"Let us draw near to the fire of martyred Lawrence, that our cold hearts may be warmed thereby. The merciless tyrant, understanding him to be not only a minister of the sacraments, but a distributor also of the Church riches, promised to himself a double prey, by the apprehension of one soul. First, with the rake of avarice to scrape to himself the treasure of poor Christians; then with the fiery fork of tyranny, so to toss and turmoil them, that they should wax weary of their profession. With furious face and cruel countenance, the greedy wolf demanded where this Lawrence had bestowed the substance of the Church: who, craving three days' respite, promised to declare where the treasure might be had. In the meantime, he caused a good number of poor Christians to be congregated. So, when the day of his answer was come, the persecutor strictly charged him to stand to his promise. Then valiant Lawrence, stretching out his arms over the poor, said: "These are the precious treasure of the Church; these are the treasure indeed, in whom the faith of Christ reigneth, in whom Jesus Christ hath His mansion-place. What more precious jewels can Christ have, than those in whom He hath promised to dwell? For so it is written, 'I was an hungered, and ye gave Me meat: I was thirsty, and ye gave Me drink: I was a stranger, and ye took Me in.' And again, 'Inasmuch as ye have done it unto one of the least of these My brethren, ye have done it unto Me.' What greater riches can Christ our Master possess, than the poor people in whom He loveth to be seen?"

O, what tongue is able to express the fury and madness of the tyrant's heart! Now he stamped, he stared, he ramped, he fared as one out of his wits: his eyes like fire glowed, his mouth like a boar formed, his teeth like a hellhound grinned. Now, not a reasonable man, but a roaring lion, he might be called. "Kindle the fire (he cried)--of wood make no spare. Hath this villain deluded the emperor? Away with him, away with him: whip him with scourges, jerk him with rods, buffet him with fists, brain him with clubs. Jesteth the traitor with the emperor? Pinch him with fiery tongs, gird him with burning plates, bring out the strongest chains, and the fire-forks, and the grated bed of iron: on the fire with it; bind the rebel hand and foot; and when the bed is fire-hot, on with him: roast him, broil him, toss him, turn him: on pain of our high displeasure do every man his office, O ye tormentors."

The word was no sooner spoken, but all was done. After many cruel handlings, this meek lamb was laid, I will not say on his fiery bed of iron, but on his soft bed of down. So mightily God wrought with his martyr Lawrence, so miraculously God tempered His element the fire; that it became not a bed of consuming pain, but a pallet of nourishing rest." (Excerpt from Fox's Book of Martyrs)

Love and Thanksgiving

I serve a King who loves the unlovable... bestows mercy on the undeserving... is faithful to the faithless... sees my deepest thoughts, hears my many silent cries, and knows my heart- yet still loves so deeply. Still loves enough to die so that we won't spend eternity apart.

What is there not to be thankful for?

I am forever indebted to the passionately faithful love of Jesus.

Little Bits of Happy

It's been awhile since I've updated. The last post was on quite the serious note, so I figured I'd enter a lighthearted one somewhere in the mix... hence, Little Bits of Happy.

Somewhere in the midst of time literally slipping away, there are little reminders to slow down and simply take in the simple pleasures that are so easy to pass up at times.

Tuesday, for reasons I don't understand, I was completely shaken and distracted... I came to Adopt A Horse with a discouraged heart, and a heart that wasn't ready to spend a couple of hours with a little girl, eager to learn about horses. When I walked in, Laura quietly and sweetly came up to me and said "I brought you some flowers..." :) For those of you who think a discipler somehow loses impact on your heart, you're wrong. Without being cued, she seems to know just what to say or do to bring encouragement.


This mug cost more than a mug ever should, but it quickly moved it's way to "favorite cocoa mug"... On the back, it reads "Do what you like. Like what you do."


Those of you who know me well know just how much I like fall. Bonfires, caramel apples, brisk "hoodie weather", and most of all- falling, vibrant leaves. This is one of many that have been decorating my yard for the past week and a half.


In 7th Hour on Wednesday, Weston taught the youth how to make macaroni and cheese. The Lord has given him an incredible amount of wisdom, and in a way that only Weston can, he imparts some of that wisdom to the youth every Sunday and Wednesday. Through simple lessons, they're learning what it means to follow the Lord while serving others... and it's a joy to watch and be a part of.

Power of the Tongue

"The words of a man's mouth are deep waters; The fountain of wisdom is a bubbling brook." -Proverbs 18:4

Out of the 24 verses in Proverbs 18, this one stuck out to me the most. What picture do you get from these words? I can imagine sitting beside that "bubbling brook", completely calm and refreshed by the sound of gentle, rushing water. Do you realize that your words can have the same effect on someone?

Proverbs is richly packed with verses about the power of speech. To put those verses simply: wise words bring healing, foolish words bring to ruin those who hear.

Take a look at a few verses out of James 3:

"...No one can tame the tongue; It is a restless evil and full of deadly poison. With it we bless our Lord and Father; and with it we curse men, who have been made in the likeness of God; from the same mouth come both blessing and cursing. My brethren, these things ought not to be this way. Does a fountain send out from the same opening both fresh and bitter water? Can a fig tree, my brethren, produce olives, or a vine produce figs? Neither can salt water produce fresh." (8-12)

The verses above could not be more clear. More than anything, I'm realizing the power that the tongue has in regards to those who I'm with the majority of the time (i.e the church body)... There are two messages that I have the capacity to send with the words that come out of my mouth: 1) I love you and I want to encourage you or 2) I really don't care about you that much, and right now, I only want to say something that makes me feel good, and look good.

What do my words say? What about you? Are you speaking words that are unwholesome, or are they "good for edification, according to the need of the moment", giving grace to those who hear? (Eph. 4:29)

New

I had to change things up a little. Call it an urge for spontaneity, or whatever you will, but it's nice to see something different when stopping by the site.

Hopefully, in addition to the new look, there will be a change in the content of what you'll find on here. Yes, photos will still find their way up quite frequently, but other than that, it would be great to revisit the uninhibited writing style of my old posts (the good ol' Xanga days)... so, that I will do.

For now, I've stared at this computer screen for far too long tonight, and I'm off to bed.

With love...

Wait by Russell Kelfer

Desperately, helplessly, longingly, I cried;
Quietly, patiently, lovingly, God replied.
I pled and I wept for a clue to my fate . . .
And the Master so gently said, "Wait."

"Wait? You say wait?" my indignant reply.
"Lord, I need answers, I need to know why!
Is Your hand shortened? Or have You not heard?
By faith I have asked, and I'm claiming Your word.

"My future and all to which I relate
Hangs in the balance, and You tell me to wait?
I'm needing a 'yes', a go-ahead sign,
Or even a 'no' to which I can resign.

"You promised, dear Lord, that if we believe,
We need but to ask, and we shall receive.
And Lord I've been asking, and this is my cry:
I'm weary of asking! I need a reply."

Then quietly, softly, I learned of my fate,
As my Master replied again, "Wait."
So I slumped in my chair, defeated and taut,
And grumbled to God, "So, I'm waiting for what?"

He seemed then to kneel, and His eyes met with mine . . .
and He tenderly said, "I could give you a sign.
I could shake the heavens and darken the sun.
I could raise the dead and cause mountains to run.

"I could give all you seek and pleased you would be.
You'd have what you want, but you wouldn't know Me.
You'd not know the depth of my love for each saint.
You'd not know the power that I give to the faint.

"You'd not learn to see through clouds of despair;
You'd not learn to trust just by knowing I'm there.
You'd not know the joy of resting in Me
When darkness and silence are all you can see.

"You'd never experience the fullness of love
When the peace of My spirit descends like a dove.
You would know that I give, and I save, for a start,
But you'd not know the depth of the beat of My heart.

"The glow of My comfort late into the night,
The faith that I give when you walk without sight.
The depth that's beyond getting just what you ask
From an infinite God who makes what you have last.

"You'd never know, should your pain quickly flee,
What it means that My grace is sufficient for thee.
Yes, your dearest dreams overnight would come true,
But, oh, the loss, if you missed what I'm doing in you.

"So, be silent, my child, and in time you will see
That the greatest of gifts is to truly know Me.
And though oft My answers seem terribly late,
My most precious answer of all is still . . . Wait."

Wait

These past few weeks have been nonstop. Interviews, photo editing, figuring out those ever so illusive "life plans", time with JWF family, etc. Sometimes, I wish life would come to a screeching halt and allow me to catch up, but unfortunately that isn't the reality.

While time continues to run away, there are things in my mind and heart that I pray the Lord is changing... For instance, the patience I fail to exhibit when circumstances don't go as planned. I can't say that I'm very good at waiting on anything, and that quality only grows more sour as I get older. Things that I wish were in my grasp feel like they are unattainable sometimes... a relationship, a job, clarity...

I sometimes forget that when I ask my Father to teach me to wait, He's not likely to just drop that attitude of patience right into my heart... but instead, He often allows those who are His to go through the fire and learn the attitude of patience. Simply put: it's the process of refinement.

During these past few weeks... during the times when I've cried out to my beloved Lord as I've never cried out before... He's given me those little bursts of strength through His word and has reminded me time and time again that- He works all things out for good, that He'll be faithful to complete the work that He began, and that He has a plan for a hope and a future.

More than anything, He continues to whisper that bittersweet word that is oh so hard to hear: wait.

Architectural Wonder

So, I found this bit of splendor tonight while exploring... It caught my eye, and I simply had to take a picture. The camera couldn't come out for long due to the rain, so perhaps I'll venture out again sometime soon, and take some more shots of this magnificent place along with other neighboring venues.

I felt like I was in a different world tonight, taking pictures of exotic, new sights missed by those who are too busy to stop and notice. So, I'm giving you the opportunity to see through the eyes of someone who did stop and notice. :)

I don't know that I've ever posted this photo. As I was sorting folders, pictures and such on the computer, I found it and decided to share it. :) The peacock had been lingering around Hilltop for some time, but has since gone back to it's home.

Love these...

Laura and I visited the conservancy in Germantown earlier this afternoon, and as usual, I couldn't stay away from taking a few pictures of the loveliest medicinal plant around... :)





Here are some facts for your reading pleasure... :)

Life Cycle: Perennial
Planting Time: Spring or Fall
Height: 3' to 4'(dwarf from to 24")
Exposure: Full sun or light shade
Soil: well drained; fertile - you may need to use an organic fertilizer
Hardiness: Zones 3 to 9
Bloom Time: Midsummer to fall
Propagation: Purchased seeds and divisions. Seeds collected from the garden often do not come true.
Uses: Beds, borders, wildflower meadows. Drought resistant.

* New plants and seedlings will need to be watered until they are established. Once they are growing well, they will thrive on the available moisture from rain except in extremely dry areas.
* Rabbits and hedgehogs think new echinacea shoots are a tasty treat, so protect seedlings and young plants.
* The only thing echinacea can be somewhat fussy about is too much moisture. It likes a fairly dry soil, and should never have to sit very long with it's roots in wet, soggy soil.

(http://www.gardenguides.com/plants/info/flowers/perennials/coneflower.asp)

Hmm...

This would be an interesting way to be proposed to...

Just A Few...

I had the urge to "Picnik" tonight, so here are the slim results... Hope you enjoy... :)

Recent Thoughts...

This morning, I was somehow drawn to a section of verses out of James 1. So, without over-thinking the reasons, or deciding to methodically read a section out of next month's DIW, I read, and re-read James 1:5-8.

"But if any of you lacks wisdom, let him ask of God, who gives to all generously and without reproach, and it will be given to him. But he must ask in faith without any doubting, for the one who doubts is like the surf of the sea, driven and tossed by the wind. For that man ought not to expect that he will receive anything from the Lord, being a double-minded man,unstable in all his ways."

So, with that read, I jotted down a few notes. 'What do I ask for from the Lord, and do I doubt when I ask? Well, I don't know that I've ever doubted His ability to do something, so much so as His willingness.' More than anything, my sin, and my knowledge of it gets in the way of my earnest requests to the Lord.

After all, why would He want to give those things that I ask for when I constantly cause Him pain?

Then, after reading it for a third time, I realized something... This section of Scripture isn't referring to just anything... It's a direct reference to wisdom. BIG difference between asking for something I want, and earnestly requesting those things that the Lord says He wants to give.

Then came another note... or more like a question: 'What kind of things does the Lord want to give? What are some things that He's already given?' Just like that, because of His grace, He began to remind me of all the things He gives or has given.

-Every spiritual blessing in the heavenlies (Eph. 1)
-His precious and magnificent promises (1 Pt. 1)
-Adoption as sons, and the ability to cry out "Abba! Father!" (Romans 8)

This list could go on forever... literally. He gives those things because He is good. Because He's a Shepherd, and knows His sheep and exactly what they need.

"Then He said to them, 'Suppose one of you has a friend, and goes to him at midnight and says to him, 'Friend, lend me three loaves; for a friend of mine has come to me from a journey, and I have nothing to set before him'; and from inside he answers and says, 'Do not bother me; the door has already been shut and my children and I are in bed; I cannot get up and give you anything.' 'I tell you, even though he will not get up and give him anything because he is his friend, yet because of his persistence he will get up and give him as much as he needs. 'So I say to you, ask, and it will be given to you; seek, and you will find; knock, and it will be opened to you. For everyone who asks, receives; and he who seeks, finds; and to him who knocks, it will be opened. Now suppose one of you fathers is asked by his son for a fish; he will not give him a snake instead of a fish, will he? Or if he is asked for an egg, he will not give him a scorpion, will he?'" (Luke 11: 5-12)


The notes continued. 'Psalm 37:4 causes some to ask the question- Why doesn't the Lord give me what I want? In times of uncertainty, immaturity, and confusion, I've asked the same question. But there's something that can be so easily missed... like, the first half of the verse: Delight yourself in the Lord. If I'm delighting myself in the Lord, and searching out His heart and His desires, then my prayers will be centered on those things that He wants instead of those things that my flesh wants.'

This search, or biblical adventure, if you will just keeps expanding. From this, I've been stimulated to reevaluate my prayer life, along with those things that I desire the most. What I "want" and what I ask for are a good indication of my relationship with the Lord. Am I "in tune" with His desires, or with the ones of my rotting, dying flesh?

I could keep going for pages, and pages... but that takes time away from the more important tasks at hand. For now, I'll ask for wisdom, and leave the giving of understanding in my Lord's strong and faithful hands.

Mini Makeover

I had the urge today to do a project... so I took the bed apart (now it stands without the broken headboard), and rearranged all my furniture. To add to the splendor of a "new" bedroom, my mom bought me a coffee shop style carpet, and a new lamp (both birthday presents). It's now oh so cozy! :)

Here's the full view of my awesome, air-conditioned refuge:

Last Week's Randomness

I had intentions of putting a lot more than this up on the blog, but Blogspot had other ideas. I'll be posting again with more pictures soon, hopefully.

Will and Stephanie

'Tis a great thing to be able to go to a favorite place, and do those favorite things. By the grace of my Lord, life is a wonderful thing. :)

"Every image he sees, every photograph he takes, becomes in a sense a self-portrait. The portrait is made more meaningful by intimacy - an intimacy shared not only by the photographer with his subject but by the audience." - Dorothea Lange

Right At Home Pt. 2

I Met Him This Week...

No, not the love of my life. On the contrary, I met the little devil who has been eating all of our birdseed. We've been wondering how in the world birds can eat that much that fast.

Low and behold, you vindictive beast (as I so affectionately call you), you've been caught.

Change

This week, I stand in complete awe of my amazing Lord. I've watched His hand at work in every little detail of my life and in the lives of those around me.

He's changing my priorities, and changing my heart right along with that. I'm thankful.

Graduation happens next week, and then the time normally used on school will be well spent on this "dream job" I've been so graciously given.

Currently, I'm working on the Thorpe wedding photos, preparing for a portrait shoot in the beginning of August, and figuring out the details for a shoot next week. Can I really ask for more? If you were to ask me 5 years ago what I'd be doing at 23 years old, I probably would have shrugged, and responded with a blanket statement that I've grown quite used to: "I'm not sure, but God knows."

It's a wonderful thing to be growing more confident in my indescribable God, and in how He's shaped me.

Update

Although we will be having a cake table for Kaylee C., Jessica J. and Anna H., there will not be gift boxes. We decided to simplify quite a bit.

If you have a gift or a card, you can personally give it to the girls Sunday, or at their graduation parties.

If you have any questions, you can post them on here, or email me at eternalsmile86@yahoo.com. :)

Right at Home

I've been photographing anything and everything these past few weeks... except for those things just beyond my back door. It was cold and damp this afternoon, but I was in the mood for an excursion, so I went on a walk around our 2 acres, camera in hand...















The very tired photographer... :)

Show me your pearly whites!

Mr. Chubbs is my new love... :)

Introducing Family to Family :)

Yesterday was amazing. Simply amazing! Lindsay (my absolutely awesome cousin) was in a play last night, so Adelee and I decided to take a road trip. I've been telling Adelee about this incredible group of girls for some time now... so she decided she just had to meet them. :) At the same time, the girls have heard me talk about Adelee as well as our other awesome youth girls, and they wanted to meet her!

We began the drive up around 5:30pm, and made some memories to the likes of Little Big Town along with the sound of falling rain. The rain wasn't so pleasant due to my broken wiper blades, but oh well...

The time with the girls was great, and they all clicked better than I expected! Gpa, Gma, and Mimi were all there, which was SUCH a treat, and the play was lovely. :) Afterwards, we all drove up to Steak and Shake, and enjoyed almost 2 hours of talking, laughing, and awesome get-to-know-you conversations...

By that time, it was around 1:30am, so we said our goodbyes, and "I love you"'s, exchanged numbers (Adelee and the girls), and headed home.

The drive home was such a pleasant end to the evening. Adelee and I were both exhausted, but had a great time talking... We arrived back at my house at 2am, and she was off for home.

Spring is Here!

We had a free day last Saturday, and decided to visit Aullwood. The newly emerging flowers were beautiful, and a barefoot walk through the fresh grass was quite relaxing. :)

Here's a little bit of what we were able to see: