Sweet Everly...she's a fighter, born with Pierre Robin Sequence and kicking it's butt!
Photography... a hobby, a dream, an outlet, a passion. I've wanted a nice camera for quite some time. However, life always seemed to get in the way...college, surgeries, cars, houses, you name it. Recently, I have been blessed with the opportunity to purchase a camera to develop my passion. Little did I realize how God would speak to me through it all. I have been able to experience more deeply all that He's created specifically the crown of His creation, YOU ALL!
Miracle baby, Hannah, prayed for by so many!
I cannot put into words how much I've enjoyed capturing life's most precious moments, sharing sweet memories with friends, proof of answered prayers and being a part of their life's journey. Over the past year I have had the honor to see friends find their soulmate, marry their best friend, shed tears of joy over tiny lives they thought would never come to be, celebrate healing after months of uncertainty, and watch children grow into beautiful, strong and mature adults and capture it all in a picture. New meaning to a picture is worth a thousand words.
Rachel, beautiful inside and out living her life for Jesus and setting an example for others to do the same.
Looking back at these photos I love what they represent...LIFE. With all of the bad in the world, sometimes it's hard to find the good, but here in these photos we see life's beautiful moments. Reminds me of the verse in John 10 verse 10, "The thief comes only to steal and kill and destroy; I have come that they may have LIFE and have it to the FULL." As well as John 16:33 "I have told you these things, so that in me you may have peace. In this world you will have trouble. But take heart! I have overcome the world." In the midst of life's struggles and heartbreaks don't miss out on God's blessings.
Friendships that span over thousands of miles.
p.s. If you're interested in booking a photo session contact me at jlagerman@gmail.com
Help me develop my passion and get a great deal! $40/hr location photo shoot, 25 edited pictures and
all unedited digital files.
Anxiety...fear, worry, loneliness, sin. "Have more faith." "Pray about it." "Just trust God." ...they all reply. I need more. That's not enough. The common responses from fellow Christians tend to require more of me, more action on my part. I know people are just trying to be helpful, however I can't do it on my own, those things haven't worked for me. I don't think many of us truly understand anxiety, but most of us experience anxiety, constantly! I know I didn't fully understand it and still don't completely. My main question through all of this searching became: What about Him? What's His role in all of this? I've been working through the study:The Gospel Centered Life this summer and the root message is More of Him, less of me. Thinking about this and meditating on Matthew 6:25-34. I came up with the following on how to bid my anxious fears: v.25- Trust God with the details- He's got this. More of Him, less of me v.26- I'm valuable, precious in His sight- all because of what His Son did for me. More of Him, less of me v.27.- Worry/Anxiety- more harmful than helpful- WAIT? When Me, Myself and I try to figure out a solution to every possible problem or potential issue and stress out like crazy it's creating more problems. More of Him, less of me v.30- We are the crown of His creation, He will take care of me. More of Him, less of me vs.31-23- When I, me again, worries I am forgetting His promises and diminishing His power. More of Him, less of me Oh the Father's love... So summing it all up God revealed these steps to me and they WORK! 1) Identify: I am anxious! I am worrying! I fear ____. 2) Recognize: I can't make it stop. I can't make it go away. I am powerless. 3) Release: Give up! Let go, let God, release my control and power to Him 4) Reside: He's got this! He's go me! He can handle it. I put so much pressure on myself to be prepared for any and every circumstance when all I really need to do is STOP- Identify-Recognize-Relax-Reside in HIM! More of Him, less of me
Lately I have felt unsettled, unhappy, desire more, and don't understand why God hasn't met my unfulfilled desires yet. However, over the past few days I have been humbled by his graciousness to me. He has already had given me so much and shown compassion in ways I don't even stop to recognize.
I am reminded of his graciousness in the following verses:
"Yet the Lord longs to be gracious to you; therefore He will rise up to show you compassion. For the Lord is a God of justice. Blessed are those who wait for him!" Isaiah 30:18
"I have come that they may have life and have it to the full." John 10:10
"He who did not spare his own Son, but gave him up for us all—how will he not also, along with him, graciously give us all things?" Romans 8:32
He wants to give us "good" things, he longs to give us good things. We just need to stand with open hearts and arms and accept what he wants to give us and what he gives us is more than enough, because he has chosen for us to have what we need when we need it.
"For I know the plans I have for you,” declares the Lord, “plans to prosper you and not to harm you, plans to give you hope and a future." Jeremiah 29:11
In all reality we deserve nothing, but he is gracious...
So it's been a long time since I have posted and know that I am most likely the only person that will ever go back through and read the words I have written, but I enjoy letting these words, these thoughts spill out and it's quite refreshing. You should try it some time :)
Today at church we were going through 1 Corinthians 11:17-34 where it talks about the Lord's Supper and how we should approach the table. The thing that always strikes me/scares me the most are Paul's words found in v27:
"Whoever, therefore, eats the bread or drinks the cup of the Lord in an unworthy manner will be guilty concerning the body and blood of the Lord."
I do not take this warning lightly as I sit in the pew and confess to God the things I have done that have caused me to be led astray, and hope and pray that I am not bringing down judgment upon myself for not being "good enough", but TODAY was different...
I realized that yes, we should not take the Lord's Supper lightly and we should repent of our sins before we partake with our brothers in sisters in holy communion, but it's also important to REMEMBER HIM! He has given us the this feast as a way to REMEMBER HIM!
"For I received from the Lord what I also delivered to you, that the Lord Jesus on the night when he was betrayed took bread, and when he had given thanks, he broke it, and said, “This is my body which is for you. Do this in remembrance of me.” In the same way also he took the cup, after supper, saying, “This cup is the new covenant in my blood. Do this, as often as you drink it, in remembrance of me.” For as often as you eat this bread and drink the cup, you proclaim the Lord's death until he comes."
(1 Corinthians 11:23-26 ESV)
This feast serves as a reminder not that I am unworthy and not good enough, it is a reminder that I am redeemed by the blood of Christ, it is a reminder of all that He has done for me and continues to do for me, even though I am a sinner.
Inspired by this message I was humbled and understand now more than ever that I am a child redeemed by grace called to remember my Lord.
You who created the seas, created me You who sit in heaven upon your throne, have chosen to call me your own
Even though I fail, Your love prevails Even though I fall, You're around when I call
I run to you when I don't know what to do, what to think, what to believe, and You tell me...
I'm all you'll ever need You are my child and even though you run wild I am hear, do not fear, but draw near Come back to Me and you'll see I'm all you'll ever need
My friend Kate and I have been memorizing different scripture passages since this summer, so far we have memorized Romans 12, Isaiah 55 and are currently working on Romans 5. Memorizing scripture has been my saving grace over the past few months. These passages are all that I have had to hold onto at times when God felt so far away and at times when I have felt too unworthy to even speak His name because of the choices and decisions I have made in my life and continue to make when I know they are not the best for me.
Most people would consider me an "outgoing" and "social person", but lately I have felt the need to withdraw from that part of me and take some time for me. Time to reflect and reconnect with who am I and with the one who made me. Too often I get caught up in what others think about me, getting it right, and making the most of my life. I have come to the realization I apply these same thoughts when approaching God...what does he think of me? Oh no I screwed up again. Am I doing enough quiet times? Am I learning enough? What is my purpose and am I living up to my fullest potential?
Memorizing scripture has helped me to truly meditate on God's word and has reminded me of all that God has done to prove that He loves me and accepts me as I am. He has gone above and beyond. I am only 8 verses into Romans 5, but cannot get enough of these 8 verses....
1 Therefore, since we have been justified through faith, we have peace with God through our Lord Jesus Christ, 2 through whom we have gained access by faith into this grace in which we now stand. And we boast in the hope of the glory of God. 3 Not only so, but we also glory in our sufferings, because we know that suffering produces perseverance; 4 perseverance, character; and character, hope. 5 And hope does not put us to shame, because God’s love has been poured out into our hearts through the Holy Spirit, who has been given to us. 6You see, at just the right time, when we were still powerless, Christ died for the ungodly.7 Very rarely will anyone die for a righteous person, though for a good person someone might possibly dare to die. 8 But God demonstrates his own love for us in this: While we were still sinners, Christ died for us.
Look at all that he has done for me, for us! So I sit here tonight, I still don't have everything figured out, but I do know that I have a God who is at peace with me, who have given me grace, who pours love into my heart, and who died for me while I was a powerless sinner!
I encourage you to find a friend and memorize scripture. It's great accountability, easy to do, and God will continue to reveal himself more and more to you if you choose to let him!
' “Meaningless! Meaningless!” says the Teacher.“Utterly meaningless! Everything is meaningless.” What do people gain from all their labors, at which they toil under the sun?' Ecclesiastes 1:2-3
"I undertook great projects: I built houses for myself and planted vineyards. I made gardens and parks and planted all kinds of fruit trees in them. I made reservoirs to water groves of flourishing trees" Ecclesiastes 2:4-6
I have not been sleeping well lately and know it's due to anxiety. Anxiety over work, relationships, finances and me and my character. I decided to pick up a book that I have been reading all about thoughts on change, grace, and learning the hard way "Bittersweet" by Shana Niequist...highly recommend it. The chapter I opened up to this morning focused on anxiety and how to overcome it. We all know the verse well...
"Do not be anxious about anything, but in every situation, by prayer and petition, with thanksgiving, present your requests to God." Philippians 4:6
But sometimes it's easier read than done! In the book Shana talked about presenting your requests over and over and over and over to God. All of your anxious thoughts keep praying about them until you truly reach a point where an unspeakable, powerful, transcending peace that passes all understanding consumes your soul.
As I continued to lay in silence pumped to use my new "how to get peace" strategy, God revealed to me that the things I worry about are meaningless. Everything but me!
Me, my God loves Me, He cares for Me! Whoa! Job, Houses, Things, Friends, Dates, Boyfriends, Future Husband, Future Children=Meaningless
Now I am not saying that it means nothing to be married or have children, what I mean is that it is meaningless to worry about all of those things. On the day I stand before my Savior most of those things will be meaningless. My God will be looking at Me.
So as I go on with my day holding onto a little sliver of peace. I will take comfort in the fact that my God cares for Me and I am not meaningless to Him.
Running...a word I used to cringe at when I heard it. So many people here in Charlotte run, run, run, run, run. Well, I have finally been bitten by the running bug! I am currently training for a 10K in April and dare I say "running" is becoming something enjoyable?!?
I have much more respect now for people who train and run races. I never realized how hard it is to get started, the aches, cramps, pains and sweat are hard to get through those first few weeks. However, somewhere in the midst of all that pain is joy...joy that you are working towards a goal and becoming stronger with each step taken, joy in God's beauty that is displayed all around, joy in the realization that life is a lot like running and you are not alone.
Every time I run now I think of the passage found in Hebrews 12:1-3
1 Therefore, since we are surrounded by such a great cloud of witnesses, let us throw off everything that hinders and the sin that so easily entangles. And let us run with perseverance the race marked out for us, 2 fixing our eyes on Jesus, the author and perfecter of faith. For the joy set before him he endured the cross, scorning its shame, and sat down at the right hand of the throne of God. 3 Consider him who endured such opposition from sinners, so that you will not grow weary and lose heart.
So I am still running, but not just to complete a 10K. I am running because it brings joy to my heart, it reminds me of my God and how much he loves me and that he is right there beside me running the race marked before me. Life is not always easy, it brings on a lot of pain, aches, cramps and sweat, but I know what I am pressing on towards and I know what my eyes are fixed upon...the author and perfecter of my faith!
