3.28.2007
farewell blogger idiosyncrasies...
http://shadowsong222.wordpress.com/
what's the big deal with sufjan stevens
3.02.2007
[lol i'm starting over]
Isn't it awesome that we get to worship God? Like, we get to be saved from sin and have the ability to worship and adore Him. Everyone in the world should worship Him, but we get to actually do it.
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Mrs. Cheveley. Ah! the strength of women comes from the fact that psychology cannot explain us. Men can be analysed, women . . . merely adored.
Sir Robert Chiltern. You think science cannot grapple with the problem of women?
Mrs. Cheveley. Science can never grapple with the irrational.
--An Ideal Husband
[i think that quote is still pertinent, ha]
Labels: random
2.01.2007
I've been reading this excellent book by John Macarthur called "Twelve Extraordinary Women". It takes Eve, Mary, Rahab, and others and tells their defining characteristics and how us women should learn from them . . . The reason I'm bringing this up (lol!) is the chapter on Rahab I read today. Near the end of the chapter there's the following:
(the previous paragraph delt with how Bible scholars have sometimes tried to say that Rahab wasn't really a prostitute...to somehow "sanitize" her history...)
"The scandal motif in Christ's lineage was no accident . . . Rahab was redeemed not because of any meritorious works she did. ...But she is not given to us as an example of the power of human works. She is not a lesson in how to better ourselves through self-improvement. She is a reminder that God by His grace can redeem even the most horrible life. (Spurgeon: 'I am persuaded that nothing but a spirit of distaste for free grace would ever have led any commentator to deny her sin.') He was exactly right of course. Remove the stigma of sin, and you remove the need for grace. Rahab is extraordinary precisely because she received extraordinary grace. There's no need to reinvent her past to try to make her seem less of a sinner. The disturbing fact about what she once was simply magnifies the glory of divine grace, which is what made her the extraordinary woman she became."
How encouraging/convicting is that?
How many times have i sought to deny, minimize, or excuse away my sin, when what I'm really doing is doubting the cross' power and denying free grace! If I can't face my sin, it's because I'm denying that Christ's work was enough or that God has had unmerited mercy on me. That really hit me.
On the flip side, look at the work God has done!! My past shortcomings have led to God's incredible grace. God uses degraded sinners such as me to bring Himself glory.
(why???)
Be encouraged in your own battles against sin, because it's all God my friends!!!
Steph =)
Eph 2:8-10
Labels: encouragement, scripture
1.30.2007
My cousin Rebecca's an amazing artist (=D) and needed head shots to practice painting portraits of her family, so earlier today I took some pictures of them. Their girls are so beautiful!!!
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When i finally get around to shooting at an old barn/farm/abandoned house, i'm totally stealing this little girl to bring with me:
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Isn't she just the cutest?!
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Bridget's loads of fun.
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And this girl's amazing: so joyful and passionate for the Lord, i love her =)
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(and she's lovely...)
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My aunt is one of the most fun people I know...plus so encouraging and hospitable, she's wonderful.
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Labels: pictures
1.22.2007
wow. this made me cry... seriously. It's by rap artist/actor Nick Cannon. It's a true story about his mom, Beck, when she was 17 in 1979 and about to get an abortion.
(read the lyrics below)
Can I Live
I’m talking, mom, I know the situation is personal
But it’s something that has to be told
As I was making this beat
You was all I could think about
You heard my voice
Just think, just think…
What if you could just, just blink yourself away?
Just, just wait, just pause for a second
Let me plead my case
It’s the late seventies, you seventeen
And having me, that will ruin everything
It’s a lot of angels waiting on their wings
You see me in your sleep, so you can’t kill your dreams
Three hundred dollars, that’s the price of living?
Mommy, I don’t like this clinic
Hopefully you’ll make the right decision
And don’t go though with the knife decision
But it’s hard to make the right move when you in high school
Now you gotta work all day and take night school
Hopping on the bus and the rain is pouring
What you want, morning sickness or the sickness of mourning?
Can I live?
I’ll always be a part of you
Trust your soul, know it’s always true
If I could talk I’d say to you
Can I live?
Can I live?
I’ll always be a part of you
Trust your soul, know it’s always true
If I could talk I’d say to you
Can I live?
Can I live?
I’m a child of the King, ain’t no need to go fear me
And I see the flowing tears, so I know that you hear me
When I move in your womb that’s me being scary
‘Cuz who knows what my future holds?
The truth be told you ain’t told a soul
You ain’t even showing, I’m just two months old
Through your clothes try to hide me, deny me
Went up three sizes
Your pride got you lying, saying ain’t nothing but a migraine
It ain’t surprising you not trying to be in WIC food lines
Your friends look at you funny, but look at you mommy
That’s a life inside, take a look at your tummy
What is becoming, Ma? I’m Oprah bound
You can tell he’s a star from the ultrasound
Our spirits connected, doors open now,
Nothing but love and respect, thanks for holding it down
She let me live
I’ll always be a part of you
Trust your soul, know it’s always true
If I could talk I’d say to you
Can I live?
Can I live?
I’ll always be a part of you
Trust your soul, know it’s always true
If I could talk I’d say to you
Can I live?
Can I live?
It’s uplifing for real, y’all
I ain’t passing no judgement
Ain’t making no decisions
I’m just telling y’all my story
I love life,
I love my mother for giving me life
We all need to appreciate life
And a strong woman who had to make a sacrifice
Thanks for listening…
Thanks for listening…
Momma,
thanks for listening
Labels: encouragement, video
1.09.2007
sometimes . . .
I just cannot wait till graduation.
hmm.
or Heaven.
(yeah I think I'll take that, Lord.)
[?]
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in other news. . . Psalm 22.
It's sooo good!!
Read it.
Here's a preview: [edit: okay maybe like almost the whole thing]
It's called "Why Have You Forsaken Me?" mmhmm. Ring any bells? here's more.
"My God, my God, why have you forsaken me?
Why are you so far from saving me, from the words of my groaning?
. . .
But I am . . . scorned by mankind and despised by the people.
All who see me mock me;
. . .'He trusts in the LORD; let him deliver him;
let him rescue him, for he delights in him!'
. . .For a company of evildoers encircles me;
they have pierced my hands and feet--
I can count all my bones--
...they divide my garments among them,
and for my clothing they cast lots." Goodness . . . major foreshadowing going on.
Later:
"From you comes my praise in the great congregation;
my vows I will perform before those who fear him.
The afflicted shall eat and be satisfied;
those who seek him shall praise the LORD!
May your hearts live forever!
All the ends of the earth shall remember and turn to the LORD,
. . . it shall be told of the Lord to the coming generation;
they shall come and proclaim his righteousness to a people yet unborn,
that he has done it."
wow.
Labels: encouragement, scripture
So the modesty survey's finally ready... go to The Rebelution home page to do it. Guys, it would serve us g i r ls if you took a few minutes to complete it!! And gi r ls, let's take advantage of this opportunity to hear from Christian guys our age =)
Labels: encouragement, modesty
