Daily Photo Parable

Photo and Commentary ©2025 by Maylan Schurch
Friday, November 14, 2025

Thursday of this week I spent some time at our local library working on my sermon. Not far from where I sat was this water fountain.

A young mom approached the fountain accompanied by a little red-haired girl who couldn’t have been much older than a year old. The toddler was staring around at everything with intense curiosity. Mom rolled the black plastic stool in front of the fountain, and lifted the girl so she could stand on it.

Then Mom demo’d how to use the water fountain, and the little girl tried it out. She knew that to get water, you had to push the oblong metal button, but she didn’t know you had to keep the button pushed. So she pushed the button, saw the arc of water, then took her hand off the button, and as she leaned forward to drink, the water stopped. At this point I strolled past, on my way to the books-on-hold shelves to see if anything had come in for the Schurch family. In passing, I asked mom, “First time at the water fountain?” Mom gave me a delighted smile. “Yes!” she said, and pulled out her cell phone, prepared to snap a photo of the girl and her attempt to get a drink.

I’m still grinning when I think of that little scene. It reminded me of how Jesus called Himself the Water of Life, and how patiently He introduced Himself to first to a Samaritan woman (John chapter 4) and then to us, and offered us a drink.

I’m sure that after a few more moments, the little girl became expert at operating that water fountain. And I’m just as sure that Jesus is overjoyed when we make it a habit to drink of that Living Water.

To learn or review what the Bible says about Jesus’ mission, click the link just below:

https://www.bibleinfo.com/en/topics/jesus-christ

Photo and Commentary ©2025 by Russell Jurgensen
Thursday, November 13, 2025

In thinking about the meaning of fall leaves, I looked up some details about what makes up the material in a leaf. I was surprised to learn that most of the material comes from the air in the form of carbon dioxide. Only about 1-2% comes from minerals in the ground.

I wonder if our lives are kind of like that, where 99% of our lives are powered by God’s gifts to us and maybe 1-2% comes from our own efforts and will power. It is hard to qualify, but it is really amazing how much we take for granted.

Let’s think about what God does for us as we move forward in using his gifts.

Photo and Commentary ©2025 by Darren Milam
Wednesday, November 12, 2025

I am sure I’ve mentioned it before, but it’s worth saying again: I love trees. I really enjoy walking through a forest, looking up and viewing these magnificent trunks reaching for the sky. I have a feeling God likes trees as well. One of the reasons I say that is, in the NKJV, there are 137 mentions of trees. Another reason I say God enjoys trees, is that they are mentioned at the beginning, with Adam and Eve. God created the Tree of Life, which was extremely important to the Earth’s history.

So much life comes from trees. Whether we’re talking about fruit we can eat, structures being built of the wood — Noah’s Ark, the Tabernacle, etc., all the way to the wooden cross where we were all saved from sin. Trees are very important now, just as much as they were important back then.

Let’s take a look at reference to trees, and their act for God

1 Chronicles 16:32-34

Let the sea, roar, and all its fullness;
Let the field rejoice, and all that is in it.
Then the trees of the woods shall rejoice before the Lord,
For He is coming to judge the earth.
Oh, give thanks to the Lord, for He is good!
For His mercy endures forever.

How about that? The trees shall rejoice! What about you? Do you rejoice before the Lord?

Let’s make sure our priorities are aligned with the rest of God’s creations — including trees — and rejoice with them!

Photo and Commentary ©2025 by Robert Howson
Tuesday, November 11, 2025

The very act implies a loss of stability, but it is, in most cases, required for flight. The act of leaning does put one in a vulnerable position but it can also indicate a focus or intensity needed for learning. To clarify, look at the White-faced Ibis shown here, about to take flight. To become airborne it must first tip slightly forward to redistribute the weight load to the wings. This same action would cause the bird to fall face-forward into the water should the wings not be engaged to do their part. In this case, intent prompted the action which resulted in flight.

We find another example in Scripture which seems to indicate a fear of vulnerability on the part of Peter. To his credit, Peter’s actions show he was more than just passively interested. The setting was this. Christ and the disciples had met in the upper room to celebrate Passover and Jesus had just washed their feet. To unwilling ears He confirmed His death and then, unbelievably, announced that one of them would betray Him. It was at this point Peter’s body language revealed his concern: “He simply leaned forward on Jesus’ shoulder, and asked, “Lord, who is it?” (John 13:25 J.B. Phillips New Testament) I suspect this wasn’t a casual leaning forward, as the word “simply” implies, but a focused intensity that was deeply personal. This particular leaning did not result in flight. On the contrary, each of His followers must have crashed as Christ revealed more of what was to come.

How about our leanings? Does it stem from lukewarm apathy precipitating slumber? Or are we focused on what Christ has to say to us leading to a flight to be with Him.

Photo and Commentary ©2025 by Chuck Davis
Monday, November 10, 2025

Capturing images of the Milky Way was the highlight of my recent stay at the Granite Mountain Fire Lookout. Astrophotography requires long exposures, and it is vital for the camera to remain still. This requirement reminded me of the song that the Sons of Korah wrote: “Be still, and know that I am God…” (Psalm 46:10 KJV).

While the camera was doing its four-minute thing, I lay back to take in the majesty of God’s creative power.

And God said, Let there be lights in the firmament of the heaven to divide the day from the night; and let them be for signs, and for seasons, and for days, and years: And let them be for lights in the firmament of the heaven to give light upon the earth: and it was so. And God made two great lights; the greater light to rule the day, and the lesser light to rule the night: he made the stars also. And God set them in the firmament of the heaven to give light upon the earth, And to rule over the day and over the night, and to divide the light from the darkness: and God saw that it was good. And the evening and the morning were the fourth day (Genesis 1:14-19 KJV).

For those who are encumbered by light pollution, I hope that sometime this week you find a dark location to view the stars. Some place where you can be still and know that He is God.

Photo and Commentary ©2025 by Shelley Schurch
Sunday, November 9, 2025

This “tree tear” stopped me in my tracks this week. It has been a wet and windy week, and as we walked through a narrow part of our neighborhood trail, I suddenly saw this waterdrop suspended in space close beside us.

A snippet of song from decades ago surfaced in my mind: “Tears are a language God understands.”

I’m so glad He does. Sometimes I don’t understand my own tears, much less the tears of others. I cry when I’m embarrassed, when I’m angry, and when I stand and put my hand over my heart as the flag passes by in a parade. I cry when I vote, when memories of all kinds show up, and when kindness crosses my path. And much more.

I also don’t always understand my lack of tears, only that sometimes I’m too sad to cry. I think God understands our tearlessness, too.

I’m sure there are scientific or psychological explanations for all of this, but I don’t really need them right now. I just need to stop to think and thank.

Because in November I remember . . .

I remember how my mother died one wet and windy night, 43 years ago today, 3 days before her birthday.

My mother was the first person close to me to die, and I was shocked and shaken to my core . . . and way too sad to cry. I grieved for her, and grieved on behalf of my father, who lost his wife and best friend of 44 years.

I stop now, all these years later, to think less about her death and more about her life. I thank the Lord for a mother who loved Him and me, and kept me covered in her prayers. She wanted above all that He and I would become forever friends.

We have attended two memorial services this past week. I learned that the kind and gentle father of one of our friends died last Sunday. A longtime friend asked us to pray because her daughter was in jail. Another dear friend was hospitalized in ICU care. Tears mingle with my prayers.

Two of many Scripture passages that reassure us tears truly are a language God understands:

You keep track of all my sorrows.
You have collected all my tears in your bottle.
You have recorded each one in your book.
(Psalm 56:8 NLT)

He is despised and rejected by men,
A Man of sorrows and acquainted with grief.
And we hid, as it were, our faces from Him;
He was despised, and we did not esteem Him.
Surely He has borne our griefs
And carried our sorrows;
Yet we esteemed Him stricken,
Smitten by God, and afflicted.
(Isaiah 53:3, 4 NKJV)

Thank You, God, for understanding the language of our tears; help us better understand the language of Your love and grace.

* “Tears are a Language God Understands” (Composed by Gordon Jensen, 1971)

Photo and Commentary ©2025 by Maylan Schurch
Friday, November 7, 2025

As you’re aware, the government shutdown means that SNAP funds (Supplemental Nutrition Assistance Program) are being cut off to their recipients. While the courts decide if this is permissible, some Americans are moving into compassionate action.

Thursday afternoon of this week, I arrived at our local library a bit after 4 p.m. to see these food items parked on a bench outside the library door. (Sorry for the badly-focused photo.) As you can see, there’s no accompanying sign, just the food. But it’s obvious that a generous soul parted with some personal funds to provide help.

An hour and a half later, as I departed, here’s what was left.

We don’t know what the future holds for SNAP funds. And I also don’t know if all this food really went directly into the automobile of a needy person or two. But I do know that generosity is a gift of God, and those who exercise it are noticed, and rewarded, by our generous Creator.

To refresh your thinking about this, click the link just below:

https://www.bibleinfo.com/en/topics/giving