Hair!

So... I decided to bleach my hair! Well, part of it. I was just getting bored with the solid brown, but I did NOT want to cut it, because I absolutely love the length. So I decided to do some bleach, and get some fabulous contrast. So here are some pictures!
 

Up in braids. I love this!

Up in a "Katniss braid", except a french braid rather than dutch.

Black and white.

I looooove it! :D And I have been keeping a very close watch on the moisture levels, making sure the bleached part doesn't get too dry. It's been pretty awesome so far!

Dreamlander: A Review

This is a review of the book "Dreamlander" by author K.M. Weiland.

*** 

What if the world of our dreams is not simply a creation of our subconscious mind, but is just as real and physical as the one we live in now? What if one person lived two lives, a foot in each world?

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

These are the questions author K.M. Weiland asks of her readers, as she leads us along with Chris Redston to discover the answers. Unwillingly, he finds himself thrust into a world and a responsibility he never wanted - and does his best to be rid of. However, as he battles not only for his life and the world of his dreams, he finds that there is far more at stake than he could have imagined.

The story not only moves through the characters, changing their lives and their hearts, but will take you along with them, laughing and crying as they do, fighting and loving, dreaming and mourning. The author holds back no stops in bringing her world to life.

I fell in love with these characters as they both stole and broke my heart all throughout the book! The author has done a masterful job in building a believable world and crafting relatable characters all while keeping the plot moving and my heart pumping!

The ending was definitely a surprising twist - not what I was expecting, and certainly was cause for a great amount of introspection. Though it was not what I had hoped it would be - it was right for the story. I sincerely enjoyed this novel.

 

***

 

This book is available on Amazon as well as Barnes & Noble for purchase. Check out this blog post to see about winning some fabulous prizes during Dreamlander’s launch week! http://www.helpingwritersbecomeauthors.com/2012/12/win-kindle-fire-17th-century-italian.html

Heartbreak

There isn't really any solution to avoiding a broken heart. Even marrying the first person you ever loved, there will be some level of heartbreak even after marriage.

Then there's the times you fall in love with someone who was never more than a friend – yet you both wanted it to go further. Those times when you fall in love so fast you barely have time to blink before you realize you disagree wildly and vehemently on just a few issues, yet those few being some of the biggest marriage dealbreakers one can have.

And you wonder, “Should I stay and hold on, or just walk away?” “Should I pray for his mind to be changed, or just assume that's a useless endeavor?”

You talk, and talk, and debate, and discuss. You push and pull and hope beyond hope that they will see the error of their beliefs, or that your errors will be revealed.

Yet after a few months, you realize it just won't work. A load of bricks drops on your hopes, your dreams.

Why? Why, Lord? Why bring the potential perfect spouse, yet it's someone I could never marry?

Then it ends, just as quickly as it began, one broken heart more and one best friend less. What could you have done differently, how could you have avoided it all?

The sad and incredibly true answer is that... you couldn't have. Feelings already spiraling out of control even before the pertinent issues were discussed – on the 4^th day of the friendship. It was crazy, and terrible, and fun and heartbreaking.

So, moral of the story, kids! Try not to fall in love with someone who you disagree with on incredibly important doctrinal issues. :P

Can't Make A Sound

It's needing a shoulder to cry on, but nobody to listen. An ear to speak to, but nobody to tell.

It's when you want to speak, want to shout, want to cry, but you can't make a sound.

Can't make a sound.

Took me out of your life

Took me out of your life

No longer in mine

And I cry

And the tears are fallin' down

Tears fallin' down

Tears in my hands

And I can't make a sound

It's needing you to talk to, the only one who'd understand. The one I need, only one for me.

It's dreaming of your arms holding me, but waking up alone. Painful and heartbroken, but I,

Can't make a sound.

Took me out of your life

Took me out of your life

No longer in mine

And I cry

And the tears are fallin' down

Tears fallin' down

Tears in my hands

And I can't make a sound

And the pain, the pain is overtaking me

When I think I won't see you again

Never again

Cut out of my life in a new way every day

The hole's getting bigger and you're not there

Never again

Took me out of your life

Took me out of your life

No longer in mine

And I cry

And the tears are fallin' down

Tears fallin' down

Tears in my hands

And I can't make a sound

Can't make a sound.

Need Votes!

Hey!

All right, so here's the deal... I entered an art contest online, and it is entirely popular vote based. I currently sit at #4 (with 76 votes), but of course I am hoping to get to #1! The grand prize, according to the contest main page:http://www.onewiththem.com/contest/

“The grand prize is a once-in-a-lifetime opportunity to go on a top-secret trip to meet with real persecuted Christians. It will change you forever.”

Which sounds pretty fantastic, right?! So I am currently needing to reach about 210 votes to pull to the top. There are only 3 more days of round 2 voting, so I would appreciate it SO much if you would follow the link below and click the small green “vote” button! (you will have to scroll past the picture, vote button will be on the right side of the screen.)

If you like the artwork... share with your friends!

http://www.onewiththem.com/contest/art/one-in-the-body/

The title of my artwork is “One In The Body.”

“

“This painting is descriptive of our oneness with our brothers and sisters across the world in persecution situations. Some are in chains, in prison, constantly harassed, beaten, tortured, and torn away from their families. But one thing can never be taken from them – their faith! This same faith that we in free countries have the comfort to practice in freedom.
We are to remember them, to pray and be intercessors for them. I hope this painting will make that very evident, and inspire those who have the freedom to worship Jesus to pray for those who do not.
Hebrews 13:3 – Remember those who are in prison, as though in prison with them, and those who are mistreated, since you also are in the body.”



For those of you who have already voted for me in this contest, THANK YOU!!! I don't think it allows for second votes (1 vote per computer per artwork), but thank you for your contribution!!

The Birthright of a Son of God

There is neither Jew nor Greek, there is neither slave nor free, there is no male and female, for you are all one in Christ Jesus. And if you are Christ's, then you are Abraham's offspring, heirs according to promise.

I mean that the heir, as long as he is a child, is no different from a slave, though he is the owner of everything, but he is under guardians and managers until the date set by his father. In the same way we also, when we were children, were enslaved to the elementary principles of the world. But when the fullness of time had come, God sent forth his Son, born of woman, born under the law, to redeem those who were under the law, so that we might receive adoption as sons. Galatians 3:28-4:5 English Standard Version (ESV)

(from here) “A footnote in my Bible adds, “The Greek word for adoption to sonship is a legal term referring to the full legal standing of an adopted male heir in Roman culture.” Paul is saying that all who are in Christ Jesus– Jew or Gentile, slave or free, male or female– have received the same promise of the adoption to sonship. No one who has faith in Christ has any lesser legal standing, powers or privileges than anyone else.”

What does it mean to be a son of God? To have all the rights, privileges and inheritance of a son?

I have the right to the kingdom of heaven. I have the right to enter the presence of God and bring my praise, requests and hopes before Him at any time. I have the right to the indwelling of His Holy Spirit. I have the right to entirely equal standing, as a woman, with any man in this world. I have the birthright to the kingdom of God Himself!

Yet there is something terrible happening, something my own Christian sisters and brothers are promoting and living by.

“Once when Jacob was cooking some stew, Esau came in from the open country, famished. He said to Jacob, "Quick, let me have some of that red stew! I'm famished!" (That is why he was also called Edom.) Jacob replied, "First sell me your birthright."
"Look, I am about to die," Esau said. "What good is the birthright to me?"
But Jacob said, "Swear to me first." So he swore an oath to him, selling his birthright to Jacob.
Then Jacob gave Esau some bread and some lentil stew. He ate and drank, and then got up and left. So Esau despised his birthright.” Genesis 25:29-34 New American Standard Bible (NASB)

Just as Esau sold his birthright for nothing more than a single bowl of soup, so Christian women and girls are selling their birthright as the Sons of God... for what? To be accepted among the church. To appear to be “doing everything right”. Selling it in favor of a false interpretation of a few verses in the Bible that it seems many do not take the time to study out to find their true meaning.

“I cannot be a pastor, I am a woman.”

“I can't go on the mission field alone, I am a woman.”

“I cannot lead my family, I am a woman.”

“I can't make that decision, I am a woman.”

Tell me, is this not giving up your BIRTHRIGHT as a Son of God? There are no “daughters of God”. Only Sons, only heirs to the full birthright and inheritance. And if I am a full heir to the Kingdom of God, who is to tell me that I cannot serve my Lord as He has provided and led me? Who is to tell me that I am somehow "lesser" and "not able" to operate in equality with my pastor, my father, my husband, my brothers?

Somehow, as a woman, God cannot put in me the desire and ability to pastor a church? As a woman, I do not have the birthright to equality with men? God's Spirit falls on all who accept it, both MEN & WOMEN. God's blessings are equally granted to both men and women. God's Spirit and gifts are given to BOTH men & women!

Sisters, it is no righteous thing to give up your birthright in the name of “submission,” or “obedience,” or “deference.” Brothers, it is no righteous thing to take away the birthright of any of God's children simply based on the fact that they are a woman.

But this is what was uttered through the prophet Joel:

“‘And in the last days it shall be, God declares,
that I will pour out my Spirit on all flesh,
and your sons and your daughters shall prophesy,
and your young men shall see visions,
and your old men shall dream dreams;
even on my male servants and female servants
in those days I will pour out my Spirit, and they shall prophesy. Acts 2:16-18 (ESV)

When Peter announced this on the day of Pentecost, he was stating that those days of the outpouring of God's Spirit are upon us! That prophecy from Joel had been fulfilled at that time, and is continuing to be fulfilled today.

All of God's children, both men and women, are commanded to walk in the fruit of the Spirit. All are warriors in a fierce spiritual battle, and are to put on the armor of the Lord to FIGHT that battle! Why would we, as women, remove ourselves from that spiritual battle and give up our birthright as the Sons of God?

Humans make divisions and hierarchies. Jesus came to redeem us from the Law, from the patriarchal societies that go against God's will and design. In God's eyes, there is no-one “better,” “stronger,” or “more able.” My strength comes from Christ, not from my physical self. Women have the indwelling of the SAME Spirit as men, so how does it make any sense that they would not be called the same way, given the same gifts, and entrusted the same mission and ministry as any man?

It does not make sense that after the coming of the Spirit all people were declared equal in Christ, yet... not in the realm of ministry? Not in the home?

If God has called and equipped me, it is up to me to do what He would have me do. Do not sell your birthright for anything! Not for security, comfort, or the chance to fit in! I may be shunned by many Christians for they cannot imagine the verses they read to mean anything other than what they have always heard them interpreted as. Read, study, search it out for yourself. Accept no teaching without thorough study of how it lines up with scripture.

Accept your birthright as a Son of God, and walk in the power of His Spirit over your life!

That Cloudy Day

That moment when the sun is hidden behind the clouds, and a misty rain falls somewhere in the distance. That introspective day where everything means something, every nothing now importance itself.

For a second you see an old friend and your mind goes back in time. Back when they were a part of your every day life, every memory with them in it. Now, they don't see you and you pass on by, a sad twinge in your heart. 

What was, to never be again? Yet you cannot go back in time, cannot change the past, only your present, every second as you live. 

Those new friends you've made, that one you can't live without. Now a part of your life the way the others were before, now no more.

Will they stay with you, through your life? Will you stay with them? Sometime, yes, they must go the way that all of life does, and change. For the better, or for the worse? Will you stay with them?

These thoughts as a flood, filling your mind and heart to their very depths. As you sit in your thoughts, a whisper of a breeze blows by your ears and through your hair, and the sun comes out from behind the clouds.