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.