Just Popping In…

…to say hello (and post a couple unedited photos).  Therefore,

Hello, Everyone! 

How are you all?  Having a good spring so far?  It was wonderful to read each of the comments left on my last post (thank you much!) and I appreciate that you all are such wonderful commenters ;)  Personally I’ve been enjoying my blog break quite a bit.  I made a list of everything I wanted to get done before I return to blogging and it’s great to be making some (albeit slow) progress on it.  Upon seeing the list, my sister promptly informed me that it was too much to do before blogging.  It may be…but perhaps not, we’ll see.  Anyway, I did want to get these unedited photos posted, so I thought I’d write real quick and then disappear back to this blogging break. 

:: Unedited Photos :: 

I’m finding this challenge much harder than I expected.  It used to be I never edited photos–due to the fact I didn’t know it could be done–but since discovering this wonderful thing, I edit photos quite a bit.  The challenge has been good, though, in that it’s made me actually get out my camera quite a bit throughout the week, and I have enjoyed the challenge this challenge presented.  Though I’m not entirely pleased with how they turned out, here are the unedited photos for weeks 2 and 3.  Enjoy :)

{Bethany’s blue bead}

{spring is here!}

Oh, and well, spring’s kind of here.  Some friendly white flakes otherwise known as snow, cold winds, and 35 degree weather decided to make their appearance today, too.  We’re endeavoring to be hospitable.

Blogging Break {& Question}

I’m going to be taking a bit of an unofficial blog break.  I’m not quite sure how long it will last–most likely a week or maybe two.   I have some work that I really need to get finished up…the last loose ends on school, the latest FAR issue, and a number of other projects; and I’d like to get those things finished up in the next number of days.  Plus, spring time seems to have finally arrived!  The front porch is one of my favorite spots to be at the moment.  Sitting outdoors with a good book, watching my baby sisters play in the yard–what could be more enjoyable? 

However, I thought I’d post a question for you all while I’m away.  My friend e-mailed this to me a little while back and we had a small discussion on it,  but I think it would be really interesting to hear all your thoughts too!  I’ve just quoted her e-mail exactly, and feel free to answer it any way you like. 

What is the best way to spend our time? I can’t figure out the answer to that question. What are your thoughts on the subject?

So if you have time, go ahead and share how you would answer that.  And I hope you have a great week!

the jar of pennies

{p.s. I’ll post my unedited photo for last week, hopefully, sometime soon}

A Good Afternoon

What constitutes a good afternoon for you?

By the way, please be sure to vote in the poll on my sidebar.  Thanks!

{Note: This is not my unedited photo for the week}

Portraying Christ

I’m sure you all noticed my mistake of last week regarding the post for my sister’s birthday.  Yes, I felt quite silly when I posted that too early and bemoaned to my poor mother about my tendency to make such thoughtless mistakes.  But I also discovered something very interesting – as soon as I posted that, my sister began receiving birthday comments from you all.  It was, quite honestly, very easy to make everyone believe that March 10^th was Bethany’s birthday.  With the thoughtless click of a single button, I had twenty-some people believing something that wasn’t actually true. 

(It’s much easier than I imagined it could be to convince people of something.  I shall have to keep that in mind for the future.  Just need to act like you know what you’re talking about…  *a-hem* ;)

Actually, though, somehow I ended up considering how often I make the same mistake in real life (as opposed blog life, I guess).  Namely, how often do I say or do something that mis-portrays truth to another person?

It may be very easy to mis-portray spiritual realities through thoughtless actions. Thoughtless actions can have big consequences.   Getting impatient with my brother at the library easily portrays the idea that there is nothing different about me than anyone else in the world.  Serving others with a sigh and unpleasant attitude easily portrays the idea that I only serve because I have to, that my King isn’t so great that I desire to serve out of love for Him.  As Christians, there’s a responsibility to portray Christ, and His work in our lives, correctly to the world. 

Simply by calling myself a Christian I’m trying to say a lot of things…that Jesus Christ is Lord, that I am a new creation in Christ, that I have died to sin, and list could go on.  So, I have to live in a way that shows the world the truth of these facts.  It’s a big responsibility that affects all aspects of one’s life.  These truths need to be proclaimed through the way we talk, the way we dress, the way we love others, the way we spend our time and money—ultimately the way we live out every single thing in our entire lives. 

Jesus Christ is Lord…I want it to be an unmistakable reality in my life that the world can’t deny. 

When I make a mistake that involves incorrectly publishing the date of my sister’s birthday it doesn’t really matter.  I’m sure it wasn’t worth the worry I spent over such a trivial mistake.  For two days some of you thought Bethany’s birthday was on the 10^th, which resulted in some earlier birthday wishes, resulting further in an even happier sister.  Not a problem.

But if I mis-portray to lost friends and a lost world the reality of Christ’s lordship (or any other truth) there is a problem.  Since they say actions speak louder than words, I want to give careful attention to living out my salvation accurately before the world.

How about you? :)

Savannah’s Giveaway

My good friend Savannah is having a giveaway for her last bottle of home harvested honey!
Would you like to enter for a chance to win? 
Hop over here, and be sure to enter by midnight on March 25.

 

Read This!

This morning I was greatly encouraged by a blog post I read.  If you have a moment, click the following link and go and read it yourself!  I’m sure you, too, will find it to be very good. 

A Prayer

 

The Fear of Failure

 “What if I don’t even make the team?” David took a drink from the bottle. 

“Well, you’re already not on the team.  I mean, you can’t get any more not on the team than you are right now.”

He rolled his eyes. “Okay, Dad.”

“David, you can’t be afraid of failure.”  Larry shifted in his seat and let a strand of apple peel hang over his leg.  “Everyone fails at some point.  The secret is to fail successfully.”

“What’s that supposed to mean?”

“If you fail, don’t let it be because you didn’t try your best.”

Facing the Giants, (the novel) page 65

*     *     *     *     *     *     *     *     *

To be completely honest, I fear failure – making a big mistake, messing up in front of people, not succeeding at whatever I attempt.  When a sweet lady in our church learned she has cancer once again, this fear made itself obvious in another aspect.  I knew I should reply to those e-mail updates her husband sent out, but what should I say?  I might say something that isn’t very encouraging.  Surely I couldn’t say anything that would help.  Wouldn’t it be better just to be quiet and let everyone else say what should be said; that way I’d never make a mistake? 

But I knew in the end that wouldn’t be right.  I know I love this couple, but if I never express, it they won’t know. And one day I realized something—I don’t want to look back on that with regret.  Regret that I didn’t show love since I was too prideful to do it, because that’s what it comes down to.

My guess is I’ve said quite a number of things that weren’t the best choice of words.  I’ve probably said some things that weren’t the most encouraging.  I’ve never experienced cancer; therefore, I don’t always know what to say and what to do.  But I do know that love is important.  I might fail, but I want to do it successfully.  I don’t want to look back and know I never even tried. 

I remember listening to a sermon a little while back, hearing Paul Washer passionately shouting “This life is so frail, so tiny, so dangerously weaving about. You love with all your might while you have got the chance.”  Even if it means you might not look your best, even if you make mistakes while trying to love.  It doesn’t really matter.  In the end, the point is love and God will be glorified.

{p.s. I have no idea why I thought I should write this today.  There are some thoughts/confessions/struggles that I’d rather keep to myself…kind of like this one.  But somehow, I thought I should post it anyway.  Maybe it will be an encouragment to someone…hopefully.}

{Unedited Photography: Week 1}

My friend Rebekah is having a small photography challenge, and I decided to particiapte!  The point is to focus on taking a photo a week that doesn’t need any editing.    The following picture is my unedited photo for last week {Week 1 of 4}.

{A necklace made with beautiful beads from my parents}

A Quote

“What have we houses and tables for but as we have opportunity to serve God and His people with them?”
~ Matthew Henry