Lightkeeper's Journal

Jesus in the World

 

Jesus in the World

Photography by Norma Beaird
Poem by Curtis Beaird

He meets us in the silence of our soul,
The rancor of the world invades our spirit.

He speaks to us in a quiet voice of calling,
The seductive voice of the world spoils and destroys.

His mercy endures forever,
The will of the world is relentless and demanding.

His peace passes understanding,
The world thrives on chaos and fear.

He is an ever present help in time of trouble,
The world manipulates division and strife.

He always creates and cares,
The world drains and exhausts.

He renews our spirit,
The world attacks with a smile.

He waits patiently for an invitation,
The world abandons with delight.

Revelation 3:20

Behold, I stand at the door, and knock: if any man hear My voice,

and open the door, I will come in to him,

and will sup with him, and he with Me.

 

And the world falls silent.

 

 

Copyright 2022, Curtis and Norma Beaird.  All rights reserved. 

Rest

Photography and Thoughts by Norma Beaird

 

Rest...

I have always believed that peace and rest are greatly underrated. We live in a culture where we must constantly be "doing something". Even a vacation or weekend trip must be full of activities and movement from dawn to dusk.

 

Will the next generation ever learn from us

...that it's okay to rest and be quiet?

 

Sometimes, we just need to slow down and break from the endless cycle of being busy. I don't say this out of a judgmental spirit; but, it's no wonder that people cannot function without alcohol, anti-depressants, or a stop by the vape shop. And, if we don't rest, never stop moving, and continue to abuse our bodies, it will finally negatively affect our immune system. 

 

Many people live in constant stress and chaos. Their bodies and their minds never rest until they collapse into bed at night. Access to technology constantly stimulates our brain. Even God rested on the 7th day during Creation. We need to take a cue from the Lord. Sometimes, we need to say "No" to another busy assignment or politely decline an activity that will bring on more stress or dread.

 

This is not about shirking responsibility. It's about creating a lifestyle of peace and sanity. Constant non-stop busyness does not enrich our soul. Quiet walks, meditating on the Lord, and sitting in a chair by the river will bring peace, rest and tranquility to a weary spirit. Consequently, a rested soul, mind and body is more productive when productivity really matters.

 

Genesis 2:3

And God blessed the seventh day, and sanctified it: because that in it He had rested from all His work which God created and made.

 

Exodus 34:21

Six days thou shalt work, but on the seventh day thou shalt rest: in earing time and in harvest thou shalt rest.

 

Mark 6:31

And He said unto them, Come ye yourselves apart into a desert place, and rest a while: for there were many coming and going, and they had no leisure so much as to eat.

 

 

All scriptures are King James Version.

 

 

Copyright 2022, Curtis and Norma Beaird.  All rights reserved. 

God's Way is Always Better

Beautiful cotton clouds over rural Georgia

 

Photography by Curtis and Norma Beaird

Article by Norma Beaird

 

Isaiah 55:8-9

For My thoughts are not your thoughts,

neither are your ways My ways, saith the Lord.

For as the heavens are higher than the earth,

so are My ways higher than your ways,

and My thoughts than your thoughts.

 

Before I looked on the front page of our blog today to see the daily scripture that was posted in the sidebar, I had already planned to use Curtis' cloud picture for this article.  I didn't expect to see another cloud picture attached to Isaiah 55:8 on the daily scripture, but I realized again, that God is in control and that it was the scripture that the Lord wanted me to use for today's blog post.  God is always one step ahead of us.  To be honest, He's usually ten or twenty steps ahead of us.  And for that, I am very grateful.  Here is the Bible Verse that was posted on 7/20/2017 (it changes everyday): 

I'm thankful that we serve a Heavenly Father whose thoughts and ways are higher than ours.  Sometimes, in our carnal human life, we can set the bar rather low.  We expect less for ourselves than God expects.  We can get to a point in our lives, especially as we get older, where we think that good things aren't in store for us anymore.  Because life has dealt us some tiresome blows, we find ourselves driving into an emotional ditch.  We reach for mediocrity and God wants nothing less than the best for our lives.  However, we may find it difficult to believe that God wants the best for us when we're in a frustrating situation, or we're physically sick, or emotionally drained.  We wonder where the Lord is when we're fighting evil, struggling on the job or dealing with financial worries.  We pray and it seems that the answer never arrives.  Still, God is always in control.  

.....His ways are higher than our ways.  

Aloe Vera Plants 

Just like these Aloe Vera plants have taken root and are growing, God wants us "take root" and grow spiritually.  One way that we grow in our Christian walk is the practice of faith.  Sometimes the skies look dark and gloomy and sometimes it seems that the answer will never come, but we must believe that our blue sky will soon show up.  We must live a life of spiritual expectancy, always expecting God's best for our life.

#FAITH

We must learn to trust God in the storms of life. 

Faith is not easy, but it's absolutely necessary to the Christian walk.  If we never learn to trust in God, then we will never find peace, no matter the situation.  Trusting God means that we get up every morning and thank God that we woke up today and then thank Him for His many blessings.  We pray unto the Lord and ask Him to guide our thoughts, our work, our steps and our words.  We ask the Lord to give us wisdom and discernment.  We pray for His divine protection.  We ask Him for healing and help in every trying matter.  We ask him to deliver us from the hand of the enemy.  ....and then we trust Him.  We trust Him completely.  Is it easy? Of course, it's not easy.  But, it's necessary.  If we want peace, we must have faith and trust in the Lord.

College Baptist Church - Mount Vernon, Georgia

The picture above of the church surrounded by the beautiful blue sky is a perfect way to explain "God's ways".  When we have faith and trust in God, we can know that no matter the storm, no matter how much rain is falling down, that a blue sky is just around the corner.  This is how it feels to trust God.  You don't "spiritually" see the dark, gloomy skies.  You "spiritually" see the sky of blue.  It's called faith.  Faith and trust.  

Hebrews 11:1

Now faith is the substance of things hoped for, the evidence of things not seen.

Every single day that we wake up is another opportunity to strengthen our faith and deepen our trust.  The Lord knows that living in this sinful, selfish world is not easy.  He already knows and understands the challenges that we face every minute of every day.  But, His promises are true.  His ways are perfect.  And, He loves us more than anyone could ever love us.  As our Father, He is watching us when we think that He's nowhere around.  You may think that He's a million miles away; and, in reality, He's standing next to you, helping you every step of the way......if you will trust Him and allow Him to help you.  The choice is ours.  We can allow God to help us or we can push Him away with doubt and unbelief.  God loves us enough to not force us to choose His best for us.  We're neither puppets nor robots.  We do have a choice.  However, life will teach us that faith and trust helps to solve our problems, not doubt and unbelief.  

Please don't let another minute go by without turning your life or your circumstance over to God in prayer.   

The Lord is just as close as the next prayer that you pray.  

God's way is always better.

 

Psalm 13:6

I will sing unto the Lord, because He hath dealt bountifully with me.

 

 

 

Copyright 2017, Curtis and Norma Beaird.  All rights reserved.  

 

Thriving in the Midst of Chaos

 

A rather frightening storm cloud just minutes before a rainstorm in Statesboro, Georgia...

 

Photography and Article by Curtis Beaird

 

A shrill voice, always loud, always assaulting, can tear away at the fabric of our soul. Shouting has become the order of the day. From the news media to politicians, the soft answer that turns away wrath is a voice seldom heard. Instead, harsh words that stir up anger are everywhere, read and heard.

Insults abound. Accusations fly freely. Barbed speech that “tells it like it is” is welcomed and applauded. The more absurd the attacks, the better we like it.

We are an angry people betrayed by the idols of our day.

Bring out the wrecking ball, we are mad.

But, there is a price we pay for indulging our rage. A soul-numbing withdrawal that leads us into our version of anger and calculated retaliation, even if the urge to slap back is never acted out. We seethe in silence.

The most serious loss, especially to a believer, is the knowledge and awareness of what the Apostle Paul called a “good work” begun by God in us. Paul put it this way to his Philippian friends, "Being confident of this very thing, that He which hath begun a good work in you will perform it until the day of Jesus Christ..." Philippians 1:6

If we allow ourselves to follow the ways of a world bent on retaliation and aggression, we risk forgetting to attend to the “good work" that the spirit of God began in us. Anger, rage and wrath silences the Spirit of God. Our own frustration, aggravation and irritation can overwhelm the knowledge of the good that God has placed in us. The world is seductive. It gleefully and gladly leads us away from the highest and best work that God has for us to do.

Basically, God has a habit of speaking to us in the same way He spoke to Elijah “in a still small voice”. Allowing ourselves to be overwhelmed by the blaring sounds of constant conflict, both within our spirit and from the colliding worlds outside of us, can insulate us from God’s longing to perform the work He began in us.

While there is no escaping the conflict that rages about us; nor should we want to, we do have the choice of focus. We do have the choice of the voice we listen to. We do have the capacity to determine our response. It is not a matter of avoiding the fray, it is a matter of following Paul’s example; and in generosity, speaking the truth into the darkness generated by a noisy world that knows only how to consume.

The Knox Bible translates the “good work in us” as a God-inspired generosity. Paying attention to the good that God seeks to develop in us, we are free to live the Gospel of Jesus Christ in a world that knows only wars and rumors of wars until Christ’s return.

 

 

 

Copyright 2015, Curtis and Norma Beaird. All rights reserved. 

 

Finding Wonder in the Midst of Chaos

 

The Yellow-bellied Sapsucker has become a regular winter visitor at Le Avian Cafe. 

 

Photography by Curtis and Norma Beaird

Article by Norma Beaird

 

As we continue our "Finding Wonder" series, I want to talk about finding wonder in the midst of chaos.   In the world we live in today, a world of confusion, chaos and calamity, we sometimes find ourselves waking up each morning with what seems to be a dark cloud over our head.  Instead of waking up to hope, faith and a new outlook on life, we find that the messages of hope and faith are replaced with messages of doom and gloom.  This is especially true if you get a steady diet of television news and online newspapers.   And, it's even more true if you are constantly watching the election coverage.  

Wisdom has been replaced with foolishness.

Politicians, scandals, tragedies, shootings, drug trafficking and all manner of crimes cover the airwaves like green pollen covers the front porch.  Everywhere you turn is bad news.  Consequently, it is not inaccurate to say that there is a spiritual dark cloud over this country and over our towns and communities.  Somewhere along the way, something happened, and it wasn't good.  

Morality was replaced with hedonism. 

One thing lead to another, and here we are.... 

Neighbors aren't neighbors anymore.  Generosity of spirit has been replaced with selfish motives.  Crime is running rampant, even in the quiet rural communities.  The workplace has become a place of fear and dread. A classroom has become a place where people are forced to defend themselves.  Drug trafficking has become the new income stream.  Churches have become more concerned with money and power than they are with souls.  A country that once took its identity in the comfort and peace of freedom is turning into an overbearing police state.  

Moderation was replaced with indulgence; and now,

optimism has been replaced with anger.

.....but thankfully, we have the birds.....

Rocky, the Yellow-bellied Sapsucker, is looking for Chef Curtis' famous Peanut Butter Tree Spread.  

 

Thank God for the birds.  When it seems that chaos and pandemonium is breaking loose around you and that dream of peace and quiet is relegated to days gone by, we can look outside of our circumstances and listen to the melodious sounds of bird song.  We can see the woodpeckers pecking away on the old pecan tree and drumming on the barn to attract their mate.  Even though chaos reigns supreme, the birds continue to behave as birds - singing, pecking, mating, nesting and feeding their young.  If the environment becomes hostile and threatens their sanctuary, they move on to greener pastures and continue doing what God created them to do.  Even though conditions change around them, they take cover and continue to behave as birds.  

Sometimes, we need to take a lesson from our feathered friends.  After all, God's beautiful winged creatures can teach us a lot about life.  No matter what, birds continue to build their nest, feed their family; and, most importantly, they continue to spread their wings and fly.  If they detect danger or a predator, they instantly respond to the threat and move to a place of safety.  They are always singing or chirping or calling, but they are always aware.  They don't give up who they are as God's winged wonders, but they live life with both efficiency and awareness.   They keep on.....keeping on.   In other words, they don't give up.  

We can find wonder in the beauty of birds, a wonder that replaces the anxiety of a world in chaos.  

 

No one will ever accuse the mainstream media of providing us with a feeling of peace and safety.  However, God has provided us with a way to calm our fears and ease our pain.  Life is not easy.  Sometimes, it's just overwhelmingly difficult.  Still, we can find solace in the words of the Bible and in the fact that no matter what happens, God is still in control.  When we walk outside and see the birds in flight and hear the calls of the wild, we are reminded that the Creator of all things bright and beautiful will protect us and give us peace, if we will slow down and allow Him to bring tranquility into a world of chaos.  

 

John 16:33 

These things I have spoken unto you,

that in Me ye might have peace.

In the world ye shall have tribulation:

but be of good cheer; I have overcome the world.

 

Philippians 4:7

And the peace of God, which passeth all understanding,

shall keep your hearts and minds through Christ Jesus.

 

I Peter 3:11

Let him eschew evil, and do good;

let him seek peace, and ensue it.

 

 

 

Copyright 2016, Curtis and Norma Beaird.  All rights reserved.