film surprises on Flickr.

9:06 pm  •  30 January 2012  •  6 notes

into the woods on Flickr.

Week 6

11:31 pm  •  29 January 2012  •  2 notes

Water color inspired by @crowderband “let me feel you shine” (Taken with instagram)

4:16 pm  •  29 January 2012  •  3 notes

allisonshine:

I had a great Bible study this morning with my girls.

Two things from our talk really stood out to me: Guarding my heart and my thoughts, as well as what it means to desire God.

I admit, I focus on my shortcomings far too much. I wallow in my weaknesses rather than asking God to shine through them. I too often fix my eyes on my failures instead of my victories through Christ. I think about what I’m not good at, what I wish I could change, what I’ll never be…Etc. It’s a never-ending, dangerous pit of despair. I’ve been challenged to not look at my weaknesses as sin, but as opportunities for God to be glorified. The fact is, being weak isn’t a sin; But being fearful of failing and stepping out of my comfort zone can be.

With that, I’m aware that I need to guard my thoughts and my heart behind what I think. As a woman, I’m aware that pretty much everything in my head is tied to an emotion. Whether that emotion is big or small, I tend to dwell on my feelings even when I know and believe God’s truth for me. How can I get in the habit of being changed in this area?

• Submitting my thoughts to God, on the spot. By clinging onto my feelings, I’m not even giving God the chance to fill me with more of Himself.
•  By emptying myself of…Well, myself, I need to be putting GOOD back in. I can’t expect to grow without nourishment. I’m not supposed to, in fact. Reading God’s Word and spending time in worship are two things I know I need to do when I’m placing my sin in God’s hands. If I don’t fill up with good things, the bad have that much more of a foothold to sink back in.
•  I need to pray in advance for these weak areas. I need to be honest with myself and God and say, “These are my vulnerabilities. I trust You with them…Take them.” I need to be specific with God about how I long to grow and how I know I need His grace. I know I need to “watch and pray” like Jesus asked the disciples in Matthew 26:41. Prayer is powerful.

“Finally, brothers and sisters, whatever is true, whatever is noble, whatever is right, whatever is pure, whatever is lovely, whatever is admirable—if anything is excellent or praiseworthy—think about such things.” - Phil. 4:8

“Above all else, guard your heart, 
   for everything you do flows from it.” - Prov. 4:23

The second thing is asking myself the honest question: Do I truly DESIRE to be more like God? Or do I just want to be more like Him…If it’s easy, risk-free, and convenient? I wouldn’t say yes to the latter question, but I wouldn’t say yes to the first either. There’s no contest: My life WITH God is so much more full, purposeful, joyful, challenging, and fruitful compared to my life having Him on the sidelines. I want to be with Him, I want to be more like Him, I want to grow and learn…But at what cost? Do I truly long for Him more than anything else? Do I have sporadic spiritual “growth spurts” and then fizzle out when it all gets too hard or I get distracted by the world? I’m just asking myself these questions. I’m challenged. I don’t want to just say that I desire God…I want to act it, breathe it, sleep it, live it. I more than want it…I need it. I long to desire Him, to be like Him, and to grasp more of what that truly means.

I love this girl. I am so blessed to spend Friday mornings with other women in love with God. 

3:20 pm  •  29 January 2012  •  11 notes

nameful:

In a world which is known for labeling, on tumblr, a subculture that strives to abolish all labeling, I find that people are just as likely to brand themselves as they are to others. 

Self-harming. Cisgendered. Book-loving. 

Pretty. Awkward. Worthless.

Empty. Fashion-obsessed. Witty.

Gay. Straight. Thin. Whatever. 

For better or for worse, we all label ourselves. It’s the world we live in, we must have a common-ground, a starting point, a point of contact. We label ourselves as we fight against labeling. We can’t escape it - no matter where we are, no matter what we do, we shall be labeled, and it can get to you.

We wake up in the morning and decide whether or not we’re having a good day. Bad hair = bad day. Girls, if your boobs aren’t big enough, then you’re not as attractive as the next girl with a larger cup seize. Boys, if your muscles aren’t ripped or toned enough, then you’re simply not as hot as the next guy who spends two hours a day at the gym. 

And when we walk out onto the street, we automatically begin to label people, even if it’s subconsciously. We separate men and women, boys and girls, into our preconceived notion of how we ought or ought not to be. Hair. Clothes. Weight. Mannerisms. Piercings. Habits. Complexion. The smallest thing can make or break a person in the eyes of another.

I know. 

My family has a lot of labels for me, some positive, some not so positive, some deeply wounding. Some deeply, deeply wounding. 

But do you know what Jesus says when he looks at me?

Mine.

4:22 am  •  29 January 2012  •  47 notes

(Source: nana-bazaar, via keephighhopes)

2:11 am  •  29 January 2012  •  3,577 notes

Can I just live in the mountains? Even in a tent…

(Source: skripture-sketches, via nameful)

11:21 pm  •  28 January 2012  •  23 notes

I have the opportunity to go to Haiti in May with my college group to help out at an orphanage that Harvest is building and I’m really torn about it. I still have to have a serious conversation with my parents about it and I really need to make up my mind and plead my case. 

It would be a huge blessing if you could pray for clarity and that I would make a decision. I trust that whatever I choose, God will honor it.

10:41 pm  •  28 January 2012  •  5 notes