Archive for the ‘Photography’ Category

posted by on Faith, Photography

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We crossed the ocean to Haiti with one purpose: to be a blessing to the people of that country. We packed bags to meet needs and prepared lesson plans to fill hearts. But what my eyes saw I was not ready for. Streets filled with waste, homes with no running water, and one meal a day of rice and beans. And those of us visiting from the far away land of Florida wondered how can these people live like this?! My first-world, high-maintenance sensitivities were overwhelmed. They have electricity a few hours on a good day. The pastor we were visiting has a hole on the ground for a toilet.

 

 

 

 

When we arrived to the first service on Thursday night of the church convention we were attending, I could hear the singing down the street. But what are they singing about? Don’t they know they have so little? That just miles away God has blessed us with so much? The service continues and though I understand little of what is said I don’t need a translator to understand their smiles, their joy.

 

 Six hours they spent praising God at the Sunday service! Our congregation complains when our pastor goes over his usual 20 min sermon. Doesn’t he know we have important things to do like go to the mall or watch the football game?

 

On our last day there my friend says what I have been thinking since we arrived. We came to bless them but in reality it is them that have blessed us. We took their joy in our hearts. I had not seen such joy before.

 

How is such joy possible when there is so much need?
I’m beginning to understand more what Jesus was telling us when he said “Blessed are the poor in spirit, for theirs is the kingdom of heaven”.

 

I learned that though they are poor in material blessings, they are so rich in what really matters. I am the poor one!

 

The truth is that the life I live does not require me to trust in God. When I am sick I have health insurance and go to the doctor. I have money to buy the medicines that will make me well. I have a job that provides me with an income that allows me to purchase food and clothes and many luxuries  I have a car that I use to transport me to places and I arrive in nearby towns in less than an hour. The people in Haiti have none of that. But those I met in the small town church of Pete-Guave, they have this overwhelming trust in the God who provides for all their needs.

 

They looked at us with awe as though we were something special, but I want to whisper to them our secret, to tell them that the truth is we are in bondage here in our “first-world” society”. I want to tell them, pray for us! so we might find the joy and freedom you all have. Our pretty clothes and sleek iPads, our  shiny toys and new cars? The truth is, we are prisoners of them.

 

When I returned home, many of the material things that surround me felt like walls that keep me from some of the greatest blessings of God. I want to tare those walls down. I don’t want to be mastered by the endless list of things that we have been led to believe we “need” to live. The Christians in Haiti, they know the truth. That only one thing is needed to really live and that is the love of Christ.

 


Adios Summer

Sep
2012
24

posted by on Gratitude, Photography

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You wouldn’t know it here in Florida, but according to the calendar, Fall is here. Its time to tuck away summer, my favorite of them all.

Before I close that door though, a few pictures from my vacation in Savannah, Georgia in July. I fell in love with this Southern city!

savannah, georgia

savannah, georgia

savannah, georgia summer

savannah, georgia summer

savannah, georgia summer

savannah, georgia summer

savannah, georgia summer

savannah, georgia summer

God’s blessings this past week

461. paperwork completed for my professional license

462. B turning 1 year

463. celebrating her birthday

464. her grandmother able to be there despite health problems

465. her little head on my shoulder

466. a safe road trip

467. the love of friends

468. hugs

469. renewed desire to read the Bible

470. that I know how my story ends, because He is the author

471. dog barking waking me up for work

472. sun peeking through the morning sky

Apple of His Eyes

Oct
2011
08

posted by on Photography

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He Guards Me
[text from Deuteronomy 32:10]

In Spanish, “apple of my eye” is literally translated to mean “the little girl of my eyes” (la nina de mis ojos). When I read the scriptures that describe God’s children as the apple of his eye, I picture myself as His little girl. The center of His world. And I can’t avoid feeling special, loved.

*the little girl with the beautiful eyes is my god-daughter

Below is a video to a song in Spanish based on this verse. When I hear it, I feel like God is giving me a big hug.

All is His

Jul
2011
24

posted by on Gratitude, Photography

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***

***

All is His and daily he showers me with gifts of love …

273. orange sky at sunset

274. a self-esteem boost

275. Starbuck’s night

276. celebrating a baby

277. and the women gathered

278. the joy this brings

279. an opportunity to help

280. S jumping and dancing

281. lunch with co-workers

282. donation for farm in Haiti

posted by on Anxiety/Depression, Gratitude, Photography

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A New Morning

I jolted awake and looked at the clock. 6:00 am, 1 more hour of sleep left. I had gone to sleep with that long forgotten feeling in the pit of my stomach. An ache for something more. I’d drifted off to sleep with words of prayer.  Now I woke up from a dream I couldn’t remember except this: a piece of paper with Lamentations 3:23 and Psalm 91 written on them.

Ive prayed before that somehow God would “speak” to me through dreams but it hasnt actually happened. Not certain if he does that sort of thing anymore. This dream with the two Bible passages, I dont know if it was God speaking to me or not but nonetheless I needed His truth that morning so when the alarm went off at 7 I reached for the Bible.

In Lamentations I found this promise: “Because of the LORD’s great love we are not consumed, for his compassions never fail. They are new every morning; great is your faithfulness.”

And in Psalms this: “Whoever dwells in the shelter of the Most High will rest in the shadow of the Almighty. I will say of the LORD, “He is my refuge and my fortress, my God, in whom I trust.” ‘

The new mercies part got to me. It’s one of my favorite verses.

I thought about what that promise means. Yesterday’s mercies are in the past, today God gives a fresh dose of His blessings. And its plural. More than one mercy! The Lord knows I need all of them.

He is always faithful, so I know I can count on this promise. So I grab the fresh just-for-today mercies and get out of bed, knowing I don’t go alone.

Whether it was a God sent dream or not, I don’t know but I’m glad it reminded me of God’s beautiful promises.

Counting the ways God shows me his love

247. blessed by blog post

248. that ache that brings me to my knees before Him

249. call from a friend

250. series on Insecurity

251. scripture tucked in my memory

252. restful sleep

253. new mercies in the morning

254. and dream that reminded me of this

255. her happy about my $6 gift

256. bowling game

257. smooth sailing with her

258. his smile when I went to visit

259. that his pain is over before the 6 mo the doctor’s estimated

260. death reminding me that this is all temporary

261. and filling me with hope and longing for my eternal home

262. the blessing of being born in this free country

263. sun out; no umbrella needed

264. lunch paid by a stranger

265. appointment made

266. family of ducks crossing the road

267. 9 gathered to pray

268. being able to help even 1 struggling

269. movie night with mutants

270. packages in the mail

271. home after 8 hours of work

272. laughing hard at kangaroos and elephants

Band-Aid Sacrifices

Jun
2011
18

posted by on Gratitude, Pain, Photography

10 comments

* * * * *

Gifts from God this past month

204. card from friend in the mail

205. stranger in wheelchair calls out “May God protect you”

206. afternoon free

207. bird outside office window

208. hair cut!

209. flat tire disaster diverted

210. visit w/ aunt

211. uncle inquiring about God

212. last-minute trip to the beach with Prissy the dog

213. and laughing with friends

214. bunuelos

215. phone call from doctor’s office: test results negative

216. freedom

217. days off to study

218. breakfast brought by dad the day of test

219. calm for test

220. passed Social Work license exam!

221. texts and calls of congratulations

222. this text: “God is good all the time”

223. Uno! game

224. migraine gone

225. Friday at the beach

226. and waves knocking us down

227. sun and vitamin D

228. “Congrats” sign on office door from co-workers

229. new lens for my camera

230. rain for the brush fires

231. worship at church

232. clothes donated for the poor in Honduras

233. that I have much more than I need

234. ride to my car under heavy rain

235. emotion on friend’s voice when speaking of God

236. this cd playing in my car

237. this sermon blessed me

238. my dad

239. and the sacrifices he’s made for me

240. that he stayed

posted by on Anxiety/Depression, Faith, Pain, Photography

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Thank you God.

Unfailing Love

Feb
2011
27

posted by on Faith, Photography

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Mustard Seed Faith

Feb
2011
13

posted by on Faith, Photography

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Mustard Seed Faith. Day 9 of August

Often times my faith is small indeed.

And I despair thinking how disappointed God must be.

Then I remember the words of Jesus:

“If you have faith as small as a mustard seed,

you can say to this mountain, ‘Move from here to there’ and it will move.

Nothing will be impossible for you.”

My  focus should not be on the size of my faith, but on the incredible power of my God.

Who can do the impossible with my mustard seed-sized faith.

Freedom

Feb
2011
05

posted by on Photography

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I Am Free. 30/365

John 8:36

The things that tied us down, chained us to this world.

Hate. Greed. Deceit. Selfishness.

God sets us free from all of it.

By paying the consequences.

This is grace.

Undeserved.

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