Lightkeeper's Journal

The Outdoor Art Gallery

 

 

Article By Norma Beaird

Photography by Curtis Beaird

 

If you enjoy beautiful paintings or intriguing photography, it is inspiring to go to a lovely art gallery or museum. You can quietly walk through and be mesmerized by the amazing oil paintings and captivating photos. However, there is another art gallery that is always open, day or night.

It is simply called "The Outdoor Art Gallery", owned by Creator of the Universe and Genesis One Productions. God's Outdoor Art Gallery is ever-changing; and, unlike other galleries and museums, each day offers spectacular new artwork on a universal canvas. Each morning, He creates and paints a new and exciting visual to inspire creativity in all of us. There is never an admission charge to view His gallery and you are never asked to leave.

If you prefer a nighttime viewing of His creations, He offers a mesmerizing experience of the moon and stars. He invites you to the "Night-owl Extravaganza" where those who prefer an evening showing can enjoy an astronomical encounter. You may need a jacket and hat, and the cool air may chill you to the bone, but the beauty of God's lunar wonder will warm your heart.

So, do not worry if you do not see the Mona Lisa or the works of Leonardo da Vinci in your future travels. The most glorious Artist of all will be showing His work each and every day. Come rain or shine, summer or winter, His canvas will change before your eyes; and, in minutes, and sometimes seconds, you will view a majestic new work of art. No matter where you live or travel.....there He will be.

Psalm 19:1-2 KJV

"The heavens declare the glory of God; and the firmament sheweth His handywork.
Day unto day uttereth speech, and night unto night sheweth knowledge."

 

 

Copyright 2020, Curtis and Norma Beaird.  All rights reserved.  

Let us Pray

 

Prayer by Curtis Beaird

Photography by Norma Beaird

 

Father, we come before You, this Your day, with thanksgiving and praise. We bow before You with joy and gladness, that we might look away from the tangled and sad mess that is our world, and find Your holy face and celebrate your grace in Jesus Christ.  

We come not to escape the world,

but to confess our need for Your everlasting truth and Your never-ending mercy. 

Father, our vision fails. We are overcome with confusion, fear and anger.  We have lost our way.  We live among a people who have lost their way. 

We pray, oh Lord, that time has not ended, that Your created order is not too broken to mend.  We seek Your healing, Oh Lord. 

We turn away today from the half-truths, manipulations, political charade and unseemly power plays to confess our over-reliance on men and women who can’t find their way in the dark. 

We ask, Oh Lord, that You allow us to hear again, Jesus’ words from the cross, “Forgive them for they know not what they do.” 

Father, Your world stumbles, relying on itself, guessing at the future, while posing as powerful.   

Father, we look to You, not to avoid the world; but, that in these last days, You will pour out Your spirit upon us afresh. 

We look to You in hopes that we may silence the self long enough, that Your Holy Spirit might move us away from our self-seeking and selfish ways. 

That we might find the courage to bring Your light to the dark world, 

that we might find the heart to share Your truth in a world, lost in the same tired ways of greed and fear that has alway been. 

We pray, oh Lord, that You will open our eyes that we might see; and, in seeing, celebrate the joy and gladness that comes from trust in You. 

Father, this day, Your day, we praise Your Holy Name with grateful hearts. 

And now, Oh Lord, because of Your love and grace, we turn strong to meet another day in our broken world, glad that we are Your people who are privileged to serve Your Holy Name. 

For we know Father, that You are good, that Your mercy is everlasting; and, Your truth endures to all generations. 

 

Amen and Amen

 

Grace and peace

 

 

Copyright 2020, Curtis and Norma Beaird.  All rights reserved.  

A Spring Evening Waxing Crescent Moon

 

A Waxing Crescent Moon at 8% illumination on Saturday, April 25, 2020

 

Photography by Curtis Beaird

 

Last night, when we arrived home, we saw the most beautiful Waxing Crescent Moon. Curtis went inside and grabbed the camera, and this is the result. You can see the Waxing Crescent Moon hovering over the pecan trees at 8% illumination. The round silhouette of the moon is called earthshine. The dim glow of earthshine happens when the sun's light reflects off of the earth's surface and back onto the moon.

 

 

Copyright 2020, Curtis and Norma Beaird.  All rights reserved.  

What Will See us Through?

 

Article by Curtis Beaird 

Photography by Norma Beaird

 

We know at first light, God has given us another day, win, lose or draw. The day that the Lord has made has arrived. And, right before our eyes,  “Life, liberty and the pursuit of happiness” opens before us.

We pray. Read our Bible. Drink coffee. Then it happens. 

We turn on an electronic device.  In the blink of an eye, the tedium of the ever-present chaos greets us.  The world rushes in, claiming that there is never enough; and, if there was enough, it wouldn’t be right.

Things must change, but stay the same. The promise is a lie and it is “their” fault.  Turn the volume down, and even mute the sound, but you know the voice of demand continues to grate on your nerves, even if all you see is a plastic smile with moving lips. 

What will see us through?

 

We know that determination, strength of will, and fortitude can move us forward.

They have before, and will again. 

We know that patience is an asset; as in, “This too shall pass.”  

We know that hope is a necessity and faith is a gift. 

 

But, what will see us through?  Of everything that we try, and the last thing we expect to hear, Paul says — “the greatest is love.” 

“Love bears all things, believes all things, hopes all things, endures all things. Love never ends. “ 

I Corinthians 13

 

Grace and peace

 

Copyright 2020, Curtis and Norma Beaird.  All rights reserved.