Lord God, thank You for shapes, colors, clouds, trees. Lord God, the way You create NEVER ceases to amaze me. Thank You Lord God for all the ways that You manifest Yourself to Your people.
Lord God, continue to point people to Yourself through nature and through Your Word.
Lord God, help us to deal with people who are difficult whether they are loud and obnoxious neighbors, difficult family members and co-workers, help us to endure and to not let our emotions over take us when we are annoyed.
Lord God, thank You for this reader. Lord God, thank You that for believers in Christ our afflictions are momentary in light of eternity. Teach us Lord to number our days. Help us to remain humble, not thinking too highly of ourselves.
Lord God, draw this reader closer to You. No matter where this reader is located in Your world, thank You and praise You that Your Son is always shining. Thank You Holy Trinity for this reader. In Jesus’s Name I pray. Amen.
Photo taken by Mandy Sweigart-Quinn. Photo taken by Mandy Sweigart-Quinn.
Mangroves, Boca Ciega Bay. Photo taken by Mandy Sweigart-Quinn.
Lord God, thank You for this new month. Lord God, teach us to live more for You this month. Father God, guard Your people this month from attacks from wolves who seek to destroy our testimony.
Father God, as natural disasters are affecting millions, we are trusting You Lord to sustain and provide for Your people. Lord God, may we desire to share Jesus with our lost neighbors, friends, coworkers, family members more this month.
Lord God, help us to trust You and Your Sovereignty. May we trust Your Kingship more than our own earthly political systems. Nations are coming against nations and we know Lord these things will happen when Jesus’s return is coming near. Come Lord Jesus!
Lord God, thank You for this reader. May this reader trust You more and seek Your face more this month. In Jesus’s Name I pray. Amen.
Sunrise, 22 Feb 2023. Photo taken by Mandy Sweigart-Quinn
Lord God, thank You for Your grace and mercy this day. Thank You Jesus that You will never abandon Your people. Lord, regardless whether it is night or day for this reader, may they meditate on Your Word. Lord, may Your Word never depart from our head, heart and hands.
Thank You Lord for this reader. Bless this reader to bless others. Help this reader to help others. Comfort this reader so they may comfort others.
Lord God, may we love others because You first loved us. Your love for us is as constant as the rising and the setting of the sun. May we not fear what man will do to us. May we instead fear, revere and worship You.
Thank You Jesus for Your salvation. Lord God, for the reader who does not know You, may this be their day for salvation. Thank You Jesus that Your Good News is still good, no matter what society says.
May Your people NEVER forget or take advantage of what You have done for us. Lord God, thank You for this reader. Fill this reader with the peace of Your Presence. In Jesus’s Name I pray. Amen.
Sunset, 22 February 2023. Photo taken by Mandy Sweigart-Quinn.Sunset, 22 February 2023. Photo taken by Mandy Sweigart-Quinn
Sunrise, 17 January 2023, photo taken by Mandy Sweigart-Quinn.
I can honestly say that I have never seen a sunrise in the East and rainbow (there’s a hint of a second one) in the West, at the same time in all my 41 years of living.
I am fascinated and awed by sunrises, sunsets, and rainbows. Since God spoke the world into being, God has watched over the rising and setting of the sun. The rainbow in the sky is God’s promise not to destroy the earth by flood again.
While this may sound provincial to this unbelieving world, in today’s rapidly changing culture, I take great comfort in this fact.
Today’s beautiful morning also reminds me of Jesus’s rebuke to the Pharisees and Sadducees, “When it is evening, you say, ‘It will be fair weather, for the sky is red.’ And in the morning, ‘It will be stormy today, for the sky is red and threatening.’ You know how to interpret the appearance of the sky, but you cannot interpret the signs of the times” (Matt 16:2-3 ESV).
There is a judgment that is coming for both believers and unbelievers. For believers in the Lord Jesus Christ, ask the Lord to reveal to You where You are falling short of what and where the Lord wants You. Work for the Lord willingly rather than man, even in the most difficult circumstances. I know first hand how much easier it is said than done. However, God gives us the grace we need to be His hands and feet with the proper attitude.
For the unbeliever it is my humble prayer that today will be your day of salvation, repenting of your sins and that you will confess with your mouth that Jesus is Lord and believe in your heart that God raised Jesus from the dead, so you will be saved (Rom 10:9).
Lord God, You know our hearts. You know the loads we carry. Lord God, may we come to You and find rest for our souls. Lord God, thank You for this beautiful sunrise and rainbow. Lord God, prepare us Lord to face You. Lord God, help us to think Your thoughts! Lord God, Your judgement that is coming will be quick and final. May we NEVER presume on Your grace. Lord God, I ask that believers will hold other believers accountable in a loving manner when they are in sin and error. Lord God, may Your people love each other enough to fight for their personal time with You, may believers seek to be spiritually healthy with the same passion that we seek to be emotionally and physically healthy. Lord God, raise up strong leaders in Your Church! Lord God, thank You for this reader. Lord God, encourage this reader today. Help this reader to trust You Lord. Help all believers to increase in their obedience and submission to You. In Jesus’s Name I pray. Amen.
Rainbow, 17 January 2023. Photo taken by Mandy Sweigart-Quinn.17 January 2023. Photo taken by Mandy Sweigart-Quinn.
Lord God, what a magnificent God You are! Lord God, You never cease to amaze me that no matter what the day held, the sun rises and sets on Your schedule. Thank You for this sunset Lord to go with the rain that we so needed today. Thank You Lord for Your grace and mercy.
Lord God, may this reader have a blessed evening, morning or afternoon, depending on where they live. May this reader seek You while there is still time. Thank You Lord that You do truly hold the whole world in Your Hands. Thank You again for this reader. In Jesus’s Name I pray. Amen.
Photo taken by Mandy Sweigart-QuinnPhoto taken by Mandy Sweigart-QuinnPhoto taken by Mandy Sweigart-Quinn
Lord God, thank You for Your magnificent colors! Lord God, as the seasons change help us to reflect that You are in control and that You never change. Thank You and praise You Lord that You neither slumber nor sleep!
Lord God, thank You that as You know each leaf on the tree, each sparrow in the sky, You know each of our needs. Lord God, fill this reader with Your truth and wisdom. Cause this reader to know You more deeply. Lord God, thank You for this reader. In Jesus’s I pray. Amen.
Photo taken by Mandy Sweigart-QuinnPhoto taken by Mandy Sweigart-QuinnPhoto taken by Mandy Sweigart-Quinn
Last October when we were here, the leaves were not as colorful as this year. I am humbled and amazed by how the Triune God colors His world!
I am so glad for this weekend get away. Nathan is praying for bass! I am praying to enjoy this time out in God’s creation, fishing and taking pictures. (I did bring school work with me as well.)
Dear reader, regardless of where you live, I hope you will take a moment to enjoy God’s creation.
Lord God, thank You for Your magnificent color. I am humbled and amazed by how You reveal Yourself to us through nature. Lord, thank You for Your Word. It is through Your Word that we learn salvation is by grace through faith in Christ alone. Lord, thank You for this reader. In Jesus’s Name I pray. Amen.
Photo taken by Mandy Sweigart-QuinnPhoto taken by Mandy Sweigart-Quinn.Tatum Run boat launch. Photo taken by Mandy Sweigart-Quinn.
The heavens are yours; the earth also is yours; the world and all that is in it, you have founded them (Psalm 89:11 ESV).
It’s not everyday that I wake up at 6am to a full moon! What an awesome and amazing way to start the day! What an excellent reminder that the Lord knows and holds it all!
Lord God, thank You and praise You that the sun and moon rise and set on Your time schedule. Thank You Lord that as You know the number of the sand on the seashore, so too do You know those who belong to You. Thank You and praise You Lord for how You use creation to point people to Yourself. Lord, as this world spirals more and more out of control, help Your people to be witnesses, testifying to who You are and what You have done in our lives.
Thank You Lord for the beauty of creation. Thank You Lord that You are mindful of humans and that You loved us so much to send Jesus into this world. Thank You Jesus for dying on our behalf to forgive us from sin so that those who may believe in Your Name will spend eternity with You. Thank You Holy Spirit for convicting us of our need for Jesus and for sealing us with Your Spirit.
It is beyond my comprehension that someday Lord Jesus we will see You face to face. Lord, help us to look for ways to marvel at the works of Your Hands even in the midst of everything that is going on. Thank You Jesus for this reader. Draw this reader closer to You and to Your heart so that others may see You in them. Thank You Lord for today. In Jesus’s Name I pray. Amen.
Photo taken by Mandy Sweigart-QuinnPhoto taken by Mandy Sweigart-Quinn
Sunset. Bluebird on top of pine tree. Photo taken by Mandy Sweigart-Quinn.
Be still, and know that I am God. I will be exalted among the nations, I will be exalted in the earth! (Psalm 46:10 ESV)
Lord God, in the midst of the chaos and uncertainty, help us to pause and meditate on You. Lord God, may we not let the sun go down on our anger. Lord God, may Your peace prevail in Your peoples lives, even when the storms and trials rage.
Lord God, may Your people love You and desire You more each day. May Your people be reminded that You will vindicate Yourself; You do not ask Your people to take vengeance into our own hands.
Lord God, as I pray sitting around the fire, I ask that You will remind us that the judgment that is coming will reveal our our hearts and actions. Lord You are an all consuming fire, may we never take Your grace and mercy for granted. Praise You Jesus that one day all the nations will bow before You.
Thank You Lord for this reader. May the glow of the sun and fire point this reader to the True Son, the One who paid it all. Lord, what a gift it is to have people to pray for! Even when we may be annoyed or agitated, thank You Lord for the opportunity to commune with You in prayer and interceding for others. Bless this reader as only You can. In Jesus’s Name I pray. Amen.
Photo taken by Mandy Sweigart-QuinnPhoto taken by Mandy Sweigart-QuinnPhoto taken by Mandy Sweigart-QuinnPraying for y’all! Photo taken by Nathan Quinn.
Eagle sitting on nest. 8 April 2022. Photo taken by Mandy Sweigart-Quinn.
While the sun is shining and some of the trees are starting to bud, the air is chill. Spring has yet to appear. This does not deter Nathan from fishing!
In the next month or so the eaglets will leave their nest. I am fascinated by the bald eagle (and raptors in general). Watching the eagle fly is remarkable. (I missed an awesome opportunity to photograph the eagle diving into the lake, capturing its fish and taking off). Any time I see an eagle, I cannot help but ponder:
28 Have you not known? Have you not heard? The Lord is the everlasting God, the Creator of the ends of the earth. He does not faint or grow weary; his understanding is unsearchable. 29 He gives power to the faint, and to him who has no might he increases strength. 30 Even youths shall faint and be weary, and young men shall fall exhausted; 31 but they who wait for the Lord shall renew their strength; they shall mount up with wings like eagles; they shall run and not be weary; they shall walk and not faint (Isa 40:28-31 ESV).
Lord God, thank You and praise You that You do not slumber or sleep! Thank You and Praise You Jesus that You give rest, strength and an easy load to those who belong to You! Lord God, for the reader who does not know Jesus as Lord and Savior, may today be their day of salvation.
Lord God, strengthen Your people. Help us to not grow weary in doing Your will and work even when it is unpopular. Help us to stand for Truth, help us to be a light to this dark world. Help us to rise above the struggles and challenges of this world and to live and rest in You.
Lord God, thank You and praise You that as You care for the eagle, the bunny, the flowers in the field, how much more You care for Your people. Prepare our hearts to celebrate Your Resurrection. Lord teach us to live as a people with Hope more and more each day. Thank You Lord for this reader. Lord, renew this reader and give them courage today. In Jesus’s Name I pray. Amen.
Blue Collar Theologian 