Shattered Silence

Who am I?   Words. They make up our lives, our conversations, and even our feelings. So what better way to describe ourselves than by using words?   Amber. A name that according to the dictionary is defined as a yellowish-brown tree sap.   Beautiful sounding isn’t it? Yeah the tree sap, not me. (Copyright Belongs to The Rights of the Photographer: Amber Nicole Ginter)   What about a necklace. A piece of cloth material stuck together by two individual bracelets. Something that doesn’t have any spiritual value, or probably at this rate a monetary one either. However, this necklace is something that describes me and my life perfectly, and although it may not be the most beautiful thing you’ve ever seen, it is worth more to me than any 25 karat gold one I could buy. But these words of “Amber”, and “Necklace” are just words, and they don’t really describe who we are. Yes they have true dictionary definitions, but it is more so the actual objects and what the

2 Corinthians 10:12 NLT states, “Oh, don’t worry; we wouldn’t dare say that we are as wonderful as these other men who tell you how important they are! But they are only comparing themselves with each other, using themselves as the standard of measurement. How ignorant!”     Today I am going to be talking about the two main concepts of comparison and how we as Christians can learn to live in a world where it seems finding the faults in others becomes the discretion of finding our strengths. Comparison is seen as a destroyer of joy, and our personality only truly begins when we stop comparing ourselves to others.     First, and foremost, “Comparison is the thief of joy”. (All Rights Belong To Photographer: Amber Nicole Ginter, 2015)     As stated by Theodore Roosevelt, comparison can be seen as the thief of joy because it robs us of today’s successes, and tomorrow’s victories.   If we are constantly thinking about how much prettier, smarte

Forgiveness isn’t just a word. Forgiveness.   An eleven lettered word that means a whole lot more than simply giving a grace period to someone that has hurt, or abandoned you.   A word that doesn't just mean pardoning the action, or accepting what happened, but more so an expression of knowing that you have to let it go.   (Photo Credit To Photographer: Rachel Barnitz)   It doesn’t mean that you have to expose your heart to get hurt again.   It doesn’t mean that what they did was right or wrong .   But it does mean that we must learn to look past the pain, the hurt, the heartache, and the suffering to truly forgive .   (Photo Credit To Photographer: Amber Nicole Ginter) However, forgiveness is not immediate, although it is necessary.   Forgiveness is required, but it takes time.   Forgiveness is taken for granted, until we need it most.   But then it really hit me.   When God died on the cross for our sins, He gave us the ultimate sacrifice of for

And if NOT , HE is still good    So even if the sun and moon decide not to rise- He is still good.  (All rights reserved to Photographer: Rachel Barnitz)     If your life seems messy and imperfect, take a deep breath- He is still good. (All rights reserved to Photographer: Amber Nicole Ginter)    When you fight with your parents, and feel that your friends have left you all alone, fear not- He is still good. (All rights reserved to Photographer: Rachel Barnitz)   Because even if the sun and moon fail us, and our messy, imperfect lives get way out of control, and even if our families and friends abandon us, we must remember that God never will.   In the end of it all- He is still good. ✞ And if not … He is still good … Daniel 3:18 ✞  (All rights reserved to Photographer: Amber Nicole Ginter. 2015. )

Through The Looking Glass  (Copyright Belongs To Photographer: Rachel Barnitz)  Admit it. We've all been there.   We've all done it. You get up in the morning and immediately think, "Wow am I looking attractive this morning or what?" Sarcasm kicks in and I'm sure that was probably very far from what you were actually thinking.   In fact, if you are like me, or the majority of 18 almost 19 something teenagers into young adults, you don't wake up thinking you are hot stuff. Crawling out of bed after hitting the 6:15 a.m. snooze button a few times, you make your way to the bathroom to see what kind of creature has appeared this morning.   Now let's see, my hair looks like a bird decided to have its babies and make a nest on top, while my face has an imprint where I accidentally slept on my arm.   The perfection of my skin is close to zero, while you know I've always wished my teeth could be whiter after years of braces.   The list of

Typical Single Christian White Girl Selfie   " I'm going to end up alone. With cats. Lots of cats. I don't even like cats?" " What is wrong with me? Do I smell or something? Well, not today at least... I checked" "# foreveralonejustkiddingsingler eadytomingle" " I get the amount of attention that a white crayon does. Yeah that one’s sure looking up." " Mom, is something wrong with me?" " I'm hopeless. I'm never going to find love." " If only.... Then I'd be in a relationship" " Jesus had the perfect relation..... Oh wait a minute...." Yeah let that one sink in a little. Jesus never had the perfect relationship. In fact, as far as I am aware he never dated anyone. He never married. He never felt that intimate connection that you and I have when you really think he or she is "the one".   Yet he never complained. Or ever said, “Mom, is something wrong w