Psalm 62:1-2

Near Aspen, Colorado, October 2013

For God alone my soul waits in silence;
from him comes my salvation.
He alone is my rock and my salvation,
my fortress; I shall never be shaken.
Psalm 62:1-2

Micah 4:5

Aspens in the Fall, Aspen, Colorado, October 2013

For all the peoples walk,
each in the name of its god,
but we will walk in the name of the LORD our God
forever and ever.
Micah 4:5

Isaiah 25:4-9

Aspen, Colorado, October 2013

For you have been a refuge to the poor,
a refuge to the needy in their distress,
a shelter from the rainstorm and a shade from the heat.
When the blast of the ruthless was like a winter rainstorm,
the noise of aliens like heat in a dry place,
you subdued the heat with the shade of clouds;
the song of the ruthless was stilled.
On this mountain the LORD of hosts will make for all peoples
a feast of rich food, a feast of well-aged wines,
of rich food filled with marrow, of well-aged wines strained clear.
And he will destroy on this mountain
the shroud that is cast over all peoples,
the sheet that is spread over all nations;
he will swallow up death forever.
Then the Lord GOD will wipe away the tears from all faces, 
and the disgrace of his people he will take away from all the earth,
for the LORD has spoken.
It will be said on that day,
Lo, this is our God; we have waited for him, so that he might save us.
This is the LORD for whom we have waited;
let us be glad and rejoice in his salvation.
Isaiah 25:4-9

For all of the hate, all of the mistakes, all of the pain and suffering inflicted by Christians upon other Christians and upon the world, the love of God still prevails, still overcomes, still shines with the brightness of a thousand, thousand suns.

Luke 10:23

Burrowing Owl, Trinity Lutheran Church back field, Pembroke Pines, Florida, October 2013

Then turning to the disciples, Jesus said to them privately, "Blessed are the eyes that see what you see!"
Luke 10:23

Where have you seen the love of God made manifest this day?
And how have you embodied that love yourself so that others might see our loving God in and through you?

Job 9:11

Bluejay, back field, Trinity Lutheran Church, Pembroke Pines, Florida, October 2013

Look, he passes by me, and I do not see him;
he moves on, but I do not perceive him.
Job 9:11

There are times when God seems so distant, even absent
in our lives. 
We see injustice, poverty, and death;
We experience the sting of gossip,
the turning of the tide,
the darkness of depression,
the paralysis of despair. 

The strength of our faith is not measured
by the volume of our praise,
nor by the robustness of hallelujahs playing upon our lips,
or the frequency of our prayer, 
nor even how often we do the right thing.
Rather it is our willingness in humility to utter through our doubt:
"I believe. Help my unbelief!" 

Psalm 46:1-5

Near Aspen, Colorado, October 2013

God is our refuge and strength,
a very present help in trouble.
Therefore we will not fear, though the earth should change,
though the mountains shake in the heart of the sea;
though its waters roar and foam,
though the mountains tremble with its tumult.
Selah
There is a river whose streams make glad the city of God,
the holy habitation of the Most High.
God is in the midst of the city; it shall not be moved;
God will help it when the morning dawns.
Psalm 46:1-5

Isaiah 25:1,4

Aspen, Colorado, October 2013

O LORD, you are my God;
I will exalt you, I will praise your name;
for you have done wonderful things,
plans formed of old, faithful and sure....
For you have been a refuge to the poor,
a refuge to the needy in their distress,
a shelter from the rainstorm and a shade from the heat.
When the blast of the ruthless was like a winter rainstorm
Isaiah 25:1, 4