Stress...& Expectations

Did you know that it's said that Stress not only expands your waist line but also makes your hair fall out?

Which is a really not cool thing, especially for us ladies. 

After all- it's generally acceptable for men to become a little rounder and a little balder as the years pass. 

For women not so much. 

Right?  Any one disagree?

I won't go into the double standard that is with the whole men gaining and losing hair thing.

However I also got this verse in one of the inspirational emails I get sent daily.


Don't worry about anything; instead pray about everything. Tell God what you need and thank Him for all He has done. Then you will experience God's peace, which exceeds anything we can understand. His peace will guard your hearts and minds as you live in Christ Jesus. Philippians 4:6

I LOVE this...I don't know about you but when the scripture is put in everyday English...in a way that is so "hit you on the head with a 2x4", in that way there is no wiggle room to think it means anything else.  Or that we are supposed to do something else or expect something else.

I think there's a lot to be said for expectation.  Do you ever expect something and then when your expectations are higher get really disappointed? 
Take movies for example...ever had the experience where you are really looking forward to seeing a particular movie.  Maybe because everyone has told you it's really good, or it's gotten great reviews or possibly you read the book- regardless you had really high expectations.
I don't know about you but I know that with me (when it comes to movies) I try not to have high expectations.  Because when I do I'm always disappointed in the movie.  Even when I enjoy it, I usually don't end up "loving it" because I expected it to be better.

Ever have that happen in life?  Now don't get me wrong, I'm not saying that we shouldn't have great expectations in life.  Or maybe I am; I think that better than great expectations for our lives we should have God expectations.

Often times I worry about my plans, my "expectations" for my life.  Which obviously is wrong- all I have to do is read that scripture to see it.  Instead of that I need to work on my communication skills, and pray...about marriage, relationships, schools, and all the things of life.  I should expect great God things, not stress about my life and those things in it.
After all I'll be happier if I do that (God's peace and all) not to mention that it should make me skinner and I'll have more hair :o)

Weekends

Weekends....

I don't know about you but it seems like I'm always looking forward to the weekends.

I love the weekends.  Not having to get up and get ready for work. Being outside, all those things. 

But for some reason right now weekend evenings seem tough for me.

I think I know why...it's the fact that my days are SO busy, that when things stop around 7ish it seems odd.
That and the fact that the sister is gone all the time now because of the new boyfriend. 

It makes the house quiet and lonely in the evenings.  
And I don't like it.

Even though I know it won't stay that way long. 
Soon the weather will cool and I'll be able to run again (sorry folks but I'm too big of a wuss to keep running when it's 95 or hotter).
The photo sessions will start up again - 2 scheduled already & I'll be working a bridal fair in October.
So soon I'll be too busy to be lonely these weekend evenings.

But I also know, as wedding season approaches it's going to get harder.

To see everyone with that special someone will be rough, not that I will be exstatic for my friends who have found their special someone, but I long for the day that I find my own special someone.

I know that God has a plan and a purpose for my walking this path at this time in my life.  And I may not understand it, I may not always like it. But I trust him.  I trust that even when I don't know where I'm going, He knows where I'm going and he ALSO knows just how to get me there.

Besides, with all the things planned for spring, like going back to school, I better enjoy the down time while I can.
It's not going to last forever.

arrivals

It's here! 

My new baby! 

A Canon 50D, 15.1 mega pixel Digital Camera.

I've been itching to get a new one.  And decided to invest now vs waiting to get it. 

I had the money in savings.  So I bought it. 

I'm looking forward to shooting some Brides and some Weddings this fall. 

Along with my niece and other families.

So if your in NW Arkansas and want your picture taken let me know.  :o)

I can use the practice with my new baby.

happy for her....

So my older sister (who I live with) has started seeing someone new.

Which is a good thing.  And I'm very happy for her.

But....

that's right there's a but... come on now you knew it was coming.

I am SO tired of hearing about him already.

He's a nice guy, at least from everything I can tell, and he seems to really care.

And while I worry that they are moving to fast and that she should slow down, in the grand scheme of things that doesn't really matter.

But she goes on, and on, and on about him.  And what he said and what he did and how nice he is and all that. 

And I'm happy for I really am.  And I really mean that.  After all I'm the sister that has always said that I want her to marry first, since she's the oldest sister I think that's more fair. It's what I've always wanted. 

But this week, just isn't a good time for me to hear all about it.
And to be honest, I am a little sad, because right now it seems as if everyone has someone but me (and yes I know that's really not how things are).  

But we are suppose to have dinner together tomorrow night.  Her and Him...plus my other sister and her husband and then another family friend and her boyfriend.  Oh and me.

That's right me....by myself...the lone single person.

And I'll be honest, I just don't want to.

I feel raw this week.  (probably because I saw the Ex this weekend-which always makes me sad anymore. Probably because we have a REALLY great time together)
And dinner with a bunch of couples...that just seems to hard. 
So maybe it's wrong for me to do this. But I think I may, maybe, just maybe go home after work, grab my gym clothes and go work it out.  Or maybe do a little shopping or something. 
I just know I don't want to be there.  To see what everyone else has but me. 
And maybe that sounds like I'm having a pitty party but honestly right now I don't care. 
I just don't want to hurt like that.

I just have to figure out how I'm going to get out of going to dinner at my own house and not come home to find everyone still there. 

Eat, Pray, Love

Normally I'm not a weekday movie going kind of girl.

But last night was one of the few exceptions since a friend who recently moved was back in town and it was one of the only nights we could get together with her.

We went to see Eat, Pray, Love.  Not something I would have probably picked on my own to see.  (There are a lot of things showing right now that I haven't gotten to see that would have taken top choice over this one.)

But I was happily surprised to find myself really liking it.
Minus the fact that the Pray aspect of the movie was centered around an Indian Guru.  Which I disagree with, but you all know the why on that.

Other than that I really liked most of this movie. 
Maybe because she spent several months in Rome and some surrounding cities in Italy- one of the things I DREAM of doing. 

Maybe because she did it alone. 
Even when everyone was telling her she needed a man- she went alone to find her passion. 

To find what she needed to be her was the way I viewed it. 

And most of us are looking to do just that. Find who we really are, find what we can really LIVE for.  Not just exist at not just do and be kind of happy but to live for.

I know that the thing I need to live for first and formost, is God.  After all He has given me I owe him that right?  But you know what else- I think- and yes it's just a thought- he wants more than that- he wants me to want to live for him because I want to not just because I owe it to him.
And living for him- I think- will lead me to that passion.  I look at all the places it has taken me so far- Mexico over a dozen times, Argentina, Haiti, the DR, Turkey, Costa Rica, Australia, Africa.  And I know that's part of where my passion is, part of where my heart is. 
It's in the serving Him- serving others- that I find I'm most at peace
- internally-
I know for me-
I don't need a lot of money.
I don't need a lot of things.
I don't need a man (that's not to say I don't want one because I want the RIGHT one)

All I need is Him. 
To find His purpose for me in this time, for this moment, for this day, brings my sanity in this crazy world.

So I pray today that you will find where He wants you today in this moment.  That you will seek His face and allow Him to guide you to find your passion in this life.  And I pray that you find it in Him.

Sadness...

“Peace is not merely a distant goal that we seek but a means by which we arrive at the goal.
Through violence you can murder a murderer but cannot murder murder.
Through violence you can murder a liar but you cannot establish truth.
Through violence you can murder a hater but you cannot murder hate.
Darkness cannot put out darkness; only light can do that.


We will not build a peaceful world by following a negative path. It is not enough to say we should not wage war, it is necessary to love peace and sacrifice for it. We must concentrate not merely on the negative expulsion of war but on the positive affirmation of peace. We must say that peace represents a sweeter music, a cosmic melody that is far superior to the discords of war.”


I'm sure most of you have heard about the killings that happened this last week in Afghanistan.  This has upset me, along with the death of a dear friend's brother and the changes going on in countries that are closing their doors to foreign workers, Christians who are bringing the land the truth of who Christ is are being forced to leave, kicked out of the country they have called home for years. 
It's been happening for a long time but it's happening more and more these days. 
And it makes my heart sad.  It makes me long to be in those places while there is still time to reach those people. 
It makes me PRAY harder for their lands for their souls so that the land will not remain a dark place even if all the foreginers are kicked out, because then there will be people there to carry on the work.  To teach and lead others in that country the truth of who Christ is and the love he has for them.

As we face changes in our own land, and they face them in theirs I pray that we will all do all that we can to reach those who don't know. 
Because I know in my heart the day is coming where we won't be allowed to speak the name of Chist publicly, even here, with out some form of punishment. 

Now is the time that we all should speak it to all we know.  And now is the time that we should really live what we say we believe after all, actions speak louder than words.

(in) courage

http://www.incourage.me/

I'm not sure if I've ever mentioned this site or not- but it's one of the blogs I follow regularly.

They turn 1 today!!!  And while I haven't been reading them for the full year- I only found them in January- it is one that truely lives up to it's name. 

Incourage

because it does just that.  A group of different ladies blog on the site so there are different perspectives offered all the time.  You never know just what the topic will be, but it is always Good and always incouraging!  

If you have a moment check it out.  Add it to your blog follow list too because it really is that good!

The Heaven's Declare....

The heavens declare the glory of God;

the skies proclaim the work of his hands.

I went to our local Botanical Gardens this weekend.

It was SO beautiful there. 

I was amazed that even with temperatures of 101 or more there were still flowers in bloom.

The grass was green, the sun was bright, yes it was a little hot by the time we left. 

And the sun was a little bright, but other than that it was a glorious morning.

We went to the gardens specifically take pictures. 

Here are a few of those...hope you enjoy them.

Leanna

Oh- I'll also be entering 3 of these into a contest so let me know what your favorites are and I'll take that into consideration.

3:16 & 17

16"For God so loved the world that He gave His only begotten Son, that whosoever believeth in Him should not perish, but have everlasting life. 17 For God sent not His Son into the world to condemn the world, but that the world through Him might be saved.

I would bet that most of us know John 3:16 by heart if we have been a Christian for any length of time. In fact you may have known it before you ever were a Christian since John 3:16 is one of the most quoted scriptures. But how often, when quoted do we see it with verse 17?

How often do we point out verse 17 to others? 

Especially when we are witnessing to other people?

My pastor read the following 2 verses in church yesterday, and while he wasn't really talking about witnessing, it got me thinking along those lines.

Maybe because I just returned 2 weeks ago from a mission trip.

Maybe because we are talking about witnessing in youth group as the kids prepare to go back to school.

Maybe it's just something that's on my heart right now for some unknown reason.

But it got me thinking.  ...again how often do we pair verse 17 with verse 16?

Have you ever been witnessing to someone, talking up God/Christ and kinda hit a wall?

Do you ever struggle with what to say when they talk about getting their life in order first?

Or do you ever come up aganist those people who often seem like they just don't want to be judged....you know what I mean...those people who tell you "who are you to call me a sinner?"

And how often have you used verse 17?

My guess is not very often- if ever.  I know that's the case with me. 

But really drill into verse 17 for a moment....what does it say...

God sent his son into the world NOT TO CONDEM the world...BUT that the world THROUGH Him might be SAVED!

to me that's something to really think about, to really apply, not just in my witnessing to others but in all areas of life.

Because lets face it, I know that a lot of times I'm sitting there judging others, their actions, their words, their motives. 

And this verse, #17...really applies to that as well.

It's another one of those that kinda points back at you and says...where do you get off judging my people?!

When you read verse 17, how does it make you feel?