Faith

So, lately I have been wanting to know more about what Faith is. Yeah, I know what it is but I want to have more of it! I was reading my bible and came accross Hebrews 11 and it talks about What Faith is and everyone who had strong faith in the Lord.
Hebrews 11 says this: "What is Faith? It is the confident assurance that what we hope for is going to happen. It is the evidence of things we cannot yet see. God gave his approval to people in days of old because of their faith. By faith we understand that the entire universe was formed by God's command, that what we now see did not come from anything that can be seen."
I also found this in my bible:

Our culture loves to enshrine its heroes. There's the baseball hall of fame, the national women's hall of fame, the canadian mining hall of fame, the rock and roll hall of fame, the texas ranger hall of fame, even the national freshwater fishing hall of fame.
The letter to the Hebrews describes another kind of shrine, except this is not a hall of fame- it is a hall of faith. There is no museum through which to browse, but you can read the names listed in Hebrews chapter 11 and ponder what these men and women did to earn this honor.
The writer of Hebrews tells us, "All of these people we have mentioned received God's approval because of their Faith (11:39). They are heroes because they were faithful to God and to other people. They were full of a faith that looked ahead in hope to a life beyond this world.
Were they famous as well? Some were and still are famous even to this day (a lot longer than fifteen minutes!). Some had amazing escapes and conquered seemingly unconquerable foes; they were "winners." But others in this list were mocked, stoned, tortured, or killed- hardly successful by our standards. Yet they were winners too...in the hall of FAITH. Consider the following:
*Who are heroes and role models to you from history or the present day?
*What does it mean to be full of faith today in the sense of being faithful to God and full of hope?
*In what ways do people expect faithfulness to lead to success? How would they define success? How do you define it?
*Think of two ways you can be more faithful to God in the next few weeks.
*Think of two ways you can be more faith-ful (that is, full of faith and hope) in the next few months.
*Who in your circle of family and friends helps encourage your faithfulness? How can you allow them to have more of an influence on you?

I think the person that is a heroe to me in the Bible would be Ruth. I really admire how faithful she was to her husbands family. After all the men in the family died, Naomi and Ruth, were faced with a choice. Ruth could return back to her own people, or she could go with Naomi back to the land of Judah (Israel). But Ruth decided to go back with Naomi. The story of Ruth is powerful, it's about survival, and romance.
What Ruth says to Naomi is amazing "Don't ask me to leave you and turn back. I will go wherever you go and live wherever you live. Your people will be my people, and your God will be my God. I will die where you die and will be buried there. May the Lord punish me severely if I allow anything but death to separate us!" It was by faith and love that Ruth went with her mother-in-law to the land of Judah.

I remember a few years ago I wanted to know the story of Ruth because my grandma and mom's name is Ruth so, I wanted to read the meaning of it. I have always wanted to name one of my daughters Ruth some day. I love the story it hold's and the line in my family that it carries. The story of Ruth is nothing like my family but the faithfulness and love is powerful enough!

What a goof

I have the cutest boyfriend! Saturday at the wedding Jason and a good friend of ours vogued it up in front of the camera while us girls encouraged them to give the camera more...lol. I was going through them and could not stop laughing. They are both so much alike AND they both wore the same shirt only different colors!

So, here they are! Jason is in the Blue.

Look at those models!

Come on guys it wouldn't hurt to smile! :)Ok, maybe it would...Love the face Jason!

Blessing's

Jona

Sunset

I saw the most beautiful sunset last night! I had to chase it a bit so I could get in good clear area so there was no building's in it BUT there are powerlines. Oh well! You can still see how beautiful the Lord paints the sky. Some day's I feel like the Lord is SO happy that he does something really special for us and so he paints a beautiful sunset.

Jason and I chased the sunset the night before because it was so full of color but we missed the sun, it was down below the horizon. But we were still able to catch a bit of the sky and it's colors!

I hope you enjoy them as much as we did!

Last night's sunset!

And again

The Night before

Blessing's

Jona

Joy

One thing I have been having allot of lately is JOY! I have been really leaning on the scripture from Psalms 30:11, 12 "You have turned my mourning into joyful dancing. You have taken away my clothes of mourning and clothed me with joy, that I might sing praises to you and not be silent. O Lord my God, I will give you thanks forever!" I love spending time with the Lord in worship, I feel so free!

I really want to encourage you all, the next time you go to church just close your eye's and focus on Him, turn your eye's to the cross don't worry about anyone around you because that doesn't matter. The Lord is waiting with open arms!

Faith

Wow! God is So good to me!!! For the past year and 3 months Jason (my boyfriend):
Jason and I last year

Has really encouraged me to go for my dreams in my Photography. We recently took a break to focus on the Lord more and so I can focus on my photography and it has taught me so much! I recently read a blog post from an amazing photographer Scarlett Lillian and she said something that really made since to me. She said "When it's right, it's right in that indescribable way that makes no sense to anyone else, but yet you know in the depths of your heart that you have met the one who God has prepared you for, and him for you." That is SO true!!! Jason and I have gone through soo sooo much for the past few years that we have known each other but everytime we get through it because of the Lords love, and because of our faith. I just know that I know that the Lord has Jason in my life for a reason, I know that I know he holds the key to my heart! With every test and hardship we get even stronger and press into the Lord even more!!!

The Lord has really blessed me with my prince! Jason is the most amazing man, he encourages me to seek after the Lords heart, to keep pressing into what His purpose is for me.

For our one year anniversary he texted my cell at 8:30pm telling me to get dressed up and that he was going to pick me up at 9. I felt like I had a million butterfly's flying around in my stomach, I was SO excited to see what he had planned for us. 9pm came and I get a call that he is down stairs ready to pick me up. We drive down town and he took me to a resturant that I have been wanting to go to, he even made reservations for us!!! It was SO romantic, and he gave me a red rose set in the center of the table. I could not stop smiling! (he was even dressed up really nice!!!)

I have so many fun memories of this past year that we have been together. Like our time at the lake and we didn't get sun screen instead me got tanning oil and kept putting it on because it didn't feel like we where getting tan. But when we got in the car after spending the day on the Lake we turned BRIGHT red, and any move or any touch would bring us to tears.

I look forward to seeing where the Lord take's us in this relationship and I pray that we continue to put the Lord first in our relationship!

1 Peter 1:7 "These trials are only to test your faith, to show that it is strong and pure. It is being tested as fire tests and purifies gold- and your faith is far more precious to God than mere gold. So if your faith remains strong after being tried by fiery trials, it will bring you much praise and glory and honor on the day when Jesus Christ is revealed to the whole world.

Blessing's

Jona

Stay on track

Last week at church we had a guest speaker Pastor Lee Cummings from Rez. life church of Richmond, Mi. This is what he spoke on:
1 Cor. 9:24- 27 Talks about how we live our lives with the finishline in mind.
Live your life as if your headed toward the finishline! Run the race and keep the faith. How do we live our lives? Are you living to win the race? The Holy Spirit is trying to get the winner out.
Here are 5 things you need:
1.You have to know the course your running.
If you don’t know your purpose you need to seek and ask God "what do you have for me?" Don’t take short cuts! You need to know the course so you don’t get lost.
2.You need to stay in your lane!
It happens in seasons we lose track. (like relationships) In transitions satan will try to distract you. From glory to glory, from faith to faith, from strenght to strenght Satan will try to distract you. So, STAY IN YOUR LANE, and know your course!
3.Set the pace.
Stay in step with Gods heart. You need to be able to go the distance. You need to be plugged into a local church, those who are plugged in will FLORISH! How plugged in is our heart with the local church? Gal. 5- stay in step with the Spirit! (Bethel- meaning, the face of God/ the house of God.)
4.Have a finishline mantality.
We are great beginners, BUT NOT good finishers! We NEED to be GOOD finishers!!! HAVE YOUR EYES ON THE FINISHLINE! Don’t let nothing stop you! Satan will try but you must know your self and know the course your running!
5.Know your competitor and now yourself!
Satan will try to get you off track. He’s thinking about you even though your not thinking about him. He is always trying to find different ways to get you off that track. You need to know your self and BELIEVE your new identity in Christ! You ARE DEFIND BY JESUS!!!! We are made to CROSS THE FINISHLINE!

Also, he had a word (I believe it’s for all of Michigan or it’s just for the Church’s):
This Land has been under darkness for so long, BUT LIGHT IS COMING! And the people of the Land will shout VICTORY!!!!
Ok, there you guys go, that was my notes on the message, I hope it taught you as much as it did me.
Many blessing’s!!!

Engagement Photo's

Here are a few more of Melissa and Raph's engagement photo's. I had a great time getting to know Melissa and Raph during their session. They are a very fun couple to be around, even though it was SO cold out that day.

I thought I would put a few more up here since people have been asking to see more of them. I hope you all enjoy them!!!

They are a beautiful couple!

I love this photo of them!

To book your appointment contact me at: jonaleephotography@yahoo.com

Blessing's

Maternity Session

-No sitting fee-

On- Location or In- Studio Session $700.00 (included time editing and shipping)
Up to 3 people in session ($15.00 each additional person)

Package Includes:

1 CD containing all "Digital Negatives"
2 5x7's
2 8x10's
8 Wallets
1 11x14
1 20x24
1 Photo album offered in many colors (holding 4x6 photos)

Or I can help you set up a package deal that fits your needs.

When to schedule-
Please plan on scheduling your session a six to ten weeks before your due date. If you are closer then that, just email me or give me a call and we can set a date.

I do sessions by appointment only.

What to bring-
Bring anything you love! (baby hat or footies, stuffed baby toy, baby ultrasound)
Jean, husbands buttons down shirt, tank top (try to avoid patterns unless you really love it!)
Men should bring jeans, plain shirts (t-shirt, button down, sweater)

*Try to use dark or bright solid colors or whites (again no patterns)

To book your appoint me you can contact me at:
jonaleephotography@yahoo.com

*Prints will not be ordered until payment is received in full.

Blessing's

New Born baby session

-No sitting fee-

On- Location or In- Studio Session $500.00 (includes editing time and shipping)
(If brought in the first two weeks after birth $100 off original price)
Up to 3 people in session ($15.00 each additional person)

Package Includes:

1 CD containing all "Digital Negatives"
1 Custom made DVD slideshow (put to music)
2 5x7's
1 8x10
8 Wallets
1 Photo album offered in several pastel colors (holding 4x6 photos)
1 Storyboard (holds 3 5x7's comes in black or walnut)

Or I can help you set up a package deal that fits your needs (however the $100 off original price may not apply to your package.)

To book a appointment you can contact me at: jonaleephotography@yahoo.com
(more prices to come soon!)

Blessing's

Smile

I got a chance to take some amazing photos of a friend and her son. I had SO much fun taking pictures of them! He was not shy of the camera and was ready to do his own thing only at 8months.

Sarah I hope you enjoy your pictures!!!

He looks just like her!

This is my favorite!

A mothers love!!

Sarah, I look forward to caputring more photos of your wonderful son! He was a blast! Thank you!