Fix Your Eyes

STORY BEHIND THE PHOTO: Picture Praise, 11/26/12

This photo of Tokyo Tower was taken in Tokyo, Japan, on a rainy and foggy winter day. In the hustle and bustle of city life working among one of the world's largest unreached people groups, ministry in Japan can be discouraging.  Just as the fog hides part of the buildings here often our eyes fix on what is seen and we miss the opportunity to see the unseen, eternal work that God is doing amongst us.

Keep 'em coming!
We have 49 more slots to fill for Picture Praise in 2013. 

We need your great global shots and verses.

We're inviting all women serving cross-culturally to participate in submitting their photography and verses to be considered for use for Picture Praise this year.

Picture Praise goes out to over 2,000 subscribers weekly and has become one of our most inspirational and easily sharable publications. This is an opportunity to put your life on the field and the people you serve in front of many believers. Often times it is an initiator for prayer to those who receive it.

We'd love to see your corner of the world and the people who live there...so please consider submitting your photo (jpeg) and verse (not on the photo) to: editor@womenoftheharvest.com 

photographer:  Lori Harms, Japan.  “Lori is a Converge Worldwide missionary working as a teacher at Kansai Christian School in Nara, Japan.  Her blog is  HYPERLINK "http://www.tckteacher.blogspot.com" \o "http://www.tckteacher.blogspot.com/" \t "_blank" www.tckteacher.blogspot.com.”

Jesus

STORY BEHIND THE PHOTO: Picture Praise, 12/24/12

My husband and I saw the Lord moving in the prisons in Thailand when we were there on a mission trip about 8 years ago. We felt the Lord inviting us to join His work there, so we did. We stayed in Bangkok studying Thai and doing prison work for 6 years. 

I thought I was going on the mission field as just my very talented husband's wife. Painting was always just a hobby, it kept me sane particularly through nursing school, but God used it to reach into prisons and draw people to Him through art classes. Who knew?  I am a very ordinary looking American grandmother, but I can say that I have hung out with tattooed drug lords serving life sentences in Thai prisons. 

Recently my husband had a business trip to the UK.  As we drove around we spied this cross outside a little church in Wales. This cross has stood there for a long time and has weathered many storms.  But the cross of Christ for which it stands has endured even more yet stands glorious!  It is so amazing to see God at work wherever you go! I edited the photo to focus just on the cross and blur out the rest.  I want to live like that too - just focus on the cross. If I look at all the stuff around the edges, if I get caught up in the peripherals, get distracted with the busy things and loose my focus on the cross, I burn out, get discouraged and get worn down. Got to keep my focus on the cross!

We'd love to see your corner of the world and the people who live there...so please consider submitting your photo (jpeg, at least 600px x 400px) and verse (not on the photo) to: info@womenoftheharvest.com.

photographer: Charlotte Blanford, USA

Unfading Beauty

STORY BEHIND THE PHOTO: Picture Praise, 12/17/12

My husband and I arrived in Northwest Cameroon at the end of rainy season. The hills and trails were still a bit slippery but we enjoyed hiking on them, the dog often leading the way and pulling us along. We soaked in the beauty as we hiked and learned our way around.

As the rains ended, the trails improved. The grass had one last growth spurt, went to seed and then began dying, its beauty soon fading away.

We'd love to see your corner of the world and the people who live there...so please consider submitting your photo (jpeg, at least 600px x 400px) and verse (not on the photo) to: info@womenoftheharvest.com.

photographer: Chris Van Weerdhuizen, Cameroon, Africa “My husband and I serve as part of the support team for Wycliffe. Over the years (20 years in the Philippines and the past year in Cameroon) I’ve been privileged to do a variety of practical helps to support the Bible translation task. God has not gifted me in linguistics, but I can provide hospitality, be a listening ear, and encourage and pray for those who are. Together we can bring God’s word to the Bible-less people of the world.”

His Ways

STORY BEHIND THE PHOTO: Picture Praise, 12/10/12

Here is a picture of a Tanzanian man, in a suit, standing on a truck, refueling a 12 passenger plane.  This picture prompted me to think of Isaiah 55:8.  Sometimes we think our western ways and ideas are superior to those of our countrymen on our field of service.  This picture is a reminder that different doesn’t mean inferior.  Just as God loves us despite our shortcomings, we should embrace and understand the differences we encounter on a daily basis.

We'd love to see your corner of the world and the people who live there...so please consider submitting your photo (jpeg, at least 600px x 400px) and verse (not on the photo) to: info@womenoftheharvest.com.

photographer: Kimberly Hodgson, Mbeya, Tanzania  “Kimberly and Cory Hodgson have been serving in Tanzania, East Africa with Grace Ministries International since February 2006. They have two sweet children, Naomi (8) and Elijah (5). Kimberly is primarily a wife, mother, teacher (for her children), and hostess. Her husband Cory’s primary ministry is a Bible correspondence program. They work together to provide hospitality to the many guest who pass through their home.”

Clothe Yourselves

STORY BEHIND THE PHOTO: Picture Praise, 12/03/12

During a kids' teaching time in a language this little girl did not understand, she picked flowers when no one was looking and "clothed" as many girls as she could with them.  It was precious!  We long to see all these children understand what it means to be clothed with compassion, kindness and so much more through Jesus.

We'd love to see your corner of the world and the people who live there...so please consider submitting your photo (jpeg, at least 600px x 400px) and verse (not on the photo) to: info@womenoftheharvest.com.


photographer:  Heather Hahn, Mexico  Heather is the director of Brave Heart ministry in Mexico City.