Sunday, November 11, 2012

One Year Old Invitation

The beautiful girl that I have been taking pictures of each month since she was born is turning one! So for her 11 month old shoot, her mom wanted something specific to use for an invitation to her 1st birthday party. She showed me what she had in mind and I asked her if I could try to recreate it. I told her I wouldn't be offended if she didn't end up liking it. Well, it turns out she loves it; even more so than the original one she had found! I wanted to share it with you all. Out of respect for their privacy, I blurred out their personal information such as address, phone number and email. Here it is...




Monday, November 5, 2012

Pray for Our National Election

I admit that I have not been praying as diligently as I could or should have been for this election. I prayed about whom I should vote for, and then I prayed the, "Oh Dear Lord, please don't let Obama get re-elected," prayer.
But then I got this email (see below) and I realized that my prayers were shallow and selfish. I thought about how God knows what the future looks like, not me, and that I want the man in office that He wants to be there. With less than 24 hours before the election, I'm changing the way I pray tonight and tomorrow. I also will pray throughout the year for our president as well as any person in a seat of government.

The email starts off with this:


It is critical that Christians pray for the coming presidential election.
There is amazing power in united prayer.
 Pray with others whenever possible.
 The power of prayer can overcome any obstacle or ungodly influence  and,
indeed, do great things!


14 if My people who are called by My name will humble themselves, and pray and seek My face, and turn from their wicked ways, then I will hear from heaven, and will forgive their sin and heal their land.   2 Chronicles 7:14


It continues with what to pray for and Bible verses to support the prayer. 
I hope that as you read this, you will make it your prayer as well. Whoever our President ends up being tomorrow, I pray that God forgives us, has mercy on us, and blesses us.

Pray for repentance for yourself and your nation:
30 Truly, these times of ignorance God overlooked, but now commands all men everywhere to repent, Acts 17:30


Pray that others will be motivated to pray faithfully for this election and that the Lord would deliver us from the wrong leaders:
For this cause everyone who is godly shall pray to You
In a time when You may be found;
Surely in a flood of great waters
They shall not come near him.
You are my hiding place;
You shall preserve me from trouble;
You shall surround me with songs of deliverance. Selah      
Psalm 32:6-7

Pray that our nation will listen to the truth and not be led astray:
13 Righteous lips are the delight of kings,
And they love him who speaks what is right.   
Proverbs 16:13

Pray that those who trust in the Lord will not be shaken:

The Lord the Strength of His People

A Song of Ascents.

125 Those who trust in the Lord
Are like Mount Zion,
Which cannot be moved, but abides forever.
As the mountains surround Jerusalem,
So the Lord surrounds His people
From this time forth and forever.
For the scepter of wickedness shall not rest
On the land allotted to the righteous,
Lest the righteous reach out their hands to iniquity.
Do good, O Lord, to those who are good,
And to those who are upright in their hearts.
As for such as turn aside to their crooked ways,
The Lord shall lead them away
With the workers of iniquity.
Peace be upon Israel!    
Psalm 125
(I believe that our country needs to be in support of Israel in order for us to continue to succeed)

Pray that the Lord would defeat those who have no regard for Him in this election:
14 O God, the proud have risen against me,
And a mob of violent men have sought my life,
And have not set You before them.
15 But You, O Lord, are a God full of compassion, and gracious,
Longsuffering and abundant in mercy and truth.
16 Oh, turn to me, and have mercy on me!
Give Your strength to Your servant,
And save the son of Your maidservant.
17 Show me a sign for good,
That those who hate me may see it and be ashamed,
Because You, Lord, have helped me and comforted me.   Psalm 86:14-17

Pray that the Lord would put His hands on the man of His choice for President (and his team) and guide them in this election:
16 Then he said to the king of Israel, “Put your hand on the bow.” So he put his hand on it, and Elisha put his hands on the king’s hands.  2 Kings 13:16


The Bible says that God sets up kings and God deposes kings. God is in control:
20 Daniel answered and said:
“Blessed be the name of God forever and ever,
For wisdom and might are His.
21 And He changes the times and the seasons;
He removes kings and raises up kings;
He gives wisdom to the wise
And knowledge to those who have understanding.
22 He reveals deep and secret things;
He knows what is in the darkness,
And light dwells with Him.    Daniel 2:20-22

Pray that God's man, and our nation, will be discerning and do what is right:
Discern the Time 
54 Then He also said to the multitudes, “Whenever you see a cloud rising out of the west, immediately you say, ‘A shower is coming’; and so it is. 55 And when you see the south wind blow, you say, ‘There will be hot weather’; and there is. 56 Hypocrites! You can discern the face of the sky and of the earth, but how is it you do not discern this time?

Make Peace with Your Adversary

57 “Yes, and why, even of yourselves, do you not judge what is right?
Luke 12:54-57


Pray that the Lord would give wise counsel and guidance to His choice for president in this campaign:
I will bless the Lord who has given me counsel;
My heart also instructs me in the night seasons.
I have set the Lord always before me;
Because He is at my right hand I shall not be moved.   Psalm 16:7-8

Pray that God's man will listen with discernment, add to his knowledge, and receive wise counsel in this campaign:
A wise man will hear and increase learning,
And a man of understanding will attain wise counsel,
To understand a proverb and an enigma,
The words of the wise and their riddles.    
Proverbs 1:5-6

Pray that the man of God's choice would be given wisdom and ability from the Lord to overcome any obstacle or difficulty during this campaign:
33 These things I have spoken to you, that in Me you may have peace. In the world you will have tribulation; but be of good cheer, I have overcome the world.”   John 16:33


Pray that the Lord's choice for President will have special strength and unusual ability from God:
13 I can do all things through Christ who strengthens me.   Philippians 4:13


Pray that the Lord will arm the man of His choice with strength; would guide him in battle (this election); and would sustain him and give him victory:
32 It is God who arms me with strength,
And makes my way perfect.
33 He makes my feet like the feet of deer,
And sets me on my high places.
34 He teaches my hands to make war,
So that my arms can bend a bow of bronze.
35 You have also given me the shield of Your salvation;
Your right hand has held me up,
Your gentleness has made me great.
36 You enlarged my path under me,
So my feet did not slip.   Psalm 18:32-36

Pray that God's man could, through faith, persevere and maintain his courage throughout this election:
32 And what more shall I say? For the time would fail me to tell of Gideon and Barak and Samson and Jephthah, also of David and Samuel and the prophets: 33 who through faith subdued kingdoms, worked righteousness, obtained promises, stopped the mouths of lions, 34 quenched the violence of fire, escaped the edge of the sword, out of weakness were made strong, became valiant in battle, turned to flight the armies of the aliens (other armies).   Hebrews 11:32-34

Pray that the Lord would empower and enable his man in any area of weakness:
Each time he said, “My grace is all you need. My power works best in weakness.” So now I am glad to boast about my weaknesses, so that the power of Christ can work through me.   2 Corinthians 12:9


Pray that the Lord would do something that would utterly amaze us and give His servant victory:

The Lord’s Reply

“Look among the nations and watch—
Be utterly astounded!
For I will work a work in your days
Which you would not believe, though it were told you.  Habakkuk 1:5

Lord, I have heard Your speech and was afraid;
Lord, revive Your work in the midst of the years!
In the midst of the years make it known;
In wrath remember mercy.    
Habakkuk 3:2




Keep praying. God bless!





Thursday, November 1, 2012

Pumpkin Patch

I took the kids I babysit to the Pumpkin Patch this week. Here are a couple pictures of the day:



Fred Flintsone

My friend asked me to make a Fred Flintstone costume for her son for Halloween.
Here is what was created:

Sewing in progress...

Almost finished   .................................   DONE!!!!