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[td] Look Again, Harder This Time​ ​ ​

[td] . . . and they shall call his name Immanuel . . . God with us—Matthew 1:23​ ​ ​

[td] We men often feel alone. Even surrounded by family, friends, work colleagues, we can still feel very much alone. These feelings—not of loneliness, but alone-ness—are most acute, of course, in times of stress or struggle or suffering. You see, it’s when we’re most in need of help and companionship that we’re most apt to be convinced that no one’s going to help or no one’s going to understand . . . maybe not even God. Right? I mean, in those dark moments, it can feel like God’s just not there, or has turned away. In one of his dark moments, King David cried out: “I am cut off from your sight” (Psalm 31:22). The truth is, God is always there, in every moment, bright and dark. “I will never leave you nor forsake you” (Hebrews 13:5). God doesn’t abandon us in dark moments, even when our sin causes the darkness. So we must learn to see him, even in those moments. One great way to learn is to look backwards, at dark moments from our pasts, moments when we felt alone, and look for him once more, a bit harder this time.​ ​ ​

[td] Okay, so what do we do? Spend some time in prayer. Close your eyes. Quiet your mind. Now, drawing upon everything you know about him, get a picture of Jesus. Think about his goodness—and his heart for the weary, the worried, the wicked, the down, the downtrodden. Think about his willingness to go into tough places and tough situations . . . to redeem them. Next, recall a moment from your past. Call to mind a picture of a time when you felt alone. Visualize the details. Remember how it felt. Now, bring the two pictures together and imagine how Jesus might have (actually) been at work in the moment you chose.​ ​ ​

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[RiverOL]

Three Days in Niagara Falls, New York​

Last updated on: September 11, 2025 at 7:55 pm by Beverly R. Green​

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Psalm 42:7 “Deep calls to deep at the roar of your waterfalls; all your breakers and your waves have gone over me.”​

Three Days in Niagara Falls, New York​

Every year, my husband gives me a short trip for my birthday. I don’t know if it’s because we have far too much stuff in our house to keep adding more “gifts,” if he knows school is about to start and I need one last boost of freedom, or if he just enjoys the adventure as much as I do and is glad for a reason to hit the road. This year he let me decide where I wanted to go. I was having eye problems and I couldn’t see a lot. I chose Niagara Falls (American side), because that would certainly be big enough for me to see.
I think he was a little disappointed that we could not go to the Canadian side (I have no passport). We have been told for years that “the Canadian side is so much better.” Still, it was not a long trip and neither of us had been there for many years. Let me just say, Niagara Falls, New York does not disappoint!
We stayed in a Hilton DoubleTree Hotel. At check-in we were offered very wonderful, warm, walnut and chocolate chip cookies. Good-bye diet! We enjoyed them in our room which was lovely with a view of the river (which, to me, was just a gray blur). The restaurant was excellent–we had dinner that evening, breakfast twice (off the menu with celebratory mimosas and bloody Marys!), and a late evening stop in the bar. The pool was a wonderful amenity that was perfect at the end of each of our three days.
The very best thing about that DoubleTree, though, was its location. It was just across the street from the walking trail that led to the entrance to Niagara Falls Park. We walked that quarter of a mile five times during our three days. It was spectacular! The calm river quickly became animated, roaring, white water as it raced to the falls (watch my video)!

Niagara Falls/Horseshoe Falls/ B. Green

Our first walk over was on a beautiful, sunny, late, Sunday afternoon, immediately after our arrival in town. It was a little crowded, but not bad. The pathways through the park were paved and marked with directions–very easy to navigate–and provided many, many opportunities for great photos! I was afraid that perhaps the falls would not seem as spectacular as they did on my previous visit (I was eight), but there was no reason to worry. I could only stare, amazed at this great wonder that God created. We crossed the bridge over Bridal Veil Falls, stood overlooking the American Falls, and then walked to the Horseshoe Falls, around Goat Island, and back to the hotel.

As striking as that first walk was, the real treat came the next morning. We are early risers. At 6:00 we had coffee, and by 6:30 we had dressed and tied up our sneakers to walk that path again. We passed a few runners–early birds like us; we passed a few birds–early birds like us, but when we approached the falls, it was as though that landscape was spread out for our eyes only.

Niagara Falls/B Green
As the sun rose higher, rainbows appeared … then a few more people. I have no words. We walked all the pathways around the island, found a few spots that were almost as stunning as the falls, then returned a little over two hours later, ready for breakfast. We repeated that the next two mornings. That morning walk every day was the best part of the trip.

Niagara Falls/B Green

Well, maybe the second best part. To be witness to the great majesty of Niagara Falls was an indescribable blessing. There is truly so much beauty on this great, green earth.

So, here’s the tourist-y stuff. There were not a great many restaurants other than chains, but we went to The Red Coach on my birthday. It was a-ma-zing! Other recommendations are:

Rainforest Cafe–Yes, it’s a chain, but we enjoyed it, too! The portions were huge!

Zaika’s Indian Cuisine–came highly recommended.

Maid of the Mist/B Green

Here are some activities that are available:
Tours of all kinds are offered, day or evening. Tours may include the Maid of the Mist, the Cave of the Winds, the observation tower, a light show after dark. We went on a 5.5 hour tour that included all four, plus a stop for shopping and ice cream. In addition, they picked us up at the hotel and brought us back afterward.
Aquarium of Niagara : great activity for the whole family!
Underground Railroad Museum : very educational and gave a different sense of the history of the area.
Fort Niagara : beautiful views and more interesting history.
Helicopter flight over the falls : for the daredevils!

All-in-all, we had a marvelous time and carried many beautiful moments home in our memories. It’s good to be reminded that with all its flaws, this world is still an amazing place!

Niagara Falls/B Green

Amos 5:2 “But let justice roll down like waters, and righteousness like an ever-flowing stream.”​

God bless you and reveal to you His majesty! ​

 

[RiverOL]

[td] Go Small to Go Big​ ​ ​

[td] So then, as we have opportunity, let us do good to everyone—Galatians 6:10​ ​ ​

[td] Once we’ve decided to do something, we men often like to “go big.” We think to ourselves: if we’re going to do this thing, let’s really do it. We can bring this kind of thinking, this “go big” mentality, to all kinds of work, even the work God calls us into—that is, the work of loving and serving others. Great things can result, of course. But the mentality can backfire, too—for example, when we set our ambitions too high, get overwhelmed, and can’t follow through. It’s interesting that, knowing us as he does, our King, Jesus Christ, suggests an opposite approach: “This is a large work I’ve called you into, but don’t be overwhelmed by it. It’s best to start small. Give a cool cup of water to someone who is thirsty, for instance. The smallest act of giving or receiving makes you a true apprentice” (Matthew 10:40-42 MSG). Start small! Why does something rise up in our hearts, against that approach? Well, it’s mostly because by “going big” we hope to grab a little glory for ourselves. We want others to see us and think well of us. And if we don’t “go big,” they might not actually see our accomplishments. But, Jesus reassures us: “You won’t lose out on a thing” (Matthew 10:42 MSG). We must trust his words and trust that God the Holy Spirit can do amazing things within even our smallest, most ordinary acts of love and service. And that’s plenty big for any of us.​ ​ ​

[td] Okay, so what do we do? Look around, today and tomorrow, for people in need. People are hurting, people right around you. “Go to the lost, confused people right here in the neighborhood” (Matthew 10:5-8 MSG). Pick one person and blow them away with some help.​ ​ ​

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Want Some Courage?​

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I press on toward the goal for the prize
of the upward call of God in Christ Jesus—Philippians 3:14

In some respects, we know the men we’d like to become. For one, we’d like to be courageous for God, not simply surviving these lives, but living boldly in them. Well, we absolutely can (Romans 8:31-39). The thing is . . . it’s hard. We’re easily distracted—by our drives for achievement and advancement and accumulation. And we’re easily made afraid—that we’ll be embarrassed if we act boldly for God; that we’re not qualified to stand with him; or just that we’ve never done it before and don’t know how to start. Yes, it’s difficult becoming courageous and, actually, it’s meant to be.

God didn’t create two types of men—some cowardly and some courageous. No, he leaves the cowardice/courage decisions to us. That said, we cannot simply choose for courage and instantly become courageous any more than we can instantly become . . . say . . . orators or outdoorsmen. If we want to become either of those, we must practice. We must start small and fail and succeed; we must work and learn. So it is with courage. We become courageous men by practicing courage, by accumulating experiences, small at first, of actually being courageous.

So, there are two types of men, but it’s those willing to practice and those not, resigned instead to lives of safety. The good news, brother, is that becoming the former doesn’t require an inordinate amount of time or a major lifestyle change. It just takes a bit of resolve.​

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Okay, so what do we do?

Practice. Do something. Don’t overreach (and set yourself up for failure); but don’t reach too short either (and render your efforts pointless). Choose in the middle—something intimidating, but not overly. Here are some suggestions: face a phobia; spend time with someone the rest of the world avoids; serve in a way you’ve never served before.​

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