Month: February 2016

Biblically Speaking – Sacrifices of the Wicked

Published on by Amanda TeroLeave a comment
Part 17 in my study on what is abomination in the sight of God.
Recap:
Many believers have fallen into accepting that which is abomination in the sight of God. Unless we study God’s Word to learn His Mind on what is abominable, how will we know to purge ourselves from abomination? Lord willing, I will be posting the fruits of my study on the word “abomination,” but feel free to leap ahead of me and study it for yourself. What is an abomination to God?

Sacrifice of Wicked
Proverbs 15:8 – The sacrifice of the wicked is an abomination to the Lord: but the prayer of the upright is his delight.
Proverbs 21:27 – The sacrifice of the wicked is abomination: how much more, when he bringeth it with a wicked mind?
God will not accept sacrifices by wicked men. As shown in His Word, it is not actions that God desires but a heart condition.
Psalm 51:17 – The sacrifices of God are a broken spirit: a broken and a contrite heart, O God, thou wilt not despise.

Hosea 6:6 – For I desired mercy, and not sacrifice; and the knowledge of God more than burnt offerings.

Artistic Eye | Photography

Published on by Amanda Tero5 Comments
I never thought of myself artistic when it came to photography. I didn’t have that “natural eye”–at least not when I saw others’ photographs. I would look at a tree and say, “Okay…so it’s a tree…” My brother would look at a tree, take one picture (ONE!) and I would be dumbfounded. It was a piece of art.
Fast forward a few years. I did photography as a hobby, then people actually began to hire me. And one of the things they mentioned? I had a good “eye.” (Wait. When did this happen?)
Maybe I did have it naturally, but I just needed to practice, practice, practice.
When I first started photography, using my brother’s digital camera, I would snap twenty pictures of the same object, with almost the same angle. Did that really give me much practice? Since I was using auto-focus, no it didn’t.
One photographer suggested experimenting with three different angles on a subject (keeping the subject in the same pose). I didn’t know this when I was practicing, but on my own, I began narrowing my picture-taking to only 2-3 shots of the same angle. You know what? It made a difference! As I practiced, I learned what worked and what didn’t–when to take the picture and when to avoid pressing that button.
Here are a couple of angles from the same subject. Taken in St. Charles, MO, in 2011.

Photographers – What tips have helped your “photography eye?”

Photographers-in-training – What do you plan on practicing this week with photography?

If you have a photography blog, comment with the link below and I’ll visit! 🙂

God’s Smuggler | Book Review

Published on by Amanda Tero5 Comments

824062Another book I wasn’t “required” to read, God’s Smuggler has been on my list to read for probably five years. My older sister has had the book for years…and I finally got around to it. Why did I wait so long?!

About the Book
As a boy he dreamed of being a spy undercover behind enemy lines. As a man he found himself undercover for God. Brother Andrew was his name and for decades his life story, recounted in God’s Smuggler, has awed and inspired millions. The bestseller tells of the young Dutch factory worker’s incredible efforts to transport Bibles across closed borders-and the miraculous ways in which God provided for him every step of the way. Revell and Chosen now reintroduce this powerful story with two new releases: a 35th anniversary edition and The Narrow Road, an expanded youth edition. Both contain a new foreword and afterword. The youth edition also features information about ministry to the persecuted church today, including country profiles, quotes from Christians in underground churches, “what if” scenarios based on real-life threats they face, and stories from others who have participated in Brother Andrew’s Bible-smuggling work. Brother Andrew’s story remains as inspiring today as it was thirty-five years ago, and with these new releases it will motivate a whole new generation to risk everything to follow God’s call.

My Review
Wow! This is an amazing book! There are really no words to describe it other than Brother Andrew simply living in obedience to God. But how encouraging and faith-building it is to follow years of his ministry! Some people think of doing grand things for Christ, but often, Brother Andrew was just THERE…giving hope to the persecuted Christians that there is someone else in the body praying for them. Reading this book will raise your awareness of persecuted Christians and the struggles they face. It is not graphic at all (not even close to “Tortured for Christ”), but shows the seriousness and struggles of believers in closed countries.

A quote that really stood out to me;
“You can’t use strong-arm tactics against the Church without strengthening it. It’s always been that way. Under persecution a man looks to his faith to see if it’s worth fighting for, and this is a scrutiny Christianity can always withstand. The real danger comes with an indirect attack, where a person is lured away from the Church before he has a chance to become strong.”

Buy on Amazon: God’s Smuggler

Lookee…!!!

Published on by Amanda Tero2 Comments

There is something surreal about the first time you’re holding your book in your hands! My proof copy came in today!!! Wow! I think our whole house was buzzing with excitement! My family is so amazingly supportive! Feeling SO blessed!

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Word Wednesday #95

Published on by Amanda TeroLeave a comment
And it came to pass at the end of two full years, that Pharaoh dreamed: and, behold, he stood by the river…Then Pharaoh sent and called Joseph, and they brought him hastily out of the dungeon: and he shaved himself, and changed his raiment, and came in unto Pharaoh. 
Genesis 41:1, 14
Those two silent years. In them, Joseph stayed faithful to God–while waiting, never knowing if he would be released from prison. Am I faithful to God while waiting? Am I faithful despite my circumstances?
~*~*~

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! Did you post on your blog? I’d love to see — share your link in a comment!