Faithful Fridays ~ Teens Really Are Standing Up.

It's Friday, guys!  :)  I'm so sorry I haven't done Faithful Friday in a week or two--we went out of town for Thanksgiving and things have been kind of crazy since then, trying to get back into the swing of things.  :)  I was appalled to look at my blog the other day and realize that I hadn't posted since November 15th.  Ya'll.  I should be ashamed of myself.  I'm really trying to blog more.  :D

Okay, on with the post!  :)

Faithful Fridays is a weekly "meme" hosted on my blog.  I made it so that Christians could have one designated day a week (Friday) to share something from their Christian walk on their blog.  If you'd like to participate, write your post, grab the Faithful Friday button from my Faithful Friday page (so that it will link back to my blog), and come link up at the bottom of this post!  :)

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Isn't it discouraging to turn on the TV these days?  Even the old seemingly-harmless channels have turned...sour, not to mention the ones that were a bit more controversial, say, ten years ago.  We got rid of our cable several years ago, and to be honest, we really haven't missed it.  It's so much more liberating to not have it.  TV becomes an addiction, and it's especially bad now days since just about any TV show you turn on will have a worldly take on things.

And it makes you wonder, why on earth aren't there people standing up....teens especially, since they have the opportunity to lead the next generation?  I'm sure you're standing up in your own way, and so am I.  We may stand up by refusing to play a certain video game or listen to a certain song or artist, or letting a friend know our beliefs and laying down boundaries like, "I don't cuss."  I know that if any friends of mine would've started talking about inappropriate things, I would've let them know I wouldn't listen to it, and then simply walked away.  Thankfully, I've never really been in that situation.

Have you ever seen/heard of the show "Two and a Half Men"?  I've never watched it myself, but I've caught wind of its reputation as a pretty inappropriate show.  One of the younger stars on the show is Angus T. Jones, a now 19-year-old boy.

I found it extremely encouraging to click onto my news page a few days ago and read about Angus becoming a Christian and starting to read the Bible and attend a church--which made him realize that the show he had starred on was inappropriate, and, in his words, "filth".  I have to say, I think Angus is amazing.  In the video below, he explains that even some of his family members thought he was getting wrapped up in "cults" and warned him to get out of it, but he wasn't feeling like he was being fooled, and it was all right there for him to study in the Bible himself.  He realized that there was no evidence for the opposing view.

"Jake from "Two and Half Men" is nothing.  He is not an existing character."

"If you're watching "Two and a Half Men," please stop watching "Two and Half Men".  I'm on "Two and a Half Men" and I don't want to be on it," he said.  "Please stop watching it.  Please stop filling your head with filth.  Please."  Later on the video he says, "If we're luke-warm....it's going to cause a lot more harm because people will see us and be like, 'Oh, I can be a Christian and be on a show like 'Two and a Half Men.'  You can't.  You cannot be a true, God-fearing person and be on a television show like that.  I know I can't.  And I'm not okay with what I'm learning, what the Bible says, and being on that television show, so, you know, you just go all or nothing."

 

Angus has been ridiculed, belittled, mocked, and made "uncomfortable".  A star of another "comedy" show made a parody of his video.  Angus did apologize in some respects, saying he "is grateful to, and has the highest respect and regard for, all of the wonderful people on 'Two and Half Men' with whom I have worked and over the past 10 years have become an extension of my family."

I don't know about you, but I'm proud and encouraged to see a Hollywood Christian--especially a teen--standing up.  May God bless him.

God bless you and have a great day!

Joy :)

These Are a Few of My Favorite Things

I'M BACK.  *ducks to avoid being hit with tomatoes*  I'm sorry I've been gone so long.  :(  In my defense, however, for the last five days we've been out of town.  It's been pretty busy around here.  :)

Folks, life is beautiful.  We're going to have issues rise up, some smaller, some bigger, but as Christians, this is not our home.  On the flip-side of the coin, this life is a gift to be used to Jesus' glory.  We can find peace and strength in Jesus to keep on chugging, and reach out to others in small ways.  A smile.  A hug.  A compliment.  These things can brighten up a person's day *so* much.  They're lovely.

Let's just appreciate the beautiful life God's given us.  These are a few of my favorite things.  :)

Beautiful landscapes....

Christmas....

Old-fashioned and country things that give those thrills that Anne Shirley spoke so freely about.

"Yes, that is the right name for it.  I know because of the thrill.  When I hit on a name that suits exactly it gives me a thrill.  Do things ever give you a thrill?"

-Anne of Green Gables

Superheroes.  :)

SAD LOKI.  :'(

I'm liking Dr. Banner more and more.  :)

Pretty things.  :)  Isn't it so much easier and more fun to be fashionable in the fall/winter?  Scarves and boots are the best.  :D

"It is ever so much easier to be good if your clothes are fashionable."

-Anne of Green Gables

Kiddos.  :)

I love this for obvious reasons.  :)

Smiles from Bhutan.  :)

Fairytale, bookish, storytale things.  :)

Good books.  :)

And finally...a new cover from MHJR!  :)  The first from their Disney album.  :)

Hope you guys enjoyed this little dollop of things I love!  I do believe a photography post is in order, so be looking for one!  :)

God bless you and have a great day!

Joy :)

Faithful Fridays ~ Like Binoculars

It's Friday...which means it's time for Faithful Friday!  :)

Faithful Fridays is a weekly "meme" hosted on my blog.  I made it so that Christians would have a designated day (Friday) to share something from their Christian walk on their blog.  If you'd like to participate, write your post, grab the Faithful Friday button from my "Faithful Friday" page, and come link up at the bottom of this post!  :)

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Have you ever looked out of binoculars the wrong way?  You know, backwards?  Where instead of small, far-away things becoming big and magnified, everything looks super far away?

Have you ever had a problem that just springs itself up and becomes big and magnified and blown out of control and completely throws you off-balance?  

You start worrying and worrying.

Or maybe it's a dream, even.  

Or something else.  Something that seems huge and big and amazingly important to you on this earth.

But I think it's important that we step back and get a different perspective (or perspection, as my friend would say).  I'll be honest here, I can be a bit of a *cough* drama queen at times (yes, yes, I know you're grinning right about now, Mama....I just have a good imagination!) and I tend to get overly upset over things that are actually going to be all right.  You know, like "Oh my gosh, my world is falling apart" cry-in-the-mirror upset.  Don't look at me like that, you know you've done it, too.  

Only to realize, later on, that things weren't nearly as bad as you made them out to be.  Or this dream wasn't as important as you thought it was.  You moved on.  

Hindsight is 50/50, right?

I remember reading a while back that if you're stressed out or worried about something, to step back and ask yourself, "Will this make a difference in ten minutes or ten years?"  Act accordingly.

When we really look at things in an eternal light, we start to realize what matters and what doesn't.

Those dreams that were so important end up seeming a bit selfish and even worldly.

That huge problem turns out to be not such a big deal.  After all, this world is not our home.  Jesus is all that matters.

Stop.  Step back.  Pray.  Say thank you.  I don't care if your picnic got rained on, thank God for the water that gives your plants a drink!  Find the bright side in things and keep thanking God for everything you can.  Little by little, as you continue to trust Him, He will make those earthly things seem tiny and unimportant in His light and strength.

"give thanks in all circumstances, for this is God's will for you in Christ Jesus."

-1 Thessalonians 5:18

Talk to God.  Let Him turn those binoculars backwards and make everything small.

Have a great day and God bless you!

Joy :)

We All Have That Side

As promised...I'm here to give you a look into my "fangirl side."

You know you have that side.  Whether it's a country, a band, an actor/actress, a singer, a movie, or whatever...it just makes you get really excited.  :)

Fangirling "targets" change.  A few months ago, I liked One Direction.  Now, they're history.  ;)  I think that's part of growing.

So.  My "targets."

1. Superheroes (most especially Captain America and the Avengers)!  The great thing about this is that I've made other people like superheroes with my chattering about them (such as my friend Christina and blogger-friend Emma).  :)

I can't even accurately describe why I like superheroes.  My friend Chloe says that "maybe it's because they're awesome and we're drawn to awesome things like moths to a flame."  Another friend of mine says it's because they're heroic.  Another friend wishes superheroes were real.

I think I agree with all of those things.  Superheroes are just all-around great.  They're heroic, but they also have their downsides (a terrible privilege, Tony Stark calls it)...Hulk's destruction, Natasha's dark past, Captain's trouble with adjusting to the present time, Tony's danger of heart failure at all times.

Gosh, I love this picture.  :)

But they just keep on pushing for the greater good.  Not to mention they're awesome and have mad fighting skills.  Yep.  :)

I would say that I really fell in love with superheroes in May or June-ish.  And I still love them.  A lot. :D

2. Michael Henry and Justin Robinett (MHJR).  The Lord has blessed these guys with amazing voices and musical talent.  My brother was kind enough to show us several of their videos, and now we're hooked (we being mostly me, as well as my mama and Luke).  :)  They are Youtube cover artists from Texas.  They have a few albums out, as well as some original songs.  Please take time to listen to a few of these videos...you won't regret it!  :)

Both Michael and Justin play the piano, drums, and violin.  Justin plays the guitar (not sure if Michael does).  :)  Michael's the "bigger" guy (I think he's a big teddy bear) on the right in that video above, and Justin's the "little" guy on the left.  :)




Note: I do not recommend *all* the songs MHJR covers.  I don't listen to a lot of the music they listen to.  :)

I've liked these guys for months now.  My cousin/buddy Chloe and I are fans together.  :)  We call ourselves JSCB.  :)  A little while back, the guys had a live webcam thing, and upon request they sent a shout-out to me....I'm pretty sure I almost had a heart attack.  I was pretty excited.  :D

3. Taylor Swift.  I like Taylor.  :)  I think she's classy, elegant, and quite sweet.  I do have to note that she is a bit boy crazy, and I don't think life is all about "love" in the sense she writes about, but Taylor's just one of those people you can't help but like.  :)

My favorite songs by Taylor are "Best Day," "Stay Stay Stay," "I Knew You Were Trouble," "Starlight," and "Everything Has Changed."  "Best Day" is really such a sweet song.  :D  I wish I had been able to put my love for my mama into words like that.  :)

I love how she almost always wears that red lipstick.  It's really pretty on her.  :)  And that hair!  I love it.  :)  Lately she's gotten bangs and has been wearing it straight more often, and I really do love it curly, but honestly, it's cute either way.  :)

4. Scotty McCreery.  I have Brooke to thank for this one!  :)  I've liked Scotty since....maybe a week ago?  :P  I mean, I've known who he was for a while now, but I didn't really listen to him much or anything.  WELL.  Until I saw that he had a Christmas album out and decided to go for it and ask my parents if I could buy it.  

That's right, ya'll.  We're spending Christmas with Scotty McCreery.

So we bought it.  And now I love his music.  :)  End of story.  Right?  I mean, this guy obviously loves Jesus.  He doesn't hide it, even though he's famous.  I love that.  :)  I was blessed and able to get the "deluxe" version or whatever you want to call it of his Christmas CD.  So, not only did I get the CD, but I also got an entire magazine that tells all about his family's Christmas traditions, with photos, recipes, etc., AND, a Scotty McCreery 2013 calendar.  Oooh.  My.  Dear.

Rarely is he caught NOT wearing that cross necklace.  Perfect teeth, perfect eyes, perfect hair, perfect smile, perfect voice.  *cough*  Sorry.  :P

I love Scotty's voice.  :)  It's crazy that he's only 18 or 19 and his voice is that deep.  And I love that he's such a southern guy.  :)

This is the picture for February, my birth month, on the calendar I got.  I turned to my mama and said, "Can't you see me sitting right there (beside him)?"  :)

So, there you have it.  Now, please don't walk away from this post thinking I'm fangirl-brained all the time.  No, no, you just got a little glimpse into that side of me.  :)  I would say that I'm the number-one fan of Jesus, but...I'm more than a fan.  I'm a follower of Jesus.

Our sermons series right now at church.

God bless you and have a great day!

Joy :)