.:3thirty0:. Unwrapping Beauty..

This past weekend I soaked up the glory of turning 30 and had a spa day with some of my friends. It was bliss! If I could work this into my bimonthly budget I totally would. Facials and massages are my friends. I was so relaxed, I couldn’t hear well nor could I form thoughts or speak in complete sentences.  After 3 and a half hours of pampering we went to lunch. While we were eating Heather shared with all of us about what God had taught her in her studies of 1 Peter. She spoke of how culture defines beauty, skinny jeans, boots, coats with fur on them (I looked down and check, was wearing all of that) and then the contrast about how the bible defines beauty “that of a gentle and quiet spirit..which is imperishable..” Boots, skinny jeans and yes coats that have hooded fur, will all be destroyed if exposed to flame, but the bible describes this beauty that we can attain, that even when exposed to a flame (any hardship, difficulty, ) will only become greater and better and increase.

Inheritance being kept by God (imperishable)-beauty

Testing of our faith by fire (imperishable)-beauty

3 Blessed be the God and Father of our Lord Jesus Christ! According to his great mercy, he has caused us to be born again to a living hope through the resurrection of Jesus Christ from the dead, 4 to an inheritance that is imperishable, undefiled, and unfading, kept in heaven for you, 5 who by God’s power are being guarded through faith for a salvation ready to be revealed in the last time. 6 In this you rejoice, though now for a little while, if necessary, you have been grieved by various trials, 7 so that the tested genuineness of your faith—more precious than gold that perishes though it is tested by fire—may be found to result in praise and glory and honor at the revelation of Jesus Christ. 8 Though you have not seen him, you love him. Though you do not now see him, you believe in him and rejoice with joy that is inexpressible and filled with glory, 9 obtaining the outcome of your faith, the salvation of your souls. 1 Peter 1:3-8

Gentle & quiet spirit (imperishable)- beauty

3 Do not let your adorning be external—the braiding of hair and the putting on of gold jewelry, or the clothing you wear— 4 but let your adorning be the hidden person of the heart with the imperishable beauty of a gentle and quiet spirit, which in God’s sight is very precious. 5 For this is how the holy women who hoped in God used to adorn themselves, by submitting to their own husbands, 6 as Sarah obeyed Abraham, calling him lord. And you are her children, if you do good and do not fear anything that is frightening.

1 peter 3:3-5

Unwrapping beauty! What an amazing contrast and I am so thankful for the gift of faith that allows me to have this imperishable beauty, that when consumed with fire, isn’t destroyed, but made grandeur as God removes the dander of Kristin. I am thankful for an inheritance that is being kept for me by God, and no earthly element can destroy it. It is better than 10,000 days in a spa, shopping in the finest boutiques, wearing diamonds, skinny jeans,  Gucci sun glasses, and eating at the finest delicatessen.

It is forever.  Only God.

That is pretty.

.:3thirty0:. Unwrapping coffee

Yesterday began like any other day. Got up, got out of bed, strolled into the kitchen and lifted the canister top that houses my coffee, reached in grabbed for the bag and …empty. I am groggy, have a head ache from all the sugar that I consumed the day prior and all I can think is getting to Starbucks.

I reach for the sloppiest clothes, because I don’t yet have caffeine pulsing through my veins to help me make normal every day decisions. I walk to my car, put the key in the ignition and throw my hood over my head (to cover the bed head and left over bobby pins sticking out everywhere that didn’t make it into my covers from yesterday’s hairdo). I drive to Starbucks, park and enter into the cafe.

Most days when I enter Starbucks, the employees are eager to greet and I go there often enough that they know my drink without me saying.  Like cheers minus the bar stools and Ted Danson. I approach the counter and the girl behind the counter begins to engage me. It’s about 7:30am, She is being so sweet and all I can think is I can’t form really great sentences because my thoughts are running together and I just want to pay for my coffee, so I can chat. I finally interrupt her and say, I had a grande Americano with room and she said, “I know” “It’s on me”.

Wow. This seemingly small gesture to some was like receiving my very own fireworks show at the end of a party. I was so thankful! I am a huge coffee head and to be gifted my favorite drink was an outpouring. Another sign of the abundance of Love towards me from my good Father. This was one gift that was placed into my hands yesterday. I can see where it came from, not by chance, but God’s sovereign ruling placed my favorite coffee in my hands. What grace.

kristin

.:3thirty0:. Unwrapping Friends

It’s the end of the day. The day that I spoke of with clinched teeth has almost come to a close. Today I received so many surprises and they were all wrapped up in a huge gift of friendship. I am at the bottom of 30, only beginning and for its first day,  I have a smile that glides over my face as I remember the day.

It all started at 6:47am & 6:48am when I recieved a call from my Dad and Mom. Shortly after that the flood gates opened and an outpouring of friends, texts, emails, and presents poured my way. All unexpected and all undeserved. That is what a real gift is.

Unexpected and undeserved. Grace.

Here are a few pictures that tell a story of friendship. All of these thoughtful gestures are driven from friends. I am left in wonder and awe at the outpouring of grace that I have recieved from God displayed in the friends that surround me. These too are a part of Jesus redemptive work on the cross.  He indeed purchased these for me and for my good and He is a good Father and has given me great people to love and push me towards enjoying God everyday of my life.

The Birthday Texting Begins!

Jo dropped by, she is a dear friend and a good listener. We work out together, talk about Jesus and laugh. I have received an abundance from her. She had all ready taken me to dinner and then brought me these beautiful flowers, a chunky bracelet and a note that I am waiting to read while I tuck myself in bed.

Americano. Venti. My favorite. an abundance! Heather Loves me!

TCC loves me!

The elder's/my bosses encourage me: abundance

Dana & the kids come to see me and give me a cupcake that was amazing!

Cathi from my community group makes me an amazing card reminding me of God's presence in my life.

Pearl of wisdom ..from Cathi!

Flowers from Julie & kids! They brought me lunch and ate with me! I got a ton of hugs and I love you's! Abundance!!

Julie made me this card. It is full of scripture and the center reminds me of my for real birth..being a child of God!

Tabs..for tabbing from Cathi! Love her!! ; o)!

Allen & Panama, my neighbors came over after community group because they heard that someone had a birthday and delivered doughnuts and orange soda. Abundance!!

At community group tonight, Julie made my favorite chocolate cake and topped it off with raspberries and she even put raspberry in the middle. Again, abundance.

If you could be fat on friends. I think that my button would be popping off of my pants. I have received so much! My hands are so full and so is my belly!!

My first day of being 30. Thank You God for placing an abundance of friends in my hands. You have graciously given me so much. Thank you!

kristin

.:3thirty0:.

Today is the day. It has finally arrived. I will no longer be saying I am twenty..but will be saying I am in my thir..ties. When you mention that you are in your twenties your facial expression ends in a smile but in saying thirty there isn’t necessarily a facial change. Your lips round out the thr..and my teeth clinch as I finish they “ty” .

Some different thoughts hammer through my head when I think about no longer being in my twenties. Thoughts like..I should be in a different place, doing something different or that my youthfulness is fleeting, no matter how many facial lotions I use or new home remedy to younger skin I try. You can’t escape aging. It is part of God’s plan.

I should find comfort in the sovereign rule of God over and in my life. This should produce a blanket of faith that I am able to wrap up in when I am burdened by what seems to not have been delivered in my earlier years of life. Truthfully I complain when I gaze at my circumstances with empty hands open wide before God and I am left wanting. Why? Why am I left wanting? Ps 23 says the Lord is my shepherd you shall not want (lack). Yesterday I thought about some of these and came to the conclusion that  I need to unwrap the gifts that are always exploding in front of me. If I open my eyes, I will see that my hands are never empty.

For the start of the .:3thirties0:. I am going to unwrap one of the many presents that I receive and trust that it will serve as a great remedy for being in my .:3thirties0:.

Each day I will here on my blog reveal a gift a day that I have received with the hope to end my year saying I am thir..ty, after my lips have rounded out the thir..sound to land on a smile as teeth press together to form the “ty”.

We will see. Join me!

Come and blow out my candles with me!

kristin

.: City Merriment :.

I have always thought that lights blending together in the darkness of night resembled that of Christmas. Cars driving down the street, mingling with the stop lights and sky rises makes me think of the colors that we see as we look at our trees and our neighbors colorful expression of the holidays. My friend, Joel, and I ventured out to capture the downtown skyline at night. I was reminded of Luke’s gospel as I was looking through these and remembering the sense of wonder that the shepherds felt after the glory of the Lord shone around them after they were told that the Messiah was being born in a lowly manger. The first glimpse of God in 400 + years. They too were sitting in darkness, gazing upward toward the sky, dotted with glowing stars.

78 because of the tender mercy of our God,
whereby the sunrise shall visit us from on high
79 to give light to those who sit in darkness and in the shadow of death,
to guide our feet into the way of peace.”  Luke 1:78-79

These aren’t photos of a sunrise but they do serve as a reminder for me that by the tender Mercy of God the true light did visit us from on high and did give light to me..who was sitting in darkness and in death’s shadow. He did indeed guide my feet into way of peace. By the tender mercy of God, we have light and a city that beams with light in darkness. Light guides us home.

“to guide our feet into the way of peace.”

filled with wonder-

kristin

.: Jon + Maggie :.

Marriage. Sweet Marriage.

I had the honor of shooting Jon & Maggie while they were in Raleigh for a weekend in October. They have so much life and joy about them and completely enjoy one another. Poiema is going to be shooting their wedding in May &  as one of the Poiema gals, I got a sneak peek of their personalities as well as the glory of their lives changed shining through my lens. Here are a few from their shoot!

Can’t wait for the big day! Thanks for letting me take part in the before I say I Do! To see their slideshow go to

www.poiemaphotography.com/jonandmaggie

Grace to you both-

kristin

.: Just call me Israel :.

This is an excerpt from Pastor Sean’s sermon on Sunday. I snagged it from our take it home.

“The people of Israel would never want to leave if the oppression weren’t so great. (And they didn’t know what was awaiting them.)  They thought what they had was as good as it would get and only God knew what awaited them yet it had to come through pain.  So as we look at our present suffering we can say throughout it all, though the pain was designed by the devil to destroy it resulted in the accomplishment of God’s plan which is ultimately our greatest joy.”

Check out  the website to listen to the full sermon and to see the take it home.

www.treasuringchristchurch.com/resources.

-kristin

.: Feel like Stomping? :.

Do you ever feel like stomping? Today I am wearing green shoes that have a slight heel on them. When my feet first hit the ground I enjoy the noise of the clop, clop, clop..that I encounter with every step. When I wear shoes like this I sometimes day-dream about being a top designer combing the streets of New York.

This afternoon, I slipped on my shoes getting ready for the evening and was reminded of an alley that I continually walk down and although I know what is going to be at the end of the alley, I still keep walking down it. When I put on my shoes, I wanted to stomp, not glide or step hurriedly as I recounted my steps and where they lead to.

So I did. I stomped up the stairs, I stomped in place and lastly I stomped to my room..remembering Romans 7:14-19.

-kristin

.: Help! Fire! Rescue! :.

Titus Breed turned 3! I love Titus. He calls me “Kristy” and he invited me to his birthday party. I was the only single girl there over the age of 4! So I popped my collar and grabbed my camera to shoot some of his party. Titus loves to play fire rescue. I was at his house on Tuesday night and he rescued a bear that was on fire..it took him a bit to get his garb on, and he had to drop his kid off at daycare before he could go and rescue the bear..eventually he got there with his hose and axe!

Here are a few of Titus and his friends!

Happy Birthday Titus!

-kristin

.: The Millers :.

 

What a sweet memory it was with the Miller Family. We explored some downtown alleys and finished off with a tea party! These are some of the their images! Hope you enjoy!

 

 

This is what the kids were doing while I was taking pictures of their mom & pop!

 

I couldn’t help myself! I want to post more but sleep beckons me! To see the rest of their images check out:

www.kristincookphotography.smugmug.com!

-kristin