So, if you think this is an image of coffee grounds, you’re wrong…

Just kidding, ya, you were right…

I know several of my posts already have involved coffee – I guess you are discovering how much coffee is a part of my life! — you can thank my wife for that! ha. But in all seriousness, a lot can happen over coffee (yes, that line was from a previous post..). This morning, my friend Garrett and I met to discuss life, struggles, successes, etc. It was very encouraging and we have committed to trying our best to meet once a week to keep up with each other and help keep each other accountable to our goals for more discipline, responsibility, and for just living more as we were meant to in light of what God has called us to (and from). These kind of relationships are essential to the Christian life. We were/are built for community! It really is a beautiful thing that we unfortunately forget too often in our American, individual-focused culture.

I know this is off topic, but my wife just walked in the dining room where I’m typing this and, with a very distraught look of her face, told me that she thinks she has 6 grey hairs. I love my wife.

I was walking to my car with my wife and saw this silhouette of a tree against the evening sky and I just thought it was really pretty. So, I captured it really quickly with my iPhone trusting in it’s 8MP goodness. It really seems like this has been a recurring theme throughout this blog series – seeing beauty in everyday things. I want to strive continually to be grateful for more and more things in my life. I really do have so much to be thankful for.

So my friend Ryan and I challenged each other to post a picture along with some thoughts on the beauty and sovereignty of God that the picture brought to mind everyday for the month of January.

In addition to being a photographer, I have the amazing privilege of being a part of the leadership at my church (Emmaus Christian Fellowship - http://emmauscf.org). Together, we have really had to think through and wrestle with some deep truths in the Bible as we commit to always strive to present the Word of God in it’s entirety. A lot of my life since I became a Christian, I’ve felt something was missing in the local church and now I’m more aware of what that was/is – a complete believe in the absolute sovereignty of God. This photo represents for me a new found desire for personal study and reflection.

I am so thankful for the people God has placed in my life along the way – especially my amazing wife, Janna. I’m so grateful for the pastors of the church I get to be in leadership with and how they continue to encourage and challenge me and our congregation to study and strive to live according to God’s Word. The truths we find in scripture aren’t always easy to understand – they convict us deeply and definitely challenge us to live counter-culturally in ways we might have always just let pass by unnoticed.

Check out Ryan’s posts too at http://ryansmusing.tumblr.com

Here’s a photo from the drive up to Idyllwild, California. Nice clouds with some color.