Now in Joppa there was a disciple whose name was Tabitha, which in Greek is Dorcas. She was devoted to good works and acts of charity. Last week when I got up early to catch this sunrise I wasn't sure how much color there would be or if I would be able to create a beautiful image. The only way to know was to just get up and go. The first step of any job, photographer, writer, or whatever, is to just show up.
This short story about Tabitha in Acts is a story of someone who just showed up. We only read about her here. She wasn’t famous or important in the world’s eyes. She just made sure that the poorest of people, the widows of Joppa, had clothes to wear. She was just an ordinary person showing up with her sewing skill. Sometimes I look back on my images and my writing and I am surprised that I could ever make a beautiful image or write thoughtful words. I didn’t intend to become a writer or a photographer. I struggle even to call myself those things but for right now I am just showing up. I study and practice and go to sunrises. Sometimes the images are beautiful but a lot of them I just discard. What I don’t discard is the experience of watching a new day begin. So today I write to encourage you to just show up, to be faithful, like Tablitha, with the abilities you have right now. God is always faithful to us. Prayer Lord God As you have always been faithful and shown up for me, help me to show up today in whatever task you have laid before me, trusting you to make it something of beauty. Amen
0 Comments
For the Lamb at the center of the throne will be their shepherd; It was time to go find the spring wildflowers in the mountains. As soon as I stepped on the trail this little scene greeted me, raindrops from the previous night’s rain still sitting on the leaves. They glistened as they reflected the morning sunlight catching the water that gives life to the plant.
After a long winter, spring rains bring the promise of new life to the mountains. The water on the leaves became for me a sign of hope. It reminded me of the promise in the vision of John that Jesus, both our lamb and shepherd, will lead us to springs of living water. We all have times when the sadness and hardness of life seem to leave us thirsty and parched. In those times we can trust that Jesus will lead us out of the desert to springs of living water that only he can provide. If you magnify the image and look very closely you will faintly see an image of me with my camera reflected in the raindrop. I think that we need to remember that Jesus also called us to reflect his love. Is there someone day with whom you can share a cup of living water in Jesus’s name? Prayer Lord Jesus Shepherd and Lamb, Refresh our souls with your living water and give us hope to share with others we meet this day. Amen |
Get In Touch
If you have something to share with everyone reading the blog, click on Comments to add your thoughts. Remember that your comments will be seen by anyone reading the post. If you want to just share your comments with me then click on the Contact link in the menu above. If you are looking for a particular scripture or post title then enter the word in the search box below. You can also find posts about specific topics in the Topics section.
Topics
All
Archives
March 2024
|
All the photographs in this site were taken by me. If you use or share anything from my website, please link back to this page. You are free to view and share this website by linking but I ask you not to download or redistribute anything from the site. Thanks.
Soli Deo Gloria,
1 Corinthians 10:31
© 2018, 2019, 2020, 2021, 2022, 2023, 2024 Karen Milligan
1 Corinthians 10:31
© 2018, 2019, 2020, 2021, 2022, 2023, 2024 Karen Milligan