one photo

life, photography, truth

Hearing the truth about yourself can be hard, I know. And sometimes we aren’t in a place where we can hear… and sometimes…. We are.

I was in that place recently. The open hearted, scary, gut level, ugly crying place, where the truth was staring me in the face. But, oh Lord, it was beautiful. I want this. I won’t grow or heal without this truth.

Galations 5:1 says “It is for freedom, Christ has set us free. Stand firm then and do not let yourselves be burdened again by a yoke of slavery.”

John 8:36. “If the Son sets you free, you will be free indeed.”

Friends, I lived far to long enslaved to that which defeated me. (2 Peter 2:19 HCSB). I let myself be burdened by something I was set free from a long long long time ago. And you know what, I believed a lie about myself. You see, the world wants us to believe we are marked, uglied, and dead. We carry our past mistakes around like dead animal carcasses. All the while they get stinkier and heavier. All the while the burden becomes too hard to bear at times. Yet all the while, freedom from this self inflicted shame is available and ready.

Today, I’m so grateful to say, I stand firm in the freedom from all that I once was. I stand firm knowing that what happened on that cross over 2,000 years ago meant something. It was not for NOTHING Christ died, but indeed, was it not for our sin? If we cannot ever be free, then why did he die? It’s plain old logic playing out for me. I believe it. And I stand firm in it.

And everything else in my life will fall into place understanding this glorious truth about WHO I REALLY AM, and not who I really once was.

So grateful to Rebecca Meidinger and the work being done at http://www.faraboverubiesministry.org/ and her bold and honest way of pointing women, like me, to the gospel truth.

So grateful to Inspiration Point Bible Camp and Retreat Center www.ipoint.org, for being a source of LIGHT, example, leadership, love, and truth to my life for the last 22 years. Oh, how I would not know and hear these beautiful truths if it weren’t for the unabashed, plain old gospel that is shared at camp freely and without restraint.

And so grateful to serve and follow a God who meets me in the middle of every tear, wipes them away, lifts my face into his and whispers love to my heart. Over and over and over again, for as many times as I need to hear, without restraint and without hesitation. Unconditional, white as snow forgiveness and grace poured over me time and time again. I’m so grateful to stand firm in this today. In this freedom and in this truth.

God is able. For me. And for you.

Have a weekend where you rest in truth.

My best,

Shelly

Week 12. These guys. So grateful to be their mom and to be present for these moments… it’s going by so quick. If all I ever do in life is know and love them, that’s enough.

Happy Easter everyone!

Week 9. My sons.

One of the few things I know about writing is this: spend it all, shoot it, play it, lose it, all, right away, every time. Do not hoard what seems good for a later place in the book, or for another book; give it, give it all, give it now.

Similarly, the impulse to keep to yourself what you have learned is not only shameful, it is destructive. Anything you do not give freely and abundantly becomes lost to you. You open your safe and find ashes.

—Annie Dillard, The Writing Life (via bradleyspitzer)

This really pushed me. #authenticityalways

Week 8. 2013.

These 3. My whole heart. Always. I’m posting one of each of them weekly. Until they won’t let me.

Today I was thinking about photography.  And me.  And how we have grown in our relationship with each other.  It’s been such a journey. Everything I do, my entire life, has been a lesson in my heart.  How to not wear my heart on my sleeve so much, or not let my heart show so much.  Why is this bad?  I am ALL HEART. Everything. I do it all the way.  All heart. I am all heart. This is me. I’m not changing. IN fact, it’s getting WORSE. My all-heart-ness is becoming stronger. Guys: here’s the deal. I have a camera. I have photoshop. I have lenses. Etc. Anyone can get these things. But what makes me me, is well, my heart.  And the fact that I’m all heart. And the fact that I believe you should do everything with all your heart. And the fact that when I’m photographing someone, it’s my HEART that is moved. It’s my HEART that sings. It’s my HEART that makes me different and sets me apart. I’m all heart. What matters (to me) in photography, is the heart behind the camera.  If I can see that through the images… then yes, I’m in love. I’m moved. I’m a fan. Going into this weekend with my heart on my sleeve, and glad God made me this way.  Go BIG or go HOME. I’m going big. With my heart. 

Today I was thinking about photography.  And me.  And how we have grown in our relationship with each other.  It’s been such a journey.

Everything I do, my entire life, has been a lesson in my heart.  How to not wear my heart on my sleeve so much, or not let my heart show so much.  Why is this bad?  I am ALL HEART. Everything. I do it all the way.  All heart. I am all heart.

This is me. I’m not changing. IN fact, it’s getting WORSE. My all-heart-ness is becoming stronger.

Guys: here’s the deal. I have a camera. I have photoshop. I have lenses. Etc. Anyone can get these things. But what makes me me, is well, my heart.  And the fact that I’m all heart. And the fact that I believe you should do everything with all your heart. And the fact that when I’m photographing someone, it’s my HEART that is moved. It’s my HEART that sings. It’s my HEART that makes me different and sets me apart.

I’m all heart.

What matters (to me) in photography, is the heart behind the camera.  If I can see that through the images… then yes, I’m in love. I’m moved. I’m a fan.

Going into this weekend with my heart on my sleeve, and glad God made me this way.  Go BIG or go HOME. I’m going big. With my heart. 

In love with serving people.  Today we participated in Help-Portrait. This is a day where photographers get together with makeup artists and hair dressers and whoever else will come along, and we take photos of individuals who normally don’t have the chance to have photos taken. And we print them right there. For free.  Why? Because it’s better to give. Our time today will always be special to me.  I love what I do. Even more, I love when what I do can benefit others in an unexpected blessing.  So grateful for friends who want to join in! Last year our photos meant more than we could have imagined in our little community on our little team. Read here to learn more: http://help-portrait.com/2012/07/shelly-peters-giving-through-help-portrait/ Love you guys! Honored to give.

In love with serving people.  Today we participated in Help-Portrait. This is a day where photographers get together with makeup artists and hair dressers and whoever else will come along, and we take photos of individuals who normally don’t have the chance to have photos taken. And we print them right there. For free.  Why? Because it’s better to give.

Our time today will always be special to me.  I love what I do. Even more, I love when what I do can benefit others in an unexpected blessing. 

So grateful for friends who want to join in!

Last year our photos meant more than we could have imagined in our little community on our little team. Read here to learn more:

http://help-portrait.com/2012/07/shelly-peters-giving-through-help-portrait/

Love you guys! Honored to give.

Let us not grow weary in doing good. Let us put LOVE as our first choice, reaction, and action. Every day. All day long. No matter how hard it is, or how frustrated you are. Love is the best way. Love is the only way. The. ONLY. way. Let us throw off ANYTHING that hinders us from this. Got people in your life who turn you into yuck? Choose LOVE. Say goodbye and don’t regret it. Got a job that kills you? Isn’t life too short to waste on this? Say goodbye. Choose LOVE. Choose to live the BEST way you can to be the BEST you you can. Let us RUN this race with perseverance. That means, that when things get hard, we plow in, instead of throwing in the towel and giving up. We persevere. We endure. We build up, not tear down. We go forward. Let us LOVE one another.  Let us put them first. Why? Because it’s better. Why not?  As the year draws to a close and everyone’s evaluating what’s next and what goals are ahead, mine is simple. To love more, to love better, and to love smarter. Life is too short. Too too short. Let’s make the most of these opportunities. Let’s do this 2013. 

Let us not grow weary in doing good.

Let us put LOVE as our first choice, reaction, and action. Every day. All day long. No matter how hard it is, or how frustrated you are. Love is the best way. Love is the only way. The. ONLY. way.

Let us throw off ANYTHING that hinders us from this. Got people in your life who turn you into yuck? Choose LOVE. Say goodbye and don’t regret it. Got a job that kills you? Isn’t life too short to waste on this? Say goodbye. Choose LOVE. Choose to live the BEST way you can to be the BEST you you can.

Let us RUN this race with perseverance. That means, that when things get hard, we plow in, instead of throwing in the towel and giving up. We persevere. We endure. We build up, not tear down. We go forward.

Let us LOVE one another.  Let us put them first. Why? Because it’s better. Why not? 

As the year draws to a close and everyone’s evaluating what’s next and what goals are ahead, mine is simple. To love more, to love better, and to love smarter. Life is too short. Too too short.

Let’s make the most of these opportunities. Let’s do this 2013. 

So proud to photograph people who shine. Who aren’t afraid to stand on their own and be who they are. People with love. And strength. It’s an honor to “see” and even more, an honor to share.

So proud to photograph people who shine. Who aren’t afraid to stand on their own and be who they are. People with love. And strength. It’s an honor to “see” and even more, an honor to share.

mth2012: You’re overwhelmed.  You don’t have time, patience, money, sleep, rest, or peace right now.  You’re not sure what’s going to happen next or how you will get through.  You feel stuck.  Not sure how to ride the waves instead of being trampled by them. You want the best for the people you love, but stress keeps you from being your best self.  Stress keeps you from acting from a place of love. Please imagine the following on a giant billboard outside your window:  Fear isn’t tangible.  You can’t touch fear.  Which means, fear can’t touch you.  The tough love is that it’s all in your head.  How do you break out of it?  ACT.  Do something.  Bit by tiny bit, build your life back up.  Build it up new.  Begin anywhere.  Say it, send it, stop it, start it, move it, love, give, forgive, just do.  It’s physical.  Take the positive warnings fear brings, then make a decision and launch.  It’s called a leap of faith for a reason.  A leap not a hop or a step.  It feels like flying, like you may not land, as if for a split second you are weightless.  It’s scary.  But, then you land and something crazy happens.  You have sprouted real wings.  You feel even better than you did in flight.  Do not let fear, the intangible, paralyze you any longer.  Life is too short.  Right now, stop.  Breathe it all in.  You can do this.  Slow down and feel whatever you are feeling - anger, sadness, joy, pain, whatever.  Feel it, then let yourself remember the great times, the sunsets, the water, the laughter, the joy, the excitement, and the sweet words.  Remember the love.  It’s still there.  It never left in the first place.  You’ve got this.  God had it taken care of before he created the ground you leap from.  Everything you need, you already have. Love, Lara I needed this. Get out there!!!!!

mth2012:

You’re overwhelmed.  You don’t have time, patience, money, sleep, rest, or peace right now.  You’re not sure what’s going to happen next or how you will get through.  You feel stuck.  Not sure how to ride the waves instead of being trampled by them. You want the best for the people you love, but stress keeps you from being your best self.  Stress keeps you from acting from a place of love.

Please imagine the following on a giant billboard outside your window:  Fear isn’t tangible.  You can’t touch fear.  Which means, fear can’t touch you.  The tough love is that it’s all in your head.  How do you break out of it?  ACT.  Do something.  Bit by tiny bit, build your life back up.  Build it up new.  Begin anywhere.  Say it, send it, stop it, start it, move it, love, give, forgive, just do.  It’s physical.  Take the positive warnings fear brings, then make a decision and launch.  It’s called a leap of faith for a reason.  A leap not a hop or a step.  It feels like flying, like you may not land, as if for a split second you are weightless.  It’s scary.  But, then you land and something crazy happens.  You have sprouted real wings.  You feel even better than you did in flight.  Do not let fear, the intangible, paralyze you any longer.  Life is too short. 

Right now, stop.  Breathe it all in.  You can do this.  Slow down and feel whatever you are feeling - anger, sadness, joy, pain, whatever.  Feel it, then let yourself remember the great times, the sunsets, the water, the laughter, the joy, the excitement, and the sweet words.  Remember the love.  It’s still there.  It never left in the first place.  You’ve got this.  God had it taken care of before he created the ground you leap from. 

Everything you need, you already have.

Love,

Lara

I needed this. Get out there!!!!!