Like A Mere Breath, A Passing Shadow

Brian and I drove 34 miles southeast of  Meeteese to a ghost town of Kirwin, Wyoming.

We had to use our four-wheel drive to travel through creek beds and small rock slides to get there.

Gold and silver were discovered in Kirwin in 1885.

As the population of prospectors grew, it became a small town of 200 people.

Since the location of the town was very isolated, a sawmill, a hotel, post office, two stores, a boarding house, several cabins, a stable and sheds were built.

Then in February 1907, a huge avalanche swept through the town, killing three of the people.

After the roads were cleared in the Spring, everyone abandoned the site, leaving most of their belongings behind.

Today, Kirwin stands only as a ghost of what once existed. It is a reminder that man is like a mere breath. His days are like a passing shadow.

"Man is like a mere breath;

His days are like a passing shadow."

Psalm 144:4 (NIV)

And just when I sensed a sadness of no life in the town of Kirwin, Brian spotted a young moose hidden behind brush. People may die. Towns may become abandoned, but life goes on and memories remain.

The Lord Bless You!

The Old West Miniature Museum and Village in Tecumseh's Trading Post in Cody, Wyoming contains thousands of hand-made miniature figurines depicting an accurate history of Wyoming and Montana from the 1600's to the late 1890's.

A train winds through the different scenes and is operated by a button that can be pushed by visitors.

Jerry Flick spent his whole lifetime collecting and making the figurines.

I enjoyed talking with Jerry afterwards. I found out he is a Christian Native American who is not timid about his faith. When any one leaves his store, he lovingly says to them, "God bless you!"

"The Lord bless you

and keep you;

the Lord make His face shine on you

and be gracious to you;

the Lord turn His face toward you

and give you peace."

Numbers 6:24-26 (NIV)

 Praise God for Christian people like Jerry!

"Let's Go Out For Coffee"

"No, I don't think so."

Since moving to Alberta, I have had several ladies from churches ask me to go out for coffee with them. Every single time, I falsely thought it was because they wanted to be friends, and I was excited at the prospect of making new ones. However, that was not their intent. One lady wanted to sell me her health products, one wanted to speak about herself for several hours, one wanted me to do them favours, one wanted to complain about the church and its leaders, and one wanted to critique my ministry. Now when a Christian person asks me out for coffee, my stomach churns! Do Christian people think that other Christians, especially those in ministry, do not need friends? Do they think we are inhuman and void of all feelings and emotions? Do they think we do not need encouragement and support? Do they not read the Scriptures?

"Therefore encourage one another

and build each other up."

1 Thessalonians 5:11 (NIV)

"Be devoted to one another in love.

Honour one another above yourselves."

Romans 12:10

"Be kind and compassionate to one another."

Ephesians 4:32 (NIV)

The Bible says that Christians are to encourage one another, build each other up, be devoted to one another in love, honour one another above oneself, and be kind and compassionate to one another. Church ministry fails when we do not have this attitude, because the new-comers run out the door to never look back, and the leaders become discouraged and give up.

Through Him All Things Are Made

On the way home from Cody, Wyoming, Brian and I stopped between Bozeman and Butte in Montana to tour the famous Lewis and Clark Caverns. They are one of the largest known limestone caverns in the Northwest US and it took us two hours to view them.

These caverns are lined with stalactites, stalagmites, columns, and helictites.

They were spectacular to see!

The path through the caverns were electrically lighted and guided by a well-informed tour guide.

The caverns were first discovered by the Native Americans.

They were named Lewis and Clark Caverns because the caverns overlook 80 kilometers of the trail that Lewis and Clark traveled on during their expedition along the Jefferson River.

Lewis and Clark actually never saw the caverns themselves, so I think the name is misguiding.

The opening of the caverns is home to about a hundred female Western Big-Eared Bats who nest there. The males bats live in other caves nearby. The female bats were not at all a bother to us. (They did not try to get themselves entangled in our hair, disproving an old wive's tale.)

That day I discovered that not only are the outside of mountains majestic to see, but the inside of mountains as well. And it was through God that these beautiful caverns were made, for nothing was made on earth without Him.

"Through Him all things were made;

without Him

nothing was made

that has been made."

John 1:3 (NIV)

When I walked, crawled, and slid through the Lewis and Clark Caverns, I couldn't help but sense the power and creativity of our God.

When I Consider The Work Of Your Fingers

In Wyoming, my husband, Brian, spotted a Tree Lizard without its tail sunbathing on a rock.

If a predator catches a lizard by its tail, the lizard can break off its tail at a weak vertebra link and grow back another one later. However, the new tail will be smaller without any bones.

Whenever I consider the work of God's fingers, I am always amazed!

"When I consider Your heavens,

the work of Your fingers."

Psalm 8:3a (NIV)

How truly majestic is God's Name in all the earth!

"Lord, our Lord,

how majestic is Your Name

in all the earth!"

Psalm 8:9 (NIV)

Co-workers In His Service, Field, And Building

Ryan Martin and the Triple C Cowboys performed at the Cody Cattle Company. I enjoyed it so much, I went again another night to hear them. For both performances, I sat up front cheering and clapping loudly for them. Their talent was amazing! Ryan is the leader of the band, and the Triple C Cowboys consist of an entire family: the husband (who is best friends with Ryan), his wife, and their four children.

It wasn't long into the first performance that I knew in my spirit they were all Christians. They must have sensed my husband and I were too, because after the second time we sat through their performance they asked to meet with us afterwards. When I shared with them we were a Christian family band, their eyes lit up, smiles broke out on their faces, and their voices were filled with excitement. It is always wonderful meeting members of your Heavenly family!

"For we are co-workers in God's service;

you are God's field,

God's building."

1 Corinthians 3:9 (NIV)

Here are two video recordings of them:

Such Sacrifices Are Pleasing To God

The Buffalo Bill Dam is six miles west of Cody, WY. The dam's construction began in 1904 and was completed in 1910. It is an arch-gravity dam on the Shoshone River, made of over 63,000 cubit meters of concrete.

At the time of its completion, the dam was the tallest in the world.

The water stored behind the dam supplies irrigation for over 93,000 acres of farmland in the Bighorn Basin. The main crops are beans, alfalfa, oats, barley and sugar beets. This dam turned a semi-arid land once covered in sage brush into a productive agricultural land.

After Brian and I viewed the dam, we drove down to hike the trails below that followed along the Shoshone River.

The scenery was beautiful!

The river was a lovely emerald colour . . .

. . . with interesting rock formations along the way.

This was my husband's favourite.

Seven men gave up their lives for this vital project. Their names are engraved at the site. Their sacrifice is to be remembered always. They did good. They shared their knowledge and strength, so that others will benefit. Such sacrifices are pleasing to God.

"And do not forget to do good

and to share with others,

for with such sacrifices God is pleased."

Hebrew 13:16 (NIV)

In The Open Expanse Of The Heavens

"Let birds fly above the earth

in the open expanse of the heavens."

Genesis 1:20b (NIV)

When I stayed in Cody, Wyoming, for a week, I loved watching and taking pictures of the birds in the early morning.

This picture turned out to be a perfect profile of a robin.

"The Lord will accomplish what concerns me;

Your loving kindness, O Lord, is everlasting;

Do not forsake the works of Your hands."

Psalm 138:8 (NASB)

This robin is obese. I think it must be gorging himself/herself from the bird feeders in the neighbourhood. Since it is Fall, not Spring, the robin isn't pregnant.

"Better what the eye sees

than the roving of the appetite."

Ecclesiastes 6:9 (NASB)

This tiny sparrow was having a bad feather day. I thought it was cute!

"Consider it pure joy, my brothers and sisters."

James 1:2a (NASB)

The Whole Earth Is Filled With Awe At Your Wonders

Of course, we couldn't go to Cody, Wyoming, without visiting the world famous Yellowstone National Park. Here is a collection of my favourite pictures:

"The whole earth is filled with awe at Your wonders;

where morning dawns, where evening fades,

You call forth songs of joy.

You care for the land and water it;

You enrich it abundantly.

The streams of God are filled with water to provide the people with grain,

for so You have ordained it.

You drench its furrows and level its ridges;

You soften it with showers and bless its crops.

You crown the year with Your bounty,

and Your carts overflow with abundance.

The grasslands of the wilderness overflow;

the hills are clothed with gladness.

The meadows are covered with flocks

and the valleys are mantled with grain;

they shout for joy and sing."

Psalm 65:8-13 (NIV)

The Ways And Wisdom Of Ants

This is me holding a Horned Lizard which is commonly called a Horned Toad because it looks more like a toad than a lizard. It isn't long and skinny with a pointed snout like most lizards, but rounded and stout with a blunt nose. It also has two horns on its head.

I was the only one in the Wild Mustang Tour group who wanted to hold it when the Tour Guide discovered it. I thought it was cute!

Horned Toads eat ants and there are a lot of ants in Wyoming! Everywhere I went I had to watch my step! looking for little mounds of sand and gravel, because they are homes to Fire Ants.

Fire Ants sting people.

However, I stopped at one ant home to watch the ants for a while, considering their ways. They were always busy working and providing food for the colony. There was not one that was lazy.

"Go to the ant,

you sluggard;

consider its ways

and be wise."

Proverbs 6:6 (NIV)