Crescent Beach - Easter Sunday

 

Early on the first day of the week, while it was still dark, Mary Magdalene went to the tomb and saw that the stone had been removed from the entrance.

JOHN 20:1 (NIV)

Matanzas River, Crescent Bridge - Good Friday

 

Then Jesus went with his disciples to a place called Gethsemane.  He said to the disciples, “Stay here while I go and pray over there.”  When he took Peter and Zebedee’s two sons, he began to feel sad and anxious.  Then he said to them, “I’m very sad. It’s as if I’m dying. Stay here and keep alert with me.”  Then he went a short distance farther and fell on his face and prayed, “My Father, if it’s possible, take this cup of suffering away from me. However—not what I want but what you want.”  He came back to the disciples and found them sleeping. He said to Peter, “Couldn’t you stay alert one hour with me?  Stay alert and pray so that you won’t give in to temptation. The spirit is eager, but the flesh is weak.”  A second time he went away and prayed, “My Father, if it’s not possible that this cup be taken away unless I drink it, then let it be what you want.”  Again he came and found them sleeping. Their eyes were heavy with sleep.  But he left them and again went and prayed the same words for the third time.  Then he came to his disciples and said to them, “Will you sleep and rest all night?   Look, the time has come for the Human One to be betrayed into the hands of sinners.  Get up. Let’s go. Look, here comes my betrayer.”

Matthew 26:36-46

Crescent Beach - “Christ Died for Us”

 

You see, at just the right time, when we were still powerless, Christ died for the ungodly.  Very rarely will anyone die for a righteous person, though for a good person someone might possibly dare to die.  But God demonstrates his own love for us in this: While we were still sinners, Christ died for us.

Romans 5:6-8

Crescent Beach, Florida - “In the Land of Deep Darkness a Light has Dawned”

 

Nevertheless, there will be no more gloom for those who were in distress. In the past he humbled the land of Zebulun and the land of Naphtali, but in the future he will honor Galilee of the nations, by the Way of the Sea, beyond the Jordan—

The people walking in darkness have seen a great light; on those living in the land of deep darkness a light has dawned.

Isaiah 9:1-2

Crescent Beach Easter Sunrise - “The Strength of my Heart”

Psalms 73:26 NIV

My flesh and my heart may fail, but God is the strength of my heart and my portion forever.

Crescent Beach Easter Sunrise - “With His Wounds We are Healed”

But he was pierced for our transgressions; he was crushed for our iniquities; upon him was the chastisement that brought us peace, and with his wounds we are healed.

Isaiah 53:5
 

Crescent Beach Easter Sunrise - He is Risen

 

By his power God raised the Lord from the dead, and he will raise us also.

1 Corinthians 6:14

"Take Heart! I have Overcome the World."

 

Jesus said, "I have told you these things, so that in me you may have peace.  In this world you will have trouble.  But take heart!  I have overcome the world."

John 16:33 NIV

August Rush Crescent Beach

A morning walk on the beach and the wild flowers are gorgeous.  From 7:30 to 8:00 am there is a drastic shift in the light and cloud formation.  It was 75F and the coolest time during daylight.

Under the Crescent Light - Birds in Flight

Poem from a "Thousand Mornings" by Mary Oliver who is a Pulitzer Prize-winning poet whose body of work is largely filled with imagery of the natural world.

THE FIRST TIME PERCY CAME BACK

'The first time Percy came back
he was not sailing on a cloud.
He was loping along the sand as though
he had come a great way.
"Percy," I cried out, and reached to him—
those white curls—
but he was unreachable. As music
is present yet you can't touch it...

And now you'll be telling stories
of my coming back
and they won't be false, and they won't be true,
but they'll be real."
And then, as he used to, he said, "Let's go!"
And we walked down the beach together."

Excerpt from "A Thousand Poems" by Mary Oliver

The Morning Crescent Light: Waves and Patterns

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At the different stages of the sunrise, light reflects through the clouds with shades of pink or orange hues.

Daily Walks - Sunrise Crescent Beach

 

This mornings walk at Crescent Beach, I had the pleasure of seeing the different stages of a cloudy sunrise.  It was a magnificent view and the photos do not come close in capturing the beauty of the morning.

Sunrise Matanzas River

These pictures were taken south of Crescent Bridge on a road to a fishing spot for locals.

Through the Looking Glass: Clouds and Light

Beach Wonderland - Through the Looking Glass

 

When the white beach reflects the light from the morning sun, the wet sand illuminates a mirror.  Shadows of the clouds, birds, sand piles, sea weed have a looking glass effect. The visual effect is surreal like a favorite children's book by Lewis Carroll, Alice in Wonderland:  Through the Looking Glass.

'As to poetry, you know,' said Humpty Dumpty, stretching out one of his great hands, 'I can repeat poetry as well as other folk, if it comes to that—'
         

     'In winter, when the fields are white,
     I sing this song for your delight—     

     'In spring, when woods are getting green,
     I'll try and tell you what I mean.'

         

     'In summer, when the days are long,
     Perhaps you'll understand the song:
     In autumn, when the leaves are brown,
     Take pen and ink, and write it down.'

          

     'I sent a message to the fish:
     I told them "This is what I wish."
     The little fishes of the sea,
     They sent an answer back to me.

     The little fishes' answer was
     "We cannot do it, Sir, because—"'

    'I sent to them again to say
     "It will be better to obey."

     The fishes answered with a grin,
     "Why, what a temper you are in!"
     I told them once, I told them twice:
     They would not listen to advice.

     I took a kettle large and new,
     Fit for the deed I had to do.
     My heart went hop, my heart went thump;
     I filled the kettle at the pump.

     Then some one came to me and said,
     "The little fishes are in bed."
     I said to him, I said it plain,
     "Then you must wake them up again."

     I said it very loud and clear;
     I went and shouted in his ear.'

    'But he was very stiff and proud;
     He said "You needn't shout so loud!"

     And he was very proud and stiff;
     He said "I'd go and wake them, if—"
     I took a corkscrew from the shelf:
     I went to wake them up myself.

     And when I found the door was locked,
     I pulled and pushed and kicked and knocked.
     And when I found the door was shut,
     I tried to turn the handle, but—'

There was a long pause.
'Is that all?' Alice timidly asked.
'That's all,' said Humpty Dumpty. 'Good-bye.'

Excerpts from Chapter 6, "Through the Looking Glass"
by Lewis Carroll

The Sun Peeking at Crescent Beach

The sky was too cloudy to allow the sun to rise brightly on this particular morning.  It created interesting cloud and sky formations in the struggle of the sun peeking through the dense clouds.

Crossing Crescent Beach Bridge

On the drive to Crescent Beach, one must drive over the 206 Bridge.  The bridge was drawn so a cargo boat could pass through.  The storm clouds were resting on top of Matanzas River this morning.

Crossing the Bar

by Lord Alfred Tennyson

 

Sunset and evening star,

      And one clear call for me!

And may there be no moaning of the bar,

      When I put out to sea,

   But such a tide as moving seems asleep,

      Too full for sound and foam,

When that which drew from out the boundless deep

      Turns again home.

   Twilight and evening bell,

      And after that the dark!

And may there be no sadness of farewell,

      When I embark;

   For tho' from out our bourne of Time and Place

      The flood may bear me far,

I hope to see my Pilot face to face

      When I have crost the bar.

Sunset Matanzas River

 

I rushed to Crescent Beach area to get the sun setting.  It was only a matter of minutes that the sun sink behind the horizon. 

A Tide for All Seasons Under the Sun

There are few leaves turning colors for fall in Saint Augustine so the beach it is for us Floridians.  It is still warm and the ocean waves are still rolling in as in the summer, the spring, the winter and now the fall.  "There is a tide for all seasons under the sun."

"The Golden Coast" at Crescent Beach

 From Chuck and Jessica's deck, a beautiful golden and purple sunset on Matanzas River.  There is truth to the name "The Golden Coast" of the South-eastern coastline.  We should also call it purple majesty as well!