Fireworks!

I just LOVE fireworks! Don't you?
My husband & I went to Chicago last summer, and their weekly fireworks display (over Lake Michigan) is far more amazing than any 4th of July fireworks I've ever seen! These images are from that trip, and I adore them! I love the fantastic lines, the vivid colors, and the contrast against the night sky! They're obviously not typical fireworks photos; they were taken with the camera in motion-and what fun that turned out to be!
Fireworks most often are a celebration, a rejoicing, in our country's independence and freedom. Our founding fathers wanted a place where we could be free to worship God, where no one would tell us we couldn't! Likewise, we were once ruled by sin. When Jesus died & rose again, He conquered sin's grip on us, and has given us the chance to be FREE! We're now free to do what's right in God's eyes. Romans 6:22 says, "But now having been set free from sin, and having become slaves of God, you have your fruit to holiness, and the end, everlasting life." We're free now to depend on Jesus! How sweet is that!
On another note, we may not always be so free to worship Jesus in this country. Enjoy it while you can (dont' take it for granted!), and pray for the joy (which is our strength) when persecution comes (Matthew 5:11-12)

Daddy

Father's Day always seems to get left behind...Mother's Day gets all the attention, and all poor Dad gets is another tie. My dad won't even wear a tie. Ever.

So, in honor of my daddy, I've created a special treasury just for him--full of some of his favorite things! Check it out here! (Here's a sample of it)
...and I've made a special section in my shop for cards especially for Dad.

I've learned so much about my Heavenly Father from my dad. Every time I get myself into messes, it's always my Dad who's been there to help me out of them. Like the time my friend and I accidentally ripped the door off my car...and dad left the friends' house he and my mom were at to come rescue us...He is always serving and giving, and he never complains. He has such a soft spot for his kids! Not to mention his little grandson! You should see him!

One of my favorite things about my dad is that he's willing to admit when he's wrong and say he's sorry. Because of his example, it's so much easier for me to do so too.

I'm also thankful that he kept us in line. Hebrews 12:6-7, 10-11 says,
"'My son, do not despise the chastening of the LORD,

Nor be discouraged when you are rebuked by Him;
For whom the LORD loves He chastens,
And scourges every son whom He receives.'
If you endure chastening, God deals with you as with sons; for what son is there whom a father does not chasten?...

For they indeed for a few days chastened us as seemed best to them, but He for our profit, that we may be partakers of His holiness.

Now no chastening seems to be joyful for the present, but painful; nevertheless, afterward it yields the peaceable fruit of righteousness to those who have been trained by it."

How good it is when the Lord disciplines us! His heart is to see us partake in His holiness and yield the peaceable fruit of righteousness!

Ephesians 1:3-6 says,
"Blessed [be] the God and Father of our Lord Jesus Christ, who has blessed us with every spiritual blessing in the heavenly [places] in Christ,
just as He chose us in Him before the foundation of the world, that we should be holy and without blame before Him in love,
having predestined us to adoption as sons by Jesus Christ to Himself, according to the good pleasure of His will,
to the praise of the glory of His grace, by which He made us accepted in the Beloved."

Praise God, the Father who loves us with perfect, complete love, even better than our human dads can!

Flickr, Finally!

I now have a Flickr account! And it's full of photos you'll find in my shop, and ones you don't see in my shop anymore, and maybe even a few new ones! They're organized by sets off to the right side to make your search more logical :) I can make prints and cards from any of the images you'll find here. Just contact me (or leave a comment here)! Check it out!