SEPAE06 ~ Photography Scavenger Hunt

These are pictures that I took for a scavenger hunt during Advanced EXCEL for one of my assignments. Like most scavenger hunts, this is a very unique assortment of pictures of random items that our leadership thought would be fun. Hope you enjoy them!

1.) STAPLER ~ This useful tool has been a tremendous help in keeping my AE assignments organized. Hoorah for this invention! :)

2.) REFLECTIONS ~ My brother and two of my friends being reflected in a large window at the Milwaukee Brewers stadium. (We got up to stretch our legs during the game, and I decided that this would be a perfect opportunity to take a "reflections" picture of some people who mean a lot to me.)

3.) LEAP ~ Little Campbell, one of the boys that I babysit for, has no fear of heights. Problem! :) He readily agreed to leap off of the footstool so I could take a picture of him while he was airborne.

4.) FEARS ~ One of my major fears is summed up perfectly in this photo: FAILURE! With God as my sufficiency and strength, I can give all of my fears to Him and trust that He is in control and will not let me down.

5.) COFFEE ~ Starbucks... Opening Bell... Saturdays... friends... All of these words remind me of the fun memories that my AE friends and I made while we were in Dallas, TX. I love you girls!!

6.) TIME ~ Without my watch to tell me what time it is, where would I be? LATE-- that's where!!! "Five minutes early is on time, on time is late, and late is unacceptable!"

7.) SQUIRREL ~ "Hey, they said this was the best diner in town. Where is all of the food? Did someone take a day off or did my larger cousins have a party without me?!?" Lol!

8.) WHITE TRASH ~ Random, I know. Don't ask me where the idea for this subject came from! :) Generally, I don't go around taking pictures of trash, but if it is an assignment, that is a while different story. :)

9.) DATE ~ My cell phone scheduler marks a date that will stand out in my memory for years to come, the day that my AE sisters and I walk the isle for graduation, the culmination of our months of hard work! DMC-- here I come!!

10.) POLICE ~ Never underestimate the effectiveness of a Lego Police officer! He may look small, but his heart is large in proportion. As long as the mission has been accomplished, who cares if he is only an inch and a half tall!?! :)

11.) SELF PORTRAIT ~ I have come to believe that self portraits are one of the most frustrating pictures to take! Not only does the face have to be in focus, the subject needs to be smiling, and the photographer (which is one & the same as the subject) has to like the picture!

12.) MAKING A STATEMENT ~ My little brother Levi, making a statement. He is glad to be alive and wants other people to realize the precious value of the human lives that God has created.

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13.) A MEMORY ~ My first Brewers game!!! The game itself, as far as the baseball goes, was very boring. Our team lost, big time. The evening, however, was turned into a good memory because I had a terrific time with my friends and family! Thank the Lord for Christian fellowship!!!

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What's a princess to do about knights, squires, and pages?

Knights in shining armor, white horses, and beautiful princesses waiting in their fathers’ castles symbolize the dreams of many little girls. They long to someday meet and fall in love with their own Prince Charming and live happily ever after. Until then, with so many knights, squires, and pages coming to and from the castle each day, many opportunities will arise for these princesses to make casual friendships with these young men. As they seek to save their hearts wholly for the handsome prince that God has chosen for them, what convictions should these maturing princesses have to guard themselves and their future?

The convictions that we, as young women, have in the area of casual friendships with guys are vitally important because they will direct the course of our future. As daughters of the King of Kings, our convictions should hold us to the highest standard and should reflect the character of our Heavenly Father. Seeking the Lord’s direction and keeping our thoughts and motives pure in the friendships that we have will enable us to save our hearts for our future husbands and glorify God by our actions.

In Scripture, Timothy is one example of a young person who carefully used the relationships in his life for good. Timothy was a young man with the great responsibility of encouraging and shepherding a growing Christian congregation. As a leader, other people would especially be watching the friendships that he made and the way that he treated those around him. The apostle Paul advised Timothy to “rebuke not an elder, but intreat him as a father; and the younger men as brethren; the elder women as mothers; the younger as sisters, with all purity.” I Timothy 5:1-2.

The wise fatherly advice that Paul gave to Timothy about relationships applies to us as Christian young ladies as well. Each one of us is a leader, and whether we realize it or not, other people are watching the friends that we hang out with and the way that we act while we are around them. By observing my own friends and the friendships that they have made, I have been better able to make my own convictions about casual friendships with guys.

Personally, I have found that staying in groups and spending time together as families is one of the best ways for me to keep casual friendships casual. Also, as I stay under my parents’ authority, I have the added benefit of their wisdom and guidance. God has designed my parents and my family structure for my protection. Since all of my “guy” friends are friends of the family, I am free to be myself and treat all of them as I would my brothers in Christ.

One note of caution that I would give to my sisters in Christ is that, even with casual guy/girl friendships, one or the other can easily be emotionally hurt if we are not careful. I have seen it happen in the lives of some of my friends, and that emotional wounding is not the best that God would have us experience. Keeping our thoughts, actions, and motives pure will help us to better be able to save ourselves for our future husbands and also will give us a clear conscience in case others’ feelings are hurt in the process.

Remember that whatever convictions you choose to adopt as your own in the area of casual friendships with guys should be based on being beyond reproach, so that a stumbling block is not put in another’s way.[1] As you prayerfully consider what convictions you need to make, ask your parents for their counsel and take time to evaluate your heart to make sure it is right before the Lord. Then, be a princess whose testimony is a beautiful reflection of the character of her omniscient Sovereign and glorify Him with all that you do.

[1] See Romans 14:13, 1 Corinthians 8:9, 1 Thessalonians 4:6, and Philippians 2:15.

"Less Of Me"

The message of this song is so important! May we all be reminded to think less about our self and more about those whom the Lord has brought into our lives!

"Less Of Me" by Glen Campbell

Let me be a little kinder,

Let me be a little blinder,

To the faults of those around me—

Let me praise a little more.

Let me be, when I am weary,

Just a little bit more cheery!

Think a little more of others

And a little less of me.

Let me be a little braver

When temptation bids me waiver,

Let me strive a little harder

To be all that I should be.

Let me be a little meeker

With a brother who is weaker.

Think a little more of others

And a little less of me.

Let me be, when I am weary,

Just a little bit more cheery.

Let me serve a little better

Those that I am striving for.

Let me be a little meeker

With the brother who is weaker,

Think a little more of others

And a little less of me.

Happy, oh, happy!!

In my opinion, Mondays call for a "happy list"! No mater what day of the week it is, no matter how the day is going, there is always something that we can find to be grateful for. 1 Thessalonians 5:18 says,

"In every thing give thanks:

for this is the will of God

in Christ Jesus concerning you."

I am going to go through the alphabet to make a list of twenty-six things that I am thankful for and that make me happy. I hope that you will enjoy the list and that some of them will make you happy, too!

A ~ Advanced EXCEL and all of the memories that my friends and I have made and will make together

B ~Blueberry cheesecake, especially the way that my grandma makes it (and just cheese cake in general)

C ~ COFFEE, especially Starbucks, with tons of creamer and sugar!

D ~ Dove Dark CHOCOLATE (or any kind of chocolate for that matter)

E ~ Espresso- in my coffee of course :)

F ~ Frappachino! Sorry, my mind is on coffee this evening! :)

G ~ Going on trips with my family- the "where" does not matter so much as "with whom"

H ~ Helping my mother with stuff around the house, with meal preparation, etc.

I ~ Investing in the lives of others. You never can tell what sort of a difference a little smile or a kind deed will do in someone else's life.

J ~ Just being with my dear friends

K ~ Keeping things organized and clean :)

L ~ Lattes, especially mocha or vanilla ones

M ~ Making others time more profitable and helping them to succeed by giving of my time and myself. I have yet to find something more rewarding! :)

N ~ New days to enjoy all of the treasures that God is bringing in them

O ~ One hour dates with the Love of my life Who gave Himself because I was so precious to Him. Oh, how I love Him! Let me count the ways...

P ~ Pies of all kinds, especially apple, pumpkin, strawberry, and lemon marange (and caramel marange, too!)

Q ~ Quiet days with little to do and lots of time to enjoy doing it!

R ~ Resting safely in my Saviors love

S ~ Spending time with special younger brothers

T ~ Teaching Children's Institute!!! I think I left half of my heart with the four through seven year olds... :)

U ~ Understanding, like-minded Christian friends who will listen, love, encourage, and admonish and know when and how to do each one

V ~ Victoriously productive days, thanks to God's Almighty hand of blessing!

W ~ Watching the way God works everything out for my good! Even when things look like a complete mess, I love knowing that my Heavenly Father has a plan and will do the impossible in and through my life as I trust His sufficiency!!

X ~ X-ing signs that I pass by when I am out on a walk with my family or friends

Y ~ Yummy meals with friends, family, food, and fellowship (four of my favorite F's by the way)

Z ~ Zpending (or should I say spending) time with my dear daddy!!

"Happy, oh, happy! Happy in the Lord!!!"

Communicating Convictions

As Christians, the convictions that we adopt as our own are very important because they will shape the course of our future. How do we effectively communicate these convictions with others without being judgemental or offending them? How can we live out our convictions while showing deference to others, without being in fear of man? As I thought about this topic, I decided to use an example of a time when I was in situation where I needed to live out the convictions that the Lord had laid upon my heart to share with you ways that I have found helpful in enabling me to honor God while remaining in harmony with others.

A large group of us were going to Six Flags Great America for a fun day of recreation. It was the week of our anticipated trip, and we had a few last minute details to finalize. “So we can look like a group, without being completely matching, we are all going to be wearing plaid shorts and solid shirts,” my friends informed me. Unintentionally, my friends had put me into a quandary.

Looking like a group was a great idea, but there was one problem – I don’t wear shorts. It’s not that wearing shorts is a sin, but simply that wearing them would violate my personal convictions. I wanted to fit in. How do I show deference to others and live out my convictions at the same time, without worrying about what people may think of me?

After re-evaluating my convictions based on God’s Word and what He has taught me personally, I was reminded that Christ is the only one that I should be comparing myself to. He is the balance that I am required to measure up to. When my convictions are consistent with Christ’s character, my confidence comes from Him, and I have the courage that I need, to do what is right, even if it is unpopular.

When it comes to living out my convictions, my attitude is extremely important. Because people are very sensitive to attitudes, sincerity is a powerful key to living peacefully with others. If I am acting out of fear, then I am being a poor witness for Christ and damaging His reputation. If my heart attitude is prideful, then people who sense my critical spirit will be offended and may react harshly. By making sure that my motives are pure and that my attitude is one of humility, I am able to make decisions based on what I believe while promoting harmony with those whose standards are different from my own.

When my convictions are Biblically based and my attitude is correct, then I can look for a way to make a compromise— not of my convictions, but of the way that I choose to carry them out. To solve my clothing dilemma for our trip to Great America, I wore a plaid skirt, instead of plaid shorts. My friends and I were able to achieve the uniform appearance that we wanted, and, at the same time, I was able to honor my convictions.

We had a wonderful day at Great America and made a lot of terrific memories. Because of the decision that I made, peace and harmony were maintained, no one was offended, and my friends respected me for living by what I believed. Our time there was made even more enjoyable because I chose to show deference to my friends, while living out my convictions in a way that pleased my Heavenly Father.

The next time that you find yourself in a situation where one of your convictions is different from someone else’s, try doing these three things. First, evaluate your conviction to make sure it is firmly grounded in God’s Word. Secondly, check your attitude to make sure it is glorifying to God. Finally, look for a way to make a compromise that will promote harmony and encourage others to do what they know is right.

What kind of bridges are you building?

Last week, I read Leadership Gold: Lessons I've Learned from a Lifetime of Leading by John C. Maxwell. It was a very good book on leadership and I learned a lot from it. At the very end of the book, Mr. Maxwell included a poem by a Tennessee poet named Will Allen Dromgoole. The poem, entitled "The Bridge Builder" made an impression on me and I would like to share it with you.

“The Bridge Builder”
An old man, going a lone highway,
Came at the evening, cold and gray,
To chasm, vast and deep and wide,
Through which was flowing a sullen tide.
The old man crossed in the twilight dim;
The sullen stream had no fears for him;
But he turned when safe on the other side
And built a bridge to span the tide.

“Old man,” said a fellow pilgrim near,
“You are wasting strength with building here;
Your journey will end with the ending day;
You never again must pass this way;
You have crossed the chasm, deep and wide—
Why build you a bridge at the eventide?”

The builder lifted his old gray head:
“Good friend, in the path I have come,” he said,
“There followeth after me today
A youth whose feet must pass this way.
This chasm that has been naught to me
To that fair-haired youth may a pit-fall be,
He, too, must cross in the twilight dim;
Good friend, I am building the bridge for him.”

Each one of us is building a bridge for those who will follow us. What kind of bridge are we building? Will it be sturdy enough to withstand the test of time? Will it be safe enough that even the feeblest child can cross it?

With Christ as our sure foundation, let's do our best with the resources that we have been given so that the bridges we build for those who are following in our footsteps will withstand the tests that are placed upon them. (See 1 Corinthians 3:10-15).

He Keeps Me Singing!

Written by Luther B. Bridges, the hymn "He Keeps Me Singing" has been a blessing to me. As the joy of the Lord is my strength, God's song fills my heart and I am able to sing His praises. My Savior truly does keep me singing! May God be your strength and give you a song to encourage your heart as you continue to live for His glory!

There’s within my heart a melody
Jesus whispers sweet and low,
“Fear not, I am with thee, peace, be still,”
In all of life’s ebb and flow.

Jesus, Jesus, Jesus—
Sweetest Name I know,
Fills my every longing,
Keeps me singing as I go.

All my life was wrecked by sin and strife,
Discord filled my heart with pain;
Jesus swept across the broken strings,
Stirred the slumbering chords again.

Feasting on the riches of His grace,
Resting ’neath His sheltering wing,
Always looking on His smiling face—
That is why I shout and sing.

Jesus, Jesus, Jesus—
Sweetest Name I know,
Fills my every longing,
Keeps me singing as I go.

Though sometimes He leads through waters deep,
Trials fall across the way,
Though sometimes the path seems rough and steep,
See His footprints all the way.

Soon He’s coming back to welcome me
Far beyond the starry sky;
I shall wing my flight to worlds unknown,
I shall reign with Him on high.

Jesus, Jesus, Jesus—
Sweetest Name I know,
Fills my every longing,
Keeps me singing as I go.