Hands-On Fun for I Heart Faces

This week's theme at I Heart Faces is "Hands-On Fun"
I have been working on a "details" photo for Soar and happened to take this photo today.
I just LOVE what it says about Molly.
Notice the worn out nail polish and ink between her fingers on her left hand.
My baby LOVES to color and she LOVES nail polish.
She asks for "pretty nails" all the time.
And as soon as one chips, she tells me its broken.
(It's only been a week since my mom painted her nails.)

Reflection on a Worship Wednesday

About a month ago, the girls and I got together to take some pictures and worship God.
It had been a foggy week around here so the dew was heavy.
(Walking across the fields meant getting wet pant legs.)

We went to a particular field to photograph the beautiful oak trees there, but what caught my eye (and how God spoke to my heart that day) was the dew.

As the dew reflected the sun, it sparkled like hundreds of diamonds, like stars shining in the universe.
And God spoke to my heart.

That's what its like when you reflect my glory

And we, who with unveiled faces all reflect the Lord's glory, are being transformed into his 

likeness with ever-increasing glory, which comes from the Lord, who is the Spirit. 

2 Cor 3:18

Lord, I want to reflect your glory more!

Later that week, this was brought back to me again by an episode of 3-2-1 penguins.
(Gotta love those kid's shows!)
This was the verse that the episode was teaching:

Do everything without complaining or arguing, so that you may become blameless and pure, 

children of God without fault in a crooked and depraved generation, 

in which you shine like stars in the universe. 

Philippians 2: 14-15

Let's shine like stars in the universe!

Check out more posts from Through the Lens of Worship or add your own post here 

Doing the Deeper Work on a worship Wednesday

For Soar, our first photography exercise was about capturing the essence of ourselves - where we are now.
We had to capture two images
One of ourself and the other of an obect that represents who we are.

Wow was this difficult, but rewarding all at the same time.
It was difficult to put all of that into one image.
And I didn't anticipate it becoming such a time of worship for me, but it did.
To help me, I followed MeRa's example and wrote 3 I am statements

I am tired and worn down - running on empty

I am leaning on my only source of strength - Christ

Though many things may try to tear me down and get in my way, I will stand strong in Christ.

I am standing on the promises of Isaiah 40:28-31:

Have you never heard? Have you never understood?

The Lord is the everlasting God, the Creator of all the earth.

He never grows weak or weary.

No one can measure the depths of his understanding.

He gives power to the weak and strength to the powerless.

Even youths will become weak and tired, and young men will fall in exhaustion.

But those who trust in the Lord will find new strength.

They will soar high on wings like eagles.

They will run and not grow weary. They will walk and not faint.

Here are my images...

The day I was out taking these I couldn't stop singing this song:

With mercy You've shown me Your unfailing love

Your holiness purges my sin

Your blood has redeemed me, I'm washed in Your grace

With patience You cleanse me within

Make me like You - Take the pieces of my life and make it new

Make me like You - Make me wholly completely brand new

To love the unloved ones To count all but loss

I'll take up my cross for You

To picture You broken To see You as King

For You anything I will do

Make me like You - Take the pieces of my life and make it new

Make me like You - Make me wholly completely brand new

(Make Me Like You by Mike Busbee)

I Heart Kisses for I Heart Faces

This week the theme at I Heart Faces is I Heart Kisses.
It was really hard to pick my favorite picture this time.
But I settled on this one because I think it fits the title I Heart Kisses the best.

Worship Wednesday

Today is the launch of Through the Lens of Worship.

I had initially intended to launch it right here on Exposing Grace, but the more I thought about it, the more I realized I should just start it off on its own.

So go here to post your link in the Mr. Linky.

Wednesdays are going to be focused on worship around here from now on.

Here is my personal worship experience to share for the first week of Through the Lens of Worship...

Remember this tree?

Or maybe you remember it better like this?

Well this is what it looks like now.

When I first heard they had burned it down I was so sad.
I loved that old tree.
But as I pondered it some more, I was reminded of Matthew Chapter 6.
Here is a little of what it says...

"Do not store up for yourselves treasures on earth, where moth and rust destroy, and where thieves break in and steal. But store up for yourselves treasures in heaven, where moth and rust do not destroy, and where thieves do not break in and steal. For where your treasure is, there your heart will be also...
But seek first his kingdom and his righteousness, and all these things will be given to you as well. Therefore do not worry about tomorrow, for tomorrow will worry about itself. Each day has enough trouble of its own."

That tree has been standing, lifeless in the same place since we moved to Hanford.
I don't know how long it has been dead, but I've never seen life on it.
And as beautiful as I thougth it was, there was nothing heavenly about it. It was death.

And now it is nothing more than a pile of firewood.

"Store up treasures in heaven where moth and rust (and fire) do NOT destroy."
What are you storing up?