Week One - Self Portrait

Okay, like many photographers, I despise pictures of myself. I prefer to be on the other side of the camera. I did realize, this year, that I am not in many of our pictures so it often looks like I am not a part of our family's adventures or celebrations.

Over the past two years, my eldest daughter has taken to taking selfies with me. Though I am not often happy with the outcome, I began to participate willingly, because it means something to her. She is very sensitive to how I feel about the shots she takes, I am beginning to be less camera shy and more likely to lean in for a photo with her.

I tried taking the selfies for the challenge in the evening while the family were wandering in and out of the room. It felt awkward and I was VERY uncomfortable. I quickly put the camera away and opted to waken before everyone the next morning to try again. This was definitely more relaxed and I felt freer to experiment.

Here are a few of my favorites

TBT- My Prayer

I have loved writing since I was in my teens but never really took the time to journal. I would jot my thoughts on any paper that was available.

I am sure I have lost most of what I wrote but some things ended up in books and files and boxes awaiting discovery on some future date.

I recently found some of my writing from "way back" and thought I would share.

This prayer I wrote in a journal on July 12, 1993:

"Heavenly Father,

Help me to never lose sight of my "young, idealistic beliefs":

The desire to see unity in the Body of Christ surpassing the boundaries of "religious sects".

Believing literally what you say in your Word and living it.

Separating scriptural truth from legalism and tradition.

Willing to stand and say I am a follower of Christ alone.

To be humble enough to allow God to use what He wants for His purpose, 

not expecting Him to follow in the boundaries I've set for Him. 

It's His program not mine.

To be understanding and kind in conflict.

To love unconditionally.

To be joyful in the face of adversity knowing that 

my life, my future, my all 

are in the hands of the One who created me, 

who loves me infinitely and unconditionally."

Sunday Reflection

"We need to be motivated by God's mercy.

[We need the right reason to do the right thing]

Not in view of His judgement or power 

but in view of His mercy."

Don Graham

Photo Challenge 2016

So once again, I am going to join a photo challenge.

Last year, the host of the challenge I joined abandoned the challenge at the beginning of March. Part way through 2013, I ran my own photo challenge and stopped posting after week 13.

Hopefully this one will stick and I will stick with it.

Usually I take the challenge and use it to document our life. I worry less about the quality of the photo and learning new techniques and focus more on the composition and content. Capturing moments and memories.

This challenge over at Dogwood photography will be more about improving my photography as the description reads:

"Unlike most photography challenges which are just a simple list of ideas, this 52 week challenge is designed to push your photography to the next level. This list is going to be more challenging to complete than a simple 52 week photography challenge list. But stick with it to the end and I guarantee you will be a better photographer for it."

In reading through the 52 challenges, I am looking forward to growing and stretching myself a little more each week.

I plan on posting my challenge photos each Friday. (and also posting on Dogwood's page for feedback - a big step for me).

Here's to starting fresh with something I love and taking leaps into a bit of the unknown!

What Follows "REST"?

2015. The year of REST.

I imagined much relaxing and reading. quality time spent with my children and my beloved and my Lord.

I never imagined my year would end with a rest from work. Eleven years of serving an MP and his constituents came to an end and for the first time in my career, I found myself with no where to go. No purpose for each day. At least not the purpose I was used to.

E-Day, October 19th completed my call to serve. I continued to work through November 18th when I watched the moving company pack up my work-home and take it away. The last month has been filled with appointments and Christmas prep and rest.

So what follows REST?

Well, Proverbs 19:23 says

"The fear of the Lord leads to life;

    then one rests content, 

untouched by trouble."

Content.

That is what follows REST. Contentment

This reminds me of Paul, in his letter to the Philippians, sharing that he has "learned to be content whatever the circumstances." This is good but if you know me, you know the nuance of a word, the oh so subtle difference, means the world to me.

One definition of content reads " happy enough with".  This doesn't quite fit with what I perceive the verse to mean. 

In reading the ESV, I found, 

"The fear of the Lord leads to life,    
and whoever has it rests satisfied;    
he will not be visited by harm."

SATISFIED!

There it is! Following the year of REST is 2016 the Year of Satisfied.

When The Answer is the Unexpected.

We pray. We fast…...and pray.

We cry out for mercy. for truth. for wisdom. for justice.

but the answer is

NO.

We check our motives. We make sure that it is an unselfish heart cry for more time. more opportunity to pour out grace. to serve.

but still the answer is

NO.

There is no question. No second guessing. No mistaking it.

The answer is clear

NO.

Sometimes what we see as right, doesn’t quite turn out that way. Sometimes what doesn’t make sense is exactly the answer.

My dear friend, Sarah, would often say “Our economy is not God’s economy.” What doesn’t make sense to me makes perfect sense to God.

I remember reading the account of Martha and Mary, sending word to Jesus that Lazarus was ill. (Luke 11) When Jesus arrives 4 days after Lazarus has been buried, Martha runs to Him and greets Him saying

 

“Lord, if you had been here, my brother would not have died.”

Then, when she was called, Mary quickly came to Jesus, she greeted Him saying:

“Lord, if you had been here, my brother would not have died.”

They had sent for the Lord. They knew that He was the healer and He would heal the “one he loved”. But He didn’t. He didn’t come. He didn’t heal. Not even from a distance.

The answer was

NO.

Jesus knew that Lazarus was ill and He could have arrived in Bethany in time. But He chose not to. Not because He didn’t love Lazarus. Not because Martha and Mary were unimportant. Not because He was too busy or just didn’t care.

He says to His disciples in verses 14&15

“Lazarus is dead, and for your sake I am glad I was not there, so that you may believe.”

He comforts Mary and tells her

“Did I not tell you that if you believe, you will see the glory of God?”

Jesus prays to the Father that the witnesses of this miracle would believe that He was sent by God. And then He does the unthinkable. He calls Lazarus to “come out!”

In March 2011, a speaker at our church, Sean Lee, shared these thoughts:

The disciples questioned his wisdom.

The sisters questioned His compassion.

The crowd questioned His power.

Martha questioned His methods.

The only one who didn’t question God was Lazarus. 

Christ said “Come forth!” and Lazarus did.

In the every days of life. We do what we are called to do.

The answer is His.

It may throw us for a loop, but His answer is better and has a purpose we may not see.

Trust Him with it. Embrace the unexpected and you will see the glory of God.

That Christmas

Christmas is by far my favorite holiday. I love decorating the house and the festive spirit that permeates the atmosphere. I love to sit in the peaceful quiet circle of light surrounded by deep inky darkness.Maybe 1500 lights are too many for a Christmas Tree but my tree is larger than life in my cozy living room and it deserves to be dressed well. The effort is well worth the effect and every year I eagerly anticipate those quiet Christmas evenings.  

Every year but last year.

To continue reading, please join me over here, for my last post at Uniquely Yours Ministries