Gazing Upward

This picture was taken at Evangelical Bible Church in Dickinson, ND, on December 12, 2020. The frost covered trees with the cross jutting out captured my eye as I was exiting the church building that day. As I looked up at the frosty-themed view, I was reminded that my gaze should always be fixed upward. God should be the primary focus of my life. It is so easy to get caught up in the day-to-day events of life and to get distracted by the things of this world. When I am thinking more about the world than about God, my emotions become more melancholy and my thoughts become consumed with negativity. However, when I begin to focus on God; perfect peace, hope, and joy invades my heart and thought life. This is because God is the only One capable of perfectly providing lasting, good things to me; for He is the epitome of perfection and goodness. I know that I can go to Him whenever I am in need because He knows me the most deeply and my situation the most fully. I pray I never forget this profound truth.
 

Comments

Post a Comment

Popular posts from this blog

Sunshine: Inside and Outside

Image
This stunning image of the sun peeking through the clouds above the tips of evergreen trees was captured on November 1, 2021. It was a crisp, cool day at Dickinson State University. The sun provided a perfect atmosphere outside, though it was particularly deceiving. It made it appear as though it was a warm autumn day when it was actually chilly jacket weather outdoors. Often, people can be like the sun; their outer appearance can entice us to believe something untrue about them. Instead of getting to know someone, we simply assume what they will be like based on how they dress, do their hair, etc. How often do we miss opportunities to be positively impacted when we pass by someone that does not meet the physical requirements we subconsciously set in place? It takes a moment of courage to look past a person's outward appearance and look at their heart instead. I urge you to pause for a moment. Fight the desire to move past someone that may look unlovable and choose to get to know ...
Read more

Together Is the Best Place to Be

Image
This picture was taken from my backyard on January 25, 2020. The setting sun was so pretty; I just had to capture it. My camera did not do it justice, though. This picture was taken just two short months before the whole world went into lockdown as everyone tried to navigate a global pandemic. At the time, I had no idea how much everything would change once spring came. I do not think that knowing what was coming would have prepared me. Especially living in small town North Dakota, I had no idea that what was talked about in the news would end up affecting me personally. The pandemic taught me so many valuable lessons. The primary ones being (1) fellowship is incredibly important; (2) true friendship, even when you cannot physically be together, is more valuable than anything on the shelf at Walmart (if there is even anything left); and (3) technology, while amazing and innovative, does not compare to truly being with someone else. Deep connections are made together, in person; and I ...
Read more