Author: denlcal

Hi, my name is Denise. I am beginning a journey into the world of digital photography. My early learning was from the old-school photography days. My interest in photography began in childhood. My Father was the digital photo shopper long before any of that existed. He had a darkroom set up in our basement. Many hours were spent there learning, watching and finally diving in myself. The whole developing process amazed me, and I had a love for photography ever since. Now I am exploring all that the world of digital photography has to offer. I am inspired, as I look through the lens of the camera, at the wonder of God’s creation. I hope these scriptural pictures will captivate and inspire you. This is my Father’s world come along let’s explore!

He Has Ascended

“Now when He had spoken these things, while they watched, He was taken up, and a cloud received Him out of their sight. And while they looked steadfastly toward heaven as He went up, behold, two men stood by them in white apparel, who also said, “Men of Galilee, why do you stand gazing up into heaven? This same Jesus, who was taken up from you into heaven, will so come in like manner as you saw Him go into heaven.”” Acts 1: 9-11 NKJV

This picture was taken on a beautiful summer day. The blue color of the sky, with the white fluffy clouds and sun brightly shining, was masterfully designed by our Father in heaven. It compels you to look up and you can not help but consider how wonderful He is! Could this be how the sky looked as He ascended? It gives us reason to contemplate.

The season and events surrounding Easter is not just a one to three day time frame. It begins with the forty day period of Lent and continues through Palm Sunday, Holy Week, the crucifixion, death, burial, resurrection and ascension. Forty days after the resurrection Jesus ascended into Heaven to be seated at the right hand of God. Then ten days later, the day of Pentecost happened. This is when the Holy Spirit descended upon the Apostles and other followers of Jesus. This also signifies the birth of the Christian church. The Day of Pentecost also ends the Easter season.

We tend to focus mainly on resurrection day, rightly so, however, there is much more to consider. Take the time to contemplate all that took place.

The ascension and day of Pentecost both were a fulfillment of Jesus’ ministry on earth. The Bible tells us in Acts 1:9-11 that He is coming back in the manner He ascended, in the clouds! Be ever so diligent and alert! Jesus tells us He is returning and He cautions us to be watching and ready, for no one knows the exact day, only the Father in heaven. Be ready!

“Watch therefore, for you do not know what hour your Lord is coming.” Matthew 24:42NKJV

“When the Son of Man comes in His glory, and all the holy angels with Him, then He will sit on the throne of His glory.”
Matthew 25:31NKJV

Scriptures for daily thought and encouragement!

©️ Denise L Calandra 2023

Check out some photos on the sites below:

https://denisecalandraphotography.picfair.com/

https://denisecalandraphotography.zenfoliosite.com/home

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He Is Risen!

“He is not here; for He is risen, as He said. Come, see the place where the Lord lay.”Matthew 28:6 NKJV

Oh what a glorious day, the day we call Easter, Resurrection Day! As wonderful as this is for us; it was gruesome for Jesus to get to this point. We all rejoice and need to be forever thankful that our God would send His only Son to lay down His life for us. Let us reflect on this and never forget.

“In the beginning God created the heavens and the earth…” Genesis 1:1. Although we do not know the exact time frame from creation to the fall of man, in the realm of time, it came relatively quick. In chapter one we read about creation and then chapter 3 brings us to the fall of man. This put us in a dire situation, as we now were separated from God due to our sin.

This dilemma was tragic. However, God had a plan already in place. John 3:16 tells us of this plan. “For God so loved the world that He gave His only begotten Son, that whoever believes in Him should not perish but have everlasting life.”
John 3:16 NKJV

Jesus came to save us and restore us unto Himself. “For unto us a Child is born, Unto us a Son is given; And the government will be upon His shoulder. And His name will be called Wonderful, Counselor, Mighty God, Everlasting Father, Prince of Peace.”
Isaiah 9:6 NKJV

Therefore, God sent His only son as a little babe to earth for us and He grew and fulfilled His purpose.

“But He was wounded for our transgressions, He was bruised for our iniquities; The chastisement for our peace was upon Him, And by His stripes we are healed. Who has believed our report? And to whom has the arm of the Lord been revealed? For He shall grow up before Him as a tender plant, And as a root out of dry ground. He has no form or comeliness; And when we see Him, There is no beauty that we should desire Him. He is despised and rejected by men, A Man of sorrows and acquainted with grief. And we hid, as it were, our faces from Him; He was despised, and we did not esteem Him. Surely He has borne our griefs And carried our sorrows; Yet we esteemed Him stricken, Smitten by God, and afflicted.” Isaiah 53:1-5 NKJV

Jesus came, He suffered, He was crucified and died for our sins. Then He rose and ascended just as He said and He is coming back again for us! We are grieved He had to suffer for us, yet we rejoice in His love and redemption. This resurrection day believe on the Lord Jesus Christ and be saved. Hallelujah!

“In My Father’s house are many mansions; if not I would have told you. I go to prepare a place for you. “Let not your heart be troubled; you believe in God, believe also in Me. And if I go and prepare a place for you, I will come again and receive you to Myself; that where I am, you may be also. And where I go you know, and the way you know.” John 14: 1-3 NKJV

Scriptures for daily thought and encouragement!

©️ Denise L. Calandra 2023

Check out some photos at the sites below:

https://denisecalandraphotography.picfair.com/

https://denisecalandraphotography.zenfoliosite.com/home

Washed White As Snow

On a tree our sins were forgiven!

“Purge me with hyssop, and I shall be clean;Wash me, and I shall be whiter than snow.”
Psalm 51:7 NKJV

This picture was taken on a cold, snowy winter day. It was taken in a parking lot covered with snow. This lone tree really stood out against the white snow. It was a stark contrast to behold. I always consider God’s creation and His word when taking photos. This, however, goes way beyond creation and right to the heart of God! It really illustrated the above verse in Psalm 51.

“Who Himself bore our sins in His own body on the tree, that we, having died to sins, might live for righteousness—by whose stripes you were healed.”
1Peter 2:24 NKJV

“Blessed be the God and Father of our Lord Jesus Christ, who has blessed us with every spiritual blessing in the heavenly places in Christ, just as He chose us in Him before the foundation of the world, that we should be holy and without blame before Him in love, having predestined us to adoption as sons by Jesus Christ to Himself, according to the good pleasure of His will, to the praise of the glory of His grace, by which He made us accepted in the Beloved.”
Ephesians 1: 3-6 NKJV

The blood of Jesus washed our sins white as snow, because He bore them for us on the tree. Read and consider carefully Ephesians 1:3-6. Here we see, that even before creation, God had our salvation in mind. His love for us is immeasurable! It goes way beyond our comprehension. This is truly the heart of God toward us. I am forever grateful.

“For God so loved the world that He gave His only begotten Son, that whoever believes in Him should not perish but have everlasting life.”
John 3:16 NKJV

Scriptures for daily thought and encouragement!

©️ Denise L. Calandra 2023

Check out some photos available at the sites below.

https://denisecalandraphotography.picfair.com/

https://denisecalandraphotography.zenfoliosite.com/home

Keep The Light Glowing

His Light Shines Even in the Dreariest of Seasons

We have made it through the month of January and are now in February. We are pretty much in the deepest part of the Winter season. The busyness and excitement of the holidays are now past. In many regions the cold and snow have outworn their welcome and the dreariness of Winter has settled in. It is cold, dark and bare.

As we go along throughout our life we encounter many different situations, times and changes. This is all part of the natural course of life. We often refer to them as trials or seasons in time. What season do you find yourself in? Some seasons are wonderful, full of excitement and busyness; living out a purpose for that moment. Other times you may have struggles with health, finances or relational situations. Some moments are just quieter and lonelier than others. We all experience these at various times and levels.

As Christians we know that we need God to help us get through all things. In good times, as well as difficult ones, our help comes from Him. We need to acknowledge God no matter what season in life we find ourself. It is easy for us to be full and our light to be shining very bright when things are going well. However, we need to be ever diligent as to not take God for granted and become neglectful of Him. Do not fall into the trap of thinking oh I am fine, lest you start drifting away into your own thoughts more and more.

When hard times come we also must be careful, lest we find ourselves wondering where God is. Do you find yourself in a long, dark, fruitless struggle? Are you waiting on the Lord for answers? During these times we tend to cry out to God for His help and direction. We might even feel closer to Him, at first, because we are seeking His help. What can happen, though, if we do not get an immediate answer, or perhaps not the answer we desire? What if our situation seems unending and all we seem to be getting from God is quiet, what do we do? We definitely can become discouraged and disgruntled. We need to be careful not to get an unbelieving, disillusioned heart. Do not sink into darkness, keep the embers burning, do not let your light dim or go out! Trust that God is right there with you, because He is!

Some of the following scriptures and thoughts might help you to take comfort and give you guidance to get through challenging times.

We need to in “ALL” things acknowledge God, giving Him glory, honor and praise. “And we know that all things work together for good to those who love God, to those who are the called according to His purpose.”Romans 8:28 NKJV

He promises us in His word that He will never leave us nor forsake us. “I will never leave you nor forsake you.” Hebrews 13:5 NKJV

Do not sink to despair. “Beware, brethren, lest there be in any of you an evil heart of unbelief in departing from the living God.” Hebrews 3:12 NKJV

The darkness can not overcome the light . “The light shines in the darkness, and the darkness has not overcome it.”
John 1:5 NIV

God will help you to keep your light shining, do not let it go out! “ For You will light my lamp; The Lord my God will enlighten darkness.”
Ps.18:28 NKJV

In all things remember to trust, do not grow weary and let your light shine bright for all to see. To God be the glory!

Scriptures for daily thought and encouragement!

©️ Denise L. Calandra 2023

Pictures available at:

https://denisecalandraphotography.picfair.com/

https://denisecalandraphotography.zenfoliosite.com/home

God is Love

It is difficult to explain the meaning of the word “Love.” Love can be explained as an affection, an attachment or tender feeling toward another person. Valentine’s Day has become a day we express or celebrate these feelings, although they are not just felt for one day. Love like this can bring much joy and happiness.

However, God’s love is so much deeper than this. Sometimes more than we can comprehend. God is our true love! 💕

“For this reason I bow my knees to the Father of our Lord Jesus Christ, that He would grant you, according to the riches of His glory, to be strengthened with might through His Spirit in the inner man, from whom the whole family in heaven and earth is named, that Christ may dwell in your hearts through faith; that you, being rooted and grounded in love, may be able to comprehend with all the saints what is the width and length and depth and height— to know the love of Christ which passes knowledge; that you may be filled with all the fullness of God.” Ephesians 3:14-19 NKJV

Enjoy His love.

Roses are red, the color of the blood that God shed, He died for all, after the fall, Grasp on to His deep love and fly like a dove!

Scriptures for daily thought and encouragement!

©️ Denise L. Calandra

Check out some pictures at these two sites below.

https://denisecalandraphotography.picfair.com

https://denisecalandraphotography.zenfoliosite.com/home

Need a Little Uplift to your Walls

Now that the holidays are over and decorations are down and away, do your walls seem bare and in need of an uplift? Why not consider some wall art to freshen up your decor? Check out these two photo sites below to help.

https://denisecalandraphotography.picfair.com

https://denisecalandraphotography.zenfolio site.com

©️ Copyright Denise L. Calandra

Photos to inspire and relax. Go somewhere peaceful.

I Am The Light Of The World

One late summer afternoon I took this picture of the sun, shining through the tree, and it’s light reflecting to the ground, onto nearby flowers. It was a very inspiring moment. I thought about how God is always there guiding us. He allows us to see Himself in many ways. What a comfort this is for us. He is always there shining bright. I thought about the Bible verse where Jesus tells us that “He is the light of the world.”

“Then Jesus spoke to them again, saying, “I am the light of the world. He who follows Me shall not walk in darkness, but have the light of life.”
John 8:12 NKJV

As we come to this season of Christmas, let us reflect on Jesus and how He came down from heaven to save us, the lost sheep. What an amazing story, actually it is not just a story but an actual event. He left the glory of God and heaven to come to earth, for us!

“For God so loved the world that He gave His only begotten Son, that whoever believes in Him should not perish but have everlasting life.”
John 3:16NKJV

God sent us His son, who came as a little babe, into this world to save us all from our fallen state. This is the foundation for us, the beginning. If He never did this we would have no hope. This is our Christmas celebration. However, the story does not end here. Jesus had to complete the purpose God sent Him for. We can continue in the book of John and look at the next Bible verse to see this. John 3:17

“For God did not send His Son into the world to condemn the world, but that the world through Him might be saved.” John.3:17NKJV

This Christmas season reflect on Him as the little babe, but never forget that the story does not end there. He wants us to “ABIDE” in Him and glorify Him so this “Good News” can spread to all. His light shines down upon us, dwells in us and permeates us, shining outward to those around. Therefore, share His light this Christmas; for He truly is “The Light of the World!”

Let us rejoice and be glad. Joy to the world! Merry Christmas and God’s Blessing to all.

Scriptures for daily thought and encouragement!

©️Denise L. Calandra 2022

Pictures available at:

https:denisecalandraphotography.picfair.com

Be ye Transformed

Delight in change

“And do not be conformed to this world, but be transformed by the renewing of your mind, that you may prove what is that good and acceptable and perfect will of God.”
Romans 12:2 NKJV

Be “transformed”, what does this mean? A simple definition from dictionary.com states: to undergo a change in form, appearance, or character; become transformed. Fall is a season where we see transformation taking place in the trees. The leaves are “transformed” in their appearance.

A refresher on the food making process reminds us that as the amount of daylight decreases and the temperature begins to drop, the chlorophyll color of green, breaks down and goes away. When this occurs the true color of the leaves are seen, hence the beautiful Fall foliage from this transformation.

Let us look at what God tells us in Romans 12:2. First He tells us to not be “conformed” to this world. What does it mean to be conformed? Again dictionary.com gives us an idea of what it means to conform. It simply states: to comply or act in accord with the prevailing standards, attitudes, practices, etc. that a group or society adhere too. The Bible speaks of the ways of the “world” versus the ways of God. The standards of society do not meet the standards that God has for us in His word. We especially see our society falling deeper away from God’s ways, where immorality and lawlessness seem to prevail. We are not to conform to these ideas.

While God warns us that we should not conform to the ways of the world; He at the same time urges us to be “transformed, by the renewing of our mind”. How do we do this? When we accept Jesus as our Lord, God sends His Holy Spirit to dwell in us. We have the mind of Christ in us and we are being renewed and transformed to God’s ways. Perhaps this transformation is not as outward or visible as we see with the leaves, however, it is a real and amazing process. It is a character transformation and is done inwardly. However, the change should be visible in our behavior.

“I have been crucified with Christ; it is no longer I who live, but Christ lives in me; and the life which I now live in the flesh I live by faith in the Son of God, who loved me and gave Himself for me.”
Galatians 2:20NKJV

“Be ye transformed”

©️Denise L. Calandra 2022

Pictures available at:

https://denisecalandraphotography.picfair.com