Do you still believe? | Joy Dare

Ever read something and have a revelation, an eye-opener, a discovery?

There are times I see or read something that just really makes me think, wakes me up.  Sometimes it's actually something I've always known, but hits me in a different light.  Do you ever wonder if your prayers go unheard or you get an answer that's not what you think you want or need?  We all have, I'm sure, at one time or another questioned God, maybe even screamed at Him....Why!!!  When we get an answer that's not to our liking, do we still believe God is good, that His way is better than ours? 

                    When the diagnosis is chronic and the healing doesn't come...

                    When the spouse walks out the door and doesn't come home...

                    When the prodigal child turns their back and doesn't return...

                    When the desperate couple seek out the physicians and still can't have a baby...

                    When you need the job and it doesn't work out...

How do we handle these situations?  The God of our Faith is bigger than all of these.  When He doesn't answer in a way we expect/desire/need, what are we supposed to do, how should we react.  He is asking us...

                    Do you still believe? 

                    Do you trust me?

He is showing us Mercy when we are not looking for it.  He is working miracles in the midst of the chaos our lives.  Look close for the miracles.  When you were walking through the mess...

                    Did you learn something new about yourself?
                    Did you grow closer to Him?
                    Did your faith grow?
                    Did you help someone else suffering?
                    Did you make a new friend?
                    Did you share your faith with someone else?

He may not have responded as we wanted, but He did respond and you were blessed.

We do not walk these trials alone.  The One who walked trials on earth and died for us all, walks beside us.  We can rest assured ALL things work to our good.

"These trials are only to test your faith, to see whether or not it is strong and pure. It is being tested as fire tests gold and purifies it—and your faith is far more precious to God than mere gold. It will bring you much praise and glory and honor on the day of his return." -1 Peter 1:7

 

JOY DARE

 

 I've been slow at it this summer, but here are a few of the gifts I counted.

 

234.  Lazy days at the lake

235.  Sweet watermelon

236.  Sun rays

 

 

 

237.  Swans on the lake

 

 

238.  Evening boat rides

239.  English cottages

240.  Country roads

241.  Golden hay fields

 

 

242.  England coastlines

 

 

243.  A London sunset

 

 

244.  Walks through historic villages

245.  Star-filled nights

 

 

246.  Snow-capped mountains

 

 

247.  Horses in the pasture

  

 

248.  A doe feeding in the meadow

 

 

249.  River drives

 

 

250.  Soothing heat of a natural hot spring

251.  Smell of dried leaves 

252.  Colors of fall

 

 

 

253.  A new friendship

254.  Encouraging words

255.  Candle light

256.  Orange pumpkins

 



 

257.  Wind in the trees

 

  

258.  Warmth from a fireplace on a cool morning

259.  Laughing so hard you cry

260.  Mercy

261.  Feeling of accomplishment.

262.  Magnificent skylines

 

 

263.  Ebony

 

 

 264. A new kitten snuggled in your arms

 

 

 

 



Govt Shutdown Changes Vacation Plans

The three hour drive to Moab was a beautiful drive along I-70.  We drove along listening to the radio talk shows wondering if we'd be able enter the National Parks we had planned a year to go to.  Arriving in Moab Sunday afternoon, we had an early dinner at a BBQ restaurant and made our way out to Arches National Park.  Unlike many others arriving later in the week, we were fortunate to get that night and the next day in the park before the shutdown closed down all roads accessing the National Parks and Forests.

 

 

Delicate Arch

 

Landscape Arch

One of the Window Arches

 

 

 We missed out on seeing the grand Canyonlands National Park, but found some other local attractions and drives to go on through the remainder of our time.  We did change plans, left Moab early and headed to Monument Valley.

Hanging Lake Trail

Our day started at 4:45 am.  And I'm not a morning person.  We flew 2 1/4 hours into Denver Airport, rented our car and headed west on I-70.  It was a little bit chilly when we landed at 8 am, about 45*.  As you can see, there is some snow in the Colorado mountains.

We arrived in Glenwood Springs, CO about 3 hours later where we found a Brew House for lunch.  Our waitress suggested we must do The Hanging Lake hike.  We followed her advice and went in search of the trail.  Heeding little attention to the signs suggesting taking plenty of water and that the hike was strenuous, we made our way up and up and up. 

It never stopped being an incline the entire 1 mile up which took us about 2 1/2 hours to get to the top.  I struggled, having just come off of being sick and still a little congested, up to the top having to stop a lot and catch my breath and bring my heart rate back to normal!  But the lake was worth the effort as it does literally seem to hang up there in the mountain. 

 That night we went to a natural hot spring pool and recuperated from the hike.