Old photographs, I love looking at them. They have a story to tell. I could stare at them all day and not get bored. I love looking at family albums too. My mom has stacks of photo albums in storage somewhere in her closet. Every once and awhile I like to get those out and I reminisce. It makes me laugh when I see the outfits my family and I used to wear, the hair do’s, the silly moments, how ridiculous I looked in my clothes that I thought were so cool. I was so awkward looking, I think they did a television show based on my life called “Freaks and Geeks” cause that’s what I was. My ears stuck out like t.v. antennas, my feet and hands were so big they outgrew the rest of my scrawny body.  I had pimples all over my face, I was so quirky that I looked like a circus clown and the only thing I was missing was the red bow tie. But sometimes I like to go through a very special photo album. This one I store in the closet of my memory. It has all the photographs of my life, from when I was born till now. I’m flipping through the pages as I speak. You know what I noticed? God likes to photobomb my pictures. Not familiar with that term? Photobomb is when you are posing for a picture and someone unexpectedly gets behind you and gives you bunny ears. Yup, that’s my God. He’s literally in all my photos. Let me show you what I mean. Here’s a photo of me when I was eight years old. There we are eating ice cream together, celebrating me being born again. I think we were eating Heavenly Hash ice cream that day and there He is, giving me bunny ears. I’ve got such a big smile on my face, I didn’t even notice. I was so happy knowing I was going to be safe with Him forever. Oh look here, I love this photo too. This one is me at twelve years old now. I got a pair shorts in my hand, on my way to face my intimidating Coach Largent to tell him my gym shorts are too big. I was so afraid to face that man about my situation but wait a second, there’s God, holding my hand and walking me to school. He was there for me that day and taught me that I didn’t have to be afraid but I could trust Him. Look, He’s wearing gym shorts too. Oh, and here is me getting teased at school for my big ears. Do you see Him? There He is, standing in between the bullies and myself. He protected me that day from getting beat up, my great defender. There’s me on stage, acting in my first role in a high school musical. You got to look closely though for God, cause He’s standing backstage, giving me the spotlight. He always did that and I never deserved it. Here’s another one of me at 17 years of age. I was sitting on the front porch of my house in Alabama, calling a college administrator. I was interested in attending the school but the lady on the other end of the phone ridiculed me for not knowing my social security number by heart. That’s the photo of me just getting off the phone, tears coming down, feeling like a stupid, hopeless idiot. But there He is, my God, my Daddy, putting His hand on my shoulder and whispering in my ear, “I love you son, you’re more than just a number to me”.  I love this one, me and God, lying on the golf course late at night, looking at the stars, talking about girls, making plans about the future. Just talking about myself mostly but there He is, never bored, listening intently, beaming from ear to ear. This is the mountain I climbed, there we are enjoying the view, that there is the valley where I fell and that’s Him picking me up again, always by my side. Here’s my wedding day, He’s doing the “Funky Chicken”. He’s quite a dancer. This one’s the birth of my kids, He’s the one guiding the doctor’s hands oh so lovingly. Here’s another one. This was a hard day for me. I’m in the mediation room waiting for my lawyer to finalize the marriage. You see me? I’m the guy wearing the scarlet letter “D” on my chest, but you can’t see it, because He’s covering it with His nailed scarred hands as he holds me in His loving arms. Wow, look at all these old photographs, there’s so much more I could share. He’s been with me in every single one. They say a picture speaks a thousand words and that is so true, my photo album is a novel. It speaks volumes of His faithfulness, His unconditional love and His plans to bless me.  And I still don’t know what I’ve done to deserve all that? How about yourself? Have you gotten a chance to flip through your photo album lately? Are you feeling heart broken, need a break from your pain? Feeling hopeless? Why not go into your memory closet and just go through some old photographs. I guarantee it, you’ll notice He was always there, giving you bunny ears and blowing you kisses. As for me, my story is unfinished.  I still have more room in my photo album, more relationships to develop, new experiences to share, new adventures to post. Who knows what will unfold for me but I know one thing for sure, my Daddy will continue to carry me on top of His shoulders like He always has. All that He has done for me, His faithfulness and love, I can’t hold it in. It is well with my soul, it is well, it is well and that’s the story I will always tell.

Deuteronomy 7:9

Know therefore that the LORD your God is God, the faithful God who keeps covenant and steadfast love with those who love him and keep his commandments, to a thousand generations,

Timothy 2:13

If we are faithless, He remains faithful, for He cannot deny Himself.