My Song In the Night // October at Cassidy Elaine Photography

It's hard to describe all the happenings of such an eventful month. It was packed with many things: intense spiritual warfare, learning to sidewalk counsel, graduating from Ellerslie, shooting two banquets, two family sessions, and a blog assignment. To be fully honest, I have never been one to enjoy fall weather, but this year has been different. The incredible fall colors, light October air, and cozy evenings with a cup of tea made it quite perfect. In the midst of many difficult things happening, the coolness of fall seemed to be a haven of rest. Through the wrestling and issues that arose during October, I was reminded again and again of His perfect, unending faithfulness. He is not finished yet.

By day the Lord commands his steadfast love, and at night his song is with me, a prayer to the God of my life. // Psalm 42:8

He is my song in the sorrow, my strength for the battle, my peace in the tempest. What a suitable season for a lesson in His perfection:

"And God is able."
--my journal, October 7th 

"It is not about me and my lack of ability, my personality, my tendencies, or my anything. HE is able. That's what it's about. 'And God is able to make all grace abound toward you; that ye, having all sufficiency in all things, may abound to every good work' (2 Corinthians 9:8). 'Always having sufficiency...' Not occasionally or most of the time having enough--ALWAYS. Yesterday. Today. Tomorrow. I have everything I need--in all things--because He is able and He has provided, to now abound unto every good work."  Ponderings of such were on my mind quite often.

When I choose quotes to fit the photos I market on social media, so often they are drawn out of my personal reading, as it has been this month, in several cases.

1. KATHERINE + ANNIE WESCHE // every hurt laid down

"Allow every hurt and offense to melt at the foot of His Cross, and turn and walk down the hill of Calvary into this world with His Life beating within your surrendered vessel and His light of love shining in your eyes." Annie Wesche, Crucified Living

2. ARTPRIZE + C.S. LEWIS // for His glory

"Don't shine so others can see you! Shine so that through you others can see Him." C.S. Lewis

3. JALYN + AMY CARMICHAEL // where true victory starts

"Sometimes we read the words of those who have been more than conquerors, we feel almost despondent. 'I shall never be like that', we feel. But they won through step by step; by little acts of the will, little denials of self, little inward victories, by faithfulness in very little things, they became what they are. No one sees these little hidden steps, they only see the accomplishment; but even so, those small steps were taken. There is no sudden triumph, no spiritual maturity that is the work of a moment. So let us take courage; not one of us is too weak to be made more than a conqueror." Amy Carmichael, Edges of His Ways

4. KIERA + ELISABETH ELLIOT // the Gardner loves His Vine

"The Gardner loves the vine, remember that! The pruning is going to lead to fruit bearing, and fruit bearing is going to lead to joy." Elisabeth Elliot

5. TOWNSEND PARK BUDS + CORRIE TEN BOOM // a heavenly perspective on problems

"God wants to take our problems and use them as building material for His miracles." Corrie ten Boom, Tramp For the Lord

6. MR. + MRS. FELKER + UGO BASSI // where suffering and giving meet

"Love's strength standeth in love's sacrifice, and who so suffers most, has most to give." Ugo Bassi, as quoted by Elisabeth Elliot

7. REBEKAH + A VERSE FROM ISAIAH // stayed on Him

"You keep him in perfect peace whose mind is stayed on you, because he trusts in You." Isaiah 26:3

8. KELSEY + NANCY DEMOSS WOLGEMUTH // thanksgiving & worship in the journey

“Perhaps it’s hard to find much to be thankful for today. Perhaps all you can see is what’s wrong, what hurts, and what others are doing to you. But look above your circumstances, beyond your fears, and ask God to show you what He’s doing in the midst of them… The choice is before us: do we only give glory to God for the part of our lives that’s going the way we want? Or do we worship Him, trust Him, and give Him thanks, just because He is God--regardless of the painful, incomprehensible places we encounter in our journey?” Nancy DeMoss Wolgemuth

9. THE BIRMINGHAM FAMILY + GETTY MUSIC // our only Solid Rock

"I am safe on this Solid Rock: the Lord is my salvation!" Keith & Kristyn Getty