I’ve been thinking and praying a lot lately for our photography businesses in a most desperate way because things are so slow for me right now, and I’m positive I’m not the only one. In the attempt to cheer my spirit and encourage my heart not to give up, many people have said to me “it’s just the economy…” or maybe the famous “well photography isn’t exactly a life necessity, not when you don’t have money for food!” (a personal favorite of mine to justify my lack of business and make me feel a little bit like I’m doing a noble thing by acknowledging that food is more important for others than it is for us, cause afterall, this is our bread and butter I’m working for too!) Good well meaning people say to me in their sweet voices, “you are really good. It will happen, it just takes time,  with this economy things are just hard…”

And I agree. The economy is hard.  Hard for the world I mean.  But those of us who know Jesus are not of the world…

So what I feel the Spirit of the Most High God has quickened to me is this one thought: God’s blessing is not dependant upon our economy.

That’s it, but that’s so deep isn’t it? God’s blessing to our lives is in no way limited by wallstreet taking a nose dive, nor is it possible because of Obama’s stimulous package! We do not look to the government for a “bail out” any more than we look to the state for a winning lottery ticket! No, we are children of the King, and HE ALONE is the basis of our hope.  God’s blessing in our lives can flow in times of plenty or in times of want. He has never failed to care for those who wholeheartedly look to him for provision. God’s blessing is not dependant upon our economy in any way.

So what IS it dependant on? The same thing it has ALWAYS been dependant on…  him. He laid out principals, divine truths in the universe that are just gonna stay true no matter who you are. Here are a few.

Proverbs 11:25 “A generous man will prosper; he who refreshes others will himself be refreshed.”
Proverbs 11:10 “When the righteous prosper, the city rejoices; when the wicked perish, there are shouts of joy.”
(not that we should be praying the wicked are anything but redeemed, but we sure should be praying that EVERY righteous man and woman, business owner – even competition – who are righteous indeed, that they should prosper so that our cities will once again be able to rejoice!)
Proverbs 17:20 “A man of perverse heart does not prosper; he whose tongue is deceitful falls into trouble.”
Proverbs 28:10 “He who leads the upright along an evil path will fall into his own trap, but the blameless will receive a good inheritance.”
Proverbs 28:13 “He who conceals his sins does not prosper, but whoever confesses and renounces them finds mercy.”
Proverbs 28:25 “A greedy man stirs up dissension, but he who trusts in the Lord will prosper.”
Deuteronomy 5:33 “Walk in all the way that the Lord your God has commanded you, so that you may live and prosper and prolong your days in the land that you will possess.”
Deuteronomy 29:9 “Carefully follow the terms of this covenant, so that you may prosper in everything you do.”

Proverbs 10:22 “The blessing of the Lord brings wealth, and he adds no trouble to it.”

There are simple principals like sowing and reaping… if you don’t sow you won’t reap. And in these “economic times”, what is it that really keeps us from sowing? It’s mostly fear that we ourselves will end up in want. But God is not wanting us to go out and just throw our money into whatever. We still must use wisdom and have the mind and will of the Lord. Think of Elijah. The Lord commanded him first to be feed by ravens, and so he was. That’s divine provision without human intervention for sure! But he had to know where to be to get it, God told him exactly the location the provision would be delivered. That takes a close by listening ear to hear a word that specific. Amen? But then after that he gave him a harder word to trust… “Go at once to Zarephath of Sidon and stay there. I have commended a widow in that place to supply you with food.” Why would that be harder than trusting a bird to bring you meat on his own??  Because now Elijah was reliant on ANOTHER HUMAN  trusting  in God as well!! They had to BOTH have faith that God would deliver. Now Elijah could have walked in fear and decided to stay right there in that cave and hope the ravens still would bring him meat. And that widow could have held onto the fear of death and been greedy with her last meal, but she already had a command as well. And so she sowed her last seed, all that she had into providing for the one her Lord God told her to provide for. Ya know, I bet dozens of other strangers and neighbors and friends who long past had run out of food pressed her for a bit of hers as well when they heard she had it. That’s pretty much just how we humans are, ain’t it? But she knew exactly where to invest the last little bit that she had because she already had heard from the Lord. Because God didn’t say “I will command the widow”. He said “I HAVE commanded a widow”.  It was a done deal. She knew, Elijah knew. They both trusted and both were blessed tremendously.

So tieing this all together… what does it mean for us who follow Him? I think that if God should bring to us the opportunity to sow a seed, and the Spirit confirms that the opportunity is right and from God, we should sow it in faith and love and have no fear. But maybe we can take it a step further…  maybe we should start thinking like a farmer. I doubt many farmers just walk into a grain store and pick up whatever looks good and just go sow it. I’m thinking they probably plan ahead and research what seed they should sow. What lands they should cultivate. What fields to plow and when to plant. What I’m saying is, we should be seeking God about where we might be given an opportunity to sow and then ASK for the opportunity to do it!

Right now I have seed packs sitting in my kitchen unopened. They would have produced nice flowers, had I been able to plant them in soil. And they few that I DID plant in little starters are ready to be transferred to pots. But I have no soil for them. So I have to ask God for the soil so that I can plant the seed that is ready to bring forth it’s beauty. I think I should do the same with my giving. I want to be asking God WHERE I can give, how much I can give, to whom can I give. I want to seek opportunities to plant some faith and reap the harvest of it! I want to look for moments when I can be used to be the answer to someone else’s seed of faith that they sowed elsewhere. Let’s be PROACTIVE SOWERS! Let’s race God to the blessing and just try to beat him to it!  haha… I bet we can’t! As we become cheerful, faithful, obedient givers we will prove to the world …

…THAT THE BLESSING OF GOD IS NOT DEPENDANT ON OUR ECONOMY!

“Papa, these are wonderful and amazing thoughts, and we delight in your word and truth as it is set before us. We do not want to live as unwise, but as wise. We do not want to live in fear, but in your love. We do not want to live in dispare, but in your hope. And we do not want to live in doubt, but in your faith. Quicken now to us your truth that we might stand on solid ground when the devourer and theif comes to whisper at our door threats that we are about to lose it all. Let us stand firm and proclaim the truth that you have set forth in your word. The righteous will not be forsaken, neither will their children go hungry! Papa, we ask for opportunity to sow into the lives of others…  not just in church, but in sensitivity to your voice. To the neighbor down the street who’s husband left and she has three kids and no clue how she’ll feed them dinner. What do we know but that You will not save her soul from hell the night we bring her bread and meat, and mac’n cheese for the kidos, and a little bit of money on top of it and just say we know things are rough, but God wants to care for you. Give us eyes to see where we can demonstrate our faith in the living God, the Most High, the Redeemer and Deliverer, our Jesus. Help us where we are weak in our hearts and yet have fear. Pour your love into those places. Deliver us from doubt and let faith and trust arise within us. May we meditate upon your word and discover the truth within! May we hear your voice clearly so that we use wisdom in our giving. And may we expectantly anticipate the harvest you will bring to us in all ways. In Jesus Name, Amen.

Papa, please reveal your heart to me.

Here I am Papa… ready and waiting. Wanting to hear your heart today. Wanting to know your will. Wanting to share your prayers. Here I am, willing to follow. Here I am, wanting to know how to pray.  Here I am, confession upon my lips, repentance within my heart. Here i am, searching, seeking, waiting for you to lead me, to guide me, to direct me and correct me. Open my heart to receive from you today.

Here I am
and I am yours
nothing withheld from you
here I am
with more than words
oh let my heart be true
may the words i speak
match the life I lead
each and every day
here I am
I am yours

Love Keeps No Record Of Wrong

Love keeps no record of wrongs…. Is that not an AMAZING verse? LOVE keeps NO RECORDS of wrongs. None. I find this aspect of God’s heart amoung the most amazing. That the one who knows us more intimately than any other, even the darkest places we try to hide from peering eyes, even our own eyes, God sees them. He sees them, and STILL can look at us and love us, and hope for the best in us. He knows absolutely all the ways we fail…  all the ways our flesh may get the better of us. But yet, He REFUSES to search out the worst in us and does not have opinions of us set in stone, ya know what I mean?

He’s amazing. And I want to be like that, if that translates. I want to be the type of person that is a minster of grace….. someone who can offer hope for change to the ones the rest of the world has given up hope upon. I want to be like Jesus..  I want to search for the BEST in people. I know that there is darkness in every soul.. I’m not stupid. But I choose to let me eyes search for the light in people and not the dark. I’m grateful I learned that lesson by looking at the way Jesus looks at me.

I’ll be the first to admit it… I’m not perfect. My husband and I joke that I “used” to be perfect til I realized I was then I got proud and pride is a sin and “poof” there went my perfection. So I stand with everyone else who isn’t perfect, but is trying. I stand with those who try, but sometimes fail. I stand also with these same people who are so dependant on God’s grace, and so grateful for it, that from the depths of our heart, that’s what can pour out to others. We may not have perfection, but we have received a grace so perfect it covers everything. And from what we have been given, we also give.

Does that mean we have a “get out of jail pass” to keep on doing what is wrong? nope. Romans 6, 7, 8….  holy cow those are among my favorites and forever life verses for me. If you don’t know them, pick up your word and soak in those verses…. they are awesome.

So what is my point? why are these thoughts on my mind? Because in the past three days I had the opportunity to both extend forgiveness, and also to ask someone for it. I had the opportunity to believe the ABSOLUTE BEST in someone I love…. so I did. And I’m happy I did. I’m closer to them, closer to God because I did. And I choose not to count anything or keep record of anything. I look for the best, and I found it in them. That was my choice.

I’m not going to hold anyone to their past. Because good past or bad past, when Jesus’ blood is applied to it, it’s covered.

So how will this affect you? That’s a favorite question of mine, because EVERYTHING effects us, whether we admit it or not. But meditating on HOW it effects us is rarely done… i’m the type that will ponder things and ask “how does that change me?” So I’m asking you, since you read all this, how are you going to let it effect you?

Do you keep record of wrongs? Do you look for the best in people and expect it from them, or the worst. Do you assume that every sin will be repeated by the offender? Do you have grace to extend to the offender that is SO GRACIOUS, it lifts them out of the pit? God does. What will you do with the knowledge that love keeps no record of wrongs? Are you going to choose to stand on the side of love, or choose to repeat the accusations brought before the judge? Whose witness in God’s court will you be?

You may be saying now… but they ARE guilty. Hands down I know it for a fact. Okay fine. let’s paint the picture and create the scene. We are standing in a court room.. God the Father sits at the judgement seat, ready to weigh justly everything spoke in the court room. up first, the prosecution. Satan comes before God, smug and confident because he knows the rules. sin is sin and sin will be punished.
“If it would please the court, I will PROVE beyond doubt that this soul has sinned. I will present evidence SO damming, that the court will have no choice but to declare the accused guilty. I offer evidence to the sin and offense that can not be refuted. This soul has been selfish beyond measure, foolish beyond even the most foolish of men….. “
…on and on he rambles off the list of guilt and sins, one after the other, providing proof, eyewitness after eyewitness, the offended, the hurt, the wounded all left in the accused’s wake of destructive behavior and selfish living. With each testimony, the accused’s head hangs lower. There’s no way out. They are guilty and they know it. their only hope is that somehow, the Advocate Jesus can convince the Judge of innocense.

Finally, Satan steps down, turning to Jesus saying, “the floor is all yours. Good luck… you’ll need a miracle!”

Jesus steps forward. If it will please the court, I will now prove beyond doubt that everything the prosecuter has presented about the accused…….. is true. Furthermore, I will present evidence that the witnesses here to the best of their ability, have spoke truthfully of the offense the accused has caused.

Satan bursts out of his seat! “HE’s MINE… I WIN!!!”

The Judge raps his mighty gavel… “I PRONOUNCE JUDGEMENT Satan, NOT you!” He then turns to Jesus…  “is your defense of the accused complete?”

“No your honor, My blood will now speak in the behalf of the accused. My wounds will verify the price has been paid. The stripes upon my back declare that restitution has been made. Though this soul has stood accused of sin, I present to the court that the penality for the sin has been paid in full. I have covered the debt against the accused and the proof of payment is my blood shed, applied to the accused. I now rest my case… we are at the grace of the court.”  and Jesus sits.

Silence falls.. the angels hush. The saints don’t even blink. The witnesses for the prosecution are bewildered. And Satan Jumps to his feet!! “WE DEMAND THE ACCUSE PAY FOR HIS DEBT!!” The Father slowly responds, “the debt has been paid in full. Those who choose to accept the blood of Jesus, the forgiveness of Christ given to the accused may step forward, exchange their offense for the blood and leave richer for having forgiven their offenses. Those who choose not to receive the blood of Jesus as payment for this souls sins against them are free to go, leaving with their offense, but this matter will not be retried in my court.” Court is adjurned.

SOOOO….  where are you gonna stand? will you allow the blood of Jesus to cover what Jesus himself says he will cover? Will you let the accused in your life walk away innocent, though proven guilty, cause that’s what we are you know. Innocent, though we were proven guilty. You. Me. Them, they and we. All of us together. Innocent, though proven guilty. Amazing isn’t it?

So have you been offended? Has your heart suffered at the hands and actions of another? Is your offense holding them in a jail cell, making them day in and day out within your mind wear the clothing of the guilty… are you clothing your thoughts of them in the orange jumpsuit of the guilty inmate, or in the red robes of Jesus blood and righteousness? When you think of them now, what color do they wear? We the offended, the wounded, the wronged, have a powerful part to play in the redemption of the guilty. Do we walk around with the whole “wrong me once shame on you, wrong me twice shame on me” attitude that says I’m never gonna let you hurt me this way again! Can I just whisper a secret in your ear…. [those aren't God's thoughts]…….  did ya catch that? I hope so. Because God’s heart is a little bit more on the “70×7″ way of thinking. And let me clue you in… you’ll never ever be offended by the same person 70×7 times because if you are the type to keep TRACK of just how many times that person has offended you …  I’m betting they will cut themselves out of your life because you are so unloving that you really won’t have to worry about them offending you anymore.

So let’s give each other the grace and the space to be changed! Let’s believe that God is absolutely able to change our offender without our involvement in monitoring their “redemptive” process. God’s probably got things under control but i’m sure if he needs a hand he’ll call you.

Okay. I’m done now. If I’ve offended you in anyway, please allow Jesus to change me and in the meantime, know I’m sorry.

I want to take a moment to say I’m really sorry I haven’t been updating this blog as often as I’d like to. Things just started getting crazy busy and I’m in a whirlwind somedays it seems. But enough about me…  Let’s pray!

Papa, first let me lift all my fellow photogs and myself to you. For some of us, this photog thing is all we do God, big or small, in studiio or not, we’re dependant upon the skills you’ve given us to help provide for our families, either in part or in whole. And we are grateful for the talent you’ve given, the skill we’ve achieved, the creativity that comes from you, and the success we’ve experienced by your grace. Because of your great mercy and love, we look now to you for our ultimate provision as well. Papa, times are rough and things are getting rougher, this you know fully. So tonight, I ask you to be our source and keep our hearts from fear. I know that photography is not a “life necessity” but one of those things that make living here a bit more enjoyable, so though we are not “necessary”, we are important.
Papa, many of us have been experiencing lower sales than our usual budgets require. Teach us to walk in faith, not to fear, not to waste. Show us creative ideas to be unique and offer clients something truely special, because it is their hard earned money we work for and they deserve the best! Help us be diligent and let nothing slip through the cracks. Help us with the ins and outs and day to day running of our businesses. And teach us that heavenly principle of giving… let us find creative ways to give back to the communities we live in, in whatever capacity you may lead us to do. And let us remember that in you the righteous never go hungry or are left wanting the essentials. May we pull our hearts and resources together and live out the heavenly kingdom here on earth, which is a kingdom of giving and receiving, not of buying and selling. Teach us the secrets you hold for those who give in faith.  Amen.

“My Beloved, my bride, how I long to share with you my heart. I strain my ear to listen for the sweet sound of your voice calling out to me, crying out to know the burdens of my heart. I long for you, my sweet one, to come and sit at my feet and learn from me where the true treasure is hidden. My Beloved, how often I have heard you cry out for your needs and the needs of those nearby, and I hearken my ear to the cry of your heart and I am moved by compassion for the needs you bring before me… but oh how I long to lavish on you the true treasure. You call out to me, bearing your soul, revealing your great need for my presence in your life, and your voice is sweet to me. Each word moving and stirring me to action on your behalf. Every prayer offered in faith, every tear shed in my presence unforgotten. I’m am moved by your heart. I am stirred by your passions…  but oh how I long to share with you the true treasure.

Beloved one, sweet one to my heart, come away with me. Come away to the hidden and lonely places and behold your inheritance. For stored away for you is wealth beyond measure. Rarest of all treasures I have reserved for you, if only you would but ask. Oh how long I’ve waited for you to ask of me for your inheritance. How many nights I’ve strained my ear to listen for your voice crying out for the true treasure, that I might pour out upon you MY WEALTH, from MY STOREHOUSE. Riches beyond measure await you, if only you’d ask me for your inheritance, for the true treasure.

My beautiful, my beloved, I beseech thee, look not into the mirror of thy own beauty, look into the reflection in my eyes. The mirror will only reflect you as you see yourself, and will only reveal to you your own needs. But look deep into my eyes and see your reflection there. For in my eyes you see what I see. You will see yourself as I see you, you will gain true vision, and you will gain true understanding. Then you will see the true treasure, then you will understand where your inheritance is hidden within my heart. For in me you will see the greatest value is the love I have for the soul. Then you will understand the treasure I long to share with you is MY treasure…  Ask of me and I will give you nations as an inheritance for you. Ask of me  and I will give you your city. Ask of me and I will give you your inheritance, living stones more precious than any amount of gold or silver.

Oh Beloved! I stand at the gate of your heart! I whisper your name softly to see if you will hearken to me. Will you come? Will you exchange your heart for mine. Will you look not to the mirror, but to my eyes? Let my brokenness for a people lost fill your heart. Share with me my tears for the broken places. You my beloved have everything for I am yours… oh let your heart break that I may soften it to receive a passion for the true treasure… the souls of the dying, the perishing, the lost. You who have such a sweet voice to me, oh let me hear you cry out for those in need!

Come! Come away with me, to the lonely places, that I might pour through you my love to the broken. See that they are your inheritance. The lost, the ravaged, the lonely and forgotten. These I hold dear. The broken, the bruised, the beaten and mistreated are of great value to me. Come! Come my beloved one!  Come let us gather the treasure! Weep with me, cry out with me, receive today my passion for the treasure! Let my consuming need for their redemption to the Father become YOUR consuming need. Oh share with me my passion! Share with me my intercession! Share with me my work. Ask of me, only ask, and I will give to you the nations as your inheritance. Ask of me and I will give to you your cities. Ask of me and I will give to you your families. Come oh beloved my bride, share my great passion. Receive my heart today.”

(the heart of Jesus overheard while waiting…)

Papa, I thank you that there is nothing uncommon under the sun, it’s all familiar to someone somewhere. So I know that if I’m feeling overwhelmed right now, I’m truely not alone. I know there are brothers and sisters in your love that this morning woke early cause they couldn’t sleep, their thoughts unceasing. But Papa, You gave us Jesus and then your Spirit to calm the winds that blow to make ways where there seem to be no ways…

So I come to you now saying I need a way to be opened. We all do Papa, needs doors of all sorta opened by your hand, and your hand alone so that we keep ourselves from thinking we are something that we are not!

Papa I’m too tired to even think right now…  bring rest..

Papa, I’m expecting that if you are pouring out blessing upon my business the way you are so abundantly pouring it out…  that a bunch of my friends whom I have lifted to you MUST be getting equally as blessed! Thank you… Thank you thank you thank you!!!

Now, Dear me oh my Papa God HELP US! Refine our workflows. Give us an abundance of funds for the new equipment we need just to keep up! SERIOUSLY PAPA… you’ve brought so much into the storehouse that it’s no longer able to hold all the blessing! HALLELUJAH!!! ENLARGE OUR STOREHOUSES!! In my case, new pc bigger memory! lol In some cases… Bigger studios. Others need assistants to keep up with it all. Bring it in Papa since you brought it on!

Cause our hearts to stretch out in faith and reach for the manifold blessing of God for our provision in all things! May we be found diligent, faithful and reliable with what you have given us Papa.  amen

Papa, I just gotta thank you for the blessing you’ve bestowed upon me and my business as I’ve labored in prayer for the blessing to be sent to my fellow photog-friends. You’ve poured out upon me in ways I don’t think I even had dreamed would come so soon or so fast when they did start to come. I just want to thank you Papa, with all that I am.

Now I lift up my sweet friends…  oh Papa that you would pour our blessing upon them is my heart tonight. Lift up the weary. Lift up the broken and the troubled. Supply all our needs. Papa, I definately know that I myself have maxed out my equipment, and if I have, so have others. I pray for the releasing of funds to my faithful friends and that you would open heaven’s doors so that their needs, both business and personal will be met. Father I pray for Big Ole Orders ~ the purple kind ~ to pour in so that we can purchase new computers, new studio lighting, sets, camera equipment of all kinds necessary, and for those ready to enter that blessed season of studio ownership, open up the right doors to get it done correctly, legally and with wisdom.

Papa, I especially lift up those that CONTINUALLY are giving of their time and talent and mostly their very hearts and lives to volunteer their abilities for the hurting like in NILMDTS. Bless them with the 10x extra blessing God. Give them money to not only fund their ministry to these services, but so that thier families would be blessed as well through your abundance being poured out on them. I lift right now Julie Williams…  a woman of your heart with your eyes Papa….  you know her very deepest need on a personal level Papa. I’m asking you to touch her and bring perfect health to her being. Touch her because she bears your Name Papa, and carries YOUR witness with her EVERYWHERE… so for the sake of YOUR NAME MIGHTY GOD, I ask you to meet all her deepest needs. She is yours and wears the mantle of love. So now let her wear the mantle of perfect healing and divine health. And while you are focused there on her now Papa, could you throw a little extra blessing on her for me? Thanks Papa… Amen

hello friends!

i just wanted to share with you that God is leading me to broaden the purpose of this little blog a bit. I still will be praying as always for all of you my business friends. But I’m also feeling that I need to be sharing some words overheard before the throne. I’m still figuring out how all this blog stuff works, so bare with me if things are a little jumbled. You can always use the category search to find the prayers till I find a better way. Thanks for bearing with me during this time.

Have a great morning.