Photo Challenge - 'Faces'

Entering this photo in Sierra's challenge :)

My beautiful friend, Mikaela

~*~

Attributes of a Relationship...

 Relationships take a lot of work.  And it doesn’t matter what kind.

From a husband and wife…to brother and sister…to boyfriend and girlfriend…to friend and friend.

They are each different, but at the same time, they have many similarities. 

The three most important attributes in any relationship are (not necessarily in order):

1.     Trust

2.     Understanding

3.     Love

If you can’t trust the other individual in your relationship…you ain’t going nowhere.  Trust is something that has to be earned…and when you have it, it is something to keep.

You must be able to understand each other.  Your thoughts, feelings, goals, etc.  When there is no understanding between two people, there can’t be a relationship.  To understand means to: value, be aware of, appreciate, comprehend, realize…all of these are great blocks of foundation in a relationship.

And most importantly, love.

There’s a verse in the Bible, in 1 Corinthians 13:1-2 that has always made me stop and realize how important love really is.

It says:

‘If I speak with the tongues of men and of angels, but do not have love, I have become a noisy gong or a clanging cymbal.  If I have the gift of prophecy, and know all mysteries and all knowledge; and if I have all faith, so as to remove mountains, but do not have love, I am nothing.’

Without love, there is nothing.  Because God is love.  And without God, we wouldn’t be here.

Now just because you have these three block of foundation in your relationship, doesn’t mean that it will never falter…or get damaged…or that you’ll be friends for the rest of your life without ever having a disagreement.

Relationships take time to build.  Relationships are fragile.  But most importantly, when relationships get bruised and battered, sometimes it only makes the two people stronger.

Very recently, there was a huge misunderstanding between me and a couple friends.  I had told them something and I guess I just hadn’t said it right, because they took offense and thought I meant something else (and I didn’t) and…well…anyway.  It was a big mess.  I felt physically sick because of all of it.  And my friends were really, really mad at me.  I couldn’t get a hold of them for the longest time, but finally, I asked if we could just meet up in person somewhere and get all this cleared out of the way because I could not stand being like this!!  So we did.  We got together and I just asked them to forgive me and explained that what I had said was not what I actually meant (gotta work on my communication skills there :P ) and that I loved both of them very much.  Needless to say, there was a lot of crying and hugging (girls get emotional, okay?) and now…I seriously think that that little bruise on our friendship only caused it to grow stronger.

Oh and in closing…let me leave you with this quote that my friend (yes, that ^ one) found on Pinterest:

(oh!  That’s something we SO have in common.  We’re, like, Pinterest addicts :P)

 Oh and we really like this one too:

  

Friendships

Require

Immense

Energy

Niceness

Duty

(and) Strength

(okay, I just made that up all by myself ^!!  I’m brilliant!! :P)

  

Just remember to treasure your friendships.

 

Get through the tough times in life.

 

Always stick together.

 

And never leave each other’s side.

Oh!  And always remember this verse:

(which happens to be a favorite of a friend of mine;)

‘A friend loves at all times, and a brother is born for adversity.’

-Proverbs 17:17

{Photos via Pinterest}

First snow...

This is a very, very, very long overdue post. :P  So sorry!

Priscilla ^

So...we got snow.

First snowfall was about 5 inches (this is when I took these pics)...

Second snowfall, we got almost 2 feet in ONE NIGHT!!  Craziness :P

Grace ^ :)

My Doberman enjoying the cold, wet substance ;)

My bro <3

Favorite shot? ^

So warm and fuzzy :D

NO editing!!  The foggy look is his breath on my lenses :D haha

I just wanted to take a pic of my purity ring... :)  Have you guys ever seen it, actually?  I don't remember...

Another favorite shot? ^

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So there ya go! :D haha

By now, all the snow has melted...this post was supposed to be on my blog about a week ago. :/  I'm so sorry!!  So behind on all of them...

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So did you get snow?  How much?  Has it all melted?

A new favorite quote!

Hard work beats talent, when talent doesn't work as hard.

-Tim Tebow

{so I had to use this ^ picture, because I just found it totally rad that he's standing in a *barn*!!  Cowboy up ;) }
 

Just Be There

 

I have been amazed at how many opportunities the LORD has given me to mentor/ ‘counsel’ some of my friends.  He has really been teaching me how amazing a ministry it is to just be available.  And let people know that you are there for them to talk to.

Some of the people who have contacted me, are ones whom I met through my blog.  Or I would suddenly get a random e-mail from someone, asking me for advice on what I would do in such-and-such a situation.

One of my most amazing experiences happened only recently.  The LORD used me to reach a brother in Christ who had suffered from cutting himself in the past…and who felt that he needed to do it again, to relieve his emotional pain.  I stayed up really late, praying with him and asking that he stop and realize what he was about to do and how he would later regret it.  I didn’t hear back from him for a few minutes, but when he finally wrote me back, he told me that if it hadn’t have been for me, that he would’ve cut himself.

I started crying.  I was in awe that God has used me to keep my friend from harming himself.  If I hadn’t have been talking to him…if he hadn’t felt that he could trust me in telling me this…if I had realized that it was late and just gone to bed…if I had left…

Something bad would’ve happened.

God used me in a way that I had no idea I could be used!!  So many times, an opportunity arises just because we are there – because we gain people’s trust and love.  Don’t let opportunities pass you by to help, encourage and bless someone.  God will use you as He sees fit, but for now, just be there.

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And as an ending note…

If any of my readers out there need prayer or just someone to talk to, please do NOT be afraid to e-mail me. (miss.raquel316@gmail.com)  I check my e-mail every day and every single e-mail in my inbox makes me happy and excited – to know that someone took the time to drop me a note. :)   

‘Therefore encourage one another and build up on another, just as you also are doing.’

1 Thessalonians 5:11

Love to all my dear readers!!  You guys are amazing.

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PS: And yes, my friend is receiving professional counseling. :)  Thank you for your concerned comments.

A Review of Brandon Heath's - Don't Get Comfortable

 

Snuggle in your bed, with a plate of chewy peanut butter chocolate chip cookies, and join me in ‘listening’ to Brandon Heath’s debut album…if you don’t have some cookies on hand, here…I’m sending you one virtually. 

Brandon Heath + cpbccc = a really good blog post!  Just sayin’ ;)

Steady Now –

‘You know we don’t have to wait until the end of the night.  Just to say that something’s wrong and maybe nobody’s right.  We’re all victims in a battle, we never had to fight.  It’s okay, it’s all right.  Steady now; we’re in this thing together.’

I love the music in the chorus.  Great beat and very flowing.  This song is very encouraging, because it’s talking about how we’re all facing trials and hardships…we’re in it altogether.  Everyone is experiencing some sort of storm in their life.  We are here to encourage and strengthen each other.  Steady now.

Simple Man –

Beautiful song.  Brandon is talking about how he is just a part of the body of Christ.  And that any good part in him, only comes by and through Jesus Christ.

‘I’m just a simple man.  A little part of a bigger plan.  Anything that gives me worth, comes from You.  So take the rest of me.  ‘Cuz you got the best of me.  Anything good in me comes from You.’

Don’t Get Comfortable –

‘I’m gonna show you what I mean.  I’m am gonna love like you’ve never seen.  You are gonna live like you used to dream.  This is your new song.’

Our God Reigns –
This is a song that I can picture Chris Tomlin singing.  Such a beautiful worship song…could totally be used at a church’s worship service.

Red Sky –

#1 favorite song in this whole album.

‘Cover me with a red sky tonight.  The promise of a better day to come.  Sing over me an angelic symphony.  Tell me everything will be all right.  With a red sky tonight.’

This song reminds me of the verse in Matthew (16:2), where Jesus says: ‘…When it is evening, you say, ‘It will be fair weather, for the sky is red.’

The music to this song is so beautiful and soothing.  ::sighs::  Just love it!

You Decide –

‘Cuz everybody has to choose…sink or swim?  Win or lose?  No, not everybody gets it right.  Fight or fly? So will you decide?’

A very challenging song.  It’s up to US to decide who we are to be in Christ.  Will we let things beat us and not remember that Jesus is our strength?  Will we ignore things that are happening in our lives – in this world – or will we realize that God has put us on this earth to give us an opportunity to further His kingdom?

I’m Not Who I Was –

I’m sure a lot of you may be wondering who Brandon wrote this song to.  He shared with us at his concert that he wrote it to his step-mother.  I think it’s a beautiful song of repentance and apology.  My Dad loves this song so much, because it’s almost like his own testimony.  He sometimes says that if he the opportunity to talk to a former friend from school, this song is basically what he would tell them.

Love the guitar in this song, by the way. :)  I always thought there two, but nope!  Just one!  Brandon plays both parts at once.  I thought that was pretty cool :)

Let’s Make It Last –

I’m just gonna call this a love song, because…well…it is. :P

‘Running through the yard.  Splashing through puddles with you without regard.  Do you think the neighbors will care?  So what if they do?  They’ll just stare.  Kids will all say that it’s not fair.  The way that we love.  The way that we laugh…so let’s make it last.’

It kind of has a sad undertone to it.  The music is really slow and a bit on the depressing side, but… ::shrugs::  I think different people read/hear it differently. :)

I Will Lay You Down –

This song is representing God talking to His children.

‘So come to me weary now and I will lay you down…come set your burden free, I will set you free…’

God is on our side.  If we need to, we can hide in Him.  He loves us, He will never let us go, He will never leave our side.  He always holds us in His hands.  Praise the LORD!

The Light –

 I’m not completely sure of the meaning of this song.  I’m usually able to interpret what the artist is trying to convey to their listeners, but with song, I’m not so sure.  The only theory that I have come up with is this:

Brandon is showing himself as a witness of how hard it is to travel on the narrow path.  But he’s encouraging the fellow sojourners with him to ‘stay close, you people with your broken hearts…as we move towards the light.’  Does that sound about right?  I’m willing to hear others’ opinions. :)

Beauty Divine –

I actually had a guy bring up this song to me trying to use it against Brandon – and his motive and ministry.  The person was saying how Brandon ‘never focuses on the things of God’ but on ‘either himself or others’.  Yeah…that was a very interesting conversation. :P  BUT, I turned around and threw this song right back at him, using it to defend Brandon…

‘So breathe.  Life will surprise you.  Just being is what the world denies you.  You see that truth is all around you.  Believe.’

That’s just the chorus of the song, but you can see that he is encouraging us to notice the beauty divine around us and in one of the verses, he says: ‘He makes Himself known to us.  In His own time’…and that is followed by the chorus.  I think that’s pretty obvious, huh? :)

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I have all of Brandon Heath’s albums, so I’m thinking of doing reviews on all of them…yes or no?

 

Music Video Monday!

The first song I heard by The Fray was 'How to Save a Life'...

I didn't really like it, at first.  But it sorta grew on me. :)

'Heartbeat' is their newest song...and I love it!!  The music video is pretty cute too. :)  I was able to get it on iTunes and I have it on my iPad now... ♥

Enjoy! :)

A new favorite quote!

If God is all you have...you have it all.

Rhythm of Vanilla Twilight

Very interesting title, eh? ;)

Well, let me explain...

Remember that weekend that I spent with my pals?  I posted about it HERE.

Well, Daniel (yeah, he's in just about all these pics...I interviewed him too! ;) and I were getting kinda bored one evening and decided to have some fun on my iPad.  Well, actually, this idea goes to Caleb...but we decided to do it ourselves ;) heehee

So...
what we did, was:
- Put my iPad on shuffle
- Tried matching two song titles together to make a unique phrase.

Some didn't work...others were a little interesting (to say the least)...and yet others, we found pretty incredible ;)

So I just thought I'd bore you by posting the phrases that we got...

Oh!  And let's see how many artists you can name! ;)

REMEMBER:
there are TWO song titles in each phrase!

Commenter who gets the most right wins :)

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1. You set the rhythm, sunshine girl

2. You’re my better half, vanilla twilight

3. Light up the sky on my own

4. Hello world, take me into the beautiful

5. Dare you to move, homeboy

6. For a little while cowgirls don’t cry

7. If I die young, wonder why

8. Every time you run, set the world on fire

9. I want to spend my lifetime loving you, sunrise

10. Just a kiss, hypeman

11. Love reality, hold my hand

12. He reigns by your side

13. Feeling good backwards

14. Take my hand for love of you

15. Galaxies – how sweet it is

16. He wants it all, dreamer

17. Sore eyes, dreams don’t turn to dust

18. Superman – love like crazy

19. Beautiful(ly) mine

20. Cool thing, start in the sky

21. Sparks fly tonight

22. Tell me I am nothing

23. What was I thinking? Banana Pancakes

24. Enchanted White Christmas

25. God love her as she’s walking away

26. Sweet thing, don’t you know you’re beautiful?

27. All along keeping me alive

28. Blink, it matters to me

29. Speak now, everything and all

30. London fireflies

31. Wait for a miracle one of these days

32. Hello Seattle, I’m not who I was

33. Don’t worry now, beautiful, beautiful

34. Should’ve said no tonight

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Which one(s) was your favorite??

And be sure to comment with your guesses of artists ;) heehee

Hope this was...somehow enjoyable..and that maybe it put a little spark in your Wednesday :)

Cheers!

♥

Girl to Boy

Girl: Will you pick me up if I ever fell down?
Boy: No. 

Girl: Would you wipe away the tears when I’m sad?
Boy: Never.

 Girl: Will you still love me when I look my worst?
Boy: Nope.

 Girl: At least you’re honest. :(

 Boy: I wouldn’t pick you up if you fell because...

I would catch you before you even hit the ground....♥

I wouldn’t wipe away your tears because...

I’ll make sure there’s nothing for you to ever be sad about....♥

I wouldn’t love you when you look your worst because...

 that’s impossible. You always look you’re best, even when you think you don’t.....♥

 I love you more than anything, always remember that......♥
 

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Sorry, readers...just having one of my moments! ;)

Music Video Monday!

I'm not a huge fan of Casting Crowns...but I loved that they wrote this song for the newest Sherwood movie - Courageous.

GREAT song!

A new favorite quote!

Anna Tooze Fine Art

Remember this beautiful person?? ^

Who also happens to be one of my closest and dearest friends...

AND 

who gave me this SUPER amazing PURPLE purse for Christmas?!?!  

(I can't find a picture of it at the moment, so...just be patient :P)

Yeah, she totally rocks.

And in case you didn't know...she is an amazing artist.  Like, seriously amazing.  Just about as amazing as you can get.

She based this off of a photo that I had taken ;)  I was SO honored!! heehee

And she just recently got her website and Etsy shop set up for her artwork!

I am so excited for her to be able to start doing this, and was totally adamant on posting about it here on God's Daughter.

So, I am counting on all my readers to make her shop excel in traffic and be sure to leave comments on her website ;)  Understand?

She gave me this painting ^  Yeah...be jealous ;)  It's hanging up on my wall, in my room.  One of the first things I see when I wake up in the morning :)  ::happy smile::

Website:

http://annatooze.com

I saw this painting when it was in-the-works...and it is SO amazing in real life!!  Seriously!  This picture does not do it justice.

Etsy shop:

http://etsy.com/AnnaToozeFineArt

I actually haven't seen this one in person, but...if the pic does it any credit, then it's amazing - as usual!

Of course I had to include something that makes me ::squeal::!!!

Okay...'amazing' is getting overrated in this post.  Sorry, guys!  But, seriously...you can see for yourself...

Isn't this one beautiful?!

All photo rights reserved by Anna Tooze Fine Art

Okay, now go visit her websites!!!

Oh, and one more thing...

How would you guys like Anna to sponsor a giveaway for me, here on God's Daughter??  Would you be interested in having one of her art pieces are your very own??

Comment and let me know ;)