Today I’m being honored in a very big way, my grandson Elijah has asked me to be his guest for lunch at his school along with his father and my son Wesley. I know pride goes before a fall, but this is not that kind of pride. Maybe I should have said I’m thankful to be, instead. Today is what I will call Thankful Thursday, and I have a great deal to be thankful for, let me give you just a small part of my list;
I’m thankful to be God’s child.
I’m thankful to be forgiven.
I’m thankful to be Sherelene’s husband.
I’m thankful to be Scott, Wes, and Catherine’s father.
I’m thankful to be Diane, Clint, and Rhonda’s father-in-law..
I’m thankful to be Hannah Ben, Cassidy, Cade, Elijah, and Abigail’s grandfather.
I’m thankful to work with my great friends at Nikon.
I’m thankful to work for my great clients of Nikon.
I’m thankful to have such a great teaching partner in Jim Begley.
I’m thankful for all the blessings Scott Kelby has brought into my life.
I’m thankful for the wonderful friends God has given me over the years, far more than I deserve!
I’m thankful that at 66 years of age, I’ve learned to do a few things well.
I’m thankful that I have someone to love, something to do, and something to look forward to.
I’m thankful that you are reading this.
Every so often we need to sit down and contemplate just how richly God has blessed us, it puts everything else into perspective.
Be blessed today!
the pilgrim
Sorry Abigail, this was before you joined us! We need to do a full family portrait again!
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This entry was posted on Thursday, April 26th, 2012 at 12:32 pm
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I noticed this morning the review on the front of the DVD jacket for the film I’ve been touting, “What If”, it said , “Extremely well made, funny, heartwarming…” I don’t disagree, but I think the film is much more than, just, “heartwarming”, please allow me to explain.
Websters Dictionary defines heartwarming like this:
heartwarming |ˈhärtˌwôrmi ng |adjective emotionally rewarding or uplifting.
Technically that is correct, but the film is, to me, a lot more than “just” heartwarming. The message of the film is “profound and life changing”, not just heartwarming! If something can be warmed it can also be cooled, and such is the way of our hearts, our emotions, they can vary with the situation we’re in. In a life long walk with Christ, emotions are far from adequate as your indicator of the wellness of your soul.
I write this blog not to warm the hearts of the readers, if it does so, that is fine, but that is not the goal. The goal is to introduce the reader to a life changing experience with Jesus Christ. I’m not aiming for better, but transformational, not improved, but changed, there is a big difference. Emotional uplifting can be good, but real fundamental change is something real that lasts and stands the test of time, emotional uplifting does not. So I don’t want you to “feel” better, I want your life to “be” better. It is promised in scripture that if you accept Jesus Christ you will become “a new creature” not a “better creature!” Christ is not about improving you, He is about making you completely “new”!
My prayer, my hope, and my goal, in this blog, is to point the way to a Savior that can change your life forever. If you should accept that invitation from Him, your heart will not be just warmed, but changed forever!
the pilgrim
*Photo note: D7000, 85mm Micro Nikkor AFS VR f 3.5, with Nikon’s CLS (Creative Lighting System) SB-900 and on camera flash used as the triggering device. From the Kelby Training Class on Close-up Photography, Part 2.
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This entry was posted on Wednesday, April 25th, 2012 at 1:05 pm
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This morning’s In Touch devotional from Dr. Charles Stanley is an appropriate one for us all. Let me share the opening scripture and the lesson.
Luke 22:31-34
New Living Translation (NLT)
Jesus Predicts Peter’s Denial
31 “Simon, Simon, Satan has asked to sift each of you like wheat. 32 But I have pleaded in prayer for you, Simon, that your faith should not fail. So when you have repented and turned to me again, strengthen your brothers.”
33 Peter said, “Lord, I am ready to go to prison with you, and even to die with you.”
34 But Jesus said, “Peter, let me tell you something. Before the rooster crows tomorrow morning, you will deny three times that you even know me.”
The disciple Peter was a man of great faith and bold action. But as readers of the New Testament know, his brash style sometimes led him to make humiliating mistakes. More than once, this disciple had to wear the label of “miserable failure” rather than that of “obedient servant.”
We can all relate when it comes to falling short of expectations. Obedience to God is a learning process, and failure is a part of our development as humble servants. When we yield to temptation or rebel against God’s authority, we realize that sin has few rewards, and even those are fleeting.
Failure is an excellent learning tool, as Peter could certainly attest. Through trial and error, he discovered that humility is required of believers (John 13:5-14); that God’s ways are higher than the world’s ways (Mark 8:33); and that one should never take his eyes off Jesus (Matt. 14:30). He took each of those lessons to heart and thereby grew stronger in his faith. Isn’t that Romans 8:28 in action? God caused Peter’s failures to be put to good use as training material because the disciple was eager to mature and serve.
God doesn’t reward rebellion or wrongdoing. However, by His grace, He blesses those who choose repentance and embrace chastisement as a tool for growth.
We would probably all prefer to grow in our faith without ever making a mistake before God’s eyes, but we cannot deny that missteps are instructive. Failure teaches believers that it is much wiser and more profitable to be obedient to the Lord. That’s a lesson we all should take to heart.
From In Touch Daily Devotional April 24, 2012
In my personal walk with Him, I’ve found myself falling short often, and down on my knees have come to see I cannot walk this walk in my own strength. Failure is a good thing when it leads us to know that we cannot do it alone. When I was a young Christian I rejected any thought of needing anyone else to succeed, even Christ, how foolish I was, and how many lessons of failure, and redemption it has taken to teach me the truth of the scripture, that I need Him, every moment of every day. It’s amazing what saying, “Lord I’m so sorry, and I know now I need You!” can do for your life……
the pilgrim
* Photo note: A young horse races the good race, Nikon D7000, 70-300 AFS VR lens 1/20th of second at f 4.8 ISO 1600.
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This entry was posted on Tuesday, April 24th, 2012 at 12:15 pm
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As a football fan this is a big week, the NFL Draft is about to start. For seasons to come the decision made in this draft will affect individual teams desire and progress to making the Super Bowl, and countless individual football players lives will be affected as well! Naturally the sports talk shows and sports networks are all a buzz about who will go first, pretty much a knowns issue now, and who will take various top players from across the country.
I’m interested to know what will happen, but not riveted to the results, I am riveted to who is Number One everyday for me, Jesus. The deeper my walk goes into my relationship with Christ, the less worldly things matter to me. I love to talk cameras and lenses, sports, weather, travel and on and on, but honestly it all pales in comparison to the spiritual side of my life. Who wins a Super Bowl does not even compare to the hope of leading someone into life long relationship with Jesus!
Scripture teaches that we should turn our thoughts and minds to the things of God, not rejecting all that goes on in the world but realizing it is secondary in importance to our spiritual health. In the last few months I have been renting and watching Christian films more than the normal movies I have enjoyed in the past. I’ve found that centering my mind on things of God has made me a more peaceful and centered believer. I’m not saying that to have a closer walk with God that you have to reject everything that is not specifically about Him, but the more we dabble in the things that are purely of this world, the more worldly we become, and the more worldly we become, the further we drift from His plan for our lives!
It is a delicate balancing act to be His and live for Him and still not make those in the world feel rejected and judged. If you study the life of Christ, you will find that He did not go around placing judgments on people, He let them know how much He loved them, that forgiveness was available if they woulds ask for it and accept Him. He never twisted an arm, debated with people, or condemned them, He LOVED them!
Guess what, that is what He has called us to do as well, just love them!
the pilgrim
O.K. Yesterdays answers:
Top Shot of Buick Hood D4
Cadillac Hood ornament Coolpix P7100
Buick Eight Hood D7000
Airplane Tail D800
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This entry was posted on Monday, April 23rd, 2012 at 4:10 pm
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