SABBATH SNAPSHOTS: A Mountain Journey, from treetops to rivers below

6/10/12 Trekking "from the treetops to the rivers below" with a friendly bunch of sisters in the faith is a great eye-opener to the hand of God in every facet of life. 

Friends come and friends go, but a true friend sticks by you like family. (Proverbs 18:24, The Message)

Sing, O heavens, for the Lord has done it!
 Shout joyfully, you lower parts of the earth;
Break forth into singing, you mountains,
O forest, and every tree in it! For the Lord has redeemed Jacob,
And glorified Himself in Israel.  (Isaiah 44:23)

Flame azaleas growing wild

A Day Lily for my "Day Lilies" a common mispronunciation

Henize Pavilion at Buzzard Rock---what a view!

Mountain rhododendron, often confused with mountain laurel, especially in the Great Smoky Mountains

Clingman's Dome viewed from a zip-line platform 85' up with 12 folks on a zip-line platform built for 4!

Though we were the oldest in the treetops, we had the most fun on all 13 zips.

Isaiah 43:2 came to mind on the Nantahala raft trip. “When you pass through the waters, I will be with you." We might have been the oldest on the river, but that could have been the reason we had the most fun in 48° water or at least the reason we made the most noise.

Cullasaja Falls on Hwy 64 outside Franklin, North Carolina

Methodist Church in The Highlands. Our host was a retired Methodist pastor and his wife.

Saturday Question

Okay, I know it’s Sunday. But…..I was too tired to post when I got home last night from a glorious “get-a-way” with girlfriends….but God has had me querying myself thru the week,  and a BIG question came forth for consideration.

Am I hammering homiletics?

Answer: Yes, sad to say, too often I do.

In other words, am I always just “preaching” at friends and family or am I living the “gospel life”? As all folks know, actions indeed speak louder than words. If I am just viewing others thru legalistic lens, the lifestyle I reflect would be more of hammering and very little of grace. “Hammering” might easily be construed as disdain rather than love. 

If God views me thru the love lens of grace, shouldn’t I extend that to others as well?

Answer: Yes. A resounding YES!  I need to testify in actions as well as words to the “good news of God’s grace.” (Acts: 20:24)