These trees have been bent over for many years and weighed down by the snow every winter. I’m waiting for them to crash down on the telephone lines below.
Here is a path into and through the tall trees. It’s adventurous to walk in here.
Here is a narrow path leading out to the creek. The path is barely visible because of all the snow, yet it beckons us forward.
This bridge takes us over the creek if we desire to go there.
A cold evening sky.
A squirrel in my backyard.
My backyard after a good snowfall.
The start of a winter walk.
Creek still unfrozen.
I was really inspired by a sports article I read in my newspaper today—all about how our quarterback, Kirk Cousins plans on using his comeback victory to share his Christian faith. Ya, in case you weren’t aware, our Minnesota Vikings got the all-time NFL record for a comeback victory. They were down 33 to 0 against the Colts at the half, but in the second half they somewhat miraculously got 39 points and held the Colts to just three points. The final score was Viking 39, Colts 36.
It turns out that the last comeback victory was led by Buffalo’s quarterback Frank Reich, against the Houston Oilers in 1993, and he is a Christian just as Kirk Cousins is! Well, the article tells how he has encouraged Cousins to use his comeback victory to share his faith just as he has been doing in the last thirty years.
I pray that Kirk will really take the opportunity to do it. God has given him a tremendous platform in the sports world. It is up to him to use it to glorify God—no pressure, ha ha.
God has given me a platform too—my painting business. Through my business I have found many opportunities to give a witness.
My son, let them [wisdom and understanding] not vanish from your sight;
Keep sound wisdom and discretion,
22 So they will be life to your soul
And adornment to your neck.
23 Then you will walk in your way securely
And your foot will not stumble (Prov. 3:21-23).
Sound wisdom and discretion are tightly tied together. If you walk with discretion you will be secure and not stumble.
[When wisdom comes to you it] will enter your heart
And knowledge will be pleasant to your soul;
Discretion will guard you,
Understanding will watch over you,
12 To deliver you from the way of evil,
From the man who speaks perverse things;
13 From those who leave the paths of uprightness
To walk in the ways of darkness (Prov. 2:10-13).
If you are wise, your soul will be pleased with God’s knowledge. If you are wise, discretion will guard you and understanding will watch over you and deliver you from evil.
Minnesota Red-headed Woodpecker
O Lord, how many are Your works!
In wisdom You have made them all;
The earth is full of Your possessions (Ps. 104:24).
God used great wisdom in His creation.
So teach us to number our days,
That we may present to You a heart of wisdom (Ps. 90:12).
God teaches us to use our time wisely, so that we may grow in wisdom.
Stephen Nielsen 