“If you abide in Me, and My words abide in you,
ask whatever you wish, and it will be done for you.
 My Father is glorified by this, that you bear much fruit,
and so prove to be My disciples.”

John 15:7-8

“A Prayer about the Culinary Delights of the Gospel”
by Scotty Smith

         

     “Let me hear in the morning of your steadfast love, for in you I trust.
Make me know the way I should go, for to you I lift up my soul.”
Psalm 143:8

     ‘Jesus said to them, “Very truly I tell you, it is not Moses who has given you the bread from heaven,
 but it is my Father who gives you the true bread from heaven.
 For the bread of God is the bread that comes down from heaven and gives life to the world.”
 “Sir,” they said, “always give us this bread.” Then Jesus declared, “I am the bread of life.
 Whoever comes to me will never go hungry,
and whoever believes in me will never be thirsty.’
 John 6:32-35


     Heavenly Father, this early morning cry from King David makes me hungry,
 and I cannot conceive of a better way to begin every day than feasting on the gospel.
Given the choice of any culinary delicacy imaginable,
 and I’ll choose words of Your unfailing love for me in Jesus, every time.

     For there’s no nutrient I need more than the fresh manna of Your grace.
Nothing tastes as sweet as the assurance of Your welcome, presence, and affection.
I love carbohydrates, but none compare with bread from heaven—
the Bread of Life, Himself, the Lord Jesus.

     Feed me till I want no more, heavenly Father.
I’m not just looking to be a satisfied consumer of the gospel.
I need copious amounts of Your unfailing, contra-conditional, heart-transforming love
for the challenges of the day—this day.

     Apart from the gospel, I’ll whine more than I’ll worship.
Apart from the gospel, I’ll judge people more than I’ll seek to understand them.
Apart from the gospel, I’ll get my feelings hurt too easily,
and I won’t consider serving others a privilege and joy.
 Apart from the gospel, I’ll waste this day, rather than steward it.

     Apart from the gospel, I’ll react selfishly to irritants rather than responding graciously.
Apart from the gospel, I’ll talk more than I listen.
Apart from the gospel, I’ll think about me much more than I think about You.
Apart from the gospel, I won’t risk anything; I’ll do just enough to get by.
Apart from the banquet of the gospel,
I’ll be reaching for junk food all day long, literally and figuratively.

     Father, because of your unfailing love for me in Jesus, I have put my trust in You.
I do lift my soul up to You, right now.
Show me the way I should go this very day.
Show me what thinking, feeling, and choosing in line with the truth of the gospel requires of me,
and then give me that supply.
 Amen I pray, in Jesus’ beautiful and bountiful name.

My new Logo and Header is finished!
I often sign my name by combining my initials,
so it was easy to come up with a rough sketch I liked,
but it looked so plain.
Then my mom suggested using the beach design I had created 30 years ago
when I was starting out in my stained glass career…
It was just the background I needed.

That was as far as I got with pencil and ink…
I passed my sketches on to a talented, young lady from our former home-school group
and she was able to refine and improve it with her awesome, graphic art skills!

I’ve been working on my photography website for the past two months!
I had no idea it would take so much time.

I have a wonderful web designer,
but the challenge is figuring out what I want and need.

Finally realized I needed a logo and after a few false starts
decided to use my initials,
but I needed something more…

My mom mentioned how much she like my first business card design.
(We’re talking over 30 years ago,
when I started my business as a stained glass artist)
But she was right, the MH with a nod to my former career,
using a coastal stained glass design as the background looks good.

Just found a former student from our homeschool days
who has become a talented graphic designer.
She’s taking my rough sketches and going to clean them up….
Can’t wait!

Another Mother’s Day is here,
Bringing joy and pleasures new,
On this special day, Mother dear,
I want to remember you.

I cannot give you costly gifts,
And I’ve told you this before,
No matter what I give to you,
You give back much, much more.

I’m giving you a pure, sweet rose,
Gathered in the early morn,
This rose you planted in my heart,
The day that I was born.

In kindly, loving thoughts of you,
And with the faith you still impart,
The rose I give to you today,
Is the love that’s in my heart.

Can I Take a Picture of Your Red Hair?

 

“Bless the Lord, O my soul!
O Lord my God, You are very Great.
 You are clothed with splendor and majesty.
 You cover Yourself with light as with a cloak,
 stretching out heaven like a curtain.
You lay the beams of Your upper chambers in the waters;
You make the clouds Your chariot;
You walk upon the wings of the wind;
You make the winds Your messengers;
 flaming fire Your ministers.” 

Psalm 104:1-4

 
Matt LaHatt is Engaged!
OK, Rachel is too,
but I’ve known Matt for almost 10 years
and since he’s one of my “boys”,
the joy I feel is like that of an aunt for a beloved nephew.

I’ve been asked to photograph their wedding in June,
so of course we had to do an Engagement Session
so I could get to know Rachel before the big day.

We met at Rockledge, but tide and surf kept us off the beach
and tucked into intimate spaces…

Love the ring and Rachel’s personality!

Even more I love seeing how much they adore each other!

The classic “LaHatt” pose.
Matt and his 3 brothers have this look down!
Speaking of the brothers: Back in high school they all “officially adopted”
our daughter Bri as their sister. They were her buddies and protectors,
and they had a great time off-roading, paint balling, hanging out at
youth group, hiking and going to the beach. I shared some of the stories with Rachel,
especially how I could always rely on Matt.

 I was blessed by their story of  how they met…on E-Harmony!
Rachel didn’t share her image at first, so after writing back and worth for a while,
Matt was blown away when he finally discovered she was a gorgeous brunette!

   
They’ve also invested in their future
by working through books on relationships together
and meeting with Rachel’s pastor.

I see not just a sweet, romantic love in these two,
but affection and commitment.

Well the sun was setting, so we hurried down the coast to San Clemente…

This is Matt’s hometown and they both had some ideas for images they’d like to taken have up on the pier…

And under the pier! I got to tell you I got a little spooked
by the high tide and huge surf, (salt water and digital camera don’t mix well)
so I wasn’t able to focus on my flash photography,
but we did manage to get this beautiful shot:

May God BLESS their Love,
and prepare their lives to become one in Him.