Lightkeeper's Journal

Rest

Photography and Thoughts by Norma Beaird

 

Rest...

I have always believed that peace and rest are greatly underrated. We live in a culture where we must constantly be "doing something". Even a vacation or weekend trip must be full of activities and movement from dawn to dusk.

 

Will the next generation ever learn from us

...that it's okay to rest and be quiet?

 

Sometimes, we just need to slow down and break from the endless cycle of being busy. I don't say this out of a judgmental spirit; but, it's no wonder that people cannot function without alcohol, anti-depressants, or a stop by the vape shop. And, if we don't rest, never stop moving, and continue to abuse our bodies, it will finally negatively affect our immune system. 

 

Many people live in constant stress and chaos. Their bodies and their minds never rest until they collapse into bed at night. Access to technology constantly stimulates our brain. Even God rested on the 7th day during Creation. We need to take a cue from the Lord. Sometimes, we need to say "No" to another busy assignment or politely decline an activity that will bring on more stress or dread.

 

This is not about shirking responsibility. It's about creating a lifestyle of peace and sanity. Constant non-stop busyness does not enrich our soul. Quiet walks, meditating on the Lord, and sitting in a chair by the river will bring peace, rest and tranquility to a weary spirit. Consequently, a rested soul, mind and body is more productive when productivity really matters.

 

Genesis 2:3

And God blessed the seventh day, and sanctified it: because that in it He had rested from all His work which God created and made.

 

Exodus 34:21

Six days thou shalt work, but on the seventh day thou shalt rest: in earing time and in harvest thou shalt rest.

 

Mark 6:31

And He said unto them, Come ye yourselves apart into a desert place, and rest a while: for there were many coming and going, and they had no leisure so much as to eat.

 

 

All scriptures are King James Version.

 

 

Copyright 2022, Curtis and Norma Beaird.  All rights reserved. 

Memorial Day

 

Photography by Curtis Beaird

 

John 15:13

Greater love hath no man than this,

that a man lay down his life for his friends.

 

 

 

Copyright 2022, Curtis and Norma Beaird.  All rights reserved. 

Don't Live in the Shallow End

 

Tybee Island, Georgia with a Ring-billed Gull Flying over the beach

 

Photography and Poem by Norma Beaird

 

Don't Live in the Shallow End

 

Choose the deep waters of life.

Choose peace, love, compassion and loyalty.

 

Embrace the beauty of nature and listen for birdsong,

Rejoice in the sunshine and bask in the light of the moon. 

 

Learn lessons in the midst of the wilderness,

Cry and pray, for the tears that flow are cleansing to the soul.  

 

Be still and listen in the silence of the forest,

Be thankful for the rain and the rainbow that follows.

 

If you chase after everything that is money-driven,

you will live your life in the shallow end.

 

Those who live their life in the shallow end

will never dive into the deep spiritual truths of God.

 

You will always wonder why you're never at peace.

The things of this world are temporary.

 

The gifts of God are eternal.

 

 

 

 

Copyright 2022, Curtis and Norma Beaird.  All rights reserved. 

Fog

 

Photography by Curtis Beaird

Article by Norma Beaird

 

FOG...

Fog in the atmosphere.
Fog on the road.
Fog after the rain.
Fog on my path.
Fog in my mind.

No matter where the fog has manifest, prayer is the answer.

Fog, sunshine, rain, clouds, more fog and then blue skies.
This is basically life. One day, the skies are blue and the sun is shining. The next day it's cold, damp and gray. And then, you wake up to a very dense and unexpected fog.

Sometimes, our minds are clear with happy thoughts, forward movement, and looking for a bright future and everything that life may hold for us. The next day, we wake up in discouragement, pain and near hopelessness of thought.

Then sometimes, in the midst of the dense, overwhelming fog, where you can't see your way clear, the Lord sends a bright ray of light, both in the physical and the spiritual. Nature has a way of teaching us about the love and mercy of God.

LESSONS I've learned about FOG:

It doesn't last forever, sometimes it's mere hours.

The Lord is still there, even in the midst of the fog.

The sun's rays will peak through the fog and allow you to see your way clear, both physically and spiritually.

The dark gray fog will make the sunshine and blue skies seem much more beautiful.....because you've been in the darkness and now you see the light.

No matter the reason for your personal FOG, whether it's sickness, discouragement, depression, rocky relationships or unexpected problems on the job.... your answer is GOD. Only the Lord can cure what ails us both physically and spiritually. It's in the denseness of the fog that we learn our most valuable spiritual lessons.  Allow God to shine His light of love upon your situation. 

Psalm 27:1

The LORD is my light and my salvation; whom shall I fear? the LORD is the strength of my life; of whom shall I be afraid?

Isaiah 9:2

The people that walked in darkness have seen a great light: they that dwell in the land of the shadow of death, upon them hath the light shined.

John 12:35

Then Jesus said unto them, Yet a little while is the light with you. Walk while ye have the light, lest darkness come upon you: for he that walketh in darkness knoweth not whither he goeth.

All scriptures are King James Version.

Copyright 2022, Curtis and Norma Beaird.  All rights reserved. 

The Light Through the Trees

Great Egret

 

The Light Through the Trees

Photography and Poem by Norma Beaird

 

Sometimes, in the midst of the trees and the brush,

over the cloudy and dark murky water,

there appears a beautiful and bright, white light.

 

It's in the distance, just waiting for you to finally see it,

this beautiful white light shines brightly to guide you

as you migrate through life's troubled journeys. 

 

Though your wings may feel heavy, and the flight is so long,

you will soar through the sky and know that God's love

 will strengthen you through the wind and the rain. 

 

You may arrive to your destination quite exhausted and soaked,

but spread your wings and shake off the water.

You've made it.  The Lord never leaves us in the storm alone. 

 

 

Copyright 2022, Curtis and Norma Beaird.  All rights reserved. 

 

 

The Outdoor Art Gallery

 

 

Article By Norma Beaird

Photography by Curtis Beaird

 

If you enjoy beautiful paintings or intriguing photography, it is inspiring to go to a lovely art gallery or museum. You can quietly walk through and be mesmerized by the amazing oil paintings and captivating photos. However, there is another art gallery that is always open, day or night.

It is simply called "The Outdoor Art Gallery", owned by Creator of the Universe and Genesis One Productions. God's Outdoor Art Gallery is ever-changing; and, unlike other galleries and museums, each day offers spectacular new artwork on a universal canvas. Each morning, He creates and paints a new and exciting visual to inspire creativity in all of us. There is never an admission charge to view His gallery and you are never asked to leave.

If you prefer a nighttime viewing of His creations, He offers a mesmerizing experience of the moon and stars. He invites you to the "Night-owl Extravaganza" where those who prefer an evening showing can enjoy an astronomical encounter. You may need a jacket and hat, and the cool air may chill you to the bone, but the beauty of God's lunar wonder will warm your heart.

So, do not worry if you do not see the Mona Lisa or the works of Leonardo da Vinci in your future travels. The most glorious Artist of all will be showing His work each and every day. Come rain or shine, summer or winter, His canvas will change before your eyes; and, in minutes, and sometimes seconds, you will view a majestic new work of art. No matter where you live or travel.....there He will be.

Psalm 19:1-2 KJV

"The heavens declare the glory of God; and the firmament sheweth His handywork.
Day unto day uttereth speech, and night unto night sheweth knowledge."

 

 

Copyright 2020, Curtis and Norma Beaird.  All rights reserved.  

Let us Pray

 

Prayer by Curtis Beaird

Photography by Norma Beaird

 

Father, we come before You, this Your day, with thanksgiving and praise. We bow before You with joy and gladness, that we might look away from the tangled and sad mess that is our world, and find Your holy face and celebrate your grace in Jesus Christ.  

We come not to escape the world,

but to confess our need for Your everlasting truth and Your never-ending mercy. 

Father, our vision fails. We are overcome with confusion, fear and anger.  We have lost our way.  We live among a people who have lost their way. 

We pray, oh Lord, that time has not ended, that Your created order is not too broken to mend.  We seek Your healing, Oh Lord. 

We turn away today from the half-truths, manipulations, political charade and unseemly power plays to confess our over-reliance on men and women who can’t find their way in the dark. 

We ask, Oh Lord, that You allow us to hear again, Jesus’ words from the cross, “Forgive them for they know not what they do.” 

Father, Your world stumbles, relying on itself, guessing at the future, while posing as powerful.   

Father, we look to You, not to avoid the world; but, that in these last days, You will pour out Your spirit upon us afresh. 

We look to You in hopes that we may silence the self long enough, that Your Holy Spirit might move us away from our self-seeking and selfish ways. 

That we might find the courage to bring Your light to the dark world, 

that we might find the heart to share Your truth in a world, lost in the same tired ways of greed and fear that has alway been. 

We pray, oh Lord, that You will open our eyes that we might see; and, in seeing, celebrate the joy and gladness that comes from trust in You. 

Father, this day, Your day, we praise Your Holy Name with grateful hearts. 

And now, Oh Lord, because of Your love and grace, we turn strong to meet another day in our broken world, glad that we are Your people who are privileged to serve Your Holy Name. 

For we know Father, that You are good, that Your mercy is everlasting; and, Your truth endures to all generations. 

 

Amen and Amen

 

Grace and peace

 

 

Copyright 2020, Curtis and Norma Beaird.  All rights reserved.  

A Spring Evening Waxing Crescent Moon

 

A Waxing Crescent Moon at 8% illumination on Saturday, April 25, 2020

 

Photography by Curtis Beaird

 

Last night, when we arrived home, we saw the most beautiful Waxing Crescent Moon. Curtis went inside and grabbed the camera, and this is the result. You can see the Waxing Crescent Moon hovering over the pecan trees at 8% illumination. The round silhouette of the moon is called earthshine. The dim glow of earthshine happens when the sun's light reflects off of the earth's surface and back onto the moon.

 

 

Copyright 2020, Curtis and Norma Beaird.  All rights reserved.  

What Will See us Through?

 

Article by Curtis Beaird 

Photography by Norma Beaird

 

We know at first light, God has given us another day, win, lose or draw. The day that the Lord has made has arrived. And, right before our eyes,  “Life, liberty and the pursuit of happiness” opens before us.

We pray. Read our Bible. Drink coffee. Then it happens. 

We turn on an electronic device.  In the blink of an eye, the tedium of the ever-present chaos greets us.  The world rushes in, claiming that there is never enough; and, if there was enough, it wouldn’t be right.

Things must change, but stay the same. The promise is a lie and it is “their” fault.  Turn the volume down, and even mute the sound, but you know the voice of demand continues to grate on your nerves, even if all you see is a plastic smile with moving lips. 

What will see us through?

 

We know that determination, strength of will, and fortitude can move us forward.

They have before, and will again. 

We know that patience is an asset; as in, “This too shall pass.”  

We know that hope is a necessity and faith is a gift. 

 

But, what will see us through?  Of everything that we try, and the last thing we expect to hear, Paul says — “the greatest is love.” 

“Love bears all things, believes all things, hopes all things, endures all things. Love never ends. “ 

I Corinthians 13

 

Grace and peace

 

Copyright 2020, Curtis and Norma Beaird.  All rights reserved.  

Just Preach the Word

 

A beautiful stained glass window in the Ailey Baptist Church Social Hall

Ailey, Georgia

 

Photography by Norma Beaird

Poem by Curtis Beaird

 

Just preach the Word.

 

Jesus did the heavy lifting on the cross.

Then, He whipped the worst --- the grave and hell. 

Then, “Up from the grave, He arose." 

Not only to set the fearful free,

but to empower His followers with the only power worthy of the name power,

the Holy Spirit. 

 

Now, He sits, King of Kings and Lord of Lords, at the right hand of God Almighty. 

From His throne, He will come to judge the quick and the dead. 

"Thy Kingdom come, Thy will be done on earth as it is in Heaven." 

 

No further explanation required. 

The risen, resurrected Lord Jesus Christ is the only lesson worthy of teaching. 

Announce the victory. 

Start the celebration. 

 

Come, Lord Jesus. 

 

 

Copyright 2019, Curtis and Norma Beaird.  All rights reserved.