Photography Friday: A Day at the Zoo

Happy Friday!

These photos are actually from a few months ago, but I'm just getting around to posting them! Actually I've been going through and editing some older photos (late 2016/early 2017) over the last few days, so I plan on sharing them soon! Life's been fun!

In January, Casey took me to the New Orleans zoo (he's figured out I'm pro- anything to do with animals) and we had a blast! It was a beautiful day with perfect weather. I'd never been to the New Orleans zoo before, but it was really awesome! Definitely worth checking out!

Meditation Monday: God Is With You

I know what loneliness feels like. I know how it feels to think no one is on your side. I've been there. You probably have been too. Or maybe you feel that way right now. So today, I'm here to encourage you and let you know that you are never alone.

This is my command--be strong and courageous! Do not be afraid or discouraged. For the LORD your God is with you wherever you go.
Joshua 1:9 NLT

I really love that verse. It tells me that God is with me wherever I go. I find myself quoting this a lot. In fact, sometimes I like to quote it as I walk as a reminder that He is with me through every step I take. But this verse is more than just encouragement--it's also a commandment.

What does it command us to do? Be strong and courageous.

What does it command us NOT to do? Be afraid or discouraged.

But how do we do this? How do we just NOT be afraid? Well I'll tell you, this is a thing I've been working on myself. Fear is a hard thing to give up and give to God. Especially if you're like me and tend to think you've got it all under control yourself! But I'm learning that I don't want to keep my fear--I don't want to let it get ahold of me! I'm learning to give it to God. Because the thing is, God doesn't want me to live in fear, and He doesn't want you to either!

Don't be afraid, for I am with you. Don't be discouraged, for I am your God. I will strengthen you and help you.
Isaiah 41:10 NLT

The reason we don't have to be afraid is because He is with us! Because He is our God! Because He gives us strength and helps us!

Isn't it amazing to know the Lord is on our side no matter what we're going through? No matter what the problem is! And--even better--He can take care of our problem! He has already defeated every sickness, disease, fear, anxiety, anything you can name. He's overcome it all.

Because He loves us.

Wow. How amazing is that love He has for us? It's so beautiful. He loves you so much that He doesn't want you to be alone or afraid, so He is with you always and helps you overcome your fear. THAT is the amazing God we serve.

How to defeat fear
So how do we defeat fear? We have to give it to God. That's a lot easier said than done. But this is a good way to start. Repeat these prayers (taken straight from scripture!) every day, whenever you need it. Better yet, say them out loud. These are the words of the Lord, and His words are so powerful, all He has to do is speak and it is done!

Lord, You go before me and you are with me. You will never leave me nor forsake me. I am not afraid. I am not discouraged. (Deuteronomy 31:8)

I will fear no evil for You are with me Lord. Your Word and Your Spirit comfort me. (Psalms 23:4)

I am an overcomer and I overcome by the blood of the Lamb and the word of my testimony. (Revelations 12:11)

Lord, you command me to be strong and courageous, not afraid or discouraged. You, oh Lord my God, are with me wherever I go. (Joshua 1:9)

**For more ways to pray the word of God, I highly recommend the book God's Creative Power by Charles Capps.**

Meditation Monday: Reasons to Memorize Scripture

One of the best things I’ve ever done is memorize the Word of God. It’s something I’ve always wanted to do, so I finally started doing it. God has revealed things to me in His word through the verses I’ve memorized.

Here’s the thing: memorizing the Word of God is necessary in your walk with God. But why? I mean, shouldn’t reading it and studying it be enough? We should read and study the Bible. But we also must memorize it.

Psalms 1:2 says, “But his delight is in the law of the Lord; and in his law doth he meditate day and night.” How can we properly meditate on the law of the Lord day and night if we don’t memorize it? We can’t keep our face in the Bible 24/7, but we can allow His word to permeate our minds. When we do that, we allow God to renew our mind. When we do this, God will transform us. (Romans 12:2)

Reasons to Memorize the Word of God

Meditation on the Word is the biblical definition of success. This book of the law shall not depart out of thy mouth; but thou shalt meditate therein day and night, that thou mayest observe to do according to all that is written therein: for then thou shalt make thy way prosperous, and then thou shalt have good success. Joshua 1:8

His people are destroyed for a lack of knowledge (Hosea 4:6). I will not allow the enemy to conquer me because I lack knowledge. There is absolutely no reason for me to lack knowledge. According to Proverbs 2:3-5, if we search for knowledge, we will find it!

Yea, if thou criest after knowledge, and liftest up thy voice for understanding; If thou seekest her as silver, and searchest for her as for hid treasures; Then shalt thou understand the fear of the Lord, and find the knowledge of God. Proverbs 2:3-5 

To keep from sinning. Thy word have I hid in mine heart, that I might not sin against thee. Psalms 119:11

The Word cleanses us. (John 17:17, John 15:3) We can allow the Word to cleanse us of evil thoughts. Of thoughts that try to bring us down. Of negativity. When the Word of God permeates our thoughts, it will cleanse of us thoughts that oppose Him, and our thoughts will be restructured around Truth. 

You can pray the Scripture. My pastor says, “When you pray the Word of God, you always pray the will of God.”

To experience perfect peace. Thou wilt keep him in perfect peace, whose mind is stayed on thee, because he trusteth in thee. Isaiah 26:3 By keeping our minds on God, God will keep us in perfect peace. Keeping our minds on God shows we trust in him. And when we trust in him, he will give us everlasting strength (Isaiah 26:4). 

To separate yourself. The truth of God’s Word separates us from the surrounding world. “They are not of the world, even as I am not of the world. Sanctify them through thy truth; thy word is truth” John 17:16-17

Photography Friday #8: Singapore!

Three months after I've been back from the other side of the globe and I finally got done editing photos! I'm not even sure that I shared here on the blog, but last December, I went on my first Missions trip! It was literally a dream come true for me. A dream I'd given up on. But God had other plans, and I'm so glad He did. This trip was amazing and life changing, and I'm already planning my next Missions trip! It's amazing how God opens doors when we're least expecting it, right?

Here are just a few photos. I have tons. But I'll just share a few for now. Maybe more later!

Why I Memorize Scripture

Last year, I made three simple spiritual goals: 1) memorize more scripture; 2) study His Word; and 3) pray more. I feel like I did a pretty good job at improving in all three of these areas, but I want to continue growing. So my goals for this year are the same, but this year I’ve made a game plan for memorizing more of the Word of God. I’ll talk about my memorization plan in a later post, and I have a few more posts I’m working on regarding memorizing the Word. Today, I want to talk about my personal reasons WHY I memorize Scripture.

To meditate upon the Word
Every summer I work at a camp for kids and a few years ago our curriculum was “meditation on the Word of God.” The Bible is very clear that we should meditate upon the Word of God. Psalms 1:2 says, “But his delight is in the law of the Lord; and in his law doth he meditate day and night.”

While we were studying and preparing to teach the kids, someone brought up the point, How can we truly meditate on the Word of God if we don’t memorize it? Sure, we can read it, but can we have our head in the Bible all day long? No, but we can have the Bible in our head--and heart--all day long. (Psalms 119:11 “Thy Word have I hid in my heart that I might not sin against thee.”)

I started memorizing verses a few years ago and I’ve been amazed at the positive impact it’s had in my life. I have a better understanding of the Bible. I’ve found strength. My mind is a better place when I have scriptures running through it. Today I am only sharing three reasons why I memorize the Word of God, and next week I’ll continue my case by seeing what the Word itself has to say about memorizing the Bible.

To renew my thoughts
When we meditate on His Word, we allow God to renew our mind. When we do this, God will transform us. (Romans 12:2)

Philippians 4:8 tells us the things we need to have in our brain: “Whatever is true, whatever is honorable, whatever is just, whatever is pure, whatever is lovely, whatever is commendable; if there is any excellence, if there is anything worthy of praise, think about these things.”

The Bible is all of those things! It is true and pure and lovely and excellent! Thus it is something we should think about and immerse ourselves in and meditate upon. When we memorize verses, we literally have God’s voice in our head.

John 1:1 says, “In the beginning was the Word, and the Word was with God, and the Word was God.” Thus, the Word and God are the same. When I memorize the Word and quote it to myself, I literally have God’s own words in my head. I’d much rather have God’s words running in my brain than my own (often negative) thoughts! By memorizing Scripture, I’ve been able to actively work on renewing my thoughts by replacing my own thoughts with verses from the Bible--God’s own words!

To experience perfect peace
Isaiah 26:3-4 Thou wilt keep him in perfect peace, whose mind is stayed on thee: because he trusteth in thee. Trust ye in the Lord for ever: for in the Lord Jehovah is everlasting strength.

I have repeated this verse to myself many many times when things were rough. There has been many a time when I just wanted the Lord to calm the waves in my life, but He has allowed me to experience peace through my storm as I try to keep my mind on Him instead of my problems. I’ve always had verses I fall back on when I find myself in times of trouble or my mind in need of peace. Recently, this has been Proverbs 3:5-6.

Trust in the Lord with all thine heart; and lean not unto thine own understanding. In all thy ways acknowledge him, and he shall direct thy paths.

The one thing I’ve learned through my storms is that I must trust the Lord. This hasn’t been an easy thing to do, and it’s something I still have to put in practice daily, but I love that His Word has these verses--it is a prayer I can pray and it comes with a promise! It gives me peace to know that he will direct my paths if I trust him and acknowledge him in all my ways.

Application
Memorize a verse this week. That's it. Just one. Then next week pick another. Memorizing one verse a week is totally doable! You don't have to start big. But start today.

Photography Friday #7

Happy New Year! New year, new me? I guess we'll see! (Probably not. I still love a good rhyme time.)

It's hard to not make resolutions come the beginning of a new year. Mine is not to blog more, or even to attempt to blog more. Life stays too busy to allow blogging to take the helm! But I would like to contribute more around here, and especially start up Meditation Mondays again. I've got a few posts in the works!

In the meantime... it's FRIDAY! The very first Friday of 2017. So do something amazing with it. My plan is to bake cookies! I recently started making and decorating sugar cookies and I'm finding it far too fun. It's my newest project to perfect. I guess I will see how tonight's batch turns out! *fingers crossed*

I'm more of a project person than a resolution person, so I am doing the Everyday Photography class offered by A Beautiful Mess. (I have some of their Photoshop actions and love them!) I will attempt to complete the prompt every week. This week's is reflection. Good thing we have shiny ornaments on the tree! (Which we have still not taken down yet... oops.)

Wishing you a very happy Friday and an amazing weekend! Let's start 2017 out right!

Red River Revel

The Red River Revel is one of my favorite things to happen in Shreveport-Bossier every year. It's technically an art festival, but let's be honest—I go for the food. Because the food is the best.

This year I begged Rachel and Sarah to come with me because I really needed some fair food. It didn't take much begging—they were happy to come with! Sarah did my hair all cute because she likes doing hair and I like having my hair done. The hairstyle was Rapunzel-worthy! I tried to recreate it myself a few days later and failed. Miserably. Le sigh. Some people have the hair-fixing gene and some of us do not.

When we arrived, we went to the booth for the new local Puzzle Room. They had a contest to figure out clues to unlock three locks on a box. We managed to unlock two of them!

Then we went to the food section! We got blackened catfish, crawfish etouffee, corn on the cob (slathered with butter, parmesan, and Tony's), crawfish balls, funnel cake, cinnamon pecans, and chocolate covered cheesecake! We left so full and every bite was totally worth it. I already can't wait for next year!