Dear LORD ... here is my prayer for this blog. I care not for the number of people that choose to follow it. I care that they hear the message of the saving grace and mercy provided by Jesus, your Son. I expect many to quit following the blog as a result of standing up for Christ!
Lord, we are in a battle for the eternal destiny of our souls. Every day people come here that have never seen this blog before. I pray that you will somehow use it for your glory! Call some of these people into the light of your Son, Jesus!
Lord, there is no one like you to help the powerless against the mighty. Help us, O Lord our God, for we rely on you, and in your name we have come against this vast army in a world that seeks to distract us from you. O Lord, you are our God; do not let man or the Devil prevail against us in this hour of our need.
My camera belongs to you. Nothing but you is worthy of my utmost. I love you Jesus and I care for these people who come here to see things you have created. Bless them with open eyes to see YOU! In Jesus name, Amen.
NikonSniper Steve
Saturday, July 23, 2011
Friday, July 22, 2011
Thursday, July 21, 2011
Wednesday, July 20, 2011
Tuesday, July 19, 2011
Sunday, July 17, 2011
Saturday, July 16, 2011
Friday, July 15, 2011
Heaven And Other Wild Truths
Heaven!!! ... Have you got your ticket?
Did ya ever just sit and wonder what heaven would be like? I am sure we all have different ideas. I bought one of those tickets for a lottery worth 162 million the other day. But even if I won ... it wouldn't be like heaven to me. It sure sounds real good and I would certainly find things to do with some of it but ... what's the point of thinking heaven is like winning 162 million when you have already lived most of your life.
I heard about a guy who won a big lottery when he was in his mid-eighties. He must have yelled, "Yee Haw", and then zzzzzzzzzzzzzzzzzzz!
I think I would imagine having marmalade on toast was like heaven if I made it to my eighties.
"Bill! BILL! BILL! You won ONE HUNDRED and SIXTY-TWO MILLION dollars."
"Oh, that's nice. Did you say the marmalade was at the back of the bottom shelf or on the front of the top shelf? Have you got any of that WHOLE wheat bread?"
Heaven has to be a place where you are in your PRIME TIME. I know I ain't gonna look like this! My wings are gonna be sassy and big to carry me around! So if you're looking for me up there ... I won't be looking like Lumpey Rutherford from Leave It To Beaver. We will all be looking great compared to the mess we are now. As Billy Crystal used to say, "You know it's better to look good than to feel good" ... but in heaven you're gonna feel good too.
There are verses in the Bible that say that the first shall be last and the last shall be first. I liked translating that into the fat will be skinny and the skinny will be fat ... but that wasn't really the point being made. It means that those who selflessly serve here will be served there. That's going to surprise a lot of us.
Can you imagine having a job that you thoroughly love? Can you imagine working for the King of Kings? I don't think we will tire of that kind of job. I don't expect people to be running off the job early. Here on earth we hate to feel used by people. In heaven we will love the feeling of being used by God to accomplish something for Him.
Many people think we won't work at all in heaven. They think we will just sit around chanting boring songs and trying to memorize the Bible we couldn't remember here. It's funny ... but some people seem to think that the God that made Australia ... would make a boring place for us to hang out for all of eternity. What if heaven was just as perfect as the earth was in the very beginning? Well it will be even better.
I also think we will eat in heaven and that there will be "awesomer" food than here. I actually think many wild things while on my meds! I look forward to seeing Christ. And my Dad and my grandparents and other believers who went hundreds of years ahead of me. It's going to be an incredible reunion. Have you got your ticket? It's free!
The more cashews you eat ... the more weight you will lose. Flights that don't just serve peanuts and Diet Dr. Pepper. Everyone will love their jobs and have 12 weeks vacation to spend in resorts that are free and there will always be room for you. The kids won't slip and fall at the pool. And if you eat in the restaurants ... you select your $25 steak and they bring you the steak and the $25 dollars just to thank you for coming because oh ... by the way ... they work for the King too.
No one is sick! No one is EVER sick! You can ride all the rides in the amusement park 50 times and there is no line, you just stay on and you never get sick. You will never be down on the beach and get a call on your cell phone to hear that Auntie Alice is under the weather. In fact, I want to be the guy in heaven who calls you on the beach and says "Hey Doris, have you heard about Alice? SHE'S STILL DOING GREAT!" And then hang up laughing!
People will be polite. Are you sick of being shouted at on a Monday morning when you're driving slow to work while taking pictures out the window? Oh, that's just me! Well, there's no crying in baseball ... and there's definitely no being nasty or mean in heaven. Imagine not locking your doors. No one is dangerous. The more tattoos you have ... the nicer you are! Ha! I had to knock somebody! Everyone has a Harley. The ones that owned Harleys while here on earth ... will have two Harleys in heaven and no one will be jealous.
Jesus is on the throne ... we won't need lawyers! There won't be any he said she saids.
The Government will rest upon His shoulders. If you don't find that encouraging ... you have had your head in the sand for a while. It seems no matter who it is in politics ... you know it ain't all good. Many people just want to throw the incumbents out because it's too difficult to figure out which ones aren't corrupt. GLORY! One day that will never concern us a bit. All hail King Jesus!
Well, I honestly just had a horrible day today. Sometimes I need to think about life after this life to pick myself back up and get a bit of an eternal perspective on what a bad day here really means. It's small taters. God is still on the throne. Nothing happened anywhere on earth today that had Him lean forward and say "My, My ... Who Saw That Coming?" He remains in control. God is not watching the stock market yelling, "SELL, SELL, SELL!"
I know some of you are thinking I should, "Get A Grip" after reading something like this. But I am here to tell you that heaven is far more incredible than we can imagine. Your wildest dream won't come close to its glory. And heaven can be your future home just for the asking. The Bible says in Acts 16:31, "Believe in the Lord Jesus, and you will be saved." Trust Him!
And after a day like today ... I just get a kick out of thinking about things I have still yet to see. I hope you are one of those on the beach that I can call to tell you about Alice.
Have a great weekend. I am really going to get some rest.
NikonSniper Steve
Did ya ever just sit and wonder what heaven would be like? I am sure we all have different ideas. I bought one of those tickets for a lottery worth 162 million the other day. But even if I won ... it wouldn't be like heaven to me. It sure sounds real good and I would certainly find things to do with some of it but ... what's the point of thinking heaven is like winning 162 million when you have already lived most of your life.
I heard about a guy who won a big lottery when he was in his mid-eighties. He must have yelled, "Yee Haw", and then zzzzzzzzzzzzzzzzzzz!
I think I would imagine having marmalade on toast was like heaven if I made it to my eighties.
"Bill! BILL! BILL! You won ONE HUNDRED and SIXTY-TWO MILLION dollars."
"Oh, that's nice. Did you say the marmalade was at the back of the bottom shelf or on the front of the top shelf? Have you got any of that WHOLE wheat bread?"
Heaven has to be a place where you are in your PRIME TIME. I know I ain't gonna look like this! My wings are gonna be sassy and big to carry me around! So if you're looking for me up there ... I won't be looking like Lumpey Rutherford from Leave It To Beaver. We will all be looking great compared to the mess we are now. As Billy Crystal used to say, "You know it's better to look good than to feel good" ... but in heaven you're gonna feel good too.
There are verses in the Bible that say that the first shall be last and the last shall be first. I liked translating that into the fat will be skinny and the skinny will be fat ... but that wasn't really the point being made. It means that those who selflessly serve here will be served there. That's going to surprise a lot of us.
Can you imagine having a job that you thoroughly love? Can you imagine working for the King of Kings? I don't think we will tire of that kind of job. I don't expect people to be running off the job early. Here on earth we hate to feel used by people. In heaven we will love the feeling of being used by God to accomplish something for Him.
Many people think we won't work at all in heaven. They think we will just sit around chanting boring songs and trying to memorize the Bible we couldn't remember here. It's funny ... but some people seem to think that the God that made Australia ... would make a boring place for us to hang out for all of eternity. What if heaven was just as perfect as the earth was in the very beginning? Well it will be even better.
I also think we will eat in heaven and that there will be "awesomer" food than here. I actually think many wild things while on my meds! I look forward to seeing Christ. And my Dad and my grandparents and other believers who went hundreds of years ahead of me. It's going to be an incredible reunion. Have you got your ticket? It's free!
The more cashews you eat ... the more weight you will lose. Flights that don't just serve peanuts and Diet Dr. Pepper. Everyone will love their jobs and have 12 weeks vacation to spend in resorts that are free and there will always be room for you. The kids won't slip and fall at the pool. And if you eat in the restaurants ... you select your $25 steak and they bring you the steak and the $25 dollars just to thank you for coming because oh ... by the way ... they work for the King too.
No one is sick! No one is EVER sick! You can ride all the rides in the amusement park 50 times and there is no line, you just stay on and you never get sick. You will never be down on the beach and get a call on your cell phone to hear that Auntie Alice is under the weather. In fact, I want to be the guy in heaven who calls you on the beach and says "Hey Doris, have you heard about Alice? SHE'S STILL DOING GREAT!" And then hang up laughing!
People will be polite. Are you sick of being shouted at on a Monday morning when you're driving slow to work while taking pictures out the window? Oh, that's just me! Well, there's no crying in baseball ... and there's definitely no being nasty or mean in heaven. Imagine not locking your doors. No one is dangerous. The more tattoos you have ... the nicer you are! Ha! I had to knock somebody! Everyone has a Harley. The ones that owned Harleys while here on earth ... will have two Harleys in heaven and no one will be jealous.
Jesus is on the throne ... we won't need lawyers! There won't be any he said she saids.
The Government will rest upon His shoulders. If you don't find that encouraging ... you have had your head in the sand for a while. It seems no matter who it is in politics ... you know it ain't all good. Many people just want to throw the incumbents out because it's too difficult to figure out which ones aren't corrupt. GLORY! One day that will never concern us a bit. All hail King Jesus!
Well, I honestly just had a horrible day today. Sometimes I need to think about life after this life to pick myself back up and get a bit of an eternal perspective on what a bad day here really means. It's small taters. God is still on the throne. Nothing happened anywhere on earth today that had Him lean forward and say "My, My ... Who Saw That Coming?" He remains in control. God is not watching the stock market yelling, "SELL, SELL, SELL!"
I know some of you are thinking I should, "Get A Grip" after reading something like this. But I am here to tell you that heaven is far more incredible than we can imagine. Your wildest dream won't come close to its glory. And heaven can be your future home just for the asking. The Bible says in Acts 16:31, "Believe in the Lord Jesus, and you will be saved." Trust Him!
And after a day like today ... I just get a kick out of thinking about things I have still yet to see. I hope you are one of those on the beach that I can call to tell you about Alice.
Have a great weekend. I am really going to get some rest.
NikonSniper Steve
Wednesday, July 13, 2011
Tuesday, July 12, 2011
Monday, July 11, 2011
Sunday, July 10, 2011
Saturday, July 9, 2011
Friday, July 8, 2011
Thursday, July 7, 2011
Monday, July 4, 2011
Sunday, July 3, 2011
Thanking God For Our Provisions
I just came home from breakfast with some friends.
it's just a bunch of guys that get together once a month. I am hardly able to be with them due to my travel schedule. Today, it really seemed like everyone had major concerns with the economic situations in which we live. JOBS! Truthfully, I find that when my personal world gets cloudy … the entire world might as well be off kilter.
I guess I feel sometimes like I am living my very own BP Oil Spill Crisis.
As we went around the table talking this morning it was very clear that everyone is having some degree of concern or worry about tomorrow. Where is our provision going to come from? When will it show up? What will be the next hardship to get ready for? Why is this happening to me?
Lost employment. Cut employment. Home foreclosures. Death of young loved ones. Hardships in relationships. Marital difficulties. Kids (need I say more).
Do you ever wonder why so many turn to excessive alcohol, drugs or something else to help them cope? I sure don't!
Pain and suffering are everywhere. In the USA, we know very little about pain and suffering compared to many parts of the world … but we are certainly learning how fickle our way of life is becoming.
I want to write my view on why bad things happen in another post in order to also hear your responses as well.
Tough times! Who will provide a solution? Who is the provider? I believe … HE HASN’T CHANGED A BIT!
The Bible teaches us that whether we believe in God or not … all things come from above.
James 1:17 says - Every good and perfect gift is from above, coming down from the Father of the heavenly lights, who does not change like shifting shadows.
It says … if it’s good … if it’s perfect … it comes from God above.
I will address our pain and suffering encounters in a future post. BUT just for now, just for this moment ... focus on these words: If it’s good … if it’s perfect … it comes from God! God alone is the source of all things "good".
That means … whether or not you believe it … anything from a well timed tuna sandwich to a carefully structured retirement fund is from God above. Air is from God!
Now, I know some of you don’t believe that! And I am not saying that it is true!
I am telling you it IS what the Bible says … and I'm telling you that I believe what the Bible says. You may not! And I will fight for your right to your view and ... we can still be friends.
And I just want you to know that you can think me to be an idiot for believing in such an old book! No offense taken (I actually get that a lot). But in the end I believe your argument isn't with me at all.
I believe your argument is with God.
Who is the provider? I believe … HE HASN’T CHANGED A BIT!
He is waiting on us.
Maybe we don’t talk to Him enough.
He wants relationship with us, not Churchianity. I mean it isn’t about going to church with a rubbadub-dub, sing the song, clap the hands, take communion, leave some cash and head home to get the holy suit and tie off.
God is trying to infiltrate every aspect of your life. He wants to talk to you. He wants you to talk to Him. He wants to hear your tears and pain. He wants to hear your joy and laughter. He wants to hear your praise and worship. He wants to be acknowledged as the good provider that He is for you. He loves you and gave His life for you.
Thank Him and accept His provision today!
Real quick here. So, how do I find this God that you say is as real as the car in the driveway?
Throughout the Bible there are declarations that if you really seek for God ... you ARE going to find Him. Many people think that God is trying to hide from them. In fact, quite the opposite is true on two fronts.
1. God is has been trying to get your attention ... even now when you read these words. You were brought here at the right time.
2. Many people are trying to hide from God. Deep in their guts they don't want accountability. They think if the don't fully encounter God they won't be subject to His standards. So they really are not seeking Him.
Hey, there's HOPE out there!
God loves those rebellious people! How do I know? I ARE ONE. But Thank God I found Him ... through painful and tough situations in my 53 years to be exactly who He said He is. I am still learning and still trusting (slower than most) but I am resisting less and less.
Are you really looking for God?
In Jeremiah 33:3, it says, "Call to me and I will answer you and tell you great and unsearchable things you do not know."
In Matthew 7:7-8, it says "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."
If you really want to find this God ... you must be open to actually finding Him. Don't deny that He is there in your mind and tell others you are searching for Him. He's there! Wanna find Him? Earnestly pray this ... God if your out there ... help me to find you. Amen. Pray THAT every day. God wants to talk to you! And God keeps His promises! If YOU really SEEK, YOU will really FIND!
Back to Thanking God For Our Provisions.
When I worry … I like to read a passage of Scripture in Matthew 6:25-33. Jesus is talking in what is known as The Sermon on the Mount.
"Therefore I tell you, do not worry about your life, what you will eat or drink; or about your body, what you will wear. Is not life more important than food, and the body more important than clothes? Look at the birds of the air; they do not sow or reap or store away in barns, and yet your heavenly Father feeds them. Are you not much more valuable than they? Who of you by worrying can add a single hour to his life?
"And why do you worry about clothes? See how the lilies of the field grow. They do not labor or spin. Yet I tell you that not even Solomon in all his splendor was dressed like one of these. If that is how God clothes the grass of the field, which is here today and tomorrow is thrown into the fire, will he not much more clothe you, O you of little faith? So do not worry, saying, 'What shall we eat?' or 'What shall we drink?' or 'What shall we wear?' For the pagans run after all these things, and your heavenly Father knows that you need them. But seek first his kingdom and his righteousness, and all these things will be given to you as well.
I am still learning to trust God one day at a time.
May God bless you all in these tough times. Scatter your prayers at the feet of King of Kings!
NikonSniper Steve
it's just a bunch of guys that get together once a month. I am hardly able to be with them due to my travel schedule. Today, it really seemed like everyone had major concerns with the economic situations in which we live. JOBS! Truthfully, I find that when my personal world gets cloudy … the entire world might as well be off kilter.
I guess I feel sometimes like I am living my very own BP Oil Spill Crisis.
As we went around the table talking this morning it was very clear that everyone is having some degree of concern or worry about tomorrow. Where is our provision going to come from? When will it show up? What will be the next hardship to get ready for? Why is this happening to me?
Lost employment. Cut employment. Home foreclosures. Death of young loved ones. Hardships in relationships. Marital difficulties. Kids (need I say more).
Do you ever wonder why so many turn to excessive alcohol, drugs or something else to help them cope? I sure don't!
Pain and suffering are everywhere. In the USA, we know very little about pain and suffering compared to many parts of the world … but we are certainly learning how fickle our way of life is becoming.
I want to write my view on why bad things happen in another post in order to also hear your responses as well.
Tough times! Who will provide a solution? Who is the provider? I believe … HE HASN’T CHANGED A BIT!
The Bible teaches us that whether we believe in God or not … all things come from above.
James 1:17 says - Every good and perfect gift is from above, coming down from the Father of the heavenly lights, who does not change like shifting shadows.
It says … if it’s good … if it’s perfect … it comes from God above.
I will address our pain and suffering encounters in a future post. BUT just for now, just for this moment ... focus on these words: If it’s good … if it’s perfect … it comes from God! God alone is the source of all things "good".
That means … whether or not you believe it … anything from a well timed tuna sandwich to a carefully structured retirement fund is from God above. Air is from God!
Now, I know some of you don’t believe that! And I am not saying that it is true!
I am telling you it IS what the Bible says … and I'm telling you that I believe what the Bible says. You may not! And I will fight for your right to your view and ... we can still be friends.
And I just want you to know that you can think me to be an idiot for believing in such an old book! No offense taken (I actually get that a lot). But in the end I believe your argument isn't with me at all.
I believe your argument is with God.
Who is the provider? I believe … HE HASN’T CHANGED A BIT!
He is waiting on us.
Maybe we don’t talk to Him enough.
He wants relationship with us, not Churchianity. I mean it isn’t about going to church with a rubbadub-dub, sing the song, clap the hands, take communion, leave some cash and head home to get the holy suit and tie off.
God is trying to infiltrate every aspect of your life. He wants to talk to you. He wants you to talk to Him. He wants to hear your tears and pain. He wants to hear your joy and laughter. He wants to hear your praise and worship. He wants to be acknowledged as the good provider that He is for you. He loves you and gave His life for you.
Thank Him and accept His provision today!
Real quick here. So, how do I find this God that you say is as real as the car in the driveway?
Throughout the Bible there are declarations that if you really seek for God ... you ARE going to find Him. Many people think that God is trying to hide from them. In fact, quite the opposite is true on two fronts.
1. God is has been trying to get your attention ... even now when you read these words. You were brought here at the right time.
2. Many people are trying to hide from God. Deep in their guts they don't want accountability. They think if the don't fully encounter God they won't be subject to His standards. So they really are not seeking Him.
Hey, there's HOPE out there!
God loves those rebellious people! How do I know? I ARE ONE. But Thank God I found Him ... through painful and tough situations in my 53 years to be exactly who He said He is. I am still learning and still trusting (slower than most) but I am resisting less and less.
Are you really looking for God?
In Jeremiah 33:3, it says, "Call to me and I will answer you and tell you great and unsearchable things you do not know."
In Matthew 7:7-8, it says "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."
If you really want to find this God ... you must be open to actually finding Him. Don't deny that He is there in your mind and tell others you are searching for Him. He's there! Wanna find Him? Earnestly pray this ... God if your out there ... help me to find you. Amen. Pray THAT every day. God wants to talk to you! And God keeps His promises! If YOU really SEEK, YOU will really FIND!
Back to Thanking God For Our Provisions.
When I worry … I like to read a passage of Scripture in Matthew 6:25-33. Jesus is talking in what is known as The Sermon on the Mount.
"Therefore I tell you, do not worry about your life, what you will eat or drink; or about your body, what you will wear. Is not life more important than food, and the body more important than clothes? Look at the birds of the air; they do not sow or reap or store away in barns, and yet your heavenly Father feeds them. Are you not much more valuable than they? Who of you by worrying can add a single hour to his life?
"And why do you worry about clothes? See how the lilies of the field grow. They do not labor or spin. Yet I tell you that not even Solomon in all his splendor was dressed like one of these. If that is how God clothes the grass of the field, which is here today and tomorrow is thrown into the fire, will he not much more clothe you, O you of little faith? So do not worry, saying, 'What shall we eat?' or 'What shall we drink?' or 'What shall we wear?' For the pagans run after all these things, and your heavenly Father knows that you need them. But seek first his kingdom and his righteousness, and all these things will be given to you as well.
I am still learning to trust God one day at a time.
May God bless you all in these tough times. Scatter your prayers at the feet of King of Kings!
NikonSniper Steve
Saturday, July 2, 2011
Friday, July 1, 2011
Thursday, June 30, 2011
Tuesday, June 28, 2011
Monday, June 27, 2011
Sunday, June 26, 2011
Friday, June 24, 2011
Wednesday, June 22, 2011
Tuesday, June 21, 2011
Monday, June 20, 2011
Saturday, June 18, 2011
Thursday, June 16, 2011
Monday, June 13, 2011
Sunday, June 12, 2011
Saturday, June 11, 2011
Memories Of Grandpa
This photo was taken by my niece, Brianna, in Canada. It was captured in cottage country, White Lake, Ontario, not far from Ottawa. This serene lakefront property was provided to their family by a loving grandfather as a getaway from busy city life. Grandpa Doug always had a smile on his face when I saw him. He passed through the veil of this life a year ago today ... but memories of his kindness and generosity will always be cherished.
Top 7 Most Viewed NikonSniper Posts
Well, as of this moment there has been 82,293 pageviews on NikonSniper since starting 28 months ago. I guess I started my counter on the blog after there had been roughly 13,300 hits.
NikonSniper has grown to 9,513 pageviews in the last month! WOW! Honestly, I really never saw THAT coming when this whole thing started. Just in the last two weeks, we have been visited by people from 74 countries. That's CRAZY! THANK YOU, THANK YOU, THANK YOU ... for all your kind words of support!
I never would have guessed that these would be the Top 7 Pageviews. I actually just found out this information myself ... because I actually spent some time reading all this info that is available for you on a Stats page. I had no idea all this info was here. Thanks again to all of you. I hope you continue to enjoy what you see here in years ahead.
#1 Worship The Creator's Majesty - 861 Pageviews
#2 Merry Christmas 2010 - 437 Pageviews
#3 Fall Wild Flowers - 330 Pageviews
#4 Childhood Fishing Creek - 299 Pageviews
#5 Sittin' On A Bluebird House - 211 Pageviews
#6 Thanking God For The Voice - 207 Pageviews
#7 Rango Makes Hollywood Billboards - 194 Pageviews
NikonSniper has grown to 9,513 pageviews in the last month! WOW! Honestly, I really never saw THAT coming when this whole thing started. Just in the last two weeks, we have been visited by people from 74 countries. That's CRAZY! THANK YOU, THANK YOU, THANK YOU ... for all your kind words of support!
I never would have guessed that these would be the Top 7 Pageviews. I actually just found out this information myself ... because I actually spent some time reading all this info that is available for you on a Stats page. I had no idea all this info was here. Thanks again to all of you. I hope you continue to enjoy what you see here in years ahead.
#1 Worship The Creator's Majesty - 861 Pageviews
#2 Merry Christmas 2010 - 437 Pageviews
#3 Fall Wild Flowers - 330 Pageviews
#4 Childhood Fishing Creek - 299 Pageviews
#5 Sittin' On A Bluebird House - 211 Pageviews
#6 Thanking God For The Voice - 207 Pageviews
#7 Rango Makes Hollywood Billboards - 194 Pageviews
Friday, June 10, 2011
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