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 image stopped me long enough to ponder – why this scene and why now??
Do you see real beauty when out in God’s world? Do you notice the color or variance in hues even when it seems to be lacking? Come take a picture walk with me to see how God speaks to you.
The brilliant blue highlights the bare branches stretching upward. The contrast of color against washed out branches proves how God takes a splash of beauty to show off something that at first glance is very ordinary. God chooses a backdrop for our lives to show off the beauty we have within. A backdrop of events and people to accentuate the beautiful person He created in each of us. God is intentional in loving us well and highlighting us as His children.
“I am the true grapevine, and my Father is the gardener. 2 He cuts off every branch of mine that doesn’t produce fruit, and he prunes the branches that do bear fruit so they will produce even more. 3 You have already been pruned and purified by the message I have given you. 4 Remain in me, and I will remain in you. For a branch cannot produce fruit if it is severed from the vine, and you cannot be fruitful unless you remain in me. John 15:1-4 NLT
Do you believe you are a special gift from God that He loves to show off to others?
Food is one of my love languages, but many of you know that clean eating is my go to as I pursue healthy living. But this beautiful picture of food has an entirely different meaning here. It tells a story of hospitality- a giving heart who lovingly prepared the food for both of us to share. Another one of my love languages is acts of kindness. The time, effort and love put into the preparation of this meal was a gift. The blessing was not just the food but the beautiful servant’s heart of the person who prepared it.
Do nothing from selfish ambition or conceit, but in humility count others more significant than yourselves. 4 Let each of you look not only to his own interests, but also to the interests of others. Philippians 2:3-4
What blessings have you received as a gift from another with a servant’s heart?
Hidden beauty is God’s specialty. He loves the element of surprise and is blessed when we discover the beauty on our own. Taking the time to look closer helps us draw near to God as we uncover our own gifts. He wires each of us uniquely and wants us to shine for His glory. But many times our excuses outweigh our willingness to explore and develop the beauty God has already created within us.
“You are the light of the world. A town built on a hill cannot be hidden. 15 Neither do people light a lamp and put it under a bowl. Instead they put it on its stand, and it gives light to everyone in the house. 16 In the same way, let your light shine before others, that they may see your good deeds and glorify your Father in heaven. Matthew 5:14-16
How can you use your gifts for God’s glory without letting worldly initiatives steer you in a different direction?
Stunning beauty! The kind that produces a gasp and a look of admiration is always present but rarely found. God places these hidden treasures everywhere. Being present draws us into God’s presence.
[Tweet “Be present, search for beauty and draw near to God.”]
He has made everything beautiful in its time. He has also set eternity in the human heart; yet no one can fathom what God has done from beginning to end. Ecclesiastes 3:11
How will you discover the stunning beauty God has created just for you?
Each picture complete with details tells a story. As you explore and look deeply at each one, what story do these pictures tell you?
I would love to hear your picture stories in the comments.
Blessings of grace along the way!
Linking up with these beautiful ladies!
and Dawn for Grace Moments
Hey Mary. This is nice and an unusual post. The pictures speak to my heart. Your camera is good I must add.
Thank you for the thoughts along with the photos.
God bless you
Thanks for being here Ifeoma! I have done a few of these kinds of posts before but not for a long time. My camera is usually just my phone. Pretty amazing huh??? I pray you have a beautiful weekend!
I love taking photo walks, and I love what you did here taking time to ponder each scene. The photos are beautiful and tell a story of God’s love through the creativity of nature and of the hospitality of friends. Thanks so much for sharing. Blessings to you!xo
I imagine you have quite a bit of beauty right around where you live. God loves to show us pieces of who He is and taking the time to join Him out in nature is such a delight to Him. I love that you joined me here today. Praying you have many of these hidden beauty moments throughout your weekend.
I love that you took us on a photo walk today–to focus in on God’s beauty and wonder all around us, Mary. We don’t stop often or long enough most days to see it, do we? I’m grateful for your reminder and will take note all throughout my day, my friend. Don’t want to miss out on a drop of God’s goodness all around. 🙂
If we had more time together last week, we could have enjoyed some of the beauty of the park where we met. I always find walking outside to be freeing and a chance to step away from all those things that are weighing on my mind. I pray you have some chances in the next month to step away and enjoy the beauty God has hidden just for you. Love you friend!
You’re speaking to my heart, Mary :). Beauty always makes me pause and think about my Creator!
I have seen your beautiful photos and I know how much nature speaks to you. Sure would be fun to share the beauty with you sometime! Thanks for being here! Happy Friday and I imagine school is almost finished, right???
We are all blessings and to share our lives to others is sharing our blessings.
Oh, that meal looks yummy. Won’t you share that blessing to me? 🙂
Thank you Lux! We are blessings and God would love nothing more than for us to share with others. As for that meal, it would be so fun to sit at a table with you and share food and fellowship. Thanks for being here Lux!
Thanks for visiting my blog! I really liked this blog. You have not been the only one who has been writing about this. Something from God’s creation that I have been focusing on is my ever growing 22 month old who is turning two if you know what I mean ; ) But she is from God, uniquely turning into a little person made with a purpose. I want to find joy in this creation, this gift from God instead of fighting against it. He has a plan through this time. I want to trust in that. Thank you for reminding me of this again
You are welcome. I love meeting new people in the blogging community. I’m so glad you stopped by here to join me for this picture walk today. I pray you find many God moments where you discover the hidden beauty He has just for you. Blessings on the rest of your week.
***I’m sure your 22 month old is a delight and a gift to be treasured.
Mary,
Loved your photography and the beauty of God’s creative hand and His awe inspiring word in the world around us. This time of year, I love to study the different flowers – all the tiny little details God pours into the thousands of species. I watch the birds that come to my feeder and note the variances in their beautiful wings. There is always a picture waiting to be photographed by our mind’s eye to remind us of God’s bountiful blessings. Thanks for the reminder to stop, stand still, and take it in!
Blessings,
Bev
I imagine the time spent watching the birds at the bird feeder is well worth it. There is so much beauty to be captured and we just need to be intentional in allowing ourselves to be present and ready for all God has to share with us. Thank you for being here today. I pray the rest of your week is full of little moments pointing you to God’s amazing beauty.
Beautiful photos and I love the lessons and reflections you related to them, especially the one about hidden beauty. Being out in nature always helps me connect with God.
Nature has a way of drawing me in and drawing me close to our Father. I pray you find moments throughout the rest of your week that pull you in ever closer to our Heavenly father. Blessings!
So very beautiful and full of God’s powerful truths. Thank you for this encouragement. I’ve been on a fast from Facebook and Twitter and have discovered so much more joy and freedom in turning my heart away from the noise to seek after God’s face. Discovered how tight-fisted and unservant-like I became because of fear, insecurity and idol-worship…but I also experienced God’s gentle, kind pursuit of my heart back into freedom.
You are very inspiring my friend! I admire you for giving up social media. I imagine it has been very freeing and what a gift to give yourself the time to truly listen to God. I can sense how I am in a tug of war at times with God because of my fear and unwillingness to just let go and let God. You have given me much food for thought in your comment today Anna and for that I am very grateful. May we both embrace God’s truths and hold them close as what is truly important. Blessings!
I love this, Mary! Yes, God has hidden treasures of beauty everywhere. May we open our hearts to it more and more. I love the photos, too. As soon as I saw the tree one, I noticed how the branches were reaching upward and a longing came in my heart that I would always stretch my hands toward God. Nature can teach us so much. Blessings and hugs to you!
Nature is a beautiful teacher because God is in every detail. I love that we share this connection because when walking and capturing beauty I think of all the people I know who would love to see what I am seeing at that moment. I pray we are intentional in looking for God and His beauty throughout every part of our day. Thank you for blessing me by being here today.
Beautiful photos friend.
Thank you! I love being outside and I love taking pictures. I’m glad the weather has been cooperating the last few days.
I loved taking this walk with you this morning, friend! God has so many varied ways of blessings us! May our eyes forever be open to His love! Blessings on your day!
We would certainly have a wonderful time walking together, wouldn’t we? Thank you for stopping by and strolling with me today.
Beautiful pictures and questions to ponder! What spoke most to me today is the question on how I am to use my gifts without worldly initiatives getting in the way. I get in the way…
I pray we don’t let the world dictate what we should do and instead and let God show us how to use our gifts. It is too easy to get sucked into what everyone else is doing. I know I have been a victim of that before. Thank you for being here Lynn. Your visit always bless me. I am praying for you as you walk through a time of uncertainty. God’s got you!
A beautiful post, Mary, in both word and photos! It is amazing at how often we can notice God’s beauty as if it is the very first time. Each portion of beauty is truly a one of a kind masterpiece. I am even noticing this to be with sounds as I sit typing with the window open and loving the sound of the rain falling. Have a Tuesday filled with His beauty!
Thank you Joanne! I love spring time for the warmer temperatures, the feel of new beginnings and the beauty that surrounds us. I love how you pointed out that you find the beauty in the myriad of sounds that are outside your window. Being a visual person, I see things first and hear them second. As soon as I read your comment I noticed the birds chirping outside and on my walk today I heard the loudest bullfrog. I pray you have a beauty-filled week.
And this you said –>’why this scene and why now??’
What a question to pack up and take with me today. Thank you, Mary.
And food as a love language? Oh yeah …
;-}
Hope you are challenged throughout the rest of this week to view multiple scenes that have you pausing and asking why this scene and why now.
Yes, food is my love language especially when others make it for me! 🙂 Happy week!
Lovely post, Mary. This statement stood out to me as I was reading: “Stunning beauty! The kind that produces a gasp and a look of admiration is always present but rarely found. God places these hidden treasures everywhere. Being present draws us into God’s presence.” — Always present, but rarely found. So true. Thanks for the reminder this morning. ((xoxo))
So glad you joined me here for my picture walk. Taking photos and walking are two of my favorite things as well as sharing them with others. I imagine if we were more present and took the time to notice our surroundings, we would find more of that stunning beauty in our everyday. Blessings on the rest of your week.
I really enjoyed that walk! Now, take a walk with me:
Tucker (huge St. Bernard) and I were walking together on a cloudy day. The sun was there somewhere, warming things, but the sky in front of us was overcast.
But then, we turned around and while my back was turned the whole dome of the sky had been cleared by the gentle breeze that was at my back, and the sky was brilliant blue. Not a cloud. The spring green of rolling pasture and hedgerows against all that vividness STOPPED me in my tracks. I couldn’t move for a few seconds because I just needed to stop and be thankful for the beauty.
Blessings, Mary, on your day. I do enjoy fellowship with you through our blogs.
Thanks for walking with me and how fun to stroll with you and Tucker today. That is one beautiful description of God showing up big to say “I am here”. I love how beauty is unexpected and at times dramatic. God loves to show off. We need to be intentional at catching the glimpses of the times He does. Blessings!
Wow Mary what beautiful pictures of God’s glory and that servant heart. That meal looks yummy. Thanks for sharing God’s beauty with us.
You are welcome and thank you for blessing me by stopping by. The meal was yummy and each picture brings back a snapshot of God’s beauty in moments that I needed to see it more deeply. Blessings friend!