I have a few blogs that I read daily–faithfully–or at least as often as the writers update them. Some of them are so interesting and well written, I can hardly wait for the next edition. In fact, that’s how it is for most of my favorites.

You can see them in my blogroll in the right column. If you haven’t explored recently, please do! When I add a blog to the roll, I mainly look for the blogger’s ability to captivate day after day through excellent use of the pen–or in this case the computer. Hey, and great photos are a plus!

I could make comments about all, but I want to talk about a new blog that I discovered on the blog roll of eternal rewards, (another great blog, btw), The Pioneer Woman. It’s written by a mother of four who lives on a cattle ranch. She tells about her escapades daily in prose and photography. It’s almost like a soap opera. As she weaves her true-life adventures, you can hear the cattle groan, taste the dust, and well, smell the manure… It is also very funny at times, as Ree seems to be quite zany. She compares herself to Lucille Ball. She cooks and is a great photographer. Is there anything she can’t do? I am full of admiration!

Anyway, here is a post from The Pioneer Woman that I enjoyed titled, I’m Not Scared of Snakes.” Living on a ranch, that fear she has overcome; but one that is much harder for her is photography (representing the reality) of the universe like these.

 This is a dying star.

 The MIlky Way

The birth of a star

And this last one scares Ree the most. It is scary. And it is a miracle that we can see it! Wow–the marvels or modern technology.

I am just the opposite of the Pioneer Woman–scared to death of snakes and in total awe and admiration of the cosmos. I can’t see enough photos like these. They do evoke fear, but the kind of deep down fear that leads me to a power higher–bigger than my world.

A wise Jewish king once said, “The fear of God leads to wisdom.” I want to be wise in this life–and with all the calamity and forecast of calamity surrounding us–I need wisdom beyond my own ability to get through.

There is a healthy, down deep fear of God that those photos evoke in me. Its the kind that makes me want to fall on my face and worship Him for his awe and wonder, for His infinite ability to create stuff like this. Pictures of His magnificent creation make me want to exclaim Him as the One True God and thank HIm for loving me, a small blip in the worlds He created.

The cosmos reflects unfathomable extravagance. In fact, all of creation is bursting with extravagance. And I believe the Creator was extravagant in creation to show that He was and is capable of extravagant love toward man.

Looking at wonders in the universe, man instinctively knows there is a God. I don’t have the answers for injustice or natural catastrophe, and evil–all I know is that photos of the universe like these draw me to Him, make me know I need Him. And I have found shelter in His vastness.

For ever since the world was created, people have seen the earth and sky. Through everything God made, they can clearly see his invisible qualities-his eternal power and divine nature. So they have no excuse for not knowing God.

Yes, they knew God, but they wouldn’t worship him as God or even give him thanks. And they began to think up foolish ideas of what God was like. As a result, their minds became dark and confused.

Claiming to be wise, they instead became utter fools. And instead of worshiping the glorious, ever-living God, they worshiped idols made to look like mere people and birds and animals and reptiles (Romans 1:19-23).

As far as snakes, well, Ree, maybe a few weeks on your ranch and I’ll overcome that fear! And Ree, I love your blog, keep writing and spinning your tales. I’m listening.

Hats off to a talented pioneer woman.