It comes from the unexpected...

"I will cling to the old rugged cross and exchange it someday for a crown..." you could catch my Granny Broome singing or humming this song everyday. The words ring clear and true in my mind and I can still see her smile that big ol'smile every time I hear it. I learned about faith in God from her, not from church or books or teachers, but a little heavy set woman with grey splashed auburn hair and soft little wrinkles. She faced many troubles and trials throughout her life but she ALWAYS laid her faith in God. Just watching her cry while singing songs to me, or reading the Bible to me as a small child. I miss that woman more than anything in this world, she passed away in Aug 2004 and it gives me great solace to know that one day I will be reunited with her and other loved ones that have gone on to that great "exchange desk" in Heaven. I won't need to bring a receipt, Jesus already has it. He holds a book that has "Paid in Full" stamped beside my name. He'll say "Come on my child, lay down your cross and pick up your crown." If not for her showing me her faith and love of God, I may not have been as receptive to hearing the gospel when preached in May of 2005! I may have walked out of that church thinking those people were CRAZY! But thanks to my Granny's faith, the Holy Spirit's convicting power, and God's Grace and Mercy...I got washed in the blood of Jesus...and I've been born again! I pray that I'll have a testimony like that for my children and grandchildren one day...that through my faith and trusting in God...they can see that Jesus is the ONLY way!

I had planned on posting today about a little activity that I did with Morgan last week but God changed my plans. I was getting ready to enter a chance to win 1/2 off a photography session with a local photographer Jeff Woollam. The instructions were to go to his webpage...look through his photos...pick out my favorite and post a link to his facebook page on my timeline. So I hurried off to this site thinking I already knew which one I was gonna choose (my friend's little boy wearing a superman cape, seemingly flying through the air...adorable!) and it would only take a minute. Then a barn caught my eye and I started browsing through some of his other albums. I happened across the most simple photo...yet stunningly beautiful...a warmth came over me and I felt tears stream down my face. Here is what lead my mind to that old song Granny used to sing and the meaning behind that "Old Rugged Cross"...

...It truly captures the essence of living in WNC. You see...here in the buckle of the "Bible Belt"...these crosses stand on roadsides, hilltops and in yards across the valleys of this great land and serve as a reminder to me and all that pass that "...God so loved the world, that he gave his only begotten Son, that whosoever believeth in him should not perish, but have everlasting life...For God sent not his Son into the world to condemn the world; but that the world through him might be saved."- John 3:16-17

So, I'll say "Thank you, God, for giving me a blessing in an unexpected way...and for changing my plans for my blog post today!" and Thank you Woollam Imaging for giving me permission to post your photo.
(I would also like to add that this in NO WAY increases my odds of winning that session because it is totally random!)