C.S. Lewis on Servanthood

This quote was taken from The Quotable Lewis:

I believe that men of this age (and among them you Father, and myself) think too much about the state of nations and the situation of the world. Does not the author of The Imitation warn us against involving ourselves too much with such things?
We are not kings, we are not senators Let us beware lest, while we torture ourselves in vain about the fate of Europe, we neglect either Verona or Oxford.
In the poor man who knocks at my door, in my ailing mother, in the young man who seeks my advice, the Lord Himself is present: therefore let us wash His feet. [Ed. note: Verona is the home city of Lewis's correspondent.]

In light of the blasted and ridiculous recent Healthcare bill being passed and soon to be signed by President Obama, I thought this was a fantastic quote. No, I'm not telling you that you shouldn't pay attention to what's going on in the world and try to stop our government from promoting unconstitutional bills and such. By all means, that would make me not only wrong, but a hypocrite as well. I'm just as upset about this horrid bill as the rest of you are.
What I am reminding you through this wonderful quote is that, in the midst of all the uproar, do not leave your hometown- your primary mission field- by the wayside. Do not get so wrapped up in what's going on that you can't properly function any longer.
God has it all in his hands and we must commit ourselves to doing His will no matter how often our country tries to throw itself under the train. Yes, we get some of these jokers out of office come November (Thank the Lord, I'll be eighteen!). Yes, we do our best to follow God in politics as well as normal life. Just remember to keep things in proper prospective.
Don't forget to wash the feet of Jesus when He enters your home because you're too busy rallying against Caesar.
Have a blessed day!

A Young Maiden's Daybook Entry #24

Today… March 22, 2010 (My brother-in-law's birthday!! Happy birthday, Bobby!)

Outside my window… It's nice and sunny, but probably coldish, which is going to make me regret having wet hair when I go out there.


I am thinking… that we need to leave soon. We're going shopping and then getting my senior pictures done today. :)


I am thankful for… The many blessings the Lord provides.


I am wearing… My red "I love Jesus" shirt and green skirt with a navy tank top.


I am reading… Lincoln Unmasked


I am creating… The wedding blanket I've been working on for a while and that cross-stitching project.


One of my favorite things… Coffee!!!! Particularly Carmel Frapuccinos from Starbucks (with extra carmel).


For education this week… Whatever's in my backpack. Haven't touched it since the beginning of Spring Break.


A keeper at home skill I am using/learning… Closing my mouth when I'd much rather yell, crocheting, and working on my seamstress-ing skills.


A spiritual lesson I’m learning… Patience, Knowing when to hold my tongue^


A godly character trait I plan to work on… Seeking out what God has to say in each area of my life.


Scripture I am memorizing… Not really memorizing right now.


I am praying for… This blasted bill that our government passed, that SOME good will come of it (though I'll be hard pressed to offer how that could happen).


For the rest of the week… Senior pictures and shopping today, schoolwork before friday, Beach Bash this weekend, Daddy coming home from another trip, etc.


A picture I’d like to share…

Me dancing with Lyla at the Daddy-Daughter Dance. She especially loved when I spun her around and when I dipped her. :D

If you want to participate, you can find out how to do so here. Make sure you leave the link to your day book in the comments if you do!

Have a blessed day!

Songbird Sunday: Oh Lord, You're Beautiful

Title: Oh Lord, You're Beautiful

Artist: Various Artists

Oh Lord, You're beautiful
Your face is all I seek.
For when Your eyes are on this child,
Your grace abounds to me.

Oh Lord, You're beautiful
Your face is all I seek.
For when Your eyes are on this child.
Your grace abounds to me.

I want to take Your Word and shine it all around;
First, help me just to live it, Lord.
And when I'm doing well
Help me to never seek a crown;
For my reward is giving glory to You.

Oh Lord, please light the fire
that once burned bright and clear
Replace the lamp of my first
love that burns with holy fear

Oh Lord, You're beautiful
Your face is all I seek.
For when Your eyes are on this child
Your grace abounds to me.
Your grace abounds to me.

Passionate Housewives Desperate for God Review

Passionate Housewives Desperate for God is a book I've heard buzzing around in the 'blogosphere' for a while now. After so many good reviews and after seeing Jennie Chancey in Return of the Daughters (which I should probably make a review of soon, as well :), I had to check it out for myself.
After buying this amazing book for a great price on Amazon, I was ready to dive into it. Let me tell you, it didn't disappoint. Though it was written for married women, I think it's great for stay-at-home daughters like myself. Giving great points on what godly marriage looks like, these two authors, Jennie Chancey and Stacy McDonald, give clear biblical pointers on the place of the woman in the home and the lies feminism has blasted us with since infancy (or since the 70's).
I love how, throughout the book, these women point to the infallibility of Scripture. Instead of taking God's word and twisting it around to their own benefit, they take God's word and twist their own lives to fit into it's principles.
Passionate Housewives covers the woman's place in the home, the lies of self-fulfillment, and Christian feminists. It's not afraid to tackle the rough topics as long as you're not afraid to listen.
Taking from passages like Proverbs 31, Titus 2, and 1 Peter 3, we are reminded of the importance of a stable home with the husband as the head and the woman as the helpmate she was called to be. We are reminded that this is not oppression, but a beautiful picture that represents the relationship between Christ and the Church.
I definitely recommend this to the married and unmarried alike. It was worth reading and reading again.
There were many quotes that I highlighted and many more that I probably missed, but here are two that I'll share with you now (even if you're likely to see more quotes from this book in future posts).

"Being keepers at home is about focusing upon the Lord in all the everydayness so that our houses become centers of hospitality, forgiveness, training, business, welfare, charity, shared mourning and celebration, and-oh, yes- lots of tracked-in mud, crumbs under the chairs, and everything else that goes with human beings."

"Remember that godly femininity complements masculinity- it brings wholeness to humanity. It doesn't compete. It doesn't seek its own glory but delights to see others succeed and earn praise."

Have a blessed day!

The Magic Prayer Myth

"Just say this prayer and it'll change your life forever!"
How many times have we heard that line from a well-meaning pastor who just wants to see his flock saved? Far too many times, I think.
Usually when this statement is uttered, the pastor (or whoever is giving the statement) has the best of intentions here. What they don't realize that they're communicating is that the prayer is what changes your life and anyone who says it is officially a Christian. This is not only un-biblical, it's dangerous. Never in the Bible will you find Jesus saying, "Just repeat these words after me and you're going to Heaven!" No, He commands us to pick up our crosses and follow Him, even unto death itself.
It's not about a cleverly worded prayer. It irks me to no end that we give off that impression so often!
The instruction Yahweh gives us in His Word is to repent. Over and over He implores us to do so.
Matthew 4:17
From that time on Jesus began to preach, "Repent, for the kingdom of heaven is near."
Luke 5:32
I have not come to call the righteous, but sinners to repentance."
But what is repentance?
Repent: to turn from sin and dedicate oneself to the amendment of one's life
Repentance is giving your life over to God. It's saying, "Lord, I can't do this on my own. I don't want to live in sin anymore. I don't want to spend my life wallowing in my own sin. Take my life and make it yours. I want to follow you, no matter what the cost."
It's not a cookie-cutter prayer that changes you, only Yahweh can do that.
And it's not going to be easy, but He'll be right there beside you and He promises to pull you through no matter how hard it gets.
Have a blessed day!

A Young Maiden's Daybook Entry #24/ The Challenge: Day 7

Today… March 8, 2010

Outside my window… It's rainy and gray. I actually like it... I didn't need sunglasses for driving today either!

I am thinking… that Alice and Wonderland was pretty good, especially in Imax 3D. Did you know that it's actually called Underland??
 

I am thankful for… A fantastic family that loves me. :)

I am wearing… A long brown skirt and red polo shirt. See picture below.

I am reading… About to start both Lincoln Unmasked and Captivating.

I am creating… Cross-stitching project I've been working on.

One of my favorite things… Singing. :D

For education this week… Not as much homework as usual. Though I do have a math test. I'm really not that great at Algebra 2, either...

A keeper at home skill I am using/learning… Time management and cleaning, of course.

A spiritual lesson I’m learning… Trusting God, even when the future seems pretty scary.

A godly character trait I plan to work on… Holding my tongue.

Scripture I am memorizing… Still just reading Proverbs 31 each day.

I am praying for… God to direct my family's path and change us into who He has called us to be.

For the rest of the week… Bunches of random stuff.

A picture I’d like to share… Today is the last day of The Challenge. So I just meshed AYMD and it together. So here's my outfit and hair:

•  Shirt- Red polo from Old Navy.
• Tank top- Pink and from Old Navy, with a few paint splatters I got on it when I painted at the church.
• Skirt- the other one I bought at Stein Mart on the sale rack. Either $11 or $14.

I am not cross-eyed in this picture. I was trying to look at the camera. Since it's below me, it makes my eyes look crossed. :P

For my hair, I straightened most of it and made two braids just above each ear. I then bobby-pinned them behind each opposite ear to create a headband.

Incidentally, the one on the right was smaller than the left, so I made sure to put that one in the front.

I rather liked the effect. I thought of braiding the rest of my hair in a french braid, similar to Eve's hair in BBC's Robin Hood (I loved her hair!), but that would've taken too much time and it was easier to keep it down.

Well, The Challenge was super fun and I really enjoyed it. Now it's back to real posts about real stuff. :P I'll still wear skirts as usual though, and hopefully still come up with neat ideas for my hair. Hope y'all enjoyed getting a peek into my wardrobe, though! :)

Have a blessed day!

The Challenge: Day 6

Today has been relatively eventful, if a little tiring.
It was Missions Sunday at my church and super cool. A great sermon was taught on following Christ and many missionaries came to present their ministries.
After church, I spent the day at the Ayres' house, pretty much my adoptive sister, brother-in-law, and two beautiful nieces! We had alot of fun and even watched The Count of Monte Cristo. I really enjoy spending time with them. I love my big brother and sister and my wonderful little nieces!

• Shirt- Same as the blue and white ones I've already worn, just in a different color. Though now that I think about it, I actually think they're from Target.
• Tank top- You can't see it in this pic, but it's pink and from Old Navy.
• Skirt- I bought this just a few weeks ago on sale at Old Navy. I think it was either $11 or $14.

My hair was really just blow dried and scrunched with my fingers. I didn't really have the energy or time to do much else this morning. After church, I ended up putting it in a ponytail, though. Or as Lyla calls it, "A tail!"

And last, but not least, I wanted to show this picture of the girls sitting with "Pa", aka. My daddy.

It was really cute, but the pic came out blurry. You get the idea though.

The little beauty on the left is Lyla, and the pink bundle in his arms is a sleeping Leah.

Have a blessed day!

The Challenge: Day 5

Two more days left of the challenge.
Today was a long day. We helped our assistant youth pastor and his wife move into their new home for most of it. Kerri and I helped Jenna wash and put away the dishes- I'd say they're well on their way to having themselves all settled in their new home. Lots of people are willing to help them out as much as possible, and they're going to need it. Especially with Jenna six months pregnant!
It just reminds me that this is what the body of Christ should look like- people helping one another and being the hands and feet of Jesus. Christian hospitality. :) It brings a smile to my face each time I see it!
Well, it's late, so I'll hurry up and post today's pictures and hit the hay. I'm tired and we've got plenty going on at church tomorrow!

• Shirt- From Kohls, the guys section actually. I think it was around $5. It's red with The Flash insignia in the middle. I am a huge fan of the Justice League and love this shirt!
• Tank top- Old Navy. It's black and you can't really see it here. No idea how much it cost.
• Skirt- You can't really tell from this pic, but it's actually denim and not black, it's blue. I bought it online from Christa-Taylor (a link to her store is in the sidebar). It was $55, but totally worth the money spent. I really love this skirt and honestly try to wear it as much as possible! Totally worth the the pretty penny spent! :P

I pretty much pulled the hair back above my ears and braided that, leaving the bottom half hanging. Of course, I straightened the lower section (my hair is naturally wavy/curly). I managed to leave my bangs down.

It's not as 'neat' as it was this morning due to all the packing, washing, rocking, carrying, and generally moving about I did all day.

Speaking of which, I'm exhausted... so I'm going to bed now.

Have a blessed day!

The Challenge: Day 4

I've learned a couple of things today that are completely unrelated to the challenge. The first is that if you don't put enough flour in the cookie dough, it tends to look like boiling cookie paste after ten minutes in the oven. My brother says it still tasted good, but it looked like squashed grapes.
The second is that, in my Co-op, the general consensus on Shaun White is that he looks like a hobo. A friend of mine had a magazine with him on the cover. The boy needs to cut his hair and put a shirt on. I have nothing against him, but I think I'd like him better that way.
The third thing isn't someting I've learned, just an announcement that probably doesn't mean much to any of y'all who don't know me. My daddy's home! Dad goes on lots of business trips with his work that take him away for a few days at a time. I'd like to mention here that I hold the record for being the fastest to get to his car during these moments... and for being the loudest. :)
Now, on to the challenge:

Ignore the smudge on my left hip. The smudge is not on my shirt, it's on the mirror.

• Shirt- I think this is from Old Navy. It's the same shirt as the one I wore on Wednesday, only this one's blue.
• Tank top- From Costco. Again, the same type of tank top I wore on Wednesday, only in blue.
• Skirt- bought this at Helping Hands for $3. I really like it.

My hair's up in a simple ponytail. I'm starting to run out of ideas. :P I just blow-dried my hair and threw it up so I wouldn't be late for Co-op this morning.

On the right side, you can even see where I clipped up my bangs to keep them out of my face.

Well, there's today's clothes and hair. Now I've gotta go finish making cookies! My assistant youth pastor and his wife stayed at our house while we were in France and have had their stuff in our unfinished media room as storage. Well, they finally closed on the house they've been trying to buy and a bunch of people from church are coming over to help them move.

Gotta feed the masses!

Have a blessed day!

The Challenge: Day 3

As much as I love that skirt that Lillian bought me (the one I wore yesterday), there's the sad realization that it probably won't last as long as my other skirts. It's just too delicate with it's satin-y-ness and using a safety pin near the knee may have put a few small but ugly holes in it. I'll make it last as long as I can, though, because I dearly love it! Some friends and I even had a conversation on how it made me look like a Spanish dancer. Though one friend said it looked Indian to her. :P

Here's day 3's outfit:

• Shirt- Dark green with light birds and meant-to-be-there paint splatters across the front. In cursive on the top it says "Uncommon". This was the name of one of the Youth For the Nations bands about two years ago. It seems I get most of my shirts from the YFN merch shop.... :)
• Skirt- Again, I'm really not sure where I got this one. I'm thinking Old Navy, though. It's dark brown and ends a few inches below my knees.

For those of you wondering why it's so hard to see the bottom halves of my skirts in these pics, my bed is blocking the sunlight that comes in through the window. I keep trying to brighten the pictures, but that's not really working so well. Guess y'all will just have to use your imaginations then!

For my hair, I just pulled it back into a simple French braid and used bobby pins to pin my bangs to the side of my head. Yes, I did it myself. :P Aren't you proud? It took me forever to learn how to French braid my own hair, but I love doing it now. Have I mentioned that braids are my favorite thing to do with my hair? I just love the way they look!

Go check out Simply Sarah-Anne to find links to the other girls participating in The Feelin' Feminine Challenge! Some of these girls have some very creative genes in them. :)

Have a blessed day!

The Challenge: Day 2

I got to look at the posts of a few other girls who are participating in this challenge and they are all really cute. I love seeing the variety that this challenge brings out. It's so much fun!
Well, here's Day #2:

I think I made this one a little too small today. I'll make sure to move closer to the mirror tomorrow! :P
Here's the layout of my outfit:

• Shirt- I think it's from Target, but I'm really not sure. It's a plain white short-sleeved shirt.
• Tank top- from Costco. Mom likes to buy the little tank top sets there. No idea how much it costs either.
• Skirt- Lillian bought this for me when she went to Cancun for Christmas and I love it! It's a wrap skirt, so I have to use a safety pin on the side for just-in-case, but it's adorable and is super comfortable.
• Shoes- Again, I'm not wearing any, but I'll probably wear my brown ones when I go to church tonight. If I remember, I'll take a pic of them tomorrow just for y'all!

For my hair, I used a Conair hair thing that I've had for years. I got two different sections from just above my ears and twisted them back before tying them and clipping them together.

My bangs are finally long enough that most of them are held back by this style, so they stay out of my face! :)

It's still not too late to join the FF challenge. Quite a few girls are starting today just because they didn't know about it before now.

Sarah-Anne at Simply Sarah Anne is hosting The Challenge this month, so go check out her blog and the links to other girls who are participating in the event!

Have a blessed day!

The Challenge: Day 1

Over at Feelin' Feminine, they have started a fantastic challenge! Now, I've already participated in this before since they've been doing this for a while, but haven't gotten to do it since. It seems that the challenge days always fell on those where I wouldn't have time to participate in it.
Well not this month! I am super excited to be a part of it. Now, for those of you who have no idea what The Challenge is, it's a week-long effort where the girls who participate wear skirts every day and do their hair or makeup different each day as well. The point: reminding girls that it's fun and enjoyable to be feminine and that it's not so uncomfortable as we tend to think.
For those of us with blogs, we are encouraged to post pictures of each day and feel free to share about how the challenge is affecting you, or even where you got your clothes! :) It's just a fun event that you should consider doing yourself!
Even if you're already a full-time skirt wearer like myself, it's super fun, so don't shy away! :P

Since my camera croaked while we were in France, I had to use my cell phone for the pics. Apparently, Mom's video camera doesn't like me very much and would rather not participate in The Challenge. Spoil sport!
So here's today's outfit and hair:

Ignore the camera phone and my awkward holding of it, guys.

• Shirt- bought at Youth For the Nations a few years ago. It says, "The Best is Yet to Come". Don't remember how much it costs, but I'm gonna go with somewhere around $8.
• Pink tank top underneath. I always wear a tank top under my shirts. I got this one from Buckle. I think it was somewhere between $10-$15.
• I found the jean skirt at the local Helping Hands for a whopping $3. It made me happy.
• No shoes. You will most often find me barefoot. Even at church, I find somewhere to stash my shoes and run around without them.

Haha, my smile looks really fake in this one. Probably due to the fact that I was still frustrated with Mom's camera not working.

My hair's pretty simple today. I like wearing my hair down. I had it in a French braid all night last night, so I just took out the braid and brushed through my hair before using a headband to pull back my bangs.

Done & done.

If you'd like to participate in The Challenge, it is being hosted at Simply Sarah-Anne this month. Even if you can't post pictures, it's an enjoyable week to participate in. And maybe you have a friend with a blog? Ask if they'll do it with you and you can take pics together. :)

Have fun, y'all!

Have a blessed day!

A Young Maiden's Daybook Entry #23

Today… March(!!) 1, 2010



Outside my window… It's pretty gray. Hopefully that'll turn sunny as the day wears on.


I am thinking… about many things.


I am thankful for… my loving family that's always there for me and backing me up.


I am wearing… An ankle-length brown skirt and a gray YFN shirt with a robot on it.


I am reading… Passionate Housewives Desperate for God (and I love it!)


I am creating… A cross-stitching project that should have been done months ago and crocheting a wedding blanket for a friend of mine.


One of my favorite things… Dancing the Jitterbug with Daddy. We're getting pretty good at it now!


For education this week… Schoolwork assigned by the Co-op I attend and Geography.


A keeper at home skill I am using/learning…  Time management.


A spiritual lesson I’m learning… Getting out of my comfort zone.


A godly character trait I plan to work on… A gentle spirit.


Scripture I am memorizing… Still going over Proverbs 31.  Haven't had the time to sit down and memorize it through just yet.


I am praying for… My neighbor's grandson just got out of the hospital from a super high fever. God's guidance and direction in my life.


For the rest of the week… Schoolwork, Paradigm, You Knit Me In The Womb, babysitting for the Missions Conference at church, etc.

A picture I’d like to share…
Victoria and I at the Daddy-Daughter Dance. :) Valerie is holding the ballons behind us, so you can barely see her head. Lol. The dance was so much fun!!

If you want to participate, you can find out how to do so here. Make sure you leave the link to your day book in the comments if you do!


Have a blessed day!