by Amy | Sep 25, 2014 | Blog, Devotional, The Art of Faith
Yesterday we talked about bearing good spiritual fruit. Today I’m talking about bad apples. Originally this had all been one long post about the good and the bad, but I decided it was best to split it up. If you are hating the discussion of fruit, don’t worry, it’ll be over after this post.
{Image via…click over for another awesome devo on bearing good fruit.}
Just as the Bible tells us how to produce good fruit, and encourages us to do so…it also warns of bad fruit and those who produce it.
Think back to the orchard we visited yesterday. A good tree will produce good fruit. Big, juicy, ripe apples will hang from the branches of a good tree. So many, you’ll have to pick and share with your neighbors just to keep them from going to waste. Walk a little further down the orchard path and chances are, you’ll pass a bad tree eventually.
You’ll know it when you see it. A sick tree, infested with worms and eaten by moths and diseased with some kind of bark fungus will not bear apples worth eating. In that case it’s easy to see that the fruit is bad. You’ll walk right on by, never even thinking of picking one of it’s pieces to eat.
Here is the warning Jesus issues in Matthew 7:15-20.
Watch out for false prophets. They come to you in sheep’s clothing, but inwardly they are ferocious wolves. By their fruit you will recognize them.
Do people pick grapes from thorn bushes, or figs from thistles? Likewise, every good tree bears good fruit, but a bad tree bears bad fruit.
A good tree cannot bear bad fruit, and a bad tree cannot bear good fruit. Every tree that does not bear good fruit is cut down and thrown into the fire. Thus, by their fruit you will recognize them.
Jesus tells us that spiritually unsound individuals may look innocent and good, but we can always tell who they really are by the fruit they bear. He goes far enough to say that a bad tree cannot produce good fruit. No more than a thorn bush can produce grapes. Jesus has assured us that the truth of a person’s character is in the fruit, that proof will never lie.
Let’s think about one more situation. {This is from my mind…not directly from Scripture.} Down the orchard a bit, there may be a seemingly healthy tree with no fruit on it at all. While it looks healthy–if it bears nothing, there is cause to think something is wrong. I wouldn’t consider a fruitless tree to be “good.” “Okay,” maybe…but not “good.”
We are called to bear good fruit. To do so, we need to be good trees, not just “okay.”
I think the hardest part isn’t avoiding being a bearer of bad fruit. That’s pretty basic for lots of church-goers. The hardest part is making sure we are bearing fruit at all. That we aren’t the healthy-looking tree, growing and doing just fine in the orchard…but turning out empty branches every time harvest rolls around.
To make an obvious statement, good people aren’t going to go around with baskets of luscious Granny Smiths, and bad people aren’t going to go around with a basket labeled “Poison Berries.” Until folks start doing that–we’ll have to look closer at the produce of their lives through deeds, actions and words.
Take a moment and assess this evening. What’s your fruit? Is it good? Is it bad? It is nonexistent? Ask a friend, find an accountability partner to help you. Think about what you can change to bear more good fruit. Maybe you need to weed out some negativity in your heart, or make an effort to speak positively. Think about your gifts, the things you excel at, and how you can use them to make more fruit. Think about the people you are surrounded by. Are they bearing fruit? Is it wormy or juicy?
I firmly believe that we have all been created with the capacity to do great things. To ripple in incredible ways. To have an awesome impact of the world around us. Now go. Self examine and start bearing.
by Amy | Sep 24, 2014 | Blog, Devotional, The Art of Faith
{click image for source}
I’ve been thinking about fruit. Maybe because the weather has taken taken on those cool, fall overtones and I’m craving apples and all things made from apples {cider, pie, turn overs, crisp…} But as I think about fruit it’s hard for me not to also think of Scripture. It’s all over the place. Discussions of fruit trees, parables about fruit, fruit of the Spirit. Fruit, fruit, fruit.
And I, for one, think this is the perfect time to take a moment to think about fruit. The year is winding down, fall is settling in and winter is right on its heels. It’s a good time to assess. We tend to think that the best time for assessment is around the New Year, but I disagree. That time of year is too busy and chaotic for me to get very self reflective. Maybe a little–between food comas and dashing from gathering to gathering. Maybe I can find a few minutes in there…but more often than not, when I get a moment to myself around the holidays I’d rather just sink into the couch and listen to some Bing Crosby.
The Bible gives us a very good measure for self assessment. Look at the fruit.
Over and over the Bible talks about good fruit, bearing fruit and the fruit produced. That’s the measure. To the dismay of many, faith is not completely invisible. We see it through the fruit our faith produces. Tangible evidence of what you believe, where your heart is, what matters most. Fruit in our lives can look like a variety of things. The Bible tells us that the fruit of our belief can be shown through works or deeds, by glorifying the Lord, by bearing witness to the world, and by possessing the qualities listed in the fruit of the spirit.
Colossians tells us that a life worthy and pleasing to the Lord, means a life that bears fruit through good works–and grows in the knowledge of God. {Verse here.}
Jesus says a good tree will bear good fruit and a bad tree will bear bad fruit…a tree is recognized by it’s fruit. {Verse here.} This seems like a no brainer…and I guess, it is. That’s probably why there are so many references to it in Scripture. It’s easy to understand and easy to imagine.
The trees that would be considered “good” would be those healthy, and heavy laden with good, juicy fruit. The kind of tree you’d take an apple from and eat it on the spot because it looks so good.
Jesus says that in order to bear good fruit {and lots of it} we must remain in Him and Him in us. We won’t bear the fruit He desires for us when we are separated from Him. He tells us God is glorified when we produce good fruit and prove ourselves to be His disciples. {Verses here.}
Like most things in life, the whole fruit bearing thing takes choice and effort. A choice and effort that can be hard to make in the midst of busy lives and Facebook and TV and meetings and work. A choice, like most important choices we make, that may require sacrifice and intentionality.
Tomorrow I’ll be finishing up this little discussion on fruit, by taking a moment to discuss bad apples. Take time today to think about the fruit you are bearing and pray that God will show you how you can bear even more.
by Amy | Sep 24, 2014 | Blog, The Art of Gathering
Here’s a few facts about me.
1. I’m cheap.
2. I’m pretty lame.
3. I’m a homebody.
4. I hate being cold.
When you put that all together it adds up to equal a girl who doesn’t mind spending her weekends at home, under an electric blanket. And–if you’ve been around, or know me, or have ever looked at my Christmas list, you probably know that my stay-at-home activity of choice is board games.
I’m actually getting pretty hard to buy for, since the collection Derek and I have amassed is pretty darn impressive. It’s grown quite a bit since I created that awesome board game storage from an old book case. Have I mentioned that that is one of my top pinned projects on Pinterest? {I guess it goes to show that I’m not alone in seeking to show off my gaming goods instead of shove them in the back of a closet.}
While I was in Rapid City I came across a board game store. Not quite as awesome as the one I told you about in Portsmouth, but still pretty darn good. They have demo games and a board game meet up every Sunday. So, while I was there we popped in to try a game I’d been eying and ended up trying out a few others as well. And now, I’ll tell you about them. Three games I’ve never played before and that are totally appropriate to buy for the home-body board-gamer on your list. An ideal thing to stock up on as the chilly weather settles in.
First of all–Carcassonne.
We actually picked this one up in Portsmouth on our Maine vacation. But I haven’t given it a proper write up yet, so I’ll do it now.
It’s a strategy game. The winner is the person with the most points at the end of the game. You get said points by building cities, roads, and monasteries and by owning pastures. Okay, granted that makes it sound kind of awful. Stick with me.
My favorite part about the game is that you build the board as you play. So you’ll never have the same set up twice. On your turn you draw a tile–with a little piece of landscape on it– and place it anywhere you like, so long as it joins one already in play. Then you can set one of your “followers” {aka game pieces} on top of it to claim part of a city, field, road, etc.
There’s lots of opportunities to totally ruin the plans of your opponents and requires some creative thinking. You only need two people to play, but can have up to five total. Like other games of this nature, there are expansion packs to buy…so you can add on nearly as many players as you fancy. A game takes about 45 minutes. If you like Settlers of Catan and Ticket to Ride, you’ll love this one.
Number two: Ca$h and Gun$
This is a party game, best with 6 people, but playable with only 4.
In this game each player is a crook in on a heist. Eight rounds are played. At the end of every round loot from a heist is split between the cons left standing.
At the beginning of the game each player is given 8 “bullet” cards and a foam gun. Three are shots and five are blanks. On each round every player places one of their bullets face down on the table and on the count of three aims his gun at a fellow player. After everyone seeings who is aiming at who, players have a chance to dodge the bullet by knocking over their game piece. If you dodge you are safe. If you choose not to dodge, you are taking a gamble on whether the proverbial bullet is real or a blank.
Next players turn in the bullets they placed on the table and the loot is split between players left standing or unwounded. The winner is the player with the most money at the end of the game.
It’s fun and fast paces and only takes about 30 minutes. It’s good for groups and groups that don’t know each other too well. If you like Wits and Wagers, Clue, or Apples to Apples–you’ll like this one too.
Lastly, let me tell you about Make ‘n’ Break. I really love this one.
It’s a very simple concept. On your turn roll the dice to determine how much time you’ll be given. Then start the timer. While the timer runs you attempt to build as many structures as you can to match designs laid out for you on cards using colorful Jenga-ish blocks. When the time is up you get points for the number of cards you completed.
See how much fun this family is having? {via the Make ‘n’ Break site.}
It’s a quick one, played in four rounds and is perfect for 2-4 players. Since it’s all about building and knocking down you’ll need to play it on a hard surface and shouldn’t try this one during quiet hours. It’s good for all ages. If you are into Jenga and Legos, you’ll like this one.
Happy playing!
by Amy | Sep 22, 2014 | Blog, The Art of Art, The Art of Design
I love ideas. I just think ideas are the cat’s meow. So I’m always excited when a friend comes to me with an idea that I can help with. I’m count myself blessed to have a quirky little skill set that can make lots of artistic/crafty/designy ideas come to life.
So when my friend Kait came to me with an idea for some adorable bridesmaid thank you cards I was chomping at the bit to make her vision a reality.
Before we go further, let’s meet Kait. I don’t know how I’ve lucked into such cool friends. I mean, look at her. She gets football, she’s a nurse and she loves Mumford and Sons. She’s awesome. {This photo is stunning. Yes, I know. But I did not take it. It’s from the talents of Briana Moore Photography. If you are in the Boston-ish area and need photography…you should totally check her out!}
She’d seen something similar, but wanted a look that was a little more custom and a little more wallet-friendly. {And what is more wallet-friendly than a girlfriend willing to be paid in chai-tea lattes? It’s my pleasure.} What she had seen was a paper-doll-ish card that could be customized to look like her own bridesmaids. Blonde, brunette, dress color, flower color, skin color…you get it. Here’s the finished product. They fold on the elbow and have an adorable shape. Cute, yes?
If you follow me on Instagram {I’m @theartoflivingproject} you just might have seen this image floating around a while back when I was in the design stage of these gems.
The process was so fun. I started with sketches, then picked my favorites. Added some fine-tip Sharpie {a must for almost all my hand rendered designs} and finally digitized them by using my handy-dandy scanner. Once on screen I digitally colored them. I love the effect of the hand drawing with the digital color. Ahhh, the sweetness of 21st century art.
Her wedding has come and gone, so I figured it would be safe to share these with the world now. I haven’t heard if they were a hit or not…I hope they were. I think they are adorable and wish that I had thought of this when I was getting married. But alas…that was years ago, when I used actual notebooks instead of Pinterest and my best ideas came from a tangible copy of Martha Stewart Weddings. *sigh* But alas, I’m thrilled to be able help friends realize their Pinterest dreams and spread the wealth of my artistic skillz. {Yes, the kind with a “z” at the end.}
And, just in case any of you are wondering…I really am planning to resurrect my Etsy shop–or open a shop page here on the website. Once that happens {current opening date is set for the end of this month} these will be listed, so you and all your marrying friends can have some for yourselves.
Have I told you how awesome you are lately? Seriously. Thanks for reading and liking and supporting. I love you guys.
Amy
by Amy | Sep 19, 2014 | Blog, The Art of Adventure, The Art of Living
I love it here. Northern Indiana, that is. It’s just the best. I loved it here when I lived here. And I love it more now that I’ve been lots of places. It might not be the most flashy of places. There are no mountains or canyons or vast deserts. But there are trees {I’ve lived in places with very few trees}, there are lakes {everyone knows someone with a lake house}, and all kinds of wonderful things are close at hand.
I love it here. I really, really do. Here’s a few reasons why. And a few photos from great photographers and visitor sites to show you why. Because, I love it so much, I get totally caught up and forget to take any photos of my own. Maybe some day I’ll change that…
There are small town things to do.
Image via
And city things to do.
image via
And Lake Michigan.
image via
And the weather is perfect. It’s just what you want from weather through the year. Hot and humid in the summer, crisp and cool in the fall, snowy in the winter, and a spring that comes in slowly and lasts through April and May. The summers aren’t so hot they force you to stay indoors. The winters are just mild enough that you can play outside and enjoy the season.
Image via
I could go on all day. But I’ll stop and just tell you that I love it here. When I’m here my mind lets go a little. I breathe a little easier and a little deeper. Call me crazy, but I truly am convinced that this is the best.
by Amy | Sep 18, 2014 | Blog, Devotional, The Art of Faith, The Art of Living
{image via}
I feel like I hear the same sentiment all the time. I have felt it, and you probably have too. I feel like it’s especially prevalent among the millennial generation. Our post high school years were filled with computers, technology and recession. Jobs were few and far between when we left college. Things were tight enough that living at home until mid-twenties became a norm, as did staying on mom and dad’s insurance.
“I just have no idea what to do with myself.”
I hear it from high school teens as they enter their senior year or as they exit their school years and step into a greater unknown chock full of choices. I hear it from college students. I hear it from peers–even as we inch in on 30, still we feel like there’s something missing….something we should be doing. A calling, a fulfillment, a purpose–missing.
I blame some of it on the Internet. We know so much now. We know about quirky, niche jobs that we otherwise would have no way of seeing. It’s easy to track down jobs and lifestyles we think would be amazing…”if only.”
If only I’d majored in something different.
If only I’d gone to college.
If only I lived in there instead of here.
If only I had a better job, then I’d have savings and I could…
If only I was married, then I’d be totally happy.
For me, it’s usually in the depths of this type of wallowing that leads me to scroll through my Facebook feed. There I can what everyone in my graduating class is up to–and it always looks cooler and more put together than what we’ve got going on. There is always someone with an awesome vacation, promotion, or adorable family portraits cropping up in the News Feed. There’s always someone who looks like they love their job, make great money, have an awesome life…are totally happy.
So I got thinking today, maybe a major part of mastering the Art of Living has to do with finding contentment. I’m usually pretty happy. Which lots of people don’t understand, because I live in Practically Canada in a town that isn’t exactly on par with New York, NY. My husband has to work a lot. His work makes us move. I’m constantly shifting jobs, friends, homes…just trying to make it work. But somehow–like the cockroach that just won’t die–I remain joyful.
And I think it’s because I work very hard at being content.
Once the choice to strive for contentment–satisfaction in our station, not throwing in the towel on dreams, not hating on where we are–joy and happiness soon follows. Like lots of things, it is a choice. Like lots of choices it can be a hard one to make and even harder to follow through.
Instead of striving for perfection, take inventory of your heart and your life. See what is keeping you from contentment. Is it too many far-fetched comparisons? Step away from social media. Is it that you hate were you live? Find a way to get involved or an activity to pursue that you are passionate about. Is it relationships that squelch your dreams and self-worth, and feed a negative attitude? Put yourself out there and seek a positive circle.
Find a way to step toward contentment and joy will follow.
by Amy | Sep 17, 2014 | Blog, The Art of the Moment
This is Allene. In case you haven’t noticed…she has aqua hair. Which, automatically makes her about 30x cooler than I’ll ever be. Sure, she may hail from small-town, Practically Canada, but she’s edgy, urban and has a do-what-I-please attitude that makes me smile. Oh, yeah…and she loves her mom–who joined us on the session. It was her mad texting skills and random comments that caused a lot of these adorable caught-me-off-gaurd smiles.
What follows here are some of my favorite images from her senior portrait session. But, there is one prized gem that you won’t see here. Remember the contest I ran for Andrew? It was such a hit, I’ve decided to run one for all of my remaining senior sessions. If you missed it, let me refresh your mind.
I’ve posted one of Allene’s best images on the Amy Allender: The Art of Living Facebook page. There are two copies–one color and one black and white. Go on over and “like” your personal favorite. If 40 people share their two-cents, Allene will receive a free 8×10″ print of the favorite. Not to mention, it’s super fun to see the battle of color vs BW rage on! So check out this post, then go vote!
I love a session that includes a few props that give a glimpse into the personality of my subject. That said, you can imagine how excited I was when Allene told me she’d like to bring some books along. I mean, books in the park…with those eyes and that awesome hair?! Yes, please.
I was so excited about her bookworm tendencies that I took things a step further by getting the okay to shoot a few inside Minot’s public library. I wasn’t sure if she would think this was a good idea or totally lame. Lucky for me, Allene was up for trying anything my crazy mind could come up with. And I’m so very pleased with the result. {Also, isn’t that dress amazing?!}
And, since the sunflowers were still blooming, I obviously insisted we take a trip to the edge of town for a little vibrancy.
There’s an time just before sunset when the light is perfect and soft–when colors melt into something totally luscious and portraits take on a magical quality. Photographers call it the “golden hour.” We just so happened to be in the wheat field when that hour rolled around. Like the time of day…I think these are pretty magical. So I’ll leave you here. In the wheat, in the golden hour.
Now, before you leave completely, don’t forget to go over to the Facebook page and vote! Allene needs 40 people to share their opinion to win the complimentary 8×10″ of the favorite photo!
PS–check out more Minot Senior Portraits here.
by Amy | Sep 15, 2014 | Blog, Devotional, The Art of Faith
“We are not trying to please people but God, who tests our hearts.”
–1 Thessalonians 1:4b
It’s so very easy to get caught up in the people pleasing game. Especially if you are a yesser like me. You know, the kind of person who says “yes” to just about everything. The kind never really had birthday parties growing up because she was too stressed over the possibility of hurt feelings if someone felt left out. The kind who has spent a few of her 20-somethings curled up in an anxious ball because she doesn’t have a “real job.”
Maybe that’s not your story exactly, but chances are there has been a time or two when you have longed to please people.
Every time we move I get direly caught up in pleasing people. I so want friends, want to fit in, want to be liked that I can fall into a trap. I’m not good at being anything but myself. So I don’t easily fall into a trap of forsaking my true self, or my faith in the name of finding friends and fitting in. My heart and spirit, however is easily torn to bits when I just don’t feel like I fit in…like no one will ever get me, and I’ll spend the next few years totally friendless.
I hate that my joy can be so easily sucked up by the thoughts and opinions of people. People! After all I’ve been through. After all the times I’ve seen God moved in huge ways…you’d think that I’d know better than to let my happiness hinge on something as trivial as mere mortals. I serve the God who made them, after all. But, sadly sometimes it does.
Luckily, humanity has been around for quite some time now, and the struggles we face today are not new or unique {at least, not most of them…not this one.} Paul spent lots of time evangelizing to Gentile nations. I’m sure his time wasn’t all warm welcomes and high fives. In fact, we know it wasn’t. He was tossed in jail and beaten to a pulp on more than one occasion. But he kept at it. He loved those people, believed in the truth and importance of his message, and was fueled by unrelenting faith.
In 1 Thessalonians 2:2-6 he says :
We had previously suffered and been treated outrageously in Philippi, as you know, but with the help of our God we dared to tell you his gospel in the face of strong opposition. For the appeal we make does not spring from error or impure motives, nor are we trying to trick you. On the contrary, we speak as those approved by God to be entrusted with the gospel. We are not trying to please people but God, who tests our hearts. You know we never used flattery, nor did we put on a mask to cover up greed—God is our witness. We were not looking for praise from people, not from you or anyone else, even though as apostles of Christ we could have asserted our authority.
We are called to grow God’s kingdom in all that we do. To be good representatives of Him on Earth. To act as the body, who does the will of the Head.
We do that best when we remember to keep our eyes set on the Lord, and do not let ourselves become consumed with the pleasing people. So next time you feel like doing something to please a person, or feel crushed because you just can’t seem to please everyone…remember who we are really trying to please. People will only ever see our actions, but God knows our intentions and tests our hearts. Work to please Him. Focus on pleasing Him.
