Windows of Heaven

In the six hundredth year of Noah's life, in the second month, the seventeenth day of the month, on that day all the fountains of the deep were broken up, and the windows of heaven were opened.  Genesis 7:11



So it came to pass, at the end of forty days, that Noah opened the window of the ark that he had made.  Genesis 8:6



"Who are these that fly as a cloud, and as the doves to their windows?"  Isaiah 60:8

My beloved is like a gazelle or a young stag.  Behold he stands behind our wall; He is looking through the windows, gazing through the lattice.  Song of Solomon 2:9

There were windows with beveled frames in  three rows,
and window was opposite window in three tiers.  1 Kings 7:4



"Look, if the LORD would make windows in heaven, could this thing be?"  2 Kings 7:2b

And he said, "Open the east window"; then Elisha said "Shoot"; and he shot.  And he said, "The arrow of the LORD's deliverance . . .  2 Kings 13:17a

 

Now when Daniel knew that the writing was signed, he went home.  And in his upper room, with his windows open toward Jerusalem, he knelt down on his knees three times that day, and prayed and gave thanks before his God, as was his custom since early days.  Daniel 6:10



. . . So before they lay down, she came up to them on the roof and said to the men:  "I know that the LORD has given you the land, that the terror of you has fallen on us, and that all the inhabitants of the land are faint-hearted because of you.  For we have heard how the LORD dried up the water of the Red Sea for you when you came out of Egypt . . . and as soon as we heard these things, our hearts melted; neither did there remain any more courage in anyone because of you, for the LORD your God, He is God, He is God in heaven above and on earth beneath. Now therefore, I beg you, swear to me by the LORD, since I have shown you kindness, that you also will show kindness to my father's house and give me a true token, and spare my father, my mother, my brothers, my sisters and all that they have and deliver our lives from death."  So the men answered her, "Our lives for yours, if none of you tell this business of ours.  And it shall be that when the LORD has given us the land, that we will deal kindly and truly with you."  Then she let them down by a rope through the window, for her house was on the city wall; she dwelt on the wall.  Joshua 2:8-15

Then she said, "According to your words, so be it."  And she sent them away, and they departed.  And she bound the scarlet cord in the window.  Joshua 2:21

O you afflicted one, tossed with tempest, and not comforted, behold I will lay your stones with colourful gems, and lay your foundations with sapphires.  I will make your windows of rubies, your gates of crystal, and all your walls of precious stones.  All your children shall be taught by the LORD, and great shall be the peace of your children.  In righteousness you shall be established; you shall be far from oppression, for you shall not fear, and from terror for it shall not come near you.  Isaiah 54:11-14

"Bring all the tithes into the storehouse, that there may be food in My house, and prove Me now in this," says the LORD of hosts.  "If I will not open for you the windows of heaven and pour out for you such blessing that there will not be room enough to receive it.  And I will rebuke the devourer for your sakes, so that he will not destroy the fruit of your ground, nor shall the vine fail to bear fruit for you in the field," says the LORD of host; "and all nations will call you blessed, for you will be a delightful land," says the LORD of hosts."  Malachi 3:10-12

Photos

Old Quebec City, Quebec

St. Joseph's Oratory, Montreal, Quebec

Upper Canada Village, Morrisburg, Ontario

Boldt Castle, The 1000 Islands of the St. Lawrence Seaway

Butchart Gardens, Victoria, BC

Follow the Leader

Then a certain scribe came and said to Him . . .

. . . "Teacher, I will follow You wherever You go." Matthew 8:19

The wolf also shall dwell with the lamb, the leopard shall lie down with the young goat, the calf and the young lion and the fatling together; and a little child shall lead them.  Isaiah 11:6

You shall follow what is altogether just, that you may live and inherit the land which the LORD your God is giving you.  Deuteronomy 16:20



Lead me in Thy truth and teach me, for You are the God of my salvation; on You I wait all the day.  Psalm 25:5

Beloved,  follow not that which is evil, but that which is good.  He that doeth good is of God, but he that doeth evil hath not seen God.  3 John 1:11




Oh, send out Your light and Your truth! Let them lead me; let them bring me to Your holy hill and to Your tabernacle.  Then I will go to the altar of God, to God my exceeding joy, and on the harp I will praise You, O God, my God.  Psalm 43:3,4

Then we shall know,  if we follow on to know the LORD:  His going forth is prepared as the morning, and He shall come unto us as the rain, as the latter and former rains unto the earth.  Hosea 6:3

Hear my cry, O God, attend to my prayer.  From the end of the earth I will cry to You, when my heart is overwhelmed; lead me to the rock that is higher than I.  Psalm 61:2

And do not lead us into temptation, but deliver us from the evil one,  for Yours is the kingdow and the power and the glory forever. Amen  Matthew 6:13

"If anyone serves Me, let him follow Me; and where I am there my servant will be also.  If anyone serves Me, him My Father will honour."   John 12:26

Let us therefore follow after the things which make for peace, and things wherewith one may edify another.  Romans 14:19

Flee also youthful lusts; but follow righteousness, faith, charity, peace, with them that call on the LORD out of a pure heart. 2 Timothy 2:

Teach me Your way, O LORD, and lead me in a smooth path, because of my enemies.  Do not deliver me to the will of my adversaries; for false witnesses have risen against me and such as breathe out violence.  I would have lost heart, unless I had believed that I would see the goodness of the LORD in the land of the living.  Psalm 27:11-13



Surely goodness and mercy shall follow me all the days of my life, and I will dwell in the house of the LORD forever.  Psalm 23:6

These are the ones who follow the Lamb whereever He goes.  These were redeemed  from among men, being first-fruits to God and to the Lamb.  Revelation 14:4b

 For the Lamb which is in the midst of the throne shall feed them, and shall lead them unto living fountains of waters: and God shall wipe away all tears from their eyes. Revelation 7:17

Photos
Boy & Dog - unknown child, Revelstoke, BC
Ducks - Surrey Lake Park, Surrey, BC

Grass of the Earth

Then God said, "Let the earth bring forth grass . . .

. . . the herb that yields seed, and the fruit tree that yields fruit according to its kind . . .

. . .  whose seed is in itself, on the earth", and it was so.

. . .  And God saw that it was good.  Genesis 1:11, 12b

. . . His favour is as dew upon the grass.  Proverbs 19:12b


  

LORD, lift up the light of Your countenance upon us,
You have put gladness in my heart . . .

. . . more than in the season when their grain and wine increased.  Psalm 4:6b,7



As for man, his days are like grass, as a flower of the field, he flourishes . . .

  

For the wind passes over it, and it is gone, and its place remembers it no more.  But the mercy of the LORD is from everlasting to everlasting, on those who fear Him, and His righteousness to children's children, to such as keep His covenant, and to those who remember His commandments to do them.  Psalm 103:15-18



Give ear, O heavens, and I will speak;

and hear, O earth, the words of my mouth. 

Let my teaching drop as the rain,

my speech distill as the dew,

as raindrops on the tender herb,

and as showers on the grass. 

 For I proclaim the name of the LORD:

  Ascribe greatness to our God. 

He is the Rock, His work is perfect;

for all His ways are justice,

a God of truth and without injustice;

righteous and upright is He. 

Deuteronomy 32:1-4

The God of Israel said, the Rock of Israel spoke to me: "He who rules over men must be just, ruling in the fear of God.  And he shall be like the light of the morning when the sun rises, a morning without clouds, like the tender grass springing out of the earth, by clear shining after rain."

 2 Samuel 23:3,4

"For you shall have a covenant with the stones of the field, and the beasts of the field shall be at peace with you.  You shall know that your tent is in peace; you shall visit your habitation and find nothing amiss.  You shall also know that your descendants shall be many,  and your offspring like the grass of the earth.  You shall come to the grave at a full age, as a sheaf of grain ripens in its season.  Behold, this we have searched out; It is true.   Hear it, and know for yourself." Job 5:23-27

There will be an abundance of grain in the earth, on the top of the mountains; its fruit shall wave like Lebanon and those of the city shall flourish like grass of the earth.  Psalm 72:16

Hear my prayer, O LORD, and let my cry come to You.  Do not hide Your face from me in the day of my trouble; incline Your ear to me; in the day that I call, answer me speedily.  For my days are consumed like smoke, and my bones are burned like a hearth.  My heart is stricken and withered like grass, so that I forget to eat my bread . . . but You, O LORD,  shall endure forever, and the remembrance of Your name to all generations.  You will arise and have mercy on Zion; for the time to favour her, yes, the set time, has come.  Psalm 102:1-4,12,13

"All flesh is as grass, and all the glory of man as the flower of the grass.  The grass withers and its flower falls away, but the word of the LORD endures forever."  1Peter 1:24,25a

Photos:

Fleetwood Gardens, Surrey, BC

Surrey Lake Park, Surrey, BC

Bear Creek Park, Surrey, BC

Hawthorne Rotary Park, Surrey, BC