The Earth is the Lord's!

Many around the world call this day Earth Day. It is a day they celebrate the earth. It's okay to celebrate what God has made, but it's far more important to celebrate God! And we should worship only God. How sad to stop short and worship the creation instead of worshipping God, The Creator. He alone is worthy of our worship and praise! And as Psalm 24:1 declares, "The earth is the Lord's and all it contains."

Learn more about photography and speaking ministry www.thecreationspeaks.com

Spider Webs and Dew Drops

            Spider webs everywhere! Spider webs all over the budding trees. Sticky, gooey spider webs. But these were not the spider webs of horror films. They sparkled with a golden brilliance as the early morning sun beamed through the many drops of dew that hung from the webs.

The sunrise seen through a dew drop on a tree bud.

            Unfortunately, for me, I was not carrying my camera that morning. I had planned to just take a relaxing walk in the neighborhood park. I didn't expect to see such a dazzling site.

            I thought to myself, I'll just come back tomorrow.

The sunrise glows through a dew drop.

            Now, I know that spiders' webs don't last but a day. The next evening they normally spin a new one. But unfortunately, this was not the case this time. The next morning when I returned with camera in hand there were no spider webs. Where did they go?

            What do I do now? There's nothing to photograph? 

            Suddenly a quote I had read some time ago in a photo magazine came to mind. “I asked not what I will take today, but what will I be given.”

            “Okay, God,” I prayed. “What are you giving me to photograph this morning?” I began to look for the unexpected and I saw something I would not have noticed. I began to look at the dew on the leafless branches.  The early morning sun sparkled, coming through the drops as it did with the spider webs. I photographed that instead and collected a couple of amazing photographs.

Morning dew on a spider web from another place on another day

            Sometimes God gives us the unexpected. When that happens we ought to make the most of it.

www.thecreationspeaks.com

Spider Webs and Dew Drops

            Spider webs everywhere! Spider webs all over the budding trees. Sticky, gooey spider webs. But these were not the spider webs of horror films. They sparkled with a golden brilliance as the early morning sun beamed through the many drops of dew that hung from the webs.

The sunrise seen through a dew drop on a tree bud.

            Unfortunately, for me, I was not carrying my camera that morning. I had planned to just take a relaxing walk in the neighborhood park. I didn't expect to see such a dazzling site.

            I thought to myself, I'll just come back tomorrow.

The sunrise glows through a dew drop.

            Now, I know that spiders' webs don't last but a day. The next evening they normally spin a new one. But unfortunately, this was not the case this time. The next morning when I returned with camera in hand there were no spider webs. Where did they go?

            What do I do now? There's nothing to photograph? 

            Suddenly a quote I had read some time ago in a photo magazine came to mind. “I asked not what I will take today, but what will I be given.”

            “Okay, God,” I prayed. “What are you giving me to photograph this morning?” I began to look for the unexpected and I saw something I would not have noticed. I began to look at the dew on the leafless branches.  The early morning sun sparkled, coming through the drops as it did with the spider webs. I photographed that instead and collected a couple of amazing photographs.

Morning dew on a spider web from another place on another day

            Sometimes God gives us the unexpected. When that happens we ought to make the most of it.

www.thecreationspeaks.com

Fleeting Frost, Fleeting Time

            

           

       I had plenty of work to get done. There always seems to be plenty of work for a photographer to do that doesn't involve actually holding a camera. As I continued to work, my friend Steve called and said that I needed to go photograph the landscape he had just passed while driving along interstate 80. He described to me a winter wonderland created by a weather phenomenon known as hoarfrost.

           

       Hoarfrost forms when water vapor freezes on objects without first becoming liquid water. In order for this to happen the humidity must be high and the air temperature and the temperature of the landscape must be below freezing. The frost that forms creates a magical winter scene that doesn't last very long. It's very beautiful. But it is especially beautiful in a snow-covered landscape. The frost is very delicate because of its high air content.  It vanishes quickly in the sun or wind. The photographer who wants to capture its magic must act fast. Therefore, I left my office work to capture this short-lived splendor of God's hand.

           

       Photographing scenes like this reminds me that many opportunities in life pass away quickly. We cannot possibly take advantage of everything that comes our way, but still we must live every day for God. The Bible tells us that our lives are short (Psalm 39:4-5) and we need to make the most of every opportunity (Ephesians 5:15–16). Photographing hoarfrost is a reminder that we need to honor God with how we use our time. We all must ask the question, “How will I use the time that is given to me?”

Spiritual Nature

     One July morning a few years ago my wife and I headed up to the top of Mount Chapin in Rocky Mountain National Park. We arrived at the peak shortly after the sun rose to spread its golden light across the mountaintops.

My Wife enjoys the view on Mount Chapin

     We planned on hiking up two other mountains that morning, but before we plotted on we paused for a bit on the side of Chapin to take in the view. When we did we not only saw the beauty and vastness of the creation but it told us of the beauty and vastness of its Creator. Through the power and majesty of the landscape we saw the power and majesty of God. The creation spoke to us that morning.

A columbine on the Mountainside

A marmot on top of Chapin

     A photo from that tranquil moment appears on the homepage of my website www.thecreationspeaks.com. The photo captures how my wife likes to take in the vistas of creation and how they speak to her about God.

     When we read Romans chapter 1 we see that the Scripture is clear; creation reveals the divine attributes of God. My wife and I saw those attributes that morning as we have on many other mornings and days spent in His creation.

My wife and I on Chapin

     Those who don't follow Christ tell us there's something spiritual about "nature". They are correct, unfortunately they miss where the spirituality points. It points us to the wonderful, loving, creative hand of God.

Christ Alone

            When we read the Gospels we read many fascinating accounts of the life and works of Jesus. Stories of healings, other miracles and life transforming teachings that reached down into our inner being. Each one of us possesses many personal favorites.

Badlands National Park, South Dakota

            Stories of a blind man receiving his site; stories of a little girl raised to life; stories of the faith of a Roman centurion whose love for his servant caused him to approach Jesus with the utmost humility to see that servant healed. And of course the favorite story of all is how Jesus died on the cross for our sin and rose from the dead.

            But there are also many stories that slip by unnoticed. Over a dozen times the four Gospels say how Jesus slipped away to the wilderness. Why did Jesus seek the quiet of creation? Do you think he may have known something?

            We forget to take time to get away from our fast paced culture ––away to the quiet of the wilderness. Christ set many examples for us in the Scripture. It appears we have forgotten this one.

            Perhaps if we spend more time alone in the wilderness and seek God we will learn something new; that being in creation is a great place to meet the Creator.

            Discover more at The Creation Speaks.

       Allow me to introduce myself. I am an outdoor photographer… a wildlife photographer… or I often like to refer to myself as a creation photographer. As a result I spend a lot of time in the outdoors. I even spend time outdoors when I'm not taking pictures. I like to go for walks or hikes and bring along a Bible and a journal and reflect about God.

        As a result, I have learned that God speaks to us through his creation and that the creation speaks to us about God. In response to creations declaration to us about God, I have started a ministry called “The Creation Speaks”.

         Creation science ministries do a fantastic job connecting with people on an intellectual level. My ministry is very different. As a long-time professional photographer, I approach creation as an artist rather than a scientist. My ministry looks at how creation connects to our intellect, but even more so how it touches our soul on a theological level and our hearts on a personal level through its majesty, mystery and beauty.

          This blog will be a collection of the some of thoughts and photos that have come to me while listening to creation and by observing God’s fingerprint upon His creation.

Jenny Lake and Teewinot Mountain in Grand Teton National Park The Creation Speaks