A palette of God on the Kissimmee River

God's artistry is the best; the pinnacle of human abstract or realistic art, and everything in between, is only a pale imitation of what is, and the transcendent best that it evokes. Enjoy a scene from this week, the palette of God and the Kissimmee River, blues and pinks and divine hues. Shalom!

Florida sky after a storm

Here's a shot of the sky after a storm, near where I live... Okeechobee usually gets a thunderstorm a day in the summer, in the afternoon, often clearing before sunset, setting up dramatic scenes in late afternoon, early evening! Enjoy!

Painted sky, shaded grass

Here's a classic Old Florida scene. A lot going on in this pic, shapes of clouds and grass, panorama of bright blue-white sky and shadowed grass, highlighted individual strands of grass, distant dark green palms... layered color! Enjoy!

A pink sky over an orange grove

The sky shows this time of year are simply phenomenal. Here's a glimpse of the early evening sky tonight -- it turned from blue to yellow to pink, in beautiful order. And here: pastel pink in the last exquisite moments of light! I love how the trees lead off into the distance, augmented by the pathways in the sky -- a moment in time, full life. Enjoy!

October sky after storm

Here is the sky over Lake Okeechobee, after a storm moved through. I just love the sky after a storm! That freshly-washed look and the rainy-clean smell in the air... And Florida has lots of that beauty -- perennial sun, intermittent storms, big sky and majestic clouds of all shades... amazing light. enjoy!

A rainbow of fire and promise

After an early evening thunderstorm, a beautiful covered the lake. Here is just a fraction of the beautiful show, nature's best reflection of divine glory. :-)

In taking the photo and worshiping under the grand, vaulted canopy, storm in distance and sun in the West... clouds and rainbow fire over the lake... I was reminded of these words of God from Genesis chapter nine:

And God said,

"This is the sign of the covenant I am making between me and you and every living creature with you, a covenant for all generations to come: I have set my rainbow in the clouds, and it will be the sign of the covenant between me and the earth. Whenever I bring clouds over the earth and the rainbow appears in the clouds, I will remember my covenant between me and you and all living creatures of every kind. Never again will the waters become a flood to destroy all life. Whenever the rainbow appears in the clouds, I will see it and remember the everlasting covenant between God and all living creatures of every kind on the earth."

So God said... "This is the sign of the covenant I have established between me and all life on the earth."

The time of destructive flood is past. Life will begin again. See the sign, and live, Live, my friend! Even now the waters recede, and you are called to your true part... sing, dance, trust!

Alleluia.

Selah.

Palms at stormy sunset

Here are palms against a blue-scale sky, at sunset, under an approaching lightning storm. Streaks of lightning were hitting in the west while I snapped this shot toward the east, catching the ambient lighting of the reflected sun and stormy cover. Enjoy!

Palm trees in stormy frame

Palm trees in stormy relief: contrast, light and shadow and cloud-texture. Enjoy!

A rainstorm over Lake Okeechobee

Rain pours in blue out on the lake, clouds in varying hue. Enjoy!

A painting of evening clouds over Lake Okeechobee

The Master Artist at work, blending light and dark, closer darkened clouds and far away light! Enjoy!

An early evening reflection

Coming out of dinner tonight, I spotted this neat view: a downpour of rain had passed, and these clouds remained, evening sun shining through in primary bluescale, with barest hint of pink -- gloaming light reflected in a clear pond-mirror, framed by cattails and distant palms. Enjoy!

A walkway to the sky

Here's a view overlooking dry Lake Okeechobee, wooden walkway pointed upward, birds freewheeling with tinted clouds... enjoy!

A roadway to the throne

And so, irony and symbolism blend: is it the roadway of sand... or the roadway of sky... or both? Blessings to you today, and enjoy this pic from Saturday! :-)

Arrows of God

Here is a symmetry of clouds and birds, pointed majestically into the setting sun! I caught this shot at a nature observatory several miles down the lake. Enjoy!

Wait quietly for the salvation of the Lord

It is good that one should wait quietly for the salvation of the Lord.

“Has God forgotten to be gracious? Has He in anger shut up His compassion?”

I had said in my alarm, “I am cut off from your sight.” But you heard the voice of my pleas for mercy when I cried to you for help.

“Will not God give justice to His elect, who cry to Him day and night? Will He delay long over them? I tell you, He will give justice to them speedily.”

Wait for the Lord, and He will deliver you.

Be still before the Lord and wait patiently for Him; fret not yourself over the one who prospers in His way, over the man who carries out evil devices!

“You will not need to fight in this battle. Stand firm, hold your position, and see the salvation of the Lord.”

Let us not grow weary of doing good, for in due season we will reap, if we do not give up.

See how the farmer waits for the precious fruit of the earth, being patient about it, until it receives the early and the late rains.

Lam. 3:26; Ps. 77:9; Ps. 32:22; Luke 18:7, 8; Prov. 20:22; Ps. 37:7; 2 Chron. 20:17; Gal. 6:9; Jas. 5:7

A fine October day

Today was one of those rare October days where the light and air and sun and shadow all mix together on a divine palette, creating stunning displays of color and sky... nature's glory! I was blessed with a 17 mile bike ride in this autumn glory... and here is a neat scene from my day [one of a hundred, a beauty-filled path through hardwoods and glades, hills and streams!]. Enjoy!

A divine spotlight

Ever notice how God's light shows are the best? :-) Here's a spotlight, several billion candlepower strong, lighting up the dancing Florida sky -- light and dark, clouds and sun in a stunning evening display! Enjoy!

A light in the western sky

Here is another pic from Florida. I love how the gradient blue of the sky and the reflected blue of the water pull the eyes to the pink of the western sky, and setting sun. The gentle contour of the trees and the lush, darkening green of the grass only accentuate the distant pull... this has it all: landscape and painted skyscape, gloaming beauty! Enjoy!

A trinity of light

Here's a neat photo from the weekend in FL... the last rays of the sun highlight three distant clouds in pink, rays flowing from each cloud upward into flowing bluescale clouds... and to the right of the shining clouds stands a formed angel or dove: mystic, beautiful sign of the Trinity: Father, Son and Holy Spirit in the beauty of their creation -- almost like the Shekinah glory of the Ark of the Covenant, guarded by the cherubim! One God in Three, dancing in light of all that He has made, attended by worshiping creatures! I took this pic in awe: the moment beyond beauty... to describe it fails utterly of the wonder. Enjoy! :-)

An August glimpse of God's handwriting

The colors of the sky were in pastel tonight, and the twilight clouds painted mystic signs on the pale blue canvas... hopeful portent here unfurled above flowering field and darkening trees: awesome, August beauty!