Monday, February 1, 2010

Blessed are...

Greetings from an icy place! My portion of SC received ice--not snow--on Friday night. (I tried to insert a picture here, and my computer is not cooperating!) Typical! Instead of throwing snowballs, my hubby and boys threw chunks of ice at each other in the Cracker Barrel parking lot last night much to my embarrassment. One of the wait staff was in her car taking a break as she observed their "fun." She was "just a" giggling--loudly! I did apologize to her and walked away quickly to my car. Mercy!

Huge praise! I finished the photography website yesterday, and it has been sent to the "powers that be" to check it over. Then, in a day or two, it should go LIVE!! Y'all, Susan Hood Photography will officially be in business!! Whoohooo!!! Saturday, with the ice and all, I stayed in my pink polka dotted jammie bottoms and an old sweatshirt all day--bedhead and all! Hubby and I worked and tweaked and uploaded and deleted until my eyes crossed! The only thing missing is the music. I simply didn't have the energy to download, upload and play with it last night after Bible study. But, I didn't have to have it ready for the "Go Live" button to work. It will come. Please keep this God adventure/business in your prayers! I can't wait to see what He has in mind!
****UPDATE!!! My website is now live!!! It's susanhoodphotography.com--you'll have to cut and paste that! I'm too excited to do it right now!!! :)

The title of my post(finally!) is "Blessed are..." I think immediately of the Beatitudes from the Sermon on the Mount. I hope you do too because....I need your creativity!! I will be teaching my adult Sunday School class about these on the 7th. Besides the fact that they are the "positive teachings" from Jesus in comparison to the "Thou shalt nots..." from Moses, what do you get most from them? How do you apply them to your daily lives? I want them to become real! The one that has so ministered to me in the past 6 weeks since Daddy passed away is "Blessed are those who mourn for they will be comforted. Mat. 5:4" Y'all, we have truly been blessed by sweet words, hugs, cards, food, emails, and more. To me, that exemplifies this scripture and makes it real! I am looking for the wisdom needed to teach this beautiful lesson from Christ. Again, I am stepping out of my comfort zone. I am used to teaching little people--kindergartners to be exact. Not 30-40 year olds who are smart! Their questions are tougher. If I can't answer one, it doesn't bother me--I can always say "Who would like to help me with this one?" Hey, I'm not shy about asking for help as you already know!

So, share your wisdom, your websites, your references, your thoughts, your ideas right here with us! I cannot wait to see what y'all come up with!

Stay warm today! And, BTW, (Randomness occuring here) Beth Moore's new book on insecurity is being released tomorrow! I think I need a copy!

Sweet Blessings!

20 comments:

Danae Hudson said...

I guess I always see that you are blessed for being those things that people are looked down for. In corporate America, being pure in heart certainly doesn't get you ahead. And why would you want to be persecuted for righteousness? But it's that Jesus always calls us to be the complete opposite of what our peers call us to be.

Meek?! Meekness isn't getting me that corner office!!

I want to work on being pure of heart. I think that's one of my favorite ones...and being merciful. I'm trying.

Kathleen said...

If children (young and old alike) GET this teaching - the one about God's blessings - it is a huge cornerstone in their sense of security in Him!

And when I consider all that is His, and that is mine because of it, blessings become a boundless, numberless, reservoir I can never exhaust.

Amazing grace!

Kathleen

Andrea said...

This posts reminds me how blessed I truly am!! THANK YOU!!
Hugs,
andrea

Danielle said...

Girl! I am so excited for you!!!! Like bouncing in my seat excited! PTL! I am praying that God just takes this whole endeavor and blesses it beyong anything you can think or imagine! Wheeee!

As for that chapter... I am going to have to think on that. Those are some thought provoking and heart searching scriptures.

Yolanda said...

I'm thinking you all have lots of f-u-n!!!

Love to you,
Yolanda

Andrea said...

Hope you don't mind. I added a link to your blog on arise 2 write.
andrea

elaine @ peace for the journey said...

Loved talking to you today, and the website is divine! Great job. Now, clients needed...

peace~elaine

Pinkshoelady said...

Hey Girl,
I just got by here and I am so sorry for your loss.

The Beattitudes are some of my favorite.

One that touches my heart is Matthew 5:6 Blessed are those who hunger and thirst for righteousness for they will be filled.

The word righteousness can also be translated justice.

What gets me is that we hunger and thirst for it. We don't try to satisfy ourselves. It is not our works it's our desire that is what is blessed.

When we try to be righteous...we fail. When we try to get our own justce we get in God's way.

But when we hunger for it and turn to Him we will be filled.

It is all about HIM!

By the way, I am having a visual mystery contest going on at my blog this week. Since you are a photographer you may have an advantage...so come and see.

I can't wait to check out your web site!

Love ya and I promise not to stay gone so long!

Pamela

Kelly said...

Congrats on the new website. You saw that we got your snow here! Glad you got out to eat anyway!

heading to the new site now.

Beth E. said...

Congratulations! Gonna check out the website now...

Hugs,
Beth

Kelly said...

Just took a peak! Looks great. In your 5 things about you, you should have put survived a coyote attack! That would gotten some attention. *grin*

Great shots!

Lisa Smith said...

just wanted to thank you for your prayers. i hope to be running in Sept. in MAUI...we really know how to celebrate a victory over here :)

i'll think on the laws.

Vickie said...

Susan what a beautiful website. God's blessings on your endeavors.


blessings,
Vickie

Marci @All Things Wonderful said...

Congrats on the new website. Can't wait to see it! Yay!

Teresa @ Grammy Girlfriend said...

Can't wait to go to the new website...going there now...

http://bitsandpieces-sonja.blogspot.com/ said...

Susan:

I just linked over to your photography site. Great job! It looks inviting, professional and personal, and I wish we lived closer. I have 6 grandkids that you would make into a beautiful photo!

Loved it!

Sonja

http://bitsandpieces-sonja.blogspot.com/ said...

P.S.... as to the "blessed's... I think it's a good time for me to re-visit Matthew and let those 'blessed's' sink in again.

Sonja

Ginger said...

I am so excited for you!! Congratulations on your website. Can't wait to check it out.

As far as your lesson, I'm sure you are a wonderful and engaging teacher. Last year during one of the evaluations of my lessons, which I always seem to stress over, I came across this verse which completely put me at ease.

Proverbs 16:3 Commit to the Lord whatever you do, and your plans will succeed.

Things couldn't have gone better! God just put my mind at ease and gave me a sense of peace. You already have your story to share. Allow God to speak to you and lead you the rest of the way. I will be thinking of and praying for you this week.

Ginger :)

Anonymous said...
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KelliGirl said...

Susan,
So excited about your website! I'm impressed you got it done so quickly. I'm redoing my church's website and I;m so frustrated with the process I want to hurt someone!!

I've taught on the Sermon on the Mount before. While I'm not sure how effective I was, the time spent really digging into Jesus' words blessed me tremendously. I pray God pours His blessings on you and your students as you teach on Sunday.