Old Fall River Road, Rocky Mountains - “The Son Of Man Came to Seek and to Save the Lost”

 

Luke 19:5-9

When Jesus reached the spot, he looked up and said to him “Zacchaeus, come down immediately. I must stay at your house today.” So he came down at once and welcomed him gladly.

All the people saw this and began to mutter, “He has gone to be the guest of a sinner.”

But Zacchaeus stood up and said to the Lord, “Look, Lord! Here and now I give half of my possessions to the poor, and if I have cheated anybody out of anything, I will pay back four times the amount.”

Jesus said to him, “Today salvation has come to this house, because this man, too, is a son of Abraham.  For the Son of Man came to seek and to save the lost.”

“Glory to God in the Highest and On Earth Peace to Those Whom His Favors Rests”

Crystal Michell Fallin, Lead Angel

Nutcracker Ballet 1996

And there were shepherds living out in the fields nearby, keeping watch over their flocks at night.  An angel of the Lord appeared to them, and the glory of the Lord shone around them, and they were terrified.  But the angel said to them, “Do not be afraid. I bring you good news that will cause great joy for all the people. Today in the town of David a Savior has been born to you; he is the Messiah, the Lord. This will be a sign to you: You will find a baby wrapped in cloths and lying in a manger.”

Suddenly a great company of the heavenly host appeared with the angel, praising God and saying,

“Glory to God in the highest heaven and on earth peace to those on whom his favor rests.”

Luke 2:8-14

Chena River Cruise - Casting Nets

When he had finished speaking, he said to Simon, "Put out into deep water, and let down the nets for a catch."   Simon answered, "Master, we're worked hard all night and haven't caught anything.  But because you say so, I will let down the nets."  When they had done so, they caught such a large number of fish that their nets began to break.  So they signaled their partners in the other boat to come and help them, and they came and filled both boats so full that they began to sink.  When Simon Peter saw this  he fell at Jesus' knees and said,  "Go away from me, Lord; I am a sinful man!"  For he and all his companions were astonished at the catch of fish they had taken, and so were James and John, the sons of Zebedee, Simon's partners.  Then Jesus said to Simon, "Don't be afraid; from now on you will fish for people."  So they pulled their boats up on shore, left everything and followed him.

Luke 5:4-11 NIV

Chena River Alaska - Through the Waves

 

These are the ones who, when they hear the word, hold it fast in an honest and good heart, and bear fruit with patient endurance.

Luke 8:15 NRSV

Crystal Creek Reservoir

 

Jesus asked, "Which of these three do you think was a neighbor to the man who fell into the hands of robbers?"  The expert in the law replied, "The one who had mercy on him."  Jesus told him, "Go and do likewise."

Luke 10:36-37 NIV

Thought for the Day:  Everyone I meet is my neighbor.

The Transfiguration

Then he said to them all:  "If anyone would come after me, he must deny himself and take up his cross daily and follow me.  For whoever wants to save his life will lose it, but whoever loses his life for me will save it.  What good is it for a man to gain the whole world and yet lose or forfeit his very self?  If anyone is ashamed of me and my words, the Son of Man will be ashamed of him when he comes in his glory and in the glory of the Father and of the holy angels.  I tell you the truth, some who are standing here will not taste death before they see the kingdom of God."

About eight days after Jesus said this, he took Peter, John and James with him and went up onto a mountain to pray.  As he was praying, the appearance of his face changed, and his clothes became as bright as a flash of lightning.  Two men, Moses and Elijah, appeared in glorious splendor talking with Jesus.  They spoke about his departure, which he was about to bring to fulfillment at Jerusalem.  Peter and his companions were very sleepy, but when they became fully awake, they saw his glory and the tow men standing with him.  As the men were leaving Jesus Peter said to him, "Master, it is good for us to be here.  Let us put up three shelters--one for you, one for Moses and one for Elijah.  (He did not know what he was saying.)

While he was speaking, a cloud appeared and enveloped them, and they were afraid as they entered the cloud.  A voice came from the cloud, saying, "this is my Son whom I have chosen; listen to him."  When the voice had spoken, they found that Jesus was alone.  The disciples kept this to themselves, and told no one of that time what they had seen.

Luke 9:23-36 NIV 

Big Meadows at Green Mountain

 

The time came when the beggar died and the angels carried him to Abraham's side.  The rich man also died and was buried.  In Hades, where he was in torment, he looked up and saw Abraham far away, with Lazarus by his side.  So he called to him, 'Father Abraham, have pity on me and send Lazarus to dip the tip of his finger in water and cool my tongue, because I am in agony in this fire.'

"But Abraham replied, 'Son, remember that in your lifetime you received your good things, while Lazarus received bad things, but now he is comforted here and you are in agony.  And besides all this, between us and you a great chasm has been set in place, so that those who want to go from here to you cannot, nor can anyone cross over from there to us.'

"He answered, 'Then I beg you, father, send Lazarus to my family, for I have five brothers.  Let him warn them, so that they will not also come to this place of torment.'

"Abraham replied, 'They have Moses and the Prophets; let them listen to them.'

"No, father Abraham,' he said, 'but if someone from the dead goes to them they will repent.'

"He said to him, 'If they do not listen to Moses and the Prophets, they will not be convinced even if someone rises from the dead."

Luke 16:22-31 NIV

The Power of Solitude

 

Jesus often withdrew to lonely places and prayed.

Luke 5:16 NIV

Chugach Mountains - The Stones will Cry Out

 

When he came near the place where the road goes down the Mount of Olives, the whole crowd of disciples began joyfully to praise God in loud voices for all the miracles they had seen.

"Blessed is the king who comes in the name of the Lord!"

"Peace in  heaven and glory in the highest!"

Some of the Pharisees in the crowd said to Jesus, "Teacher, rebuke your disciples!"

"I tell you,"   he replied, "if they keep quiet, the stones will cry out."  

Luke 19:37-40  NIV

Reaching for a Dream

 

Not all angels reside in heaven.  Many walk the earth and are our guardians.  My angel is in heaven.  She joined her grandmother at the Eastern Gate August 18, 2019.  Her grandmother told her two months earlier that she would be waiting for her at the Eastern Gate.  She told Crystal to live a good life and she will be waiting for her.  Crystal cried out wanting to go to heaven to be with her grandmother.  Little did any of us know the day would come so soon; within 4 weeks after her grandmother left this earth, a angel lead Crystal gently by the hand to join her heavenly Father.  God is near to the brokenhearted and saves those who are crushed in spirit (Psalm 34.18).  God knows what is best for each of us.  He comforts and takes care of the weary and heart broken.  I have to believe that God heard her cries. Nothing is impossible with God.  

Jesus replied, "What is  impossible with man is possible with God."

Luke 16:27 

In loving memory
Crystal Michelle Fallin
June 19, 1984 - August 18, 2019

How the Wild Flowers Grow

 

"Consider how the wild flowers grow.  They do not labor or spin.  Yet I tell you, not even Solomon in all his splendor was dressed like one of these."

~Luke 12:27

Seek and You Will Find

 

"So I say to you:  Ask and it will be given to you;

seek and you will find; knock and the door will be

opened to you.  For everyone who asks receives;

he who seeks finds; and to  him who knocks,

the door will be opened."

Luke 11:9-10 NIV

Seek and You Will Find

Luke 11:10  "For everyone who asks receives, and he who seeks finds, and to him who knocks it will be opened."

Knock and It Will be Opened

Luke 11:9  "And I say to you, ask, and it will be given to you; seek, and you will find; knock, and it will be opened to you."