Words of Encouragement - Matthew 4:19

"Come follow me" Jesus said, "and I will make you fishers of men". Matthew 4:19 When I was little I used to kind of chuckle at this verse because i used to think, fishing for men? That's crazy! But now it is more clear and this verse means a lot to me. Jesus was talking to Peter and Andrew by the sea of Galilee and he said told them to drop their nets and to follow him. Peter and Andrew were fishermen by trade and were on their boat getting ready to go out for a days work. Jesus met the deciples where they were. He didn't look for perfect men to follow him, he looked for those who would follow him with everything they had. Jesus called to these men and told them to leave their lively hood and come with him. We talk about surrender, but what these men did had to have been scary, but their needs were always provided for. I think a lot of the reason they went with Jesus had to do with the way he asked. He was relevant to them, and he is still relevant today.

Words of Encouragement....Psalm 46:16

God is our refuge and our strength, an ever present help in trouble. Therefore we will not fear, though the earth give way, and the mountains fall into the heart of the sea though it s waters roar and foam and the mountains quake with their surging. Psalm 46:1-3 Its so wonderful to be able to know that in times of trouble you can always depend on God. Many people live in fear of the world being destroyed, or even more their lives being destroyed. But the writer of these scriptures tells us that even if the world were to end that we should not be afraid because the Lord is our protection. If the earth were to be destroyed our salvation would protect us, and we would be with Him in Heaven. But on a smaller note, if we shouldn't be afraid of the world ending, we shouldn't be afraid of anything that can happen in this world. God is our refuge even in the face of total destruction. He is not merely a temporary retreat. He is our eternal refuge and can provide strength in any situation.

Words of Encouragement ... Psalm 18:2

The Lord is my rock, my fortress and my deliverer; my God is my rock in whom I take refuge. He is my shield, and the horn of my salvation, my stronghold. Psalm 18:2 Sometimes life gets hard. Sometimes we don't know what to do or where to turn, but this scripture can be such an encouragement in times like these. We really can depend on the Lord. The Lord is a rock. He is strong and unwavering and unmoving. God's protection of his people has no limit and comes in many different forms. The items David used to describe God's protection were military symbols. God is like a rock that cant be moved, it provides a great hiding place and bunker during times of war. It can shield from attack and provide protection from a storm. A fortress - or a safe place that is guarded and an enemy can not follow. A shield, that comes personally between us and the enemy for protection. The shield is used when you are up close and personal with the enemy and right in the middle of the battle. The horn is a symbol of might and power. and a stronghold. If we need protection we need to look to the Lord and ask.

Words of Encouragement- Matthew 7:7

Ask and it will be given to you, seek and you will find, knock and the door will be opened. For everyone who asks receives and he who seeks finds and to him who knocks the door will be opened. Which of you, if his son asks for bread will give him a stone? Or if he asks for a fish, give him a snake? If you then, though you are evil know how to give good gifts to your children, how much more will your Father in Heaven give good gifts to those who ask him! So in everything do to others what you would have them do to you fo this sums up the law of the prophets. Matthew 7:7-12 Jesus blesses his children when we pray. This scripture invites us to pray. It invites us to spend time with our father, and how much more will he bless us than our earthly father. I heard this challenge on the radio a couple of weeks ago. Just for today , move your watch or your wedding bands to the other hand . Everytime you look down and realize its in the wrong place think How much More!... and thank God for how much he gives to us. When you pause to consider that God is infinitely strong and can do all that he pleases, and that he is infinitely righteous so that he only does what is right, and that he is infinitely good so that everything he does is perfectly good, and that he is infinitely wise so that he always knows perfectly what is right and good, and that he is infinitely loving so that in all his strength and righteousness and goodness and wisdom he raises the eternal joy of his loved ones as high as it can be raised—when you pause to consider this, then the lavish invitations of this God to ask him for good things, with the promise that he will give them, is unimaginably wonderful. - Pastor John Piper- 2007

Priceless Salvation from pam1983 on GodTube.

This blessed my heart and i thought i would share.  What an amazing feeling it is to know that our value to God was set more than 2000 years before we were even thought of .

Words of Encouragement Joshua 22:5

But be very careful to keep the commandment and the law that Moses the servant of the LORD gave you: to love the LORD your God, to walk in all his ways, to obey his commands, to hold fast to him and to serve him with all your heart and all your soul."                              Joshua 22:5


Joshua was condensing the original message that Moses gave the people in Deuteronomy.  Far too many people think that being a Christian is being bound in by a set of rules.  The Lord knew that we needed boundary because we are a sinful people, so he gave the people the the Old Testament law, which was to guide the people in their ways.  The law has changed some since the days of Joshua but much of it still remains intact.  The place where people miss the truth of the bible is they see the laws as something they are forced to do, and so they obey out of fear or obligation.  Both Joshua and Moses made it very clear that God's people should obey out of love.  The Isrealites felt that their obligations had been completed but they were reminded of their spiritual obligations to the lord.  Sometimes we think too much about what we have to do and we forget who we need to be. If we know that we are a child of the Lord we must serve and give out of the right spirit out of Love for the Lord.  Otherwise the Lord will say that our works mean nothing to him.

Sometimes obedience and service to the Lord is not fun and it is not easy, but do we obey and serve? and if we do is our heart right?

Words of Encouragement ... Psalm 95:6

Come let us bow down and worship, let us kneel before the Lord our Maker.

                                                                                  Psalm 95:6


Our Lord is so worthy of worship.  People talk about all the things that they are going to do when they get to heaven, and all the questions they are going to ask, but i truly believe that when we get to heaven that we are going to be so in awe of our Great God that we are going to do nothing but want to fall on our faces and worship him.

Revelation 22:8 tells us that God alone is worthy of our worship.  God told us in the 10 commandments not to have other Gods before him, so he alone should receive our worship.  Worship should be done out of love, and respect for our Lord.  So many people think that worship is just a service or singing, but you can worship the Lord in reading scripture, and praying and in so many other ways.

We have a God that is so worthy to be praised because He is the Lord and Maker over all things.
How can we worship God today?

Words of Encouragement.... John 16:33

"I have told you these things, so that in me you may have peace. In this world you will have trouble. But take heart! I have overcome the world."                                        John 16:33

What a promise!  Jesus has overcome the world.  We can trust him with our life because not only has he been in our shoes but he rules over the world.  I thought this morning, If I was a citizen of a country that still had a monarchy and i was the daughter of the King or Queen , a princess, i wouldn't have to worry about much of anything.  But even then, what about Takeovers.  Even with an earthly monarchy there is always the chance to be taken over, but the Lord is King over all.  He has already fought the battle and won.  The Devil still has power but not power to overtake the Lord.   We will still have struggles and we will still have to fight but the if the Lord is our savior we are his children and he will protect us from the devil.  He tells us these things so we can have peace.

A trip down Memory Lane...

When i planned to do personal photographs on Tuesdays on the blog I just thought oh I will just pick an age and pick an image, but today my heart is headed in a different direction.  My whole point for wanting to share these images with my clients is that I want people to realize the importance of everyday images as well as portraits.  And there aren't many images this morning that are more important to me than this one.  This image was taken in the Spring of 2008 at my graduation from Western Carolina.  This was shortly before my grandfather was diagnosed with Alzheimer's.  He passed away in November of 2011, and the past year has been very difficult but we know that he was suffering so much in the past few months, and he is rejoicing and praising the Lord in Heaven and I would never EVER want him back here on earth.  Things have been getting progressively easier, but the past week he has been in every dream every night. And my heart breaks because i do miss him. Its images like this that reminds me how precious the moments you have are. 

My grandfather was an amazing man of God.  His legacy and the work he did for the Lord (not for himself) extended far beyond what any of us knew at the time he passed away.  There have been so many people who have reached out since, and told us how much of an impact he had on their life.     

Alzheimer's is a horrible disease, and one day I hope and pray that there is a cure. I am working on a project that i hope will one day will bless families who are heading down the very difficult road that we traveled when my grandfather was diagnosed.

My grandfather always had a camera in his hand, He loved being able to share pictures with people of events that he had been to ,  sometimes i thought why in the world did you take a picture of that, but today I wouldn't give anything in the world for many of the pictures he took over the years.  The moments he captured that are priceless now.

Words of Encouragement ... Matthew 4:4

Jesus answered, "It is written: 'Man does not live on bread alone, but on every word that comes from the mouth of God.  Matthew 4:4

This verse of scripture is something that Jesus said while he was in the desert being tempted by the devil.  Jesus had fasted for forty days and he was hungry.  The devil said to him your'e the son of God why dont you just turn these stones into rocks, but Jesus knew the deeper significance of what he was telling him to do,and chose  not to use his divine power to satisfy his natural desire for food.  Jesus knew that food was not a bad thing and that eating was not sinful, but he was in the desert to fast not to eat.  Jesus had given up his divine power in order to experience humanity fully.

Some people wonder why the Lord allows us to go through trials.  He does it to strengthen us and bring us closer to Him.  The Lord even allowed his son to be tempted by the devil.  The bible says Jesus has been tempted in every way we are and yet he did not sin.  Jesus knew that the Father was still in control and would shield
 him from the devil even if he didn't do it himself.

God calls us to trust him.   Its far easier to know that we can trust God knowing that Jesus was tempted in every way that we are.  He really has been there.

Location: Fletcher Park

Finding Locations can be a really difficult thing for clients when planning a photography session, and for years i had been very careful of who i shared my list of locations with, but recently I came to realize that its not the location, its the photographer who makes the images different, and I have found some amazing locations in Western North Carolina  over the years and why not share that with people who are looking for locations in the area as well as other photographers.  On Fridays I will be choosing a location that I have shot sessions at and sharing a little bit about the location, images from sessions and tips and tricks about the location :) Check back each Friday for a new and exciting place to shoot.

Fletcher Park- Fletcher NC

This location is another one of my favorite places to shoot, and has some of the most incredible sunsets I have EVER seen during the spring and fall. The "Golden Hour" takes a whole new meaning with the red and orange skies that can be captured in the fields of Fletcher Park.  Many people would not think of Fletcher Park as a location for a portrait session but it makes a great neutral backdrop and has several unique elements that will add to any portrait.

Tips for Sessions at Fletcher Park :

* Allow plenty of time

*Bring Comfortable shoes to walk in ( and you can change before your poses)  It is a 20+ minute walk to a couple of the best locations

*Park in the farthest parking lot from the entrance.

*Bring props such as chairs or couches

* Children may need to take a trip to the restroom before getting started, as the only restrooms in the park are in the middle and can be quite a far walk from any locations you may want to shoot in. ( just a note from experience this can add lots of extra time to your session :) 

The field just beyond the parking lot provides  a great neutral location for all kinds of portraits   You can actually shoot an entire session in this field by just changing up the posing.  This is great for families who have small children, or family members with special needs as a lot of the locations in Henderson County that are great for shooting are not as easily accessible. 

 Bringing a chair or a couch can add color and interest to the image.

Like I said before the sunsets at Fletcher Park are amazing.  There are very few obstructions and very few mountains in the view as you shoot back towards the baseball fields.  ( This image was taken two years ago when I was Life Love and Ladybugs, but i just loved the colors so much I wanted to share :)

                    The corn field at the front of the park provides a great backdrop during the fall

As does the barn.

The field there is still great even after they harvest the corn.

Down by the river also makes a great backdrop.  There is a small river access point just before you get to the bridge on the right at the back of the park.  Just be careful.  They  lay new sand quite frequently and sometimes it is very easy to slide to the bottom :)

There are some awesome split rail fences that work great with toddlers :) 

When you get to the back of the park and cross the bridge turn left on the walking trail and follow it all the way to the end there is an amazing set of train trestles and great spots along the river all the way to along the walking trail.

A Morning Pick Me Up

Sometimes we all have mornings like this ... yesterday was one of them for me :) Just wanted to share this to encourage anyone who might be having a day like this today :)

Baby Plan

Introducing the all new Baby Plan.  This makes a great gift for an expectant mother, or is a great way to capture your baby's entire first year at a reduced price. 

Words of Encouragement Psalms 107:28-30

Then they cried out to the LORD in their trouble, and he brought them out of their distress.He stilled the storm to a whisper; the waves of the sea were hushed.They were glad when it grew calm, and he guided them to their desired haven.       Psalms 107:28-30


In times of trouble we often don't even have the words to pray.  Our emotions out weigh our knowledge that God is with us and he can handle our problems.  This scripture reminds us that we need to call on his name.  God doesn't need our prayers.  Our prayers are for our sake to give us a way to communicate with him.  To rely on him and for our faith in him to grow. The comforting calm of laying all that is weighing you down at the feet of Jesus and asking Him to carry your burdens for you is a peace that is indescribable.  This scripture tells of people who cried out to God when they were in a situation that they were in trouble, and God calmed the storm.  and then it says they were glad it goes on in later verses to say that they praised him when he had stilled the waves and lead them on their way.

It reminds me of when Jesus was in the boat with the disciples and he was asleep.  They came into a horrible storm and the disciples were scared, but with the sound of his voice Jesus calmed the waves.

What storms in our lives can we ask Jesus to calm?  We also need to remember that he may not always stop the storm but he will at least give us peace and walk with us through the storm.  We will never be alone.

Words of Encouragement Isaiah 40:11

He shall feed his flock like a shepherd: he shall gather the lambs with his arm, and carry [them] in his bosom, [and] shall gently lead those that are with young.
                                                                                               Isaiah 40:11

The Lord has so many attributes but one of the most comforting is that he is compared to a shepherd many times throughout the Bible.   The Lord Shepherds his flock with love and care.  Lambs rely on their Shepard for their needs to be met and trust that he will meet them.  Their life is not one of fear and anxiety because they do not believe that they will be taken care of.  If the Shepard has proven that he will protect and provide the lambs can live a life free from worry.  

 This scripture reminds us that God does three important things for us that we need to remember daily, remembering these things will keep us from worrying about the state of the world around us and our circumstances.  

God will provide.

God will protect

God will Lead.

If we remember these 3 things and truly have faith in him that he will keep true to his scripture then we will not  have to worry about life here on earth.

Words of Encouragement Matthew 19:14

But Jesus said, "Let the children come to me. Don't stop them! For the Kingdom of Heaven belongs to those who are like these children   Matthew 19:14

As I read this scripture this morning my heart broke for a mother who has selfishly spent the last 15 years raising, nurturing, and caring for her sweet son who lost her precious boy this week . For almost a week now I have been trying to put words together to express the feelings of a broken heart i have for this family, and the love and selfless giving i saw within it.  Chandler was an amazing young man, and his smile lit up a room  :) and his mom is an amazing woman.  A woman of strength and love for the Lord.  It warms my heart to know that this week there has been no pain for Chandler and that He has been running on the streets of Gold in Heaven. God promised the kingdom of Heaven to those who had faith like children.  A simple faith, that they would be protected and loved.  Its the faith of a child who knows his Father will provide. In the coming weeks my thoughts and prayers will be with the Benfield and Praytor families as they begin to move forward, but I hope they find encouragement to what a blessing Chandler was in so many peoples life, and his joy for life no matter the struggles he faced were an inspiration to all who met him :)  

During the rest of the month of February a portion of the proceeds from Sessions with Meredith Staton Photography and all of the proceeds from any purchases made from Initial Outfitters will go to Chandlers family  in a small attempt to bless them in the way that Chandlers smile blessed so many of us :)


If you would like to schedule a session, place and order or book a party with initial outfitters in support of the Benfield and Praytor Families please email me at meredith@meredithsearcystaton.com

Words of Encouragement... Matthew 5:13

"You are the salt of the earth. But if the salt loses its saltiness, how can it be made salty again? It is no longer good for anything, except to be thrown out and trampled by men.   -Matthew 5:13


Jesus is calling us to be authentic and use the impact we can have on the world.  He tells us that we are the salt of the world, Salt was used to preserve meat in those days.  It kept it from spoiling, without the salt the meat would have spoiled and not been usable.  Jesus tells us that we are to be salt to people in the world who don't know him.  He will use us to preserve their lives.  But He is also giving us a warning, that we must keep our relationship with him strong because salt is not the same if it looses its defining characteristic "saltyness".  We need to continually work on our relationship with the Lord, be in his word and in prayer to maintain our saltyness.  If we are not authentic with people or if we say one thing and do not live by the standards we say we live by then our testimony has no value to people.  The Lord will not use us if we are living by the worlds standards, and people will not relate to Jesus through us if we are being hypocritical.

Words of Encouragement - Psalms 8:1

O Lord our Lord how majestic is your name in all the earth!
                                                                    Psalms 8:1

Sometimes I dont think we take enough time just praising the Lord.

Our Lord is 

mighty

strong

the creator

the beginning and the end

full of grace

merciful 

the great shepherd 

the father 

benevolent

the great protector

wise

Sovereign

Holy

and the list of his attributes goes on forever.

we should spend a little extra time praising God for who he is and all that he has done for us. 

Session Spotlight... Miss Jessica :)

I had a great time with Jessica Sunday afternoon.  The funny thing is Jessica was a cheerleader at Rugby when i was just about 4 and so the other day when i  did a couples session for her and her husband she mentioned having watched me grow up.  Its funny how life makes circles and how you run into people you have known years ago in another setting.

Jessica is one of the sweetest people i have ever met and has such a fun personality.  We shot a bombshells session for her but i can only share a few images here since it was a gift for her husband.

One of the things I absolutely loved about Jessica is that her laugh is infectious.  We spent an hour and a half shooting and it seemed like only a few minutes. I really enjoyed getting to know Jessica again and look forward to several more sessions in the next year with her and her family :)

Words of Encouragement... Philippians 4:19

But my God shall supply all your need according to his riches in glory by Christ Jesus.
                                                                              Philippians 4:19


Paul was writing to the church in Phillipi and telling them of his ministry since he had left them.  The church had sent him money and supplies while he had been away working for the Lord.  Paul was writing in this chapter to thank them and to let them know that he was not writing for them to send more but, even if they didn't the Lord would and had been supplying his needs.  Paul had faith in the Lord that his needs would be met even though he had no control over what and where the support came from.  Paul had devoted his life to the Lord's work and there was no promised source of income from his work.  Paul was remininding the church at Phillipi that just as the Lord had taken care of him he would continue to take care of all of the needs of theirs as well.

As Christians today, we live in  a much different time, the pace of life is much faster, and it takes "more" to live this life, but yet the Lord still is true to his word.  He will supply all our needs.  I think of the birds and how calm they seem.  I even sometimes find peace in standing at the window watching them.  They don't worry about where their next meal will come from.  Its always there when they need it.  But we, being born of a sinful nature, have a quality of anxiety that the other animals don't have.  We worry.  All God asks us to do is to Ask Him.  Do our Part.  Give Back his Share. and believe that he will provide.  And he ALWAYS does.

The other thing we struggle with today is knowing the difference between wants and needs.  Sometimes we may have to live without things (wants) but God always supplies our needs, he knows what is best for us and will always bless us according to his plan.  God is supreme and has infininate resources.  If we love and bless each other with everything we have HOW MUCH MORE will our heavenly father love and bless us if we only ask.

A Trip Down Memory Lane... Age 1

My Cousin Lauren on the left--- me on the right

I came across this photo this week and it just made me smile... Life was so much more simple then.  I realized in looking at this image how blessed I am to have these memories, to have had a family who loves and cares about me, and to have had someone who was not only my cousin but a lifelong friend in my life. To have been able to grow up with someone who understood, who you could complain to when your parents seemed unreasonable, who planned an amazing senior trip, and introduced me to the most amazing man in my life.  I was so blessed to be able to stand beside her on the day of her wedding and watch her marry the man who had adored her since the moment he laid eyes on her was to me priceless and worth far more many other memories in my life.  I am so grateful to have someone in my life that loves me for who I am, and has been a friend through out so many ups and downs.

I'm grateful for family, friends, and wonderful pictures that help me remember it all :) 

Words of Encouragement- Psalms 13:1-5

How long, O Lord? Will you forget me forever? How Long will you hide your face from me?
How long must I wrestle my with my thought, end every sorrow in my heart?
Look on me and answer O Lord my God, Give light to my eyes or I will sleep in death
my enemy will say I will overcome him
and my foes will rejoice when i fall
But I trust in your unfailing love; my heart rejoices in your salvation
                                                                                 Psalms 13:5


David wrote these words as his prayer from being in dispair.  He asked the Lord how long would he forget him, and how long would he hide his face from him?  Obviously The Lord had not forgotten David and he had not hidden himself from him, but David was not feeling the presence of the Lord around him.  Sometimes in the middle of what seem like horrible earthly problems we tend not to be able to feel the Lord around us.  Sometimes we think the Lord is too slow to act.  We often have impatience with God.  It seems sometimes that evil runs rampid and we wonder when God is going to stop it.  David affirmed that he would continue to trust God no matter how long he had to for God's justice to be realized.  When you feel yourself becoming inpatient remember David's steadfast faith and God's unfailing Love, and that sometimes when God allows the devil to work in our lives he is strengthening our patience and our faith.  God always gets the glory in any situation no matter how bad it seems to us.

Just like David sometimes we will have to wait on the Lord, It may be a financial situation, a health situation  a family situation or even someones salvation, and in these times it is harder to hold on to your faith but God's timing is perfect and if we trust in his unfailing love and rejoice in the salvation he has given us He will prevail :)

In his time
In his time
He makes all things beautiful In his time
Show us everyday
As your teaching me your way
You do just what you say
In your Time
- such beautiful lyrics to an old hymn but so true today.

Emily + Josh :) - Greenville, SC Engagement Session

Oh My goodness these two were the cutest :)   I was so excited to meet Emily and Josh after emailing about their wedding in June.  When i walked in to Spill the Beans on Saturday and met them for the first time I immediately liked them.  Their were full of fun and you could tell that they were completely in love. Emily and Josh are getting married on June 1st and couldn't be more excited about it.  Although i hope for their sake its not blowing snow in June like it was on Saturday during their engagement session.  It was so apparent how much of a tender love Josh has for Emily and how much she loves to be in his arms.They were so sweet together but their fun sides came out too :)

This is one of the sweetest couples I have met in a long time and i am super excited to share these images and be apart of their big day:) We hit a couple of great locations within Falls Park in Greenville and warmed up over coffee a couple of times during the session.   

I know rain on your wedding day is supposed to be good luck so im hoping snow on your engagement session is also good luck.

I had so much fun with Emily and Josh Saturday and I can not wait for their wedding.

Love this little shot with the bridge in the back ground.... Its so apparent how much Josh loves her, and look at her on her tippie toes.... So cute :) 

Trying to keep them from laughing in the second picture was not a problem I think they forgot i was even there... 

Isn't Emily such a beautiful girl?

                                   It was pretty Chilly but these two had no problem staying close for warmth :)

Its a photographers dream when the couple forgets you are there and gets lost in the moment... and that happened quite a bit during this session... I love the emotion in these images

Weekly Photo challenge

Every Monday i am going to be posting my photos from my photo challenge for the past week along with a list for the next weeks photo challenge... If you would like to play along comment on the blog post for next week with a link to your 7 photos and someone will win a fun prize each week :)

Monday- Your View Today
up before sunrise but was able to enjoy Gods Creation a little longer Monday morning.

Tuesday - Words
My Scripture for today.. It was just the reminder i needed that even Jesus needed to take away time from everything just to be with the Lord.





Wednesday - hands

 Worked on a beautiful boudoir session for this lovely ladies future husband.  What an amazing Classy unexpected gift she can give her husband on their wedding day.

Thursday - A stranger

Ugggh... Rain Go away ... my Tennis Shoes have been a stranger to me ... I want to start walking again.

Friday- 10 AM
Working on my operations manual this morning... Lots of Caffeine needed and a Lilly Phi Mu Cup to boot :)

Saturday- Dinner
Not quite the Date night i had planned on... had to come home early because of the snow... but i got to see the snow!!!!








Sunday - A button
Love these buttons i found on this vintage pink suit a couple of weeks ago.  So excited about a few vintage stylized sessions once it warms up a bit :)




Next weeks photo challenge
Monday - Sun
Tuesday - Front Door
Wednesday- Self Portrait
Thursday- Makes you happy
Friday- Inside your closet
Saturday - Blue
Sunday - Heart

Giveaway instructions  take a photo every day, include the category, be creative.  Everyone who completes all 7 images will be entered in a drawing to win a $10 print credit with Meredith Staton Photography, and the best image (chosen by Meredith) will also win a $10 print credit. Comment on next weeks blog post by Monday night at midnight and winners will be announced on Tuesday :)

Words of Encouragement: Mark 8:34-35

When he had called the people to himself, with his disciples also, he said to them, whoever desires to come after me let him take up his cross and follow me. For whoever desires to save his life will lose it but whoever loses his life for my sake and the gospels, will find it.
                                                                                 Mark 8:34-35

When Mark wrote this passage of scripture he was originally talking to the Romans and they understood what taking up a cross meant. Death on a cross was a way that dangerous criminals were executed in that time in Rome.  A prisoner was required to carry his own cross to the place where he would be hung on it to signify Rome's Power. Jesus uses this idea of carrying ones cross to symbolize the total submission that he requires of his followers.  Jesus does not want us to have a miserable life. In fact he wants us to have life, and life to the fullest, neither is he saying that we should seek pain needlessly for his sake.  Paul was talking about making an effort daily and in each moment to do his will even when the future does not look the way you want it to.  Jesus was telling the Roman citizens that following him would not be easy.   We should be willing to lose our lives for the sake of the gospel not because our lives are useless but because nothing- not even life itself can compare to what we gain with Christ.  And as Christians living in the United States, most of the time we wont even be asked to do the "hard stuff" ... We wont ever be asked to die for Jesus, or live in the third world countries for his ministry, but Paul says we will have to make sacrifices and we will have to lay down our lives in a sense that we may not live by our goals, and our desires, and our choosing. Jesus wants us to make a conscious choice to follow him every day, rather than lead a life of sin and self satisfaction  He wants us to stop trying to control our own lives and allow him to direct us.  This makes perfect sense because he is the creator, The Lord knows better than we do what real life is about, all he asks for is our submission, not self hatred, he only asks us to loose our self centered determination to be in charge.

If The Lord cares for the animals and the rest of the earth and they are always provided for, how much more would he do for the people he loves, are made in his image, and sent his only son to the earth to die for.

All he's asking is that we give up the control of our own lives and allow him to control our path.  He will bless us far more than we will ever expect if we will just let go of our lives and surrender them to him.

A Good Little Laugh ....

We all need a good laugh every once in a while.... and if you guys know me at all you know i love tractors and ANYTHING PINK ... so this made me giggle...  Gotta Love Comedian Tim Hawkins

     

           


 Happy Sunday Everyone !

Words of Encouragement 1 Corinthians 1:25

For the foolishness of God is wiser than man's wisdom and the strength of God is stronger than mans strength.
                                                                                           1 Corinthians 1:25

A lot of people don't think that Jesus was real, Jesus was one of three things he was either a Lunatic  a Lie, or Lord.  A lot of people would agree that he was either Crazy or he didn't even exist because the things of God seem simply foolish to them.  Even as Christians Gods ways can seem strange or crazy to us, but his ways are not our ways and his timing is not our timing and so we have to remember that even when the Lords ways do not make sense that that his ways are far wiser than our ways.  Even in his death many people find weakness in Jesus, but Jesus didn't stay dead, and by this he demonstrated his power as fully God over death.  His resurrection sounds like a fairy-tale to many, and many of these people try to work their way to a god because the simpleness of the gospel is too easy to be true.  To just admit that you have sinned, have faith and believe in Jesus as your Lord,  confess and repent of your sins, and surrender your life to him, sounds to easy and that there must be a catch to many. But God is so much wiser than we are.  God is so much stronger than we are.  If we will only ask him, he can do infinitely more with our time, our money, our relationships and our lives and he will bless us tremendously along the way if we will just trust him as God in our lives and turn our lives over to him and trust that his wisdom and strength are far greater than ours.

Weekend Plans: Greenville, SC

Date Night!!! Its amazing what a date night can do for your relationship and i am so glad my husband continues to date me even after we are married :) I have been like a high school girl getting ready for her first date this week waiting on the night when she finally gets to go out with her crush :) I am so looking forward to our night out in Greenville even though i have absolutely no idea what he has up his sleeve :)

AND I get to meet a pretty amazing couple who's wedding I will be shooting in June for their Engagement session today at Falls Park.  So all around ... I would say ... Pretty amazing Day ahead in my book.

If you have never been to falls park it is a beautiful place for a picnic or to read and relax or take a stroll with a good friend or someone you love.  The beautiful suspended bridge over the rocky falls of the Reedy river are spectacular. 

    

 Its actually where my husband and I had several date nights 

       

and then where proposed to me 5 years ago last week, 

and where I had my bridal pictures taken  so i may be just a  little bit biased ;)

Words of Encouragement - Titus 2:1

You must teach what is in accord with sound doctrine.  Titus 2:1


In our world today there are so many different "teachings" so many different things that sound good.  There are "so many ways to get to God," but I truly believe that faith in Jesus Christ and complete surrender of your life to him is the Only way.  You have to be so careful to know what is true and what is not truth.Paul writes Titus from Prison and tells him that he must teach the people only what is sound biblical truth.  Paul knew the importance of the truth, even if it meant being arrested or even killed.  The only way to know what is true is to study the scriptures for yourself.  There are so many things out there and the only way to know if they are true is to hold them up against Gods standard, the word of God, the bible.  As Christians we need to study and  know the scriptures for a couple of different reasons.  First of all because it is an encouragement to our daily lives and brings us closer to the Lord.  Secondly because It will help us decide what is true and what is false that is being taught around us and to fend off false teachers, and thirdly it will make sure that like Paul warned against that when we tell others what we know about the Lord and his scripture that what we tell is truth.  When teaching is sound it combines correct knowledge and understanding with consistent practice.

To be sound doctrine it must be found in the bible, keep Jesus Christ Central, result in good behavior and actions, and promote spiritual health in ourselves and others.

As Christians we have to be solidly grounded in the truth of the bible. so that we wont be swayed by all the lies out there or the pull of our emotions either.

As we go about our lives we need to be aware of what is being said around us, compare it to God word, and only live by the truth the Lord has set before us.

Locations: Carl Sandburg

Finding Locations can be a really difficult thing for clients when planning a photography session, and for years i had been very careful of who i shared my list of locations with, but recently I came to realize that its not the location, its the photographer who makes the images different, and I have found some amazing locations in Western North Carolina  over the years and why not share that with people who are looking for locations in the area as well as other photographers.  On Fridays I will be choosing a location that I have shot sessions at and sharing a little bit about the location, images from sessions and tips and tricks about the location :) Check back each Friday for a new and exciting place to shoot.


Carl Sandburg Home- Flat Rock, NC

This weeks location is one of my absolute favorite places to shoot.  The Carl Sandburg Home in Flat Rock, NC , also known as  Conemara, is a 245 acre farm with history that dates back before the Civil War.  The home was originally a large and extravagant Southern estate, as one of many that was built in the 1850s in Flat Rock as wealthy Charlestonians  settled in the cool mountain area to avoid the heat of the low country of South Carolina.

The Home was purchased by the well know poet Carl Sandburg in 1908, and Sandburg's mother turned the rolling acreage into a working Dairy farm for her prize winning goats :)

Tips for Sessions at Carl Sandburg:
* Allow plenty of time
*Bring Comfortable shoes to walk in ( and you can change before your poses)
*Bring or have photographer bring a blanket with something waterproof to set underneath as the ground can very often be wet and muddy.
*Shoot other locations before heading to the barn as the goats grab the kiddos attention and they want to stay with the goats as long as possible.
*Explore other locations and have fun :)

Due to the number of buildings on the property and the expansive views It makes for a great location for photography sessions.


One of my absolute favorite locations to shoot is around the lake at the bottom of the property.  There are a couple of bridges and a walking trail that circles the lake.  The bridges are a great location that give photographers a number of options for posing even if the weather has not been great.  The trail surrounding the lake is a dirt path so I always advise my clients to dress accordingly, but no matter the season the lake provides a stunning backdrop for headshots as well as for full length portraits.  During the fall the colors are amazing in the trees and the reflection off of the water is a backdrop that has a hard time being beat.

A great plus to Carl Sandburg is the options of locations around the lake.  An entire hour session can be shot without having to make the climb to the house and the barn.

The field just above the lake provides a great backdrop for large groups or for a more rustic/natural look.   Just a tip, watch for holes :) There are some great solid locations but after a good rain the ground here can be really saturated and soft.  There are spots that clients can find footing but i always find the spot for the clients before having them come up the hill.   Just for their safety.


For those who want to make the short "Hike" up to the house many more location options that open up.   The House and grounds has beautiful white split rail gates and wire fences that offer a great backdrop and even a prop during a session.

Once your at the top of the Hill near the house the barns offer a great location for some more rustic images.

There is a beautiful red fence around the barn that adds a pop of color behind you or your clients, as well as that rustic vintage feel.  The barns also provide this same amazing color in a more clapboard background.

One of my favorite locations near the barn is (as one of my client's sweet little girl called it) "The Gate to no where"  There is a white picket gate with stone on either side.  The gate opens up into a garden behind but the tree steps in front offer a great location for intimate seated portraits of a family or a couple.  The Gate also makes a great backdrop for a close up image of a bride to be's Engagement Ring.

Inside the Barn Gates The Chicken coop and stone Silo as well as well as the expansive view make for even more great backdrops.

Just be careful ... because the Goats will want to jump in a photo or two :) 

if you are looking for a great day out location too Carl Sandburg is a great place for a day out with family as well.. There are many hiking trails, tours of the house, and picnic facilities, and of course the goats to pet.

visit their website for more information on the house and grounds.

To book a session with Meredith Searcy Staton Photography at Carl Sandburg home email us today:)