Unfiltered

Social media. Have we ever stopped to think about it? I mean really think about it.

What is the purpose? What is with the flood of hashtags, memes, selfies, ecards,etc? It is all so shallow if we stop and think about it. It's easy to make our lives look put together in an instagram post. But in reality, that was the one day we actually did our hair, the one clean room in our house, and the only 5 minutes our kids weren't bugging us or having a fallout over a missing toy. Valencia filter anyone? It creates an unrealistic image of reality and for what?  So we can have a "me" centered attitude and find our sense of value in some dumb post. We have all been there. You know the time when after a status has been up for a few hours and it has 1 like and you contemplate deleting it. Was what you had to say not clever or funny enough? And on that note why are we second guessing ourselves based on the number of likes online. It's sad really.

Social media also starts the comparison game. Why does this girl get 100+ likes on her posts and I get 5? What does she have that I don't? If only I had more money maybe our family could do things like that. I wish my kids would sit still long enough for craft hour. I wish I wish I wish...and the dissatisfaction with the life God has blessed you with sinks in.

And don't get me started on how social media isn't really social at all. Why does our generation supplement snap chat for real company and why do we substitute emoji texts for being taken on real dates. The kind of dates where they call you and ask you out and you spend hours getting ready for it. The kind where when they pick you up, they don't just text here. They come to the door to get you and you spend the whole night talking and laughing and enjoying each others company. I am just so sick of all the lol's and #realtalk #blondeshavemorefun #wearesocool.

What if we started actually living life instead of trying to find the perfect filter? What if instead of worrying about the likes on our posts we started worrying about the hurting and the homeless in our community. What if instead of taking a picture of our dinner plate, we were serving it to someone who could really use it. Because believe it our not starvation is happening right here in the U.S. No, it's not just happening overseas, it is in our backyards. Cheers to educating ourselves. To finding hobbies. To being concerned with things bigger than ourselves.

Wonder

  There are no poetic words for the past two years. From fall of 2013 to the current day, I have been struggling with depression, anxiety, doubt, fear, and completely questioning the existence of God. I have experienced thoughts I have never had  before, letting satan win. I was held captive in my own mind and feeling there was no way out. I had been in a spiritual drought for months, I thought it would never end. Slowly God has been helping to find who I am in Him. I am starting to feel him again like I did before. I feel like a child again-rediscovering God as Lord of my life. The song Wonder by Bethel came on the other day as I was spending time in prayer and reading. It describes exactly where my heart is right now-reigniting my wonder and awe. How often do we truly grasp how amazing our God is? The God of the whole entire universe wants to have a relationship with US. He longs to guide our every step and whisper His perfect plan in our ears. He wants to show us His unconditional love. He sent his Son to die on the cross so we get to spend an eternity with Him. Do we ever think about this, not just as a bible story but as truth. As real life. It is completely MIND BLOWING.  I am elated and so filled with joy. God is so good. The chorus goes something like this..this is my prayer for each of you today..

May we never lose our wonder

May we never lose our wonder

Wide eyed and mystified

May we be just like a child

Staring at the beauty of our King 

-Ivys momma 

 

Imperfectly Perfect

9 But he said to me, “My grace is sufficient for you, for my power is made perfect in weakness.”Therefore I will boast all the more gladly about my weaknesses, so that Christ’s power may rest on me.10 That is why, for Christ’s sake, I delight in weaknesses, in insults, in hardships, in persecutions, in difficulties. For when I am weak, then I am strong.
-2 Corinthians 12:9-10 

How often do we allow ourselves to be vulnerable enough they we boast about our inadequacies and imperfections? We all struggle with things at times, yet those are the things we avoid conversation about the most. Nobody wants to air out their dirty laundry-yet scripture says we are to delight in our weaknesses. I don't think this means we are to stay in our hard place, but it is just a reminder of how undeserving we are and yet how much God gives us grace all the more. It's when we realize that we can't do anything apart from God, when we humble ourselves enough that we can admit our short comings, that God is able to use us and transform us and bring glory to His name. What are your hardships today? Give them over to Jesus because his grace is sufficient. 

It's A New Season

       It's been awhile since I have written-I actually forgot about this blog altogether. Life does that to you sometimes. But, there is something I love about pouring the things God has placed on my heart on a forum for not only myself but also for others to be able to read. I have always been a transparent person about where I am at. 
      To be honest, if you would have told me a year ago that I would be married and have our sweet Ivy Ruth, I would not have believed you. This past year has been filled with many joys, but also many anxieties as I am searching for what my new normal looks like. There are days where I feel completely inadequate to have such an important role as a helper to my hubby and a mommy to my ever so sweet Ivy. I am learning to take comfort in knowing that God has placed me in this season of growth and change for a purpose. I know that his plans are always greater. It is so easy to make it all about my own needs and how maybe I don't get enough "me" time anymore, or how it's a rarity if I get to take a shower without also hearing a crying baby, and how it just isn't fair. 
      But, there is so much good in this season. I have such a huge opportunity to serve my family with the joy of the Lord in my heart. I get to love on and show my daughter what it means to be a woman of God and what it means to be a wife. She looks to me, I am the first glimpse of Jesus she will see, in a world full of people pulling her in all different directions. I also have an opportunity to be the best helper and mate to my husband as I can possibly be. Being married is challenging but also one of the single best things to happen to me. Who doesn't want to have endless sleepovers with their best friend? I get really excited to see the way God will use us to further His kingdom. 

       So, through all of my anxieties as things are in this new season of life, I am choosing to see the good, the beautiful, and the present. Because I know Jesus has me here for a reason and I can't wait to see all that he does. When anxious thoughts arise I am constantly taken back to this verse, 2 Corinthians 10:4-5 "The weapons we fight are not the weapons of the world. On the contrary, they have the divine power to demolish strongholds. We demolish arguments and every pretension that sets itself up against the knowledge of God, and we TAKE CAPTIVE EVERY THOUGHT to make it obedient to Christ." Everything we need can be found in Him. We can choose what we let consume our minds-set it on the eternal. 

-Ivy's momma

Worth More Than Gold.

We live in a culture today that defines women as objects. We are seen only on a superficial level. We only have value when we have a certain look. When we sexualize our attire, when we skip a meal to lose another pound, when we have a flawless complexion, when all of our cellulite is gone-then and only then are we beautiful and valuable. If only we dumb ourselves down and play stupid they will want me. Maybe if my skirt is a bit shorter or my shirt a bit lower. Maybe then men will look my way. But the real thing is, we don't have the problem. It's our society, it's the standards, it's how our culture defines beauty. This is incorrect. We need to stand up to the lie. When did this problem start exactly? Well let's think.. 

Do you remember the first day you felt you had to wear makeup to get the boys to notice you? Do you remember the first time you started to notice you didn't have a "thigh gap"? Do you remember the day you started to care about pant sizes? Or even the day you started altering who you really were to get the attention of a guy? Unfortunately, it starts at a young age. I have seen so many little girls trying to act like the "big girls." The change starts with you and it starts with me. Whether we like it or not, we are the women the next generation is looking at. We are the examples of what they should do and how they should dress and how they should behave. We are the leaders. We have sweet little eyes on us all the time. Every time you leave your place to go somewhere you represent Christ. So, how are we going to further His kingdom? What things are we going to showcase as important and where do our values lie? 

The thing society hasn't told you is the less you wear, the less he will respect you. 
Let's transform this....

patterned jean underwear and bra

bra and underwear..

this long shirt...

Into this.......

cute on piece swimsuit

gorgeous quarter length sleeved shirt with a belted skirt

Wonderful summer outfit

I am not saying stop wearing makeup altogether or never dress pretty or never go to the gym. We should most certainly take care of our bodies because they are a temple and we owe it to our Creator to place value on ourselves. But, we need to showcase what really matters. Take care of ourselves, further our interests and hobbies, get involved in things that actually matter. Let the right guy fall for you because you rock at singing loud in the car karaoke style, because you have a passion for serving others, because you have learned modest is hottest, because you like to read, and because sometimes you are okay with eating icecream all night and talking until 3 a.m. Let the emphasis be on who you are and who you were created to be. You are beautiful and you are worth it. 

A Great Pursuit

Psalm 23:6 says, "Surely your goodness and love will follow me all the days of my life, and I will dwell in the house of the Lord forever." Isn't it exciting to know that the God of the universe wants to have a relationship with us? He longs for us to know Him personally. All we have to do is open up to Him and pour out our hearts. He wants to know what is going on in our lives and the ways He can help. He wants to come into our lives and change us for the better. He wants us to see others through His eyes and be His hands to help heal the brokenness in our world. All it takes is us choosing to be humble and choosing to surrender to His will and His ways, trusting that God knows exactly what He is doing. Because God does know exactly what He is doing. He has plans for us to do great things through his great strength. Trust in that today and be encouraged that the God of this universe wants to have a relationship with you-despite imperfections, mistakes, and failures. He loves you unconditionally. Run into His open arms. 

YOU ARE BEAUTIFUL.

Dear Daughter, 

Today is a new day. Lift your head because today is where it all begins. Today is filled with promise and with hope. No, not because today is set apart. It is because today you will walk with me. You will see the world through my eyes. You will be my hands to those in need. I have a plan to make your life beautiful and a plan for you to bring beauty to those around you. Today you are going to be guided by my presence. Today you will know there is hope for tomorrow regardless of circumstance. Today you will know your worth is found in me. You are the daughter of a King. Own it. Today you will place the devil and his lies under your feet. You will be grounded. You will love and be loved. Today is going to be grand. Just follow me.

                                            With unconditional love,

                                                                              Your Heavenly Father

This is what God is speaking to us daily! He loves us unconditionally, regardless of mistakes. He made us in his image and He has great plans!! Believe it today. Below is a video that my friend Taylour posted to my wall a bit ago and it is too great not to post. Love you all and have a joy filled weekend.