Walk with the Wise

"Whoever walks with the wise becomes wise, 
but the companion of fools will suffer harm."
- Proverbs 13:20

You can tell a lot about a person by the company they keep.

"Show me your friends & I will show you your future." - John Kuebler

WOW. That is a sobering thought! Our friends do influence & impact us, even if we do not realize it or try to disagree. They influence our everyday decisions, thoughts, words & actions. Who we spend time with, who we idolize, who we pattern our lives after is who we will become. That is a scary thought!!!

So, some questions for you-

Who are your friends?
Who is impacting & influencing you?
Are they suitable companions for you?
Who is following whom, in this friendship?
Do they encourage you to walk in integrity, to follow the Lord's statutes?
Or do they discourage you from walking in righteousness?
What sorts of decisions do you end up making, when you are with them?
What kinds of decisions are they making in their lives?

"Do not be misled: 'Bad company corrupts good character.'"- 1 Corinthians 15:33

Don't be deceived. You might think that you are the one doing the influencing in this situation. Maybe you're trying to "missionary date" or are befriending someone, so that you might lead them to Christ.

I am reminded of a visual that my best friend tells all the time- One person is standing on a chair with another person on the ground next to them. They link arms. It is much easier for the person on the ground to topple the person on the chair & pull them off, than it is for the person on the chair to pull up the person on the floor. In the same way, it is much easier for unbelievers to pull us down to their level, than it is for us to bring them up to ours.

 "Do not be yoked together with unbelievers.
For what do righteousness and wickedness have in common?
Or what fellowship can light have with darkness? 
What harmony is there between Christ and Belial?
Or what does a believer have in common with an unbeliever?
What agreement is there between the temple of God and idols?
For we are the temple of the living God."
- 2 Corinthians 6:14-16

"Do not be yoked with unbelievers." Hmm... A commandment. Pretty straightforward, if you ask me!

Another thought- Your friends are more than just the people you associate yourself with. In blog post entitled "My iPod Is My Best Friend," authors Alex & Brett Harris (founders of the Rebelution & authors of Do Hard Things & Start Here) give us this radical thought- your friends are anything that has an impact or an influence on you! Whether it's books, the Internet, movies, music, magazines or whatever. If you can't put it down; if it rules your pocketbook, if it consumes your time- it's a friend. [You can read the whole article here]

So I ask you again, what is influencing you? Where do you spend your time and money? What occupies your thoughts the most?

"Do not be deceived: God cannot be mocked. A man reaps what he sows. 
Whoever sows to please their flesh, from the flesh will reap destruction;
whoever sows to please the Spirit, from the Spirit will reap eternal life. 
Let us not become weary in doing good,
for at the proper time we will reap a harvest
if we do not give up."

- Galatians 6:7-9

Where are you sowing? Where do you spend your time? What will your harvest be?

"Are You a Woman that a Man Would Die For?"

The Accolade, by Edmund Leighton

Second post today. Earlier this week, my dear friend Marjolaine & I were discussing something. Here are my thoughts concerning the topic.

At our CHEF homeschool Conference back in June (the 18th & 19th), Mr Doug Phillips spoke on the topic of "Covenant Keepers on the Deck of the Titanic." He talked about the theme of "women & children first" being an act of chivalry; of the bravery of the men on board the Titanic being the symbol of one of the last great stands of Christendom principles. I would highly encourage you listen to this CD. It is well worth it!

One of his points stuck out to me. He was talking about the Ladies' Tea at the Titanic 100 Event that his ministry (Vision Forum) held back in April. [For more information on this event, check out the April blog archives here]

At this Tea, his wife Beall challenged the ladies present with this question- "

"Are you a woman a man would die for?"

 Wow. What a thought!

Other questions included:

How can we as women inspire the men in our lives to sacrifice for us?
Are we worthy of such sacrifice?

What kind of attitudes should we cultivate and actions should we aspire to raise our character?
How can we live, day to day, in a manner which would make worthwhile a man’s sacrifice?
How do we inspire [ men around us] to consider it an honor (not an obligation) to lay down their lives for us?
What attitudes and actions do you need to cultivate in your daily life?
How can you become a woman worthy of such sacrifice?

A disclaimer: "In the ultimate sense, of course, no, we are not worthy. We are ultimately worthy only of death and damnation. And the charge for men to give up their lives for their brides as Christ gave His for the church is not based on the merit or deserving character of the bride. It is their duty and obligation regardless." - Beall Phillips

She talks of heroines in the Bible (Sarah, Ruth & Esther) portrayed certain character traits worth emulating. For the entire article, click here.

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But this got me thinking. Several years ago, I compiled a list of character qualities that I would like to see in my future husband (to see this list, click here). I began praying through these, praying them over my future husband; that if it was God's Will, he would exhibit these in his life. That I would wait patiently for God to bring that right man into my life, content to not compromise & settle for less.

This is all good & well, but then the Lord convicted me. How dare I ask the Lord to grow these traits in my future husband if I don't portray them in my own life??? How dare I expect him to be far more godly than I, a sinner?

So now, as I pray through this list, I ask the Lord to grow these traits in my future husband and me, that we may both glorify God together through our lives, that we may become more Christ-like & that His light shines through us...

I hope this is an encouragement to you!

"All for the Glory of God"

Here is my first official blog post, since my sabbatical. God still hasn't given me a clear direction concerning my upcoming series (or a title), but I felt like I could post this in the interim...

I have been thinking a lot recently about our motivation for doing things. Firstly, some questions-

Why do you do what you do?
Who are you working for?
What motivates you?
What is your work ethic?

I was struck by these verses:

"And whatever you do, in word or deed, do everything for the glory
of the Lord Jesus, giving thanks to God the Father through him."

- Colossians 3:17

And again in verse 23 & 24:

"Whatever you do, work heartily, as for the Lord and not for men, knowing
that from the Lord you will receive the inheritance as your reward." 

- Colossians 3:23-24

 Hmm. Some food for thought- We need the right motivation for change. Doing all in His Power, His motivation & His strength. It is not of ourselves or anything that we can do in our own strength.

And more questions for contemplation-
 
Are you working for the Lord?
Do you care more about what the Lord thinks of you, than what mere man does?
Are you working diligently for the Lord?
When you receive praise for work well done, who gets the glory?
Do you do the Lord's work in humility, with no thought of self?

Another thought-

"From everyone who has been given much, much
more will be demanded; and from the one who has
been entrusted with much, much more will be asked."

- Luke 12:48b

Also

"Do not be deceived: God cannot be mocked.
A man reaps what he sows."

- Galatians 6:7

Lastly,

 "Let us not become weary in doing good,
for at the proper time we will reap a harvest,

if we do not give up."

- Galatians 6:9

Be blessed today!

Blog-iversary!

(As I was out of town, I was unable to post yesterday)

Yesterday marked the one year blogiversary- for my meditation blog, that is! My photography blog's first "birthday" isn't until September 2!

I remember when my friends Dakota & Marjolaine encouraged me to start a blog. I had heard of facebook, myspace, twitter etc, but I asked myself, "What is a blog? What does that look like?" Now, 121 posts later, I now understand the feeling. :)

You can read my first post (with photos) here. And my first "real" post here. According to my taglines, my favorite words to use are God, faith, family, CHEF (Christian Home Educators Fellowship), Church, love & memories. :) Just a few of the things that I'm passionate about. =)


It has been a very... ahem... interesting.. journey this past year. A lot has happened. Lots of changes. Lots of comings & goings. New faces, new friendships. New freedom. New responsibility. Hard, painful. Fresh, fun. I think (?) my blog(s) portray this.

And God has remained faithful through it all. I continue to "walk by faith." I view life through a camera lens & process it through a writer's pen.

Thank you for joining me on this journey. :) God's richest blessings to you, as we continue to walk by faith, in eager anticipation for our Final Resting Place in Heaven...

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New Series Update:
I currently have a lot of ideas stewing on the back burner. But the time is not yet right for sharing. Every day this week, I have opened a new, blank post, with ideas spewing over, just waiting for the pen to hit the paper... But I feel like God is saying "Wait. It is not yet the proper time." And so I wait for His Guidance & direction concerning the upcoming series (yet unnamed). In the meantime, I am researching & reading voraciously! Stay posted for new posts coming soon (the Lord willing!)...

A Multi-generational Vision

 
Being in the catering industry, I have the opportunity to watch a lot of different types of people- to observe, listen & learn from their words, actions, mistakes, decisions etc. It's a very interesting field of work to be in... Gives me a lot to think about.

For example, I catered a small family dinner earlier this week. Just the family pulling together in a time of crisis. The grandmother was telling me about her eleven children, forty grandchildren & six great-grandchildren. She & her husband are in their late sixties/early seventies, I would assume. Their children in their thirties & forties. Grandchildren in their teens & twenties. Young great-grandchildren. You get the idea.

As we were talking, I was amazed- this is what it looks like! The practical side of the Vision, having it play out in real life! This is it! Having lots of children while you're young, seeing them grow up & have children of their own, being able to instruct your grandchildren & still having many years left when your great-grandchildren are born! This family must be doing it right!

But, as she continued on, I came to realize that they lacked one vital thing- a multi-generational vision. They didn't have all of the puzzle pieces. You see, the idea of having a lot of children & spending time together died in her children. You see, they are all spread out all over the country, living isolated in several states.

"Great!" you might say, "They now can impact world & react the nations for Christ!" Wrong. God is a covenantal God. He works through families. I am reminded of Ecclesiastes 4:7-12-

"Again I saw something meaningless under the sun:

There was a man all alone; he had neither son nor brother...

Two are better than one, because they have a good return for their labor:
If either of them falls down, one can help the other up.
But pity anyone who falls and has no one to help them up^.
Also, if two lie down together, they will keep warm.
    But how can one keep warm alone?
 Though one may be overpowered, two can defend themselves.
A cord of three strands is not quickly broken..."

 If two can defend themselves & a cord of three is not easily broken, think of the impact of five, ten, twenty, fifty, seventy five, one hundred, one thousand family members working together!

This Grandmother was telling me how she'd only met this grandchild once, or how she hasn't seen that one in several years... Hearing her children in conversation with each other, they were more concerned with wealth, money, strong drink etc than on building up their families. Although the Grandmother professed to be a Christian, I saw little evidences of that character trait in the lives of her children & even less in the lives of her grandchildren.

To me, that is a shame. She has failed at her task. Her children have forgotten the Lord & have abandoned the Covenant. May they repent & return while the Lord yet has mercy on them!

And may this stand as a warning to us. Let us not get caught up in worldly things & forget the Lord. May we ever strive to remember the Promises He has made to us. May we walk in His Law & honor His statutes. May we intentionally raise our children in these things. May His Word ever be on their tongues. May we teach them diligently when we rise up, when we walk about the way & when we lie down (Deuteronomy 6:4-9). May we pass on the Vision & leave a godly legacy for many generations to come. Then we shall be blessed.

"Give ear, O my people, to my teaching;
incline your ears to the words of my mouth!
I will open my mouth in a parable;
    I will utter dark sayings from of old,
 things that we have heard and known,
    that our fathers have told us.
We will not hide them from their children,
    but tell to the coming generation
the glorious deeds of the Lord, and his might,
    and the wonders that he has done.

He established a testimony in Jacob
    and appointed a law in Israel,
which he commanded our fathers
    to teach to their children,
that the next generation might know them,
    the children yet unborn,
& arise and tell them to their children,
so that they should set their hope in God
and not forget the works of God,
    but keep his commandments;
and that they should not be like their fathers,
     a stubborn and rebellious generation,
a generation whose heart was not steadfast,
    whose spirit was not faithful to God..."

- Psalm 78:1-8

Historical Quotes for This Independence Day

"America will never be destroyed from the outside. If we falter & lose our freedoms, it will because we destroyed ourselves." -Abraham Lincoln

"We have staked the whole of all our political institutions upon the capacity of mankind for self-government, upon the capacity of each & all of us to govern ourselves, to sustain ourselves, according to the Ten Commandments of God." - James Madison

No people ought to feel the greater obligations to celebrate the goodness of the Great Disposer of events & Destiny of the Nations than the people of the United States... And to the same Divine Author of every good & perfect gift we are indebted for all those privileges, & advantages, religious as well as civil, which are so richly enjoyed in this favored land." - James Madison

 "I shall never surrender nor retreat. Then, I call on you in the name of liberty, of patriotism, and of everything dear to the American character, to come to our aid... The enemy is receiving reinforcements daily & will no doubt increase to three or four thousand in four or five days. If this call is neglected, I am determined to sustain myself as long as possible & die like a soldier who never forgets what is due to his own honor & that of his country." - Lt. Col. William Barrett Travis (Alamo)

"I have learned that in order to bring about change, you must not be afraid to take the first step. We will fail when we fail to try. Each & every one of us can make a difference." - Rosa Parks

 "The law... dictated by God Himself is, of course, superior in obligation to any other. It is binding over all the globe, in all countries, and at all times. No human laws are of any validity if contrary to this." - Alexander Hamilton

 "The nation which forgets its defenders will itself be forgotten." - President Calvin Coolidge

 "Those who cannot remember the past are condemned to repeat it." - George Santayana

 "Is life so dear, or peace so sweet as to be purchased at the price of chains & slavery? Forbid it, Almighty God! I know not what course others may take; but as for me, give me liberty or give me death!" - Patrick Henry

 "Every nation or group of nations has its own tale to tell. Knowledge of the trials & struggles is necessary to all who would comprehend the problems, perils, challenges & opportunities which confront us today." - Winston Churchill

 "I have lived a long time & the longer I live, the more convincing proofs I see of this truth- that God governs in the affairs of men. And if a sparrow cannot fall to the ground without His notice, is it probable that a nation can rise without His aid?" - Benjamin Franklin

 "The only thing necessary for the triumph of evil is for good men to do nothing." - Edmund Burke

 "These are the times that try men's souls. The summer soldier & the sunshine patriot will, in this crisis, shrink from the service of their country; but he that stands it now, deserves the love & thanks of man & woman. Tyrannny, like Hell, is not easily conquered; yet we have this consolation with us, that the harder the conflict, the more glorious the triumph! What we obtain too cheap, we esteem too lightly: It is dearness only that gives everything its value. Heaven knows how to put a proper price upon its goods & it would be strange indeed if so celestial an article as freedom should not be so highly hated." - Patrick Henry

"We are a 'nation under God' as our pledge says, and once we forget that, we've forgotten our heritage. And once we do that, we're no longer America." - Mat Staver

Let Freedom Ring!

HAPPY INDEPENDENCE DAY! Today our nation pulls together, to remember our roots & our heritage. I would like to add that this is a Christian heritage, that our Founding Fathers did indeed live lives of faith.

 On holidays such as this, Memorial Day & Thanksgiving, my heart resounds with the cry of "REMEMBER! REMEMBER! REMEMBER!" Remember who you are, remember your history remember what God has done for you (& your family, Country etc), remember who you are Called to be, and remember Who you serve.

I'm afraid that holidays such as these are only seen as a chance for people to be off work, enjoy the fireworks, be with their families & friends, and barbeque. I pray that we haven't forgotten our heritage. May our blessed Independence Day mean more to us than just fireworks, hot dogs & soda!

 Take a moment today to bend your knee, bow your head & thank Providence for His continued protection! Remember that freedom isn't free. Say a prayer for our soldiers overseas, who aren't able to spend this Independence Day with their families. Don't let their sacrifices be in vain.

On this Independence Day, don't forget what our Stars & Stripes stand for. Of the blood that has been shed to protect our freedom, liberties & values.

Fully Surrendering Our Dreams to God

A friend of a friend died tragically back in May. His name was Josh Eddy. He was 19 years. He was hiking with some friends & family. He was on the edge of a riverbank, turned to snap a photo & fell to his death... It was a huge shock & very sad. He was a STRONG Christian.

[You can read more of my tribute to Josh here]

His testimony & story has impacted thousands of people around the world. It's been AMAZING to see the legacy that he's leaving... He will not be forgotten.

Anyway, 12 days before he died, he posted a note on his blog about Surrendering our Precious Dreams to God. You can find that blog post here. I would encourage you to read that post and his other ones. They're very encouraging, thought-provoking & challenging.

Since then, a lot of my fellow bloggers have taken his challenge: Recognizing our NEED to daily, fully surrender our lives & dreams to God & then watch in amazement as He shapes, molds & turns them into far more than we could ever dream or imagine. To read more about this challenge, click this blog link. Also see this and this.

I have also taken this challenge. I don't know if I'll post the specifics on my blog or not, but I am committed to joining the cause. And I hope you will too. Let me know if you have any thoughts or questions about this...

Thanks for reading! Be blessed!

~ Kate
Proverbs 16:9

New Posts Coming Soon!

Hello everyone!

I just wanted to let y'all know that I haven't been purposefully neglecting my blogs. We've just been very busy recently, with work, graduations, parties, the CHEF Conference & Scottish & most recently, a whirlwind trip to Yellowstone (just returned this afternoon)!!!



I have some ten or more upcoming blog topics rolling around in my brain & on my journal notepad... Possible topics include more modesty topics, doing all for the glory of God, actively waiting on the Lord, Beauty, the Titanic versus the Costa Concordia, the importance of a mission statement, the topic of accountability/ mentorship/ discipleship, having an intentional strategic missional mindset etc.

I hope to be able to formulate some coherent thoughts this coming week!

Check back soon! Be blessed...

~ Kate
Romans 8:28