Okay, I can't remember what Brent did, but the punishment must have been just! Of course this was Disney World a few years ago. A great Kodak moment for sure.
I really can relate to this though. I do this to myself continually when I make a mistake. I lock myself into some sort of internal stockade and stay there without a determined sentence of punishment. I ridicule myself for not being perfect or for failing God or my family. This is such wrong thinking. God would never put us in stockades to be ridiculed and punished. Jesus did that for us on the cross, so we would not have to endure this type of torture.
So why do I choose to do what has been paid for already by Jesus? It is so hard to accept that I do not have to do anything more to gain favor with God and I do not need to punish myself continually for falling short. God's grace and love are too indescribable and amazing for me to truly understand.
2 Corinthians 5:20-21
"We are therefore Christ's ambassadors, as though God were making his appeal through us. We implore you on Christ's behalf: Be reconciled to God. God made him who had no sin to be sin for us, so that in him we might become the righteousness of God."
Friday, January 18, 2008
Stockades
Posted by Emily Tallman at 10:27 AM 0 comments
Thursday, January 17, 2008
11 cents
Posted by Emily Tallman at 8:29 PM 0 comments
Looking for God
Have you ever asked the question, "Where are you God?". I sure have. There are times that I get so absorbed in "looking" for God, that I don't realize all that I am missing around me. Just like Tyler in this picture! When you concentrate on finding that one thing, you miss out on the people and opportunities around you. I have found that God cannot be found, because he cannot be lost! God is everywhere. We can only be in one place. ( I wish I could be in more than one place). When I get self absorbed, God says "Look around and you will see all that I am doing". That is encouragement to me.
Deuteronomy 4:29-30
"But if from there you seek the LORD your God, you will find him if you look for him with all your heart and with all your soul. When you are in distress and all these things have happened to you, then in later days you will return to the LORD your God and obey him."
Posted by Emily Tallman at 6:16 PM 0 comments
Wednesday, January 16, 2008
Busyness
This piece is from the Modern art class I took recently. I love this piece, and yes it is art. You can take it for what it is, or you can look deeper and realize that he is using this to make a point, scolding himself for being 'status quo" and reminding himself to put expression in his art.
I think everyone would benefit from writing sentences now and then. I would start with...
Posted by Emily Tallman at 5:47 PM 0 comments
Tuesday, January 15, 2008
Youth
I love this picture of Brent. He loves football, and had the opportunity to play in high school when his family was on furlough from Papua New Guinea. There is just something wonderful about being able to participate in something that you love. He coaches a flag football team now and has a great team. I think youth is such a gift from God. He allows us to have a brief time in our lives with little responsibilities and a lot of opportunities to just enjoy life! If you think of all of the opportunities we had in our teen years you realize how much there is to grasp and hold onto in the years to come.
As an adult the bills come, the children appear and life closes in each day that we press forward. I believe God gives youth to remind us that we have a carefree, adventurous spirit deep inside of us.
Ecclesiastes 11:9-10
"Young people, it’s wonderful to be young! Enjoy every minute of it. Do everything you want to do; take it all in. But remember that you must give an account to God for everything you do. 10 So refuse to worry, and keep your body healthy. But remember that youth, with a whole life before you, is meaningless."
Posted by Emily Tallman at 6:02 PM 0 comments