Photo Challenge: Faces

Hello my Friends=)

It's been a while since my last photo challenge:-)

And I really miss hosting them...

since I love seeing all of your lovely {re-created} art-work.

Hence-

another photo challenge. The theme is *faces*

It doesn't necessarily need to have the whole face... just so long as it's partially a face:)

{As you can see, I'm over-using the :), =), etc.}

So I can't wait to see what you come up with.

{This does have my old watermark on it}

Each photo must link back to ~His Handmaiden~

The photo must be taken by you=)

You do not need to have a blog to enter; a flickr or facebook link is fine.

Absolutely no inappropriate links/entries, or else your entry will be deleted.

The photo challenge will end on February 6th.

I'll be posting my top picks {or all of them, depending on how many entries I get} and will leave a poll on the sidebar so y'all can pick, too=)

As the Deer

As the deer panteth for the water
So my soul longeth after Thee
You alone are my heart's desire
And I long to worship Thee

   

{Before}

You alone are my strength, my shield
To You alone may my spirit yield
You alone are my heart's desire
And I long to worship Thee

{After}

You're my friend and You are my brother
Even though You are a king
I love You more than any other
So much more than anything

{Linking Up to Kelsey's Photo Challenge} 

Sweeping the Streets

Since blogger might be shutting down {due to governmental regulations}, I've been going back through my blog, copying and pasting anything deemed of value to me. It helps that most of my writings have been in my journal; but they're literally all over the place. I need to organize papers, notebooks, etc.- a sentence from here, a quote from there, a picture from three years ago...

Not to sound dramatic or anything, but if the bill gets passed, this may be the last post I'm writing here.

Maybe G-d wants me to focus on my book instead:) But while that's a happy thought, losing this is- to me- horrendous. 

How do I get stuck in a spot like this? I feel completely surrendered, and then- bang!- I might just have to give up blogging.

{Linking Up to Alexandrea's Food Challenge}

However, back to the top paragraph. I've been going through posts. And I came across one from October 16th, in 2010. Just a quote. But it means so much. And I needed it- so much- today.

"If it falls your lot to be a street-sweeper, sweep streets like Michaelangelo painted pictures, sweep streets like Beethoven composed music, sweep streets like Leontyne Price sings before the Metropolitan Opera!

Sweep streets- like Shakespeare wrote poetry.

Sweep streets so well so that all the hosts of heaven and earth will have to pause, and say:

"Here lived a great street-sweeper- who swept his job well.'"

~Martin Luther King, Jr.

I really, really like this- because it's so, so easy to forget that everything we do should be a testimony to how much we love G-d... even the "dull, everyday, mundane" things.
And not with eyeservice, as men-pleasers, but as servants of the Most-High G-d.

Whether or not we are "happy" in whatever G-d has ordained us to do, is our happiness really and truly at stake? If I ever feel frustrated in something I "must" do, all I have to do is think about David. Abraham. Sarah. Ruth. Hadassah {Esther}. Rahab.

I've always felt a special, albeit strange-sounding, kin-ship with Ruth and Hadassah.  

Both of them- knew that life was uncertain.
Hadassah knew that any moment might be her last.
But she lived it anyway.

 

I started writing a song/poem the other day... based on this principle.  One of the lines say,
And I am reaching for the past instead of living in the moment
of each hour
in each day.

But there You stand and wait for me
Distracted though I am.
Keep me always in Your arms,
This is true Divine romance...

You are my Shepherd and I love You
You are the vine...
I feel You give me an embrace
Whisper, "Daughter, you are Mine."

No matter what I say, in everything I do- I want my life to be a reflection of His love.
Whatever He calls me to do.
Be it a street-sweeper.
Be it a missionary.
Be it something beyond my wildest dreams.

Because it is the desire of my heart to hear those seven simple words:
"Well done, My good and faithful servant."

Article and Pictures Copyright of Sierra Brewer, 2012. If you wish to use, kindly contact hishandmaiden.theblog@gmail.com Thank you.

Beautiful Feet.

 One of my goals this year was to have beautiful feet.  I know, I know... it sounds strange.

Beautiful feet. I always struggle with this command in the Bible- Isaiah 52:7, as a matter of fact. Actually I struggle with "outward" beauty in general- the more I try to "cover up" this "blemish" or that "blemish", the more self-conscious an attitude I develop... not quite the attitude of inward beauty to please G-d.

I believe I shared how I took a break from make-up for a week and a half. I want to expound on that experience a bit.

I first started feeling a bit convicted when I pointed out all my flaws to myself.

We are G-d's handi-work- does He even create flaws?? That was the question I had to address.

And friends, I felt more beautiful in those twelve days than you can imagine.

Because I was wrapped in His love.

And I didn't care about the flaws.

I didn't care about the weird looks I was getting from people.

I didn't care that I looked exhausted- I didn't even notice.

I felt so exhuberant.

And loved.

My only care about my appearance was to act like Jesus would want me to.

And it was the best feeling...ever.

Back to beautiful feet. Taking that in a literal sense- if all the feet in my house were lined up side-by-side, and were ordered according to health, etc., I would be the last in line. My feet are wide, blister-y, and I've had ingrown toe-nails for the past ten years. But, this post has been drifiting in my draft box for a while now, and I really want to post it. Plus G-d brough the original verse back to me in my Bible-time the other morning.

Therefore, Isaiah 52:6-7:

Therefore My people shall know My name;

Therefore they shall know in that day

      That I am He who speaks:

      ‘ Behold, it is I.’”

       How beautiful upon the mountains
      Are the feet of him who brings good news,

      Who proclaims peace,

      Who brings glad tidings of good things,

      Who proclaims salvation,

      Who says to Zion,

      “Your God reigns!”

     

No matter how beautiful a person's feet my appear *ahem and smile* obviously has nothing to do with the above verse. In verse six, G-d's people will know His Name.

An amazing group of friends and I recently finished reading/discussing the book Radical by David Platt- it encourages to live for Jesus with abandon.

The world needs  to hear the good news of Christ.

If I may quote from the book...

"The more we try to do good, the more we expose our evil. Even our attempts to obey G-d only further uncover our inability to do so. This applies to you, me, and every other person in the world...

"Many professing Christians have come to the conclusion that if certain people around the world don't have the opportunity to hear about Jesus, then this automatically excuses them from G-d's condemnation. Such peopel will go to heaven because, after all, they never had the opportunity to hear about Jesus."

{Radical by David Platt, chapter seven, pg 148}

This is where conviction ensues on my part. No matter what I do, there is absolutely never any way that I will ever be, "good enough." Not that I am expected to be. But I am to be holy, because He is holy. And I have to see and understand that He makes all beautiful.

"Imagine encountering an international student newly arrived on a college campus in the United States. You ask her if she has ever heard of Jesus, and with a puzzled look on her face, she responds, "No."

Now, if this girl is headed to heaven precisely because she never herad about Jesus, then the best thing you could say to her for the sake of her eternity is, "If anyone ever tries to tell you about Jesus, just put your hands on your ears, start yelling very loudly, and run away."...

"Some will maintain, "Well, is God just in condemning people for not believing in Jesus when they never had the chance to hear about Jesus?" Now that is a really good question, and I believe the answer is no. God would not be just in condemning people for not believing in a Savior they never heard of. But don't forget, people are not ultimately condemned for not believing in Jesus; they are ultimately condemned for rejecting God."

{Radical, by David Platt, chapter 7, pg. 149}

 Now. This is where it starts to get a bit controversial. However, since I am not looking to start any kind of argument or debate, I just want to get back to Isaiah 52.

People, no matter who or where they are-- can see Jesus. It takes us back to when Paul was disgusted with so many people worshipping an "unknown G-d." Wouldn't it be better to bring them a true G-d that actually fills the void in them and listens to their cry rather than let them continue to worship a god that doesn't even exist?

A life-long goal of mine has been to go on a few short-term missions trips.

As yet, I don't know where; but I have always felt burdened for the unreached tribes in South America and Indonesia. India and China. Uganda. But only if it is His will.

Because right now, as a young lady growing up in my home- it is indeed impossible for me to leave my family, and I would want to bring my Marmee or Daddy with me. So... I can start toward my goal for having beautiful feet in my neighborhood, community, and everywhere I go.

Past discovered testimonies that prove His grace are such beautiful, beautiful reminders: 

December 26th, 2010

Oh, precious Jesus- You always amaze me by Your grace... You ever and always help me to trust in Your mighty hand, Your outstretched arm. I truly feel that Your love will endure forever, and I see Your faithfulness exceeding the height of the skies... how can I ever doubt You? Teach me Your ways... I want, I ache to be like You- yet every time I do, it is a joyful ache... because You are re-creating me. L-rd, I want to become a teacup... mold me, break me and make me more like You.

♥

Perfect submission, all is at rest.

I in my Savior am happy and blessed.

Watching and waiting, looking above.

Born in His goodness, washed with His love.

{Article and Pictures property of Sierra Brewer, 2012, and is protected by Copyright.  If you wish to use, kindly contact hishandmaiden.theblog@gmail.com. Thank you.}

{of photo challenges}

Entering the above in Alexandrea's photo challenge=) The theme is colors. I love the above red and blue tones, mixed with the neutral background; and I love the cheery stripes in Grace-Hope's {unedited, excepting my watermark:D} picture... and I couldn't decide. Alexandrea, you can take your pick(; 

Entering this delish mac n' cheese picture to shutter happy :)'s photo challenge {anything- yes!}

Also, I'm toying with the idea of having another photo challenge...any takers?

Many blessings, friends~ Proverbs 31:10

{Not So} Ordinary Days

Teach me, L-rd.

It is {officially} January 2nd. And I feel re-juvenated after break. Having laid all my cares at the foot of the cross, and trusting Jesus to do the rest~

Honestly, I can't wait to see what He's going to do this coming year.

In November, after much prayer, and thought, and more prayer, I applied for CollegePlus... it's basically an online program that employs different techniques such as {oh, I'm SO excited!} mentor meetings, clepping, etc. I would suggest checking it out if you feel so led {link above}. One thing I am particularly excited about are the mentor conferences. They match you up with a mentor who has a similar "background" as yourself, and you pace yourself and talk with them. I have my first conference call this Friday(:

One of the aspects of CollegePlus that I've been working through is a workbook, Life Purpose Planning. I've found it is more like a devotional... I usually don't read very many books along with my Bible time in the morning, but this is one exception. It makes you stop and focus on the different aspects of your life, and asks you different questions/brings different Scriptures to mind that make you actually stop and think- how am I spending my time?

I was having an {extremely blessings} conversation with Tiffani the other day; we were both talking about how much we love and feel a passion for a certain activity... and how hard/interesting it would be if it was not in our calling to do that.

And sacrifice is an act of worship.

Psalm 37:4 is a verse I take to heart, "delight yourself in the L-rd, and He will give you the desires of your heart." But I've been learning over the time period of the past two years that it is when you walk/delight yourself in G-d, He will author the desires of your heart.

It is my utmost goal to seek first the kingdom of G-d... and I want to live ready, not have to "get ready" when an opportunity comes along to live for Jesus.

The point is, G-d gives us seemingly "ordinary" days...

what we don't realize is that in each and every circumstance

He is preparing us for His purpose for us.

Life Purpose Planning condones building a "Plan B" and counting on G-d to send you "Plan A" in order to enable you to move on to "Plan B." And I think this is an excellent idea, because it makes you totally helpless.

Most of us {myself included} hate the idea of vulnerability.

But that is where we become truly weak.

And that is where G-d steps in to bring us the strength we need.

A special Bible figure to me is Mary Magdelene... especially at the point in the above painting.

Where she anointed Jesus' feet with perfume.

The above posture is where I want to be all of 2012.

My time- in His hands.

Because after all, our time is not our own.

It is His.

{I have one desire now- to live a life of reckless abandon for the L-rd, putting all my energy and strength into it. ~Elisabeth Elliot} 

Article Copyright of Sierra Brewer. Watermarked Pictures Copyright Fresh Joys Photography, 2012. If you would like to use, kindly contact via email at hishandmaiden.theblog@gmail.com. Thank you.