Slices of Life

I believe I mentioned somewhere that Beloved Husband gave me a digital frame. I’ve gone through a few years of digital and scanned photos, compiling favorites in people, compositions and colors. Some are simply clouds. Others are groups of people. Events covered range from Christmas to days where the photos themselves are the only things special.

Right now I have but 800+ pictures showing from a jump drive, set for ten seconds each. Randomly shown, it takes over an hour and a half to run through them. I don’t know – who can set that long and watch to verify?

A large percentage consists of family. Large portions of those were taken at church activities. There are just about as many of relatives as of photos of church activities, of our church family, the ones we’ve chosen to be with for eternity.

We enjoy the same pleasures as relatives – gathering together with food, fun fellowship, playing games, exchanging stories. There are often differing opinions – we’re a rather outspoken people, exchanging ideas as well as stories. We differ at times on doctrinal issues, interpretation of specific scriptures, but we have a singular commitment.

We worship the Lord God who led Abraham from Ur, Moses from Egypt, Ruth to Israel, Jonah to Nineveh, Joseph to Bethlehem. The Lord God who said:

For God so loved the world, that he gave his only begotten Son, that whosoever believeth in him should not perish, but have everlasting life. (John 3:16 KJV)

It is so hard to believe Him, though. Mankind looks upon this verse and says, “There must be more. This is too easy.” Foolishness.

It is a battle within each of us to believe. We look for solid proof, knowing that “two and two are four and neither five nor three,” for we’ve been taught basics for decades. Taught to see the simplicity of math when the reality is there are mathematical problems that have been worked on for centuries that remain unsolved. Yet we have faith they will be – people are working on them daily. Scientists know there are other planets in our galaxy based on known mathematics. They have faith in a proven system, therefore they believe the extrapolations.

As Christians, we have searched the scriptures to find whether these things are so. We have found them to be so. Just as it is within our reasoning to believe, others have rejected the message and have no faith in God’s ability.

Doesn’t bother me any more than it did Paul.

For what if some did not believe? shall their unbelief make the faith of God without effect? (Romans 3:3 KJV)

Hardly. So, we Christians gather and in so many ways follow the scriptures.

Finally, be ye all of one mind, having compassion one of another, love as brethren, be pitiful, be courteous: (1 Peter 3:8 KJV)

Always seeking to be closer to God and learn more of what He has for us.

Meditate upon these things; give thyself wholly to them; that thy profiting may appear to all. Take heed unto thyself, and unto the doctrine; continue in them: for in doing this thou shalt both save thyself, and them that hear thee. (1 Timothy 4:15-16 KJV)

(Yep, my photos!)