A Day at the Farm

 

One afternoon, we visited an Africanz farm.

One of the first things you see when arriving at the farm.

Emalai and Makai have lively imaginations and loved the playgrounds and carriage.

Unfortunately, I found a dead snake when returning to the car to get my sunglasses. Guess we're truly still in Africa.

A restaurant in the old farmhouse.

One of the old fireplaces inside, framed with classic blue and white hand-painted Dutch tiles.


What a creative playground!

Come
Sit
Rest
Not
Forget
You
Will
Return
Yet
Now
Stillness
Embrace


A Christian boutique in the small shopping area.

Useless, used, broken, stamped out
Ugly, despised, snuffed, unwanted.
Why photograph this? A mess!
Who declared it bad? Why not art?
Why not inspiration? A message for
Searching hearts.

On a recent post I explained the technique of using natural frames. Another technique photographers use is filling the frame, which puts the subject so close to the camera that it fills the entire photo. The above picture is an example of this. When I selected this picture to include on the blog, I was struck by the way God desires to fill the frame of His children's lives. He is jealous for His beloved, those who have accepted Him as their Savior. In coming to salvation, a Christian begins a journey during which God fills more and more of that individual's focus and desires. His goal is for us to be so consumed with Him that our hearts, lives and mind are in full surrender to His will.

Didn't I tell you South Africa has the best succulents?!

Am I an
empty face
blindly seeing
the world but
not perceiving
or caring
or hurting
or loving?
Take this
heart of
stone, make
it flesh.


Since the eve of 2023, God has been pressing me to pray for my spiritual brothers and sisters around the world. Through reading Brother Andrew's books Light Force and Secret Believers, I felt a deep concern for converts to Christianity from Islam. I urge you: get informed about the harsh persecution that our Muslim-background brothers and sisters face daily! Allow yourself to feel the pain of such wretched knowledge. A great way to do this is by reading the books I mentioned or going to the Open Doors or Voice of the Martyrs websites. Let's pray daily and with faith for the persecuted parts of this Body that includes us. Offer your money to donate, your time to write letters or send aid, and even yourself if it be the Lord's will that you go and visit the flame of Christ in Muslim countries.


Held by God
Secure
Unshaken
Storm, wind, sun
Tempest comes
It comes
Held by God
Secure
Unshaken

Makai absolutely LOVED this old tractor!


Emalai showed her nurturing soul as she patiently fed the bunnies, talking to them as if they were children.

The farm even had a pair of emus!

Makai thought the ducks were pretty great. He fed them, chased them and imitated their quacking. Unfortunately, one duck didn't take to kindly to this and nipped Makai's finger. We had some tears over that.






Doesn't this looking like a nursery rhyme in a photo?!

On the way home, we stopped at a lighthouse... and could hardly see it!

Faint
Failing to
make its
presence
known
Yet still
present
Can see just
enough
to believe



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