5 THINGS I LEARNT FROM TAKING PIX OF A RAINBOW
Looking at nature can be so inspiring. So can taking pix of it. So I do both whenever I can. Seems I’m not the only one who does this in my family. One evening during a visit, my niece ran excitedly into the house to announce, “There’s a rainbow. See!” She had gone over to the window as she bounded into the room and was pointing at the sky. I was impressed that she appreciated creation.
True, there was a rainbow, but it was a bit faint and it wasn’t the whole arc. Some of it was under some fluffy white and grey clouds. Besides, the mosquito netting on the window was obscuring the sight. She asked me to go outside the house for a better view. Just what I was thinking. I grabbed my tablet and we went into the compound. I took some shots but they weren’t so good. Then we went outside the compound but trees and power lines were messing up the perspective.
Finally, I told her we should try the back porch. Voila! We still couldn’t see the whole bow but we had the best pictures we could get given the limitations of my device and the unyielding clouds. So we hadn’t needed to go outside the house after all. (A few of the cropped pix from that exercise illustrate this post.)
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(Related: Behold the Beauty of the Skies)
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As I reflected on this experience, I learnt five things that blessed my heart and hereby share them with you.
LESSONS FROM THIS EXPERIENCE
There’s no counting how often we expend ourselves and run hither and thither for something when it’s already within our reach. And how we worry and “pray” (actually a lot of it won’t pass muster as proper prayer) and negotiate to get what is technically ours! How many times have we cried, “Oh Lord, heal me!” or “Oh Lord, be with me!” when He has promised us in His word that by His wounds, we have been healed (1 Peter 2:24) and that He will never leave us nor forsake us (Hebrews 13:5)?
There are some scriptures on this from the Epistles that make me crazy. (I’ll emphasise the particular parts I’m referring to in each verse.)
“And ye are complete in him, which is the head of all principality and power” – (Colossians 2:10).
“… For all things are yours; Whether Paul, or Apollos, or Cephas, or the world, or life, or death, or things present, or things to come; all are yours” – (1 Corinthians 3:21-22).
“… his divine power hath given unto us all things that pertain unto life and godliness, through the knowledge of him that hath called us to glory and virtue” – (2 Peter 1:3).
In other words, all we will ever need come from God and He has given them to us in Christ Jesus.
[bctt tweet=”God has given us everything we need in Christ Jesus.” username=”edithsmusings”]
However, our experiences may not always line up with the word of God and the enemy plays upon that fact. He attempts to push us to acknowledge him as though our fortunes were up to him. He claims he can let us have what is rightfully ours from God if we give him allegiance or take other steps that would offend God. This isn’t a new trick. He tried it with the Lord Jesus during his temptations at the beginning of His ministry.
“5. And the devil, taking him up into an high mountain, shewed unto him all the kingdoms of the world in a moment of time. 6. And the devil said unto him, All this power will I give thee, and the glory of them: for that is delivered unto me; and to whomsoever I will I give it. 7. If thou therefore wilt worship me, all shall be thine. 8. And Jesus answered and said unto him, Get thee behind me, Satan: for it is written, Thou shalt worship the Lord thy God, and him only shalt thou serve” – (Luke 4:5-8).
The devil was offering the world to Jesus, the Son of God! Meanwhile the Scriptures aver that “by him were all things created, that are in heaven, and that are in earth, visible and invisible, whether they be thrones, or dominions, or principalities, or powers: all things were created by him, and for him” – (Colossians 1:16). Now, isn’t that rich?
The Book of Hebrews spells out what gave the devil the temerity to take that step.
“7. Thou madest him a little lower than the angels; thou crownedst him with glory and honour, and didst set him over the works of thy hands: 8. Thou hast put all things in subjection under his feet. For in that he put all in subjection under him, he left nothing that is not put under him. But now we see not yet all things put under him. 9. But we see Jesus, who was made a little lower than the angels for the suffering of death, crowned with glory and honour; that he by the grace of God should taste death for every man” – (Hebrews 2:7-9).
Jesus was in the flesh, on a mission to die for the sins of mankind. He wasn’t on His throne in glory, so the devil came to confuse and insult himself.
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(Related: Wealth and Fame)
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All through that encounter, Jesus stuck to the word of God and got the victory. So should we.
[bctt tweet=”We should face every temptation with the word of God as the Lord Jesus did.” username=”edithsmusings”]
That is to say when our circumstances contradict God’s promises, we should stand by and speak His word over them. We should believe His word to be true regardless of what we see. Then we can walk in the reality of our “God, who quickeneth the dead, and calleth those things which be not as though they were” – (Romans 4:17).
Lesson 1: We often stress ourselves out unnecessarily to get what is very close or what is already ours.
Lesson 2: The enemy often tries to manipulate us when he sees our experiences falling short of the promises of God.
Lesson 3: When our circumstance seems contrary to the word of God, we should abide in the word and watch it change the situation.
Also, appreciate what you receive from God even if it seems less than perfect. We could only see slices of a rainbow in the sky but we celebrated because it is a reminder of God’s love and forbearance as shown in His promise to mankind after the flood (Genesis 9:8-17). We will probably have more sightings of rainbows in the future, some fuller and more colourful than this. But this was good enough. It served its purpose. filling us with joy and awe for God who is “wonderful in counsel, and excellent in working” (Isaiah 28:29).
Lesson 4: Be thankful for every blessing from God, not just the huge and perfect ones. This attitude usually brings great joy.
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(Related: Thank You, Lord!)
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Finally, next time you want something or a challenge confronts you, don’t be in a hurry to run out, spend money, try this and that, all of which might get you into a tailspin. Take a moment to reflect on it. You may hear a gentle whisper that gives you the answer you need, an answer that might surprise you in its simplicity and save you a lot of trouble.
[bctt tweet=”Don’t get into a tailspin over your problems. Commit them to God.” username=”edithsmusings”]
Lesson 5: We should first commit our ways and problems to God before pouring in our own resources or human help.
Get into the word and pray it back to God as His Spirit quickens it in your heart. Don’t be so easily moved by the prodding of your natural mind or people around you, well-intentioned though they may be, like my lovely niece in this story.
You might just find that the rainbow looks much better from your back porch than out in the street.
Prayer:
Dear Lord, may I never forget Your mercy and Your love and may I see Your word fulfilled in my life daily in Jesus’ name.
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The scriptures used in this post are from the King James Version of the Holy Bible. The highlights are mine.
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Interesting piece Ma. Me too am blessed by nature in amazing ways. Just this Thursday, I saw a beautiful rainbow early in the morning, on my way to work. This time the arc was full and the colours really bright. Though I was on a bike, I couldn’t help taking a picture of it. My soul was blessed by it as I was reminded about the sufficient mercy of God upon my life and humanity as a whole. The rainbow truly made my day.
It surely would. What a way to begin the day! God’s grace with work and everything else, Oge, in Jesus’ name.
I like having a long stare at a rainbow when I see one. That’s because I love the sight of it and rainbows are rarely seen. Am yet to see any this year though and I hope to see one soon.
I appreciate the lesson 1 of this write up, “We often stress ourselves out unnecessarily to get what is very close or what is already ours”.
Thank you
Thank you too, Martin. Happy Sinday to you!
Very good lessons! Wonderful! They are so simple and obtainable. Well written. Thank you Edith !
Thanks a lot for visiting, April! Have a beautiful week!
Thank God so much for his mercy and the promises he sends us when we see rainbows! I am pinning this one! Great post!
I appreciate, Keisha! May we continue to experience God’s faithfulness everyday and point others to Him in Jesus’ name.
Surely, it is good to admire nature.
Yes, it is! You are highly blessed, Levi, in Jesus’ name.
This is impressive; I love taking pictures of the rainbow and my pictures are also not so clear and complete but I love them. I am also teaching myself to thank God for everything everyday just like David.
Oh yes, David is such a good model of a grateful heart. Thanks for your input, Jackline, and God’s grace in your ministry in Jesus’ name.
This –> “When our circumstance seems contrary to the word of God, we should abide in the word and watch it change the situation.” Amen! Thank you for the wisdom.
Thank you, dear sister, and glory to God! May the Lord enlarge your coast more and more in Jesus’ name.
You are a dear sister and minister of His word, for the edification of the body of Christ, to take the time to share with us, the beauty and wisdom that His spirit reveals to you in LIFE and nature, incorporating scripture. Thank you. Blessings to you and yours <3
Thanks a great deal, for your encouragement, Tammy! I pray that God uses these words to bless many people and do the same with your ministry in Jesus’ name.
The Imagery I get from just thinking about the rainbows can”t just be expressed really in words but be felt and so is Gods words we should really grow from the point of reading and knowing his promises to really believing and living it out in our lives…lovely blend again from you MA.GOD BLESS YOU FOR YOUR ENCOURAGING WORDS
Amen and may God bless you abundantly too in Jesus’ name.
Wonderful post. More grace…
Patience in life brings good virtues, hastiness in decision making has never yielded any Good fruit, for the fact that God loves us ,he won’t want his children to use alternative means just to get what they want, life is always sweet if we get to understand the ways of the Lord. God bless you Ma
The rainbow is as beautiful as God hands. The rainbow is a promise made by God to man. God bless you MA, for sharing
what a beautiful sight is a rainbow. it reminds me of God’s beauty in all his creations. nice post ma.
“Also, appreciate what you receive from God even if it seems less than perfect.” That will be my take away from this beautiful post.
I find the lessons in the experience more important. For me, I think to stand firm on the word when trials come demands that one has a deep knowledge of his word. You must have been at home with your Bible! However, this was demonstrated when Jesus replied to Satan during his temptation thus, “It is written”.. meaning one needs to know what God says in a particular situation. Finally, I pray that anybody who adopts the lessons from the experience as outlined by our Aunty shall triumph in all circumstances.
just like how you stressed yourself running around to get a clearer view of the rainbow when you could have gotten the best shot exactly where you were standing initially, that is how Christians run around for answers to their problems when all we should have done was go straight to God in prayer.
#for my thought for you are of good and not of evil to reach an expected end# I have learnt in my years on earth to always subject my will to that of God and let Him have His way.
I’ve not seen the rainbow in a long time but I’ve seen stars and I admire them so much
They look so small from a distance but they’re so big. They represent greatness. They shine forth! I love taking pictures of stars and the moon. Nature is beautiful. Your ability to bring out lessons from your love for nature is amazing! I don’t know how you do it, aunty! I want to be like you.
wow, wonderful post , so interesting till the end
The rainbow is a promise that God gave to us that he will never destroy the earth with flood again. When God say’s something, he stands by it. Thanks ma for this message.
All things bright and beautiful, the lord God made them all…the rainbow is a promise from God and he always keep to his promises..thanks alot ma !!for this wonderful piece.
Really amazing post. All these memories from scriptures in the Bible and lessons just from admiring the rainbow. It’s breathtaking. Not to mention,every lesson rings true. His promises,his word and his grace are very much sufficient for us. The very air we breathe, nature’s beauty all around us are assurance enough. I love how you read meaning into your experiences and share them with us. You are amazing Aunty
God is always with us and has given us power for so much more than we realise. Sometimes it may seem like we are inadequate and cant reach some certain things. However, God has placed everything within our reach and all we need to do is get a hokd of it.God is our strength
The rainbow is one of the beauty of Gods creation, I tend to be elated and filled with exhilaration when I see one, it makes me proud of whom I serve.
There are several beautiful things God has created, The rainbow is one of them and the symbol of the rainbow makes us know that God keeps to his promises, so appreciate what you receive from God even if it seems less than perfect. Whenever we see a rainbow in the sky we should celebrate because it is a reminder of God’s love and forbearance as shown in His promise to mankind after the flood
Staring at the rainbow, the stars or sunset comes with this overwhelming supernatural feeling. I think that feeling is God in His infinite goodness looking down on us and reminding us of all his promises. All we have to do is believe.
Rainbow and its beautiful colours. It always reminds me that God will never destroy His creation with flood. God bless you ma!
The most striking word I got from this is from colosians and it says we are complete in him. That means that we do not need anything. It also means that we don’t need to run around for anything because everything we need is right within us. Just like they were looking for a perfect angle to take that picture meanwhile it is right inside their apartment.
Excellent! Often times we strive so hard for things already given us by God because we feel they don’t meet our expectations. It is always better to trust God and appreciate whatever he does for us. Your illustration using the rainbow event tells the story mush better.
I am also a nature lover, glad you are too. Everything about nature including the rainbow creates peace and warmth in the heart when beheld.
One of the parts I liked a lot was the place you said, “We often stress ourselves out unnecessarily to get what is very close or what is already ours.” It takes faith for someone to hand it all to God to play His part while he/she puts in work to see that the goal is achieved.
“Also, appreciate what you receive from God even if it seems less than perfect.” That statement made above limping as anything that comes from God is perfect and has no reason to be seen as less than perfect. Anybody that sees God’s gift, creation, ways or endowments as ‘not enough’ still needs to be given an inner eye to understand the greatness of what he/she has been given!
Nevertheless, nature is God’s way of beautifying and instilling order in the universe.
Wow this is creative ma!
I must say I’m impressed and happy to have read this post. Your niece is quite a character though I love her way ma.
Then in the lesson number four actually got me we should learn to appreciate or be thankful both to big and small blessings. Appreciation/being thankful to me is the biggest form of love anyone can show…it sire brings Joy.
Thanks ma’am for this wonderful post??
God loves a soul that thanks and appreciate him. We should always thank God for what we have no matter the amount.
David always praised God and God never ceased to bless him. In all circumstances, Give thanks . 1 Thessalonians 5:18
There’s this song we sing then in primary school: all this bright and beautiful, all creatures great and small, all things bright and wonderful, the Lord God made them all. As beautiful as all of God’s creatures are, so are we also beautifully made, and we should always appreciate God for it
Interesting to say the least. Nature is so beautiful that I always bless God for His creations. Just how creative God is. The lessons you gave from it are no doubt helpful.
Wonderful content!!! I’m glad that you appreciate nature and find a way to draw attention to the beauty of creation. Many people are carried away by other things and don’t even appreciate the little things around them. But I’m glad you have pointed that out
I love and appreciate nature too,I saw a bow two weeks ago, so conspicuous and so beautiful. And it reminded me of God’s love to us and the authenticity of his words,as recorded in the holy bible. From this post I ‘ve learnt not to get pressured unnecessarily over issues, but I should rather commit things to God in prayer and wait for his response.
Being thankful to God for any blessing at all is the best thing we should always do. This is because we are not worthy to get them; it is only by the grace of God.