Classic

"Melancholic waltz" by Emils Darzins

Seasons

There is seasons in nature with all its beauty - all sorts of colors, light games day and night, from dawn till dusk, births and dyings as seasons change, changing appearance of a trees and fields. And there is also seasons in our lives as we grow and mature, hopefully changing from physical beauty of our life's spring to our inner beauty as we bring fruits of our existence and setting for Home which is not made by human hands but by the One who created Seasons and us and who is waiting for his children to come Home to live forever.

God's smile

Many people say, "Who will show us better times?"
Let the smile of your face shine on us, LORD.
You have given me greater joy than those who have abundant harvests of grain and wine.
I will lie down in peace and sleep, for you alone, O LORD, will keep me safe.
/Psalm 4:6-8 / NLT

Some while ago i came across these verses of the Psalm 4. I was reading Good News translation and verse 6. says: There are many who pray: "Give us more blessings, O Lord. Look on us with kindness!" and in next verse David sings: "But the joy that you have given me is more than they will ever have with all their grain and wine." I thought, 'what a wonderful contrast'. I thought - blessing from God could be like well being, having all you need for life - clothing, food, health. And this Psalm also answers that, that some people have joy in the blessing itself (abundant harvest). But for David joy came from God itself, from his relationships with Him and that Joy surpasses the joy of the blessing. What kind of joy is in my life - joy of the Giver or the joy of the gift?

As i discover verses like these, often i translate them into Latvian language making modern Bible translation for myself. But with trying to translate verses and trying to make translation as accurate as possible to original texts, i compare different translations and even take a look in some commentaries and very often that is when the most interesting part starts - discovering the hidden treasures. And this is a case of this Song of David as well. I suddenly discovered that prayer of David in verse 6, 'Let the smile of your face shine on us, LORD' (Let the light of your face shine upon us, O Lord (NIV)) is actually words of God to Aaron - how to bless His people in well known benediction (Numbers 6:22-27)

Then the LORD said to Moses, "Instruct Aaron and his sons to bless the people of Israel with this special blessing:
"May the LORD bless you and protect you.
May the LORD smile on you and be gracious to you.
May the LORD show you his favor and give you his peace"
This is how Aaron and his sons will designate the Israelites as my people, and I myself will bless them."

/Numbers 6:22-27/ New Living

My last thoughts (2-3 years ago) of this benediction prayer before i discovered what i will share next was that God himself said that. That already was quite a revelation to me - God says to say that, meaning that He wants to bless, protect, to shine upon, be gracious, show favor and give peace to His people. Amazing! But it was even more amazing to discover this 'face shining' puzzle which i never understood before.

These benediction words always has been too 'holy' for me to understand, words which i heard pastors speak at the end of the service, words without much meaning behind them (for me). Before i more thought how Holy He is, that His brightness shines on us, but SMILE made the difference and made sense in my understanding of His attitude towards his people. - He is happy for his children, He smiles seeing them, smile is light shining itself, and from smile comes grace and forgiveness. It all is so much understandable, logic and close - Father - children relationships - this all makes sense. Anger does the oposit (with not forgiving, punishing and revenge). Angry face would represent dark face. And that is how many people see God when they don't know Him - His real Heart and Love. But in reality God wishes to 'shine on us' (happiness and joy reflects on face with a SMILE and so its SHINES)

in verse 26. i would like to combine two translations - The Message and New Living "God look you full in the face - and give you his peace"

These words remind me my son Josh (3 1/2) when i put him to sleep. He wants me/us to come in his bed when we put him to sleep/ bed and then after reading book, when i put it away and waiting for him to fall asleep, he - looks full in my face and i am convinced that that is how he is filled with peace and security.

I will lie down in peace and sleep, for you alone, O LORD, will keep me safe.

May the Lord smile on you, may He look you full in your face and give you His peace.

Waiting

I was going through some music files tonight and found file with a date (Dec.30, 2005) and name labeled as "Waiting". I was surprised to discover that it is my own composition, or better to say piece of music. I can't say that i composed it because i did not write down music which i am not able to do anyway as i can't read it. But i really was quite surprised by this music piece - i really like it and i just thought how good it could be if some proper piano player with the skills would play it and improvise over this melody.
I wondered why i named it "Waiting". Maybe i was waiting for New Year to turn new blank page in the book of my life, maybe i was waiting for snow to paint over the city dirt, but maybe i was waiting to hear God to speak and bring peace in my heart...

Praise Him

Life's Seasons

Couple of Our Daily Bread pages/writings came to mind this morning and i did some effort to find them on ODB website.
I like the perspective of these thoughts by Bible teacher J. Robertson McQuilkin

READ: Psalm 71:1-21

By You I have been upheld from birth . . . . My praise shall be continually of You. —Psalm 71:6

"When we are young, we can't wait to grow up. When we are old, we look back longingly to former years. But God intends that we joyfully take each season of life as it comes. Whatever our age, He imparts what we need to be all that we can be. He asks us to commit our way to Him and accept the struggles He allows and the strength He provides.

A woman who was facing the difficulties of aging asked Bible teacher J. Robertson McQuilkin, "Why does God let us get old and weak?" McQuilkin replied, "I think God has planned the strength and beauty of youth to be physical. But the strength and beauty of old age is spiritual. We gradually lose the strength and beauty that is temporary so we'll be sure to concentrate on the strength and beauty that is forever. And so we'll be eager to leave the temporary, deteriorating part of us and be truly homesick for our eternal home. If we stayed young and strong and beautiful, we might never want to leave."

Are you in life's springtime? Trust God's timing to fulfill your dreams. Are you in life's summer or autumn? Face your daily challenges head-on. And if you feel winter's chill, draw close to the Lord. His presence can make every season of life one of strength and beauty." —Dennis J. De Haan

While the earth remains..

"While the earth remains, Seedtime and harvest, Cold and heat, Winter and summer, And day and night Shall not cease"
/ Genesis 8:22 King James v.

The Art of God

Do we have time to stop and notice beauty which is there everyday, but hidden if we rush about, rush past - past familiar flowers, past morning dew, stumping on millions of dewdrops, which are waiting for us to bend down and to enjoy freshness of new day...

STOP ! - to see, to fill your heart with Beauty!

Pictures versus Words

Whenever it has come to the decision in the evenings to work on pictures or to write something in my Blog - pictures always wins. So you who time to time faithfully still keep coming back to my Blog to check it out (for some miracle) and being disappointed, could go to my pictures and find couple new pictures every week. But there is many pictures on my albums, whose stories behind them you don't know. Like this one - which i kept in my mind to write about for almost a year now.
There is a program on VH1 music channel on TV which is called "Storytellers" and for some while i meant to create an album with that title in my galleries. As not really knowing with what to start (return) to my writing i thought that this could be good return.

So, here is the STORY behind this picture/monument.
The monument is called "Monument of Faithfulness (dedication)"
One the other picture you see the junction of the street. Some years ago there was a car accident in which deadly was hurt a man. With him in his car there was a dog. The man was carried away from the place where accident took place, but the dog stayed where he last saw his owner. It lasted several days till people started to notice faithful dog who was still waiting for his master. People started to feed the dog, but as he finished his meal he would always go back to his spot.
This continued for couple years or so till the faithful Dog died and somebody came with the idea to build the ' Monument of Faithfulness'

Now it is the place for the people of Tolyatti (in Russia) where newlyweds come to pledge their Faithfulness to each other.

What a STORY for us, people to learn from about Faithfulness!

79 years ago or 'breath of eternity'

As i emptied some box with my wife's old letters from friends and some old photos, i noticed some really old photos. i could say that some of those photos are Historical. It is about history of Salvation Army in Latvia. I found one quite small photo of Salvation Army march in Riga.
On the other side of the photo it said that it is Salvation Army congress in Riga, year 1928. From the photo i could recognize the building which is on the left side, but i was not sure where i have seen it, but i was sure that it is still standing there today.

For two weeks this photo has bothered my mind making me figure it out where that tram line went. Two times i failed with my presumptions where it could be, which made me study the picture more intently. And IT WORKED. My closer look did not disappoint me. I found some clues - main was building with the columns farther on the street, which made me think that it is Orthodox Church on the main street of Riga and it surely was correct. So the next day i had chance to stand at the very same spot where the picture was taken 79 years ago.
In these last days i had some interesting thoughts around This picture and maybe they came to me even at that particular moment when i stood there waiting for some traffic to clear to make my "79 years after" photo.



I thought about the moment - the daily life of that (THEN) photo and this (NOW) one which i was taking. The same place, the same street, but time gap tells the difference. Time wanted to whisper to me some story. As the lens of an old photo showed the street from above, the same way Eternal with His Spirit lifted my thoughts up to look to this old picture from above.
My thoughts stopped at the people on that old picture with the question: Where are they all now? And the answer was easy - they ALL are gone, probably even the youngest. Who were they? some were richer, some purer, some were happier and some maybe not so happy. But they all had given their Time to live - to grow and learn, to laugh and cry, to sing and dance, to work and rest, to sow and reap, to do good or evil, to LOVE or hate. They all have their choices whom to believe 'before leaving earth'. That is why Salvation Army marched that day - to help others to make the right choices about Eternal things - the things what matters the most, the things which lasts Forever. Their flag was raised to show to Whom they belong and to know where they are now. As for others - on the other side of the street - we don' t know where they are in Eternity.
Maybe 79 years from Today there will be other man finding these two pictures from 1928 and 2007, trying to find out where those pictures were taken, and finding the street and the spot he will stand there and will think similar thoughts as he take the same picture, just with his Time settings, but the same questions to answer.

Perfect day.

Today was a perfect day to finally enjoy the sun after winter which again seemed would never end. Just two days ago there was snowing here, but today sun warmed the air till + 10 C
Today was Saturday and we had a car for few days, so we HAD to go out somewhere at last. All morning was nice and sunny. We made our move after lunch and as we started out there was a couple rain drops falling and i thought OOOOOhhhh Noooooo! I pleaded with our Father to clear the sky AND...... He did it. He brought joy to our small company. As we reached our destination the Sun was out greeting us and welcoming to enjoy our walk through a forest towards the Sea.
Sea was calm with no wind to freeze our noses and other parts of our body. Beta, my daughter was prepared for photo session, so i did not have much chance to sit still and relax. It was nice to make pictures but it was a bit too much for me.






On our way home we stopped at some nice place to have kind of supper and that was almost the end of our Perfect day. Evening went very fast as usual.
Actually today on TV they showed my dance group 60th jubilee where i took part dancing couple dances. We recorded that so i have not seen it yet. I should have made blog entry about that Jubilee and maybe i will.
Those who read my blogs i need to say that most updated is my pictures in pbase.com.
Not that i take pictures every day and put them on web, but there you could see some clues what's new.
Labi - means good - meaning i should go to bed. good night.

Freeze unfreeze

This is not picture from some photo studio - this is my selfportrait at home. This winter i think i did more inside pictures then in all previous years together counted. With the new camera comes new and better possibilities.
In this blog i don't want to speak anymore about the time which passes unnoticed and about so many days which seems all alike. At least Josh does the progress of growing bringing much joy to us, our family and friends.


...out by the Baltic Sea

having a nice day with Sarah's special friends from England.



...that day was still in old (as we say) year. It is sooooo nice that 'you' can get really cheap plain tickets in these days making geographic distance between friends disappear.

Breaking the silence

Trying to break the silence. At least can put some photos
in. Sometimes they speak louder then words or as the saying here goes:
"It is better to see for once then to hear for hundred times"


Today was such a beautiful sunny warm Saturday. There was a harvest and craft market all over our lovely old town. There was lots of people around and good feeling in the air. Well, some people (...) needed to cope/bear with me due to my passion for photography and experimenting with my new digital camera with Russian camera lens on it (needed to do all shots manually)

Experiencing Russia

"...Mum, did you take your pot with you???"

It's time to put down some news again BLE.
I just returned home from being in Belarus and Russia.
...What can i say?
It was an interesting experience. In Russia i traveled South - to Caucasus region, starting in Mineralnyye Vody. It was obvious there to see, how fragile is peace in this World and how hard it is by human means to make it work.
Jesus said: "I leave you peace; my peace I give you. I do not give to you as the world gives. Do not let your hearts be troubled and do not be afraid" /John 14:27
It is a gift to have Peace of Jesus in your heart, especially in this part of the world.
This year we waited for Spring for ages and winter still does not want to give its place to it. So, for me this trip was quite good escape from cold flying South like a birds do.
In spite of all difficulties and life's troubles people face i could see God building His Kingdom as He saves and equips His people for His work. It was very humbling experience to meet with desciples of Christ, to hear their stories of coming to faith in Him. We met many Russian brothers who understand Great Commision and who now live their lives to fulfill the task given by Lord Jesus - to go and make disciples.

My arrival and first missions in this world

Joshua Ilsters
I wonder - "what will my future look like...."
Here I am - tiny, little baby. Did not want to celebrate Christmas in mummy's tummy on my own (could not light any candles there or put up some Christmas tree), so i decided to come out six weeks earlier. I was fine on my arrival's day (that day was sunny and beautiful with lots of snow outside) - cried a little bit, but did not need any special equipment to help me breath, i did it on my own, although i was placed in incubator box with the right temperature for me. They showed me my parents right after operation and then dad came to see me couple times on his own while my mum was recovering from my efforts "to see the world", but in the evening she also managed to wheel to my room.
Week later i was fed up with that hospital, although all the doctors took reaaaalllly gooood care of me and were very lovely to me, but i was "on my mission" to continue to explore the world, so they moved me to children's hospital. There i was good enough to be out of incubator and two days later i decided to stay just with my mum in separate room. There i was on another mission - to put on right weight, so that doctors would be happy with my progress and i could go home as soon as possible. I did my job really good and finally, two weeks later after my birth, i was going HOME.
So here i am - stepped into New World and New Year - i wonder: what will it bring?
There is lots for me to learn in this year - to smile (can not get it quite right it yet), to crawl, to walk, to observe everything...
Want to thank my daddy for helping me out with putting in words my thoughts and writing them down for me in this blog. I need to let him go and get some sleep before i wake up again and cry for a bit till i get my daily bread, oh sorry - milk.
Bye for now.

Joshua - In father's arms

Woven by Your Hand

You created my inmost being;
You knit me together in my mother's womb.
I praise You because I am fearfully and wonderfully made;
Your works are wonderful, i know that full well.
My frame was not hidden from you when i was made
in the secret place.
When i was woven together in the depth of the earth,
Your eyes saw my unformed body.
All the days ordained for me were written in Your book
before one of them came to be.
/Psalm 139:13-16 (niv)

What a wonderful words and how true they are! Only blind can not see the miracle of life God brings into being.
This is picture of my/our son and when i thought about and wrote down the words of this Psalm it sounded like it is him saying this praise. It sounded like i heard his voice.
There is some growth and development Before Leaving mothers womb and some growth and development Before Leaving Earth. Both of these Leavings is to do with some pain, but our growth being in God's hands are wonderful.
What world we are coming into when we Leave these two worlds mentioned? Are we coming into father's arms when we Leave mother's world (womb)? Are we loved by our parents before seeing them?
And Leaving Earth - are we coming into Father's arms? Are we loved by Him?
Do you know your Father? His Love for you? Do you hear Him talking to you while you are into womb of this Earth?
Listen to Him and respond, feel His touching hand through the cover of unseen realities. He wants to touch you - to feel you moving.
His love endures forever!

God's provision

Here i am - back with my few thoughts and things to share.

Evening with students that day went fine (i think). I did not hear any feedback or comments, but after lecture i talked to couple people. One guy could recognized himself from what i shared about my first steps in Faith in Jesus. Looking back to the topic - i could not avoid talking about discipleship. I don't know how it happens - it just happens.

I better share about that miracle i mentioned:
I know it is kind of worldly thing and sometimes i even feel guilty that i have so much while others are not so fortunate, but my prayer to God is that my heart does not stay attached to those things that can pass away in any minute. We all are fragile and so does the things what we have. God gives and God can take them away. By His grace we have what we have.

There is some life on the way in our family and the apartment we are living is not really ours, but belongs to organization my wife working for. We had a thought for awhile to get some place to live, but we did not really looked for anything till couple weeks ago we thought to look in Internet - to see what is around and what it costs. So we wrote down couple apartments, called the people and arranged one evening to go and look at one of them.
As we saw this one, it looked perfect, nothing more to desire. That night after us two other families came to see the place. As we walked away left with the time (till next noon) to think about everything, we felt that it might be to late if we don't say YES now. We had some minutes of "panic" and praying to God to know the right decision to make. As we stood at tram stop letting three trams to pass us by, we made the decision to call them back and to say that we are buying it. And seems like those two other families who went there that night were also considering the same. We were first and so the process was starting, but the thing is we were not even quite ready for all of this. People who were selling the apartment wanted us next day to make a precontract with the first payment towards it. So the next day was another day of panicking thinking about all the right things to do and getting to know all the information which you need to know when you are buying property (you never know how all this can turn - there is all kinds of "horror" stories around real estates. Like stories when two people buy the same thing not knowing about other buyer and so on...).
Well for us, with God's grace, week later we signed the REAL CONTRACT. It seemed unreal, unbelievable.
The owners of the apartment were very nice people, the mediators who sorted out all this between us also were nice. All this was just as a big miracle. GLORY TO GOD! Only He is worthy of our praise!

That's the STORY.

Are we God's marionettes?

This is the topic i was asked to speak (share) about with students and this is early morning of the day in which this event is happening. For some days i thought about it and i am still feeling quite blank.
I woke up at 6.00 this morning with the thoughts about this topic and i am very determined to prepare well.
My problem is that i am not good speaker. I am more of a Bible study leader and there i feel like a "fish in the water", but speaking in public is not my favorite thing although i know that i can do it if i develop that area.
So, this morning before starting i red Grace's blog where i found new entries. It is good to read something new again. I've been silent for quite a long. Then a thought came - how good it could be if i could have thoughts and prayers of the people who read my blog. Well unfortunately i am quite late with this idea, because i could have only some thoughts of those who live in Asia (because of time zone), but people in North America will have morning by the time this evening meeting with students start. Anyway - maybe this bloging is good way to open my mind for God to fill me with words to say this evening.
Well dear friends (if i still have some :) now i will try to develop my thoughts about the subject: Are we God's marionettes?
As i thought about it, first of all i checked a dictionary what this word really means (i love to learn the meaning of a words by looking into Oxford's or other dictionaries).
And this is what i found:
marionette - puppet moved by strings
- a small figure of a person operated from above with strings by a puppeteer
I love this combination of the words - 'operated from above'
But question is - are we free or were is our freedom if we are operated by someone? Is not it just His play He is playing with us and what we can do?
That is the questions to answer...
ok, for now i will post this blog and come back later with some thoughts. And maybe some of you will manage to bring your input in this subject. I will be greatly delighted.

P.S. There was some reasons why i was silent for some while (maybe not enough reasons to be silent for whole months), but i have some miracle to share about with you because only God can do what happened with me and my wife Sarah two days ago.

Bringing out flavors and colors of God

"Let me tell you why you are here. You're here to be salt-seasoning that brings out the God-flavors of this earth. If you lose your saltiness, how will people taste godliness? You've lost your usefulness and will end up in the garbage. "Here's another way to put it: You're here to be light, bringing out the God-colors in the world. God is not a secret to be kept. We're going public with this, as public as a city on a hill. If I make you light-bearers, you don't think I'm going to hide you under a bucket, do you? I'm putting you on a light stand. Now that I've put you there on a hilltop, on a light stand - shine! Keep open house; be generous with your lives. By opening up to others, you'll prompt people to open up with God, this generous Father in heaven."

Jesus (Matthew 5:13-16/ The Message)