illuminate photography » crazy beautiful

This weekend my church (Gateway) had a retreat an Advance.  It was a time of unity, vision, worship, teaching and inspiration.  God totally showed up and it was just… awe-mazing.  I was so blessed to be a part of the prayer team that has been meeting weekly to pray for this event.  It made me feel so much more invested and excited to see it happening, not to mention the connections I made with the other prayer warriors on the team.  Oh, and to witness our prayers being answered, one after another.  I can’t even believe I got to be in on that.  The blessings just keep pouring down.

Gateway, you have got some amazing people on your side.  Seriously.

The other really cool thing that happened as a result of this weekend (well gosh, one of many, but I’m just going to share one right now) was that I had a literal epiphany about worship.  I’ve always known that some people worship by singing, some by writing poems, some give financially, some pray, some dance, some paint, some love or serve really really well… the list goes on.  We’re all called to worship in many of these ways, but some are gifted in different areas more than others.  But that’s awesome.  That’s why the church is a body and it’s made up of many parts.  “If the whole body were an eye, where would the sense of hearing be?  If the whole body were an ear, where would the sense of smell be?”

I think because I work with my camera for a living, sometimes when I go to events or out with friends I just want to go and experience the event live.  See it with my own two eyes.  Instead of trying to capture it so I can remember it or relive it later, I try to just experience it right then and there.  Even if I forget the whole thing at least I was there and fully present, ya know?  John Mayer’s lyrics from his song ‘3×5′ really resonate with me sometimes…

Didn’t have a camera by my side this time
Hoping I would see the world through both my eyes

Today I finally overcame
tryin’ to fit the world inside a picture frame

You should have seen that sunrise with your own eyes
it brought me back to life

You’ll be with me next time I go outside
no more 3×5’s

So yes, sometimes I just want to be there and live it.  But sometimes I know I will want to have that memory to remember forever because let’s face it, I have a horrible memory, which is why I do love my pictures oh so much.

And then sometimes I come to this glorious intersection where I can both be fully a part of an experience and photograph it all.  It’s this lovely Bermuda Triangle of both being fully present and capturing those moments as a treasure for later.

Yesterday was one of those days.

And the most wonderful thing I experienced about spending a day in the middle of this being-and-capturing-intersection was the freedom, anointing, passion and inspiration that I felt.  When a friend spoke the following line to me on Facebook this morning I realized why it made so much sense…

He said, “Thanks lisa for sharing your gifts, talents and time. I can see you worshiping the creator with your camera in your hands.”

And that’s when it hit me.  I was worshiping God yesterday… with my camera.

I felt like it was all from Him and for Him.  Like He was inspiring and moving me as I went.  I really can worship God with my camera.  Some sing songs, some pray, some dance… me?  I capture Holy moments with my lens… it’s my offering to You, Lord.  I’ve never thought about it that way.

So here is my offering.  I hope it is pleasing to you, God.

And if you don’t know yet, I hope you my friends are inspired to find how God has wired you to worship.  It will breathe life and joy into you.

**edit**
I wanted to add the lyrics from Eric Merino’s rap during “Let’s Get It Started” here so I’d always know where to find them. Hope you don’t mind, Eric. That was awe-some!

Hey! Me, you, you, you, you, and you!
We’re all part of one God, One Love. One Who?

You know who He is. You know what He did.
You know that all of us are His kids.

As leaders we’ve been called and we’ve been gifted.
But the devil wants our pride level to be lifted.

Until we can’t focus on the task at hand.
He knows a house divided just cannot stand.

So here’s my hand. Take it in yours.
Together let’s see God’s love get poured!
…
Serving God as one – till the end of time
One body, one soul, One Spirit, one mind!

Stand as ONE, Now is the time
Together we can open the eyes of the blind

Denominations, congregations
There is only One King, One Lord, One Boss

We as the body have an obligation.
To preach about the one that died on the Cross!

Jesus said this about division.
A kingdom divided will fail the mission
…
The Body is a unit made up of many parts.
When the parts are put together they form a work of art.

Sinews and ligaments holding muscles together.
Muscles round bones it couldn’t be made better.

Bone to bone, nerve to nerve.
All connected to the head so we do not swerve.

Yes I said we, we are the body
From the feet to the knees to the eyes that see

All put together to live in unity
We must stand firm, as one community!