i'll start off light and end with the possible controversy. after working all day saturday, i feel good. i have a plan for the clutter and i even have some of it dealt with. one of the things that has been weighing on me that i didn't even really realize, are all of the photos i have, that aren't scrapbooked or in albums. i know with all the photos i take, i'm not going to be scrapbooking all of them. so i'm cool with having all the extra photos in photo albums. and that has been my plan for some time now. HOWEVER, i haven't made the move to put them in albums....they're just piling up in boxes and overflowing everywhere. i used to print a lot more photos than i do now. i'm learning. so as i was organzing my studio this weekend, i realized it was time to get the photos under control. i went out and bought a large photo album (and i can already see that one isn't going to be enough) and while tom and i sat outside saturday night, i started filling it. it feels good to have a plan. hopefully i'll have all the surplus photos in albums soon. my studio closet already looks better.
i have the room in good shape now and it's amazing the effect that has on creativity. i made a page for a friend...
totally free. it felt good.
and a page about a dear friend-
as i wrote a few weeks/months ago....i really like simple pages.
and i took some photos of a really cute boy friday-
i love his serious looks-but he has a great smile too! i'm looking forward to doing a mini-shoot with his sister tonight!
okay, so on to the possible controversial topic. church. i have felt compelled for some time to write about this...but i've pretty much avoided it until now. the reason: i don't want to come across as judgmental. if i were speaking in person, i think it would be easier to make that clear. to me, one of the ugliest character traits is a judgemental attitude. i try not to be. so this is not about pointing a finger and saying "you should go to church" it's more about "this is what church can add to your life and i just want to encourage you to try it". yes, i'm a people pleaser : ) but i'm sincere.
top 10 reasons i go to church(and i'm going to be really real here...and not worry about being pc):
1. i love the way i'm in the moment when i'm in church. there are so many times day to day, when i recognize that i'm not really conscious. i'll be going through the motions, but i'm really a million miles away in my thoughts. when i'm in church, i'm in the moment fully. i love the way i feel fully alive. sometimes, i'm sad, convicted, full of joy, remorseful, relieved, grateful....but whatever i'm feeling, i'm feeling alive.
2. i love to corporately worship. singing, praying, totally into the Lord as a body of people. it's powerful.
3. i want to glorify God. i think this is our purpose as God's creation. a part of this is publicly acknowledging my loyalty to Him.
4. i like the accountability. in my church, when someone asks how i'm doing, they really want to know the truth. it's not a place that i can slip in and out unnoticed. my church family holds me accountable. i can be real there.
5. i love to be united with my family in church. we usually have a full row and i can't even put into words the joy i feel when i look and see my family sitting together in church.
6. i like to dress up. okay, not pc, but i'm trying to keep it real.
7. i feel like it's a way i can honor my grandparents. they are in heaven, but i know that it would make them happy to know that i'm in church. it was important to them, it's important to me.
8. i need to hear the Word. the Word is truth and i need truth in my life. and in the Word it says, "faith comes from hearing the message" rom 10:17 so even though i read it every day, i NEED to hear it spoken. plus hearing the Word challenges me in my daily life. i think on it all through the week.
9. when i miss a sunday, i feel empty. i hate missing. plain and simple.
10. i love the people. this is different than the accountability thing. i just adore my church family. i love that it's a group of people bonded by faith, and that we're all ages, colors,- all walks of life and yet we can love each other, and be there for each other. i am accepted, i know i can mess up and they'll be there to help pick up the pieces. and i want to do that for others. serving others is a huge part of why i want to be in a church body.
yeah, i love my church. i'm thankful to have found a place/body where i can go and bless, and be blessed in Jesus name.
i am not a preacher. but i sorta feel like one right now. again, this post is not to cast judgement, or make anyone feel bad, it's meant as an encouragement. it works for me. i believe i have experienced growth i would never have known, if i weren't attending church.
i pray for God's blessings for each of you!
I find it sad that we live in a day and age where a post like this could be considered controversial. I LOVE your outline of reasons that you attend church, and many of them are the same reasons I attend.
Thank you so much for sharing- it was encouraging. You should never have to be ashamed to share the love of Jesus. :)
Posted by: Melissa | July 28, 2008 at 07:58 AM
How is that controversial???
It is real.
It is honest.
It is what makes you you.
And....I like you :)
Loved this post Becky!!!
Posted by: Maureen | July 28, 2008 at 09:39 AM
Great post Becky! I know what you mean by wanting this to serve as encouragement not judgement. There are blessings that God has for us that cannot be fulfilled anywhere but in the body of Christ! I feel sad for believers who don't attend or belong to a church because we can't experience the fullness of Christ outside of 'the church.' This will serve as a great reminder to yourself too if/when you go through one of those dry times that we sometimes experience. Thanks for sharing!
Posted by: Gina | July 28, 2008 at 09:41 AM
As I told you the last time I saw you, Becky, you're an incredibly beautiful soul. You have an inner light that really shines. Love your post.
XO
Posted by: Kelly Goree | July 28, 2008 at 11:10 AM
I know what you mean! I LOVE to be in church...it's something I need to do and want to do for all the same reasons as you. When I have to miss when I'm out of town, I'm so happy that my church has a live feed online so I can feel a little bit like I've been there.
So nice to meet you at CHA!
Posted by: Debby Schuh | July 28, 2008 at 11:18 AM
Well said. Quite simply, and not controversial at all. I respect others choices, but know personally what fulfills me. And my 10 reasons are similar to yours. The biggest for me: that sense of fulfillment. Gorgeous 'Wish', by the way ;)
Posted by: Kirsten | July 28, 2008 at 11:22 AM
Great post. I love your transparency, your sensitivity to others that may have differing views, and yet the motivation of your heart is to share something you find wonderful and encouraging. You are light in a dark world. Shine on sister!!!
xo
Sue
Posted by: Sue | July 28, 2008 at 11:51 AM
AMEN SISTA.. You are soso lucky to have a pew filled with your family in Church.. Thats a dream of mine someday.. for now I'll be happy and Blessed that Landon is sitting with me every once in awhile!!... Theres no better feeling than a total hour with the Lord.. in church or not.. Love ya girlfriend
Posted by: JOAN | July 28, 2008 at 12:55 PM
becky, i grew up in a baptist family, later going on to become a preachers kid in a non-denominational church...and when i walked away from it 8 years ago, it was for SO many reasons. for the first time in a very long time, you have made me miss going to church. thank you for that. xo. - heather
Posted by: metrochic | July 28, 2008 at 03:07 PM
Thanks for your encouraging words. Many times because I'm not wanting to come across judgemental, I won't know exactly what to say to someone who says, 'I love Jesus and I can worship him anywhere. Why do I need to go to church?' You summed it up very well. I particularly like #3-showing publicly or commitment and loyalty to Him. Mind if I share your list w/ our pastor? He would like this. I won't share til I hear from you. Have a great week!
Posted by: psmullican | July 28, 2008 at 04:02 PM
Thank you so much for not being afraid to say this. I hate that we as Christians feel like we need to apologize before we say anything about our faith and our good God. Right on, Amen and yes girl to all you said-I pray that this touches many many others (like it already has:))!!!
Posted by: sheridan | July 28, 2008 at 09:45 PM
rock on, BN!!! so well said!!
to me, there's a very good reason God intended for things to be as they are - that we would be a body of believers, pieces of a whole. not that worship, prayer, etc. can't be done solo by any means... but that accountability, that family, those who you can stand next to and either silently or publicly bear your heart, speak your soul and share love for Jesus... um, yeah.
Posted by: amy | July 28, 2008 at 11:08 PM
"i like to dress up"
i love you becky!!! :)
Posted by: kelly | July 30, 2008 at 04:00 PM
Relating, completely... since we started going to the church we are at currently-it is that and more for us...
Thanks for posting this!
Sharing your beliefs, being transparent!
Thanks Becky! Your so sweet and soft spoken, but so clear and concise. :)
Blessings!
Posted by: Penny Smith | July 30, 2008 at 09:36 PM
Lovely creations, adorable pics and good for you for speaking your mind like that....I couldn't agree with you more!!
Posted by: Jana | August 05, 2008 at 06:24 AM