The gulls were hovering just overhead!
The birds swarmed anyone offering them food!!
Saturday, January 17, 2009
Icebirds
In spite of the bitter cold today, I headed over to Seabreeze for some pics of the birds on the ice...
The birds swarmed anyone offering them food!!
The birds swarmed anyone offering them food!!
Monday, January 05, 2009
Ayden
I took some pics of my little model this morning. I asked her to leave up her Christmas decorations as Christmas pictures really sell!
Studio Sessions/Bible Study Notes
I had a quickie studio session today with Rich and Jane and their daughter and grandkids. Their daughter wanted a formal portrait of her parents and then Jane wanted one with all of them. I was a bit concerned about doing a family session in studio as my make-shift studio is soooo small! But we managed...
Since I was all set up, I did a quickie profile picture for Brett. He WOULD NOT SMILE!!!!But he's no longer a Martian on Facebook!!! hahaha!!!!
Since I was all set up, I did a quickie profile picture for Brett. He WOULD NOT SMILE!!!!But he's no longer a Martian on Facebook!!! hahaha!!!!
Then Dave came over and wanted a profile picture too. His were a little more "artistic"....
I took down the studio tonight as I have a location session tomorrow morning with little Ayden! How fun! I think we are doing some Christmas pictures! We were going to do them BEFORE Christmas... But Brett totalled his car and well, he needed my van to get to work. Fun stuff!
I posted this on Facebook... but thought I'd post it here as well in case someone missed it or maybe isn't my friend on facebook. It was something I wrote a few weeks ago from my own personal Bible study.... Hopefully it blesses someone. :) (beware, it's kinda long!)
********************************
So… I’ve been meditating on Matthew 15:30-37.
In verses 30 and 31 we see Jesus healing the dumb, the lame, the blind… People were excited and praising and thanking and glorifying God. BUT it wasn’t enough to sustain them… They needed something more.
Healings are great! And exciting! And something that God definitely wants to do for us and through us… Something we should be extremely thankful for… But we need even more than physical healings.
Jesus says in vs. 32 that he had compassion for the crowd because they had been with him for 3 days and had had nothing to eat. He went on to say that he was not willing to send them away hungry – lest they faint or become exhausted on the way. He wanted to give them something that would give them strengthen them and keep them on the journey.
How often am I willing to send people away hungry? Oh God, give me your compassion for those who are hungry!! For those in need of strength for the journey…. May I not be willing to send anyone away hungry!
The disciples were a little surprised that Jesus would even think of providing for all those people. In the natural there was NOTHING to give them… they were, after-all in an isolated and deserted place!
How often do I look at my *natural surroundings* and decide that there is no possible way I have anything of value to give to others? Lord, help me to see YOUR provision… And even to see how you might provide through me….
Somehow they managed to find 7 loaves and a few small fish. Still, in the natural, ridiculous to attempt to feed so many with such a little amount!!!!
How often do I discount the little things that I might have? Thinking that it’s no more than a drop in the bucket therefore why even try? Forgive me Lord for discounting the *little things*. For not remembering what you are able to do with the little things – that you love to multiply!
But Jesus was determined that they should eat before leaving! And so he orders the crowd to sit down.
Jesus knew that the little bit that they had was MORE THAN ENOUGH to feed an entire crowd.
He then proceeds to give thanks and break the loaves and fish. And he gives the broken pieces to the disciples. And the disciples proceed to give them to the people on the ground. And they ALL ate AND WERE SATISFIED. And they gathered up plenty of left-overs!!!!!
Jesus gave thanks for the little bit… How often am I not even grateful or thankful for the *little* things that God gives me? And if I think there’s not enough even for me… I’m not as likely to give it away… But when Jesus took it and broke it there was enough for the disciples AND the crowd! The little bit that they multiplied as it was broken and given away….
Lord, here I am… From all appearances I don’t have much of anything to offer anyone… But I choose to look to you and believe you for provision! I choose to believe that you are in me and that you desire to feed others and strengthen others with what you have given me. I choose to believe that there is MORE than enough for those that you send my way! I am thankful for the little things that you have placed within me! And gladly give away what you have given me! Knowing that as I do, you will multiply it and feed and strengthen MANY in the process. In Jesus name.
Saturday, January 03, 2009
Monday, December 22, 2008
Merry Christmas
I'm not sure why... but it just doesn't feel like Christmas. The tree is up, the presents are all bought (even if they have yet to be wrapped!), there's lots and lots of snow outside... and yet, it just doesn't feel at all like Christmas.
Jessica put up the tree this year and decorated it almost entirely by herself. She did an amazing job of it too!!!! As I mentioned in a previous year, we let our kids pick out an ornament each year. This has led to a wide variety of ornaments! And we currently have sooo many ornaments that we couldn't possibly use them all on the tree! But I suppose when the kids leave - well then we'll find we don't have very many after-all! hahaha!
Jessica says that she can never find anything with her name on it. That they are always "sold out"! So when she found this cute little ornament - she snatched it up!
Brian's all-time favorite movie continues to be the Wizard of Oz. Last year he purchased the scarecrow... this year we got him Dorothy!
Heather has yet to get an ornament this year. Because of her surgery she really hasn't been out all that much. So this one is an oldie. Not sure what year it was... but at the time she really liked Precious Moments. And this one has a little slot in the back of the fireplace for the Christmas lights so that the fire looks like it's really lit. Well... sort of! ;)
I'm not sure who's ornament this one is... but it's a favorite! I figure if Santa's heading south, I should too!!!!!I also took a few pictures of the dogs in front of the tree....
It was rather tough to get them both looking in the same direction at the same time! hahaha!!
If I don't get on again before Christmas - MERRY CHRISTMAS EVERYONE!!!!!!
Thursday, November 27, 2008
Wednesday, November 26, 2008
Stay in Expectation
So today I have been digging into the scriptures trying to grab hold of Abiding...
4"Abide in Me, and I in you. As the branch cannot bear fruit of itself unless it abides in the vine, so neither can you unless you abide in Me. John 15:4
After several hours of digging I'm finally getting a little nugget and I wanted to share with you all. It really is in keeping with the challenge to tithing our awake time.... Actually it's taking it further than just a simple tithe and into a lifestyle of abiding.
When I looked up the word Abide I saw that it could also be translated TARRY. Rewritten it would read...
Tarry in me and I in you. As the branch cannot bear fruit of itself unless it tarries in the vine, so neither can you unless you tarry in Me. So I looked up the definition of TARRY and part of the definition is to stay in expectation.
So, this week as you seek after God and pursue Him... STAY IN EXPECTATION.
Expect that He is with you.
Expect that He is in you.
Expect that He hears you.
Expect that He speaks to you.
Expect that He speaks through you.
Expect that He will help you.
What is it you need to expect God for?.... STAY IN EXPECTATION for that!!!
4"Abide in Me, and I in you. As the branch cannot bear fruit of itself unless it abides in the vine, so neither can you unless you abide in Me. John 15:4
After several hours of digging I'm finally getting a little nugget and I wanted to share with you all. It really is in keeping with the challenge to tithing our awake time.... Actually it's taking it further than just a simple tithe and into a lifestyle of abiding.
When I looked up the word Abide I saw that it could also be translated TARRY. Rewritten it would read...
Tarry in me and I in you. As the branch cannot bear fruit of itself unless it tarries in the vine, so neither can you unless you tarry in Me. So I looked up the definition of TARRY and part of the definition is to stay in expectation.
So, this week as you seek after God and pursue Him... STAY IN EXPECTATION.
Expect that He is with you.
Expect that He is in you.
Expect that He hears you.
Expect that He speaks to you.
Expect that He speaks through you.
Expect that He will help you.
What is it you need to expect God for?.... STAY IN EXPECTATION for that!!!
Saturday, November 22, 2008
More than Enough
Today I’ve been meditating on Matthew 15:30-37.
In verses 30 and 31 we see Jesus healing the dumb, the lame, the blind… People were excited and praising and thanking and glorifying God. BUT it wasn’t enough to sustain them… They needed something more.
Healings are great! And exciting! And something that God definitely wants to do for us and through us… Something we should be extremely thankful for… But we need even more than physical healings.
Jesus says in vs. 32 that he had compassion for the crowd because they had been with him for 3 days and had had nothing to eat. He went on to say that he was not willing to send them away hungry – lest they faint or become exhausted on the way. He wanted to give them something that would give them strengthen them and keep them on the journey.
How often am I willing to send people away hungry? Oh God, give me your compassion for those who are hungry!! For those in need of strength for the journey…. May I not be willing to send anyone away hungry!
The disciples were a little surprised that Jesus would even think of providing for all those people. In the natural there was NOTHING to give them… they were, after-all in an isolated and deserted place!
How often do I look at my *natural surroundings* and decide that there is no possible way I have anything of value to give to others? Lord, help me to see YOUR provision… And even to see how you might provide through me….
Somehow they managed to find 7 loaves and a few small fish. Still, in the natural, ridiculous to attempt to feed so many with such a little amount!!!!
How often do I discount the little things that I might have? Thinking that it’s no more than a drop in the bucket therefore why even try? Forgive me Lord for discounting the *little things*. For not remembering what you are able to do with the little things – that you love to multiply!
But Jesus was determined that they should eat before leaving! And so he orders the crowd to sit down.
Jesus knew that the little bit that they had was MORE THAN ENOUGH to feed an entire crowd.
He then proceeds to give thanks and break the loaves and fish. And he gives the broken pieces to the disciples. And the disciples proceed to give them to the people on the ground. And they ALL ate AND WERE SATISFIED. And they gathered up plenty of left-overs!!!!!
Jesus gave thanks for the little bit… How often am I not even grateful or thankful for the *little* things that God gives me? And if I think there’s not enough even for me… I’m not as likely to give it away… But when Jesus took it and broke it there was enough for the disciples AND the crowd! The little bit that they multiplied as it was broken and given away….
Lord, here I am… From all appearances I don’t have much of anything to offer anyone… But I choose to look to you and believe you for provision! I choose to believe that you are in me and that you desire to feed others and strengthen others with what you have given me. I choose to believe that there is MORE than enough for those that you send my way! I am thankful for the little things that you have placed within me! And gladly give away what you have given me! Knowing that as I do, you will multiply it and feed and strengthen MANY in the process. In Jesus name.
In verses 30 and 31 we see Jesus healing the dumb, the lame, the blind… People were excited and praising and thanking and glorifying God. BUT it wasn’t enough to sustain them… They needed something more.
Healings are great! And exciting! And something that God definitely wants to do for us and through us… Something we should be extremely thankful for… But we need even more than physical healings.
Jesus says in vs. 32 that he had compassion for the crowd because they had been with him for 3 days and had had nothing to eat. He went on to say that he was not willing to send them away hungry – lest they faint or become exhausted on the way. He wanted to give them something that would give them strengthen them and keep them on the journey.
How often am I willing to send people away hungry? Oh God, give me your compassion for those who are hungry!! For those in need of strength for the journey…. May I not be willing to send anyone away hungry!
The disciples were a little surprised that Jesus would even think of providing for all those people. In the natural there was NOTHING to give them… they were, after-all in an isolated and deserted place!
How often do I look at my *natural surroundings* and decide that there is no possible way I have anything of value to give to others? Lord, help me to see YOUR provision… And even to see how you might provide through me….
Somehow they managed to find 7 loaves and a few small fish. Still, in the natural, ridiculous to attempt to feed so many with such a little amount!!!!
How often do I discount the little things that I might have? Thinking that it’s no more than a drop in the bucket therefore why even try? Forgive me Lord for discounting the *little things*. For not remembering what you are able to do with the little things – that you love to multiply!
But Jesus was determined that they should eat before leaving! And so he orders the crowd to sit down.
Jesus knew that the little bit that they had was MORE THAN ENOUGH to feed an entire crowd.
He then proceeds to give thanks and break the loaves and fish. And he gives the broken pieces to the disciples. And the disciples proceed to give them to the people on the ground. And they ALL ate AND WERE SATISFIED. And they gathered up plenty of left-overs!!!!!
Jesus gave thanks for the little bit… How often am I not even grateful or thankful for the *little* things that God gives me? And if I think there’s not enough even for me… I’m not as likely to give it away… But when Jesus took it and broke it there was enough for the disciples AND the crowd! The little bit that they multiplied as it was broken and given away….
Lord, here I am… From all appearances I don’t have much of anything to offer anyone… But I choose to look to you and believe you for provision! I choose to believe that you are in me and that you desire to feed others and strengthen others with what you have given me. I choose to believe that there is MORE than enough for those that you send my way! I am thankful for the little things that you have placed within me! And gladly give away what you have given me! Knowing that as I do, you will multiply it and feed and strengthen MANY in the process. In Jesus name.
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