Beauty in creation.

Photography is my hobby. I'm certainly not a pro, I'm self taught, but I admit that I do have a skill for seeing the right things to capture. To me, photography is a beautiful art. I like to draw as well, but sometimes I can't draw what I feel, yet in photography I always feel. I'm still learning about how my camera works, and what settings I need to capture the best photo. I have a long way to go, and it's exciting that I'm improving. I love the clicking sound my camera makes, I love everything! I'm in my happy place when I take photos, and I'm sure most or all photographers can relate. 

(C) 2014 Elissa Collett        Taken at New Farm Park, Newfarm Brisbane.

Most importantly, I see creation. I love to take pictures in sunlight, because it makes everything glow. I am a tad bit proud of the photo above, because of the focus on the flower, and the reality of it. You see, it isn't just a flower. God made that flower unique. There are flowers that look like it, but when you look carefully at the finer detail, you understand that no flower is the same. Every flower is just as unique as our finger prints. If you focus on a flower long enough, you will see the detail that God has poured out into his creation. 

(C) Elissa Collet 2014.        Taken at Mount Glorius in Brisbane 

I've always hated walking into webs. They are sticky and there is always the uncertainty that a spider may have been in it, and could be now crawling in your hair.... Brrr.

However when I started taking photos of them, I realised that they aren't just an icky spider creation, they are quite beautiful (most of them). 

When you think about it, photographers are always taking photos of unique things. Even buildings and objects that are created by human hands or machines are unique. A lot of buildings look the same, but the minerals used to make the materials for buildings, such as steel, concrete and glass, have their own special place. 

Do you see what I'm getting at? 

God is in everything. God created the minerals, used in building materials. Yes, humans created the buildings, but God started it :) 

How can photographers and artists not believe in God, even though they are capturing the most mind-boggling things? 

50 questions that will free your mind (questions and answers) -question twenty

Question twenty-

Do you push the elevator button more than once? Do you really believe it makes the elevator faster? 

I do, but mainly out of boredom. It is is something to do while waiting. Same with the pedestrian traffic light button. Buttons are fun to push! 

No it doesn't make the elevator (or traffic lights) faster, they go at the same pace every time. 

50 questions that will free your mind (questions and answers) -question nineteen

Question nineteen- If you had to move to a state or country besides the one you currently live in, where would you move and why?

I love where I live. Queensland is beautiful, and honestly I don't think I'd ever want to leave it. However if I really had to move, I might pick Victoria. I would live near Melbourne City. I love the art and culture of Melbourne, and the weather is generally cooler. 

We are called to love

1 Corinthians 13-4-8

 Love is patient, love is kind. It does not envy, it does not boast, it is not proud. It does not dishonor others, it is not self-seeking, it is not easily angered, it keeps no record of wrongs. Love does not delight in evil but rejoices with the truth. It always protects, always trusts, always hopes, always perseveres. Love never fails

Leviticus 19:18

Do not seek revenge or bear a grudge against anyone among your people, but love your neighbor as yourself. I am the Lord.

Mathew 5:43&44 

You have heard that it was said, ‘Love your neighbor and hate your enemy.’ But I tell you, love your enemies and pray for those who persecute you.

Mark 12:30&31

Love the Lord your God with all your heart and with all your soul and with all your mind and with all your strength.’ The second is this: ‘Love your neighbor as yourself.’ There is no commandment greater than these.

The word "love" is written in the NIV bible 551 times. The Old Testament mentions it 319 times, and the New Testament mentions it 232 times. Other versions of the bible, such as KJV, mentions love even more than that! I find it incredible.

God is a loving God, he is "Agape". No one else will ever love with Agape Love, only God can. 

http://www.gotquestions.org/agape-love.html

So if God is such a loving God, then why on earth are there murderers? Why are there Abusers? Why are we left with mental and physical pain? I used to ask this question a lot as a young teenager, I believed in God, but I resisted him because of the issues I was going through. I didn't let him explain that in the beginning of the world, everything was perfect, than WE decided to sin. Adam and Eve Made a massive mistake by disobeying God's comand, and we would have done it too. It is much harder to resist Satan than it is to resist God, because God gives us the choice to follow him through Jesus, but sin is (at the time) easier. That is why we Murder, abuse, and go through pain. 

So then what do we do about it? We love.

I've been very angry lately. There are so many awful things happening around the world, and it is frustrating because I feel like I can't do anything about it. ISIS particularly angers me. These people are murdering maniacs. I don't usually believe in the death penalty, but I don't think I'd cry if they all died.

Then God reminds me that he loves ISIS..... Say WHAT? Yep, he loves them, with his Agape love. Why? Because he is God. This doesn't mean that he tollerates their behaviour, and their murdering. He won't let these people go unpunished on judgement day... But he still loves them. So knowing this, I have to get my head around it, and love ISIS too. How do I do that? I pray, and I forgive. 

When I go down.

Have you ever been listening to an album, or a song on the radio, and all you can think is "This is my song!"? The words seem to magically match exactly how you are feeling.

I want to share a song that I relate to . It is almost scary sharing this with you, as it reveals some deep thoughts, but I know that so many of you would relate to it as well. 

The song is called "When I go down" it is by Relient.K. Just a warning, it pulls on the heart strings.

Here is the link to the song on YouTube: http://youtu.be/TDskMF54vnw

The reason why, I relate to it, is that I spent a lot of my teenage life feeling sorry for myself. I had countless boyfriends, none of which had the guts to put up with my problems. When I was upset, I took it hard. I was an emotional mess. I didn't seem to have the power to dictate my own moods. 

I hung around with anyone who was friendly, but I soon learnt that just because someone is friendly, doesn't mean that they are your friend. Then there were the deep friendships that I damaged, so that I could follow the crowd. I hurt way too many people. I ignored everything God was telling me, even after I gave my life to him. 

Borderline personality disorder haunted me for the first 3 years of my adulthood. Even though I had so many good things in my life to be greatfull for, I chose to concentrate on the bad things instead. I found myself very angry, moody and confused. I started to self harm, so that I could focus on the physical pain, not the mental pain. I hid from everyone who cared, including Rob (Now my Hubby) 

God had a better plan for me. He rescued me from that path. I went to my doctor and I received a prescription for anti-depressants. I was scared of them at first, but when they kicked in, everything changed. They weren't a happy pill, but they certainly fixed up my emotional state. 

You see, I did go down hard, and God picked me up off the floor in less than a heartbeat. He was there with open arms.

There will never be a moment where everything in your life is perfect. There is always something deep down, screaming. However God will take care of you.

50 questions that will free your mind (questions and answers) -question eighteen

Question eighteen-

Are you holding on to something that you need to let go of?

Isn't everyone? Of course I am! I struggle with certain sins and past problems every day. I know how unhealthy it is, but I can't change it. 

50 questions that will free your mind (questions and answers) -question seventeen

Question Seventeen-

What one thing have you not done that you really want to do? What's holding you back?

I really want to do a photography class, to extend my knowledge in everything photography.

The thing holding me back is time and money. I'll get there one day, Lord willing.