come And Save You

Be strong, do not fear!
Here is your God.
He will come…
He will come and save you!—Isaiah 35:4

Lord, help me to prepare for the coming of your Son. May he find me waiting and watching in joyful anticipation.Through Christ, I pray.—Robert Webber

Lord Jesus Christ, as I await your coming show me your ways,Teach me your paths. For you are the God of my salvation.On you I wait all the day.—adapted from Psalm 25:4-5

December 4, 2007December 4, 2007 by ryanmthurman Categories: Advent, Art Photography, Encouragement, God's Beauty, Inspiration, Jesus, Photography, Quotations Leave a comment

Seamless Garment of Silence

There is a contemplative in all of us, almost strangled but still alive,who craves quiet enjoyment of the Now,and longs to touch the seamless garment of silence which is able to make us whole-Alan P Tory

Search your hearts and be silent.-Psalm4:4

The beginning of prayer is silence. If we really want to pray we must first learn to listen, for in the silence of the heart God speaks. And to be able to see that silence and to hear God we need a clean heart; for a clean heart can see God, can hear God, can listen to God; and then only from the fullness of our heart can we speak to God. But we cannot speak unless we have listened, unless we have made that connection with God in the silence of our heart.-Mother Theresa

December 3, 2007 by ryanmthurman Categories: Art Photography, God's Beauty, Life, Photography, Quotations Leave a comment

We Are Precious To Him

See, I have engraved you on the palms of my hands—Isaiah 49:16

“Behold , I have graven you upon the palm of my hand”, that is what Jesus came on earth to do: to proclaim, to give us the Good News that God loves us, that we are precious to Him.–Mother Theresa

December 2, 2007December 2, 2007 by ryanmthurman Categories: Art Photography, Encouragement, God's Beauty, Inspiration, Life, People, Photography, Quotations Leave a comment

Lost Enough To Let Myself Be Led

Somehow all I really need to know is if You who live in eternity hear the prayers of those of us who live in time. We can’t see what’s ahead and we can not get free from what we’ve left behind, I’m reeling from these voices that keep screaming in my ears all the words of shame and doubt, blame and regret. I can’t see how You’re leading me unless You’ve led me here where I’m lost enough to let myself be led.-Song lyrics from Rich Mullin’s ‘Hard to Get’

And if you leave My path and go astray, you will hear a Voice behind you say, “no this is the way, walk here”—Isaiah 30:21

November 29, 2007December 2, 2007 by ryanmthurman Categories: Encouragement, God's Beauty, Inspiration, Life, Photography, Quotations, songs Leave a comment

The Smile Of A Child

My heart is transformed by the smile of trust given by some people who are terribly fragile and weak. They call forth new energies from me. They seem to break down barriers and bring me a new freedom.

It is the same with the smile of a child: even the hardest heart can’t resist. Contact with people who are weak and who are crying out…is one of the most important nourishments in our lives. When we let ourselves be really touched by the gift of their presence, they leave something precious in our hearts.

As long as we remain at the level of “doing” things for people, we tend to stay behind our barriers of superiority. We ought to welcome the gift of the poor with open hands. Jesus says, “What you do for the least of my brothers, you do for me. -Jean Vanier