Beaches

Needless to say, if you look at my last post date, it's been a while! My apologies if you've been looking for posts here within the last few months. It's been a little crazy.

Here is a quick rundown:

1. My laptop busted & I lost all my photography. (Jan/Feb)
2. Went to the Oregon Coast (March)
3. Visited Providence Christian College in California (April)
4. Went crazy doing graduation & senior photos (May)

 ....And now that it's nearing the end of May, I am done with trips for a while, recently completed the senior photo rush, have a new laptop, and a good friend of mine rescued the hard drive of my old computer, so now I have all of my photos back!

Now, on to the real post....

Tip: Try never to forget a tripod when you're going to photograph in low lighting, but if you do (like I did in the above pictures!) Look for posts, boulders, ect, to stabilize your camera on.

It is amazing to me how the view of the same ocean can be so different depending on where you are at. In the above photos, the two to your left were taken at a California beach and the two to your right were taken on the coast of Oregon. One is vibrant and filled with blazing lights and color, the other has more muted, natural earth & sea hues. One beach is bustling with people, while the other is comparatively desolate. Yet, the two coastal areas still gorgeous in their own ways and both look out at the same Pacific Ocean.

Life can be like that too. One season of life may be lonely, while a few years later the same person's life may be teaming with friends and family members. One day could be wild and busy, the next could be extremely relaxing. It's the same life, but very different circumstances. 

No life could be a better example of different views than Paul the Apostle. While some life changes may come gradually, God saw fit to flip his to it's polar opposite in a matter of minutes! Acts 9 says:

Meanwhile, Saul was still breathing out murderous threats against the Lord’s disciples. He went to the high priest and asked him for letters to the synagogues in Damascus, so that if he found any there who belonged to the Way, whether men or women, he might take them as prisoners to Jerusalem. As he neared Damascus on his journey, suddenly a light from heaven flashed around him. He fell to the ground and heard a voice say to him, “Saul, Saul, why do you persecute me?”

“Who are you, Lord?” Saul asked.
“I am Jesus, whom you are persecuting,” he replied. “Now get up and go into the city, and you will be told what you must do.”

One moment he was plotting to persecute God's people, the next, he is on the ground before God, being given a new life mission. Later in his life, the Lord gave Paul these words to share with his fellow believers in Christ:

 "I know what it is to be in need, and I know what it is to have plenty. I have learned the secret of being content in any and every situation, whether well fed or hungry, whether living in plenty or in
want.  I can do all this through him who gives me strength."   (Phil. 4:12-13)

Whatever our life changes are, always know that they are sent by God, and that when we rely on Him, He gives us the power to be content where ever He has placed us. 

Bolder Than Mystery Inc!

Tip: Get a remote shutter-release for your camera; makes it SO much easier to get group photos with you in them! They run around $13 on Amazon.com, last I checked.


Ever seen that show, "Scooby-Doo" or any of it's movies? Somewhere along the lines, there would always be a scene where the whole gang of teens that make up Mystery Inc. are running down some long pathway or corridor to escape a monster. Don't you wish you could do that with life's "monsters"? Just run away from problems? Sounds pretty good to me. The fact is, that's not an option. We will always be faced with some "monster", and we will have to work our way past it.

Each character of the foursome (or five, if you include their dog, Scooby), has their own reaction to monsters.

Fred: Always plays macho; denies that monsters even exist.

Velma: Takes the logical approach; researches the monster, learns it's weakness, and attempts to find a way to defeat or unmask it.

Shaggy (and Scooby): Acknowledges that there are definitely monsters, and when one appears, freaks out and runs away screaming louder than anyone.

Daphne: Often takes Fred's approach in denying the existence of monsters; when one appears, she attempts to escape it, but ends up getting caught and has to be rescued by others.

Compare these reactions to yourself- which are you most similar to? I often find myself like Daphne- getting totally caught up in life's problems and often having to be pulled away from them by the people God has placed around me. Out of all of these, you're probably the best off if you are like Velma, but what does the Bible have to say about fear? Rely on the Lord.

Be strong and courageous. Do not be afraid or terrified because of them, for the Lord your God goes with you; he will never leave you nor forsake you. (Deuteronomy 31:6) 


So we say with confidence, "The Lord is my helper; I will not be afraid. What can Man do to me?" (Hebrews 13:6)