O Death, Where is Thy Sting?

Precious in the sight of the LORD is the death of His saints.  Psalm 116:15

Yea, though I walk through the valley of the shadow of death, I will fear no evil; for You are with me; Your rod and Your staff, they comfort me.  Psalm 23:4

"O death, where is your sting? O grave, where is your victory?" 1 Corinthians 15:55



I will ransom them from the power of the grave, I will redeem them from death.  Hosea 13:14

 

Set me as a seal upon your heart, as a seal upon your arm; for love is as strong as death . . .
Song of Solomon 8:6

But I do not want you to be ignorant, brethren, concerning those who have fallen asleep, lest you sorrow as others who have no hope.  For if we believe that Jesus died and rose again, even so God will bring with Him those who sleep in Jesus.  1 Thessalonians 4:13,14



For I am persuaded that neither death nor life, nor angels, nor principalities, nor powers, nor things present, nor things to come, nor height. nor depth, nor any other created thing, shall be able to separate us from the love of God, which is in Christ Jesus our LORD.  Romans 8:38,39



For I know that my Redeemer lives and He shall stand at last on the earth; and after my skin is destroyed, this I know, that in my flesh, I shall see God, whom I shall see for myself, and my eyes shall behold and not another.  How my heart yearns within me! Job 19:25-27

For we know that if our earthly house, this tent, is destroyed, we have a building from God, a house not made with hands, eternal in the heavens. For in this we groan, earnestly desiring to be clothed with our habitation which is from heaven.  2 Corinthians 5:1,2

For this is God, our God forever and ever; He will be our guide, even to death.  Psalm 48:14



A good name is better than precious ointment, and the day of death than the day of one's birth.  It is better to go to the house of mourning than to go to the house of feasting.  For that is the end of all men and the living will take it to heart.  Sorrow is better than laughter, for by a sad countenance the heart is made better.  The heart of the wise is in the house of mourning . . .  Ecclesiastes 7:1-4a

He will swallow up death forever, and the LORD God will wipe away tears from all faces; the rebuke of His people He will take away from all the earth; for the LORD has spoken. 
Isaiah 25:8

Behold, I tell you a mystery: we shall not all sleep, but we shall all be changed  . . . in a moment, in the twinkling of an eye, at the last trumpet.  For the trumpet  will sound , and the dead will be raised incorruptible, and we shall be changed.  For this incorruptible must put on incorruption, and this mortal must put on immortality.  So when this corruptible has put on incorruption, and this mortal has put on immortality, then shall be brought to pass the saying that is written:  "Death is swallowed up in victory."  1 Corinthians 15:51-54

And God shall wipe away every tear from their eyes;  there shall be no more death, nor sorrow, nor crying; and there shall be no more pain, for the former things have passed away.  Revelation 21:4

For God so loved the world that He gave His only begotten Son, that whoever believes in Him, should not perish but have everlasting life.  John 3:16

Photos:

Notre Dame des Neiges Cemetery, Montreal, Quebec

Surrey Centrel Cemetery, Surrey, BC

It's About Time



Then the LORD appointed a set time, saying "Tomorrow the LORD will do this thing in the land." 
 Exodus 9:5

 

Is there not an appointed time to man upon earth? Job 7:1a




Sow for yourselves righteousness; reap in mercy; break up your fallow ground, for it is time to seek the LORD, till He comes and rains righteousness on you.  Hosea 10:12




"Take heed, watch and pray, for you do not know when the time is."  Mark 13:33

But when the fullness of the time had come, God sent forth His Son, born of a woman, born under the law, to redeem those who were under the law, that we might receive the adoption as sons.  Galations 4:4,5



But the salvation of the righteous is from the LORD; He is their strength in the time of trouble.  Psalm 37:

 

For this cause everyone who is godly shall pray to You in a time when You may be found; surely in a flood of great waters, they shall not come near him.  Psalm 32:6




O LORD, be gracious to us; we have waited for You.  Be their arm every morning, our salvation also in the time of trouble.  Isaiah 33:2



You will arise and have mercy on Zion; for the time to favour her, yes the set time, has come.  Psalm 102:13



Is anything to hard for the LORD?  At the appointed time I will return to you, according to the time of life, and Sarah shall have a son . . . for Sarah conceived and bore Abraham a son in his old age, at the set time of which God had spoken to him.  Genesis 18:14, 21:2

But as for me, my prayer is to You, O LORD, in the acceptable time; O LORD in the multitude of  Your mercy, hear me in the truth of Your salvation.  Psalm 69:13

"For if you remain completely silent at this time, relief and deliverance will arise for the Jews from another place, but you and your father's house will perish,  yet who knows whether you have come to the kingdom for such a time as this?"  Esther 4:14

It is time for You to act, O LORD, for they have regarded Your law as void.  Psalm 119:126

To everything there is a season, a time for every purpose under heaven;

a time to be born, and a time to die; a time to plant, and a time to pluck what is planted;

a time to kill and a time to heal;a time to break down and a time to build up;

a time to weep and a time to laugh; a time to mourn and a time to dance;

a time to cast away stones and a time to gather stones;

a time to embrace and a time to refrain from embracing;

a time to gain and a time to lose; a time to keep and a time to throw away;

a time to tear and a time to sew; a time to keep silence and a time to speak;

a time to love and a time to hate; a time of war and a time of peace.

Ecclesiastes 3:1-8

He has made everything beautiful in its time.  Also He has put eternity in their hearts, except that no one can find out the work that God does from beginning to end. 

Ecclesiastes 3:11

In that day it shall be said to Jerusalem: 

 "Do not fear; Zion, let not your hands be weak. 

The LORD, your God, in your midst, the Mighty One, will save;

He will rejoice over you with gladness, He will quiet you in His love;

He will rejoice over you with singing. 

I will gather those who sorrow over the appointed assembly,

who are among you, to whom its reproach is a burden. 

Behold at that time, I will deal with all who afflict you;

 I will save the lame, and gather those who were driven out;

I will appoint them for praise and fame in every land where they were put to shame. 

At that time I will bring you back, even at that time I gather you;

for I will give you fame and praise among all the people of the earth,

when I return your captives before your eyes," says the LORD.  Zephaniah 3:16-20

And do this, knowing the time, that now it is high time to awake out of sleep; for now our salvation is nearer than when we first believed.  Romans 13:11

Humble yourselves therefore, under the mighty hand of God, that He may exalt you in due time.  1 Peter 5:6

Photos:

Downtown Vancouver, BC

Parliament Buildings, Ottawa, Ontario

Quebec City, Quebec

Boldt Castle, Alexandria, New York

Las Vegas, Nevada

Beatty, Nevada

White Rock, BC

Revelstoke, BC

Butchart Gardens, Victoria, BC

Rest For the Body, Rest For the Soul



Six days you shall do your work . . .

 

. . . and on the seventh day you shall rest . . .

. . . that your ox and your donkey may rest . . .

. . .  and the son of your maidservant . . .

 . . . and the stranger may be refreshed.  Exodus 23:12

 Then the apostles gathered to Jesus and told Him all things,

what they had done and what they had taught.  And He said to them, "Come aside by yourselves to a deserted place and rest a while."  For there were many coming and going and they did not even have time to eat.  So they departed to a deserted place . . . by themselves.  Mark 6:30-32

Blessed be the LORD, who has given rest to His people Israel, according to all that He promised.  There has not failed one word of all His good promise, which He promised through His servant Moses.  1 Kings 8:56

'Therefore do not fear, O My servant Jacob,' says the LORD,  'nor be dismayed, O Israel; for behold I will save you from afar,  and your seed from the land of their captivity. 

Jacob shall return, have rest and be quiet, and no one shall make him afraid.  For I am with you,' says the LORD, ' to save you. . . '   Jeremiah 30:10,11a

For thus says the LORD God, the Holy One of Israel:

"In returning and rest you shall be saved;

in quietness and confidence shall be your strength." 

Isaiah 30:15

Return to your rest, O my soul, for the LORD has dealt bountifully with you.  Psalm 116:7

"Come to Me, all you who labour and are heavy laden, and I will give you rest. 

Take My yoke upon you and learn from Me, for I am gentle and lowly in heart, and your will find rest for your souls. For My yoke is easy and My burden is light."  Matthew 11:28-30

There remains therefore a rest for the people of God.  For he who has entered His rest has himself also ceased from his works as God did from His.  Hebrews 4:9,10

 Photos:

Surrey, BC

White Rock, BC

Shannon Falls, near Squamish, BC

The Lesser Light



Then God made two great lights: the greater light to rule the day, and the lesser light to rule the night. He made the stars also . . .



God set them in the firmament of the heavens to give light on the earth  . . .

. . . and to rule over the day and over the night, and to divide the light from the darkness . . .

And God saw that it was good.

And the evening and the morning were the fourth day.  Genesis 1:16-19

Then Joshua spoke to the LORD in the day when the LORD delivered up the Amorites before the children of Israel, and he said in the sight of Israel:

"Sun, stand still over Gibeon; and Moon, in the Valley of Aijalon."

So the sun stood still, and the moon stopped, till the people had revenge upon their enemies.

Is this not written in the Book of Jasher?  So the sun stood still in the midst of heaven, and did not hasten to go down for about a whole day.  And there has been no day like that, before it or after it, that the LORD heeded the voice of a man; for the LORD fought for Israel.  Joshua 10:12-14

When I consider Your heavens, the work of Your fingers,

the moon and the stars which You have ordained. 

What is man that You are mindful of him, and the son of man that You visit him? 

Psalm 8:3,4

They shall fear You as long as the sun and moon endure, throughout all generations.  He shall come down like rain upon the mown grass, like showers that water the earth.  In His days the righteous shall flourish, and abundance of peace, until the moon is no more.  Psalm 72:5-7

My covenant I will not break, nor alter the word that has gone out of My lips. 

Once I have sworn by My holiness; I will not lie to David:  His seed shall endure forever, and his throne as the sun before Me: it shall be established forever like the moon,

even like the faithful witness in the sky. Selah  Psalm 89:34-37

I will lift up my eyes to the hills - from whence comes my help?   My help comes from the LORD, who made heaven and earth.  He will not allow your foot to be moved,; He who keeps you will not slumber.  Behold , He who keeps Israel shall neith slumber nor sleep.

The LORD is your keeper; the LORD is your shade at your right hand.  The sun shall not strike you by day nor the moon by night.  The LORD shall preserve you  from all evil; He shall preserve your s0ul.  The LORD shall preserve your going out and your coming in, from this day forth and even forevermore.  Psalm 121

The sun shall no longer be your light by day, nor for brightness shall the moon give light to you;  but the LORD will be to you an everlasting light, and your God your glory.  Your sun shall no longer go down, nor shall your moon withdraw itself;  for the LORD will be your everlasting light, and the days of your mourning shall be ended.  Isaiah 60:19,20

Photos:

Surrey, BC

Lead Me to the Rock

The LORD lives!  Blessed be my Rock!  Let God be exalted, the Rock of my salvation. 
 2 Samuel 22:47



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




He only is my rock and my salvation; He is my defense, I shall not be greatly moved.  Psalm 62:2



There is none holy like the LORD, for their is none besides You, nor is there any rock like our God.  1 Samuel 2:2

For who is God, except the LORD?  And who is a rock, except our God?  Psalm 18:31



I waited patiently for the LORD and He inclined to me and heard my cry.  He also brought me up out of a horrible pit, out of the miry clay and set my feet upon a rock . . .



. . . and established my steps.  Psalm 40:1,2

He shall cry to Me, You are my Father, my God and the rock of my salvation.  Psalm 89:26

And the LORD said, "Here is a place by Me and you shall stand on the rock . . .

. . .  So it shall be while My glory passes by, that I will put you in the cleft of the rock, and will cover you with My hand while I pass by . . .

 . . . then I will take My hand away and you shall see My back; but My face shall not be seen. 
Exodus 33:21-23

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-

The LORD is my rock, my fortress and my deliverer;

the God of my strength, in Him I will trust, my shield and the horn of my salvation,

my stronghold and my refuge; my Saviour, You save me from violence. 

I will call upon the LORD who is worthy to be praised; so shall I be saved from my enemies. 

2 Samuel 22:2-4

To You I will cry, O LORD my Rock; do not be silent to me, lest if You are silent to me, I become like those who go down to the pit.  Hear the voice of my supplications when I cry to You, when I lift up my hands toward Your holy sanctuary.  Psalm 28:1,2

One thing I have desired of the LORD, that will I seek:  that I may dwell in the house of the LORD all the days of my life, to behold the beauty of the LORD, and to inqure in His temple.  For in the time of trouble He shall hide me in His pavillion; in the secret place of His tabernacle He shall hide me;  He shall set me high upon a rock.  Psalm 27:4,5

Be my strong habitation, to which I may resort continually; You have given the commandment to save me,  for You are my rock and my fortress.  Psalm 71:3

Photos:

Shannon Falls, near Squamish, BC

White Rock Beach, White Rock, BC

Kay Falls, near Revelstoke, BC



Ask For the Old Paths

Your word is a lamp to my feet and a light to my path.  Psalm 119:105

Teach me Your way, O LORD, and lead me in a smooth path, because of my enemies.  Psalm 27:11

Cause me to hear Your lovingkindness in the morning, for in You do I trust; cause me to know the way in which I should walk, for I lift up my soul to You. Psalm 143:8



Ponder the path of your feet, and let all your ways be established.  Proverbs 4:26



But the path of the just is like the shining sun, that shines ever brighter unto the perfect day.  Proverbs 4:18

You will show me the path of life; in Your presence is fullness of joy; at Your right hand are pleasures forevermore.  Psalm 16:11

Make me walk in the path of Your commandments, for I delight in it.  Psalm 119:35



You comprehend my path and my lying down, and are acquainted with all my ways.  Psalm 139:3



Concerning the works of men, by the word of Your lips, I have kept myself from the paths of the destroyer.  Uphold my steps in Your paths, that my footsteps may not slip.  Psalm 17:4,5



Thus says the LORD, " Stand in the ways and see, and ask for the old paths, where the good way is, and walk in it; then you will find rest for your souls.  Jeremiah 6:16




When my spirit was overwhelmed within me, then You knew my path.  Psalm 142:3a




Now it shall come to pass in the latter days that the mountain of the LORD's house shall be established on the top of the mountains, and shall be exalted above the hills;  and all nations shall flow to it.  Many people shall come and say,
"Come, and let us go up to the mountain of the LORD, to the house of the God of Jacob; He will teach us His ways and we shall walk in His paths."  Isaiah 2:2,3



The way of the just is uprightness;

O Most Upright, You weigh the path of the just.  Isaiah 26:7

The LORD is my shepherd; I shall not want.  He makes me to lie down in green pastures; He leads me beside the still waters. He restores my soul; He leads me in the paths of righteousness for His name's sake.  Psalm 23:1-3

All the paths of the LORD are mercy and truth; to such as keep His covenant and His testimonies.  Psalm 25:10

Happy is the man who finds wisdom, and the man who gains understanding;

for her proceeds are better than silver and her gain than fine gold.  

She is more precious than rubies

and all the things you may desire cannot compare with her. 

Length of days is in her right hand, in her left hand riches and honour. 

Her ways are the ways of pleasantness and all her paths are peace. 

She is a tree of life to those who take hold of her and happy are all who retain her.  Proverbs 3:13-18

My son, if you receive my words, and treasure my commands within you,

so that you incline your ear to wisdom and apply your heart to understanding;

 yes, if you cry out for discernment and lift up your voice for understanding,

if you seek her as silver, and search for her as for hidden treasures;

then you will understand the fear of the LORD and find the knowledge of God. 

 For the LORD gives wisdom; from His mouth come knowledge and understanding;

 He stores up sound wisdom for the upright; He is a shield to those who walk uprightly;

He guards the paths of justice and preserves the way of His saints. 

Then you will understand righteousness and justice, equity and every good path.  Proverbs 2:1-9

I will bring the blind by a way they did not know; I will lead them in paths they have not known.  I will make darkness light before them, and crooked places straight.  These things I will do for them, and not forsake them.  Isaiah 42:16

Those from amony you shall build the old waste places;

you shall raise up the foundations of many generations;

and you shall be called the  Repairer of the Breech,

the Restorer of Paths to Dwell In.  Isaiah 58:12

Photos

Shannon Falls near Squamish, British Columbia

My dad's garden in Revelstoke, British Columbia

Fleetwood Park, Surrey, British Columbia

Hawthorne Rotary Park, Surrey, British Columbia

Bear Creek Park, Surrey, British Columbia

Butchart Gardens, Victoria, British Columbia