Monday, January 26, 2009

Anniversary Adventure Part III

This is the final edition of the anniversary adventure. I enjoyed taking these shots of the mountains and the valleys. DC gave me the ultimate compliment - I got better shots than he did! Wow. But as I looked at them, I just kept thinking of how much scripture says about mountains and valleys. So enjoy and be blessed.

Job 9:1


The Message

Job continued by saying: "So what's new? I know all this. The question is, 'How can mere mortals get right with God?' If we wanted to bring our case before him, what chance would we have? Not one in a thousand! God's wisdom is so deep, God's power so immense, who could take him on and come out in one piece? He moves mountains before they know what's happened, flips them on their heads on a whim. He gives the earth a good shaking up, rocks it down to its very foundations. He tells the sun, 'Don't shine,' and it doesn't; he pulls the blinds on the stars. All by himself he stretches out the heavens and strides on the waves of the sea. He designed the Big Dipper and Orion, the Pleiades and Alpha Centauri. We'll never comprehend all the great things he does; his miracle-surprises can't be counted.


Psalm 90:2

New International Version

Before the mountains were born
or you brought forth the earth and the world,
from everlasting to everlasting you are God.

Amos 4:13

New International Version

He who forms the mountains, creates the wind, and reveals his thoughts to man, he who turns dawn to darkness, and treads the high places of the earth— the LORD God Almighty is his name.



The Message

I look up to the mountains; does my strength come from mountains? No, my strength comes from God, who made heaven, and earth, and mountains.


Psalm 104:1

The Message


O my soul, bless God! God, my God, how great you are! beautifully, gloriously robed, Dressed up in sunshine, and all heaven stretched out for your tent. You built your palace on the ocean deeps, made a chariot out of clouds and took off on wind-wings. You commandeered winds as messengers, appointed fire and flame as ambassadors. You set earth on a firm foundation so that nothing can shake it, ever. You blanketed earth with ocean, covered the mountains with deep waters; Then you roared and the water ran away— your thunder crash put it to flight. Mountains pushed up, valleys spread out in the places you assigned them.






Luke 3:5

New International Version

Every valley shall be filled in, every mountain and hill made low. The crooked roads shall become straight, the rough ways smooth.




Psalm 76:4

New International Version

You are resplendent with light, more majestic than mountains rich with game.



Psalm 65:5-7

New International Version

You answer us with awesome deeds of righteousness,
O God our Savior,
the hope of all the ends of the earth
and of the farthest seas,

Who formed the mountains by your power,
having armed yourself with strength.




Psalm 36:6

New International Version

Your righteousness is like the mighty mountains, your justice like the great deep. O LORD, you preserve both man and beast.


New International Version

Sing to God, sing praise to his name, extol him who rides on the clouds — his name is the LORD— and rejoice before him.



Psalm 84:5-7

The Message

And how blessed all those in whom you live,
whose lives become roads you travel;
They wind through lonesome valleys, come upon brooks,
discover cool springs and pools brimming with rain!
God-traveled, these roads curve up the mountain, and
at the last turn—Zion! God in full view!

Isaiah 40:4

New International Version

Every valley shall be raised up, every mountain and hill made low; the rough ground shall become level, the rugged places a plain.


Lord, You know that I’ve been foolish, I’ve been blind;
I’ve let my doubts and my confusions cloud my mind.
I have walked in my own wisdom; I’ve been wrong
Take my hand and lead me back where I belong

Chorus:
Restore my soul in the valley, that I might be worthy
at last to stand with Thee on the top of the mountain;
In the valley, restore my soul.

Stripped of all that once I clung to, Lord, I come
Tho’ in your eyes I know I’m nothing, yet I come
With your hand that once was nail-scarred just for me,
Touch me now and make me all that I should be.

Chorus:
Restore my soul in the valley, that I might be worthy
at last to stand with Thee on the top of the mountain;
In the valley, restore my soul.

(Lyrics by the Booth Brothers)

23 comments:

Sam said...

Dawn,
These pictures are incredible and it's just lovely how you interspersed them with appropriate scripture. Beautifully done!

Unknown said...

I love seeing the mountains when we go to Utah to visit Matt's family. These pictures are gorgeous! We are so blessed with the beauty of nature that is around us.

Mary said...

Dawn,

Absolutely gorgeous photos. I love the mountains and feel closer to God. How can anyone see mountains and not believe in His power?

Enjoyed the scripture as well. Great job and a lovely holiday.

Blessings,
Mary

Sue Seibert said...

Oh, Dawn, your photos are gorgeous!! Hope you're entering some contests.

Jess said...

Gorgeous photos...and wonderful post.

Our church is usually packed on holidays...and I think there might be 150 there. Then regular Sundays we run below 100 and Sunday nights are 50 and then wednesday nights are more in the 30 range...you know how it is! LOL

Have a wonderful week... such beautiful pictures!

Love, Jess

Diane@Diane's Place said...

Well, Jessica's a little off on her numbers for Sunday morning church attendance. It's more like 125 for a usual Sunday morning and up to 150-175 for holidays and special occasions. The rest of the numbers are pretty accurate.

Glorious photos, and it had to have been even more beautiful to see in person. You did a great job matching scriptures to the photos.

Hope you're doing better with your situation. I'm still praying for you, my friend.

Love and hugs,

Diane

Hootin Anni said...

Dawn, the photos of the peaks behind the clouds? STUPENDOUS!!!!

And such fitting passages to go with them.

Thanks for such a wonderful comment you left me today! Always love having you visit with me! Happy Tuesday.

Mimi said...

absolutely awesome pictures...and so perfect with the scripture verses...
thank you for taking the time to work up this post...
it blessed me a great deal!!!

Susan said...

Beautiful shots of our beautiful world!!!
Susan

nancygrayce said...

Beautiful! That was so powerful seeing the mountains and reading the scriptures. Our God is an awesome God!

Nancy said...

Great pictures Dawn and I love the scripture that you picked for each one... great post!

groovyoldlady said...

Mountains always seem to remind me of God's extravagance and creativity and power. Those pics are beautiful and the Scriptures are real!

Tammy said...

Dawn, I don't even have words for the beauty of these photos...God's creation is so awesome in the truest meaning of the word. And the scriptures you used are some of my very favorites...
Thank you for sharing this! It ministered to me tonight!

And please pray for my mom...she didn't have the surgery yet after all because she found out she has a degenerate eye condition. I'll be posting about it soon, but my heart is feeling heavy tonight and I knew I could ask you to pray...thanks, dear friend!

A Hint of Home said...

Gorgeous scenery. I love all the scriptures you posted with them.

Sharon Lynne said...

It looks pretty cold! And stunningly beautiful. It's interesting to read "The Message". I don't have a copy. Real modern day English!...and very appropriate for your photos.

Linds said...

I love mountains, but you know that! Beautiful, Dawn. The words and the photos.

Susie said...

Your photos are breathtaking Dawn. You really made this post meaningful with your scriptures too.
xo

Robin said...

So beautiful Dawn - what wonderful scriptures.

My kids will be in Ariquippa (sp?) but will be required to do quite a bit of traveling through the whole country. They will be in the mountains and the jungles quite a bit of the time. They won't even have their own place to live until November - they will be dependent on others. I wish I could say I was the model parent of a missionary and that I totally support what they are doing. I'm selfish I guess - letting them go is so very hard for me. They leave in less than three weeks now. I can't even imagine how hard that day is going to be. God is taking me to stretching places I never imagined before on this situation.

nannykim said...

Awe inspiring photos!! The remind me of the mountians around the Seattle area---I love the way God delights to "show Off" his creativity!!

Christa said...

Beautiful, amazing pictures and great verses. How are the girls doing?

Sue Seibert said...

They are all beautiful. You could do a book with the scriptures and the photo illo! My favorite of these is the Isiah 40:4.

How are the babies now??

jls said...

Wow. I'm homesick. Beautiful.

Carole Burant said...

Oh wow, Dawn, those pictures are absolutely breathtaking! I've always found mountains so majestic especially if they have snow on their tops. Loved reading the psalms as well. xoxo