"The Focal Point of All History and Life"

I took this photo during 2014 in Oxford while our family stayed a week there at Keble College (what a thrilling time that was!). This chapel inside the college was so, so beautiful and filled with such peace. It filled my heart with awe! I couldn't help looking up at that cross, with the beautiful stained glass images behind, and thinking of the truth of this Symbol - both of Shame and Glory, Suffering and Resurrection; the focal point of all history and life. How truly is the Cross of Jesus Christ the only hope for humanity! 

Gold Clouds (part 2)

This is what the sky was like in our neighborhood one evening a few weeks back, a fiery glow of gold, orange, yellow and pink and shades of blue as the sun sank behind the hill. It was soooooo beautiful! We were going back home from swimming that day and as I looked through the car window I saw the sky! You can imagine my reaction. Well, As soon as we reached our house, I rushed out of the car, ran to my bedroom and grabbed our camera and ran back outside to take dozens of shots... 

The beauty of His creation, the swirling clouds and the sunset, they gave me such a comforting sense of God's amazing love and goodness, that I am upheld by His hand and He knows and cares. I want to praise Him and thank Him for everything, including the sunshine and rain, because He is faithful in both, and his mercies and compassions endure forever. 

 

Through the LORD's mercies we are not consumed,
Because His compassions fail not.
They are new every morning;
Great is Your faithfulness.
"The LORD is my portion," says my soul,
Therefore I hope in Him!"

The LORD is good to those who wait for Him,
To the soul who seeks Him.
It is good that one should hope and wait quietly
For the salvation of the LORD."
Lamentations 3:22, 26

Gold Clouds (part 1)

A few weeks back, I saw this in the evening sky while coming out of our car by our home. I raced to the house, grabbed our camera (yes, the old one was the only one in sight), and snapped away at the sky!

"The heavens declare the glory of God;
And the firmament shows His handiwork." 

Psalm 19: 1

(P.S. more sunset photos coming!)

God's Word {Photo Challenge}

I'm entering a photo challenge hosted by Kelsey from  A Ray of Sunshine. The challenge is, in Kesley's own words, "Photo Edit. Use your creative abilities and add a lovely new look to a photo you love! Add both the before and after photos." So here is my entry challenge:

God's Word... my Light and Joy

Before.

After.

 (I edited this photo via Picasa Web Albums using the "Cross Process" and "Sepia" effect)

"Thy word is a lamp unto my feet, and a light unto my path."

 Psalm 119: 105 (KJV)

Cathedral Serial (Part 1)

Once, my family and I visited a beautiful building of the past, that speaks of vision, determination, beauty, perseverance, hard-work and amazing splendor. It was a beautiful Church cathedral with glass stained windows, a beautiful organ and... oh, I could go into many details, but I'll let the pictures speak for themselves. You see, we had the occasion to spend an afternoon there once, and I got to take photo shots with our new family camera. It was really special! Anyway, I'm going to make a serial post (I know I'm terrible at remembering to keep up with serials and the like, so it will be rather sporadic, I apologize), of the photo shots that were taken from that beautiful church. Enjoy!

The Cathedral from the outside...

While visiting this Cathedral, I came to reflect on many things... it is wonderful to know, that God doesn't only listen to us in beautiful, big buildings like these, but anywhere and everywhere. "Jesus saith unto her, Woman, believe me, the hour cometh, when ye shall neither in this mountain, nor yet at Jerusalem, worship the Father. Ye worship ye know not what: we know what we worship: for salvation is of the Jews. But the hour cometh, and now is, when the true worshippers shall worship the Father in spirit and in truth: for the Father seeketh such to worship him. God is a Spirit: and they that worship him must worship him in spirit and in truth." (John 4: 21-24 KJV)

There were other things I was blessed by through gazing at the beauty of the place... it took over a century to build (I can't recall exactly how long it took, but it certainly was built in more than in one life time!). The pillars and buildings are of stone, strong and sure. Imagine how much perseverance and vision it took from the men who built and designed it, the struggles and trials of building such a beautiful church! And now the church stands, beautiful and magnificent. What does that teach us, in our own personal lives? "And let us not be weary in well doing: for in due season we shall reap, if we faint not." (Galations 6:9 KJV)

Have a blessed day in Christ, dear sisters!

Blessing O' the Day

Verse:

"Come, and let us return to the LORD;
      For He has torn, but He will heal us; 
      He has stricken, but He will bind us up. 
       After two days He will revive us; 
      On the third day He will raise us up, 
      That we may live in His sight. 
        Let us know, 
      Let us pursue the knowledge of the LORD. 
      His going forth is established as the morning; 
      He will come to us like the rain, 
      Like the latter and former rain to the earth."

Hosea 6: 1-3

Spring!!!

While the rest of the world is turning into the chilly, icy weather of Autumn (fall), and eventually winter, I can't tell you how lovely it is to have it Spring here!!!!! Oh, it is still cold, windy and yesterday we had a really powerful rainfall, but Spring is in the air, and that just makes me want to sing! Thank you Lord, for everything so beautiful! I just want to praise you today!

I thought to share with you some of the beauties I've captured of Spring:

Be blessed in the Lord this day, and may you sing for joy in His unfailing love and faithfulness!

"Let everything that has breath praise the LORD. Praise the LORD!"

In His love,

~Joy