Our big vacation this summer wasn't our usual backpack into the Rockies, but a family trip to visit Nathan and Kameryn and the cousins in Pine Haven. We just hung out the first couple days and the kids got to play their Playstation VR, then we went for some fun in Rapid City to a water park and Reptile Gardens. We did do a couple photography outings a couple of evenings. KD and I spent an evening at Devil's Tower to shoot the sunset and some night sky photos. She was super patient waiting for dark to come that night waiting for the milky way to show. Another night we were able to get out to Badlands National Park, which I didn't even know exhisted until we were up there in the hotel and looking at some pamphlets. I'm glad we checked that one out. It was such a hidden gem out in the middle of nowhere!
Cami and I drove to the trailhead at Mayflower Gulch in the Tenmile Range this week with the intention of camping and hiking Atlantic and Pacific peaks the following day, but it ended up raining all morning Tuesday. There were, however brief periods on Monday afternoon and night where the clouds broke and gave us some good views:
There's something about starry skies that can bring about a sense of awe and inspiration for me. The same goes for mountains. The infinite space and giant rock forms make us seem small...or make God seem big.
This acrylic painting was taken from multiple images of midnight photo shoots of the Milky Way and predawn images of the Grand Teton Mountain Range from northwestern Wyoming. In my opinion, the Tetons from near Jackson Hole are the most majestic and jagged peaks in the lower 48 states. I've wanted to paint them for a while, but have been focusing on summer trips and photography. A couple of rainy days in the mountains have kept us home giving me the opportunity to paint.
This time-lapse video is approximately 6 hours of painting time condensed into about 4 minutes:
"If you can hold the stars in place
You can hold my heart the same
Whenever I fall away
Whenever I start to break
If you can calm the raging sea
You can calm the storm in me
You're never too far away
You never show up too late
So here I am, lifting up my heart
To the one who holds the stars"
- Skillet
There is so much uncertainty in this world. A lot of people are worried about so many different issues. The sky is falling! That's what we hear every day in one form or another. From terrorist attacks to Ebola to which presidential candidate is going to ruin our nation, we live with a constant barrage of voices that encourage fear and doubt. We all want to control what happens in our lives. We all want things to go according to our plans. Here's a secret: We have a lot less control than we think.
"Joy is the settled assurance that God is in control."
One of our recent Bible studies has centered around joy. There is a common misconception that joy is synonymous with happiness.
The happy person has more joy.
There is actually more evidence in scripture that shows the very opposite of this statement. Some of the most joyful people are also the ones in seemingly the worst situations. Happiness is dependent on circumstances. Circumstances are constantly changing for all of us. Joy, on the other hand, is dependent on the only thing in existence that doesn't change.
For many of us, it's not until we lose control of those things that we think are so important that we are able to see and trust in the Lord's power. He said, "My power is made perfect in weakness." When we decide to put our faith in Him, we have to give up that control. We have to admit that He is the one who causes things to happen. He is the one who controls the circumstances in our lives weather they are the circumstances we want or not. He knows what's best. Yet, there is peace in this because we know that God is a good God. He defines Himself as "Love". He promises us so many good things! At the top of the list is eternal life with Him if we love and follow Him. Once we let go of our doubts and fears and trust in the powerful God who "sets the stars in place," we gain peace and joy which no circumstance can take away. It makes us invincible.
The next time you start to believe the chaos you see with your eyes around you, look at the Lord who is unseen. He will help us see our problems for what they really are - insignificant.
"God is our refuge and strength, an ever-present help in trouble.
Therefore we will not fear, though the earth give way and the mountains fall into the heart of the sea,
though its waters roar and foam and the mountains quake with their surging.
There is a river whose streams make glad the city of God, the holy place where the Most High dwells.
God is within her, she will not fall; God will help her at break of day.
Nations are in uproar, kingdoms fall; he lifts his voice, the earth melts.
The Lord Almighty is with us; the God of Jacob is our fortress."
