Merry Christmas

To everyone! Hopefuly all of your last minute shopping is done and you are contently staring at wrapped gifts just waiting to be handed out - I'm not, but I hope you are! (well I'm done shopping, I'm just not done wrapping.) Hopefully you're staying warm and loved. Hopefully you're dreaming sweet dreams of sugar plums and nutcrackers :) Hopefully you're all happy and healthy and most importantly with people who love you! And even if your not any of those things, remember the holiday is about a perfect man who came to this earth just so he could die to save you, so you are loved by someone, even though you can't see Him!

Merry Christmas!!

Being Honest

"Some people are beautiful.

Not in looks.

Not in what they say.

Just in what they are."

-Author Unknown (to me)

We all want to be something other than what we are. We want to be taller or shorter. We want to be skinnier or curvier (is that a word?). We want to have blue eyes or brown eyes or green eyes. Our lips aren't full enough (or too full), our jawline not defined enough. Our skin isn't clear or tanned or its not a pretty complexion.

Being completely honest here, I have to say I think the same things. Some of the stuff that runs through my mind is as follows:

"Gosh my face is so broken out."

"I wish my nose was smaller."

"My hair is such a boring color and it's sooooo dry."

"My thighs are too heavy, I really need to work on that."

"I look so dumpy in pictures because I'm too short for my figure."

"I wish my eyes had stayed blue, not changed to this non-decript color."

"My eye shape is so horrible."

"Wow, this shirt makes me look so heavy."

"I'm getting softer around my abdomen, I should do some crunches."

"My teeth are horrible."

And my newest:

"Oh - oh this is just great. I'm already nerdy, I already had glasses and now I have braces too."

No, I haven't been handling the braces/glasses duo cliche very well - it's not that I'm pitching a fit or fussing and screaming about it, but all I can think is how ulra horrible it looks on me. I don't feel like I'm one of those cute vintage-y girls who can pull it off.

please ignore the random add the the bottom of this photo

Yeah - I think all that. I look at pictures of teeny girls and think "wow I'm dumpy". I see a cute dress, fall in love and then try it on and think "if only I were skinnier this would look good". I'm sure that there isn't a person on the planet who hasn't thought something at some point was wrong with them. We wouldn't be human if we didn't think things like that. Sometimes we've wondered if the person we had a crush on would like us better "if...". We've wondered if the other person was more popular simply because they were prettier (in our opinion). Sometimes we look and look at the girl/guy who seemly has all the dates and everyone likes them and wonder "Why? Why is everyone in love with him/her? Is he/she that much better looking than me? How ugly am I?". If you haven't thought anything like any of this then I am begging you, please tell me your secret!

So we need to come up with a solution right? I've thought of a few, but it doesn't seem to always work. Like when I think "My hair is so awful" I should correct myself and say "Well at least I have hair". Not that you can't look beautiful without hair, you can. Some of the most beautiful people in the world are those who have lost their hair due to illness or such, but I'm trying to make a point about counting blessings. When I think "My waist is getting soft" I should think "Well that can always be fixed with a bit of work". But I don't always think that. I beat myself up, I tear myself down. I forget that an all - perfect God has designed me. That he made my nose just the right size for me, that he made me shorter than some, that he made my eyes the color they are. We should be happy with how God made us. I'm not saying "No make-up, God made you perfect". Yes, you are beautiful with out make up, you do not need it, but sometimes it's nice to wear it, like when we paint a house to make it look all nice. And no, please no heavy make up. Make up should be used to enhance, when we paint a house we still see the house underneath, the paint is there to enhance the looks. I'm also not saying "Don't worry about working out or eating healthy". We should take care of our bodies, but we need to also accept we may never look like a model, that we may be bigger boned so its ok if we're never a size 2 or 4 or even 6. Its ok to be 8 or 10 or 12. Heck its ok to be who you are, whatever that maybe, whatever size that maybe. You are handsome. You are beautiful.

Just being me,

It's the little things..

I've had a very large writers block for a week or so now and I knew I needed to post at some point or another. But what about? Hm... Well - I was on the phone with Riah and I stepped outside - I looked down the hill and saw the most amazing rain cloud. It was dark and ominous but the amazing part was that since it was far enough away I could see where the rain started to come down. Doesn't sound amazing... I know. But it was! The rain started to come down harder and so the streaks became thicker until I couldn't see through it. And just like a curtain being drawn at a show, the opening on the horizon had closed. Then, as if the show was starting another scene, it opened slowly again. I couldn't look away! It's an interesting thing to think about how when the storm is right over you, everything seems so fast and unnerving, but when you see a storm from a distance everything seems to be in slow motion... Almost as if it is not moving at all. It seems...peaceful. It really does offer some inspiration even if it is just some rain not too far away.
As I sit on my front porch now, I see heavy rain falling once again in the distance, and, as if a moment could have a song, I'd say this moment's song would be "Sailboats" by Brook Fraiser. It just fits...even if I am on "dry" land. lol.
Thats my post for today! I hope you liked it. After all, it's the little things! :) 

To be remembered

"I want to be remembered as the girl who always smiles even when her heart is broken, and the one that could always brighten up your day even if she couldn't brighten her own." - Author Unknown (to me anyway)

I want to be remembered...

As a obedient daughter.

"Children, obey your parents in all things: for this is well pleasing unto the Lord." Colossians 3:20

A kind sister.
"Help one another, is part of the religion of sisterhood." ~ Louisa May Alcott

As a bestest best friend.

"The best kind of friend is the one you could sit on a porch with, never saying a word, and walk away feeling like that was the best conversation you've had." ~Author Unknown 
(that is totally me and Lyssa)

As a loving wife.

"Let the wife make the husband glad to come home, and let him make her sorry to see him leave." ~ Martin Luther

"Immature love says, I love you because I need you, mature love says, I need you because I love you." ~Wiston Churchill

As a wonderful mother.

"The hand that rocks the cradle is the one that rules the world."

"Mother love is the fuel that enables a normal human being to do the impossible." ~Marion C. Garretty

No painter's brush, nor poet's pen
In justice to her fame
Has ever reached half high enough
To write a mother's name.
~Author Unknown



This is what I wish to be remembered as. I may not seem important to many, but it is my prayer.

Riah

A Change.

In the last week and a half, I've found that I've not been reading at all! Odd, I know - normally I have already knocked out four books, but not this week.
I have also found that in place of reading my fiction novels, and being on the computer (sorry about not posting pics everyday - I'll try to post yesterday's, today's, and tomorrow's pics after work), I have mostly been spending my free time with God. Hillsong praise and worship has been playing constantly wherever I am (except work).
There have been a couple of times this week that I have gotten irritated or just plain grumpy (tonight being one of those times), and I can't even explain why! So, I stopped what I was doing and played one of my Hillsong DVD's. I closed my eyes and just let God do the work.
After, I felt so much better, and it was like I could breathe again!
God is in complete and full control.
He isn't going to leave us in the dark, and He isn't going to turn His back on us - He is a loving Father!
Here is one of my favorite scriptures - it is sooo awesome!

Romans 8:28
²⁸ And we know that all things work together for good to those who love God, to those who are the called according to His purpose.

Basically, the point of this post is this:
When you are grumpy, sad, angry, hurt, annoyed, irritated, or whatever - give it to God - lay it down at His feet. Don't let yourself get caught up in those things - it only serves to weigh you down. Trust me, I do that sometimes...!
Our God is Love,

I just saw...

...a night time rainbow -  IT WAS AWESOME!
I have never seen one like it before - sure, we've all seen faint rainbows around the moon, but this one was farther out and was huge! ...sorta huge...
God's promise still remains even in the darkest night! It's a good reminder for all of us - even when something is going wrong in your life, God is never going to walk away from you. His promise still remains.
And now a quote from a song that is in one of my favorite Super Kid Academy (Kenneth Copeland Ministries kids section) movie:
"...And even when it seems there's no way out, we know You'll see us through! I'll trust You Jesus, put my whole life in Your hands - I'll trust You Jesus, on Your Word I'm gonna stand...!!!
And with that, I'm off to catch some zzzzzzz's - tomorrow I'll be cleaning my room intensely. If I don't post for a couple of days, you may want to send a rescue team in to find me.
Just sayin'.

Godly Love

I can't really think of anything to blog about, as per usual, so I'll just share some scripture and wisdom with y'all that a lady at church shared with me.

4 Charity suffereth long, and is kind; charity envieth not; charity vaunteth not itself, is not puffed up,  5Doth not behave itself unseemly, seeketh not her own, is not easily provoked, thinketh no evil;  6Rejoiceth not in iniquity, but rejoiceth in the truth;  7Beareth all things, believeth all things, hopeth all things, endureth all things.  8Charity never faileth: but whether there be prophecies, they shall fail; whether there be tongues, they shall cease; whether there be knowledge, it shall vanish away.
13And now abideth faith, hope, charity, these three; but the greatest of these is charity
- 1 Corinthians 13:4-8&13 (KJV) - verses in ESV below for easier understanding

She was talking about how God had showed her that this (the above verses) was love after having been hurt by people who had said they loved her.  Her testimony really touched me, she said that although it seems like certain emotions we are feeling are love, it isn't real love unless these verses are practiced.  If you don't treat the people you say you love with kindness and and patience; if you are rude, boastful, insist on having your own way and act badly; if you envy what is theirs or envy them; if you are happy when something goes wrong for them, then you don't love them truly and perfectly.  And this is applicable both ways, if a person says they love you, but they treat you badly, or seem to show signs of acting contrary to how the Bible says a person who loves should act, then they may very well not know how to really love.  She told me that the gushy romantic feelings are not really necessary - nice, but you don't have to have them.  If you recognize this godly love in someone else you don't have to have any of the "oh my gosh, he/she is so amazing" emotions to commit.  I must say that she gave me quite a bit to think about, and I really appreciate her sharing her story with me.  Hopefully this bit of wisdom helps you as much as it helped me.

-Riah

*4 Love is patient and kind; love does not envy or boast; it is not arrogant 5or rude. It does not insist on its own way; it is not irritable or resentful: 6it does not rejoice at wrongdoing, but  rejoices with the truth. 7 Love bears all things, believes all things, hopes all things, endures all things.  8Love never ends. As for prophecies, they will pass away; as for tongues, they will cease; as for knowledge, it will pass away.  13So now faith, hope, and love abide, these three; but the greatest of these is love.
1 Corinthians 13:4-8&13 (ESV)

Another one of my thoughts. :)

Even the smallest, less important moments are special. Treasure every moment.

It's kinda like how God hears even the smallest, simplest prayer... and He treasures every word we say to Him. :)

Thoughtfully,

Glow.

Last night after I got home from the barn, I sat out on my back porch to read. I looked up after about ten minutes and found a beautiful piece of art across the sky. I ran inside to get my camera and then went into the front yard where I have a better view.
The sky is God's canvas. He paints each sunrise and sunset.
If the sunrises and sunsets are this beautiful on earth, can you imagine what they are like in Heaven?

Something I have to work on...daily.

Ephesians 4:26 (New King James Version)
26 “Be angry, and do not sin”: do not let the sun go down on your wrath

Do you know how hard that can be sometimes?
I do.
Does your family sometimes get on your nerves and you just get so frustrated?
Affirmative.
Have you ever had an argument with a sibling, a friend, or even your parents and have gotten so angry that you just don't wanna talk to them.
Yep!
For me, if I am angry at you I do not wanna talk to you, see you, or be anywhere near you, until I calm down. My sister and I had an argument not too long ago and it was right before bed time. She told me "do not let the sun go down on your wrath."
I wanted to throttle her. lol.
I went to bed angry.
That was not so good.
She likes to talk things out. I like to calm down alone...
It was interesting to say in the least.
I have a hard time about not letting the sun go down on my anger sometimes.
It is something we should all work harder on in our lives.

Taking it one step at a time,

What Love is.

God is love.
He gave it to us.
We can say that we love objects, but that is not what love is for...
Love is for people and living things.
You can say you love your car, or your computer, but that's not love.
Think about how God loves us... How deep, how high, how wide and great is His love for us?
He died for us. He rose again for us. He sent his Holy Spirit to stay with us. He took our sins away. That is true love.
I have been trying not to say stuff like: "I love that movie" or "I love that car" or "I love that shirt."
And after not saying "I love..." about all of those inanimate objects; saying I love you to other people feels amazingly stronger. The strength of love is powerful. I had to pause a moment after I first felt that moment of "wow" about it. Imagine: Not saying love about everything you enjoy, and then going to someone who is special then telling then you love them. It makes the word "love" seem so much more special to say.
I thought I would share that discovery with you. Perhaps you will discover the same thing....


Feeling content,