Des Moines Photographer: Personal Post

This weekend I had the opportunity to shoot some pictures for the Mapes’ prayer cards! Through the past few years of my photography, I have always looked forward to these shoots the most; any opportunity to encourage and support missionary families is the best thing I can do with the love that God has given me for photography! The Mapes family has been so fun to get to know, especially over the past year and a half! 

Their daughter and I attended the same college last school year and she has been a huge encouragement to me – especially spiritually! Everyone needs a friend they can catch up with (or even vent on once in a while ;), and still push each other to find a solution and come away with a plan of action. (Proverbs 27:17– Iron sharpens iron, so a man sharpens the countenance of his friend).

Blooming where I’m planted. This phrase kept running through my mind as the Mapes, my trusty assistant (Mama) and I worked our way around the botanical center. (I love seeing so much green and all the gorgeous flowers/plants this time of year!) The phrase is such an easy concept, but so much harder in practice.

I cannot honestly say I’m a planner – quite the opposite actually! However, who doesn’t want to know right now what’s going to happen in the next 10 years?! Leaving future plans in God’s hands is a lesson I don’t think I’m ever going to learn completely. (Proverbs has been a very important book of the Bible to me; each summer through 6^th grade, I read through it one chapter a day. It’s a great practice if you are looking for a devo plan – there are 31 chapters, so just one a day for a month!)

Proverbs 16:9 – A man’s heart devises his way, but the Lord directs his steps.

God doesn’t reveal his entire plan for my life in one blow… He knows I can’t handle that much info, even though I think I want it! With the wisdom that God gives me, I will be able to make correct choices as they come up… even though a lot of times that means that my grand plans must change. I am glad that my heavenly Father is the one in control; all he asks me to do is follow Him in the day-to-day activities. He will do the rest… One step at a time.

All that to say, I cannot live life wishing and hoping that I was somewhere else in life. God’s plan for my life is unique! I will never be able to get this time back… no matter how much I wish and hope for the future or the past. So, enjoy every moment of life right here and now – working diligently and doing my best; trusting God for the rest!

Happy 2015!

P.S.       Keep an eye out for more pictures here on the blog and Facebook from the Mapes’ shoot!!