A Christmas Poem

Snow falling.
Family yelling.
Lights twinkling.
Food sizzling.
Wrapping crinkling.
People grinning.
Drinks fizzing.

Christmas happening.
Love happening.

HOPE YOU ALL HAD A VERY MERRY CHRISTMAS!

Jesus, Savior - SOTW

I've discovered that I absolutely love when artists make their own

Christmas songs. I've started to think of them as "new classics"...

I mean... we'll be tired of the "old" classics some day and we'll need some new ones

so why not start finding some good ones now...

(ok, that didn't make sense, but whatever :)

I love the upbeat tone of this song and

the story it tells!

Song: Jesus, Savior

Artist: Chris August

true beauty - wednesday words

From stylemepretty.com

"True beauty emanates from a woman who boldly and unabashedly knows who she is in Christ."
- Anonymous

Looks of the Day - Casual Christmas

Here's the last two Looks of the Day Christmas edition! (You can see the dressier one here and the other semi-casual one here)

For this Look of the Day, I wanted to give you ideas for something that you can decorate a tree in or cozy up by the fire in. I put these two together using basically the same staples, just in different colours: a sweater, a plaid shirt, flats, straight leg jeans and some Christmassy nail polish. I love the look of a cozy plaid under an equally cozy sweater and I think that black and green, and white and red play off each other really well. They are outfits that even if you don't have the specific pieces, they can be easily replicated.

I Celebrate the Day - SOTW

A Christmas song with a whole lot of meaning.

Song: I Celebrate the Day

Artist: Relient K

***

Because of the Lord’s great love we are not consumed,
    for his compassions never fail...

For no one is cast off by the Lord forever.

Though he brings grief, he will show compassion,
    so great is his unfailing love.

For he does not willingly bring affliction
    or grief to anyone.

- Lamentations 3:22, 31-33

Please pray for the families of the victims tonight. 

Pray that they would know God's unfailing love and compassion. 

Look of the Day - Dressy Christmas

Christmas Look #2!
(see look one here)

Like I said in my last "Look of the Day - Christmas Version" post, I want to help you all mix it up a little with your Christmas wardrobe. I want to help you get away from the regular LBD or red and green outfits that are awesome but can sometimes get a little tiring...

For this outfit, I wanted to take it a bit more dressier than last time. I love white dresses! I think they're super classy and cute. When I think of Christmas I think of snow and so white automatically becomes a Christmassy colour for me because it's associated with snow! Here I paired it with some grey tights to go with the winter wonderland theme I was creating. Next I added gold shoes and a silver necklace. "Hold up there!" You might be thinking... Gold and silver in one outfit. Yup! I love mixing metals at Christmas time. Any sparkle is good sparkle. The trick is not to go over board with it. These two pieces play off each other easily!

To add a bit more Christmas I added a cute green bow headband and why not add some red to the accessory that every girl forgets about... your nails.

Hope these tips are helpful and help you get more wear out of your wardrobe!

12 Days of Christmas

I have been following this awesome blog almost since day one and she is awesome! After wearing the same LBD for 100 days straight (she had two copies of it so that she could wash it) to raise money for orphans in India, Elaini kept up with her goal to raise $50 000! And she made it! Now she has a new goal and she is up to her awesome antics again with the 12 Days of Christmas. Head to misselainious.com to check out the phenomenal pictures and click the links there to help the Warm Blankets ministry!

Christian Vocab

"Too many of us have a Christian vocabulary 

rather than a Christian lifestyle."

- Jarred Wilson 

"Christmas is based on an exchange of gifts, the gift of God

to man - His unspeakable gift of His Son, and the gift

of man to God - when we present our bodies a living sacrifice."

- Vance Havner

Yes, it sounds cliché but it's the truth: let's remember the reason for the season.

Best CDs of 2012

Here you go! My favorite 2012 Christian CD Releases!

1. Crave by For King and Country
2. Heart by Audrey Assad
3. Gold by Britt Nicole
4. The Struggle by Tenth Avenue North (review here)
5. Live Like That by Sidewalk Prophets
6. Focus by Holly Starr (review here)
7. The Upside of Down by Chris August (review here)
8. Homemade Worship by Handmade People by Rend Collective Experiment (review here)
9. My Only Rescue by The Museum
10. Finding Our Way by Hyland
11. Love Is Making a Way by Sixteen Cities
12. The Midsummer Station by Owl City (review here)

Artists to look out for in 2013:
- City Harbor (awesome single called "Somebody Tell Them"!)
- Jenny Simmons (was the lead singer of Addison Road)
- Colton Dixon (3rd place in American Idol)

Albums to look forward to in 2013:
- Chris Tomlin // Burning Lights (Jan. 8th)
- Jeremy Camp // Reckless (Feb. 12th)
- Sanctus Real // Run (Feb. 5th)
- Hillsong United // Zion (Feb. 26th)

Awkward Timing, Perfect Timing

This is how the birth of Jesus the Messiah came about: His mother Mary was pledged to be married to Joseph, but before they came together, she was found to be pregnant through the Holy Spirit. Because Joseph her husband was faithful to the law, and yet did not want to expose her to public disgrace, he had in mind to divorce her quietly.
- Matthew 1:18-19

I often found this part of the Christmas story confusing. I mean, it says that Joseph was her husband but she was only pledged to be married? What? At church this Sunday my question was answered.

Back in Biblical times there was a trail period for a year where the sexual purity of the women was drawn into question. They lived in separate homes for that year but legally were married. It was to make sure that the woman was as pure as she could have been. 

So why did God choose this time to get Mary pregnant? It wasn't the most convenient time. We know from a story later on in the Bible with an adulterous woman and the Pharisees that Mary could have been stoned to death for this. And He told Mary before Joseph when He could have told them both at the same time... then Joseph would have been in the loop too. 

But God didn't do this. I think it's because He wants to show that His timing is perfect, not ours. He never promises that our lives will be convenient but He does promise that He knows what is going on and it's for our best. 

As you go into this Christmas season, think on this: God's timing might not be convenient but it is perfect. 

Two.

Too many good songs this week.

Here is one Christmas one and another awesome one just for kicks!

 

Title: Come Now Our King

Artist: Chris August

Title: Right Beside You

Artist: Building 429

Quote of the Week

"Whatever is worrying you right now, forget about it. Take a deep breath and trust in God." 
- Anonymous 

Favorite Books of 2012

I've been keeping a list of all the books that I have read this year and I thought that I would share my favorites with you! These books might be old (not all of them came out this year) but if they're on the list then they're worth a look!

Historic Romances
1. Song of My Heart by Kim Vogel Sawyer
2. Short Straw Bride by Karen Witemeyer
3. The Lady of Milkweed Manor by Julie Klassen
4. Fancy Pants by Cathy Marie Hake
5. The Fire in Ember by DiAnn Mills
6. Heart of Stone by Jill Marie Landis
7. The Swiss Courier by T. Goyer and M. Yorkey

Modern Day
1. Out of Sight, Out of Time by Ally Carter
2. Splitting Harriet by Tamara Leigh
3. Nowhere, Carolina by Tamara Leigh

Next week I'll put up a list of my favorite CDs from this year! Have a great week!