June Caedmon's Blog, page 72
June 18, 2014
Inspired by . . . a reason to celebrate
Inspired by . . . a reason to celebrate
For those of you who follow me on Facebook or Twitter you may have caught the fact that this is my birthday week!
Why just celebrate one day, when you can celebrate all week long!!?
I like to celebrate by giving gifts, rather than receiving them. The blessing that comes from giving is the best gift of all, don't you think?
I started the week by announcing that my eBook, Heart's Desire is on sale all week for just 99 cents! If you're looking for some summer reading, or know someone who is, please check it out & spread the word! {reviews are always appreciated!}
For those of you who prefer to hold a book in your hands, or want something a little more tangible to put the wrapping paper around, I'm giving away three paperback copies of my books this week. I'll draw three winners on Sunday, June 22nd. Each winner will be able to choose one book from the following published titles, Heart's Desire, Gladness for Mourning, and Starflower. First page excerpts for all my books can be found at junecaedmon.com, if you need help deciding which to choose!
Enter to win at the bottom of this post!
And just to keep the excitement going, beginning on Friday, June 20th, Starflower {eBook version} will be FREE on Amazon for 3 days! {sale ends June 22nd} Spread the word!
My sweet Kitty is here to get this party started!
For those of you who haven't met Kitty before, she was dumped on our property last summer. After doing some research, we figured out that she has a mild case of Cerebellar Hypoplasia, which has similar symptoms, but is not the same disorder, as cerebral palsy.
If you'd like to read about why Kitty is the perfect cat for me, you can find that post HERE.
Unfortunately, my husband is highly allergic to cats. So Kitty has to live outside. If you'd like to read about how I made it safe for Kitty to be outside alone at night, you can find that post HERE.
Don't forget to enter here for the giveaway....
a Rafflecopter giveaway
The suggested question prompt for the comment entry is: What does your perfect birthday celebration look like?
If you're interested in knowing my answer, come back on Saturday and read about my Perfect Day.
Happy birthday to all you June babies out there!
Have a wonder-filled day!
Blessings,
Sharing inspiration here:
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June 16, 2014
Inspired by . . . community
Inspired by . . . community
Elizabeth {Beauty Observed} was so sweet as to ask me to take part in this virtual blog tour. The brain-child of some fun, creative person somewhere out there in blog-land, whom I'm sure you could find if you click back through all the posts!
It's similar to those annoying chain letters you used to get in the mail, except it's not annoying, it's fun! The tour is about meeting new people, learning more about the people you know, and building community.
Which brings me to my answer for question number one - - except I need to first introduce you to Elizabeth!
Elizabeth has a passion for photographing and sharing the beauty God has created. She is the wife of a musician, a veteran home educator and the mother of three. You can find Elizabeth at Beautyobserved.com and on Facebook, Twitter, Pinterest and Instagram. Elizabeth and I have at least two notable things in common: our love for God, and our Canon SX50's!
Now on to the questions!
1. What am I working on?
My one word for 2014 is intentional and, while this applies to many areas of my life, blogging was one of the main things I wanted to be more intentional about this year. As many of you know, there are many facets to blogging. At first, my main focus was being more consistent in the number of posts each week, and more being intentional in my writing. While that is still very important a clear, secondary focus has emerged; that of building community. What that means to me is investing in the lives of my readers – YOU! and others, even if they only visit here one time.
2. How does my work differ from others of its genre?
This was the hardest question of all to answer! I think my motive and purpose for writing is different than some {not all} of the blogs out there, and that comes out in my writing. As I said recently in another post: The underlying inspiration for everything I do is my Lord and Savior Jesus Christ. My intent is to glorify Him by inspiring YOU. I don't always succeed, but that is always why I write.
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3. Why do I write/create what I do?
In Luke 19:37 we read:
Then the whole crowd of disciples began to praise God for all the miracles they had seen.
They shouted joyfully, "Blessed is the king who comes in the name of the Lord! Peace in heaven, and glory in the highest heaven."
Some of the Pharisees in the crowd said to Jesus, "Teacher, tell your disciples to be quiet."
Jesus replied, "I can guarantee that if they are quiet, the stones will cry out."
Luke 19:37b-40
My writing is how I "shout JOYfully" – "Blessed is the King!" I write in obedience to His call on my life. It's that simple, and that complex. Obedience to Him always = FREEDOM & JOY.
4. How does your writing/creating process work?
Since much of what I write is inspired there really isn't a set process. I try to be intentional about spending time in the Word. Sometimes that means daily reading from the scriptures, devotionals, prayer books, or bible studies. God speaks to me most clearly through His word, but He also speaks to me through nature, the world He has created. I try to listen, to take time to be still, and quiet. Honestly, that doesn't happen as often as I'd like. So most days, I try to hear Him over the symphony of LIFE. He still speaks, it's just harder for me to hear Him.
There is one other thing that inspires me, and that is YOU! Which brings me to introduce the next two stops on the tour.
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Daniela inspires me every time I visit her "little old world" where she is sweetly dreaming of the past. She is all romance and poetry, home and gardening, painting and leisure. All gently mixed with a dash of history. A visit to her corner of the world never disappoints!
My friend Patsy lives in the Philippines and shares her beautiful paintings and scriptural insights at a place called heARTworks. Her collages, scrapbook layouts, and ATCs are unique, creative and inspiring!
Please visit them on June 23rd to see how they answer the same set of questions.
I hope you enjoyed this stop on the tour!
Have a wonder-filled day!
Sharing inspiration here:
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June 11, 2014
Inspired by . . . wrong made right
Inspired by . . . wrong made right
My dad has been going through boxes.
Pulling out memories that were tossed between four walls of cardboard. Some now forgotten, some still as fresh as when he laid them inside.
Some are my memories, too.
And I'm surprised to see them when he pulls them out.
I made a chess set once. It was a gift for someone who loved to play.
It was a large set, 16x16, I think. The board was made in four pieces. Ceramic.
It took me forever to clean all those chessmen. Once the glaze was applied, my instructor told me to fill each piece with bb's to weight them down. Then the pieces were fired.
If you've ever done ceramics you know that glazes are dull and almost unnoticeable – until the pieces are put in the kiln. When they emerge from the fire/intense heat they are bright, glossy, and the color shines! {Therein lies a lesson for another day!}
I was so excited about my chess set! It was the perfect gift, and I couldn't wait until Christmas morning.
But the next week when I arrived at the ceramic shop to pick up my set, I found this . . .
Turns out I had purchased copper bb's. Big mistake.
All the white chessmen sported this "marble" effect – my chess set was ruined! It had taken me weeks to make, and with Christmas looming, I didn't have time to make a new set of white chessmen. I had no choice but to wrap them up, marble faces and all.
I was so disappointed.
As you might have guessed, my friend was over-the-moon about the chess set – marble chessmen and all. They said it made the set unique. Special. One of a kind.
I was happy that my friend liked the set, but it took me awhile to get over the disappointment.
When my dad pulled these chess pieces out of his memory box I was surprised. I laughed a little, and asked him why he'd kept those. His eyes moistened a bit as he said, "Because it was so good."
I hadn't realized it at the time, but my dad had been impressed by the set I'd made. It really was a beautiful chess set. I was the only one, it seems, that thought less of it because of the copper marbling on the white pieces.
My dad was proud of what his little girl had made. So years later when the set was damaged, he saved some of the pieces.
There are several lessons here, I think, but what God is speaking most profoundly to my heart is Romans 8:28.
We know that all things work together for the good of those who love God-
those whom He has called according to His plan.
We all make mistakes. And those mistakes have consequences. Sometimes life-changing consequences.
But whether it's a little mistake that takes some of the JOY out of a Christmas gift {for the giver} or a big mistake that changes what your Christmas celebrations are like for years to come, God's promise holds true.
He works ALL THINGS.
Some things?
No.
ALL THINGS for the good of those who love Him.
You may never see the good that God works from your mistake. Or you may receive a blessing, as I did when dad showed me the chess pieces he'd saved. That chess set had meant something to him. It has pleased him, made him proud.
And the gift I'd made wasn't even for him.
Blessings,
I had fun using Bonnie's textures on some of these images.
Sharing inspiration here:
June 10, 2014
Inspired by . . . Phoebe
Inspired by . . . Phoebe
You don't need an alarm clock when you have a family of Eastern Pheobe's living behind your house!
Their raspy "phoebe" call sounds a bit like a dog's squeaky toy, and their favorite perching fence is right outside my bedroom window! When I noticed a pair of these flycatchers hanging around our yard in early spring of this year, I hoped they would decide to raise their family here.
These highly-active birds don't sit still for long, but they do keep returning to the same perch time and again. This makes them relatively easy to photograph.
You won't find these insect-eaters at your bird feeders, but they may use the top of your shepherd's hook at a look out. They prefer semi-open areas where they can easily see and catch insects. These aerial wonders can stop mid-air and change direction in seconds. They are very entertaining to watch!
This pair built a nest under the back eave of our house and had one hatchling. The adorable little grey ball of fuzz used to come visit me on the front porch when he was learning to fly – He's a little camera shy, but I'm hoping to catch up with him soon!
I'm currently reading Beth Moore's book, To Live Is Christ, in which she follows Paul's journey of faith. In the first few chapters, Beth gives us a picture of what Saul's {Paul} childhood was probably like. He was the son of a Pharisee, and raised according to the strict Jewish law. By the time he was ten he knew the intricacies of the oral law. By the time he was thirteen he would have been practicing the associated rituals of that law. After describing some of the rituals, which began before sunrise, Beth states: "A thirteen year old boy could not get out of bed in the morning without remembering to whom he belonged."
There are times that I need to be reminded to whom I belong.
Don't worry, I don't plan to start strapping phylacteries on my head and arms anytime soon. That would be silly. But Beth's statement made me think about my first thoughts every morning.
I thought of the Phoebe calling to her mate.
And I remembered to Whom I belong.
Blessings,
Sharing inspiration here:
Wild Bird Wednesday – Stewart's 100th!!
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June 6, 2014
Inspired by . . . reconciliation
Inspired by . . . reconciliation
It is my responsibility to accept the offering of grace.
If I do not, I live in contempt, anger, malice, self-sufficiency - - enmity with God.
You have taught me the necessity of a Mediator, a Messiah.
I embrace You with all my heart,
a king to rule me,
a prophet to guide me,
a priest to take away my sin and death.
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The beloved Son.
Who teaches me,
not to guide myself,
not to obey myself,
not to try to rule and conquer sin myself,
but to cleave to the One Who will do all for me.
To save me is Christ's work.
To come to Him by faith is my work.
"Lord, increase our faith."
Blessings,
Inspired by prayer excerpts from The Valley of Vision.
Sharing inspiration here:
June 3, 2014
Inspired by . . . nature
Inspired by . . . nature
All you moms out there who are watching your babies grow up way to fast - - just be glad they're not baby birds!
Just about a week ago I shared with you pictures of the new-born scissor-tail flycatcher babies barely showing a few pin-feathers. Well, they've been busy growing this week! Here are some shots from last Friday.
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Now that I've seen how the babies look as they start to feather-out, the nesting material the parents used makes a lot more sense. The babies blend in so well!
Here are Sunday's shots – I can't believe how much they grew in just a few days!
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I'm pretty sure their parents are already encouraging them to fly. They'll be lots of insect catching lessons before they're ready to leave the nest, though.
I'm not their momma, but I sure am excited to share these two little guys with you.
Watching them reminds me of how precious life is to our Lord, Jesus. If He cares so much about these little baby birds, how much more is His love for you and I?
"This is the reason I kneel in the presence of the Father
from Whom all the family in heaven and on earth receives its name.
I'm asking God to give you a gift from the wealth of His glory. I pray that He would give you inner strength and power through His Spirit.
Then Christ will live in you through faith. I also pray that love may be the ground into which you sink your roots and on which you have your foundation.
This way, with all of God's people you will be able to understand how wide, long, high, and deep His love is.
You will know Christ's love, which goes far beyond any knowledge. I am praying this so that you may be completely filled with God.
Glory belongs to God, whose power is at work in us. By this power He can do infinitely more than we can ask or imagine.
Glory belongs to God in the church and in Christ Jesus for all time and eternity! Amen." Eph 3:14-21
Blessings,
Sharing inspiration here:
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June 2, 2014
Inspired by . . . Jehovah-rapha
Inspired by . . . Jehovah-rapha
"He sent forth His word and healed them;
He delivered them from the grave." Psalm 107:20
When we think of healing, we most often think of being healed from a physical illness. But in Psalm 107 the great affliction that was sending God's people to the grave was not a physical illness.
"Those who lived in the dark, in death's shadow were prisoners in misery. They were held in iron chains
because they had rebelled against God's words and had despised the advice given by the Most High." Psalm 107:10-11
God's people had rebelled against His word.
When we think of rebellion against God, what typically comes to mind? Infidelity, drugs, or apostasy, perhaps.
We rebel against God when we forsake His word.
Rebellion against God sends us to a spiritual {and often physical} wasteland. Although they had plenty to eat and drink {vs. 9}, God's people were starving. They were starving because they had forsaken the one thing that could give them LIFE – the Word of God.
We can attend church Sunday after Sunday, and still forsake God's word. We can know Him, and serve Him and still forsake His counsel. How many of us know what God's word says, know what He would have us do, and refuse to do it?
God's word is His primary healing agent.
Is there an area in your life that needs healing? Have you been wounded, do you lack focus or discipline, are you bound by the chains of addiction?
"He brought them out of the dark, out of death's shadow. He broke apart their chains." Psalm 107:14
Do you want to be healed?
Only God can set you free.
"Unless Thy law had been my delights, I should then have perished in mine affliction." Psalm 119:92
Ask God to give you a desire and love for His word. Seek God's word for healing, and in doing so you will find HIM . . .
Jehovah-rapha
The Lord Who Healeth
"But He was wounded for our transgressions, He was bruised for our iniquities:
the chastisement of our peace was upon Him; and with His stripes we are healed."
. . . and be healed.
Blessings,
Message inspired by Beth Moore's Whispers of Hope devotional.
Sharing inspiration here:
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May 29, 2014
Inspired by . . . three
I've been tossing this post around for a few days. I'm still not sure if I'm going to publish it or – or not. I guess if you're reading it, you'll know what I decided. {smile}
A friendly comment on Facebook earlier in the week reminded me that I started this blog three years ago . . . today.I've never really celebrated my "blog-iversary." The first year I mentioned it, almost is passing, and last year, not at all.
I started this blog as a place to talk about the books. I called it Inspired by . . . because I knew that there was only so much I could say about the books before boring you to tears. The title Inspired by . . . pretty much gave me a blank canvas to write about anything that happened to be inspiring me – with the hope that it would also inspire YOU!My life was very different three years ago. I did a lot of scrapbooking, and crafting, DIY projects, and cooking! I had a lot of fun!Then, about eight months into my blogging adventure, my world completely changed. It seemed overnight I had a new location, a new lifestyle and a new focus.I'm still having fun! But my life, and this blog, is now more focused on writing and photography.
The ultimate goal of Inspired by . . . hasn't changed. The underlying inspiration for everything I do is my Lord and Savior Jesus Christ. My intent is to glorify Him by inspiring YOU. I don't always succeed, but that is always why I write. I view this blog and my writing as a privilege – not a right. I am beyond honored when He encourages and uplifts YOU through the words you read here. I know He has done this, because YOU have told me. Through your sweet comments, YOU have inspired and blessed me in return. So. Many. Times.
I think maybe it is time to celebrate that – to celebrate it all.
I want to share two books with you. I'm going to give them away actually, to one blessed winner. Next to the Bible, these two books are God's greatest inspiration to me.
The Valley of Vision and Daily Light for Every Day.
The Valley of Vision is a collection of Puritan prayers and devotions, edited by Arthur G. Bennett. I'm giving away one leather bound copy.
Daily Light for Every Day, with a forward by Anne Graham Lotz, is a daily collection of morning and evening reading of scriptures. Just scriptures, combined in a way that will encourage and inspire you. I'm giving away one eBook copy.
So, just to clarify, if you win, you get one leather bound copy of The Valley of Vision, and one eBook copy of Daily Light for Every Day. I'll be announcing the winner on Monday, June 2nd.
If you already have these in your library, they make great gifts!
No matter how long you've been visiting here, even if this is your first time, THANK YOU! I pray this place will continue to be a place of encouragement and inspiration.
Now for the giveaway!a Rafflecopter giveaway
PS I've never done a giveaway before, but hopefully all will go smoothly! If not, please extend some grace to the giver and email me with your questions or concerns!
Thank you for celebrating with me!
Blessings,
May 28, 2014
Inspired by . . . a safe nest
Inspired by . . . a safe nest
I have been waiting nearly four weeks to share this with you – and I'm so excited to do so today.
You see a few weeks ago, I found this:
It's a nest. I would love to see exactly what it's made out of, but I'm not allowed to climb trees anymore, lol!
I wasn't sure whose nest it was, so I lurked about for awhile and was so pleased to see this:
She is a scissor-tail flycatcher. I've shared images of these beautiful birds with you before. I imagine it is a bit challenging to find just the right spot for the nest – with room in the back, lol!
As you might imagine, now that I had found the nest, and saw that the parents were actively sitting on eggs, I began lurking about – checking daily for increased activity.
Trying not to annoy the poor girl to death with my camera clicks! Birds are such attentive parents!
Then, on Sunday, we had terrible T-storms, blowing rain, earth-shaking thunder. I was so worried that the nest might be destroyed. It wasn't until Monday that the weather cleared enough for me to get out. It was still cloudy, so these shots aren't the best, but . . . happy birthday, little ones!
After the feedings, in which both parents participate, momma does a lot of "inspecting" to make sure everyone settles down quietly for their nap!
She did this for several minutes . . .
. . . before flying off to meet up with her mate. Here are the two of them perched near their nest, keeping watch {over the crazy lady with the camera!}.
Textured with Kim's bentedges
As I mentioned, I've been pondering this post for several weeks, just hoping I'd be able to capture some baby shots to share with you. All this time there has been one scripture that has kept coming back to me over and over again.
Jesus told him, "Foxes have holes, and birds have nests, but the Son of Man has nowhere to sleep." Luke 9:58
I can't quite get my mind around the truth that Jesus laid aside the Glory, and Power, and Might that is rightfully His, this Jesus that could have called ten legions of angels to His aid, but didn't - He laid all that aside to come to earth as a man, and suffer, and die for my sin. It's not just a message for Easter Sunday. It's a message I need to be reminded of every day. And He graciously uses the world, created for Him and by Him, to remind me.
I'm not guaranteed a safe home, a fancy home, a big home, or a perfect home in this world – but I am in the next.
Because the One who protected the scissor-tail babies through the storm on Sunday is the One Who has gone ahead to prepare a place for me.
"Don't be troubled. Believe in God, and believe in me.
My Father's house has many rooms. If that were not true, would I have told you that I'm going to prepare a place for you?
If I go to prepare a place for you, I will come again. Then I will bring you into my presence so that you will be where I am.
You know the way to the place where I am going." John 14:1-4
Welcome Home.
Blessings,
Sharing inspiration here:
May 26, 2014
Inspired by . . . sacrifice
Inspired by . . . sacrifice
Lives lost
victories won
securing freedom
for everyone
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Thirteen began
Fifty carry on
the
dream
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Dreams are worth
fighting for.
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Freedom
isn't
free.
I'm remembering the fallen today.
I'm praying for those who are currently serving, both at home and abroad.
I'm praying for the families who are left behind.
Their sacrifice is great -
and should be honored.
We Honor You Today
We Remember You
We Thank You
Shalom,
Sharing inspiration here:
