My dear sister Charity had her 13th birthday on the 21st. It's really hard to believe that she's been with us for that long! So many memories... So much that we've done together. I was so excited when she was born, because I finally had a sister, but I can honestly say that I love her so much more now than I ever have, and I love her more every day.
I went through a lot of our home video last week and put together a short film covering a lot of her babyhood and most of her birthdays since. We don't have footage from her 4th, 5th, and 12th birthdays for various reasons, but every other birthday is documented on here. I showed it at her birthday party yesterday, and everyone really enjoyed it.
So happy birthday, Charity! And I love you! :)
Your brother,
Joel
Monday, February 28, 2011
Friday, February 18, 2011
The Image
"Hold an image of the life you want,
and that image will become fact."
~ Norman Vincent Peale
I thought about that quote for a few minutes while I was cleaning up from lunch yesterday, and then suddenly the deeper meaning sunk in. Jesus is our pattern, the image of the life we want. The longer we look at Him, study Him, and imitate Him, the closer our lives will mirror His. Paul writes “But we all, with open face beholding as in a glass the glory of the Lord, are changed into the same image from glory to glory, even as by the Spirit of the Lord.” 2 Corinthians 3:18
So friends, I want to challenge you to hold the image of the life you want - the life of Jesus Christ - and little by little, that image will become fact.
and that image will become fact."
~ Norman Vincent Peale
I thought about that quote for a few minutes while I was cleaning up from lunch yesterday, and then suddenly the deeper meaning sunk in. Jesus is our pattern, the image of the life we want. The longer we look at Him, study Him, and imitate Him, the closer our lives will mirror His. Paul writes “But we all, with open face beholding as in a glass the glory of the Lord, are changed into the same image from glory to glory, even as by the Spirit of the Lord.” 2 Corinthians 3:18
So friends, I want to challenge you to hold the image of the life you want - the life of Jesus Christ - and little by little, that image will become fact.
Friday, February 11, 2011
Joy on the Journey
A good friend and I were talking the other day about how we seem to have this terrible habit of always looking ahead to the next thing we'll be doing. Some of my thoughts currently are "As soon as I can finish editing this wedding video," "As soon as I finish post-production on The Revised Register," "As soon as summer gets here," "As soon as, as soon as..." I think you get the picture. I can never wait for the next thing to happen, for the next bend in the road. And I am finding that, all too often, I fail to enjoy the journey. It's the cares of tomorrow and the regrets from the past that often burden us down. If we would focus our attention on the task at hand and learn to enjoy the scenery as it passes by, life would be so much happier!
Paul had learned this lesson. In Philippians 4:11 he says “Not that I speak in respect of want: for I have learned, in whatsoever state I am, therewith to be content.” Contentment begins with a state of gratitude. If we would make a conscious decision to thank God for everything, we would soon see that even those things that we don't like and would rather forget about have a very specific purpose. And even if we cannot see that at this time through our mortal eyes, we can learn to look through the eyes of faith and know that someday, all things will be made plain. I heard an interesting thought at church a couple of weeks ago:
"It's easy to lift up our concern,
It's easy to lift up our praise,
But can we lift up our concern as a praise?"
Think about that for a moment! Let those words sink in... Can we truly thank God for everything? It not only is a command to rejoice and give thanks in everything, but it is also a privilege. So let's stop fretting about the past and worrying for the future. Let's stop biding our time while we wait for something truly glorious to happen. Because if we don't, we'll soon see that the glorious mirage we saw in the distance will all too soon become the very dull present, and another glorious mirage will be on the horizon. I am going to start enjoying the gift of the present, how about you?
Paul had learned this lesson. In Philippians 4:11 he says “Not that I speak in respect of want: for I have learned, in whatsoever state I am, therewith to be content.” Contentment begins with a state of gratitude. If we would make a conscious decision to thank God for everything, we would soon see that even those things that we don't like and would rather forget about have a very specific purpose. And even if we cannot see that at this time through our mortal eyes, we can learn to look through the eyes of faith and know that someday, all things will be made plain. I heard an interesting thought at church a couple of weeks ago:
"It's easy to lift up our concern,
It's easy to lift up our praise,
But can we lift up our concern as a praise?"
Think about that for a moment! Let those words sink in... Can we truly thank God for everything? It not only is a command to rejoice and give thanks in everything, but it is also a privilege. So let's stop fretting about the past and worrying for the future. Let's stop biding our time while we wait for something truly glorious to happen. Because if we don't, we'll soon see that the glorious mirage we saw in the distance will all too soon become the very dull present, and another glorious mirage will be on the horizon. I am going to start enjoying the gift of the present, how about you?
Thursday, December 16, 2010
Four Days Late
Blog post
I have really enjoyed this rental vehicle we have during our stay here in Maryland. One thing I have really enjoyed is the satellite radio it has. I found a wonderful Southern Gospel music station the other day ~ XM34. Anyway, yesterday this song came on called "Four Days Late" by Karen Peck. That has become my latest favorite song. It tells the story of Lazarus dying and Martha sending Jesus the message and Jesus waiting four days before getting there. But the final words of the chorus were the ones that really grabbed me. "But His way is God's way, not yours or mine. And isn't it great, when He's four days late, He's still on time." Wow! How many times have we gotten discouraged because we don't have an immediate answer to our prayers? But think of it! God works on His time, not ours! His ways are perfect, and even when He's four days late according to our timetable, He is always right on time. Praise God!
I have really enjoyed this rental vehicle we have during our stay here in Maryland. One thing I have really enjoyed is the satellite radio it has. I found a wonderful Southern Gospel music station the other day ~ XM34. Anyway, yesterday this song came on called "Four Days Late" by Karen Peck. That has become my latest favorite song. It tells the story of Lazarus dying and Martha sending Jesus the message and Jesus waiting four days before getting there. But the final words of the chorus were the ones that really grabbed me. "But His way is God's way, not yours or mine. And isn't it great, when He's four days late, He's still on time." Wow! How many times have we gotten discouraged because we don't have an immediate answer to our prayers? But think of it! God works on His time, not ours! His ways are perfect, and even when He's four days late according to our timetable, He is always right on time. Praise God!
Tuesday, December 14, 2010
Vacation
As many of you know, our family is currently on vacation in Maryland. I thought you all would like to know that I'm posting pictures I take with my iPod onto an album on Picasa as often as possible. I'm embedding a slideshow of those photos below, so make sure and check back every once in awhile to view them! Or you can click on this link to view them on Picasa: http://picasaweb.google.com/joelcsutherland/MarylandVacation?feat=directlink
Sunday, November 28, 2010
A sheep's testimony
The Lord is my Shepherd; I don't think that I will ever be in want... You see, He makes me lie down in the greenest of pastures and leads me beside the clearest still water. All of this restores my soul. He even gets me into the paths of righteousness, all because I claim His name! I'm really enjoying life right now. But I just happened to look ahead. It looks really scary! There's a valley up there that has the very shadow of death hanging over it! Can I trust the Shepherd to lead me safely through? I suddenly realize that I have no other option. I realize that He has shown His love to me and He will never let me down. I throw myself at His feet and promise to follow Him even through the valley of death. So even as I walk through that valley, I am not afraid! The Shepherd Himself is with me, and His rod and staff comfort me.
Now that my love and confidence in the Shepherd have grown and He has proved that I will follow Him wherever He leads me, He is able to prepare a banquet for me, right where all my enemies can see it. He anoints my head with oil and fills my cup of joy to overflowing. Goodness and mercy follow me for the rest of my life and I dwell in the house of the Lord forever.
Now that my love and confidence in the Shepherd have grown and He has proved that I will follow Him wherever He leads me, He is able to prepare a banquet for me, right where all my enemies can see it. He anoints my head with oil and fills my cup of joy to overflowing. Goodness and mercy follow me for the rest of my life and I dwell in the house of the Lord forever.
Friday Night
Here's a video I did on Friday night. If you want to watch it in HD, you'll have to watch on Vimeo rather than here...
I just had a bug to shoot some video this evening, so I pulled out my Canon PowerShot SD980 IS and did some filming. Then I went to the keyboard and recorded the music for it. Hope you enjoy. :)
Instrument samples used in this recording are from the Garritan Personal Orchestra.
I just had a bug to shoot some video this evening, so I pulled out my Canon PowerShot SD980 IS and did some filming. Then I went to the keyboard and recorded the music for it. Hope you enjoy. :)
Instrument samples used in this recording are from the Garritan Personal Orchestra.
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