Monday, January 14, 2013
2013: A Year of Learning?
"Learning to trust is one of life's most difficult tasks." ~ Issac Watts
I know I haven't written in awhile, but deep down I am not a writer. I write when I feel there is something to write about, or I want to remember. 2012 will be remembered as a year of change, however, I look forward to what lies ahead of me in 2013. I want to remember the learning and to write down what learning I have done so far this year.
Through reading the bible more and attending small group, discussing different topics with friends, I come to find that I am learning or hearing from God. There were many months last year that I just didn't exactly feel connected with God. I'm not sure if it was because I was distracted with all that happened in 2012 or if I purposefully disregarded the fact that I needed God more than ever. I realized I needed to get back to Him.
The past few months have been good, but they were hard. Don't get me wrong, my life is good. There has been a lot of great experiences and many more to come. Yet, getting married, moving to a new area and being away from the comforts of college was a difficult transition for me. It still is. I still have moments that I feel lonely and cut off from the workings of school that I had adapted to for 4 years. Although, the people I have met at small group has helped, it just takes me some time to adjust to a new area.
Lately it seems that things are starting to connect for me. Not just because the songs on Pandora seem to make sense for my situations, but because the Bible is almost relevant. I have been reading through the Bible chronologically and I have made it to the book of Joshua. That means I can now say I have fully read Leviticus, Numbers, and Deuteronomy, some of the most dreaded books of the Bible to read. They are all Old Testament and ways of the old covenant, but it shows me a whole new side to what Jesus did. I am not that far into Joshua, but something God told him seems to reverberate in my mind. I haven't kept count how many times that God has said this so far, but it's by far important if he keeps repeating it. God tells him to be strong and be courageous. Those 5 words have had more impact for me lately than most things I've read. I can't imagine how it would of been for Joshua to hear that and how he could only be encouraged from that every time. It seems I can relate to Joshua a tiny bit. He was the new appointed leader of the Israelites and he was in charge of leading them into the land promised to them in Egypt, the one flowing with milk and honey. Now I'm not a leader of thousands of people in any way, but I can feel for him when going into a new land. A land that is promised, but not necessarily an easy task. The one thing that Joshua has, as do I and you too, is that even as daunting as the new land or any new situation you are going into, the Lord is with you. He is leading you the way he sees fit. He will lead us to greatness, handing us those problem areas to us in his time, just like that of the people who lived in the land that were given to the Israelites. This information has given me new hope and more determination to not fall into the trap of worry, which I frequent more than I would like to admit. God has been reassuring me that i need to be strong and courageous and even to not be afraid nor discouraged. I think there are so many things that make us discouraged. If it seems to be a lack of an answer or an answer we don't want to hear, we become scared and worried if it will happen. We have to stand strong in our faith that the Lord has our best interest in mind. He is simply telling us to wait. And in our waiting we are not get discouraged because we don't see results. We should look to him and be happy that God doesn't want bad things for us. In that we can be strong and courageous.
"Have I not commanded you? Be strong and courageous. Do not be afraid; do not be discouraged, for the Lord your God will be with you wherever you go."~Joshua 1:9
Thursday, September 6, 2012
Creation, just the beginning
"Love of beauty is taste. The creation of beauty is art." Ralph Waldo Emerson
Lately it's been on my heart that I need to read the bible more. I need to start digging again into God's word to keep myself focused on His love for us. Today I decided to finally do something about it. I went to the all-answering Google and found a website with a bible reading plan. I'm hoping that this time I will stay motivated and dedicated enough to keep with it through an entire year. The reading plan I chose was to read the bible chronologically through. I've always liked history and could remember things in the order they happened, but when it came to the bible, the order always baffled me. So here I am going to try and go through the bible in the order that things happened. Maybe God will open my eyes to seeing new connections to how things played out.
Now that I started this reading, I decided to make a word document with notes on it from what I read. Just jot down notes and what not to help me grasp what I'm reading. I am also reading it outloud to myself. With these methods I'm hoping that I will be able to catch things I never did before.
I want to share some of the thoughts that I have during this whole process for myself to write down and for just letting others see how I think. Well those who take time to read this blog.
I was reading through Genesis chapters 1-3 today. It is all about the beginning. The beginning for everything. Now as I was reading through the 6 days that God used to create the world and everything it contains, I was building it in my mind step by step. It finally hit me on like day 5 that I finally figured out what this reminded me of and it all made clearer sense. So I'm a visual person if you didn't know. I like to see pictures, create pictures in my head and love hearing details so I can form pictures in my head while reading/listening to stories. As I was reading I was picturing someone putting together the earth, but not necessarily how others would see it. I would assume, though it might not be accurate, that when other people think to the creation of the world by God, they see it in 3 dimensional. I read it 2 dimensional. Let me explain.
The whole creation set up, to me, seems like a painting to me. I was watching Bob Ross, the Detroit Public TV painter with the afro, paint a picture of mountains. During this he painted from the background forward ending with the small bushes and pathway and the bottom edge of the canvas. This technique of starting with the background moving to the foreground is what I believe God was doing. The first few days He started with light and darkness deciding what canvas' he will be using for his masterpiece. They were followed by the creation of sky, sea, and finishing up with forming the land. That made a solid ground for a backdrop to start adding the details in. After the land was set up, God decided the vegetation would be good to add in. He made trees and plants all with seeds and fruit for it to continually grow through time. This was his middle ground. Next God added in his animals of all sorts. Fish, birds, livestock and wild animals all were added. He then added Adam to the picture. Built him from the ground and breathed life into him. You know there is a point that a painting looks good, but you don't feel done with it yet. This was the point for God. Adam needed someone there to balance him out, and Eve was created finishing God's masterpiece.
I can't be sure if that was God's intention for the process of how He created things, or if it was something that He opened my eyes to see today, but I like it and it puts into perspective how much work God did. I know to create a masterpiece painting takes a lot of work, time, dedication and patience. It doesn't come all at once. You have to keep tweaking it till the point you think that one more brushstroke will ruin it.
"God saw all that he had made, and it was very good. " -Genesis :31a
Sunday, December 11, 2011
Beautiful Things
beau·ty
nounthe quality present in a thing or person that gives intense pleasure or deep satisfaction to the mind, whether arisingfrom sensory manifestations (as shape, color, sound, etc.), ameaningful design or pattern, or something else (as apersonality in which high spiritual qualities are manifest).
It's that time of year again. Finals! Lately, I have realized the people that I live around and interact with are either consumed by Christmas stuff, or finals, seeing as this coming week is the final week of the semester. To step away from all of that I go to song.
Over the past week or so of finals and life, I have come across a Gungor song that is called "Beautiful Things." I have fallen in love with this song. I even bought and downloaded it off of amazon I loved it so much. This is a regular song talking about God, but over the course of listening to it over 20 times it really speaks to me.
Part of the chorus of the song goes like this:
You make beautiful things
You make beautiful things out of the dust
You make beautiful things out of the dust
When listening to it the first 15 times, I thought they just repeated this phrase. It's a great phrase. God has made beautiful things out of dust. Think back to the last time you cleaned off the dust of a table or vent area. It was gross. Just looking at it on the swifer wand duster it looked bad. You couldn't believe how much dust had accumulated.
Switch your thoughts to your friends and family. The most beautiful people in your life that God had created. Go back to remembering that dust that you swept up. That's was what man and Your images of beautiful people were made out of. Dust.
In Genesis 2:7
"Then the LORD God formed a man from the dust of the ground and breathed into his nostrils the breath of life, and the man became a living being."
And Genesis 3:9
"By the sweat of your brow you will eat your food until you return to the ground, since from it you were taken; for dust you are and to dust you will return.”
Sometimes it's hard to think that out of something we reject and disgust as something beautiful. Sometimes it's hard to think that even though we are made from dust we are beautiful to God.
I had said that I thought they repeated this phrase, but come to find out they don't. the whole chorus is:
You make beautiful things
You make beautiful things out of the dust
You make beautiful things
You make beautiful things out of us
You make beautiful things out of the dust
You make beautiful things
You make beautiful things out of us
This final part says he makes beautiful things out of us. Out of us. Not just that we were made beautifully, but that he takes us, sins and all and makes beautiful things out of us. This line just captures me. He not only made us beautiful, but he's using us to create beautiful things too.
This point is very important to me. As an artist I create things. I try my best to create beautiful things. I want God to use me and the talents he blessed me with to create beautiful things to bless others with. I'm hoping that through my discovery of these talents God makes me more beautiful in His image.
"So God created mankind in his own image,
in the image of God he created them;
male and female he created them." -Genesis 1:27
in the image of God he created them;
male and female he created them." -Genesis 1:27
Friday, November 18, 2011
Operation: Antwerp
"Life can either be accepted or changed. If it is not accepted, it must be changed. If it cannot be changed, then it must be accepted." -Winston Churchill
Now I know most of you have seen me, congratulated me, and most likely have heard the story. For the rest of you let me start at the beginning.
On June 10, 2011 Eric and I celebrated our 1 year anniversary of dating. This was big and exciting for both of us. We were able to have a nice dinner date and spend time at the beach in Holland, MI. It was wonderful. This was the last time I would see him before making my trek up to the U.P. to work at Cedar Campus for another summer. I left for camp in the following weekend and got settled in with new and old friends at camp. While there, Eric was in Holland working at LG Chem and getting adjusted to being in Michigan next to the lakes and beaches. He was even able to go and spend a weekend with my family at Higgins Lake, without me. Both of us kept in touch with calls, texts, and emails like normal, but the subject of conversation started to shift after a bit of me being up at camp. As the summer wore on the conversations flowed from daily activities to the future and what God is leading us to. We then started to see and ask God about where he was leading us, together, as a couple. We started comparing lifestyles, and what we think we would like, want or dream of wanting or doing in the time we have here. We started talking of engagement. It was exciting, nerve wrecking, and yet not surprising. After we had a few of these talks the topic kind of died down. I'm pretty sure we were both kind of processing it and letting the thoughts sink in. The summer edged its way to August, where it gets a bit more exciting.
Once those talks of marriage died down, Eric was set on his path. He wanted me to be his for the rest of his days and mine. On the return trip from Camp Perry, a gun shooting competition, his car made a detour to Riley, Michigan at 2pm, where at that moment he arrived my parents were on the phone with me. So here's Eric at my house waiting for 1 of 2 biggest questions he gets to ask in his life. Here I am still at camp having one of the shortest conversations with my mom and not being able to figure out why it seemed like she was in a hurry for me to hang up. As she hung up the phone the conversation began. Eric was asking my father if he would allow for Eric to marry his one and only daughter. Both my father and mother approved and Eric was then in the clear to talk guns with my dad.
Now we skip ahead to the end of August. I am now home working and preparing for school. I am ready for my "vacation" over Labor Day weekend with Eric and friends of ours at Cedar Campus. School starts the last days of August, such torture sitting in class knowing Cedar is a matter of hours away. It hits Labor Day weekend. Now the ride up to Cedar was interesting. We sat in a traffic jam for about an 1 to 1 1/2 hours. I was in vacation mode: we get there when we get there. Eric on the other hand was a 6 year old on Christmas Eve just waiting to open his present. Anyhow we finally get to Cedar at like 9 or 10pm setting up the 2 tents, one for each of us, in the headlight light we had. After all set up we could relax now at Cedar.
The next morning we found out our friends, Jake and Lindsey arrived and survived the storm. We got around to making some breakfast and the sky cleared up for us to have a lovely afternoon couple time. Eric sent Jake and Lindsey on the Timberwolf trail while Eric and I hiked out to Whitefish point. Eric would insert in here that I walked fast and talked a lot out to Whitefish, I would say I was keeping up with his steps since my strides are smaller. Anyways, we get out to the shoreline by Whitefish point and it was gorgeous! The sun was shinning, wasn't too hot or too cold. It was just a beautiful afternoon. We decide to sit on what we call "our rock." This rock was the place Eric asked me to be his girlfriend. It is the first time both of us have been at Whitefish point together since we started dating. As we sit on the rock, we hold hands and enjoy the scenery. Then Eric starts looking for something in his bag. Honestly, I'm peeking to see if there is a small box for me; denied. No small box. However, there was a bigger, black bag that had something in it. As he pulls out the mystery item, he places a scrapbook in my hands with the title "Eric & Sara." My mind was racing, now it stopped in it's tracks. I am one who tries to figure things out and makes all the connections at a reasonable speed. This scrapbook my mind went blank. As I opened it I saw a line from our Psalm along with a King of hearts card. I flip through the pages very slowly and carefully taking in everything there, with Eric inserting descriptions and explanations here and there. I don't know how he felt as I progressed, but I know I was just soaking it all in one page at a time. Each page was a date or event that we celebrated together over the past year. As I turned the last page, I'm pretty sure my heart stopped. It was white-ish with diamond jewels on it. The left page said "I love you" and on the right page there was a ring. I was breathless. I looked at him as I became teary eyed. He said stand up. As I stood upon the rock he took out the ring and knelt down and asked "Sara Farver, will you marry me?" I found my breath and softly said "Yes." As he slipped the ring on my finger the loons near by gave their cry of approval and now I can't be sure, but I at least think there were some angels singing in heaven that day.
"The man said 'This is now bone of my bones, and flesh of my flesh; she shall be called ‘woman,’ for she was taken out of man.' That is why a man leaves his father and mother and is united to his wife, and they become one flesh" -Genesis 2:23-24
Now I know most of you have seen me, congratulated me, and most likely have heard the story. For the rest of you let me start at the beginning.
On June 10, 2011 Eric and I celebrated our 1 year anniversary of dating. This was big and exciting for both of us. We were able to have a nice dinner date and spend time at the beach in Holland, MI. It was wonderful. This was the last time I would see him before making my trek up to the U.P. to work at Cedar Campus for another summer. I left for camp in the following weekend and got settled in with new and old friends at camp. While there, Eric was in Holland working at LG Chem and getting adjusted to being in Michigan next to the lakes and beaches. He was even able to go and spend a weekend with my family at Higgins Lake, without me. Both of us kept in touch with calls, texts, and emails like normal, but the subject of conversation started to shift after a bit of me being up at camp. As the summer wore on the conversations flowed from daily activities to the future and what God is leading us to. We then started to see and ask God about where he was leading us, together, as a couple. We started comparing lifestyles, and what we think we would like, want or dream of wanting or doing in the time we have here. We started talking of engagement. It was exciting, nerve wrecking, and yet not surprising. After we had a few of these talks the topic kind of died down. I'm pretty sure we were both kind of processing it and letting the thoughts sink in. The summer edged its way to August, where it gets a bit more exciting.
Once those talks of marriage died down, Eric was set on his path. He wanted me to be his for the rest of his days and mine. On the return trip from Camp Perry, a gun shooting competition, his car made a detour to Riley, Michigan at 2pm, where at that moment he arrived my parents were on the phone with me. So here's Eric at my house waiting for 1 of 2 biggest questions he gets to ask in his life. Here I am still at camp having one of the shortest conversations with my mom and not being able to figure out why it seemed like she was in a hurry for me to hang up. As she hung up the phone the conversation began. Eric was asking my father if he would allow for Eric to marry his one and only daughter. Both my father and mother approved and Eric was then in the clear to talk guns with my dad.
Now we skip ahead to the end of August. I am now home working and preparing for school. I am ready for my "vacation" over Labor Day weekend with Eric and friends of ours at Cedar Campus. School starts the last days of August, such torture sitting in class knowing Cedar is a matter of hours away. It hits Labor Day weekend. Now the ride up to Cedar was interesting. We sat in a traffic jam for about an 1 to 1 1/2 hours. I was in vacation mode: we get there when we get there. Eric on the other hand was a 6 year old on Christmas Eve just waiting to open his present. Anyhow we finally get to Cedar at like 9 or 10pm setting up the 2 tents, one for each of us, in the headlight light we had. After all set up we could relax now at Cedar.
The next morning we found out our friends, Jake and Lindsey arrived and survived the storm. We got around to making some breakfast and the sky cleared up for us to have a lovely afternoon couple time. Eric sent Jake and Lindsey on the Timberwolf trail while Eric and I hiked out to Whitefish point. Eric would insert in here that I walked fast and talked a lot out to Whitefish, I would say I was keeping up with his steps since my strides are smaller. Anyways, we get out to the shoreline by Whitefish point and it was gorgeous! The sun was shinning, wasn't too hot or too cold. It was just a beautiful afternoon. We decide to sit on what we call "our rock." This rock was the place Eric asked me to be his girlfriend. It is the first time both of us have been at Whitefish point together since we started dating. As we sit on the rock, we hold hands and enjoy the scenery. Then Eric starts looking for something in his bag. Honestly, I'm peeking to see if there is a small box for me; denied. No small box. However, there was a bigger, black bag that had something in it. As he pulls out the mystery item, he places a scrapbook in my hands with the title "Eric & Sara." My mind was racing, now it stopped in it's tracks. I am one who tries to figure things out and makes all the connections at a reasonable speed. This scrapbook my mind went blank. As I opened it I saw a line from our Psalm along with a King of hearts card. I flip through the pages very slowly and carefully taking in everything there, with Eric inserting descriptions and explanations here and there. I don't know how he felt as I progressed, but I know I was just soaking it all in one page at a time. Each page was a date or event that we celebrated together over the past year. As I turned the last page, I'm pretty sure my heart stopped. It was white-ish with diamond jewels on it. The left page said "I love you" and on the right page there was a ring. I was breathless. I looked at him as I became teary eyed. He said stand up. As I stood upon the rock he took out the ring and knelt down and asked "Sara Farver, will you marry me?" I found my breath and softly said "Yes." As he slipped the ring on my finger the loons near by gave their cry of approval and now I can't be sure, but I at least think there were some angels singing in heaven that day.
"The man said 'This is now bone of my bones, and flesh of my flesh; she shall be called ‘woman,’ for she was taken out of man.' That is why a man leaves his father and mother and is united to his wife, and they become one flesh" -Genesis 2:23-24
Friday, August 5, 2011
I am a Photographer
"Buying a Nikon doesn't make you a photographer. It makes you a Nikon owner." ~Author Unknown
As I come upon my last week here at Cedar for the summer, I start to reflect on what has happened and what I've become in my short 2 months here. First of all I should explain that looking back upon a summer is hard to do. To try and remember all the details and events that have happened up to this point in time. But yet when you add Cedar Campus to that equation it becomes difficult for you to remember what you did yesterday or even what day yesterday was. When at Cedar the days of glory blend together to not make up a summer, but to make an experience.
Working at Cedar Campus has been a wonderful decision for my life. Not just because I got to work taking pictures of everything, not just because I got to live on lakefront for a few months, not because the friends I've made are freaking fantastic and it's not because it's the place I've met my current boyfriend. This decision to work here has a much higher relevance to my life. It has been one of the best decisions for my life because I got to grow in my faith with God, and start to discover who I am in Him, through Him and with Him.
As I've gone through life I've been called an employee, a student desk worker, a babysitter, a ticket taker and seller, but never have I realized that that isn't who or what I do. Well, okay it's what I do for a job at that time in my life, but it's not how I normally define myself. When working here at Cedar this summer, I've been getting a different view on life, my life especially. Now I want to say that when working at Cedar I am on crew. I am part of crew and will be addressed as crew from day one to my last day here this summer. Nothing about that will change. However, when asked what I do on crew, my answer has evolved. It's always interesting talking to families when asked that typical question: "What do you do on crew?"
I will demonstrate a typical conversation I have when eating dinner with a family I've just met.
Camper:"What department do you work for on crew?"
Me: "I'm actually the camp photographer for the summer."
C: "So you get to take pictures of everything that is going on here?"
M: "Yes."
C:"Is it just for this week or have you done this all summer?"
M:" All summer."
C: "Really!?"
M:"Yup."
I don't know how many times I've gotten to explain to families that I take pictures, here at Cedar, all summer long. It's been interesting. I usually respond gracefully as if they haven't understood I'm the photographer yet, even if they've seen me around camp taking pictures already. But what I want to say is that even though I say this to them, I'm starting to realize that it hasn't internalized yet. I mean this is really my first job, being hired specifically for my profession. I know my professor is guiding me and telling me that I am the photographer and I'm able to get into everything that is happening, but deep down I have been lacking something.
Now as this summer is winding down for me, well mainly here at Cedar I am starting to see, finally, that I have to wise up and learn that photography isn't a hobby anymore. It's not just what I like to do or just a gift God has blessed me with. I need to realize when I am getting people asking me to take pictures for them, and I'm working for a camp that, in all reality, no matter what the world's opinion is on my work is that I am a photographer.
" We have different gifts, according to the grace given to each of us. If your gift is prophesying, then prophesy in accordance with your faith; if it is serving, then serve; if it is teaching, then teach; if it is to encourage, then give encouragement; if it is giving, then give generously; if it is to lead, do it diligently; if it is to show mercy, do it cheerfully." ~Romans 12:6-8
As I come upon my last week here at Cedar for the summer, I start to reflect on what has happened and what I've become in my short 2 months here. First of all I should explain that looking back upon a summer is hard to do. To try and remember all the details and events that have happened up to this point in time. But yet when you add Cedar Campus to that equation it becomes difficult for you to remember what you did yesterday or even what day yesterday was. When at Cedar the days of glory blend together to not make up a summer, but to make an experience.
Working at Cedar Campus has been a wonderful decision for my life. Not just because I got to work taking pictures of everything, not just because I got to live on lakefront for a few months, not because the friends I've made are freaking fantastic and it's not because it's the place I've met my current boyfriend. This decision to work here has a much higher relevance to my life. It has been one of the best decisions for my life because I got to grow in my faith with God, and start to discover who I am in Him, through Him and with Him.
As I've gone through life I've been called an employee, a student desk worker, a babysitter, a ticket taker and seller, but never have I realized that that isn't who or what I do. Well, okay it's what I do for a job at that time in my life, but it's not how I normally define myself. When working here at Cedar this summer, I've been getting a different view on life, my life especially. Now I want to say that when working at Cedar I am on crew. I am part of crew and will be addressed as crew from day one to my last day here this summer. Nothing about that will change. However, when asked what I do on crew, my answer has evolved. It's always interesting talking to families when asked that typical question: "What do you do on crew?"
I will demonstrate a typical conversation I have when eating dinner with a family I've just met.
Camper:"What department do you work for on crew?"
Me: "I'm actually the camp photographer for the summer."
C: "So you get to take pictures of everything that is going on here?"
M: "Yes."
C:"Is it just for this week or have you done this all summer?"
M:" All summer."
C: "Really!?"
M:"Yup."
I don't know how many times I've gotten to explain to families that I take pictures, here at Cedar, all summer long. It's been interesting. I usually respond gracefully as if they haven't understood I'm the photographer yet, even if they've seen me around camp taking pictures already. But what I want to say is that even though I say this to them, I'm starting to realize that it hasn't internalized yet. I mean this is really my first job, being hired specifically for my profession. I know my professor is guiding me and telling me that I am the photographer and I'm able to get into everything that is happening, but deep down I have been lacking something.
Now as this summer is winding down for me, well mainly here at Cedar I am starting to see, finally, that I have to wise up and learn that photography isn't a hobby anymore. It's not just what I like to do or just a gift God has blessed me with. I need to realize when I am getting people asking me to take pictures for them, and I'm working for a camp that, in all reality, no matter what the world's opinion is on my work is that I am a photographer.
" We have different gifts, according to the grace given to each of us. If your gift is prophesying, then prophesy in accordance with your faith; if it is serving, then serve; if it is teaching, then teach; if it is to encourage, then give encouragement; if it is giving, then give generously; if it is to lead, do it diligently; if it is to show mercy, do it cheerfully." ~Romans 12:6-8
Saturday, July 23, 2011
One bread, One body...
"United we stand, divided we fall."-Aesop
I've been taught that there is one body in Christ and that we all have our own way of expressing love, worship, graditude and occupation for God's plan in the world. I am in a Family group here at camp and we are discussing our vocation, God's calling for us in life. While reading and discussing the book Courage and Calling and working at the camp and me graduating next year I am starting to wonder what and where I belong in Christ.
There is a verse in the bible in Romans that talks about how each of us is a part in Christ. We all have seperate calling that make up the body of Christ. It tells us to not be jealous of another part. This got me thinking: What part would I be? If I could pin point a specific body part in the body of Christ what would I resemble? After only a few minutes of thinking, the answer came to me. I kind of laughed when I realized, I would be an eye. No doubt an eye. There are two reasons for this thinking. The first: I am a photographer. I look through the lens to see all of which God created. I am one who shows you what God sees and what God created. I try to look at everything as God's precious treasure. I've strive to make everything beauitful for God. Also, I attempt to capture God's passion in those around me, especially here at camp. Now the second reason is a bit personal, but definitely applicable to why I am a God-eye. I have this undenying interest in peoples eyes. I believe you can tell someone's emotions by looking into their eyes. They can show what's deep inside. No matter if you're trying to hide emotions, if you read them right, the eyes will tell you what's really going on.
For just as each of us has one body with many members, and these members do not all have the same function, so in Christ we, though many, form one body, and each member belongs to all the others. We have different gifts, according to the grace given to each of us. If your gift is prophesying, then prophesy in accordance with your faith; if it is serving, then serve; if it is teaching, then teach; if it is to encourage, then give encouragement; if it is giving, then give generously; if it is to lead, do it diligently; if it is to show mercy, do it cheerfully.
I've been taught that there is one body in Christ and that we all have our own way of expressing love, worship, graditude and occupation for God's plan in the world. I am in a Family group here at camp and we are discussing our vocation, God's calling for us in life. While reading and discussing the book Courage and Calling and working at the camp and me graduating next year I am starting to wonder what and where I belong in Christ.
There is a verse in the bible in Romans that talks about how each of us is a part in Christ. We all have seperate calling that make up the body of Christ. It tells us to not be jealous of another part. This got me thinking: What part would I be? If I could pin point a specific body part in the body of Christ what would I resemble? After only a few minutes of thinking, the answer came to me. I kind of laughed when I realized, I would be an eye. No doubt an eye. There are two reasons for this thinking. The first: I am a photographer. I look through the lens to see all of which God created. I am one who shows you what God sees and what God created. I try to look at everything as God's precious treasure. I've strive to make everything beauitful for God. Also, I attempt to capture God's passion in those around me, especially here at camp. Now the second reason is a bit personal, but definitely applicable to why I am a God-eye. I have this undenying interest in peoples eyes. I believe you can tell someone's emotions by looking into their eyes. They can show what's deep inside. No matter if you're trying to hide emotions, if you read them right, the eyes will tell you what's really going on.
Knowing I can act as an eye for God's glory makes me feel like I have a purpose and a talent I use for God. There are other things I'm quite good at, but this, photography, this is what I love to do to show God to others.
For just as each of us has one body with many members, and these members do not all have the same function, so in Christ we, though many, form one body, and each member belongs to all the others. We have different gifts, according to the grace given to each of us. If your gift is prophesying, then prophesy in accordance with your faith; if it is serving, then serve; if it is teaching, then teach; if it is to encourage, then give encouragement; if it is giving, then give generously; if it is to lead, do it diligently; if it is to show mercy, do it cheerfully.
-Romans 12:4-8
Thursday, July 7, 2011
Oh how He loves ♥
What happens to someone who has become so strong, that they become weak? God picks them up in his arms. What happens to someone who has become blind to life around them? God brushes their eyes and shows them his beauty. What happens when someone goes lost and have a hard time coming home? God sends out his light ahead of them to guide them home. What happens when you realize this is what happened to you? You praise God for always being there.
After returning home from Italy I spent 2 weeks at home, spending time with my wonderful parents, friends and even fitting in time to visit my lovely boyfriend. It was a nice change of pace from city and school life. Although, part of me yearns to be back climbing those stairs just one more time to my apartment in Florence. After those two weeks were up, I was on the move again. This time I decided to go northward to some call Cedar Campus, and what others of us call home.
Those who have never been to Cedar Campus, I highly recommend it someday. This is, as Cedar Campus is known for, a place to meet God and be renewed. Now people are able to be campers here, while others of us enjoy being on crew working. I have been fortunate to be both here, like many other students who've come before me and are yet to come, but my purpose right now is to be crew. Cedar has become a place God has called me to, twice.
Seeing as I am on crew again this summer I thought it would be nice to keep updating my blog when I can about how things are going for those of you back home. I have been here at Cedar now for almost 3 weeks tomorrow. Many talk to me or are here ask what I do on crew. It's very hard to explain sometimes, but what it boils down to is serving God as the camp photographer. What an opportunity it is for me. Not only do I get to take pictures, but I get to take pictures in a place away from pollution and have God's beautiful creation preserved. Along, with getting to see new and old friends and most importantly renewing my relationship with God in a Christian community setting. Now as a photographer I have the privilege to see all the crew, meet all the new crew, and go back and forth between the two sides doing what I need to to get a good picture. I am in my element.
For only being here for 3 weeks I have come a ways as it is, spiritually and as a photographer. As a photographer I am learning the ins and outs of photojournalism by practice and not through a classroom, persay. I was always a hands on learner. Now spiritually, there were matters of the heart and matters of the mind that needed reforming and team work with God. I have come to realize that God is everywhere. There's always that feeling that he's not around, but it's not him, it's us. We are the ones who are lost. We are the ones who have to find God again. My eyes became foggy and couldn't see his works again. Which is a bit weird, because I am normally a person who always looks to God and would be the one to remind others God's mighty works around us. If I go hazy, what happens to the others around me I help uplift with Christ? Finding myself again was good and again an interesting event. After praying and having some one-on-one God time, I became more relieved. What happened next only a select few understood,a friend Kyle, myself and God. Searching through my bible for verses on joy, I started laughing. Not just giggling or snickering at notes I made to myself long ago in the past, but full out laughing for no apparent reason. I tried to hold it in and I couldn't contain myself. It was good. It was fun. I was smiling and filled with joy, not happiness, but joy from the Holy Spirit. It was one of those moments you just knew the Lord had been reconnected.
"Anyone who does not love does not know God, because God is love."
-1 John 4:8
After returning home from Italy I spent 2 weeks at home, spending time with my wonderful parents, friends and even fitting in time to visit my lovely boyfriend. It was a nice change of pace from city and school life. Although, part of me yearns to be back climbing those stairs just one more time to my apartment in Florence. After those two weeks were up, I was on the move again. This time I decided to go northward to some call Cedar Campus, and what others of us call home.
Those who have never been to Cedar Campus, I highly recommend it someday. This is, as Cedar Campus is known for, a place to meet God and be renewed. Now people are able to be campers here, while others of us enjoy being on crew working. I have been fortunate to be both here, like many other students who've come before me and are yet to come, but my purpose right now is to be crew. Cedar has become a place God has called me to, twice.
Seeing as I am on crew again this summer I thought it would be nice to keep updating my blog when I can about how things are going for those of you back home. I have been here at Cedar now for almost 3 weeks tomorrow. Many talk to me or are here ask what I do on crew. It's very hard to explain sometimes, but what it boils down to is serving God as the camp photographer. What an opportunity it is for me. Not only do I get to take pictures, but I get to take pictures in a place away from pollution and have God's beautiful creation preserved. Along, with getting to see new and old friends and most importantly renewing my relationship with God in a Christian community setting. Now as a photographer I have the privilege to see all the crew, meet all the new crew, and go back and forth between the two sides doing what I need to to get a good picture. I am in my element.
For only being here for 3 weeks I have come a ways as it is, spiritually and as a photographer. As a photographer I am learning the ins and outs of photojournalism by practice and not through a classroom, persay. I was always a hands on learner. Now spiritually, there were matters of the heart and matters of the mind that needed reforming and team work with God. I have come to realize that God is everywhere. There's always that feeling that he's not around, but it's not him, it's us. We are the ones who are lost. We are the ones who have to find God again. My eyes became foggy and couldn't see his works again. Which is a bit weird, because I am normally a person who always looks to God and would be the one to remind others God's mighty works around us. If I go hazy, what happens to the others around me I help uplift with Christ? Finding myself again was good and again an interesting event. After praying and having some one-on-one God time, I became more relieved. What happened next only a select few understood,a friend Kyle, myself and God. Searching through my bible for verses on joy, I started laughing. Not just giggling or snickering at notes I made to myself long ago in the past, but full out laughing for no apparent reason. I tried to hold it in and I couldn't contain myself. It was good. It was fun. I was smiling and filled with joy, not happiness, but joy from the Holy Spirit. It was one of those moments you just knew the Lord had been reconnected.
"Anyone who does not love does not know God, because God is love."
-1 John 4:8
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