HAPPY BIRTHDAY, HUBBY-MAN!!

So Tim's birthday was yesterday! We actually celebrated it the whole week because that's how special he is to me! Or it could be that I couldn't wait for him to open his presents! "What did he get?", you ask.... Well, besides a new golf club, a sweater, some chocolate and beer, he received an "SLR Jar". "What's an SLR Jar?" you ask......well, it's a jar decorated with cameras and "SLRs" that contains mass quantities of moola! You see, Tim has been wanting a kick-butt camera for some time now as he is (I hate to use this terminology...) a "blossoming" photographer! Check out his photos at http://timmybomb.blogspot.com/.

Anyways, between our family and friends, we raised over $800. towards a new "professional" camera that should appear in his world by January! YEAH! Tim was pretty excited as you can see above!

Tim had been talking about a professional camera for a long time...he studied the models, read report after report, visited store after store looking for the best price for the best model. He pursued it and figured that "someday" he would be able to purchase this large investment. I was impressed by his drive and intense interest in this venture and couldn't help but get excited, too!

It's like our relationship with Jesus.....when we talk about Him, study His life, His words, read story after story about Him and what He does, visit those who know Him well, seek to find Him, look for Him at every chance, anticipate when we will behold Him and see Him face to face.....we can't help but get excited, passionate. And you know what happens when we get to that place? We get those around us excited, too! So much so, that they begin to do their OWN research and pass it on, too...just like the excitement I felt with Tim's passion.

I think I often forget the passage, Proverbs 27:17, which says "As iron sharpens iron, so one man sharpens another". What do I get passionate about? Are they things that I want to pass on to others? Do I want to pass on my negative attitudes about certain people, or my tiredness, or sometimes my doubting of the promises of God? Or do I want to pass on a passion for His presence, a positive view of His calling and purpose for my life, a "cup half-full" approach to this gift of life He has given me? How am I sharpening those around me? Perhaps what I seek most will prove what I am most passionate about! Again, I am humbled. (Read Jeremiah 29: 12-14.........)