Starved Rock Sate Park, in Utica, IL, is always fun to visit, but in the Fall it can be just breathtaking. Situated along the Illinois River, it is a welcome contrast to the soybean fields and corn fields that dominate the landscape in this part of the midwest.
all the color will soon fall and the barren trees will sing cold and wind snow and ice will paint the boughs with chilled beauty as leaves are tossed and lost are the dried and cracked memories of hues and tones that proudly shouted i am here let's welcome winter when it enters our souls sometimes what we think is gold needs to fade be swept away in the wind of the Spirit may we bend and break let proud color and hues fall in surrender self must fade and give way to the dark long nights He will hold us tight through the cold and the questions and the monochrome feelings we must stand still as the tree and wait for life to start again in His time His way His truth His life will spring for we wait and in the waiting He is present we wait He is comfort He is love we wait in His love
it’s the beauty and simplicity that we often miss the radiance and light that we just don’t see the comfort and the healing that we lay aside oh let us rest let us be still for the greatest of these is love the greatest of these is love it’s the glory and presence that we often ignore a sunrise a bird song a baby’s laughter the colors of all the leaves as they fall grace is always in season oh let us rest let us be still for the greatest of these is love the greatest of these is love it’s the bitterness and anger and rage that can lead us to waste our pain we pursue justice at the expense of our souls and become that which we loath oh let us rest let us be still for the greatest of these is love the greatest of these is love God our world is in trouble but greater still is my troubled soul my anxious thoughts God i need you to settle this restless heart help me to see beauty simplicity your presence your glory right here to laugh like a child and to sing your praise and your renown with the colors and the seasons oh let us rest let us be still for the greatest of these is love the greatest of these is love
lift up your eyes oh weary one and let His love clothe the lies mend the wounds and sing over you lift up your eyes oh sacred soul you matter more than anyone knows let His grace lift your head you bear His image be at peace be at peace lift up your eyes oh shame filled one and let His presence surround the sorrow all the monochrome guilt and shame will be restored in the color of His deliverance in the brilliance of His countenance in the suffering of His love lift up your eyes be at peace and rest be at peace and rest
A few moments that caught my eye as Fall descends in our area.
Starved Rock State Park, in Oglesby, IL, is filled with hiking trails, canyons, high cliff views of the Illinois River and, in the Fall, the beauty of all those fallen leaves. My colleagues and I go to this park for our annual hiking trip to celebrate birthdays on our staff. We enjoyed a cool, beautiful day! Thanks for stopping buy.
the beautiful sadness of fall colors singing proudly before cascading to the earth creating a carpet of emerald crimson and lemon to welcome the solace and solitude of winter the humility of each season is the common theme of the songs they sing each season happily surrenders its beauty to the charm and grace of the next and so all creation sings to the Creator let us do the same welcome the constant change that this life brings and be alive to all that must die within us and be willing to surrender to all that must be reborn through confession forgiveness and the grace and mercy of our Lord "Yes, grass withers and flowers fade, but the word of our God endures forever." * and He is light and He is love * Isaiah 40:8
A bit more of a “traditional” Fall image for this post.
rutakintome pictures 
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