Such a bittersweet way to be

"It's a bittersweet life,
And it's leaving me a-ok.
It's a bittersweet life,
I have loved and lost
My heart along the way." 

 How can anyone doubt the things they do not know?

I used to live like this, constantly running with no place to go; and always feeling like something, some unknown thing, was slipping through my hands. I've spent days that turned into years living in fear as I found only slight touches of security by clinging to things I had been told and not things that I knew, in both my head and my heart. The fast pace of society seems to be the culprit for so much stress today. It feeds us and brings us up on the ideals of fast living and big payouts. It's almost to the point where if your life isn't filled with flash and visible success then quite obviously the only thing to assume is that you have no success at all. A big house, fast cars and hot significant others are society's measure of comfort and value; though somehow I don't see the appeal.

This outward pleasing and outward search for self-worth is contagious and most of the population has already caught the bug. What's worse is it sneaks into and totally infects, then corrupts how we view and act within our relationships. I see that more and more the trend in relationships today, especially among the younger population (15-mid 20's) is basing our happiness on how happy we can make that other person. We forget that true happiness is centered in knowing our likes and dislikes, finding what motivates us and what makes us tick as individuals. We must, and I repeat MUST develop something that allows us to know that no matter who thinks what about us, that it doesn't at all dictate the truth about who we are and what we are worth. Society has almost completely distorted this view. Yes we see it from time to time; but in a world where we are told image is imperative what else can we think? I challenge you, my reader, to not fall victim to basing your worth on anything other than the values of your heart. Outward things can and will change. It's only a matter of time! 
 

In closing I want to tie all of this together. To start I spoke of the dangers and fears of reaching out and desperately placing hope in the unknown; I then began to speak of how society has almost pushed us to seek our worth by pleasing others. This is how they connect. The only thing any of us can know for sure is what we feel and what we think-not necessarily believe, but think. That is why we cannot go through life trying to please others. We will always be left with confusion and feel like were stumbling up a proverbially unending set of stairs in the dark; until bam, change occurs and we are left falling and let.....down. So I encourage you to let these things guide you but never make up your mind. Live selfless but do not live without self respect as your first priority. You can never help anyone if you will not or cannot help yourself. Be wise and then you can lead. The blind only lead the blind to greater disorientation and loss.

Hillsong - Shout Unto God

Happy Birthday

Happy 21st John Daniel!

Man it's crazy how time just flies by.

We blink and we're changed and we don't know why.

Years drove straight past and we've cried but mostly laughed.

We feel so much wiser and our time isn't even halved.

All the days and all the ways, all the changes and memories made,

No fears of what's ahead compares to the road of happiness we have paved.

I look to the future, for the one you have is bright.
I see a great man shinning in a success tinted light.
Don't stop to wonder how you'll ever make it though.

All that you need to remember is I'll do me and you do you.

Life's a garden so dig it;

And only you can break your spirit.

There's no time to waste the time you have.
Cherish the happy and more so the sad.

Live your life with peace and love, looking to your Father.

Let all the stress and haters fade, because you're heading so much farther.

You're a good man John Daniel!

Have a great Birthday!

declaration.03.07.09 HD

What is Security?

Have you ever noticed how the world is fighting for security?

Every one's doing it!

Just think about it, a secure paying job, safer cars, the tons of recalls on all sorts of products, home security systems, walls on our borders, been to the airport lately?

So much focus is being placed on "Being" and "Feeling" safe, these days; but honestly, what is security?

Is it being out of harm's way? If so, are we ever truly at that place? An illusion is honestly all that security could be defined as if that were so. Even in our homes we are constantly faced with dangers that lurk, seemingly "Around every corner."

So, what is security? Is it a condition we can exist in; or is it purely a state of mind? I leave it to you to decide. Leave your imput and let's see how deep this can go.

A Few More Of Kimber's shoot

The Memory- A short creative writing I did a while back

The rain fell and the wind blew…

Pounding, her head was filled with the constant sound of the driving rain, right above her. She rolled over , trying to somehow catch the sleep that just barely eluded her tired, aching grasp. Tonight, like most of the past month’s, was restless; and the sounds of the storm’s unrelenting anger only added to her exhaustion and growing frustration. Sitting up and sliding back against the wall that her bed was positioned against, she drifted and began thinking back until her mind was inevitably drawn to that night…where it all began and from where she still could not escape. It’s memory haunted her. In an uncontrollable shivering motion she began reacting to the memories that were now ghosts haunting her, almost as if they were chasing her. From them she could not escape; so she fought in fits that came upon her from time to time...

It was over and she sat straight up; and then slumped forward onto her hands. Her fingers gripping the sides of her head. “Why can’t I get free? Why won‘t they let me?”

Lighting struck a tree somewhere out side of her window and lit the room echoing in a blast that barely moved her. Though she felt the full force of her fear, for a moment she remained completely motionless and blank. For her, this type of fear was nothing; yet fear was now everything she saw, everything she knew. Fear filled her head and her memories.

A single tear began to roll off her cheek. No sooner had it fallen…then came a crash.

The Simplest, The Greatest

Some days I lose sight of the simplest things. I forget the way the leaves sound when the wind makes them dance. The sounds of my dog’s heavy breathing, after a long game of catch rarely come back to visit me. Some days life is so simple; but most times I blink and the day’s gone. It spun by like a whirlwind and I lie on my pillow at night, with a dizzy mind, trying to sort it all out. I think the purest truth is somewhere locked in these three things: Beauty comes when focus falls on the simple, Love is best when it reminds us the least of ourselves and our wants and strength comes when we choose to be weak in front of others so they may find their way.

Today has showed me a lot. Actually the last couple of hours have done most of the work. It’s funny how much I’m being reminded of patience lately, patience and understanding. So I am going to slow down before I forget all life’s beauty; and I’m going to love the right way. Today and in tomorrow’s tomorrow, I am going to use my weakness to bring a greater strength.

I can hear the wind again. It sings of the memories that will be made. How will my life join in its song? I pray a ballad of smiles and echoing laughter is the legacy left.



“Love is patient, love is kind. It does not envy, it does not boast, it is not proud. It does not dishonor others, it is not self-seeking, it is not easily angered, and it keeps no record of wrongs. Love does not delight in evil but rejoices with the truth. It always protects, always trusts, always hopes, and always perseveres. Love never fails!”-1Corinthians 13



Do all things with love.-Og Mandino

The worst prison would be a closed heart.-Pope John Paul II

Until you make peace with who you are, you'll never be content with what you have.-Doris Mortman

If life isn't beautiful you're not thankful-Greg Spruiell

Kimber's Wonderful Senior Pictures

This was a tremendously fun shoot that I did for my wonderful friend, Kimber. We had a ton of fun and we had the opportunity to grow a lot closer during the three days I visited her in Tennessee. She's really going to go far! If you'd like to see the entire shoot as well as my other work feel free to click this link. My Photography: Website Greg Spruiell Photography

The Joke

"Oh had I been wise!" said the fool to the clown.

Looking down first came a tear and then a bitter frown.

Follwed by these words and whimsical smile, the clown looked at the fool, who'd been frowning all the while.

Saying only this the clown turned, giggeling and laughing,

"Being serious all the time is always so taxing."

"Life is a joke no more and no less. He who laughs true and he who laughs

most is the one in the end who has truely lived best!"

"The joke is on you and and it's even on me, to laugh with the rest is

how to truly be free."
 

By Greg Spruiell

Is it well with your soul?

"When peace, like a river, attendeth my way, When sorrows like sea billows roll;Whatever my lot, Thou has taught me to say,It is well, it is well, with my soul."
 

'It is Well With My Soul"  is a hymn that is widely know and has been sung by many for years ;and yet so few people stop to dwell on what motivated the writer to put pen to paper and pour out the words felt deep within his heart.

Do you know what it means to be at peace, to truly know security, even in the most helpless times of your life? How often do you look at broken pieces left laying before you and say, " It is well with my soul?" I'm sure we wouldn't quite put it in those words; but maybe something like "It's ok because I truly know it'll be alright." How about this, "No matter what happends, a smile will never leave my face because I always have hope." Maybe we say things like this in our day to day lives; but have you, after the death of your closest loved one, then looked in the mirror and cried out " It is well with my soul."

This hymn was written by a Chicago lawyer, Horatio G. Spafford. You might think to write a worship song titled,'It is well with my soul', you would indeed have to be a rich, successful Chicago lawyer. But the words,

"When sorrows like sea billows roll ... It is well with my soul”, were not written during the happiest period of

Spafford's life. On the contrary, they came from a man who had suffered almost unimaginable personal tragedy.Horatio G. Spafford and his wife, Anna, were pretty well-known in 1860’s Chicago. And this was not just because of Horatio's legal career and business endeavors. The Spaffords were also prominent supporters and close friends of D.L. Moody, the famous preacher. In 1870, however, things started to go wrong. The Spaffords' only son was killed by scarlet fever at the age of four. A year later, it was fire rather than fever that struck. Horatio had invested heavily in real estate on the shores of Lake Michigan. In 1871, every one of these holdings was wiped out by the great Chicago Fire.Aware of the toll that these disasters had taken on the family, Horatio decided to take his wife and four daughters on a holiday to England. And, not only did they need the rest -- DL Moody needed the help. He was traveling around Britain on one of his great evangelistic campaigns. Horatio and Anna planned to join Moody in late 1873. And so, the Spaffords traveled to New York in November, from where they were to catch the French steamer 'Ville de Havre' across the Atlantic. Yet just before they set sail, a last-minute business development forced Horatio to delay. Not wanting to ruin the family holiday, Spafford persuaded his family to go as planned. He would follow on later. With this decided, Anna and her four daughters sailed East to Europe while Spafford returned West to Chicago. Just nine days later, Spafford received a telegram from his wife in Wales. It read: "Saved alone."

On November 2nd 1873, the 'Ville de Havre' had collided with 'The Lochearn', an English vessel. It sank in only 12 minutes, claiming the lives of 226 people. Anna Spafford had stood bravely on the deck, with her daughters Annie, Maggie, Bessie and Tanetta clinging desperately to her. Her last memory had been of her baby being torn violently from her arms by the force of the waters. Anna was only saved from the fate of her daughters by a plank which floated beneath her unconscious body and propped her up. When the survivors of the wreck had been rescued, Mrs. Spafford's first reaction was one of complete despair. Then she heard a voice speak to her, "You were spared for a purpose." And she immediately recalled the words of a friend, "It's easy to be grateful and good when you have so much, but take care that you are not a fair-weather friend to God."Upon hearing the terrible news, Horatio Spafford boarded the next ship out of New York to join his bereaved wife. Bertha Spafford (the fifth daughter of Horatio and Anna born later) explained that during her father's voyage, the captain of the ship had called him to the bridge. "A careful reckoning has been made", he said, "and I believe we are now passing the place where the de Havre was wrecked. The water is three miles deep." Horatio then returned to his cabin and penned the lyrics of his great hymn.The words which Spafford wrote that day come from 2 Kings 4:26. They echo the response of the Shunammite

woman to the sudden death of her only child. Though we are told "her soul is vexed within her", she still

maintains that 'It is well." And Spafford's song reveals a man whose trust in the Lord is as unwavering as hers

was.

It would be very difficult for any of us to predict how we would react under circumstances similar to those

experienced by the Spaffords. But we do know that the God who sustained them would also be with us.

No matter what circumstances overtake us may we be able to say with Horatio Spafford...

 


When peace like a river, attendeth my way,When sorrows like sea billows roll;Whatever my lot, Thou hast taught me to say,It is well, it is well with my soul.Though Satan should buffet, though trials should come,
Let this blest assurance control,That Christ hath regarded my helpless estate,

And hath shed His own blood for my soul!It is well ... with my soul!

It is well, it is well, with my soul.

I challenge you to search deep within your heart and ask yourself if you could respond as Horatio G. Spafford did. The truth is, few of us truly could. I believe that there is a beauty withing loss and even a joy among pain. We have to learn to find it and be willing to open our crying eyes to see it.

The above explination of the story behind the hymn " It Is Well With My Soul" came from this website. http://www.biblestudycharts.com/A_Daily_Hymn.html

The sun's shinning and it feels so good

Life is a beautiful thing. Time wisks us along and we experience so many different things. We meet new people; and we become new people. I think that's my favorite part of life, actually-change is inevitable! It's amazing how much can occur in just a few months. Love can be won and lost, leaving hearts built and broken,  Passion pushes us forward. I firmly believe that PASSION fuels PROGRESSION. That's why it's so important to find like minded people to spend time with. The Bible teaches us that if we want to be wise we should walk with the wise. Likewise spending time with foolish people will more than likely always come back to harm us.

"Walk with the wise and become wise;associate with fools and get in trouble."-Proverbs 13:20

Life is notorious for throwing us curvballs; yet how many exciting baseball games have been made of slow, straight and predictable pitches? It's the challenge and the thrill of having to adapt, putting all you have into it; and really laying into your swing. You tense up, eyes focused in, absorbing every detail. In that moment, you are alive. That's the beauty of life, even when we miss, we learn and we adapt. Even in tragedy we find happines, IF we allow ourselves to accept that times are bad but tomorrow always comes. The fact that our hearts felt one more beat and our lungs drew one more breath gives us a reason to press on. Keep on Keepin on!

My favorite Poem sums up the bitter/sweet relationship with time that each of us have to accept. It's a complex simplicity in the crazy ordered chaos; but it's beautiful.

Sonnet 60 by William Shakespeare

"Like as the waves make towards the pebbled shore,
So do our minutes hasten to their end;
Each changing place with that which goes before,
In sequent toil all forwards do contend.
Nativity, once in the main of light,
Crawls to maturity, wherewith being crown'd,
Crooked elipses 'gainst his glory fight,
And Time that gave doth now his gift confound.
Time doth transfix the flourish set on youth
And delves the parallels in beauty's brow,
Feeds on the rarities of nature's truth,
And nothing stands but for his scythe to mow:
And yet to times in hope my verse shall stand,
Praising thy worth, despite his cruel hand."
 

My friends, above all else, remember this:  You may never know what the future holds for you; but you can always know who holds YOUR future! The creator of this crazy adventure, Jesus Christ, Loves YOU! He lived 33 years and then laid down his life so that you can be free to live yours without guilt, shame or bondage. Anybody can die for what they believe; yet few will ever actually live for it. God did both for us.

 

My readers, my friends, I love you and hope you go on today living, truly living!

Welcome to My Life

Adventurous, BOLD, happy, passionate, silly, kinda insecure, always growing and changing, playful, currious,hungry to learn about the people around me, these are a few things I would say about myself.

I wonder how you would describe me. I look at life as a challenge to discover things that before, never made sense and then learn everything you can about them. Life is about learning and sharing. I used to live a extremely stict life-fun but not free. In the past, maybe four monts, I have finally caught hold of what it means to pursure true happiness and actually live free. As time passes and we take this journey together, I'll share deeper and deeper what that is to me. I only hope that together, you and I, will share happiness and empower everyone we can to be happy, to be free and LIVE!