Thursday, December 18, 2014

My Top 5 Christmas Songs

Here are my top 5 always-on-repeat Christmas songs for the year (they didn't necessarily come out this year) in no particular order:

1. All Is Well - Carrie Underwood & Michael W. Smith - can you really ever go wrong with Carrie Underwood? Beautiful lyrics and beautiful harmonies

2. Nothing Like Christmas - Anthem Lights - I've had a new-found appreciation for these talented guys since I started listening to their covers this summer. I love the thoughtfulness of these lyrics!

3. Emmanuel - Love & The Outcome - These two nail it every time and this one is absolutely no exception! Beautiful vocals!

4. December 25 - Francesca Battistelli - A cute, upbeat song to put on in the background while you're Christmas cookie making!

5. Dance of the Sugar Plum Fairy - Pentatonix - Seriously... how talented can you get? Mind. Blown! 

Sunday, December 14, 2014

SOTW - Resolution

As mentioned here I love new Christmas songs. Yes, the classics will always be... classic, but there's something about an artist being able to dip into that Christmas magic and creating something new that I find really special. 

Here's one that I found recently! Their whole Christmas EP is playing as we speak, but this one really caught my attention (although their rendition of the beautiful Silent Night is also an attention getter)!

Song: Resolution
Artist: Everfound

Tuesday, December 9, 2014

Song of the Week - Wanted Man

To be honest, I never really liked these guys until I saw them live. That was a few months ago and I am just now getting into their stuff (and by getting into it I mean it's been on all. the. time.). This one is my current favorite:


Song: Wanted Man
Artist: Needtobreathe

Monday, December 8, 2014

Top 3 Faith Books of 2014

Here's my list of top three faith books for the year (in no particular order)!

1. Restless by Jennie Allen
To be honest, the start of this book took me a loooong time to read. Once I got about halfway, however, the honesty and openness of Ms. Allen's words really drew me in. The book is all finding how your gifts, passions, places and relationships weave together into the purpose that God has given us. The writing was refreshingly honest and powerfully convicting. I would recommend this to anyone who is in a stage of their life where they feel like they are moving but don't know what they are moving towards.

2. Chasing God by Angie Smith
This book was a soul-convicting, life-changing one for me. The openness and friendliness that Ms. Smith writes with drew me into a book that changed my perspective drastically. As the title implies, Ms. Smith writes about how she has spent her life chasing God and why that's not the way to go - why we need to stop living with a faith like that. Her honesty and candor make the words she writes refreshing and convicting all at the same time. I would recommend this to anyone.


3. Loveology by John Mark Comer
This book was a bit of a curve ball for me... It's not a book that I would usually pick up, but the cover and the name definitely intrigued me. Just like the title suggests, the book is a study of Godly and Biblical love - how it applies to marriage, to singleness, to being gay, and everything in between. He carefully unpacks each of these areas in a way that convicts but is still loving. I would recommend this one to anyone over the age of 18, but especially to anyone who is engaged or newly married.

Currently reading: The Best Yes by Lysa Terkeurst - so far so good!

Tuesday, November 25, 2014

Wednesday, October 8, 2014

Death, Lamentations & Hope

Disclaimer: this post is a little heavier than my usual ones... 



Oh death, where is your sting?
Oh hell, where is your victory?
(1 Corinthians 15:55)

It was almost two years ago to the day. I have never had my emotions swing in such an insane way in such way ever in my life, and I doubt that I will ever feel that way again.

I was with my favorite group of ladies – ones that I had had the opportunity to live with and learn with, laugh with and cry with over the past few months – and we had just won a competition that we had been working hard and strategizing for for over a week. It was a big deal. Like mega big for us. We walked into our common living space, expecting the next few hours to be full of excitement and celebration, and instead were met with the news of the death of a family member. It was quite literally like being punched in the gut and having the joy sucked out of me all at once… a feeling that I hope I never have to feel again, but that I felt regardless of the fact that I didn’t even know the person who had passed away. I can’t even imagine how I would have felt had I actually known the person.

The reality of death sometimes is that the hope gets sucked out of the lives that are left behind. We get so focused on Earthly things that death is sometimes a crushing blow. As I sat in my room crying for someone I had never met, his new wife and his family, all I could think about was “what if that had been my brother?” … “What if that had been my cousin?” They were sobering thoughts. It’s a moment in my life that I think will stay with me for the rest of my time here on Earth.  

Lamentations has become one of my favorite books (not something that people say often, but if I’m being honest my favorite of all the books of the Bible is Job, which is definitely not a usual favorite), not because of the dreariness that it can bring but because of the hope. Throughout the whole book the author is opening up his heart and kind of laying it all out on the table – it’s a depressing book, sure, but the hope that he finds is a bright star in the midst of a pitch black night. In chapter 3 he writes: “For the Lord will not cast off 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” (3:31-33, NIV).

I guess what I’m trying to get at – and the place that I got too months later, a few weeks after one of my friends tried unsuccessfully to take their life – is that though death seems hopeless, we have the greatest hope. And when death seems to punch us in the gut and kick us while we’re down, that doesn’t have to be the end; we don’t have to stay down. God has not left us on this Earth without Him. He has not left us here with no love, with no hope and with no way out. He will show compassion because His unfailing love is so great.

David writes in Psalm 56:8 a promise that is very powerful and beautiful: “You [, God ha]ve kept track of my every toss and turn through the sleepless nights, each tear entered in your ledger, each ache written in your book” (MSG).

God has conquered death but it’s still a part of our life while we live here on Earth. It’s normal but often earth-shattering. Don’t ever lose hope. He has conquered it and He is a comforter. He will not leave you to deal with it on your own.

P.S. As a self-diagnosed feeler, it’s easy for me to take on other peoples’ emotions and to have them sit heavily on my heart. I’ve learned (and continue to have to learn) that I can’t hold on to them for too long or they will weigh me down. God can take those. He is literally The Comforter. Don’t take that for granted.

Thursday, September 25, 2014

SOTW: What It Costs

From Tim Foreman's beautiful, raw vocals to the phenomenal way the instruments create a mournful mood that somehow fits with the thoughtful lyrics in a way that's so powerful, this song is definitely in my top 10 of all time. 


Song: What It Costs
Artist: Switchfoot

Sunday, September 21, 2014

Fall Beauty Buys

For me, fall is all about easy make-up and good moisturizers, because with busy post-summer life starting up again having go-to's for those two things help smooth out the rest of the transition into waking up a little bit earlier and moving a little bit quicker. Here are my four beauty favorites that I've found this year:

1. St Ives - Cranberry Seed & Grape Seed Oil body lotion
With just a hint of a sweet cranberry smell that's not too over-powering, and a formula that allows for quick absorption and no sticky residue (not to mention it's made of natural ingredients!), this lotion is perfect to slather on morning and night. Plus, it won't break the bank (I bought it for under $5).

2. Avon - Moisture Effective Eye Makeup Remover lotion
I think the thing that's the worst about actually taking the time to put makeup on is that it's pain to take off. This remover is super easy to use (rub it in using your finger tips and wipe off with a damp cotton ball) and takes seconds. Works for me!

3. Almay - Intense i-Colour Eyeshadow
I have this one in the shimmer-i kit for blue eyes and I tried it out for the first time today. It's wonderful! Three colours that blend together nicely and are already laid out for you in a way that makes it super easy to apply quickly and be out the door!

4. Nivea - Lip Butter in Vanilla & Macadamia
For me I don't like anything sticky on my lips, but a good, creamy lip balm is hard to find. This one goes on creamy and stays that way, with just a hint of a scent that reminds me of Hawaii. 

Tuesday, September 16, 2014

3 Must-have New Releases

It's been a while since I've posted here, so I thought I'd finally get back to it... even if this is going to be a quick post (and not a full CD review)

Here is my quick list of 3 CDs I think you definitely need to invest in that have just released:

1. The Edge of the Earth - Switchfoot
Ok, so technically this is an EP... but it's also new Switchfoot music, which to me translates into: must have! It's just indie enough, with the powerful/thoughtful lyrics that you expect from Switchfoot, and (an added bonus) we get to hear Tim Foreman on lead vocals for the first time! 
My favorites: What it Costs and Liberty

2. Run Wild. Live Free. Love Strong. - For King & Country
If I'm being honest I haven't even made it through the whole album yet... whoops! But seriously, can you ever go wrong with For King & Country? I don't think so. 
It's pop without being obnoxious, it's full of phenomenal lyrics, it has a fantastic mixture of upbeat, positive songs and thought-provoking, heart-wrenching songs (check out "Without You" a duet between Luke and his wife). These guys are consistently fantastic, and this one definitely didn't disappoint.
My favorites: Without You and It's Not Over Yet

3. How Can It Be - Lauren Daigle
New-ish on the Christian music stage, Lauren has vocal talent that is up there with the greats. Sure, this one is also considered an EP but each track is fantastic music, harmony, melodic and everything-else wise. Let's get the word out there about this fantastic new artist!! I've talked about her Christmas stuff before, and this EP is right up there with those fantastic songs!
My favorite: Dry Bones and Light of the World


Wednesday, July 9, 2014

Way Back When

I listen to a lot of music. I feel like my life constantly has a soundtrack, especially when I'm studying or working on a project... background music is a must (even if it's classical music sometimes)!  Though my main source of melodies are usually new-ish songs, I have a few CDs that are my go-tos in certain situations.

Mainstay's Well Meaning Fiction is probably my top CD of all time, but I was recently reacquainted with an old friend... namely Relient K's Forget and Not Slow Down (2009). When I'm in a contemplative state, the songs Therapy and Over It from this CD never cease to amaze me with their depth and how easy they are to relate too. While not all the songs on the CD are my favorites, the sincerity of the lyrics and how thought provoking they are never ceases to draw me in. It's definitely one that I keep coming back to, even five years down the road.

 
"Therapy" {my top Relient K song of all time}

Saturday, July 5, 2014

Singleness is a Door

"Instead of seeing singleness as a wall, we need to see it as a door. A door that we can open if we want to, that will lead to opportunities that we can’t even imagine. Singleness doesn’t limit us, it expands our horizons. You might be single for four months, for four years or until the day you die, so why not take every day as it comes and do your best with the time that God has given you here. Our lack of relationship status doesn’t give us an excuse to slack off when it comes to following His Word, so don’t ever use it as an excuse. Use it as an encouragement to step out in faith and do things that you thought you would be brave enough to do."
- LN

Tuesday, June 24, 2014

Top Christian Singles of Summer 2014


 "Fix My Eyes" - For King & Country
"I'd love like I'm not scared, give when it's not fair"
 Bold melodies that will be stuck in your head all day (trust me on this one). It's got a solid message, even if it is a little different than their usual!

"It's Not Over Yet" - For King & Country
"To everyone who's hit their limit - it's not over yet"
Wow! Two killer singles off one album... in one summer! Only FK&C could pull that off! Hot (as in today) off the presses, this has some beautiful melodies and awesome lyrics. It's sure to be blasted out some car windows this summer!

"Lay It Down" - Sanctus Real
"Those problems you're worried about can't keep you from living now"
This one just popped up on my FB newsfeed. I love the simple truths that this band is consistently able to transfer into beautiful song lyrics.

"More of You" - Colton Dixon
"I've made my castle tall; I built up every wall; this is my kingdom and it has to fall"
This guy is a gem, and this song comes out of a heart that is truly committed to Christ - something that is cool to see coming off the stage of American Idol. Awesome truths and some great music... what more could you ask for?

"Hold You Up" - Shane Harper
"But the angels, they brought you, and they're gonna hold you up."  
 The main character in the hit movie "God's Not Dead," not only does this guy have some acting chops, but he's got some sweet song writing brains and vocals as well! 

"The Broken Beautiful" - Ellie Holcomb
"Your love can take broken things and make them beautiful"
I of course had to make sure there was some female representation in this list, and I think Ellie's song is the perfect addition to a summer playlist. It's light, playful and has some beautiful truths in the lyrics! If you haven't heard of her, do yourself a favor and check out her songs! 

"Hope In Front of Me" - Danny Gokey
"Even after all I've seen there's hope in front of me"
Another solid Christian that I first spotted on American Idol! This is full of insane truths, and paired with Danny's unique voice, this (in my opinion) is an amazing song! It's been on over and over for me so far this summer!   

Friday, May 9, 2014

Conflict // Song of the Week

What is life without conflict?

I'm an avid reader and I've often wondered why a book always have to have that 'get your heart racing and your palms sweating a little for the main character moment' - whether it's a physical problem (like in those classic Nancy Drew's - chloroform always got the best of that gal) or a spiritual problem. But what would a book be without it? Would there really be a story worth reading? I'm not so sure.

Conflict occurs on this Earth because we're at a time where the 'now' and the 'Kingdom to come' overlap. It won't be resolved until Jesus comes back one day. But I think that God can still use it for His glory, no doubt about it. One of my favorite verses, Lamentations 3:31-33, says: "But though He causes grief, yet will He be moved to compassion according to the multitude of His loving-kindness and tender mercy. For He does not willingly and from His heart afflict or grieve the children of men" (Amplified). 

In this life, there will be conflict. But what would life be without it? Like a book character without a purpose, without conflict we would never be pushed out of our comfort zone and never grow. God has a purpose for everything we go through and a climax that far surpasses anything we can imagine: Heaven.

To bring it all together, this song by one of my all-time favorite bands has been stuck in my head for the past two days. It's a call for all Christians to fix our eyes on the One True King; a reminder that He is above all. Plus, it's got a catchy beat!

Song: Fix My Eyes
Artist: For King & Country


Monday, April 21, 2014

Look of the Day: Grey Tee

I don't know what it is about grey t-shirts these days, but they seem to be what I have constantly been reaching for in my closet. Maybe it's the slightly-thicker-than-a-normal-tee fabric or the slightly faded graphic design advertising my favorite soccer team but ever since I got this bad boy for Christmas it's been my go-to for a lounging around day. And what do you know, I picked up another softer-than-air grey tee at a concert I was at this weekend. So now my challenge has become: what do I pair them with?

If you haven't noticed, grey is an unusual "colour". It's a neutral, but it's not as 'out there' as white or black or even brown. My grey tee outfits have constantly consisted of dark jeans and a blue zip sweater/black cardigan, and I'm ready for a change. Here are three different ways that I'm going to style my new wardrobe staples this spring - one for work, church and the weekend...

Work:
 A soft, casual gray tee gets a more polished look with a crisp white blazer, dark wash jeans (or dark blue dress pants if your work is more formal) and chunky gold jewelry.













Church:
Megan styles her grey shirt perfectly for a more formal/churchy outfit. Pair it with a flowy midi skirt and add a pop of pattern with a cute clutch or bag. I would not have thought to pair grey with this colour of peach, but it works beautifully.


























Weekend:
 This outfit is a more put-together look than my usual grey tee outfit. Keeping the colours all in neutral, but mixing within neutrals with a bit of black and brown, with a bit of colour in the scarf, makes this one a go-to for sure. Perfect for a spring day out, even if you have to shed the outer layer as the sun warms up!

Can't Be Saved

Jessa Anderson is one of my all-time favorite Christian music artists.
She just released her new album - Whole - and this song is one of my absolute favorites.
It's beautifully melodic and has a message that struck a chord in my heart 
(read an explanation of the story behind the story here)

Youtube won't let me put a video up so click through here to watch!

Monday, April 7, 2014

How wide and long and high and deep

My pastor was speaking on Ephesians 4:14-21 this Sunday, and specifically on God's love for us. While the whole sermon was fantastic, the part that hit me the most came from verses 18 and 19, when Paul prays that the church might "grasp how wide and long and high and deep is the love of Christ and to know this love that surpasses knowledge". My pastor used space to paint a picture of this love...

It is 46 billion light years from Earth to the edge of the universe. A light year is about 9.5 trillion kilometers. Times that by 46 billion and you get a number that is off the charts. So when we humans are so proud of making it to the moon... oh wait! And even to Mars... this doesn't even compare to how vast the universe is.

This is how it is with God's love...  we can only get as far as the moon and we can't even comprehend getting further than that. Sure we can put a number to it, but can we really grasp it's width, length, height and depth? 

So take heart - the God whose love is infinitely bigger than we can image has determined to love you. No matter what you do, who you think you are, what stain you think is too hard to remove, God has got it covered. He's in a position of judgement, but chooses love - a love that surpasses knowledge. As the Hillsong United song "Like An Avalanche" says: "nothing compares to this love, love, love."

Thursday, March 27, 2014

Top 10 Albums

Here are my top 10 albums of all time - ones that have challenged me and, literally, rocked my world! In no particular order (although I'd probably put the one from Mainstay and For King and Country as tied for my ultimate top albums).

1. The Beautiful Letdown - Switchfoot
2. City Harbor - City Harbor
3. Crave - For King and Country
4. Live Like That - Sidewalk Prophets
5. Need You Now - Lady Antebellum
6. No Far Away - Chris August
7. Over And Underneath - Tenth Avenue North
8. Well Meaning Fiction - Mainstay
9. What I've Become - Ashes Remain
10. 3 & Union - 3 & Union

Tuesday, March 18, 2014

Boldly I Approach

Sometimes you just need a song that speaks truth into the deepest parts of your soul.
This is one of those.

"I'm face to face with Love Himself."

Song: Boldly I Approach
Artist: Rend Collective*

*Their new album came out today and it's fantastic! 
It's called "The Art of Celebration" and all the lyric videos can be found on youtube!

Thursday, March 13, 2014

Dear No One.

My friend showed me a video for Tori Kelly's song Paper Heart, and I was sold.
Her soulful voice makes me think of Demi Lovato and Britt Nicole,
and her lyrics are cute but thoughtful.

Song: Dear No One
Artist: Tori Kelly


Wednesday, February 12, 2014

Winter Blues

Blue has been showing up a lot in the fashion blogosphere. Here are some of my favorite winter blues looks! 
Click on the pictures to go through to the original post!

Jessica from What I Wore

http://www.kendieveryday.com/2014/02/blue-valentine.html

http://galmeetsglam.com/2014/02/gal-meets-glam-at-nyfw/

Monday, February 10, 2014

Rainy Monday Moments

I think we are sometimes under the impression that we need to clean ourselves up before we come to God. That we have to get our act together before God will take us in. But that isn't right. God takes us as we are. He loves the very fact that we are coming to Him, and in His eyes we are holy and blameless when we have accepted Christ (Ephesians 1:4).

One of my favorite C.S. Lewis quotes says: " He wants them to learn to walk and must therefore take away his hand; and if only the will to walk is there, he is pleased, even with their stumbles."

See that? He wants them to learn to walk. He doesn't need us to already know everything; He doesn't need us to already be perfect. That is impossible outside of Him. He's not concerned with our good deeds or our good works or our perfect, put-together lives - because anything we do outside of Him is useless and unclean. We should seek God first. Why try to clean up the surface when Jesus has already made us clean in His sight?

Sunday, January 26, 2014

My Little Heart

Something I have been pondering on over the weekend, is the fact that I can love someone soooo much, yet God loves them infinitely more. When my little heart feels so full of love for someone that it feels like it's going to burst, God's love stretches even wider and further for that person. That's why it is such an amazing thing that we can surrender our friends into His hands. He knows them even better than we think we do. His heart is so large, we can't even comprehend it with our little, human minds.

John 3:16 famously tells us that God loved us so much that He sent His only Son down to die. Often, we hear that verse and giggle a little because it's such a "Sunday school answer" to everything. I think that it's sad that we have that point of view. That beautiful verse gives us a glimpse at God's heart for His creation. And as John 3 continues, it elaborates on His love:

"For God did not send his Son into the world to condemn the world, but to save the world through him" (John 3:17, emphasis added).

When God could have destroyed us for our evilness; when He could have cast us off in our sin; when He could have turned His back on us, He instead sent His Son to take our place. It's something that I don't think we will be able to understand to the fullest while we live here on Earth, but the picture that it paints is an amazing one. 

When we feel like we are at the end of our rope with a friend; when our hearts break as we watch what our friends are going through, we can remember that God's heart breaks even more for them, and that He has a perfect love for them. He will bring them through it.

Friday, January 10, 2014

He Is With Us

My brother showed me this song over the Christmas season and we quickly got to dueting it cause it's phenomenal!

Song: He Is With Us
Artist: Love & The Outcome

Thursday, January 9, 2014

Single for Life.


There have been a lot of posts flying around the internet lately on being a single Christian (some of my favorites can be found here and here) so I thought I'd add my two cents from a single young Christian women's point of view. 

I think that our society, and our Christian society especially, has come to see singleness as some kind of curse. I've definitely felt that way before, and at times I still do. It's easy to get caught up into thinking that you need to be with someone, or interested in someone, or flirting with someone, in order to be the person that your friends see you as or even the person that you see yourself as. Even as I write this, I'm listening to some country music which is a genre that is focused as much on relationships as it is with beer sometimes. Sure, you hear songs about guys and girls, and flirting, and dancing, and all of that good stuff, but who has ever heard of a song for singles? Yeah, I don't think that would sell well. Of course, there are songs in every genre talking about when you meet the right girl/guy (a favorite of mine is this one), but that's just it... the songs always focus on a relationship coming around. But what if it never does? What if you never end up with anyone?

For YEARS I struggled with this. I knew that God calls us to be content in every situation and to trust that He has a perfect plan for my life, but how could life be good without a husband? 

This is where I think that we as a Church have failed. Instead of teaching contentment, we are taught to pray about our future relationships and to think about what we want in a future mate. Don't get me wrong, these are extremely important things, but when they become the focus of someone who is single - when looking into the future to a time when the right guy/girl might come along is our focus - then it blurs our vision to the plans that God has for us right now. Because, who knows? Maybe the perfect plan that God has for you does mean that you'll end up with someone and maybe it doesn't, but that should affect how we live out our relationship with God in this moment right now.

I joke about being "single for life" a lot these days but what I really mean by that is that I am content with being single in this moment. Sure, a great guy might come along, but that isn't my focus. It's a possibility but not a driving force as I walk through each day. So when I say "single for life" that could mean that I'm single for another four months, four years or for the rest of my life, but what I mean is that I'm going to try and not get caught up in the relationship craze that happens so easily these days and try and focus on the one relationship that will last for a lifetime and beyond - my relationship with God.