Cover - Emma Lake, SK
God has blessed me with sisters! Yes, I have 4 sisters by blood whom I love, but God has also blessed me with many sisters of the heart! I could not walk this journey if I had to walk it alone. How many times have I enjoyed the company of women friends to laugh with and cry with, to be angry with and to be absolutely silly with, and to experience the joy of the Lord with! I am so incredibly thankful for each and every woman that God has brought across my path in life. I have learned so much from each one, they've all taught me so much! I thank God for you sisters....I thank God for you and I love each and every one of you! Life would definitely not have been the same without you. That is why I created this calendar....to remind myself, and others, of the huge blessing that women are!
January - Warman, SK
I've had some dear single mothers who've come into my life over the years and how I love them so. Being a single mom is not an easy job. Being married and raising children brings great joy but it is not as easy task. I can't imagine doing that task alone on a daily basis. I applaud those mothers who sacrifice so much to be the best mom they can be while walking alone down that parenting road. May God be ever so near and dear to you and bless you for your love and sacrifice you give to your children. As you direct them on the right paths of life, God will honor you and hold you up dear ones. Rely on His Strength daily and He WILL give you rest.
Oh sweet teenage girls, you are never alone when God is by your side. He's ALWAYS there ready to help in times of trouble. You CAN rely on Him to carry you through the rough turbulent teenage years as you grow and mature into womanhood.
But my heart cried out in pain and heartache when I realized the vast number of young girls that are caught in the slavery of teenage prostitution, drugs and alcohol...hundreds of them, even in my own city close to me. What hope do they have? Who is there for them? Where is their mother to tuck them in at night and hug them when they're hurting?? I weep as I write this. It is in this time that I can only cry out to God, who sees all - to in some way, hold them close and give them hope and a future, to send someone into their path to comfort them and to provide a way out for them. I know He WILL hear my hearts cry for them. He weeps over the evil of it all too! And someday this world will be rescued of all evil!
Can you imagine how different life would be, how different relationships would be if everyone were an example of love? Just think about the words, read them slowly....love is patient, kind, not jealous boastful proud or rude, doesn't demand it's own way, isn't irritable, keeps no record of wrongs. WOW! What an incredible relationship! But I think I can truly say that I've come across some amazing marriages that have exemplified this to it's best degree that is humanly possible. I want to be around those couple all the time! What beauty that just exudes from them and spreads all around! Now THAT is contagious! How I hope to be a model of that in my life...........but oh I got a long way to go! But I am so thankful that My God is ever so patient with me, and never gives up on me. He's not finished with me yet...and neither is He with you. :)
There have been many many times that I have been honored to share in the special wedding day by taking the photos to capture the memories of a beautiful union. Each couple has been so dear to my heart and I have often remembered them in my prayers. I don't forget any of them. To see them years later flourishing in their relationship with each other brings a huge smile to my face. Each bride is always so beautifully dressed for her husband, heart fluttering with sweet love and desiring to walk perfectly down that aisle looking adoringly at the man she has given her heart to. Oh that sweet sweet love! :) Each wedding also reminds me of how we as believers, as Christians, are the bride of Christ and how God is preparing a Holy New Jerusalem, a Heavenly Paradise, for all His chosen ones. A place where there will be no more tears, or pain or hatred or sickness and death. What a place that will be! How GREAT that day will be when the LORD comes for His bride, the church - his people. I can't wait!
My life has been so incredibly blessed through many relationships that I've developed over time with beautiful native first nations women and girls. They are such a beautiful people and many of the ones that have come into my life have an incredible love for God. I have so much to learn from them! This family in particular, has been especially dear to my heart. I've had the honor of taking some family photos as well as wedding photos for some of them. There's often things that I don't understand about other cultures but I do know that God created each and every one of us! Most every mother has that God-given love for their children, to love, care and nurture them. When I see the tenderness in a mother's eyes, that she has for her children, so often it reminds me of the love and care that our Heavenly Father has for us. As human parents, we are not always perfect and we make mistakes in raising our kids, but God is always there as our Heavenly Father. He knows where each of us are at and He desires a relationship with each and every one of us.
December - north of Saskatoon, SK
When I have the privilege of taking photos of young couples who've just become engaged, it warms my heart so much seeing the love for each other shining in their eyes. I often pray for them. I pray that the photos I take will be a blessing in their lives. But to me these photos are also a sign of standing on the threshold of their whole life and where will they be 50 years from now. Will they still be together? My prayer is always that they will. Do they have a personal relationship with Jesus Christ and will it grow and mature over the years? I always pray that it will, that they would allow God to lead them and that they would desire God to be involved in their lives on a daily basis. It is only with God that we can truly have a most fulfilling life. We don't need to be anxious about the future, or about anything for that matter, when we've given God the reins of our life and allow Him to reign throughout our lifetime.
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