{"id":1031,"date":"2010-04-24T19:42:48","date_gmt":"2010-04-25T02:42:48","guid":{"rendered":"http:\/\/www.imagingtheheavens.com\/?p=1031"},"modified":"2011-08-22T16:24:09","modified_gmt":"2011-08-22T23:24:09","slug":"its-a-beautiful-morning","status":"publish","type":"post","link":"http:\/\/www.imagingtheheavens.com\/?p=1031","title":{"rendered":"“It’s a Beautiful Morning”"},"content":{"rendered":"
\n[Translate]<\/a>\"\"\n
\n<\/div>\n
\n

Dear Friends\u00a0 –\u00a0 This site was started in 2010.\u00a0 It is a place where I write about my thoughts and experiences, using my astro-photography as a way to share the Glory of God with others.\u00a0 Since God brings such wonderful hope\u00a0to our lives, it is important to acknowledge Him in all we do.\u00a0 The messages and images contained within this site are simply intended to be a blessing and a spiritual encouragement to all visitors.\u00a0 The astro-images included with each message give witness to God\u2019s creation in the universe.\u00a0 The Bible scripture referenced in these messages is God\u2019s Truth \u2013 may it stir meaning in your life.\u00a0 As you go through your week, consider what God is doing in your life, and may He richly bless you along the way.\u00a0\u00a0Your comments on this message or this web site are welcome.\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0-Mike Sherick\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0<\/span><\/p>\n

\u201cFor God so loved the world that He gave His only begotten Son,
\nthat whoever believes in Him shall not perish, but have eternal life.\u201d
\nJohn 3:16<\/strong>\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0 (all verses NKJV)<\/em>\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0<\/span><\/p>\n

\u2014\u2014\u2014\u2014\u2014\u2014\u2014\u2014\u2014\u2014\u2014\u2014\u2014\u2014\u2014\u2014\u2014\u2014\u2014\u2014\u2014\u2014\u2014\u2014\u2014\u2014\u2014\u2014\u2014\u2014\u2014\u2014\u2014\u2014\u2014\u2014\u2014\u2014\u2014-\u00a0<\/span><\/p>\n

\"\"<\/a>\u00a0“It’s a Beautiful Morning”<\/span><\/span><\/span><\/p>\n

Good Morning Friends.\u00a0 God has blessed us with another beautiful day here in Las Cruces.\u00a0 Take time today to give the Lord\u00a0thanks for all that He is doing in your life.\u00a0 Be reminded that this is the day that the Lord has made – just for you!\u00a0 Rejoice and be glad in it – for\u00a0all that we have in life\u00a0is a gift from God.<\/span><\/span><\/span><\/p>\n

“Every good gift and every perfect gift is from above, and comes down from the Father of lights, with whom there is no variation or shadow of turning.”\u00a0 (James 1:17)<\/em><\/strong><\/span><\/span><\/span><\/p>\n

Over the last week, we have had a run of stormy weather here in southern New Mexico, so I have\u00a0not had the opportunity of late to image any “heavenly objects”\u00a0from my remote robotic observatory.\u00a0 However,\u00a0we don’t have to look too far for opportunities to witness God’s glory – we just have to look around.\u00a0 For all that we see is God’s creation.\u00a0 \u00a0Amen!\u00a0\u00a0 So… this morning, I decided to take some photos of the local desert environment that surrounds\u00a0our neighborhood – and share with you what I witnessed.\u00a0 More on this in a litte while…<\/p>\n

As it turned out, the\u00a0Lord had revealed a fresh new day, with clear blue sky and crisp morning temperatures\u00a0– a perfect morning\u00a0for a walk in the desert.\u00a0\u00a0 It’s amazing how God’s timing is always perfect.\u00a0 Isn’t it wonderful how God allows everything to come together for good.\u00a0 I’m reminded of what it says in Romans 8:28, “And we know that all things work together for good to those who love God, to those who are the called according to His purpose.”\u00a0 <\/em><\/strong>Yes… we have an awesome God.\u00a0 His wisdom has no end, and His knowledge, presence, and understanding extends into everything in our lives – our omniscient God.<\/p>\n

\"\"<\/a><\/span>Even though I know that God has everything under control, and that He works all things for good, I will sometimes\u00a0become rather impatient.\u00a0 Isaiah 53:6<\/strong><\/em> comes to mind.\u00a0\u00a0 Does that ever happen in your life?\u00a0\u00a0 A small\u00a0example of this is my\u00a0waiting for weather to improve so I can open up the remote observatory and image a galaxy or some other object out in space.\u00a0 There are other examples of this – some of which I’m not too proud of, but you get the idea.\u00a0 The point is, we all tend to lose patience with God.\u00a0<\/p>\n

Sometimes it seems that\u00a0God has other plans, and His timing is quite different than ours.\u00a0 \u00a0We want it, when we want it!\u00a0 Does that sound familiar?\u00a0 This is our sinful nature on display.\u00a0 In this regard,\u00a0we\u00a0must constantly remind ourselves that God’s plan is a\u00a0better plan, and that God’s timing is better timing – sometimes we\u00a0\u00a0must\u00a0 wait upon the Lord.\u00a0 This requires us to\u00a0know and\u00a0believe by\u00a0faith that God indeed has a better plan – and in obedience, we must be patient.\u00a0 How are\u00a0you at being\u00a0patient?\u00a0\u00a0 How are you at waiting on the Lord?\u00a0 When you think about being patient for the Lord,\u00a0give some thought to these\u00a0considerations:<\/p>\n

Trust – We must trust that God has a willingness to hear and answer our prayers.\u00a0 We must trust what the Bible teaches – that God is unchangeable, and the same yesterday, today, and forever.\u00a0 We must trust that God will never leave or forsake us.\u00a0 We must trust that God has a plan for our lives.\u00a0 Isaiah 26:3-4,\u00a0“The steadfast of mind You will keep in perfect peace, Because he trusts in You.\u00a0 Trust in the LORD forever, For in GOD the LORD, we have an everlasting Rock.” (NASB)<\/em><\/strong><\/p>\n

Resistance – We must resist our sinful nature to give up on God.\u00a0 We must resist our sinful desire to go our own way, and be tempted by Satan.\u00a0 We must resist the intellect that says we can do everything under our own power.\u00a0 We must resist being defiant to the Holy Spirit.\u00a0 We must resist turning away from God’s word.\u00a0 Joshua 1:8, “This Book of the Law shall not depart from your mouth, but you shall meditate in it day and night, that you may observe to do according to all that is written in it. For then you will make your way prosperous, and then you will have good success.”<\/em><\/strong><\/p>\n

Prayer – It is not God that is deaf, it is usually our impatience that makes us feel that way.\u00a0 We must believe that in all situations and circumstances, God hears us.\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0 We must humble ourselves before our Lord, and realize that He knows what we need even before we ask Him.\u00a0 We must believe that God answers all prayers, and believe that His timing is perfect for our lives.\u00a0 We must extend our prayers to include our praise to God.\u00a0 We must pray to God for patience and perserverance.\u00a0\u00a0 James 5:7-8, “Therefore be patient, brethren, until the coming of the Lord. See how the farmer waits for the precious fruit of the earth, waiting patiently for it until it receives the early and latter rain. You also be patient. Establish your hearts, for the coming of the Lord is at hand.”<\/em><\/strong><\/p>\n

Patience is indeed an important consideration for our life.\u00a0 Listen to what it says in Psalm 27:14, “Wait on the LORD; Be of good courage, And He shall strengthen your heart; Wait, I say, on the LORD!”\u00a0 \u00a0 <\/em><\/strong>Let patience be an integral part of your life, and may the Lord give you strength and guide you along each step of the way.<\/p>\n

\"\"<\/a><\/span><\/p>\n

\u00a0<\/span>\u00a0<\/p>\n

Back to my morning walk in the desert…\u00a0 I guess you could say that my patience paid off, for the Lord allowed for a beautiful day.\u00a0<\/p>\n

So, with camera in hand, my wife and\u00a0I began our trek into\u00a0the desert.\u00a0 I was surprised to discover just how many interesting desert plants were on display.\u00a0\u00a0 I recall that during our walk, while feeling the blissful warmth of the\u00a0rising sun, I found myself singing the pop tune\u00a0\u00a0“It’s a Beautiful Morning”\u00a0 by the Young Rascals.\u00a0 Have you heard that song?\u00a0 In the course of our 45 minute walk, I took quite a few photos\u00a0of the different plant life, which are presented in the video below. \u00a0It was wonderful to be a witness to God’s glory –\u00a0on display for all to see!<\/p>\n

When I reflect back on this morning’s walk in the desert, and the beauty that I witnessed –\u00a0I am reminded of the One who created all things.\u00a0 In closing, reflect on what is says in John 1:1-5,<\/p>\n

“In the beginning was the Word, and the Word was with God, and the Word was God.\u00a0 He was in the beginning with God.\u00a0 All things were made through Him, and without Him nothing was made that was made.\u00a0 \u00a0In Him was life, and the life was the light of men.\u00a0 \u00a0And the light shines in the darkness, and the darkness did not comprehend it.”<\/strong><\/em><\/p>\n

\"\"<\/a><\/span>Let this understanding be with you today as you behold God’s creation on display, both in the heavens and on the earth.\u00a0 Remember also that the Truth is revealed in His creation, and that the Truth will set you free.\u00a0 “And you shall know the truth, and the truth shall make you free.”\u00a0 (John 8:32)<\/strong><\/em><\/p>\n

Have a great day, and as you go through your day, take a look at God creation that is around you.\u00a0 \u00a0I’m guessing that\u00a0you too will find yourself singing…\u00a0\u00a0 \u00a0It’s a beautiful morning…<\/em><\/p>\n

May the Lord place someone in your path that you may share the Good News of Jesus Christ.<\/p>\n

Your brother in Christ,\u00a0\u00a0 Mike Sherick<\/p>\n

\u00a0<\/p>\n

\u00a0<\/p>\n<\/div>\n","protected":false},"excerpt":{"rendered":"

[Translate] <\/p>\n

Dear Friends – This site was started in 2010. It is a place where I write about my thoughts and experiences, using my astro-photography as a way to share the Glory of God with others. Since God brings such wonderful hope to our lives, it is important to acknowledge Him in all we […]<\/p>\n","protected":false},"author":1,"featured_media":0,"comment_status":"open","ping_status":"open","sticky":false,"template":"","format":"standard","meta":[],"categories":[1],"tags":[],"_links":{"self":[{"href":"http:\/\/www.imagingtheheavens.com\/index.php?rest_route=\/wp\/v2\/posts\/1031"}],"collection":[{"href":"http:\/\/www.imagingtheheavens.com\/index.php?rest_route=\/wp\/v2\/posts"}],"about":[{"href":"http:\/\/www.imagingtheheavens.com\/index.php?rest_route=\/wp\/v2\/types\/post"}],"author":[{"embeddable":true,"href":"http:\/\/www.imagingtheheavens.com\/index.php?rest_route=\/wp\/v2\/users\/1"}],"replies":[{"embeddable":true,"href":"http:\/\/www.imagingtheheavens.com\/index.php?rest_route=%2Fwp%2Fv2%2Fcomments&post=1031"}],"version-history":[{"count":36,"href":"http:\/\/www.imagingtheheavens.com\/index.php?rest_route=\/wp\/v2\/posts\/1031\/revisions"}],"predecessor-version":[{"id":1051,"href":"http:\/\/www.imagingtheheavens.com\/index.php?rest_route=\/wp\/v2\/posts\/1031\/revisions\/1051"}],"wp:attachment":[{"href":"http:\/\/www.imagingtheheavens.com\/index.php?rest_route=%2Fwp%2Fv2%2Fmedia&parent=1031"}],"wp:term":[{"taxonomy":"category","embeddable":true,"href":"http:\/\/www.imagingtheheavens.com\/index.php?rest_route=%2Fwp%2Fv2%2Fcategories&post=1031"},{"taxonomy":"post_tag","embeddable":true,"href":"http:\/\/www.imagingtheheavens.com\/index.php?rest_route=%2Fwp%2Fv2%2Ftags&post=1031"}],"curies":[{"name":"wp","href":"https:\/\/api.w.org\/{rel}","templated":true}]}}