Sea of Blessings

Yesterday morning while walking in a almost imperceptible but steady mist, I noticed this pampas grass holding on to every bit of the goodness it could, not wanting to let go, swallowing every last drop available to dry parched skin. It has been a long, hot, summer--now for the seasons of refreshing.

Don't we all love these times when we savor the moments of God's goodness and stand in awe at His showers of blessings? What can seem almost imperceptible if we are not actively looking becomes a sea of wonderment when we take a step back and look at them collectively?

How many of these droplets do you suppose are on each individual stem? Care to count? How many of these do you think the ocean could contain?

Are not two sparrows sold for a penny? Yet not one of them will fall to the ground apart from the will of your Father. And even the very hairs of your head are all numbered. So don't be afraid; you are worth more than many sparrows. Matthew 10:29-31

Not a hard question for God. If He knows every single hair upon my head and yours and the rest of the billions of people on earth, I think He probably could give us an accurate count of how many crystal droplets are on each stem and silken hair of the pampas grass.

Having trouble with your mind grasping such bounds of infinity? The Bible says that even the faith to believe this is granted by God's grace. Want to believe it but can't seem to muster the faith? Ask God in his faithfulness to grant you the faith to believe, then choose to act upon the mustard seed of faith that He gives you.

"For by grace you have been saved through faith; and that not of yourselves, it is the gift of God.” Eph 2:8

God's answer to Job in chapter 38 always puts me in my place when any doubts try to take possession of my thinking. I love God's response.

1 Then the LORD answered Job out of the storm. He said:

2 "Who is this that darkens my counsel
with words without knowledge?

3 Brace yourself like a man;
I will question you,
and you shall answer me.

4 "Where were you when I laid the earth's foundation?
Tell me, if you understand.

5 Who marked off its dimensions? Surely you know!
Who stretched a measuring line across it?

6 On what were its footings set,
or who laid its cornerstone-

7 while the morning stars sang together
and all the angels shouted for joy?

8 "Who shut up the sea behind doors
when it burst forth from the womb?

and this one--

28 Does the rain have a father? Who fathers the drops of dew?

There are thirty-two other verses in this chapter giving me pause to ponder this great God of our universe.

2010-the Year of Longings

He longs for us to accept Him at His Word.

Lord, I long to exercise the measure of faith with which you have blessed me.

post processing 3--a little tweak

This is really not a bad picture BUT it is just not memorable--



but with a little boost of color, a little sharpening, a few shadows lightened, and a change to sepia, suddenly it does become memorable at least for me AND for my neighbor whose yard I took it in. She couldn't believe this was her tree and frankly I couldn't either.



And here we are again--same tree--a few moments later--nothing special--



and I really only changed it to sepia and boosted the color slightly--and memorable! These changes were made in IPhoto but Microsoft Digital Imaging Suite, Picasa, and a host of other editing programs will do the same thing.

It just takes a little time--but really not much. I figure you guys are worth it!

I like to think that just a little boost from God's Word each day and a little sharpening from Christian friends can transform me from the mundane to the memorable--not for my sake, for HIS!

Don't copy the behavior and customs of this world, but let God transform you into a new person by changing the way you think. Then you will learn to know God's will for you, which is good and pleasing and perfect. Romans 12:2 NLT

As iron sharpens iron, so a friend sharpens a friend. Proverbs 27:17 NLT

2010-the Year of Longings

He longs to transform and renew our minds so that we can know His perfect will.

I long to be transformed by His Word and sharpened by you, my dear friends.

The Last Bouquet of Summer

Elizabeth, over at Just Following Jesus, recently wrote a post entitled, Come Winter, and I must say it really touched my heart on so many levels. Elizabeth's daughter and family are moving cross-country in preparation for mission work. She writes about it so eloquently in this post, Letting Go, looking ahead.

It reminded me of a book by Chuck Swindoll my husband blessed me with many years ago, Come Before Winter. I highly recommend it and although I haven't read all of Swindoll's works, his writings have helped me grow.

Come Before Winter is basically a book helping us prepare for the leaner times, the colder times, the times of deep trial and tribulation that we are bound to have, sooner or later, in this walk we call life.

It seems that some we know endure deeper and more trying times than others but I think when we get below the surface, we find that most people have endured hard times.

Swindoll likens our Christian walk to the four seasons of spring, summer, fall, winter. In his book, he is showing us how and advising us to prepare for winter. He wants us to be prepared for winter before it happens--have the coal ready, the wood stacked high, the grain in the silos, the hay bales in the loft--in other words, he advises us to be feeding our faith during the months of bounty so that when the cold winds come, our walls of faith will stand tall, sheltering us from the adverse effects of the ice, snow, and winter winds.

The haunting beauty of Swindoll's words in the introduction alone make it a book worth reading.

..........."its stars like platinum-headed nails driven into the vault of heavens...its lacy icicles, its stunning landscapes of white on white. But ...... But there is something strangely solitary about winter. Altogether unlike the other three seasons, winter pleads for companionship. Its naked trees seems terribly forlorn and barren. Its harsh blizzards that push even the strongest of fowl south drive us inside our own world. No other season in life's annual cycle better represents reality as we attempt to live out what we claim to believe. Just as a calendar cannot skip those bone-chilling months, we cannot escape the barren days! Prisoners in our own dungeons of discouragement, loneliness, and spiritual impotence, we struggle to keep our equilibrium....to make sense out of such apparent insanity.

.............and then at long last, winter's end. The promise returns......new hope, reshaped values, deeper commitment. A patch of blue breaks through my dungeon window. The snow begins to melt."

The Bible tells us that we are not to fear nor dread and this post is not meant to be a downer. In fact, I'm in the process of memorizing Psalm 112 at the present time and one of the main reasons is because of its assurances concerning "fearing no bad news."

For many Christians, especially women I think, we are seized from time to time with dread or fear of the "what-ifs." I am sorry to say that too often I have let these times have too much control over me and my thought processes. I want to always remain positive and upbeat because I think this is the way a Christian should live and I want to reflect glory back to my Lord. Positive and upbeat only because of what Jesus has already accomplished!

When we let Him fill us daily with His laws, His precepts, His ordinances, His promises, His meditations, His praises, His love, His faith, --we become a beautiful bouquet of hope, perseverance, gentleness, and love to a world longing for one more bloom--

2010-The Year of Longings

He longs to shelter us from the storms of life.

I long to hide beneath the shelter of His wings.

weekend worship at covenant presbyterian

O Lord, our Lord,

How majestic is Your Name in all the earth!




You have set your glory above the heavens.

When I consider your heavens, the work of your fingers,

the moon and the stars,

which you have set in place,





What is man that You are mindful of him,

the son of man that you care for him?





You made him a little lower than the heavenly beings

and crowned him with glory and honor.





I will praise you, O Lord.

I will tell of all your wonders.

I will be glad and rejoice in You;

I will sing praise to your Name, O Most High.





O Lord, our Lord,

How majestic is Your Name in all the earth!

portions of Psalm 8 & 9

Her Spotlight

THE PLACE

The place,

a secret spot

not yet destroyed by city concrete.

She loves to go there,

especially

in the Fall.

Just one step inside

the trees

and you can understand

beauty

and what it's really all about.

When she's there

she lets her emotions

take over

and she dances.

There's no need for music.

The wind, the water,

and the rustling of the leaves

create their own symphony.

Rays of sun

break through the chill

and become her

spotlights.

Earthy browns and greens,

vibrant reds and oranges

of the changing leaves

are her background.

All of this is her stage,

This place,

in the middle of a concrete world,

where she can

express

the joy in

the beauty around her.

by Audrey

This beautiful poem was written by Audrey, one of my students several years ago. She wrote this while in my 7th grade language arts class. I contacted her at a college in Oklahoma to get permission to print it. The writings my students did never ceased to amaze me.

2010-The Year of Longings

He longs to dance with us to the music of His own symphony; yes, the wind, the water, the rustling of the leaves.

I long to walk, even to dance, in the spotlight of Jesus' love, deterring the enemy of my soul because he is afraid of light.

The night is nearly over; the day is almost here. So let us put aside the deeds of darkness and put on the armor of light. Romans 13:12

a partial reprint from past pages in anticipation of fall--

I got out a big box of my former students' writings last night and went through them for an hour or so--such a simple pleasure but oh, so rewarding. Linking to Dayle and other lovers of Simple Pleasures--



I'm also linking to Cindy at I Owe It All To Him--to see others favorite places, please go here.

flashback friday

Found You

When I taught creative writing, there was one assignment I would give my students that brought some hilarious, touching, tender, amusing, "you name it" results. It was called

"I opened _______________, and found ______________."

The student had to fill in each blank and the word in the second blank was taken to the next line and OPENED.

So here is my "I Opened, I Found" poem for you.

I opened Windows and found a new "thang" called Blogger. (a few years ago)

I opened Blogger and found a new language.

I opened a new language and found posting.

I opened posting and settings.

I opened settings and found design.

I opened design and found HTML.

I opened HTML and found a foreign language.

I opened a foreign language and found people from around the world.

I opened people from around the world and found true friendship.

I opened true friendship and found YOU!

I opened you and found love.


Just a little thank you to all my lovely blogging friends. I love you!


Once when I assigned this many years ago to a third grade student, she rebelled--said she was NOT going to do it. I told her she did not have a choice, she had to do it. Yea, you can tell I'm from the old school. ha

After rolling the eyes, huffing and puffing for several minutes she handed me something very similar to this:

I opened something and found nothing,
I opened nothing and found anything,
I opened anything and found something,
I opened something and found nothing.

Well, it might have made some teachers mad but I laughed so hard, told her how creative she was, gave her an A, and she was a happy camper. If I remember correctly, I think she was going through a really bad experience at the time--like a divorce in the family.



2010-the Year of Longing

He longs for us to open all He has prepared for us.

I long to open the windows of His heavenly blessings.

Photo: Dining room window of a friend's house in Dallas--yes, people do think I am crazy snapping pictures of windows and such--it's a good thing I never let that bother me. I guess cause I know it's true! Jerry and Jane, in case you don't recognize it, this is your daughter's window.

post-processing 2

One thing I should have told you yesterday is this: I almost always shoot in AV mode. The flash doesn't engage and I think the natural light enhances the photo. If I need more exposure I do that in the post-processing. Some p & s cameras may not have AV mode so if you are in the market for a new camera, be sure and check on the dial to see if it displays AV.

Those pictures that you took yesterday or earlier today???? You might want to go back and retake the same setup in the AV mode and see what you think. Try the different settings on your camera and compare the pictures in your editing mode.

It is rare that I shoot in Auto mode (usually is marked with a green rectangle on the dial). Even on my new little p & s, there is an AV mode.

So on to post-processing. I have an Apple computer and use MacIntosh's built-in program (IPhoto) for editing. It does most things I want to do and if it does not, or I want a little more sophisticated editing, I use Photoshop Elements 7. It is reasonably priced and will do everything that I can possibly imagine myself needing. If I get good enough to need Photoshop or Lightroom, I will be shouting it from the rooftops. You won't need the internet to get the news!

IF YOU DON'T HAVE AN APPLE OR PHOTOSHOP ELEMENTS, please don't be discouraged. I did this same type editing on a regular PC with a Microsoft photo imaging program. I got a great one on Amazon a few years ago for under $50. You can also download Picasa (FREE) to your computer or even edit in Flickr or Photobucket.

The main thing here is desire. How badly do you want to do it? (This is scary--I am sounding like my husband--smile) You can find almost any information you can dream up on Google. I just type in any silly ole question in the google bar and explore the possibilities until I find what I am looking for. It usually is right at your fingertips literally.

These tools are the ones I use the most in IPhoto: color boosting, sharpening, taking out shadows, cropping, exposure, contrast, and straightening tools. Of course, you can rotate the picture if you need to, change to black and white, sepia, antique, etc.

Referring to the pictures above, these are the steps I performed:

1. Took the picture--tried to make sure I had the best bones (good skeletal structure)
The picture is okay but as you can see, it certainly is NOT spectacular.

2. Transferred it to computer.

3. Edited in IPHOTO.
a) boosted the color--these are just little sliders under EFFECTS
d) sharpened the image-slider under ADJUST
c) changed it to antique mode--just a click of the button under EFFECTS
d) added edge blur-button under EFFECTS

Step number 3 took all of a minute or two max.

4. Took it to Photoshop, used the clone tool to rid the photo of the yellow sign on the left hand side of the bridge--sure wish I would have done the yellow piping on the right hand side but already had it saved before I noticed it.

This took 5 minutes or so.

5. Took it to Photobucket to enlarge the image for use on my blog.

A couple of minutes!

6. Imported it to my blog.

Okay, to some of you this may seem like nothing--to others who have never done any of this, it may seem overwhelming. I promise you, it is not. If you just stick with it a little while, you will get the hang of it and love your pictures so much more.

If you have questions, please leave them in the comment section and I will answer them on next Tuesday's post. I think I will write a photography post on Tuesday for two or three weeks--until I feel like you are on your way. Then I will post updates periodically when I learn something new or have something special to share with you in the way of photos.

Please remember, no question is too silly! That is the only way we learn. I am still asking what would be "silly" questions to a lot of people. But you know what, I am not embarrassed-- because I am learning. And learning is one of the greatest joys in life.




Disclaimer: Not getting paid by anyone for anything!

post-processing is everything (pun intended)

UPDATE: If you received word that I just published the second installment of the post processing, please forgive. While working on it, I accidentally pressed "publish." Sorry, it will be up late tonight or tomorrow.

A couple of you have commented about my photography lately--indicating that you wish I was close by so I could give you photography lessons. Well, that totally humbles and honors me since I am NOT a real photographer. However, I would love to share with you what little I know. It won't take long. smile

So let's start with equipment--

Cameras are so awesome these days--I think you can start with a simple point and shoot (p & s--when I first saw this term used in other blogs, I had to look it up on Google to see what it stood for) digital camera and capture some great shots. If you can afford a digital SLR, then that is awesome--both Nikon and Canon make some great ones--find people on the web whose pictures you love and try to find out what they use. Personally, I have an entry level Canon D-SLR and I love it. However, I bought a $99 lens that transformed it in my way of thinking. (Canon EF 50mm f/1.8 II Lens-this is a *prime lens)

I did also invest in a Canon Powershot S-90 which is an amazing little camera--not inexpensive though. But forget all that, let's just talk about using whatever camera you have available.

I wrote a post recently entitled Run to the Light. Natural light is everything in most pictures. Of course, sometimes, you deliberately want low light and you will shoot at different times of day. I love long shadows so I try to shoot early morning or late afternoon. I have been blessed to get some pretty decent shots midday though.

I also try to think "outside the box" and take pictures from all different angles. I am not as agile and limber as I used to be, so crawling around on the ground is not something I can easily do anymore. I still try at times but the time spent trying to "get up" does not help make this worthy of my time. If you can do it, then more power to you and your shots.

The Bible encourages us to "fix" our minds on things that are good and profitable and lovely--namely, the Lord Jesus Christ. Just as I actively set my mind on Him each day, I do this with the things that are truly important to me. Because of that, I almost always have both my cameras with me. It is rare when I don't have one or both with me. You can't take a great picture without your camera.

Planning is the name of the game--this is a mindset. Several months ago when one of our neighbors brought us dinner on some incredible cobalt-blue colored pottery, I seized the opportunity, before I returned it to her, to grab some pretty gala apples from the fruit bowl, shine them up, place them in the dish on the floor in front of my dining room window where the morning light was streaming in.

All the while, I was dreaming and thinking--"Oh, I bet Pioneer Woman will have a photography contest featuring Americana in July so I need to be prepared." There are links to this picture and one other that I've had featured on her site under the PHOTOGRAPHY section on my sidebar.

Sure enough, she did and sure enough, I was prepared--I had it all ready to upload to Flickr and to place on her photography assignments page. And the picture was featured--mission accomplished. What did it get me? Nothing ....... but a lot of fun and satisfaction that I had set out to do something and accomplished it.

You also have to take the time to do it. This is when cooperative family members or friends really make a difference. If they support you in your craziness, it can really help. I couldn't tell you how many times my husband has sat in our car waiting on me while I run around a church to take pictures from all different directions and angles. Of course, I do this with landscapes, etc. also. And just so I won't have to go repent for lying, I really don't "run."

A little rabbit trail--I just love little rabbit trails--I have a friend--years ago when I first met her (she had two little boys, I had three), she would call and ask me to go some place with her--taking the kids to a hiking trail--you name it--. I would tell her, "Girl, I can't, I have all this housework, laundry, grocery shopping, and cooking etc. to do. And, in awe, I would ask her how she possibly had time to get everything done and still have time to go "play." She would say, "Well, I just run around each morning til I get it all done." Well, silly me, I really thought she meant "run," so I started "running" to get my housework done.

She moved away from the city we both lived in and we were separated for some twenty years or so. When we were reunited a few years ago, I told her how I had adapted her housekeeping technique of "running" to get everything done. She died laughing and said, "Oh, I didn't mean that literally. I just meant I kept at it until I got it done." Live and learn, huh?!

So now that we are in the sunset years of our lives, when she uses that "term," we both end up belly laughing. It is not even an option now.

So back to photography!

This post is turning out to be longer than I had planned so I think I will save the "post-processing information" until tomorrow.

In the meantime, your homework today is to go take some pictures, preferably with long shadows and excellent light. It can be most anything--set up an arrangement of some old antique things you love, a fruit bowl, almost anything can make a beautiful picture.

And if you'll meet me back here tomorrow, I will explain how I post-process, an integral part to really good photography, at least for wanna-bes like me. Some think it is cheating. I figure the image I am now is not the same as the one God started with--He had a lot of post-processing to perform on me (and is not through with me yet, thank goodness). So I post-process with joy and thanksgiving. Hope to see you tomorrow.

I took the picture above almost twenty years ago--she just turned twenty--and just scanned it tonight. I did some really fast editing on it just to give you a little glimpse of what I will write about tomorrow.

Disclaimer: I am NOT a professional photographer. I am just an aspiring photographer who loves to share with others what little knowledge I have. I am NOT getting paid in any form (monetarily or otherwise) by anyone to promote any product/products.






*prime lens

Last but certainly the most important thing of the day--Happy Birthday, to our precious first-born, Jeffrey David. Dad and I love you with all of our hearts.

Day planner

Gayle's story of God bringing someone into her path from 30 years ago

Weekend Worship at St. Luke's

I will praise you, O Lord, with my whole heart; I will tell of all your wonders. I will be glad and rejoice in you; I will sing praise to your name, O Most High.

I will be glad and rejoice in you; I will sing praise to Your Name, O Most High.

The Lord reigns forever; He has established His throne for judgment.

He will judge the world in righteousness; He will govern the peoples with justice.

The Lord is a refuge for the oppressed; a stronghold in times of trouble.

Those who know Your Name will trust in You, for you, Lord, have never forsaken those who seek You.

The Lord is in His holy temple; the Lord is on his heavenly throne.

2010-The Year of Longings

He longs for us to seek Him.



I long to learn what it really means to seek Him with my whole heart.



I am linking to Spiritual Sundays, an inspirational place to visit.

vivid

Read a post the other day that said "Wonder if the invisible is so vivid it falls of the spectrum of what our earthly eyes can see.

Around the Corner

Covered bridges are rare in Arkansas and almost nonexistent in central Arkansas, so you can imagine our surprise and utter delight one night last week when we rounded a corner in a country road and saw this.







Have you had any surprises lately? I think we all have times when just the daily walking of this life's journey holds surprises that we would rather not experience. However, in my quest to know God better, to search the treasure of His Word daily, and to seek His presence through prayer and meditation, He continually surprises me with little things about Himself that totally blow me away. I arise each day just wondering what He is up to and how He will make His glory known to me and mine.



This little jaunt out into the country was totally unplanned. One of my sons and his wife just happened to drop by and we had a quick unplanned dinner. Jeff wanted to go for a ride. He disappeared from the kitchen, got in the car, started the motor and waited on us til we got up from the table and joined him. What a treat!

I pray that around at least one corner today, you will find His glory. I love to have my camera with me at all times for capturing these precious moments.

And don't forget, your face is the LCD screen of your soul and reflects His glory.

The commands of the LORD are radiant,

giving light to the eyes. from Psalm 19 NIV

You may be the only picture someone will see of God today.



The true treasure of His glory lies within us. He has created us for His glory.

Everyone who is called by my name,

whom I created for my glory,

whom I formed and made." Isaiah 43:7 NIV

Dianne



2010-The Year of Longings



He longs for us to recognize His glory.



I long to be cognizant of moments that might slip by if I am not actively focused on Him.



Today I am so thankful for the one great bridge, Jesus Christ, who bridged the gap from my sinfulness to God's holiness. I am joining others over at Thankful Thursdays. Won't you join us? Click here to participate or just to read.



Since this was such a simple pleasure, I am also linking to Dayle over at her place, which you can access right here. Participate or just read the simple but delightful things others are experiencing.