365 People Pictures: Day 39--Go Reds!

JoLynn, this photo is for you! Cassandra sure misses you and talks about you a great deal. Thanks for loving her and taking her under your wing. You have been a Titus 2 woman to my baby girl, and I'm so grateful!

365 People Pictures: Day 38--Sugar and Spice and Everything Nice

Today I had the opportunity to photograph the quintessential little girl. She is graced with big blue eyes and blond ringlets. Our tribe picnicked with her family following church, and I was blessed to get to study this four-year-old through my camera lens. Like all little girls, she is truly fearfully and wonderfully made (Psalm 139:14). What human could create such a masterpiece?

365 People Pictures: Day 37--Nothing Better Than a Baby's Giggle

Our 19-year-old daughter, Cassandra, with her 12-month-old niece, Brielle last month on a walk during our visit to Cincinnati.

365 People Pictures: Day 36--Singing the Blues Again?

Brielle's little sister is due in about five weeks. I wonder...will Evelyn Rose's eyes be sky-blue like her daddy's or deep pools of chocolate like her mama's? Babies are perhaps God's greatest mystery...His greatest wonder.

365 People Pictures: Day 35--Serious Business

A life of more than eight decades is worthy grand celebration with grand finale--in this case a handmade carrot cake topped with countless candles.

This past week we traveled to Denver to celebrate my dad's 81st birthday. Lighting the candles which merely represent that many years of life took the serious concentration of my brother (in the foreground) and my husband. I can only guess that the deep concentration on my dad's face is the result of contemplating what a significant inhale would be necessary to blow out the candles.

One of the things I love about this special moment in time which the Lord allowed me to capture with my camera is my 10-year-old nephew's intense curiosity as he watches the pyromania taking place to mark his grandpa's birthday.

For the celebration of my dad's birthday, all three of my parents' children and 16 of their 17 grandchildren were present. Only their oldest granddaughter, Anna, was missing. She had good reason. Anna is due with her grandparents' second great-grandchild in four weeks.

Thank you, Lord, for my dad's life!

365 People Pictures: Day 34--My Baby All Grown Up

 

This morning Lissie, Eric and I visited the venue where their wedding reception will be held in October. While there I pulled out my camera to take a few last photos before Eric returns to his home in the Boston area this afternoon. I thank God that the two of them had an unexpected six days together. I'm also grateful to my Heavenly Father that the two of them are so willing to let me take their picture. Doing photo sessions with this duo brings me such joy!

A Mark of Wisdom

"The wisdom of the sensible is to understand his way" 

  (Proverbs 14:8a NASB)

Bible commentator John Kitchen writes, "Such a one can look at his conduct (his way) and his motives and accurately identify them for what they are... The proverbs repeatedly hail the one who can objectively evaluate himself and trim his actions accordingly." Proverbs, pgs. 305,306

This ability to sense when I'm headed in the wrong direction with my words or actions is a yearning of my heart as a result of having sinned against others--thus defiling God's glory--more times than I'd care to recount.

This half-a-Proverb can so easily be turned into a prayer: Lord, please grant me the wisdom to understand my way. Take away the blinders of pride and self righteousness that lead me far from You. Help me to do an immediate U-turn of repentance as soon as my eyes are opened by Your grace to the fact that I'm on a path which will result in me hurting others and failing to glorify You."

This short gem also makes a perfect prayer for my children: Lord, I pray that You will weave into each of my children and their spouses the prudence to understand their way. Our culture is daily pounding them with messages that make behaviors like anger, rebellion and unforgiveness not only okay but even expected. Self-focus, the very opposite of Your way, is touted before them as a virtual virtue. O Great God, give my children sin-sensitive souls.

This morning I wrote Proverbs 14:8a on an index card and added it to the stack I try to review daily. I've found this practice which I took up in early March has been a tremendous springboard not just for knowing more scripture but also for energizing my prayer life. Now this new index card will now help me to remember to ask the Lord to mold me into a person who understands her ways.