The Blog of Amanda Joy Beguerie
As I learn to live, as I grow, as I experience life – I’m realizing that sometimes, life isn’t what it seems.
It’s hard, sure. It’s messy. Problems arise, we hurt and things break us, and it’s not easy to deal with all of it, oftentimes.
But truly…life can be simple.
I often overthink. Overplan. Overworry. Overdo everything, because I feel like I might mess things up if I don’t.
You know?
Continue reading “Living Every Little Moment: Experiencing A Full Life Right Here and Now”
Hey, can I let you in on a little secret?
Yes, you. Right here, right now.
I have a pretty good memory, for the most part. I can recall so many details from conversations and places and events that happened ten years ago. I can remember sights, smells, tastes, emotions, all so vividly.
But there is one thing that I can so easily forget…and that’s goodness.
Not goodness in the world, I don’t mean that. Look up random acts of kindness on Tumblr and they’re right there. Goodness isn’t too difficult to find in people’s actions, even when this sinful world’s in chaos.
But sometimes…I forget those simple truths I’ve known for years. Sometimes, I forget the goodness of God.
Continue reading “My Ink-Stained, Remembrance-Filled Practice”
If you’re American, you are probably aware that Thanksgiving is coming up in two days.
And if you’re not American, you are also probably aware that Thanksgiving is coming up in two days.
It’s kind of a big deal around this whole country, filled with ludicrous amounts of food, televised parades, extended family you might not have seen for quite a long time, stacks of Black Friday fliers, and those Thankfulness Lists that somehow make their way to the table every. single. year. without. fail.
I used to love Thanksgiving, but somewhere along the line, it just got to be cliché in my mind.
Continue reading “That Joy Greater Than Thanksgiving Itself”
It’s sheer irony that I’m writing this at four o’clock on a Friday afternoon.
This post has been gradually constructing itself in my head for a few months now, through the ups and downs of assignments and writing projects and stress and joy and all the lovely and not-so-lovely things that my life’s made up of.
Every day, around four o’clock in the afternoon, I get this feeling I can’t quite explain. It’s something of dread, of feeling as though I’ve wasted the day, this overwhelming sense of not-enough-ness.
It’s weird.
And Fridays, you know, “Thank God it’s Friday?” Those days send me into a panicked frenzy…because there’s something that’s taken me a few YEARS to fully understand, but it’s been here for a while:
It’s the feeling that the weekend’s finally here, but I haven’t done enough.
Sometimes we make this whole pursuing-your-life-purpose thing so difficult.
I get it.
Because I do it.
I texted one of my very best friends yesterday, spilling my soul on what was really going on in my life, and she reminded me of something so important that I often forget:
Pursuing our life purpose starts first and foremost with loving God, not getting caught up in what we can do for Him.
Can we stop trying to change the world?
Listen close, for just a second.
I say: The world doesn’t need fixing, because it’s already been done.
I don’t mean the world’s perfect. I don’t mean the world’s not broken – just look around, steady your eyes on a little slice of the pain and you’ll be convinced in an instant that something’s sorely wrong, sucked nearly dry of hope.
But there is something greater than the brokenness that we see – something higher, bigger, more powerful than the messes we create for ourselves.
Continue reading “Why We Need to Quit Trying to Save the World”
Happy Thursday, friends. Today, we have a book review for my sweet friend Morgan Elizabeth Huneke’s newest book, Crannig Castle.
Some of you may recognize her name from my partciation in the virtual book tours of hers, from cover reveals to reviews to interviews, and also as a somewhat frequent commenter here on this blog. Morgan’s awesome.
Without further adeiu, here’s the description, then stay tuned for my review following.
Welcome, everyone, to the November edition of the Purposeful Pages Link-Up – and the final edition.
Continue reading “Purposeful Pages Link-Up: November Edition”
Scattered Journal Pages 