Lessons from a trip – High tower

While visiting my daughter and her family, they took us to see the Vulcan. I visit the Birmingham area every year since 1994 and have never been to the Vulcan. As a matter of fact, I never heard of the Vulcan, but then again I’m not from the south.

Vulcan, Birmingham Alabama's colossal statue is the world's largest cast iron statue and considered one of the most memorable works of civic art in the United States. Designed by Italian artist Giuseppe Moretti and cast from local iron in 1904, it has overlooked the urban landscape of Alabama's largest city since the 1930’s. (http://www.visitvulcan.com/index.html) – From the Vulcan website

We had a lovely visit on the grounds as well as in the little museum. The grounds are beautifully cared for and we visited on a warm sunny day. Part of the admission was a trip to the top of the base of the statue. I am not a huge fan of heights, but usually I just take it in stride. We traveled to the top in a glass surround elevator, looking over the city of Birmingham. I was ok until the elevator stopped and opened to a grate platform that encircled the base of the Vulcan. There were people standing and picture taking around the platform. My error was when I looked down right through the grate walkway to the ground, way, way, way down to the ground.

As my family walked around and enjoyed the sights, I walked around and stayed close to the wall of the statue. In retrospect it was pretty funny; if the platform collapsed the wall would do me no good. I was really scared. I have been in many high buildings i.e. the Sears (Willis) Tower in Chicago, the Prudential Building in Boston, The Empire State building in New York and I even like to fly, go figure, but for some reason I had a fear of .. I don’t really know, heights I guess. In the other buildings there is a solid walkway on the Vulcan the walkway was a grate that one could see right down to the earth beneath. As I walked I prayed for calmness of spirit and asked the Lord to take away the fear. I did feel better but was relieved when we traveled down the elevator and I placed my feet on the solid earth.

We walked around the bottom of the statue and talked to the park attendants. One of the attendants told us that the Vulcan was beautiful at night when all the lights were lit. She informed us that our tickets were good for the entire day. I didn’t think anything about it until my daughter said around 8:30 pm, “want to go back to the Vulcan and see it at night”. All jumped at the chance to see it at night. I was not as overjoyed as the rest of the family. Off we went, to see the Vulcan at night, the grounds and statue were brilliantly lit and it was a gorgeous warm summer evening. As we started to ascend on the elevator I felt my fear rising. I prayed and asked  the Lord to take the fear away. The fears did subside and I realized how fears can control a person. I enjoyed the walk around and the dazzling views of Birmingham at night.

How about you? Do you have fears? Give them to God don’t let your fears consume you or your walk in the Lord.

Lessons learned:

God is with me all the time – Hebrews 13:5

Look to Him for strength and encouragement – Psalm 27:1

Pray – I Thessalonians 5:17

Trust Him – Proverbs 3:5-6

The God of my rock; in him will I trust: he is my shield, and the horn of my salvation, my high tower, and my refuge, my saviour; thou savest me from violence. 2Samuel 22:3 

The LORD is my rock, and my fortress, and my deliverer; my God, my strength, in whom I will trust; my buckler, and the horn of my salvation, and my high tower. Psalm 18:2 

For thou hast been a shelter for me, and a strong tower from the enemy. Psalm 61:3 

My goodness, and my fortress; my high tower, and my deliverer; my shield, and he in whom I trust; who subdueth my people under me. Psalm 144:2 

The name of the LORD is a strong tower: the righteous runneth into it, and is safe. Proverbs 18:10

 Have a blessed day,

Donna

Lessons from a trip – Tunnels

Have you ever been in a situation where you thought there was absolutely no way out? At one time or another I think all of us have been there.

Last week as we traveled to Alabama we went through West Virginia. The views were spectacular. At one point we were traveling up a mountain and could only see the sky and green trees around us. Cresting the top of the mount it was breath taking. Absolutely beautiful, we were at the top of one of the mountains and we could see for miles, or so it seemed. I cannot explain the beauty that lay before us. Most of the trip through West Virginia was up and down mountains and hills; we traveled into the valleys at the bottom of the hills. At one point it looked like we were in a valley with only mountains around us. As we were traveling along the highway, and wondering how long we would be in the valley a tunnel came into view. The tunnel was cut straight through the mountain. We found the way out of the valley. Thinking about the trip and all the beautiful views from Massachusetts to Alabama, I thought of the tunnels.

Throughout our lives we will be on the mountain tops as well as in the valley. The valley is usually where we learn the precious promises of God. “I will never leave or forsake you” “draw close to me and I will draw close to you” “come unto me all you who are heavy laden”.

Through each valley there is a way out. Sometimes our valleys are self made, sometimes they are trials, and sometimes they are a schoolroom. Whatever the valley in your life is remember God has made a passageway, to draw us closer to him.

There hath no temptation taken you but such as is common to man: but God is faithful, who will not suffer you to be tempted above that ye are able; but will with the temptation also make a way to escape, that ye may be able to bear it. 1 Corinthians 10:13 

Faithful is he that calleth you, who also will do it. 1Thessalonians 5:24 

The Lord knoweth how to deliver the godly out of temptations, and to reserve the unjust unto the day of judgment to be punished: II Peter 2:9  

Have a blessed day,
Donna

Lessons from a trip – Camera

My youngest grandson is four years old. This year we gave him a digital camera for his birthday. Oh please don’t be alarmed, it was a child’s camera that I purchased on clearance after Christmas. Don’t you just love the clearance aisle? 

He was so excited when he realized it was a “real” camera. He started to “shoot” everything he saw, toys, pictures on the wall, the dog, the table, can’t you just picture him with it in his hand aiming at everything in his sight.

Wherever he went the camera was sure to follow, in a backpack on his back. One night after supper we all went for a walk at the local park. Throughout the walk my grandson would stop and take a picture of something, a bunny, a tree, his brother, whatever was in his path. He would also stop others on the path to tell them he had a camera.

We stopped at the playground to let him and his brother play. After the playground break we headed back to the car. My daughter and youngest grandson walked a good distance in front of us. As I chatted with my older grandson I noticed we were closing the gap between us and the four year old with the camera. As we got closer we could see him talking with a woman who was walking a dog. By the time we caught up the woman and her dog was sitting so my grandson could take a picture. This woman took a few minutes of her walk to make a young boy happy. Her kindness gave all of us a little boost in our step.

It doesn’t hurt to be kind. It rarely takes much time but the joy you bring to someone else because of the kindness is priceless.

Is there someone you can be kind to? Ask God to put opportunities in your path today. Help put a smile on someone’s face.

Put on therefore, as the elect of God, holy and beloved, bowels of mercies, kindness, humbleness of mind, meekness, longsuffering;  Colossians 3:12

And be ye kind one to another, tenderhearted, forgiving one another, even as God for Christ's sake hath forgiven you. Ephesians 4:32

Deliberately seek opportunities for kindness, sympathy, and patience. ~ Evelyn Underhill

Three things in human life are important: the first is to be kind; the second is to be kind; and the third is to be kind. ~ Henry James

Have a blessed day,
Donna

Lessons from a trip - Architecture

I had a great week with my daughter and her family. My husband and I drove to AL. We had a good time and I really don’t mind driving if we have the time. Total driving time is twenty hours so we stop and stay overnight and then continue the trip.

One of my desires was to go and view “Fallingwater”, my husband made reservations for the first day of our travels. “Fallingwater” is a home designed by Architect Frank Lloyd Wright in the 1930’s. The home is built into the rocks and over a water fall. The views from the house are spectacular and the design of the home was ahead of its time. Each part of the house and grounds surrounding the house “fit” together. F.L. Wright designed the whole image. While drawing up the blue prints everything was considered, the size of the house, the parcel the house was built on, the furniture so the views would not be obstructed, even the corner windows were built in such a way that they opened to the outside without a barrier (metal bars) to give a clear view of the nature without.

As we walked through the property and listened to our guide, I was thinking of a Great Architect. The Architect that created you and me, this Architect did not have a blue print; He did not need a drawing. God formed a man out of the dust of the earth and then breathed into his nostrils. The very breath of God went into his being and made him alive.

I love to look at different technologies and buildings that man has made but only One actually created from nothing. F.L. Wright was a great architect and had many unique ideas and techniques. All his abilities came from God.

As you go about your daily routine, take a moment and look at your hands, feet, hair, skin and marvel at how you were created. Thank God for the precious life He has given you.

And the LORD God formed man of the dust of the ground, and breathed into his nostrils the breath of life; and man became a living soul. Genesis 2:7 

The Spirit of God hath made me, and the breath of the Almighty hath given me life. Job 33:4 

I will praise thee; for I am fearfully and wonderfully made: marvellous are thy works; and that my soul knoweth right well. Psalm 139:14 

As thou knowest not what is the way of the spirit, nor how the bones do grow in the womb of her that is with child: even so thou knowest not the works of God who maketh all. Ecclesiastes 11:5  

Have a blessed day,
Donna