Month: December 2014

Short Stories and Covers

Published on by Amanda TeroLeave a comment

I have been working on a few small projects for Christmas – namely, writing short stories for my three youngest sisters. I am very grateful for the Lord allowing me to complete them in good time to get them self-printed and ready for their gift bags! I also praise the Lord for the ideas that He gave me and also allowing me to see the completion of these projects. As I write, I realize how very much I must rely on God for the ideas, the flow of the story, the message He wants me to teach, and of course, the completion. Wow! He is so good!

Some of you may remember “Maggie’s Hope Chest” from a post a few months ago. This was the hardest cover to design, for some reason and I’m very thankful for the many friends who pitched in to give me advice and ideas. As you may remember, the story idea was one that I had several years ago but it wasn’t until this year that the Lord allowed me to complete it.

Front Cover:
Back Cover:
“Noelle’s Gift” began with the title. Only the title. As I pondered ideas and prayed, the Lord gradually gave me a skeleton of an idea and one day, blossomed the idea to completion. For once, I yielded to the temptation of designing the book cover before I actually wrote the story. 🙂 After the rough draft of the cover was designed (which was slightly different than the cover below), the Lord helped me to write the entire short story the same night – rare. 
Front Cover:

Back Cover:

Last but not least, my baby sister is just learning how to read. After I had decided to write stories for my two almost-youngest sisters, I prayed about the possibility of writing one that my five-year-old sister could read for herself – and hopefully learn from. Again, the Lord gave me an idea.

Front Cover:
Note: I may decide to replace the little girl on the cover if I get a picture I like better . . .
Back Cover:

 I am praying about what the Lord would have me to do with the short stories I’ve written for my sisters. For now, however, if you would like to read them, send me an email at withajoyfulnoise(at)gmail(dot)com and I can get you a PDF.
At this point, critiques and feedback are most welcome!

What are some Christmas projects that you’ve been working on?

Word Wednesday #32

Published on by Amanda Tero4 Comments
“And many shall follow their pernicious ways; by reason of whom the way of truth shall be evil spoken of.” (2 Peter 2:2)
Oh, we see this today. Men denying God (verse 1) and speaking evil of the truth (verse 2). We should be grounding and rooting ourselves more and more in God and His truth. “But these, as natural brute beasts, made to be taken and destroyed, speak evil of the things that they understand not; and shall utterly perish in their own corruption;” (verse 12) “Which have forsaken the right way, and are gone astray . . .” (verse 15)

A more serious thought for Word Wednesday today, but something that need considering – it’s in God’s Word!

Share a verse that God has given you today or copy the button if you’d like to join in Word Wednesdays with your blog!

 
 

Make a Joyful Noise (Behind-the-Scenes)

Published on by Amanda Tero2 Comments
Psalm 100 is evidently one of my favorite passages in God’s Word that speaks of music. Today, I took the first verse and added it to a violin picture that I took.

I played around with some layering and thought I’d give you a little behind-the-scenes.
(Disclaimer: I don’t claim to be a layer master so if you know of something I did wrong, don’t hesitate to show me a simpler way)

Program: Photoshop Elements 10

First Layer: Violin
Of course, I began with the violin! 🙂 I lightly edited the image in Photoshop Elements 3, particularly upping the contrast. So, here is the almost-original image:

Second Layer: Blue
Next, I created a blue fill layer (color: 5c687a).
{Layer > New Fill Layer > Mode: Color Burn > Color 5c687a}


I set the opacity for this layer to 50%. This is what it did to the violin image:

Layer 03: Grass
I selected another image I had taken of simple weeds.

For this layer I selected opacity 15% just to give it that hint of texture. Not much.
Layer 04: Green Difference Clouds
Then I created a new layer with difference clouds.
{Layer > New Fill Layer > Color: 858142 – with that layer: Filter > Render > Difference Clouds}
This is what I got: 

Again, I chose the opacity to be 15% (if you can’t tell by now, I like just the tiniest hints of change)
Layer 05: Another Violin
This is probably not how you’re supposed to work Photoshop layers, but I decided that the image was a little darker than what I wanted so instead of working out the mathematics to lighten each layer, I just overlaid another violin picture: opacity 40%.
Layer 05: Text
The final step was adding the text. I used two fonts: Cardif (for the plain text) and Allura (for the fancy text). I played around with text styles (glow, simple sharp inner bevel, drop shadow) until I came up with the look I liked (yes, I could go more into detail, but it would seriously confuse you).
If you own Photoshop and haven’t played around with layers yet, I encourage you to give it a try! Don’t be scared to just click buttons (just observe what buttons you click so if you come up with something fantastic, you’ll know how to replicate it).

Commands for Children (Part 1) | Ephesians Study

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Ephesians 6:1
Children, obey your parents in the Lord: for this is right.

Colossians 3:20, “Children, obey your parents in all things: for this is well pleasing unto the Lord.”
In case one doesn’t fully understand the simple command, “obey” means (NT:5219 hupakouo) “to hear under (as a subordinate), i.e. to listen attentively; by implication, to heed or conform to a command or authority:” Children are to put themselves under the God-given authority of their parents. It is right (equitable, innocent, holy). It is well pleasing (fully agreeable) to the Lord.
These verses indicate more than simple obedience to parents. We are not to obey our parents because it is right in theireyes and well pleasing unto them. It is a higher standard than that: by obeying their parents, the children are obeying God. Even at a young age, children can (and should) understand that it is not merely an act of obeying parents, but much more importantly, an act of obeying (or disobeying) God.
Ephesians 6:2, Honour thy father and mother; (which is the first commandment with promise;)
After a child is to obey their parents, they are to honor them. Honor means (NT:5091 timao) “to prize, i.e. fix a valuation upon; by implication, to revere:”
Ephesians 6:3, That it may be well with thee, and thou mayest live long on the earth.
Not only do we see that God has commanded us to obey; but He has so much as given us a promise for when we do obey. God’s commands are not without blessings – if we follow. Do we want things to be well with us? Well then, we must deny ourselves and humble ourselves to obey God’s commands. Do we want a long life? We must again deny our “rights” and humble ourselves to God’s commands. It is as simple as that. 

My Photoshoot With Julia

Published on by Amanda Tero4 Comments
Yesterday, I shared the photoshoot I took with Julia as the subject. Today are the pictures that Julia took of me (shared with her permission). This was also great fun and I had a blast. I have wanted pictures with long, wavy grass for as long as I can remember. It wasn’t until this week that I realize that our neighbor’s property (which he kindly allows us to tramp in) has just what I envisioned!
Julia, thanks for giving me my first “solo” photoshoot! You’re doing a great job in photography! Keep it up!
{To view the images larger, simply click on the first one and scroll through them}

And a couple of pictures with my sister, Rachel, on the recorder.

~*~*~
“Make a joyful noise unto the LORD, all ye lands.” (Psalms 100:1)

Julia | Photoshoot

Published on by Amanda Tero6 Comments
Impromptu photo-shoots are great fun! This week, we had some friends over, one of which is a co-photographer (she uses Nikon, but we won’t hold that against her ;)). After looking at some photography websites together, I was ready to get my hands on the camera! Julia was gracious to be my subject and we brought her ukelele along for a walk.
Some of the images will appear small to fit on the blog, so click on the first one to view the pictures larger.

I had so much fun taking pictures with you, Julia!

Stay tuned tomorrow and I’ll share the photoshoot swap: Julia did a photoshoot of me.

~*~*~
Now the end of the commandment is charity out of a pure heart, and of a good conscience, and of faith unfeigned:” (1 Timothy 1:5)

For This Cause | Ephesians Study

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Ephesians 5:31
For this cause shall a man leave his father and mother, and shall be joined unto his wife, and they two shall be one flesh.
Just like we have left the old man and have become part of Christ’s body, so ought the man leave his father and mother and join himself as one to the wife.
An interesting thought: Jesus Christ left His Father, to come to earth so that He might provide all things for the body, that He might make a way to sanctify and cleanse her. Christ could have stayed in heaven with His Father to provide all of this, but instead, He chose to take the discomforts of life. Perhaps this is more of an example of how the husband ought to “leave and cleave.” Christ left His Father, but still communed with Him. So the man ought to leave his parents, but not cease communing with them. Christ gave His all for His bride. So the man ought to give his all for his bride. Christ provided all that He could for the spiritual nourishment of His bride. So the man ought to provide all that he can for spiritual nourishment.
Ephesians 5:33
Nevertheless let every one of you in particular so love his wife even as himself; and the wife see that she reverence her husband.

Even though we won’t be able to fully understand it, the husband and wife are given instructions and rules to help them (husbands: love, wives: reverence). We don’t have to fully understand the relationship between Christ and the church to follow what He has shown us; that in itself will be lessons enough for a lifetime of marriage.

Word Wednesday #31

Published on by Amanda Tero2 Comments
“Moreover I will endeavour that ye may be able after my decease to have these things always in remembrance.” (2 Peter 1:15)

Peter felt a burden to help the church remember (“Wherefore I will not be negligent to put you always in remembrance of these things, though ye know them, and be established in the present truth. Yea, I think it meet, as long as I am in this tabernacle, to stir you up by putting you in remembrance;” 2 Peter 1:12-13). He did what he could to help them remember truth while he was alive, but also thought of how to have that reminder available even after he died. He didn’t care if people remembered him, but he did care if they forgot truth.

Share a verse that God has given you today or copy the button if you’d like to join in Word Wednesdays with your blog!

 
 

Commands for Husbands | Ephesians Study

Published on by Amanda TeroLeave a comment
Ephesians 5:25
Husbands, love your wives, even as Christ also loved the church, and gave himself for it;
Parallel verse: Colossians 3:19, “Husbands, love your wives, and be not bitter against them.”
Husbands are also given the example of Christ and the church. Before the church was even in being (Jesus spoke of the church in Matthew 16:18 as something yet to come: “And I say also unto thee, That thou art Peter, and upon this rock I will build my church; and the gates of hell shall not prevail against it.”), Jesus gave Himself for her. He proved His love to her by His actions. He did not simply give a bunch of commands and sit back only as commanding officer; rather, Jesus Christ gave Himself and gave His life as an example for the church to follow (Philippians 2:5-8). What would an in-depth study on Jesus Christ look like for a pattern for husbands to follow? This verse should entice the husband to study more of the person and character of Jesus Christ, so they better know how to follow Him.
Ephesians 5:28-29
(28)  So ought men to love their wives as their own bodies. He that loveth his wife loveth himself.
(29)  For no man ever yet hated his own flesh; but nourisheth and cherisheth it, even as the Lord the church:
We were given just a small glimpse of Christ’s love and faithfulness to His bride, the church (verses 25-27). With this example in mind, husbands ought to love their wives faithfully. They are to revere them as their own body – care for, nourish, cherish it. For a husband to hate his wife is for him to hate himself. For a husband to bring pain to his wife is for him to bring pain to himself. The husband and wife are joined as one (vs. 31) and their actions towards each other are hurting or restoring themselves as an individual.

Think of how Christ nourishes and cherishes His church. “According as his divine power hath given unto us all things that pertain unto life and godliness, through the knowledge of him that hath called us to glory and virtue:” (2 Peter 1:3) Jesus Christ has given us everything we need to be nourished. He has promised to love us eternally, unconditionally (“Who shall separate us from the love of Christ? shall tribulation, or distress, or persecution, or famine, or nakedness, or peril, or sword? As it is written, For thy sake we are killed all the day long; we are accounted as sheep for the slaughter. Nay, in all these things we are more than conquerors through him that loved us. For I am persuaded, that neither death, nor life, nor angels, nor principalities, nor powers, nor things present, nor things to come, Nor height, nor depth, nor any other creature, shall be able to separate us from the love of God, which is in Christ Jesus our Lord.” Romans 8:35-39). With this as a man’s example, he ought to love and nourish his wife – caring for her physically, emotionally, and spiritually. Just like a wife cannot submit to her husband until she has first submitted to God and His Word, a husband cannot love his wife until he has first loved God and His Word.