In the Potter’s Hand

The Lord occasionally places little reminders in my life: that in His eyes, I am the clay and He is the Potter. Within a week’s time, I read Isaiah 64:8, a random blog post on Isaiah 64:8, and heard a sermon on Jeremiah 18 (oh, did I mention that Isaiah 64:8 was a reference my pastor used in that sermon?).
I don’t think it was of any coincidence that God formed the first man out of the dust of the earth and then used the analogy of us being but clay, the work of His hand. But sometimes I need that reminder. I must come to the point daily of recognizing that I am the one to be molded, shaped, and changed; that God is the One Who has authority to mold, shape, and change me.
God may decide to use trials to shape me. He may put on a little pressure. He may convict me or correct me. If I am hard, He will have to break me in order to shape me. But if my heart is tender and pliable, it takes only a gentle touch of His hand to create that new and better shape.
Just like forming pottery takes hours and days, God’s work in my heart and life is not complete in one small instance. He still shapes and molds throughout the years, perfecting and finishing the work which He has begun (“The Lord will perfect that which concerneth me: thy mercy, O Lord, endureth for ever: forsake not the works of thine own hands.” Psalm 138:8). The question I need to ponder is: am I moldable in the Father’s hand?
Some verses that benefit to review:
“And not only so, but we glory in tribulations also: knowing that tribulation worketh patience; And patience, experience; and experience, hope: And hope maketh not ashamed; because the love of God is shed abroad in our hearts by the Holy Ghost which is given unto us.” (Romans 5:3-5)

“My brethren, count it all joy when ye fall into divers temptations; Knowing this, that the trying of your faith worketh patience. But let patience have her perfect work, that ye may be perfect and entire, wanting nothing.” (James 1:2-4)

The Armor of God – SALVATION | Ephesians Study

Ephesians 6:17
And take the helmet of salvation, and the sword of the Spirit, which is the word of God:

The next piece of armor is the helmet (4030 perikephalaia; encirclement of the head, i.e. a helmet:) of salvation (4992 soterion; defender or (by implication) defence:). Our head is not protected by ourselves. Instead, our head is encircled by salvation – which comes from Jesus Christ.
This concept reminds me of the references to Christ as the Head of the church.
“Jesus saith unto them, Did ye never read in the scriptures, The stone which the builders rejected, the same is become the head of the corner: this is the Lord’s doing, and it is marvellous in our eyes?” (Matthew 21:42)
“But I would have you know, that the head of every man is Christ; and the head of the woman is the man; and the head of Christ is God.” (1 Corinthians 11:3)
“And hath put all things under his feet, and gave him to be the head over all things to the church, Which is his body, the fulness of him that filleth all in all.” (Ephesians 1:22-23)
“For the husband is the head of the wife, even as Christ is the head of the church: and he is the saviour of the body.” (Ephesians 5:23)
“And he is the head of the body, the church: who is the beginning, the firstborn from the dead; that in all things he might have the preeminence.” (Colossians 1:18)
“And ye are complete in him, which is the head of all principality and power:” (Colossians 2:10)

The verse that especially seems to connect this concept is Ephesians 5:23, “For the husband is the head of the wife, even as Christ is the head of the church: and he is the saviour of the body.” Christ is the head, the Savior. We are to take the helmet of Salvation.

Author Interview | Sarah Holman

For the past few months, I’ve been praying about doing some interviews/guest posts on here. Today, I am excited to have our first interview with stay-at-home author, Sarah Holman.
Me: When did you begin writing/know that you would be an author?
Sarah: Well, I started writing when I was eleven and thought I would always keep it as a hobby. While I had planned since I was in my early teens to be a nurse. However, because of some health challenges I was having, I realized I would not have the energy that I would need to complete nursing school. God showed me that my writing could be my full time writer. So, I followed His lead.
Me: About how much time do you spend writing?
Sarah: I spend about eight hours a day working on my writing in some form or fashion. I write blog posts, manage Homeschooled Authors, as well as write and edit some almost every day. 
Me: When you’re not writing, what are some things that you enjoy doing?
Sarah: Reading is number one on my list of things I love. I read about two to three books a week. I also enjoy spending time with my siblings, scrapbooking, sewing, and taking walks in the forest.
Me: What helps inspire you in writing? (reading other books, listening to music, etc.)
Sarah: Movies are normally my biggest inspiration. It is normally a single line or a side plot that I jump on and want to make into a story. I also get a lot of inspiration from real life. Watching people it a bit of a hobby.
Me: Have there been any Scripture verses that God really used to encourage you in your writing journey?
Sarah: Always, but they are different for each book. For instance, while I was writing A Different Kind of Courage, this verse inspired me and drove the story forward. 
This is the verdict: Light has come into the world, but people loved darkness instead of light because their deeds were evil. Everyone who does evil hates the light, and will not come into the light for fear that their deeds will be exposed. But whoever lives by the truth comes into the light, so that it may be seen plainly that what they have done has been done in the sight of God.John 3:19-21 NIV
Me: How do you write? Do you usually spend some time plotting and outlining or do you jump right in?
Sarah: I normally come up with an idea and add it to my schedule or file it away for the future. Then, when it comes time to work on a project, I dive right in. It normally takes me only a month to write it and I do very little if any outlining. However, it then takes me about two months to edit, then I send it to my editors, do a final edit, then publish. That is how it works if things go perfectly, but they often don’t.
Me: Out of all the books/short stories you have written, what is your favorite? Why?
A Different Kind of CourageSarah: Asking an author to pick a favorite among the stories they wrote is like asking a parent to pick a favorite child. Each book is dear for me for one reason or another. However, if I had to pick one, I would pick A Different Kind of Courage. It was so much fun combining my love of history and writing to create this book.
Me: What would you say to encourage another young, Christian writer?
Sarah: You are going to have people who love your books no matter what you write and you are going to have people who hate your books no matter what you write. Write for the glory of God and for Him alone. When I started writing, my prayer was that for each book, one person would be brought closer to God. I have been blessed to be able to hear some of the stories of how God has used the books, and it has made all the work worthwhile.
And some random questions:
What is your favorite season?
Summer!
If you could go anywhere, where would it be? Why?
England. I have always wanted to visit the museums, visit some people I know there, and see an English castle.
What is your favorite time period?
Currently, it is the American Revolution. Ever since I started writing A Different Kind of Courage, I have come a bit obsessed over the time period. 
What is one dream that you have?
To host a conference for HomeschooledAuthors
What is your favorite Bible verse?
Romans 8:38-39
What is your salvation testimony?
When I was four or five I was watching a Donut Man (a kids singing video) and it talked about salvation. I asked Jesus into my heart at that very young age, and as I have grown, God has matured and nurtured that faith.
Anything else about you or your writing that you’d like to add?
I love staying connected with my readers you can find me at my BlogFacebook, TwitterGoodreads, Pinterest, and also the website I run Homeschooled Authors.

Thanks for joining us, Sarah! Best wishes on your writing – and may God direct your steps!

~*~*~
Note: While I interview different authors on here, I have not read all of their material and cannot personally endorse what I have not read. 🙂

"Be Ye" (part 2 of 2)


In my study of “Be ye” I came across verses that commanded what we should NOT be.
Be Ye Not
1) Be ye not stiffnecked
Now be ye not stiffnecked, as your fathers were, but yield yourselves unto the Lord, and enter into his sanctuary, which he hath sanctified for ever: and serve the Lord your God, that the fierceness of his wrath may turn away from you. 2 Chronicles 30:8
2) Be ye (not) sorry/grieved
Then he said unto them, Go your way, eat the fat, and drink the sweet, and send portions unto them for whom nothing is prepared: for this day is holy unto our Lord: neither be ye sorry; for the joy of the Lord is your strength. Nehemiah 8:10
So the Levites stilled all the people, saying, Hold your peace, for the day is holy; neither be ye grieved. Nehemiah 8:11
3) Be ye not afraid (of God’s judgment)
Be ye afraid of the sword: for wrath bringeth the punishments of the sword, that ye may know there is a judgment. Job 19:29
4) Be ye not as a horse/mule (stubborn)
Be ye not as the horse, or as the mule, which have no understanding: whose mouth must be held in with bit and bridle, lest they come near unto thee. Psalms 32:9
5) Be ye not afraid (of men and their words)
Hearken unto me, ye that know righteousness, the people in whose heart is my law; fear ye not the reproach of men, neither be ye afraid of their revilings. Isaiah 51:7
6) Be ye not as rebellious fathers
Be ye not as your fathers, unto whom the former prophets have cried, saying, Thus saith the Lord of hosts; Turn ye now from your evil ways, and from your evil doings: but they did not hear, nor hearken unto me, saith the Lord. Zechariah 1:4
 7) Be ye not masters
Neither be ye called masters: for one is your Master, even Christ. Matthew 23:10
8) Be ye not troubled (of end-time rumors)
And when ye shall hear of wars and rumours of wars, be ye not troubled: for such things must needs be; but the end shall not be yet. Mark 13:7
9) Be ye not of a doubtful mind
And seek not ye what ye shall eat, or what ye shall drink, neither be ye of doubtful mind. Luke 12:29
10) Be ye not idolaters
Neither be ye idolaters, as were some of them; as it is written, The people sat down to eat and drink, and rose up to play. 1 Corinthians 10:7
11) Be ye not unequally yoked in marriage
Be ye not unequally yoked together with unbelievers: for what fellowship hath righteousness with unrighteousness? and what communion hath light with darkness? 2 Corinthians 6:14
12) Be ye not unwise
Wherefore be ye not unwise, but understanding what the will of the Lord is. Ephesians 5:17
Extra: three verses indicated what we should be because that is what God is.
“Be ye . . . for I am”
Perfect
Be ye therefore perfect, even as your Father which is in heaven is perfect. Matthew 5:48
Merciful
Be ye therefore merciful, as your Father also is merciful. Luke 6:36
Holy
Because it is written, Be ye holy; for I am holy. 1 Peter 1:16

Writing Website

I promise that I’m not addicted to making new websites! Perhaps a little too overly organized, but not addicted. 😉 I present to you my writing website: www.amandatero.weebly.com.
Lord willing, I will be setting up a table at the Louisiana Homeschool (CHEF) Conference for With a Joyful Noise in April. While doing so, Mom suggested that I print up some of the short stories that the Lord has allowed me to pen in the past few years to sell there. And while doing so, why not have a place that is not jumbled with my other thoughts as they are here? Not to mention that this is an idea that I have been praying about for the past several months. As far as I know, this will be my last new endeavor . . . for at least the week. 😉
If you’re on FaceBook, feel free to follow my author page.

~*~
“Trust in the Lord with all thine heart, and lean not unto thine own understanding.”
Proverbs 3:5

B&W with Color | Photoshop tutorial

Here is one look that I recently tried in my editing:

I showed it to a friend and she was interested in knowing how it was done. This is SO easy!
For this tutorial, I’m using Photoshop Elements 6.0 (due to some computer issues, I’m back down to an older version for now).

First, open your image in Photoshop.

Duplicate the layer.

If you’d like, name your new layer.

Be sure your top layer is selected.

Then go to “Create.” Here, you want to lower the saturation to be none (under “Color”).

Go back to your main editing window. Select the eraser. Again, be sure you’re on the top layer (Black and White layer). Now, erase away! You are erasing away the black and white picture and the color picture underneath will show.

Told you it was easy!! 🙂

Next week, look for a couple of more pictures from this photoshoot. 🙂

~*~
“Sing aloud unto God our strength: make a joyful noise unto the God of Jacob.” (Psalm 81:1)

"Be Ye" (part 1 of 2)

“Be Ye” – Commands for God’s Children
A couple of days ago, I was reviewing some memory verses and found the phrase “be ye” in a few verses. I thought it would be interesting to do a study and see how many times we are commanded to “be ye.” Some of these commands were given to specific people for specific instances, but I believe that we can still apply these commands as believers.
1) Be ye fruitful
And you, be ye fruitful, and multiply; bring forth abundantly in the earth, and multiply therein. Genesis 9:7
2) Be ye holy
Sanctify yourselves therefore, and be ye holy: for I am the Lord your God. Leviticus 20:7
But as he which hath called you is holy, so be ye holy in all manner of conversation; 1 Peter 1:15
Because it is written, Be ye holy; for I am holy. 1 Peter 1:16
3) Be ye mindful of His covenant
Be ye mindful always of his covenant; the word which he commanded to a thousand generations; 1 Chronicles 16:15
4) Be ye strong
Be ye strong therefore, and let not your hands be weak: for your work shall be rewarded. 2 Chronicles 15:7
5) Be ye of an understanding heart
O ye simple, understand wisdom: and, ye fools, be ye of an understanding heart. Proverbs 8:5
Wherefore be ye not unwise, but understanding what the will of the Lord is. Ephesians 5:17
6) Be ye saved
Look unto me, and be ye saved, all the ends of the earth: for I am God, and there is none else. Isaiah 45:22
7) Be ye clean
Depart ye, depart ye, go ye out from thence, touch no unclean thing; go ye out of the midst of her; be ye clean, that bear the vessels of the Lord. Isaiah 52:11
8) Be ye glad
But be ye glad and rejoice for ever in that which I create: for, behold, I create Jerusalem a rejoicing, and her people a joy. Isaiah 65:18
9) Be ye ashamed (for those who have neglected God’s work)
Be ye ashamed, O ye husbandmen; howl, O ye vinedressers, for the wheat and for the barley; because the harvest of the field is perished. Joel 1:11
10) Be ye perfect
Be ye therefore perfect, even as your Father which is in heaven is perfect. Matthew 5:48
11) Be ye wise as serpents, harmless as doves
Behold, I send you forth as sheep in the midst of wolves: be ye therefore wise as serpents, and harmless as doves. Matthew 10:16
12) Be ye ready for Christ’s return
Therefore be ye also ready: for in such an hour as ye think not the Son of man cometh. Matthew 24:44
Be ye therefore ready also: for the Son of man cometh at an hour when ye think not. Luke 12:40
13) Be ye merciful
Be ye therefore merciful, as your Father also is merciful. Luke 6:36
 14) Be ye transformed (by the renewing of your mind)
And be not conformed to this world: but be ye transformed by the renewing of your mind, that ye may prove what is that good, and acceptable, and perfect, will of God. Romans 12:2
15) Be ye followers (of Paul)
Wherefore I beseech you, be ye followers of me. 1 Corinthians 4:16
Be ye followers of me, even as I also am of Christ. 1 Corinthians 11:1
16) Be ye children in malice
Brethren, be not children in understanding: howbeit in malice be ye children, but in understanding be men. 1 Corinthians 14:20
17) Be ye steadfast
Therefore, my beloved brethren, be ye stedfast, unmoveable, always abounding in the work of the Lord, forasmuch as ye know that your labour is not in vain in the Lord. 1 Corinthians 15:58
18) Be ye reconciled to God
Now then we are ambassadors for Christ, as though God did beseech you by us: we pray you in Christ’s stead, be ye reconciled to God. 2 Corinthians 5:20
19) Be ye separate
Wherefore come out from among them, and be ye separate, saith the Lord, and touch not the unclean thing; and I will receive you, 2 Corinthians 6:17
20) Be ye angry – and sin not
Be ye angry, and sin not: let not the sun go down upon your wrath: Ephesians 4:26
21) Be ye kind
And be ye kind one to another, tenderhearted, forgiving one another, even as God for Christ’s sake hath forgiven you. Ephesians 4:32
22) Be ye followers of God
Be ye therefore followers of God, as dear children; Ephesians 5:1
23) Be ye thankful
And let the peace of God rule in your hearts, to the which also ye are called in one body; and be ye thankful. Colossians 3:15
24) Be ye doers of the Word
But be ye doers of the word, and not hearers only, deceiving your own selves. James 1:22
25) Be ye patient
Be ye also patient; stablish your hearts: for the coming of the Lord draweth nigh. James 5:8
26) Be ye all of one mind
Finally, be ye all of one mind, having compassion one of another, love as brethren, be pitiful, be courteous: 1 Peter 3:8
27) Be ye sober
But the end of all things is at hand: be ye therefore sober, and watch unto prayer. 1 Peter 4:7
Commands for the children of Israel
(which can also be applied to those of us following God in our journey)
1) Be of good courage
And what the land is, whether it be fat or lean, whether there be wood therein, or not. And be ye of good courage, and bring of the fruit of the land. Now the time was the time of the firstripe grapes. Numbers 13:20
Be ye therefore very courageous to keep and to do all that is written in the book of the law of Moses, that ye turn not aside therefrom to the right hand or to the left; Joshua 23:6
2) Be not terrified
And shall say unto them, Hear, O Israel, ye approach this day unto battle against your enemies: let not your hearts faint, fear not, and do not tremble, neither be ye terrified because of them; Deuteronomy 20:3
3) Be ready

And he commanded them, saying, Behold, ye shall lie in wait against the city, even behind the city: go not very far from the city, but be ye all ready: Joshua 8:4

From With a Joyful Noise

Last wee, I announced 5 Pieces now available at WAJN.

This week, I am so grateful to the Lord that He has allowed me to publish three more books for digital downloads!

Available for $6.95 as digital download
Available as $4.95 as digital download

Available for $5.95 as digital download

Visit our Digital Store for more details.

And, if you think about it, pray for me as I look into printing these in the next month!

Word Wednesday #44

He that hath the Son hath life; and he that hath not the Son of God hath not life. (1 John 5:12)
Today we like to say, “You haven’t lived until you’ve done (or tried) _______.” Of course, that is just a saying. But the truth is: we have not lived until we have accepted Jesus Christ as our personal Savior.

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!