Dinner

Dinner.

That was this week's photography assignment.

I sweated over this one.

Taking pictures of chicken nuggets or burritos just didn't seem "creative". I actually had to cook something worthy of a photo, or come up with another definition of "dinner".

I considered working with our tortoise "Sammy", but nothing too fruitful came of it.






Then, lo and behold, it just so happened (thank You, Lord!) that we had this week off from school and Wednesday was spent at home ALL DAY - except for a trip to the library - so I had time to prepare a photo worthy meal (which, by the way, I really enjoy doing!).

AND . . . the lighting was just perfect as I set everything on the table
and called the crew.
"Dinner!"

Sooooo . . . with a few rearrangements here and there, and a couple of pictures later . . .

TA DA!




I liked this one better.
I loved the lighting on the bread especially (I LOVE homemade bread!).

Unfortunately, my family was not as thrilled over the lighting
and the excitement of capturing such wholesome goodness on "film".

But they love me and I promised to put them all up on our blog with funny captions. They really have been very encouraging over all of my pictures (and don't complain about the blurry ones or about the bad lighting!)

Now I am sweating over coming up with next week's assignment!

Red

So, I have this really great friend who has taken me under her wing, so to speak, and is trying to help me in my pitiful photography skills.

Her suggestion this last Sunday?

"Let's do a weekly assignment."

"Sure", I gamely (and naively) replied. "What's the assignment?"

"Red", she plainly states.

"Red?"

"Red."

"Ok. Red."


So, Monday morning began my quest to find something red to photograph.

I learned quickly, that red is one of those colors that seems grossly (and unfortunately) missing from our home decor.

However, my eyes began to be trained to see red.

Here was my first photo as we were out and about on Monday:





Very creative, I know. (Sarcasm intended)

And rats . . . that pesky date stamp again!

I had not yet found my "assignment photo".

We'll try again.


Now, I'm getting desperate.

What do we have that's red?!

I know . . .




Hmmmm . . . still not what I'm looking for. I'll know it when I see it though.


How about this shot?




This is where I live.

Every morning. Almost.

Actually, that's not my favorite mug. I don't even use that one.

But it was red.

But I think it's funny, especially since Earl and I used to joke early on that we were able to keep our kids in bed with duct tape. Not really. I mean, yes, we joked about it, but we weren't serious. It was those little white pills that kept them quiet and in bed. No, I'm still joking. I mean yes, they were quiet and stayed in bed, but it was God's grace and goodness to us and due to some very GREAT parenting counsel we got early on.

Anyway, this was the photo I "submitted" . . . but it still wasn't "the one".

However, my family is sick of hearing about "red" all week and having to wait on school while I get the perfect shot. (Did I really just type that they were sick of having to wait on school?? That is soooo not the truth. Sorry.) So, my search has ended and I will wait until next week's assignment search begins . . .
"Round".

A Date With My Son

I went out last night . . .

with my second favorite male!

David is fun to be with and he makes me laugh.

We went to his favorite place . . . A&W Rootbeer and got the "Manager's Special" . . . 2 rootbeer floats! Then we sped our way over to the beach to try to get there before the sun set. We didn't make it, but it was lovely to be there all the same.




We walked along the beach and talked about "stuff" and he enjoyed just being silly. A typical 9-year old boy. He found a stick (surprise!) and drew "cross bones" every couple of feet. "This will really make the people wonder about what's going on here when they come and see these tomorrow . . . (snicker, snicker)".



I asked him what he planned on being when he grew up. (Every parent is obligated to ask this, aren't they? And the answers are so fun!) "All I really want to be is a football player." "Hmmm . . . that's interesting." (Every parent is obligated to answer this way, when they aren't sure WHAT to say, aren't they?) "Anything else?" "Well, I don't want to be a police officer. That's too dangerous. I may be a builder. Or maybe a shop keeper." "Really? A shop keeper? What kinds of things would you sell?" "Oh, wood things that I build. Yeah, I've got to have a real job until I make the big bucks playing football." Now, mind you, this boy has never really played football. Just watched mainly. This conversation was very interesting to me. Really. Not just my obligatory word.

Grow . . . my adorable son.
Reach high.
Laugh often.
Dream big.
Find Jesus to be sufficient for EVERYTHING you need.
May the passion of your heart be . . . "ONLY JESUS!"

Lord Jesus . . . grow this son of ours.
Breathe life and passion into his very being.
Delight his soul with Yourself.
Amaze Him with Your goodness.
Feed Him on Your faithfulness.
And may Your kindness draw his heart Your way.

Note: Yes . . .I know. I need to remember to turn OFF that pesky date stamp. Grrrrr.

Do you have hope?

Hope

How can I find real happiness?

How can I handle this situation?

How can I get rid of this guilt?

How can I ever measure up?

Did you know that God promises you all that you need and desire?


Delight yourself
in the LORD and
HE will give you
the desires of
your heart.
--- Psalm 37:4

The Promise of Happiness

You make known to me the path of life; in Your presence is fullness of joy; at Your right hand are pleasures forevermore.
--- Psalm 16:11

God promises to give you a joy and happiness and peace in Him that is fully satisfying and that will never end. This happiness is the very happiness of God Himself in God Himself.

(John 10:10)

The Promise of Help

Fear not, for I am with you; be not dismayed, for I am your God; I will strengthen you, I will help you, I will uphold you with my righteous right hand.
--- Isaiah 41:10

God promises to help you and to meet all your needs in this life in whatever way is necessary for His honor and your good. He is in control of all things and unlimited in wisdom and power and resources and will not fail those who trust in Him. (Philippians 4:13, 19)

The Promise of Pardon

If we confess our sins, He is faithful and just to forgive us our sins and to cleanse us from all unrighteousness. --- 1 John 1:9

God promises to forgive you of all your sins – past sins, present sins, and future sins. “Sin” is the worship of something in place of God and the failure to love God and to love others as God loves.

(Isaiah 1:18; Luke 24:46-47)

The Promise of Perfection

If, because of one man’s trespass, death reigned through that one man, much more will those who receive the abundance of grace and the free gift of righteousness reign in life through the one man, Jesus Christ. --- Romans 5:17

God promises to give you a perfect record of obedience to Him, called a gift of righteousness. This gift of righteous-ness is the key to receiving God’s gift of eternal life and enjoying God in heaven.
(Philippians 3:7-11; 1 John 2:1-2)

Why has God made all these promises to you?

It’s not because you deserve it.

None is righteous, no, not one; no one understands; no one seeks for God. All have turned aside; together they have become worthless; no one does good, not even one. ---

Romans 3:10b-12

We are all rebels against God and all we deserve is His just punishment in hell.

(Revelation 20:11-15)

It’s for the glory of His Son, Jesus.

But God shows His love for us in that while we were still sinners, Christ died for us. … so by the one man’s obedience, the many will be made righteous.
--- Romans 5:8, 19

God sent His Son, Jesus Christ, to be a substitute for sinners: to earn a perfect record of obedience and to die on a cross for our sins. We know Jesus ac-complished this because He rose from the dead.

(1 Corinthians 15:1-28)

Does God keep all these promises to everyone?

No, these promises are for all who “repent and believe”: turning from sin and trusting Jesus for the righteous-ness (perfect record of obedience) that leads to eternal life (perfect happiness in God) by receiving Him as Lord (Mas-ter) and Savior.

(2 Corinthians 1:20; Acts 20:21; Romans 5:21; John 1:1-18)

If you confess with your mouth that Jesus is Lord and believe in your heart that God raised Him from the dead, you will be saved. … For everyone who calls on the name of the Lord will be saved. ---

Romans 10:9, 13

If this makes sense to you (and you’ve never done so), then ask God for mercy because of Jesus, start reading a Bible and talk with a believer in Jesus who can help you. We would be glad to help:

Coast Community Church; 714-596-0611
coastcommunitychurch@verizon.net; www.coastcommunitychurch.com

". . . Consider the lilies of the field, how they grow; they neither toil nor spin, yet I tell you, even Solomon in all his glory was not arrayed like one of these. But if God so clothes the grass of the field, which today is alive and tomorrow is thrown into the oven, will he not much more clothe you, O you of little faith?"
Matthew 6:28-30


Clothed.
I do not worry about clothing by nature.
Occasionally, I "complain" about having "nothing to wear", but it is mainly based on discontentment, pride, and insecurity.
But there is a different sort of clothing that I am desperately in need of . . .
the righteousness of Jesus Christ.
I long to put on immortality.
My earthly tent groans to be clothed with the imperishable.
2 Corinthians 5 promises us that we have been given the Spirit as a pledge to remind us that we will indeed be clothed with immortality.
I cling to that promise on most days.
1 John 3:2 promises us that "when He appears, we will be like Him, because we will see Him just as He is."
To be like Jesus.
I long for that.
Jesus is full of "love, joy, peace, patience, kindness, goodness, faithfulness, gentleness, self-control" (Galatians 5:22).
He is patient, kind and not jealous. He doesn't brag and isn't arrogant, and never acts unbecomingly. He doesn't seek His own way and isn't provoked. He doesn't take into account a wrong suffered (doesn't take offense) and He definitely doesn't rejoice in unrighteousness, but rejoices with the truth. He bears all things, believes all things, hopes all things, endures all things and never fails. (1 Corinthians 13:4-8)
Oh how I want to be like that!
And I've been promised that I will be when He returns.
But in the meantime, I want to pursue "my sanctification" here in this journey because I have as my ambition, whether at home or absent, to be pleasing to Him.
(2 Corinthians 5:9)

Just thinking lately, about how I spend my time and what is really important. If I knew I had one more day on this earth, what would my priorities be?
I have so much further to go in my journey towards holiness . . . my sin is ever before me . . . yet my time spent isn't matching what I want my priorities to be.
I will continue to fight the fight of faith . . .
He will indeed "clothe" me, more than Solomon in all of his glory!

"I will rejoice greatly in the Lord,
My soul will exult in my God;
For He has clothed me with garments of salvation,
He has wrapped me with a robe of righteousness,
as a bridegroom decks himself with a garland,
and as a bride adorns herself with her jewels."
Isaiah 61:10