And now... Pictures

I sometimes find myself thinking back on the people I've met over the years, the roads I've walked, and the emotions that rushed through me during it all.

I carry these places, these people with me. They have been burned into me.

These are some of my favorite pictures from those places.



I love this picture for many reasons. One is the depiction of family and closeness. Another is how the little girl is reaching out. The world cries out for a Savior, but blind themselves to Him.



One of the ministries we had while in India were the street children. I found it funny that they crawled all over and covered an American Icon. That's Ronald McDonald if you can't tell.



I love this picture because they are all looking to a different direction. There is a lot of uncertainty in this area of the world.



I love this picture for its vibrancy. The people are like these umbrellas... beautiful, delicate, yet strong. I don't know what to think of my trip to China. There is still so much I need to sort through.

The whole earth’s is the Lord’s and everything in it. Psalms 24:1

Christmas at my house was… interesting. A couple days before we decided to decorate the house with lights. If you are familiar with the Griswald Family movies you understand what I say when I tell you it was shear chaos. At one point in time my sister and I decided to take over only to nearly break the front windows with the ladder. If my big sister would have been there it would have been something straight out of the Three Stooges.

Yeah… it was magical.

I am currently working at an animal hospital where I work four ten-hour shifts. During this time I was forced to endure countless hours of the same Christmas songs over and over again. Some were very annoying; others like Jars of Clay’s “Drummer Boy” were inspiring. When I first heard this song a couple years ago, I broke down crying saying “Jesus I’ll play my drum for you.” But my all time favorite Christmas song is and forever will be “Mary did you Know”

Did she have any clue as to what was to become of her son? Did she grasp the light that finally pierced the darkness? How generations had waited for this day, and how so many today long for his return? Could she fathom the impact this infant would have on the course of history? How nations would come to worship him? Mary did you know?

The blind will see, the deaf will hear
The dead will live again
The lame will leap, the dumb will speak
The praises of the Lamb

To fear God is to know him. What other alternative is there? Who can say that they have been in the presence of God and not fallen prostrate? Who can say they have not marveled at the sight of his creations? HE is the one who created the heavens and the earth. The one who seared the sun in the sky, and causes the moon to graze the night. He molded man into being and breathed breath into his lungs. The God who caused torrents of water and fire to fall from the sky is the same God who reigns today. How can I not fear? I fear Him for who HE is, for what He has done, for what He can do. Compared to His majesty I am nothing. Compared to His might I can do nothing. And all of this leads to comfort.

I know of His wrath, I know of his might, I know he is a jealous God, but I also know of His great mercy. This great rock that will be unmoved, unshaken, and remain unbroken is the one who shields me, is the one who goes before me, is the one who loves me. How can I not love Him in return? This fear has lead to my comfort, and this comfort to my unyielding love. A love I pray will be strengthened this coming year.

Psalm 147
1 Praise the LORD.
How good it is to sing praises to our God,
how pleasant and fitting to praise him!
2 The LORD builds up Jerusalem;
he gathers the exiles of Israel.
3 He heals the brokenhearted
and binds up their wounds.
4 He determines the number of the stars
and calls them each by name.
5 Great is our Lord and mighty in power;
his understanding has no limit.
6 The LORD sustains the humble
but casts the wicked to the ground.
7 Sing to the LORD with thanksgiving;
make music to our God on the harp.
8 He covers the sky with clouds;
he supplies the earth with rain
and makes grass grow on the hills.
9 He provides food for the cattle
and for the young ravens when they call.
10 His pleasure is not in the strength of the horse,
nor his delight in the legs of a man;
11 the LORD delights in those who fear him,
who put their hope in his unfailing love.
12 Extol the LORD, O Jerusalem;
praise your God, O Zion,
13 for he strengthens the bars of your gates
and blesses your people within you.
14 He grants peace to your borders
and satisfies you with the finest of wheat.
15 He sends his command to the earth;
his word runs swiftly.
16 He spreads the snow like wool
and scatters the frost like ashes.
17 He hurls down his hail like pebbles.
Who can withstand his icy blast?
18 He sends his word and melts them;
he stirs up his breezes, and the waters flow.
19 He has revealed his word to Jacob,
his laws and decrees to Israel.
20 He has done this for no other nation;
they do not know his laws.
Praise the LORD.