In Over My Head

Every once in a while comes a song that resonates deeply in my heart. I am a music lover (probably an obvious statement if you've read previous posts) so I am usually very emotionally invested in the music I listen to, but sometimes there's a song that goes beyond. Often it's because of the lyrics; the right words coming at the right time in my life. This week I was randomly introduced to the song "In Over My Head" by Bethel. It was on in the background and the first time it wasn't until the bridge that it caught my attention. The second time through it had me at the first line.

I have come to a place in my life 
I'm full but I'm not satisfied

I love the heart that this song has. The heart of coming to God, knowing that we believe but maybe aren't quite in the head-space that we want to be.

This song is a prayer to be known and to know more, and I absolutely love it.

Would you come and tear down the boxes that I have tried to put You in
Let love come and teach me who You are again
Take me back to the place where my heart was only about You
And all I wanted was just to be with You
Come and do whatever You want to

I pray that this week you are encouraged to take this song seriously, because I think that it's more than a song. It's more like an extremely bold prayer. A prayer that God would take you from lukewarm to piping hot; from complacent to completely in love.

 

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."

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?

Trending - Black & White

It's "Look of the Day" time again and this time it's black and white outfit time! One of the hottest spring trends is also the easiest to pull off. Try pairing a shirt with horizontal and vertical black and white stripes with classic staples - white shorts and black sandals. Or go for all white with only a few touches of black in the accessories. It's easy; pretty much everything works together with this trend and you can use pieces that you already have in your closet! What are you waiting for? Try it out!

A Different Question

As I listened to my pastor read from Romans 5 this past Sunday, I thought through why I really like this verse. I mean, rejoicing in suffering? It doesn't seem like the greatest verse... It assumes that we will suffer, and suffering sucks. But I've been learning a lot about different perspectives lately and I think that's why this verse really sticks in my heart right now.

"Not only that, but we rejoice in our sufferings, knowing that suffering produces endurance, and endurance produces character, and character produces hope, and hope does not put us to shame, because God's love has been poured into our hearts through the Holy Spirit who has been given to us" (Romans 5:3-5 ESV). 

When we are faced with hard situations, I think that, as humans, the first thing that we ask is "where are You, God?" I don't think this is necessarily a bad thing, but I think that it can diminish the idea of what suffering is. Metal needs to be put into the fire before it can be bent into a beautiful shape, and we need suffering to be shaped into who God wants us to be. I think that a better question when we are faced with hard times is "God, what are You teaching me through this?" 

Having a different perspective on your situation can make all the difference. Instead of seeing suffering as a place where God has deserted you, try looking into the heart of the matter. God is in the business of changing hearts. As the famous saying goes, "God loves you just as you are, and too much to keep you that way." 

I love the way the Message portrays these same verses in Romans:

"There’s more to come: We continue to shout our praise even when we’re hemmed in with troubles, because we know how troubles can develop passionate patience in us, and how that patience in turn forges the tempered steel of virtue, keeping us alert for whatever God will do next. In alert expectancy such as this, we’re never left feeling shortchanged. Quite the contrary—we can’t round up enough containers to hold everything God generously pours into our lives through the Holy Spirit!"

This week, take a moment to see your situation through a different set of eyes. God will never leave you or forsake you, and He has a purpose for every breath you take. 

We Have Hope

"For now we see in a mirror dimly, but then face to face. Now I know in part; then I shall know fully, even as I have been fully known."
- 1 Corinthians 13:12

"For I consider that the sufferings of this present time are not worth comparing with the glory that is to be revealed to us." 
- Romans 8:18

"So we do not lose heart. Though our outer self is wasting away, our inner self is being renewed day by day. For this light monetary affliction is preparing for us an eternal weight of glory beyond all comparison, as we look not to the things that are seen but to the things that are unseen. For the things that are seen are transient, but the things that are unseen are eternal."
- 2 Corinthians 4:16-18




As you go through this next week, I encourage you to take a look at your life and your struggles with a different perspective. I have said this before on this blog, but when we look at our lives in light of eternity it changes things - at least for me it does, and hopefully for you too! When we fix our eyes on Jesus, it lets us see that these struggles that we go through aren't for nothing... we have hope; we have heaven.

Spring Trends 2013

Here are four trends that I keep spotting at the beginning of the beautiful Spring 2013 season!

They're things that can be easily integrated into any outfit and are pretty versatile as trends go!

1. Peplum Tops - If I'm being honest peplums are probably one of my least favorite things fashion wise. Nevertheless, they have been popping up time and time again in the blogs that I follow and on my pinterest pages, so some people must love 'em. And as long as you're going peplum, why not try a super cute striped one (this one's from Target)? Pair it with your favorite pair of jeans and sandals for a casual outfit, or with a straight skirt and a pair heels for a fancier version.

2. Blazers - These have been everywhere for the past year or so. For a spring version, why not try a blazer with a pop of colour like this lovely blue one? Pair it with a pair of jean capris, a white shirt and sandals for a school day, or try it over your LBD with some sparkly heels for a date night!

3. Cambray Shirts - I have never owned one of these little beauties but, again, this is a trend that has popped up everywhere. Layered under this and pair with that... Jessica of What I Wore loves to wear cambray and has some great outfits that are easy to replicate using it! I would try pairing it with a cute skirt and floral flats for a night on the town, and with a pair of white jeans and sneakers for a casual outfit.

4. Nude Shoes - Versatility is a key word when you're talking about nude shoes. They go with pretty much everything and they even elongate your legs! Pair them with a striped shirt and a pair of rolled up jeans for a school-appropriate outfit, or try them with a floral dress for a church-ready outfit.

Thankfulness

My Bible Study and I had a "50 Days of Thankfulness" event where we wrote down one thing a day that we were thankful for for 50 days. It was so great that we did it twice - once around Thanksgiving and another time in the new year. I love taking a few seconds out of my day to focus on being thankful. I think that we get caught up in focusing on "me me me" in our society rather than on God. This is a small way to counter that.

Here are a list of what I have been thankful for these past few days. I hope this list inspires you to write your own!

- Springtime sunshine
- Laughing with friends
- Peanut Butter and Chocolate ice cream
- Finishing a midterm
- Checking off lots of things on my to-do list
- Skype dates with friends



p.s. you can listen to Hawk Nelson's new CD (coming out April 2nd) all week here! Check it out - it's awesome!

Spring Has Sprung

Spring is almost here and I don't know about you but I'm ready pull some of my favorite warmer weather pieces out of the closet! The only problem is... it's still cold! Here are some tips to add some spring into your outfit while you wait for the warmer weather!

1) Layer up with Pastels!
Layering is key when transitioning into and out of winter but put a warm weather twist on things and pair pastels together. My favorite pairing is my blush leather jacket, a short sleeve green cardi and a black and white stripped shirt. Here's another version of my favorite:

2) Roll It Up!
Pair your favorite cozy sweater with a pair of rolled up jeans and a pair of flats or nude heels. Adding cuffs to your jeans helps you show a little skin  and adding a pair of nude heels can make your legs seem suuuuper long.


3) Color on Color on Color
Jessica on What I Wore has featured two outfits in the past few days where she has worn color on color on color (coral pictured here, find a purple outfit on her blog). Her tip for this is to ground it with a basic like dark wash jeans. Wearing a bunch of the same color is a great way to let everyone know that you're reading for spring! Try an outfit like the one pictured here - a cardigan, shirt and necklace - in your favorite color with your favorite pair of jeans!

All that is Gold does not Glitter

- J.R. Tolkien 

All that the world offers is not enough,

not all who don't know what's next are truly lost;

A strong faith from long ago will not wither,

a faith rooted deep will not be shaken.

From a spark of hope faith can be renewed,

darkness will not win out over the light;

returned to perfect the world will be;

Jesus again shall be King.

{my take on this beautiful poem}

Don't lose hope. Don't stop fighting.

God is holding onto you even when you forget to hold onto Him.

Lavender Jeans - 3 Ways

I recently bought my first pair of colored pants... yes, I'm a little behind with the times... and I was lost at how to style them at first! Here are three ways to style this pair of lavender pants (which is the pair I have). One way is girly, one is colorful and preppy, and the other is a bit more relaxed!

Narrow Road

There are moments where words just fit together in a way that perfectly makes sense. Usually they come as a surprise, a random stroke of genius at a time when you least expect it. This was what happened to me last night. I had been tossing and turning in bed when a sentence floated through my mind. And then it floated through a few more times... So I pulled out my journal and wrote it down.

"Plan things on your own and you will fail, but follow God's path for you and you will succeed in ways that you would have never imagined." 

This reminds me of a Sanctus Real song that I've had on replay for the past few weeks. The lyrics of the second verse go:

"I'm starting to see why this is called the narrow road
Cause if I wanna walk this way, oh I've gotta stay close
I'd leave anything in the fire to bring us together
I want nothing between my soul and my Savior"

We are called to walk a narrow road. And we are told in Matthew 7:14 that few will find it. I don't know about you but for me that means that I want all the help that I can get! Psalm 37:23 tells us that "The Lord directs the steps of the godly. He delights in every detail of their lives." God wants to be a part of every single little detail in our lives. He doesn't want to leave us hanging. He wants us to prosper. The key is that we need to have our plans lined up with His. Sometimes that means that we will have to discard plans totally and other times they might need to change just a little bit. We also need to trust that He always has our best interests in mind.

So if you're feeling discouraged by what is going on in your life right now and you don't know why God hasn't placed you where you want to be, don't worry. Trust. He will provide answers, and though they might not be the ones that you want hear, they'll be the answers that you need to hear.

"Commit everything you do to the Lord. 
Trust him, and he will help you."
-Psalm 37:5

"God intends to give us what we need, not what we now think we want."
- C.S. Lewis

CD Review - Run

Run by Sanctus Real
Sanctus Real has been around for quite some time now but I haven't been a fan of theirs for very long. Their last CD (Pieces of a Real Heart) made their way onto my computer and after a quick listen it was on replay for a looong time after that original discovery. This CD, Run, is one that has been on repeat since I bought it as well. Though they aren't a band with a particularly unique sound, this band's lyrics hit the mark every time. Their song Pray is a beautiful, honest song that is relaxing and easy to relate too. They have a great mixture of deep, soulful melodies and fun, upbeat songs on this CD, and I would recommend it to anyone looking for a new Christian worship CD to listen to.

Try:  Pray, Promises or Run

CD Review - The Becoming

The Becoming - Jenny Simmons
I have been a fan of Addison Road for a few years and have seen them twice in concert. When I heard they had gone separate ways I was very disappointed. Then I found out that Jenny was coming out with her own CD! Any fans of Addison Road will not be disappointed with this CD, and those looking for a new awesome female singer to listen to look no further.

It's a beautiful mix of Addison Road and a cleaner sound with awesome lyrics (of course). Jenny is able to showcase her voice and songwriting in a fantastic way in this album. Broken Hallelujah is my favorite so far after hearing the album a few times, but I enjoy all of the songs on the album, especially the lyrics. Jenny is beautiful inside and out, and her love for God shines through this album.

Try: What Faith's About and Heaven Waits for Me

In the Light of Eternity

"It wasn’t so long ago that you were mired in that old stagnant life of sin. You let the world, which doesn’t know the first thing about living, tell you how to live. You filled your lungs with polluted unbelief, and then exhaled disobedience. We all did it, all of us doing what we felt like doing, when we felt like doing it, all of us in the same boat. It’s a wonder God didn’t lose his temper and do away with the whole lot of us. Instead, immense in mercy and with an incredible love, he embraced us. He took our sin-dead lives and made us alive in Christ. He did all this on his own, with no help from us! Then he picked us up and set us down in highest heaven in company with Jesus, our Messiah."
-Ephesians 2:2-6 (The Message)

It's not often that I refer to the Message interpretation of the Bible but in this case I love this interpretation. In particular I love the line: You let the world, which doesn't know the first thing about living, tell you how to live. It's a powerful truth.

This makes me wonder... Why do we settle for less? We seem to have this idea that God doesn't know what's best for  us. Didn't He make us? Didn't He make our desires? If you believe this than it makes sense to believe that He knows what's best for us. So why don't we believe this? Probably because of our sinful nature and also because we get instant happiness from the things of the world. Sure, heaven is going to be great, but heaven isn't here right now... so why not have fun here, right? Wrong.

I wrote something powerful on my quote board this weekend after attending an awesome speaking session of how to find God's will for our lives. I wrote: "When we see things in light of eternity, we start seeing things with a different perspective."

We aren't meant to live here. We are meant to be creatures of heaven. We are aliens here. If that is the case, why are we so easily satisfied?

We need to start looking at our lives in light of eternity. Eternity doesn't start when we get to heaven, it starts now and it's affected by the decisions that we make now. So stop letting the world, which doesn't know the first thing about living, affect your perspective. If we have heaven and a relationship with God as our goal then we need to start letting that affect our outlook on life.

Don't settle. God embraced us with incredible amounts of love that we don't deserve and He made us alive with Christ. Why don't we make the most of this new life?

Florals and Stripes

Just because it's winter doesn't mean that you need to shy away

from floral patterns. Here are three easy ways to pattern mix using stripes and florals

that are winter appropriate.

Stripes and Florals Level One

Pair a bold striped shirt with a subtle floral patterned scarf.

Top it off with a textured blazer for a put together look that is right on trend.

Level Two

A bold floral shirt goes really well with a neutral toned stripe. 

If you live in a colder area, try a pair of nude heels or brown boots instead

of the heels pictured above.

Level Three

Ready to go a bit bolder? Try a full on floral skirt and a bold 

striped shirt. Add neutral accessories to keep the outfit appropriate

and rock it!

Winter Weather

Here are some quick tips to help keep away the winter blues and create a few more choices for you to pick from on these cool winter mornings!

1) Neutrals, neutrals, neutrals
I know that I talk about mixing neutrals a lot but it's definitely a way that you can get some new life out of your old favorite pieces. Try mixing soft beige and greys like Kayley from Sidewalk Ready does in the photo below to create an outfit that will fit right into a winter wonderland. Or try pairing black and dark brown for a striking outfit that is classic and pulled together.

2) Scarves!
These lovely inventions are perfect for adding colour, pattern, texture and a bit of fun to any outfit. Check out this video here to see 27 ways to tie your scarves!

3) Summer Pieces
Yes, you read that right... summer pieces. Pull out your favorite tank tops and layer them with classic pieces from your winter wardrobe like a black long sleeved tee or a heavy, knit cardigan. Grab your favorite summer dress and pair it with some heavy tights or leggings and a sweater! Having some summer pieces in an outfit will help brighten your day and remind you of the sunshine to come!

4) Play with Patterns
Polka dots, stripes and leopard prints are huge right now in the fashion world. I also think they add a bit of fun and playfulness to an outfit which we sometimes need at this point in the winter. Try pairing two different types of polka dots like Jessica did on What I Wore for a whimsical, still very winter, outfit.

I hope that at least one of these tips was helpful to you. Click over to the two websites that I posted here for some more great outfit ideas!

1 up, 1 down

It's my new favorite quote. Or at least, it's partly my new favorite quote. Partly because I love it on one hand and disagree with it on the other. Let me explain...

When you look around at our broken world and look at the interactions between the people on this earth, this quote has so much truth to it. I see examples of this all over. If we think we are worthless we will not accept love. If we think we deserve infinite amounts of love we will take hold of that love even if it is not offered. We create a quantity of love in our minds and roll with it, no matter if that's our own version of the story or not. It's a problem that needs to be solved.

In light of faith, though, this quote is not correct. We did nothing to deserve God's love; nothing to deserve Jesus coming and dying in our place; nothing to be saved of all our sin. We deserve no love. And we need to figure that out before we can truly know the full extent of God's love. I don't think that we ever will understand how much we don't deserve His love until we're in heaven, but I do think that we need to strive for this. We need to accept His love because we don't deserve it; because He is an awesome God.

This quote is beautiful and I love the meaning behind it but you have to be careful when you pick and choose words. People are not perfect and their words will not be either.

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.

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.