"by Grace"

At the age of 50 most people my age are trying to cover up their tattoo's from their younger years of error and mistakes. However for my 50th birthday I went and got my very first tattoo, a well-thought-out tattoo.

For years I thought that tattoos were wrong, but a few years ago I came into the full revelation of grace....God's grace. I can explain this but Pastor Chuck Gerwig does it better from Santa Cruz Bible Church.http://www.sacredink.net/tattoo_and_the_bible/ With this revelation I pondered on what I would want permanently etched on my body and the word "Grace" kept coming to me. See I am the only person in the entire Universe that knows exactly what His grace means to me personally. I know the depth of His grace in my life. So this is why I chose the tattoo, "by Grace". And since the Old Testament forbade the practice of tattooing your body (see the above link for clarity of these laws) I chose the New Testament verse in Romans 6:14 which states, "I am no longer under law; but under grace".

The words, "by Grace" is open ended, which means I can add what comes after "by Grace". "by Grace"...I am free, "by Grace...I can love the way Christ loves me, "by Grace....I can forgive, the way Christ forgave me, "by Grace"....I am His child, "by Grace"..I am an heir of the King of Kings and Lord of Lords, "by Grace"...when He sees me, He sees His righteousness, "by Grace"...He sees beauty instead of my old ashes of a regretted past, "by Grace"...His undeserved pardon for me!

Another aspect of this design was the fact that the "G" was a cojoined "J" and "C" which stands for Jesus Christ....He was the one that paid the price for my grace.

I didnt do this tattoo to be controversial. Instead I did it to hopefully be able to share with others that this same grace is also available to them just like it was for me.

And....for the young people that may be reading this blog, the link above has some very important information listed in it about when a tattoo is wrong, especially when you are under age and still under your parent's authority. (i.e. living in their home and putting your feet under their table no matter how old you are )

"by Grace"....

Jesus Loves Me...

this....I .....KNOW!

Peace & Blessings

L

A Place for Us Ministries Promotion

A Place for Us Ministries Promotion

Coffee

A group of alumni, highly established in their careers, got to talking at a reunion and decided to go visit their old university Professor, now retired. During their visit, conversation soon turned into complaints about stress in their work and lives. Offering his guests coffee, the professor went to the kitchen and returned with a large pot of coffee and an assortment of cups - porcelain, plastic, glass, crystal, some plain looking, some expensive, some exquisite.......telling them to help themselves to the coffee.
When all the alumni had a cup of coffee in hand, the professor said, 'Notice that all the nice looking, expensive cups were taken up, leaving behind the plain and cheap ones. While it is normal for you to want only the best for yourselves, that is the source of your problems and stress. Be assured that the cup itself adds no quality to the coffee. In most cases, it is just more expensive and in some cases even hides what we drink.
What all of you really wanted was coffee, NOT the cup, but consciously went for the best cups... and then you began eying each others cups. Now consider this:
Life is the coffee; your job, money and position in society are the cups.
They are just tools to hold and contain Life. The type of cup one has does not define, nor change the quality of Life a person lives. Sometimes, by concentrating only on the cup, we fail to enjoy the coffee God has provided us.
The happiest people do not have the best of everything.
They just MAKE the best of everything.
GOD BREWS THE COFFEE, not the cups... Enjoy your coffee!
Live simply.

Love generously.

Care deeply.

Speak kindly.

Spend time with God over your coffee.

Author: Unknown

The "Heart" of the Matter

I see all kinds of crazy things while driving to work...no seriously....Friday while at a traffic light I saw a van that passed by that said..."Design a Casket.com" .... Do I hear any volunteers that want to rush to their website and put your Picasso flair onto a sketch pad for your casket!! Seriously....folks...this is ridiculous!

That was just a side note to what the real "heart" of the matter is that has been placed inside of me, especially over the weekend. Recently I was blessed with the opportunity to begin a new ministry....God has stirred in me to begin "Life Moment Photography". With this opportunity I am offering free photography to those facing life threatening illnesses. No, I am not a professional and don't profess to be one either, but I feel that God has given me an "eye" to zoom in at the right moment and capture "joy" in a picture. I took several of my mom while she was battling pancreatic cancer...and they are "precious memories" to me now...

Two days after this idea was created in my mind.....I get my first phone call. It's from a mom that has a young son with only months to live. I get prepared and go over there....I quickly find out that she lives differently than I do. I see by the stressed look on her face that life has dealt her a hard blow....to her own consequences?? Maybe, but definitely not for me to decide. Honestly I don't know if I should even be there...I feel out of place. These people stare at me, and I at them...our worlds collide. We are different, so different. We have different values, different beliefs, different ideals in life. Different views of what is important, of what looks clean, of what looks dirty....totally different. But during the photo session something happens. The precious little fellow's younger brother accidentally hits his sore leg, tender from a previous operation. He melts down into the couch and begins to softly cry with pain....at this point I am kneeling next to him and I see close up the exchange.....the young mother holds her son, and silently her fearful tears are released....she weeps. I see that we are exactly the same at that very moment. Her heart and my heart intertwine for just a brief moment...but it is long enough for me to know that the outward things no longer matter....its the "heart" .

In I Samuel there is a story that speaks of the heart....honestly it reminds me of the fairy tale Cinderella. Jesse brings before Samuel all of his sons whom he feels is ready to be anointed....but all of them pass before Samuel (except one) and not any of them are deemed by him to be anointed...so he asked..."are these all of your sons"....Jesse replies..."all except one, the youngest, he is out tending the sheep" (all quotations in my own words) ... then Samuel asks Jesse to send for him.....and Samuel anointed him. In verse 6 when the eldest son is about to pass before Samuel , Jesse exclaims "Surely the Lord's anointed is before him" But in verse 7 it reads "But the Lord said to Samuel, Look not on his appearance or at the height of his stature, for I have rejected him. For the Lord sees not as man sees; for man looks on the outward appearance, but the Lord looks on the heart".

Wow....what a revelation to me....what a lesson for me to learn....heard this scripture all my life....but last Friday ...while kneeling and watching a hurting young boy....his last months here on earth......I beheld the true "heart of the matter"....I watched a mother love him....and comfort him....exactly like I would....and suddenly the differences that appeared so noticeable at first....came crashing down....and we were the same.....we were of one heart.

Today, I challenge you.....if you happen to come upon someone who..... may not look like you, may not dress life you, may not smell like you....please ....do me a favor.... take just a moment.....to get to "the heart of the matter" try and see things differently....the way the Lord saw them in 1 Samuel....you may be quite surprised at what you find....I know I was!

Blessings

Life Moment Photography by Lesa

God has directed me to begin a new journey toward helping people capture those "life moments" when life is threatened or prematurely shortened (of course nothing is premature to God...only to us) .....I cherish your prayers for this as God is directing me to do this in order to give people a "gift of life" through pictures.

The concept is to offer the "gift of life" through free photography

for you, your family or friends
During difficult and uncertain times when life is no longer the

issue but capturing the "moment of life" is.

From the tiniest of hearts to the oldest of smiles my
aim is to try to capture those precious times with your loved one

by offering the simple gift of photography...
...capturing a moment and remembering it for a lifetime….
Free photography to those facing:
~Life Threatening Illness~ Hospice care ~ Neonatal Intensive Care~

A Happy Day!

Jefferies-Cunningham




Tuesday, February 17, 2009 2:22 PM EST
Lindsey Grayce Jefferies, of Abbeville, S.C., and Nicholas Charles Cunningham, of Lafayette, Ind., were married at 5 p.m. Feb. 7, 2009, at First Baptist Church of Greenwood.

Dr. David Olshine, of Columbia, S.C., and Pastor David Evans, of Greenwood, S.C., officiated.

Wedding music was presented by musician Travis Wright, of Columbia, S.C.

The bride is the daughter of Mr. and Mrs. Grayson P. Jefferies Jr., of Abbeville, S.C. She is the granddaughter of Sarah Roche Jefferies, of Abbeville, and the late Grayson P. Jefferies Sr.; and the late William H. Saylors Jr., Gwendolyn Saylors Adams and the late Brewer Lester Adams, all of Abbeville. S.C. She is a graduate of Anderson University with a Bachelor of Science degree in Kinesiology-Exercise Science.

The groom is the son of Mr. and Mrs. John Patrick Cunningham. He is the grandson of Mr. John Cunningham, of St. Petersburg, Fla., and the late Lois Cunningham; and Mr. Robert Flack, of Indianapolis, Ind., and the late Patricia Flack. He is a graduate of Columbia International University with a double major in Bible and Pastoral Ministries. Nick serves as a Youth Pastor at Ginghamsburg Church in Tipp City, Ohio.

The bride wore a fitted, A-line silhouette taffeta dress with a sweetheart neckline. The strapless bodice was embellished with intricate lace. The back of the gown featured a low back and covered button detailing.

She wore a finger tip veil of ivory French tulle featuring Chantilly lace edges.

She carried a bouquet of short stem creme calla lilies and green hypercium berries.

Miss Paula McNeill, of Greenville, friend of the bride, served as maid of honor.

Bridesmaids were Miss Lauren Walden, of Greenwood; Miss Anna Lyle, of Greenwood; Miss Courtney Lewis, of Greenwood; Mrs. Allison Scott, of Duncan; Miss Jessica Wilks, of Lexington; Miss Lyndsey Adams, of Spartanburg; and Miss Jenna Owens, of Lexington.

Bridesmaids wore a tea-length; strapless, taffeta dress featuring an empire bodice and bubble hem in vintage silver. They carried hand tied bouquets of short stem wine calla lilies.

Olivia Oliver, the bride’s cousin, was the flower girl.

Mr. Trevor Miller of Lexington, friend of the groom, served as best man.

Groomsmen were: Mr. Jay Hendricks, of Abbeville; Mr. Patrick Boatwright, of Lexington; Mr. Matthew Elrod, of Columbia; Mr. Chris Farr, of Columbia; Mr. Matt Baker, of Columbia; Mr. Drew Jefferies and Mr. Brett Jefferies, both of Abbeville and both brother’s of the bride.

Following the ceremony, a reception was held at The Belmont Inn in Abbeville, S.C.

After the honeymoon, the couple will reside in Troy, Ohio.

"Daydreaming"

Strange how things affect us....

Emotions are tricky, especially when you keep them in tack too long. My emotions got away with me the other day. It caught me so unaware…for a moment my emotions escaped me and ran rampant......they flooded my entire being and amazingly it all happened in the express line at WalMart (which on that day was not express at all!!)

I was waiting in this long line with my few items held tightly in my arms when I saw the “back of her head”from a few check-outs over. This lady’s head looked identical to my mama’s. It caught me so off guard……a flood of emotions escaped my “guarded” mind and I was surrounded with a gazillion feelings. I found myself daydreaming and pretending she was still here…..pretending she was here again inside of WalMart….just a few counters over from where I was standing. I imagined her turning around…..seeing me….then smiling and waving. I imagined myself running over there….and asking her what was for supper….I am sure those in Walmart never suspected my day dreaming ….nor did they notice my intent stare at her…..hoping and wishing the lady would never turn around…..cause then my daydream would end….and reality would bring itself back into focus.
This scenario ended all too soon….she turned around, and it was no longer “mama” but a total stranger whom I have never met and who had no connection with me whatsoever….but for a brief moment she was there......the person I have loved all my life….the woman I learned from, the one who gave me life, she was my "mama"……and for one moment in time, I was allowed the glorious opportunity of loving her once again here on earth, standing in the express line at WalMart…..and though it caught me off guard, I enjoyed every second of it…..
Daydreaming…..
Pretending…..
While staring….
At the
Back of her head!

I don’t usually write about such private thoughts….but for those of you who have lost someone close to you….you will know exactly where I am coming from…because if we are honest…we all have those moments…those sacred moments when we get a brief glance of someone that looks like someone we once loved here on earth that is no longer with us. Or we hear a voice that reminds us of that special person.
And…for those of you who have not yet lost someone close to you…my advice is ….go visit them today….call them on the phone and tell them how much they mean to you. Don’t wait…

Peace,
Lesa