The details do matter...

So, this past weekend I had the privilege to photograph a wedding for my friends April and Nate. This was a true honor seeing that I have wanted to do a wedding, and I love April and Nate and they like the photography I do. 

I was a little bit nervous, but I knew that it was going to be just great! Well, that was until I found out the details of this photography job. You see, I was not going to be able to take photos while using a flash during the ceremony- and the ceremony was very dimly lit. (For all you non--photographers out there, this is a problem) I have been to tons of weddings and have talked to tons of wedding photographers, none of them are willing to shoot a wedding without flash! This is because of the quality that will be produced is not going to turn out the best it can be.

Now that I have given you the introduction to my story- let me now say that I was freaking out days before this wedding. Having nightmares that the photos would not turn out. That things might be blurry and that I did not know what I was doing.

Isn't that interesting? I had a dream opportunity, to shoot a wedding, and 2 seconds later I was freaking out and questioning if I was able to take photos at all. This is not the confidence the Lord has given us. This is the doubt the enemy likes to stir us up with. Why was I so insecure? Because I did not know, to a "T" the details of my camera. All I have ever shot in was in the light, or if it was dark I used a flash. This is where God decided its time I go to the next level.

Always remember: Going to the next level always requires learning, stretching, and growing. These things all needed to happen. But really what God was showing me is that its not enough to just take a great photo, but to know HOW to take a great photo. To know THE CAMERA so well, that no matter what the circumstance is... you will still be able to get a great shot.

This goes with my relationship with him. I have always been one who is very practical when it comes to sharing the gospel. I know about God's love, I show it through my actions most times and not my words. But its about time I really need to start learning the DETAILS of the word of God. To know where and when God states that he loves us. I need to know the ways of fighting doubt and lies from the enemy... but I cannot do that if i do not know the details of the word of God. 

This is a simple blog, but it has been on my heart for a while. 

I did learn a lot about my camera this weekend, and I am so pleased to say that I took the BEST pictures at the wedding! But I still had a stretching time. I still needed to go through that challenge and learn the details. Because now, I am ready to take on the low light! 

So how about you? Are you ready to move to that next level? Where you fight the "low light" (doubts, fears, insecurities) of life. Its time to stop using a flash, to cover things up, or To get a quick fix, but its time to actually face and confront the enemy's lies with the word of God, with the truth written in the Bible. This is how you will come out with the absolute BEST you that God created you to be.

Last night, a women said something during worship, she said, "One of my worst fears is that when I die and go to heaven someday, God will reveal so much more 'good' that I had to offer, that I never even developed or gave away. To know I could have been better, but chose not to, to know I could have helped more, but didn't." What she said gave me the chills. It's true. Some of us hit a level that we are comfortable with, like me in photography. I was comfortable never shooting in low light. "just getting good shots in the day" but you know what... then God would never be able to use me in any other conditions that what I am comfortable with. This is the problem.

God gives us a choice to be all we can be. I say its like the disciples... there were followers of Jesus when he came to their city, but then there were the 12 who followed him from town to town. Even more than that there were the 3 that Jesus poured into, but there was still one who Jesus was intimate with and who ended up dying on a cross as well. This is how we are. Some of us reach a level that we are comfortable with and we stop. Some of us don't want to risk any more, give up any more or learn any more than where we are at. This will keep us from being all we are made to be.

As you live out your day today... ask God what he wants you to do, who is the best you are made to be, and what you need to do or learn to get to that point. I believe this life is about a constant growing and learning until we are taken up to heaven. Believe me, you don't want God asking you... "Why did you not be all you can be?" Because to be honest, the answer to that question only comes paired with Selfishness, pride or fear. 

My challenge: Be the best you can be. Get to that next level and learn the details of your walk with God- because yes, the details DO matter.