Wednesday, June 17, 2015

The Moment when Not Enough is Enough






"Am I thin enough? My skin is definitely too pale. Do I have too much muscle? My hair's too light, he must be into brunettes. My eyes are the wrong color. Can't my stomach get any flatter? Why isn't me skin smooth? Can't my hair stay in place for more than a minute? How could somebody every really like someone like me?"

Male or female, this list represents the general thoughts that all too often rage through our minds. It's who we are on the outside that matters most. The mentality is:"You have a great personality! Awesome - that'll get you nowhere."

Attraction is key. It sells; no doubt about that. Put a beautiful woman in a mediocre movie, and more people want to see it. Put a handsome man on the cover of a magazine, sold!

We've come to a place where outward beauty is so much more valued than the inward. Look good to be successful, make money, be happy and satisfied, that's the theory isn't it? When did we become so shallow minded?

Good looks can make you successful, and they can bring in the green, but money will never make you truly happy or satisfied.

I've come to point in my life where I know this now, but what if I never did? Where would I be?

If there was one thing I could tell my younger self it would be:
"Be kind, be generous, be loving, be forgiving, be funny, be joyful, be charismatic, be a little weird, be sassy, be intelligent, be daring, be passionate, be exactly who God made YOU to be and true beauty will follow."

Who you are on the outside will never be enough, and the moment you realize that and focus on who are on the inside you will become enough. Enough for God, enough for you, enough for your family, your friends and enough for your future husband (or wife).

Focus on the inside and the outside will follow suit.

PS Nobody ever wanted to read an empty book.

Monday, February 16, 2015

Mistakes = Growth

I make mistakes.
Simple as that.

When I act on impulse and am quick to speak, I make the biggest mistakes.
Thankfully, God's grace is sufficient.

With every mistake,
there is greater grace.

With every mistake,
I learn how to not make it again.

With every mistake,
I grow in the Lord a little more.

"For the righteous man falls seven times and rises again" - Proverbs 24:16
"When I fall, I shall arise." - Micah 7:8

I love these two verses because it shows that we ALL fall into our own mistakes,
and when we fall, God is faithful to bring us back up.

Praise the Lord for His unmerited favour!

Friday, February 13, 2015

Give me a house to decorate, please.

I have a serious problem.
I like to change things.
Especially decor.
I honestly am so excited for the day when I have more than one room to alter.
In the meantime, I have my bedroom.


I'm pretty sure I can't add anything more to that wall; it's definitely full. I do have a lot of fun switching out what to hang though. Just this last year I became obsessed with calendars! Mainly because I get an entirely new gallery with the changing of the months. 


It's funny how styles change. I'm definitely taking on a very eclectic design style. 


I got the little easel from my friend Rachel, who purchased this when she was in France - I adore it! The small bowl is from Target. I never used to like orange, but I really love the contrast it creates with all my blues.



Love color. 



I've been really inspired by vintage garden looks and metallics. 


New artwork - Copper accents. 


My little 'bookshelf' that I am quickly outgrowing.


Because this is all I have for a Fairy Garden at the moment. 



Minnesnowta. Two of my favorite diy projects. 


And finally, a dreamcatcher that my older brother made me for Christmas. 


Thankfully, my problem is soon to be eased, as both our bathrooms are almost set for remodel! 
YAY!!!!!!!!!! 
So excited to make my home more modern and fresh! 

Anyone have any fun design inspirations or a place for me to decorate? ;) 



Wednesday, February 4, 2015

Heaven on Earth

Before I knew Jesus, when life would become rough I would slump for months.
No joy
No peace 
Nothing 
I had no will to experience anything, but my own grief. 

When I found Jesus, everything changed. 
Slumps no longer have the power to keep me down because 
He has already overcome anything I could possibly face! 


So when I slump, I am saying, "Jesus, I don't believe your work is a finished work." 
I'm allowing the enemy to win a battle he's already lost.

Daily, I must choose to believe Jesus and not let the enemy render me ineffective for the Kingdom of God.
I mean, that is his goal isn't it? To make our life here of no worth. 

Jesus said, I want you to have Heaven on Earth.
I don't know about you, but I certainly want Heaven. 
A place of no tears
No disappointment 
No suffering 
No greif 
Just Jesus. 
And if He said I can have this on now, count me in! 




Monday, February 2, 2015

Count it All Joy

There is a difference between happiness and joy:
Happiness is defined as good fortune, pleasure, contentment.
Joy, on the other hand, is the emotion of great delight caused by something.

Did you catch that?
Joy is caused by something.

In John 16 : 24 Jesus tells us, "Ask, and you will receive, that your joy may be full."
That is our something; it's as simple as that - to ask.
Often times, we think joy comes from circumstances and good things that happen to us, but that is happiness.
Joy, comes from the Lord and Him, alone.
James wrote in James 1:2 that we should "Count it all joy when you fall into various trials."
"I have to consider a trial joy? That's absurd." That's what happiness would say, because happiness is determined by circumstances. Joy is forever and joy is eternal, because it comes from The One who is forever and eternal. You can't get it anywhere else.

"The joy of the Lord is your strength." - Nehemiah 8:10b

So ask for joy!

Best thing is that once you have it, according to John 16:22b "your joy no one will take from you."
Those words are from Jesus, so they are a promise. Hold on to your joy, because no one really has the power to take it. 
His joy is forEVer.