Loving Praise

I came across this verse today, and it hit me hard. 

"Nevertheless even among the rulers many believed in Him, but because of the Pharisees they did not confess Him, lest they should be put out of the synagogue; for they loved the praise of men more than the praise of God." John 12:42-43

How often do we love man's praise more than God's? 

How often do we feel insufficient because we aren't meeting the "standard" we've set in our mind?

How often does it cause us to "not confess Him"? To compromise our actions? To put on an act to be accepted? Or to overachieve because we feel insufficient? 

The answer, at least for me, is "far too often". I often feel that I'm not good enough...either in my personality, my looks, my knowledge....and as a result, try to change how I am. 

If only I could realize that when I feel this way, it's only because I don't accept how much God loves me and has accepted me. If I'm insecure, it's because I'm not trusting His promises. 

It's a dangerous thing, and can wreak havoc in my own life, and the lives of those around me. I think it's something we all struggle with to some degree, but it's been on my mind lately. 

This story is one that really put it all into perspective for me....if you're like me and are always wanting to change how you are, this story is for you.

http://bushmaid.blogspot.com/2013/03/switches-short-story.html

Pathetique

I fell in love today.....with the second movement of Beethoven's Pathetique Sonata. Incredibly emotional and moving to listen to, and even more so to play.

Listening to it and playing it, I am reminded again of the incredible emotional impact music has on us. How beautiful God made it, and how terribly man has twisted it.

If you've never heard this piece before, treat yourself.

If you're feeling rather melancholy, like I was today...every note of this piece is perfect and pure. Every chord magical. Every harmony and dynamic expressive and unique.


 

Life After Delivery

In a mother's womb were two babies.

One asked the other, "Do you believe in life after delivery?"

The other replies, "Why of course! There has to be something after delivery. Maybe we are here to prepare ourselves for what we will be later."

"Nonsense," says the other, "There is no life after delivery. What would that life be?"

"I don't know, but there will be more light than here. Maybe we will walk with our legs and eat from our mouths."

The other says, "This is absurd! Walking is impossible. And eat with our mouths? Ridiculous. The umbilical cord supplies nutrition. Life after delivery is to be excluded. The umbilical cord is too short."

"I think there is something, and maybe it's different than it is here," the other replies. 

"No one has ever come back from there. Delivery is the end of life and in the after-delivery, it is nothing but darkness and anxiety and it takes us nowhere."

"Well, I don't know," says the other, "but certainly we will see Mother and she will take care of us."

"Mother?? You believe in Mother? Where is she now?"

"She is all around us. It is in her that we live. Without her, there would not be this world."

"I don't see her, so it's only logical that she doesn't exist."

To which the other replied, "Sometimes when you're in silence, you can hear her...you can perceive her. I believe there is a reality after delivery and we are here to prepare ourselves for that reality."

**                            **                            ** 

Sounds silly? Change a few words, and many people would sound just like that doubting baby.

Discernment

I was wrestling through something the other day, and talking to a friend about it. He sent me this quote as an encouragement, and it hit me as really, really true. Compromise doesn't have to be "going off the deep end".......it is anything less than holy. 

New definition of "hillbilly"

Once I realized what was going on in this incredible photoshop job, I laughed out loud!!!

WHAT?!?!?!

Holy moly....WATER is falling from the SKY!!!! What is this?!?!?!?

Passion Meets Career

I've really been blessed. Like really, really been blessed.

God has allowed my passion to turn into a career which is so amazing! I've always loved photography, but never dreamed it would be anything more than a hobby.

Boy was I wrong! And boy am I grateful!!

Here's some fun recent shots for you :)

To see more, visit my photography blog at http://www.atruefocus.blogspot.com 

"About Me" page

Well looky here...I've had a blog for who-knows-how-long and I just now got around to making a page to tell you who I am! :)

Check it out and leave me some feedback!

http://musicalcowgirl4christ.blogspot.com/p/about-me.html