How To Really Be In Style...

I love fashion.  I love clothes.  I love digging through sale and clearance racks and finding good deals on pieces to expand my wardrobe.  I love combining new items with pieces of clothing I've had for years to come up with new outfits.  I love coming up with modest and tasteful versions of trends (and totally believe you girls can do this too with some commitment and creativity). I love changing an outfit up with different accessories.  Fashion is fun, and fits my creative, likes-change-and-variety personality.  


I treated myself to an In Style magazine the other day...as much as I love cooking and fashion magazines, I try to resist always picking them up to save a few dollars on my grocery bill.  But it had been awhile since I had bought one and this issue had the 150 Best Beauty Buys, which is always a good consumer read.  


The same day I was going to try to carve out some time to sit in my green chair with my new mag, I was spending a few minutes with God when I came across this verse... Colossians 3:12 "Therefore, as God's chosen people, holy and dearly loved, clothe yourselves with compassion, kindness, humility, gentleness and patience."


I don't think God minds at all if we enjoy fashion or beauty or other fun things.  In fact, in the year before He used Queen Esther to save the Jewish nation, she received a year (yes, a year) of beauty treatments.  I've never even been to the spa for a full day, let alone a year!  The ultimate, virtuous woman in Proverbs 31 was described to be "clothed in fine linen and purple" - in other words, along with all her other amazing qualities, she was a well-dressed woman.


However, I do know that God wants us to care more about our character than our appearance.  I do know His desire is for us to first look like Him and reflect the beauty of His character. 


I still enjoyed my In Style magazine, like always.  But while getting fun fashion ideas, I also meditated on five words that I want to describe my character and that I want to put on before putting on my cute outfits...compassion, kindness, humility, gentleness, and patience.  


Hoping and praying that you girls will add these five things to your wardrobe as well!


Because I Believe In You,
Jennifer

Everybody Needs A Little Help Sometimes...

The other morning after breakfast I was doing Pre-K work with my daughter at the kitchen table.  My son was watching Cars (his favorite movie) and playing with blocks.  All of a sudden I heard a muffled cry and went into the family room to find my son like this...evidently he thought it would be fun to put the block container on his head, but it got stuck in too awkward of a position for him to get it off by himself!

It only took me a second to pull it off, but I snapped a photo first because it was such a picture of us sometimes.  We are innocently living our lives when we try something we probably shouldn't, and before we know it we are stuck.  We need some help before a small problem turns into something dangerous, but unlike my little boy, sometimes we don't cry out for it.  We keep secrets and bottle up feelings, and don't share the fear we are facing as we become overwhelmed by situations we didn't see coming when we first made that small choice to try something we shouldn't have.

As soon as I heard my son cry, I went to see what was wrong.  I immediately helped fix the situation, comforted him, and then warned him not to do that again because it could be dangerous.  I both helped and warned him because I LOVE HIM.

Sweet girl, God loves you.  And so do people in your life who care for your well being, such as your parents, teachers, youth group leaders, etc.  If you find yourself stuck, don't remain silent.  Ask for the help you need to be set free.  Don't live in bondage because you were afraid to ask.

Remember, everybody needs a little help sometimes.

Lovingly, Jennifer

"Listen to advice and accept instruction, and in the end you will be wise."   Proverbs 19:20, The Bible

You Are Loved, You Are Accepted...

I've lived and listened and learned long enough now to know that behind every tough exterior, every can't hurt me attitude, every underachiever, every overachiever, every pretty smile, every perfect makeup job, and every heart and soul lies a deep rooted need for love and acceptance.

It doesn't matter if she drives the prettiest car from the prettiest house and family in town, or if she walks in an old pair of shoes from a run down shack that makes her ashamed, every girl I've encountered desires love and acceptance.

These needs are genuine, legitimate, and universal.  You need love and acceptance, and so do I.  

Sadly, many girls I encounter haven't found it yet, and continue their search down paths that bring them anything but the wholeness they are looking for.  Many have been so broken down they no longer think it is to be found.  For some girls, this hopelessness is written all over their faces; for others, it is carefully hidden behind MAC foundation and lipgloss.  

If you, my dear girl, are in the many who feel like every time you thought you'd found love and acceptance you were hurt and disillusioned, I have good news for you....

You are loved.  You are accepted.  Maybe not by everyone in your life by whom you wish you were, but by the ONE THAT MATTERS MOST.  

Jesus.

"This is how we know what love is; Jesus Christ laid down his life for us."  I John 3:16a

And I pray that you, being rooted and established in love, may have power, together with all the saints, to grasp how wide and long and high and deep is the love of Christ, and to know this love that surpasses knowledge—that you may be filled to the measure of all the fullness of God."  Ephesians 3:17b-19

My heart tonight longs for the broken and hurting to know they can be whole and restored by the love of Jesus.  My desire is that those who feel like outcasts or strangers can find acceptance in this love.

My prayer is that with me, you could understand and sing the lyrics "I'm forgiven, because You were forsaken.  I'm accepted - You were condemned.  I'm alive and well, Your spirit lives within me, because You died and rose again.  Amazing love, how can it be?  That you my King would die for me.  Amazing love, I know it's true. And it's my joy to honor you, in all I do, I honor you." (Billy J. Foote)

Sleep well tonight, Genuine Girl, knowing no matter what today held you are truly loved and accepted.  Dream sweet as you rest in this gentle truth.