A prayer for 2013...

"Compassion is not a bending toward the underprivileged from a privileged position; it is not reaching out from on high to those who are less fortunate below; it is not a gesture of sympathy or pity for those who fail to make it in the upward pull. On the contrary compassion means going directly to those people and places where suffering is most acute and building a home there."

Praying that I will be this kind of compassionate in 2013...

He will come to us like winter rains

Wishing for some snow this week! Praying that God will fill me and guide me each day. Really depending on Him to humble me and to show Himself in some situations in my life, asking Him to be near to me...
"Let us acknowledge the Lord; let us press on to acknowledge Him. As surely as the sun rises, He will appear; He will come to us like the winter rains, like the spring rains that water the earth." Hosea 6:3

A New Book

I just ordered a new trilogy of books that I am very excited about... the series is called The Reluctant Prophet. It's about a woman who is nudged by God to go into the darkest parts of St. Augustine, FL and be Jesus to the prostitutes in that community. Like getting down and washing their feet type of service... The comments I have read about these books thus far seem to be fitting along with what I am wrestling with in my own life. One question asked in the book (when her definition of "Christian" is challenged) "Is it only those who have answered an altar call and prayed the Sinner’s Prayer and have agreed to follow the plan for salvation? Could people who unintentionally live as Jesus did, perhaps without being able to put it into words, be included under the category of “Christian?” Lately, I have found myself asking questions similar to this one, I am excited to start reading these books and following her journey.

I know I haven't written much on the blog about my clothing hiatus but I think it's been almost 4 months and God has been teaching me so much. I never thought that just giving up shopping would make me start to see Jesus in a whole new way, that it would re-define Christianity for me and draw me so much closer to my Savior. I am continuing to re-mix my wardrobe and think about the kind of style and clothes that I will buy once this is over BUT the challenge has really just put my emphasis on other things in life that are more important and I am super grateful for that!

Another thought from the book....

Pondering...

It's been a while since I have posted, I have been so busy and just not in the mood to write. We have been keeping busy with work and life...  I have been working on finding those still, small moments to spend in silence and reflection. I try to wake up a few minutes earlier or instead of watching TV; I read and meditate. I find that if I am able to have these moments in communion with Jesus then I stay much more focused on Him throughout the day...constantly longing for His presence. This urge to be more like Jesus is the strongest that it has ever been for me. It's like all the sudden I am able to see the kind of person that Jesus was and the amazing God that He is...His compassion, understanding, selflessness, empathy, love, forgiveness...He leaves me in awe. My purpose here on this earth is to glorify God and to be Jesus to those around me; giving up my selfish desires everyday. I certainly DON'T do this all the time and it's a constant battle but lately I feel like my turn-around time is getting shorter; I am feeling convicted almost immediately and am able to direct my eyes back to Him. I have SO far to go but these are just some random thoughts that I have been having lately. Praying for all the change that still needs to be done in my heart but thanking Him for what He has done for me (and will do) ...to God be the glory, great things He has done!


Smith Mountain Lake (where I have spent countless still, small moments)

One of my post's disappeared?

A few days ago I posted another blog that I have been following... I don't know what happened to that post? So I will just re-type it! I have been wanting to read this book called Kisses From Katie and while searching for it online I found that the author of the book has a personal blog, http://kissesfromkatie.blogspot.com/. This blog is amazing. Katie is such an inspiration and is living her life full out for Jesus. You should check it out! I was reading Matthew this morning and came across these 2 verses, "Whoever does not take his cross and follow me is not worthy of me. Whoever finds his life will lose it, and whoever loses his life for my sake will find it." Matt. 10:39. These verses are very convicting for me... life isn't about things that I want, pursuing the things that I want will leave me with nothing; it's about surrenduring my life to Jesus and living full out for Him. It's about being His hands and feet and loving others the way Jesus loves me. I am learning so much right now...Jesus is teaching me a lot. I am thinking and contemplating big things...I don't want to waste time living for myself, I want to live for Jesus and lose my life for His sake. There is so much that I want to say but I am not sure how to put it into words yet...It's like I am all the sudden realizing what Christianity is all about and God and His plan for me is much bigger than I ever thought.

Love This Blog!

Found an AWESOME blog today, Hayley writes "31 days to a no brainer wardrobe" on her blog thetinytwig.com! She also has an ebook called The No Brainer Wardrobe (I will be purchasing this soon). She has so many tips on minimizing your wardrobe and just sticking to the essentials! I thought this was great and will be so helpful in identifying essential pieces once I get back into the shopping world (yes, I know I still have 11 more months!) I think I will definitely buy clothes differently once this is all over....

Loved this quote from her blog!

“If she can’t afford it, she won’t buy it. If it doesn’t fit (or make her feel good, or flaunt what she’s got), she won’t wear it. If she can’t find it, she won’t compromise. If she loves it, she won’t toss it. She reuses it, rethinks it, lets it age."

Exactly ONE month...

I've made it one month without buying clothes! 11 more to go! Today was actually the first day that I really had the desire to buy something, I have an event tomorrow night that I need to dress up for and I just don't feel like wearing any of the dresses that I have. I just keep thinking how much easier it would be to buy one...BUT I will not give in to it :) I have borrowed some shoes from a friend and plan on wearing a dress that I have already worn! I quickly squelched my thoughts and realized that I am more than the clothes that I wear and I will enjoy time with people I love no matter what I have on. Excited for the next 11 months and to see how God is going to continue to change and mold me!

Remembering this...