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It's Not the Critic Who Counts? A blogger that I follow and enjoy just finished the rewrite for her book and it gave her a new perspective on being a critic. Her words echo how I feel about film. I'm slow to critique a film because filmmakers often do things that I have no idea how to do. However, as a maker myself, it helps me have a better eye for the things that are done well and done poorly. Edie has helpful thoughts. Be Born in Me (Music Video) Love this song and I love this video. On Twenty Years of Marriage Really nice post about marriage - a twenty years of marriage - sweet little post. Can you tell that I think it's worth reading? A Praying Life A Loving Life Two great books by Paul Miller that you should do yourself a favor and read. 
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I've been reading a lot of good books lately, and I recently shared about Hinds Feet on High Places, but I thought I would also share with you a book called Choosing Gratitude. Similarly to HFOHP, this book has really challenged me, and the Scripture and stories that Nancy Leigh DeMoss shared keep coming back to me. I was raised to always say "Please" and "Thank You", so for a long time I thought I had the gratitude thing down. But I'm learning that gratitude is actually a heart posture, not an outward gesture. And the surest litmus test for whether I'm putting on gratitude is in my relationship with the Lord. Am I thanking Him for the good gifts He gives me? Am I thankful in the good times and the bad. Do I count my blessings? Do I offer up a sacrifice of thanksgiving in the midst of any and all circumstances? All I can say is that this little book really challenged me to check my heart. Since reading this book, it's been amazing seeing how choosing to thank the Lord leads to joy even in the most dismal circumstance. My life isn't dismal, but it's been raining a lot here, and it's often hard for me to be thankful when I want every day to be sunny and warm. But simply choosing to thank God for the rain that makes the flowers grow changes my heart pretty quickly. So if you're struggling with finding joy or think you've got this gratitude thing down, take the time to check out this book by Nancy Leigh DeMoss!  Peaches in Paradise A great article written by John Piper about Elisabeth Elliot. Something that keeps popping up as I learn more about her is her tough as nails conviction of sharing the gospel. Really refreshing and encouraging. Should You Serve a Meal or Share a Meal This is a book review, but it focuses on the idea of a meal being the great equalizer. Beginning With Impossible In the words of Hudson Taylor, the pioneer missionary to China: "There are three stages in every great work of God: first, it is impossible, then it is difficult, then it is done." A Last Name Says a Lot I've never really thought about the significance of changing one's last name when you get married.   In many ways, I feel like most of my life I have been waiting for something. Waiting for that grade. Waiting to graduate from high school and college. Waiting for a plan for my life. Waiting for a significant other. Waiting for God to provide. Ultimately, I'm either waiting for a season to come to pass or to come to fruition, or I'm waiting for God to provide. Just when one season of waiting passes, another season arrives. I'm in a season of waiting in many ways right now, and I didn't realize this until sitting in the waiting room of an Orthopedic Urgent Care Center. Don't worry, I'm fine. The person I was waiting for is okay too. But waiting in the waiting room made me think. Waiting is a verb, which means that it is an action. I don't often think of waiting as an action, but I'm learning more and more that this is the case. It takes energy to wait. The Bible is filled with instances of people waiting on the Lord. Abraham had to wait for a son. Jacob had to for Rachel. Rachel had to wait for God to remember her. Israel had to wait for God to set her free from Egypt. Jews had to wait for the Messiah. Jesus had to wait for his time. The Church is waiting for Jesus to return and for eternity with the Bridegroom. But waiting does not mean sitting without action. It doesn't mean doing nothing. It means preparation and work in anticipation of what you're waiting for. That acknowledges the questions: what am I waiting for? And what am I doing while I wait? But ultimately, who is my hope in? I'm still pondering these questions, but I've been encouraged by different passages of scripture while God works this out in my heart. And I thought I would share them with you. I wait for the Lord, my soul waits, and in his word I hope; my soul waits for the Lord more than watchmen for the morning, more than watchmen for the morning. Psalms 130:5-6 I believe that I shall look upon the goodness of the Lord in the land of the living! Wait for the Lord; be strong, and let your heart take courage; wait for the Lord! Psalms 27:13-14 But they who wait for the Lord shall renew their strength; they shall mount up with wings like eagles; they shall run and not be weary; they shall walk and not faint. Isaiah 40:31 The Lord is good to those who wait for him, to the soul who seeks him. Lamentations 3:25 Whoever you are, in whatever season of life the Lord has you waiting: Be strong, take courage, and wait for the Lord, because He is good.
Sharing links that are encouraging, inspiring, helpful, or even just for little life things. The Story Between the Before and After My dear friend Amber shares about the how before and after weight loss photos can be deceiving when a person struggles with an eating disorder and there is a story behind every picture. 7 Steps to Conflict Resolution My co-worker and friend, Peter Krol, shares how to resolve conflicts biblically. The Bible and Debt As some of you know, I just graduated from college. Now begins my six month grace period as well as learning more about with the Bible has to say about debt and how I can pay it off quickly to honor the Lord with my finances. This article from Christian Personal Finance looks at what the Bible has to say about debt. How To Be More Gutsy With Your Decorating This might be a post on decorating by Darlene from Fieldstone Hill Design, but it touches on why we should be gutsy in our design and other areas of life. Ultimately God is gutsy. It terms of design, He's the Master Creator. We are free to be gutsy in art and decorating, because God created some pretty spectacular things already. Biblical Productivity An e-book by C.J. Mahaney on how to basically be productive biblically. I found this really helpful especially moving into adult life and having to create my own schedule versus a schedule centered on classes. Prayer Walking Your Campus You can prayer walk on campus, around a city, or in your neighborhood. Great article on the heart behind prayer walking.  Spice is a great reminder of this verse.
First off, I love graphic design! What can I say? I studied film, but ultimately God made me an artist, and graphics are so fun for me to make! As an artist, I definitely have a more minimalistic style. Which essentially means that when I'm makin' art, I adhere to the adage: LESS IS ALWAYS MORE I'm also a big fan of using what you've got, so here are my "Using What I've Got" Go-to Apps. You'll notice Photoshop is not among the list. Although if you're a serious graphic design enthusiast, by all means, get yourself a subscription to the Adobe Suite. (Below each app are a few graphics I've made with each.) Rhonna DesignsThis was the first graphic design app that I used on my phone. It's great for beginning with nice fonts and images. You can also purchase more fonts and graphics within the app.
 StudioThis is a great iPhone app with great textual graphics! I love using this when I want to put quotes or text over photos.
PixelmatorThis is an app similar to Photoshop that I believe is designed primarily for Macs. It's not as extensive as Photoshop, but it does what I need it to do. I used it to help me design posters and graphics for my group senior thesis film, We Are Not Alone.
In the words of fashion expert Tim Gunn, "Make it Work!"
So if you have a passion for making some graphics for your blog, website, Instagram, or just for fun, check out these design apps! |
Welcome! I'm Madi, a laughter-loving, movie-going, spontaneous-dancing, follower of Christ. Join me as I seek glimpses of God's grace in the ordinary and everyday.
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She Laughs Without Fear 
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