"...and my words remain in you"

Proverbs 8:34

Blessed are those who listen to me,
       watching daily at my doors,
       waiting at my doorway.

When there is something so big, so challenging and so perplexing that it just overwhelms you, begin to realize you can't do it alone. John 15:5-8 says, “Yes, I am the vine; you are the branches. Those who remain in me, and I in them, will produce much fruit. For apart from me you can do nothing.  Anyone who does not remain in me is thrown away like a useless branch and withers. Such branches are gathered into a pile to be burned.  But if you remain in me and my words remain in you, you may ask for anything you want, and it will be granted!  When you produce much fruit, you are my true disciples. This brings great glory to my Father.

I was reminded of John 15:5-8,  every word is important here, and with every phrase I question myself. I CAN'T do it alone. He never intended for me to do it alone. I have to "remain" in Him and let His "words remain" in me and then change will occur. Pondering God's Words and over time becoming more like Christ is exactly what causes change and brings the Father glory. 

Daniel answered, Blessed be the name of God forever and ever! For wisdom and might are His! He changes the times and the seasons; He removes kings and sets up kings. He gives wisdom to the wise and knowledge to those who have understanding! He reveals the deep and secret things; He knows what is in the darkness, and the light dwells with Him!

Daniel 2:20-22 (Amplified Bible)

My Opportunity to Delight in the Lord

This happens to be one of my favorite shots. It just appeals to me.

Take delight in the LORD, 

and He will give you your heart's desires. Psalm 37:4

I  love it when the Lord blesses with opportunity. My family and I were on yet another road trip looking for something of interest to add to the Christian Legacy Collection. Honestly, we were  kind of wondering aimlessly as we typically do, praying along the way for creativity and revelation of what's pertinent.  Sometimes these journeys are well planned and sometimes we just hit the road. Well, I had one of those days where I just wasn't feelin' it. I Thought we should just wrap it up and head home. My sweet, dear hubby, however, had an inkling to try one more little town and off we went. We found a quaint church that had a different type of appeal. I could see a few shots in my mind's eye pretty quickly. As we drove around, we noticed a man who was picking up trash around the campus of the church. We often like to make connections with people associated with the churches we shoot. As I have mentioned before, there are no extroverts here in the Spell family so this is never easy but often worth it! History can be amazing inspiration! It sometimes moves me to a new direction of focus and you just never know what you will find out.  This gentleman was so welcoming and transparent. This church meant a lot to him personally. He loved the idea of what I was doing and offered for us to come in and take some photos. I walked in and immediately became giddy (inwardly that is... I didn't want to scare him and make him change his mind.) I saw this old, white piano in the corner of the basement with the light cascading from the window directly above it and fell in LOVE.  He told us how the youth group met in there and all the happenings of the church. It was so encouraging to hear how God works when His people are faithful.  I took many, many shots in the next hour. This kind and generous man waited with us the whole time probably wondering why I would be so fascinated with things others barely noticed.  It was a treasure trove of how God's people worship in the church.   We did head home after that little excursion but was so  thankful that God provides opportunity to do this work.

This is a current card at all the Christian Retail stores.

He did not waver in unbelief at God's promise, but was strengthened in his faith and gave glory to God. Romans4:20

As for me and my family, we will worship the LORD

     Sunday, a day full of family traditions such as big Sunday meals, shopping or heading off to the beach. For many, however,  it's a day set aside for fellowship with the King of Kings and Lord of Lords. Cars filled with family members all toting Bibles headed off to the worship service bright and early. It must be a day of glee for the Lord. He sees the sacrifice of every struggling Mommy getting their brood of little ones ready and looking dapper;  Daddy taping a game because he has decided God comes first; Children excited about singing praises and sharing all they learned in Sunday School must be honoring to Him. Just as no human is perfect, no day is perfect. There is always one person who can't find a shoe or forgetting that you were suppose to bring the juice and doughnuts this week. Small failures will riddle all of our days.   We are still human after all and Sunday is just a single day of the week. The sun rises and falls like in all the others  but it's the heart and the intent that matters to the Lord. Was this day set aside? Are we going to church in order to  glorify and praise His name? That's what He desires. Some Sundays may be a struggle up until the point we cross the threshold but it's the getting there that counts. It's our intent that made us wake early and turn the iron on so we may bring God our best. It's our heart that sings praises while the choir sings. May the Lord receive all glory and all of our praises every day, but especially Sunday.

As for me and my family, we will worship the LORD. 

Joshua 24:15 

Worship the LORD your God, and He  will bless your bread and your water. 

Exodus 23:25a

The LORD is my strength and my song;
He has become my salvation.
This is my God, and I will praise Him,
my father's God, and I will exalt Him

Exodus 15:2

Above all, fear the LORD and worship Him faithfully with all your heart, considering the great things He has done for you. 

1 Samuel 12: 24

"Because he loves me," says the LORD, "I will rescue him; 

     I will protect him, for he acknowledges my name.

He will call upon me, and I will answer him;
     I will be with him in trouble,
     I will deliver him and honor him.

With long life will I satisfy him
     and show him my salvation."

Psalm 91:14-16

Pay attention and come to Me;

listen, so that you will live.
I will make an everlasting covenant with you,
the promises assured to David.

Isaiah 55:3

Yet a time is coming and has now come when the true worshipers will worship the Father in spirit and truth, for they are the kind of worshipers the Father seeks. God is spirit, and his worshipers must worship in spirit and in truth."  

John 4:23-24

A JOY reminder

Proverbs 15:13 says...
A cheerful heart brings a smile to your face; 
    a sad heart makes it hard to get through the day. - The Message
 A happy heart makes the face cheerful,
    but heartache crushes the spirit. - New International Version
A joyful heart makes a face cheerful,
    but a sad heart [produces] a broken spirit  - Holman Christian Standard Bible
A joyful heart makes a cheerful face,
    But when the heart is sad, the spirit is broken. - New American Standard Bible 

Commit to the LORD whatever you do, and your plans will succeed.

- Proverbs 16:3

 When a man's ways are pleasing to the Lord, he makes even his enemies live at peace with him.

- Proverbs 16:7

Those who listen to instruction will prosper; those who trust the Lord will be joyful.

-Proverbs 16:20

Through the Eyes of a Child

A child sees the world so differently than we do. Just recently, my son made a remark about the "Top Secret" section of the newspaper. Perplexed by his comment, I began to question him. I finally realized he was talking about the "classifieds". It made me smile and then I filled him in as to what the classifieds really were and were not. It reminded how literal kids are and how easy it is to misinterpret. Many times we, as  parents, have to enlighten our children to educate them.

A father and son enjoying the early morning vista.

Whether we realize it or not, as Christian parents, we interpret God's love and mercy for humanity to our children. Their little eyes and ears take in so much information and when we least expect it at that. They are listening when we talk about how we should feed the hungry and help the sick and then watch us when there is a person in need directly in front of us. They take it all in; our mood, our words, our body language and our tone. Are we serving because we desire to show the  love of Christ or did someone put you on the spot? Maybe it's a homeless family you see at the park or someone who is broken down on the side of the road. What do we typically do? What is our initial reaction? Our kids are paying attention and we are transparent to them. But when we model the same love and mercy that God offers us to others, that has an impact on who they become as people. Just as it changes us to serve others in the name of the Lord, it changes our children to see us put our faith in action.

The First Step is the Hardest

There are no extroverts here at the Spell home. We try to push ourselves outside of our bubble and "stretch" ourselves as they say when it's necessary  but it's never easy. I am fine once I get to know you  but entering a new room of people who all know each other and I don't know a soul... not my idea of a good time. I have been involved with a church home since I was 12 years old. Going to church and to small group (aka Sunday School) is a privilege. We love having a church home. It's a great support system. However, just like anything else, sometimes change is uncomfortable. Last year our small group leader needed a break from teaching at the same time as other transitions  were occurring. Our entire group disbanded. We were all reluctantly in search of a new small group. Now, I realize that for some (the "extroverts") this would be a new adventure but not for me. I was comfortable there. I  knew everyone. I loved my little group. Our present church is a huge church. Many, many, many people attend every Sunday and we only know a small portion of them. However, because of circumstance we had resolved that we would visit multiple groups several times and not just land in the first class we visited (the stretching I was referring to). I realized through this process of visiting between many different classes a few times each that the first step was the hardest. After you were there and people spoke to you it was fun. It was just the walking in part that was difficult.  Gaining new perspective is so important. We had been in our former class for a number of years. Visitors would come and go. We would meet them and try to be warm and friendly, but I had forgotten how difficult it was to break into a new group. I would imagine it would even be more challenging going to church for the very first time as an adult. Even though the door is always open at every Bible believing church, walking through the door to the first available seat, now that is the challenge. It takes courage. It did for me when I was just 12 and joined my first church. God has blessed me through the years. Though we have moved from various churches for various reasons we still have a connection with our "church family"  from years ago and currently. Every Sunday we come together to worship the Living God and unite as a body of believers. We lift each other up in prayer and support each other in times of greatness and times of challenge. The courage pays off. Being able to worship and serve along side other believers is a true blessing.

"For where two or three are gathered together in My name, I am there in the midst of them" (Matt. 18:20). 

Love Myself a Good Road Trip!

In our family, road trips will just always be apart of fond memories. Every new road is an adventure. We never know what we will see. On this trip, my husband spotted this row of old trucks. They were rusty and falling apart but deliberately arranged as if they were works of art. These old trucks had a lot of history. The current owner to a family farm realized that every work truck his  family had ever owned had been parked and left some where on the property. He finally decided he was going to gather all the vehicles to the same location. He parked them all out by the main road and took great pride in placing them in chronological order. What a find! We arrived there late afternoon. I could have stayed for hours shooting photos but I realized I had to move quick. The sun was beginning to set behind the pine trees.  I am fascinated  when the sun moves and the lighting changes every few moments revealing a fresh take on a subject. The world goes away and you just get caught up in each moment eagerly looking to see what awaits you. Fun.

Miss Fanny J. Crosby

Do you ever just break out in song? I do.  I start cleaning and all the songs I ever sang in church just start coming out. One of the great hymns that I often sing is Blessed Assurance. When I took this photo, I turned the pages quickly and found a song that  felt familiar to me. It wasn't until I began editing my photos did I realize the impact this song has had on my life. It's such a happy song to me and one that is ingrained in my heart.

Pg 103       Fanny J. Crosby

1. 
   
2. 
   
3. Blessed assurance, Jesus is mine!
   Oh, what a foretaste of glory divine!
   Heir of salvation, purchase of God,
   Born of His Spirit, washed in His blood.
   
   
   
   • Refrain:
     This is my story, this is my song,
     Praising my Savior all the day long;
     This is my story, this is my song,
     Praising my Savior all the day long.
4. Perfect submission, perfect delight,
   Visions of rapture now burst on my sight;
   Angels, descending, bring from above
   Echoes of mercy, whispers of love.
5. Perfect submission, all is at rest,
   I in my Savior am happy and blest,
   Watching and waiting, looking above,
   Filled with His goodness, lost in His love.
6. Miss Fanny J. Crosby wrote over 8000 hymns. Amazingly enough, she credited her blindness as to the reason she received a higher level of education and therefore set her on the path of poetry and song writing. When I read about specific Christians in history, I am reminded that we are all here with an individualized plan but all with the same opportunity, to bring glory to the Heavenly Father.   Miss Crosby was quoted as having said that if she could request one thing on the day of her birth it would be to be blind. She must have found that her blindness focused and strengthened her. Whatever the exact reason for her quote, what a testament to "...count it all joy."  She rose above the darkness of her circumstance and pointed people to the light in her life through poetry and song. What a personal challenge. Can I say that I rose above the darkness in my life and pointed others to the light of Jesus? This is a question that we will each have to answer. God never promised that there would be life without turmoil. 
7. James 1: 2-6   Consider it pure joy, my brothers, whenever you face trials of many kinds, because you know that the testing of your faith develops perseverance. Perseverance must finish its work so that you may be mature and complete, not lacking anything. If any of you lacks wisdom, he should ask God, who gives generously to all without finding fault, and it will be given to him. But when he asks, he must believe and not doubt, because he who doubts is like a wave of the sea, blown and tossed by the wind.
8. Miss Crosby lived to be 95 years old and died in 1915. The words she composed in her heart live on for future generations.   When singing a hymn in church, we stand before the Almighty God, giving offerings of praise through song. In those moments, it all just becomes real. We could be in the midst of a thousand people but it's really just us looking to God. We apply the words from the song we are singing and begin to analyze our lives and relationship to the Father and pray. It turns out I have sung many of Miss Crosby's songs. Her thoughts and words will always be a part of my life and more than likely my children's as well. 

Click to read more about Fanny Crosby

I have an old church bulletin...

I have an old church bulletin, well actually, I have a few. I saved them from years and years ago. There is just something about them. Names that are familiar. The style of writing is familiar. Even the font is something that takes me back. These were the  days before computers were all the rage and  we sang holding a shared hymnal. I came to know the Lord personally when I was twelve and decided I needed to join a church and so I did.  Reading the bulletin was the very first thing I did every Sunday after I walked through church doors. I grew up in that church and attended every Sunday. Honestly, I passed a l-o-t of notes written on those bulletins sitting on the back pew for quite a few years.   I even remember hiding my face in them when some friend sitting next to me cracked me up in the middle of the sermon and I just knew I was going to get in trouble.   But there is something about having these bulletins now, grown with children of my own, that make me smile. There are words on there: Doxology, Invitation, Deacon On Call, Offering, Puppet Ministry, Acteens, "Just As I Am", etc... that became such apart of who I am. How fortunate was I to have been embraced by this body of believers who taught me how to walk with the Lord and challenged me on so many levels. These bulletins represent pastors, teachers, deacons, and friends of all ages who I will forever be grateful to. Now as I raise my children in a Christian home, I reflect on those experiences and strive to be the person who God would have me become hoping that my children will too one day reflect on their days of worship in the church with fond memories.

Psalm 100

Psalm 100 NIV 

A psalm. For giving thanks.

 ¹ Shout for joy to the LORD, all the earth.  ² Worship the LORD with gladness;
       come before him with joyful songs.
 ³ Know that the LORD is God.
       It is he who made us, and we are his ^[a] ;
       we are his people, the sheep of his pasture.
 ⁴ Enter his gates with thanksgiving
       and his courts with praise;
       give thanks to him and praise his name.
 ⁵ For the LORD is good and his love endures forever;
       his faithfulness continues through all generations.

 When I walk into a really old church by myself (because my wonderful husband is playing with the kids outside),  I get chills down my spine and often tears just come. I try to just soak up my environment visually before I take the first shot. I begin to notice the architecture of the church and see the age and the wrinkles of time. The realization that generations of people have come before the Lord in this place to worship the Living God is not lost on me. I picture all the heart felt moments of people that  must have knelt before the Lord petitioning Him to answer their prayers.  I think about how many notes  were played on the dusty church piano and how many people nervously stood before a congregation and sang a beautiful song in worship. I imagine  what the church was like when it was brand new and the prayers of dedication that must have took place that the Lord would be honored. The most amazing of all of course, is that God doesn't have to imagine, He remembers. He remembers every tear of sadness, every tear of joy and every tear of every person who made Him Lord of their life. He is good. His love edures. He is faithful... forever... to all generations.
There are many reasons why I shoot photography, but THIS is why I love the Christian Legacy Collection. The church isn't static. The weathering of time does change things. The modern church doesn't look like it did generations ago. In fact, my church doesn't even have pews.  ( I okay with that. ) But our God??? He does not change. He is the same. He made us and we are His people. I am honored and privileged to praise Him and to know Him as my Lord and God.

The Christian Legacy Collection...How it all began

There is a common thread in every stock photography book I have ever read... "find your niche".  I am sure I am no different than most photographers out there. I finally began devoting time to a hobby I loved. Got a brand new shiny camera and I took pictures of both the moving and non-moving, from tractor tires to pumpkins to toy cars.  I tried to remember everything I had ever been taught and began educating myself.  I took thousands of photos and learned everything I could in Photoshop. There is nothing wrong with that. Right? However, there does come a time though, perhaps when you are trying to organize and keyword all those photos, that you feel like you need to narrow  your scope. I had finally reached that point. Actually, I knew I was way beyond that point. I began thinking and thinking and thinking. The more I thought, the less I knew about myself. Honestly, I just couldn't figure it out. What was the one subject I already had a base of knowledge on that would be interesting art... AND worthy of my time? I began praying and pouring my heart out to the Lord that He help me to identify a clear direction. What is it going to be Lord??? Babies or flowers??? Perhaps weddings or  Architecture?  My favorite Sunday School teacher used to always say "Wouldn't it be nice if God would just send  a postcard?" (love you Val).  Still without any clear direction I had decided to just put it all on the table. I participated in the local craft fair and barely sold a thing. As the day progressed, I began to get discouraged. Every time I sat down to have a little pity party someone would come up to my booth of a million photos and pick up one of the same three images. There was a cross, a pew, and attendance board. (Of course, I didn't enlarge these particular photos)  I listened to story after story of how they went to church with their grandma out in the country  and sang hymns with the congregation. Literally, this went on for both days. I was amazed at how people were so transparent and all because of these photos. I, too, loved them, but didn't imagine that anyone else would ever "get" or care about these particular photos. They were so personal to me. I happen to take these photos not because I would ever do something with them but because it represented something relevant to my family. Towards the end of that very long  weekend. The excitement began to build. I felt like the Lord had finally answered my prayer. The craft fair yielded very little monetary revenue BUT it set me on a path. My husband and I were both full of energy about this potential photo essay. The idea that my photos would potentially be relevant in the lives of others was motivating. I was in. Totally invested into making this happen. I have had some great experiences since that weekend. I have met some great people who love the Lord. I look forward to sharing these stories with you.