To Realize...

(to realize: to be fully aware) 

to realize...that I've slipped so much. 
When was the last time I spent time just me and Jesus? Spending time in His word, praying, and journaling? I honestly couldn't remember, when I asked myself that question this past week. How could I have slipped so much? This summer I grew so much. The biggest thing being that I daily set aside time to be in the Word. And now I can't remember the last time I did just that? The best time to begin anew is today.

to realize...that photography could be my career. 
I guess before I always thought of it as just a hobby. But you know what--I'm going to take photos the rest of my life, it doesn't matter if no one sees them, I'm going to take photos. Why not turn that into something that I get paid for and counts as work? Why not turn it into a business that could bless others and not just myself? I'm not positive that this is what I'm going to do, but it is an idea. in the meantime, does anyone have any good senior project ideas that deal with photography?

to realize...that I have a lot to be thankful for.
I have been blessed so much, given so much good from God. When hard times come, shouldn't I remember all that He has done for me in the past and remember all that He has promised me in the future?

Shall we accept good from God, and not trouble? 

-Job 2:10

For I know the plans I have for you," declares the LORD, "plans to prosper you and not to harm you, plans to give you hope and a future.

-Jeremiah 29:11

Have you realized anything recently?

In Christ,

Convicting is...

Convict \kən-ˈvikt\
-verb
1: to find or prove to be guilty
2: to convince of error or sinfulness

This article by Leslie Ludy. Go [here] and then skip to page 8 and read. Now. 

Then come back and tell me if it was convicting to you too. I'm serious, go read that before you read any more here.

I'm so terribly guilty. Especially because I know in my head that I need to change yet when it comes to my life, nothing is changing. *sigh*

If you found that convicting, maybe you'll also find these encouraging like I did.

"No temptation has seized you except what is common to man. And God is faithful; He will not let you be tempted beyond what you can bear. But when you are tempted, He will also provide a way out so that you can stand up under it."
- 1 Corinthians 10:13

There is a way out. I can overcome this temptation. I won't be tempted beyond what I can stand up under. God is faithful!

Only Yours
by Meredith Andrews

Undivided, strip everything else away,
Burn the idols, the things in my life that have replaced You,
I lay my life down here on Your alter,
Empty my hands of all I've been holding back

Take everything I have, only to be Yours, Lord, Yours Lord, take it from my hands until I'm holding on to only You.

Captivated, You've stolen my heart away,
I've been liberated, the chains of this world forever broken, You laid Your life down,
Now I surrender, lifting my hands,
I'm holding nothing back

So take everything I have, only to be Yours, Lord, Yours Lord, take it from my hands until I'm holding on to only You.

For every need I want is found in You,
every breath in me a gift from You,
I have nothing here apart from You,
I am Yours Lord, only Yours

Take everything I have, only to be Yours, Lord, Yours Lord, take it from my hands until I'm holding on to only You.

Take everything I have, only to be Yours, Lord, Yours Lord, take it from my hands until I'm holding on to only You.

What is convicting to you? You don't have to share, just think about it and then don't neglect to act on it.

In Christ,

I Enjoy...

Enjoy [en-joi]
–verb (used with object)
1. to experience with joy; take pleasure in
2. to have and use with satisfaction; have the benefit of
3. to find or experience pleasure for (oneself)

The feeling of a productive day.

Smelling maple syrup boiling

--and tasting it too!

Receiving 100% on a German Test.

Hard work pays off! This one really made my day. =D Really and truly. =D =D =D

Sweet comments.

Calvin & Hobbes

haha! =P

Warm & sunny weather.

Especially when I can take my schoolwork outside on the deck. =D

Amazing blog posts.

Especially that one has to read more than once to catch all the truths. Go [here] to read an absolutely amazing one by the awesome Liz.

Mint-chocolate-chip ice cream.

and photography too

Giveaways.

Speaking of such, I have one that you might want to know about.

Emma over at A Hopeful Heart is also hosting a giveaway in honor of 20 followers. She is giving away seven custom made cards!






Enjoy your day and I'd love to know what made it enjoyable to you! =)

Love in Christ,

Challenging is...

Challenging \-lən-jiŋ\
-adjective
1. offering a challenge; testing one's ability, endurance, etc: a challenging course; a challenging game.
2. stimulating, interesting, and thought-provoking: a challenging suggestion.

This short message by Leslie Ludy:



Oh that I may be like that man--being so fulfilled by spending time with Christ

I've also just received two of Leslie's books and LOVE them. (The Lost Art of True Beauty and Set-Apart Femininity) Set-Apart Femininity expounds more on the points Leslie made in that short clip. The night I got the books I stayed up past midnight reading them, they're that amazing. Just read this section from The Lost Art of True Beauty:

The secret to becoming the radiant, beautiful princess of our childhood dreams is forgetting all about our self and becoming completely consumed with only one thing ---Jesus Christ. Just as John the Baptist, who declared, "He must increase, but I must decrease."
This isn't just eh secret to living out the true Gospel: it's also the secret to glowing with divine loveliness. It's the cure for female insecurity.

Isn't that amazing news?! She continues...

Think about it. A woman who has truly denied herself, taken up her cross, and become entirely consumed with Jesus Christ is not going to be an insecure young woman, starving herself and obsessed with making herself look more attractive. Rather, she's so enraptured with Jesus Christ that she's completely lost sight of herself. As Bishop Bardsley put it, "They care not at all what the world thinks of them, because they are entirely taken up with the tremendous realities of their King."
...
The women throughout Christian history who have truly glowed with heavenly beauty all had one thing in common---an emptying of self. They were so caught up in the things of God that they gave no thought to their own lives.  They did not seek to draw eyes to themselves. They sought to bring glory to Jesus Christ alone.
As a result they were some of the most confident, posed, and courageous women who have ever lived.  They accomplished amazing things for the kingdom of God. They saved lives.  They stood before kings. They rescued dying children.  They reformed societies.
And they did it without spending their time and energy focused on self.

Ahh, so challenging.

If you'd like to hear more from Leslie Ludy I would suggest checking out her site: Set Apart Girl.

What do you find challenging?

Have a wonderful evening! I'm off to a violin concert. =)

In Him,

Beautiful is...

Beautiful \ˈbyü-ti-fəl\ 
–adjective
1. having beauty; having qualities that give great pleasure or satisfaction to see, hear, think about, etc.; delighting the senses or mind
2. excellent of its kind
3. wonderful; very pleasing or satisfying.

- a smile that brightens a rainy day

- this song
 

- a gentle and quiet spirit (1 Peter 3:4) 

-God's creation

SOOC

- forgiveness

- love like this:

"God demonstrates his own love for us in this: While we were still sinners, Christ died for us." --Romans 5:8

- laughter


What is beautiful to you?

Love in Christ,

Lovely is...

Lovely \ˈləv-lē\
–adjective
1: charmingly or exquisitely beautiful: a lovely flower.
2: having a beauty that appeals to the heart or mind as well as to the eye, as a person or a face.
3: delightful; highly pleasing: to have a lovely time.
4: of a great moral or spiritual beauty: a lovely character.

- a smile
- an unexpected gift
- reading back through my 'blessings journal' and feeling incredibly grateful (basically a journal where I write down all the things I'm thankful for --I got the idea from [here])
- a mutual understanding --without having to say anything at all
- songs that match exactly what you're feeling
- laughing so hard your stomach hurts
- finally mastering a language concept in German after much hard work
- Bible verses that come to mind just when you need them
- a ray of sunshine through the dreary clouds
- the perfect ending to a not-so-perfect day

What is lovely to you?

Love in Christ,

Life Defined -Skiing

Joining up with Näna over at By the Way. =)


This is my experience every Friday, so I figured it was appropriate to do today. =D




Busy is
trying to get all my schoolwork done for the day in 3 hours and packing for the day.

Careful is
driving through snowy, slushy, and/or icy roads to get to the slopes.

Confusion is 
sorting out everybody's gear, tickets, and food.

Freedom is
flying down the slopes without a care in the world.

Silence is
the wind in the trees,
skies swishing through the powder,
snowflakes drifting down,
sunshine seeping through the branches,
and my foggy breath through my scarf.

Cold is are
my fingers, toes, and nose after a few hours in the wind.

Warm is
a hot chocolate break inside the lodge. =)

Refreshing is
walking back outside into the wind to hit the slopes once again!

Relief is 
taking ski boots off and walking 'normally' once again. =P

Contentment is
climbing wearily back into the car for the ride back home.

Tired is
watching my little brother fall asleep in the car and wishing I could do the same.



Love in Christ,