Christ – Page 6 – LLOYD'S LENS PHOTOGRAPHY LLC

Overcoming

I was taking portraits for a friend last year at a track and field event. It was a nice overcast day. Perfect for outdoor portraits. As usual I was challenging myself to push the envelope on my skills and the competition provides plenty of opportunities. I was never a person who could compete in feats of agility and I’m always fascinated by the hurdles. I was a large framed man by age 14. 6 feet 3 inches tall and 250 pounds of muscle that could not jump. Needless to say that I found the petite young lady pictured here quiet impressive with her skills. Shortly after the picture was taken another wave of athletes came through gracefully bounding over the obstacles. I heard a voice behind me comment that she wished she could jump as well as the others. I turned to see the girl in picture. She had never saw herself competing. She didn’t know how well she did on the same course.

Most people are stronger than they know. Most people have never seen themselves through the eyes of another.

Let me tell you now that you were born to be a champion! Just because you have not seen yourself as a champion doesn’t mean that you’re not winning.

Maybe you’re like me. Maybe you don’t jump well. That s okay. Jumping just isn’t your competition. My sport was American Football. I could tackle and protect the quarterback. The jumpers didn’t always do well in my competition. Maybe you’re not an athlete at all. Well, I’ll bet your smart, funny and talented in other ways.

Whatever it is I want to know that you’re just as capable of success as anyone else. The rest is just practice and dedication to the goal.

I never planned to publish this image. But all day today I felt like God was telling me that someone needs to be encouraged. There’s a hurdle in your life that you don’t think you can overcome. God wants you to know that He gave you talent and abilities to succeed. Just practice and prepare. When it’s time to jump you’re gonna make it.

Sunday… A day of hope

Back and White Photography, Church, encouragement, West Virginia

Okay, so I have written this and started over.

Then I didn’t like the way it sounded so I erased it and started over.

But, my writing wasn’t perfect so I deleted and started over.

And once again it wasn’t making sense so I started over.

Eventually I realized what God was trying to point out to me. Sunday is about a chance to start over. To delete the mistakes and have a fresh start. Christianity is about having the opportunity to allow Jesus Christ to erase all our sin and let us start over. It’s not just on Sundays, it’s every hour of every day for as long as it takes to be restored. That is the hope we celebrate on Sundays. That’s the hope we live with every day.

Image was taken in Deepwater West Virginia which is in Fayette County.

Let The Light In

Color Photography, encouragement, Thoughts and Musing

Sometimes when I’m talking to friends about things like fear of the unknown or just fear and doubt in general I’ll pose a riddle.

“I was afraid of the dark, but then I became the darkness “.

For the first time ever I’m going to publicly give you the answer.

When you are in a dark place there is fear and anxiety. You can’t perceive the world around you. What’s out there could be bad. It might even be very bad. You’re fear comes from your mind filling in the unknown with projections of worse case scenarios. The flight or fight response kicks in. Adrenaline surges through your blood and your ready for the unknown.

But why become the darkness? It sounds scary. Doesn’t that make you evil? No, not at all. Because a person who is in darkness casts no shadow! In order to become darkness one must become a shadow. In order to become a shadow one must leave the darkness and move into the light. If a person who is in the light is casting light, the the light is being reflected instead of absorbed. The truth will set you free but only if you drink it in make it a part of you.

The Light shines for everyone but not everyone steps out of darkness to let the light in.

The Seeker

Color Photography, Thoughts and Musing

I stood in a spot between the land and the sea.

I stood there between youth and maturity.

Alone in the crowd.

I called out and the waves answered; answered with your name.

I spent an eternity in a single moment.

I feared.

I despaired.

I reached out with my hands and caught only the wind.

Between the dark and the dawn I stood there.

I waited.

I hoped.

I reached out with my heart found that you were already here.

Waiting to be found once again.

The Angel Story

Christmas, digital art, Thoughts and Musing

Luke 2:10

“And the angel said unto them, Fear not: for, behold, I bring you good tidings of great joy, which shall be to all people.”
King James Version (KJV)

By this time tomorrow most of the United States will be covered by a blanket of wrapping paper. I can picture in my mind that the responsible member of house is standing by with a snow shovel ready to plow through a brightly colored avalanch of Christmas joy. Great care must be taken during this task lest small chilchildren be lost within an embankment paper and empty boxes. It’s easy to be swept up in the trappings of the celebration when you are only two feet tall. As an adult, it’s easy to to get lost in the excitement and preperation of the season. We have a tendency to focus on the doings and overlook the beings. I imagine that when the angel visited the shepherds that they may not have noticed at first. Tending livestock requires multitasking. Hedges must be maintained, animals are constantly wandering off, adequate food and water needs to be available and sibling rivalry has to quelled. Its very much like managing a family gathering. The Herald Angel would have needed to use that trumpet to get everyone’s attention. “HEY, OVER HERE! EVERYONE FOLLOW ME! WE’RE HEADING INTO TOWN TO SEE THE BABY JESUS!”

When they arrive there is more chaos. The sheep are still wondering off, the wisemen’s camel train has taken over the parking and now the cattle are lowing. Mary would have been a nervous wreck without the grace of God. Everybody is there to see the precious gift laying in a manger. The noise and clamor of the inn fade away into the night as the baby opens his eyes and the true gift is realized.

It’s easy to get lost in the excitement. There are plenty of distractions. Everything from twenty-four hour T.V. specials to making dinner and enjoying the surprises under the tree. Take a little time to stop and let all these things fade into the background and appreciate the true gift of Christ.