Earthly-Prophet

Photo a day: earthly

My husband lives like he's the lorax. He doesn't take more than he needs, he would plant a tree every two feet if I allowed it, and he forces us to recycle everything! His shoes are about as earthly as they come!

Photo a day: prophet

Closest thing to a prophet I know:) Proud to call her my friend.

Free Online Dictionary defines prophet as:
1. A person who speaks by divine inspiration or as the interpreter through whom the will of a god is expressed.
2. A person gifted with profound moral insight and exceptional powers of expression.
3. A predictor; a soothsayer.
4. The chief spokesperson of a movement or cause.
5.
a. Prophets (used with a sing. or pl. verb) The second of the three divisions of the Hebrew Scriptures, comprising the books of Joshua, Judges, Samuel, Kings, Isaiah, Jeremiah, Ezekiel, and the Twelve. Used with the. See Table at Bible.
b. Prophet One of the prophets mentioned in the Bible, especially one believed to be the author of one of these books. Used with the.

Lift-Hear

PHOTO A DAY: Lift

When I'm having a bad day at work, walking away from my desk, getting some fresh air and ordering a latte from Biggby's is a tremendous lift!!

PHOTO A DAY: Hear

Sometimes I wonder if I'm truly listening when He's whispering to me.  I feel pretty confident that I have trained myself to listen when He's yelling at me, but I'm still working on hearing the nudges and the whispers.   In Sunday school this week, we wrote letters to God.  All of them were great, but one of the kids really nailed it.  The student didn't want to take it home, so I did.  Now it's in my Bible.  I'll have this reminder the next time that I don't want to wake my little monsters up and wrestle their clothes on.  I'll have it the next time that I don't HEAR the whispers. 

 

 

 

 

Cover

PHOTO A DAY: Cover

We want to appear to be put together, but not too put together.  You know, mismatched but actually matched.  I said no pinterest, but I have to take a picture of a pinterest screen to show this...because I can't do the "mismatched but actually match" thing!




























We want to cover the flaws, but not look fake.




























We want to be warm, but not forget the chill.




Cover the spread. Cover one's ass.  Cover the ground. Take cover. Under cover.

Good word for a Monday! 


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Praying for strong lungs and bright blue eyes

The type of news

you know the kind

your heart stops beating

and your head starts spinning

that helpless feeling

the paralizying emotions

they invade your body

producing tears and fears

bringing you to your knees

 

Because there's nothing,

nothing you can do

 

BUT PRAY. 

Fierce

bold

big prayers

for health

for strength

for mercy

for hope

for love

to feel His loving hand

always

Prayers to one of my beautiful friends and her baby boy who has decided that he wants to meet the world a bit early.  Prayers for strong lungs and big bright blue eyes.  So that he can introduce Mommy and Daddy to a whole new world of love.



 So far, so good:)  Baby Murphy is doing great!  2/25/13 5lbs 2oz 19 inches

Spirit-Live-Vision

PHOTO A DAY: Spirit

The nonphysical part of a person that is the seat of emotions and character; the soul.

PHOTO A DAY: Live

I totally flipped when I walked in the house to this!  Not that they're building a fort...they are sitting on top of chairs on a cushion!!  "If they fall through, they'll learn!  You have to let them live a little!"

































PHOTO A DAY: Vision





























 

LOVE

PHOTO A DAY: LOVE

Hebrews 4:1-10

New International Version (NIV)

A Sabbath-Rest for the People of God

4 Therefore, since the promise of entering his rest still stands, let us be careful that none of you be found to have fallen short of it. ² For we also have had the good news proclaimed to us, just as they did; but the message they heard was of no value to them, because they did not share the faith of those who obeyed.^{[a] 3} Now we who have believed enter that rest, just as God has said,

“So I declared on oath in my anger,
‘They shall never enter my rest.’”^[b]

And yet his works have been finished since the creation of the world. ⁴ For somewhere he has spoken about the seventh day in these words: “On the seventh day God rested from all his works.”^{[c] 5} And again in the passage above he says, “They shall never enter my rest.”

⁶ Therefore since it still remains for some to enter that rest, and since those who formerly had the good news proclaimed to them did not go in because of their disobedience, ⁷ God again set a certain day, calling it “Today.” This he did when a long time later he spoke through David, as in the passage already quoted:

“Today, if you hear his voice,
do not harden your hearts.”^[d]

⁸ For if Joshua had given them rest, God would not have spoken later about another day. ⁹ There remains, then, a Sabbath-rest for the people of God; ¹⁰ for anyone who enters God’s rest also rests from their works,^[e] just as God did from his.

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Evil

PHOTO OF THE DAY: EVIL

During this photo a day challenge, I have started to think ahead to the next day or even a few days out.  What can I take a picture of that represents the word they have asked for?  What does the word mean to me?  How can illustrate it in one or even a few photos?

I've been thinking of something to represent evil for a few days now.  I didn't have any ideas that weren't, well, EVIL.  For example, I thought, I could take a picture of X...they are EVIL!  Next I thought, I could take a picture of the gas price posted at the local gas station. But, I was too lazy to stop the car, get out of my car (because my windshields are too dirty to take a photo through) and then snap the picture. 

I tried to think of other things on my drive in this morning that were evil and decided that I would stop at a gas station on my way home if I couldn't come up with anything better.

Well, one of my co-workers answered the call and I didn't even dial his number!  I walked into my office to this cute little surprise!!

"Awww, how cute!  What a nice friend.  He knows how much I love potato chips! How thoughtful!"

NOT!!

He knows that I gave up potato chips for lent!  He knows that they will sit on my desk for the next month and taunt me every second of the freaking day.

TEMPTATION.

I confronted him as soon as he walked in the office:

Mr. Doerner, you are most certainly going to hell.

Fake confused look: What?

Don't play dumb.  I know you bought the effing chips and displayed them ever so beautifully next to my computer!

As he follows me to my office: Laura, I would have searched for Wavy Lays if I would have been the prankster.

BOLOGNIE!! I know you did it.   I know they don't sell Wavy Lays downstairs or you would have bought them! I'm going to get you back.

 (ALSO EVIL-REVENGE)

If you were wondering how my lent sacrifices are going after week one: I want chips more than Facebook.  I haven't really craved for a soda and I'm enjoying my added slice of giving back each day.

I will fight this temptation and leave this bag of chips on my desk until Easter...I can't guarantee that I won't seek revenge;)

Deuteronomy 9:13-21

New International Version (NIV)

¹³ And the Lord said to me, “I have seen this people, and they are a stiff-necked people indeed! ¹⁴ Let me alone, so that I may destroy them and blot out their name from under heaven. And I will make you into a nation stronger and more numerous than they.”
¹⁵ So I turned and went down from the mountain while it was ablaze with fire. And the two tablets of the covenant were in my hands. ¹⁶ When I looked, I saw that you had sinned against the Lord your God; you had made for yourselves an idol cast in the shape of a calf. You had turned aside quickly from the way that the Lord had commanded you. ¹⁷ So I took the two tablets and threw them out of my hands, breaking them to pieces before your eyes.
¹⁸ Then once again I fell prostrate before the Lord for forty days and forty nights; I ate no bread and drank no water, because of all the sin you had committed, doing what was evil in the Lord’s sight and so arousing his anger. ¹⁹ I feared the anger and wrath of the Lord, for he was angry enough with you to destroy you. But again the Lord listened to me. ²⁰ And the Lord was angry enough with Aaron to destroy him, but at that time I prayed for Aaron too. ²¹ Also I took that sinful thing of yours, the calf you had made, and burned it in the fire. Then I crushed it and ground it to powder as fine as dust and threw the dust into a stream that flowed down the mountain.

 

Wonder

I hope you never lose your sense of wonder!

PHOTO OF THE DAY: WONDER

Nobody can do wonder like the monsters! 

The excitement in their eyes; the wonder is always present and perfect and innocent.

Somewhere, somehow as we age and live and make mistakes and grow, we lose it. 

I find wonder again in them.

Psalm 45

New International Version (NIV)

For the director of music. To the tune of “Lilies.” Of the Sons of Korah. A maskil.^[b] A wedding song.

¹ My heart is stirred by a noble theme
as I recite my verses for the king;
my tongue is the pen of a skillful writer.

² You are the most excellent of men
and your lips have been anointed with grace,
since God has blessed you forever.

³ Gird your sword on your side, you mighty one;
clothe yourself with splendor and majesty.
⁴ In your majesty ride forth victoriously
in the cause of truth, humility and justice;
let your right hand achieve awesome deeds.
⁵ Let your sharp arrows pierce the hearts of the king’s enemies;
let the nations fall beneath your feet.
⁶ Your throne, O God,^[c] will last for ever and ever;
a scepter of justice will be the scepter of your kingdom.
⁷ You love righteousness and hate wickedness;
therefore God, your God, has set you above your companions
by anointing you with the oil of joy.
⁸ All your robes are fragrant with myrrh and aloes and cassia;
from palaces adorned with ivory
the music of the strings makes you glad.
⁹ Daughters of kings are among your honored women;
at your right hand is the royal bride in gold of Ophir.

¹⁰ Listen, daughter, and pay careful attention:
Forget your people and your father’s house.
¹¹ Let the king be enthralled by your beauty;
honor him, for he is your lord.
¹² The city of Tyre will come with a gift,^[d]
people of wealth will seek your favor.
¹³ All glorious is the princess within her chamber;
her gown is interwoven with gold.
¹⁴ In embroidered garments she is led to the king;
her virgin companions follow her—
those brought to be with her.
¹⁵ Led in with joy and gladness,
they enter the palace of the king.

¹⁶ Your sons will take the place of your fathers;
you will make them princes throughout the land.

¹⁷ I will perpetuate your memory through all generations;
therefore the nations will praise you for ever and ever.

 

World

PHOTO A DAY: World

My world describing the world:)

Deuteronomy 8:11-18

New International Version (NIV)

¹¹ Be careful that you do not forget the Lord your God, failing to observe his commands, his laws and his decrees that I am giving you this day. ¹² Otherwise, when you eat and are satisfied, when you build fine houses and settle down, ¹³ and when your herds and flocks grow large and your silver and gold increase and all you have is multiplied, ¹⁴ then your heart will become proud and you will forget the Lord your God, who brought you out of Egypt, out of the land of slavery. ¹⁵ He led you through the vast and dreadful wilderness, that thirsty and waterless land, with its venomous snakes and scorpions. He brought you water out of hard rock. ¹⁶ He gave you manna to eat in the wilderness, something your ancestors had never known, to humble and test you so that in the end it might go well with you. ¹⁷ You may say to yourself, “My power and the strength of my hands have produced this wealth for me.” ¹⁸ But remember the Lord your God, for it is he who gives you the ability to produce wealth, and so confirms his covenant, which he swore to your ancestors, as it is today.

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Settle

Photo of the day: settle

The younger two monsters would LOVE to have mommy all to them self!

"It's not fair! He got to sit on your lap last time!"

Today, they settled. For half. Half of my lap, half of my hugs, half of my tickles!

Settle

Thanks for the photo, Kelly!

 

Romans 8:10-14

New International Version (NIV)

¹⁰ But if Christ is in you, then even though your body is subject to death because of sin, the Spirit gives life^[a] because of righteousness. ¹¹ And if the Spirit of him who raised Jesus from the dead is living in you, he who raised Christ from the dead will also give life to your mortal bodies because of^[b] his Spirit who lives in you.
¹² Therefore, brothers and sisters, we have an obligation—but it is not to the flesh, to live according to it. ¹³ For if you live according to the flesh, you will die; but if by the Spirit you put to death the misdeeds of the body, you will live.
¹⁴ For those who are led by the Spirit of God are the children of God.

Injustice

Photo a day: injustice

Can anyone just eat one? It's an injustice to leave just one cookie in a row, it's an injustice to only leave a couple In the box. It's an injustice to yourself if you have only one!!

The freaking Girl Scouts sell them so you HAVE to buy them!

John 1:43-51
New International Version (NIV)
Jesus Calls Philip and Nathanael

43 The next day Jesus decided to leave for Galilee. Finding Philip, he said to him, “Follow me.”

44 Philip, like Andrew and Peter, was from the town of Bethsaida. 45 Philip found Nathanael and told him, “We have found the one Moses wrote about in the Law, and about whom the prophets also wrote—Jesus of Nazareth, the son of Joseph.”

46 “Nazareth! Can anything good come from there?” Nathanael asked.

“Come and see,” said Philip.

47 When Jesus saw Nathanael approaching, he said of him, “Here truly is an Israelite in whom there is no deceit.”

48 “How do you know me?” Nathanael asked.

Jesus answered, “I saw you while you were still under the fig tree before Philip called you.”

49 Then Nathanael declared, “Rabbi, you are the Son of God; you are the king of Israel.”

50 Jesus said, “You believe[a] because I told you I saw you under the fig tree. You will see greater things than that.” 51 He then added, “Very truly I tell you,[b] you[c] will see ‘heaven open, and the angels of God ascending and descending on’[d] the Son of Man.”

See

PHOTO A DAY

SEE

Titus 2:1-15

New International Version (NIV)

Doing Good for the Sake of the Gospel

2 You, however, must teach what is appropriate to sound doctrine. ² Teach the older men to be temperate, worthy of respect, self-controlled, and sound in faith, in love and in endurance.

³ Likewise, teach the older women to be reverent in the way they live, not to be slanderers or addicted to much wine, but to teach what is good. ⁴ Then they can urge the younger women to love their husbands and children, ⁵ to be self-controlled and pure, to be busy at home, to be kind, and to be subject to their husbands, so that no one will malign the word of God.
⁶ Similarly, encourage the young men to be self-controlled. ⁷ In everything set them an example by doing what is good. In your teaching show integrity, seriousness ⁸ and soundness of speech that cannot be condemned, so that those who oppose you may be ashamed because they have nothing bad to say about us.
⁹ Teach slaves to be subject to their masters in everything, to try to please them, not to talk back to them, ¹⁰ and not to steal from them, but to show that they can be fully trusted, so that in every way they will make the teaching about God our Savior attractive.
¹¹ For the grace of God has appeared that offers salvation to all people. ¹² It teaches us to say “No” to ungodliness and worldly passions, and to live self-controlled, upright and godly lives in this present age, ¹³ while we wait for the blessed hope—the appearing of the glory of our great God and Savior, Jesus Christ, ¹⁴ who gave himself for us to redeem us from all wickedness and to purify for himself a people that are his very own, eager to do what is good.
¹⁵ These, then, are the things you should teach. Encourage and rebuke with all authority. Do not let anyone despise you.

Return

PHOTO A DAY

Return: home

"ET phone home"

"There's no place like home"

Home is where I return when I need to rest and renew my spirit!!

Deuteronomy 7:6-11

New American Standard Bible (NASB)

⁶ For you are a holy people to the Lord your God; the Lord your God has chosen you to be a people for His ^[a]own possession out of all the peoples who are on the face of the ^[b]earth.

⁷ “The Lord did not set His love on you nor choose you because you were more in number than any of the peoples, for you were the fewest of all peoples, ⁸ but because the Lord loved you and kept the oath which He swore to your forefathers, the Lord brought you out by a mighty hand and redeemed you from the house of ^[c]slavery, from the hand of Pharaoh king of Egypt. ⁹ Know therefore that the Lord your God, He is God, the faithful God, who keeps ^[d]His covenant and ^[e]His lovingkindness to a thousandth generation with those who love Him and keep His commandments; ¹⁰ but repays those who hate Him to ^[f]their faces, to destroy ^[g]them; He will not delay ^[h]with him who hates Him, He will repay him to his face. ¹¹ Therefore, you shall keep the commandment and the statutes and the judgments which I am commanding you today, to do them.

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Amen

They really do listen!! SOMETIMES. Sometimes they don't listen when we want them to. Sometimes they listen when we don't want them to. Sometimes they are listening when we don't think they are!

Last night we attended the Ash Wednesday service. Before the church service, the monsters were full of questions:

Do we have to get ashes? (I told them it was up to them.)

Do we have to leave it on if we get them? (Only until we get home, but if you want to leave it on, you can. It will show your classmates that you believe if any of the ashes are left on your forehead tomorrow.)

Can I bring my DS? (No, but I SHOULD have said yes...AAHHHH!! Keegs is usually the only monster that sits with me for the entire church service. Having Camille and Keegan vying for my attention for the whole hour was trying (exhausting)!)

One of my awesome, beautiful, wonderful friends met us at church with her monsters and we attempted to keep them (SEMI)quiet during the service.

When we started the responsive part of Communion, Keegan whispered in my ear: Can you say "amen" for me two times?

I looked at him puzzled and agreed (mostly to shut him up). Does he mean that he wants me to say "amen" for him when he takes Holy Communion; the gift of His body and blood?

We continued with the responsive reading and he whispered again: Mom, it's not REAL blood, right?

He is talking about the expected reponse when you receive Communion!  No, bud, it's not real blood.  It's just supposed to remind us that Jesus died for us.  It's actually juice.   

When he's not whispering in my ear, he's kicking Cami and drawing elephants. The people around us would have NO CLUE that he's actually listening.  But, he's not only is he listening, he's trying to comprehend! My handsome, crooked-smiled, accident prone, monster is trying to grasp a concept that many adults don't understand.

Finally, it was our turn to take Communion. On the way up to the stage area, he squeezed my hand: I will say it, Mom.

AND...he walked up, waited for Denny to say "the body of Christ, given for you" and he answered "AMEN".  He walked over and waited for Linda to say "the blood of Christ, given for you" and answered "AMEN".

I MUST remember what a handsome, wonderful, Christian boy he is the next time he wets his pants. When we all sat down, they tried to decipher if their ashes were in the shape of a cross...or an elephant...or a jet plane.

The only thing I could think in that moment:

AMEN!

PS: My kids wore their pj's to church again.  I'm not sure how some people feel about pj's at church, but my kids think it's awesome:)  I think it's awesome to have baths and pj's on before 7pm, too! 

Photo a Day: Who am I?

http://rethinkchurch.org/lenten-challenge

JOIN ME!!  Even if you do it on fb or instagram and I can't check it out until Easter, it will be fun!

Day One: Who am I?

Sharpie: permanent, bold, in print: Princess (TO THE PRINCE OF PEACE!! Sheesh, I don't think I'm really a princess!)  A friend sent me a quick note yesterday telling me how refreshing it is for someone to speak openly about their love for God.  She said I am a princess to Him and I love it!  I'll probably start wearing a crown soon;)  I want all to know that I believe.  I put it in print in big, bold letters for all to see and share.

Pencil: I Love to write.  The release achieved when I write my thoughts out is wonderful, but unless I'm talking about my love for the One above, I use pencil.  I make mistakes...I NEED erasers and white out.  LOTS of white out.  When I write AND in life.  Every day I need erasers and white out and I need to re-write the story so that all of the characters suceed.

My life revolves around these three beautiful faces.  They give me a purpose and meaning to live to my potential.  Each and every day they remind me of the beauty in this world and push me to be a better person.

 

Post it: if I don't write a note to myself, I forget.  I try to maintain 1,200 things at one time.  I have to write it all down.

WHO AM I?  Depends who you ask!  Some would still call me a bitch.  Some would say that I'm amazing.  I think I'm somewhere in between. I'm pretty confident that anyone that would be questioned would have to admit that I am growing as a person and it's a result of my faith.


Join me for the photo a day challenge!  You don't have to write why you selected the photo if prefer not to explain.  Just post a picture!

I decided to do a scripture reading a day because Cheryl is and I'm a follower;)

I picked this site: http://stthomaseustis.com/Uploads/Assignment_Sheet_2013.pdf 

My favorite part of the Psalm reading today:

"May his name endure forever;
may it continue as long as the sun."



 

I choose Him

Game time

who wins

what's the prize

all chips in

 

so much to gain

so much to lose

in this game of life

 we all must choose

 

defeat or on top

whatever your fate

make the best choices

choose love, not hate

 

stop running in circles

just do your best

in all that you do

and in every mess

 

win or lose

there is only One

when all of it's over

and everything's done

 

I choose Him

He wants us to win

make the right decisions

 turn away from sin

 

I choose Him

the One who knows best

yet forgives when we lose

and loves us nevertheless

 

 

 

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Days Without Number

Jeremiah 2:32

New International Version (NIV)

³² Does a young woman forget her jewelry,
a bride her wedding ornaments?
Yet my people have forgotten me,
days without number.

 

Have you ever went through the motions for an entire day or a week or a month or a year or an entire season in your life?  Doing all of the things that you need to do, all that you're expected to do, often more, but you're too busy to stop and notice? Continuing to fulfill all obligations while cursing the activities and errands and meetings. So caught up in the list of "to-do's" that you're unable to contribute the way you're supposed to?  Unable to share the good pieces of you because you're focused on the next obligation or the next thing on the list?  Instead of sharing your light, the people you are with are left with the dark pieces of you.  What's left; what remains when you use your light to focus on 'what's next' or 'what time is it' or 'what can I wear' instead of being present.

 

I'm really trying to slow down and be more present. I'm consciously saying 'no' more often in attempt to live a more simple life.  Less rush here and fly there like I was doing and more eye to eye conversations with little monsters. I'm saying "no" to the time consuming, always running, self-induced activities that I try to maintain and balance. (I am really good at balancing and maintaining them, I'm not going to pretend that I'm not.) 

Yet I want more; I want to BE there for all of the moments and LIVE them, too.  We've all heard the slogan: make the days count. I want to live and breathe with purpose.  For Him.  I want to do more than just pull the strings and make the characters in the play move from behind the scenes.  No longer do I want days without numbers.  I want to be full and also to fill.  I understand that to be full I need Him.  I know that to fill, I need Him.

 

I need to listen to His whispers

on that chronic Christmas Eve.

I need to know that He forgives

when I stole something of His

that should've been free.

 

One of my friends has pointed out to me on a few occasions that my mood often sets the mood for others.  He can tell when I'm distant and not focused.  I suspect others can tell as well, but he's brave enough to point it out.  Usually he tries to restore my energy by giving me some of his positive energy: a high five, a crazy face, a "are you ok?" under his breath.  Sometimes that works; sometimes that's enough.  Sometimes he gives up and lets me live in my distant universe and waits until the next time he runs into me to ask how it was in my alternate world.

 

I understand that I'm like this when I have too many things going on at one time.  Usually it's not even too many activities.  More often it's too many thoughts racing through my mind.  I chase them and attempt to tackle them and try to connect them and it's exhausting.  But, it's what I know.  It's comfortable.

 

I also understand that in order to grow, it's often required to be uncomfortable. 

 

Honestly, the 'weekends in' are kind of difficult for me; a little uncomfortable.  I'm used to the busy, the rush, the feeling of being needed and wanted.  I have to really concentrate on being present when my mind starts to chase the thoughts.  I have to really concentrate on putting a number on the day, each and every day.  So that I am able to use the gifts He blessed me with each day.  Direct my thoughts to the important task at hand, whatever it might be.   Looking Cami in the eye 10,000 times and reassuring her that I love her and she's wonderful and perfect even if she's not brave enough to complete a tumbling class or sharing my good light with my volleyball buddies on the court instead of bringing all of my wandering thoughts to the game.

 

Sometimes it's easier to do what you know, what you've done all your life, days without number. But, I enjoy numbers.  I want my days to have numbers.

 

 

 

Connect the dots:  The yoga instructor played this song tonight.  I couldn't get it out of my head.  Looked up the video and the eye with flames was just too perfect for this song, at this season in my life.  It was only a couple weeks ago when I posted a picture of my broken eye.  I started my true faith journey on that chronic Christmas eve. I've been struggling with days without number.  Every day I feel a deeper calling and need to spread light.   I want to make something beautiful.