Focus

"Therefore, since we are surrounded by such a great cloud of witnesses, let us throw off everything that hinders and the sin that so easily entangles, and let us run with perseverance the race marked out for us. Let us fix our eyes on Jesus, the author and perfecter of our faith, who for the joy set before him endured the cross, scorning its shame, and sat down at the right hand of the throne of God." -- Hebrews 12:1,2 (NIV)

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Cats have an amazing ability to focus on an object of interest. They may turn their ears towards other things around them to stay alert to what's going on, but they rarely avert their eyes if they're really interested. Sometimes, seemingly for no apparent reason to us humans, cats will suddenly sprint across the room towards whatever they were so fixated on until they "capture it".

Somewhere deep inside of my heart I have that kind of zeal for God. The problem is that my mind is more in control of me than my heart. I am very easily distracted by the things around me. Even though they are garbage compared to what God has for me, they seem so appealing in the moment and I allow my attention to be drawn away from God. None of the things I choose to focus on are bad or ungodly necessarily, but don't I owe it to God to keep my eyes fixed on Him? Jesus came and He died so that I could live without shame and I spend so much of my time ignoring Him!

Lord, forgive me! Give me the ability to focus on You with all of my heart and with all of my mind in the midst of my daily activities. Help me "run with perseverance the race marked out for" me. I pray that my heart, my mind and all of my senses would be open and alert to You.

photos (c) 2006 by DKF

Sleep

"I will lie down and sleep in peace,
for you alone, O LORD,
make me dwell in safety. "

-- Psalm 4:8 (NIV)
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Thank you, Lord for the peace and rest that Your continued faithfulness gives me. Help me to be faithful to You in everything I do.

photo (c) 2006 by DKF

Light

"If I say, 'Surely the darkness will hide me and the light become night around me,' even the darkness will not be dark to you; the night will shine like the day, for darkness is as light to you."

-- Psalm 139:11,12 (NIV)

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I lift up my praises to you, Lord! Thank you that you indeed are Light, even in the darkest caves and caverns of life. Help me keep my eyes open so I can stop living in the darkness that I sometimes choose to dwell in!

photo (c) 2006 by DKF

My Meditation

"May the glory of the LORD endure forever;
may the LORD rejoice in his works-

he who looks at the earth, and it trembles,
who touches the mountains, and they smoke.

I will sing to the LORD all my life;
I will sing praise to my God as long as I live.

May my meditation be pleasing to him,
as I rejoice in the LORD."

-- Psalm 104:31-34 (NIV)

photo (c) 2006 by DKF

From the Core

Volcanic lava rising
From the core
Is heating up this mountain
With new found
Passion and joy
Melting the
Statue-like ice caps
Mobilizing rivers of
Life and Love to flow
Down into dry
Desolate valleys
Birthing new
Succulent fruit and
Reviving withered souls

poem (c) 2005 by DKF
photo (c) 2006 by DKF

Blue Hues

photos (c) 2006 by DKF

Thy Word

"Your word is a lamp to my feet and a light to my path... Your testimonies I have taken as a heritage forever, for they are the rejoicing of my heart."
-- Psalm 119:105, 111 (NKJV)

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Thy word is a lamp unto my feet
And a light unto my path.
Thy word is a lamp unto my feet
And a light unto my path


When I feel afraid,
And think I've lost my way.
Still, You're there right beside me.
Nothing will I fear
As long as You are near;
Please be near me to the end.

I will not forget
Your love for me and yet,
My heart forever is wandering.
Jesus be my guide,
And hold me to Your side,
And I will love you to the end.

"Thy Word" (c) by Amy Grant & Michael W. Smith
photos (c) 2006 by DKF

Unnecessary Fear

"Oh, I am so embarrassed...."

These pictures are from one of my favorite books from childhood. To this day, Grover is still one of my favorites. I can relate to him in this story a LOT. I get an idea in my head, I get myself all worked up into a panic, and it usually turns out to be nothing.

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The LORD is my light and my salvation—
whom shall I fear?
The LORD is the stronghold of my life—
of whom shall I be afraid?
-- Psalm 27:1 (NIV)
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Lord, bring this verse to mind when I start getting scared of things I can't control and give me the strength to trust that you always have my back.

<---- my signature when I was in kindergarten...

images taken from
"the Monster at the end of this book"
written by Jon Stone
illustrated by Mike Smollin
(c) Children's Television Workshop 1971

Dot & Toby

shy kitty...

not so shy bunny...

photos (c) 2006 by DKF

Food for Thought

Akeelah: [quoting Marianne Williamson] Our deepest fear is not that we are inadequate. Our deepest fear is that we are powerful beyond measure. We ask ourselves, Who am I to be brilliant, gorgeous, talented, fabulous? Actually, who are you not to be? We were born to make manifest the glory of God that is within us. And as we let our own light shine, we unconsciously give other people permission to do the same.
Dr. Larabee: Does that mean anything to you?
Akeelah: I don't know.
Dr. Larabee: It's written in plain English. What does it mean?
Akeelah: That I'm not supposed to be afraid?
Dr. Larabee: Afraid of what?
Akeelah: Afraid of... me?

"Akeelah and the Bee" is definitely a movie to see!

Peppermint Lovers BEWARE?!

I love peppermint candy. To me, real candy canes are peppermint flavored. All of the fruity flavors seem like some weird freak of nature to me. So... I was expecting this candy to be minty, but instead it was mostly cherry flavored with little bits of peppermint thrown in. I still wish that the candy was all pepperminty, but the combo is actually quite tasty.

photo (c) 2006 by DKF

Praising God

"I thank my God every time I remember you."
-- Philippians 1:3 (NIV)

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With the holiday season comes many memories and I've been reminded of the abundant blessings that God has given me in the gift of family and friends. I treasure each and every person that God has used to touch my heart and make Himself more real to me.

Lord, thank you for my family and friends! I pray that you would bless them today in a new way. Give them new revelations of who You are and a fresh image of how much You love them!

photo (c) 2006 by DKF

My Pal

photo (c) 2006 by DKF

OOOOoooh pretty lights...

photos (c) 2006 by DKF

MEOOooooooooooooow!!!

photo (c) 2006 by DKF

Messy Accident?

It's not a messy spill... it's ART!!

photo (c) 2006 by DKF

The Perfect Gift

"Every good and perfect gift is from above, coming down from the Father of the heavenly lights..."
--James 1:17 (NIV)

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Thank You, Lord that you are a faithful gift giver and that Your gifts are amazing. My attempts to "fill my own stocking" just leave me feeling more and more empty. Please give me the courage to ask for and seek out the things that You have for me. You've given me so much already and it's all been good, but I'm longing for more... more revelation of Your love, more understanding of the Word, more of Your presence...

photo (c) 2006 by DKF

Fruit

"Then God said, 'Let the land produce vegetation: seed-bearing plants and trees on the land that bear fruit with seed in it, according to their various kinds.' And it was so. " -- Genesis 1:11 (NIV)

photo (c) 2006 by DKF

My Prayer

Jesus take the wheel
Take it from my hands
Cause I can't do this
On my own
I'm letting go
So give me
One more chance
To save me
From this road I'm on
Jesus take the wheel

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-- lyrics from "Jesus Take the Wheel" -- written by Brett James, Hillary Lindsey & Gordie Sampson -- sung by Carrie Underwood -- album: Some Hearts

photo (c) 2006 by DKF

Construction Zone

" Many are the plans
in a man's heart,
but it is the LORD's purpose
that prevails."
-- Proverbs 19:21 (NIV)

"'...the joy of the LORD
is your strength.'"
-- Nehemiah 8:10b (NIV)

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Do you ever feel like everything in your life is upside down? Like no matter what you do, it'll be bad? From relationships to career and everything in between, it just seems like every step you take is wrong? I've been feeling a bit like that lately. In the midst of it, I've had some revelations. Through the openness and honesty of some good friends and with some insights from the Lord I've gained some perspective. I haven't really learned anything new, but some things that had been milling around in my brain finally clicked. Sometimes I'm slow to take a hint...

I'm realizing that I'm a selfish, greedy control freak. These traits are exhibited in my world through self-centeredness, jealousy, ungratefulness and manipulation, just to name a few. I've been desperately searching for a fix, something that will make my life seem fulfilling. I've been trying to control the world around me to make it more like the utopia that lives in my imagination. Whether it be trying to rely too much on people I love, to the point of hurting them, or drowning myself in movies and TV shows or overindulging in food, and not the healthy stuff, I've been trying so hard to fill the empty places in my life. I know I just wrote about this a little over a week ago, but I like I said, sometimes I'm a slow learner... "... [God is] truly the only option. He's the missing puzzle piece. The only one that really fits in that place." That concept finally hit home this week. It's nothing that I haven't heard before, many times, but it finally worked it's way into my heart.

Lord, thank you for all of the blessings you've placed in my life. Forgive my selfishness, greed and my attempts to control the world around me. Thank you for friends who are willing to stick by me when I'm acting so foolishly. Lord, I surrender my life wholly into your hands. Help me to keep focused on You and give me the courage to trust that You have all of the details of my life in Your hands. May "...the joy of the LORD [be my] strength."

photo (c) 2006 by DKF