Prayer and Scripture walk this morning

So, I confess that I totally slacked off on my photo a say the last two weeks of Lent. Sigh. But here's some more pics... Taking this week as a study week, beginning with a day of prayer and reflection. I went for a hike this morning at Rowe Woods and prayed as I began that I would see God's word reflected in what I would see. I also asked a few of my prayer partners for Scriptures they thought I should dig into. One suggested Isaiah 29 and the other 2 Corinthians 5:17-19. So, I sat down for my lunch at a little shelter and read what I thought was Isaiah 29. Come across verse 13 in chapter 28..."So then the Word of The Lord will become 'Do this, do that, a rule for this, a rule for that - a little here, a little there - so that as they go they will fall backward '” (TNIV). Then followed this up with the passage from 2 Cor - "if anyone is in Christ, they are a new creation. The old has gone, the new has come." I found these two passages (one that I accidentally read in ch 28 instead of 29) to really speaks to me about the constant re-creation that God does in our lives. Just like I walked through an area here with a ton of flowers just waiting to bloom (with a few that have already)

. In the same way, God is doing this constant re-creation in our lives. It's not about living a static life, but an openness to the continued movement and work of the Spirit. It's not just do this, do that. But live in relationship and not in rote actions. I later came across another area of windflowers that clearly were receiving more of the sun on a regular basis as they were already in massive bloom. With more still to come.

I continued to walk along and came to this area with the trees overhanging the path.

I thought of Psalm 36:7 - "How precious is your steadfast love, O God! All people may take refuge in the shadow of your wings." How precious indeed. And how safe. Finally I came across this tree that had fallen and its rings were revealed.

. I stopped a read through the beginning of Psalm 139...O Lord, you have searched me and known me. You know when I sit down and when I rise up; you discern my thoughts from far away. You search out my path and my lying down, and are acquainted with all my ways. Even before a word is on my tongue, O Lord, you know it completely. You hem me in, behind and before, and lay your hand upon me. Such knowledge is too wonderful for me; it is so high that I cannot attain it." God knows us inside and out. As I walked this hike this morning, I was overall reminded of what we shared two mornings ago...Christ is alive and at work today. Not just an event from 2,000 years ago but Christ is risen still today and everyday. Alive and walking with us here and now today. Amen and hallelujah!