IN BRIEF:
I am a 31 year old wife and mother of six children, ages 1-9 years. I am photographer by profession and passion and it has been my delight and privilege to meet families throughout the Kentucky and Tennessee area, photographing people in all walks of life, from babies and children children to seniors, business professionals and musicians. I am a Torah-observant, charismatic Christian who believes in the Baptism of the Holy Spirit, Salvation by grace through faith, and obedience to the commandments of God as an expression of my love for Him. We are a homeschooling, “quiverfull” family.
IN DETAIL:
If I could define my Christian beliefs in two words it would be this: uncompromising consecration. I am not a Sunday Christian. If Jesus is going to be my God, then I want Him to be involved in every aspect of my life. This doesn’t mean that I’m perfect – far from it – but it does mean that many of the ways we live our lives go against the mainstream of society.
At the same time, I recognize that it is ultimately the Holy Spirit who is responsible for molding us into the people He wants us to become. I understand the importance of accepting others where they are in their walk with God and am grateful when people do the same for me. I have come to realize that just because I may understand something to be sinful for me doesn’t mean that it’s a sin for someone else, and vice-versa. I realize that God has a different path for each of us, and I try very hard to find the common ground with everyone whom I meet.
Some of the things that define my personal Christian walk are as follows:
- I believe that we are saved by grace through faith, and not through works (Eph 2:8).
- I believe in the power and authority that believers were given on the day of Jesus’ resurrection. I believe in prophesy, tongues, and the working of miracles by all who believe in Jesus Christ (I Cor. 12: 4-11). I believe that these gifts were purchased for us by the death of Jesus (Eph 4:8), and that by participating in the works of the Holy Spirit I am, in the words of Bill Johnson, ”giving Jesus what He paid for.”
- I believe that the Old Testament commandments were never “done away with” (Matt 5:17-20), and I keep those commandments as an expression of my love for God. My husband and I do not attempt to earn our salvation through works (Galatians 5:4), but instead are inspired to keep His commandments because of His grace and love toward us (I John 5:3).
- I believe that a woman is to be a helper to her husband (Gen 2:20). I strive to support my husband both financially through my home-based photography business (Proverbs 31) and as a joyful “keeper of the home” (Titus 2:5.)
- I believe that a woman should be modest in both character and dress (I Peter 3:3-4). I wear headcoverings in accordance with 1 Corinthians 11, and skirts/dresses as a my personal expression of feminine modesty (except when on a photo shoot, in which case I wear pants because they’re a whole lot more modest when I’m crawling around in the dirt, chasing after two year olds!)
- I believe in “sheltering” my children and my husband and I are extremely careful about what influences we will allow to affect them (I Cor 15:33). We support homeschooling, home birthing, and breastfeeding.
- I believe in allowing God complete control over my life – including my fertility (Gen 1:28). My husband and I do not participate in any form of birth control and are open and willing to have as many children as God sees fit to bless us with.
- I believe in giving tithes and offerings (Mal 3:10,Acts 10:31; Luke 16:10-13; Phil 4:17).
More than anything, I want to go deeper and go further in my walk with God. I don’t believe that miracles are only for the select few, or that a walk of obedience is reserved for some. My husband and I study the life of Jesus and past “hero’s of the faith” and believe that miracles happened in their lives, they can happen to us. If Jesus did it, we can do it, for that is what He purchased for us on the cross (John 14:12). We recognize that there are many things which are allowed, but that not all things are beneficial (I Cor 6:12), and so we strive to do away with much that is allowed in favor of a higher standard.
I recognize that many of these issues are extremely controversial and that there are many amazing Christians who walk very closely with God who do not and will not agree with me on all of these points. It is my prayer that we will be able to look past these differences and come together as believers whose lives reflect one common truth: We Love God.
Thank you for stopping by, and please feel free to contact me at Rina [at] RinaMarie [dot] com or leave a comment on my blog. I’d love to hear from you!
More About Me:
Amen and uh huh!!!! I love to read how people have completely surrendered their life and their to Christ!!!!
Can I copy & paste your detail beliefs and use them someday to add to mine? They fit me perfectly and you are so much better at articulating yourself than I could.
Sure, Meghann! I’m glad to know someone like-minded!
I was thinking what Meghann said! You express yourself so well, enough detail without rambling (as I tend to do). You and I seem to be very similar in just about all of your points, and it’s so wonderful to find a like-minded lady here in the blogging world.
A friend on Facebook posted your web site and I have been browsing through it. How refreshing to see a site that is very “real” and transparent! We are very different in some ways (I am 64, single (called to be from the Lord), never had any natural children (plenty of spiritual ones!)) I am fairly new to internet marketing but taking an online class and learning lots! I own a brick and mortar business but am trying to get a presence on the web with several other small businesses, so I have several sites I am developing (like you, still working out the glitches). We are similar in our walk with the Lord – He is my All in All and I too have experienced much over the 45+ years I have been saved. God bless you and your endeavors!
Tara, thank you for writing, I’d love to know more about you. Did you always know that you were called to be single? What kind of business are you in? I know virtually NOTHING about web design or anything like that – that’s why my blog is hosted through wordpress and my website is hosted through a web-hosting company.
Are you in Bowling Green?
I found your blog because of your run – but I’m enjoying reading the rest of it! I home-schooled my daughter who is now 24. We are blessed with friendships with several large families – so Emma got to hold a lot of babies even though it was just the two of us. I’m looking forward to reading other parts of your blog! Blessings! I am amazed at the “teachers” God has gifted me with through WordPress!
I’m with you 100% here!! Your bold testimony is such an encouragement.