I've always loved taking photos and video because of the stories they share. I witnessed the inspiration others gain when they are able to relate and find new hope. Thus, I've sought to encourage people through stories whether it be via a photograph, an article or a film. I love finding the hook of the story or the emotion that remains unspoken and capturing it.
Furthermore, I'm truly thankful to be a part of projects that bring people closer to our Lord Jesus Christ. He has changed my life in so many ways and continues to be my guide each and every day.
My Testimony:
I have suffered a loss so great I barely survived through it. My very worst nightmare occurred and there was no way I could get out. Every morning, I'd wake up hoping it was all over but then devastated when I realized it was reality. My nightmare would not end.
What I wanted most in life was torn from my hands. I begged God to make my situation stop. I shook the gates of Heaven and hell begging: No... No.... No! Many extremely lonely nights when all was dark, when I could not get myself to calm down, I would cry out to God, begging Him to help me.
And then, I envisioned his wings covering me. Tucking me in. I was safe. Someone cared.
There were numerous nights and days like this. Times when I felt like I was drowning and when I'd swim to the surface, something pushed me down. I could not breathe. I would see walls closing in on me and I could not push my way through. I was trapped; trapped in my worst nightmare.
And then a light shined in. I started seeing God in the water with me; holding me and helping me get out. He was there, holding the walls from crushing in on me. I saw His arms embracing me when I was inconsolable. The light at the end of the tunnel was no where to be found; but His presence in the darkness was a light to me and the only thing I could hold onto.
One morning, there was a noise outside. When I opened my door, I saw my neighbor, a surviving cancer patient mowing my lawn in the incredible TX heat with water bottle in tow. Tears shot in my eyes because I knew I was seeing the very hand of God taking care of me. I knew I would be ok because God was ok. He would not change, He was there to provide, comfort, protect and give clarity in very murky waters.
God taught me that I can not survive on my own. That is His job. I needed to let Him do His job to survive for me. My job was to depend on Him by trying to remember that He did care for me and He would get me through. He was there.
He was there in every way. He kept me safe and intervened many times when I wanted to take matters in my own hands and stop the hurt by going to other things rather than Him. He brought family and friends around me to care for me and watch over me. He has taught me that I only need to depend on Him financially. My security financially is in Him and Him alone. No matter what turbulent times I faced, He was stable. He is always stable. I can trust in Him in that, in my future and in everything.
And at long last, His light over shadowed my darkness. The dawn rose through my nightmare, even though my nightmare continued to lurk around, bad days abounding. The good days slowly began to juxtapose the bad, offseting the grief. The season finally shifted and the grief subsided away.
It is only because God came down from on high and held me in my darkness that I’ve survived and can see the day again.
Since that time, God has lead me on so many paths, hills, mountains, valleys. I've been close in my relationship with Him and at times, I've felt so far. I've learned how relationships ebb and flow and how we can be that way towards God. I'm thankful though, that He never changes, never leaves and is always there. He wants us to pursue Him and that is His utmost desire.
Matthew 22:37-38
37 Jesus replied [to the Pharisees]: "Love the Lord your God with all your heart and with all your soul and with all your mind." 38 This is the first and greatest commandment.
He is the God who gives and who takes away, only to replace with the best. God has been my provider, protector and I don't know where I'd be without Him. I'm blessed in many ways, but ultimately because He came down on high and rescued me...
Psalm 18
3 I called to the Lord, who is worthy of praise,
and I have been saved from my enemies.
4 The cords of death entangled me;
the torrents of destruction overwhelmed me.
5 The cords of the grave coiled around me;
the snares of death confronted me.
6 In my distress I called to the Lord;
I cried to my God for help.
From his temple he heard my voice;
my cry came before him, into his ears.
7 The earth trembled and quaked,
and the foundations of the mountains shook;
they trembled because he was angry.
8 Smoke rose from his nostrils;
consuming fire came from his mouth,
burning coals blazed out of it.
9 He parted the heavens and came down;
dark clouds were under his feet.
10 He mounted the cherubim and flew;
he soared on the wings of the wind.
11 He made darkness his covering, his canopy around him—
the dark rain clouds of the sky.
12 Out of the brightness of his presence clouds advanced,
with hailstones and bolts of lightning.
13 The Lord thundered from heaven;
the voice of the Most High resounded.[d]
14 He shot his arrows and scattered the enemy,
with great bolts of lightning he routed them.
15 The valleys of the sea were exposed
and the foundations of the earth laid bare
at your rebuke, Lord,
at the blast of breath from your nostrils.
16 He reached down from on high and took hold of me;
he drew me out of deep waters.
17 He rescued me from my powerful enemy,
from my foes, who were too strong for me.
18 They confronted me in the day of my disaster,
but the Lord was my support.
19 He brought me out into a spacious place;
he rescued me because he delighted in me.
You can read more of my day to day story on my blog: http://candiceirion.blogspot.com/
(or by clicking on the "Blog" button on the left hand menu).
If you'd like to share your story, feel free to contact me. Just click on "Contact" on the left hand menu.
Thanks again for reading and may our gracious Lord and Savior show His face to you this day and everyday.
All the best to you!
Most Sincerely,
Candice