Cancel Out The Grey

Changes

2010-10-05T09:47:00.000-07:00

About a month ago, I took my car in for a much-needed oil change and check up. I expected bad news, since my car's been making weird noises when I turn, rattles and shakes at red lights, and spills some kind of liquid on the driveway. I geared up and prepared myself to hear a long list of necessary repairs. Never did I expect it to be so bad. The technician called me over and showed me a long page covered in red circles and notes. Pretty much everything that could possible go wrong had indeed gone wrong. I was advised not to drive it. If you don't remember, I quit my job in April so I could focus on being a full-time student, youth leader, and wife. It had been going great! Richie and I were a little tight on money, but we were surviving and still making all our payments on time. But the bad news meant I'd have to go back to working. Our only good option was to buy a new car. And so, about a month ago, I returned to work. Thankfully, I didn't really have to search much before my boss from my first job contacted me and invited me to work at his photo studio again. That's what I've been doing and that's why I haven't posted anything in a while. Unfortunately, having a job means I no longer have enough free time to keep up with blogging. I go to school and work and get home around 9pm. On my days off I work on youth group stuff and spend time with my family. Blogging just doesn't fit into my schedule right now. I hope to someday be able to blog again, but I don't see that happening any time soon. I hope you have enjoyed reading and that these posts have encouraged you and maybe even helped you learn and grow in God. If you'd like to keep in touch, please look me up on Facebook and add me as a friend. I promise to accept your request! Soli Deo Gloria, Lilly

Style Idea 24: Dreaming of Fall

2010-09-07T21:02:00.001-07:00

I’m hoping that if I mention fall in enough style idea posts, fall will see how welcome he’d be in Las Vegas and stop by for a long visit. The temperatures have been dropping, but it’s nowhere near cool enough to bust out my tights and cardigans. Sometimes I wish I lived in New York or Maryland or Canada – anywhere that has real seasons!

Chunky Blue Cardigan: $48.00 Tulle

Twinkle Twinkle Dress: $168.00 Anthro

Navy Tights: $12.50 We Love Colors

Lace-Up Booties: $67.99 Ruche

Ivory Bag: $54.99 Spotted Moth

Hebrews 11 Challenge: Heroes

2010-09-06T11:21:00.001-07:00

For by it the people of old received their commendation.

Hebrews 11:2

Abraham, Moses, David are people whose lives we admire. No matter how many times you’ve read their stories, they never get old. Defeating Goliath and parting the Red Sea just never fail to impress.

Many preachers have tried to pinpoint what made these people great. Was it their God-given courage? Zeal for the Lord? Dedication to holiness? What characteristic can we mimic to be as great as them?

The answer is right here in Hebrews 11:2. What made these people great was faith. It tells us that it was by faith that they received God’s approval and that anything we can admire in them originated from that faith.

It’s a good thing I don’t have to live 175 years to be a little like Abraham, lead a mass pilgrimage to be a bit like Moses, or wrestle a bear to kind of resemble David. Actually, Christians are already a lot more like their Biblical heroes than they think. We already share in their faith and receive God’s approval by it alone.

The people of old, those heroes of the faith we so admire, didn’t work their way into hero-status. It wasn’t for the great things they did that God declared them righteous. Galatians 3:11 tells us that one can please God by doing good things (because we all eventually fail) but that by faith men are declared righteous.

Faith is what matters. Faith is what we should learn from the stories of people like Abraham, Moses, and David. Their faith is what we should admire and mimic. Forget the great works they did because works won’t ever get us anywhere. Faith is what will make us commendable before God first. He desires faith before heroic action.

New Puppy!

2010-09-04T09:42:00.001-07:00

World, meet Pumba, the Garcia household’s new puppy! We picked him up yesterday and are already in love with him. Look at those adorable eyes! How could we not love a face like that?

Check it Out!

2010-09-03T10:48:00.001-07:00

I seem to be in the mood for inspirational stories this morning. Here’s one about a boy who survived after his dad tried to murder him and found strength in Christ.

Then there’s the story of how a style blogger’s brother has miraculously lived 21 years when doctors said he wouldn’t make it to a month.

On a somehow related note, Kevin deYoung reminds us that there are worse things to fear than death.

Somehow also related, RC Sproul explains why we should pray even though God is completely in control of everything.

Defense for gay marriage is actually not as popular as we think it is.

Speaking of marriage, if I could re-do my wedding it would look something, but not completely like, this.

Isn’t their pinwheel photo area lovely? Here’s a tutorial on how to make paper pinwheels!

What comes after marriage? A baby carriage, of course! And even though I’m not yet expecting, I’m saving these photos for future kids’ room inspiration.

Given my current obsession with Gothic architecture and stained glass, I couldn’t help but fall in love with these lovely drawings.

Enjoy your long weekend! Go out somewhere and enjoy life!

Added: The was a pony at the Apple store!

Photo(s) of the Week

2010-09-02T11:53:00.000-07:00

Even though Art History hasn't been at all what I expected or looked forward to, I am thankful that I've been introduced to some amazing art. Out of everything we've looked at this quarter, Gothic Architecture is by far my favorite. Look at how beautiful all these building are! It amazes me that God created us in such a way that we're able to make such inspiring works of art.
(You can click each photo for its source)

Even in black and white, the stained glass is stunning! Hope you're as inspired as I am!

Remembered

2010-09-01T17:31:00.001-07:00

I’m a nostalgic kind of person. Quiet drives, time alone at home, and even daily chores give me a lot of time to reminisce and call memories up. It’s part of who I am and I can’t seem to help it. I’m good at long-term memory and bit and pieces of my life so far come and keep me company often.

The only real bad thing about it is that I sometimes wonder if I’m the only one. Would the 7th grade friends I remember and fondly miss even recognize my name? Did the nerd camp friend who promised to never forget me keep his end of the deal? (Yes, I went to something I like to call “nerd camp” when I was a kid!) Does that song remind my 9th grade friends of the good times we had too? Or is it just me? Am I the only one who remembers?

I may be inexplicably afraid of large bodies of water, big animals, and those tall electricity towers that line up like giants along highways. But my biggest fear by far is forgetting and being forgotten. That’s why I’d sometimes rather not contact old friends, try to add them on Facebook, or in any way let them back into my life. As horrible as that may sound, I’d just rather not know if they don’t remember the great times I remember.

It may a silly fear, since all the people I’ve gotten back in touch with do remember me and some have even sought me out. But I’m glad that even my unreasonable fear isn’t too unreasonable for God; he assures me and gives me comfort through his word.

In Deuteronomy 31, when Israel is about to finally enter the land God had promised them, when Moses their leader was stepping down after 40 years, when they could no longer ignore the reality of war and conquest God assured them he would not leave them.

In Joshua 5 when Joshua is stepping into Moses’ shoes and getting ready to try to fill them and lead the people into the battles that awaited them in the Promise Land God told him he’d never leave him.

In 1 Chronicles 28 when Solomon is made king of Israel and receives from his father the overwhelming instructions and specifications on how to build the temple, God, through David, promises to not leave him.

Through these challenges, God promised his chosen people he’d never leave them. Because I was chosen by God (Ephesians 1:3-6) I know he’ll never leave me. If that weren’t enough, in John 14:16 Jesus promises the Holy Spirit, God, will be with believers forever.

I know my Father in heaven will never forget me. He’ll always be with me. And even if everyone else I’ve ever encountered does, as long as he remembers me I know I’ll be just fine.

Style Idea 23: Hoping for Fall

2010-08-31T22:40:00.000-07:00

I went out for my morning jog yesterday and realized I should have brought a jacket! It was enough to get me daydreaming about fall. Leggings, boots, blazers, coats! I even planned the perfect beginning of fall outfit to wear that day, The weather forecast shattered my dreams, though. Temperatures are indeed falling, but in Vegas that means we drop from the 110’s to the low 100’s. Still not nearly cool enough for a fall outfit. I can still dream, right?

Doctor Bag: $49.00 Urban Outfitters

Colorful Tunic: $44.00 Francesca's

Maroon Leggings: $26.00 We Love Colors

Black Booties: $49.95 DSW

Navy Blazer: $98.00 Gap

Hebrews 11 Challenge: Intro

2010-08-30T16:47:00.001-07:00

Now faith is the assurance of things hoped for, the conviction of things not seen.

Hebrews 11:1

How many times have you heard the word faith in sermons? How many times has it come up in conversations with other Christians? How many times in your witnessing and evangelism? How many times in your personal prayer and Bible study?

Faith is a word we use really often, but have you ever stopped to really think about what it means? As a youth group teacher, I can say it’s one of the most difficult concepts to figure out and explain. It may seem simple at first, but explaining everything that belief really means quickly gets overwhelming.

This week’s verse clears things up a bit. “Faith is the assurance of things hoped for.” It is confidence in God’s ability to keep those promises which haven’t yet been fulfilled. It is trust in his will to accomplish all those things Christians should be hoping for: salvation, heaven, everything finally being set right.

Faith is “…the conviction of things not seen.” It is knowing that God is real even though he’s presently invisible to us. It is knowing that Christ lived perfectly keeping everything the Law commanded, gave up his life to save those who trust in him and repent of their sins, rose from the dead on the third day, and ascended into heaven to sit at the Father’s right hand.

For the rest of the year and probably into the next, we’ll be looking at all the examples of faith Hebrews 11 offers and learning the details of what faith really is. Until next week, meditate on what you know of faith. Study Scripture on faith and compare what you already know to that. Do the two line up? What changes might you have to make in order to be more closely aligned to God’s word?

Coveting

2010-08-25T13:42:00.001-07:00

Reading through the Ten Commandments is always at least a bit difficult for me. No matter how well I think I’ve been doing, some sin always comes to light when I really sit down and measure myself against God’s perfect standard. It never fails. I feel conviction.

One commandment in particular never had that effect on me, though. I could stroll right past it, lightheartedly checking it off my list of things I had taken care of. Reading “You shall not covet…” actually made me feel a little better about myself. I was happy with the car and house God had given me, couldn’t complain about clothes or shoes, enjoyed the company of great people in my life, and was content to wait for the think I needed but didn’t yet have. I sincerely thought coveting just wasn’t my struggle.

What I thought changed as I checked blogs off my daily reading list last week. First, I read an amazing description of the beginning of a round-the-world trip: white water rafting in an African river, petting tame lions, riding on elephants’ backs, watching the sun set behind majestic giraffes. Why couldn’t I be the one embarking on such a majestic adventure?

Then came another blog that talked about a couple’s love of traveling. Ever since their wedding day they’ve been packing up and going whenever they may feel like going. Long weekend drives are common and they have a long list of favorite places in several states. Why couldn’t Richie and I have that kind of freedom?

Last, I stopped at a blog written by a guy designing his way through the book of Psalms. His work is amazing. It is inspiring both spiritually and artistically. Why didn’t I have that creativity and skill?

By the end of my blog reading, I was feeling pretty horrible about myself. It wasn’t any of the bloggers’ fault – they’re all great and share awesome things with their readers. I admire all of them. I just felt unsatisfied with my own life when I compared it to theirs.

It’s hard to admit, but I wasn’t glad for the blessings they get to enjoy and I wasn’t thankful for how wonderful my life really is. All I could feel was envy and anger at not having the same exact blessings exactly now.

I don’t think it could be any clearer. Even though I don’t covet the “usual” material things, that doesn’t mean I don’t covet at all. It took a horrible mood and the ugliness of real envy to make me understand that coveting isn’t just about stuff. We can covet whole lifestyles, beauty, success, relationships. In that case, I covet. A lot.

Do you have a commandment you tend to skip over? One you feel you don’t really struggle with? I thought I didn’t need to work on not coveting, but that was only because I hadn’t fully understood what coveting really covers. Maybe the commandments we think we can handle should get a closer look.

PS. When I’m thinking clearly, I really wouldn’t trade my life for anyone else’s. I may wish I could do a lot more things, but if I had to give up what I have now I’d rather not.

Style Idea 22: College

2010-08-24T07:17:00.001-07:00

Two of my youth group kids are starting college next week! I couldn’t be more proud of them or more surprised at how quickly time passes by. It’s almost been a whole year since I started school and it feels like my first day was just yesterday. All the excitement and energy I felt is exactly what they’re feeling now. The least I can do I help pick a comfortable outfit perfect for that first day.

Evening Horizon Scarf: $17.99 Mod Cloth

Blush Tank: $26.99 Ruche

Corduroy Backpack: $68.00 Urban Outfitters

Blush Sandals: $34.00 Urban Outfitters

Denim Button Down Skirt: $25.00 Thread Sence

Proverbs 31 Challenge: Wrap Up

2010-08-23T10:10:00.001-07:00

Our first Bible challenge is officially complete! It’s been great going through each verse that describes the Proverbs 31 woman. Is has definitely been edifying and useful for me to stop and consider each godly quality and I hope it has been for you too. Just in case you missed one of the posts or would like to revisit some of them, here are the links to the whole challenge:

Listing these just made me realize how similar some of them are. One of the benefits of taking more time to read and study Scripture is that you pay more attention to subtle differences in verses that can seem so alike at first glance.

Another benefit is that you get to really examine yourself and compare yourself to what Scripture says. I know it’s been both a blessing to see what I’ve progressed in and a challenge to realize how much work I still have to do.

My hope for this challenge is that it will help you become a better wife, mom, sister, daughter, and give you growth as a Christian. And next week, we’ll start a whole new challenge!

Check It Out

2010-08-20T10:47:00.001-07:00

Design Sponge posted an awesomely easy Coffee Filter Flower DIY. It’s definitely something I’ll be trying soon.

Ali is traveling around the world! You can read her blog for amazing journal-like updates and great photos.

Although I really used to take pride in my sarcastic ways, thoughts like this made me think about whether my joking was really just mean.

Jon Acuff wrote about our tendency to make bad trades. Read it for yourself here.

Are college professors out to convert students? Apparently, a lot of them are.

Kevin DeYoung posted an extremely helpful three part series on giving and taking rebuke.

Have a happy weekend!

Photo of the Week

2010-08-19T09:39:00.000-07:00

This is the little guy we found a couple of weeks ago. It was over 105 degrees, he was lost, and he didn’t have a collar. We haven’t had him checked for a chip yet, but we definitely plan on doing that soon. In the meantime, he’s welcome to keep stretching out on my brother’s bed for his frequent naps.

PS. We’ve been calling him Killer and if we get to keep him that’ll be his name.

Style Idea 21: Star Gazing

2010-08-17T07:03:00.001-07:00

Richie, my brother, and I headed out to Red Rock Canyon late on Friday night to watch the Perseid meteor shower. We’d tried to watch meteor showers before but had never really found a good spot. Red Rock turned out to be perfect – it’s pretty close to our house yet far enough from the brightest city lights. Being out there was amazing and it made me want to go back for a Friday date with just the husband. I think the right outfit would make a trip like that more date-like. Of course, this is something I would wear on a star gazing trip and not an actual hike or anything!

Lace Collar Dress: $68.00 Urban Outfitters

Vintage Binoculars: $21.95 Etsy

Crocheted Belt: $9.50 Charlotte Russe

The Shoes I Really Wish I Had: $144.99 Mod Cloth

background image via James Marvin Phelps

Proverbs 31 Challenge: Rewards

2010-08-16T09:45:00.001-07:00

Give her of the fruit of her hands, and let her works praise her in the gates.

Proverbs 31:31

The first couple of years that my husband and I were in charge of youth group were beyond difficult. Our kids refused to pay attention, caused disruptions in every service, rebelled against all the rules we set, criticized every event we planned. It really seemed like they were trying to make ministry as difficult as possible.

Richie and I were putting a lot of hard work in, but it seemed like nothing we tried could make things any better. We spent a lot of time preparing their lessons, praying for them, trying to establish relationships, planning camps and retreats. No matter how much effort we put into ministry, it felt like we were getting nowhere. We were doing a lot but seeing nothing in return.

Working at becoming a Proverbs 31 woman can make you feel like that too. Maybe you’ve been following along with this series and trying to make changes but nobody has seemed to notice. Maybe you’ve been serving others selflessly for a long time but have never gotten a thank you. It' can get really discouraging really quick.

The good thing is, hard work doesn’t stay unrewarded. My husband and I eventually were blessed by the true transformation we saw in a lot of our youth group kids. Now there is even a small group that’s being discipled more closely and prepared for ministry.

If you put an effort into following God’s guidelines for Biblical womanhood your work will bear fruit and people are bound to notice. But even if in your lifetime you don’t get the recognition you deserve, know that the greatest rewards are those to be received in heaven.

All rewards and recognition must not lead us to take all the glory, though. We have to always remember that God is the source of anything good we do. If it weren’t for his help we’d be unable to follow what his Word tells us.

Cucumber and Dill Pasta Salad

2010-08-16T08:51:00.001-07:00

I really hope you can all forgive me for my lack of posts last week. Midterms kind of caught me off guard and even though they weren’t really all that stressful, they did manage to keep me busy. To make up for my absence, you get two entries today! The first is a recipe for my current culinary obsession. If the only mouth I was feeding was my own, I’d probably make a month’s worth of this pasta salad and eat it everyday for every meal.

What you’ll need:

1 lb medium pasta shells
1 large cucumber, peeled and diced
1/2 fresh dill, chopped
2 tbs mayo
2 tbs olive oil
1 lemon, juiced

What you’ll do:

Cook the pasta according to the directions on the package. Drain and let cool. Meanwhile, whisk the mayo, olive oil and lemon juice until you have a smooth dressing. Combine the pasta shells, cucumber, and dill. Add the dressing and stir to coat your salad. You can serve it like that or let it chill in the fridge for a while if you’re more patient than me.

Style Idea 20: Casual Date Night

2010-08-10T18:46:00.001-07:00

Friday night is usually date night for the Garcia’s. While “date night” sounds fancy and expensive, the husband and I typically go for casual outings: picnics, dollar movies, and free live music. So even though I want to dress up a bit for our date, I also don’t want to overdo it. That’s why I love this outfit and wish I could actually get it! It’s more dressed up than what I usually wear without going overboard. And I could really use a cool cardigan like this one!

Owl Necklace: $14.99 Mod Cloth

Black Tank Top: $19.50 Delia's

Light Striped Cardigan: $30.00 Lulu's

Caramel Leather Bag: $168.00 Fossil

Layered Ruffle Skirt: $38.99 Mod Cloth

Black Hole Punch Flats: $27.99 Mod Cloth

Proverbs 31 Challenge: Beauty and Charm

2010-08-10T16:13:00.001-07:00

Charm is deceptive and beauty is fleeting, but a woman who fears the Lord shall be praised.

Proverbs 31:30

Charm and beauty are without question two of the things our culture values most.

The people our society considers most successful (movie stars, singers, millionaires) are more often than not ridiculously good looking. Whether they’re successful because they’re attractive or attractive because their success can buy plastic surgery, the message we get is the same: beauty and success go hand-in-hand.

Today’s girls very quickly learn that a little charm can go a long way in getting them what they want. Cosmo to Teen Bop equally promise to teach us “50 fun new ways to flirt” and what kind of body language is sure to give us the result we want. Movies tend portray flirtatious women as the ideal we should all strive toward.

It shouldn’t come as a surprise that God isn’t impressed by the things that wow our culture. In fact, it should be obvious that culture’s obsession with beauty and charm is at odds with everything Biblical.

It makes complete sense, but it can be so hard to remember! When everything around me tells me I should be worried about my body, that my face is far from perfect, that I should spend more time on my hair, that my style needs an upgrade or two, and that I should be concerned about making men take a second glance at me it’s extremely hard to remember what God’s word has to say.

That’s what this verse reminds us of. Whatever beauty I might gain will one day disappear; even if I die beautiful, my corpse will never be attractive. Whatever charm techniques I might master, they’ll be at best a façade and at worst a sinful attempt at deception.

God doesn’t want beauty and charm from us. He wants us to fear (respect, admire, adore) him! He doesn’t expect us to spend hours getting ready or to impress him with our charm – he expects us to follow the pattern he set out for us, to walk in his commandments striving to be more like him each day.

Proverbs 31 describes a godly virtuous woman. Out of 21 verses that describe her, only one mentions anything related to her beauty. That was obviously not her strongest point! That doesn’t mean she was ugly; it means that because among all her other admirable qualities, beauty was secondary. Her strengths were her wisdom, trustworthiness, intelligence, resourcefulness, and the love she showed her family.

Let’s think about what we’re investing in. Are we investing on the superficial qualities the world admires or on the virtues God calls us to? Memorize this verse. It’s incredibly helpful when standing in line at the grocery store with flawless faces staring at you from the magazine rack.

Check it Out

2010-08-06T15:01:00.001-07:00

It’s been a while since i last wrote on of these posts, mainly because I’ve been busier than I ever thought I would be. I thought I would have more free time after quitting my job, but school has somehow managed to take over those 40 hours and then some! I’ll try to be consistent and have a post every Friday, but we’ll see how it goes.

We all tend to be hypocritical about some things. A Boundless post challenges us to dig up those areas in which we “engage in moral licensing.” For me, it seems to be evangelism.

Ali has access to 600 names that represent people in desperate need for prayer. These are potential patients that the medical ship she lives on in Africa just couldn’t help.

Chris Larson shares a simple explanation of Christ’s substitutionary atonement.

So this is why waking up early helps me pray! Josh Harris writes about the importance of self-control and sober-mindedness in prayer.

I might just try my hand at making this lovely chandelier instead of waiting to have enough money to buy one.

This map post was another source of inspiration! So many craft ideas!

Photo of the Week

2010-08-05T18:18:00.001-07:00

Boulder City is less than an hour’s drive from my house and just 15 minutes from school! it’s fairly close to Vegas, but completely different. The mood is more laid back, the people are nicer and smile more, old buildings don’t get torn down. I took this photo a few months ago when my brother and I went out to Hoover Dam at about 5 in the morning to get some architecture shots. On our way back home we sort of intentionally got lost and ended up at this mysterious old building.

Up to Date!

2010-08-04T21:48:00.001-07:00

I posted the long-awaited (ha!) Proverbs 31 Challenge post. In order to not mess with the posts’ order, I set the publish date as Monday. So, if you wanna read it, you can check it out below!

Prayer

2010-08-04T21:26:00.001-07:00

If there’s one thing I suck at (besides posting blog entries really late) it’s praying.

I understand the need to pray (Romans 12:12), the command to pray (Luke 18:1), the privilege (Romans 5:1-2) and benefits of prayer (James 5:13-18), and all the theological reasons why I should pray but I can’t seem to actually get myself to do it.

When I first converted, I thought prayer would get easier as I grew spiritually. I thought it would somehow someday come naturally. Six years later, it doesn’t. At all.

For a while, I got into the habit of saying short prayers throughout my day. “Thank you, God, for this amazing view,” as I drive westward at sunset. “Lord, please help me,” before taking a difficult test.

And that kept me satisfied for a while, but eventually I yearned for more. It’s funny how that yearning has worked in my life, though. Instead of leading me to deeper longer prayer times, the dissatisfaction I’ve felt led me cut even the tiny amount of prayer time I already had.

We’ve been slowly reading through RC Sproul’s Five Things Every Christian Needs to Grow with our discipleship kids. The second chapter is about prayer, and boy was it helpful.

Sproul explains the importance of prayer in the first part of the chapter and then moves on to practical advise he himself learned from a booklet by Martin Luther. The two things that stood out the most to me were his encouraging to set time apart specially for prayer and to pray through Scripture.

Praying from Scripture and through Scripture are two very different things, he said. The first just involves reciting verses and repeating parts of the Bible. The second means taking a portion of Scripture and using it as a guide to your prayer. This is how Jesus intended for us to use the Lord’s Prayer in Matthew 6:9-13.

So instead of running through a recitation of Jesus’ sample prayer, you stop wherever you need to elaborate in your own words. As Sproul puts it, “to pray through the Lord’s Prayer is to focus attention on each of the petitions for a time.”

Last night, I set my alarm to go off at 4:30 in the morning; a whole hour earlier than usual. Granted, I didn’t actually get out of bed until 5:15, but I had some time for prayer before getting ready for school. I took me a few minutes to figure out the most comfortable prayer spot is actually in my closet, but I finally got to pray.

5:15 was the perfect time. The whole house was quiet. There were no distractions but my own wandering mind (which I have at least some control of). It was great. Both tips worked. I got to spend more time in direct communion, speaking to my God, than I had in months.

I’ve heard a lot of people claim their day goes better when it starts in prayer. Others have said it changes their morning from dreadful to cheerful. I don’t have any claims like that, but I will say the satisfaction of being able to praise God, to obey his command to pray, and to finally feel close to him again is far better than any other benefit I could have gained. I can’t wait for my alarm to go off again tomorrow at 4:30 am.

Style Idea 19: Simple Skirt and Tank

2010-08-03T18:18:00.001-07:00

Although the heart’s starting to wane, me typical 102-degree days still feel too hot for anything other than a dress or skirt. I asked my husband once if my skirt and tank top outfit was casual enough and he laughed. Most people probably would agree with him and say that a skirt getup can’t be casual, but I think it definitely can. Just like you can dress jeans up, you can dress skirts down. Just pair them with a simple top, comfortable shoes, and a few basic accessories and you have an outfit casual enough for an impromptu weekend bbq.

Sunnies: $12.99 Ruche

Green Tank: $4.50 Forever 21

Thick Woven Belt: $19.99 Ruche

Paisley and Flower Print Skirt: $28.00 Francesca's

Woven Leather Oxfords: $114.99 Mod Cloth

Catch-Up

2010-08-03T16:13:00.001-07:00

I’ve been trying to catch up on school work, church stuff, and blogging since Friday. Thankfully, I’m finally starting to get there. I should have your Proverbs 31 Challenge and Style Idea up later tonight, so check back for your weekly dose!

Proverbs 31 Challenge: Rewards and Motive

2010-08-02T20:36:00.000-07:00

Her children rise up and call her blessed; her husband also, and he praises her: "Many women have done excellently, but you surpass them all."

Proverbs 31:28,29

One of the best earthly rewards anyone can receive is the gratitude, admiration, and respect of those who know you best, and that’s exactly what this verse is about.

What the people closest to you say about you means a lot. Those who know you best often have the clearest idea of who you are. While my youth group knows me fairly well, it is my husband who can truly testify about my character. After all, he’s spent the past four years getting to know me!

A stranger’s compliment may be nice, but my husband’s compliments always mean more to me. When he tells me he admires my growth in patience, I know I really have progressed. Because he’s the person closest to me, his evaluation of my character is most accurate (at least aside from God’s).

As we strive to become more like the godly woman described in these verses, we should receive praise from the people who know us best. That may mean your husband and children, mom and dad, friends or church family. This praise, however, shouldn’t me the reason for our pursuit of godliness.

Although the Proverbs 31 woman doesn’t work hard at developing good character qualities and serving others just to hear compliments. The compliments and rewards are a nice bonus, but our focus should always be God’s glory and not our own.

i hope that as we near the end of this challenge we can look forward to the rewards but also examine our motives for pursuing Biblical womanhood. Is our motivation God’s glory or our own?

Lasting Beauty

2010-07-28T14:00:00.001-07:00

A while ago, I wrote a post about beauty. In it, I said that we should care about our appearance without sliding into vanity and I still believe that. As Christian ladies, we should seek a healthy balance between not caring how we look and caring too much.

A week ago, though, a sister helped me realize I’d forgotten about something more important than decent clothing and hair. As we talked over dinner, it grew more and more obvious: even though she looked externally beautiful, her appearance was not the spring of her beauty.

This is a sister I’ve come to greatly admire in the short while I’ve known her. She spends time evangelizing every week, is there for her husband as he steps into a new pastoral role, works on learning Spanish to better serve the women in her church, and volunteers as a church secretary daily. Her beauty came from inside, manifested in the things she does.

Maybe it’s the cliches that now surround it or the sheer corniness of how it sounds, but I’ve neglected to write about this inner beauty. I have no trouble remembering 1 Timothy 2:9. But the next verse, the one that says what our adornment should be, I have no trouble forgetting.

God, through Paul in his letter to Timothy, tells us that as godly women we should dress with modesty, showing self-control. This is, of course, important and good to remember, but the instructions don’t end there.

In 1 Timothy 2:10, we’re further instructed on how to adorn ourselves. Instead of using expensive, immodest, gaudy clothing we’re to rely on good works to bring out our beauty. And really, what’s truly more beautiful? The latest low-cut embellished Armani tank top or a heart after God’s own expressed outwardly through works?

Our salvation is not attained by works, but works should adorn all believers. Our character, work ethic, compassion, and charity should shine brightly as a testament to the salvation God granted us.

I sometimes tend to focus on my appearance and neglect the true source of beauty: a heart changed by the God who died on a cross so I could be saved and made new. That’s when I have to let God remind me that external beauty is fleeting but the inner beauty that he gives believers will last all eternity.

Style Idea 18: Summer Heat

2010-07-27T07:00:00.001-07:00

It’s been a hot summer in Las Vegas. It may seem like an obvious thing to say, but it still kind of amazes me when it’s past 90 degrees at 7am. I am amazed pretty much daily. The best thing to wear on 115-degree days is a breezy dress like this one with the least amount of accessories possible. This way, you won’t have to fuss with intricate folds of fabric as you venture out for groceries or popsicles.

Mosaic Dress: $38.00 Francesca's

Handmade Leather Bag: $185.00 Jenny N Design

Sunnies: $5.80 Forever 21

Black Wedges: $64.99 Mod Cloth

Proverbs 31 Challenge: Don’t Do Nothing

2010-07-26T11:37:00.001-07:00

She looks well to the ways of her household and does not eat the bread of idleness.

Proverbs 31:27

With only four verses to go, we now arrive at the summary of this whole series. All the verses before this have shown us that the virtuous godly woman works to maintain her household.

We’ve seen that the Proverbs 31 woman rose early in the morning to start a productive day. She made clothing, bought food, planted vineyards, sold sashes, decorated her home, and helped the poor. This had to be a woman who didn’t often give into the temptation to just sit there and do nothing.

How many of us can say we’re as productive as this woman? Our daily to-do list may not include planting vineyards or sewing winter coats, but we all have things to do that are more important than the latest Top Model marathon (believe me, its easy to get sucked into those).

I recently had three weeks off of school. On my last day of class, I put together a list of things I wanted to do during my time off. It included painting the hallway closet, doing some work on the kitchen cabinets, re-finishing a couple of pieces of furniture, and keeping the house clean. Even though I had two full weeks to do this (one week was spent in Mexico), I somehow managed to accomplish nothing. These things would have benefited my family, but I instead chose to give in to my desire to waste time.

This isn’t to say that we should never rest or always be so busy we have no time for relaxation. There should be a healthy balance between work and rest. I think the problem is that we tend to lean towards resting more often than towards working.

A big part of taking care of your home and those who share it with you is resisting the urge to always do nothing. Whether it’s the television, the telephone, the internet, or something else that tempts you to forget to do laundry, make dinner, or help someone out, I encourage you to think of others before yourself.

Photo of the Week

2010-07-15T10:37:00.001-07:00

I hadn’t seen my grandma in 8 years.

She used to knit me the cutest dresses when I was little.

She taught me to look in the mirror and see beauty.

She laughed so hard once, soda squirted out her nose.

She didn’t remember who I am this time. She seemed to be somehow lost most of the time. She only smiled a few times, probably vain attempts at making things seem alright.

Style Idea 17: LA Lady

2010-07-13T12:17:00.001-07:00

Reasons why LA is great:

The weather is always fabulous.
You can never get too far away from a beach.
People drive more kindly than in Vegas.
The mood is always casual and laid back.
It’s where I was born and raised!

Black Tank: $19.50 PacSun

Marigold Sunglasses: $11.99 Mod Cloth

Basic Denim Shorts: $9.50 Forever 21

Yellow Sandals: $44. 95 DSW

Awesome LA Tote: $19.99 Mod Cloth

Proverbs 31 Challenge: Powerful Words

2010-07-12T10:04:00.001-07:00

She opens her mouth with wisdom, and the teaching of kindness is on her tongue.

Proverbs 31:26

Have you ever blurted something out just to realize it would have been better to keep quiet? Have you ever stayed up wishing you could take some words back? Have you ever been haunted by the embarrassment of something you said?

That’s probably why the Bible has so much to say about our speech. We all struggle to control the things we say, to reform our words and sentences and align them more to Christ.

James 3 speaks about the damage our words can do, comparing the tongue to a small fire that can destroy a whole forest. Proverbs 18:21 speaks of the great power our words can hold. In Matthew 12:34 Jesus told the Pharisees that words reveal what’s in a person’s heart.

As virtuous women, we have to realize that the words we speak affect a lot of things. Our words have a lot to do with how others perceive us. They can bring encouragement or discouragement to those around us. They affect the mood of our family and in our surroundings. With our words we can either build up or tear down.

Many people have taught that our words are powerful in another way. They teach that the words you speak have power in and of themselves and you therefore have to be careful what you say because words become reality. According to these teachers, you shouldn’t say, “I’m getting sick,” even when you feel a cold coming on because then you will for sure get sick.

Although popular, that doctrine has no Biblical warrant and its not what this challenge is about. Our words have power only in the way our actions have power. If you kick a ball it will move. If you yell at someone they’ll be hurt.

The virtuous woman knows to have self-control and speak with wisdom and kindness. She is a blessing to those around her because she speaks good things. Let’s work at being virtuous in this way and start thinking about our words before we say them. Let’s stop ourselves before arguing with someone, before criticizing, before putting down, before mocking.

Mexico Vacation Part 2: El Oro

2010-07-09T09:44:00.001-07:00

After visiting my dad’s side of the family in Cuernavaca, we headed over to my mom’s hometown: El Oro. We went from humid tropical weather to cool overcast days and rainy nights. What I love about El Oro is that even after so many years, everything has stayed pretty much the same. The city hall in the photo above seems especially unchanging, always painted in its signature bright red.

One thing that has changed is the size of the family. While its always been pretty big, many recent additions have made it even bigger. Its still a bit strange to think that several of the cousins I used to go out and get into trouble with are now settled, married, and have kids.

My brother, born on July 4th, got to celebrate his birthday with the family. We headed out to a nearby historic town full of rustic buildings and beautiful 16th century landmarks.

I can’t help but laugh at the photo above! So typical of 13-year-olds!

Mexico Vacation, Part 1: Cuernavaca

2010-07-08T17:49:00.001-07:00

Today was our first day back from a short Mexico vacation and I wish we could have stayed another week or year.

Our first stop was in Cuernavaca, my dad’s hometown. It had been eight whole years since my last visit, but everything was just as beautiful as I remembered.

Cuernavaca is a busy fast-paced town with a tropical climate. Beautiful foliage and wildlife gets mixed into every corner of the urban landscape, adorning each apartment tower, tall stone wall, and tile façade with bright greens, pinks, and yellows.

My dad told us stories about Chapultepec, a huge park around the corner from my grandparents’ house. At its peak, the park even housed lions and other exotic animals. Strolling through it felt like being on safari in a very small, very tame rainforest.

The best part of the trip was spending time with family I hadn’t seen in so long.

Photo of the Week

2010-07-01T11:57:00.000-07:00

Fact: My husband has always been hot, but now that he rides a motorcycle he’s even hotter.

We’ve both gotten a lot of lectures and disapproving head shakes since we bought the bike a few months ago. The truth is, we needed extra transportation and couldn’t afford another car and all that gas. His bike has been the perfect solution and I’m at peace because I know he drives carefully and this bike isn’t really all that dangerous (it can’t even go past 75 mph and is pretty light). And he looks amazingly cool when he pulls into our driveway.

Growth

2010-06-30T11:57:00.000-07:00

Among the songs my pastor chooses often for worship, one in particular is bittersweet. Singing together as a congregation, the song leads us to ask God to renew us, confessing that everything we are needs to be conformed more unto his image. That’s the sweet part; it’s a beautiful song. The bitter part comes when I remember how I sang it in the past.

At one embarrassing point, I thought I had arrived. I thought I was “there”. I seriously didn’t think I could get any better or need any improvement. Surprisingly, I wasn’t cocky or arrogant about it. This attitude somehow sprung from sincere gratitude toward God for all the ways in which he had dramatically changed my life.

I was 17 and I had gone through severe depressions, deep involvement in the SoCal partying punk rock scene, drug use, an abusive relationship, and serious family problems. My life had gone from that darkness to the light of Christ and I was extremely thankful.

When I sang that song which was supposed to lead me to ask God to keep working in me, what came to mind instead was, “Thank you, Lord, because you’ve changed me so much already, I don’t need any more.” I honestly just couldn’t fathom how things could get any better than they already were.

By God’s grace, I realized my attitude was completely wrong. I learned we never fully arrive at the Biblical ideal, at least not until what Paul calls “the day of Jesus Christ” (Philippians 1:6). I realized that when Jesus said in Matthew 5:48, “You therefore must be perfect, as your heavenly Father is perfect,” he was referring to a life-long struggle to follow the lifestyle Scripture set out for us more and more closely.

There is never a point in a Christian’s life when we can say we’re completely sanctified, done growing, done learning. The work God began in us on the moment we converted does not end until after death. While we’re here, we have to keep striving to grow in him, to be more like him.

Style Idea 16: Patriotic

2010-06-29T12:23:00.001-07:00

Fourth of July is just around the corner, and even though I’ll be in Mexico for it, I won’t miss the opportunity to dress in red, white and blue! Today’s outfit idea is sure to keep you cool and comfortable for a picnic and afternoon of fireworks.

Light Lace Cardigan: $37.99 Ruche

Blue Button Down Dress: $13.50 Forever 21

Red Bow Headband: $12.99 Mod Cloth

Red Stripe Canvas Wedges: $69.00 Toms (with every pair purchased, a child in need also gets a pair of new shoes)

Proverbs 31 Challenge: Strength and Biblical Submission

2010-06-28T09:46:00.001-07:00

Strength and dignity are her clothing, and she laughs at the time to come.

Proverbs 31:25

In the year between my husband’s proposing and our wedding, a fear was constantly on my mind: would I be able to submit? I knew that as a Christian striving to be more Christ-like and aligned with the Word of God, I had to be a submissive wife. But I had no idea what that looked like.

One of the biggest fears this generation of 20-something women faces is submission in marriage. The question high school girls in youth group ask with the most fear in their eyes is, “Are wives really supposed to submit?” More often than not we picture a boring, weak, overly-dependant pathetic woman when we think of a submissive wife.

No one can argue that the Proverbs 31 woman is not a submissive wife. Verse 11 says her husband trusts her. Verse 12 tells us she does her husband good throughout her life. Verse 23 says she adds to her husband’s reputation. How could a rebellious wife who does whatever she wants without caring whether her husband agrees or not be such a blessing to his life?

Today’s verse should show us that being a biblically submissive wife doesn’t mean all those negative things we usually think of. A wife who submits to her husband isn’t boring, weak, over-dependant or pathetic. The Proverbs 31 woman is submissive but also strong and full of dignity and confidence.

The virtuous woman has so much strength and dignity that its apparent to everyone, just like your clothing is visible to everyone you encounter. Her confidence in God is so strong, she doesn’t worry about the future but faces it with a smile. This is as much as part of her character as her willing submission to her husband and all authority.

Biblical submission and strength can and should exist side-by-side. Its time to exchange the world’s ideas of strong womanhood for the Bible’s instruction.

Style Idea 15: Airport Chic

2010-06-22T16:05:00.001-07:00

In exactly a week and about eight hours, I’ll finally be headed on a long-awaited vacation to Mexico! I’ll only be able to stay for about ten days, but its been a while since I last was able to take a trip like this. No matter how much time passes by, though, I never forget how uncomfortable airports and airplanes are. And since my flight this time will be at around midnight and last for more than three hours, comfort is high up on the traveling day priorities list. Something like today’s outfit would be wonderful – the flowy tank top keeps me from worrying about my gut showing, the cardigan can double as a pillow if need be, and all the books and magazines I tend to over pack can fit into the amazing bag.

Coral Cardigan: $62.00 J Crew

Black and Peach Tank: $24.99 Mod Cloth

Dark Wash Skinnies: $69.50 Gap

Leather Oxfords: $114.99 Mod Cloth

Traveling Canvas Bag: $48.99 Ruche

Proverbs 31 Challenge: Quality

2010-06-21T12:22:00.001-07:00

She makes linen garments and sells them; she delivers sashes to the merchant.

Proverbs 31:24

There were a few times last year (mostly around holidays) when I went on do-it-yourself marathons. I stumbled on several impressive DIY blogs that showed beautiful photographs of the neatest hand-made gifts and trinkets. About a million and a half pages were bookmarked and I vowed to make a stuffed animal for a friend’s new baby, a collection of flower headbands, fashionable tote bags, and cute fabric-covered journals.

Have you ever tried your hand at making something? You get all these fabulous ideas and daydream about how wonderful your creations will look and how happy and surprised the recipients of your handiwork will be.

In my case, the final product rarely met the standards I dreamt up. It wouldn’t have been a big deal if I hadn’t let it discourage me, but my disappointment kept me from trying again. And without trying again there’s no way I can ever get better.

Today’s verse speaks about the quality of the things the Proverbs 31 woman makes. We already know she makes great clothing for her family and beautiful decorations for her home. Now we see that the things she makes are even good enough to sell at the market. These aren’t itchy knit sweaters and scarves her kids wear because she forces them to!

What we have to remember is that this woman wasn’t born a superhero. No one, not even the great woman this chapter describes, is immediately good at everything she tries. The fact that the garments she made were high-quality doesn’t speak of some miraculous talent. It tells us that she practiced and didn’t give up when things didn’t turn out perfectly the first few times.

Skill isn’t something that appears overnight or that you get the first time you try something. We have to work and practice and learn from mistakes and not let our failures discourage us.

Photo of the Week

2010-06-10T15:52:00.001-07:00

For the longest time I was constantly frustrated by my inability to capture good photos. I knew how I wanted to frame a subject, how I wanted to convey the mood of the moment, how I wanted each color to come across but I didn’t know how to actually do it. It’s like having an amazing idea for a painting but not knowing how to pain or having great song idea in your mind but not knowing how to put it to paper.

That’s why I’m so thankful for the photography class I took this quarter. Even though I worked photography jobs for a while, I was taught only what I needed to know. In studios where everything is pre-set and the camera buttons are glued down, that meant I only learned about posing and framing shots. It’s invaluable training that I’m grateful for, but it didn’t give me the creative tools to capture photos like the one below. I feel invincible now and am really looking forward to sharing a lot more photos!

Style Idea 14: Beach Retreat

2010-06-08T14:09:00.001-07:00

The company my dad woks for holds huge annual summer picnics and this year, my brother, sister, niece, husband and I are driving out to LA to attend. Not only will we get to spend Father’s Day weekend with our dad, we’ll get to do so on Manhattan Beach! Naturally, I’m already thinking of outfits for this weekend-long mini family vacation by the sea, and I’d love to pack something like this outfit.

Floral Dress: $33.00 Be Yourself Boutique

Chunky Bead Necklace: $22.00 Shop Mamie

Brown Repurposed Leather Bag: $119.00 Mod Cloth

Coral Flats: $26.99 Ruche

Woven Belt: $12.00 The Novel Hunt

Proverbs 31 Challenge: Building Up

2010-06-07T12:39:00.001-07:00

Her husband is known in the gates when he sits among the elders of the land.

Proverbs 31:23

It’s been forever since we last heard about the virtuous woman’s husband. Proverbs 31, verses 11 and 12, speak of her husband’s trust and the good things she brings into his life. Now, after reading through some of the many ways in which she works so hard, he comes back into the picture.

At first glance, this verse seems a bit strange. So far, the majority of Proverbs 31 Woman verses have been mostly about her. They describe what she does, how she acts, and even how she dresses herself and her family. Right in the middle of that, we find a verse that seems to only speak about her husband.

The ESV Study Bible explains that the gates were the hub of an Israelite city. It was where the town’s leading men gathered. Being known there would be to them what being known in City Hall is to us. Only important, respected people get recognized in such high places.

What does this have to do with the woman of virtue? Proverbs 12:4 says, “An excellent wife is the crown of her husband, but she who brings shame is like rottenness in his bones.” Whatever a wife does affects the way her husband is perceived by the public. She can contribute to his reputation or completely tear it down.

The fact that the Proverbs 31 woman’s husband sits among the VIPs has a lot to say about her. It means that the things she does build her husband up. She helps his reputation by keeping her own, helps his success by keeping a good home, helps him financially by being responsible and industrious. Every good thing she does helps her husband succeed.

It’s easy to fall into thinking our actions and choices have small consequences, but this isn’t true about anyone, no matter how insignificant we feel. Everything we do, whether good or bad, affects those around us, especially the people standing closest.

This week, lets consider whether we’ve been contributing to or tearing down their reputations, their chances at success. It takes a lot of courage and honesty to really look at our lives in terms of how we’ve affected others, but even more so to change whatever bad habits we find. If you notice something that needs changing, ask God for his help and trust that the Holy Spirit living in you is your helper.

Guess Who’s Back?

2010-05-30T16:08:00.001-07:00

My last entry was about a month and half ago. I’ve been on a type of impromptu break from this blog while I took care of some things. Now that everything’s a lot more stable and I’m feeling quite a bit better, I plan on returning to the weekly line up of planned posts and more! I have a lot of art, photography, stories, and Bible studies to share and I can’t wait to get back into the whole blogging thing come Monday.

Chocolate Orange Cupcakes

2010-04-16T07:15:00.001-07:00

Can you believe I had never baked cupcakes before last week? When I stumbled upon this delicious recipe about a month ago, I went out and got a cupcake tray, cupcake paper, and a bag of powdered sugar. Most of the ingredients were already in my pantry!

Cupcake Ingredients:

1 box chocolate cake mix
orange juice
oil
1/2 orange, zested

Icing Ingredients:

4 cups powdered sugar
8 tablespoons butter, softened
3 tablespoons orange juice
1 orange, zested

For cupcakes, follow the directions on the cake mix box, only replacing water with orange juice. Add in the orange zest, too. This should make about two dozen cupcakes.

The frosting is super easy, also. Just mix all the ingredients until they’re nice and smooth. Add orange juice three tablespoons is not enough to get a workable frosting.

Original recipe (with more beautiful photos) found here.

Photo of the Week: African Daisy

2010-04-15T07:05:00.001-07:00

This is another assignment from last quarter made using graphite pencil and color pencils. There are definitely ways I can still improve this, but its way better than anything I thought I could do.

What I’m liking best about all my classes so far is realizing how much creativity God used in creating everything. I may be able to tap into my artistic side to make a drawing like this, but how could it ever compare to God’s creations?

Style Idea 13: Skirt and T-Shirt Kind of Day

2010-04-13T11:41:00.001-07:00

I love skirts. If I could, I would wear a skirt every day. You don’t need a special occasion, a date, or any reason whatsoever to thrown on something a pretty as a floral skirt. Put one on even if your plans for the day are grocery shopping and dish washing. Dress it down by pairing it with a simple T-shirt and relaxed flat sandals. Seeing the pretty print every time you happen to glance down will brighten your day.

Purple V-Neck: $12.50 Gap

Leaf Necklace: $30.00 Top Shop

Floral Skirt: $44.95 Mod Cloth

Casual Black Sandals: $49.95 DSW

Proverbs 31 Challenge: Beauty

2010-04-12T12:30:00.001-07:00

She makes bed coverings for herself; her clothing is fine linen and purple.

Proverbs 31:22

Of all the verses that describe the virtuous woman, this is probably the most surprising one. All the hard work, the effort to take care of others, the willingness to invest time in skillful work are expected characteristics. We shouldn’t be surprised to learn that a godly woman does all that. But now a verse about her home decorations and clothing?

I think we can sometimes get so caught up in the need to be hard-working and industrious that we forget the value of beauty. Beauty, of course, is not the end for which we should strive or the matter around which our lives should orbit. It isn’t of highest priority or importance. It isn’t the pinnacle towards which we climb.

That doesn't mean, though, that it has no importance at all. It doesn’t mean beauty should be ignored, thrown out the widow, rejected as a vain endeavor. Beauty should have a place in the life of a Christian woman, especially one striving to be more like the Proverbs 31 woman.

Your home, whether an urban apartment, humble mobile, or single-family house, should be a place you and your family enjoy. It should be a place you all get excited about heading to after a long day or work, school, or errands. It should be a place where everyone can gather, rest, share, and grow together. It should be a place where your family glorifies Christ in every way. There’s no shame in investing time, skill, and resources into making it a beautiful place, because making it beautiful and enjoyable will help make it everything it should be.

The same goes for how we dress. We can care about our appearance and avoid vanity at the same time. The clothing we choose communicate something to everyone around us. What are your clothing choices saying about you? Whether we like it or not, sweats can convey as negative a message as an immodest dress. There is nothing wrong with taking a few extra minutes each morning to pick out something that reflects our character a little bit better.

Our challenge this week? Think about how you can make your home and your style better reflect Christ. Is there a mess in the kitchen that only speaks of neglect? Does your clothing make you seem lazy or like you don’t care about modesty? Lets make changes to fix that and align this aspect of our lives to Scripture as well.

Ministry

2010-04-12T12:29:00.001-07:00

I used to think that most status updates and Twitter feeds were pretty insignificant. Who cares, after all, if on Friday at 5:02 you were stuck in traffic but were looking forward to the weekend?

A few weeks ago, though, I thought I’d scroll through my youth group’s status updates even if it meant swimming through a deep sea of endless “I love you”s between a boyfriend and girlfriend and reports on who’s house so-and-so were headed to.

It ended up being more difficult than I could have imagined. The annoyingly excessive PDA ended up fading into the background while the emotions, problems, and misplaced hope jumped off the screen. I hadn’t expected that.

One of my kids posted about feeling depressed several times. Another about plans to go out to a wild party. Still another constantly exposed an apparent idolatry of her boyfriend. Where had I been for all this? And why was MySpace the one to clue me in?

The truth is, the blame rests solely on me. For whatever reason, I stopped talking to my kids, stopped seeking them after class, even stopped caring when I knew they needed help. I became completely apathetic toward them. No wonder they didn’t take me up on invitations to talk whenever they needed to. No wonder I never got phone calls when something important happened.

I though I was fulfilling my responsibilities as their teacher simply by having a new class installment ready each week. I stopped caring about their specific needs for guidance and put an end to my availability for more personal teaching.

I let my ministry to 11-13 year old kids focus on just the mechanical part: investing hours in preparing class, showing up to church, giving class. I paid no attention to the actual people I was trying to reach.

Ministry shouldn’t be mechanical. Ministry shouldn’t ignore the people being ministered. I learned that lesson and now I’m trying to figure out how to better help the kids understand the gospel and all things necessary for their salvation. I think a big part of it will be spending time with them individually, explaining how Biblical principles apply even to them and the problems they face. I hope that after a while of helping them in that way, things will get better.

Style Idea 12: Bright Spring Days

2010-04-06T10:53:00.001-07:00

Spring in Las Vegas is a lot different than Spring anywhere else. It rarely rains, the temperature is quite warm, and most days feel like the beginning of summer. Transitioning from cold weather to warmer weather is not a big deal; the change usually happens over night. Having said that, today’s the perfect day for an outfit like this.

True Blue Top: $32.99 Mod Cloth

Lightning Yellow Shorts: $17.80 Forever 21

Licorice Belt: $15.99 Mod Cloth

Gladiators: $79.00 Piperlime

Proverbs 31 Challenge: Prosperity

2010-04-05T11:48:00.001-07:00

She is not afraid of snow for her household, for all her household is clothed in scarlet.

Proverbs 31:21

A sudden snowstorm or the beginning of winter may not be a big deal to us now. Most of us have a winter coat to pull out of storage, a home to take refuge in, blankets and heaters to keep us warm.

But what would an unexpected storm mean for a woman in ancient Israel? The verse implies that changes in weather were something to fear. If caught unprepared, a family could suffer the death of several members.

But the woman of Proverbs 31 was confident. She knew her whole family would be safe and survive to see the end of the storm. Why did she have this confidence? Because her family had enough. To be clothed in scarlet was a sign of financial prosperity, which means this family had the resources it needed to survive.

Its important to note that the family’s prosperity wasn’t spoken into existence or made to appear out of nothing. We’ve seen in verses prior to this one that the woman described was hard working, industrious, and creative. She used all that to take care of her family and thereby help her husband be successful in what he did. Their financial security did not come from a secret formula, a mysterious over-night success, a financial peace seminar, or some 10-step plan schemed by a Fortune 500 CEO. It came from the hard work both husband and wife contributed. Hard work pays off.

What the Proverbs 31 woman didn’t do was ignore her household duties in order to provide. Notice that verses 10-20 speak about the work she did directly for her household. Ignoring our responsibilities at home is never acceptable, even if it means an extra paycheck every two weeks. If your job or the amount of hours you put in negatively affect your ability to keep a good home, something has to change.

Our challenge this week, then, is to seriously think about our family’s finances and how we’re affecting them. Are we helping our family be prepared for whatever comes? Are we using our gifts in ways that help bring security? Is there a balance between work and home that allows to fulfill our responsibilities? Make whatever changes you have to make, knowing that God delights in obedience.

Update

2010-04-05T10:05:00.001-07:00

After an unintended week-long break from blogging and social networking, I’m back and ready for the dive back in!

My last day of work over a week ago came just in time for a completely free Spring Break. I’ve been working on home improvement projects, fun DIY’s, and some baking recipes I can’t wait to share, Look for those posts throughout the week, intertwined with the regulars.

On a different note, we’ve now reached the halfway point in the Proverbs 31 Challenge and I’m thrilled to present you with the complete list of entries written so far. I hope they’ve been, and will continue to be, a blessing to you. They’ve been a blessing for me.

Photo of the Week: Vintage Village

2010-03-25T13:50:00.001-07:00

This is a photo of the final project I turned in last night for my drawing perspective class. It is definitely an improvement from my first perspective drawing which I'm too ashamed of to share with you. The best part? It was chosen to be used as an example or exemplary work during school accreditation meetings and such. Honestly, even though I don't think this is a masterpiece, I never thought I'd ever be able to draw anything, much less something like this.

Evangelism

2010-03-24T14:26:00.001-07:00

Do you evangelize? Witness? Preach the gospel? Obey the Great Commission (Mar 16:15)? I don't. I have on occasion, but I don't do so regularly at all. I can happily announce that I'm a Christian, but announcing the message that makes me so is a different story.

I'd been ok with this for a long time. I'd watched Ray Comfort rightly preach the gospel several times and felt conviction and a desire to do the same. I bought tracts, passed some out, encouraged the youth group to "get out there" and share their faith, and even helped an established evangelism team one night. The thing is, the conviction and desire always faded away and I ended up back where I had started: discouraged, apathetic, and intimidated.

After going through the process a few times, I'd gotten tired and settled on apathetic mode. Concern for everyone else's eternity was near the bottom of my list. That's probably why I was more excited about the drive out to California than the actual reason behind the drive. I'd made up hundreds of excuses for not evangelizing and they all seemed legitimate enough. "I need to brush up on some apologetics first," "Paul did take years to prepare before he did anything."

As the seven of us headed out in one very large church van, Sarah leaned over and told me she was already very excited. "I'm also a little scared, though. I mean, Ray Comfort is so direct," she said. She knew what was ahead of her. She knew she would feel conviction, but she was ready for, even looking forward to, it. I, unfortunately, was not. I honestly didn't think anything would happen. I'd heard it all before, so what could possibly change?

We'd been settled into our seats for some time and one of the guys had just finished his message. Videos of evangelism encounters were playing as people shuffled in their seats. One particularly caught my attention.

The camera focused on Ray was speaking to a woman near a fancy fountain. "Have you ever told a lie?" he asked. She answered with a simple "yes." "Have you ever looked at another person with lust?" He continued until the look on her face showed she realized how sinful she actually was. Before saying good bye and walking away, he asked her if she had ever heard what he told her about Christ. "No, never," she replied.

Never? Hasn't everyone in America heard the gospel? Doesn't everyone know at least vaguely about what Jesus did and accomplished on the cross? I don't know why I hadn't realized it before. Hardly anyone has heard the gospel. I hadn't heard it before I converted. I'd been told that Jesus loves me. I'd been told he had a plan for my life. Never had I heard that he died on the cross so that if I believe and repent, my sins will be forgiven. Never.

The conference I attended achieved much more than I thought it could. It showed me, once and for all, that there are countless souls who have never ever heard the good news. I cried. I cried not only because I thoughts of dying hospital patients who never heard of the wonderful sacrifice Jesus made flooded my mind, but also because I feared that the urgency I felt at the moment would fade away again.

This time, I'm determined to stay on fire. I know I have to seek the lost and tell them of the salvation that has been revealed to me. I have no more excuses. They were all destroyed during a later message when somebody said something about not needing to know anything but the gospel to go out to preach it. They were destroyed when somebody explained how to start a conversation. They were destroyed when the great men of Living Waters made evangelism seem easy.

So, my dear readers, you have become my accountability group. Next week will mark the beginning of a new post category: Testimony Thursday. I'll make time each week to head out and do some street evangelism and report back any interesting stories on Thursdays. Please pray for me!

Style Idea 11: Vacation Planning

2010-03-23T13:06:00.001-07:00

I booked a flight to Mexico yesterday and now I'm so excited to plan the trip! Granted, we won't take off until late June, but Richie and I haven't taken a real vacation since our honey moon more than three years ago. We'll be visiting my mom's hometown where I hope to take lots of walks without a destination, explore the nearby woods, and relax in my grandma's sunroom. Naturally, I've got an outfit planned for lazy summer days.

Big Retro Sunglasses: $30.00 Top Shop

Agate Stone Necklace: $9.00 Charlotte Russe

Navy Blue Polka Dot Romper: $37.99 Ruche

Marigold Cardigan: $36.00 Tulle

Marigold Peep Toe Flats: $39.95 DSW

Proverbs 31 Challenge: Giving

2010-03-22T13:39:00.001-07:00

She opens her hand to the poor and reaches out her hands to the needy.

Proverbs 31:20

According to the National Philanthropic Trust, 89% of American households donate to charity. Wow, America sounds pretty giving, right? Right. Until you find out the median household income is around $52,000 and we only average $1,600 in annual donations. If I were better at math, I'd find out what percentage that is exactly.

I think we all like to believe we're pretty giving. No one wants to consider themselves a scrooge, after all. I'm even tempted to say, "Hey, if that's the American average, then means I'm above average! No need to change anything!" Even if you give your full tithe, sponsor a child, and donate to your local Christian radio station, there's always more you can do.

The Proverbs 31 woman wasn't stingy with her donations. She didn't wait for a disaster to strike in order to give. Her hand was open to the poor; she reached out to them. She wasn't one to wait, expecting the poor to come to her and beg for help. She looked for them and looked to help them.

I'm sure this doesn't mean she simply gave them money. Donating money is probably the easiest thing to do in America. It doesn't take much sacrifice, since money (even during recession) is abundant. It doesn't take much time or effort, either, especially with text message and online facilitators. Worst, it doesn't fill the most urgent and desperate need: the need to hear the gospel. Giving money is good, but it should only be the beginning of our giving.

This week's challenge might be to start carrying a bit of change in your purse or car to hand out to people in need. It might be to make a habit of volunteering at a nearby shelter. It might be to commit to sponsoring a child in Bolivia and writing to him for the next 10 years. Whatever you may choose to do, reach out to the poor giving not only your money, but also your time and the gospel.

Check it Out!

2010-03-19T12:47:00.001-07:00

There are so many awesome links to share this week, I have no idea where to start!

I quit my job this Monday and I'm going to have a full week and a half free of both work and school! Can you tell I'm excited? I've been filling my tentative schedule for that time with house projects, DIY's and seed starting plans. Can't wait!

Aside from excited, I'm also a bit scared. Relying on just one income is going to be a huge change for Richie and me, but I keep reminding myself that I'm doing this whole school thing and taking big risks for the sake of our family, including our future monkeys. And thinking of future monkeys, of course, reminds me of this post in which a mom of four explains to her beautiful kids why she doesn't want them to be happy.

It also reminds me of Jen Lula's lovely maternity photos. Her blog is on my list of daily reads and her pregnancy posts so far have been wonderful to read.

While we're on the subject of children and pregnancy, Albert Mohler wrote about the 100 million baby girls that have been killed either in the womb or shortly after birth in countries such as China and India. Its truly heartbreaking to read about parents' hatred toward their own helpless baby daughters.

So how successful was the controversial Focus on the Family Super Bowl ad? Boundless shares a letter.

What if the ad had only reached one person? Would it have been worth it? Jon Acuff reminds us that numbers don't really matter.

So I guess the focus of today's links is obvious and it couldn't be more appropriate. With Congress positioned to vote on a health care bill that would allow our tax money to fund abortions, we need reminders to stand up for the helpless and pray for our leaders.

Photo of the Week: Fremont Flowers

2010-03-18T11:41:00.001-07:00

Fremont, CA is a beautiful town. It's full of tall trees, green grass, and surrounded by hills worthy of an appearance in Narnia or Lord of the Rings. On our little walk that ended up being a pretty huge walk, Sarah and I saw more flowers than you could find in all of Las Vegas. People must have thought we were crazy to be so excited about simple flowers like these.

Change in Northern California

2010-03-18T11:00:00.001-07:00

Ever experience something so monumental, you can't seem to process it? Has it ever happened that after such a monumental event, more monumental little things keep happening until you can't process anything at all? That's how I feel right now and I have no idea how to write this blog post.

I guess I should start by explaining why I was in Northern California this weekend. My husband, a select group of our youth group, plus a close friend who is pretty much responsible for the whole trip, and I traveled 11 hours to San Jose solely to attend the Transformed Conference put on by Living Waters.

Confession: I was more excited about traveling some place new and having a slightly better chance than usual of meeting Kirk Cameron. I was more excited about hanging out with Sarah, one of my best friends, and going thrift shopping* with her. I was more excited about taking photos and enjoying the cool breeze and being close to the Golden Gate bridge and exploring. I was even more excited about my outfits. This is all painful to confess.

Even when we arrived at the venue and took our seats, I was more excited about everything but the word of God. I hadn't really traveled 11 hours to hear brilliant men of God preach and learn from them. I had traveled for the sake of traveling.

All I'll say for now is that by the end of the first session, my whole outlook had changed. I felt conviction and by God's grace and strength was able to humble myself and change on the spot pretty quickly. Somehow, my typically stubborn pride let go easily enough and I was able to submit to God as I should have from the beginning. I know he's the one who deserves all the honor and glory for it because every time I've tried to overcome my pride alone, I've failed horribly.

From that moment until this one, God's been teaching me through his word preached by faithful men like I hadn't experienced in some time. I'd like to share it all with you, but its so much and covers so many topics that we'll have to spread it out over the next few weeks. The upcoming journal entries will be on evangelism, modesty, decisions, and ministry. I hope you'll come back and stick around so I can share all this with you.

*Our little thrifting excursion ended up making the whole group late to the conference and I still feel terrible about it. Sorry, guys. Sarah and I will find a way to make it up to you.

Style Idea 10: Nor Cal Adventure

2010-03-16T14:37:00.001-07:00

If I weren't as poor and busy as I am, traveling would most likely be my favorite hobby. This past weekend, I got to visit Northern California for the first time and loved it. Our stay was shorter than I would have liked and we were preoccupied with things more important than spontaneous adventure (namely, the Transformed Conference put on by Living Waters) but when I get to return I think I'll pack an outfit like this. It would fit perfectly with the area's glistening green hills, lawns full of grass (a rarity in Las Vegas), towering trees, gigantic flowers, and random stretches of semi-wilderness.

Brown Ruffle Purse: $68.00 Urban Outfitters

Romantic Blush Dress: $168.00 Anthropologie

Black Bloom Sash: $95.00 Percy Handmade

Black Sandals: $59.95 DSW

Proverbs 31 Challenge: Investing

2010-03-15T12:24:00.001-07:00

She puts her hands to the distaff, and her hands hold the spindle.

Proverbs 31:19

Distaff? Spindle? I'm sure there are ladies out there who are familiar with both terms, but if you're like me, you might need to look them up. Proverbs 31:13 tells us the virtuous woman seeks wool and flax, materials that can be used to make threads and fabrics. Today's verse is the second part to that.

A distaff is a staff with a fork at one end used in hand-spinning thread. A chunk of wool or flax can be put on the fork so that fibers can be draw out and spun using a hand-held tapered rod called a spindle. In verse 19, we see the virtuous woman take on the work she had collected material for.

As I'm sure you can imagine, spinning thread by hand is hard work that requires patience, diligence, skill, and time. The Proverbs 31 woman doesn't shy away from the work, though.

I think the busyness of life today keeps many people from trying, or even wanting, to do things that require as much effort and practice as spinning thread. We want things done quickly and easily so we can move on to the next item on our to-do list. Taking the time to gain a skill is just too time-consuming.

While working smart and saving time are valuable, some things are better when we invest time in them. Think about what areas of your life this is true for. Maybe instead of microwave meals you could start cooking or instead of entertaining yourself with television shows you could start reading more. Instead of relying solely on others' teaching you could also study the Bible for yourself. Investing a little more will reap huge gains.

Photo of the Week

2010-03-11T13:42:00.001-08:00

Ever since Richie and I moved out on our own, I've been making waffles almost every Sunday morning. Its the best part of the weekend and it gives me something to look forward to on slow Thursdays like today.

Jesus and the Samaritan Woman

2010-03-10T12:42:00.002-08:00

The story of the Samaritan woman in John chapter 4 really stood out to me last week. It jumped from the pages, meandered through my thoughts, convicted me, called me to change.

People tend to think I'm shy. The truth is, I don't really feel comfortable starting conversations or even leading conversations because I'm always afraid of being pushy. I seem to always think that people are not interested in what I say or don't want to talk to me; I don't talk much so they're not forced to talk to me. Its really just an excuse and I'm being over-protective of myself.

In John 4, Jesus is in the middle of a long walk from Judea to Galilee. He stops in Samaria despite the differences (read: hate) between Jews and Samaritans. Hundreds of years prior to the time of Jesus, the Jewish inhabitants of Samaria began to intermarry with the Gentiles that had been sent there when Israel was exiled. Contact with Gentiles meant ceremonial impurity. Contact with the impure meant impurity too. So, since the Samaritans were constantly impure, according to Jewish standards, any Jew who wanted to remain pure could not have contact with them.

Jesus arrives in Samaria at around noon, sends his disciples out to buy food, and takes a seat by a deep well. A woman enters the scene, planning to draw water while no one else is around. She visits the well during the hottest time of the day when she knows she won't run into anyone. You see, she's not just another ceremonially unclean Samaritan; she's also unclean because of her obvious sin: she's had five husbands and now lives in adultery with a sixth man. Whether she was ridiculed or just felt shame for her reputation is not known, but its no coincidence that she avoids people.

What would I have done if I'd been the one sitting by that well? Honestly, I probably would have smiled at her and returned to staring at the rocks by my feet. I would have just sat there in silence, waiting for her to either speak to me or leaver after drawing her water.

Jesus took a different approach. He spoke to her first. It was simple, really: "Give me a drink." He started the conversation, knowing who she was, knowing the challenges that would come in their conversation, knowing how sassy she would be in some of her replies. He spoke to her instead of waiting for her to approach him.

The funny thing is, she later takes the initiative too. When she realizes who it is she's speaking to, she runs into the village full of the people she'd been avoiding to tell them the good news. She had found the Messiah, the Savior of the world! Did her shame matter any more?

So why should my pride and possible popularity matter? I know there are people around me like the woman by the well, people who are ready to embrace Christ when they hear about his forgiveness because they've been prepared by the Spirit. What do I have to be afraid of if there are some who are ready to believe? I also know I am the woman by the well, saved by grace from gross sin by a loving God who chose to reveal himself to me. I found the Messiah and nothing else should matter.

Style Idea 9

2010-03-10T12:42:00.001-08:00

The weather in Las Vegas is lovely today! Its just perfect for lunch at the park but I'm unfortunately stuck at the office. This quarter's classes are almost over and I've noticed that having studied color theory has affected my wardrobe choices. I love using complimentary colors and analogous schemes in outfits!

Striped Spring Dress: $24.00 Tulle

Knit Cardigan: $18.90 Forever 21

Marble Bracelets: $4.00 Charlotte Russe

Mustard Purse: $26.80 Forever 21

Lovely Blue-Green Flats: $34.99 Mod Cloth

Proverbs 31 Challenge: Thankless Work

2010-03-08T14:32:00.001-08:00

She perceives that her merchandise is profitable. Her lamp does not go out at night.

Proverbs 31:18

After five verses (Proverbs 31:12-17) detailing the virtuous woman's hard work, we get to see that it is not in vain. She works hard and works well and profits from it. She experiences first-hand the good things her efforts bring.

Have you ever felt all the hard work you put into things goes unnoticed? There's no real reward for polishing a kitchen sink, aside from the satisfaction of seeing it sparkle. Maybe you arrive home from a difficult day of work and all you have as a reward is tense muscles and a headache. Many times, the long hours you dedicate to a ministry go unnoticed. Thankfulness is not guaranteed when you take on hard work.

I don't think it was any different for the woman of Proverbs 31. She probably felt discouraged at times like we do: "What's the point of doing the bed, anyway? Its not like it really matters to anyone." She didn't let that permanently become her perspective, though, because she knew, she experienced, the good things her hard work brought.

Even though the work we do may seem to go unnoticed, it is not pointless. Think about what would happen if you didn't do the laundry, fax that paperwork, help the kids with homework, or prepare that meal ever. What would your family's, coworkers', fellow church members' lives look like if you never did any work? Just avoiding that is a huge reward!

This week, why don't we help another lady who might feel unappreciated? Lets encourage her to keep working hard all the marvelous things she does. Write her a note, send her a card, or give her a small nicely-packaged gift. It will mean the world to her to know that someone does notice all the things she does.

Photo of the Week

2010-03-04T11:51:00.001-08:00

Today's the fourth day of March! Where have January and February gone? As a matter of fact, where did the whole 2000's decade go? Shouldn't I have realized how quickly the years passed, oh, I don't know, two months ago?

Its March 2010. That means my baby brother's turning 13 this year! Another reminder of just how fast-passed time's walk really is. That's why I think photos are so important. They capture moments that would otherwise fade into nothing, forgotten forever. A photograph, though, can last hundreds of years and serve as a happy reminder of times past throughout your life. How else would I remember this ordinary day hanging out with my then-8-year-old brother and his hamster, Billy?

Joy and Idolatry

2010-03-03T13:32:00.001-08:00

Call me a nerd, but I've always loved school. After a four-year break from studying and homework, I enrolled in a private art school last December. Butterflies - no, leaping kangaroos- filled my stomach for the next month and half I was forced to wait before classes started.

I'd felt unfulfilled,bored, and tired for so long. Because my work days were unchallenging and uninteresting, I spent my evenings at home feeling miserable and frustrated. I expected my first day back in school to change all those things, to cancel out the grey I perceived in my life. With school in sight, I had hope in sight.

My first quarter back in school is more than halfway done. Final projects are being assigned and the last pages of textbooks are being read. Now that the initial excitement and enthusiasm of school has been replaced by reality, I've been able to think more carefully about this whole hope thing.

I still love going to school and I enjoy all of my classes. I have gotten some of the artistic release I'd been needing and that my admissions officer promised. Its been a wonderful experience so far. I still love school and there's probably no changing that.

On my way home after class one night, I began to wonder, "What comes after this?" I have a good 3.75 years to go before I finish school, but if this is what's filling me now, what's going to fill me when its over? I can't afford to pay for school that lasts for the rest of life. And what would be the point of perpetual education, anyway?

Thinking that made me realize the horrible sin I'd falling into. In such a short time, I had turned something good into something abominable by letting it take the place that rightfully belongs to God. I'd turned education into an idol.

There is obviously nothing wrong with seeking higher education, new skills, or artistic release but I had put my hope for joy in those things instead of trusting God to give me the joy I so badly craved. Looking at it now, its silliness is so visible.

Can anything be more obvious to a Christian than the fact that God is the only source, the only provider of infinite, eternal, complete joy? Nothing else will fill that desire for joy like God can. Nothing else will give the kind of joy that will last beyond time. Trusting in anything else is idolatry.

Style Idea 8

2010-03-02T13:43:00.000-08:00

While I work up the courage to post a photo of one of my own outfits, these little fantasy wardrobe collages will do. Since a reader asked me if I actually buy the things I put together, I guess it would be good to make it clear that I don't. I don't have nearly enough money to buy all these beautiful clothes! The collages are really just inspiration and a way for me to experiment with clothes and get fresh ideas for what I already own. Most of my clothing actually comes from thrift stores, which is why I'd like to show you one of my daily outfits and how I style thrift store finds. For now, since I'm a bit of a chicken, I'll keep posting collages. Without further ado, an outfit I vow to wear when I finally go on that dreamy Paris vacation (also a good way of winterizing summer dresses):

Navy and White Striped Dress: $47.99 Mod Cloth (because only French bread is more French than stripes)

Embroidered Cardigan: $22.90 Forever 21

Red Sequin Beret: $19.95 Amazon (because you just have to wear a beret in Paris, just like you have to wear Hawaiian prints in Honolulu)

Navy Tights: $12.50 We Love Colors

Red Pointy Toed Patent Flats: $59.00 Zappos (because I just got a pair and wish I could wear them every day... and I would do a lot of walking in Paris)

Proverbs 31 Challenge: Strength and Submission

2010-03-01T12:35:00.001-08:00

She dresses herself with strength and makes her arms strong.

Proverbs 31:17

Those of us who have come to Christ arrived as a broken mess desperately in need of replacing our own understanding with the true wisdom only God can give. All of us have areas that we try to protect from this change. For me, it was beliefs about women's rights and liberation and equality that I cradled and rebelled against God for.

I cringed whenever anyone brought up the need to be submissive or Ephesians 5:22. I hated hearing anyone talk about God's model for marriage and the different roles of men and women. I even skipped over verses I didn't want to think about or be confronted by when I studied Scripture. When I heard the word 'submit' all I could picture was a malnourished woman dressed in rags and sullenness fearfully taking orders from a barking husband.

I won't go into a deep discussion on how my obviously wrong my idea was in this post, but I bring it up because this week's verse is probably the perfect antidote for that kind of thinking. Yes, God calls wives to be submissive to their respective husband, but he never expects women to be weak.

The virtuous woman is strong! We've seen already that she's a hard worker and it shows not only in her home, but everywhere she goes. She knows that to submit to her husband does not mean she is incapable, unintelligent, or demeaned. Submitting does not keep her from being the strong woman she needs to be.

This woman also understands that being strong is not the same thing as being rebellious. Her strength is not displayed in standing up against authority or having the "courage" to break the rules.

Lets rethink what it means to be submissive, what it means to be strong, and how we can reach a balance between the two.

Photo of the Week

2010-02-25T12:12:00.000-08:00

This may not be a photographic masterpiece, but I just love my silly kids! Richie and I took some of the youth group kids up to the nearby mountains to play in the snow for a few hours. We slid (rolled) off tall hills, threw snowballs, tackled each other (mostly just Richie and I got tackled), and went on short hike that ended when we all started complaining about the cold. Wimpiness aside, we are totally cool, as proven by this picture!

Nostalgia

2010-02-24T13:56:00.001-08:00

I think I am by nature a nostalgic person. Spending hours looking at old photos is not a waste of time, even if it means digging a heavy 5-gallon plastic box out from my mom's closet. I don't mind reading my old diaries, even with their terrible spelling and embarrassing immaturity. My 8th grade year book, along with the tons of sentimental junk I decided to keep forever when I was 13, is still neatly tucked away in a little box waiting for the day when I can show my memorabilia off to someone who will treasure it as much as I do. I love remembering the past, even the painfully dark times, and one my worst fears has always been forgetting.

The thing about nostalgia, though, is that I can't let it take over my every thought. There are times when visiting an old friend's Facebook profile, finding an old letter from a long-time pen pal, or stumbling upon an old family photo throws me into a chasm of memories of times I can't revisit no matter how much I wish I could.

And that's just the trouble: I end up wishing I could go back to that summer riding my bike around the neighborhood taking in the deep lavender of the flowering trees. I end up wishing I could experience the bond I felt with the friends I made so easily at camp, at least just for another day. I end up wishing I could go back to the time of wonder and nervousness and sweaty palms as Richie and began to date. I end up wishing for so much that I can never have and instead of enjoying the memories and the fact that I have them, I idolize them.

I have a lot of memories to be thankful to God for, but instead of thanking him for the wonderful times he's allowed me to live, I turn what he gave me into a desire stronger than my desire for him.

I found my idol. I know I have to dethrone it and let God take his rightful place again.

Style Idea 7

2010-02-23T13:06:00.001-08:00

If I shopped like this in real life, I'd be completely broke! I never buy clothing this expensive but I guess since these are just idea boards, its ok to go overboard.

When I told Richie I want Spring to get here already he rolled his eyes and chuckled. Just a few weeks ago I was upset at the wimpy Las Vegas winter. Now that we've had our two weeks of rain and cold, though, I can't wait for Spring-time weather. What can be more Springy than bright turquoise, cardigans, and pale lace?

Cucumber Melon Cardigan: $32.99 Mod Cloth

Delicate Doily Blouse: $98.00 Anthropologie

Blue and Gold Striped Skirt: $149.00 Kate Spade

Scout Green Tights: $12.50 We Love Colors

Brown Ankle Boots: $59.00 Zappos

Proverbs 31 Challenge: Smart Spending

2010-02-23T10:54:00.001-08:00

She considers a field and buys it; with the fruit of her hands she plants a vineyard.

Proverbs 31:16

The first $315 dollars I worked for were all spent on a two hour long trip to Target. I don't remember what I bought, but it must have been hair accessories, tank tops, and useless knick knacks. I most likely no longer own any of the things my first 40 hours of work bought me. It was a pointless waste of money.

Thankfully, the 16-year-old days of burning cash as soon as I felt it in my hands are gone. Still, I know I have a lot to learn from the way the Proverbs 31 woman makes purchases.

She thinks before buying.
She isn't selfish in her purchases.
She invests instead of wasting.

The word we read as considers means, in Hebrew, to plan and devise. An admirable woman, then, plans out her spending. Our purchases don't have isolated effects; other people can be blessed or harmed by them. Knowing this, we should always buy in a smart and thoughtful way to avoid racking up debt or running out of cash before all the bills are paid. A good way make sure you do this is to always know at least an approximation of how much money you have available to spend and ask yourself if you really need something before carrying it to the checkout stand.

The Proverbs 31 woman also makes purchases that are good for her family. In buying a field she plans to harvest, she is making an investment that will provide extra income for her family. She considers them when looking for a way to spend the extra money they have and decides to bless them instead of just getting something for herself.

Lets start modeling our spending after this exemplary woman's! By taking the time to think through our shopping decisions, thinking of how they will affect others, and learning to spend on things that will bless people, we can work at becoming women of virtue.

Check it Out!

2010-02-19T12:38:00.001-08:00

Ali's African Adventures documents Ali's life onboard a medical ship that sails the coasts of Africa. Her tenure in Togo just started and now would be a good time to start following her story.

Its a sad sign of Biblical illiteracy when church-attending women get offended at the "new" call for wives to be submissive. That's exactly what happened here.

A story about young marriage is something I can relate to since I got married at 18. Marrying young is seen as risky at best and stupid at worst. David Lapp shares some of the pros to marrying before 25.

Out of all the times that someone's come to me for help at a bad time (when I'm tired, moody, sick, stressed), I've probably done the right thing about 5 times. Boy was this convicting!

On a lighter note, Jon Acuff offers a few options for those times when someone apologizes for letting a bad word out in conversation with you.

Richie and I are taking the youth group out to the snowy mountains tomorrow, so expect some fun photos next week!

Photos of the Week

2010-02-18T13:47:00.001-08:00

Not to brag or anything, but I have an amazing husband. You know, the type that seems to always gets such a perfect gift you end up crying on your birthday, anniversary, Christmas, and any other gift-giving event. Richie always beats me in the gift-giving department, but that's about to change because our 5-years-being-together anniversary is happening this summer and I'll be working on a mind-blowing project of a gift for him starting today. This year, he'll be the one crying (tears of joy, of course)!

Had to include two photos because he's just so amazingly awesome and cute :)

Gloria

2010-02-17T14:06:00.001-08:00

The most engaging conversations I have ever had have been with older people. I don't mean just a few years older or even a couple of decades older - I mean they were born in the 30's or 40's and probably used to wear hats whenever they stepped outside. Maybe its because my grandparents have always lived far away or because since I was small I wished I could crawl into the world of the historic novels I read, but hearing the elderly speak about the past is captivating.

This past Sunday, having nothing to do but wait before service started, I struck up a conversation with Gloria. Her hair is white as snow, she uses a cane to walk, and her back is hunched over. When she shares her poetry, written only for God, her blue eyes shine and she stands a little bit taller.

She told me about growing up in New York, a city I've always wanted to visit, and getting lost driving in Las Vegas. She would reach out to hold my hand when she got excited about what she had to say and smiled with every word. Although she asked for my name three times during our conversation, I really enjoyed her company.

I hope I'm like her when my hair turns white: full of life, loving God, and still glorifying his name in wonderful creative ways.

Proverbs 20:29 says that the glory of old men is their grey hair. While many, including my husband, complain about greying hair (Richie only has about 5), the Bible shows it as a sing of wisdom and being fit to give advise. The elderly members of the church are worthy of respect and honor and I hope to give more of my time to sit with them and let them talk.

PS. I can't help but wish I had taken a photo of her to share.

Style Idea 6

2010-02-16T11:39:00.001-08:00

Its warm and sunny here in Vegas and it feels like Spring is here to stay! How could I not be in the mood for a light chambray shirt, floral skirt, and comfy flats? Its the perfect outfit for a long meandering Spring-time adventure!

Chambray shirt: $26.50 Old Navy (or $2 at a thrift store!)

Orange Floral Skirt: $24.75 Yes Style

Asymmetrical Wooden Necklace: $24.00 Newport News

Basket-Woven Flats: $59.95 DSW

Proverbs 31 Challenge: Sleep Less

2010-02-15T13:18:00.001-08:00

She rises while it is yet night and provides food for her household and portions for her maidens.

Proverbs 31:15

My husband says he hates sleeping. He sees it as a waste of time. I imagine he thinks of all he could do with six extra hours every day.

Although I love even the tiny amount of sleep I get each night, after this weekend I have to agree with him. Since I went back to school a month ago, I've use the tired student excuse to sleep almost until noon on Saturdays and Sundays (service starts at 6:30pm). Richie and I then have a long relaxed waffle breakfast, watch a movie, and then begin to wonder if we should actually get started with our day yet.

We had my dad over this weekend, though. He's always been an early bird, getting up at 5 in the morning even on Sundays. At 7, I knew he'd already been up for a couple of hours and I couldn't keep him waiting for our usual lunch-time breakfast.

I got so much more that Sunday than any other Sunday in the past 5 weeks! Who would have thought, right? Those few extra hours in bed were worth giving up because I got to spend quality time with my dad (who I rarely see), caught up on housework I'm not able to do any other time of the week, spent time doing things I like, and felt good about being so productive. It really made my Sunday so much better.

The woman described in Proverbs 31 knew the value of waking up early and getting a head start. She knew her day would be more productive if she helped even her workers get their day started instead of waiting for them to wait on her.

I may miss my four lost hours of sleep in the next few weeks, but I know waking up a bit earlier will pay off as long as I don't deprive myself.

Photo of the Week

2010-02-11T12:04:00.001-08:00

I feel terrible about skipping this week's journal entry, but I'm in the middle of midterm week and freaking out about a paper I have due tomorrow. I'll make up for it with this extra special photo:

My dad lives in Los Angeles but is coming over to Las Vegas, where I live, this weekend just to help me out around the house. I think this photo has always been my favorite one of him. Even though it was taken before I was born, it brings back memories the beach-side bike rides, backyard water wars, and random day trips he would take us on.

I'm trying to squeeze in some thrifting time this weekend, so I might share some photos and tips on thrift shopping over the weekend. Stay tuned!

Style Idea 5

2010-02-09T12:42:00.001-08:00

Instead of wearing red and green for Christmas, I go for the more subtle silvers or golds. For the fourth of July, I prefer baby blues instead of navy combined with red. This Valentine Day outfit follows the same rule: it makes use of the holiday's trademark hue (in this case, red) in different tones than the usually prescribed one. Instead of fire-engine red and bright pink, go for magenta, burgundy, and blush. The colors have the Valentine feel without looking like they were pulled out of a Hallmark card!

*Wine-colored Tights: $15.00 Banana Republic

V-neck Sweater: $25.49 Blue Fly

Black Rosette Necklace: $50.00 Etsy

Monet Skirt: $46.00 LuLu's

*Wine-colored Booties: $79.99 Piperlime

*Matching shoes and tights idea thanks to Jessica Schroeder!

Proverbs 31 Challenge: Looking for Quality

2010-02-08T12:27:00.001-08:00

She is like the ships of the merchant; she brings her food from afar.

Proverbs 31:14

At first reading, this verse might be thought to mean that a Proverbs 31 woman cannot drive down to the nearest store but must trek a minimum amount of miles to get her groceries. History and cultural context is obviously key to interpreting this verse.

The Bible makes it pretty clear that ancient Israel was an agricultural society. How many times are wheat, harvest, fields, and herds mentioned? The Israelites were largely self-dependent in the sense that they provided their own food without relying on trade with other nations. The people farmed for their own needs and provided for their own families.

This doesn't mean, though, that Israel didn't do any trading at all. Merchant ships exported grains, olive products, and wine. What they brought back was exotic and luxurious; usually reserved for the upper class.

The exemplary woman's grocery buying habits did not have to do with the distance she traveled, but with the quality she provided for her family. She wanted to give them the best she possibly could and that meant traveling long distances to buy foreign goods. It's important to keep in mind that she didn't do this irresponsibly, wasting all her grocery money on an ounce of fancy cheese. She did the best she could within her means.

What does this verse teach us, a generation in which the world is increasingly smaller? Should we travel to Japan to buy fresh fish or hop on a plane to Italy to fetch a bottle of olive oil? Although I would personally love to, it would be impossible to shop this way! What this verse really teaches is to provide the best you can for the people you serve, whether that is your husband and children, your brothers and sisters, or a home group you're hosting. Try to always provide the best you can instead of taking the cheap way out and be willing to make reasonable sacrifices in order to do so. Its well worth it.

Check it Out!

2010-02-05T11:04:00.000-08:00

These photos of beautiful curved stairs and houses cut into stone have forever convinced me that architecture is art. Kudos to photographers, too, who capture these breathtaking images in such unique ways.

Looking for a sweet simple Valentine's gift? This heart-shaped box of flowers is a cute DIY project you can give to co-workers and friends. It looks super easy to pull together.

Jon Acuff of Stuff Christians Like always makes me laugh. This week, he posted the things he wishes he'd been told when he got married. They're here and they're hilarious!

Kevin DeYoung writes about the mistakes we make when we consider the Holy Spirit.

Boundless featured an article on the female struggle with pornography titled Its Not Just A Guy Problem.

Tim Challies writes beautifully about every Christian's calling in Called by Name.

Although its far from our minds now, Haiti is far from recovery. These photos capture the country three weeks after disaster struck.

Photo of the Week

2010-02-04T12:42:00.001-08:00

Why is it that during summer we long for winter and during winter we can't wait for summer? In December I complained that Las Vegas takes too long to cool down, this week I've been wanting warmer weather. My nostalgia for summer took me to the day this photo was taken. My husband and I drove our youth group kids down to Amargosa Valley even though we were scared they'd just end up bored. I'm glad we took the risk because they loved it! At one point during the trip, we stopped at one of the reservoirs in the area, kicked off out shoes and ran toward the water only to find the ground was actually just a sticky pile of mud that caved under the weight of your feet. This poor kid was one of the ones that got stuck in it and had a good time trying to get out,

The Greatest Man

2010-02-03T12:35:00.001-08:00

Although my husband and I officially moved into our house about six months ago, everything is still mostly a mess. Our office in particular looks like it just held a vicious match between two WWF wrestlers, which isn't too far from the truth since my husband and brother wrestle in there every weekend.

I was in said office trying to write a paper in under an hour when I got side tracked (of course) looking at the knick knacks we have sprawled out all over the desk. Among those things I found a program a few years old saved from a young youth pastor's funeral. He was a 22-year-old newlywed when he died; his church and his youth group had a hard time coping with the loss. As I looked at the smiling photo on the cover, something struck me as strange: right under the young man's joyful portrait was written, "The Greatest Man to Ever Live."

I think we have the tendency to focus on a person's good qualities after they die, and there's nothing wrong with that. Its not wrong to remember the good times spent and honor the person's life and great things they did, specially if it was a life lived for the glory of God.

Reading John 1:51 today made me think of something, though: why does Jesus call himself the Son of Man? "Son of God" is complex, but still relatively easy to understand. What's with the "Son of Man" title?

The gist of it is that he is the greatest man to ever live. There has never been and never will be a greater man than Christ. He is the only one who could live a life perfect before the eyes of God, the only one who never sinned and never failed, the only one who could provide salvation from sin and its eternal punishment. He is God in the flesh, manifested in a human body without giving up his godhood. Who could ever be greater than him?

We have to be careful to always keep our focus on Christ. No matter how wonderful a person is or was, they are no comparison to Jesus. I love my husband with all my heart and think I'm the luckiest girl for being his wife, but I know he can't compete with Jesus in the greatness department. I have to remember that about myself too. I'm in no way even close to being as great as my Savior, no matter what good things I do. Only he can claim to be the best person to ever lay foot on this planet.

Style Idea 4

2010-02-03T11:37:00.001-08:00

Since this week is my birthday week, I thought it would be ok to be completely self-indulgent and make an outfit entirely of things I wish I could buy myself as a birthday gifts! I've been in love with this green Mod Cloth dress forever now, have been looking for a vintage clasp belt for ages, need basic black pumps, and would love a crazy print coat now that I have my basics down. Oh, and the peacock necklace is just beautiful! In a perfect universe, I would be able to afford all this and have it shipped on time to wear to the birthday dinner my husband is secretly planning.

Green Grecian Dress: $89.99 Mod Cloth

Vintage Peacock Necklace: $25.00 Etsy

Retro Clasp Belt: $17.99 Mod Cloth

Black Pumps: $77.00 Zappos

Leopard Print Coat: $69.00 Newport News

Proverbs 31 Challenge: The Hard Way Out

2010-02-02T12:25:00.001-08:00

She seeks wool and flax, and works with willing hands.

Proverbs 31:13

Us 21st century girls are used to one item of clothing being made out of polyester, nylon, and even a small percentage of spandex. Our clothes come ready to wear from the store and we never see them being made. Even if you're the admirable kind of lady that sews her own clothing, chances are you buy the fabric instead of making it yourself.

The woman described in Proverbs 31 had the choice of buying her clothing or making it. She chose to make it literally from scratch. Flax, like wool, is a fiber that takes hours to spin into thread which you can weave and then sew into garments. This lady chose to spend endless hours collecting the raw material she needed and going through the tedious process of making her family their clothes from it. Instead of taking the easy way by buying her clothes from the merchants, she happily took on the work necessary to provide her family with the best possible clothing.

This is what the woman of Proverbs 31 did, but what does it mean for us? Certainly, we're not expected to spin thread and weave in order to be godly women! The point of telling about how this woman provided clothes for her family is to show that she was willing to do hard work for them. The clothing she could make her family was much better than anything she could buy them, so she willingly did it. She wasn't the type of person that takes the easy road, no matter the cost. If the more difficult way was better for her and her family, that was the road she chose.

Short cuts can be helpful and practical. Many times, taking a short cut is a great idea. There are times, though, when shortcuts negatively affect the results of your work and the service you offer others. What is an area where you are taking harmful shortcuts? Could taking the hard way out be better?

Check it Out!

2010-01-29T10:59:00.003-08:00

Office Inspiration This set of photos collected by Oh, Hello Friend got me thinking of things I can do in my currently disastrous office. I have to find time to get working on it!

It's a Boy! My favorite photo shoots to work on were maternity sessions. There is something truly amazing about capturing such a complex and wonderful thing on film. Evie shares beautiful photos from her past pregnancy

Hanging on to Hope Suzanne explains how she got through her single years without losing hope, a lesson that applies to any difficult situation you may need to go through.

1/3rd of Women in US Military Raped There are a few people in my political science class who have served in the military and have spoken about their first-hand experiences discovering its flaws. Its truly saddening that our military is such a terrible place for women and no one seems to do anything about it.

Photo of the Week

2010-01-29T10:59:00.001-08:00

Its remarkable how peacefully babies sleep while their little bodies work so hard at growing. This is my niece a few days after she was born more than four years ago.

Persecution

2010-01-28T14:32:00.001-08:00

Last Sunday, a man sat alone as the congregation lined up to support the latest fundraiser. He looked tired and out of place. My husband approached him and, despite language difficulties, found out he's a refugee from Eritrea. According to Persecution.com, Eritrea is a communist country on the east coast of Africa where Christians are arrested and tortured. I've read stories about large groups of Eritrean brothers and sisters being locked into metal shipping containers where they had to endure unimaginable living conditions in oppressive heat. Knowing that the person who sat a few feet away from me knew what persecution is like served as a reality check.

I went back to school this quarter and am closing my third week. Something I've known for a while is that colleges and universities and art academies tend to not be enthusiastically tolerant of true followers of Christ. So far, this seems to be true of my school. No one has said anything regarding my faith yet, but the environment was put into clear focus when most of the class nodded in agreement after my political science instructor said the only people who oppose gay marriage are the ones who "think its a sin and all that crazy stuff."

Wouldn't we all love to say that our commitment to Christ can make it through anything? We rejoice in the story of Peter's restoration but don't want to relate to his denial of the Savior. We shake our heads at his naive determination," Even if I must die with you, I will not deny you!" and sigh when in Matthew 26:70 he does, indeed, deny Christ.

I've asked my youth group kids before if they think they would give in to the demands of a torturer asking them to deny their faith. Some make Peter-esque statements and others humbly stare at the floor. Isn't it funny that in a country where our freedom of speech guarantees our safety from physical harm, we're more afraid of speaking our faith than China's underground churches, North Korea's missionaries, and Eritrea's evangelists? I don't know if I could hold on while I'm being beaten to a pulp, starved, given electric shocks, and not allowed to sleep. I don't know because the miniscule things I have to endure at school already seem like so much. I don't know because I realized I don't even have the courage to walk to say that yes, the car with the huge Bible verse on the back window is my car. I don't have the courage to walk up to it after class, so instead I pretend I can't find my keys in front of a religion-neutral car. How shameful is it that thousands of men and women in Eritrea suffer physically for their faith in Christ but I can't suffer mere embarrassment?

I hope I get to see the man from Eritrea again. I need these reality checks more often. I need to see how saddening the weakness of my faith is so that I can pray more earnestly for God's help and seek him in his word more eagerly.

Style Idea 3

2010-01-27T12:43:00.001-08:00

Fact: I have worn my favorite denim skirt at least twice each week for the past three weeks. I'm in love with it partially because I found it brand-new on a Goodwill rack for $2.50 but also because it is so versatile. It can go from casual to dressy in a matter of seconds, can be paired up with an infinite amount of colors, and is always super comfortable. Because denim skirts simply rock and I got my first pair of We Love Colors tights in the mail, I present this week's style idea:

Floral Tank: $29.99 Mod Cloth

Denim Skirt: $16.99 (on sale!) Old Navy

Casual Blazer: $27.80 Forever 21

Mary Jane Pumps: $19.99 Payless

Red Tights: $12.50 We Love Colors

IOU

2010-01-26T13:34:00.000-08:00

I was in the middle of writing today's post when my computer decided to randomly close all my windows. I was surprised it could act on its own but frustrated that it did so in a completely unproductive way. Unfortunately, I have a lot of reading to do for a class that starts in just a few hours and today's post will have to wait until tomorrow. In the mean time, enjoy this pretty photo that I took in pretty California. I wish I was there now.

Proverbs 31 Challenge: Doing Good

2010-01-25T12:24:00.001-08:00

She does him good, and not harm, all the days of her life.

Proverbs 31:12

A lot of things changed when my husband and I got engaged. For one, my stance on cooking changed from "I'll never go there" to "Can't wait to learn!" I knew that I had to give up a lot of the selfish tendencies I had so that I could be a good wife who does good things for her husband. Learning to do this is a never-ending process that for some reason never seems to get any easier.

The lesson doesn't just apply to married ladies, though. It's extended to all Christians when we're told to treat others as we'd like to be treated, go the extra mile, and turn the other cheek. Doing good for others is a part of every Christian's walk.

I think the hardest part of this challenge is the last part: "all the days of her life." Its not too difficult to do good things for someone for a short while, just like its easy to keep resolutions for the first week of January but hard to keep them the whole year. The godly woman is good to her husband not just during their courtship, engagement, and honeymoon, but until the very end of her life, even after he's died if she happens to outlive him. She is good to him when the bills are piled up, the money is short, the children are crying, and the laundry mountains are threatening to avalanche.

The real challenge is to be a reflection of God's goodness to people no matter what is going on: if you're so tired you're falling asleep at your work desk, if family issues have you completely stressed out, if someone has pushed your last button by saying you really shouldn't have that piece of chocolate (true story!), if everything seems like its about to fall apart. Could harming someone really make any of those things any better? Lets not aim to be good to people sometimes, but all the time, and maybe we'll at least be able to do so most of the time.

Check it Out!

2010-01-22T11:40:00.001-08:00

Mommy, Are You Happy? Many people treat depression like its merely a mood issue that you're not willing to risk. I know firsthand that depression isn't sadness you can just push aside to make room for sunlight. Its a spiritual issue and disorder. If you think you suffer from depression and don't know how to handle it, please seek the help of someone you trust.

Caring Too Much About Failure How many times have I not even tried to do something for fear of failing? Probably too many to count. This is good encouragement to kick this fear to the curb and take some risks!

Public Passion VS Private Devotion Although this is written by a church leader for other leaders, I think its common for all Christians to fake being alright through struggles. Why do we do this?

Like An Electric Current Warning: this is a bit graphic and extremely heart-wrenching. Kevin DeYoung comments on a story in which former abortion workers explain why they are now pro-life.

Spare the Spanking, Spoil the Report Card? The Wall Street Journal (yes, really) features a story on why spanking may after all be a good thing.

Why Are Professors Liberal? Rethinking the question provides a good answer.

Seen But Not Heard? Back in my punk-rock rebellious teen years, I was sure my voice was powerless and considered insignificant. How wrong I was and how right this article is!

Photo of the Week

2010-01-21T12:47:00.001-08:00

While the point is to post a photo I've taken each week, I couldn't resist the urge to share this photo by my lovely friend Susie of Solorio Photography. She was kind enough to shoot portraits of my husband, my brother and me and I couldn't be happier with her work.

What Faith Isn't

2010-01-20T13:26:00.000-08:00

Last Wednesday I dedicated a post

to sharing some of the things God taught me about faith in reading from Genesis to Esther. The time I spent reading this section seems to have had plenty of challenges and many opportunities to have faith as the Word of God describes it. My mom went through her first major surgery, a particularly nasty sin was revealed in a family member, another close family member professed faith in Christ and then quickly denied it, a friend retreated into seclusion for a few months, problems arose in my church, and my husband and I struggled with money issues.

It is very important to know what faith is, but it is also important to know what it isn't. I've heard many Christians say things about faith that I've learned are not correct when compared to Scripture. These incorrect beliefs about what faith is leads them to false hope and a misunderstanding of who they are and who God is. They walk on dangerous ground.

Some things faith is not:

1. Faith is not believing that you will get what you want. Many times, faith is preached as believing that whatever situation you're in will end in a way you want it to. When I recently told my mom that I may have a medical problem, she told me to have faith. What she meant, of course, was that I should believe that I don't really have this medical problem and that when I go to the doctor he'll tell me I have nothing to worry about. A year ago I would have nodded and thanked her for the encouragement, but I could not do that in light of what God's Word has taught me. In 2 Corinthians 11:23-28 Paul gives a summary of his many troubles, including beatings, shipwreck, hunger, danger of robbery, and sleeplessness. This convinces me that although we always want things to turn out happily, it is not always God's will to fix problems for us. It may be his will that I be diagnosed with this medical condition and making myself believe that he won't allow it won't change that.

2. Faith is not more powerful than God. It seems that during difficult times it becomes more attractive to listen to those who say things like, "Declare it in faith and it will happen!" People are told to speak positive words because positive words will make positive things happen. A more subtle form of this Word of Faith preaching is present when we give in to the idea that if we believe God will do whatever thing for us, he actually will. This doctrine makes human faith more powerful than the Almighty God. Ephesians 1:11 says that God works all things according to his own will and Psalm 115:3 says that he does whatever he likes. Our faith doesn't have much to do with what God chooses to do. He determines his actions by his own perfect will, not by our faulty and sometimes misguided faith.

3. Faith is not useless. So if having faith doesn't mean I believe God will end everything happily and if faith won't change God's will, what is it good for? Faith is good for salvation (Ephesians 2:8), it is good for righteousness (Romans 4:5), it is good for testimony (Hebrews 11:1-2), and it is good for peace with God (Romans 5:1). As I wrote in the previous post, faith is knowing that whatever God does is best. I know that even if everything goes badly this year, God will use that difficult to bring good into my life. He'll use it for his perfect wise purposes even if I can't understand what he's doing at the moment. Knowing that my God means good for me gives me more trust and peace in him than I would have if faith simply meant I could change his will. How could I trust in a God so easily swayed? Praise God for what faith actually is!

Style Idea 2

2010-01-19T12:33:00.001-08:00

My mom has always had a collection of framed photos on her nightstand and I always loved staring at one of her and my dad laughing together at a fancy dinner. I knew they were having the time of their life and tried to memorize every detail of it. My dad wore a nice grey sweater, radiant smile, and crazy curls. Mom looked gorgeous in a black dress, fur collar, and pearl earrings. After staring a the photo for a while, I would go to her drawer chest, dig through silky scarves and jewelry boxes and dig out that beautiful fur collar. As I modeled the elegant fur in front of the mirror, I always hoped and wished my mom would walk in and tell me I could have it forever.

A couple of months ago, right before her surgery, my mom called me to her room during one of my weekly visits. She dug through her chest drawer, through scarves and jewelry boxes, pulled out that fur collar and lovingly told me it was mine. After two months, I still haven't worn it; I don't know if that's because of the value it has to me or simply because I don't know how to wear it casually. Either way, I think I'll save it for a special occasion, an occasion on which I can pair it with a dress like this.

Hot Pink Wrap Dress: $84.99 Mod Cloth

Vintage Fur Collar: $22.00 Etsy

Black Flower Brooche: $23.13 Amazon

Classic Black Pumps: $49.95 DSW

Proverbs 31 Challenge: Trustworthiness

2010-01-18T11:51:00.001-08:00

The heart of her husband trusts in her, and he will have no lack of gain.

Proverbs 31:11

Whether or not you have a husband does not change the fact that this verse applies to your life. Yes, the husband plays an important role here, but that does not mean all you single ladies get a free ride on this verse!

Proverbs 31:11 is more about the woman's trustworthiness than it is about her husband - its main point is that she can be trusted by the person who has authority over her. He knows he can trust her wholeheartedly and is not afraid that she'll betray him or bring him to ruin. He is confident that she won't do anything he doesn't agree to, their home is safe while he is away, and he won't have to worry about his family's financial well-being because of her.

I can't help but think of the classic I Love Lucy plot line: Ricky goes off to work in the morning after warning Lucy not to do anything crazy, Lucy gets herself and her sidekick Ethel into loads of trouble, Lucy tries to hide evidence of this trouble before Ricky comes home, Ricky returns and finds Lucy's mess. No matter how many times I've seen each episode or how predictable the scenario is, I Love Lucy always gets me laughing. What's funny on TV isn't always funny in real life, though. What would happen to a relationship like that in real life? What if my husband always had to be afraid of leaving me home alone? What if my boss didn't trust me to even send a fax without getting into trouble? What if my mom had to always call me to make sure I hadn't spent my last penny on a useless piece of junk? What would those relationships look like?

The bottom line is, a godly woman has to be trustworthy. We are to reflect the God's character and one thing for sure is that God is trustworthy. We never have to be afraid that he'll go back on his promises, forget to take care of us, or do something evil. Let's work on being trustworthy ladies this week.

Check it Out!

2010-01-15T10:41:00.001-08:00

For My Good? from Ligonier A good reminder of how God works in even through difficult things in the lives of his children.

Guilt, Grace, Gratitude from Challies.com Stop and think about the implications of salvation.

An Unlikely Anti-Depressant from Boundless With so many people suffering from depression, this is a good call to seek the best antidote.

Acting surprised when God doesn't seem close from Stuff Christians Like This really hit close to home. For months I struggled to find out why God felt so distant.

Snow Crystal Photo Gallery How can man still deny the existence of God when faced with the marvels of even his simplest creation?

Dear President Obama #360 from AC360 Maybe what our response to Haiti lacks is the same as what our response to many failed challenges lack.

Pat Robertson's Remarks from Between Two Worlds Putting Mr. Robertson's unwise words into perspective.

Photo of the Week

2010-01-14T14:24:00.001-08:00

I took this photo back in September when my husband and I took a trip to my beautiful Southern California to celebrate our anniversary. After my fist color theory class on Monday, I can see why this particular photo stood out to me from among the other beach photos I took: orange and blue are complimentary colors and there are a lot of blues and oranges in this shot! I really wish I could make the color pop more, but, alas, I have not taken a photo retouching class yet.

Lessons On Faith

2010-01-13T11:23:00.000-08:00

Faith is one of the most present themes in the Bible. Noah had faith when he believed God about the coming flood (Genesis 6), Abraham offered up his son Isaac by faith (Hebrews 11:17), Joseph showed faith when he told his brothers that what they had meant for evil God had used for good (Genesis 50:20). These stories are all found in Genesis and there are many more before you reach the Revelation!

Even though faith is found on practically every page of Scripture, it can oftentimes feel like a vague concept--like a mere idea instead of an actual attainable goal. I found that although I knew I had faith, I couldn't really explain what faith is. Last year, I challenged myself to read from Genesis to Esther, no matter how long it took, and I had no idea God would use these ancient books to teach me so much about faith. These are the lessons I learned:

1. Faith is trusting God more than you trust yourself. Out of all the amazing stories in the historic books of the Bible (Gen-Est), the one that captivated me most was the story of Saul, found in 1 Samuel 9 and on. Saul was the first king of Israel and I was excited to see him doing well in the first few chapters of his story: he seemed humble in his new position, defended the people and drove off invaders. His good qualities quickly faded, though, and he very soon turned into a God-defying, conceited, jealous, power-hungry, violent man. I tried to understand how a young man who showed so much potential could turn into a mean old paranoid bitter man and saw that I am very similar to him. I didn't mind at all seeing a small similarity between Moses and me, but I hated to admit that I was even a little bit like Saul. Being reminded of myself in Saul's fits of anger (1 Samuel 18:10-11 - don't worry, I've never thrown a spear at anyone) really showed me that there is nothing in me that can save me. I can't trust myself to be good enough to please God because sooner or later my ugly side will show. I have an ugly side that only God can make beautiful. I am dirty with sin and only God can clean me. I have to trust that he will be the one to save me and that I can't save myself.

2. Faith is knowing that whatever God does is best. Esther is probably the book I've read the most and every time I've read it I have come away with more knowledge of God. This time around, God's power really stood out. Esther was a Jewish woman living in the capitol city of the empire that ruled over Israel at the time. Instead of returning to the land of her people, she had stayed in the land of her ancestors' captors. After what seemed like a set of random events, Esther was chosen queen just in time to stop a wicked plan to destroy all the Jews. The story shows a God who is powerful enough to arrange a mess of insignificant, hopeless, scary, out of control events into something great and magnificent. When God allows painful or confusing things to happen and we don't understand why, faith is knowing that he is in control and that whatever he allows is what will be best. Looking back at the events of my life, I know that even when I felt like everything was falling apart, God was working something good for me because he knew I would someday be his daughter. That gives me comfort as I face new challenges and new obstacles in life.

3. Faith is believing that God will do what he says he'll do. Todd Agnew said at a concert that the word "promise" is not found in the Hebrew Old Testament. I should have written the quote when it was fresh in my mind, but he said that the reason is that God doesn't need to promise because what he says just is. His words are true always, no matter what. In Exodus, the pharaoh that refuses to let the people of Israel go has a little trouble understanding this. From Exodus 7 to 13, Pharaoh is warned about calamities to come upon his kingdom if he doesn't release God's people. Over and over again he refuses to believe, even when its plainly clear that God is going to keep his word. Pharaoh doubts God's word before the first plague and before the last. Whether we believe what God says or not, his word is true and nothing can make it false. If I refuse to believe, my unbelief won's make God's word any less true. He says I have sinned against him and broken his laws (James 2:10). He teaches that sinners will receive his wrath (Romans 1:18) but that his Son died on a cross to save all who believe in him (John 3:16) and that if I turn away from sin and turn to him instead, I will be safe. I know it is true because God's word is true. Next week: What Faith Isn't.