Monday, October 30, 2017

Chipping with Intention


These days my life looks a little sporadic. As in it's completely different than the year before and I'm thrown into a whole other season of newness/busyness/lets-just-roll-with-it.

I've heard the quote, "A job is just a job." And I agree that a job/career does not define who you are. But as I drove home through the dark highway after a really long day of work, I started to think.... and a thought crossed my mind.

Nothing is ever wasted for God.


Is it possible that we can find purpose in the mundane everyday things that we do? Can we take away something from all of the jobs, moments, experiences and interactions that we go through in our lives?

I'm starting to think so.

If God is the God that says He cares about the tiniest details in our lives, I don't think anything is wasted... not even the current job we may think "is just a job".

God sent Jesus to earth to live among us, and even Jesus had a job before He began His ministry. He was a carpenter.

Though a king, during the time He lived on earth he worked with wood and tools and created different things. It was a humble position, nothing fancy like you would expect a king to be.

And yet, Jesus obeyed.

He did His work, and He saw His Father through everything He did.


I admire that.

I've worked in countless settings and jobs, and I'll be honest I always thought it was never important since it was "just a job". I'm just passing through. 

But it brought me to this point: Maybe we can find little sparks in the everyday moments, little things that add onto our character and build us up.

I'm starting to realize that all of my random/ not so random positions, experiences, and interactions with people are actually playing into a bigger role.

Michelangelo the famous Italian sculptor said this, "Every block of stone has a statue inside it and it is the task of the sculptor to discover it."


Though most people would probably just a see a giant rock, Michelangelo saw the slab of stone as the finished sculpture he had in His mind. He saw all the potential of what it could be... he just had to chip away at it, and slowly that vision would unveil before Him.

I kind of think of us as that slab of stone. God is the sculptor who already sees what we're going to become. But He has to chip away at us in order for that beautiful sculpture to come out.

And so if the position is making me patient... chip, chip.
If it's making me humble... chip, chip, chip. 
If it's making me more like Jesus... chip, chip, chip times 1000.


See where I'm getting at?

If we start to pay attention to the little things in our jobs and experiences... we'll see that it's making us into the person God needs us to be for His purpose.

We need to be a servant before we can get to the top, so that when we do get there... our hearts will be humble.

A "humility check" so to speak so we don't forget where we came from.

It's hard most days. I feel as I'm just going by and it doesn't matter. But remember, nothing goes unnoticed by God.

So I've started this new thing in the morning, where I thank God for what He's doing in me... even though I can't exactly see what that is right now.

I'm choosing to trust and obey... because I know He's working all things for my good, and His glory.

// And we know that all things work together for good to them that love God, to them who are called according to his purpose. // Romans 8:28


May we see His hand in every moment of our lives, and may it help us become more like Him.

Thursday, October 5, 2017

Speak Truth Over Yourself


Honesty time: I've been feeling way less than worthy the past few weeks. As if God turned His face from me and walked away. 

I know that can't possibly be true because God loves us and never lets us go. But I just can't shake the feeling.

It's as if He's poured all of Himself into me, constantly giving me different ideas and opportunities... and I just keep shoving them aside. 

I can hear Him thinking, What's the use... she's never going to do what I wanted her to do. Onto to the next girl that will actually carry out my plan. 

I'm a halfway success. Barely there, but not enough to make it all the way through. 

I heard a sermon the other day and I seriously thought God told the pastor to speak directly to me. Because I felt every word directed at me, or rather my situation.

And I thought, you know what I don't think I'm the only one that's feeling like this... so here I am writing this out.

He said: YOU have a place. And God has not forgotten about you. God has a place for you. 

I tried so hard not to cry. (And if you know me well, you know that's impossible)... so the tears dripped the side of my face as I intently clung to his words. 

Why is it that I always think God is against me? Just as my mind started this battle of reminding me of my mishaps and failures... I started to remember certain verses that contradicted every.single.lie I was telling myself. 

Here's how it went:

Barbara: But He left me... I failed Him.

God: Be strong and courageous. Do not be afraid or terrified because of them, for the LORD your God goes with you; He will never leave you nor forsake you. (Deuteronomy 31:6)

Barbara: I'll never be able to do that. I want to, but I just see no way.

God: Being confident of this, that He who began a good work in you will carry it on to completion until the day of Christ Jesus. (Philippians 1:6) 

Case in point: Jesus will NEVER leave us.

Through this, I've realized the importance of speaking truth over ourselves.

And we need to do it constantly because every day is a new day. Don't believe the lies.

We are worthy, we are worth it, He will never leave us, He will never turn His back on us, and He'll never give up on us.

YOU are significant and don't forget to speak truth over yourself, speak truth. 

Tuesday, October 3, 2017

Lifestyle Portraits | Daniella


I met with Daniella at the Ross Dock Picnic Area park for her portraits, and we had the best time. We met a few years ago both working for a school and I always remembered how sweet she was, and our obsession and love for traveling the world. 

The air was crisp, and a few colorful leaves had fallen with their hint of yellow to give us the feeling of the Autumn season ahead of us. We talked about our trips abroad, laughed about different experiences, and talked about future dreams. Daniella is the type of person you could meet once and feel like you've been friends forever. 

Towards the end, we got so caught up with our stories we ended up making a wrong turn... but no worries we quickly turned around and laughed it off! ;) Thank you again Daniella, you are beautiful and totally rocked your shoot!