Carol M. Mackey - Faces of Praise!: Photos and Gospel Inspirations to Encourage and Uplift

Copyright 2017 by Carol M. Mackey and B. Jeffrey Grant-Clark

Images copyright 2017 by B. Jeffrey Grant-Clark

Cover design by Edward A. Crawford.

Cover copyright 2017 by Hachette Book Group, Inc.

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First Edition: October 2017

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All Scripture quotations unless otherwise marked are taken from the New King James Version. Copyright 1982 by Thomas Nelson. Used by permission. All rights reserved.

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LCCN: 2017948546

ISBNs: 978-1-4789-1752-6 (hardcover), 978-1-4789-1751-9 (ebook)

E3-20170908-JV-PC

Sistergirl Devotions: Keeping Jesus in the Mix on the Job

To my mom and dadI miss you two every day.

Thank you for everything.

Carol

To my amazing wife, Annette.

To all of the artists who allowed me to capture these images.

B. Jeffrey

When you dare to envision the imagery of the sacred, you must be willing to admit that passion and ambition are the lens you must choose to see that world through. Imagine the audacity one must have to attempt to photograph the spirit in midflight, a melody at its highest crescendo, or the reprise of a fatigued voice fighting to leave it all on the stage What audacity.

There can be great pain in the middle of a song. A performance may reek of vulnerability. To let a camera invade that intimate moment of verse and chorus requires honesty, skill, professionalism, and trust. Benjamins lens brings exactly that.

The images you see are of epic moments that might have been forgotten until seen again in this collection. This book is movement, artistry, ministry, and storytelling at its highest level.

All the artists know Benjamin. Theyve traveled with him, sought his counsel on their careers and tough family decisions. So when he attempts to capture their paintings of sound and emotion, they know they are in the hands of a friend, a brother, and a fellow artist.

The faces in this collection are of Gods children. Their praise is to the Invisible Creator, whom the camera cant see. Yet somehow, Benjamin makes the invisible revealed. Look into their eyes in each picture. There God is in every tear, every smile, every strain of the skin. When you open your eyes to these photos, feel God leaping off of the paper into your heart.

This collection succeeds on every level. Carol Mackeys devotional text perfectly complements the photos. How proud we are of this piece of historyour history, the gospel of color, courage, and community the gospel of US.

You will not need to fight in this battle. Position yourselves, stand still and see the salvation of the L ORD , who is with you, O Judah and Jerusalem! Do not fear or be dismayed; tomorrow go out against them, for the L ORD is with you.

2 C HRONICLES 20:17

T ests and trials will come in the life of every Christian. In John 16:33, Jesus warns, In this world you will have tribulation. But be of good cheer, for I have overcome the world. Note that He didnt say well, maybe or theres a good chance. He said you will have tribulation.

Now, that would scare just about all of us, because no one wants trouble. We want to avoid it at all costs. But He tells us to not worry about it because Hes fighting our battle (2 Chronicles 20:15). Think of God as a big brother who comes to the school yard and confronts the bully whos been picking on you for months. More than likely, you wont have any more problems with your tormentor. One bigger, stronger, and more powerful has gotten in their face. So they retreat.

So it is with Jesus. Hes at the right hand of the Father fighting our battles for us (Hebrews 12:2). He is our Big Brother, and Satan is the school-yard bully that He always keeps on a very short leash. Listen to Yolanda Adams reassuring song and meditate on this verse. The Lord will fight your battleyou have nothing to fear.

HIGH NOTE:
The Lord is ready to war on your behalf. Turn your battles over to Him.

O house of Israel,

can I not do with you as this potter? says the L ORD .

Look, as the clay is in the potters hand,

so are you in My hand, O house of Israel!

J EREMIAH 18:6

E very Christian is a work in progress. Although Ive been a believer for over thirty years, there are some things I still struggle with. Ive read the Bible, I believe the Bible, I try my very best to live the Bible (James 1:22). But with all of that, I know I have areas of my life that the Lord needs to work on.