Hey guys! Decided to move my thoughts to tumblr. The tumblr system is a lot more "me", so hopefully you will hear more from me over there! lol My new blog is called Hope's Journal. Come visit! Merry Christmas! :)

Solider of Light

And the hauntingness of it all...
To behold a light that leaves you grasping
For something beyond yourself,
Is the realization of
something never fulfilled
by human error.
For if to love is gain,
Then to die is to
Commit to a
World fallen.
What will possibly complete the void?
Use the light, dear
Solider!
And be a martyr for thy cause...
Of Masters Love,
Undoubting love,
Of purist Light.
Giving glimpse into
The haunting reality
Of it all...
For a world desperate for
A Solider of Light.

Loving God is to gain, dying spiritually is to commit your heart to this dying world. This poem is about dying for Love, God's Love, which is the purist light for our naturally dark hearts. To die to oneself, in His name is the ultimate gain. When we experience God, it makes us realize how empty we really are without Him. Others need to see this light of Love. Be His Solider, and show others Him!

Favorite Quotes

"She blazed, burned herself out, and then disappeared into the silent deep, sounding the echoes of remembrance throughout a hollow and shattered heart."
- from When Crickets Cry

"During the days of Jesus' life on earth, He offered up prayers and petitions with loud cries and tears to The One Who could save Him from death, and He was heard because of His reverent submission."

~Hebrews 5:7~

"But the plans of the Lord stand firm forever,
The purposes of His heart through all generations."

~Psalm 33:11~

"If this day
Could rewind,
I'd take it back
And let you shine
More than me."

"Honey, never love a musician,
Cause you'll never break away.
His face may disappear,
But his music in your heart stays."

"What, pray tell, has a higher clearance than the cranium within your individual's possession, canine?
English: "What's up, dog?!"

"I’m a dreamer in life and alive in my dreams. If I’m alive in my dreams then dea...th isn’t all that it seems. It’s for dreams that I long to sleep and if I can still dream then my body, sleep can keep. However, if life is a dream come true and my dreams all center around you, then take my body, my dreams and my sleep, I am all yours to keep, my desire is you and my dreams taught me that this notion is true."

~Rick Elmore~

"Back then I didn't realize that you can't live for God until you learn how to live because of God. And you can't go and make good decisions for God until you undestand the Gospel that says 'Your choices don't make you who you are. ("Where you end up doesn't make you who you are.") What Christ did for you makes you who you are.'

"We're not struggling to be free, for when we are in Christ we're free to stuggle.

(Because what you've done doesn't make who you are- you are more because as Christians we are the sum of our Father's Love for us.)

"I am a bum, and I need a Savior."

~Mike Donehey~

"Faith is putting the mountains back into the mountain-maker's hands."

"Music is passion that reflects our souls."

"Grant us reprieve from the fighting so we
Could just rest our head on the shoulder
Of the One we're at odds with,
And oh so glad
For a moments rest.
Weeping, knowing we have been touched.
Weeping, knowing we have been touched.
We have been touched.

"Glory and honor
Wisdom and power
Grace and fury
Splendor and might
Matchless beauty
Endless light.

"Here with You,
Oh my oh calm is You.
Oh my only thought is You.
Oh my happiness is You.
To be with You.
~Daivid Crowder Band~

How We can Know God

How we can know God

Wow tonight's axis youth group was sooo epic! My youth pastor, Dan, first started out with helping us see the point that "Religion is always man's response to the God he thinks he knows". Whatever our posture is in prayer, worship, paradigms, the way we respond to Him, etc, is our response to God in the way we think we know. But we are called to a solid relationship with Him, to be sold out with no middle ground of gray. To be in a relationship we have got to love, of course! And you can't really love someone you don't know, otherwise you are loving someone who isn't there, which isn't loving them at al!. To know God, we have to have the connector of our intimacy with God, the Holy Spirit. The Spirit inside us is the one who gives Christians the passion that calls to God crying "Abba Father!!". Then we can have a relationship with Him, because the Holy Spirit bring to "inlifeinment" the facts of "enlightenment" the church gives us. The Spirit then fully teaches us Who the really One True God is. Then we went over the "Three 33mm ways to know God (points made from Jer. 29:11-13, isaiah 66:22, and Ps. 27:8).

I'm very excited. I learned a lot I already knew in a deeper way tonight!

" I want to know You.
Let Your Spirit overwhelm me.
Let Your presence overtake my
Heart." <3

Edited Me*

Vulnerability

Isn't what it used to be

A time to grow up

A time for change.

Because being just me

Can bring on pain.

Which do you want,

'Mam

The edited or me?

The latter will cost you,

But the first one is free.

Free of the "awkwardness" you would feel

From listening to my thoughts,

Or from feeling that I may effect the "coolness" you've caught.

Because if you spent time with the me

I'd be the one

That you'd call the freak.

"Impaired from portraying the

Superciliousness you seek."

So what do I do?

Just throw me away?

And hope that a "normal" me

Comes up someday?

But wait-

To please you,

To be someone you'd love

I'd have to have nostrils

Catching rain from above.

Yes you see me as a misfit.

But there are others like me.

Others who are wild, creative, original and free.

Free of your sham glam

Free of your prim.

And if you ask me,

I'll be one of them.

So NO you can't have the

Edited me.

Because I'm made better than that,

No one gets me free!

*This is something I wrote a little while back. Looking back on what I wrote, I know that this could come off as if spoken in a frustrated tone. Well, really, it was sad, but anger is best expressed on paper, eh?

I think I've found my hidden talent! Hemp jewelry making.

These are pictures of my favorite- the orphan bracelet. It's called orphan because none of the beads match.

I'm hoping I could make enough to start selling them. What do you think?

These are some other patterns:

These are the different catches:

They definitely have a beachy feel. I can see me now...carrying my beads and hemp string with me everywhere! haha. We'll see how it goes.

Like Jesus

The moment everyone in Jesse's family had been waiting for had arrived. Although everything had been kept as secret as possible, everyone knew why the prophet Samuel had come: to choose and anoint the new king of Israel. Six Jesse's son walked past Samuel, each more impressive than the last. Finally, Samuel had made his decision. Who would it be?? The intensity electrified the room like and uncontrollable invisible force. At last, Samuel reached for his flask of oil to anoint the new king. Suddenly, Samuel stopped, as if he were listening to someone.

 "But God told Samuel, "Looks aren't everything. Don't be impressed with his looks and stature. I've already eliminated him. God judges persons differently than humans do. Men and women look at the face; God looks into the heart." (1 Samuel 16:7)

Samuel put down the jar, turned to Jesse, and asked him, "Do you have anymore sons?"

Maybe you know the rest of the story. The father Jesse happened to remember David, and had him called in from the field, where he was tending to the sheep. Although youngest, David was chosen to be king.

1 Samuel 16:7 is one of my favorite verses. I may be seen as too enthusiastic. Someone may have a lot of piercings and tattoos. Maybe you have a personality "quirk" or look that is contrary to what people expect. But you know what? God isn't looking at that. He's looking at your heart. And ultimately, only His opinion matters.
What exactly is your heart? Your heart is the container of you thoughts, standards, viewpoints, opinions, ideas, concepts, loves, hates, desires, and beliefs. And don't get me wrong. Most times your appearance is a reflection of what's going on inside your heart, but other times, appearance is only a hiding game for what you really are. God sees through all the masks and get right down to business: what exactly is going on in your heart.
As Christians, it's not our job to judge others. I don't mean to not judge that actions of a person as right or wrong. We need to discern actions and be careful of being mislead. John 7:24 says, "Do not judge by appearances, but judge with right judgement." I can't count how many times I have judged someone as stuck up because they are quiet or preppy, mean because they dress goth, threatening because of a lot of tattoos, or a alcohol/crack addict because of red eyes or black teeth, the list goes on. I probably sound paranoid, but I'm sure that if you thought about it, you could possibly come up with your own list of paradigms. The thing is that, when I've actually taken the time to get to know these people I've judged, I'm usually wrong. :p It's my job to love others no matter what, like Jesus did. Besides, what is my judgement (putting others in unfair or extreme catagories) other than the result of measuring people to MY expectations? Something to think about.
What about when others judge ME? My first inclinations are to either to fit in, rebel, or despise the judgers. But this thought made me stop: to think about the fact that judging people is a sin, so to it's my greater responsibility to not judge(look down on) them back, but to love them through it! Maybe I lost some of you, but this thought blew me away!
So I will say adeu for now, now that I have almost ran out of words! I hope this made you think about loving others like Jesus and loving the people who try to look down on you. I leave you with these thoughts, hoping that you will have a greater understanding of them now, as I am coming to know.
Romans 2:1-3
"Therefore you have no excuse, O man, every one of you who judges. For in passing judgment on another you condemn yourself, because you, the judge, practice the very same things. We know that the judgment of God rightly falls on those who practice such things. Do you suppose, O man—you who judge those who practice such things and yet do them yourself—that you will escape the judgment of God? "
Luke 6:37
"Judge not, and you will not be judged; condemn not, and you will not be condemned; forgive, and you will be forgiven; give, and it will be given to you. Good measure, pressed down, shaken together, running over, will be put into your lap. For with the measure you use it will be measured back to you.”


God knows me inside and out-and loves me anyway! :) 

Remember the Fluffy Things In life

This makes me laugh EvErY TiMe!

So remember the fluffy things in life!

(: That is, the things that make you smile :)



Old Friend in Disguise

There it was...crawling there threateningly about 1 1/2 feet above my head. Circling, circling round and round on a knob, moving close enough to the edge for me to determine exactly what my foe was: a yellow jacket.
It looked at me menacingly...or maybe it was just lost....and proceeded to attempt its flight onto my head. You would have thought someone had just jumped out of the closet with a bloody dagger, the way I screamed! Maybe I scared the evil bug, but either way it decided to fly into the next room instead. I quickly beckoned the nearest knight(my dad) to save me from the bug's next ambush. After capturing the presumed monster, he offered his analysis of the situation: the "monster yellow jacket" was my old friend the Firefly.
I was releaved and slightly embarrassed. I was just saved from a firefly! haha
 So here is an ode to everybody's childhood friend, the lightening bug.

Fireflies by Owl City
I hope I didn't scare my friend to bad!

2011 Rebel

The book I've been reading recently is the best. It's about a spirited, imaginative young woman living in the late 1800s. She longs to break away from society's hold, marry for the right reasons (not just wealth), and follow her dreams, (Something that is considered scandalous.) Hmm... this book reminds me of my favorite movie (Becoming Jane Austin)....and my second favorite movie (Pride and Predjudice). Haha I guess you can tell I favor plots that have strong woman characters, those that rebel against proper society's limitations and seek independent lives.

Sometimes I almost wish I could have lived during that time period. I can see it now... My character would be a young woman of propriety and secret intellect in the late 1800s. Misunderstood and patronized by my rich parents, I would join the women's sufferage movement to express my independence and gain freedom. Eventually, I become one of the speakers at rallies, stirring the courage and conviction of women everywhere! (Always narrowingly escaping police.) After the great day of women's independence comes, I would go to college to be a teacher. In time my rich parents would see my potential, gifting me with enough money to start a children's home. It is there my character would meet and marry a wonderful evangelist who would help me continue the ministry and grow God's kingdom.

So is my life in the 1800s.

Umm yeah...something like that. The plot isn't quite finished for publishing.

No sufferage to fight for anymore. Bummer. But when you think about it, there are still limitations that today's world tries to put us, not specifically women, but young people in general. Call it low expectations. We're not expected to be great. We're not expected to do much with our youth. In fact, the way the world portrays us most times, Generation Y is bumming around on our tech stuff, becoming over-weight, dumbed down. I don't know about you, but I think that's wrong! We do have alot of potential, and I can see it everywhere. We are a generation that can do great things through Christ's strength and when we give our best. We are made to be more than what's expected. You can be that someone who stands up and turns things around. I can be that person too. So there. Looks like I've found something good to be a rebel for. 

Here is the song "Rebel" by Lecrae. This has been my life song for about two years. It doesn't get old!

Hope you enjoy it and that it makes you think too!

I refuse to be average. It's not my goal to be the exception, because I believe that everyone can be great when they are their best selves. Instead, I will strive to be the example. (1 Timothy 4:12) For Christ and everything I stand for and believe in.

I am Generation U!

(U: uncomprimising)

In His strength,

Heather A.

Wake Up Call!

As you probably know, today, August 23rd, 2011, there was a catagory 5.9 earthquake that hit the eastern side of the United States. Where were you when it happened? Maybe you were grocery shopping, disciplining your cat, singing in the shower, or just chilling on the beach. Although I didn't personally feel it, I think I was shopping at the time. What I think is pretty neat about it is that wether you were disciplining you cat or shoppping, this is something that made us all stop. One mutal event that made the easterners stop and think about both each other and the fraility of our existence. Well, it made me think about it, anyway. I mean, here we are, all doing our own thing, and suddenly this earthquake hits. We aren't in control anymore. Nothing matters but surviving. We realize that anything could happen and that scares the mess out of us. It scares us for our own lives and the lives of those closest to us. For me, this earthquake made me wake up a little and realize just what is important and Who is really in control here: God. 

You're Here With Me

"I guess it's safe to say
You're never coming back.
And I understand
why you wouldn't want to.
I guess it's up to me
To find a way
To get to you."

These words are the echo of a haunting heart's cry portrayed in "The Thief". These are the first words I heard of this song, and I have to say, it really struck a chord in me. What if these words were my heart's cry to my Savior? And also, is this somewhat similar to the thoughts of the 11 disciples as they watched the empty sky that Jesus had just ascended into?

Acts 1:9-11 says
"These were his last words. As they watched, he was taken up and disappeared in a cloud. They stood there, staring into the empty sky. Suddenly two men appeared—in white robes! They said, “You Galileans!—why do you just stand here looking up at an empty sky? This very Jesus who was taken up from among you to heaven will come as certainly—and mysteriously—as he left.” (MSG)

Although Jesus, in earlier messages, had told the disciples that He was coming back, as humans we always try to doubt. It seems to me that we always try to doubt the very ones we should be trusting, while we get duped by the easiest tricksters! We can certainly see this in the lives of the disciples when it comes to trusting Jesus. So, I don't think it's unreasonable to suspect that they may have been doubting His promises of returning as they watched Him ascend. I know I probably would've at the time. I mean, why would He want to come back? And the forever mind boggling question, why does He love us so? But thankfully, because His love and grace eclipses our sinfulness, He promised to never leave us. So He came back to us in another form- the Holy Spirit. This blows my mind. He could have left us with Scripture, the memories of His ministry, and the gift of Salvation. But because He is gracious, He promised to never leave us. I've come to realize in a new way that the Gift of The Holy Spirit is truly just that- a gift. An incomprehensible expression of Love from above.

Beauty In the Forgotten

There is a lot of beauty in the forgotten things. The old things in life have a story to tell. One that is worth looking for and listening to.

Below is my grandparent's family clock. It's over 100 years old! If only this clock could talk. It's been with the family through the depression, the hippie faze, and the farm years.

 This is a chess set I found at my local antique store.

There are treasures everywhere, even in this little town!

Any editing tips for this picture would be appreciated, thanks.

The quiet beauty and wonder of the spider web. 

 Old cars are the best!

(Pictures taken by Heather Aycock)

Love's No Fool

I like to step outside myself and see
the bigger picture...

Is someone saying something to me
because they want me to
hear it... or because they need to be
heard?

The quiet of the mountains and only
sounds of birds singing

leads to thoughts so deep and far they
see way ahead.

Vision to look beyond all the
brokeness inside one's heart,

and sing new...and not feel like "the
day the music died."

To live somewhere noisy full of bells,
whistles, trains, and
trucks, and cars... is to overcome the
commotion...

and see beyond what you hear.

Or maybe to love beyond it all...

even if being in love makes you feel
like the greatest fool of all.

By Suelinda Milstead

I LOVE LOVE LOVE Summer :)

Assume that the white foam-looking boarder is the ocean, and you have a Perfect picture. I think this grasps the feeling of freedom and relaxtion that summer brings.

Summer time brings out my creative side. What about you?

I wish this was me on the beach. Sincerely hoping for a quick vacation before school starts!

Sometimes a little extra time on my hands fills me with reckless abandon for adventure.

But wether you have been vacationing, skateboarding, active in a hobby, or just plain Bored, summer is a great time. Don't waste it!

(These above pictures are Not taken by me)

Striking Summer Days

(Pictures above are taken by Heather Aycock)

To Have More of Him

Jesus said in John 14:6, "I Am the way, the truth, and the life. No one comes to the Father except through me."

He also said in John 10:10, "The thief comes only to steal and kill and destroy; I have come that they may have life, and have it more abundantely"

I've been thinking about the fact that there May be a connection between these verses. Since Jesus is The Life, and He came to give us life in full, then could it be that He's also saying that He came so that we can have Him more abundantely? Think about it... in Bible days, the people's only connection to God was through animal sacrifices. Jesus came to show God. To give us full acces to the Father. So, I think it makes since to say that He came so that we can have Him more abundantely.

To Forget Me Not...

We all forget things. Registration dates, chores, and people's names are just a few of the things I've forgotten lately. But something I've had a hard time recalling lately is the past. What I did two days ago to some of the biggest miracles that happened at youth camp last year to most of my childhood is sometimes a fog. This scares me a little. Scratch that. It scares me AloT. To forget your past is to forget yourself; who you are. This can come in handy in situations. For instince, it helps to able to put anger out of mind, while still having a feeling of cautiousness. Ok, it Is kind of hard to explain. But don't worry. I dont have a memory problem. It's just that I live so much in the moment that other things fade in comparison. Call it extreme focusing.

Someone I sometimes (shamefully) forget is God! He's been with me through it all, blessed me so much and is even died for me, and I have the impertinence to take for granted His love and the fact that he's always there for me. As you know, it's easy to get caught up in the moment, friends, and especially busyness. In a world of nouns (people, places, things) trying to get my attention, I always come back to the realization that He's the only One that satisfies. Thankfully, God, being perfect, has never forgotten about me. Everyday He listens, reveals new things, and lets me enjoy the beauty of the world He has created. So even when I forget about the dates, chores, or even the past, I take comfort that I've got Someone holding me together!

Yes, I'm a Christian!

I love God. For who He is, for what He's done for me, and definitely for He's doing in me. I've never known a love like this. You may be in question about this. Hey, you may not even believe in God. But in His Word, the Bible, He tells us that if we seek Him, He will let Himself be found. Believe it or not, He loves you so much and wants you to know Him. When you're honestly looking for God, it will become something you can't push away!

Like I said, I've never known a love like this. I know what it's like to feel lost and hopeless and alone before surrendering to Him. And don't think I don't know that you've felt that way at times too. But after you give in to Him it's like life becomes so much...richer. satisfying. Maybe a corny illustration,but kind of like a Clarion Clear commercial. All of a sudden you can see life more clearly. Can I even go as far as to say that God is my technicolor in this gray and white world? Yes :) I guess I'm in love. 4 years of adventures and it never gets old.

I realize that everyone is looking for something to fill the emptiness in themselves. The longing for something more that you restle with in the night. Look at it this way. Imagine that you have a bucket. The bucket has the label "water" on it, but you pour coke, pickle juice and your favorite drink into it instead. Then, after filling it to the top, you're told that you're suppose to water a garden or give a baby a bath with the contents of the bucket. Would you do that? No! In the same way, you can't fulfill your purpose unless you you're filled with the right thing. The right thing that will give you the ability to achieve you destiny and fulfill your deepest needs is Jesus. He says, "I am the way, the truth, and the light. No one come to the Father except through me." let Him fill you with Himself and His love. You will never be the same.

I know that if you've read this far, you're probably thinking, "What about the bad things in life? How can that kind of life exist in the cruel world we live in?" Yes, bad things are in this world. In fact, they thrive. Just tonight I was watching a news report abou the starving people in Africa. (Don't read this if you're easily disturbed.) The child had flies or maggots on his face, too weak to keep them away due to the starvation and heat. Kids and adults are literally skin and bones over there. Maybe the hard things we experience in our everyday lives aren't as life threatening or major, but regardless, following Christ makes the difference. He gives us strenght to keep moving forward, comfort to the dying, and hope of life everlasting. I won't get into all the details of bad happenings in the world, but I will say that I Know I can trust God through it, and that He is completing His will, wether I can see it or not.
So, for these and other reasons, Yes, I'm a Christian!
<3
If you have any questions, fill free to ask! I will do my best to help you find the answers.

Battle Scars

Battle scars in a wounded heart,

But I must keep fighting.

I will run this race,.

I will do my part.

But I must keep fighting.

This life is my war.

I can't stop the darts.

But I can pick up my shield.

I will Not stop.

Leaning on you,

Lord,

You can heal any heart.

I can keep fighting!

To Be Jane

The movie Becoming Jane is a harrowing tale. Based on the real life story of Jane Austin, this movie tells a story of events that counteract each other. In the setting of the 1800s, Jane is a budding novelist who lives in a world of constricted women's freedoms. While the only "suitable option" for the daughter of a poverty-stricken clergyman is to marry the prosperous, Jane's idea of a life well lived is a passionate, independent one seasoned with sensibility and propriety. She is determined to only marry for "affections", even if she has to do dig her own potatoes. And so the story begins. Jane effortlessly frustrates her parents with her tabooed wit, independent thinking, and refusal skills. No man seems to be able to tame or attract this vivacious and profound young woman. Nobody, that is, until she meets her match and challenge, Tom LeFroy. We see early in the plot that he is also a spirited young man in his 20s, driven by a lust for fun and rambunctiousness. A thinker himself, he and Jane Austin accomplish irritating each other with opposing concepts of writing and propriety. When it's seems they will lose each other at the hands of obligation and desperation, the two opposites realize that they are in love and that their happiness depends on each other. So we see another chapter in Ms. Austin's life begin as she and Tom fight against odds to be together and not lose financial security. Surprisingly, what causes their last separation happens not to be disapproval, but Jane's realization of Tom's financial responsibility to his mother's family. Caring about the future of Tom's family, she breaks off the elopement so Tom can continue to support his kin. Sadly, love is a two-sided coin, one of love and loss. Jane and her Lover are never able to be together, due to the cold world they live in. For a time they live lovesick lives; Jane forever inwardly repressed from marriage. At the conclusion of the story, you see Jane reading a part of her famous novel, Pride and Prejudice, to Tom's eldest daughter, Jane. This is a story lavished with unanswered questions and possibilities. It is a tale that will leave you yearning to be an author yourself, while revealing this truth: we are created to live for what we're passionate about.

Color In My World...

"God, I love the way you color in my world. You make everything sing. So here is a picture of what my life will look like. See? I'd like you to fill it in and make it your masterpiece.
"Wait... You're...You're coloring it outside the lines...wait. It doesn't look right! That's not how my life's suppose to look at all! What are You doing, Lord?"

"My child, if you want it to be my masterpiece, you will have to trust me with it completely. Even when I draw outside your lines. Will you do that? Can you trust me with the design of your life?"

"Yes, Lord, I will. I do."

It was hard at first to watch Him do the unexpected with the picture of my life. At first I winced to watch the lines disappear under His colors and other parts of the picture cut out. But I after much watching, trusting, conversation, and waiting I saw things start to take form. It was... Beautiful. Free. Alive.
I soon saw the picture of what my life was to look like. It was the most precious masterpiece of all. It was a picture of my Salvation's face. The picture of my life was to be the image of Jesus. <3

By Heather Aycock
July 30th, 2011

Enough Said

 

Camp Memories:) Thank you, God!! :')

Visitor!

This is our visitor for the week. He's too cute! He came up to the back of our fence. I heard our other dogs (Honey, Molly and Peewee) barking, and once I realized what it was I grabbed two of them and put them in the pen. Molly somehow slipped out of the yard. She and our doggy visitor began to play and actually wanted to come back into the yard!(Molly usually likes to run off.) I doubt we can keep him...but Oriana and I named him Max. :) Molly and Max are now BFFs:) <3

(Max is in front. Our dog Molly is in the back.)

Awwwh:)



Girlll, we got dis;D

I was in American Eagle, just looking around. A pair of white jean shorts caught my eye. They were sooo cute! (Just play along. What's not to love??) So, although I knew I would Never in my life wear shorts that short or pay 30$ for them, I decided to try them on anyway. The salesclerk (Let's call her Maria) let me to one of the dressing rooms. Yes, I admit, I liked them alot, but then I started to remember my standards and why I have them. I finally put the shorts back where they belonged in my life: on the store shelf. Maria asked me, "You didn't like the pants??" I replied, "Umm...well, I did, but...I don't wear shorts that short." Then she said something I didn't expect: "Girll, don't be scared to show your legs. Looking down at her own bare ones, she continued, "It's okay!"

Well, I know that this is the normal message to girls in today's culture. The "message" I'm referring to isn't "wear our cute clothes." It's one that tells us to show our as much body off as we can get away with. Ever heard "If you've got it, flaunt it"? As American tween and teen girls we're given the indirect (and direct) impression that we are suppose to dress "hot."  If we aren't being told that this is the way to dress by companies, then we are being told this by the influence of other girl's dress. We as Christian girls may even be falling into the "fashion trap" ourselves. It's certainly not hard to do. But I know that there is a better way to go. I'm going to share it with you! It's called "modesty".

I would like to first say what modesty is Not.

Modesty is not:
being afraid of your feminity.
an excuse to judge others.
dressing yourself down.
boring.
impossible.:)

What modesty Is:
respecting yourself.
honoring God.
helping out your brothers in Christ.
letting people see beautiful you!

Why should we choose modesty? How is it specifically honoring God?

Modesty is showing that we respect ourselves. God says we "are fearfully and wonderfully made." God loves us! We as Christians are His daughters! There is no need to try to show off the outside when God is making our hearts beautiful. Our hearts, unique personalities, and spirits are the parts of us that will make the true and lasting impression on people. The Bible says "isn't the body more than clothes?" You are beautiful! Really! Believe it because it's true. God doesn't make mistakes...He planned every part of you.
God also says in 1Peter 3:3-5,
"Your beauty should not come from outward adornment, such as braided hair and the wearing of gold jewelry and fine clothes. Instead, it should be that of your inner self, the unfading beauty of a gentle and quiet spirit, which is of great worth in God's sight. For this is the way the holy women of the past who put thier hope in God used to make them selves beautiful."
Does this mean we shouldn't care at all about how we look? No! But we must remember where our true beauty resides: in our hearts and spirits, as they are made more and more Christ-like.
What do guys think about it?

So I challenge you to choose a better way: modesty. Covering ourselves so that Christ will be the first thing they notice about us. Not just our outward beauty! <3

Hallelujah!

This is my all-time favorite music video just because it shows a girl giving her all-out praise to the one Who made her (and me!) I think this video highlights the beauty of a worshipful heart. I can't wait for the day God says to us, "Welcome home!"

<3

Growing Up

About to be 17.

And I look back on the steps I've taken

To become who I am.

Some steps were hard.

Some were painful.

But each have moved me closer to who I am today.

And who I am going to be.

.

I am serious,

Goofy,

(like duct tape on my shoes)

Passionate,

A good friend,

And a Christ-follower.

I try to see the beauty in little things.

I love having conversations that make me think.

I am trying to grow into who God wants me to be.

I love the adventure of life.

I love the vintage and hippie style.

I am almost 17.

I am me!

Blogging...is it for me?

This is my first time writing a blog. I am a bit apprehensive because I don't really know what I'm doing yet. Also, I don't want to bore you, my reader. I will try my best. My dad says, "You need a building project. Seeing the peices come together can help keep you motivated in all areas." So, dear reader, consider this my "building project." Slowly, but surely, all the peices will come together. I look forward to hearing your thoughts on my future blog posts!