give us grace to love rightly

These are some thumbnails of images that I've been working on and that are inspiring me to explore the beauty of detail through my camera unfocused.

¹ As for you, you were dead in your transgressions and sins, ² in which you used to live when you followed the ways of this world and of the ruler of the kingdom of the air, the spirit who is now at work in those who are disobedient. ³ All of us also lived among them at one time, gratifying the cravings of our flesh^a]">[a] and following its desires and thoughts. Like the rest, we were by nature deserving of wrath. ⁴ But because of his great love for us, God, who is rich in mercy, ⁵ made us alive with Christ even when we were dead in transgressions—it is by grace you have been saved.

-Eph 2:1-5-

Leah McEachern Photography

Lately, my imagination has gotten the best of me. I can't help but wonder what it will be like in a place outside of my little nook in Waco. However, I am assured that there is a perfect purpose for me so well knit when I see how delicately the earth is put together. Thank you Lord that You put every detail where it belongs.

There the treasure is found, on your knees.

¹⁵ O Lord, open my lips,
and my mouth will declare your praise.

¹⁶ You do not delight in sacrifice, or I would bring it;
you do not take pleasure in burnt offerings.

¹⁷ The sacrifices of God are a broken spirit;
a broken and contrite heart,
O God, you will not despise.

Psalm 51

my little prayers, Your huge love

<sup>What a complete embrace the Lord gives. Seeking all of You I shall want nothing else. You see me, you see my corner, you see my desires. I want nothing but your sweet intimacy. You have surely won my heart.



8</sup> Let the morning bring me word of your unfailing love,
for I have put my trust in you.
Show me the way I should go,
for to you I lift up my soul.

⁹ Rescue me from my enemies, O LORD,
for I hide myself in you.

¹⁰ Teach me to do your will,
for you are my God;
may your good Spirit
lead me on level ground.

Psalm 143

full, little eyes.

The heavens declare the glory of God;

the skies proclaim the work of his hands.
Psalm 19:1

In love

He. Is. A. Faithful. God.
If there is anything that has been consistent in my life it has been that Lord answers prayer. Ask for a soft heart. Repent of the things hindering us from hearing the Spirit's voice. Pray for obedience. And act in it. What an overwhelming, uncircumstantial joy in how faithful He is to us :))

give it up.

Sitting on the balcony tonight. I cannot see a single day into the future but that it is so silent and calm that only great things are being prepared. I know nothing about this world, the seas below me, and the never ending heavens. So, I give all my worries to the One who made it all.

²²Then Jesus said to his disciples: "Therefore I tell you, do not worry about your life, what you will eat; or about your body, what you will wear. ²³Life is more than food, and the body more than clothes. ²⁴Consider the ravens: They do not sow or reap, they have no storeroom or barn; yet God feeds them. And how much more valuable you are than birds! ²⁵Who of you by worrying can add a single hour to his life^b]">? ²⁶Since you cannot do this very little thing, why do you worry about the rest?

²⁷"Consider how the lilies grow. They do not labor or spin. Yet I tell you, not even Solomon in all his splendor was dressed like one of these. ²⁸If that is how God clothes the grass of the field, which is here today, and tomorrow is thrown into the fire, how much more will he clothe you, O you of little faith! ²⁹And do not set your heart on what you will eat or drink; do not worry about it. ³⁰For the pagan world runs after all such things, and your Father knows that you need them. ³¹But seek his kingdom, and these things will be given to you as well.

Rest rest rest.

We Are Being Held

Every season in our lives are preparing us for another. I have never believed this more strongly. And i have never been happier that I know nothing. What an encouraging thing to know EXACTLY where I am is where I am supposed to be. He is preparing us for greater things not only outwardly but within our hearts.

⁸ "For my thoughts are not your thoughts,
neither are your ways my ways,"
declares the LORD.

⁹ "As the heavens are higher than the earth,
so are my ways higher than your ways
and my thoughts than your thoughts.

¹⁰ As the rain and the snow
come down from heaven,
and do not return to it
without watering the earth
and making it bud and flourish,
so that it yields seed for the sower and bread for the eater,

¹¹ so is my word that goes out from my mouth:
It will not return to me empty,
but will accomplish what I desire
and achieve the purpose for which I sent it.

¹² You will go out in joy
and be led forth in peace;
the mountains and hills
will burst into song before you,
and all the trees of the field
will clap their hands."

Isaiah 55:8-12

-

¹ "There is a time for everything,
and a season for every activity under heaven:

² a time to be born and a time to die,
a time to plant and a time to uproot,

³ a time to kill and a time to heal,
a time to tear down and a time to build,

⁴ a time to weep and a time to laugh,
a time to mourn and a time to dance,

⁵ a time to scatter stones and a time to gather them,
a time to embrace and a time to refrain,

⁶ a time to search and a time to give up,
a time to keep and a time to throw away,

⁷ a time to tear and a time to mend,
a time to be silent and a time to speak,

⁸ a time to love and a time to hate,
a time for war and a time for peace.

⁹ What does the worker gain from his toil? ¹⁰ I have seen the burden God has laid on men. ¹¹ He has made everything beautiful in its time. He has also set eternity in the hearts of men; yet they cannot fathom what God has done from beginning to end. ¹² I know that there is nothing better for men than to be happy and do good while they live. ¹³ That everyone may eat and drink, and find satisfaction in all his toil—this is the gift of God. ¹⁴ I know that everything God does will endure forever; nothing can be added to it and nothing taken from it. God does it so that men will revere him"

Ecclesiastes 3:1-14

Let the songs I sing bring joy to you.

Let the words I say confess my love.

Let the notes I choose be your favorite tune.

Father let my heart be after you.

Captured

Today is perfect. Beautiful. And every breeze is reminding me of how great You are. How I am so little, and so safe in You. You never fail me Father. There is absolutely nothing that compares to knowing God and letting Him be our hope. Let everything lead us back to you. Let everything lead us back to Your unfailing unconditional love. We are walking on holy ground, it is Yours Lord. The earth and everything in it. In light of an eternity with You, nothing here can tie me, nothing can capture my heart like You have. You are an overflowing spring of joy.

To be great in Your eyes is my dream. To be the one who makes you smile. For YOU have saved me You have rescued my soul.

2009 in short.

<sup>All I am is truly thankful for His faithfulness this year. I look back and wow. He answered my prayers in His divine way. When I was lost He lead me, when I was broken He healed me, when I was blind He comforted me, when I doubted but for a moment He prevailed and left me in awe. When I saw battles that were too big He took me through them and built me up. In the moments there were no answers but faith, He opened my eyes to hope at the exact time I called for help. When I felt incapable, unprepared, and unworthy He lifted me in His Spirit and used me for His great Kingdom. Last year I encountered a God too big to contain, and this year He is calling us to see that He is even greater than we think in the present. The Lord is worthy of our lives, He is so so worthy.


1</sup> I will praise you, O LORD, with all my heart;
before the "gods" I will sing your praise.

² I will bow down toward your holy temple
and will praise your name
for your love and your faithfulness,
for you have exalted above all things
your name and your word.

³ When I called, you answered me;
you made me bold and stouthearted.

⁴ May all the kings of the earth praise you, O LORD,
when they hear the words of your mouth.

⁵ May they sing of the ways of the LORD,
for the glory of the LORD is great.

⁶ Though the LORD is on high, he looks upon the lowly,
but the proud he knows from afar.

⁷ Though I walk in the midst of trouble,
you preserve my life;
you stretch out your hand against the anger of my foes,
with your right hand you save me.

⁸ The LORD will fulfill his purpose for me;
your love, O LORD, endures forever—
do not abandon the works of your hands.

Psalm 138

It is a joy to live for your Kingdom. To have the honor of being a part of Your family. To have you care for my every need. When I saw darkness and you filled every corner with Your light. Thank you for your faithfulness.

-blessed

Strength

I found this a while back and thought it was a cool view and also just a kind of reminder that God has different eyes than the world does on the definition of beauty and strength are.

A strong woman works out everyday to keep her body in shape…
But a woman of strength builds relationships to keep her soul in shape

A strong woman isn't afraid of anything…
But a woman of strength shows courage in the midst of fear.

A strong woman won't let anyone get the better of her…
But a woman of strength gives the best of herself to everyone.

A strong woman makes mistakes and avoids the same in the future…
A woman of strength realizes life's mistakes can also be unexpected blessings, and capitalizes on them

A strong woman wears a look of confidence on her face…
But a woman of strength wears grace.

A strong woman has faith that she is strong enough for the journey…
But a woman of strength has faith that it is in the journey that she will become strong.

{one of my favorite verses}
"Your beauty should not come from outward adornment, such as braided hair and the wearing of gold jewelry and fine clothes. ⁴Instead, it should be that of your inner self, the unfading beauty of a gentle and quiet spirit, which is of great worth in God's sight." 1 Peter 3:3-4

Be encouraged

Today is Yours

Lately I've had the thought of how fragile our bodies are. By God's grace I get to live another day. Life is a precious gift and then we are gone. And that may be heavyhearted but because I am aware of this I am able to rejoice in the present. My prayers and soul have been moved incredibly through the many suicides that have happened this weekend. I cannot imagine a more horrible evil. In this world there is such evil and without the LORD it consumes. Destruction is the way of the earth. I LOOK UPWARD to the heaven and my heart cries out to be with Him. We are lost and beaten. but WITH the Lord, the power of death is conquered. Our battles are WON. When we wake up and as we are sleeping our every battle has been won. Power and strength are found in the living God. We are weak but He is so so strong. My heart aches for the people that have not found life yet!! How can I keep this to myself. How. Lord you have risen from the very grave of death. Won't you raise your people!!!

I cannot see I cannot understand but I have the power of the Holy Spirit and with Him I overcome.

"You are a chosen people, a royal priesthood, a holy nation, a people belonging to God, that you may declare the praises into His wonderful light." 1 Peter 2:9

We need you Father

Love is born

Christmas is coming and I have never been more excited. As I've grown I've gotten less excited for the things I did as a little girl. Yet I am as joyful as I was when I was 6 on Christmas eve looking at the lit tree and all the unopened presents. And if it was the traditions that I looked forward to so much I wouldn't even say it is that that excites me as much as just simply being with family. Point being that my surroundings, conditions, and expectations of what Christmas looks like has evolved these past years being away from home. There is an unchanging grace remaining in Christmas that wants to flood our hearts.
This month is the most perfect month. The most hopeful. I wonder why everyone wants another to experience this time with all holiday events and decorations and family- people just want somebody to hold and to love and i would say the feeling and longing for love stirs in everyone's hearts right about now. But could it be because this IS the month of love?! It truly is. This is the month Jesus was born into the world for us. This is when we have meaning to live for. This is when we have eternal life. When we become free from everything we were born into. SO free. This is the sweetest time because there is hope and love and new life.
The night before Christmas this world was so lost. Unto us a SAVIOR is born!!
Thank you thank you thank you.

Lets make it a point to love people like we have been so unconditionally loved.