This may be my boldest, most controversial post yet.
But, somebody's gotta say something.
Winter formal where I live was this last weekend. Since it was my birthday weekend, we saw some people out and about getting ready for formal...and saw lots of pictures posted on FB from students we know from church (mostly). I must admit, I was pretty shocked by almost every picture I saw. When did winter formal dresses go from being floor length and elegant, to barely covering booties and tatas? And, when did the parents of those little hoochy mamas decide this was acceptable attire for 14-18 year old girls to wear??
It reminds me of a blog I wrote last year about the role models our young girls are looking up to. Is this epidemic a result of the Disney channel and Nickelodeon? Or, have we all just become so blind to what is decent and right that whatever is popular is ok with us?
I remember shopping for a prom dress. You would rarely find some little short number. All the dresses were long and beautiful and made a girl feel like a princess for the night. Of course, there were the low-cut ones and the ones with the cut out sides...but they seemed to be the minority. I was even talking with a friend at church last night who ran into some of the formal-bound teens herself...and totally agreed with me on how different things were when we were in high school and attending dances.
Now, please don't hear this as being judgmental. I have no clue what runs through any of these girls' minds or the minds of their parents. I honestly just don't understand how a parent could allow his/her daughter out of the house with half her chest bared in a dress that she can't even sit in without showing all her goods. It makes me sad...because I remember being a young girl and hating the looks or comments I got from certain guys. Do these girls and their parents not understand what runs through the minds of the boys that escorted them to the dance...or even all the others that will be at the dance? Do they not understand what this verse means?:
You have heard that it was said, ‘Do not commit adultery.’ But I tell you that anyone who looks at a woman lustfully has already committed adultery with her in his heart. If your right eye causes you to sin, gouge it out and throw it away. It is better for you to lose one part of your body than for your whole body to be thrown into hell. And if your right hand causes you to sin, cut it off and throw it away. It is better for you to lose one part of your body than for your whole body to go into hell.
(Matthew 5:27-30 NIV)
How can these boys NOT look lustfully at these girls when they dress like this?
I would hate to be a stumbling block for a brother in Christ...and to aid in him committing adultery.
What is wrong with our society, and us as individuals, that even followers of Christ see nothing wrong with this?
I am by no means perfect...and I did buy into the lie of showing off my body at one point in my life...but it just saddens me to no end that our beautiful, young girls are buying into the same lie...and that our young boys are constantly stumbling.
Sorry if this post offended anyone...I just had to get it out. Feel free to comment however you'd like. I will not be offended.
Monday, January 31, 2011
Taxes, Normalcy, and Prophecies
We finally got all our W2's yesterday.
I did our taxes last night...and was SO excited with the results! We are getting a good chunk of change back this year. So good that we are able to pay off two credit cards, pay for our Disneyland trip, buy a new radiator for Josh's car, pay for the rest of the cost for the women's retreat for me, pay for the two of us to go on the 20 Somethings/College Group Retreat, pay my car registration, and STILL have money left over. We are planning on doing something very exciting with it...but I will let that one be a surprise.
It's just so fitting that all this happened now...as I was just complaining two days ago about the fact that we had all these things coming up we had to pay for...and no money to pay for them. Oh, ye of little faith...
On another note, I am SUPER excited, as I have mentioned before, about the things coming up in the near future. It feels weird to feel this way, as I feel like this time last year, I was so focused on getting pregnant that I couldn't even function normally. Now, I feel like I've finally gotten my life back...and it's such a good feeling. Of course, I would still love to get pregnant soon...but it's not consuming my life the way it did last year. It's such a healthier place to be.
I also think I am finally starting to get over my nerves with singing...which is weird for me because I have been singing my whole life. I sang my very first solo at the first church service my old church had in their own building...and I was almost 8. I sang on my dad's worship team when I was in high school, and on my youth group's worship team. I have been singing on the worship team at church for almost a year now...but it's only been more recently that I've been asked to lead songs or parts of songs...and that I've agreed to and not freaked out. I don't know why it's so nerve wracking to do, when I used to dance in front of a much larger group of people...and never got nervous. I guess it's a little different...since I never did a dance by myself. But, tonight I lead two songs for worship...and barely felt nervous. I just worshiped God and forgot about everyone else in the room...and it felt wonderful.
There were a couple of prophecies that were spoken within the first year of my life. The first being when my mom found out she was pregnant with me. She had been trying and trying with no luck, and was on a business trip with my dad when she turned on the TV, and started watching the 700 Club. For those that have never seen the 700 Club, Pat Robertson and some of the other hosts of the show have a time of prayer where they pray for specific situations that God brings to their minds. I always used to think it was kind of fake until my mom told me about the one that had to do with my arrival into the world. Anyway...Pat Robertson said there was a woman out there that had been trying to get pregnant and hadn't been able to...and that she needed to go see her doctor because she was finally pregnant. My mom knew it was for her, and went to the doctor when they arrived home...and sure enough, she was pregnant with me!
The other prophecy spoken over me was said when my parents had me dedicated. The pastor said that music was going to be one of the biggest parts of my life...my ministry even. My mom and dad used to always tell me that growing up, encouraging me in my singing...and when I started piano lessons...and guitar lessons. But, I never felt it was a call on my life. I love music and everything about it. I love just listening to music, singing it, playing it (well, at least I did when I actually picked up my guitar or plucked out some notes on the piano)...because it speaks to my soul in such a powerful way. Some songs have brought me to tears because of the powerful message behind them. Yet, I've never thought it was supposed to be that big of a part of my life...but maybe I was wrong. I have had a strong desire lately to learn chords on the piano, to be able to play and sing at the same time. Maybe God has bigger plans in store for me than I can see in this moment. But, whatever the case may be, I am very happy to be more comfortable leading songs.
Goodbye, weekend...hello Monday.
I did our taxes last night...and was SO excited with the results! We are getting a good chunk of change back this year. So good that we are able to pay off two credit cards, pay for our Disneyland trip, buy a new radiator for Josh's car, pay for the rest of the cost for the women's retreat for me, pay for the two of us to go on the 20 Somethings/College Group Retreat, pay my car registration, and STILL have money left over. We are planning on doing something very exciting with it...but I will let that one be a surprise.
It's just so fitting that all this happened now...as I was just complaining two days ago about the fact that we had all these things coming up we had to pay for...and no money to pay for them. Oh, ye of little faith...
On another note, I am SUPER excited, as I have mentioned before, about the things coming up in the near future. It feels weird to feel this way, as I feel like this time last year, I was so focused on getting pregnant that I couldn't even function normally. Now, I feel like I've finally gotten my life back...and it's such a good feeling. Of course, I would still love to get pregnant soon...but it's not consuming my life the way it did last year. It's such a healthier place to be.
I also think I am finally starting to get over my nerves with singing...which is weird for me because I have been singing my whole life. I sang my very first solo at the first church service my old church had in their own building...and I was almost 8. I sang on my dad's worship team when I was in high school, and on my youth group's worship team. I have been singing on the worship team at church for almost a year now...but it's only been more recently that I've been asked to lead songs or parts of songs...and that I've agreed to and not freaked out. I don't know why it's so nerve wracking to do, when I used to dance in front of a much larger group of people...and never got nervous. I guess it's a little different...since I never did a dance by myself. But, tonight I lead two songs for worship...and barely felt nervous. I just worshiped God and forgot about everyone else in the room...and it felt wonderful.
There were a couple of prophecies that were spoken within the first year of my life. The first being when my mom found out she was pregnant with me. She had been trying and trying with no luck, and was on a business trip with my dad when she turned on the TV, and started watching the 700 Club. For those that have never seen the 700 Club, Pat Robertson and some of the other hosts of the show have a time of prayer where they pray for specific situations that God brings to their minds. I always used to think it was kind of fake until my mom told me about the one that had to do with my arrival into the world. Anyway...Pat Robertson said there was a woman out there that had been trying to get pregnant and hadn't been able to...and that she needed to go see her doctor because she was finally pregnant. My mom knew it was for her, and went to the doctor when they arrived home...and sure enough, she was pregnant with me!
The other prophecy spoken over me was said when my parents had me dedicated. The pastor said that music was going to be one of the biggest parts of my life...my ministry even. My mom and dad used to always tell me that growing up, encouraging me in my singing...and when I started piano lessons...and guitar lessons. But, I never felt it was a call on my life. I love music and everything about it. I love just listening to music, singing it, playing it (well, at least I did when I actually picked up my guitar or plucked out some notes on the piano)...because it speaks to my soul in such a powerful way. Some songs have brought me to tears because of the powerful message behind them. Yet, I've never thought it was supposed to be that big of a part of my life...but maybe I was wrong. I have had a strong desire lately to learn chords on the piano, to be able to play and sing at the same time. Maybe God has bigger plans in store for me than I can see in this moment. But, whatever the case may be, I am very happy to be more comfortable leading songs.
Goodbye, weekend...hello Monday.
Saturday, January 29, 2011
Only Comes One Time Each Year...
Today, I turned 26.
I didn't really know how I would feel this morning. I wasn't very excited last night about 26. Not because I'm getting older...not because I don't like the number 26...but just because one of my "goals" in life was not achieved in my 25th year.
Regardless, I woke up this morning quite content. I got to sleep in and relax and watch some TV. I did some cleaning, got ready at my own pace, and awaited my birthday dinner with friends. And, I got the BEST birthday present ever...a text with the ultrasound pic of a baby I am very much looking forward to meeting in about 7 months.
My birthday dinner was pretty fun. It was memorable...yes, that's the right word (we had an awful waiter and waited a LONG time for things. We were in Chevy's for over 2 hours...it was a little crazy). But, the best part was being able to spend it with some of the people I love so very much.
Gotta love the sombrero! :)
All of the people that went to dinner with us!
(I don't know why this picture has all these funny spots, though. None of the other pictures had spots.)
26 hasn't been so bad so far. I am actually pretty excited to see what God is going to do in this year. I think it's going to be fabulous...and even if it's not, I am ready to go down whatever roads He may take me.
I didn't really know how I would feel this morning. I wasn't very excited last night about 26. Not because I'm getting older...not because I don't like the number 26...but just because one of my "goals" in life was not achieved in my 25th year.
Regardless, I woke up this morning quite content. I got to sleep in and relax and watch some TV. I did some cleaning, got ready at my own pace, and awaited my birthday dinner with friends. And, I got the BEST birthday present ever...a text with the ultrasound pic of a baby I am very much looking forward to meeting in about 7 months.
My birthday dinner was pretty fun. It was memorable...yes, that's the right word (we had an awful waiter and waited a LONG time for things. We were in Chevy's for over 2 hours...it was a little crazy). But, the best part was being able to spend it with some of the people I love so very much.
Gotta love the sombrero! :)
All of the people that went to dinner with us!(I don't know why this picture has all these funny spots, though. None of the other pictures had spots.)
We then returned home for some cake and ice cream...and some Buzz Word. Those that weren't able to join us for dinner were able to hang out with us for that part. And, the festivities ended just before midnight...
My husband picked out a good cake! White w/ raspberry filling. Yum!
My husband picked out a good cake! White w/ raspberry filling. Yum!26 hasn't been so bad so far. I am actually pretty excited to see what God is going to do in this year. I think it's going to be fabulous...and even if it's not, I am ready to go down whatever roads He may take me.
Thursday, January 27, 2011
From an Unlikely Source
I had a horrible morning.
I woke up with the worst headache...and fell back asleep. I didn't wake up again until 12pm. And even then, I still wasn't feeling much better. But, I figured it would be better to get up and eat something.
I read through the blogs I'm subscribed to this afternoon and came across this one. If you have time to read it...and to read through the blogs she linked up to...you will be doing yourself a big favor. I was in tears. And then my husband sent me the sweetest message and I was in tears all over again. But, the part that really got to me was what top of the page put at the end of her blog:
But truth be told, I kinda like being moved to the point where there's a lump in my throat and my eyes start to blur. That means someone else is speaking something precious about life. They took the time to write a script or a book or a blog post about the human condition in one aspect or another. We need the medicine of regularly opening our hearts to the stories around us. Letting ourselves feel what someone else felt. Really feel it. Drink it in.
Because when someone else's story pierces your heart, you realize you were following your story all along.
I find this to be so true in my life. It is so important for us to hear the stories of others and let them speak to our hearts. The Bible is full of the stories of others who dealt with all sorts of situations...and how they leaned on/didn't lean on God to get them through... We can learn so much from the things that other people deal with...and how they get through the good and bad times.
I think that is why I like blogging so much. I am constantly encouraged by the stories of others...even people I've never met in person...and may never meet.
Find encouragement in this:
Do you not know?
Have you not heard?
The LORD is the everlasting God,
the Creator of the ends of the earth.
He will not grow tired or weary,
and his understanding no one can fathom.
He gives strength to the weary
and increases the power of the weak.
Even youths grow tired and weary,
and young men stumble and fall;
but those who hope in the LORD
will renew their strength.
They will soar on wings like eagles;
they will run and not grow weary,
they will walk and not be faint.
(Isaiah 40:28-31 NIV)
I woke up with the worst headache...and fell back asleep. I didn't wake up again until 12pm. And even then, I still wasn't feeling much better. But, I figured it would be better to get up and eat something.
I read through the blogs I'm subscribed to this afternoon and came across this one. If you have time to read it...and to read through the blogs she linked up to...you will be doing yourself a big favor. I was in tears. And then my husband sent me the sweetest message and I was in tears all over again. But, the part that really got to me was what top of the page put at the end of her blog:
But truth be told, I kinda like being moved to the point where there's a lump in my throat and my eyes start to blur. That means someone else is speaking something precious about life. They took the time to write a script or a book or a blog post about the human condition in one aspect or another. We need the medicine of regularly opening our hearts to the stories around us. Letting ourselves feel what someone else felt. Really feel it. Drink it in.
Because when someone else's story pierces your heart, you realize you were following your story all along.
I find this to be so true in my life. It is so important for us to hear the stories of others and let them speak to our hearts. The Bible is full of the stories of others who dealt with all sorts of situations...and how they leaned on/didn't lean on God to get them through... We can learn so much from the things that other people deal with...and how they get through the good and bad times.
I think that is why I like blogging so much. I am constantly encouraged by the stories of others...even people I've never met in person...and may never meet.
Find encouragement in this:
Do you not know?
Have you not heard?
The LORD is the everlasting God,
the Creator of the ends of the earth.
He will not grow tired or weary,
and his understanding no one can fathom.
He gives strength to the weary
and increases the power of the weak.
Even youths grow tired and weary,
and young men stumble and fall;
but those who hope in the LORD
will renew their strength.
They will soar on wings like eagles;
they will run and not grow weary,
they will walk and not be faint.
(Isaiah 40:28-31 NIV)
Tuesday, January 25, 2011
Stronger Together (All About the Ladies)
This post has been brewing for a few days now.
And yet, I didn't know how it was all going to come together a few days ago.
I have had some very important, needed, sad, and hard conversations lately. And yet, the conclusion that came to my mind after each one was the same: women are stronger together. What does that mean exactly? Well, let me explain it a little...
No matter what category(ies) in life you fall into...
Married...
Single...
Dating...
Engaged...
Under 20...
20-40...
40-60...
60+...
Mommy...
Mommy to be...
You need other women in your life. No matter what you may think. Even if you have a man in your life who is your best friend. He's not enough (no offense to any guys reading this). And, you can't simply have any woman in your life...you need Godly women in your life. And, not just ones to have fun with or have surface conversations with...ones that dig into your life and allow you to dig into theirs.
Remember that verse I shared in this blog?:
Carry each other's burdens, and in this way you will fulfill the law of Christ.
(Galatians 6:2)
Women...well, we understand each other. We all have our off days. We all have those moments where we want to pull our hair out...and just need to vent to someone. We all have days filled with tears and sorrow...and just need a shoulder to cry on. We all have those wonderful happy moments where we are just bursting to tell someone...and have to call someone immediately. We also know when another woman genuinely needs space...and when she really needs some girlfriend intervention. And, if we are Godly women, we know when someone needs encouragement...and where to go to find those encouraging words.
I'm not saying at all that husbands or boyfriends are horrible or unnecessary. But, sometimes having a conversation about something super personal is just better with a woman. Besides, we just "get" each other...and sometimes the guys in our lives just don't.
I am VERY excited about some things that are coming up in my life that have to do with this very thing...women walking together through life...sharing burdens, fears, struggles, and the things that hold us back from living to our full potential. Because, we truly are stronger together. I know from personal experience, that the moment I allow myself to be vulnerable with another woman, or a group of women, I suddenly feel a lot more free. I don't feel like I have to hide anymore. I can just be open and honest...and not have to worry about being judged.
I am also feeling a much stronger burden to really be there for more of the women in my life. I am not working right now, so I have the time to meet with and talk to other women. Maybe this is the purpose behind me not working right now. Maybe God has me in this place for a reason. He's done crazier things in my life, so it wouldn't shock me a bit. I just really know that I have a lot to offer other women...and I know they have a ton to offer me. There is something so beautiful about women, that love God, spending time together.
I leave you with these words from James:
Therefore confess your sins to each other and pray for each other so that you may be healed. The prayer of a righteous person is powerful and effective.
(James 5:16)
And yet, I didn't know how it was all going to come together a few days ago.
I have had some very important, needed, sad, and hard conversations lately. And yet, the conclusion that came to my mind after each one was the same: women are stronger together. What does that mean exactly? Well, let me explain it a little...
No matter what category(ies) in life you fall into...
Married...
Single...
Dating...
Engaged...
Under 20...
20-40...
40-60...
60+...
Mommy...
Mommy to be...
You need other women in your life. No matter what you may think. Even if you have a man in your life who is your best friend. He's not enough (no offense to any guys reading this). And, you can't simply have any woman in your life...you need Godly women in your life. And, not just ones to have fun with or have surface conversations with...ones that dig into your life and allow you to dig into theirs.
Remember that verse I shared in this blog?:
Carry each other's burdens, and in this way you will fulfill the law of Christ.
(Galatians 6:2)
Women...well, we understand each other. We all have our off days. We all have those moments where we want to pull our hair out...and just need to vent to someone. We all have days filled with tears and sorrow...and just need a shoulder to cry on. We all have those wonderful happy moments where we are just bursting to tell someone...and have to call someone immediately. We also know when another woman genuinely needs space...and when she really needs some girlfriend intervention. And, if we are Godly women, we know when someone needs encouragement...and where to go to find those encouraging words.
I'm not saying at all that husbands or boyfriends are horrible or unnecessary. But, sometimes having a conversation about something super personal is just better with a woman. Besides, we just "get" each other...and sometimes the guys in our lives just don't.
I am VERY excited about some things that are coming up in my life that have to do with this very thing...women walking together through life...sharing burdens, fears, struggles, and the things that hold us back from living to our full potential. Because, we truly are stronger together. I know from personal experience, that the moment I allow myself to be vulnerable with another woman, or a group of women, I suddenly feel a lot more free. I don't feel like I have to hide anymore. I can just be open and honest...and not have to worry about being judged.
I am also feeling a much stronger burden to really be there for more of the women in my life. I am not working right now, so I have the time to meet with and talk to other women. Maybe this is the purpose behind me not working right now. Maybe God has me in this place for a reason. He's done crazier things in my life, so it wouldn't shock me a bit. I just really know that I have a lot to offer other women...and I know they have a ton to offer me. There is something so beautiful about women, that love God, spending time together.
I leave you with these words from James:
Therefore confess your sins to each other and pray for each other so that you may be healed. The prayer of a righteous person is powerful and effective.
(James 5:16)
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