God takes one still life piece of beauty and speaks volumes to bring us life and perspective. Today I am sharing snapshots of God’s glory with reflections and questions to give us the chance to go deeper in our own lives. Each imageĀ stopped me long enough to ponder – why this scene and why now??
One reflection shares an image that is both real and at the same time not exactly what it seems. Does your life portray the real you or is it theĀ reflection of a person who faces fear or uncertainty in becoming who you were meant to be?
A patchwork of bricks lines the side of this bridge. Each piece is unique in size, shape and how it fits together with the other bricks. We are the bricks – God made each of us unique in our gifts and in how we interact with others. How will we use our gifts to complete this puzzle of bringing people together for God?
I see God’s masterpiece of love in each flower petal stretched wide to give and receive fully. Where do you see love reflected in your life and are you a reflection of love for others?
Strong… stalwart… imperfect… blemished! Each word describes the tree trunk above and each could describe us. The beauty in the picture is that one tree trunk gives us a glimpse into how God grows us into who He wants us to be. He starts with a seed, nourishes it with His word, love and grace and grows it into a strong, but perhaps imperfect being, that when seeking after Him will grow into a beauty as this tree trunk.
Our journeys take many detours along the way. Bridges close the gap between the unknown and known. Is your path clear? Do you know the direction you are headed? Who or what becomes the bridge to cross from the unknown into the known?
[Tweet “A snapshot of nature is God’s beauty defined when it becomes a picture of our own life.”]
Every snapshot moment that I paused to soak in and let God speak to me through have impacted me greatly. God loves to treat us to His creation through the beauty that we experience along the way. He also nourishes our own beauty which is magnified when we reflect it back to Him.
I loved pulling these photographs and reflections together for this post. I am thinking that I would love to do this again. I would love to hear your thoughtsĀ and whether there were any questions that really got you digging deeper into your own life?
Hope your day is blessed and I appreciate each and everyone of you!
Mary
Blessed to be linking with:
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#DanceWithJesus linkup @susanbmead.com
GIVE ME GRACE – Lisha Epperson
These are beautiful photos. It is awesometo have all this nature shots remind us of God’s grace.
Many Blessings to you
I loved talking the photos but even more was the chance to be out on a walk and discover what God had for me that day. You bless me everyone you stop by with your encouragement. Hope your week has been wonderful!
Thank you for the nature walk Mary. Your photos and thoughts spoke to me too and I am still ponder and asking. Love you!
I loved taking that walk with God to listen, learn and was so glad to be able to share it. The pictures leave me asking more questions too because at first glance you see one thing but when looking again it can look totally different. Love you for being here and encouraging me.
Beautiful photographs, Mary! God is truly a Master Artist, and how fortunate we are that He’s given us His artwork to treasure, interpret, and learn from. Thanks for sharing. #DancewithJesus
We are lucky to live in God’s world and to find opportunities to enjoy His beautiful creation. So glad you stopped by to get a glimpse into how God was working on my walk that day. Have a blessed week!
Mary, this is such a beautiful post! I felt a since of love and peace here. Thank you so much for sharing this! You truly made my heart smile. Infinite blessings to you, Love! š
I meant sense not since. š
I have this same problem of typing and other words pop out! š
I love that God touched you and brought a smile to your face. He provides amazing beauty doesn’t He? Hope your weekend is blessed!
Mary, I so loved the way each photograph spoke to you. I don’t think I am good at seeing such vivid images in my mind. I think back on the walks, jogs and bike rides I’ve had and it’s primarily more feeling God’s presence in a profound way but not necessarily identifying with specific things like you have here. Does that make sense? Not a bad thing and I think it made me appreciate even more you taking me on your journey of discovery with you.
Love you, dear friend.
xoxo
I do understand. I love how our eyes, mind and heart see things differently because of how God speaks and teaches each of us. I have a favorite garden that I walk and God meets me there each and every time with beauty, pictures, and so many words. It’s like having my own private prayer room in the garden. Love you and your perspective! Have a beautiful Friday!!!
Mary, I loved this journey we got to take together through love and God’s creation. It felt refreshing. Thank you for renewing my Spirit right now. I love knowing you. Cheering you on with excitement today from the #RaRalinkup on Purposeful Faith.
It was a journey for me to see the beauty in person and preserve it through a photograph. I loved every minute because of the words God whispered to me along the way. Thank you for coming alongside me on the journey and for being such an integral part of my community. Blessings friend!
Love the tour you took us on, sharing your thoughts and questions along the way, Mary. I think that photo of the imperfect, hollowed out tree also is a reminder of redemption. The big tree’s imperfections allowed for new growth to sprout alongside. I bet the big tree also lent shelter so that the little tree could thrive against the elements. That’s what I hope my ministry at MM does–provides the shelter to others so that they can learn from my imperfections. Hugs to you!
I love your interpretation of the imperfect hollowed out tree-redemption! It gives me a new perspective on how to look at this picture and of course it reminds me that we all view things so differently.
Your ministry at MM truly does offer a safe place to learn from imperfections and provides a haven for conversation that has been such a blessing to me. Hugs to you friend!
You’re my soul sister, Mary! I, too, love seeing the lessons God leaves lying around in his handiwork. Beautiful photos and beautiful reflections on his love.
I would love to meet this soul sister at the FMF Retreat in August!!! I can’t think of a better way to spend an afternoon then hanging outside with nature and God. Hope you are doing well and I love seeing you here today. Blessings!
This is such a beautiful perspective and such a great way to look at life!
I appreciate these sweet words. Blessed you stopped by and I hope to see you again.
Wow – I simply love this post! The pictures are beautiful reminders of God’s goodness and wonder. This is such a wonderful way to reflect and worship the Lord and I might have to grab my camera and do the same! This has really blessed me today – thank you for sharing at #RaRalinkup š
I hope you do grab your camera and find some beauty and worship in your neighborhood. Taking walks is a favorite of mine but when I am blessed with such gifts from God it is a bonus to have my camera along too. Thank you for being here and for your encouragement. Blessings!
Wow. The photo with the swan is so unusual–stunning. Love the words you have put with the photos. So blessed by this!
One of the local historic cemeteries is home to this beautiful swan. He swam right up to me that day and showed off-such magnificence! Thank you for being here and blessing me with your encouragement. Hope your week is full of God moments such as these. Blessings!
Hi Mary! I did what you suggested…looked at each photo and thought about what they were saying to me, and then read your words. Each snapshot tells a story, and it’s different for each of us, depending on where we are in our spirits. I loved the theme of strength, beauty and stillness too. A needed lesson for me today.
I leave your post encouraged and peaceful. Thank you!
From #RaRa Linkup,
Ceil
Thank you for taking time for reflection. I am blessed that you were blessed by this walk through nature and how God speaks to us through everything. I hope to do more of this in the future because it teaches me so much in how I look at God’s beauty and in how it speaks to me. Praying that this encouragement and peace follow you the rest of the week. Hugs!
What beautiful photos, Mary. You’ve reminded us that God is constantly speaking to us through creation. We just need to stop and listen! Keep our eyes open! #TestimonyTuesday
God, our creator, loves nothing more than to wow us with snapshot moments of all He has created. Taking the time to soak it all in is amazing indeed! I pray your weekend is blessed.
Ah … the swan! I spotted one yesterday as we sped by a marsh … beautiful, regal, stunning. Kind of took my breath away, a delightful glimpse on a rainy springtime afternoon …
Love what you’ve captured with your lens, friend …
I love the combination of God’s beauty and the art of capturing it to share with others. I also love reflecting on the snapshot to understand all that God is teaching me. I took these most of these photos the other day on my walk in the pure sunshine! š So blessed you are here and many hugs coming your way!
What great questions. So necessary for us to think about how we walk with Jesus. Each picture captures the essence of your question. Thank you.
I love God’s beauty and love taking walks so it is the perfect combination. I am blessed with beautiful parks and gardens in my city to soak in God’s creation. Thank you for stopping by and I am glad that the questions caused you to stop and ponder. Blessings!
Love love love these photos!! And your applications to God’s love and grace and work in all our lives is so inspiring. Thanks for sharing with us today, sweet friend. xoxo
I’m thinking photography could have a part in my future! I love capturing a picture and of course I love writing and reflecting. So glad you popped over to encourage me! Love you and we need to catch up soon!!!
Beautiful pictures! The first one is my favorite:) There’s nothing like pausing to reflect on God’s creation. Thank you for sharing these pics with us!
Thank you for your sweet words. The swan was such a gift that day and loved showing off for me. God was saying “Look what I did for you”. God’s glory was all around and there is nothing but thanksgiving when this happens. Have a blessed week!
Such beautifully visualized and spoken truths.
The first picture is especially lovely and there is something about the imagined quietness of that setting that for me brings this verse to my mind: Be still, and know that I am God. I will be exalted among the nations. I will be exalted in the earth. Psalm 46:10.
You are gifted in capturing Gods beauty with more than just the written word Mary!
Imagine a rainy cold day when I captured that picture. The wind was blowing hard and there didn’t feel like stillness on the outside but inside God was blowing in His sweet breath of peace. Psalm 46:10 will always be a favorite because of how much I want that stillness all the time. Your kind words mean so much to me today and maybe photography has a place in my future! š