I feel quite little, as in small, as I am watching tons of snow falling out of the sky here in Minnesota. Forecasters giddy with bad news have predicted 12-24 inches in the next couple of days. At the present rate nonstop it will double that (I have faith in the brilliant forecasters accuracy though…_______________???).
Instead of just drinking some more coffee, hot chocolate, more teas and munching on stuff, I cannot resist creating something. I express my creativity mostly by writing, making up songs (I just posted one- click here- on God’s ways are different), play piano keyboards and create picture puzzles for friends to figure out how it’s done.
I took these awhile back but now the context is different. I’m older, thus less wise because I know more and it’s a different season of reason (I feel therefore I am). Those of you who have experimented with cameras know what I did here. Kind of fun ya?
One click each picture, no overlay or layers or photoshop…totally un-doctored.
See the 3 ghost figures on the shoreline?
A ghostly figure raising hands over the ready to harvest wild rice on the lake
It’s the celebration of Easter where millions of people will in some form recognize that Jesus Christ, who died by crucifixion, was put into a tomb surrounded by guards and came to life. God who entered his own creation by becoming flesh and blood through a physical birth got into his own picture.
I suppose some will doubt I took those pictures with the three of me in them with one click of the camera and no photoshop alterations. It’s OK and no harm done to me to conclude I lied but they would be wrong. However, if it keeps snowing and I keep snacking, I won’t fit into another picture. I guess you would really have to know me well, or read a lot of reviews to really know.
Is it any different with God? I’ve read all the eye witness reviews. I have also committed my life to being a follower of Jesus. He is definitely not dead but alive and still changing lives today including mine.
I realize I have a cheesy way to introduce God’s Easter message but if the whole world could know God’s love…why he got into his own picture…wow. Life changing. World changing.
“Jesus performed many other signs in the presence of His disciples, which are not written in this book. But these are written so that you may believe that Jesus is the Christ, the Son of God, and that by believing you may have life in His name.” John 20:30-31
Gary
garyfultz 
You have a gift, Gary, not only in your writing but also (now I have discovered) in your music. Thank you for your faithful creativity!
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Thankyou Karen. A life time of dabbling has allowed me to hopefully weed out the things I am not meant to pursue. Some things , like music, and even writing, have challenged me to use and practice and get better at the gift God gave me. Sometimes an unwilling humbling journey. I cannot take any credit on my part.
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Hope you don’t need those snowshoes Gary! Fun pictures!
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I might Jon, just to shovel off the deepening snow on our roof. That would be a picture I could not take myself.
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No snow here, but we are under a tornado warning at the moment.
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I’ll take the snow over a tornado any day.
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What a clever way to bring the parallels to Easter into view. Thank you, Gary! And good luck with that snow!
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Thanks Wynne. I have already been plowing with the skid steer mountains of snow. The overnight might be a challenge as the winds will increase and blow the roads shut…Yea, snow day. I could write a country song on that…but won’t.
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Of course you could write a country song — but you’ll be too busy plowing to do that!
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You are such a wise and fascinating man, Gary!!! I am so thankful that God brought you into my life!!!! I love your creativity!!! You write and take pictures so well, they are raw, real and from the heart. I totally relate. Praising God for you.
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Thanks Mandy. I chuckled thinking if my mother were still here she would probably tell you that wisdom and Gary often ride on different horses., and then follow up with a few stories. She was proud of me as well, and the Lord seems to use me and I’m more than Ok with that.
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Gary, I love the fact God got into his own picture and did it to save us. I also think your one-click ghostly images are great. I’m sorry you’re getting dumped on, I could not handle living up North that’s too much snow for me. Be careful clearing the roof.
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Oh I love that fact as well Manette. As far as the snow coming, I have seen April storms with 3 feet of snow. The good news is the temperatures will never be super cold and in another week it will start melting. Neighbors help neighbors here, another good thing. I dug some fire wood logs out of deep snow for a neighbor today who needed firewood through the storm. It’s a part of living in rural America.
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Great to be in supportive community or rural America.
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My son loves photography and, no, I don’t understand how you did the photo thing. I will ask him…I’m curious how!!
A good metaphor for faith though – are we looking for the magical reason behind such apparent trickery, or just enjoying the wisdom and fruit of the maker…
Andy B
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That is a good metaphor Andy. If you r son has questions on the photography, I explained the process answering Laurette’s comment. Just old school stuff. somehow your comment as well as several blogs (over 50…sigh) ended up in my spam file.
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No worries
Thanks Gary
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Thanks Gary. I love the way you pull stuff together and see God – especially the Jesus-Easter stuff – in all of it. God bless you.
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Thanks Malcolm. To see God and his ways, be they overt or subtle, and how they line up with creation and even our life experiences, absolutely brings me to my knees sometimes. I dare not miss the Holy before me.
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You got the message across, certainly! O the mystery and glory of Easter and the Christ… What a joy to live in the light and power of it all…
Thanks as always, Gary.
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I appreciate that Erroll. Yes, mystery and glory, what a combo. Why live in shadow when we can really live and dance in the light
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Amen! Happy Easter! Excellent post!
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Have a great Easter Linda. We will here as the sun is supposed to shine on us and start melting snow hopefully, finally, and warm our hearts in the double meaning of that message.
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Gary, I share some things in common with you. I love surrounding myself with music and words. The trio pic of you, yourself, and I is totally believable! I enjoyed it! I’m a snacker, Gary! I didn’t use to buy since my diagnosis, I’m like a little squirrel~~~~minus all that snow!! Oh boy! Bless your hearts. I think this Easter message is impactful. I believe. I’ve bet my life on it! Thank you for sharing your gifts with us, dear Gary! Although I’m not here to comment often, I pray for all of you daily. Your gifts are being used to help us all~even those who may not believe!
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I cherish the comment Karla and the prayers. Know that you are on my prayer list (used daily). My one word prayer for this year for me is “song”. It has been many years where I seemed to have lost the music. It’s coming back. That part of me is being revitalized. I can only attribute it to the Lords touch in that part of me. I pray for that kind of touch to you as well where God wants to touch your life. I sense he is.
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It’s my blessing, Gary. I understand you so so much. I had lost the music too. And music was my life. I even gave my keyboard to my little grandson. But I’m finding my music again. I sang, “It is well with my soul” at a benefit given for me (it was so humbling). That, and many others, ring in my soul! I’m so thrilled it’s revitalized in you to even bless us too! Hooray to God!
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Always enjoy your posts, Gary. I find them to be interesting, creative and inspiring. This one is no exception. Wow! Those images are amazing. The choice is easy: either you believe and accept or you don’t. I choose to believe. Happy Easter!
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Nancy, I sure appreciate your comment. Thank you. We also happen to live in an age where so many think belief just happens (like wow). choosing to believe is quite a journey with decisive way-points. Happy Easter to you as well.
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Great song, Gary! Why am I not hearing it on a Christian radio station? Of course, I loved your pictures. Although, I’m a Nikon user myself!
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I appreciate it Nancy. I wouldn’t mind the song on radio but it needs to be much better than demo quality. I am content to play music in church and at home for now.
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So so sorry to hear of more snow! Goodness let it melt quickly. It’s time to thaw. Love the pictures. I must confess, I do not know how you did this. I’m about to listen to your song.
I pray a blessed Passover and Resurrection Day to you and yours. Introducing Jesus to the world however He leads you to. Thanks for sharing your creativity and uniqueness, Gary.
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Thank you Laurette. Spring will get here. We, in the north country often get both a white Christmas and a white Easter. The pictures were old school. I set a 10 second timer so I can get into the picture. It’s low light so I can do a 30 second time exposure with camera on tripod. This allows me to run into the picture, pose as still as possible for 10 seconds each. The movement in-between is not caught in low light. Being I am underexposed and the background is exposed longer, you can see through me. The lake picture which shows me more where I look like I have long hair is actually the wild rice giving me that look. I actually sent it to some family and friends telling them I had ancient ghosts in my picture of the opening of the wild rice harvest sacred to the native tribes of old. Now a couple of them won’t fish that lake anymore. They don’t believe my truthful explanation.
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I didn’t see an ounce of cheese in your post, Gary. I thought your pictures were a lovely way to preface Easter. I hope you have a wonderful Easter and that spring comes your way soon.
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Thanks Hefner’s. I was hoping someone would say that instead of “say cheese and smile…”
You have a wonderful Easter as well. Weatherman says…”Spring will come next week”. Who would have thought that the weather people would be the most truthful people on TV these days??
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Future politicians!
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Thanks for this post and the pictures, Gary. Great attitude. I like the way you did this. I love the way our Lord and Savior proves every day in the lives of His children that He is a miracle worker. He is right there, behind the scenes as such, always. Sometimes we see Him more clearly. When we connect, the miracle happens. His miracle blessings to us are done out of His great Love and Compassion. I love the way He saved His best for last and raised Himself from the dead the same way He will do the same for each of us one day. Until then I hope and pray we can all enter into and walk in the present Miracle Realm where all things are possible as He proved over and over again. All it takes is a tad bit of faith and trust in Him on our part.
We must be thankful for all things, even the not good things. This is Scriptural. Being thankful is a positive. We must honor Him. We must praise Him always. These are also great positives. Through that process, He is much more able to work on our behalf and turn negatives into positives.
Keep up the good encouraging work. Blessings
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Thank You RJ. This Friday Saturday and Sunday our family will celebrate a birthday, have a celebration of a Life well lived and Celebrate Christ’s resurrection (and yes someday ours). Then we will gather together for a family picnic (indoors with grills on a shoveled off deck). The highs and lows of life and the celebration of victory and eternity. 6 siblings and their families will rally around a new widow…hard but healing
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No snow here. Thanks Gary . Happy Easter soon.
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I think we got all the snow. Be thankful and have a good reflective Easter.
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I often wonder what those other things were that Jesus did but were not recorded! It took me a while to see the “ghosts” in the first pic. Sometimes it takes a while to “see” what is right in front of you. Blessings, Gary!
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The snow, snacking, coffee, and creativity have combined into a powerful point and post, Gary. “but if the whole world could know God’s love…why he got into his own picture…wow. Life changing. World changing.” Wow indeed!!
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You sure get it Beth. I’ll use as many ingredients as I need to bake a cake just to put Jesus Loves You on the frosting. wow indeed.
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There is no limit to the ways we can introduce the gospel. Your pictures are interesting and I know it can be done because I’ve accidently done it. I don’t have a clue how I did it, but it was really good.
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So, so true Donna. We are children of a most creative creator…I think he helps and enjoys us being creative.
I explained the picture process to Laurette in the comments not too far up.
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Love the pictures and I believe you although have no idea how you did it.
Easter Blessings brother 🙂
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Love this! I like how you segued from creativity to the cross. God word. Thanks for sharing, Gary.
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Thank you Rainer. It struck me how God seems to subtly to (much of the world) be in our lives all the time, even overtly, and we race around not being anything significant in our busyness, doing the urgent rather than the important. Easter is a great time to just stop and let God into our picture and/or recognize He is there.
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For sure. Amen 🙏
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Music, photography, writing…God has gifted you Gary and you do a great job of glorifying Him through it!
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Thank you Alicia. I was just having a talk with the Lord about that this morning. We are often like a water jug that God has filled with gifts like seeds waiting to be grown. We can pour them out with some effect but if we let God pour them out…his aim is so much better on where they land and grow and who they affect. I know so many who just let their gifts sit in the jug and dry up and whither, never really used much and there is no increase anywhere. I have been afraid of hoarding whatever gifts I have been given, maybe even denying they exist so as not to be responsible. This may be my greatest fear as I grow older…I would like to hear “well done” someday.
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I understand that. On the other side of that, I was just telling a friend today that I can sometimes struggle feeling envious of another’s gifting, and just disregarding my own. Boy if it’s not one thing it’s another, right!? We humans!!!
I’m so thankful I recognize my faults as the Holy Spirit prods so it makes for reminders to stay connected to the Lord, this way He can work all things out for good—according to His will and purpose.
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Oh so true…
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Happy Easter, Gary. Blessings to you and yours.
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Yes, happy Easter Alan. I think spring will arrive with Easter here…that’s great as well.
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“I’m older, thus less wise because I know more and it’s a different season of reason (I feel therefore I am)”
That is such a Garyism, and quite the keeper. Huge grin over here after reading your multi-layered, profound and deeply touching words. Did I say humorous? And those photographs! Each one tells a story too. They sure draw one in. So beautiful. Happy Easter almost! Thanks for creating!!
Deb
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Happy Easter to you as well Deb. I’m so glad you walk by my word wall and enjoy running your minds fingers along my (sometimes strange) thoughts scrawled and woven.
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A myriad of ways that God uses you, Gary. 🙂 Your openness to whatever he has for you is a blessing to others.
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When I was 15 and committed my life to the Lord whole heartedly, I knew in the back of my mind God had projects for me rather than a life long calling into something specific. I’m not sure what that lifestyle is called but it has seemed to be the case. No matter what though, a life of walking with God is what he desires and then the details and gifts used are in the details and are a fruit rather than the main thing.
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I love how you see this as projects and not necessarily a specific calling. God knew you’d be adaptable and ready for whatever he has for you!
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It would be easy to put structure to our spiritual lives, boxes to live out of. God’s callings and gifts for some may seem permanent but he feels free to put us in different positions all the time and give us momentary gifts that might pass with time. Hindsight will often tell us that even our poor choices (think Jonah), that God knew we would make, were use by Him.
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Praising God with you, Gary, that he got into his own picture–for us and with us, as we choose to follow him. I’d like to see one of your “ghost” photos depicting “God with us.” Something to work on while you wait for the snow to melt!
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That would be a fun project Nancy. I just have to figure out what I want it to look like and then figure out how do-able it would be…Sigh
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Then on to Plan B: a good book and plenty of snacks! 😁
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Nice post, Gary. And real quick… “I realize I have a cheesy way to introduce God’s Easter message”… a cheesy way is better than no way at all. You make a difference. Godspeed.
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Thanks AJ. ya, my play on word pictures was a bomb….cheesy as in say cheese. But, you are right, cheesy is better than nothing.
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I love cheese – who doesn’t love cheese?!
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“For I know that my Redeemer lives, And He shall stand at last on the earth; And after my skin is destroyed, this I know, That in my flesh I shall see God…” (Job 19: 25-26).
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and that, after all Job went through. What a testament on his part and a truth for us, should we believe, and should we know Christ enough so we just know beyond the shadow of any doubt.
A good add to the conversation Anna
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Thank you for the visit to my blog, and what a cool picture!
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Your Blog is well worth the read Stacy. You share your heart instead of a quick cookie cutter post. You have stories to tell and insights of growth to share.
Thanks.
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Oh my goodness, thank you so much. I’m truly overwhelmed by the kindness and generosity of your words. I actually read your comment hours ago but was too overwhelmed to reply. I asked for confirmation in prayer that it was worth continuing, and your kind words are the confirmation I needed!
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I don’t know whether to say “I’m sorry” or “you are welcome” Stacy. I meant what I said though. I will pass along some advice I try to write by. Never write just to write or think you have to. Always write something worth reading. Before I hit “publish” on my blog posts, i try to give it one last read as if I am a new reader and have no commitment to read past the first paragraph…does it keep me? Does it flow into the next? is there unnecessary distracting language, words, explanations or phrases (I don’t know about you but…).
Don’t explain things the reader already knows or can look up if they don’t. That would shorten a lot of blogs…I’ll also point you to David’s post a couple days ago. Like me he often has close to the same amount of comments as likes which means his readers engage and continue the conversation.
https://davidsdailydose.org/2023/04/15/four-more-things-ive-learned-about-blogging/
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Thank you for sharing! I enjoyed his post. I also love your idea of leaving things to the reader.
It’s hard to know where to use your time when you’re a mom and it’s so limited. I’m not on social media either, and I honestly took a long time to understand the tech component of this forum. So I guess I feel less tech savvy than most, but I have also connected with so many fun people through blogging that it has been worth the effort!
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I enjoyed the lightheartedness in your tone on this post, Gary. Cool pictures too! I was in Minnesota at the end of November, visiting for a few days in the Twin Cities. I enjoy the cold weather for a brief visit but am always glad to get back to my warm jungle!
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I guess it’s me Jennifer. I am usually light-hearted but can go from zero to 100 serious in half a second if I’m aware of a good analogy or “Truth” happening.
You must have missed our November snowstorm. I’m 250 miles north of the twin cities and we had snow that lasted all winter from November 9 up to Easter. I could have used a jungle experience about February. Glad you could visit though
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I bet! The Amazon Jungle is definitely worth a visit, if you’re ever able to :). Yes, we missed the snowstorm thankfully. Our friend told us that it started to come down like crazy right after we left, so that was good timing.
And a mixture of lightheartedness and moments of serious truth is wonderfully valuable! A time for everything under the sun. Grace and peace to you today and always my brother 🙂
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Gary, how could I have overlooked liking this? Better late than never. Hope all is well in your world. Is the snow gone yet?
Deb
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Yes, snow is gone. No worries as I went to the wilderness in a canoe for 6 days, just back and getting my bearings. Ice is just off the lakes. Our little 252 acre lake froze out so no fish left…very sad. It is well in my world but leaving for another 6 day wilderness trip with another group soon. May will be almost zero internet time for me. I’ll post some pictures hopefully.
hope all is well in your world as well Deb
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