A Word A Week Challenge: Putting It All In Place

This week Sue has given us the word CONTEXT  to work with.

If you want to see how other authors have dealt with context go visit Sue at

http://suellewellyn2011.wordpress.com/2014/01/29/a-word-a-week-photograph-challenge-context/

Context is defined as- the circumstances that form the setting for an event, statement, or idea, and in terms of which it can be fully understood and assessed.

My daughter’s trip to Thailand for her senior internship was done in the context of her desire to spend a summer in Africa. The trip to Thailand was all but paid for though, so she took it never expecting to find God in the midst.

Determination, energy, and courage appear spontaneously when we care deeply about something. We take risks that are unimaginable in any other context. Margaret J. Wheatley

Determination, energy, and courage appear spontaneously when we care deeply about something. We take risks that are unimaginable in any other context.
Margaret J. Wheatley

She did find God though. In that place on the other side of the world from where she thought she would go, God  gave  her over to discoveries that filled her with passion and courage to try new things.

Nothing which is true or beautiful or good makes complete sense in any immediate context of history; therefore we must be saved by faith. Reinhold Niebuhr

Nothing which is true or beautiful or good makes complete sense in any immediate context of history; therefore we must be saved by faith.
Reinhold Niebuhr

On the surface she couldn’t make sense of what God was doing or how this series of events worked toward His plan. It may not have been Africa but she still got to ride elephants. She also got to do many of the other things she thought she would be doing in Africa.

In the end location or specific situation may not make much difference to God’s plan for our lives. These things may affect how the plan is carried out but they won’t change the plan. God is the larger context in which we live. Trust Him.

Have you ever been in a situation that seemed to go against what you thought God wanted to do in your life only to discover it was part of His plan all along? Tell me about it!

Then check out the video on this sight. Context is key!

http://steve-says.net/2014/02/01/you-put-your-context-in-your-context-out-in-out-in-out-shake-it-all-about/

Memories Of Who I Am

This week’s photo challenge from the Daily Post is the word OBJECT. 

I honestly feel a little strange about the object I chose but let me explain…

LillieThis is the grave of my great-great grandfather, the first Joseph Elon Lillie. He was born in 1847 in Erving MA. I have visited it from time to time throughout the course of my life; But I took this picture at a time when I felt I was losing touch with who I really was…why I mattered. Standing beside my namesake’s  grave and remembering the Christian heritage that made up the tapestry of my life drew me back to the reality that I  was made for a purpose.

Take a gander at the significant objects of the Daily Post’s other contributors here:

http://dailypost.wordpress.com/2014/01/31/photo-challenge-object/

http://pixeliciousimagery.wordpress.com/2014/01/31/weekly-photo-challenge-object/

http://apetcher.wordpress.com/2014/02/01/weekly-photo-challenge-object/#respond

http://ceenphotography.com/2014/01/31/weekly-photo-challenge-object/

http://windagainstcurrent.com/2014/01/31/weekly-photo-challenge-object/

Life’s Little Contradictions

This week’s challenge from the daily post is JUXTAPOSITION. 

Life is a constant tension don’t you think? Maybe it comes from the fall of man in the beginning; But maybe it is just the way God made things to work. Perhaps the constant pulling of opposites upon one another in the world is what creates balance.

Could it be that eternity pulls on time to create sabbath?

Maybe Man’s free will poses side by side with the sovereignty of God to manifest true consecration.

Perhaps the everyday pushes up against the outlandish to give us diversity.

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Maybe the serious connects to the silly to grant us the gift of laughter.

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And it just might be that rest and rush are often found side by side to remind us that life’s choices always lie before us. It is our duty to embrace and rule them rather than be ruled by them; So today take a moment to stop your running. Set aside the stress and just listen for a bit to life’s music!

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to see more juxtapositions go to

http://dailypost.wordpress.com/2014/01/24/photo-challenge-juxtaposition/

Waiting For What?

This weeks challenge from “A Word in Your Ear” is WAITING.  There are some great waiting photographs and maybe a few waiting poems as well at

http://suellewellyn2011.wordpress.com/2014/01/15/a-word-a-week-photograph-challenge-waiting/

Here is what I have to say about wiating….

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“Patience is power.
Patience is not an absence of action;
rather it is “timing”
it waits on the right time to act,
for the right principles
and in the right way.” 
― Fulton J. Sheen

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“Men trust God by risking rejection. Women trust God by waiting.” 
― Carolyn McCulley

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They that wait on the Lord shall renew their strength… Isaiah 40:31

Cee’s Fun Foto Challenge: Man-Made Items

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Hello All,

I am trying this year (as in resolving) to spend a little bit more time each week working on my creative gifts. 2013 was a year of establishing foundations for new ministry. In 2014 I hope to work at placing ministers within the infrastructures I helped to create so that I don’t have to do quite so much of the day to day work. My hope is that will free up some time so that I might dabble my way back into the artistic process I love so much.

Check out some other dabblers with me at Cee’s Fun Foto Stop

http://ceenphotography.com/2014/01/14/cees-fun-foto-challenge-man-made-items/

Here are my dabblations for the week!

The cities of men- Delft The Netherlands

The cities of men- Delft The Netherlands

 

The creations of men

The creations of men

The food of men

The food of men

 

 

 

Cee’s Fun Foto Challenge: Preoccupied

cees-fun-foto

I haven’t done a Fun Foto Challenge in a while….It’s a whole new year and I am trying to take back the time that I have given away to other things in recent months. This week we the challenge is to depict the theme Preoccupied. 

The definition of being preoccupied according to Webster’s On-line Dictionary is- to be lost in thought; absorbed in some preoccupation (a state in which you give all your attention to something)

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Discipline means to prevent everything in your life from being filled up. Discipline means that somewhere you’re not occupied, and certainly not preoccupied. In the spiritual life, discipline means to create that space in which something can happen that you hadn’t planned or counted on.

Henri Nouwen

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A lot of people seem to get preoccupied with what I’m wearing as opposed to the music.

Sheryl Crow

Our focus cannot be everywhere. We are finite beings. It’s O.K. to become preoccupied with something. We just need to make sure it’s the right something.

J.E. Lillie

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I hope you enjoy the song.


Weekly Travel Theme: Illuminated

Ailsa has given us the travel theme ILLUMINATED. Please check out Ailsa’s photos and those of her commentators this week at             http://wheresmybackpack.com/2014/01/10/travel-theme-illuminated/

Here is what I came up with:

“Look at how a single candle can both defy and define the darkness.”  ― Anne Frank

Old Orchard Beach ME                                                                                                                                                                                                                            “Look at how a single candle can both defy and define the darkness.”
― Anne Frank

Boston Art Museum “We are like the moon. The moon shines anyway, but it does not produce its own light. It reflects the light illuminated onto its surface by the Sun and is never proud to say "I am the source of light". God shines through us, hence He deserves the glory; not us.”  ― Israelmore Ayivor

Boston Art Museum
“We are like the moon. The moon shines anyway, but it does not produce its own light. It reflects the light illuminated onto its surface by the Sun and is never proud to say “I am the source of light”. God shines through us, hence He deserves the glory; not us.”
― Israelmore Ayivor

A Word A Week Photography Challenge: Gap

I haven’t had time to play much with photography of late but I wanted to throw up a few photos I have been working on.  Sue’s  word a week challenge  gave me just the opportunity I needed.

Check out her other subscriber’s work at http://suellewellyn2011.wordpress.com/2013/12/31/a-word-a-week-photograph-challenge-gap/

Here are some photos using the word: GAP

The Way to the Sea

The Way to the Sea

Illusion is an anodyne, bred by the gap between wish and reality.

Herman Wouk
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And I sought for a man among them, that should make up the hedge, and stand in the gap before me for the land, … Ezek. 22:30 KJV