A Circle of Influence

 {image via: martellconsulting.ca/}
I thought I'd share just a few random thoughts that have been on my mind lately. Namely, being purposed and influencing others in our lives, so that they may see Him within us.


We all have a personal circle of influence whether we be sisters, brothers, daughters, sons, wives, husbands, employed, unemployed, collegiate students or students of life. We all have been purposed by the Lord, even though at times we may feel as though we inspire no one, and have seemingly not made a difference in the world daily when we go about our everyday, sometimes seemingly hum-drum lives. I am here to tell you that we all have a purpose...and we all have a circle of brothers and sisters to influence daily (believer's in Christ and non-believer's alike.)


Recently my momma and I were talking about one of my friend's recent blog entries in which she said I don't feel like I have much purpose some days. Immediately after reading my friend's blog entry I thought to myself "Gosh, Sarah, you feel the exact same way some days! You know you have a purposed life set forth by the King, but you fail to acknowledge it at times. You want to wallow in self pity sometimes....saying and believing that I feel 'so not purposed and tuned in' and like I don't really know who I am." Some days I feel the same way that my friend felt. I feel out of tune with what my purpose is in life.....with knowing who I am and if I really make a difference...mere little me. And if I don't know who I am, then how exactly am I supposed to influence others to Christ? 


There are those days when I feel as though time just keeps on passing me by and I haven't grown like I should've or that I haven't really made a difference at all, or even found out completely who I am yet in life. I struggle to see my purpose daily, and to understand who exactly I am really here on Earth to influence some days. I know there has to be a purpose, because God knitted me together in my mother's womb...so I know that I was purposed long ago, even when I fail to see it (purpose) within myself. Instead of searching to see what I can do, who I can influence in my life, I should let the Lord work through me and see who we can influence together!


I may not know who I will influence tomorrow, next week or even next year. I may not understand why the Lord has me where He does, currently stationed in my life, but I know that every moment is purposed.....every moment...they might be just what let's others glimpse Christ through me and my seemingly mundane life. It could be a smile shown, a kind word spoken, or even a good deed that goes without need of a thank you. God works in the small mundane things in life....while we are at work....while we are walking along the street....even while we are in Wal-Mart. 

Let Him work through you to influence your circle of people nearest you....and just maybe we'd begin to see that our seemingly drab boring everyday life can, and will, be used to His glory!
 
So how do we begin to find our purpose? I find that the best place to find purpose and peace from all emotional stress and feeling a lack of purpose is in the Word, in prayer and in a quiet moment with God. How do you get focused and recharged so that you can stand purposed and influence others in your daily life?

Here is a challenge that I am going to strive to live out daily, and I want you too as well. Look around you, trying to glimpse those people whom the Lord has placed you around daily in life and try to see Jesus' face within your circle.

-Daughter of the King

P.S. Here's one more thought...think about Abraham in the Bible when He asks the Lord if He could find but only 10 righteous people, would the Lord then spare the city of Sodom and Gomorrah (Genisis 18:16-33).  If Abraham had just spent his time pouring into the lives of his family (his close circle of influence)...just his family mind you... the city of Sodom and Gomorrah might have been saved. Our reach should strive to exceed that of only the circle of influence which is our relatives and close ones, but it's a great place to start...so then we can launch our influential righteous selves into the world wholeheartedly!

Giveaway

AmandaBeth is doing a giveaway for Modest Swimwear on her blog: (click here -->) AmandaBeth Online. I am really excited about this giveaway! I've already entered a few times....and you all should too! You should also consider following AmandaBeth's blog as well, seeing as she is the best modest fashion source on blogger that I have found so far.
Many Blessings,
Daughter of the King

Rachel's Photography Contest

I found out about this photography contest off of Miss Raquel's blog (God's Daughter.) Rachel is the one who is throwing this very cool photography contest though, and you can find out more info about her, the contest, or even how to enter into the contest, if you dare, at Rachel's Blog. I *Heart* taking photos so I thought I'd enter in a few of my own photos into the contest myself! 

Contest Rules:
YOU MUST HAVE A  BLOG.
You may only enter photos in that you yourself have taken.
You can enter up to 4 or 5 photos, and they can be edited.

How To Post:
Post the photos that you wish to enter on your blog, and then leave a comment on Rachel's blog with the link.
The contest ends on July 22nd.

(Isn't that simple?)

Here are my 5 entries below:

~Ardent Eyes~

~My, oh my! It's Miss Spider in my garden~

~Walking, 'Til The Sun Sets On Me~

~Withered Winter~

~Mountaintop Glory~

So which one of my photos is your favorite?
-Daughter of the King

P.S. -Thanks Rachel for doing this photography contest! 
I cannot wait to see all of the other photo entries up on your blog! BTW- I used Picnik to edit all of my photos. :)

You've Changed My Life Forever

{Jared & I on the last day of Fuge}
One year ago today I met my best friend and my love, Jared Fisher, for the first time. We met on July 6th, 2010, while we were both chaperoning for our church groups at Centrifuge. I remember getting into my car on the morning of July 6th, and I was wishing oh so badly that I could just bury my head in a dark deep hole and not fulfill my commitment of going along as chaperone with my church group. 

I am so glad I went to Fuge, because going there changed me in so many ways. I decided the day I went to Fuge, on the way there in our Church bus that I was going to speak up for myself and that I was going to try my darnest to put myself out there even if that meant that I was going to get torn down piece by piece like I had the day before I left for Fuge. Out of pain and loss, came joy and love. I will never regret going to Fuge, because that is where I met the man I love, oh so very dearly.

Memories of Fuge...
I remember coming down from my room at The Hall...walking outside towards the stairs of the building and then I saw Jared sitting in a rocking chair, sketch book in hand. Jared was intently focused upon his sketch book, determination was written all over his face as he held his mechanical pencil in his left hand, and there were some really loud kids standing very near to him. I noticed just how intense and handsome he was and how those noisy children seemed non-existent to him. I was curious about what was on the sketchbook paper, and I was curious about what was going on within this handsome guys heart at that very moment. "I want to know this guy more," I thought to myself as I walked off to go hike around the campus to clear my mind of all it's heavy burdens before our next group meeting.

I recall walking up to Rec Hill alongside Jared, painting our own faces with white 'war paint' along the way, for the Mega Relay. I wanted to stand by him, to walk with him, and get to know this handsome mysterious guy who was so intense....instantly spying him out of the group of College guys earlier during the week. I noticed that he was set apart and that I must get to know him....and so I began to.

On the last day of Fuge during our morning college class devotional time I made sure to sit at Jared's right side in the chair next to him. I asked him if I could get his e-mail address and.........the rest is history! After Fuge and 4 months of getting to know Jared as a friend through our daily e-mails back and forth to one another, and then falling head over heels for him, we began our relationship together. I thank the Lord daily for bringing Jared into my life in one of the darkest days of my life....through pain, endurance and boldness I truly bloomed and the Lord let love bloom into my life! I am SO GLAD I went to Fuge!!! :)
-Daughter of the King

Independence Day Weekend

Saturday (July 3rd):
I started my weekend out by spending time with my boyfriend, Jared. Jared took me out on a lovely date...(thanks J!) He took me out to lunch, and then he took me out to the movies to see The Last Airbender which we were both excited about going to see. I am a big M. Night Shyamalan fan, so I was ecstatic to see another brilliant film by the epic story teller/writer/director 'Shama-Lama!' I was not let down, in fact I was rather pleasantly surprised at just how much I loved the movie! I am one to love the obscure and seemingly 'un-lovable' films which most people hate though....I am just a set apart gal, what can I say!? I think perhaps being that I had never been introduced to the story line before there could have been some more detail/story telling elements added so that I could grasp the whole story and 'world of avatar' better but other than that Shymalan has not lost his brilliance in my eyes. If you'd like to read more of a 'review' on The Last Airbender head on over to Jared's blog (This Red Thread.)

Sunday (July 4th):
 Independence Day. My family (including Jared) and I headed out to the lake to spend the joyous Holiday of FREEDOM with our dear kindred spirit Dianna and her adorable dog Nugget. We got to Dianna's and then Jared, my sister Mary and I headed down to the boat slip to decorate the boat in all things red, white, blue and FESTIVE! I think J, Mo and I all did a wondyful job putting together the fourth decorations!

After decorating the boat we ate.....and boy oh boy did we all eat! Seeing as we had decorated the boat, and we all had eaten lunch we headed down to the boat to go out on the beautiful blue-green water for the July 4th Boat Parade 2010. We had a great time just driving the boat around, waving at the people along the shoreline, and just spending time as family and friends together out in the beautiful fourth weather.

The rest of our day, after the boat parade, was spent swimming in the lake, eating again and again, lounging out under the gazebo on the water and just talking with the loved ones. Later on that night we all got back on the boat and headed out to watch the fireworks that were set off on the shore from the middle of the lake....and it was simply MAGICAL!
I am gonna post a few of our pics from the fourth below.....
The view from the gazebo on the lake
Our festive boat
My sister Mary & I
Momma & Daddy
Sissy
Grandma.....and Doggie Nugget
Jared & Sarah
Us with our silleh head gear
This is me and my family
Isn't love great?
I am loving Independence Day!!!
So how was your fourth...yes, I REALLY wanna know!
-Daughter of the King

P.S. I added in the unanswered movie quote trivia answers in my last blog entry. Check out the answers to my favorite films in my blog posting HERE.