The Master Artist’s Gallery

Always Open – The Master Artist’s Gallery

The Master Artist's Gallery is always open

A few days ago, I woke up, opened the shades, and saw this breathtaking sunrise right outside my window.

I couldn’t help it – I immediately went outside to take a picture in my pajamas, no less!

It’s okay, we have nice neighbors. 🙂

The sunrise was too beautiful to pass up and just go on with my day without thanking God for it.

I will never stop delighting in God and the gifts He has given to our world, including this stunning sunrise.

The Master Artist’s gallery is always open and free to the public.

No waiting in line

No restrictions

All ages welcome

Praise God!

The Master Artist’s Gallery

Someday the “Light of the world” will illuminate us and there will be no need for a sun.

Can you imagine what we will see then?

All of this from God’s loving hand.

God gave us the sun, never to worship but, among other things, allow us to “see” His magnificent creation!

God's gallery of creation

Anyone who has visited my blog for any length of time will know that I sometimes share poetry from other writers.

Louis Gander is one of my favorites.  He is so talented that I’m going to share another one of his poems.

Enjoy!


His Painting

Alone, the sun rises
over people unknown.
Although they ignore it,
its sunlight is thrown,
over the river and
through the faint fog,
like lone little flowers
on top a dead log,
growing so freely,
so gentle, so bright –
as God’s great creation
is seen from His light.

Some hovering noises
seem somewhat bizarre,
trespassing nature
from places afar –
while God, the Great Artist
keeps painting His way –
another day passes
just like yesterday.
A bright colored sunset
surrounds a lone loon.
Reflected on water,
His bright crescent moon.

Now stars hold God’s canvas
while brush strokes so grand,
paint wide vivid colors
with love’s perfect hand.
And God – although we

cannot even imagine –
prepares us a place, in
His painting called ‘Heaven’.
So things we see here
will seem dreary and gray,
compared to the next one
that’ll blow us away!

©2011 louis gander, ALL RIGHTS RESERVED

John 14:2
In my Father’s house are many mansions:
if it were not so, I would have told you.
I go to prepare a place for you.

——-

On a personal note: I was in touch with Louis recently.  He’s had some health issues and would really appreciate your prayers.

His gift of writing is a blessing to the world.

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Flag Day 2021

Flag Day 2021

Flag Day 2021

Today, we as a nation are celebrating Flag Day 2021!

All across the United States, patriotic families are celebrating this special day in our history when the Stars and Stripes became our national flag by official proclamation.

Freedom and the American spirit – that’s the America I grew up in and will continue to remember and honor.

Sadly, the vitriol towards our great country has gotten a lot of press and national attention over the years.

In the long run, it doesn’t matter.

How could we expect anything else from those who hate our country?

No, this Flag Day will be celebrated because there are those of us here in America who won’t forget the importance of this national symbol of freedom and love of country.

Land Of The Free And Home Of The Brave

We are one nation under God.

Just the other day I found this beautiful tribute to our flag.

Here is “Freedom Song” performed by the United States Air Force Band.  

Enjoy!

Happy Flag Day 2021!

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Get Back To Church

You Are Invited To Get Back To Church!

Get back to church

What time is it?

It’s time to get back to church!

Don’t let the temptations of convenience and live streaming keep you from going back to church and worshipping with your fellow brothers and sisters in Christ.

It’s so important.

In other words, if your church is open, you’re not homebound or ill, or have another valid reason for staying at home, God desires us to be back in church.

This isn’t a legalistic “you can only worship in church” kind of thing.

We all know it isn’t about the “where.”

In fact, you can pray anywhere, in a field of wildflowers if you want, and God will hear you.

But, God wants us to be together.

If you’re healthy and can get to the grocery store or to a kid’s soccer game for instance, you can get back to church.

In the book of Hebrews, it speaks of a time of great discouragement among God’s people. (Much like today.) 

Let us not forsake the assembling of ourselves together, as is the manner of some, but let us exhort one another, especially as you see the Day approaching. – Hebrews 10:25, (MEV).1

Why is Going to Church So Important?

With good intent, let me reiterate that this post is directed to those who are perfectly healthy, but have gotten into a habit of staying home.

Going back to church as healthy people means we desire to obey God, to hear His Word, to receive the blessing of being together, show love to each other in person, and encourage one another.

It means we look forward to receiving the Lord’s Supper and praying together as a church body to our Lord of Lords, and King of Kings.

Separation is a Device of the Evil One

Wise words from Charles Spurgeon here . . .

Satan always hates Christian fellowship; it is his policy to keep Christians apart. Anything which can divide saints from one another he delights in. He attaches far more importance to godly intercourse than we do. Since union is strength, he does his best to promote separation. – Charles Spurgeon, pastor and author.2

With a biblical perspective, observe what is happening around us.

Did you know that, in some states, there are still some churches on lockdown? Those worshipers aren’t being allowed to go to church even if they wanted to.

That is persecution, folks. I’m talking about the politicians who don’t consider churches “essential.”

But hey, those liquor stores better be open. 

Thank the Lord that we are finally seeing some progress against this injustice. I applaud any church that takes a stand to open its doors.

Easy Doesn’t Mean Better

For countless years, we in America have had the blessing of being able to go to church in person.

Unfortunately, new technology has made it way too easy to do “pajama-church,” even with most churches open.

easy doesn't mean better

Isn’t technology great?

Watch the service in your pajamas!

Now you can check “church” off your to-do list.

“At least it’s something.”

Yes, at least it’s something.

Mind you, that person could actually physically go, but the lure of staying in the comfort of one’s home is too great. Besides, the teenagers will want to sleep in.

Since when do parents let the kids decide? Be a parent.

How many of us have been in that situation where the alarm clock rings early on a Sunday morning, you’re dog tired and you just don’t feel like going?

When I get that temptation myself (it happens) – I try to remind myself of Jesus on the cross, picture the innocent Lamb of God dying a torturous death for our sins. The actual torture that He endured we can’t even imagine, only a glimpse from the horrific details we read about.

salvation through Jesus Christ

Tortured, forced to walk with a heavy cross, nailed and stabbed in His side. 

I think about this and then I get myself out of bed, go, serve, and praise God at church with my fellow believers.

I urge you to find a theologically correct, Bible-based church, attend the services, and please take your kids.

If you and your church don’t teach them about salvation through Jesus Christ, the secular, entertainment and public academia world will eat them alive with evil influences.

We’re seeing the results of that every day in the headlines.

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1 Scripture quotation is from the Modern English Version (MEV), The Holy Bible, Modern English Version. Copyright © 2014 by Military Bible Association. Published and distributed by Charisma House.

2Charles Spurgeon quotation, influential Christian pastor and author, courtesy of AZquotes.com.

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Memorial Day 2021

Memorial Day 2021 – Remembering Our Fallen

Memorial Day 2021

Can you believe Memorial Day 2021 is already here?

Grocery stores are crowded.

Customers are combing the aisles for something to grill and also keeping an eye on the weather report.

But there’s only one real reason for this holiday and it’s not about the cookout.

It’s about taking the time to remember our brave men and women who lost their lives while defending our country.

We must never forget.

Parents – please teach your kids to respect and remember this day as well!

My heart aches and tears fall when I see disrespect towards the brave heroes who sacrificed everything for our freedom.

Please remember the families of the fallen in your prayers on this special day.

This video, among countless others on the internet, speaks volumes. There’s not much more to say.

“Thank You” doesn’t seem enough.

 

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God’s Glory Not Ours

God’s Glory Not Ours – Our Lives Have Meaning

Hey Beautiful!

Don’t look around, I’m talking to you!

So you may not have the superficial good looks that Hollywood celebrates, but you do have something much, much more.

Deep inside.

A beauty more real and authentic.

God's glory not ours

You should look in that mirror, child of God, and remember that God thought enough of you to share you with the world!

I would rather be what God chose to make me than the most glorious creature that I could think of; for to have been thought about, born in Gods thought, and then made by God, is the dearest, grandest, and most precious thing in all thinking.” –  George Macdonald, christian theologian.1

We are here to know Him and bring Him the glory.

God’s glory not ours.

The blessings of that very real relationship are joyful and eternal.

Extraordinary Things for God’s Glory Not Ours

We know from the Bible that God often chose the most ordinary people to do great things in history.

Moses had no confidence in his speaking ability.

The apostle Paul had a mysterious thorn in the flesh to restrain any ounce of pride that might surface as he shared the gospel message

Those are just two historical examples of God’s people who overcame circumstances in their lives to bring God the glory.

When you turned your life over to Christ, you became a beautiful new creation.

Your soul is valuable to God, and don’t let anyone who hates Christianity tell you otherwise.

In Ephesians, the Apostle Paul assures us that all of God’s people have access to God’s immeasurable love and grace. Our salvation is nothing we can do on our own.

We deserve eternal death, but are saved by His grace, through our faith.

One body of believers holding to the absolute truth of the one true God.

19So then you are no longer strangers and foreigners, but you are fellow citizens with the saints, and are of God’s household, 20having been built on the foundation of the apostles and prophets, Christ Jesus Himself being the cornerstone, 21in whom the whole building, being fitted together, is growing into a holy temple in the Lord, 22in whom you also are being built together into a dwelling of God in the Spirit. – Ephesians 2:19-22, (NASB). 

Look to the Cross

Look to the cross – that’s how valuable you are to Him.

There’s nothing more beautiful than that – the One who gave us the promise of eternal life would make the ultimate sacrifice to save us from dying unredeemed in our own sins.

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1 George MacDonald (CS Lewis mentor) quotation, courtesy of and as quoted from Christian quotes.info

2 Scripture quotation is from the New American Standard Bible (NASB) Copyright © 1960, 1962, 1963, 1968, 1971, 1972, 1973, 1975, 1977, 1995 by The Lockman Foundation.

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