thankfulness through my lens || april 25

.. dirty dishes .. 

Why dirty dishes?!  It's the sign of food. A meal.  A time that has been shared with other people.  

It means that I spent time with the people I love most.  

I am so thankful for my family.  I would not be who I am today without them.  They encourage me. Challenge me.  Inspire me. Pray for me.  Make me laugh.  Cry with me.  Put up with my craziness and annoying-ness (hey, that's what siblings are for, right?!) 

I know that my family life is not normal, and for that, I am thankful.  When so many families are breaking apart, and hate being together, that is not the case for us.  We see each other a lot, and still enjoy being together.  We loves playing board games - like all the time.  My siblings are my bestest friends.  My parents? Incredible.  

Do we have bad days? ohhhh yes.  Do we fight? We're human - duh.  Are there days that I want to clobber my siblings, and vice-versa? ohhhbviously. (hehe, love you guys ;D ) 

But we forgive.  We do second chances.  We remind.  We encourage.  We share.  We play together.  We pray together.  We work together. And clean together.  And dance together.  And cry together.  And eat together… 

And this is only by the mercy and grace of Jesus Christ.  Why He chose us? I have no idea.  But, I am so thankful for the family He has put me in.  

I know that this is only for a season.  That tomorrow this could all be different.  So, I want to relish the season of life, and place that God has me in right now - even if that means washing dirty dishes.  

{And yes, you can remind me of this in a couple days, Mom. ;) }  

thankfulness through my lens || april 24

... the sound of rain ...

"You can't have a rainbow without a little rain…" {unknown} 

thankfulness through my lens \\ april 14

\\ hope in the seasons of waiting \\ 

Waiting is hard. And most of the times I don't like it.  Yet, I am reminded that it's in those moments of waiting that God strengthens our faith, and draws us closer to Himself.

This is one of my most favorite pieces of writing ever - and I had completely forgotten about it until recently.  Be encouraged as you know that in your season of waiting, God is working all things for good, and doing more than you could ask, imagine or hope for.

"The Wait Poem" by Russell Kelfer

Desperately, helplessly, longingly, I cried;

Quietly, patiently, lovingly, God replied.

I pled and I wept for a clue to my fate . . .

And the Master so gently said,"Wait." 

"Wait? You say wait?" my indignant reply.

"Lord, I need answers, I need to know why!"

Is your hand shortened? Or have you not heard? 

By faith I have asked, and I'm claiming your Word. 

My future and all to which I relate,

Hangs in the balance, and you tell me to Wait?" 

I'm needing a 'yes,' a go-ahead sign.

Or even a 'no,' to which I'll resign. 

You promised, dear Lord, that if we believe, 

We need but to ask, and we shall receive. 

Lord, I've been asking, and this is my cry: 

I'm weary of asking! I need a reply. 

Then quietly, softly, I learned of my fate, 

As my Master replied again, "Wait." 

So I slumped in my chair, defeated and taut, 

And grumbled to God, "So, I'm waiting . . . for what?" 

He seemed then to kneel, and His eyes met with mine . . .

And He tenderly said, "I could give you a sign. 

I could shake the heavens and darken the sun. 

I could raise the dead and cause mountains to run. 

I could give all you seek and pleased you would be. 

You'd have what you want, but you wouldn't know Me.

You'd not know the depth of My love for each saint. 

You'd not know the power that I give to the faint. 

You'd not learn to see through clouds of despair; 

You'd not learn to trust just by knowing I'm there. 

You'd not know the joy of resting in Me, 

When darkness and silence are all you can see. 

You'd never experience the fullness of love, 

When the peace of My spirit descends like a dove.

You would know that I give, and I save, for a start, 

But you'd not know the depth of the beat of My heart. 

The glow of My comfort late into the night, 

The faith that I give when you walk without sight. 

The depth that's beyond getting just what you ask, 

From an infinite God who makes what you have last. 

You'd never know should your pain quickly flee, 

What it means that My grace is sufficient for thee. 

Yes, your dearest dreams overnight would come true, 

But oh, the loss if I lost what I'm doing in you. 

So, be silent, my child, and in time you will see, 

That the greatest of gifts is to truly know me. 

And though oft My answers seem terribly late, 

My most precious answer of all is still "WAIT".