Columbia Spotted Frog, North Fork Coeur d'Alene River, Idaho
Lord thank you for…
frogs, clear water and shiny rocks;
mothers and daughters;
fathers and sons;
family and friends;
but most of all,
thank you for being our Lord and God;
our savior and friend.
Amen
#anaturewalk #AimHighWalkwithGod #GiveThanks
Rocky Mountain Big Horn Sheep Ewe, Castle Rock near Buena Vista, CO
One thing I ask of the LORD;
this I seek:
To dwell in the LORD’s house
all the days of my life,
To gaze on the LORD’s beauty,
to visit his temple.
For God will hide me in his shelter
in time of trouble,
He will conceal me in the cover of his tent;
and set me high upon a rock. ~ Psalm 27: 4-5
Lord Jesus Christ, you are the rock upon which we rest. You have made our hearts, your temple. May we make this dwelling place worthy of your presence through all of our thoughts, actions, and deeds. By your grace. Amen
Come Holy Spirit, Come.
#anaturewalk #AimHighWalkwithGod #HighUponaRock
Bull Elk Bugling, Rocky Mountain National Park, Colorado
It was a cold, rainy autumn evening when I heard the call of this magnificent bull elk. I have heard the scream of bull elk hundreds of times; and yet, each time I hear the eerie sound of a big bull bugling something deep inside of me begins to stir.
This stirring of something deep inside reminds me of the Holy Spirit. It was Elijah that heard the call of the Holy Spirit while waiting out a storm inside a cave on the mountain of Horeb.
“There was a strong and violent wind rending the mountains and crushing rocks before the LORD—but the LORD was not in the wind; after the wind, an earthquake—but the LORD was not in the earthquake; after the earthquake, fire—but the LORD was not in the fire; after the fire, a light silent sound. When he heard this, Elijah hid his face in his cloak and went out and stood at the entrance of the cave.” 1 Kings 19:11-13
Elijah heard the sound of the Lord in silence. For many Christians the voice of the Holy Spirit cannot be easily discerned. The Holy Spirit does not often manifest himself like the scream of a bull elk bugling. The Spirit’s soft, silent voice often seems to get lost in the hustle, bustle and events of our daily lives.
An active participation in the life of the Church including prayer, fellowship, sacraments, bible reading, and fellowship enhances our ability to hear the Holy Spirit’s direction in our lives. However; the lives of Jesus, the Apostles and the Saints point to two items that are fundamental to hearing the call of God in our lives. These items are forgiveness and humility. The bellowing loud voices in our souls of contempt and pride can drown out the soft, yet persistent voice of our Lord.
Contempt for others and pride, I have found for myself, have often hidden themselves from my casual notice. I have asked the Lord for the grace to know myself, so that I can identify my sources of hate and pride and begin to change. Hopefully in doing so I will be able to better hear the beautiful call of our Lord.
In what areas of your life might contempt for others and pride be hiding? Ask the Lord for his grace to know yourself and to change.
I pray that the call of our Lord will stir all of us and renew our souls.
#anaturewalk #AimHighWalkwithGod #ListentoHisCall
Young Bull Moose swimming across Monarch Lake, Colorado
On a walk around Monarch Lake in Colorado I noticed this young bull moose swimming across the water. He swam with ease until suddenly he seemed frightened, perhaps he hit deeper water. He began thrashing violently in the water until he finally regained his composure and calmly swam across the water to the shore.
In life we have all hit the deep water - times when our faith is tested.
He said, “Come.” Peter got out of the boat and began to walk on the water toward Jesus. But when he saw how strong the wind was he became frightened; and, beginning to sink, he cried out, “Lord, save me!” Immediately Jesus stretched out his hand and caught him, and said to him, “O you of little faith,* why did you doubt?” ~ Matthew 14:29-31
Peter took his eyes off Jesus, became frightened, and began to sink, but Jesus was there to help Peter, just as he is with us.
What causes you to take your eyes off Jesus?
What steps can you take to keep your faith in a tumultuous world?
#anaturewalk #AimHighWalkwithGod #Faithtogetashore
Near Lewis and Clark Caverns State Park, Montana
“Do not store up for yourselves treasures on earth, where moth and decay destroy, and thieves break in and steal. But store up treasures in heaven, where neither moth nor decay destroys, nor thieves break in and steal. For where your treasure is, there also will your heart be.”
~ Matthew 6:21
#anaturewalk #AimHighWalkwithGod #TreasureandHeart
Grand Teton National Park, Wyoming
During times when the sky is blue and the water is clear everything may seem to be grace, but what about the times when the sky is dark and the water is cloudy? St. Paul says during these times grace also abounds, “we even boast of our afflictions, knowing that affliction produces endurance, and endurance, proven character, and proven character, hope, and hope does not disappoint, because the love of God has been poured out into our hearts through the Holy Spirit that has been given to us.” (Romans 5:3-5)
God, through the passion and resurrection of his son Jesus, shows us his desire to convert suffering into love. We may not see or understand God’s grace that is present even in the darkest of times but we know, through faith, that even our times of suffering are moments of God’s loving grace. The Christian lives in the firm hope that when we get to heaven we will see and understand these unseen moments of God’s grace in our lives. As St. Paul writes, “At present we see indistinctly, as in a mirror, but then face to face. At present I know partially; then I shall know fully, as I am fully known.” (I Corinthians 13:12)
So the Christian, in both good times and bad, trusts in God and gives him praise knowing that with God “everything is grace”.
#anaturewalk #AimHighWalkwithGod #Everythingisgrace
Priest Point Park, Olympia, WA
The Christian is always walking with, and often leaning on, Jesus (see John 13:23). It is Jesus who gives the Christian strength, peace, understanding and love. As Pope Benedict wrote, “Christian’s are people who have been conquered by Christ’s love.”
#anaturewalk #AimHighWalkwithGod #closestfriend
Mule deer buck in an early fall snow, near Roxborough State Park, Colorado
Have you used your freedom to love totally, wildly, unconditionally? Jesus did and he asks us to do the same.
“Come you who are blessed by my Father. Inherit the kingdom prepared for you from the foundation of the world. For I was hungry and you gave me food, I was thirsty and you gave me drink, a stranger and you welcomed me, naked and you clothed me, ill and you cared for me, in prison and you visited me ” Matthew 25: 34-36
St. Pope John Paul II said that “our freedom exists for the sake of love”. We all know someone that is in need in one way, or another, either mentally, emotionally, spiritually or physically. Let us be Christ for them. Let us love them, wildly, unconditionally. Let us turn our world on-fire with the love of Christ.
Lord, grant us the grace to love the way you do!
San Juan Mountains above Ridgeway State Park, Colorado
Wow! Let us live in awe of God, the Creator and our Savior!
#anaturewalk #AimHighWalkwithGod #inAweOfGod
Great Egret parent and chicks, Avery Island, Louisiana
It was a hot summer day. I had spent most of the day scrapping paint off the old house. My brother was on the ladder next to me scrapping away, while dad was using the electric sander on the tallest ladder. It seemed to me that we were making no progress in completing the job. Dad had got this side-job, in addition to his normal full-time job, so we could earn enough money to go on a family summer camping vacation.
We finished the house. It was a great vacation but more importantly dad taught me that love is an action, a giving of oneself for the other.
Happy Father’s Day to all the father’s that give of themselves for the good of their wife, children and neighbors. The kingdom of God is built by one unselfish act at a time. God Bless!
1 Corinthians 15:58 ~ “Therefore, my beloved brothers, be firm, steadfast, always fully devoted to the work of the Lord, knowing that in the Lord your labor is not in vain.”
#anaturewalk #AimHighWalkwithGod #fathersday
Eastern Pondhawk dragonfly, Palmetto Island State Park, Louisiana
“each creature has its own purpose. None is superfluous. The entire material universe speaks of God’s love, his boundless affection for us. Soil, water, mountains: everything is, as it were, a caress of God.” ~ Pope Francis, Laudato Si’, On Care for Our Common Home, Par 84
#anaturewalk #AimHighWalkwithGod #loveallgodscreatures
Field Sparrow, Goose Island State Park, TX
What is contemplative prayer? St. Teresa answers: "Contemplative prayer in my opinion is nothing else than a close sharing between friends; it means taking time frequently to be alone with him who we know loves us." Contemplative prayer seeks him "whom my soul loves." It is Jesus, and in him, the Father. We seek him, because to desire him is always the beginning of love, and we seek him in that pure faith which causes us to be born of him and to live in him. In this inner prayer we can still meditate, but our attention is fixed on the Lord himself. ~ Catechism of the Catholic Church 2709
#anaturewalk #AimHighWalkwithGod #stteresa
Monarch Lake, Colorado
Have you ever had a drink of cold water when you are really, really thirsty? Wow! But we are all thirsting (desiring) for something even more basic than water…. God. “The desire for God is written in the human heart, because man is created by God and for God; and God never ceases to draw man to himself. Only in God will he find the truth and happiness he never stops searching for.”(1)
But what is even more amazing is that God thirsts for us…. he thirsts for you. “Jesus is God, therefore His Love and His Thirst are infinite. He, the Creator of the universe, asked for the love of his creatures. He has thirst for our love …”(2)
(1) Catechism of the Catholic Church, par 27
(2) St. Mother Teresa of Calcutta
#anaturewalk #AimHighWalkwithGod
Fawn White-tail Deer, Spring Branch, TX
#anaturewalk #AimHighWalkwithGod
Whooping Crane, Aransas National Wildlife Refuge, TX
So often in life, we waste time asking ourselves: ‘Who am I?’ You can keep asking, ‘Who am I?’ for the rest of your lives. But the real question is: ‘For whom am I?’. Of course, you are for God. But he has decided that you should also be for others, and he has given you many qualities, inclinations, gifts and charisms that are not for you, but to share with those around you. ~ Pope Francis, par 286, CHRISTUS VIVIT
#anaturewalk #AimHighWalkwithGod
Male and female Cardinals, Goose Island State Park, TX
Have you ever seen a husband or wife care for their sick spouse, knowing that the only thing that their loved one can give them is an opportunity to love unselfishly? When you see this type of love it is possibly as close as you may ever get to seeing our Lord Jesus Christ on this side of heaven. This is perhaps why our Lord holds marriage so sacred. God, the one who is a perfect relationship of love, created man and woman in his own image to reflect his love, to share in his love.
Are you seeking that type of love? If so, ask our Lord Jesus Christ for the grace of agape, unconditional, love. Begin reading the bible with prayer asking for the strength to love like Jesus did. Get strength from the sacraments. Begin looking at the lives of the many Saints whose lives reflected the way Christ loves us.
I pray that my marriage and all marriages will begin to love as Christ loves.
#anaturewalk #AimHighWalkwithGod
Black-bellied whistling ducks, near Goose Island State Park, TX
Happy Easter! “Christ is alive! He is our hope, and in a wonderful way he brings youth to our world, and everything he touches becomes young, new, full of life.” ~ Pope Francis, CHRISTUS VIVIT, par. 1
#anaturewalk #AimHighWalkwithGod
Mountains as seen from Trail Ridge Road, Rocky Mountain National Park with image of crucifix from Family Mission Company chapel, Abbeville, LA
*page 6, “No Greater Love”, Dr. Edward Sri
God is love (see 1 John 4:8, 16). John used the Greek word agape to describe God’s love. Agape is the type of unconditional love that persists regardless of circumstance, the type of love that expects nothing in return. Agape love animates Jesus’s every action. Does agape love animate your every action?
#anaturewalk #AimHighWalkwithGod
Royal Terns, Aransas National Wildlife Refuge, Texas
Cancer, illness, loss of family and friends, addiction, poverty and loneliness are just a few of the many challenging circumstances we might find ourselves in while living in this beautiful, yet broken world. At times like these we sometimes might look up to heaven and ask “Lord, why me?” The answers are not easy and often go beyond the “why”. For the Christian the answer is always found through trusting in Jesus.
I have found the following bible verses helpful during challenging times. I hope they are helpful for those of you that might be asking “Lord, why me?”.
We know that all things work for good for those who love God, who are called according to his purpose. Romans 8:28.
At present we see indistinctly, as in a mirror, but then face to face. At present I know partially; then I shall know fully, as I am fully known. So faith, hope, love remain, these three; but the greatest of these is love. 1 Corinthians 13:12, 13
Blessed be the God and Father of our Lord Jesus Christ, who in his great mercy gave us a new birth to a living hope through the resurrection of Jesus Christ from the dead, to an inheritance that is imperishable, undefiled, and unfading, kept in heaven for you who by the power of God are safeguarded through faith, to a salvation that is ready to be revealed in the final time. In this you rejoice, although now for a little while you may have to suffer through various trials, so that the genuineness of your faith, more precious than gold that is perishable even though tested by fire, may prove to be for praise, glory, and honor at the revelation of Jesus Christ. 1 Peter 1: 3-7
God has a plan for those who love him. We might not know his plan, we may never know his plan in this life, but if we trust in his love for us and we love God and neighbor; we can have the firm hope that when we see our Lord in heaven we will understand the why and understand the beauty of his love.
May our Lord’s peace be with you.
#anaturewalk #AimHighWalkwithGod
Brown Pelican, Aransas National Wildlife Refuge, Texas
#anaturewalk #AimHighWalkwithGod
