As I wave goodbye to my piano students for the summer, the feelings are a little weird. They're bittersweet, sad yet happy.
I'm sad to say goodbye to these giggly students who have made my day for the last eight months, but happy to see the accomplishment in their eyes after another year of piano. I'm sorry to watch them walk away, yet hopeful that they will use their talents for His glory.
and this is my prayer for them...
May your songs be a smile, may your songs be the sunshine, may your songs be the hope and light for all.
May your songs be testimony, may your songs be a witness, may your songs show that our God is great.
May your songs be a blessing, may your songs be an anthem, may your songs be a declaration of the goodness of our God.
And maybe your song isn't musical. maybe your song is teaching, writing, painting. This prayer is for you, too.
Pray that your life will be a song telling of Jesus, a song to Jesus, and a song from Jesus.
Thursday, May 30, 2013
Wednesday, May 22, 2013
a Ceremony, an Arch, and a Patriot
Monday was my last day being a pioneer. I am now a patriot. When I say that, I'm talking about American Heritage Girls, and Christian scouting organization for girls. Yesterday was the final ceremony for the year, and I got to walk under the arch. Amazing.
I'm trading my white shirt for a red. I am now one of the "old ones", and with the title of Patriot comes new responsibility. New leadership. New experiences. I hope I'm ready.
I'm trading my white shirt for a red. I am now one of the "old ones", and with the title of Patriot comes new responsibility. New leadership. New experiences. I hope I'm ready.
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| our AMAZING group of girls! |
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| These girls rock! |
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| my sweet friend and I |
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| the beautiful arch. |
Our troop's theme verse is 1 Thessalonians 5:21~ "but examine everything carefully, hold on to what is good."
Wednesday, May 15, 2013
You know it's spring when...
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| Dandelions are coming up... |
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| Pretty pink flowers are radiating beauty and color... |
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| Barefoot days are here~ chipped, dirty and bruised... |
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| Plum trees are blossoming... |
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| Pear trees are amazingly lovely... |
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| Plum blossoms are most beautiful and fragrant... |
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| As are the pear blossoms... |
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| New life is coming from the ground... |
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| Brothers are happy... |
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| and of course, it wouldn't be spring without mud. sigh. ;) |
Sunday, May 12, 2013
just a note...
so, friends. I've made it through two very crazy weeks of "business stuff". I'm still alive. whew! you are welcome to hear allllll about it, but I'm afraid I would just make you tired. ;) It included getting up at five-thirty to finish school, and eating dinner at eleven. pm.
but anyway, today is MOTHER'S DAY! Thank you, to all you mamas who've been raising the next generation of leaders. And thank you to my mama, who's put up with her children's crazy antics. We hope you enjoyed your chocolate and cards! You are a true Proverbs 31 mama.
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| SO very tired! and yes, we slept in our living room. |
but anyway, today is MOTHER'S DAY! Thank you, to all you mamas who've been raising the next generation of leaders. And thank you to my mama, who's put up with her children's crazy antics. We hope you enjoyed your chocolate and cards! You are a true Proverbs 31 mama.
Sunday, April 28, 2013
10 ways to be a blessing
hello, everyone!
here's a hint- if you want to stay up all night, come to our house tonight. ;) we are madly working to get ready for a huge sale this week for our business, and we are totally. not. ready. oh well, i'm just going to take a deep breath and take a quick break and write this post. oh, and excuse any spelling or grammatical errors, i'm so very tired. :)
since the blog is called "house on a hill" i thought i'd share a few ways that i try to be a house on a hill.
1) pray. you know that homeless guy on the corner or the stressed out mama at the grocery store? breathe a quick prayer up to heaven before you grab the next thing on the shopping list.
2)smile. be the sunshine in a dreary day and warm someone's heart with a cheerful attitude. you will also give yourself a better day. :)
3)sing. especially for your family. sing while you do the dishes and laundry- even if you are dreadfully out of tune- amazing grace, how sweet the sound
4)give. even a small gift- like a hand written "happy" note or a piece of chocolate- to friends and strangers alike- will brighten their day
5)laugh. call your silly friend or sister up and just laugh. tell them of your crazy life and let the laughter work its healing effect.
6)praise. compliment others around you on their good work, let them know you care about them and their life.
7)encourage. teachers, bosses, this one is for you. maybe they didn't play their music perfectly or spell everything right, but tell them to keep going, press forward.
8)bake. oh yes, the age-old way of blessing- through food. new neighbors? new baby? bake them some lovely treats. (for ideas~ pinterest.com/sophfulton/for-the-kitchen) baking not your thing? even a treat picked up from the bakery is a blessing.
9)host. even if the house is a disaster, invite someone over for a cup of tea and a talk. (even if you do have a crazy house, just talk on the porch) or invite that shy family over for a meal, get to know them.
10) worship. when you are constantly praising God, others will see it in your attitude, and sense something different. who knows? maybe you will open the door to a salvation of a soul.
here's a hint- if you want to stay up all night, come to our house tonight. ;) we are madly working to get ready for a huge sale this week for our business, and we are totally. not. ready. oh well, i'm just going to take a deep breath and take a quick break and write this post. oh, and excuse any spelling or grammatical errors, i'm so very tired. :)
since the blog is called "house on a hill" i thought i'd share a few ways that i try to be a house on a hill.
10 ways to be a blessing~
1) pray. you know that homeless guy on the corner or the stressed out mama at the grocery store? breathe a quick prayer up to heaven before you grab the next thing on the shopping list.
2)smile. be the sunshine in a dreary day and warm someone's heart with a cheerful attitude. you will also give yourself a better day. :)
3)sing. especially for your family. sing while you do the dishes and laundry- even if you are dreadfully out of tune- amazing grace, how sweet the sound
4)give. even a small gift- like a hand written "happy" note or a piece of chocolate- to friends and strangers alike- will brighten their day
5)laugh. call your silly friend or sister up and just laugh. tell them of your crazy life and let the laughter work its healing effect.
6)praise. compliment others around you on their good work, let them know you care about them and their life.
7)encourage. teachers, bosses, this one is for you. maybe they didn't play their music perfectly or spell everything right, but tell them to keep going, press forward.
8)bake. oh yes, the age-old way of blessing- through food. new neighbors? new baby? bake them some lovely treats. (for ideas~ pinterest.com/sophfulton/for-the-kitchen) baking not your thing? even a treat picked up from the bakery is a blessing.
9)host. even if the house is a disaster, invite someone over for a cup of tea and a talk. (even if you do have a crazy house, just talk on the porch) or invite that shy family over for a meal, get to know them.
10) worship. when you are constantly praising God, others will see it in your attitude, and sense something different. who knows? maybe you will open the door to a salvation of a soul.
Saturday, April 27, 2013
This is hope
life is crazy... as usual.
Human trafficking has been on my heart lately, and I though I would share a simple song I wrote trying to express my thoughts on the subject.
What is hope/ what is peace/ what is love and what is joy/
What is life without fear/ who is this God who cares/
These questions are asked every day/
By people living afraid/
And maybe these words don't belong in a song/
But they've been on my heart/
But what is it that I can do/ what is it that I can say/
I can't stand by and watch this world slip away/
What is it that I can do/ what is it that I can say /
How can I help and free them from their chains/
I need His grace/
What is faith/ what is trust/ what is believing in God's love/
How can I believe in God when it seems like His back is turned/
These questions are asked so many times/
By people living hurting lives/
And maybe these words don't belong in a song/
But they've been on my heart/
Jesus, use my life in ways I can't imagine/
Use my heart and soul for your eternal passion/
Use my hands and feet for your glory/
Use my songs, my words to tell this story/
What is it that you can do/ what is it that you can say/
you can't stand by and watch this world slip away/
What is it that you can do/ what is it that you can say /
How can you help and free them from their chains/
We need His grace/
This is hope.
{Sophia Fulton, 2013}
Human trafficking has been on my heart lately, and I though I would share a simple song I wrote trying to express my thoughts on the subject.
What is hope/ what is peace/ what is love and what is joy/
What is life without fear/ who is this God who cares/
These questions are asked every day/
By people living afraid/
And maybe these words don't belong in a song/
But they've been on my heart/
But what is it that I can do/ what is it that I can say/
I can't stand by and watch this world slip away/
What is it that I can do/ what is it that I can say /
How can I help and free them from their chains/
I need His grace/
What is faith/ what is trust/ what is believing in God's love/
How can I believe in God when it seems like His back is turned/
These questions are asked so many times/
By people living hurting lives/
And maybe these words don't belong in a song/
But they've been on my heart/
Jesus, use my life in ways I can't imagine/
Use my heart and soul for your eternal passion/
Use my hands and feet for your glory/
Use my songs, my words to tell this story/
What is it that you can do/ what is it that you can say/
you can't stand by and watch this world slip away/
What is it that you can do/ what is it that you can say /
How can you help and free them from their chains/
We need His grace/
This is hope.
{Sophia Fulton, 2013}
Saturday, April 20, 2013
GenJ, Truth, and Very Little Sleep.
I am absolutely about to pass out, but I want to get this blog post done before the thoughts leave my brains.
I had one of the most amazing times this weekend. My friends and I and a bunch of other kids (around 200) had a fabulous time (at least, I had a fabulous time. I can't speak for the others) learning about legislation, advocacy, congress, and other things that I don't remember what they were called.
I have to admit, I'm NOT politics oriented. I also do not like public speaking, and when I think about it, I think this is why I love to perform piano- I don't have to speak.
When I first heard about the GenJ teen track (www.generationjoshua.org) I was on the opposing side for doing it because I felt like I would be out of my comfort zone. (that was supposed to sound smart but it didn't) But I had a fabulous time even though I told myself I wouldn't.
I think what drove me to have a fabulous weekend was really a heart matter. I felt that with this knowledge of politics, I could do things. I could make a difference based on my values.
One of the many things I learned this weekend was in a devotional this morning.
When we do not have truth, we do not have a basis for our beliefs, therefore we do not have a basis for our political, religious or any other view.
What is truth? Our truth does not come of this world. Our truth is The Truth. We can find the truth from the Word of God. This is key in developing a view that is pleasing to God. If you want to know God, read what is from God. Simple, right?
So maybe you can walk away with this~
When you are making decisions-big or small- base your decisions off of the Truth.
A lot will fall in place after that.
Well, now I am going to go pass out. good night!
I had one of the most amazing times this weekend. My friends and I and a bunch of other kids (around 200) had a fabulous time (at least, I had a fabulous time. I can't speak for the others) learning about legislation, advocacy, congress, and other things that I don't remember what they were called.
I have to admit, I'm NOT politics oriented. I also do not like public speaking, and when I think about it, I think this is why I love to perform piano- I don't have to speak.
When I first heard about the GenJ teen track (www.generationjoshua.org) I was on the opposing side for doing it because I felt like I would be out of my comfort zone. (that was supposed to sound smart but it didn't) But I had a fabulous time even though I told myself I wouldn't.
I think what drove me to have a fabulous weekend was really a heart matter. I felt that with this knowledge of politics, I could do things. I could make a difference based on my values.
One of the many things I learned this weekend was in a devotional this morning.
When we do not have truth, we do not have a basis for our beliefs, therefore we do not have a basis for our political, religious or any other view.
What is truth? Our truth does not come of this world. Our truth is The Truth. We can find the truth from the Word of God. This is key in developing a view that is pleasing to God. If you want to know God, read what is from God. Simple, right?
So maybe you can walk away with this~
When you are making decisions-big or small- base your decisions off of the Truth.
A lot will fall in place after that.
Well, now I am going to go pass out. good night!
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| some of my great friends and I! we were very tired by the end, if you can't tell. two nights of very little sleep does that to you. |
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