On Mission Photography by Bryan Nowak

Water represents life. Clean, fresh water is necessary for all living things to survive. But there's a difference between living and surviving. Surviving implies that you are barely getting by. Real living implies a fullness, satisfaction and contentment. John 7:38 [Jesus said...] "Whoever believes in me, as Scripture has said, rivers of living water will flow from within them." Jesus will fill you with hope, joy and peace to the point that it spills out onto others. Not because of who you are but because of who lives IN you. Romans 15:13 May the God of hope fill you with all joy and peace as you trust in him, so that you may overflow with hope by the power of the Holy Spirit.

Choices... sometimes I feel like my head is spinning from all the decisions I must make in a day's time. Some are as simple as which clothes I will wear or foods I will eat, but sometimes they have larger implications to family, co-workers and career. Do I stop, go, charge recklessly on, proceed with caution? Moses offered the people of Israel the following as they entered the Promised Land that God was giving them. "This day I call the heavens and the earth as witnesses against you that I have set before you life and death, blessings and curses. Now choose life, so that you and your children may live and that you may love the Lord your God, listen to his voice, and hold fast to Him." (Deuteronomy 30:19-20) Each of us has a Promised Land called Heaven that is ours if we choose life by following the Lord, listening to Him and being obedient to His desires for us. But, just as was offered the Israelite people, we can also choose cursing, death and eternal separation from ...

When you feel like you're in a desert, desperately thirsty, and in need of that refreshing flow, God will split rocks open for you that you may be revived and restored. Isaiah 48:21 They did not thirst when He led them through the deserts; He made water flow for them from the rock; He split the rock and water gushed out. So go to The Rock! Psalm 18:2 The Lord is my rock, my fortress and my deliverer; my God is my rock, in whom I take refuge, my shield and the horn of my salvation, my stronghold.

According to many word experts, the expression "hitch your wagon to a star" was used by famous American writer Ralph Waldo Emerson in 1862 in his essay “American Civilization.” Hitch means to join or attach. Wagon we know is a vehicle of transport that takes you from one place to another. Star is symbolic of something that is high and you aspire to reach. Hence if you set high goals for yourself and are really motivated to do something great then you are “hitching your wagon to a star.” The Apostle Paul had a great and high goal as recorded in the book of Philippians. He had already been a successful Jewish religious leader. He had already achieved great success as a missionary and church planter. He was well respected by some and hated by others, but certainly had built a reputation for himself in many countries. But he desired more -- to be the person Jesus wanted him to be. Nothing more and nothing less. Look at his writings below: Not that I have already obtained all th...

This is a photo of Graveyard Fields in mid September. Fall begins here on the Blue Ridge Parkway near Asheville, NC and then extends north and south. If you arrive in mid to late October you will see only brown, crunchy leaves scattered on the ground and bare trees. The end of September is probably peak for this one location while all else around remains green. Seeing this reminded me that we need to experience and enjoy life to the fullest while God gives us the capacity to do so. While you may plan for a future of travel and endless adventures in retirement, there is no guarantee you even have one more day on this earth. Look at the words of Solomon... There is nothing better for a person than that he should eat and drink and find enjoyment in his toil. This also, I saw, is from the hand of God, for apart from Him who can eat or who can have enjoyment? (Ecclesiastes 2:24-25) If you work hard for a living then you ought to enjoy the fruits of your labor by taking time along life...

It is now officially Autumn, whether it feels like it our not where you live. This photo was taken a couple of days ago on the Blue Ridge Parkway and while the mountains are still mostly green there are signs that fall color is coming. The Bible also talks about signs of a coming... that of Jesus. Yes, I know you've probably heard it all your life that Jesus' return is eminent or that we are living in the last days, but while His return has not yet happened we are confident that each day's passing brings us closer to His promised coming. Whether that happens in your lifetime or not is up to God and no one really knows when it will occur apart from God, regardless of what the TV or radio host may tell you. Jesus instructed us to be aware of certain things as His time drew near including wars, rumors of wars, an increase in knowledge, the ability for all people to hear the gospel (consider radio, TV, internet), famine, earthquakes, a cashless society, violence, sexual imm...

Water doesn't care if obstacles find their way into its path. It just finds a way around them, over them, under them and sometimes even through them. Be like water and don't allow today's obstacles to be a deterrent in moving on with life. You can find your strength to do so in Christ Jesus. ‘For in Him we LIVE and MOVE and have our being.’ (Acts 17:28)