Ready for the Road Ahead ~ Photography, Faith, and the Art of Seeing 15
 
This year Ready for the Road Ahead is taking on a new direction.  It is one that follows the grand theme of sight in all aspects which runs throughout Scripture.  My weekly writings will be excerpts from a book of the same name which should be published (Lord willing) later this year.
 
            They say a picture’s worth a thousand words.  But the spoken words of one generation to the next were even more important in the Bible.  There are numerous records of fathers’ last words to their sons and leaders sharing their final thoughts with their people such as Jacob’s departing words to his 12 sons (Gen. 49) and Moses’ farewell speech at the border of the Promised Land (Ex. 33:1-34:8).  The Book of Proverbs also contains many admonitions to sons to continue to follow their father’s instructions and the Lord’s commands (Pr. 1:8, 10, 15; 2:1; 3:1;11:4; 4:10, 20; 5:1, 7; 6: 1, 3, 20 and more!).  If you were to survey most parents I’m sure the reason for this would be evident.  No parent wants to see their children make the same mistakes they did.  They hope that what they learned from those mistakes will be put to good use by their children.  They also want to see their children avoid the fall-out from their mistakes a sentiment expressed by the Lord Himself when He brought the Law to Moses (Ex. 34:6-7). 

            When you look at the monarchy in the Book of Kings it becomes very apparent as to how important this is and it makes the words of wisdom passed on from David to Solomon even more powerful- a picture whose thousands words are worth as many ounces of gold when it comes to passing on lessons learned from life to the next generation (Prov. 25:11).  Iain Provan said it this way, “The Book of Kings is not only a narrative about the past.  It is also a narrative that seeks to teach its readers a number of things about God and His ways.  That is, the Book of Kings tells us about Israel’s past, not so that we should become better informed about it in some abstract intellectually detached way, but so that we should learn from it (Rom. 15:4; 1 Cor. 10:11).”  Simply put David’s words (and many others’ as well) seem not only to be recorded for Solomon but for us too. 

            It is interesting to note that as David imparts his final words to Solomon he draws heavily upon the Lord’s admonition to Joshua when he assumes the mantle of leadership from Moses ( Be strong: 1 Kin. 2:2; Jos. 1:6-7, 9; Follow the Lord: 2 Kin. 2:3; Jos. 1:7; A total commitment: 2 Kin. 2:4; Jos. 1:3).   The reason for doing so is so that Solomon will prosper as king and the Lord will keep His promise to David (2 Kin. 2:3-4; Jos. 1:3; Dt. 9:5; 29:9; 2 Sam. 7:11-16).  In short David’s final words to Solomon can be divided into three segments:  What to do (vv. 1-3); Why you must do it (v. 4); and some personal requests concerning people who either helped David or opposed him during his tenure as king (vv. 5-9).  David’s “thousand words” are a picture of a life well-lived because it is completely lived for the Lord.

            I often think of my father in this respect.  He wasn’t one to specifically talk about living God’s way but you could see it in everything he did.  The week before my father died I was able to spend a lot of time with him.  Parkinson’s Disease had slowly taken over his earthly body but the father I knew and loved was still housed in that “war-torn” shell.  He slept a lot and speaking sapped him of strength so I let him rest.  I spent a lot of time remembering the things we had done together and many of the things he had done for me like building a doll house from a picture in a toy catalog, traveling to West Virginia to check out colleges because that’s where I wanted to go and the way he had stood by my mother when she struggled with alcoholism. There are many final addresses out there in cyber-world but most of us will not remember people by what they said, rather we will remember them by what they did.  David recognized that words only have authenticity if they are lived out in our lives.   In other words, our words must match the picture- that is they must agree with what people see.  My father’s words matched his picture.

            The questions before me today is, “How do I want to be remembered?    What do I want my picture to look like?”  I want my thousand words to be a reflection of Christ and a tribute to both Him and the earthly father who exemplified His love.  I want to take David’s admonitions to Solomon and apply them to my own life as I live in a way that is pleasing to the Lord.  I want my picture to be like that of my father’s; one whose words picture humor, ingenuity, unselfish love, perseverance, grace in the midst of disappointment and struggle.  I want to walk alongside the great heroes of the Faith in Hebrews 11 when I am remembered by my family and those who follow after me.  And with the Lord’s help that is exactly what my picture will say (Rom. 8:26-29; Phil. 4:13).
Ann H. LeFevre, M. Div.

https://www.annhlefevre.com; Olivetreeann@mail.com; https://www.linkedin.com/in/annhlefevre; https://www.facebook.com/ann.h.lefevre

Ready for the Road Ahead ~ Photography, Faith and the Art of Seeing 14
 
This year Ready for the Road Ahead is taking on a new direction.  It is one that follows the grand theme of sight in all aspects which runs throughout Scripture.  My weekly writings will be excerpts from a book of the same name which should be published (Lord willing) later this year.
 
            Genes, like history, have a fascinating way of repeating themselves.  I am often reminded of this when I comb through the pictures of my family.  I had taken a picture of my grandson Micah playing out in the yard with a soccer ball.  He loves to boot it around and run after it to kick it once again.  I caught a shot of him lined up to connect with his target and something about his posture triggered a memory.  When I got home I pulled out a picture of his father Christopher doing the same thing and (you guessed it) they looked identical!  I’ve seen this played out dozens of times and not just in regards to fathers and sons.  It happens with sisters, daughters, mothers, aunts, uncles and ancestors too.  I’m not sure how these things get recorded and codified into our genetic make-up but I know it’s there because I’ve seen it in my photos.  The Bible recognizes patterns are a part of life too (Ps. 19:1-6; Ecc. 3:1-2).  But perhaps even more important are the patterns set forth within in families.  

            As the Bible moves from the period of the Judges to the time of settlement several figures and their sons emerge in the center of the story who are the epitome of pattern makers and pattern breakers.  The first two figures are Eli the High Priest and Samuel, the last judge of Israel.  While Samuel was imposing and a force to be reckoned with Eli was a weak and ineffective High Priest but neither of them produced sons that were worthy to carry on the office of their father.  Highlights of Eli’s story can be found here: 1 Sam. 1:1-20; 2:12-36; 4:1-11 and Samuel’s can be found here: 1 Sam. 3:1-21; 8:1-5.  Two fathers, two similar patterns; sadly each ending in death.  The morally corrupt condition of Samuel’s sons actually helps to perpetuate the people’s desire for a king.  But a king is no guarantee that your leadership will be better.  In fact Saul and David prove an interesting point.  Saul was the popular choice of the people but his character traits were questionable (1 Sam. 9:1-2; 10:20-24).  David was popular as well and had a stronger moral fiber within (1 Sam. 16:12; 17:33-36;42; Ps. 108:1; 138:1).  One would think David’s children would follow a pattern of greatness like David and Saul’s children would follow the disappointing pattern of their father Saul.  If we were to apply the statistics of today, we’d be correct. But that is not what happened!  David’s children were a mess.  One of David’s sons even tried to murder his father and take the throne (2 Sam. 15:18; 16:5-12).  Somewhere in their genetic code David’s “heart” was lost on his children.  That was not the case with Saul’s son Jonathan.  If anything he is the complete opposite of his father.  He was loyal, smart and faithful not only to his friend, the future king, David (1 Sam. 18:1-5) but also to his father even when Saul was plotting to destroy David.  In the end Jonathan gave his life in service to his father, who also died in the same battle (1 Sam. 31:1-6), foreshadowing in a small way another Son who would also give His life in service to His Father (Jn. 8:28; Gal. 1:4; Phil. 2:8).

            Sometimes I look at a photo and feel the pattern is appealing, but every once and a while I see a pattern in a photo I’m creating and think, “This pattern needs to be broken”.   Breaking an artistic pattern is as simple as turning one object a different way or playing with the size, shape, color or lines of our subject.   Breaking life patterns requires us to first recognize the unhealthy pattern and then determine how to change it.  Thankfully we can look at a Biblical person like Jonathan and see that this kind of change is possible.  Perhaps even more convincing is the succession of kings in Judah.  Take a look at these 4 generations and see what you think (2 Kin. 18-21; 21:1-18, 19-26; 22:1-23:27).

            I think it’s sad that many believers never read the Old Testament.  It is filled with stories like this that offer such hope.  You may have a pattern in your life that you’re under the impression you’re destined to follow.  But Josiah would tell you that is not the case!  If we are seeing life through the viewfinder of faith, we know it is completely possible to break a pattern.  There is a Helper who has all the tools we need to do so (Jn. 14:6, 26) and thanks to Him we are a completely new person (2 Cor. 5:17).  Christ is in the business of pattern breaking.  Just ask the Samaritan woman or the woman caught in adultery how Christ can change a life sunk in an unhealthy pattern (Jn. 4:1-42; 8:1-11).  Christ completely changed their individual patterns.  He will do the same for you if you let Him (Rev. 21:5).

Ann H. LeFevre, M. Div.

https://www.annhlefevre.com; Olivetreeann@mail.com; https://www.linkedin.com/in/annhlefevre; https://www.facebook.com/ann.h.lefevre

Ready for the Road Ahead ~ Photography, Faith and the Art of Seeing 13
 
This year Ready for the Road Ahead is taking on a new direction.  It is one that follows the grand theme of sight in all aspects which runs throughout Scripture.  My weekly writings will be excerpts from a book of the same name which should be published (Lord willing) later this year.
 
            Jeff and I were attending a wedding where the reception was being held in a beautiful ballroom.  As is the custom after the meal the bride and groom took to the dance floor to share their first dance as husband and wife.  The guests were invited to form a circle around and on a whim I grabbed my camera and brought it to the dance floor.  I watched the wedding photographer find a low spot with a nice angle and snapped a quick picture of the scene.  It was easy to see all the love surrounding the couple on their special day.

            It could be argued that the Book of Ruth is one of the Bible’s grandest love stories.  Ruth’s love is shown in her willingness to follow Naomi back to Bethlehem.  It would have been acceptable for her to do as Orpah did and return to her family.  In spite of the fact that she will be considered an outsider in Bethlehem Ruth chooses to accompany Naomi.  This was a monumental sacrifice.  Staying with her family offered Ruth some security.  Naomi could guarantee none of that.  But in what are probably some of the most beautiful words of love in the Bible Ruth declares her intent to stay with Naomi (Ruth 1:16-17).  That sacrificial love leads her to gleaning in a field where she catches the attention of Boaz.  Ruth’s sacrificial devotion is rewarded with the same kind of love from Boaz who seeks to marry Ruth after settling a debt issue with the relative who has “first rights” to Elimelech’s land (Lev. 25: 25, 48-49).  In a sense Boaz sacrifices himself for Ruth in that a son from their union will carry on Elimelech’s name and not his own.

            I believe that Ruth, Boaz and Naomi were real people in a real place at a real time.  This story is not just some fairy tale like Cinderella or Snow White.  It really happened.  I also believe that the story of Ruth is a “type”, in essence a Biblical story that mirrors a spiritual truth and foreshadows something even greater.  In this way the real people symbolize a character or attribute of God Himself or humanity or both.  Ruth and Boaz both demonstrate the character and attributes of God in the way that they demonstrate self-sacrificing love.  Ruth pledges herself to Naomi and claims her people and her God to be the same as Naomi’s.  What better picture of Christ than this?  John 1:14 says The Word, that is Christ, became flesh and dwelled with us.  He became one of His people so that we could be His people (John 1:9-13).  Boaz also demonstrated the self-sacrificing love of Christ by giving himself and his resources to her in marriage.  Philippians 2: 5-11 tells us that Christ took on the form of humanity, forsaking His glory in order to be counted as one of us. He didn’t have to do that.  Jesus could have refused to go to the Cross but for the love of us, He gave up His life so that we might live (Jn. 10:11-15; 15:12-13; 1 Jn. 3:16). 

            But what about Naomi?  Who does she represent in this story?  I believe she is a picture of you and me.  We often base our general feelings about life on what we see just as Naomi did.  And we are no different in only seeing what we lack or seeking solutions from our own experience rather than trusting in God.  Like Naomi we are prone to not seeing God at work in our circumstances.  She never saw His guidance and protection which also used the conventions of the day to bring her and Ruth in contact with Boaz.  She didn’t see any of that until she held that grandchild in her arms.  Then she saw what the Lord had been doing all along.  How often do we do the same?  We are so focused on what we do have or what we don’t have that we fail to recognize the all-encompassing love of God (Jn. 3:16-17).  

            I have heard many stories over the years of couples who knew from the first glance that they had found “the one” they would marry.  That was not necessarily the case for Jeff and I but I do remember once during our friendship in high school thinking, “I wouldn’t mind spending the rest of my life with him”.  There was a lot of time that passed between that fleeting thought and the reality of our wedding day but it’s as close to “love at first sight” that I can get in my own love story.  The Bible tells me there is an even greater love story that has taken place between God and His creation and the central figure is Christ.  When Christ saw you and I it was love at first sight and He went to great lengths to make sure we’d be together forever (Eph. 5:1-2; 1 Thes. 4:16-17).

Ann H. LeFevre, M. Div.
https://www.annhlefevre.com; Olivetreeann@mail.com; https://www.linkedin.com/in/annhlefevre; https://www.facebook.com/ann.h.lefevre

Ready for the Road Ahead- Photography, Faith and the Art of Seeing 12
 
This year Ready for the Road Ahead is taking on a new direction.  It is one that follows the grand theme of sight in all aspects which runs throughout Scripture.  My weekly writings will be excerpts from a book of the same name which should be published (Lord willing) later this year.
 
            Although it sounds strange there is a certain amount of seeing that goes on with one’s equipment even before the picture is taken.  You have to see that it’s well-maintained and properly cared for so that when your finger hits the shutter the camera takes the picture the way you want it to.  Camera manufacturers will tell you the best way to do this.  However if you decide not to follow their instructions the resulting effects are on your shoulders if the camera breaks down.  You can complain all you want, but no manufacturer will honor the warranty if you’re the one who caused the problem.  Thankfully God is much more gracious in these matters and the Book of Judges is a prime example of that.

            If there ever was a life that was filled with all the wrong choices it could be argued that Samson holds the title.  When he was born his mother dedicated him to the Lord but as a young adult Samson headed in the completely opposite direction.  He was compulsive, impetuous, quick-tempered and lustful.  The only thread of obedience to God’s law he continued to follow was the Nazarite requirement of not cutting his hair (Num. 6:1-8).  But all that changed when he became enamored with a woman named Delilah.  Delilah eventually discovered that the key to Samson’s amazing strength was his hair (although it was merely a symbol of the power God bestowed upon him).  Delilah figured out a way to cut Samson’s hair without him knowing it and rendered Samson powerless against his foes.  They gouged out Samson’s eyes and threw him in prison.  After all those years of following after whatever he saw Samson could no longer see anything.  Apparently his captors were quite smug about their victory and never bothered to keep that hair trimmed while they held him captive.  I believe two things happened while Samson was their prisoner.  The first and most natural event was that his hair grew back.  But the second and more important was most likely a great deal of personal reflection.  In that dank and disgusting prison of captivity God birthed a new passion in Samson.  Not the passions that drove Samson for the bulk of his life, but a passion to restore and bring honor to God’s Name through his life.  His final prayer before “bringing down the house” was that his sight be avenged.  It carries a double meaning of both physical and spiritual sight and God honors his request (Jud. 13-16).  The men who took away Samson’s sight lose theirs as well (as well as their lives) and in the final act of his life Samson causes his enemies to see that God is the ultimate Judge.

            Even though everything eventually breaks down according to the Law of Entropy and life seems to have some sort of natural planned obsolescence, nature also proves that life can spring forth out of decay.  I’m always fascinated with what ends up growing out of the wood which has been cut and stacked for our wood burning stove.  One would think that since it’s no longer attached to a living tree it would have no value other than to use as fuel.  But somehow little spores and sprouts manage to gain some nutrients from those logs and if I’m inspecting the wood for a photo opportunity I can often find little mushrooms or plants popping up in the softer spots.  To me they become a symbol of how God can cause growth in those times when I recognize my poor eyesight has put me in a spot of death and decay.  Just like the people in the Book of Judges I have done things in the way I think is right but it’s only brought me to a place of oppression (Jud. 16:5).  I cry out to the Lord for help.  The Great Deliverer answers me by pushing up a new sprout out of that soft spot.  Like the prolific psalmist David I could name countless times the Lord has done this.  He is compassionate beyond measure (Ps. 18; 28; 34; 40 and more!).

            When I look at those little plants pushing their way up through the decaying wood on my wood pile and think about the transformation in the life of Samson I’m encouraged.  My vision may be impaired from time to time as seen by my poor choices, but my God is also loving and forgiving.  I know that He can take those places of decay and death and bring them to life because I’ve seen Him do it numerous times before.  No matter how many times I’ve failed He never has.  His warranty of forgiveness and compassion is everlasting.  I’ll take that kind of warranty any time (Rom. 6:15-19; 17:21-25; 1 Cor. 15:50-57; 2 Cor. 14-16; Rev. 21:5-7)!
Ann H. LeFevre, M. Div.

https://www.annhlefevre.com; Olivetreeann@mail.com; https://www.linkedin.com/in/annhlefevre; https://www.facebook.com/ann.h.lefevre

Ready for the Road Ahead ~ Photography, Faith and the Art of Seeing 11
 
This year Ready for the Road Ahead is taking on a new direction.  It is one that follows the grand theme of sight in all aspects which runs throughout Scripture.  My weekly writings will be excerpts from a book of the same name which should be published (Lord willing) later this year.
 
            I’ve been blessed to travel to Israel three times.  I traveled there to study the land of the Bible which truly was a gift from God.  On my first trip I earned the distinction of the student who took the most pictures- EVER!  I was still using my 35mm SLR camera then and brought home 36 rolls of pictures!  When the opportunity came up to return to Israel during my seminary studies I decided it was to my advantage to look into a simple digital camera.  I had heard that digital cameras could hold hundreds of pictures.  So I invested in an inexpensive Sony Cybershot and a memory card that I was told could hold up to 7,000 pictures.  But, as is typical of a lot of us, I never really bothered to read the manual that came with the camera.  All I wanted to know was which button to push to record the picture!  I had originally thought I’d just bring the Cybershot on my trip, but gut instinct had me packing my SLR camera and a few rolls of film “just in case”.  It’s a good thing I did.  After about 30 pictures, the Cybershot informed me the memory stick was “full”.  What?!  I remember sitting on the tour bus looking at the camera and thinking that this dilemma was a complete mystery.  Why I decided to leave the manual home is beyond me.  Because of that poor decision I had no way of figuring out what the issue was until I returned home and the review screen was so small I was afraid to erase any pictures I’d taken for fear of deleting something important.  But the camera refused to take any more pictures unless I deleted something.  It wasn’t until I returned home that I learned of my erroneous assumption.  Who knew that if I wanted thousands of digital pictures I needed to adjust the way the camera recorded them?  I had a lot to learn about digital photography and lesson #1 was always read the camera manual!
  
          The Book of Leviticus contains many of God’s “rules” but instead of being a master list of all the things we should and shouldn’t do, it is more like an instruction manual that aids us in getting the best out life.  God’s manual emphasizes 6 principles that illustrate our relationship with Him.  The first is that God is righteous and He requires restitution for wrong thus the sacrificial system was inaugurated to accomplish this (Lev. 1-10).  That system became obsolete with Christ’s sacrificial death on the cross (Heb. 7:27; 9:11-14).  The second principle is that a perfect and holy God cannot be recklessly approached by imperfect people without the sacrificial shedding of blood (Lev. 11-15).  Thanks to Christ, who acts as our Mediator, we can now approach God without fear through His blood which was shed on the cross (Heb. 10:19-22).  The third is that Israel’s covenant relationship with God had to be renewed on a yearly basis since the blood of animals was only a temporary solution to the eternal problem of sin.  The Day of Atonement was designated as that day (Lev. 16-17).  Christ offered a permanent solution to the eternal problem of sin to all who believe in the atoning work of His death on the cross (Rom. 3:21-25; Heb. 2:14-17; 9:23-28; 1 Jn. 2:1-2; 4:10).  Fourth, God is holy, therefore the way we live in covenant with Him must reflect that (Lev. 18-22; 27).  Jesus said our obedience to God’s instructions truly demonstrate how much we love Him and the Father (Jn. 14: 15, 21, 23) and James took note that if obedience was not evident in a person’s life their faith was most likely dead (Js. 2:18-26).  The fifth principle recognizes that God and only God is to be worshipped and recognized as the One who is active in human history (Lev. 23-25) a fact recounted in numerous psalms and many of the sermons in the Book of Acts (Ps. 68; 78; 105; 106; 111; 114; 135; 136; 149; Acts 2:14-36; 7:2-54; 13: 13-43).  And finally, obedience to God’s Law (i.e. rules) bring blessings to His covenant people (Lev. 26).   Blessing from a life of obedience is not a form of bribery that God uses to entice people to obey Him but a demonstration of God’s eagerness to bestow good things on those who love Him (Lev. 25: 18-19; Dt. 4: 30-31; 6:3; 11:26-28; 28:30).  Disobedience not only deprives God of this pleasure but inevitably causes pain and suffering on the part of the believer who strays off God’s path (Gal. 5: 16-25).  When I see those early pictures taken in Israel on the Cybershot they are vibrant and rich but I would have had so many more if I’d read the instructions.  They have become a great reminder that it’s even more important to read God’s manual too.

Ann H. LeFevre, M. Div.
https://www.annhlefevre.com; Olivetreeann@mail.com; https://www.linkedin.com/in/annhlefevre; https://www.facebook.com/ann.h.lefevre

Ready for the Road Ahead ~ Photography, Faith and the Art of Seeing 10
 
This year Ready for the Road Ahead is taking on a new direction.  It is one that follows the grand theme of sight in all aspects which runs throughout Scripture.  My weekly writings will be excerpts from a book of the same name which should be published (Lord willing) later this year.
 
            I confess there are times when I take pictures that are bad.  Really!  They’re out of focus, the horizon is tilted, the composition is poor and it’s usually due to the fact that I took the picture too quickly without paying attention to the details.  Most of the time I delete them.  But every now and then I like to challenge myself to make something out of one of those horrible shots.  This involves lots of time playing in my photo processing program until the finished product looks nothing like what it started out as.  Sometimes I will share the results with other photographers and ask, “What do you think you’re looking at?”  Not too many are able to figure it out.  It never appears to look exactly like what it was but these fun adventures in photo processing have taught me that life can look that way too and the Bible is full of stories that prove it.
   
         The ancient city of Jericho had a long-standing history by the time the people of Israel began the conquest of the Promised Land.  Due to its strategic location, this walled city was destroyed and rebuilt several times before Joshua and his army set eyes on it.  By Joshua’s time the “wall” was actually a double wall.  You can still see the remains of this massive defense system when you visit Israel today.  It takes a little doing, but using your imagination one can see how formidable Jericho must have looked to the people of Israel.  They had spent the last 40 years wandering around the wilderness area on the other side of the Jordan River.  Word comes from the Lord on how to take the city but I’m sure a few eyebrows were raised when it was revealed that the plan involved only shofars and walking!  But archaeology proves what the Bible claims- the wall came down.  It really came down!  Interestingly, one section remained intact.  Now I wondered why that happened?!  (Jos. 6:1-27).

            A similar situation arose during the ministry of Jesus (Jn. 11:1-44).  Jesus had been on the road ministering to and healing the sick.  While he was away his friend and follower Lazarus of Bethany had taken ill and died.  A message for Jesus to come and heal Lazarus had not reached Jesus in time so that when the Lord arrived in Bethany the days of mourning were almost over.  Lazarus’ sisters greeted Jesus in their typically opposite fashion but both took note that if Jesus had arrived earlier Lazarus may not have died.  Neither sister knew Jesus’ understanding of his friend’s death.  But Jesus had already told his disciples the reason.  “This sickness is not to end in death, but for the glory of God, so that the Son of Man may be glorified in it” (Jn. 11:4).  The scene moves to the graveside where all the mourners and family believe Jesus has come to express His sorrow but instead Jesus asks them, “What are you looking at?” (only in “my” verison!).  The tomb is not an ending; it is merely a testimony to the One who has power over life and death.

            Life is full of “Jerichos”; those double-walled times when whatever we face seems insurmountable.  I find myself standing and staring at them just as I did when I actually stood in Jericho looking at that famous wall.  They seem massive and well-built, and I am a little rag-tag army who has spent most of her life roaming in the wilderness.  But just as archaeology has supported the Biblical account of Jericho’s fall, past events in my life prove that God is more than able to see that those walls will come down.  It is inevitable that life will also bring you to a tomb.  It may appear that “the picture:” is bad or a dream is dead, but when Jesus puts it into the photo processing program, you’ll be amazed by what He turns out.  The Bible is filled with people who saw God do amazing things in the face of insurmountable obstacles.  Here are just a few:  Ex. 14:5-31; 2 Ki. 6:8-23; Mt. 14: 13-21; 17:24-27; Lk. 7:11-17.  There was no greater obstacle than the one Jesus faced in conquering sin and death.  But the Resurrection proves He was able to overcome what seemed to be impossible (Jn. 20:1-18).  There is no Jericho that God cannot break through.  There is no tomb that can stop Him.  If you are facing “a wall” in your life right now or “a tomb”, take heart!  Thanks to Jesus, that wall is going down and the tomb is an event in your life designed to glorify Jesus!  So, what are you looking at?

Ann H. LeFevre, M. Div.
https://www.annhlefevre.com; Olivetreeann@mail.com; https://www.linkedin.com/in/annhlefevre; https://www.facebook.com/ann.h.lefevre

Ready for the Road Ahead ~ Photography, Faith and the Art of Seeing 9
 
This year Ready for the Road Ahead is taking on a new direction.  It is one that follows the grand theme of sight in all aspects which runs throughout Scripture.  My weekly writings will be excerpts from a book of the same name which should be published (Lord willing) later this year.
 
            When our boys were young we didn’t have a lot of money for family vacations so we became very creative in how we took them.  We called our vacations “mystery trips”.  While Jeff kept the boys occupied I would pack the car with the necessary items and then we would announce we were going for a drive.  Most of the time our trips were picnics at the park or going to the DQ for an ice cream.  The best ones though involved an overnight stay near the beach.  We’d get up, have breakfast and load them into the car as if we were going to the supermarket or some place local.  But when we passed by all the usual stomping grounds and headed on to the highway the excitement level would rise in the back seat and the inevitable question, “Where are we going Mom?” would be asked.  “It’s a mystery!” I’d reply and our sons would then proceed to look for clues as to our destination.
    
        The Bible is full of people who set out on journeys to unknown locations- at least unknown to most of them.  Perhaps the grandest journey of them all was the trip taken by the entire nation of Israel when they left Egypt and headed out to the Promised Land.   Ex. 2: 25 says that God “saw the sons of Israel and took notice of them” because the burden of their slavery was so great.   He selects a unique man to be His liaison.  Born a Hebrew, raised in the Egyptian courts and self-exiled to Midian during his young adulthood, Moses was about to lead a nation “home” although none of them had ever been there!  His genetic connection put him on par with the people.  His knowledge of Egyptian protocol helped to maneuver the request to leave before the ruling pharaoh.  And his experience in the wilderness would help to guide the nation through that vast area which separated them from the land of promise.  This was going to be the ultimate mystery trip!
 
           I love to take pictures when I go on a trip.  Those snapshots help to remind me of the special sights and sounds I experienced on that journey.  Although the Israelites did not have pictures in a scrapbook or photos saved in their iPhones many Scriptures provide snapshots of the Wilderness Mystery Trip for us to “see”.  Those pictures are not always flattering.  While the people did see the Lord work in amazing ways, the Lord also saw some pretty selfish and disobedient behavior on the part of the people.  They complained and grumbled about the food and water, the accommodations, leadership and more (Ex. 15:22-27; 16:1-3; 17:1-3; Num. 12:1-16; 16:3; 20:2-3).  As a result some of their snapshots include several plagues (Ex. 32:35; Num. 16:41), the ground opening up and swallowing the rebellious (Num. 16:31), fire (Num. 11:1-3; 16:35) and venomous snakes when they complained about life if the desert (Num. 21:4-8).  They even complained about the manna (Num. 11:4-6)!   And yet in spite of their pitiful behavior, God still led them through the wilderness and once that disbelieving generation had passed, He brought them to the border of Canaan with this admonition from Moses, “Remember all the way which the Lord your God has led you in the wilderness these 40 years, that He might humble you, to know what is in your heart, whether you would keep His commandments or not.” (Dt. 8:2).
 
           Our travels along this road we call life can certainly have its twists and turns.  It can appear to be an open highway stretching out forever only to be stopped by unexpected construction and lane closures.  It can have bumps and detours which jar the spine and make us wish our car had better suspension yet suddenly bring us to a scenic overlook with a spectacular view that makes the rough road worthwhile.  As much as we try to plan for it or map out a better route, there is really only one thing we can be sure of- no matter where the road goes, the Lord has taken us on this journey to see what’s in our heart.  The question is that when we look at the pictures of our journey and where it is taking us, will we complain about the food, the water, the desert surroundings or the people in our lives?  Or will we move forward confidently knowing that our “mystery trip” is no mystery to the Good Shepherd who knows exactly where we should go?

Ann H. LeFevre, M. Div.
https://www.annhlefevre.com; Olivetreeann@mail.com; https://www.linkedin.com/in/annhlefevre; https://www.facebook.com/ann.h.lefevre

Photography, Faith and the Art of Seeing 8

This year Ready for the Road Ahead is taking on a new direction.  It is one that follows the grand theme of sight in all aspects which runs throughout Scripture.  My weekly writings will be excerpts from a book of the same name which should be published (Lord willing) later this year.
 
            Photography is an art built on two main components- light and sight.  Without some form of light and its interaction with the subject pictures would not exist.  Sight involves an observant eye to notice and discern what will be worthy of someone’s attention.  Good photographers are constantly on the lookout for interesting things to photograph.  Most of the time they will take pictures of the typical things which inspire and are beautiful: a sunrise or sunset, children, majestic vistas or flowers to name a few of the more common subject matters.  But great photographers are the ones who see more than just the typical things of beauty.  Sometimes they see an object that others would not necessarily deem beautiful but thanks to their particular vision is something that is now deserving of another look.
            God is not in the business of seeing objects or people in the same way we do.  The Old Testament is replete with people chosen by God who would probably never live up to our standards for leadership.  Moses was a murderer.  Gideon was a coward.  Jacob was a liar and a cheater.  But “odd” leadership choices are not limited to the Old Testament.  Most of the disciples were not “religious” people.  Peter, Andrew, James and John were business owners in the fishing industry (Mt. 4:18-22; Lk.5:1-11; Jn. 1:35-42).  One disciple was a political activist, another a skeptic (Lk. 6:12-16; Jn. 1: 43-51), and one a despised tax collector (Mt. 2:14-17; Lk. 5:27-32).  They were not the kind of people you and I would choose to begin a ministry but they were the people Jesus called. 
            I had been leading a study series on the Tabernacle when I stumbled upon a unique passage.  What struck me about this passage was the definitive way the Lord identified a particular man to design and oversee the construction of the Tabernacle and the nature of that identification (Ex. 4:1-4 and following).  What struck me first of all was how Bezalel’s lineage was so specific.  The second aspect of this identification also impressed me.  Bezalel had been given a special infusion of “the Spirit of God”.  If Bezalel was a photographer, he would not just be taking pictures of the sunrise over Israel’s wilderness camp he’d be taking pictures of unique subject matter just like me.  The Lord is quite clear that Bezalel is more than your average artisan and just so Moses doesn’t miss it the Lord says to Moses, “SEE”.  While the verb is basically what you would expect, the literal action of seeing with the eyes, it can also include the idea of giving attention to something (Jer. 2:31) or to take heed (Ex. 10:10).  In other words the Lord was saying, “Don’t miss this!”  He was encouraging Moses to see Bezalel in the same way as the Lord saw him.
            The Bible is quite clear that the Lord sees all His children this way.  He has given each a unique personality, character, set of skills and one or more spiritual gifts.  We no longer have to be specially equipped to fulfill His calling in our lives as Bezalel was.  From the moment we trust Christ as our Savior that Spirit has taken up residence in us so that now He is an active part of all that we do.  And DOING is what He wants from us.  We may not be called to evangelize unknown territories or run ministries but each of us is called to use what we have, where we are, whenever we can.  Several passages encourage us to do everything, even the most mundane actions, for the Lord (Mt. 5:16; 1 Cor. 10:31; Col. 3:17, 23-24).   He may call and empower me to do something great like He did with Esther (Est. 4:13-14) or He may use me in simpler ways (Ecc. 4:9-10), but by His Spirit I am fully equipped to do anything He asks me to do.
            If I truly believe that God not only sees but knows my potential, then I must believe He sees the same in others.  But do I?  Scripture admonishes us to encourage one another (1 Thes. 5:11; Heb. 3:13) but am I doing that?  I can grab my camera and see beauty in rusty chains and dilapidated buildings.  But am I mindful that people can be the same?  Their rusty spots and peeling paint are things of beauty that the Lord is about to use to bring glory to Himself.  Like Moses, I must listen when the Lord says, “SEE, I have called (Bezalel) and put My Spirit in them” because His camera sees the greatest pictures of all.  And I should know- I’m one of them.  So, why not others too?
Ann H. LeFevre, M. Div.
https://www.annhlefevre.com; Olivetreeann@mail.com; https://www.linkedin.com/in/annhlefevre; https://www.facebook.com/ann.h.lefevre
 

Photography, Faith, and the Art of Seeing 7

This year Ready for the Road Ahead is taking on a new direction.  It is one that follows the grand theme of sight in all aspects which runs throughout Scripture.  My weekly writings will be excerpts from a book of the same name which should be published (Lord willing) later this year.
 
            Our God is a God who takes pleasure in revealing things to His Creation.  In fact, His creation is the starting point of revelation (Rom. 1:20).  He continued revealing Himself to people and to the nation of Israel in both personal and miraculous ways (Gen. 5:21-24; Ex. 13:17-22; 33:18-23; Jos. 5:13-6:2; Is. 6:1-4 and many more!).  It is not really difficult to see God this way.  If you are a person of faith God is truly apparent in creation when you stand before something as majestic and powerful as Niagara Falls.  It is also not difficult to see God at work in history when you read the story of the Exodus and acknowledge that God is still at work in the preservation of the nation of Israel today.  It is also “easy” to see God directing the prophets or having a special relationship with a person such as Enoch.  But what about “seeing God at work” in our personal stories?  Do we readily see Him when He reveals Himself in our lives?  Most of us would be able to do so when things are going well.  It is one thing to recognize that God is at work under pleasant circumstances and happy coincidences.  It is another to see Him molding and shaping us in adversity and then to acknowledge it was all “part of the plan”.  But oftentimes those times of stress and disappointment are the times that God is most revealing.
  
          Some of my photographs have come to illustrate this quite vividly in an artistic way.  I might decide a picture is not good, but think, “What if I played with this in the computer a bit?”  And what is revealed after some twisting, cropping, color adjusting and effect applying is a hidden beauty that was always there and couldn’t be discovered without the processing it went through.  I have come to see the times when I am discouraged and disappointed in the same way.  If not for all the twisting, cropping, color adjusting and effect applying that God puts me through, I might not see Him at work in my life at all.
 
           I don’t think there was a person in the Bible who understood this lesson better than Joseph (Gen.  37:1-36; 39:1-45:8 and following).   The Bible does not tell us about all the thoughts that must have gone through Joseph’s head when he was betrayed by his brothers, falsely accused by his master’s wife or waiting for the cup-bearer to bring up his case before Pharaoh.  But I am certain that many of those thoughts questioned God as to why He was letting these things happen to Joseph!  However the years of disappointment and discouragement brought Joseph to this conclusion: “God sent me before you to preserve for you a remnant in the earth, and to keep you alive by a great deliverance.  Now, therefore, it was not you who sent me here, but God…” (Gen. 45:7-8) he tells his astonished family when they are reunited.  The disappointments and discouraging moments of his life have taught Joseph one unavoidable truth: God puts all these experiences in our lives and He works them accordingly to fulfill His will (Rom. 8:28).  Joseph saw God at work in his life so that he could be there at that very moment to preserve both his family and his people.
       
     Paul’s passion for spreading the Gospel hardly goes unnoticed as you read through the Book of Acts so when his efforts to travel eastward were thwarted I’m sure it was disappointing for the evangelist.  Instead of traveling beyond Bythinia into Asia Paul ends up in Troas where he sees a man from Macedonia pleading for help (Acts 16:6-10).  This causes Paul and his entourage to pack up and arrive in Philippi where his ministry flourishes.  To this day the Philippian Church is held up as one the best examples of the early Christian community and the powerful way the Gospel can change both people and the world they live in (Acts 16:11-40).  But none of this would have happened if Paul had remained discouraged and ignored what God had revealed to him in his dream.
  
          When it appears another disappointment has placed itself on my path- whether it is a bad photo or a blocked course of action- I’ve come to realize that it is a time to ask, “What if?”  What if God is trying to teach me something about Himself in this situation?  What if He has a better plan somewhere else?  What if this disappointment is actually a blessing in disguise?  What if I can serve Him more fully through this disappointment than if I had achieved success from the start?  What will your “What if?” questions be?  More importantly, when God reveals the answer, will you see it?

Ann H. LeFevre, M. Div.
https://www.annhlefevre.com; Olivetreeann@mail.com; https://www.linkedin.com/in/annhlefevre; https://www.facebook.com/ann.h.lefevre

Photography, Faith, and the Art of Seeing 6
 
This year Ready for the Road Ahead is taking on a new direction.  It is one that follows the grand theme of sight in all aspects which runs throughout Scripture.  My weekly writings will be excerpts from a book of the same name which should be published (Lord willing) later this year.
 
            The church I grew up in has always been my idea of a sacred place.  As a little girl I loved sitting in the sanctuary and looking at the sunlight streaming in through the stained glass windows which cast a rainbow of colors on the floors and walls.  The wooden pews must have been polished frequently because they always had a beautiful sheen to them.  And then there was the pipe organ!  If played full-force the thundering bass notes could shake the rafters.  We were blessed with several talented organists who graced us with the music of Bach and Handel on a regular basis.  My son’s church is nothing like this.  It is more like a theater with its light show and powerhouse sound system.  The worship band is just as talented as the organists I grew up with, but I confess that when the lights go down, and the smoke machine puts a mist about the singers, I feel more as if I’m at a concert than in a worship service.  But a glance around the room tells me I’m the minority.  I might not think of it as sacred space, but some do.

            Photography has brought me to some unexpectedly sacred places as well.  One Easter Sunday morning I woke much earlier than I usually do.  The sun was just beginning to peek through the trees in my woodsy backyard and I noticed there was a mist on the ground.  It was calling for me to grab my camera and take some pictures. I stopped and took a moment to appreciate the beauty.  Suddenly a thought came to mind.  Was this the kind of morning that greeted Mary Magdalene and the other women as they walked to the tomb?  I don’t know how it did, but my backyard became a sacred space.

            Having encountered God in different places that have made me aware of His presence in my life I do not find it unusual that the likes of Jacob (Gen. 28:20), Moses (Ex. 3:1-6), a centurion at the foot of the cross (Mt. 27:45-54) and a woman named Mary Magdalene (Jn. 20:11-18) encountered God in significant locations.  What does surprise me is that the same Lord Jacob saw at the top of His staircase no longer feels obligated to “reside” in a building He now resides in me.   I don’t know how I became sacred space, but the Bible says that I did the moment I accepted Christ as my Savior (1 Cor. 6:19-20).

            Of course when I think of all those places where I have felt His presence or the stories in the Bible where men and women have seen the Lord face to face, I usually think of something beyond the confines of the human body.  Paul’s words in 2 Cor. 4:7 become more and more powerful to me as my “earthen vessel” gets closer and closer to going back to the earth.  However the Lord is never limited by my limitations and through the words of Paul He has made it known that this jar of clay still has the potential to exhibit His power which is all the more reason to make sure I take the best care of it as I can.  I don’t know why He decided to do this, but the Lord has made me a sacred space.
 
           The evening had been particularly draining.  I left the dorm room of two friends who were at odds with each other and went to pray in the sanctuary of the church.  I don’t know how much time passed before, spent and saddened I lifted up my head.  My eyes were immediately drawn to the front of the sanctuary where light which passed through a side window was falling on the cross on the altar as if I was in a theater and someone from the tech crew was aiming a spotlight on it.  No matter what happened from this point on, the Lord reassured me that I had acted as His child and suddenly the whole room seemed to change.  I knew He was there- in the sanctuary and in me.  What had started as a place of refuge had become a sacred space.  I don’t know how Jesus did it, but He did.

Ann H. LeFevre, M. Div.
https://www.annhlefevre.com; Olivetreeann@mail.com; https://www.linkedin.com/in/annhlefevre; https://www.facebook.com/ann.h.lefevre