ten good things right now.

>> after being sick for over a week, i was at the end of my rope yesterday. i had one last option to try before breaking down and going to the doctor. i pleaded with God to heal me. this morning, i woke up feeling the best i've felt! praise You, Jehovah Rapha.

>> it rained yesterday and it was glorious.

>> what God is teaching me about His grace, the Holy Spirit, and the law.

>> french vanilla coffee. coffee is always  a good thing.

>> i joined an online book club, which is something i've always wanted to do.

>> spring flowers in january. my heart could burst. 

>> God's new mercies each morning.

>> sermon podcasts. 

>> being inspired.

>> putting away the phone, turning off the computer, and just enjoying the company of my family. no distractions.

winter nature.

 

 

these pictures have been on my camera card for far too long. i've had the flu for over a week now. to say i'm over it would be an understatement. nyquil and i have become close friends. i think i went through a box of kleenex in record time. i started getting discouraged last night, but i know that the Great Physician will heal me. nothing is impossible for my God.

the weather in oklahoma is supposed to be gorgeous today. 74* in january? honey, i'll take it . i told myself that no matter how i feel, i will venture into the pasture after work later. i think fresh air and nature will do me some good.    

the vine app is all the rage right now. follow me if ya want.

ps: the facebook page got a pretty update. check it out!
thank you to breanna rose for the tips!

you get what you put in.

i recently started a new she reads truth plan. i had already studied through the "soul detox" plan they are currently re-reading, but i wanted to follow along with them each day and read the notes i took the previous time. i ran across a line from day six: 

"our thoughts are easily influenced by worldly influencing, relationships, words/lyrics, etc."

how true i found this to be last night. after reading half of a highly recommended book, i closed it and whispered, no more. i could not continue to fill my mind with the filth and foul language anymore. some people say they can just "ignore it", but i could no longer pretend that it wasn't affecting me. the words would creep into my thoughts throughout the day, and it left me feeling dirty.

when i fill my mind with worldly things, i will have worldly thoughts. it's that simple. i can't believe it took me reading half of the book to have that realization. i reap what i sow. what i put into my mind matters so much. what i think determines what i become, what i do, what i say, what's in my heart.

i want my thoughts, my mind, and my heart to be focused on Jesus. romans 12:2 says, "do not copy the behavior and customs of this world, but let God transform you into a new person by changing the way you think. then you will learn to know God's will for you, which is good and pleasing and perfect." when my thoughts and my heart are fixed on Jesus, there is no room for the broken, ugly things of this world to take root.

the prayer of my heart moving forward is this:

"search me, O God, and know my heart; test me and know my anxious thoughts. point out anything in me that offends You, and lead me along the path of everlasting life."

i started blogging HERE now! make sure to follow along!

currently.

watching //
lately it’s been a lot of FRIENDS. i have never watched the series before now. i am currently on season eight, and i’m all like, 
“can ross and rachel just please get back together now?!” gah.
 
listening //
"You satisfy my soul" by laura hackett; "mighty to save" by hillsong; "hallelujah (Your love is amazing)" by brenton brown.

planning //
a special ‘single girl’ valentine’s day for myself.

thinking about //
as of late, i am uninspired... with writing, photography, blogging, and even... instagram. oh, the horror.
it's not that i don't have ideas, but those ideas are the same ol' thing. i need new perspective, new inspirations. when i get in a rut in areas of my life, i know that God is chiseling off my comfort walls to expose a fresh layer of His perspective and beauty.
i love when He does that.

looking forward to //
kicking this flu. the weekend. a quiet saturday with coffee and a book. sunday school.

reading //
just finished "unglued" by lysa terkeurst. any good book recommendations?

making me happy //
His promises.
french vanilla coffee
she reads truth: galatians plan.
tall glass of orange juice.
chunky sweaters.
  

tidbits of life.

>> so thankful for a daddy who will stop what he's doing to help someone. (even if it's just putting air in my tires)

>> the christian zombie killers handbook is one of the best books i've read. so much gospel truth, minus the feel-good fluff.

>> romans 12:2.

>> signs of winter.

>> iced coffee.

>> painted a section of my bedroom with chalkboard paint.

>> the flu can't stop me from enjoying the Word and oj in my penguin cup.

>> a beautiful 68* january day.

You.

Lord, empty of myself so i can be filled with You.
> rid me of my shame and guilt of past mistakes // you have removed my sins as far as the east is from the west.
> rid me of the doubts and questions of 'what if // Your plans are for my good and Your glory.
> rid me of the anger and bitterness i've carried for far too long // renew my thoughts and attitude.

take my life and mold me into a shining light for You in this dark world.
may my life, thoughts, words, and actions reflect Your redeeming love and abundant grace.

Your grace... oh, the grace that overwhelms me, covers me, humbles me. grace that is greater than all my sin.
though i stumble, You hold me.

You call me Your beloved and nothing can separate me from Your love. You alone satisfy my soul.

"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."

- as the deer.

new blog design!

for months, i have been searching for a blog designer who is affordable, yet knows their stuff. after browsing through some blogs, i came upon the kinch life designs. aubrey's portfolio was stunning, her prices were the best i've seen, and she loves Jesus. score!

after stalking her blog for days, i finally decided she was the one. (in a non-creeper way, y'all).

YOU GUYS. i just have to say that i was blown away when she sent me the finished product. the result was far beyond what i had hoped for. isn't it beautiful? i feel like it's totally me. if you have a chance, check out her design blog and her personal blog. girlfriend knows her stuff, lemme tell ya.

tell ya kids, tell ya wife, tell ya husband that {beauty in humble places} got a new design!

tidbits of life.

>> frosty morning.

>> everlasting covenant.

>> Jesus + the Word + coffee.

>> my lovely life planner. is it weird to be thankful for a planner?

>> breakfast for dinner // pancakes with nutella, scrambled eggs, and turkey bacon.

>> i'm using my life planner to write down memories and meaningful scripture for the day. exodus 14:14.

>> odd little growth on a tree branch.

>> my newest favorite drink: sparkling ice water in coconut pineapple.

create in me a clean heart.

when i started {beauty in humble places}, i wanted a place to share my thoughts, photography, life, and ultimately: my heart for Jesus. somewhere along the way, i lost focus. instead of writing to glorify the Lord, i started blogging to glorify myself. i became obsessed with how i could get more readers, more comments, more pageviews. more, more, more.

one day last month, i scrolled through my blog. it was like God had taken the veil off my eyes and revealed a blog that should be titled {beauty in prideful places}. whoa. where did i go wrong? what am i doing? i prayed right then and told God to take this blog -- my words -- and make it His.

pride is destructive. you give it one glance and suddenly it has invaded every part of your life. i can't tell you how many times i've prayed, "God, please take my pride and crush it. crumble every last bit. and if that means i crumble with it, i know You can turn ashes into beauty."

i love blogging. i love the blogging community. i have met some wonderful women who challenge and inspire me. my hope is that i will be hidden behind the cross and Jesus will shine. i want to make Him famous, not amber. the pageviews, the comments, the amount of readers... they're just numbers. what matters is #1: Jesus.


"create in me a clean heart, O God. renew a loyal spirit within me." psalm 51:10.

exodus 14:14.

in yesterday's she reads truth: fresh start plan, it simply asked us to meditate on exodus 14:14:

the Lord will fight for you, and you have only to be silent.

The Lord will fight for me. the word "for" sticks out. 
- not with me. He is God; not i. He is fully capable of handling anything. i just need to let go and let Him.
- or against me. He is never against me, but when things don't go my way, i tend to question His reason.
- but FOR me. He loves me more than i'll ever comprehend. everything He does in regards to me and my life is FOR my benefit, FOR the best, and most importantly, FOR His glory.

you have only to be silent. me, silent? but i want to know why, how, when, where? 
- the NLT states: just stay calm. causing a ruckus won't help a thing.
- NIV says: you only need to be still. be still. be free from the chaos. trust and let God take control.
- the message reads: you keep your mouths shut! sometimes we just need to hush. i know i do, friends.

so much truth to soak up in one sentence. He will fight for me; i just have to be still. 


Lord, this is my prayer, that You will calm my soul, my thoughts, my fears. may i walk in Your truths, growing in faith and wisdom. You are so good to me. You will always fight for me. help me to be still and let You be God instead of trying to be in control and have it my way. have it Your way, Lord. 

 i started blogging HERE now! make sure to follow along!

twig arrows.

lately i've had this fascination with arrows. while browsing pinterest, i found these adorable diy twig arrows.
after buying felt, i walked up to the pasture and found some twigs. less than an hour later, viola!

i am thinking i will hang these in my bedroom. aren't they cute?!

thankful notes.

be thankful in all circumstances, for this is God’s will for you who belong to Christ Jesus.

 1 thessalonians 5:18

i started a project life 365 blog for the new year. yesterday's theme was optimistic. i chose to capture this:

for each day of twenty13, i will be writing down one thing i am thankful for and putting it in a mason jar. at the end of the year, i will read each note and know (even more) just how blessed i am and give God the glory for all His mercies.

instead of focusing on the negative, this will keep me optimistic!

[free notes of thankfulness found here]

nye 2012.

 

HAPPY NEW YEAR!

i hope y'all had a great new year's eve. mine was glorious: family time, yummy snacks, game night, football, and the traditional sparkling red grape juice! we watched the ball drop (on tv) in downtown okc and at precisely 12:15, i was in bed. party animal, i tell ya.

as the year came to an end, i reflected on all God has done for me. i am so blessed and intend to live that way.

for the new year, i have so many goals i want to achieve. i have set out to do 365 project, which is taking a picture each day of the year. i found an awesome website called project life 365 to help inspire and keep me on track.

i am excited for God's plan for my life in 2013. the wisdom He will give me, the lessons i will learn, the people i will meet, the memories i will make. the possibilities are endless, but i am thankful that the God of the universe already has each and every detail planned for me and for His glory.