Difficulty for blessing.

Understand why? Not a chance!

Suffering shows you for who you really are.

Joy in all circumstances. Maybe not delightful, but joyful.

You know how awhile ago I posted about asking for trials? Well I’ve got them now. (Not the trials I was quite imagining, but when do you ever expect what God throws your way?) This semester is going to be quite the interesting time. I’ve been trying to write more in a journal of sorts. A place where I can really throw out all my pent up feelings. Quite lovely. I’m still not the magnificent journaler, but I’m trying. That’s why I haven’t been posting quite as often. I have three major studio classes. And I’m debating about what to do for the summer. I am contemplating staying here and taking pictures at a camp. This would mean that I could pay for the mac that I am required to get for next semester by myself and not have to worry about it, and then with the “extra money” give some of it to mom and dad to help pay for some of tuition.

I was looking at some old sermon notes from camp and it was talking about frustrations. Sudden riches are not the cure. Everything suddenly being perfect is not the cure either. Frustration is:

• Things you want but don't have
• Things you can't control
• Not getting your own way

It mentioned Philippians 4:4-11.Rejoice in the Lord always: again I will say, Rejoice. 5 Let your forbearance be known unto all men. The Lord is at hand. 6 In nothing be anxious; but in everything by prayer and supplication with thanksgiving let your requests be made known unto God. 7 And the peace of God, which passeth all understanding, shall guard your hearts and your thoughts in Christ Jesus. 8 Finally, brethren, whatsoever things are true, whatsoever things are honorable, whatsoever things are just, whatsoever things are pure, whatsoever things are lovely, whatsoever things are of good report; if there be any virtue, and if there be any praise, think on these things. 9 The things which ye both learned and received and heard and saw in me, these things do: and the God of peace shall be with you. 10 But I rejoice in the Lord greatly, that now at length ye have revived your thought for me; wherein ye did indeed take thought, but ye lacked opportunity. 11 Not that I speak in respect of want: for I have learned, in whatsoever state I am, therein to be content.

It’s hard to obey God and be frustrated. I am often very frustrated with my schoolwork. If I offered my time up to God (and less to facebook) and focused more on my projects and showing glory to God through them, perhaps I will be less frustrated. Sure I might still stay up until three every morning. But the quality of my work just might improve. Romans 8:28, “All things work together for good.” The God of the universe is on MY side. I need to give up my own ideas and thoughts to him. Completely. Hebrews 12:2 says to fix our eyes upon Jesus. He should be our only thought. We are also not to covet. I so often am jealous of the work my fellow students are doing and thinking that it comes effortlessly to them.

Godliness with contentment is great gain.

Interview

Following is my interview with Ms. Math.

1. What was your favorite thing about growing up on a farm? Just living in God's Creation and being able to go outside and truly enjoy it.

2. What is your favorite thing about the city you are in now? Being able to go to Burger King at midnight and getting a double cheeseburger.

3. Where would you like to end up after college? Married or engaged would be lovely (no I'm not going to school for my M.r.s. lol). Working as a photographer as a staff nature photographer.

4. What do you hope to be doing with your degree after graduation? Work as a photographer with a magazine. I would love to work with National Geographic or something like it.

5. What is your favorite thing to photograph? God's Creation. Nature. But recently I've been liking taking pictures of people too.

1. Leave me a comment saying, "Interview me."
2. I will respond by emailing you five questions. (I get to pick the questions).
3. You will update your blog with the answers to the questions.
4. You will include this explanation and an offer to interview others in the same post.
5. When others comment asking to be interviewed, you will ask them five questions. Have fun!

Happy birthday

Happy Birthday daddy!! I love you!

A typical Wednesday

A day in the life of this crazy sleepless goldfish...

8:00 Get up for class
9-10 History of Art
10-11 Chapel
11-11:30 Eat food
11:30-1:00 Wait in Upper Commons for next class
1-2 Speech class
2-3 Catch my breath, get second wind
3-6 Ilustration
6:30-9:30 Drawing 3
9:30-? Praise band practice at the church
Come back and do homework
Around 3 Bed

Guess what else?

I am a terrible blogger. Simple as that. T-E-R-R-I-B-L-E.

ter⋅ri⋅ble  /ˈtɛrəbəl/ [ter-uh-buhl]
–adjective
1.distressing; severe: a terrible winter.
2.extremely bad; horrible: terrible coffee; a terrible movie.
3.exciting terror, awe, or great fear; dreadful; awful.
4.formidably great: a terrible responsibility.

Well I will definitely agree that this is a terrible responsibility and a terrible winter (no snow days! :) and that coffee is terrible. But I suppose the most obvious conclusion is that I am a terrible blogger.

THE END.

Guess what?

• I like taking pictures (and editing them as well)!
• I have been terrible at posting, I didn't do anything for the holidays. :-/
• Trisha finally remembered that she has a blog.
• I am reading an amazing book, Set-Apart Femininity.
• My train got cancelled today, so I had to either miss 1-2 days of school or scramble and get a flight.
• I have been doing laundry.
• Um, this list is just getting more boring as it keeps going. On. And. On.
• I am wearing a cool hat.
• See? I told you you'd get bored.
• There are clean socks staring at me.
• They aren't folded.
• I have gotten considerable better in my sock folding skills over the years. Just ask my mom.
• I made carmel rolls this past week. They were amazing. Even though I temporarily forgot an important step. And my mum had to bail me out.
• I love my mommy. I'm going to miss her.
• I leave on Sunday on the plane, because trains are unreliable.
• But you already knew that.
• I give up.
• If you are still reading this, then you must be an amazing friend.
• Or just really bored.

Perpetual

Christ is not a reservoir but a spring. His life is continual, active and ever passing on with an outflow as necessary as its inflow. If we do not perpetually draw the fresh supply from the living Fountain, we shall either grow stagnant or empty. It is, therefore, not so much a perpetual fullness as a perpetual filling.

::A. B. Simpson::