"Your love, O LORD, reaches to the heavens, your faithfulness to the skies. Your righteousness is like the mighty mountains, your justice like the great deep" (Psalm 36:5,6).

I often use photos as a visual reinforcement of the messages I share with readers such as today's photo.  Since I live in rural Lancaster County, Pennsylvania most of my photos reflect views in this area.  Periodically I travel and always try to get a different perspective, but that's pretty limited.

A friend and I were sharing how neat it would be if you could change the view from your front picture window daily. One day I might select an ocean view, another day a mountain view and so forth. That would sure provide a lot of variety!  My friend took today's photo of the Grand Teton Mountains in Wyoming. When he showed it to me I thought of the many Biblical texts that speak of mountains and today's text particularly came to mind since this Scripture is often sung as well.

Ironically Psalm 36 begins like this, "An oracle is within my heart concerning the sinfulness of the wicked: There is no fear of God before his eyes."  The first four verses are an observation of man's wickedness. Though David wrote this passage some 3000 years ago, it could easily be describing the conditions in November 2006 of the world in which we live. (I encourage readers to take a moment and read the entire Psalm today.)

But David interjects a remarkable proclamation concerning God's love, faithfulness, righteousness and justice in the daily Scripture portion.  Perhaps he was inspired by a mountain view similar to the one in today's photo. He goes on to state in the following verse, "How priceless is your unfailing love! Both high and low among men find refuge in the shadow of your wings."

Today let us rest in the assurance of God's steadfast love and care!


Be encouraged today,


Stephen & Brooksyne Weber

Today's Prayer: Father, there is no challenge we face today where Your love, faithfulness, righteousness and justice will not prevail as we walk hand in hand with You.   We are assured of this merciful blessing as we find sanctuary in the shadow of Your wings.  It is Your protection and covering that helps us to process today's events with an eternal perspective through the eyes of faith.  You are our Refuge, our Strength, and our Covering.  We are safe and secure from all alarms as we walk in the shadow of Your Almighty wings.  Thank You for this wonderful assurance.  Amen.

---

Psalm 36

---

Today's text has been set to music by "Third Day".  I have two locally recorded worship service versions of the song available on the internet as audio files. #1    #2

Note: Several weeks ago a reader asked me how I find the music I place up on the internet.  Brooksyne is a musician and she and I have enjoyed a variety of Christian music since we came to Christ in our teen years. It helps us to stay anchored in our Christian walk as we go about our work throughout the day while it also inspires us.  We have several local Christian radio stations and also I listen to online radio.  As we prepare a message a song may come to mind such as today that reinforces the message.  Many local churches now place up selections from their worship service or special presentations from people in the church to share. In a few cases the original musicians also have their music up but usually only as a sample clip.  Of course these local presentations may not be of the highest quality but to me they sound just fine! The AltaVista search engine has a nifty tool that allows you to limit the search only to audio files (Note the MP3/Audio tab in the center.)  I type in the song I am looking for and usually sort through many that don't fit but usually find someone who has recorded the song and placed it on the internet.

---

Brooksyne has actually seen window murals and blinds that will simulate the very thing I speak of.  In other words some people who enjoy a variety of landscapes could have a room with windows on all four sides.  Perhaps the east view shows the vast ocean, looking to the west they see the mountain ranges, to the north they enjoy the farm view and the south may have a wooded forest.  The closest we found on the internet to that concept is window murals but Brooksyne is quite sure she has seen something to the effect of a filter type shade that you can change scenes.  If not someone will invent it!

---

Finally, I was looking at photographs available on the internet of the Grand Tetons and found some outstanding views. I have never been to this part of the country but look forward to a visit someday!
Quaking Aspens
Mountain Lake
Rustic Barn
Meadow View