I sit here, at someone else's kitchen table, weeping. I am housesitting and I always seem to find the Lord a little closer when I'm here. Life is slightly put on hold, just me and the 3 dogs. It is snowing outside, my cup of coffee sits beside me.
As I prepare to move to Moldova, I struggle to know the big picture. What is His purpose for me? To love the girls, yes. To train the missionaries to be able to use their printing press, yes. To give of myself, yes.
But... still, I struggle to know the BIG picture. As I've researched trafficking, my heart has swelled with the horror these girls face, and the NEED my soul has to tell their story. I know that is a big part of God's purpose in getting me involved. In giving me a job I never sought, working at a newspaper for 7 years, being PAID to learn graphic design. His purpose in giving me a role much bigger than myself as an 18 year old, leading teenagers across the state as part of the 5-person state 4-H Officer team... my title - Montana State 4-H Publicity Officer. Both were a part of my life, a part of His plan, before I was even saved.
This morning, I found this video on a Montana Photographers Group. And that is why I sit here weeping. This is it. My purpose. To advocate for a cure for cancer? No. To tell the story of Moldova. Beautifully. Simply. The style of the first 2 minutes of this video is powerful.
This morning, I prayed with arms outstretched that the Lord would take the talents He gave me, and use every last drop of them for His purpose. I prayed that He would guide my hands and my thoughts to create the story that will touch people's hearts to pray for Moldova; to give financially to the work that the Lord is doing there to bring Christ to these who have no other hope in this world.
Friday, May 25, 2012
Tuesday, May 15, 2012
Project M: Bee, my Buddy
Love, love {LOVE!} laying in the grass for macro shots! I am so glad to finally be forcing myself to shoot manual.
50 mm lens, Manual
Left: f/2.2, ISO 400, 1/2000 sec.
Right: f/4, ISO 200, 1/1250 sec.
(in the large file, you can see an ant right in front of the bee's face. Awesome!)
I believe that God and I have the same delight for tiny details. Its all important and beautiful.
I recently purchased 2 exteeeeeensive sets of Florabella actions, to help speed up my post production workflow. I can tell already that they were an excellent investment, and there's a very large online community of Florabella users who share their different uses of the actions. Classic Film below, 10 seconds max.
50 mm lens, Manual
Left: f/2.2, ISO 400, 1/2000 sec.
Right: f/4, ISO 200, 1/1250 sec.
(in the large file, you can see an ant right in front of the bee's face. Awesome!)
I believe that God and I have the same delight for tiny details. Its all important and beautiful.
I recently purchased 2 exteeeeeensive sets of Florabella actions, to help speed up my post production workflow. I can tell already that they were an excellent investment, and there's a very large online community of Florabella users who share their different uses of the actions. Classic Film below, 10 seconds max.
Tuesday, May 8, 2012
Sponges
I teach Sunday School to 2 & 3 year olds.
I teach AWANA to Cubbies, 3-4-5 year olds.
Occasionally I wonder if it makes any difference. Are they picking anything up at all?
I adore these little sweet peas, but is God accomplishing anything more through me than simply corraling them for an hour or two? We tell them about Jesus and God, but do they remember?
Yes. They do.
I met the big sister of one of my "non-church" Cubbies the other night. She's a bit of a rebel teen, a.k.a. NORMAL. I asked her if she was K's sister, and told her I taught him in Cubbies and that I just loved him. She told me that yes, that is her little brother. "He loves Cubbies. Its his favorite thing. He talks about it non-stop and is waiting for the summer break to be over."
"The other day, in the car, my mom said she was allergic to something. K spoke up from the back seat and said.... I'm not allergic to anything! And that's okay, because that is exactly how God made me."
Once, when she (big sister) was sick, K told his mom "She will get better. I will pray for her."
Without Cubbies, K wouldn't know about prayer. K wouldn't know that God created him EXACTLY as He wanted to. K wouldn't know that God created him to need those adorable glasses.
I don't know how little K will grow up. But, I do know that seeds have been planted, and God has given me the gift of being able to see that some have fallen on good ground. May they take root and GROW! GROW! GROW!
I teach AWANA to Cubbies, 3-4-5 year olds.
Occasionally I wonder if it makes any difference. Are they picking anything up at all?
I adore these little sweet peas, but is God accomplishing anything more through me than simply corraling them for an hour or two? We tell them about Jesus and God, but do they remember?
Yes. They do.
I met the big sister of one of my "non-church" Cubbies the other night. She's a bit of a rebel teen, a.k.a. NORMAL. I asked her if she was K's sister, and told her I taught him in Cubbies and that I just loved him. She told me that yes, that is her little brother. "He loves Cubbies. Its his favorite thing. He talks about it non-stop and is waiting for the summer break to be over."
"The other day, in the car, my mom said she was allergic to something. K spoke up from the back seat and said.... I'm not allergic to anything! And that's okay, because that is exactly how God made me."
Once, when she (big sister) was sick, K told his mom "She will get better. I will pray for her."
Without Cubbies, K wouldn't know about prayer. K wouldn't know that God created him EXACTLY as He wanted to. K wouldn't know that God created him to need those adorable glasses.
I don't know how little K will grow up. But, I do know that seeds have been planted, and God has given me the gift of being able to see that some have fallen on good ground. May they take root and GROW! GROW! GROW!
Friday, May 4, 2012
It's the little things.
So, a story...
Yesterday, leaving work, I spotted some garbage on the dental clinic lawn. A still, small voice {a.k.a. God} said "Go pick that up Anna." Unlike what the rest of you would have done, I ignored it and got in my car... thinking only of getting home and eating a cookie.
I sat there for a moment and then sighed. "How hard is it to pick up a few pieces of garbage? Don't be so stinkin' lazy ANNA!" (Yes, I talk to myself like this. And you don't?)
Under one of those garbage pieces, I found a really dirty $10. HA! Isn't God awesome? :-) If I will only do what He asks me to, He will take care of me. He will even treat Kendra and I to a $9.85 adventure at Dairy Queen.
Yesterday, leaving work, I spotted some garbage on the dental clinic lawn. A still, small voice {a.k.a. God} said "Go pick that up Anna." Unlike what the rest of you would have done, I ignored it and got in my car... thinking only of getting home and eating a cookie.
I sat there for a moment and then sighed. "How hard is it to pick up a few pieces of garbage? Don't be so stinkin' lazy ANNA!" (Yes, I talk to myself like this. And you don't?)
Under one of those garbage pieces, I found a really dirty $10. HA! Isn't God awesome? :-) If I will only do what He asks me to, He will take care of me. He will even treat Kendra and I to a $9.85 adventure at Dairy Queen.
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