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For Inspiration: Stories & Sketches

The song is based on Psalm 139, which eloquently explains how thoroughly God knows us. Nothing is hidden from him. His love reaches the believer anywhere--including and through the heavens, the seas, the depths, the heights, the dark times, and the bright times. Since he inspires us to post the contents of the inspiration page, we thought it fitting to have this song available because it also points to Him.

Astronomical Sketches and Stories

A Chinese and American Independence Story
The early morning began as an opportunity to sketch the waning moon. It was a wonderful time. By the time the sketch was rendered, I began to notice other things and added them to the lunar sketch. As I thought about the day and the objects that had caught my attention, I realized how special it was. [Whole Story]

The Common Beauty of a Full Moonrise
When the heart is burdened and when the meaning of life is not known, common scenes become barely noticeable. As I have grown in my knowledge of God, however, I have found that common scenes become special. Simple things that I see take on extra meaning. My observation of this moonrise was one of those times [Whole Story]

Lunar Craters (Mercenius and Meton) and Limited Sight

How much to we see? The more I observe, the more I realize how little I see. The straightforward task of observing a crater is complicated in itself, but when I back away from the observation periods of a couple of craters and think about what I have seen relative to what God sees, that is another matter entirely. With this enlarged perspective, two short evenings 'with' Mercenius and Meton were changed. [Whole Story]

His Flower in the Sky

The Iris Nebula is appropriately named. It's beauty is normally not within the grasp of my equipment, but a friend had a larger scope and astro video equipment. I sketched for a half hour -- mesmerized by the gentle cloud folds and colors. My sketch does not approach the beauty of this example of God's work in the heavens, but perhaps it captures a little of it. The nebula reminds me of an important scripture about what is important. [Whole Story]

Lessons in Studying Copernicus
Observing the moon or specific feature (like the Copernicus crater) brings a person face to face with an extraordinary object that is perfectly placed, phased, and timed for observation. It might seem surprising, but it teaches something plain: don’t forget God. [Whole Story]

Made Complete By Working Together?
Recording observations of the sky by sketching gets a little more complex when more than one person is involved, but the experience for us has proven fruitful. It is not without difficulty, but mastering loving each other in a practical situation like this has benefits that reach farther than the heavens. [Whole Story]

The Moon in May Showers
Observing the skies in showers may seem very unlikely, but many observations of the skies are beautiful under unforseen circumstances. This is one of those examples. Perhaps it will encourage someone to observe more carefully. The God I know is full of surprises--able to make us see things in a different light or in new ways! [Whole Story]

Encouragment While Sketching the Sombrero Galaxy

Encouraging people is something we learn to do; it is not an automatic process--it takes thought and action in a variety of circumstances. When we sketched this galaxy, we learned a little more how to do it. [Whole Story]

The Heavens and the Prophets, Part V: M81

The thumbnail shows the central part of a sketch of the M81 galaxy, which is a very popular object to observe in northern lattitudes in the spring. It is a beautiful object to use as a closing for this series that uses sketches of sky objects and scriptures from two old testament prophets. Both the objects and the scriptures point to a little bit of the wonder and majesty of God, who created the heavens. [Whole Story]

The Heavens and the Prophets, Part IV: M83

Barred galaxies are a fascinating type of galaxy among several types created by God's hand. This particular one is low in the sky in the spring from northern lattitudes but a beautiful object to observe. Jeremiah, although unable to observe with a telescope in his day, opens a prayer with an exclamation that echos what God has done in the heavens as well as the earth. The scripture reference is a fitting part of the sketch. [Whole Story]

The Heavens and the Prophets, Part III: M108

Some galaxies hold a bit of mystery since their features are hard to see because of the angle of view and the presence of stellar clouds. Nevertheless, the fact that we can see them at huge distances and know they are full of stars -- "stretched out" in such a way so we can enjoy observing them -- speaks of the power of our God! [Whole Story]

The Heavens and the Prophets, Part II

This particular observing night had two objectives: study and sketch NGC 2261 (an unusual nebula that looks like a comet) and NGC 2683 (a nearly edge-on galaxy). A poetic but accurate scripture from Jeremiah seemed fitting to describe the evening as well as the masterful features of the sky objects. [Whole Story]

The Heavens and the Prophets, Part I

This sketch of an edge-on galaxy begins a 5-part series that shows sketches of primarily galaxies, an explanation of the observation, a scripture from Isaiah or Jeremiah, and comment. NGC 4565 (numeric designation for this galaxy) is a fitting opening due to its striking features. An introduction to the series and comment are below the sketch. [Whole Story]

Pictures and Stories

The Grand Signature of God
We spend quite a bit of time on this web site displaying sketches of objects in the heavens and relating them to Biblical truths. One need not go further than observing the magnificence of a sunset, however, to see God's signature and invitation for us to consider who he is. The message of our surroundings, like the message of the heavens, points to him. [Whole Story]

The Lessons of Mothers and Fathers in the Faith
This story is moved to the top for old and new visitors. Agnes Numer is the person in the picture. Her example has inspired many people and the birth of many ministries. Her testament: she has produced fruit and has inspired many others to do the same. If you have not read this story, we invite you to do so. [Whole Story]

The Faces of Giving Hearts

Can you recognize the face of a believer in Jesus Christ? Surely a believer recognizable by what a person does or says. There is good news and good guidance in the Bible about what happens to a person's life when it is affected by a relationship with Jesus Christ. We have learned by experience and affirm that the scriptures are true: we can be changed and we can give from the heart! Here are a few examples. [Whole Story]

Taking Time to Express Love to Ezra

It could be a little boy anywhere, but this little boy was in a home in Uganda where we were staying. There was opportunity to get to know him, watch him do his chores, and see him around his friends. The circumstances that unfolded during our visit reminded me of how God gets our attention and expresses His love for us. [Whole Story]

Trials and Perseverance
Trials are messy. They bring out the best and the worst in people. This story is not for wimps. Trials for the Christian have much spiritual benefit but it requires walking through them hanging on to God. I know. So two little sketches a few days apart now has a meaning: a period of time in a trial. [Whole Story]

"This is a most amazing day, Madam!"
There are times when a little nudge from the Holy Spirit inspires a thought. As events unfold, God often reveals His hand by bringing the unexpected to show His love. This was one of those times, and it especially affected Norma, one of several orphan children in the home of our friend, Gertrude, in Nyamabuga, Uganda. [Whole story]

Walk with Him through What?
Most people remember certain events by the scenes that occurred at the same time. Sometimes it seems like time stops for a moment when something surprising or important occurs. We remember a car ride one morning, because it began a different chapter of our lives that continues but is not easy. Like other events, however, it reminds us that God is with us. [Whole Story]

Parking Lots and Alters
The scene is inconspicuous but is evidence of decisions by believers. Whether we construct a parking lot or redo an alter, there are decisions underneath those decisions that display what is important to us. Sometimes what is important to us is at the expense of what works can be done by faith. With this in view, little decisions become much more important. [whole story]

The Old Plank School
When I first arrived in the village, I was greeted by over 300 smiling faces. The children were waiting for us and they were excited. They were to see white people for the second or third time. They were smiling and hiding behind one another. We waved at them; some hid their faces while others beamed with joy and waved back. It was a very special first time greeting for us all. [Whole Story]

A Day in the Life of an African Child
Most of us have seen children playing in America, but even the most experienced among us wouldn't try to teach 81 1st graders alone. They do it in Africa! I was there and sat facing the Nyamabuga School's first grade class. Their teacher sat facing me with her back to the children. After a slight sound was heard behind her, she simply put her hand up beside her shoulder and brought it down. [Whole Story]

Happy as a Clam
Happy as a clam, yes, that's me. On our last trip to Uganda I had the pleasure of setting up a small library. The first picture shows me digging through boxes of new and used books as I stocked cabinets with the treasured books. Gertrude, our hostess, believes this to be one of the first village schools in Uganda to have its own library. [Whole Story]

Archive
Archive of past Inspirational Stories and Sketches