“And he withdrew from them about a stone’s throw, and knelt down and prayed, saying, “Father, if you are willing, remove this cup from me. Nevertheless, not my will, but yours, be done.””
(Luke 22:41-42 ESV ~ emphasis mine)

Many times I pray short prayers; prayers for family or friends. I pray throughout the day; I really do not have a specific time for prayer. However, if there is something really on my heart, and I need to let go of a certain situation, I pull out my little prayer book.

What I have noticed that when I write down my prayers, my focus changes. It is not so much that I want to change God’s mind over a situation, but He changes mine. Read again what Jesus said in the garden of Gethsemane…”not my will, but yours”…

Isn’t that what prayer really is? To align with God’s will? I know that I need to sometimes spell it out (thus my prayer book). I need to be reminded that He is in control. I am thankful for those times when things become a little clearer to me through prayer. So, this week I am thankful for the power of prayer.

Search me, O God, and know my heart!
Try me and know my thoughts!
And see if there be any grievous way in me,
and lead me in the way everlasting!
(Psalm 139:23-24 ESV)

What are your thankful for this week? Please do share with us by leaving your link to your Thankful Thursday post below.

Thank you for stopping by today; remember: through prayer your vision becomes clearer.

Love & peace,
Iris

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“For the Lamb in the midst of the throne will be their shepherd, and he will guide them to springs of living water, and God will wipe away every tear from their eyes.”
~ Revelation 7:17 (ESV)

On Sunday afternoon my husband and I went out to take some photographs. Since we just went ‘down-town’, I did not take any water. We are usually taking each a bottle of water, but I totally forgot since I figured we would not be gone for a long time.

Not taking water was a huge mistake! Soon after getting out of the air-conditioned truck, I started pouring water (aka sweat). After 20 minutes my shirt was soaked. We ended up buying one bottle of water, but apparently it was not enough. Sunday night I could not go to sleep; I was so thirsty. I kept getting up to drink water. On Monday, both my husband and I felt horrible. Our bodies were dehydrated, and it took all day Monday to get hydrated.

This experience reminded me of the Word; how we sometimes don’t get refreshed through God’s Word. If we neglect to read at least a little each day, soon we feel horrible. We are tired, exhausted, and frustrated. But if we stay close to the Living Water, our days go better (even during stress times).

So this week, I am thankful for water; for physical water to hydrate the body properly and the Living Water that fills our souls.

What are you thankful for this week? Please do share with us by leaving a link to your Thankful Thursday post below.

Thank you for stopping by today. Remember: never forget to give your body and soul water on a daily basis.

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Its a long story and hopefully I will have the time soon to share with you all. In the meantime, check out the book available at Blurb.com

Thanks for stopping by. Remember: God works in His timing, not ours.

Current Mood: Blessed † & Happy

Wow – I can not believe that I am blogging since 2005. What a ride it has been – ups and downs that’s for sure – First off, I want to thank my loyal readers. You have stuck with me through the full and not-so-full years. Thank you from the bottom of my heart. I wanted to do something special for my big 5th bloggy-versary…

…so I am holding a contest, which I had mentioned in my last post (still open for comments until midnight, March 26th).  I rambled for months about a photography book I am planning on self-publishing. The tentative date is set for May 20th, 2010. Thanks to Jill Carter at Crossway, I have the official permission to use ESV Scripture passages.

Although I have the cover designed, I need your help with the main title of the book. Leave you suggestion using MckLinky. The contest will be open until April 16th midnight AZ Time with the winner/winning title announced on April 17th. The prize? The winner will receive a hard-cover book of my first-ever published photography book (value at $35).

I am really giddy about this book. Thank you so much for stopping by today. Remember: you too can dream big when you give your dreams to Him…

Current Mood: Blessed † & Playful

There is so much going on in my head that I have a hard time putting my thoughts into words (like I ever can put my thoughts into words – ha)…But I have to write it out somewhere .

Several weeks ago, my dear friend Lynn gave me the following verse from Psalms:

“Delight yourself in the Lord, and he will give you the desires of your heart.” ~ Psalm 37:4 (ESV)

Oh, I so delight myself in the Lord and His Word. There is so much beauty around us but we too often don’t take notice of it. We rush through life without stopping and seeing. I have been seeing the world through my lens for the past 2 years… Not only the immediate surroundings, but also when I watch movies, I see everything in frames (don’t ask).

Well, my friend Lori reviewed a book about photography and Scripture…I had thought about self-publishing a book like this for almost a year now. I wanted to combine scrapping and my photography. But why not use my photos in ‘just’ a book by itself. As I was reading Lori’s review, clicked on the link to see the book…I thought: I can do this. Sure, I am not a photographer like Lori Nordstorm, David DuChemin, or my husband, but I think I have some decent photos in my collection…

Tonight I took a plunge; I contacted ESV to see what I need to do in order to use their Scripture passages in a self-published photo-book through “Blurb“. We will see what they come back with …I really don’t want to make a huge profit of the book, but want to share my photos to encourage others to see the glory of His creation.

(told you I am rambling tonight – )…There might be something else in the works regarding my photography, which I am very excited about. I have to thank Debbie from Heart Choices about that. I will share with you when and if this comes to a conclusion.

Thanks for listening/reading my ramblings. Remember: You can’t realize your dreams if you don’t step out in faith…

Current Mood: Happy & Blessed †

“Trust in the Lord with all your heart,
and do not lean on your own understanding.”
~ Proverbs 3:5 (ESV)

Well, it has been a little rocky start of the new year at work, but I trust that it will get better over the next couple of weeks…

At any rate, here are the two winners of the set of bookmarks…Heather and Mary Lou

Congratulations, Ladies. I will email you to get your snail-mail address

Saturday I will be back to announce the winner of the books by Max Lucado. You still have time to get your name into the drawing (stop by this post)– I will close comments tomorrow night, January 8th.

Thanks for stopping in…Remember — don’t lean on your own understanding, trust the Lord…

Current Mood: Playful

Many passages I know, but I really want to reflect on them over the next 31 days. Care to join?

Thank you for stopping by today. Be blessed today and always…

Current Mood: Happy

I know, I haven’t shared my progress on my Faithbook project. I thought to share my “N” page with you…Let me know what you think.

Now I am getting into the ‘hard’ letters (although “T” is already done). You see, I have to ‘feel’ the page — the photo, the color scheme, etc. I do have a gazillion photos, but the photo really needs to go with the Scripture passage – KWIM?

The materials I used for this particular page are by Galiscrap available at Digital Crea; the font is ‘Parade’ and the photo (of course) is by me.

I do hope that I can finish the Faithbook within the next couple of weeks so I can have it printed before Christmas….

Thanks for stopping by today. Have a blessed weekend…

Current Mood: Okay

“But you are a chosen race, a royal priesthood, a holy nation, a people for his own possession, that you may proclaim the excellencies of him who called you out of darkness into his marvelous light. Once you were not a people, but now you are God’s people; once you had not received mercy, but now you have received mercy.
~ 1 Peter 2:9-10 (ESV emphasis mine)

Over the last couple of weeks I reflected about relationships…My relationship with my Lord and Savior, with family and friends. The one thing that became clear is that if you speak out, share your heart, be honest with each other, things can be resolved…

So this week, my focus is on relationships…

• Thank You Lord that I can share my heart with You. No matter what happens in my life, You always find a way to comfort me…
• I am thankful for the relationship I have with my beloved. Although we sometimes do not agree on all things, I can talk with him about everything. I am thankful that he listens to me and I have an ear for his concerns. I think that makes our marriage work…
• I am thankful that I have a good relationship with our son. Although we don’t see him often, we do talk on the phone often. I guess we did something right …
• I am thankful for the relationships I have with some gals across the country. Although I have not been on the ‘net’ the past couple of weeks too often, I know that I can count on them when I am in need…
• I am thankful for the relationship I have with my mom. Although 6,000 miles away, we have still a strong friendship…
• And I am thankful for the relationships that are not friendships, but that help me grow and stand firm in what I believe in. I think that our Lord puts some people in our lives to make us stronger – stronger in faith and reliance on Him (does that make sense?

What are you thankful for this week? Please do share with us. I want to thank all 113 women who participated last week – God is so AWESOME bringing us together here on the ‘net’. Just imagine all the people that are searching for hope and come across your blog. God is using you ladies to reach out to the hopeless …

Thank you for stopping by today…remember – YOU are HIS people – made holy through your relationship with Christ Jesus…

1. Stacy 2. Tammy 3. Melanie 4. the cookntchermom 5. Felicity 6. Tracy @ Seed Thoughts 7. Cheryl@Hope 8. Denise 9. Gina’s Public Diary 10. flmom 11. Ann/mom2HandH 12. Peggy@3Ms…aMazingGrace 13. Angie 14. Paula @ Refined By Him 15. toknowhim 16. Kathy 17. Tracy @ Thirsty for Him 18. SharonB 19. BP @ Raindrops & Rainbows 20. Karen – Thankful for God’s Work in My Life 21. Millie 22. Susan @ Forever His 23. Lynn (Spiritually Unequal Marriage) 24. Willnette 25. Serendipity Park 26. Twinkle Mom 27. Colleen 28. Beth@The Accidental Pharisee 29. Mamasmurf (Chrissy) 30. Nancie 31. Pia @ My Life’s Journey 32. ari_1965 33. sharon 34. Lisa@blessedwithgrace 35. Kristi @ Kikis Corner 36. Janera – My Garden Hat 37. Colored Heart 38. Miriam Pauline 39. candyQ

40. Kim aka GoofyMamma(hubby) 41. Tere {Blessings in Life} 42. Liza’s Eyeview 43. Renee @ In Christ Alone 44. Linda 45. sherry 46. Beverly (by Grace) 47. Heather @ Not a DIY Life 48. Aisha @ The Holley Herald 49. Nichole (Heart 4 My Home) 50. Heather@mommymonk 51. Beth/Mom2TwoVikings 52. Mary 53. Dawn’s Daily Life 54. Sarah @ Burgeon 55. Darlene 56. Peculiar 57. Laurie Ann 58. Mommy Magee 59. Prairie Chick 60. Bright Sunshiny Day! 61. Mary 62. Erica 63. Kim @ Scattered Stones 64. Chelsey at Joyfully Living 65. Bird Poop & Relationships 66. genny 67. in the masters hands 68. Kim @ cowhumor 69. Katy Lin 70. Tania 71. Nancy @ Homemade Blessings 72. Tiffany @ The Faery Inn 73. Carrie – Oak Rise Cottage 74. Susan (A Happy Heart at Home) 75. It’s All About Him! 76. Lea 77. Lalaine@Day to Day Miracles 78. Rosheeda

79. Tami @ The Next Step 80. LaDonna 81. Tracey @ Cheese and Whine 82. Susanne 83. Nichole @ A Call to Higher Places 84. Linda aka Yellowroseli 85. Tara @ Feels like home 86. Irene *The GreenGreek* 87. Julie 88. Cara Lynn 89. Michele 90. Rabia 91. Pat 92. Tea with Tiffany 93. Donetta at a life uncommon 94. Dorothy Bowen Klass 95. Amanda Bowers 96. Kim @ An Artful Life 97. Chandy @ Out Standing in My Field 98. bvoylesal@aol.com 99. Cheryl 100. Janet @ Daily Provision 101. Nessa @ Ramblings of a TX Housewife 102. alihsee 103. HisFireFly 104. godschild 105. Edie 106. In Light of the Truth 107. Rocks 108. Abby 109. Heather 110. Tessa @ Jesus-Filled Hope 111. Bella Mama 112. Stacy 113. Laurie @ womentakingastand 114. Trish @ Venturesome Sojourners 115. Jen–Scraps & Snippets

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