Hot air balloon

Hi this is Philip with a Redrockballoons we now have you confirmed is a party of 2 passengers flying Tuesday, May 18. Your confirmation number 0518PJRR3. Please remember reservations carry a 24 hour deadline for cancellation. This makes your deadline 7 AM on Monday, May 17. If you need to cancel please text your cancellation to this text string or you can text or email cancel@redrockballoons.com. Otherwise we will contact you on Monday, May 17 with your pick up time to meet at Arabella hotel lobby. If you do not hear from us by 3:30 PM, please reach out to us via text for the most efficient way to reach us to receive your pick up time details. thanks 🎈

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Sunsets & Glory

Beauty ministers to us. Have you ever had a sweet sigh of satisfaction as you watch a sunset; as if you are being enveloped into its glow and you are sinking into the earth with it? Truly the "whole earth is full of His glory"! (Isaiah 6:3)

These are some sunset photos that I want to share with you. Let the beauty of the Lord's creation minister to you.

"But You, O Lord, are a shield for me, my glory, and the lifter of my head." Ps. 3:3 AMP

Creation

I love reading the account of creation. I pick up my amplified Bible and sit in a cozy white chair near the window...and begin...

"In the begining God (prepared, formed, fashioned, and) created the heavens and the earth."**

I pause. I take in a deep breath and breathe out into a smile...it keeps getting better.

"The earth was without form and an empty waste, and darkeness was upon the face of the very great deep. The Spirit of God was moving (hovering, brooding) over the face of the waters."**

Stop. Think of this. Close your eyes...what do you see? As for me, I try to imagine what this looks like. I turn quickly to Hebrews 11:3- "By faith we understand that the worlds (during the successive ages) were framed (fashioned, put in order, and equipped for their intended purpose) by the word of God, so that what we see was not made out of things which are visible."

Our God made this by His word...

"And God said..."

"...Let there be light; and there was light."

"...Let there be a firmament (the expanse of the sky) in the midst of the waters, and let it separate the waters (below) from the waters (above)."

"...Let the waters under heaven be collected into one place (of standing), and let the dry land appear. And so it was."**

And the story goes on to include tender vegetation- plants yeilding seed, stars, "two great lights--the greater light (the sun) to rule the day and the lesser light (the moon) to rule the night."** It sounds like poetry to me.

Then living creatures: the "waters bring forth abundantly and swarm with living creatures"**, birds burst forth onto the scene. Then the voice of God is heard again just after the splashing and fluttering wings of creation...He blesses them. "Be fruitful, multipy, and fill the waters of the seas and let the fowl multiply in the earth."**

More living creatures: "livestock, creeping things and (wild) beasts if the earth according to their kinds."**

"And God saw that it was good (fitting, pleasant) and He approved it."**

The impossible was suddenly possible. There was no experimental tests, test-tube sheep or genetically enhanced fish. All this was "not made out of things which are visible." (Hebrews 11:3)

In the "Magician's Nephew", by C.S. Lewis the reader learns how Aslan (the Great Lion) created Narnia. In this story he sings this land into existance.

"The earth was of many colors; they were fresh, hot and vivid. They made you feel excited; until you saw the Singer himself, and then you forgot everything else.

It was a Lion. Huge, shaggy, and bright, it stood facing the rising sun. Its mouth was wide open in song..." (from the chapter: The Fight at the Lamp-post)

And this is my favorite part of the story. I see God through His creation. It brings to my mind Isaiah 6: 3--"And one[seraphim] cried to another and said, Holy, holy, holy is the Lord of hosts; the whole earth is full of His glory!"

We learn about God in how He creates, in what He creates, in how He blesses His creation, in His approval of what He creates. Truly, the whole earth is full of His glory! And we are a part of glorious reflection...

"Let Us (Father, Son and Holy Spirit) make mankind in Our image, after Our likeness..."**

So what is our response to this?

Hebrews 11: 6--"But without faith it is impossible to please and be satisfactory to Him. For whoever would come near to God must (necessarily) believe that God exists and that He is the rewarder of those who earnestly and diligently seek Him (out)."

Our response should be like that of the children in the Magician's Nephew. Everything else that would distract is suddenly dwarfed in view of the Creator. Oh, that we would "earnestly and diligently seek Him out." He is our "very great reward." (Genesis 15:1)

**From Genesis 1 AMP

Before the Morning

I have added a link which tells the story which lead to "Before the Morning" by Josh Wilson. It is about 10mins long, but well worth the time.

I read Hinds Feet on High Places last weekend and had a really incredible time with God through the pages of that story. The story of how Sorrow and Suffering help bring Much Afraid (the heroine of the story) to the High Places. It is an allegory of the Christian walk, and extremly powerful. If you haven't had the opportunity to read this story, please take the time to find it. The author is Hannah Hunard.

This story reminded me of places in that book; and seeing people faithfully live it out is even more incredible.

One more amazing note: the book is divided up into two parts- Part 1: Weeping may endure for a night"; Part 2: "Joy cometh in the morning"; which of course comes from Psalms 30- a psalm of David...the child's middle name in the video clip is David.
hthttp://www.facebook.com/joshwilson?v=app_6009294086tp://

The Breath Of God

Then after an awful pause, the deep voice said, "Susan." Susan made no answer but the others thought she was crying. "You have listened to fears, child," said Aslan. "Come, let me breathe on you. Forget them. Are you brave again?"
"A little, Aslan," said Susan.
- Prince Caspian, C.S. Lewis

This spoke to me. As one who has battled fear, the idea that the Lord's Spirit can breathe on me and take away fears is wonderful...hopeful.

I think back about just a few places in scripture that mention the breath of God.

• "Then the LORD formed man from the dust of the ground and breathed into his nostrils the breath or spirit of life, and man became a living being." Genesis 2:7 AMP
• "Again Jesus said, "Peace be with you! As the Father has sent me, I am sending you." And with that he breathed on them and said, "Receive the Holy Spirit." John 20:21-22 NIV
• "All scripture is God-breathed and useful for teaching, rebuking, correcting and training in righteousness," 2 Timothy 3:16 NIV

So I have begun to ask God, "Breathe on me." What life, courage and wisdom is promised through the Breath of the Most High! Yes- Lord, humbly, I ask you to breathe on me.

"...the whole earth is full His glory!" Isaiah 6:3b AMP

I came across this picture on earthshots.org. It is just beautiful! The color and texture--a really incredible shot by Karen Chappell. I'm not familiar with earthshots or with Chappell's work--but I am humbled by such a picture. How creative, incredible, and refreshingly beautiful is our God!

Yes, indeed--the whole earth is full of His glory! Holy is our God!