Tell Yourself the Truth - Desktop Download #4

Sometimes I stop by utmost.org to read the daily slice from Oswald Chambers (from My Utmost for His Highest). Today I noticed the quote on the sidebar, and felt it resonate with how I sometimes struggle with my outlook on life.

"Am I getting nobler, better, more helpful, more humble, as I get older? Am I exhibiting the life that men take knowledge of as having been with Jesus, or am I getting more self-assertive, more deliberately determined to have my own way? It is a great thing to tell yourself the truth."

-Oswald Chambers, The Place of Help, 1005 R

Unfortunately I often find myself acting in the way he tries to steer us away from. I love how he finishes his convicting thought: "It is a great thing to tell yourself the truth." He passes no judgement: its up to us to see the truths in our own lives and know when its time to change.

Think About Grace - DESKTOP DOWNLOAD #3

It's a word I hear quite regularly around the office. Its one of those words that becomes stagnant in my mind as I take from here, send it there, pass it over, fold it under...

But BOY. Is it important to stop from time to time and put it on the table in front of me, by itself, and contemplate what Grace means: to me, for me, for life.

You know it changes everything.

What is broken is seen as whole. 
What is soiled is seen as clean. 
What will never measure up exceeds expectations.

It changes EVERYTHING.

Today I encountered Christians who seem to have forgotten this concept, using their space on the web to pour out words of intolerance and judgement on Christians of another denomination. At first I was deeply angered, feeling their blatant close-mindedness as a personal affront. Eventually, my anger gave way to self analysis, and as I worked through my own close-minded perspectives I came back to this word.

Why do we always forget about GRACE?

download the Grace desktop image by clicking here.

The Scenes Behind - desktop download #2

Today I bring you a summer-inspired backdrop to illustrate an abstract idea I've been considering. I am pretty sure this was inspired by a conversation I had about how the saturday night service at our church has ice-cream sundaes...so you can get your sundae on saturday. Ha!

Well, I go to the sunday service and don't get ice-cream. But I started thinking about how much I appreciate my sunday, and the church we've been attending lately (long story!). This lesson might not be very applicable to anyone else, but I think its important to take the time to appreciate these things! When we are gifted with amazing supportive Christian communities, we should celebrate :D.

So never mind that its easter weekend and we have immeasurable things to celebrate lol, take time to appreciate even the small ones! and have some ice-cream this sunday! Download the background here.

The Scenes Behind - desktop download

It may be because I work on a computer all day, but I love choosing a desktop background. You know you've got a good one when you minimize all your working windows and feel inspired by what remains. Sometimes I like to create my own based on some sort of topic or lesson I've been working on learning lately.

Today I created one to remind myself that I'm not looking out for number 1. Its really easy to forget (for me) in a visual industry, when I surround myself by the success of others. I'm not here for me, and I'm not trying to get anywhere for me. I regularly forget that, and regularly suffer for it!

Jesus lived the prime example of being number 2 (or 3 or 12 etc...). He got down on his hands and knees and washed the feet of his disciples the day before he was crucified (John 13:1-17). He asked them to follow him, and he asks us to follow him, not for his own gain, but driven by his love for us.

Gotta hold on to that one!

Download the "number 2" desktop image by clicking here!

Also, let me know if you want me to make more! I really have no idea if anyone gets anything from my blog, I just do it to stay creative and inspired :D.