The Applause of God in Sunrise & Supermoon

I live in a land that has awesome sunrises and sunsets!  And I have used my blog to display some in photography.  Last week was exceptional in the privilege of watching a "super sunrise".  It seemed extraordinarily beautiful in color.   Earth's scenery was bathed in its light and I felt immersed, becoming one with the hues of God's palette of color. I felt applause well up within me as I took these pictures in delight of such a marvelous Creator. As my camera lens captured this inspiring sight, my heart and mind began to wonder.... does God applaud?    We are made in the image of God (Genesis 1:27).  When we are pleased or delighted, it can move us to applaud in a heart-felt appreciation.   I began to think about the 'what if'.... what if applause was two-fold and God actually was applauding too.   

The dictionary definition of applaud means to express approval through clapping the hands in appreciation and pleasure.  Applause also means to commend highly, to praise, to acclaim, to encourage and cheer.

His expression in living art of a sky painted with early morning light was awesome.  In His magnificent love for us, He wants to encourage and to cheer us on in the applaud or acclamation of a new day.  What better way to use a glorious sunrise, in a divine declaration to His own, that we are not alone and a reminder that He will never leave us nor forsake us....

Resident geese doing a fly-by

It is fair to say that applause can be a celebration between the Creator and His created in a shared moment of delight.  Here is a quote by Ezra Taft Benson..."To the proud, the applause of the world rings in their ears; to the humble, the applause of heaven warms their hearts."

In closing, I'd like to share one more photo in God's diverse universe.  I did manage to get a shot of the supermoon.   However, it was waning, since this was taken on November 16.  Unfortunately, we had cloud cover and rainy skies for several days, including the actual supermoon date of November 14.  Sigh!  It is not the best photo but it was still great to take a picture and watch the play of moonlight and clouds.  I stood gazing heaven-ward in remembrance that such a bright supermoon caused by closeness of earth's proximity, will not occur again until November 25, 2034 - 18 years from now.  It was on January 16, 1948, when the moon was this bright because of the same closeness to earth - 70 years ago.  So many changes in such short spans of time from the past and now into the future.  It causes one to ponder what will enfold in the time to come.

Look for and enjoy the beauty around you in applause and appreciation........    See you again at The Turn-Up Patch on Monday, December 5th.

Peace and St Francis de Sales

I begin today's post with a quote from St Francis de Sales...  "Never be in a hurry; do everything quietly and in a calm spirit.  Do not lose your inner peace for anything whatsoever, even if your whole world seems upset."   These are words of wisdom from a man who lived 400 years ago and these same words ring true today.  St. Francis died in 1622, at 55 years of age.  There is much to be said about this revered saint but I wanted to focus on this one quote out of many that was penned by him.
  Each generation has its own "upsets".  The difference in our world today, is that it is instantly known because of the advancement in technology.  We become aware of the news across the globe through a variety of media outlets, which include smart phones, internet and television to name a few.  Of course, in the years that St Francis lived on earth, those words were not around, let alone any understanding of what they could possibly mean in futuristic development.

What can be projected from the past to the present, using this quote as an example, is a common human malady in losing inner peace in upsetting circumstances.   There are all manner of upsets and they do not regulate themselves to time - they have been evident throughout the ages.   St Francis offered a solution as to not be in a hurry, do everything quietly and in a calm spirit.   That can be tricky when you are living in a raging upset.  Inner peace - a desired commodity!  It is a keeping power that relieves the pressing of anxiety and neutralizes the upset.  

I enjoy God's diverse universe - from the wonders of the sky to the amazing colors and forms of nature before our eyes.  It is calming to quietly absorb beauty, in sight or sound, and to take moments  to merely feel peace and allow it to grow.  I share a few photos that I took recently from resident geese that fly in and out of neighboring pastures - to glorious sun rays emitting from a cloudy sky - to sagebrush, barbed wire and an old post which stands before distant hills.

Use some moments out of your busy life and watch this beautiful time-lapse video called "Be Still and Know that I Am God (Nature and Earth's Beauty)" and enjoy peace....https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=4Bx7exmRqtY

Come back to The Turn-Up Patch for another visit on Monday,  November 21.  Until then, here is another quote for you out of Philippines 4:7.... "And the peace of God, which transcends all understanding, will guard your hearts and your minds in Christ Jesus."