The Perseid Meteor Shower From Sedona Arizona

Perseid Meteor Shower seen from Sedona, Arizona 2012

This photograph is a huge reason why I am surprise and my love for photography continues to grow.  We left the office and headed up to Sedona to photograph the Perseid Meteor Shower on its peek night above the skies of Arizona. I wanted to try a few different things so I made sure to set up my 2 Canons and hope for the best. All night all we heard was "I saw one." Then the unthinkable happened..... "I saw one and it HAD to go though your shot!!" Yet when the shutter closed, it was not there.  I was slightly sad and majorly confused by this.  We shot all night and simply hoped for the best, while we were shooting I got the amazing opportunity to get to know a couple friends a lot better, and even meeting a new friend that was from Sedona.  Bobby told us a lot about Sedona and about the fantastic location we choose.  

The Crescent Moon and Venus rising behind the Red Rocks of Sedona

We were about to wrap up the night when we noticed that the moon was crescent and Venus was going to rise behind the Red Rocks in half an hour, well we drove all the way there we might as well stay and see what we can get, was what we decided.  Then we saw the Dark Side of the moon, I think we all had a slight heart attack. It was such an amazing sight to see. Above is a long exposure of the Moon and Venus rising behind the Red Rocks of Sedona.

We all finally got home around five in the morning just before work for most of us.  That afternoon I started going through the photographs and to my surprise I got my first meteor. It was sent to the local news stations and was very quickly put on the air.  When I look at the photograph I will never forget the great memories that were made that night, "The face on my look" and that my first Perseid Meteor Hunt was successful.

Blink

While I was driving home tonight a song really just hit me.  The song is Blink by Revive-

“Teach me to number my days and count every moment before it slips away, taking all the colors before they fade to gray, I don’t want to miss even just a second more of this.

It happens in a blink, it happens in a flash, it happens in the time it takes to look back, I try to hold on tight, but there’s no stopping time.  What is it I’ve done with my life, it happens in a blink.”

Everyone always says, oh life is too short, you never know when you time on this Earth will be up and you will be called home.  It is amazing how long it has taken me to truly realize this.  Has anyone ever told you that you will die in three days so make sure you tell the people you love how you feel about them? No they never have! Sometimes a loved one can be taken from you in an instant, tragedy, overnight, or you could see it coming with an illness.  And I don’t know about you but I don’t want to be thinking, “what was the last thing I told them”, or “when was the last time I told them I loved them?” Because once that chance is gone, its gone, it will never come back.

I urge you please don’t let these little moments in life slip by you.  I don’t know I will die in my sleep tonight, get in an accident tomorrow, or live to be 90; none of us know, that’s why we have the love of Jesus Christ.  And why we have Faith, like the Bible says, “If you have faith as small as a mustard seed, you can say to that mountain ‘Move from here to there’ and it will move.’” If we have that Faith and trust in Him, He will protect us and the ones we love but when He is ready He will call us home.

Some people may think it is stupid, dumb, or even annoying that I might say “I love you” or “You are amazing” or “You have been such an influence in my life” but it doesn’t matter to me, I would rather let you know how I feel about you before I die, then have you be unsure if something should happen to me.  Like the song says “it happens in a blink, it happens in a flash” time can get lost so easily and fast. 

I don’t know why God laid this on my heart tonight but He did and He told me to tell you guys about this.  Take it to heart please, we don’t know how long we have on this earth, or how long our loved ones have one this earth so make sure you tell the ones you love that you love them.

‘Now listen, you who say “today or tomorrow we will go to this or that city, spend a year there, carry business and make money.”  Why, you do not even know what will happen tomorrow.  What is your life? You are a mist that appears for a short little while and then vanishes.  Instead, you ought to say, “if it is the Lord’s will, we will live and do this or that.”’

                        -James 4 : 13-15 (NIV)

            So tonight as you are reading this I ask you to please consider giving your life to Christ, whether you know Him or not give you rlife to Him or take tonight to rededicate your life to Him with me.  Let him come into your life and bless, protect, and love you.  He is waiting for you.  In a sermon I recently heard Jesus is waiting at the door of your heart, waiting for you to accept him, but there is no doorknob on his side, only you can open that door and let him in, do it with me tonight.  If you need prayer or simply want to talk feel free to call, text, or message me.  I am here for my friends, family, and people I may barley know whenever you need me because I love you all!

God Moves In So Many Ways

There are two types of people in this world; one who just sing songs because they like the song, the artist, or the rhythm, then there are the people who listen and like the song because of the lyrics, what they mean, and what they mean to them personally. There are a couple songs that have been on my heart lately; the first one is a song by Hillsong United called You Hold Me Now.

“On that day when I see all that You have for me, when I see You face to face there surrounded by Your grace. All my fears swept away in the light of your embrace when Your love is all I need. And forever I am free.

Where the streets are made of gold, in Your presence here to hold, let these songs of heaven rise to you alone.

No weeping, no hurt or pain, No suffering You hold me now, You hold me now, No darkness no sick or lame, No hiding You hold me now, You hold me now.”

You Hold Me Now Hillsong United

Those words are so powerful, as Christians that is what we long for; for a day where there is no more pain, sorrow, grief, suffering; a day where all we do is worship God and not worry about money, our family, our friends, and our flesh. The first time I heard the lyrics to this song was a few months ago at Phoenix First the lines “No weeping, no hurt or pain, no suffering, you hold me know” they hit me like a bus running into me. I was so moved and had never wanted to be in Heaven so bad in my life.

We all know that song I Can Only Imagine by Mercy Me. I just want to let you read all of the lyrics. Some days I just hear this song and cry, because I truly cant imagine what I will do when I see God’s face. Like the song says will I stand there? Or fall to my knees? Will I be able to speak at all? We don’t know and once we know we will truly be able to worship him for eternity. I can honestly say that I cannot wait for that day. I will have nothing to worry about but to worship the King of Kings and the Lord of Lords! 



“Surrounded by Your glory, what will my heart feel, will I dance for you Jesus or in honor of you be still, will I stand in your presence or to my knees will I fall, 
will I sing hallelujah, will I be able to speak at all. I can only imagine”

The next song is Save a Place for me by Matthew West. Within the first few lines of this song I cant help but think what life will be like in Heaven; “You know I bet it feels good to have the weight of this world off your shoulders now I'm dreaming of the day when I'm finally there with you.” Right now those few words, prayer, and God’s word is what is getting me through this right now. I know that someday I will see you again. I just don’t know when, the only one that does is God and I pray he comes soon.

When you feel like God has just thrown so much at you, and you don’t think that you can handle any more? Think again. The bible says that He will not give us more than we can handle. God has brought you and me here for a reason, he says that he will challenge us, and yes he does, but he will never give us more than we can handle. The more we learn to have this faith and trust in our God we will realize that! Myself included I need to take that extra step of faith, and give it all to God, everything, not just part of my life, but all of my life, and He will provide for me.

I was not planning on actually posting this; this was meant as just a way to vent and talk, then I felt that God told me that this might help someone that is out there feeling the same way. Just remember pray, pray, and then get down on your knees and pray some more. 

God Bless
I love you all